Game Report: Andy T, Andy S & Chris

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3 player game. Andy T steps up to the board and makes the first move, he's wearing the 'balaclava of evil' before the end of his turn and we get to test the all new 'evil' rules straight away...

A few turns into the game and the world is looking a little cramped, Andy S has the Americas, Chris grabs Asia and Australia, Andy T is wedged in between the two.

Some lucky oil prospecting and Andy T suddenly has five cities before anyone else has even built one. This makes him 'enemy number 1' and an hour later his empire is pretty much desroyed, a few villages scattered throughout Africa and an outpost in Asia.

Andy S and Chris both build strong empires and apart from the odd terrorist strike they leave each other alone. There's even talk of world peace...

Andy T tries his best to thwart this by turning terrorist and unleashes the full power of the all new terrorists cards. However, Andy S or Chris could take the game at any moment. Chris is in a winning position at one point, if he hadn't blown all his cash... Bingo! Four and a half hours into the game Andy S liberates the world... Nice.

Game Report: Andy T, Rich, Sam & Joe

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4 player game. It starts nice and easy, Andy's maybe a little eager and gets one too many enemies early on. Joe hits a seam of oil through Africa and the Middle East, looking strong from the start. Sam takes an ethical decision and decides to never to fund terrorism. Rich stays out of the action and takes most of North America and a healthy chunk of Asia.

Joe turns Evil early in game and stays Evil for quite some time, he takes advantage of the situation, although complains of sweating and looks hilarious in the balaclava.

Andy cripples himself in his valiant effort to destroy Joe. Too late in the game Andy and Joe make peace when they realise Sam and Rich are both looking tasty.

Andy turns Terrorist, but again it's too late to make a difference. A couple of nukes are dropped and it could be anyone's (apart from Andy)... Bam! Although Evil had passed on to Rich, Joe sneaks in with another 10 cities victory for an empire.

The game comes in at just over three hours, with a 'fruit salad' break in the middle. Feels good. After the general euphoria of finishing two games in a row a slight melancholy sets in as memories of 'nine hours of nail biting tension' float by... But all feedback was good and it feels like we're getting close.

Game Report: Andy T, Andy S, Craig S, Rachel, Vid & Zak

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6 player game, 7.45 start... And some new sexy rules for the end game and other bits...

Andy S is hemmed in from the start after a vicious first move from Vid. He hangs on for another couple of turns, Vid tries to finish him off but the bugger clings on. However, in an interesting development, Vid has to leave early around 9.30 and hands all developments to Andy S, the lucky git.

We five fight on, Andy T looks tasty early in the game - too tasty though and after some nasty teaming up his empire is in tatters. Then it's open: anyone's game.

Andy S is looking good, Rachel takes most of Asia and gets a toe hold in the Americas. Then... round midnight, Rachel turns Evil for the second time in the game and combined with a lucky pick of Policy Cards... BOOM! A careful nuke in Africa and Rachel comes out the winner... WE HAVE A WINNER! Good game, good game...

Game Report: Andy T, Andy S, Tom L, Chris & Phil

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5 player game. Kicked off around 9ish. Within minutes Tom, Chris and Phil are ganging up and sharing cards, money and who knows what else to try and destroy the 'threat' from the two Andies. We live in times of fear.

Some heavy psychological warfare starts to break Phil and three hours and a few glasses of Southern Comfort into the game Phil turns 'Terrorist'. Unfortunately he also has to get an early night and heads off soon after.

We decided to carry on as a four player game. Tom and Chris continue to work 'as one' and are quite a potent force because of it. It's not long before both the Andies join the dark side and turn terrorist. We play out the end game for another hour, verbally working on Chris to try and get him over to 'our side' but to no avail.

Game Report: Andy T, Andy S & Tom M-J

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3 player game; five and a half hours. First part of the game very good, nice pace. Balaclava of Evil used for the first time. Maybe a few minor tweaks to be made.

Andy S looks strong at the start. Tom turns terrorist about three hours into the game after getting his ass whooped. Andy T gets mean, a few well placed nukes and he takes the lead. The Middle East changes hand every turn... Andy S joins Tom as the terrorist player, trying to wipe out the final empire...

After an hour playing out the end game we decide to halt. End game (when there's only one empire left on the board) needs a bit of work - it's a little unfair for terrorists at the moment... Otherwise, new revisions are looking good.