Sam Lane
@samlane86.bsky.social
I've been playing Lone Wolves a lot lately. If you don't know it, it's a two player only trick taker meets area control game. It has fairly simple rules, but quite a bit of strategic depth.
November 9, 2025 at 11:39 PM
I've been playing Lone Wolves a lot lately. If you don't know it, it's a two player only trick taker meets area control game. It has fairly simple rules, but quite a bit of strategic depth.
I've been working my way through my Essen acquisitions. So far this week I've played: Farm Hand, Age of Galaxy, Come Sail Away, Onoda (really appreciated your review and interview on this one), Vivo, and Lone Wolves. Also played Leaders and Rowdy Partners on BGA both of which were surprise hits.
November 4, 2025 at 4:29 PM
I've been working my way through my Essen acquisitions. So far this week I've played: Farm Hand, Age of Galaxy, Come Sail Away, Onoda (really appreciated your review and interview on this one), Vivo, and Lone Wolves. Also played Leaders and Rowdy Partners on BGA both of which were surprise hits.
Speaking of games with punishing scoring, outside of the convention I finally played Stick 'em. But I'm slowly figuring out the strategy.
October 27, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Speaking of games with punishing scoring, outside of the convention I finally played Stick 'em. But I'm slowly figuring out the strategy.
Also played a game of Milkuro (a reimplementation of Trick Taking in Black and White) with the couple that hosted me in Essen. It's definitely a good one to introduce to non gamers/trick takers. But the scoring is quite punishing.
October 27, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Also played a game of Milkuro (a reimplementation of Trick Taking in Black and White) with the couple that hosted me in Essen. It's definitely a good one to introduce to non gamers/trick takers. But the scoring is quite punishing.
I made it to Spiel Essen for the first time so I got a few demos in: Origin Story, Piñatas, Panda Spin, The Phantom of the Opera, Coming of Age, and Dogfight: 1917.
Also got to try some prototypes of two Charming Game Collective titles: Use Up All of Your Sick Days and Vegan Cafe.
Also got to try some prototypes of two Charming Game Collective titles: Use Up All of Your Sick Days and Vegan Cafe.
October 27, 2025 at 5:43 PM
I made it to Spiel Essen for the first time so I got a few demos in: Origin Story, Piñatas, Panda Spin, The Phantom of the Opera, Coming of Age, and Dogfight: 1917.
Also got to try some prototypes of two Charming Game Collective titles: Use Up All of Your Sick Days and Vegan Cafe.
Also got to try some prototypes of two Charming Game Collective titles: Use Up All of Your Sick Days and Vegan Cafe.
Finally I tried Burgle Bros solo on BGA. Quite enjoying the puzzle of it and the tension it creates even if I haven't managed to win yet.
October 21, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Finally I tried Burgle Bros solo on BGA. Quite enjoying the puzzle of it and the tension it creates even if I haven't managed to win yet.
I tried the team mode of Vicious Gardens for the first time in a six player game. It was chaotic in all the best ways.
I played Sea Salt and Pepper for the first time with my 7 year old. It's not at all what I expected, but it was a delight watching the kiddo figure out the strategy.
I played Sea Salt and Pepper for the first time with my 7 year old. It's not at all what I expected, but it was a delight watching the kiddo figure out the strategy.
October 21, 2025 at 8:27 PM
I tried the team mode of Vicious Gardens for the first time in a six player game. It was chaotic in all the best ways.
I played Sea Salt and Pepper for the first time with my 7 year old. It's not at all what I expected, but it was a delight watching the kiddo figure out the strategy.
I played Sea Salt and Pepper for the first time with my 7 year old. It's not at all what I expected, but it was a delight watching the kiddo figure out the strategy.
I've still been working my way through Regicide Legacy (realized I'd been neglecting a catch up mechanism so that might help!)
Got a couple more Leviathan Wilds plays in. Beat Storm tonight. Next up is Watcher which I'm excited for based on what I've heard about it.
Got a couple more Leviathan Wilds plays in. Beat Storm tonight. Next up is Watcher which I'm excited for based on what I've heard about it.
October 21, 2025 at 8:27 PM
I've still been working my way through Regicide Legacy (realized I'd been neglecting a catch up mechanism so that might help!)
Got a couple more Leviathan Wilds plays in. Beat Storm tonight. Next up is Watcher which I'm excited for based on what I've heard about it.
Got a couple more Leviathan Wilds plays in. Beat Storm tonight. Next up is Watcher which I'm excited for based on what I've heard about it.
I also played LOTR: Duel for Middle Earth for the first time. It picqued my 7 year old's interest, so we played two games. She hasn't been able to win yet, but I was amazed at how quickly she picked up on it.
Then I just played a couple faster solo games on BGA, A Bloody Inn, and Cafe.
Then I just played a couple faster solo games on BGA, A Bloody Inn, and Cafe.
October 13, 2025 at 9:51 PM
I also played LOTR: Duel for Middle Earth for the first time. It picqued my 7 year old's interest, so we played two games. She hasn't been able to win yet, but I was amazed at how quickly she picked up on it.
Then I just played a couple faster solo games on BGA, A Bloody Inn, and Cafe.
Then I just played a couple faster solo games on BGA, A Bloody Inn, and Cafe.
I also started playing the original Regicide with some colleagues during lunch breaks. It was actually my first time playing multiplayer, but I've enjoyed the unique challenge of it and watching my colleagues discover the strategy of it. It's amazing how much drama such a simple game creates.
October 13, 2025 at 9:51 PM
I also started playing the original Regicide with some colleagues during lunch breaks. It was actually my first time playing multiplayer, but I've enjoyed the unique challenge of it and watching my colleagues discover the strategy of it. It's amazing how much drama such a simple game creates.
I finally made it past the first mission of Regicide Legacy and moved on to some of the others. So far they mix up the mechanics of the game in some really interesting ways. And they have varying degrees of difficulty which is actually kind of nice so not every mission takes 5 or 6 attempts to beat
October 13, 2025 at 9:51 PM
I finally made it past the first mission of Regicide Legacy and moved on to some of the others. So far they mix up the mechanics of the game in some really interesting ways. And they have varying degrees of difficulty which is actually kind of nice so not every mission takes 5 or 6 attempts to beat
I just realized I used the F word with the wrong person. Oops.
October 7, 2025 at 7:17 AM
I just realized I used the F word with the wrong person. Oops.
Toy Battle is really fun and surprisingly strategic for how simple it is. And it has great replicaability with like 8 different maps. I hear kids take to it well too.
October 7, 2025 at 6:28 AM
Toy Battle is really fun and surprisingly strategic for how simple it is. And it has great replicaability with like 8 different maps. I hear kids take to it well too.
Can't say much about Regicide Legacy yet because I'm stuck on mission one, which is basically just the base game. I'd forgotten how hard this game is to beat!
Also played Unmatched Jurassic Park Dr. Sattler Vs T Rex and Mandala and several games of Toy Battle and Obsession on BGA.
Also played Unmatched Jurassic Park Dr. Sattler Vs T Rex and Mandala and several games of Toy Battle and Obsession on BGA.
October 6, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Can't say much about Regicide Legacy yet because I'm stuck on mission one, which is basically just the base game. I'd forgotten how hard this game is to beat!
Also played Unmatched Jurassic Park Dr. Sattler Vs T Rex and Mandala and several games of Toy Battle and Obsession on BGA.
Also played Unmatched Jurassic Park Dr. Sattler Vs T Rex and Mandala and several games of Toy Battle and Obsession on BGA.
Got my copy of Regicide Legacy from the Kickstarter and picked up a copy of Leviathan Wilds this week, so I've been playing those both solo the last few nights. I've only played tje first two levaithans, but I'm really loving Leviathan Wilds so far!
October 6, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Got my copy of Regicide Legacy from the Kickstarter and picked up a copy of Leviathan Wilds this week, so I've been playing those both solo the last few nights. I've only played tje first two levaithans, but I'm really loving Leviathan Wilds so far!
I'm going to Spiel Essen next month. I wonder of they'll have it there.
September 27, 2025 at 11:09 AM
I'm going to Spiel Essen next month. I wonder of they'll have it there.
I'm wondering if they sold out of the stock from the EU warehouse because now when you select EU shipping it says it'll ship in November.
September 27, 2025 at 9:56 AM
I'm wondering if they sold out of the stock from the EU warehouse because now when you select EU shipping it says it'll ship in November.
I have a soft spot for it as well. I haven't seen it in years. I should show it to my 7 year old.
September 17, 2025 at 10:09 AM
I have a soft spot for it as well. I haven't seen it in years. I should show it to my 7 year old.
It was a bit of a quiet week, but I did play Trickarus, Shock! Poison and Knights, and Chu Han (all of which are in alpha on BGA). I enjoyed them all, particularly Trickarus.
September 15, 2025 at 4:48 PM
It was a bit of a quiet week, but I did play Trickarus, Shock! Poison and Knights, and Chu Han (all of which are in alpha on BGA). I enjoyed them all, particularly Trickarus.
Oh okay! I'll just run it past a few people so they know to expect the invite then I'll let you know.
September 13, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Oh okay! I'll just run it past a few people so they know to expect the invite then I'll let you know.
I finally got access to alpha games on BGA recently, so I'd love to test it out. I'm samlane86 on there as well.
September 13, 2025 at 9:50 PM
I finally got access to alpha games on BGA recently, so I'd love to test it out. I'm samlane86 on there as well.
But when you are finally able to try it, I really look forward to hearing your thoughts!
August 25, 2025 at 7:07 PM
But when you are finally able to try it, I really look forward to hearing your thoughts!