Babycon XI

Photos from Babycon XI

For the first time ever, turnout was down from the previous year, but this was expected because of the spectacle that was Babycon X. Still, we had twenty gamers and a bunch of kids attending. First timers to Babycon were Dave, Noreen, Andrew and Corwin Fair.

On Friday night, a large group of us descended on a local Indian restaurant, India Palace, for a very good meal. Okay, so they gave Joe Bloch the wrong dinner, it was still very good. Afterwards, we returned to the house and began gaming in earnest.

As usual, everyone started out with fifteen Babycon bucks. One buck was anted each game and the winner took all.

How to summarize Babycon 11? It was the year of Alex Ruvinsky. After losing his first four games in a row, Alex started winning and kept winning the entire weekend. He won 12 out of 21 games played and finished with 46 Babycon bucks, an unparalleled achievement and a Babycon record that’s unlikely to be broken soon. Well done, Alex. Marvin Gersho also did very well with a score, 29, that most years would be the highest.

Also of note was the mysterious stranger who showed up at our backdoor at around 1AM Sunday. We were playing games (what else?) when a knocking at the back door in the basement startled us. Lo and behold, Paul Czarnota, who wasn’t going to be able to attend, had finished his commitments, hopped in his car and driven 10 hours to join us! It was definitely the coolest Babycon entrance ever.

Thanks to everyone who attended. We hope everyone can make it to Babycon 12.

• Streetcar Carol, Eric, Bob, Royal, Stephanie W
• Union Pacific Marvin, Joe, Dan K, Alex, Jason, Kimberly
• Web of Power Bob, Joe, Marvin, Alex
• Traumfabrik Carol, Eric, Kimberly, Stephanie W
• San Juan Stephanie W, Bob, Alex
• MarraCash Marvin, Eric, Carol, Kimberly
• Medici Eric, Marvin, Bob, Alex, Kimberly, Stephanie W
• Ticket to Ride Alex, Dave, Noreen, Bob, Stephanie W
• Puerto Rico Eric, Joe, Marvin, Carol, Kimberly
• Finstere Flure Alex, Dave, Noreen, Bob, Stephanie R, John, Stephanie W
• Crokinole Eric, Joe
• Crokinole Eric, Alex
• Top Secret Spies Marvin, Joe, Dave, Eric, Kimberly, John, Stephanie W
• Citadels Alex, Noreen, Bob, Carol, Bill, Stephanie R
• Africa Alex, Joe, Andrew, Bill, Rachel R
• Ra Kimberly, Dave, Marvin, Eric, Royal
• Mermaid Rain John, Bob, Rachel J, Stephanie R
• Crokinole Alex, Stephanie R
• LOTR: The Confrontation Rachel J, Alex
• Crokinole Bill, Stephanie R
• Kids of Catan Becca, Royal, Sammy
• Schrille Stille Joe, Marvin, Carol, Kimberly, John
• Mystery Rummy Stephanie R, Bill, Stephanie W
• La Città Dave, Noreen, Eric, Bob, Alex
• Cartagena Joe, Marvin, Rachel J, Bill, Rachel R
• Crokinole Joe, Marvin
• Power Grid John, Jason, Kimberly
• Mystery Rummy Carol, Stephanie W Game not completed.
• Bang! Joe, Carol, Stephanie W, Marvin, Eric, Bob, Rachel J
• Traumfabrik John, Paul, Marvin, Bob, Jason
• Evo Eric, Carol, Rachel J, Kimberly
• Finstere Flure Kimberly, Paul, Eric, Bob, Carol, Rachel J, Jason
• High Society Rachel J, Paul, Eric, Bob, Jason
• Crokinole Royal, Rachel J
• Wiz War Royal, Marvin, Eric, Bob, Rachel J, Stephanie W
• Feudal Paul, Bill, Stephanie R
• Crokinole Royal, Rachel J
• New England Jason, Carol, Kimberly, Stephanie W
• Santiago Marvin, Dave, Noreen, Eric, Bob
• Quinto Paul, Stepanie W
• Clue: The Card Game Rachel J, Paul, Stephanie R
• Cartegena Alex, Paul, Bill, Stephanie R, John
• Yahtzee Paul, Rachel J
• Hansa Bob, Dave, Eric, John
• Settlers of Catan Alex, Paul, Noreen, Bill, Jason
• Crokinole Stephanie R, Rachel J
• Ticket to Ride Marvin, Carol, Kimberly, Royal, Stephanie W
• Lost Cities Stephanie R, John
• Crokinole Eric, Dave
• Guillotine Noreen, Carol, Royal
• Modern Art Bill, Dave, Eric, Rachel J, Jason
• Octi Eric, Dave
• Octi Jason, Eric
• Octi Bill, Jason
• Octi Jason, Bill
• Lost Cities Noreen, Carol
• Attika Marvin, Bob, John
• Ticket to Ride Alex, Paul, Stephanie R, Kimberly, Stephanie W
• Elfenland Bob, Alex, Paul, Rachel J, Kimberly, Stephanie W
• Princes of Florence John, Marvin, Eric, Carol, Jason
• Guillotine Kimberly, Paul, Stephanie W
• Crokinole Alex, Rachel J
• Traumfabrik Paul, Carol, Stephanie W
• Show Manager Jason, Bob, Rachel J, Alex, John
• Medieval Merchant Marvin, Eric, Kimberly
• Lost Cities Alex, Rachel J
• Guillotine Paul, Stephanie W, Carol
• San Juan Carol, Marvin, Eric
• New England Bob, Rachel J, Alex, Stephanie W
• High Society Alex, Eric, Bill, Jason, Stephanie R
• Epic Duels Bob, Rachel J, Kimberly, Stephanie W, Paul, Eric, Carol, Royal
• Elixir Stephanie W, Bob, Carol, Rachel J, Kimberly, Royal

Rank	Name	Bucks won	Games played	Bucks per game	Games won	win ratio
1	Alex	46	21	1.476	12	57%
2	Marvin	29	19	0.737	7	37%
3	John	20	12	0.417	4	33%
4	Joe	19.3	10	0.430	4	40%
5	Royal	15	9	0.000	2	22%
5	Jason	15	15	0.000	5	33%
7	Andrew	14	1	-1.000	0	0%
7	Dan K	14	1	-1.000	0	0%
9	Kimberly	13	19	-0.105	4	21%
10	Noreen	12	8	-0.375	2	25%
10	Bill	12	12	-0.250	2	17%
10	Eric	12	26	-0.115	7	27%
10	Rachel R	12	3	-1.000	0	0%
14	Paul	11.5	15	-0.233	5	33%
15	Carol	10.3	20	-0.235	4	20%
16	Dave	10	10	-0.500	1	10%
16	Bob	10	22	-0.227	5	23%
18	Stephanie R	9	13	-0.462	3	23%
19	Stephanie W	8.8	22	-0.282	5	23%
20	Rachel J	7	20	-0.400	4	20%

May 8, 2004

Hey everyone! Gaming went very well on Saturday. Attending were Carol, Rachel and me, Eric, Cary Abend, Kimberly, Jason, Alex, Bill and Steffi. Unfortunately, Jo couldn’t make it. I have attached some pictures for your enjoyment. This was a somewhat unique gaming session due to the occasion of Jason Ruvinksy’s 18th birthday! Yes, Jason is now “cough” an adult. Congratulations Jason and Happy Birthday!

Here’s what we played and the results (winner listed in bold). As you can see, Eric and Jason had a good day.
Tote Board

• Hansa Eric 49, Rachel J 46, Carol 38, Bob 37 Bob: This is a very good game. Lots of strategy, nice bits and plays quickly.
• San Juan Eric 29, Bob 28, Cary 27, Carol 25 Bob: The card game of Puerto Rico. Certainly lighter and quicker playing, but quite enjoyable. Given it’s shorter play time, I anticipate playing a lot of this.
• Guillotine Jason, Bill, Alex
• Ticket to Ride Eric 130, Kimberly 101, Carol 98, Alex 69, Cary 55 Bob: Another great new game. Simple but strategic.
• Quo Vadis Jason, Bob, Alex, Bill
• Vino Alex 25, Bob 22, Eric 19, Carol 16, Kimberly 16
• Perudo Alex, Eric, Kimberly, Carol, Bob Bob: aka “Call My Bluff” or “Liar’s Dice”
• Modern Art Jason 627, Steffi 443, Eric 439, Bill 337 Bob: Jason’s $627 is a huge score.
• New England Bob 34, Carol 33, Kimberly 30, Alex 28 Bob: I love this game. It’s just fun.
• Royal Turf Bob 3150, Kimberly 2550, Jason 2350, Alex 1800, Carol 1100, Eric 1100
• Bang! Alex - Sheriff, Carol - Deputy, Jason - Renegade, Kimberly, Bob, Rachel - Outlaws Bob: The “good guys” won easily. Alex, the Sheriff, was practically unassailable for much of the game due to his innate ability and the cards he played in front of himself.
• Titan: the Arena Rachel J 14, Bob 9, Jason 5, Alex 5, Carol 4
• Titan: the Arena Rachel J 11, Alex 9, Carol 7, Bob 6, Jason 6

Eric’s Notes

• 1:54 pm: Eric arrived at the Jones’ house around 1:30. Bob, Carol, Rachel and, Eric played Hansa.
• 2:33 pm: Cary arrived around 2:30 as Hansa was finishing up.
• 2:41 pm: Scores at the end of Hansa were Eric 49, Rachel 46, Carol 38 and, Bob 37.
• 2:46 pm: Rachel left. Bob brought out San Juan.
• San Juan
• 3:12 pm: Kimberly arrived while we were playing San Juan.
• 4:01 pm: The Ruvinskys arrived around 4:00 and decided to play Guillotine.
• 4:13 pm: At the end of San Juan scores were: Eric 29, Bob 28, Cary 27 and, Carol 25.
• 4:21 pm: Carol, Cary, Kimberly, Steffie and, Eric started Ticket to Ride.
• Ticket to Ride
• 4:53 pm: Jason won Guillotine. Bob, Bill, Alex and, Jason started Quo Vadis.
• Quo Vadis
• 5:41 pm: Jason won Quo Vadis. Alex took over for Steffie in Ticket to Ride. Bill, Steffie and, Jason left.
• 6:11 pm: Scores at the end of Ticket to Ride were Eric 130, Kimberly 101, Carol 98, Alex 69 and, Cary 55.
• 6:22 pm: Cary left. Bob, Carol, Alex, Kimberly and, Eric started Vino.
• Vino
• 7:07 pm: The pizza arrived and we took a break for dinner.
• 7:43 pm: After dinner, we went back to the game.
• 8:55 pm: Alex won Vino with 25, Bob had 22, Eric had 19, Carol and Kimberly were tied at 16.
• 9:18 pm: We played Perudo.
• 9:44 pm: Alex won.
• 10:03 pm: Bill, Steffie and, Jason returned. We took a short break to celebrate Jason’s 18th birthday
• Jason's Birthday
• 10:25 pm: Steffie, Jason, Bill and Eric played Modern Art while Carol, Alex, Bob and, Kimberly played New England.
• 11:46 pm: Jason won Modern Art with 627. Steffie had 443, Eric had 439 and, Bill had 337.
• 11:53 pm: Bob won New England with 34, Carol had 33, Kimberly 30 and, Alex 28.
• 12:02 am: Bill and Stephanie left. The rest of us decided to play Royal Turf.
• 1:21 am: Bob won with 3150, Kim 2550, Jason 2350, Alex 1800, Carol 1100 and Eric 1100. Eric left after Royal Turf.

May 1, 2004

Last week we had the pleasure of hosting the Fairs, Dave and Noreen and their two sons, Andrew and Corwyn. Dave and Noreen host the Damascus chapter of the Games Club of Maryland, holding open gaming at their townhouse on most Friday nights. I met them at the GCOM Game Days a couple of weeks ago and invited them to come by last Saturday. They played a couple of games before they had to leave for a prior commitment. We had a great time with them and hope to see them again. :-) Also attending were Dan Korn and Rachel Silber, and Bill, Jason and Alex Ruvinsky. Here are the results of Saturday’s gaming.
Tote Board

• Ticket to Ride Carol 114, Noreen 103, Bob 95, Dan 68, Dave 57
• Pizarro & Co. Alex 51, Noreen 36, Bob 35, Dave 34
• Kahuna Bob and Alex tied
• Odin’s Ravens Bob 14, Alex 6
• Puerto Rico Dan 52, Rachel J. 47, Carol 37, Rachel S 32
• Bang! The Good Guys (Carol, Dan and Alex) vs the Bad Guys (Bob, Jason, Rachel S and Bill) Corporate Shuffle
• Dan 15, Bob 13, Jason 9, Carol 4, Rachel J 4, Alex 4
• Taj Mahal Bob 49, Alex 33, Jason 27, Rachel J. 26, Carol 21
• Hansa Rachel J 39, Bob 38, Jason 36, Alex 33
• Air Baron Jason, Alex, Carol, Bill (Rachel J), Dan, Bob Bob: A game that made it’s way to the table for the first time in a LONG time, Air Baron! Yes, we played Air Baron without any Bramers whatsoever. It was a sobering concept but we made it work. :-) After some initial jockeying, Jason went into Fare Wars and, due to some good bonuses and better dice rolling, walked leisurely to the required 290 market points. We had forgotten that the 290 victory level is reached by market points plus cash on hand, so Jason likely won a turn earlier when he stopped at 260 market points. Rachel took over for Bill when he had to leave. I suspect this will be hitting the table again soon.