Rolling Realms Game Review

 

Rolling Realms Redux
Players: 1-6
Play Time: 30 min

Age: 14+

Some of my favorite games include roll and writes, plus ,I obviously have a thing for board games, so I immediately loved the idea of combining a whole bunch of games into one in Rolling Realms. I recently added Rolling Realms Redux to our collection. 

Gameplay: Rolling Realms is a roll and write game where you select 3 cards, “realms” per round, over three rounds. These realms are mini games based on real board games. The goal is to earn as many stars as possible from each realm, gaining and using resources along the way to help get them. The original game comes with 11 realms and the Redux version comes with 12 new ones, plus enough room in the box to fit the original 11 and all current and planned promo realms. The Redux version can be purchased as a standalone, giving you everything you need to play and still have some variety between games.

Thoughts:

I LOVE that the new box can hold everything and save shelf space. I also love the new, huge pink and purple marbled dice! The markers for the Redux version worked much better for us than the markers from the original game. It is also nice that it comes with a compendium of rules covering all of the realms in existence, so that you don’t have to look between multiple rule books. The cards also summarize the rule right on them for once you know them and just need a refresher between games.

Overall, I enjoy the game and seem to enjoy it more each time I play. At first, it is a little annoying to have to look up how each realm works for each round, especially because some are more straightforward than others. I have had to look up clarification online for a couple of realms (looking at you Charterstone). My husband initially found the resources a bit tedious, but after more plays he was able to utilize them better and like the game better overall.  

As with any game with variable goals, some combinations of realms per round work better than others. I think I enjoy the realms from Redux a little better, probably just because I am familiar with more of the inspiration games than in the original realms. They also included some "classics" like rock-paper-scissors and poker!

Now, I wouldn't suggest this roll and write for someone brand new to the hobby, but it's great for a more regular gamer. I’d suggest looking at which realms are included in each version and get the one that includes more games you’re familiar with. Or just get both for maximum variety.

Next I want to try pulling out just the cards needed for one game, the dice and the markers and see how easy it is to take on the go.

Expansion gifted by publisher for review purposes, but thoughts are my own.

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Tot School: Thanksgiving Theme

November means celebrating time with family and good food, plus focusing on gratitude. Here are the Thanksgiving related activities we've been doing for Tot School (Juniper is 29 months)

We have lots of Thanksgiving books. I just pulled a few from Juniper's shelf to share:

There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Turkey

Happy Thanksgiving, Biscuit!

Olaf Gives Thanks

Bear Says Thanks

Peyton Picks the Perfect Pie

How to Hide a Turkey

Thank You, Thanksgiving

10 Fat Turkeys

Pie Love You

We also read my printable Thanksgiving book

I printed and colored a turkey body and gave her some shapes to use with it on the light table.

Color sorting and fine motor with the Super Sorting Pie

We sorted on a larger scale with her color sorting food

To add some variety to her Acorn Soup game, I put the wooden pieces into a sensory bin.

Play dough tray had several thanksgiving cookie cutters. Mostly, she used the apple.

Big brother was making a Color Wheel Turkey from Deep Space Sparkle, so I helped her make her own. She used chalk crayons to decorate the leaves.

Top the Pie counting activity from Confessions of a Homeschooler (couldn't find direct link)

We did several printable activities from 3Dinosaurs

We also did several of the Thanksgiving Busy Book pages from LittleLadoo

 

Stamp Swap Board Game Review

Stamp Swap

Players: 1-5
Play Time: 30-60 min

Age: 14+

While I've never considered myself a stamp collector, I’ve heard nothing but positive things about Jamey Stegmaier games and we love tile placement, so I jumped at the chance to try Stamp Swap! (Game kindly gifted by publisher, but all thoughts are my own).

Overview:

In Stamp Swap, you and your competitors are stamp collectors attending a stamp convention. The game takes place over three days (rounds) and on each day you will collect, swap and show your stamps. First, each player will take turns collecting stamps and exhibitor cards from a given pool. Then they will split their collection into two stacks and swap with other players. Finally, they will arrange their collected stamps into their albums trying to score as many points as possible. Each player has a particular type of stamp for which they score points as well as a particular goal (contest) they can choose to score each round. Exhibitor cards can also help score points during the rounds. At the end of the game, players get points for the value of each stamp in their album as well as a final stamp placement goal.

Thoughts:

We have several tile placement games, but one feels unique. While in most games you have some sort of placement constraints, in Stamp Swap you can pretty much place your stamps anywhere in your album, as long as they do not overlap. For some goals, you will want things clumped and for others you will want things spaced far apart (which feels weird to me). There are four possible contests, but you can only pick three. Balancing all of the various goals and choosing when to enter each contest definitely takes some thought, it’s impossible to maximize everything. It is a great puzzle, without feeling heavy.

This is our first “I cut, you choose,” which added an interesting element. While the swapping felt more significant with three players, it still worked just fine at two. My son even preferred it that way.

The components of the game are fantastic! Everything feels thick and sturdy, and even the rulebook is made on durable material. I LOVE the shiny gold rare stamps! Other than that, the art is a little lackluster, but it fits the theme well. While I haven’t used it, I also appreciate that there is a solo mode for the game. My only real complaint is that setting up each round and scoring at the end often feel like they take a lot longer than actually “playing” the rounds.

All in all, we enjoy the game quite a bit. My teen said it is probably one of his top five for the year. I don’t know that I’d go that far, but it is definitely one we will hang on to and play again!

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Homeschool Science: Light

This year for homeschool we are doing units for science rather than a purchased curriculum. I looked at the Next Generation Science Standards and divided the standards into units that made sense together. Then I broke those down even farther into units that made sense for my learner.

Books used throughout:

Light Waves

Dogs Do Science Light

How It Works Light

Light Makes a Rainbow

What's Faster than a Speeding Cheetah

All About Light

Vampires and Light

Transparent and Opaque

Why it Works Light and Dark

Light with Max Axiom

Shadows

What Makes a Shadow?

Standards:

1-PS4-2 Make observations to construct an evidence-based account that objects in darkness can be seen only when illuminated

1-PS4-3 Plan and conduct investigations to determine the effect of placing objects made with different materials in the path of a beam of light.

• Video Activity from The Wonders of Science
• Will the Light Shine Lab (adapted from Ward’s Science)

• Play with mirrors
• Look around corners with mirrors
• Play Laser Maze Game

• Shadows

 

1-PS4-4 - Use tools and materials to design and build a device that uses light or sound to solve the problem of communicating over a distance.

• Communication over distances lab from UVU SEEdPods (pages 26-29)

Bill Nye the Science Guy: Light & Color

Bill Nye the Science Guy: Light Optics

• Writing messages with UV pens.

Bioluminescence

When we finished all the standard related things, we spent some time learning about bioluminescence. 

Nature's Light Spectacular

Glow: The Wild Wonders of Bioluminescence

Luminous: Living Things That Light Up the Night

The Glow Show

Glowing Animals

Who's Afraid of the Light?

We found this great video from Soul Sparklette's for a blacklight art project.

These neon oil pastels looked amazing under black light.

Mind Up Game Review

 

Mind Up

Players: 3-6

Play Time: 15-20 min

Ages:  8+

Overview:

In Mind Up, you’re trying to score as many points as possible by selecting cards and adding them to your tableau. However, you don’t get to directly pick the cards you get. A line of numbered cards is set out on the table, equal to the number of players in the game. Each player then secretly selects a card to play, all the cards are simultaneously revealed and placed in numerical order. Then, you get to take the card that lines up with where the card you played lands. If you want the first card, you’d play something low, if you want the last card, you’d play something high, etc. The played cards then create the new baseline and everyone ads their cards to their own grids. The scoring grid is simple, but does vary from round to round, adding some variability. Some cards offer bonus points while others offer penalties.

Thoughts:

We originally tried this game on BGA and played it several times. Partially because it was quick, mostly because it was enjoyable. We ended up buying it to play when we have family over. We recently played with my dad, brother and his girlfriend and it went over well. The rules are straightforward, so it is easy to explain and play quickly. We also have a few non-native English speakers in the family, so this game will be perfect to break out with them. It also works well for a wide variety of ages and gaming experience. There is some luck and a lot of guesswork, but it is all in light hearted fun. Definitely not one for someone who wants something crunchier!

Overall, I liked it a lot and it feels different enough from our other games that I can see playing it more than just for the Day of the Dead! I’m so glad we added it to our collection.

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Pátzcuaro Board Game Review

Pátzcuaro

Players: 2-6

Play Time: 20-45 min

Ages:  10+

I’ve worked hard to expose my kids to books from different viewpoints and different cultures, so when I saw the chance to continue that cultural exposure through a board game, I jumped at it! We recently purchased Pátzcuaro in time for the Mexican celebration of the Day of the Dead.

🕯️Overview:🕯️

Your goal is to decorate an altar in honor of loved ones who have passed away. Players take turns traveling around the shops and collecting items to use in their altars. Shop spaces and the Pátzcuaro tile let you trade cards, draw cards and build to your altar (a pyramid of cards you are constructing). There are set scoring objectives for every game and there are goal cards that can change from game to game. The trick is trying maximize both sets of scoring objectives and completing your altar before someone else does and ends the game.

🍭Thoughts:🍭

First of all, the production quality is fantastic. The artwork is colorful and festive. It drew me in immediately. The Pátzcuaro tile and shop tiles are sturdy and double sided, adding replayability. I also love the little meeples carrying their offerings!

I enjoyed playing quite a bit. It’s a little bit set collection and a little bit tableau building, but there’s enough variety in the action spaces and scoring to keep it engaging. It also felt like a good pace/length, although my husband finished his altar much faster than my son and I did, so I didn’t get to finish mine! My oldest son enjoyed it, but thought it might be a little simple for his tastes (he also came in last by a decent margin, so it can't be THAT simple). While I agree, it was a nice quick game, I did not find it prohibitively light. I don’t think my 6 year old could play it yet, even though he’s had some decent gaming experience.

Overall, I liked it a lot and it feels different enough from our other games that I can see playing it more than just for the Day of the Dead! I’m so glad we added it to our collection.

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Mists over Carcassonne Game Review

Mists Over Carcassonne 

Players: 2-6

Play Time: 20-45 min

Ages:  10+

Overview:

Mists Over Carcassonne is a cooperative version of Carcassonne (see my review here) in which the players are working together to defeat the ghosts. There are 6 progressively harder levels to beat. Scoring actually works the same as the original game, making it easy for us to jump into, but you’re accumulating those points together to reach a target before you run out of tiles or the ghosts overwhelm you. The target score becomes higher as you progress through the levels, and additional elements like cemeteries and castles are added to the regular cities and roads.

Review:

After playing the first level, I told my husband and teenager that I probably won’t play regular Carcassonne with them again (I’ll still play it with my 6 year old). Not only is the cooperative nature nice, I really enjoyed the slight bump in complexity for this version. You have to balance trying to defeat the ghosts with scoring points, because rarely can you do both perfectly. You can plan ahead and work together to try to double your points by connecting two players’ roads and cities, which will probably be crucial in the harder levels. Plus, the meeples and ghosts are pretty cute. Additionally, it is a quick enough play that I can see us playing the harder levels even after we complete them, especially if we do it yearly leading up to Halloween.

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