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Variable Pig
The Nero dei Nebrodi Issue
The “Tee Hee” issue Featuring “Polar
Pig” 148, “The Universe Is A Pink
Blancmange Called Simon” 66 and onthe-shelf vol. XVI, issue 17.
Variable Pig – Nero dei Nebrodi
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VARIABLE PIG (NERO DEI NEBRODI)
POLAR PIG 148
Happy New Year and welcome to another, slightly late issue of Variable Pig. Unusually, this issue was mostly
delayed by late orders as I was missing a lot of orders come Thanksgiving weekend and had very little to work
on, although I did spend some time working on a new Bus Boss map. I did manage some zine work during the
first weekend of December, but after then Christmas activities took over and I wasn’t able to restart the zine until
after Christmas. However,
Quite a lot has happened since last issue. The first was my regular trip to Cleveland, where I was able to meet
up with fellow Cret Nick to enjoy a Saturday in Ohio. I flew to Akron, where Nick was staying, on the Saturday
morning via Detroit. During the connecting flight to Akron, I was sat next to a Green Bay Packer Hall of Fame
player (Dave Robinson I think) who was going to Akron for a Hall of Fame golf tournament, We talked about his
experiences in Superbowl I and the infamous ice bowl, as well as the experience playing for Vince Lombardi. He
was a big man but sociable and it made for an enjoyable flight.
Nick and I decided to head for Cleveland on the Saturday afternoon and enjoyed the day wandering round the
Rock n Roll Hall of Fame and Cleveland town center, before heading back to Akron for dinner and some beers.
It was good to see him again, away from the annual Crets holiday. We also enjoyed breakfast on Sunday before
I drove back to Cleveland to meet up with our Sales Manager and a couple of customers for the Browns –
Ravens game. Once again, we were seated high above the half way line, above the away team benches and
mostly enjoyed an excellent game of football, other than the result. The Browns mostly dominated the game, but
2 missed field goals and the inability to drive at the end of each half cost them dearly, as Joe Flacco was able to
time a perfect drive at the end of the game, to secure a game winning field goal. Looking back, this was pretty
much a good analogy of the Browns season, which started well before fizzling out badly at the end.
There are a lot of local Farmers Markets in Pennsylvania and autumn (fall) features many food related festivals
to promote the markets. We missed the Chili Festival and the Mushroom Festival was a little far away, but we
decided to check out the Garlic Festival in nearby Easton. Easton is the third town of the Lehigh Valley and lies
on the shores of the Delaware River marking the State border with New Jersey. The town centre retains much
of its older character and is marked by a classic town square where the market is. We began by trying out the
competitors in the Garlic cupcake competition (interesting but only a couple were worth recommending) before
exploring the market. The main find was a local cheese maker that made soft, almost flowable cheeses that
were excellent. Most of the local cheeses we can find are hard cheeses, like jacks and cheddars, so this was a
real and pleasant surprise. We also found some excellent garlic vinegar, truffle oil, local honey and a very tasty
collection of mushrooms, before going to watch the Pig races.
I also had a surprise at work one Friday, when I received an IM asking if I wanted free tickets to see the Lehigh
Phantoms (new minor league ice hockey team, affiliated with the Philadelphia Flyers) that night. I had entered a
free draw (Air Products is a sponsor so has 4 four reserved seats in the stadium) for tickets a week earlier, but
thought I hadn’t got lucky. However, the winner was unable to attend and I was next in line, so Jacqueline and I
enjoyed a Friday night at the new Allentown Arena. The new arena is the centerpiece of Allentown’s recent
regeneration and very impressive; we enjoyed a nice dinner at Chickie and Pete’s before finding our seats to
watch the game.
I’ve never been a real ice hockey fan and I’m not sure this converted me, but we did enjoy the game. It was
certainly a lot of fun to watch and much easier to follow than watching games on television. The Phantoms
scored early and were much more efficient than their Binghampton opponents who had more shots on goal than
the home team. The Phantoms extended their lead during a Binghampton power play with a slap shot from
distance, before racing into a 4 – 0 lead at the start of the third. The end of the game was marked by a five on
three siege of the Phantoms goal as the Phantoms tried, successfully to defend their clean sheet. The
Phantoms rookie goalkeeper was man of the match and made some great saves right at the end.
The fourth Thursday of November is Thanksgiving, followed by the infamous Black Friday shopping frenzy. We
usually don’t plan anything for Thanksgiving as we have no relatives in the US and no real history of
Thanksgiving. We have settled on having a roast beef dinner on Thanksgiving, as we reserve Turkey for
Christmas so the traditional Thanksgiving dinner would result in Turkey overload. As expected, Thomas and
Hannah went out so Jacqueline and I looked forward to a quiet Thursday, but it was not to be.
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Thomas phoned early Thursday evening to say that his girlfriend’s oven had expired and could they come over
to cook their Turkey in our oven. We agreed, expecting them to just bring the Turkey, but the whole family came
over and took over our kitchen to cook the entire meal. We enjoyed the dinner together, but it was a very late
evening when everything was finally ready.
Last year, I bought an iPad for $100 as a Best Buy door-buster on Black Friday, but there seemed little on offer
this year. Thomas had saved his money from working at Dorney to buy a replacement television for his Xbox; he
had been using the TV we bought over from Japan but wanted an upgrade. This would have been our only
purchase this year, but our printer finally gave out so Jacqueline and I were forced to brave the long lines to get
a replacement (not a bargain sadly).
Thanksgiving marked our last free Thursday for the next four months, as the Shelter at the Inn service started at
our church again in December. As Bethlehem PA officially does not have any homeless people (the Mayor and
City Council refuse to acknowledge there is a homeless problem), each year, a number of the Bethlehem
churches team up to provide overnight shelter and food for the homeless over the winter months from
December to March. Each church takes one or two nights and either shelters to provide shelter for either the
men or women; it’s too problematic to shelter them together and generally there are more problem with the
women, even though they are fewer in number. Our church (the Cathedral Church of the Nativity) provides
shelter for men on Thursday nights, so Jacqueline and I have volunteered to help with the registration and
check in (plus set up) every Thursday night, so we’ve been busy. I’m also helping with coordinating all the
volunteers (providing food and shelter is a surprisingly big operation) and Jacqueline has also helped with
laundry and cooking.
So far, we have had fewer people attending than last year, possibly due to the warmer weather but also due to
opening of new shelters in Allentown will also have helped. However, we are still averaging 25 people every
night and last year, the numbers staying increased dramatically after New Year. The more observant of you will
probably have realized that Christmas and New Year both fell on Thursday this year, and yes, we were there
both days. Jacqueline cooked our Christmas lunch (Turkey with all the trimmings) and then we went to the
Church at 4.30 and Jacqueline was helping to cook again.
The rest of Christmas was relatively quiet, in part because of the rush to try and get lots of things done before I
had knee surgery. I’m not sure exactly what happened (unlike popping my right knee playing soccer) but I
noticed one evening in November that my left knee was unusually sore, but then it seemed to fade in and out.
However, in early December I went bowling Tuesday night and then had to do a lab inventory on the
Wednesday (lots of bending, crouching, checking storage units etc) and my knee really started to hurt so I
arranged to see the Doctor the next day. This was quite interesting - I said most of the pain was on the back and
outside of the knee, so he started poking around the front and a finger just below the right of the knee cap was
very and unexpectedly painful. He indicated that this was probably a torn meniscus and arranged for the MRI
which duly confirmed the torn axial and medial meniscuses. I was then put in touch with the same surgeon who
th
repaired my right knee, who arranged surgery on the 29 December. I was happily surprised I could be treated
so quickly.
The surgery went well and I spent most of the next three days lying down (on Doctors orders) with my knees
elevated to prevent blood clots (along with regular ankle pumps and buffered aspirin) which really wasn't
conducive for anything except online gaming. It was the same Doctor that repaired my right knee which has
almost no problems at all (it's a little stiff at the start of bowling) and I'll be going back to the same physiotherapy
place as well, so I'm pretty confident that all will be well. I suspect that it's another warning about needing to lose
some weight. I'm not seriously overweight, but my BMI is high and the weight combined with my continued
desire to play sports like tennis and soccer is tough on the joints.
That’s about all for now. I took advantage of the slow turn round to kick off a few new game-starts, so look out
for the new RoboRally, Backpacks and Blisters and Sternenhimmel games. I hope you all have a fabulous New
Year and look forward to catching up with you through 2015.
*****
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Letters
Allan Stagg
Vast apologies for missing the deadline. It is easy to blame retirement, but things have
also been very busy here.
No problem - you've had to chase my orders plenty of times so I can't really complain. However, this
was a surprisingly bad issue for late orders, so I’ll continue with the excuses.
Dane Maslen
Rather carelessly I did not bring various VP-related information on holiday with me. For
some of the games that's merely a pity as it means I'm lacking some useful reference information about the
games, but for RR2218EAF it's catastrophic as it means I don't have the map! I'll be able to send orders for that
game on 30th November if that's any help. Sorry for the cock-up. I really ought to bring all games-related
information away with me on these long trips.
That’s another of my regular excuses for other zines… Dane did, at least, get his other orders in early.
Martin Walker
mailed to everyone ;-)
Sorry these are so late, proud of myself for not looking at Allan Stagg's orders mass
I don’t think I’ve done that one before – replied to all when being chased for orders. I think that most
people Allan copied were honest.
Mike Townsend
Been a bit frantic of late. Long hours greatly exacerbated by horrid roadworks on the
Oxford ring road meaning that if I left between 4:00 pm and 6:30 pm it could take over 1 hour to go 3 miles. After
over 6 months of leaving home at 6:20 am and getting back around 8:00 pm it gets pretty tiresome for all
involved and pretty well writes off the weekdays for anything other than work and basic essentials. With luck
today I did my last hack through the roadworks and when I return on Monday all will be fine (some hope).
Your commute sounds ghastly. I'm glad my commute to work is relatively pain free, plus I have a good
back roads route if the I78 gets blocked up.
Michael Pargman
I'm really sorry that I completely lost the Variable Pig deadline. Even worse, this
weekend I forgot a business meeting with a foundation where I am the treasurer. Very embarrassing, and I only
discovered it when I saw the minutes from the meeting (!). It's time to realize that I can't keep everything in my
head any longer. I've had an excellent memory, but I've had too much to do at work lately and it starts to show.
I've now learned that when I forget to put things in my calendar, I can forget anything.
I must admit I don’t put zine deadlines in my calendar, but almost everything other appointment and
deadline goes into my work calendar. Smart phones are great for helping to coordinate this.
Bob Pitman
Sorry for the delay Jim, last week was sucked up with homework. I'm doing a NVQ in
Support Teaching and Learning in Schools and the second assignment was a bit of a bugger! The whole thing
is a bit fuzzy at the edges and touchy feely, which suits the other ladies on the course down to the ground but
it’s not very comfortable for me at the moment. I'm OK at academic essays and business reports etc but this
stuff just seems to have a very ill defined set of requirements for the written work! It’s driving me bananas!
I think that a lot of us would struggle at that.
Jason Asker
They say better late than never, but I’m not so sure given how tardy I’ve been getting
them to you. I can’t say the dog ate my orders (but she did eat one of my daughters Thorntons advent calendar
and had to be taken to the vets to be treated as chocolate is toxic for dogs).
They were about 2 weeks late, but it's not a problem as I've been dealing with the other games while
waiting.
Jason Asker
The dog is fine but it would appear that I’m down to one functioning Kidney. I had a lot
of back pain from when I was 14 to about 21 which was sporadic and the pain was felt nearer my pelvis/ spine
not my kidney, but this is probably when things went wrong. So I guess I have had only 1 fully functioning kidney
for the last 30 years. I just hope the other one doesn’t pack up!
That sounds rather serious, although I understand that people can survive a long time with only one
kidney. How did they find out?
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Carolyn Townsend
Sorry this is late but we have been very busy whilst Mike sorts out the new pc including
setting up Windows etc. The last pc started smoking which I believe is not a good sign and indeed has proved
terminal. Mike can tell you all about the super new one which is much faster but unfortunately has different links
and short cuts etc. The unplanned upgrade meant we (i.e. Mike) weren’t able to collect all the information
required for PC reconstruction up front.
Sorry to hear about your PC - we had a similar experience back in Holland and setting up a new PC is
time consuming.
Howard Bishop
Sorry. In poor shape here. Still at work. Have missed the last bus back to Wycombe.
Around the houses journey beckons
That’s a new one.
Chris Green
I got stranded in Newbury last weekend when one of the springs in my front suspension
went just as I was headed home - Christmas cards will have to wait another week... I should be back on the
road on Wednesday - but £400 poorer, I guess it's time to seriously consider replacing it if I'm going to start
getting that size bills for wear and tear. The sunk cost fallacy probably means I'll run it for another year though (it
had a major service a couple of weeks ago so the only certain costs next year is a couple of new tyres).
Sorry to hear about your car - hopefully it's just a temporary blip. Our Subaru will hit 90,000 miles
next year and another expensive service. I'm debating whether to trade it in or run it into the ground not sure what is likely to be the best option. We took our Christmas photo over the weekend and are
just waiting for the cards to arrive - I suspect next weekend will be spent writing and posting cards
(after the games meet).
Blaise Hudson
Are you still sending out reminders for deadline because I haven't seen one in a while?
Not sure why you're not getting the reminders as I sent one round last Thursday. Can you check your
junk mail to see if was treated as spam as I think I used the right email address.
Jason Asker
Completely forgot about the deadline. I’ll try to get things done tonight and sent to you.
You have probably sent a reminder to my yahoo address but that is so snowed under with junk mail (1100
emails when I last looked) that I now rarely look at it.
I probably did.
Jason Asker
Can you send all email to Jason.asker “at” abcam.com as my Yahoo account is
cluttered with junk mail
I'll try to remember to change my contact address for you this time.
Conrad von Metzke
And as to your orders - it may interest you to know that only John Colledge beat you.
After a week and a couple of days, I still have just the two of you submitting so far. I tend to get frightened when
that happens….
I can relate to your tale of orders - you definitely won the (non-existent) prize for first set of orders in
this time.
Howard Bishop
I managed to avoid looking at Allan's bean-spilling orders. Hope all is well with you and
that you had a good Thanksgiving break. We always look forward to it here. Two days peace and quiet with no
afternoon trans-Atlantic meetings.
I can remember that peace and quiet; it’s a bit like how our Dutch colleagues seem to disappear for
much of May.
Carolyn Townsend
I hope you had a great thanksgiving – did you do anything special?
We had a fairly relaxing and quiet Thanksgiving, alhough not as quiet as planned. We had planned
just a quiet evening in, with both Thomas and Hannah having Thanksgiving with their girl/boyfriends.
However, Kelsey (Thomas’ girlfriend) family oven gave out so they all came round to us to cook their
dinner, which was interesting.
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Murray Egan
What are you guys up to for Thanksgiving??? Will you be having the girly friend over for
Dinner? And how is Hannah liking her school?? Emma is enjoying her junior year here and driving...she is really
enjoying her friends and Sue and I see less and less of her. Alas, I'm told this is normal.
Glad to hear Emma is enjoying her new independence. We don't see too much of either Thomas or
Hannah know although technically we're not empty nesters. Hannah is enjoying school and when she's
not studying, she's either working at Burger King or hanging with friends. We had no real plans for
Thanksgiving as we expected Thomas and Hannah to be visiting g/b friends, but things didn’t work out
that way. We did enjoy a family dinner later that weekend. Thomas went Black Friday shopping but
there weren’t many good door-buster bargains this year.
Steve Ham
In case I don’t write again before Christmas - I hope you and your family have a lovely
Christmas break (presumably you've just done turkey once already).
We usually have roast beef on Thanksgiving to avoid Turkey overload at Christmas, while most of
Pennsylvania friends have ham at Christmas and the Turkey at Thanksgiving. What do you usually eat
at Christmas.
Steve Ham
Christmas dinner is the one big meal of the year I cook. We're turkey through and
through but I like to experiment with the vegetables.
We don’t experiment that much – we used too but the kids aren’t very adventurous.
Mike Townsend
OK enough of the excuses. Hope you guys all enjoyed Thanksgiving and did not watch
the Eagles Cowboys game! Missed out now traditional celebrations with Tanya being in Spain. So hope you
guys have a great Xmas and see you in the New Year.
I did watch the Eagles Cowboys game and thoroughly enjoyed it, although not as much as the televised
Browns - Steelers game! While the Browns are my team (frustratingly), I do support the Eagles in
almost all their games as they're my local team; fortunately, they only play the Browns once every 4
years or so. I also belong in the camp of cheering for anyone playing the Cowboys / Patriots. That
said, I did also watch Dallas last night slaughter the Bears...
Mike Townsend
Chance for Cowboys to get vengeance against Eagles coming up too. Could also be a
key game for the Play-offs. Apparently it’s been 5 years since the Boy’s even got to the playoffs.
Yes, they did and big time too. I think you’re one of the few of us left (along with Murray’s Bronco’s)
that have Superbowl hopes left.
Harv Barker
Enjoying the football? I have to say the games this year, despite being very high profile
and the season still being open, haven't been inspiring. Maybe that's because all the teams I love are being
hammered!!! I'm still holding out for a low level Superbowl for a change... fingers crossed! Having said that, Go
Browns 8-)
I enjoyed the football until December when both the Browns and Eagles started nose-diving. The AFC
North is still a very tough division with three teams qualifying for the play-offs. Hopefully the Browns
and the Eagles can sort out their quarterback issues in the close season.
Harv Barker
I've actually enjoyed watching the Browns this season, although I'm sort of a closet
Bengals fan... I'm still rooting for the Texans and the Panthers. That's right folks, if you're looking to start
following a football team, do not pick any of the ones I follow.
The Panthers are still there – best team in a weak division and they just won the wild card game
against the battered Cardinals.
Kev Lee
I will definitely be going up to Aldershot next weekend for the Eastleigh game. Looking
forward to it and fingers crossed for the Shots in the Cup replay!
I’m jealous – I haven’t seen the Shots for over five years now, as they never seem to have a convenient
game on while I’m there. I have some optimism I might get to see them at the start of next season. I
saw the highlights of the Pompey game and it looked excellent – they were a little unlucky not to win
although they did win the replay. I have many happy memories of cup ties of old there, including the
10000+ fans watching an 87th minute penalty with hands over their eyes in nervousness against
Sheffield united in a 3rd round replay.
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Kev Lee
Regarding Saints I think we will certainly qualify for Europe in one form or another and
should have a much clearer idea of our Champions League prospects after we have played what I believe to
be 2 of our main rivals for this, Arsenal and Man United twice each by 11 January. Didn't think I would ever be
saying this in the close season. Long may Liverpool and Spurs struggle - haha!
Great news about the Saints and I hope it continues. I will admit that I would prefer they succeed over
the Manchester Clubs and Chelsea, rather than Spurs, simply because Tottenham were always a good
supporter of lower league clubs in the past. The first game Ossie Ardiles and Ricky Villa played in a
Spurs shot after signing in 78 was a testimonial at the Rec for Murray Brodie – Spurs brought down
most of their first team for the game which was pretty decent of them for a pre-season testimonial. The
result was 1-1 by the way. That said, I should be careful about criticizing Chelsea, as their U21 team
plays their home games at the Rec and we now have their pitch from last season.
Steve Ham
I think I also saw that Aldershot have done well in the FA Cup - kicking a team already
ruined by Harry Redknapp - hopefully QPR in the next round!
The Shots came down to earth with a bang this weekend, losing at home to Eastleigh after 3 wins in a
row. I blame Kev Lee myself, as he went to the game. However, the win over Pompey was a real money
spinner and should see the Shots safely through another season focused on rebuilding.
Kev Lee
I was at the Aldershot v Eastleigh game on Saturday and thoroughly enjoyed. It's
certainly a quaint entrance through the parks for the away fans.
Glad you enjoyed the Aldershot game and the Recreation Ground. Surprisingly, I've never used the
away fans entrance and always came in from the High Street entrance.
Kev Lee
I think Eastleigh deserved the win although Aldershot had their moments particularly in
the last 15 minutes after it was 2-0 and they made their substitutions. The key moments went Eastleigh's way
with the first goal being adjudged to have gone over the line and the second half penalty.
The Shots fans were pretty vociferous about the referee on the Shots message board after the game,
which is fairly unusual as they're usually bemoaning the Manager. The feedback on this game was
nearly all about the referee - not the Eastleigh goal or penalty, but the missed decisions for the Shots
(including an allegedly blatant foul just before the penalty). I haven't seen the highlights (lowlights)
yet, so can't comment.
Kev Lee
Eastleigh certainly seem to be going places - that's 7 unbeaten now - and are in with a
real shout of the play offs but could face a big fixture pile up if they keep progressing in the cups and one or two
of their games are called off in the winter season.
A question I hear regularly about Eastleigh is whether their finances are secure (being a Shots fan,
this is something we’re intimately acquainted with). They are doing very well but have invested in
some expensive talent - I hope they have this under control. The Shots are still in rebuilding mode after
the melt down of 2 years ago and are struggling again with injuries and a depleted squad.
Kev Lee
Saints are just about to approach a lot of key games against most of the big boys in the
next month or so which will almost certainly define our season in terms of European aspirations.
The Saints had a poor run recently with some very tough games, but seem to have come out of it again.
It’s great to see them doing so well and long may it continue.
Allan Stagg
I am really pleased that I joined the bowling league. It is a singles league for the over55s, although in reality I and my friends, in our early 60s, are the youngest members. After four weeks my
average is 152, which is probably representative of what I have been achieving this year. It puts me in the top
quartile of the bowlers in the league, but there is no cause for complacency - I was whipped 6-2 last week by a
guy whose average was 131. The saving grace as far as we are concerned is that a lot of the players tend to fall
away in the 3rd game, so as long as we keep healthy our superior stamina should tell - for a while.
Good to hear that your bowling well. I finally managed to bowl three good series in one game last
night, scoring 517 over the 3 games. We only won two of the four games, losing the first two by 5 and
2 pins respectively (I bowled a 6 on my last ball to blow the second frame) before we stuffed them by a
hundred pins in the third to also win on total pins. Jacqueline wasn't feeling too well, so Thomas
subbed for her. It's about the 4th time he's played with us this season and it's nice to be bowling with
him again.
Variable Pig – Nero dei Nebrodi
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Kev Lee
Hope you are well and you are coping OK with the blast of wintry weather you are
currently getting.
Blaise Hudson
Winter looks to have hit you with a vengeance; no doubt it will be here soon as my
parents have left the country and migrated to New Zealand for 2 months.
Fortunately the bad weather was a few hours north of us, so we have escaped so far, other than being
pretty chilly last week. We did get snow a few days later, but it soon melted and so far, no more has
fallen
Conrad von Metzke
to get frozen.
Got ‘em (my WIMM orders), thanks! And stay indoors, the weather says you’re about
Yes, the cold weather definitely came and went – it’s cooled down again now but no more snow is
forecast currently.
Brad Martin
Australians!
"First snow"? sounds just too early (for northern hemisphere) or totally weird for West
Yes, it's early although we did get snow on Halloween a few years back. We only got about half an
inch of snow when I wrote, but it was still on the grass this morning. It certainly made driving home in
our 2-seater a little difficult last night.
Murray Egan
I'm wondering if you and Jacqueline got blasted with snow last week? Hard to look at
those pictures from Buffalo and think that a LOT of homes wouldn't be smashed because of the weight of the
snow. We are getting snow now here in Illinois and a lot of ice on the road...a good night to be inside.
We missed the big snow last week fortunately, although it did get darned cold.
Steve Ham
I hope you are well and your work pressures will soon be behind you. Life and work
very busy here so I haven't had the chance to dig out further evidence of Chess being a sport.
All is well here; work is trying to get back to the new normal, whatever that will be. I think we will
have a better feel for this come the New Year, when our new organization is finally bedded in.
Blaise Hudson
All is good here, I have changed job in United Utilities and am now a production
planning analyst, which means deciding how much water we produce and where, and then how we pump it
around the NW of England.
Congratulations on your new job. It sounds like a pretty important and challenging job. I hope you
enjoy it and wish you every success.
Allan Stagg
Retirement is working out quite nicely as I have settled into a comfortable routine for
Mondays to Thursdays, and Fridays and the weekends are spent on visits, family matters or whatever. When I
was at work I used to feel that part of the weekend had to be kept free to catch up on housework, but I am not
so concerned about that now. This will be tested as Sam will start playing ice hockey again when he turns 18 in
December - and the first match is in Gosport, starting at 11 at night!
I'm glad to hear that retirement is suiting you, as it's apparently one of the most stressful events that a
man (I don't know if career women feel the same level of stress) can experience as work becomes such
an important part of their life. When I started work, there was a man there (senior guy and old friend
of my father’s) who was preparing for retirement and actually going for training about it. He
highlighted that it's not just the financial aspect of retirement that needs planning - it's the filling of
hours as well. I've always remembered that discussion.
Allan Stagg
Thanks for the kind words. This is a period of change in my life, and I am convinced
that I have made the right choice. This was brought home to me last weekend when we learnt from out nextdoor neighbour that his wife suffered a stroke and is in hospital. She is only two years older than I am, and does
not have an excessive lifestyle, or any obvious medical issues.
That’s worrying. I hope that she pulls / pulled through. I’m glad to hear that you’re adapting well.
Variable Pig – Nero dei Nebrodi
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Allan Stagg
I hope all is well with you and the family. One question for you - when you retire
(although it is a long way off) where will you retire to?
In answer to your question, the simple answer is I don't know. I would like to retire back to England
some day, but that would mean moving away from the children (and possible grandchildren) which
would be pretty hard. I'm almost certain that Thomas and Hannah will stay here. It may also be
difficult to move for tax reasons, and also the cost of moving back (shipping goods and furniture) may
be prohibitive, although that would require more investigation. There's also the very small matter of
Jacqueline's wishes in this. However, I don't expect to retire for at least another 10 years so hopefully
we have enough time to decide. I have been paying a lot more attention to the financial aspects of
retirement recently though, trying to make sure that this is under control.
Jim-Bob Burgess
Note: Yes, TempleCon (www.templecon.org/15) still is coming up in early February,
and I'm still going to nudge to see if I can get you here to meet you.
Sadly, I definitely won't be able to get to Templecon next year. I'll be in Vegas for World of Concrete
when the con starts and will then move on to New Orleans for the Waterborne Symposium the
following week (and the weekend in New Orleans). I'd like to have come but there is no way I could fit
it in with the 2 conferences / trade shows at the beginning of February. I hope the show is a success
and maybe I'll have more luck in 2016 (especially if it's not the weekend before or after World of
Concrete). I hope the con is a success despite my absence.
Jim-Bob Burgess
No problem, I understand! TempleCon usually gets slotted in right after the Super Bowl,
which your trade show might be doing as well. But we'll see.
I think that was definitely part of the organizers plans.
Jim-Bob Burgess
We didn't meet at one of the Manorcons I've been to, did we??
I don't think we met at a Manorcon. I haven't been to a Manorcon for more than 15 years, when it was
still in Birmingham and Settlers of Catan was a new game! Hope you enjoyed Thanksgiving.
Jim-Bob Burgess
Yes, I mostly went to Manorcon in the 1990's when it was in Birmingham still too.... so
we might have met there, but I really don't remember.
It’s possible but I don’t remember. I was never a diplomacy player, so usually got involved with other
games. I can remember the years when “Magic: The Gathering” and “Settlers of Cataan” arrived and
seemed to take over the con. I also remember an epic, 12 player game of Pit which was very frenetic.
Andy York
And, as an aside, I've signed up to run Rail Baron again this year at OwlCon in
February. Should be fun as always!
Where is Owlcon?
Brendan Whyte
Anyone interested in play-testing my upcoming 1066 game, scheduled for release in
Strategy & Tactics 293 in July next year, should contact Decision Games. They will send you a copy. The
artwork looks great.
Tom Howell
Sure, I'd be interested, if I could find someone to play against. None of the on-line dice
generators you sent previously worked for me. If we could find one that does function, I'd be happy to play
against any of these gentlemen one at a time, please! Otherwise, face to face seems problematical. There are
one or two games shops in Port Angeles, but I never got a bite from the line I posted on the old-fashioned cork
bulletin board at one of them some time ago.
Jim Bob Burgess
I'm probably not interested, but could perhaps be talked into it. None of us are THAT
near each other physically.
Brendan Whyte
It was just a thought in case any of you had local gaming groups/friends/wives and
might be interested. They do require face to face playtesting, so if you have the time/friends, send them an
email expressing interest. Otherwise, pre-order the game now with your local gameshop
The old SPI/3W game "World War One" is being expanded and reissued in S&T 294,
and is also up for playtesting. See: http://decisiongames.com/wpsite/whats-new/
I’ll try to remember to bring this up at EPGS when I next go. There are a few wargamers there, who
do play test games, that might be interested.
Variable Pig – Nero dei Nebrodi
10
Bob Pitman
I did take Tuesday evening off to go shrink the Bayley Board Game Mountain of new
stuff... we did Orcs Orcs Orcs a few weeks back which was fun, and last week we did imperial settlers which
was also a lot of fun.
That’s a new one on me.
Richard Smith
I haven’t actually quite finished my subzine yet as following a few days of Christmasing
with the family I’ve been mostly playing board games with Tony, Bob and Darren. A couple of noobs worth
mentioning are Concordia (http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/124361/concordia) and Castles of Mad
King Ludwig (http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/155426/castles-mad-king-ludwig). I also really
enjoyed Kingsburg (http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/27162/kingsburg) an older dice-rolling game
played for the first time this evening.
I’m sure someone at EPGS will have these; I’ll see if I can get in on a game next time.
Andy York
And, if you need a standby, I can fill in for most any game (though I may need to get
rules for some of them). That also holds true if you're ready to start a game but "need one more player" to fill out
the field. But, if someone else wants a spot, I'll gladly sit out.
Care to sign up for Sternenhimmel? I'd love to get this game moving. It's a German placement game,
easy to play and order but with some tactics and strategy. Thanks for signing up for the other games.
Andy York
OK, but I don't have it nor have I ever played it. I'll check my game store tomorrow. I
didn't get to the game/comic store until last night and it isn't in their system/supply chain inventory anywhere.
No problem – I’ll scan the rules and send them to you when the game starts.
Brendan Whyte
Cover quiz answer: “The unlucky one”. Why a Chinese driver would have not parked in
the 88 spot is inexplicable…
Richard Smith
I say that’s guessable as the Hong Kong school entry question had me stumped for
quite a while, followed by a massive “D’oh” when I twigged it.
Yes, that was my reaction when someone sent it to me!
Dane Maslen
I received VP while I was away on holiday. I looked at the school entry question for a
few minutes and failed to find inspiration. Having got home yesterday evening, I'm now about to send Jim the
orders for the Railway Rivals game for which I forgot to take any map information with me on holiday, so I once
again downloaded VP, but this time to my home PC rather than to my netbook. That caused me to read the
above comment again and that prompted me to look at the school entry question again. I think it took about five
seconds this time for me to realize I'd been looking at the problem from completely the wrong angle!
It shows how you think differently as you get older and also the value of leaving things and coming
back to them when you get stuck.
Jim-Bob Burgess
Anyway, I really am enjoying Variable Pig these days, I just wish Tom Howell could
write better Kendo Nagasaki clues, they may even be worse than mine!!!
I think writing the clues is the hardest part of the Kendo game. I just lost a game in Brendan’s “Damn
the Consequence” when I was the first to identify Kendo in the wrong location, and then completely
misread his clue to change my Kendo guess next turn.
Richard Smith
Orders completed a bit earlier than I expected as I was working over the weekend of
the 8th and 9th at a “hack” event. This is the second one I’ve done even though I am a bit old for it (I can’t pass
for 22 anymore and the backwards baseball cap just doesn’t suit me). At neither event was there any beer or
pizza which I was led to believe was de rigueur. At the first one there was Red Bull on offer to facilitate all night
programming, at the second it was coffee, Haribo and Monster Munch. The winning hack was shown off at an
event at the BT Tower a few days later which I also attended. As I mentioned in my orders to Conrad going up
the tower and having lunch in the revolving restaurant was something I’d always wanted to do as a kid, but the
tower has not been open to the public since 1980. On arrival the weather was damp and dull, and the morning
was spent in a windowless auditorium so it was a pleasant surprise when we got to the 34th floor at noon that
the the sun had come out and the view was superb.
Sounds cool to go up the Post Office Tower; it’s a bit like the iconic Chrysler Building in New York,
that is only open to the public on the ground floor. I’d love to go inside that building.
Variable Pig – Nero dei Nebrodi
11
Murray Egan
Last weekend was Deer Camp. A good time had by all, particularly the deer as not a
single one was spotted by the 6 of us hunters. Hard to believe, but I'm told that deer herds move and indeed the
water source that I hunt on was dry when I got there so that certainly didn't help things.
Sorry to hear that your deer hunting wasn't successful. I assume that you were able to hunt down
copious amounts of beer instead! Hopefully you still had a good time.
Brad Martin
Remembrance Day commemoration very low-key here, maybe they are holding back
until 2018? Next year will certainly be a big one - the Tories have set aside $325 million to "celebrate" 100th
anniversary of Gallipoli.
I should have remembered that Gallipoli or ANZAC Day would probably have more significance in
Australia than Remembrance Day or Veterans Day - I hope they do a good job when the time comes
round. This week (Remembrance Day) was a timely reminder how much I miss the Poppy's in England,
used to raise money for the British Legion. We were able to get them occasionally in Japan, but I think
we only managed once here. I will have to try harder.
Brad Martin
I've just finished 'Nemesis' by Max Hastings - a British journalist/historian. It was a good
read with a welcome focus on non-US aspects of the war against Japan, mainly from the point-of-view of the
ordinary soldier/civilian rather than the commanders (although MacArthur got a pasting).
I finally finished “10 Fateful Decisions” which was excellent reading. I really should read more
history now and then.
Steve Ham
You may have heard that there is a world shortage of cocoa - conspiracy theorists
might believe this is a cunning attempt by big business to develop Mars Bars that only have enough cocoa for
Work!
I heard about, but didn’t explore the subject. What’s the background? Is this competition between
commodities (e.g. rubber and palm oil that affects S.E. Asia), plant disease or some other factor.
David Cowie
My local newsagents has five or six different tattoo magazines on the shelf. On the
other side of the street is a tattoo shop ... which has been closed since I moved in here, nearly three years ago
now. Something of a discrepancy there, I think.
A case of failed marketing, methinks
Conrad von Metzke
(I mentioned finding some wonderful, local soft cheese to Conrad at the Easton
Farmers Market) Farmers Markets - well, in the suburban areas close to where we actually have farms, they’re
a big thing and have been for ages. The inner city has a few, which tend to come and go for reasons
mysterious to me; we actually have one every Tuesday at a church less than a mile from my house, and we’ve
gone a few times, but they were small to begin with and are shrinking rapidly as business seems to have fallen
badly. There was another one that started a couple of years ago in the parking lot at my doctor’s office building,
and it went very well for a short while and then fairly rapidly deteriorated into a “food for immediate
consumption” marketplace, meaning in effect a lunch option for the employees and patients. All the fresh
veggies etc. disappeared; nobody wanted things to take home, just to eat right then. There have been others
on and off - including one that was indoors, in the middle of a shopping mall in a vacant department store
(started just after Macy’s bought Robinson’s-May; this center had both so closed one of them, and for several
years the market took over. Then, just this year, they found a tenant for the building, the market was kicked out
and now they operate from the parking lot of an elementary school on that school’s half-day. Most of our
elementary schools have four full and one half-day owing to budget issues.)
Or, if you want the short version: Yes, we have a few, but the urban ones are a bit onand-off….
Sad to hear that your farmers markets are disappointing. There are plenty of good one round here
locally, but that's probably because we're in farming country. It's also a legacy of Pennsylvania Dutch,
I think.
Steve Ham
Some space fillers for you!
http://www.buzzfeed.com/patricksmith/heres-a-map-of-all-the-rude-place-names-in-the-uk
Thanks very much for sharing - I wonder if this is Richard's creation?
Richard Smith
I drove through Cocking this afternoon though I haven’t been to Shitterton for a while :-)
It certainly could have been
Variable Pig – Nero dei Nebrodi
12
Mike Townsend
My old PC also mysteriously and suddenly died and took a monitor out with it at the
same time (or the other way round). Fortunately both hard drives were fine and it needed replacing anyway.
Just that the process had to be accelerated and then mega effort building the new PC with finding and loading
software, moving data. Working out the wonders of Windows 8.1 etc.. Rather nice now with a video decode that
used to take around 30 hours on the old PC down to not much more than 1 hour on the new one!
Sorry to hear about your old PC - I remember one of our old PCs going up in smoke (literally) when
we lived in De Meern. Now I have an i-pad, I rarely use a PC at home except for work (or VP) and I'm
not sure if I'd buy another home PC. That said, I do miss some of the features of PCs, including
Cyberboard which is why I no longer create new RR maps (only Bus Boss maps).
David Cowie
Hearing "Rudolf the red nosed reindeer" on the radio, it occurred to me that the song
seems to be saying that freaks will only be accepted if someone in authority declares them to be useful. I
wonder if this was intentional? Merry Christmas!
Allan Stagg
That’s it. Hope all is well with you and the family, and that you all have a great
Christmas and New Year.
Bob Pitman
Christmas is coming... time to spread the joy!
Carolyn Townsend
Have a great Christmas and best wishes for the New Year.
Thanks to everyone for their Christmas wishes and all the best for 2015.
*****
Lyric Quiz
Game Ten – Round Two
Anyone can play – score 1 point for identifying the song and another for the artist.
1) “If you need me, call me, No matter where you are, No matter how far”
“Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” by Diana Ross or Marvin Gaye
Jacqueline Reader, Blaise Hudson, Harv Barker, Murray Egan, Martin Walker (singer only)
2) “We are undercover passion on the run, Chasing love up against the sun”
“Part Time Lover” by Stevie Wonder
Harv Barker, Murray Egan
3) “Can I have your daughter for the rest of my life? Say yes, say yes 'cause I need to know”
“Rude” by Magic
Jacqueline Reader
4) “And through it all she offers me protection, A lot of love and affection”
“Angels” by Robbie Williams
John Hopkins, Jacqueline Reader, Richard Smith, John Walker, Arthur Owen, David Cowie, Dane Maslen,
Steve Guest, Harv Barker, Murray Egan, Martin Walker, Tony Critchley
5) “Goodbye, Piccadilly, Farewell, Leicester Square!”
“It’s a Long Way to Tipperary” by Jack Judge and Harry Williams
John Hopkins, Jacqueline Reader, Richard Smith, Brendan Whyte, Dane Maslen, Blaise Hudson, Arthur Owen,
Steve Guest, Harv Barker, Tony Critchley
6) “Oh, if the sky comes falling down for you, There’s nothing in this world I wouldn’t do”
“Hey Brother” by Avicii
Jacqueline Reader, Harv Barker
7) “I saw the rain dirty valley, You saw Brigadoon”
“Whole of the Moon” by The Waterboys
Jacqueline Reader, Richard Smith, Brendan Whyte (song only), John Walker, Dane Maslen (song only), David
Cowie, Steve Guest, Harv Barker, Martin Walker, Tony Critchley (song only)
Variable Pig – Nero dei Nebrodi
13
8) “Only know you've been high when you're feeling low, Only hate the road when you’re missin' home”
“Let Her Go” by Passenger
Nobody
9) “You said it belonged to me, Made me stop and think, And then I noticed yours was red and mine a baby
pink”
“Lipstick on your Collar” by Connie Francis
John Hopkins, Richard Smith (song only), Blaise Hudson (song only)
10) “I could leave but I won't go though my heart might tell me so, I can't feel a thing from my head down to my
toes”
“That’s All” by Genesis
John Hopkins, Jacqueline Reader, Richard Smith, Harv Barker (Singer only)
Comments
John Hopkins
1) You’ve got a Friend, by Carole King (I’ve owned the Tapestry album for nigh on 40 years and seldom tire of it:
one of the ten greatest albums of all time)
Jacqueline Reader
5. It's a long way to Tipperary ['s written by a man in Staley bridge, who never went there]
8. I have no idea on this one every time it comes on the radio I turn it off because it irritates me. Now it irritates
me more because I'm missing points because of it. Aargh.
Brendan Whyte
5. It’s a long way to Tipperary (Max Bygraves on the album “singalonga war years”
John Walker
I recognise a couple of others but can't get near them. If inspiration strikes I'll update my guesses
I can accept new orders for the Lyrics pretty much right up until the next issue gets published, so no
worries about sending more in later.
8 Sing - Ed Sherran
Dane Maslen
This is getting silly. I'm on holiday in Tenerife. Yesterday I was wandering round the local supermarket when
what should I hear as background music but the lyrics "I'm just a soul whose intentions are good, O, Lord,
please don't let me be misunderstood." Has it a cover version been released by someone recently? Otherwise
I fail to see why my limited current exposure to pop music should have resulted in my hearing the song twice in
about a month. I'm still none the wiser about the title or the original artist(s) though.
Normal service has been resumed: most of the lyrics ring no bells and most of those that do leave me clueless
as to the title.
4) I might be able to send an update identifying this one - I just need to get the lyrics straight in my head and
identify which bit is the title. I eventually realised why I recognised these lyrics. Some years ago there was a
double-CD released to commemorate 50 years of the BBC charts. This is one of the more modern (i.e. post
1990 as far as I'm concerned) number ones that appear on the second CD. As such I have no chance of
identifying either the artist or the title, even though I can sing quite a lot of the lyrics, unless I happen, purely
coincidentally you understand, to play the CD. Good heavens! Guess what's just happened!
5) "It's a long way to Tipperary" but my only hope for identifying the artist is if Vera Lynn sang it.
7) Well, I know it continues something like "... ... ... You saw the whole of the Moon" but that's absolutely no
help.
Andy York
For the Lyrics Quiz I recognize a number of the selections, but can't place any of them. So, I'll have to pass on
this one. If something does come to me, I'll send in amended orders.
Blaise Hudson
9. Lipstick on your colour – Cyndi Lauper
A bit of a stinker this one for me.
Variable Pig – Nero dei Nebrodi
14
Arthur Owen
8. James Blunt?
Wow, that was hard.
David Cowie
3) This has been on the radio quite a lot recently, and can I remember artist and title? No I can't. When it comes
on I usually find myself thinking about the sexual politics of the singer asking his beloved's father for permission
to marry her. She isn't her father's property, you know. And when her father says no, the singer declares that
he's going to marry her anyway. So why did he bother asking in the first place?
Harv Barker
1 - Aint no mountain high enough, Diana Ross (not sure if it was with the Supremes or not)
2 - Part time lover... Stevie Wonder or Lionel Richie. Going to plump for Stevie Wonder...
10 - Genesis... Can't remember the name. I can't dance?
Chris Green
I can hum number 4, but I can't get the next line. The rest I've got no idea, so nil points for the first time in a
while.
Martin Walker
Several of these lyrics I do recognise but the brain is refusing to play ball.
Scores
Jacqueline Reader
Harv Barker
Blaise Hudson
Martin Walker
David Cowie
Tony Critchley
Richard Smith
John Hopkins
Arthur Owen
Dane Maslen
Steve Guest
John Walker
Murray Egan
Brendan Whyte
Chris Green
Andy York
Tom Howell
14 (23)
13 (21)
5 (19)
5 (19)
4 (16)
5 (15)
9 (19)
8 (16)
4 (13)
5 (13)
6 (12)
4 (11)
6 (10)
3 (9)
0 (6)
0 (4)
0 (2)
Next turn’s selection
1) "If you see me walking down the street, And I start to cry each time we meet"
2) "I would have given you all of my heart, But there's someone who has torn it apart"
3) "I hear hurricanes ablowin', I know the end is comin' soon"
4) "What's the use in trying, All you get is pain, When I needed sunshine I got rain"
5) "I know I've got to find, Some kind of piece of mind, Maybe"
6) "No-one else can make me feel, The colors that you bring, Stay with me while we grow old, And we will live
each day in springtime"
7) "Isn't it rich, Are we a pair, Me here at last on the ground, You in mid air"
8) "Dog goes woof, Cat goes meow, Bird goes tweet and mouse goes squeak"
9) "As the Midnight moon, Was drifting through, The lazy sway of the trees"
10) "I hope you have fun, The near and the dear ones, The old and the young"
*****
Variable Pig – Nero dei Nebrodi
15
BY ODDLY POPULAR DEMAND
Turn Four
Player
Steve Guest
WWI Battle
Caporetto
Martin Walker
Verdun
Michael
Pargman
Dane Maslen
First Battle of
Krithia
Somme
Roger
Trethewey
Richard Smith
La Bassee
John Walker
Howard
Bishop
Conrad von
Metzke
Bob Gingell
Tony Critchley
Loos
Somme
Dogger Bank
Coronel
Dogger Bank
Marne
Brendan
Whyte
Chris Green
Second Isonzo
Harv Barker
Ypres
Jim-Bob
Burgess
Murray Egan
Second Battle
of the Marne
Somme
Kev Lee
Somme
Somme
Andrew York
Tannenberg
Tom Howell
Third Battle of
Ypres
Somme
Jacqueline
Reader
Steve Ham
Blaise
Hudson
Arthur Owen
Passchendaele
Ypres
Somme
German
WWII
General
Friedrich
Muller
Gunther von
Kluge
Walter
Surén
Erwin
Rommel
Heinz
Guderian
Kurt Student
Erwin
Rommel
CarlHeinrich von
Stülpnagel
Erwin van
Witzleben
Freidrich
Dollmann
Erwin
Jaenecke
Walter Heitz
English
Civil War
Battle
Stratton
American
Civil War
Battle
McDowell VA
Kilsyth
White Oak
Swamp VA
Buckland
Mills VA
Gettysburg
PA
Carnifex
Ferry WV
Gettysburg
PA
Gettysburg
PA
Balls Bluff,
VA
Philiphaugh
Cheriton
Lostwithiel
Portsmouth
Edgehill
Wigan
Lane
Roundway
Down
Roundway
Down
Alford
Auldearn
Erwin
Rommel
Agricola
Worcester
Erwin
Rommel
Erwin
Rommel
Erwin
Rommel
Erich von
Manstein
Erwin
Rommel
Ewald van
Kleist
Helmuth
Weidling
Erwin
Rommel
Erwin
Rommel
Dunbar
Edgehill
Cropredy
Bridge
Marston
Moor
York
Marston
Moor
Cropredy
Bridge
Edgehill
Naseby
Bosworth
Current
Conflict
Battle of
Britain Plane
Colombia
Supermarine
Spitfire
Bristol
Blenheim
Fiat G.50
Freccia
Supermarine
Spitfire
Focke Wulf
FW200 C3
Hawker
Hurricane
Supermarine
Spitfire
Supermarine
Spitfire
(42)
142
(44)
137
(43)
134
(37)
132
(36)
127
(38)
126
(37)
126
(34)
125
Faerie Battle
(37)
123
(32)
123
(42)
120
(34)
119
(32)
118
(23)
117
(37)
112
(35)
112
(36)
111
(36)
111
(34)
111
(35)
109
(29)
105
(29)
105
(33)
101
Kashmir
South
Yemen
South
Sudan
Somalia
Syria
ISIS
NagornoKarabakh
Picacho Pass
AZ
Mill Springs
KY
Bristoe
Station VA
Corinth, MS
Nagorno
Karabakh
Nigeria
Gettysburg
PA
Sewell’s
Point VA
Wilderness
VA
Gettysburg
PA
Rich
Mountain WV
Palmito
Ranch TX
Bull Run VA
Syria
Fort Henry
TN
nd
2 Bull Run
VA
Valley Forge
PA
Xinjiang
Korea
Syria
Mexico
Drugs
ISIS
Syria
Mexico
Drugs
South
Thailand
Mexico
Drugs
South
Sudan
Nigeria
ISIS
Boulton Paul
Defiant
Supermarine
Spitfire
Hawker
Typhoon
Me 109
Hawker
Hurricane
Hawker
Hurricane
Supermarine
Spitfire
Supermarine
Spitfire
Fiat CR42S
Falco
Junkers Ju
87
Hawker
Hurricane
Gloster
Gladiator
Hawker
Hurricane
Supermarine
Spitfire
Variable Pig – Nero dei Nebrodi
Brad Martin
Verdun
Chris Hibbert
Verdun
Allan Stagg
MY CHOICES
Tannenberg
Ypres
Heinz
Guderian
Erwin
Rommel
Heinz
Guderian
Heinz
Guderian
16
Naseby
Shiloh TN
DR Congo
Edgehill
Antietam MD
Newbury
Mansfield LA
Cropredy
Bridge
Vicksburg
MS
South
Sudan
South
Sudan
Mali
Hawker
Hurricane
Me 109
Gloster
Gladiator
Me 109
1. A major battle of World War I?
Somme (6), Verdun (3), Third Battle of Ypres / Passchendaele (2),
Ypres (3), Tannenburg (2), Dogger Bank(2); Caporetto, First Battle of Krithia, La Bassee, Loos, Coronel,
Second Battle of Isonzo, Marne, Second Battle of the Marne all score 7.
I agree with the person that asked about the significance of Isonzo on the Italian Front. Apparently,
Caporetto was the 12th battle of the Isonzo and site of a major use of poison gas. Krithia was part of
the Gallipoli campaign. La Bassee was an early battle of the war, part of the German race to the sea.
The battle of Loos was the largest British offensive of the war and featured the first British use of
poison gas. The German Navy defeated the British off the coast of Chile at Coronel. The third battle of
Ypres is also known as the Battle of Passchendaele. The second battle of Marne took place near the
end of the war, with the arrival of American troops turning the tide against Germany. Tannenberg was
an early battle of the Eastern Front.
2. A German World War II General?
Erwin Rommel (10), Heinz Guderian (4); Friedrich-Wilhelm Muller,
Gunther von Kluge, Walter Surén, Carl-Heinrich von Stülpnagel, Siegfried Dollman, Kurt Student, Erwin van
Witzleben, Walter Heitz, Erwin Jaenecke, Helmuth Weidling, Ewald van Kleist and Erich von Manstein all score
11. Gnaeus Julius Agricola scores 0.
Friedrich-Wilhelm Muller, the butcher of Crete was executed for war crimes after the war. Walter
Surén was Luftwaffe General of the Air Signal Corps. Gunther von Kluge, although not an active
conspirator unlike Carl-Heinrich von Stülpnagel and Erwin van Witzleben, committed suicide after the
failed assassination plot against Hitler. Freidrich Dollmann committed suicide soon after D-Day and
the Fall of Cherbourg. Heinz Guderian, captured in Al Stewart’s song “Roads to Moscow” was an
architect of blitzkrieg warfare, together with Erich von Manstein and later helped advise the
rebuilding of the German post war military. Kurt Student was another Luftwaffe General who led the
airborne invasion of Crete. Walter Heitz fought with Erwin Jaenecke on the Eastern Front, died of
cancer in Russian captivity in 1944. Helmuth Weidling led the final defence of Berlin against the
Russians before surrender. General Gnaeus Julius Agricola was a Gallo Roman General involved the
invasion of England by the Romans – scores 0.
3. A battle of the English Civil War?
Edgehill (4), Cropredy Bridge (3), Marston Moor (2), Naseby (2),
Roundway Down (2); Stratton, Cheriton, Kilsyth, Philiphaugh, Wigan Lane, Lostwithiel, Portsmouth, Worcester,
Auldearn, Alford, Dunbar, Newbury, York and Bosworth Field all score 5.
No surprise that the minor little battle of Cropredy Bridge scored well. The battles of Kilsyth,
Auldearn and Philiphaugh were both battles in the interlinked War of the Three Kingdoms, involving
Scottish Royalists; something else I learned this issue.
4. A battle of the American Civil War? Gettysburg (5), McDowell, Sewell Point, White Oak Swamp, Buckland
Mills, Balls Bluff, Mill Springs, Carnifex Ferry, Picacho Pass, Corinth, Rich Mountain, Bristoe Station, Bull Run,
nd
2 Bull Run, Valley Forge, Wilderness, Mansfield, Palmito Ranch, Fort Henry, Shiloh, Antietam and Vicksburg
all score 6.
I think most people went searching through the same list that I did for obscure battles. Picacho Peak
or Pass wasn’t listed but was the westernmost battle of the wars.
5. A conflict that is currently happening? South Sudan (4), Syria (4), Mexican Drug Wars (3), ISIS (3), Nigeria
(2), Nagorno-Karabakh (2): Colombia, Kashmir, South Yemen, Somalia, Korea, Xinjiang, South Thailand, Dr
Congo and Mali all score 5
Sadly, there are still rather a lot of them. No surprise about the “popular vote” but there were a few I
had to look up and check.
6. A type of aeroplane that fought in the Battle of Britain?
Supermarine Spitfire (8), Hawker Hurricane
(6), Messerschmidt 109 (2), Gloster Gladiator (2); Bristol Blenheim, Fiat G.50 Freccia, Boulton Paul Defiant,
Focke Wulf FW200, Faerie Battle, Junkers Ju87 Stuka, and CR42 all score 9. The Hawker Typhoon scores 0 as
(26)
99
(30)
98
(23)
98
(23)
104
Variable Pig – Nero dei Nebrodi
17
this did not come into service until 1941, after the Battle of Britain had finished (or at least moved into a different
phase).
Once again, there are not too many surprises about the popular vote. The Faerie Battle isn’t listed in
the Wikipedia list but a check on the Austin Memories website (yes, the Faerie aeroplanes were built
by Austin) indicated that it was in service during the Battle of Britain.
In this round, the top scorers this round was Martin Walker who scored 44 from a maximum of 45.
And now, the players comments section
Steve Ham
World War II Battle - Weidling (with research) - there was a time when I read loads about WWII and watched a
lot of films - but that genre doesnt appear to be at all popular now.
American Civil War Battle - Bull Run 2. I'm quite sure there were two battles at Bull Run so I am specifically
going for the second one.
Aeroplane in Battle of Britain - Gloster Gladiator, I think already a relic but I think popular vote will be spread
across Spitfire/Hurricane etc.
Andy York
1 - Tannenberg (Hoping most folks go with battles in the west).
2 - I'd normally go with Kesselring, but don't know that he was a "General" before he was a Field Marshal
(coming up through the Luftwaffe). So, let's go with Manstein.
3 - York (I had to use this one, but had to look it up to be sure there was a battle there).
4 - Battle of Palmito Ranch (last land battle, here in Texas).
5 - Narco-trade cartels versus the Mexican government
6 - CR.42 (Italian biplane comes to mind)
Dane Maslen
I think I'll mostly opt for popular answers this round, though I'll go with a current conflict that I suspect most
people will have forgotten about and if I can remember the name of the English Civil War battle site near
Alresford that I occasionally cycle past (it begins with a C I think), I'll go for that rather than a popular one.
3. A battle of the English Civil War: CHERITON (I couldn't remember it, but Googled for it)
Re. Chess Question - The only contribution I can make to this debate is that in the Fifth and Sixth form at school
we were able to take chess as our sports option. Being hopeless at all physical sports (well, I wasn't a complete
failure at hockey - i.e. field hockey in American terminology - but on safety grounds I felt it desirable to give it up)
but capable at chess, I did so.
Brendan Whyte
I’m with Jim: chess is not a sport. But neither is darts or billiards. They are hobbies or games. If you’re not
wearing shorts or budgies smugglers, if you’re not trying to grab other men, if you’re not standing on grass/in
mud/in the water, then you’re just pussying round. Sport is a he-man thing about physical one-up-manship.
Chess is for girliemen and nancyboys.
5. Korean war (no peace treaty yet). If you don’t accept that: civil war in Dem Rep Congo
Conrad von Metzke
And so in my new campaign to get orders in on time, which is subject to revision if it fails - which is inevitable I
suppose - here are your BPD game orders for the next turn, even in advance of having perused the rest of the
‘zine this time.
2. German WW II general - ERWIN v. WITZLEBEN (best known as a major player in the 20th July plot against
Hitler)
5. Current war - NAGORNO-KARABASH (Azerbaijan vs. Armenia, on and off)
I’m least confident about the airplane one, as I know virtually nothing about such matters and can’t really
evaluate the popularity of some of them. I picked one that I’d never heard of in my life. As to Gen. Witzleben,
he’s usually listed as a Field Marshal but was still a General until the end of the defeat of France in 1940. He’s
best remembered as the one they put up in a show trial after the 20 July plot, with his pants falling down and the
judge interrupting everything he tried to say. He was hanged with piano wire the next day.
Variable Pig – Nero dei Nebrodi
18
Tony Critchley
I played chess to a decent (county) level. I also have played a number of actual sports (cricket, rugby,
Basketball, archery etc), but never would I have considered chess to be a Sport, so I'm quite surprised the IOC
include it.
And I'm surprised Steve seems to be arguing it quite so strongly - it's not going to put him near the top of the
standings, is it? (me neither!!). So a definite Chess is NOT a sport from me!
Murray Egan
3. A battle of the English Civil War Battle of Cropredy Bridge (resulting in a massive blood spill between folk
singers and retired pop stars).
Harv Barker
2. Monty (Gawd bless him)
Doh, you totally said German. Idiot. Change him for Agricola please mate.
Steve Guest
1. Battle of Caporetto (listed as "major" at http://www.mapsofworld.com/world-war-i/major-battles.html)
2. Friedrich-Wilhelm Muller (aka "Butcher of Crete" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FriedrichWilhelm_M%C3%BCller)
5. Colombian conflict (from list http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ongoing_armed_conflicts)
Tom Howell
Sorry, not into this one for some reason. This is the turn where I slide down the list.
Jim-Bob Burgess
1) I thought of just saying "Battle of the Marne", but of course they were the two bookending battles of World
War I, one coming at the beginning and the other of course at the end. The Second Battle of the Marne had
fewer casualties but arguably was more important since it ended the hopes of a breakthrough, and thus led to
the ending of the war. First Marne ended the German advance and set up the stalemate lines.
2) Rommel was just a really interesting general who went from Hitler's favorite to forced suicide after the failed
attempt on Hitler's life.
3) I don't know, I thought of choosing Marston Moor, but thought that was a sure loser. Dunbar, I think, was
Cromwell's last big victory moving into Scotland.
4) The Battle of the Wilderness was a fascinating mess, I've visited most of these battlefields, it is one of my
hobbies, I hope I score with this.
5) It's listed on lists of conflicts, it's been going on for a long time, and it's been in the news lately, why not?
6) Arguably the most numerous plane, but might score highly.
I am a loser at this game, but at least I'm out of last place!!
Martin Walker
3. Battle of Kilsyth 1645 ( a few miles north of here)
4. Battle of White Oak Swamp 1862
Michael Pargman
2 Walter Suén, General der Luftnachrichtentruppe
Tony Critchley
3. Alford (Battle of Cropredy Bridge seems far too obvious for this one!)
5. Well as I type "a conflict that is currently happening" is Liverpool FC v Sunderland FC - would that count ?!!
OK - let's go with Xinjiang conflict
6. Spitfire - what else?!
Howard Bishop
1. This is quite hard. How do you determine what a major battle is? I'm tempted by The Ninth Battle Of The
Isonzo (just how important was the Isonzo for heaven's sake), but I'll go with Dogger Bank. It was one of the
bigger naval engagements of the war and hopefully most people will be tempted to go with land battles.
2. Carl-Heinrich von Stülpnagel, General Officer Commanding 17th Army, Eastern Front, Condemned to death
and executed as conspirator in the 20th of July 1944 assassination attempt upon Hitler.
3. There was a battle in High Wycombe, but it was borderline skirmish/battle. I did my A-level Archaeology
project on Chalgrove Field, but Wigan Lane sounds too exotic not to use, so Wigan Lane it is!
Variable Pig – Nero dei Nebrodi
19
5. The Korean division conflict is still ongoing, no fatalities yet this year (2 in 2013). If you don't allow that then
let's go with the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. These guys need to get a grip!
6. Spitfire. Yes, I know in theory there were some Italian planes and things like the Gloster Gladiator, but it
would be rude not to go with the old favourite. We were playing footy at Goals South Ruislip a couple of years
ago and it's right next to RAF Northolt. Suddenly a Spitfire appeared overhead and started to do some incredible
aerobatics. I looked round and every single game had stopped to watch.
Allan Stagg
1 Battle of Tannenburg (I have just finished watching a series of DVDs about WW1, which have served to
enlighten me about the Eastern Front - something which has been somewhat airbrushed out of our view of the
war).
2 Guderian (ref. Al Stewart from Roads to Moscow)
3 Newbury (either one)
The questions for the fourth round are
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
A Christmas Carol
A Christmas number one single
Something you hang on a Christmas Tree
An old Testament Prophet
Something my true love sent to me during the 12 days of Christmas
Part of the knee
*****
6 Nimmt! – Game Ten
Round Eight
A great round for Kev sees both his nearest challengers pick up big penalties and fall away. He’s in pole
position moving into the last round.
88
82
81
80
3
HAND 1
90
76
46
71
35
70
32
68
30º
9
1
100
99
87
86
84
11
42
24
22
17!
1
HAND 2
96
100
94
90
80
87
79
85
77
82
11
10
HAND 3
88
71
58#
9
70
55
45
12
61
60&
11
53
52
47@
5
24
22$
4
71
70
62
60
8
HAND 4
69
67
66
65
64
53*
9
1
Kev Lee plays 88 in Hand 1, 24 in Hand 2, 61 in Hand 3 and 49 in Hand 4.
Carolyn Townsend plays 46 in Hand 1, 17 to row 1 of Hand 2, 53 in Hand 3 and 69 in Hand 4.
Steve Ham plays 32 in Hand 1, 42 in Hand 2, 60 in Hand 3 and 31 in Hand 4.
John Walker plays 82 in Hand 1, 58 in Hand 2, 24 in Hand 3 and 53 in Hand 4.
Arthur Owen plays 35 in Hand 1, 88 in Hand 2, 52 in Hand 3 and 50 in Hand 4.
Dane Maslen plays 30 to row 3 of Hand 1, 22 in Hand 2, 22 in Hand 3 and 48 in Hand 4.
Jacqueline Reader plays 81 in Hand 1, 71 in Hand 2, 47 in Hand 3 and 18 in Hand 4.
º Dane takes row 3 of hand 1 for 1 point
! Carolyn takes row 1 of hand 2 for 1 point
# John takes row 4 of hand 2 for 9 points
$ Dane takes row 4 of hand 3 for 4 points
@ Jacqueline takes row 3 of hand 3 for 5 points
& Steve takes row 2 of hand 3 for 11 points
* Jacqueline takes row 3 of hand 4 for 1 point and then John takes the same row for 7 points
24
1
Score = 13
Score = 26
Score = 33
Score = 38
Score = 54
Score = 56
Score = 63
Variable Pig – Nero dei Nebrodi
20
Work Rest and Play
Game 9 – Game End Statements
Roger Trethewey
Good game. Thanks to the others for playing, and to Jim for running.
Game 10 – Game Start
Tom Howell, Roger Trethewey and Arthur Owen are all striving once more to achieve the optimum work – life
balance.
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Tom
Roger
Arthur
Please can you send your orders for Monday next turn.
*****
Backpacks and Blisters 2
Game Start
The following players have decided to return to the Northern Lakes where the weather is a little more reliable
(ahem) - John Walker, Steve Ham, Richard Smith, Brad Martin, Howard Bishop and Arthur Owen. Each postal
turn will cover 2 twenty minute intervals so please can players send orders for next time including their walker’s
name and moves for 10.00 – 10.20 and 10.20 – 10.40. The weather for both intervals is fine.
Movement order for the first interval is John, then Steve, then Richard and so on. Steve will move first in the
second interval, followed by Richard and Brad etc. In most cases, movement order is not important but this can
be important when players reach a target in the same interval or wish to overtake. You may make your orders
conditional on other players movement, provided that they move before you. We will use the secret desire rules.
Player
John Walker
Steve Ham
Richard Smith
Brad Martin
Howard Bishop
Arthur Owen
10.00 – 10.20
10.20 – 10.40
Location
Keswick
Keswick
Keswick
Keswick
Keswick
Keswick
The targets are Skiddaw, Grisedale Pike, High Rigg, Blea Tarn and Dale Head.
Rules and map here http://www.variablepig.org/rules/backpack.html (slightly better map also sent out to
players).
*****
Score
0
0
0
0
0
0
Variable Pig – Nero dei Nebrodi
21
Breaking Away 6
Turn Ten
Questions:
1. I think Georgia Blue and Quincy Durant are in the wrong spot. Sorry I didn't point this out earlier.
No the positions are correct. Quincy Durant was on square 91 at the end of turn 8 and played 3
to move to square 94 in turn 9. Georgia Blue was on square 88 at the end of turn 8 and played
15 in turn 9 to move to square 103.
2. Sorry to query this again - I quote the following from VP146:
“Minor query/point of order.... on space 81 Kinnock is listed before Georgia Blue so should move first but Georgia Blue won the sprint and thus arrived at 81 first and should move before Kinnock.... I think ;-)
According to rule 7.2 In the event of two or more cyclists occupying the same square, the order
of movement is determined by a succession of checks, detailed below.
7.2.1 Grade A cyclists move before grade B cyclists, who move before grade C cyclists, who
move before grade D cyclists.
This means that Kinnock (A rider) will move before Georgia Blue (D rider) although Georgia
Blue arrived at the space first.”
I understand all that. However, I've been looking at the rules bank on the VP Website, and that's a
different set of rules. Call me stupid if you wish 8-p but they're the rules I've played before and I thought
that we'd have been using! Anyhow. You're the boss, but it may be worth addressing the anomoly!
You are absolutely correct, as Tom has also noted in game 7. I have no idea when or where the
discrepancy came in the rules but I have consistently applied the fwtdr rules
(http://www.fwtwr.com/postal_games/breaking_away.htm) and hadn’t realized that they were
different. As these are the rules I have used throughout the game, I will finish the game using the
fwtdr rules, but my apologies for the confusion.
The tenth turn plays out like this, with Bertone coming in first but all the riders behind tiring and well separated.
Square Replacement Riders
st
Bertone (1 )
126
3
121
120
119
118
117
116
McHale, Uncool & Heavy,
115
3
114
5
Georgia Blue
113
112
111
110
Kinnock, Parish,
109
3
Armstrong, Quincy Durant, Sinjin, Ainge
108
5
Kiraly, Artie Wu,
107
9
106
Zagato,
105
3
Bird, Pininfarina,
104
4
Stoklos, Otherguy Overby, Guigiaro
103
6
102
9
Dodd
Nobody else can actually finish next turn, but the positions at the end of next turn would determine final placing;
nd
assuming everyone plays their highest card (there is no benefit not to), then the final positions would be – 2
rd
th
th
Quincy Durant (Out on the Rim), 3 Parish (Celtic Legends), 4 Ainge (Celtic Legends), 5 Uncool and Heavy
Variable Pig – Nero dei Nebrodi
th
22
th
th
(Neils on Wheels), 6 Georgia Blue (Out on the Rim), 7 Artie Wu (Out on the Rim) and 8 McHale (Celtic
Legends). The final team scores are as follows
OUT ON THE RIM (Steve Ham)
th
A. Artie Wu (7 )
11, 3, 3, 9
nd
B. Quincy Durant (2 ) 12, 5, 3
C. Otherguy Overby
6, 9, 6
th
D. Georgia Blue (6 )
5, 3, 1
60 points
VOLLEYBALL GREATS (Chris Hibbert) 18 points
A. Kiraly
3, 3, 9
B. Sinjin
5, 7, 3
C. Stoklos
6, 4, 7
D. Dodd
3, 9, 2
AUTO ITALIA (Richard Smith)
st
A. Bertone (1 )
3, 7, 3, 5
B. Pininfarina
4, 4, 7
C. Zagato
8, 3, 3
D. Guigiaro
1, 11, 6
NEILS ON WHEELS (Lee Batchelor) 16 points
A. Kinnock
3, 4, 3, 3
B. Armstrong
4, 5, 5
th
C. Uncool & Heavy (5 ) 3, 4, 3
D. Razor
dropped
CELTIC LEGENDS (Tony Critchley)
A. Bird
4, 3, 7
th
B. McHale (8 )
3, 3, 3
rd
C. Parish (3 )
7, 11, 3
th
D. Ainge (4 )
12, 5, 5
34 points
28 points
Congratulations to Out on the Rim (Steve Ham)
Game End Statements welcome
*****
Breaking Away 7
Turn Four
As noted above, I have been using the fwtdr rules for adjudicating this game (see link above) and not the rules
posted on the VP website. I apologize if this has caused any confusion. After some thought, I have decided to
continue with the game using these rules. As before, I will try to list the riders in movement order on each
square, but please note that these positions may vary according to the rules listed below.
7.2 In the event of two or more cyclists occupying the same square, the order of movement is determined by a
succession of checks, detailed below.
7.2.1 Grade A cyclists move before grade B cyclists, who move before grade C cyclists, who move before
grade D cyclists.
7.2.2 If cyclists of the same grade occupy the same square, priority movement is given to the cyclist
playing the highest card that turn.
7.2.3 In the event of rule 7.2.2 failing to resolve the tie, priority movement will be given to the cyclist with
the highest card available for play in his hand.
7.2.4 If rule 7.2.3 fails to resolve the tie, the referee refers to the second highest card available for play
(and if that fails the third highest and, if applicable, the fourth highest).
7.2.5 If the tie is still not resolved, priority will be given to the cyclist who arrived on the square first. (On
rare occasions, a cyclist will have occupied the same square on every turn as another cyclist, in
which case it will not be possible to determine which cyclist arrived on the square first. In these
situations the cyclists move simultaneously and any points gained by them on a turn are shared
between them.)
In Turn Two, Blue Duke was on Square 16 and should have received a replacement of 3, but was given an 8
incorrectly which he used in turn 3. I have changed his move to 9, meaning he received a replacement card of 4
and not 9 last turn. The only other rider affected is Deadly Sins whose replacement card has been changed
from 8 to 9. I have tried to adjust Arthur’s and Allan’s orders accordingly. I hope that this hasn’t affected too
many other plans, but I thought this preferable to another holdover. Please let me know if this is not the case.
Variable Pig – Nero dei Nebrodi
Square
40
39
38
37
36
35
34
33
32
31
30
29
28
Replacement
3
3
4
6
11
13
14
15
15
15
15
15
23
Riders
Smackdown, Bini,
Basil,
Sisters, Seas of Rhye
Roy Batty, Wonders, Sybil, Deadly Sins, Asteroid
Carroll, Shepherd Hills Tested,
Bushwacker,
Number 6, Manuel,
Polly, Darth Vader,
Amens, Luft Hanza, Hodgson, The Terminator (T-800), Derogo,
Red Baron, Clavus, Rickenbacker
Allardyce,
Nolan, Blue Duke,
TEAM NO NAME (Tom Howell) 0 points
A. Amens
15, 15, 15, 14
B. Bini
13, 3, 4
C. Clavus
15, 15, 15
D. Derogo
15, 15, 7
THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN (Allan Stagg) 0 points
A. Sisters
4, 10, 10, 1
B. Wonders
13, 6, 12
C. Deadly Sins
6, 9, 2
D. Seas of Rhye
12, 4, 1
CARROLL SINGERS (Lee Batchelor)
A. Carroll
14, 11, 3
B. Nolan
4, 15, 6
C. Allardyce
8, 15, 3
D. Hodgson
15, 3, 4
0 points
BULL (Steve Ham) 0 points
A. Bushwacker
13, 10, 3, 13
B. Smackdown
3, 3, 4
C. Shepherd Hills Tested 6, 11, 7
D. Asteroid
10, 6, 15
FLOWERY TWATS (Bob Gingell)
A. Basil
3, 10, 5, 5
B. Sybil
5, 7, 6
C. Polly
6, 6, 15
D. Manuel
12, 4, 14
0 points
SOPWITH (Arthur Owen) 0 points
A. Red Baron
12, 15, 6, 3
B. Blue Duke
4, 15, 4
C. Luft Hanza
15, 15, 3
D. Rickenbacker
15, 15, 3
TANHAUSER GATE SURVIVORS CYCLING CLUB (Bob Pitman)
A. Roy Batty (Nexus 6, Blade Runner) 6, 9, 3, 15
B. Number 6 (Humanoid Cylon)
11, 14, 6
C. Darth Vader
14, 6, 15
D. The Terminator (T-800)
3, 11, 15
*****
Breaking Away 8
Game Start
The following players have signed up for this game, so we’ll have another 7 player game: Brendan Whyte,
Richard Smith, Arthur Owen, Geoff Kemp, Steve Ham, Tony Critchley and Chris Hibbert. We will be using the
fwtdr rules (see link above). Please can you send team name with rider name and start cards with your orders
for next issue.
*****
Variable Pig – Nero dei Nebrodi
24
Bus Boss (TEXEL) BB337TXL
Round Ten
27. Vlieland Ferry (2S) –
Den Helder Ferry (8D)
28. Oosterend (2H) –
Molen (KS)
29. Any Nature Area
(KC) – Oudeschild (8H)
30. Zuid Eierland (QC) –
De Koog (JC)
31. Golf Course (6S) –
Den Burg (3D)
32. Oosterend (4H) –
Oudeschild (9H)
33. Oudeschild (10H) –
De Geul (10D)
34. De Koog (10C) –
Den Hoorn (QD)
35. Duinen (2C) –
Midden Eierland (9S)
Last Turn
Points from Races
Bank
vPE
Arthur
Red
NSCB
Brad
Blue
10
BOTTOM
Roger
Black
10
+1
10
9
+3+4–3+3
12
+3-2
8
-3+3
5
-3
9
-4
GREEN
Bob
Green
10
-1
20
4
-3
13
+2
20
20
10
+3+3
30
161
75
236
PEAR
Kev
Purple
10
10
-3
221
47
268
The fifth set of races is
36. Vuurtoren (AS) – Oost (AH):
38. t’Licht van Troost (9D) – De Schorren (8S):
40. NJHC “Eyercoogh” (7C) – Surfstrand (6H):
42. Fonteinsnol (6C) – Zwem Paradijs “Calluna” (3C):
44. Den Burg (4D) – De Cocksdorp (3S0
10
10
-3
5
+3
12
13
-3
203
34
237
205
73
278
163
41
204
37. Naakt Strand (AC) – Ijzeren Kaap (5H)
39. De Cocksdorp (5S) – De koog (8C)
41. Den Burg (2D) – Ferry to Den Helder (7D)
43. Den Burg (5D) – Oosterend (3H)
Enter up to 5 races. The build order for next turn is Kev, Arthur, Roger, Brad then Bob.
Bus Boss (ISHIGAKI-JIMA) BB347ISH
Round Two
RED
Red
Roger Trethewey
Ishigaki-machi – Ryugu-jo – Nagura – Nagura Wetlands
Bank: 110 – 12 = 98
BB
Blue
Brad Martin
Seishika Bridge –Ishigaki-Machi: Seishika Bridge – Nagura
Bank: 108 – 11 = 97
JAD
Green
Arthur Owen
Oganzaki – Nagura Wetland (both connections to Nagura taken)
Bank: 108 – 9 = 99
Variable Pig – Nero dei Nebrodi
25
HEAR
Black
Kev Lee
Omoto Tunnel – Kainan - Miwa
Bank: 109 – 11 = 98
GHIDORAH
Purple
Bob Gingell
Nagura – Seishika Bridge – Miwa – Kainan
Bank: 108 – 12 = 96
Next turns build order is Arthur, Kev, Bob, Roger and Brad.
*****
Café International 8
Turn Fourteen
I forgot to complete the score adjustments at the end of last round. Kev should have finished with 41 points
rather than 31 points and Steve should have finished 44 points rather than 48 points as reported.
John plays fUS to USA1.2 scoring 3 points
Kev plays mJOK to USA 2 scoring 4 points
Steve swaps fCUB for the fJOK at CUB 1 scoring 0 points
Brad plays mRUS to RUS2 and fIND to IND2 scoring 6 points
The turn order for the fifteenth round is Kev, Steve, Brad then John.
Brad Martin
John Walker
Kev Lee
Steve Ham
female:
female: JOK
female: GB, USA, CHI
female: JOK
male: USA, USA, RUS
male: IND, GB
male:
male: JOK, CHI
score 66
score 48
score 45
score 44
There are still 26 customers waiting at the Café and approximately 13 chairs still to be filled.
mAF
mAF
fCU
mCU
fTU
mTU
fAF
AFR1
fAF
AFR2
mAF
CUB1
fCU
CUB2
mTU
TUR1
mTU
TUR2
fTU
mIT
fAF
fIT
ITA1
mIT
GB1
fGB
fIT
mIT
ITA2
mCH
mCH
CHI1
fCH
fCH
mGB
mCH
CHI2
fGB
GB2
mGB
mES
fES
mCU
Bar
-6
fCU
fTU
fDE
mRU
fFR
FRA1
mFR
DEU1
mDE
fFR
DEU2
USA1
fUS
FRA2
fFR
USA2
mJO
mIN
mUS
Customers at the bar are – mUS, mCUB, mFRA, fFRA, mUSA, mDEU, fIND, mIND, mAFR
*****
mES
ESP1
fES
ESP2
mRU
RUS1
fRU
RUS2
mIN
IND1
fIN
IND2
fIN
fES
fRU
fIN
Variable Pig – Nero dei Nebrodi
26
Fair Means or Foul 5
Turn Thirteen
Lord Walker was thrilled by the sight of such exquisite masks up for auction and reached for his checkbook,
outbidding the Earl of Stagg and Baron Owen. However, he was outbid by Count Critchley and, for once, the
check was deposited.
Bishop Howard put on a fine display (DDDEEE 1616) at the Abbey, but foul play was afoot as Wicked Whyte
made off with Humphrey Bogarts Hat.
Cheques
Thieves
Location next
turn
Howard
Bishop
1, 12
Allan Stagg
2, 11, 14
Brendan
Whyte
10, 15
Tony
Critchley
4, 9, 16
Castle
5
Castle
9
Castle
3, 10
Castle
2/1
3/2
4/2
5/3
AO
3/2
4/2
TC
4/2
2/1
AS
3/2
5/3
3/2
4/2
5/3
3/2
4/2
2/1
3/2
4/2
Jail:
4/2
HB,
BW
3/2
John Walker
Arthur Owen
5, 8, 17, 20,
22
2
Auction
House
6, 7, 24
1, 12
Castle
4/2
JW
3/2
4/2
2/1
4/2
2/1
5/3
Finish
John Thief 11, Brendan Thief 4, Arthur Thief 4, Allan Thief 8, Howard Thief 7, Howard Thief 6
At the auction next month are a Schuddig-Mundle Mask (A 1887) and Charlie Chaplins Boots (E 1928).
Please send orders for next time should include bid orders (which check and what item you’re bidding for) and
exhibit details (if exhibiting) plus your location for the following turn. The location choice may be made
provisional on the outcome of actions next round.
*****
The Golden Strider 3
Round Seven - Holdover
P
1
S
19
2
14
2
14
2
14
5
13
6
12
7
11
7
11
Runner
Xavier Vincent CIV
John Walker
Mr Lapp
Allan Stagg
Sweaty Betty
Steve Ham
Hitch Gitalong
Tom Howell
Dick Dastardly
Tony Critchley
Pinback
Lee Batchelor
Hollie Moloney
Arthur Owen
Mo Nearer
Richard Smith
Cards
6/0, 9/2, 9/3, 8/4, 0/5, 4/6
P
9
D
2
M
2
B
5
R
10
O
7/0, 10/2, 10/3, 9/4, 7/5,
9/6
8/1, 8/2, 10/3, 4/4, 9/5, 9/6
10
3
3
4
9
8
0
4
4
9
1
9/1, 9/2, 9/3, 10/4, 10/5.
9/6
8/1, 10/2, 10/3, 8/4, 10/5,
10/6
6/1, 8/2, 8/3, 10/4, 10/5,
8/6
10/1, 10/2, 10/3, 9/4, 8/5,
10/6
8/0, 6/2, 8/3, 9/4, 6/5, 10/6
9
0
5
4
9
2
10
2
4
4
10
1
6
0
3
3
8
8
0
3
5
10
8
0
3
5
10
Variable Pig – Nero dei Nebrodi
27
There was a mistake in last turn’s report – Xavier Vincent CIV should have moved 2 and banked 5 last turn, not
moved 5 and banked 2. The corrected chart is above. I have orders on file for all players but will accept revised
orders if you wish to send them. This is a 60 space race.
*****
Grand National
Game End Statements
Richard Smith (Camilla and Anne)
7th and 8th is respectable but I needed to be bolder.
Apart from going for 1 and 2 on the random rather than lowest ones, I was always picking numbers that were
reasonably safe.
Steve Ham (Sarah Jessica Parker and Dunrunnin)
I'm still unclear about the stumbling rule – shouldn’t
Land Biskit have stumbled at the last fence having played 3, being one more than Fools Guess who fell?
It was nice to have won, a nice easy and enjoyable game. Thanks for running it and would be happy to play it,
or something similar, again.
Chris Hibbert (Opening Bell and Red Sky)
Whoops! Why did I order 1 on the penultimate race?
Oh, those were the orders from the previous round, which I neglected to update. With any reasonable choices, I
would have been right in there at the finish. Congratulations to Steve and everyone else who didn't make dumb
mistakes.
Howard Bishop (Still Running and Nag O Saki)
Congrats to Steve. I'm happy with my creditable 6th
place. This is always good fun. Let's see how many takers I get for the Grand National in The Terror.
GM
Thanks to the many people that joined in this, one of
the first all reader games we’ve had in the Pig for some time. As noted a couple of issues back, I forgot to apply
the stumble rules properly and, by the time someone noticed, it was too late to apply this rule. This led to much
higher amounts of jump points being available at the end, which probably affected a number of players plans,
although some clearly adapted to this. Congratulations to Steve who found a perfect end game move to secure
the win and commiserations to all those who ran him so close. I will offer this game again and will hopefully
remember to correctly apply the stumble rules next time.
*****
Hare and Tortoise
Game Four – Game End Statements
Brad Martin (Big Bunny)
pushed ahead!
A surprise to win that one as I did nothing fancy, just ate my Lettuce and
Richard Smith (Old Thumper) I made a good start on this game then made two boobs in successive rounds
and never recovered. At least the new board I did for the website
(http://www.variablepig.org/rules/images/haretortboard.jpg ) looks nice :-)
Howard Bishop (Bugsy Malone)
First time I'd ever played this and it showed. Slightly hampered by my
pdf of the board and rules that had the two things at 90 degrees to each other. Congratulations to Brad. If you
have another waiting list for this I'd be happy to have another go.
GM
Brad makes it sound so easy, just eat your lettuce. Of course, the real
challenge is being able to get into position for the lettuce squares and as Brad was the most successful at this,
he duly won the game. My thanks to everyone for playing and congratulations once again to Brad.
Variable Pig – Nero dei Nebrodi
28
Maneater 3
Game End Statements
Roger Trethewey
Jim.
Congratulations to Arthur for the win. Hope there will be a return game soon. Thanks
Tony Critchley
I hopped on (surf)board as a fill in and have to say I like this game. It ticks a number of
boxes for me, being easy to learn and not that time consuming to work out moves for. I'll likely play again.
Thanks!
*****
Nuclear War 5
Turn Three
Last turn’s report was missing from the printed edition and spotted later when it was emailed out. Everybody
except Tom still sent in orders, so I have continued the game as normal and ordered (sensibly) for Tom.
However, I did not play the secrets / top secrets as not everybody had the opportunity to play spies; these will
be carried over for next turn.
This was a very violent round with 2 MX missiles causing considerable damage. MARS and Los Angeles were
the main victims, but Atlantis also took a lot of damage. A few countries are now looking seriously whittled.
This Turns Actions
Secrets and Other Nefarious
Activities
WASTELAND
LOS ANGELES
First Face Up
Card
B1 Bomber
Atlas
PISS OFF MY LAND
MX Missile
WOLVERHAMPTON
MX Missile
COIBA
ATLANTIS
MARS
20MT on
Titan at
MARS killing
6 million
Minuteman
10MT on
Polaris at
COIBA killing
9 million
Second Face
Up Card
50MT on
Atlantis
killing 22
million
20MT on
MARS killing
14 million
100MT on
Los Angeles
killing 47
million
50MT on
MARS killing
30 million
Titan Missile
10MT
warhead at
PISS OFF
killing 2
miilion
B70 Bomber
Other Activities
10MT from Space
Platform at Atlantis
killing 8 million
Civil Defense saves
5M from
WOLVERHAMPTON
attack
Variable Pig – Nero dei Nebrodi
29
Press
Duke Nukem to all: It's time to kick ass and chew bubble gum... and I'm all outta gum!
COIBA: Should someone have gained 2 Million for their population whinge? Yes, I forgot - there are 2 million
more martians in the game! NOT NOW THERE AREN'T!!! Who let in the walking, jabbering goldfish bowls in
here ? Cannot find a volume control and that ACK ACKITY ACK ACK is annoying me
MARS: Ack Ack Ack-Ack! (Translator Device: A bomb from space!! Damn the Coiban doves!)
MARS: Ach Ach Ach, Ach Achty Achty Ach Akk! (Translator Device: Dear Coiban primates, apologies for the
deployment of a small present, it was aimed at the warlike Doves infesting your sandwich box, after that please
take up our offer of a free Flying Saucer ride to seal the peace - and bring along your Chihuahuas)
MARS: Ack Ack-Ack Ack Ach (Translator Device: No-one turned up for our Emperors Tom Jones karaoke
evening. We are most disappointed)
MARS: Ack-Ack-Ack Ack Ack!! (Translator Device: We noticed that Los Angeles was hosting a Slim Whitman
evening and considered it an act of war, as did 25M of your population!!)!
Status Report
WASTELAND
Arthur Owen
LOS ANGELES
Richard Smith
PISS OFF MY LAND
Jason Asker
WOLVERHAMPTON
Tom Howell
COIBA
Tony Bayley
ATLANTIS
Chris Hibbert
MARS
Bob Pitman
Secrets
In Hand
Face Up
Card
Top
Secret
Top
Secret
Secret
B1
Bomber
-
Top
Secret
Secret
-
Population
Change
this turn
Net
Population
Change
- 43
25 mil
cards
played
1
Visible
Deterrents
Other
Specials
None
None
- 47
- 66
2
None
None
-2
-5
0
None
None
+3
0
None
None
Titan
-9
-7
0
None
-
- 30
- 22
1
None
Space
Platform
None
B70
Bomber
- 45
- 23
2
None
None
Top
Secret
Please remember to include orders for both of your two face down cards, plus secrets and any special cards
that you may have, plus orders for two new face down cards.
*****
Puerto Rico
Game Six – Round Three
Jon takes the Mayor and mans his quarry and small indigo plant. Chris mans one space in his large indigo plant
and moves a settler from his corn to his indigo plantation. Allan mans his Tobacco Plantation and Richard mans
his Construction Hut. Mike mans another space in his Tobacco Storage and moves a settler from his indigo to
his second Tobacco Plantation. Seven settlers are then placed on the colony ship.
Chris takes the Builder and builds the remaining Construction Hut for 1 doubloon. Allan passes, Richard builds a
Small Sugar Mill for 1 doubloon (plus quarry), Mike builds a Small Indigo Plant for one doubloon and Jon
passes.
Allan takes the Captain (+ 2 doubloons) and loads his corn onto the 8 ship scoring 2 VP. Richard, Mike and Jon
have no goods to ship and Chris loads his corn to the same ship scoring 2VP.
Richard takes the Prospector and receives 2 doubloons.
Mike takes the other Prospector and receives 2 doubloons.
Variable Pig – Nero dei Nebrodi
Player
Richard
Doubloons
2
VP
0
Goods
-
Mike
3
0
-
Jon
3
0
-
Chris
0
2
-
Allan
5
2
-
30
Buildings
Construction Hut (√)
Large Indigo Plant (x,x,x)
Small Sugar Mill (x)
Tobacco Storage (√,√,x)
Small Market (x)
Small Indigo Plant (x)
Small Sugar Mill (√)
Small Indigo Plant (√)
Hacienda (√)
Large Indigo Plant (√,x,x)
Construction Hut (x)
Hospice (√)
Plantations
Indigo (√,x), Quarry (√)
Indigo (x), Tobacco (√,√)
Indigo (√), Sugar (√),
Quarry (√)
Corn (x), Coffee (x),
Sugar (x), Indigo (√)
Corn (√,√), Tobacco (√)
The play order for the second turn is Chris, Allan, Richard, Mike then Jon. There are 7 colonists on the colony
ship. The 6 and 7 ships are empty and the 8 ship holds 3 corn. The trading house holds 1 corn, 1 sugar and 1
tobacco. There are + 1 bonuses available on the Settler, Craftsman and Trader roles. The plantations available
this turn are corn, sugar, corn, sugar, tobacco and coffee.
Quarry
Corn Tiles
Indigo Tiles
Sugar Tiles
Tobacco Tiles
Coffee Tiles
Corn Goods
Indigo Goods
Sugar Goods
Tobacco Goods
Coffee Goods
Colonists
Victory Points
Stock
6
6 (1)
9 (1)
5 (2)
5
6
10
11
10
8
9
74
122
Building
Cost
Small Indigo Plant
Small Sugar Mill
Small Market
Hacienda
Construction Hut
Small Warehouse
Large Indigo Plant
Large Sugar Mill
Hospice
Office
Large Market
Large Warehouse
Tobacco Storage
Coffee Roaster
Factory
University
Harbour
Wharf
Guild Hall
Residence
Fortress
Customs House
City Hall
1
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
5
6
5
6
7
8
8
9
10
10
10
10
10
Victory
Points
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
Number
Available
3
2
2
1
0
2
1
3
1
2
2
2
2
3
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
31
Variable Pig – Nero dei Nebrodi
Rail Baron 5
Round Eight
The last railways are bought up so prices go up and Superchiefs start to appear.
Brendan Whyte
Home City: Memphis (South Central)
36) 2SW Omaha – 2W Denver
37) 2W Denver - Reno
Buys N&W for 12K
38) Reno – 4W Denver
39) 4W Denver - Billings
Buys a Superchief for 40K
40) Billings – 1E Tucumcari
Cash 30.0K
(CB&Q, D&RGW)
(D&RGW, WP)
1K to bank
1K to bank, +28.5K
(WP, D&RGW)
(D&RGW, CB&Q)
1K to bank
1K to bank, +12.0K
(CB&Q)
1K to bank
Andy York
Home City: Milwaukee (North Central)
36) Kansas City - 1SW Chicago
37) 1SW Chicago – 1SW Buffalo
38) 1SW Buffalo - Albany
Buys a Superchief for 40K
39) Albany – 2NE Omaha
40) 2NE Omaha – 1N Salt Lake City
Cash 40.0K
(AT&SF)
(AT&SF, NYC)
(NYC)
1K to bank
1K to bank, 5K to Arthur
5K to Arthur, +30.5K
(NYC, C&NW)
(C&NW, UP)
10K to Arthur, 1K to bank
1K to bank
Arthur Owen
Home City: Baltimore (North East)
36) 1SE Chicago – 1SW Omaha
37) 1SW Omaha – 3W Denver
38) 3W Denver - Sacramento
Buys a Superchief for 40K
39) Sacramento – 1W Denver
40) 1W Denver – 2E Des Moines
Cash 48.0K
(PA, CRI&P)
(CRI&P, D&RGW)
(D&RGW, WP)
1K to bank
1K to bank, 5K to Brendan
5K to Brendan, + 31.0K
(WP, D&RGW)
(D&RGW, CRI&P)
10K to Brendan
10K to Brendan, 1K to bank
Kev Lee
Home City: Omaha (Plains)
36) 1E Minneapolis - Chicago
Buys IC for 14K
37) Chicago – 1SW Little Rock
38) 1SW Little Rock – 2W San Antonio
39) 2W San Antonio – 1E Los Angeles
40) 1E Los Angeles – 1N Oakland
PLAYER
Brendan
Andy
Arthur
Kev
FIRST DESTINATION
El Paso (Southwest)
Salt Lake City (Northwest)
Albany (Northeast)
Seattle (Northwest)
Cash 28.0K
(CMStP&P)
5K to Arthur, + 4.0K
(IC, MP)
(MP, SP)
(SP)
(SP)
1K to bank
1K to bank
1K to bank
1K to bank
PAYOUT
14.0K
23.5K
27.0K
21.5K
SECOND DESTINATION
Cleveland (North Central)
Oakland (Southwest)
Atlanta (Southeast)
Los Angeles (Southwest)
PAYOUT
17.5K
8.0K
10.0K
9.0K
32
Variable Pig – Nero dei Nebrodi
rd
Brendan’s 3 destination is Denver (Plains) for 13.5K
rd
Andy’s 3 destination is Boston (North East) for 33.0K
rd
Arthur’s 3 destination is Pittsburg (Northeast) for 8.0K and his fourth destination is Rapid City (North West) for
13.5K.
rd
Kev’s 3 destination is New York (Northeast) for 31.0K
PLAYER
Brendan
Andy
Arthur
Kev
Turn
41
42
43
44
45
ARRIVALS TRAIN RAILROADS
CASH
13
S
NP, GM&O, B&M, CB&Q, C&O, NYNH&H, D&RGW, WP, SOU
N&W
43.5K
8
S
C&NW, SAL, ACL, GN, UP, AT&SF, SL&SF
6.5K
13
S
PA, NYC, L&N, CRI&P, CMSTP&P
31.0K
14
E
MP, T&P, B&O, RF&P, SP, IC
9.0K
Die Roll
2+2
2+2
5+5
1+2
4+5
Bonus
6
6
1
5
2
Priority
Brendan
Andy
Arthur
Kev
Brendan
Question
Why did Kev pay an extra 5K to Arthur on move #35? He was established on the line so should only have to pay
1K until he leaves CMStP&P (at least that's the way I've always played it).
He reached his destination. At that point, he was no longer established on the track.
Yes, he did reach his destination. But, I've always played that you are on a railroad as long as you are on it
regardless of what you do (including reaching a destination). I very well could be wrong (yes, it does happen!)
but in glancing at the rail use section seemed to back this up. I just realize I didn't check the reaching a
destination section that may have an exception to the other one.
Having checked, the rules do not state one way or the other whether a player remains established on a
track or not when reaching a destination. I think I must have read this in a Q&A somewhere, as I
remember when we first played we used your interpretation, but then changed. I have always used this
interpretation (i.e. loss of establishment once reaching a destination) in VP so will continue for
consistency.
And, if he does have to pay the $5 now for the bonus move, shouldn't it just be the delta between what he
already paid that turn and the new cost ($4 for a total of $5 for the move; instead of $1 followed by $5 for a cost
of $6)? The latter would make the bonus move a bit of an expensive bonus (especially if you only had a 1 pip
move).
Yes, it should be the difference. I will credit Kev 1K this turn, and yes, my interpretation can make the
bonus roll quite nasty.
*****
CRAP JOKES SPACEFILLER
What's the difference between bird flu and swine flu?
If you have bird flu, you need tweetment. If you have swine flu, you need oink-ment.
What did the fisherman say to the card magician?
Pick a cod, any cod!
She was only a whiskey-maker, but he loved her still.
A rubber band pistol was confiscated from algebra class because it was a weapon of maths disruption.
33
Variable Pig – Nero dei Nebrodi
Railway Rivals
RR Games LXII – East Africa Map – RR2218EAF – Round Ten
GRIEF
Bob
Red
22) Soroti (13) – Malindi /
Lamu (23)
23) Moshi (24) – Eldoret
(34)
24) Kitale (35) – Singida /
Kondora (45)
25) Tabora (46) – Kigali (56)
26) Mtwara (61) –
Shinyanga (51)
27) Arua / Kasese (16) –
Zambia (Sp4)
28) Mbeya (66) – Congo
(Sp5)
Total Last Turn
Points from Races
Builds
Correction
Total
GRIEF:
LION:
FEAR:
POOR:
+2+2
10
-1
0
10
-5
20
-2
20
+4
148
60
-6
-1
+1
202
LION
Steve
Orange
20
-2-2
0
+1-1
FEAR
Roger
Black
POOR
Dane
Green
10
-2+2
20
+1
15
-2-2
+5
15
-2+3
15
+2-3
0
+8
15
+2-3
0
+2+3
20
-8
10
-4
+2
M3 not legal
destination.
10
207
54
+1
262
187
38
-6
+1–1
-1
218
215
58
-4
269
(A72) – B71 – C71 – D70 – Morogoro; (D70) - E70 [-1 black]; (H56) – I57 Kasanga
No builds
(C58) - D58 - E59 - F59 - G60 - H60 - I61
(Y4) - Kigoma; (Y8) - Y9; (X19) - W19 - Arusha
The fifth set of races is
29) Mbale (12) – Nairobi (31): 30) Kisumu (36) – Bukoba / Musoma (53):
31) Tanga (21) – Kilosa (43)
32) Dadoma (44) – Lindi (62):
33) Gulu / Mbarara (15) – Songea (64)
34) Bujumbura (55) – Minerals (Sp6):
35) Marsabit (26) – Indian Ocean Port (Sp1)
Enter up to 5 races and build up to 4 points. Note, as stated at the start we are using the historical set of special
runs.
Question
GRIEF: My calculation for Race 21 last round had Black with a route length of 29 (including +2 for the ferry) and
paying me 1 to get into Kigoma to reach the ferry from X3. This route was longer than mine on 28 and Orange
on 27 – was it calculated right and where is my +1?
FEAR’s orders were to run to M3 in Congo, a track length of 28. However, the historical race rules
specify Kalemie for Congo in race 5, so he would have had to run via Kigoma and pay you one. I
reran the race, using average dice as always, and the result stands as listed (i.e. the same result) – I
have corrected the payments in the table above. Roger ordered the same in race 28 this round, but the
alternatives in this race were not viable.
34
Variable Pig – Nero dei Nebrodi
RR Games LXIII – Cambodia Map – RR2220CM – Round Ten
16) Sen Monorom (26) –
Srae Ambel (52)
22) Batdambang (16) –
Kampong Cham (46)
23) Sen Monorom (26) –
Krong Keab (56)
24) Kampong Chhnang (36)
– Saigon (66)
25) Batdambang (15) –
Kampot (55)
26) Snuol (25) – Saigon (65)
SIEM REAP
Brendan
Red
RIEL
Steve
Orange
0
-3
+4
20
-4
KAMBUJA
Judy
Green
GIT
Bob
Purple
20
-4
10
+3+4
No entrants
0
-2
20
-6
20
+2+4
10
+6
10
-4
20
27) Kampong Thum (35) –
Port or Airport (Sp6)
28) Ta Khmau (45) –
Minerals and Gems (Sp5)
10
+1
5
-2
Total Last Turn
Points from Races
Builds
139
9
188
65
169
39
+1
-5
144
203
77
-6
-1
+5
258
208
273
Corrections
Total
GIT:
5
20
-1
20
+2
(Sloeng Treng) - - - - L29 – K28 – J28.
Correction
1. SIEM REAP should have paid 5 to RIEL for the connection to Pailin in race 13 – corrected in table below.
2. I should have stated “enter 4 races plus race 16 for the races this turn”. As GIT was the only player who could
enter race 16, I ran the race as Bob ordered.
The fifth set of races is.
23) Sen Monorom (26) – Krong Keab (56):
29) Pailin (14) – Pouset (34)
30) Kracheh (24) – Kampomg Speue (44):
31) Moung Reussei (33) – Sihanoukville (53)
32) Phnom Penh (43) – Svay Rieng (63):
33) Sisophon (13) – Saigon (64)
34) Stoeng Treng (23) – Khmer Ruins (Sp4):
35) Sihanoukville (54) – Vietnam (Sp3)
Enter up to 4 races and build up to 4 points.
RR Games LXIV – Cambodia Map - RR2221CM – Round Ten
20) Ban Lung (23) – Laos
(Sp2):
22) Poipet (11) – Siem Reap
(31)
23) Tbaeng Mean Chey (21)
– Phnom Penh (41)
24) Kampong Chhnang (36)
– Koh Kong (51)
25) Kampong Cham (46) –
Takaev (61)
MIR
Brad
Blue
20
-6+4
KHMER ROUGE
Jason
Red
10
-4
Jon
Black
10
+6-4
20
+4
20
CRAP
Arthur
Green
20
10
-3+3
20
+3-3
35
Variable Pig – Nero dei Nebrodi
26) Batdambang (16) –
Saigon (66)
27) Sen Monorom (26) –
Thailand (Sp1)
28) Krong Keab – Port or
Airport (Sp6)
20
-2
Total Last Turn
Points from Races
Builds
Total
MIR:
KHMER ROUGE:
Jon:
CRAP:
10
+2
10 JR
10 JR
3
+9
20
+3
3
-3
4
-9
182
58
226
61
182
66
+1
241
287
248
58
25
-4
-1
78
No builds.
No builds.
No builds
(E62) – E61.
The fifth set of races is.
29) Samraong (12) – Stoeng Treng (22):
30) Snuol (25) – Kampong Thum (35)
31) Siem Reap (32) – Phnom Penh (42):
32) Ta Khmau (45) – Kampot (55)
33) Srae Ambel (52) – Prey Veaeng (62):
34) Batdambang (15) – Vietnam (Sp3)
35) Saigon (65) – Khmer Ruins (Sp4)
Enter up to 4 races and build up to 4 points.
RR Games LXV – Kazakhstan Map - RR2219KZ – Round Nine
Corrections
1) KRAP built I55 – H54 in round 7 as well as round 8. I have refunded him the building point.
2) I forgot to include the special transcontinental race (run in turns 9 and 12) in the race list for this turn with the
race allowance increased to 5. GRAB and KITSCH both spotted this, so I checked the other lines and entered
them where possible.
3) ROKON’s build G15 - F16 - E16 should have read G15 - F15 - E16.
4) KISTCH’s build Atyrau - E16 - D16 should have read Atyrau – F16 - E16 - D16.
ROKON:
GRAB:
KRAP:
KITSCH:
KR:
(J51) – I51 – H50 – G51 – F52 – Astana
(Sayak) - - - O57 - - - P56 – Q57
No builds
(D50) – D49 – D48 - D47 - C47
(X15) – Y15 – Z14 - Arqalyq
ROKON
Richard
Black
15) Ganyushinko (12) –
Astana (31)
16) Aqtobe (21) – Semey
(43)
17) Sayak (36) – Qyzylorda
(53)
18) Oskemen (44) – Almaty
(62)
19) Aqtau (15) –
Taldyqorghan (64)
20) Shymkent (55) – Volga /
Turkmenistan (Sp1)
21) Kokshetau (26) –
Uzbekistan (Sp6)
22) Transcontinental race
0 JR
-1
+3
20
+1
GRAB
Bob G
Purple
KRAP
Bob P
Red
+6
20
+1+6
20
-3+2-3
10
-2
+2
20
-5-4
20
+1
10
-3
+4
KITSCH
Michael
Green
10
-1
0 JR
-1
KR
Arthur
Yellow
20
-6+1
10
-6+1
+3
10
-1-2
10
-1+5
+4
+3
10
-4–4+2
10
-8®+6
20
+ 4 – 2 – 3 +1
20
-6
0
-1+3
Variable Pig – Nero dei Nebrodi
Total Last Turn
Points from Races
Builds
36
75
35
-5
153
78
123
136
61
75
31
30
-7
-4
-8
-1+1
+1–1–1
+1
Total
105
207
153
149
159
Note that all un-built Russian rail lines (the dotted lines at the top of the map) have now been built by the
Russian Government and can be rented for normal cost.
The fourth set of races is.
23) Ganyushinko (12) – Zhezqazghan (34):
24) Qostenay (23) – Ayagoz (46)
25) Qaraghandy (33) – Qyzylorda (53):
26) Zyryan (45) – Almaty (63): 27) Kulsary (14) – Shu (61)
28) Zhetigara (22) – Volga Region (Sp1):
29) Baikonur (52) – China (Sp4)
Enter up to 4 races and build up to 8 points.
Comment
Bob:
I had not intended that rule changes should be introduced mid-way through the game but expressed my
thoughts that for future games paying half rental for Russian track would be a good way of dealing with the
current lack of usefulness of that track. I suggested a solution to the issue of the Russian bridges as a way of
dealing with Arthur’s mistake on the building costs by Petropavl in a location which did not have any great
impact on the game, but Jim dealt with that in a different way. In reality docking 2 off Arthur’s build allowance
made no difference in Round 8 as he had been capped at a spend of 6 in that round when he had vainly tried to
go through two mountains (11 build points total attempted from maximum allowance of 10).
RR Games LXVI – RR2255NIL - Nile Delta Map – Round One
COPT
Blue
Brad Martin
1a) 6. (Port Said) – G35 – F35 – F34 – E34 – E33 – D32,
1b) 3. (D32) – C32 – C31 – DAMIETTA,
1c) 2. (Damietta) – E30 - F29.
Bank: 20 + 6 = 26
CIB
Green
Arthur Owen
1a) 6. (Suez) – E60 – D59 – C59 – B58 – A58 – Z37,
1b) 3. (Z37) – FAYID – Y36 – Y35,
1c) 2. (Y35) – Y34 – Y33.
Bank: 20 + 3 = 23
RED
Red
Roger Trethewey
1a) 6. (Cairo) - - C73 - B73 - - A74 - Z24
1b) 3. (Z24) - - SHIBIN EL QANATIR: (Cairo) - HELIOPOLIS
1c) 2. (Shibin el Qanatir) - - X24
Bank: 20 + 3 + 3 = 26
COPTICS
Black
Brendan Whyte
1a) 6. (Alexandria) - H4 - H5 - - I6 – KAFR EL DAUWAR - K7
1b) 3. (K7) - - L7 - L8,
1c) 2. (L8) - L9 - L10.
Bank: 20 + 3 = 23
The second build allowance (should be a single allowance on this map) is 17
RR Games LXVII – RR2256NIL - Nile Delta Map – Round One
NEFERTITI
Purple
Mike Townsend
1a) 5. (Port Said) – G35 – F35 – F34 – E34 – E33,
1b) 3. (E33) – D32 – C32 – C31,
1c) 5. (C31) – DAMIETTA – E30 – F29 - - G29.
Bank: 20 + 6 = 26
NITWIT
Red
John Walker
1a) 5. (Cairo) – HELIOPOLIS – C74 – B74 – A75 – Z24,
1b) 3. (Z24) - - SHIBIN EL QANATIR: (Heliopolis) – E73,
1c) 5. (Shibin El Qanatir) - - X23 – W23 - - W22.
Bank: 20 + 3 + 3 – 1 = 25
Variable Pig – Nero dei Nebrodi
FEAR
Black
Kev Lee
1a) 5. (Alexandria) - H4 - H5 - - I6 – KAFR EL DAUWAR,
1b) 3. (Kafr el Dauwab) – K7 - - L7,
1c) 5. (L7) – L8 – L9 – L10 - - DAMANHUR.
Bank: 20 + 3 + 6 = 29
RANDOM
Green
Michael Pargman
1a) 5. (Cairo) - - - C72: (Cairo) E73 - F73,
1b) 3. (C72) - - - QALYUB,
1c) 5. (Qalyub) – A71 – Z21 – Y22 - - TUKH.
Bank: 20 + 3 + 3 + 1 (NITWIT) = 27
RA
Orange
Steve Guest
1a) 5. (Suez) – E60 – D59 – C59 – B58 – A58,
1b) 3. (A58) – Z37 – FAYID – X36,
1c) 5. (X36) – W36 – V35 – U35 – U34 – U33.
Bank: 20 + 3 = 23
The second build allowance (should be a single allowance on this map) is 11
RR Games LXVIII – RR2257VL - Vastmanland Map – Round One
RED
Red
Roger Trethewey
1a) 4. (Nora) – Z12 - Y13 - X13 - W14,
1b) 6. (W14) - W15 – LINDESBURG - V16 - U17 - T17 - S18,
1c) 4. (S18) - R18 - Q19 - P19 - O20.
Bank: 20 + 6 = 26
IKEA FLAT PACK
Blue
Jason Asker
1a) 4. (Fagersta) - - - I26 - J25,
1b) 6. (J25) – K25 - L24 - M24 - N23 - O23 - RIDDARHYTTAN,
1c) 4. (Riddarhyfan) – P21 - P20 - P19 - P18.
Bank: 20 + 3
VARTA
Black
1a) 4. (Kopparberg) – M12 – N12 – O13 – P13,
1b) 6. (P13) – Q13 – R12 – GULDSMEDSHYTTAN: (Q13) – R13 – STORA:
(Koppaberg) – K12,
1c) 4. (K12) – J11 – STALIDALEN: (M12) – M11 – M10
Bank: 20 + 6 + 6 + 6 = 38
Richard Smith
REAR
Purple
Kev Lee
1a) 4. (Västerås) - - - W40 – W39,
1b) 6. (W39) – W38 – W37 - W36 – V35 – U35 - T34,
1c) 4. (T34) – SURAHAMMAR: (W36) - X35; (Vasteras) – V40 - U40.
Bank: 20 + 6 – 1 (ROVER) = 25
ROVER
Green
Michael Pargman
1a) 4. (Västerås) - - - W40 – W39,
1b) 6. W39) – W38 – W37 - W36 – W35 – X35 – Y36,
1c) 4. (W35) - - - HALLSTAHAMMAR - W33
Bank: 20 + 6 + 1 (REAR) = 27
STAMBANAN
Brown
Bob Gingell
1a) 4. (Fagersta) - - - I26 – J25
1b) 6. (J25) – K25 – L24 – M24 – N23 – O22 – RIDDARHYTTAN,
1c) 4. (Riddarhytan) – P21 – Q21 – R20 – S20.
Bank: 20 + 3 = 23
The second set of die rolls are 2a) 6, 2b) 3 and 2c) 3.
*****
Robo Rally 4
Game Start
It’s been a while since the last epic game finished, so it’s time for another round of RoboRally.
37
Variable Pig – Nero dei Nebrodi
38
This game will use the JMJ map developed by www.roborally-online.com, although I found this at
http://tartarus.org/gareth/roborally/images/JMJ.web.png.
This is a 14 x 17 map; for coordinates, please use letters A – N for the horizontal coordinate and numbers 1 –
17 for the vertical coordinates. Thus, the start square is I5 and flag 2 is at E15. Players must tag all four flags
and return to the start space to win. The flags do not have to be tagged in order and the player only has to tag
the start space again to win (i.e. they do not have to finish the turn there).
Variable Pig – Nero dei Nebrodi
39
The following players have signed up for the game - Steve Ham, Harv Barker, Bob Pitman, Michael Pargman,
Chris Hibbert, Andy York, Tom Howell and Roger Trethewey. All robots will start with one special from the
following list –
1. Ramming Gear – additional Weapon. When your robot pushes another robot that robot receives a point of
damage in addition to being pushed. Even if the robot can’t be moved it still gets a point of damage.
2. Power down shields: When your robot powers down a shield comes out on each of your bots 4 sides. Each
shield protects the robot from 1 point of damage per register phase. Shields retract on power up.
3. Pressor Beam – Optional weapon: You now have the choice of firing a pressor beam INSTEAD of your
robots main laser. The pressor beam will push a target robot 1 space away from you (or the direction of
travel of the beam if reflected from mirrors)
4. Fire Control – Main laser mod: You have targeting control of your main laser. When scoring a point of
damage you may choose to use the damage to lock a register or destroy an option (specify special or it will
be randomly selected by GM).
5. Scrambler – optional weapon: You now have the option of firing a scrambler instead of your robots main
laser. The scrambler allows you to replace the next programmed card of a target robot with a random one
th
from the deck. This option cannot be used on the 5 register phase.
6. Mini Howitzer – optional weapon: You now have the option of firing a mini howitzer instead of your robots
main laser. The mini howitzer will cause 1 point of damage in addition to pushing the target robot 1 square
away from you. After 5 shots discard this option.
7. High Power Laser - Main laser mod: Your robots main laser has been modified to shoot through one wall or
robot to reach a target robot – this excludes shooting through Mirror locations which are not walls – mirrors
will reflect in the normal way without removing any power from the beam. If you shoot through a robot that
robot also takes a point of damage. May be used with fire control and / or double barrel laser.
8. Radio Control – Optional weapon: You now have the option of using a radio control beam instead of your
robots main laser. The radio control beam can only target a robot within 6 squares, and it replaces that
robots entire program with a copy of your robots program. In cases of card priority the target robot moves
after your robot.
9. Gyroscopic Stabiliser – turn programmed: On any turn you choose to activate this option your robot is not
rotated by Gears or conveyor belts.
10. Double barrel laser – main laser mod: Your robots main laser has been modified to fire 2 shots. May be
used with fire control and / or high power laser.
11. Rear laser - Additional weapon: Your robot has a rear firing laser in addition to its main laser.
12. Ablative coat: Your robot is now covered with a special ablative coat that takes 3 points of damage from any
direction or source. Discard after your robot takes a total 3 points of damage.
13. Extra memory: Your robot receives one extra program card per turn. This option does not prevent your robot
from being destroyed when it has received 10 points of damage.
14. Reverse Gears: Your robot may now choose to back up 2 squares when it is executing a Back up. Priority is
that of the Back up.
15. Fourth gear: Your robot may now choose to move forward 4 squares when executing a move 3. Priority is
that of the move 3.
16. Tractor beam – optional weapon: You now have the choice of firing a tractor beam INSTEAD of your robots
main laser. The tractor beam will pull a target robot 1 space towards you (or the direction of beam if
reflected from mirrors). The tractor beam may not be used if the robot is on an adjacent square.
17. Shield – turn programmed: Your robot now has a shield that protects the robot from 1 point of damage per
register phase. Program the direction the shield faces by specifying Front, Left, Right or Back as applied to
your robot.
18. Brakes: Your robot may now choose to move zero when it is executing a move 1. The priority is that of the
move 1
19. Superior archive copy: You may withdraw your next archive copy undamaged even if you discard this option
when your robot is destroyed.
20. Turret – turn programmed: Your robot now has a turret for its main laser and optional weapons. Program the
direction of the turret by specifying Front, Left, Right or Back as applied to your robot.
Options will be kept secret until revealed or unless they are clearly visible (e.g. turret) to others. All robots will
start virtual from the start space. The game will start next issue so I can answer questions that you may have.
Please can you confirm your participation and send a robot name with your next set of orders. If anyone else
wishes to play, please let me know before next deadline.
40
Variable Pig – Nero dei Nebrodi
Sopwith T-359VP
Turn Fourteen
Barker
Martin
Fields
Luft Hanza
Black Vegetable
Red Baron
Owen
Hibbert
Whyte
Walker
After the excitement of the last few rounds, this round was spent repositioning for the next dog fights. The Black
Vegetable and Red Baron fired a few speculative shots, but these were a long way from any targets.
Pilot
1 The Red Baron (Arthur Owen)
2 The Blue Duke (Harv Barker)
3 Kapitan Luft Hanza (Brad Martin)*
4 Rickenbacker (Chris Hibbert)
5 The Black Vegetable (Brendan Whyte)
6 Wing Commander Fields (John Walker)
Starts
K10
E9
I5
E7
Moves
RT, RT, A fA
A, LT, RS
A, LS, A fA,R
RT, RT, RT
Rules for this game are available on-line at http://www.fwtwr.com/sopstats/rules.htm.
*****
Ends
H9
D11
F4
C7
A:D:P
8:2:4
Shot Down (0P)
0:5:21
Shot Down (10P)
3:12:3
2:3:10
Variable Pig – Nero dei Nebrodi
41
STERNENHIMMEL 3
Game Start
It’s been a long time, but we finally start another game of this Gold Sieber Spiele game about starry skies. The
following players have signed up - John Walker, Brad Martin, Andy York and Arthur Owen. I will send out a
scanned copy of the rules soon after this issue gets published and will ask Richard to send a copy with Arthur’s
zine. All players start with the following hands 2 double stars, 1 black hole and stars of value 1, 3, 5, 6, 7 and
10. The main postal rule is that each turn one player will play first and fifth to ensure that the first player rotates
each turn.
The turn order for the first turn will be John, Brad, Andy, Arthur and then John again. Please try to be as specific
and descriptive as possible about where you are placing your stars each turn. For example, ordering place a 6
star on a ring star in Aries is clear, as there is only one ring star – there are three in Pisces, so more specific
information, such as central ring star, is needed. Please remember to include provisional orders if you are not
going first. The opening constellations are Aries (Widder), Pisces (Fische), Cancer (Krebs) and Capricorn
(Steinbock).
*****
42
Variable Pig – Nero dei Nebrodi
on-the-shelf
vol. XVI, no 17
8 January 2015
Brought to you by Tom Howell. Still at the usual place: off-the-shelf at olympus.net. Welcome to on-theshelf, volume XVI, number 17.
As WitWiKN ends this time, with an unshared win by Bob Gingell, we need another game to retain an excuse to
inflict o-t-s on Jim, Richard, and the rest of you. I'll run another WitWiKN? - send me orders for round one to
be reported nextish – but another game would go well too. The closest guess each round is highlighted.
Where in the World is Kendo Nagasaki?
New players welcome anytime. Game goes 10 rounds, unless won earlier.
Round 1:
Harvey Barker
Rick Desper
Bob Gingell
Chris Hibbert
Douglas Kent
Andy Lischett
Boris Johnson in Istanbul
Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai, India
Angela Merkel in Buenos Aires
Thomas Jefferson in Taj Mahal
Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. in Pretoria, UofSA
Dom DeLuise in Dodge City, Kansas
Jim Reader
Marco Rubio in Santiago de Chile
Richard Smith Tom Cruise in Los Angeles, CA
John Walker Piers Morgan in Barcelona
Richard Weiss Oliver Cromwell in Lusaka, Zambia
Brendan Whyte Dianna Rigg in Anchorage, Alaska
Kevin Wilson Ralph Lauren in Perth, Australia
Public response to player with closest guess: I died before you were born.
Round 2:
Harvey Barker
Rick Desper
Bob Gingell
Chris Hibbert
Douglas Kent
Andy Lischett
Gengis Khan in Austin, Texas
Jules Verne in Guam
Napoleon Bonaparte in Cairo, Egypt
Confucious in Beijing, China
William Wallace in Paris, France
Winston Churchill in Winnipeg, Canada
Jim Reader
Winston Churchill in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
Richard Smith Abraham Lincoln in San Juan, Argentina
John Walker Adolf Hitler in Lima, Peru
Richard Weiss Napoleon in Elba
Brendan Whyte H G Wells in Beijing, China
Kevin Wilson Socrates in Winnipeg, MB, CA
Public response to player with closest guess: We are best known by our written legacies.
Round 3:
Harvey Barker
Rick Desper
Bob Gingell
Chris Hibbert
Douglas Kent
Andy Lischett
Oscar Wilde in Sucre, Bolivia
William Shakespeare in Kyoto, Japan
Thomas Paine in Boston, MA
Lao Tsu in Ulaan Baatar
Homer in Manila, Philippines
Mark Twain in Sri Lanka
Jim Reader
General Sun Bin in Medicine Hat, Alberta
Richard Smith Arthur Conan Doyle in Fukushima
John Walker William Shakespeare in Shanghai
Richard Weiss Geoffrey Chaucer in Yangon, Myanmar
Brendan Whyte Geoffrey Chaucer in Seoul
Kevin Wilson John Locke in Ulan Bator
Public response to player with closest guess: My subject matter was different from yours.
Round 4:
Harvey Barker
Rick Desper
Bob Gingell
Chris Hibbert
Douglas Kent
Andy Lischett
Arthur Conan Doyle in Yamaguchi
Herman Melville in Vladivostok
The Venerable Bede in Almaty, Kazakhstan
Daniel Defoe in Novosibirsk
Ayn Rand in Jining, China
Dr. Seuss in Hiroshima
Jim Reader
Thomas Hardy in Nanjing
Richard Smith Charles Darwin in Pyonyang, North Korea
John Walker Homer in Pokhara, Nepal
Richard Weiss Niccolo Machiavelli in Cebu, Philippines
Brendan Whyte St. Paul in Hanoi
Kevin Wilson Christian Huygens in Chelyabinsk, Russia
Public response to player with closest guess: Your language did not exist when I wrote.
Round 5:
Harvey Barker
Rick Desper
Bob Gingell
Chris Hibbert
Douglas Kent
Andy Lischett
Arthur Conan Doyle in Yakutsk, Russia
Ovid in Taipei
Homer in Nagasaki
Mohammed al-Khowarizmi in Krasnoyarsk
Plato in Omsk
Plato in Manilla
Jim Reader
Victor Hugo in Sapporo
Richard Smith Pythagoras in Tomsk, Russia
John Walker Aesop in Sochi
Richard Weiss Marcus Tullius Cicero in Irkutsk, Russia
Brendan Whyte Aristophanes in Qingdao
Kevin Wilson John Kay in Lhasa, Tibet
Public response to player with closest guess: We spoke the same language, but my written focus was narrower than yours.
43
Variable Pig – Nero dei Nebrodi
Round 6:
Harvey Barker
Jim Burgess
Rick Desper
Bob Gingell
Chris Hibbert
Douglas Kent
Andy Lischett
Edgar Alan Poe in Beijing
Hippocrates in Seoul, South Korea
Ovid in Bratsk, Russia
Hippocrates in Urumqi
Sophocles in Pavlodar
Euclid in Petropavlovsk
Daffy Duck in Hong Kong, China
Jim Reader
Abu Hanifa ibn Dawud Hinawari in Yakutsk
Richard Smith Epictetus in Vladivostok
John Walker Socrates in Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia
Richard Weiss Hippocrates in Novosibirsk, Russia
Brendan Whyte Aeschylus in Ekaterinberg
Kevin Wilson Plato in Chelyabinsk, Russia
Public response to player with closest guess: We wrote at the same time, but my theatre was both wider and narrower than
yours.
Round 7:
Harvey Barker
Jim Burgess
Rick Desper
Bob Gingell
Chris Hibbert
Douglas Kent
Edgar Alan Poe in Omsk, Russia
Aeschylus in Irkutsk, Russia
Aristophanes in Okha, Russia
Aeschylus in Semey, Kazakhstan
Aristophanes in Kemerovo
Aristophanes in Bulgan, Mongolia
Andy Lischett Peter Pan in St. Petersburg, Russia
Jim Reader
Euripides in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Richard Smith Euripides in Tyumen, Russia
John Walker Euripides in Novosibirsk
Richard Weiss Euripides in Astana, Kazakhstan
Brendan Whyte Euripides in Omsk
Public response to player with closest guess: Your military campaigns resulted in victory, but mine did not.
Round 8:
Harvey Barker
Jim Burgess
Rick Desper
Bob Gingell
Chris Hibbert
Douglas Kent
Sun-Tzu in Baykit, Russia
Aeneas in Irkutsk, Russia
Herodotus in Wuhan, China
Thucydides in Oskemen
Cleon in Oskemen, Kazakhstan
Pericles in Omsk
Andy Lischett Wilbur Wood in Moscow
Jim Reader
Menelaus in Nizhny Novgorod
Richard Smith Euripides in Aksu, Kazakhstan
John Walker Aeschylus in Omsk
Richard Weiss Thucydides in Oskemen, Kazakhstan
Brendan Whyte Pyrrhus in St Petersburg, Russia
Public response to player with closest guess: You and I, together we had some history between us, didn't we? But I
thought one of you knew where I am.
Round 9:
Harvey Barker
Jim Burgess
Rick Desper
Bob Gingell
Chris Hibbert
Douglas Kent
Edgar Allen Poe in Moscow
Hector in Okha Russia
Plutarch in Omsk
Euripides in Semey
Thucydides in Rubtsovsk
Xenophon in Kazan
Andy Lischett Pyrrhus in Irkutsk
Jim Reader
Pericles in Semey, Kazakhstan
Richard Smith Euripides in Semey, Kazakhstan
John Walker Xenophon in Semey
Brendan Whyte Richard Lionheart in Salzburg, Austria
Public response to player with closest guess: Fellow citizens, are you ready to call me back from exile? I am nearby.
Round 10:
Harvey Barker Steve, 'the cabby down the street,' in Mos Eisley Cantina
Jim Burgess
Thucydides in Astana, Kazakhstan
Rick Desper
Alcibiades in Semey, Kazakhstan
Bob Gingell
Thucydides in Semey
Chris Hibbert Thucydides in Shemonaikha
Douglas Kent Xenophon in Pavlodar, Kazakstan
Andy Lischett Porky Pig in Chillicothe, Ohio
Jim Reader
Oedipus in Ayagoz, Kazakhstan
Richard Smith Euripides in Shemonaikha, Kazakhstan
John Walker
Socrates in Semey
Brendan Whyte Pericles in Astana, Kazakhstan
Public response to player with closest guess: Won at the wire by Bob Gingell: Thucydides in
Semipalatinsk
Dane Maslen, who recently ended one of these in his Dane's Games, included a thorough analysis of that
game's progress with his end game report. He reported the turn-by-turn commentary that several of the players
had sent him. I don't have much of that from you lot, but here is a bit of what I do have:
Variable Pig – Nero dei Nebrodi
44
Round two, Richard Weiss commented that '"I died before you were born." Not very helpful. Socrates was
not a choice. Hmmm. Not Lusaka.' True, given the first set of potential Kendos, this clue left a lot of history
to chose from. For this round's clue, I had to consider Confusious, Wells, and Thucydides. The latter two wrote
their own material, but most of what we know of Confusious was recorded by his posterity. So, I had to be
careful with the wording of this clue.
Round three, Richard Smith noted, 'Hmm, written legacies could be Confucius, Verne or Wells, and two of
them are China so let’s go east and pick a dead writer...' I also had in mind that Winston Churchill left a lot
of paper behind him, but the first turn's clue should have eliminated him as a possibility. Anyone not think so?
The clue was easy; Lao Tsu and Locke being philosophers.
Round four, Richard was 'Still looking for old authors in the orient....' The orient is good, but the author isn't
old enough, Richard... Now, Bob Gingell asks,
Is the "We are best known." clue a misprint for "I am best known ."? I had assumed that Kendo
was always one person. [Of course the royal 'we' might refer to a single person!]
Of course, I had to answer this, and a simple “no misprint” might have sufficed, but nooo, I had to write a long
response:
Read the clues as the "Mystery <person>" speaking to the person named in the city which was closest
to him (or her) that turn.
Do the rules not address the number of persons hiding out at the mystery location? Not explicitly, but
every reference is in the singular, so I would think a GM who put two (or more) folks out there would
be asking for a large load of static once that was discovered...
I spend a fair amount of time thinking about the clues to give, so you should assume that they do not
contain misprints.
[Of course, usage of the royal "we" could be part of the clue, couldn't it? Don't you love ambiguous
clues?]
Hmm, I seem to have forgotten to mention the possibility that there might be two 'named persons' in that closest
city. I imagined some of you would figure out that detail eventually...
Continuing with the clue theme of 'not very helpful unless you know who was closest', the language quip was
easy to generate.
Round five, Chris Hibbert commented, “I can't believe I've been closest every turn. Let me try for one more
before they all close in on me.” A step in the wrong direction for Chis, this turn. Finally, we have a number of
guesses contemporaneous with my historian, some of them speaking another language, and one of them closest.
While the 'same language' was potentially misleading towards latin, the 'narrower focus' part was supposed to be
helpful.
Round six, nobody gave me more than their guess, so I've no clues to how you were addressing the game at this
point. I thought long and hard about the theatre clue. On the one hand, there were only two tragedians, so it
felt like a give-away to narrowing down this round's closest to just these two. On the other hand, it also had the
potential to send most of you looking toward the stage for your guy; a bit of misdirection I can't quite bring
myself to apologize for, as; in the gripping hand, the “theatre of war” which Thucydides wrote about covered
most of the eastern Mediterranean (physically “wider”), but was “narrower” in the themes he addressed
compared to those addressed by the tragedians.
Round seven, most of you took the playwright bait: hook, line, and sinker. Richard Smith thought, “Brendan’s
playwrights could be the ones to go for so will pick a playwright and a place that is closer to Yekatinberg
than Cheylabinsk...” I'm not sure how Cheylabinsk got into the equation. Neither is very close to the previously un-named mystery location, and, in fact, Cheylabinsk is about 60 miles closer thereto than Ekaterinberg.
Richard Weiss wrote,
“As I went back to review earlier clues and my musings, I was thrown by Confucious, who I
confused with Socrates and decided wasn't known by written works. That corrected, I think I
have a clear pathway to who has been getting clues throughout the game. I always wonder if
there is criteria for city selection, other than a city form of government. Not being all that familiar
with stages or plays, my guess is this month's clue refers to not type of plays and not locations of
plays performed, but to a famous theme of one of the playwrights. Beyond me though.
My guess is no one will guess Phrynichus, as the fourth contemporary.”
Variable Pig – Nero dei Nebrodi
45
No, no one did go for that other playwright. However, you might be on the right track with your 'theme' idea.
And knowing who has been closest is clearly useful, but then, I repeat myself.
Bob Gingell somehow managed to slip into Semey, with an aside that “Semey was previously known as
Semipalatinsk,” an aside I appreciated, as Semipalatinsk was the location I had initially picked off my 1961
National Geographic Globe. Bob, however, also fell for the playwright ruse. He did however, pick a
playwright who had participated in several victorious military campaigns, which contrasted to Thucydides'
campaign which we know most about. In that one, he arrived too late to keep strategically located Amphipolis
out of the hands of the Spartans. Fickle Athens subsequently exiled him, putting him in the position of an
'independent' observer from which he could write about the course of the Peloponnesian War. Now we get to
the part where I differ from other folks running WitWiKN? The rules say nothing about telling the 'closest'
player that he is in fact at the right spot. Nor do they say anything about what to do when a player not 'closest'
guesses the right guy. Whilst, in general, I think pointing out these facts reduces the challenge of the game, I'll
reserve the right to put subtle hints about these items into my clues when I think the circumstances make them
appropriate. Thus, this turn's clue tried to drag your thinking back off the stage and into the military realm.
Ruefully, I got to watch several of you wander in and out on Semey in your subsequent guesses.
Then I noticed that I'd not sent the 'you were closest' notice to Chris after turn six. I let him know, and he did
change his guess, but it made no practical difference, except, perhaps to him.
Round eight, Richard Smith again, with,
Euripides did serve military service and Aeschylus had military victories, so I’ll guess Bob is
closest and stick with Euripides
Thought about Pavlodar which Chris said in Round 6. Sophocles was a contemporary of
Euripides, so I’m going for somewhere near there (especially as Chris went for Ekibastuz in round
7) ...
Jim Burgess: “I must admit I've never seen such unanimity in one of these, I have no idea who is closest, I
know I should move location too.”
Richard Weiss doesn't tell us how he got there but his guess was “the historian general Thucydides. The
location is pretty narrow by my logic, but no truly large metropolitan areas. I'll go for the new location, he is
in Oskemen, Kazakhstan.”
With time running out, I decided to give a clue with a couple of large hints. Finding Cleon and Thucydides,
who weren't exactly fans of each other, in the same but not correct place, gave me the opportunity to suggest
some history, a hint I thought would be a large give-away, and to hint that one of the players had previously
been in the correct location.
Round nine, and no player's comments. Bob headed back to Semey, but abandoned his correctly guessed
historian. Several others joined him in Semey, but none managed to figure out the 'historical' reference. Now, I
had a mob of contemporaneous Athenians in the right place, hence the clue to 'recall my man from exile.' The
nearby could be interpreted as the sighting by Chris in Rubtsovsk, or the fact that Thucydides was hiding
nearby in the shadows of Semey. I guess that was too misleading, as Jim and Richard headed out of town
again.
Congratulations to Bob! Let's do another of this. Round one for game two will be reported in the next issue.
In My Neighborhood
Back in September, Barb and I took a truckload of wood to Port Townsend to be dried in a kiln and
subsequently machined into flooring and ceiling material. Early in December, I went over to help
unload the kiln and assist with the machining. The ceiling went fine, as that was Douglas fir, and most
of it was straight enough to simply pass through the moulding machine. The big leaf maple flooring
wood, however, was mostly too warped to send through at the six and eight foot lengths we'd brought.
We set up a chop saw, and I learned how to judge how much warpage could go through he moulder
and still get cleaned up. Took me longer than I'd have thought. Even after shortening most of the
lumber, it was still so warped we decided to make two passes, one to clean it up as surfaced four sides,
the second to actually cut the tongue and groove on the edges and the grooves on the back. Before we
could finish, one of the guys came to work with a nasty bug he then gave to a bunch of us. I've been
back home recovering (and passed it along to Barb), and the work still isn't done. In the meantime, we
managed to put up the cedar ceiling in the bathroom. But, I haven't listened to (m)any books, so no
list.
46
Variable Pig – Nero dei Nebrodi
#66
The Universe is a Pink Blancmange Called Simon
A subzine by Richard Smith – [email protected]
This issue's picture is my Christmas present to myself - the new 7 Wonders expansion - woohoo! I have played
it F2F and it makes the game very different, much more intense, man! But will it play postally? Guess I'll have
to test this myself by opening a waiting list (but only if I can come up with some workable rules - it could be
tricky to GM). The London Underground game is still not ready but I am running (the original) Phantoms of the
Ice which should be fun.
Meanwhile I've had to buy myself another pressie as my old HTC smartphone died. This was the phone laughed
at by The Crets due to megaslowness such as finding a pub after we'd parked up then retrieving a review whilst
we were already consuming its food and drink. Having had the phone for (well) over 2 years I was eligible for
an upgrade (on contract) and was pleasantly surprised that only £2 extra per month bagged me a much better
model, a Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini which was an expensive choice when it first came out, but is now much
cheaper due to the passage of time.
As for actual pressies, my mum bought me some really good jumpers - this does appear to contravene one of
the universe's most fundamental laws, but all three fitted perfectly, were tasteful and suited me. Two of them
even made me look slimmer :-)
I haven't mentioned cars for a while. Whilst I no longer own an Alfa Romeo I do drive a hot hatch (Pug GTi).
The back roads in the Meon Valley area are great for sporty driving apart from when they get clogged with
cyclists (so more fun is to be had on a wet day). Petrol is nice and cheap now so no need to "spare the horses",
and with me being over 50 insurance is cheap too (as I may have mentioned before, other benefits are Saga
holidays and free prostate cancer checks on the NHS).
The UK General Election is looming and it looks like an interesting one this year. Alas living in an area where an
amoeba would get elected if it was the official Conservative candidate my vote is wasted (last general election I
voted for John Denham who scraped in by 192 votes).
Richard
If you passed gas consistently for 6 years and 9 months, enough gas is produced to create the
energy of an atomic bomb (hmm I suspect this one may not be true, though I know a man who could test it out).
Variable Pig – Nero dei Nebrodi
47
7 Wonders
Postal and F2F rules on the website. Postal rules also printed in VP 141. Wonder description reprinted this issue.
Age 2 continues..
ROMA B (Chris)
Round 2 age card: Build First Wonder stage (using undisclosed card) (cost 1 clay, 1 wood both own resources)
- Roma immediately gains 4 new leaders. Note that Roma can deploy an additional leader on completion of
each of the next two wonder stages (pay 2 coins less than standard).
Round 3 age card: Build Gambling House (cost 1 gold). Roma gets 9 gold and Olympia and Sparta 2 each. Note
that although at the start of round 2 Roma had no gold, it received 2 coins from Sparta which were available for
round 3.
OLYMPIA A (Brad)
Round 2 age card: Build Dispensary using Apothecary (chain)
Round 3 age card: Build Library using Scriptorium (chain)
BABEL A (Tony)
Round 2 age card: Build Foundry (cost 1 gold)
Round 2 age card: Build Forum (cost 2 clay own resource)
ALEXANDRIA B (Bob)
Round 1 age card: Build Vineyard (no cost ) - Alexandria gets 8 coins
Round 1 age card: Build Stables (cost 1 ore, 1 clay, 1 wood - own resources [wood from wonder])
ANTIOCHEIA A (Jim)
Round 2 age card: Build first stage of wonder using undisclosed card (cost 1 stone own resource, 1 clay pay 1
to Alexandria)
Round 3 age card: Build the Caravansary via a chain (+2 gold from Xenophon)
EL DORADO A (Kevin)
Round 2 age card: Build Foundry (cost 1 gold)
Round 2 age card: Build Forum using chain
SPARTA A (Allan)
Round 2 age card: Build first stage of wonder using undisclosed card (cost 1 ore own resource, 1 clay pay 2 to
Roma)
Round 3 age card: Caravansary card not available, random card (Training Ground) burned for 3 coins.
Allan forgot to supply a reserve card and I didn't spot this (I'm a bit lax in checking orders). The rules don't
actually say what happens if you fail to name a reserve and the first choice is taken - I think random card for 3
coins is best.
48
Variable Pig – Nero dei Nebrodi
Player
Wonder
(Stages)
Leaders
Gold
Military
(Tokens)
Chris
Roma B (1 =
gain 4
leaders)
Croesus (+6
gold when laid)
Nebuchadnezzar
(+1 VP per blue)
10
0 (-2)
Cards
Production*
Stone Pit
1 stone
Clay Pit
1 clay / ore
Pigeon Loft
1 wood
Lumber Yard
Altar (2v)
Theatre (2v)
Secret Warehouse
Library (T)
Gambling House
Brad
Olympia A
Caesar (+2
5
3 (+2)
Ore Vein
1 wood
(1 = +3VP)
military when
Loom
1 ore
laid)
Apothecary (C)
1 cloth
Sappho (+2 VP)
Scriptorium (T)
Stockade (1m)
School (T)
Library (T)
Dispensary (C)
Tony
Babel A
Justinian (+3 vp 6
0 (0)
Tavern
1 papyrus
(1 = +3VP)
per set of
Tree Farm
1 wood / clay
red/blue/green)
Glassworks
1 glass
Aspasia (+2 VP
Clay Pool
1 clay
and peace
Residence (1v)
2 stone
token)
Workshop (W)
2 ore
Quarry
* 1 glass / cloth
Foundry
/ papyrus
Forum(
Bob
Alexandria B
Bilkis (buy 1
11
5 (0)
Excavation
1 glass
(1 = extra
resource from
Guard Tavern (1m)
1 stone / clay
resource
bank for 1 gold)
Loom
1 cloth
stone, clay,
East Trading Post
1 clay
ore or wood)
Clay Pool
1 ore
Ore Vein
*1 stone / clay /
Walls (2m)
ore / wood
Vineyard
Stables (2m)
Jim
Antiocheia A
Xenophon (+2
15
0 (-1)
Tavern
1 stone
(1 = +3VP)
gold each yellow
West Trading Post
1 stone / ore
card)
Marketplace
* 1 glass / cloth
Ramses (all
East Trading Post
/ papyrus
guilds free)
Baths (3v)
*1 stone / clay /
Mine
ore / wood
Altar (2v)
Forum
Caravansary(
Kevin
El Dorado A (1 Berenice (+1
30
0 (-1)
Tavern
1 wood
= +6 (7)
gold from bank
Lumber Yard
2 ore
coins, -2VP
1/turn)
Gambling Den
* 1 glass / cloth
per blue card) Midas (+1 VP
West Trading Post
/ papyrus
per 3 gold)
Marketplace
Scriptorium (T)
School (T)
Foundry
Forum(
Allan
Sparta A (1 =
Vitruvius (+2
6
1.5 (2)
Forest Cave
1 wood / ore
one brown or
gold for building
Timber Yard
1 wood / stone
grey produces chain)
Theatre (2v)
1 papyrus
extra
Pericles (+2 VP
Press
resource)
each red card)
Baths (3v)
Barracks (1m)
Pawnshop (3v)
Statue (4v)
* production that cannot be purchased (e.g. from yellow cards or wonders) is marked with an asterisk.
** not including leftover coins
VP
**
5
20
7
0
7
3
16
Variable Pig – Nero dei Nebrodi
49
Pigeon Loft - copies neighbour's science card at game end
Secret Warehouse - each turn produces an extra resource of the player's choice from among those already
produced via initial resource, brown or grey cards.
Science Symbols:
C = Compass
T = Tablet
W = Wheel
Chain Possibilities:
Altar: Temple
Apothecary: Stables or Dispensary
Baths: Aqueduct
Caravansary: Lighthouse
Dispensary: Lodge or Arena
East Trading Post: Forum
Forum: Haven
Library: Senate or University
Marketplace: Caravansary
School: Academy or Study
Scriptorium: Courthouse or Library
Theatre: Statue
Walls: Fortifications
West Trading Post: Forum
Workshop: Laboratory or Archery Range
Comments:
Age 2 continues as some go for resources, others for VPs (Bob still a virgin). Everyone has now built at least
one wonder stage Next turn is a standard play 2 age cards thingummy. I will try to remember to check orders
for a lack of reserve on the second card.
Wonder Descriptions:
ALEXANDRIA B
Produces 1 glass
• the first stage allows the player to gain one resource of their choice from among the 4 raw materials [Stone,
Clay, Wood, Ore] each turn. [cost 2 clay]
• the second stage allows the player to gain one manufactured good of their choice chosen from among the 3
types [Glass, Textile, Papyrus] each turn. [cost 2 wood].
• The third stage is worth 7 victory points. [cost 3 stone].
Variable Pig – Nero dei Nebrodi
50
ANTIOCHEIA A
Produces one stone
• the first stage is worth 3 victory points [cost 1 clay, 1 stone].
• The second stage is worth 5 coins plus 1 victory point for each yellow card present in the player’s city at the
end of the game [cost 2 clay, 1 glass].
• The third stage is worth 7 victory points [cost 2 stone, 1 ore, 1 glass].
BABEL A
Produces one papyrus
• the first stage is worth 3 victory points [cost 1 papyrus, one stone].
• The second stage is worth 1 victory point for each brown card present in the player’s city at the end of the
game [cost 2 stone, 1 clay, 1 ore].
• The third stage is worth 3 victory points for each gray card present in the player’s city at the end of the game
[cost 3 stone, 2 papyrus].
El DORADO A
El Dorado has no starting resource; instead, the player begins the game with 12 extra coins.
• The first stage is worth 6 coins and the player loses 2 victory points for each blue card present in his city at
the end of the game [cost 1 wood, 1 ore].
• the second stage grants 3 coins for each yellow card he plays after building this stage [cost 2 ore, 1 stone].
• The third stage is worth 1 extra victory point for each set of 3 coins [cost 2 stone, 1 ore, 1 papyrus, 1 glass].
Variable Pig – Nero dei Nebrodi
51
OLYMPIA A
Produces one wood
• the first stage is worth 3 victory points [cost 2 wood].
• The player can, once per Age, build a structure of their choice for free [cost 2 stone].
• The third stage is worth 7 victory points [cost 2 ore].
ROMA B
Rome produces no resource, but its player benefits from a 2 coin reduction to the recruitment of all its Leaders.
Neighbouring cities benefit from a reduction of 1 coin on the recruitment of their Leaders.
Rome produces no resource, but its player benefits from a 2 coin reduction to the recruitment of all its Leaders.
Neighbouring cities benefit from a reduction of 1 coin on the recruitment of their Leaders.
• The first stage is worth 5 coins. Moreover, the player immediately draws 4 Leader cards from those in the box
and adds them to his or her hand of Leader cards [cost 1 clay, 1 wood].
• The second stage is worth 3 victory points and the player can immediately put in play an extra Leader (by
paying 2 coins less than its printed cost) [cost 1 textile, 1 stone, 1 clay].
• The third stage is worth 3 victory points and the player can immediately put in play an extra Leader (by
paying 2 coins less than its printed cost) [cost 1 papyrus, 2 stone].
Note: Rome B gives the player the chance to put up to 5 Leaders into play instead of the usual 3.
SPARTA A
Sparta has no starting resource; instead, the player has an extra half shield for all military conflicts.
52
Variable Pig – Nero dei Nebrodi
• The first stage allows the player, once per turn, to produce a resource of his choice from among those that his
city already produces through its brown and gray cards [cost 1 ore, 1 clay].
• The second stage is worth 5 victory points [cost 1 textile, 2 ore].
• The third stage is worth 7 victory points [cost 1 ore, 2 clay].
Clarification: the extra half shield gains victory for Sparta in the case of a tie during military Conflict resolution.
Machi Koro
We have 8 takers for this Japanese classic, so I'm running 2 games.
Postal rules are on the Pig website http://www.variablepig.org/rules.html
F2F rules with Japanese artwork and English text, and card images /
translations are available to download from Boardgamegeek here
http://tinyurl.com/pgso5pp
The game has just been re-released by IDW Games.
Example orders: Build preference: Forest, Cafe, Convenience Store,
Livestock Farm.
In this case the player is defaulting everything else (see 3.4, 3.5 and 3.6
in the rules). On the postal turns when you have two rolls, you can
supply separate preferences for the two rolls, or use the same for both.
RULES UPDATE: Allan has pointed out that 12 turns is probably too low a time limit as all of the games he
played since acquiring a set took more than 15 turns (with the rolling double go in the postal game you
effectively get 15 goes in 12 postal turns). I'm leaning towards playing both games to the end and ignoring the
turn limit: How do people feel about this? I will go with the majority. The main advantages of playing a fixed
number of turns is everyone gets the same number of goes, and the elapsed time for the postal game is not
excessive (I think the longest game I played in Pig was Warlock for 27 turns which I managed to lose right at
the end from a winning position).
Game 1 Postal turn 4:
Bob roll 4: 2 (Bob gets 1 coin from Bakery, Allan 1 and John 2 from Livestock Farms) Bob builds a Bakery
Jim roll 5: 2 [one dice] (Jim gets 1 coin from Bakery, Allan 1 and John 2 from Livestock Farms) Jim builds a
Livestock Farm
Allan roll 5: 3 (Allan gets 1 from Bakery) Allan builds a Stadium
John roll 5: 4 (Nobody gets anything) John builds a Stadium
Bob roll 5: 5 (Bob gets 2 coins from Forests, Jim 2, Allan 1, John 1) Bob builds a Convenience Store
Order for postal turn 5: Jim* roll 6, Allan Roll 6, John roll 6, Bob roll 6, Jim* roll 7
*n.b. default is 2 dice with train station
Status Table
Player
Jim Reader
Allan Stagg
John Walker
Bob Pitman
Coins
2
4
1
2
Available Cards
No. Type
3
Landmark
4
Landmark
4
Landmark
4
Landmark
6
Blue
2
Blue
Cost
4
10
16
22
1
1
Buildings
Wheat Field,
Wheat Field,
Wheat Field,
Wheat Field,
Roll
1
2
Bakery, Livestock Farm, Forest x2, Train Station, Convenience Store
Bakery, Livestock Farm, Forest, Convenience Store x2, Stadium
Bakery, Livestock Farm x2, Forest, TV Station
Bakery x2, Forest x2, Mine, Convenience Store
Name
Train Station
Shopping Mall
Amusement Park
Radio Tower
Wheat Field
Livestock Farm
Description
You may roll 2 dice
+1 coin for bakery, cafe, conv. store, restaurant
Extra go if you roll a double
You may reroll your dice once per go
Receive 1 coin from the bank (anyone's roll)
Receive 1 coin from the bank (anyone's roll)
53
Variable Pig – Nero dei Nebrodi
5
6
2
0
2
3
4
6
6
5
6
6
6
Green
Red
Green
Blue
Purple
Purple
Purple
Green
Green
Blue
Red
Blue
Green
1
2
2
3
6
7
8
5
3
6
3
3
2
2-3
3
4
5
6
6
6
7
8
9
9-10
10
11-12
Bakery
Cafe
Convenience Store
Forest
Stadium
TV Station
Business Complex
Cheese Factory
Furniture Factory
Mine
Restaurant
Apple Orchard
Produce Market
Receive 1 coin from the bank
Receive 1 coin from any player who rolls a 3
Receive 3 coins from the bank
Receive 1 coin from the bank (anyone's roll)
Receive 2 coins from each player
Receive 5 coins from the player of your choice
You may exchange 1 card* with an opponent
Receive 3 coins for each Livestock Farm
Receive 3 coins for each Forest or Mine
Receive 5 coins from the bank (anyone's roll)
Receive 2 coins from any player who rolls a 9 or 10
Receive 3 coins from the bank (anyone's roll)
Receive 2 coins for each Wheat Field or Apple Orchard
* excludes Landmarks and Major Establishments (Purple)
Game 2 - Postal Turn 4:
Tony roll 4: 2 (Tony gets 1 from the Bakery, Tom 2, Tony 2, Kev 1, Roger 1 from Livestock Farm) Tony builds a
Train Station
Kev roll 5: 11 [6,5] (Nobody gets anything) Kev builds a Bakery
Tom roll 5: 3 (Tom pays Roger 1 coin at his Cafe and regains 1 coin from the Bakery) Tom builds a Cafe
Roger roll 5: 1 (Roger gets 2 from Wheat Fields, Tony 1, Kev 1, Tom 1) Roger builds a Train Station
Tony roll 5: 7 [6,1] (Nobody gets anything) Tony Builds a Cafe
Order for postal turn 5: Kev* roll 6, Tom roll 6, Roger* roll 6, Tony* roll 6, Kev* roll 7
*n.b. default is 2 dice with train station
Status Table
Player
Kevin Lee
Coins
1
Tom Howell
Roger Trethewey
Tony Bayley
1
0
0
Available Cards
No. Type
1
Landmark
4
Landmark
4
Landmark
4
Landmark
5
Blue
0
Blue
5
Green
4
Red
4
Green
2
Blue
4
Purple
4
Purple
4
Purple
6
Green
6
Green
6
Blue
6
Red
6
Blue
6
Green
Cost
4
10
16
22
1
1
1
2
2
3
6
7
8
5
3
6
3
3
2
Buildings
Wheat Field, Bakery x2, Forest, Train Station, Livestock Farm, Convenience
Store
Wheat Field, Bakery, Forest, Livestock Farm x2, Convenience Store, Cafe
Wheat Field x2, Bakery, Cafe, Livestock Farm, Forest, Train Station
Wheat Field, Bakery, Forest, Livestock Farm x2, Train Station, Cafe
Roll
1
2
2-3
3
4
5
6
6
6
7
8
9
9-10
10
11-12
Name
Train Station
Shopping Mall
Amusement Park
Radio Tower
Wheat Field
Livestock Farm
Bakery
Cafe
Convenience Store
Forest
Stadium
TV Station
Business Complex
Cheese Factory
Furniture Factory
Mine
Restaurant
Apple Orchard
Produce Market
Description
You may roll 2 dice
+1 coin for bakery, cafe, conv. store, restaurant
Extra go if you roll a double
You may reroll your dice once per go
Receive 1 coin from the bank (anyone's roll)
Receive 1 coin from the bank (anyone's roll)
Receive 1 coin from the bank
Receive 1 coin from any player who rolls a 3
Receive 3 coins from the bank
Receive 1 coin from the bank (anyone's roll)
Receive 2 coins from each player
Receive 5 coins from the player of your choice
You may exchange 1 card* with an opponent
Receive 3 coins for each Livestock Farm
Receive 3 coins for each Forest or Mine
Receive 5 coins from the bank (anyone's roll)
Receive 2 coins from any player who rolls a 9 or 10
Receive 3 coins from the bank (anyone's roll)
Receive 2 coins for each Wheat Field or Apple Orchard
* excludes Landmarks and Major Establishments (Purple)
54
Variable Pig – Nero dei Nebrodi
Snakes and Ladders
ROUND 10:
Congratulations to Tom on a resounding victory! I was expecting a couple more
rounds hence asking if people were OK with the game ending when the winner
crosses the line rather than playing out for minor placings.
As it stands Lee gets the silver and John and Roger share the bronze.
R1 R2 R3 R4
R5 R6
Chris
1
4
9
11
17 21
Howard 1
5
11 13
38 41
John
4
5
7
11* 17 2
Lee
3
5
9
11* 17 2
Roger
3
5
26 53
39 43
Tom
3
4
26 53
57 63
* after falling through trapdoor on square 30
R7
25
47
26
26
46
84
R8
53
52
53
53
52
86
R9
26
56
54
56
56
91
R10
53
39
57
62
57
119
R11
R12
The "mystery" theme was United Kingdom General Elections of the 20th Century, and the board was a standard
10x10 layout (not like the weird one I designed last time I ran the game).
For each year there was an election http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_Kingdom_general_elections,
there is a snake or a ladder - e.g. the first election of the 20th century was in 1906 so there is something at
square 6, but what..?
Liberal win - straight ladder up 2 levels
Labour win - diagonal ladder (leaning left, of course) up 2 levels
ConServative win - snake vertically down 2 levels (or more to avoid other snakes and ladders).
119
118
117
116
115
?
114
113
112
111
102
103
104
105
lab
106
107
108
109
110
con
99
98
L119
lab
96
95
94
93
S72
con
91
81
82
S63
con
84
85
86
88
89
90
80
S42
con
78
77
76
75
73
72
71
61
62
63
L82
lab
65
67
68
69
60
S39
con
58
57
56
54
53
52
41
42
43
44
L63
lab
46
47
48
49
40
39
38
37
36
S15
con
34
33
32
21
S2
con
S4
con
25
26
27
28
L47
lab
30
20
19
L41
lab
L38
lib
17
16
15
14
13
12
11
1
2
3
4
5
L26
lib
7
8
9
L30
lib
120
101
lab
100
Finish
L84
lab
S26
con
S67
con
L96
lab
S30
con
S30
con
L68
lab
L53
lab
So Tom has Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman, Ramsay MacDonald, Harold Wilson and Tony Blair to thank for his
victory.
Variable Pig – Nero dei Nebrodi
55
Phantoms of the Ice - Postal Rules
For 5-9 players. Draft postal rules by Richard Smith 2015. F2F rules (1994 White
Wind edition by Tom Dalgiesh) will be made available.
Gamestart:
Each player is the manager of an ice hockey team (that he should name) and is
sent the card images for his initial squad of players.
A Turn:
Each manager may choose to challenge one opposing team that they have not
already played as their home game for the next turn. Example: Salford Stickies
have already played Portsmouth Puckers at home, and have been challenged by
Neasden Netbusters (away game). Salford may challenge Neasden but not
Portsmouth in subsequent turns. After a team has played all opponents at home,
their challenges are reset.
Each manager must choose the order for his team (NMR = random) for each game he is scheduled to play in
the next turn (can be the same order or different). There will be no games played on the first turn. Injured
players will be replaced automatically. In the event of a sudden-death playoff the same order will be used
unless the player specifies otherwise.
In addition each manager may perform...
a) a Trade (choose opposing team to plunder)
or
b) a Draft (choose player from own team to replace)
Game Reports:
Team members are only exposed when a game is played. Replacements for injured players are not publically
reported. These are privately sent to the manager along with the results of any trades or drafts. If a player
selected for a draft is replaced the replacement will be handed in unless conditional orders are used such as
"draft replacement for my worst forward".
Start Player:
This moves clockwise each round. Games are played in order by home game. Drafts and trades also take place
in this order.
Game End:
The game ends when either...
a) one or more teams reaches 9 or more wins
or
b) 10 rounds have been played
In either case, the team with the most wins is the Phantoms of the Ice League Champions. If there is more
than one team tying for the most wins there will be a playoff (round robin if 3 or more). In addition, The
Golden Clog is awarded to the team that has injured the most players.
VARIABLE PIG (Nero dei Nebrodi)
Polar Pig 148
on-the-shelf vol XVI, no 17 The Universe…66
JIM (CJ) READER,
jim_reader”of”hotmail.com
TOM HOWELL
off-the-shelf”of”olympus.net
RICHARD SMITH,
richard530smith"of"btinternet.com
Jim Reader is the Editor. Richard Smith does the printing and distribution from the UK. Back issues of the zine
(and some rules) are avalable from the new website http://www.variblepig.org. Variable Pig also has a
Mailing List – go to http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/variablepig/ or send a blank email to [email protected] to join (posting address [email protected]). Variable Pig is
free but donations of British stamps or a PayPal transfer (to Richard's email) are welcomed.
PIG WAITING LISTS
STERNENHIMMEL – Game Start Inside (Polar Pig)
TEA DANCE – Arthur Owen and Roger Trethewey; 1 more wanted (Polar Pig)
BREAKING AWAY – Game Start inside (Polar Pig)
BACKPACKS AND BLISTERS – Game Start inside (Pig)
DER FUHRER – John Walker, Howard Bishop and Arthur Owen; 2 – 3 more wanted (Polar Pig)
PUERTO RICO – Bob Pitman, Arthur Owen and Kev Lee. 1 - 2 more wanted (Polar Pig).
ROBO RALLY – Game Start inside (Pig)
SNOWBALL FIGHTING – Regular game. Arthur Owen and Andy York. 3 - 4 more wanted (Polar Pig)
HARE AND TORTOISE – Regular Game. Arthur Owen and Howard Bishop. 4 – 6 wanted (Polar Pig)
WORK REST AND PLAY – One Game Start inside. Steve Ham and 2 more wanted (Polar Pig)
MANEATER - Roger Trethewey and Tony Critchley. 3 more wanted (Polar Pig)
6 NIMMT! – New game to start when current game finishes. Arthur Owen (Polar Pig)
RAILWAY RIVALS – Map to be determined. Chris Hibbert, Arthur Owen and Michael Pargman. 2 – 3 more
wanted (Polar Pig)
KENDO NAGASAKI – New game! All players can join (on-the-shelf)
SHADOW HUNTERS – John Walker, Mike Townsend, Jim Reader, Roger Trethewy. 5 – 8 wanted (Universe)
ORIGINS OF WWI – Arthur Owen, Brendan Whyte (on-the shelf)
PHANTOMS OF THE ICE - 5 - 9 wanted (The Universe)
THE DEADLINE FOR VARIABLE PIG (Red Holstein Husum) is
Wendesday 4th February 2015
The Red Holstein Husum pig is one of the rare and endangered breeds of pigs in Germany. In 1996, the
Friends of Rotbuntes Husum pig eV was founded and an official identification and acquisition of stocks
performed. In 2000, there were 10 boars and 102 sows. Schleswig-Holstein funds in addition to the Angeln
Saddleback pigs and the Husum pig as an endangered breed. The current herd book of March 2011 lists
another 20 approved breeding boars and only 53 registered breeding sows.
from http://www.husumer-landschweine.de/