02/28/14

GARPA 39 – GrogHeads Advanced Research on Projects Advisory

Our running late on a busy Friday brings you this week’s GARPA!

Board Games

SUPREMACY 2020 – Superpower Game of Nuclear Brinksmanship (Command Post Games)
$17,700 of $15000, ends 15 March 2014

An old classic reimagined for a new superpower age, Supremacy returns as the 2020 version with its ever-tense mixture of resources, nukes, conventional armies, technology, and back-stabbing fun.  Make no mistake, this is a high-strategic-level game that won’t have you pushing battalions and brigades around.  You track your missiles, and missile interceptors, along with navies and resources and nary a grunt in sight.  Stretch goals have already added international terrorists to the mix, and bring you a set of pieces to add Brazil as one of your superpowers.  Check it out and get your pledges in.

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G39-carcThe Adults of Carcassonne (Carcassonne Shop)
$7200 of $7000 goal, ends 9 March 2014

Ever been in the middle of a board game and thought “Man, I could use a drink!” ?  How about a game that answers “Sure!”  Tje Adults of Carcassonne is an unofficial expansion (though they are official “accessories”) that swaps meeples for shot glasses, and game tiles for mug coasters.  Yep, this is the pub-friendly Carcassonne for the drinking gamer.  Go ogle the fun at their Kickstater page, and get your gamedrink on.

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02/20/14

Prosciutto – Hamming it up with the di Parmas… Part Twenty-Ace

We hit “blackjack” on UCG’s  long-running Crusader Kings II AAR …

as always, click images to enlarge

In Part 20 Oberto’s cousin and Marshall was unexpectedly given ‘his’ Duchy of Capua, he received many claims on neighbouring provinces, and marched on the Muslims to complete the Duchy of Salerno. In this new part Sicily is found to be falling apart and unhappy subjects rise up.

 

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Oberto’s armies arrive in Taranto to kick out the Muslims. It isn’t much of a match and they’re soon defeated and heading South

 

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Taranto on its own doesn’t give up enough warscore for a victory. Oberto needs to take more Muslim land nearby to bump up the score. Heading South his scouts show the Emperor is already in Sicily, bravely keeping nine Muslims at bay!

 

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Whilst Oberto knocks down the walls of Taranto rebels in Capua decide they’ve had enough and start knocking down its walls.

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01/30/14

Prosciutto – Hamming it up with the di Parmas… Part Two-Zero

Kicking off our second “decade” of the long-running Crusader Kings II AAR that you know you love to read.

as always, click images to enlarge

In Part 19 we saw Oberto defeat the pitiful armies of the Duchess of Amalfi, watched the Duchies of Capua and Genoa go up for grabs, and witnessed the King of Sicily lose to the Muslims, thus weakening his realm. In Part 20 Oberto employs the most efficient Chancellor in the Kingdom – ever, gets told off by the Emperor, and realises the errors of his kindness.

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Its official, Oberto gets to don the Golden band of Power in all his state photos. Death to the Count, long live the Duke (we get a fancy new flag too)

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Oberto considers stripping Carla of her title, but too many vassals will get grumpy, and having just adopted them, now is not the time

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01/9/14

Prosciutto – Hamming it up with the di Parmas… Part XIX

We thought we’d throw you guys for a loop by bringing you the next installment of the Crusader Kings II AAR that won’t end the very next week, instead of, y’know, 5 months from now or something.

as always, click images to enlarge

In Part 18 Oberto recruited more plotters in his attempt to bring down Matilda, complicated his legacy by marrying for a third time and having twin boys, and found a patch of land to realise his dream. In part 19 he bullies a little girl, gets mugged in Firenze, and achieves greatness (sort of).

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And there it is, confirmation of our claim on the county and Duchy of Salerno. Oberto already owns Napoli, he needs Amalfi and Salerno itself to seize the golden headband. Also included in the Duchy is Taranto but the Muslims have stolen it, He’ll sort that out later.

 

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The Chancellor grabs us a claim on one of Matilda’s home provinces that could leady to the Duchy of Firenze. With a heavy heart Oberto has to turn it down, he’s currently emptying all the piggy banks he has, even the novelty, oversized whisky bottles full of spare ducats – going to war with Salerno will be costly enough as it is.

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01/2/14

Prosciutto – Hamming it up with the di Parmas… Part XVIII

After a loooooooooooooong hiatus (we trimmed a few “O”s for space), UCG is back with another installment of the Crusader Kings II AAR that won’t end.  Thus outlasting Brant’s Civ V AAR and claiming the AAR longevity title.  For now.

In Part 17 Oberto fulfilled his ambition to become Chancellor of the Holy Roman Empire, started a plot against his old enemy, and realised his ambitions were stunted by his lowly social rank. In this part he decides to make his life more complicated, attempts to grow his plot and spies an opportunity down South.

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Oberto sits down with his advisors (which isn’t as easy as you think, the Emperor keeps sending him on diplomatic missions right across the HRE) to discuss his claims and opportunities for expansion. Despite being the Count of Genoa and Nice he still doesn’t have a claim on the Duchy of Genoa , that belongs to his rival Matilda.

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