And that was the 24 Board Game Marathon 2023 – part 3

We were over halfway though this year’s 24 Hour Board Game Marathon, and as we passed into the twilight hours, the hotel became a ghost town of shambling figures wandering the rooms and corridors in search of their next game fix.

Some players tried the tactic of using this span for playing big long games in the hope of the creating an illusion of time moving fast.

We decided to just do some gambling.

GAME #13 – LONG SHOT: THE DICE GAME

Something fun and easy was needed next so I sat down with Hilary and our new gamer buddy Josh to play some LONG SHOT: THE DICE GAME.

I have to say that some of my teaches were a little messy. The circumstances (noise, new people, being rusty) was the cause. But somehow, after 15 hours playing, I managed to pull off this single concise rules teach of a game where everything came out clear, in order, and I didn’t miss anything out.

And we were off. A good run of horses clumping together. No riders being left behind as sometimes happens. After a few minutes it felt like a game that all three of us had played a lot together.

GAME #14 – TRANSMISSIONS

Early morning saw us scrambling for games that weren’t too complex. Despite me not really enjoying it, I had taken TRANSMISSIONS along in case I got a chance to try it higher than 2-player. Players gather items, pipe, and abilities as we all share four robots on what is effectivley a rondel.

Another easy teach, but I got the vibe from the other two players that it wasn’t setting anyone’s world on fire. It was a little improved for me, and the game went on longer with three players (its short run time at two is one of my complaints).

It looks so nice all set up, and it’s an easy teach for sure, but I still think it’ll be leaving our collection.

RPG #2

Hilary and I were approached by Oscar (who I’d played All Bastard! with earlier) to see if we were interested in him running a One Shot RPG. It was a good couple of hours of play which in that late stage of a marathon is great to make time fly.

Oscar is a great GM and he took us on quite a fun adventure. It started off real slow as we both woke up and didn’t know what was going on. The quest for knowlege saw me slap a stranger and then ask them for money while Hilary broke the computer we were using in her search for cats on the internet.

And then things got crazy as a SWAT team tried to take us down while we discovered we had super-powers! And it was the future. And we accidentaly aided a terrorist in destroying London with only my luckiest of lucky roles at the very ending keeping us both alive.

And before long we spotted out the window that the sun had risen and that we were entering the final straight of the Board Game Marathon.

GAME 15 – SKULL

We returned to the Board Gaming area where only the weary few survived. We looked for a game to get us through the final two hours, something that required no teaching, no learning, and no real thinking.

And then we heard a call for players to join the live stream play of SKULL upstairs. All fears of being on camera were gone by this time when I could barely even remember my own name. And with SKULL being such an easy game, it made sense.

So we headed upstairs where we were joined by Daniel and Luke Hector (@thebrokenmeeple) and betting battle commenced.

We discovered that I can get further when I don’t have any Skulls, and that Hilary is almost incapable of bidding with the number three.

I pulled off a great bet-5 moment where everyone had to flip and there were no Skulls, a very ballsy play. But I couldn’t do enough to ever get that second win in any of the games.

GAME #16 – TRAILS

For the final game of the Marathon, Ali and I were joined by Luke Hector for a game of TRAILS. This is another one that is most likely leaving our collection and one that we’ve only played at two so far, so thank you to Luke for joining us for one final tired play.

I fought to get the rules explained without forgetting stuff and I might have messed up one or two, but we got through it. Good scores from Ali and I, but Luke smashed it with his completed cards.

THE END

And with that we all headed back up to the live stream room as Dan brought the event to a close. Highights were shared, congratulations to all the organisers and hosts was given, and I got a little flustered when I was one of the gamers given a shout out.

And just on that a moment. It may seem silly to some, but being remembered and recognised can be a big deal for people. I watch these people on YouTube and listen to their Podcasts on a weekly routine. I am their audience. They are my celebrities.

So when one of them talks to me, thanks me, or asks my opinion, it truly means a lot to me. Yes, they are normal folk, just like me, but it makes me feel that I’m not beneath them but along side them in this hobby and so I just wanted to thank them all for every post or shout-out that includes me, or every time that stopped and answered a question I had or just asked how I was enjoying the event.

It meant a lot.

And I also want to thank every single person who sat with me, played games with me, and chatted about games with me. Ali and I felt so welcome by all this entire weekend. This has been one of my favourite board gaming events to date and we will absolutely be back next year to do it all over again.

CHARITY

While the impressive haul of £6000+ has been celebrated, it is not the end. You can still donate to keep it going.

Cots for Tots is a charity that supports the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at St Michael’s Hospital located in the South West of England and you can read more about them and donate here – Link