Golden Circle XL, 13 Points

Some games you play by the book and the game follows the good principles of probability and you get something beautiful.

Discovery, 15 Points

What a game Ravi, this is what you get when probability takes a vacation, as evident from the Battle for the Roads.

Blue placed the first settlement on top-right 8-9-4 next was my turn, and that placement always throws me off my initial strategies, you know its some wiseguy on the other side when you see a placement like that. By the rules, I should have taken a place on the same area, but I didnt, I put my money on the trusty old 6-5-9 at the bottom left waterfall. The game was set for Red to take great places and a good lead, probably finishing it off soon, but then Red, for his second settlement took the 6-5-3 at the upper right!

On questioning him about that in the game, he simply said it was lack of attention, but for other players, it was indeed divine intervention.

As the game progressed I was lagging behind pitifully. Those guys were around 10 when I was on 4, but returns of investments started to flow in and as the game was nearing the end, and it looked like Red will walk away easily things changed a bit.

Some out of form dice throws later, blue caught up for the longest road, and thus began the Battle of the Roads resulting in the abominations you see on the map. I had the ritters and was in a position to stop one player or the other as they made ships, but i took my chances and waited for them to lose steam hoping to buy some extra rounds, which inshallah did happen that way.

I didnt win this game, it was clear from the start that I wasnt going to, but wanted a close finish. As I reached 12 points, I thought.. "satisfactory performance" and a few negative points, not bad overall. At 13 I thought "not bad indeed!" and maybe nett zero change in points. And then I bought a development card, none other than a victory point. We know how loathsome it feels to get that as your first card in the game, but as the last card.. boy that is sweet!