Games for Keuka Lake and Ireland

Now that I've talked about what's coming up next, it's time to talk about how I'll manage to keep playing games while being away from my collection for nearly 5 months! At least I have the luxury of driving to New York, so I hopefully can afford to carry one of my plastic bins. This probably means I leave the golf clubs behind though.

So I have to plan for two different scenarios: having an adequately diverse set of options for the 2+ months I'll spend at Keuka Lake along with a compact gaming kit for our 7 weeks of backpacking in Ireland. I'm already mostly packed up so what I'm sharing will be just a peek but not a full display. Let's start with the small container.

Here's what I've got:

• Tichu -- my favorite partnership game for four people. This won't go to Ireland because the learning curve is too great for new players and Julie and I will most likely just be playing two player games.
• Love Letter -- quick fun and easy to teach to new players.
• Famiglia -- I like this underrated two player set collection game.
• Star Realms -- that's what you see in the brown plastic box. This game comes in a crappy box hence the switch. I've mostly played the iOS game but hoping Julie will like it face to face.
• Die Sieben Siegel -- Sometimes you have five players and want to play a trick taking game. That's why you carry this one.
• Bang! The Dice Game -- I'm a long time fan of Bang! but it can run on for too long. This has enough of the fun of the original in a much quicker game.
• Bohnanza -- There's a lot of game in this small package, and it scales well to 5 or 6 players.
• San Juan -- One of those games that I'll always play.
• My Sticheln universal gaming pack
• Hanabi -- This game is so unique and I look forward to trying it out with guests at the lake.

Now let's take a look at the bigger box. Moving around we can see the first side.

• Mythotopia -- I want a few heavier multi-player games and this was my pick. I've only played it once, but I love the deck-building-and-wargame mashup.
• Richard III -- Jim and I like to play a wargame when he comes out to Keuka, and we played this one earlier this year. I think it is better than Hammer of the Scots and am eager to play it again.
• For Sale -- One of my top 10 all time games. Easy to teach and quick to play.
• Jaipur -- This is one of the main two player games Julie and I have been playing.
• Time's Up -- One of our favorite party games that can scale up real well because you can build teams with more than two players.
• Rivals for Catan with Age of Enlightenment expansion -- When Julie and I want a two player game with a bit more depth, this is one of our favorites.
• 7 Wonders with Leaders expansion -- Evergreen game and a Keuka Lake tradition.

• Dixit -- Easy to teach social / party game. Good with a bottle of wine or whiskey. There are several expansions packed in this box.
• The Castles of Burgundy -- One of the better Euro games to come out in the past few years. Alternate for Mythotopia when folks don't want to fight.
• Morels -- Along with Jaipur one of the main two player games for Julie and me.
• One Night Ultimate Werewolf and Ultimate Werewolf -- These are both packed in the same box. I have a feeling without Matthew being at Keuka most of the summer that these may not get played much, but I want the option.
• The Pillars of the Earth -- One of my favorite worker placement games. Hoping to try this two player with Julie.

• Reverse Charades -- A fun party game that we enjoyed out at the lake last year.
• Havoc -- Of course I'll bring Havoc.
• Scripts and Scribes - Has some similarities to For Sale but with some unique twists.
• Magic: the Gathering -- Always bring Magic.
• A Game of Thrones Card Game -- Probably wishful thinking that this will get out, but perhaps Jim will join me.
• 6 Nimmt! -- Fun multiplayer light card game.
• David and Goliath -- I've been wanting to get this one the table but I suspect it will remain in the shadow of Tichu and Die Sieben.
• Unconditional Surrender: Case Blue and Drive on Metz -- These are two ziploc war games that I can fit in my case. They are both suitable for solitaire play and perhaps I can find an opponent.

I think that's it. I've got party games, card games, war games, collectible card games, a decent range of Euros, and plenty of two player games. I'm not sure what I'll bring to Ireland, but for sure I'll bring the Sticheln kit.