Every 100 Games Series - Industria

I've fallen behind a bit in these Every 100 Games Series of blogs, but have been noting the game on my phone for later blogging. Well, I'm getting to it right now. The 4,900th game I played was Industria, in a Drury Inn & Suites, on the North East side of Indianapolis. Living the dream.

Game Play
At it's heart Industria is simply an auction game. The start players puts tiles up for bid, the others bid, and people win the tiles which help get them victory points. The theme of the game is getting technologies and buildings from early times all the way to the modern world. Many times you are trying to connect these technologies and buildings as you go from the top of the board down to the bottom of the board where the modern era is located.

Components
I like the board, but the other pieces are just ok. The small cardboard chits show the age of this game, which was made back in 2003. It also has that scoreboard, that instead of going around the board, snakes back and forth. Which makes for easy mistakes. Don't do that kind of score board graphic designers! Other than that, it gives you the stuff you'd expect in a game, so no real complaints there to stop someone from purchasing.

Strategy & Tactics
This game, just like other auction games where the first player chooses what tile to put up for auction, really hinges on choosing the right tile. You've got to time it right so that your opponents pay a premium for what they want to get, while at the same time you pay minimally to gain that economic advantage as the game progresses. There is strategy in planning for the future and making sure you are ready when that next technology comes up, but much of this game I think is on the tactical side of things.

Overall
I've played Industria two times in my life, both plays 5 years apart. I guess that tells you a little bit of my thoughts on the game. I've had access to it for most of those years, but really haven't searched it out. I like the theme of the game, though it is barely there, but I've been left feeling just so/so about the game as a whole. The auctions can be a bit repetitive, which in my mind, is the biggest detractor from the game.

Recommendations
Power Grid Fans - I think you should try this one out and play it. It has a lot of your favorite game in it, but does have a shorter playing time, so I'm guessing that this will be one you could pull out between your marathon Power Grid games on all the different maps.

New Gamers - Stay away from this one. It isn't that the rules are so complicated, but the ebb and flow of the game can be, which I don't think is great for new gamers.

Auction Lovers/Haters - If you spend your weekends in old barns scratching your cheek to indicate you want to bid on that old tractor, then this game is probably for you. All kinds of auctions and all kinds of fun! Though if that sounds horrible to you, well there really isn't anything else, so just avoid this game.

2014 Netrunner Regional Tournament in Louisville

If you want a report about an awesome regional winning session, you probably should look elsewhere. Well, not probably, you should absolutely look elsewhere. This will document as best as I can remember my middle-of-the-pack experience. I kept notes, but lost them, so if I forget your name or how things went, then well you can fill us in. Thanks for playing everyone. I had a good time and appreciate it.

A crazy start to the day, as I had a funeral to go to, which can always be tough and emotional draining. Then I drove from Indy to Louisville, just as fast as I possibly could, walking in to the store right at 1pm when the tournament was to start. Eating only some trail mix and a banana from 8am until 8pm. Not a good idea. This meant I played my first 2 rounds in dress clothes, before I had a chance to change at the Chinese restaurant. 

The bathroom at BlueGrass was just too busy all the time to get in. I played with Gabe & Replicating Perfection.

Round 1 – Jacob (Andy/TWIY) Current Prestige: 1

He chose to run first and we slogged out a 60 minute game. He siphoned me several times, keeping my money low by trashing my Sundews and Health Clinics. Eventually I stabilized though and scored a Future Perfect to bring the score to 5 to 3 his lead. I was now starting to sit in the money, with hardly any time left, he started running hard at R&D, a little recklessly, but it made sense to do so, and was able to see 3 cards at a time, avoided all my Shocks & Snares & Fetals to steal a Brain Trust for the win. We then switched sides, with 5 minutes left. I quickly scored a Beale, he quickly scored an Astro, I then snagged an NAPD from his hand for all my money with Sneakdoor, after seeing it earlier and not being able to get it. Then time was called and that was it. Jacob was real cool, we talked quite a bit throughout the day, and he bought a playmat from me.

Round 2 – Stephen (Noise/RP) Current Prestige: 3

I played RP again this time first, but this time it was much quicker, and with Noise’s money problems, and lots of agendas in my hands, I was able to win rather quickly. I don’t think Stephen expected that last double advanced agenda to be a 3 pointer. We switched and went for another marathon against his RP. I trashed things left and right as much as possible, got a 4-0 lead, but eventually started losing the attrition rate. Then I should’ve attempted to steal what I thought was a NAPD advanced once. Didn’t have the money, so I didn’t try. Turns out it was a Nisea II, which essentially ensured he’d score the next turn for the win. Stephen is from Carmel, near me, so I hope to play him some more locally.

Round 3 – Isaac (CT/TWIY) Current Prestige: 7

Early Sundew behind RSVP, 2 agendas in hand, and just a Yagura protecting HQ. The bluff worked well, he didn’t stop my economy, but rather played some PrePaid, and built his rig as quickly as he could. I was able to win handily, since by the time he got the rig really up and ready, I had all the agendas I needed and lots of money to protect them. We switched then, saying this ought to be a fast game. Took us nearly 40 minutes and I don’t think we were playing slow. Gabe just wasn’t finding the agendas and either was TWIY. Lots of back and forth, keeping me out of HQ, then using Sneakdoor, then switching to attacking R&D. Finally was able to get the win something like 7 to 5.

Round 4 – Ross (Kate/ETF) Current Prestige: 7

I’d met Ross before, but we’ve never played. He beat me 7-2 after just absolutely creating a 5 ice server on R&D. I was able to get in quite a lot early with an R&D Interface out, but only stole a single 2 pointer. He then kept me out of both HQ and R&D with a couple Quandrys, no breakers to be found for me. My RP game just hurt against his Magnum. Both Magnum and Whizzard really kill RP and that was the case with this one. I did score a Future Perfect and started getting a lot of money late, so I felt like this was a close game, but in reality I needed a few more turns to gain complete control and those turns didn’t come to me. Godo job Ross with the win.

Round 5 – Martin (Andy/GRNDL) Current Prestige: 9

Martin had just built his runner deck that day. I don’t remember much more, but I didn’t get Account Siphoned, I won relatively easy with this one. Despite Security Testing giving him a lot of money and making my 3 Shocks in archives just worthless. That is something I’m going to need to deal with in the future. The second game was ridiculous. I didn’t start with my Plascretes, but I did have a lot of money cards and Hostage. Got Pro Contracts going, drew threw over half my deck, and didn’t get a Plascrete. I’d saw a Sea Source early, couldn’t Siphon him, he had over 50 credits. I was screwed. He went to 4 points, then advanced advanced something in a 4 ice server. I ran R&D score 1 point. Ran it again scored another 2 pointer. Ran it again, nothing. Ran the remote, went through all the ice. Realizing I’m dead anyways, hit a double advanced Junebug. Talk about slow playing me. I still lost on the double Scorch next turn anyways over the single Plascrete I had finally found.

Round 6 – Charles (Kate/BABW) Final Prestige: 13

Charles was fun to play and talk with. We both knew we were out of it. I won the first game with only installing a single Knight. He was playing a vegan Weyland, but I was dancing around Scorch anyways. He scored a Hostile. Then he scored a Government contracts. I had already scored a 3 pointer from R&D top deck earlier. He installed advanced advanced something behind a rezzed Wall of Thorns and an unrezzed inner ice. I installed a Knight, moved it to the unrezzed ice, took 18 off Kati, and Inside Jobbed leaving me with 3 cards, but a Plascrete out. Stealing another 3 pointer. He Power Shutdown my Knight. I ran Archives, forcing him to use Jackson and put some agendas back into R&D, then used Same Old Thing to get back into R&D with Inside Job, saw 3 cards thanks to R&D Interfaces, and got the last agenda for the win.

Summary

I had a good time, the day was extremely long, and I don’t ever want to show up right at start of tourney having not eaten and in dress clothes again. I really missed Femme Fatale in my Gabe deck and though I know people really like the Knights, I’m not completely sold on them. RP did about what I expected it to do, losing to heavy Siphoning and Parasite recursion with Magnum. Overall I was happy with it, though long playtime really hurt me round 1. Thanks to BlueGrass Magic Shop and those running the tournament. See you all at GenCon…maybe…if I get in on Friday.

P.S. I sold some promos I had for like $45, so that made for the trip, which is nice.