Tuesday morning started with me raising my iPhone alarm at around 8. I had a game at Richard’s at 9:30, a new weekly game on Tuesday morning (though I will miss the next one). James, a retired doctor I had not seen for more than a year, had acquired a copy of Mansion of Madness, Second Edition, with the figures painted and organizers. This version uses an app to control the game and is best on an iPad, and it is far better than the terrible slog that was the first card-based version. I wanted to try it again; I tried it at a convention, and the game was not fun. I hoped it would be better.
I wrote the blog the evening before, meaning now all I had to do was clean up, shave, dress, and head out. By 8:20, Air Volvo was headed down TV Highway. I stopped by McDonald’s and got a coffee with cream, two breakfast burritos, and a hashbrown. I was surprised that the coffee was good, the hashbrown was excellent, and the burritos were fair to poor. Next time, I will get something else!
I crossed Beaverton in Tuesday rush hour traffic and experienced a few strange lanes slowing. I was in the right lane going fast and saw the left stall at various traffic lights—the difference was twenty car lengths at one light! I was soon on the highway.
The total travel time was about forty-five minutes, about fifteen minutes longer than a quick trip. I was soon waiting with Richard. Jim, facing difficult traffic from the other direction (Washington State), finally arrived late. Jim explained the rules, and I could remember some of the game.
We started to play, and I was in trouble finding a horror right off. Richard later identified that I picked a weaker character, but this is a horror role-playing game, and I seldom play them for min-max-ing for the best character. My character constantly failed her dice rolls (lousy luck and few good options combined to make it a disaster–but still fun for me), collecting madness and injuries, but it was fun to see what that meant. I managed to cast one spell six times with only one success! I went insane but managed to avoid the fatal version. My madness has no effect (but I could not tell the other players), who thought I was looking somewhat sane for someone insane–perfect.
We had some puzzles to solve, including two “Master Mind” puzzles. I was tired today, so Richard jumped on them. Soon, the built-in timer in the scenario sped up the game, and the mansion was blasted by the eldritch powers the cultists had unleashed. We rushed to the gate and finally closed it and saved mankind. We won.
The game was slow, but the app helped. I would like to play it a few more times to decide if I like it. The simple game took three players four hours to complete.
The base game is no longer in print, but the app is still available. The base game sells for $99, but I have seen $500+ for unopened copies with all the expansions. My first edition copy was scrapped, with me keeping just the figures and the room boards.
After the game, I returned to the Volvo Cave in light traffic from Portland. Planning to reheat leftovers, I then accidentally dumped the Jambalaya on the floor. Disappointed that one delicious lunch and dinner were lost, I cleaned up the mess. I then made Trader Joe’s Kung Po Chicken from the frozen pack. It was not very good and I don’t recommend it, adding to my failures that afternoon. Poo.
I put away the dishes and dropped my Zabar Coffee mug (A gift from Cat Smith), and it shattered. F**k. I clean up yet-another-fail (YAF) and rest a bit. I nod off.
A call wakes me, and soon, it is after 5. I head out in Air Volvo in the pitch dark of winter, with the wind and rain of a Pacific Northwest winter night. All I am missing are the Christmas lights, I think, while Air Volvo finds its way in the parking lot. Next, I sit at a table at Shack Shack, which has surprisingly good burgers and fries, and wait for Dondrea and Z. Soon, they show, and we have food. We had a nice, relatively easy, and cheap meal together.
We hugged, said goodbye, and headed to our separate homes. Soon, Air Volvo arrived at the Volvo Cave through the wet and dark of PNW November. My hat, retrieved from Richard, protected me from the rain, and I felt comfortable in the wet. I must return to The Portland Running Store or REI for waterproof shoes soon!
I cleaned a bathroom, started the laundry, and began to pack. I decided to take a break and watched the last episode of Season 1 of Silo. I was impressed that I had missed something from every episode and the show’s first minutes. A most excellent plot twist, and the chase and resolution were interesting. While the show is dark, having seen the completion of the first season, I can recommend it and look forward to the next season.
I read for a while, starting the next book in a series I have been reading for more than a year:
After hearing too much noise during drying, I discovered my car keys and inhaler in The Machine. I had failed to empty my pockets and ran them through the wash cycle. Poo. Both still work, but it is more YAF today.
I loaded the dishwasher carefully to avoid more YAF. I ran it and completed the first load of clothing, my shirts, and pants (plus keys and inhaler). Underwear and other items that I don’t care if they are wrinkled are put in The Machine for the next load to be retrieved and put away on Wednesday morning. I will wash sheets and towels as I clean and pack on Wednesday morning.
I started the blog around 8ish and finished it before bed.
And that takes us to now. Thanks for reading!
Alohawild (Michael Wild's) Website 