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Vault of Midnight
Mighty Board Game Schedule!
Drop-in Gaming (Free!)
Sundays 2p-8p
Featured Game Night (Free!)
Thursdays 6:00p-10p
HeroClix (Clix needed to play)
Saturdays 1p-3p
Sat Sep 12th 11:13 am
That is all.
-Nick
Vault of Midnight
Thu Apr 9th 7:42 pm
Featured Game for Thursday, September 17
The rare double whammy! Rarely seen in the wild, these elusive game nights are a privilege for the select few that have the good fortune to witness them. Where will you tell your children you were when the last one struck?
FITS (Fill In The Spaces) by Reiner Knizia is a Tetris-ish, abstract puzzle game that is unique, addicting and award winning.
See you there for our first Thursday evening Featured Game Night!
And just a reminder: Featured Games are 20% off when you come to play!
Featured Game for September 24: Snow Tails
Click Here For the Schedule of Upcoming Games.
Sat Mar 14th 1:25 pm
Spring has crept upon us! How glorious! It has been a cold, brutal winter and we've earned these 40 degree days and then some. Board Games, like the noble Bear, are getting ready to emerge from their gentle slumber. We have the following releases to look forward to in the next few months:
- Pandemic: On the Brink Expansion (Z-Man)
- Dominion: Intrigue Expansion (Rio Grande)
- Race for the Galaxy: Revel vs. Imperium Expansion (Rio Grande)
- Space Alert (Rio Grande)
- Giants (Asmodee)
- Small World (Days of Wonder)
- Steam (Mayfair)
- Catan Geographies: Germany (Mayfair)
- Bakong (Asmodee)
- Modern Art: The Card Game (FRED)
- Many, many others
Meanwhile, at the Olde Comick Shoppe, we'll be featuring a selection of Economic Strategy games as an ironic, inappropriate nod towards our slowly dying economy. It will be Fun! Here's what we have coming up:
- March 11: Acquire - The classic game of stocks, acquisitions and mergers. And it's even more fun than it sounds!
- March 18: High Society / Chicago Express - In a rare, double-whammy feature, we'll be playing both the Reiner Knizia auction card game as well as the Henry Wu Meeple's Choice nominee. I have played both and they are sweet.
- March 25: Container - My favorite economic game. What more do you need? Nothing, that's what.
See you soon!
Fri Jan 2nd 6:28 pm
And Hello To You,
The holidays have ended and it's time to get back to work. And by work, of course, I mean playing board games. I sure did miss everybody over the past couple of weeks. The Game-a-torium was silent and lonely. I just stood next to the light switch, switching the lights on and off, staring at the floor, wondering what to do with myself. But we're back in action! AND we're still feeding off the glut of magnificent games that have been released over the past six weeks or so. Lots and lots of new stuff to play. Won't you join me? There's something for everyone:
- Wed. Jan 7: Battlestar Galactica
- Wed. Jan 14: Cosmic Encounter
- Wed. Jan 21: Munchkin Quest
- Wed. Jan 28: Android
See You Soon!
Fri Dec 5th 6:41 pm
Happy Holidays,
Did you know that One Thousand sweet games have been released in the past three weeks? I'm not exaggerating. I'm only slightly exaggerating. Here is a brief list of everything that we've received in the shop recently:
- Munchkin Quest
- Wasabi
- Genji
- Municipium
- Ilium
- Conflict of Heroes
- Ghost Stories
- Lost Cities: the Board Game
This month we at least one exciting game event, with more TBA:
When: Noon on Sunday, December 14
Cost: FREE
Where: Vault of Midnight Game-atorium
Wha?: Similar in format to our last Settlers tournament, only this time there will be two qualifying games. The best four players from those two sets of qualifiers will play in the finals. The finals will consist of a single game played with a Surprise Expansion to be announced at the final.
Prizes!: The winner will receive a FREE COPY of the SETTLERS OF CATAN game of their choice: either the core game or one of the expansions, Cities and Knights, Seafarers of Catan, or Traders and Barbarians. Runner Up Prizes for Runners Up!
Please contact us (vault@digitalrealm.net) if you're interested in competing or if you have any questions. As always, our tournaments are low key affairs with the emphasis placed on Having a Good Time over strict competition.
And, Just a Reminder:
The original, the unstoppable SANFORD BLEDSOE will be hosting an Open-Game Night every Thursday featuring Complex Euro Style Board Games!
Finally, here are this months Featured Games:
- December 3: Genji - Card Game - become the greatest lover in Japan!
- December 10: Municipium - Board Game - Archaeology, Knizia style.
- Decemebr 17: Wasabi! - Board Game - Make sushi, become a master sushi-chef!
- December 24 & 31: NO GAMES - HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Sun Sep 14th 2:57 pm
Carcassonne Tournament
WHEN: HIGH NOON ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 14
- FANTASTIC RUNNER UP PRIZES!
Wed Aug 6th 12:46 am
This month we'll be playing games that have no particular connection to one another aside from the fact that they are sweet. Does that mean that this month is "Sweet Games Month"? No, it does not. I don't care for that title. That would infer, on some level, that the games we play this lunar cycle are the "sweetest" ones and that wouldn't be fair to the other games. Like a Mother Sparrow tending over the hundreds of eggs I assume she lays at any given time, I love all of my babies with equal, reckless abandon. Except, of course, for the ones that suck.
Any-whoo, here's the schedule.
August 6: Airships
August 13: NO GAMES
August 20: Shadows Over Camelot with Merlin's Company Expansion
August 27: Amun Re
Oh, we'll have such a grand time. See you there!
Sun Jul 13th 12:33 pm
Oh. Hello.
Has it been a while? Has everyone been frothing at the craw in anticipation? "When will the next email arrive?!? I can't TAKE this!!"
I understand. Several exciting things have been afoot in the wide world of Board Games. To name a few:
- Spiel des Jahres 2008 was named: KELTIS by the Man Himself... Reiner Knizia! Special Prize for Best Complex Game was awarded to Agricola and Best Children's Game was Awarded to Who Was It? also designed by Dr. Knizia. Banner year for The Man. I couldn't be prouder.
- Meeples' Choice 2007 Winners were announced - Race for the Galaxy in First Place, followed by Agricola and Brass. None of these games are currently in print in the U.S. though Agricola is due any minute. Stay tuned for details there.*
- We had our first Settlers of Catan Tournament! It was totally awesome! The competition was fierce. We checked all firearms and bats with nails driven through them at the door but even still, nerves ran high. After sneaking out a close win in the Qualifiers, Darren Poltorak, long time friend of the Vault, went on to claim the whole shebang in the finals by a narrow margin. I chewed my fingernails to the nub. I fainted once. What a good time.
July 9: Reef Encounter
July 16: 1960 - Making of a President
July 23: Pandemic
July 30: Agricola?
Finally, Settlers of Catan: Traders and Barbarians, the new Expansion, drops today and is available now. We'll be opening that up before too long and if anyone has an itch to lay their hands on it, stop by and let me know.
That's all for now, friends. Remember that Featured Games are 10% off when you come in to check them out with us on Featured Game Nights.
- Nick
Vault Of Midnight
*Race for the Galaxy is currently available and in stock.
Sat May 10th 2:38 pm
It's May! Oh, Man!
Friends,
It is May! The most fertile month of the year! Mad Green Stuff Abound! What a perfect time of the year to play board games...
There are plenty of extra exciting things happening this month. Firstly, Congratulations are due to William for winning the First Annual Battlelore Tournament! He fought with a passion that would cower Satan Himself and his enemies fell before him like so many Jenga Blocks. It was a sight to see, I tell you. William won a Free Copy of Battlelore and I have it on good authority that he falls asleep cradling the box in his arms every night. I have no interest in explaining how I acquired that information.
But this leads me to the next point: MONTHLY TOURNAMENTS! Henceforth, the first weekend of every month will hold a FREE TO ENTER TOURNAMENT whereby YOU could walk away with free games and other prizes! Do you see how many exclamation points I'm using here?!? This is Serious!! Here's the deal; the goal of these tournaments is not to find the best of the best in order to start training for national board game competitions. The goal is just to have a Good Time, to feel invested in playing and to introduce new folks to great games that they might otherwise have never heard of. The tone of the Tournaments will be VERY LOW KEY and very relaxed; families are welcome, amateurs are welcome and professional Board Game Sharks are welcome but they may be laughed at. Fire Vampires are not welcome and I think they know why.
First up is SETTLERS OF CATAN, on JUNE 8. This is one of the games that started me on the Path of Cardboard Glory and 99.99% of people love it. Details to come.
"But, Nick! What's going on THIS month? I NEED TO KNOW!" Fine, jeez. Settle down.
MAY IS REINER KNIZIA MONTH!!! The King of Game Designers! Creator of such wonders as:
- Tigris and Euphrates (May 14)
- Ra (May 21)
- Blue Moon City (May 2
- Modern Art
- Samurai
- Ingenious
- Lord of the Rings
- Through The Desert
- Many, many others.
Finally, keeping in spirit of Catan, Mr. Alexander Yeager will be dropping by on Sunday, MAY 18 to play GIANT SIZED SETTLERS OF CATAN WITH CITIES AND KNIGHTS. You better BELIEVE that's going to be sweet. 1-7pm, check it out.
A summary of all of these dates are available on the Games Schedule Link at the top of this page.
So that should be fun. Forthcoming announcements will be forthcoming.'Till next time,
-Nick
Fri May 2nd 5:47 pm
Mon Apr 7th 7:41 pm
Hello all,
I am hereby declaring April Open Games to acknowledge Spiel des Jahres Month. April has been chosen arbitrarily, since it has little to no significance to the actual award ceremony. Nominees should be chosen for 2008 some time in late May but I have other plans for that month. So here we go! This month we will be featuring:
- Thurn and Taxis
- Zooloretto
- Carcassone
- Ticket to Ride
- Caylus
Next month will be very exciting as we'll be hosting the first ever BATTLELORE TOURNAMENT OF DOOM. I don't know if that's what it will be called. Sounds pretty cool though. This tournament will be totally Free and have rare and beautiful prizes for the winner. Stay closely tuned for details.
Oh my, so much excitement. I can barely contain myself. I don't think I will contain myself. I am un-contained.
See you soon!
-Nick
Tue Apr 1st 7:03 pm
That's right, folks. No Games tomorrow. Cancelled for perfectly legitimate reasons. See you on Sunday!
Sun Mar 23rd 2:55 pm
And the feeling's right...
The first of what will hopefully be many Ladies' Gaming Nights is upon us! Scheduled games include:
Cuba
Shadows Over Camelot
The event's being headed by Michelle O'Brien, who in her manifesto said;
"Ladies Gaming Nights help women gamers all over the world gather together, storm castles and build cities, all in a comfortable environment."
Come on by and check it out! Feel free to contact Michelle or Vault of Midnight if you have any questions.
Michelle can be reached at pirateslovemasha@gmail.com
Thu Mar 20th 9:27 pm
Damn You Puritans!!!
Just a heads up for y'all: there will be NO games this Sunday due to Easter. All complaints should be directed to your local Vatican.
See you next week!
Nick
Sat Mar 1st 4:46 pm
Thebes
Why is it that the games I love the most seem to have themes
that cause my customers to groan in pain? Those of you who read my last review
for 1960: Making of the President will surely remember that describing
the game to people is half the battle and with good reason
So, that being said, what is the deal with
Each game takes place over a period of two to three years (1900-1902),
depending on the number of players (goes up to 4)
The use of Time is the biggest innovation in
And there's actual digging! Sort of
This game is unlike any I've played
I see I didn't even mention the slide rule
-Nick
COMING SOON!
- The Reformed Church of the
Pegacorn: Some Good News for your eternal whatever
Mon Feb 4th 10:10 am
Mayfair Games presents...
GIANT CATAN!
Join us from 1pm to 7pm for big time Catan fun. Experience a whole new level of road building, settlement and trading excitement!
Sun Feb 3rd 2:33 pm
Greetings,
For those of you closely following recent events, you'll recall that after a
series of humiliating defeats on and off the board game table my arch-nemesis, SANDEE,
the previous Resident Gamer at the Vault of Midnight, was driven to
the far side of the continent. I am Nick and I have assumed his post as he
plots his terrible revenge. My sources in the Pacific Northwest have informed
me that his strength grows by the day and I eagerly await his return. Is this
town big enough for the two of us? Time, I believe, will tell...
Okay, enough of that. I am excited to pick up where he left off. In the next
few-to-several days we will have, on this very website, a definitive-ish list
of events regarding that activity I so Love: Board Games. Those of you in the
know are already well aware of the Mighty Game Schedule (see top of page).
That will soon be supplemented by a schedule of particular games to be played
on particular weeks. The featured gems will run the gamut of genres, from
simple card based games to in depth-strategizers. They might be Beloved
Classics or New Hotness. They will tantalize the eye and challenge the mind.
Stay tuned for details.
Lastly, keep a look out for new reviews. They might not arrive with any
consistency and my words may be tainted depending on how badly I was beaten the
last time I played the game but they will be present, they will exist
and that's better than nothing.
That's all for now. Please come down and give a visit on any of the evenings
listed above. I guarantee one heck of a time.
-Nick
Coming Soon!
- “Sanford: The Myth, The Man, The Meat.” A stirring remembrance.
- “1960: Making of the President” Reviews-ville!
Sun Feb 3rd 2:31 pm
Vault of Midnight's GAME OF THE INSTANT!
A Saucy Review. All ages welcome.
This was my first experience with
publisher ZMan Games, based out of Mahopac,
New York, and I have to say, I'll be keeping an eye out for whatever they put
out from here on in. 1960: Making of the President is fantastic. I had
been reading the various buzzings about it throughout the inter-web and, being
a political junkie, my interest was piqued. Kennedy and Nixon? Closest
Presidential election of all time? In board-game-form? "I will bite a
piece a that," I said to myself in a crowded coffee shop as I read a
summary online. The woman at the table next to me picked up her scone and fled
the building but I did not care. Politics have an Effect on me.
But you might not feel the same way. This was my concern as I looked forward to
playing this game. Sure, I thought, this game might tweak the proverbial
nipples of those of us who get off on electoral votes and policy initiatives,
but will it appeal to your average gamer? Is this too niche oriented? IS
AMERICA READY TO SEE HOW THE (election) SAUSAGE IS MADE?*
Turns out, the answers are yes, yes, and oh-god-yes. The game engine is loosely
based off of Twilight Struggle (no.3 game on boardgamegeek.com). You control one of
the two candidates, Nixon or Kennedy, throughout nine turns in the run up to
the election. Each player vies for control over each of the fifty states and
their electoral votes with red or blue cubes (Republican or Democrat) which
represent their respective influence. This is down through cards, making the
game dependant to some degree on Hand Management. Only one player can have
their influence cubes in a particular state so in order to take control of a
state you have to remove your opponent completely before placing your own cubes
down. Suddenly, the idea of a "battleground state" stops being a
hyped-up, sensationalized buzzword on CNN as you start to get a feel for what
it might be like to hold the attention of a fickle electorate just long enough
to get to election day.
And that's the beauty of 1960. It doesn't romanticize American Politics
with trumped up patriotism. It doesn't laud the poetry of U.S. Democracy as the
Great Shining Hope of the World, but, just as crucially, it doesn't score cheap
laughs over the flaws of politicians, the absurdity of the Presidential
Elections. It gives a cliffs-note experience of what it might be like to run a
campaign To Win, by any means necessary.
The scope of the game is large. Beyond campaigning in individual states,
players have the option to take influence in any of the Three Issues (Defense,
Economy and Civil Rights) for various rewards, gain Media support, earn
Regional Endorsements, and prepare for the Debates and Election Day itself,
each of which are turns in themselves with their own set of rules. All of these
activities assist you in the basic goal mentioned above; making sure it's your
cubes, and not your opponents, on as many key states as possible when the
game ends. I haven't played a game yet that hasn't gone right down to wire,
with no clear winner or loser until the votes are tallied up.
I see that I'm running out of space here but there are a couple more things I
should point out: First, the game is gorgeous. Each card is reminiscent of some
relevant historical event from the time period and the whole game has a retro,
fifties/sixty-ish kind of feel. Second, though every person I made play this
game with me groaned when I explained the premise, every single one of them was
on their feet, pacing around the room when election day rolled around and, if
they lost, demanded an immediate rematch. I'm still getting calls asking to
play as soon as possible.
Are there flaws? Sure. The board construction is a little shoddy and mine came
with banged up corners, though I haven't gotten into another box yet. The rules
are fantastic, but a compendium of cards and their explanation would have a
been great addition. But these minor flaws should in no way discourage you from
playing a great, exciting game that's just in time for Decision '08.**
-Nick
COMING SOON!
- Dust (Fantasy Flight Games): Reviews-burgh, population:
You.
- Coffee Shop Anxiety: Communal food and the importance of Social Boundaries.
*Mmmm...election sausage...hickory flavor...
**Good lord, that is a corny ending. I feel pretty good about it though...You know what? Whatever. Think you could do better hot-shot? You want to write the next review? Mr. Big Man? Whatever.
Fri Jan 25th 2:43 pm
Wednesday January 30th
6pm!
Join us for a demo of the game Kingsburg!
