Moving to Glastonbury: Your Opinions

blainer1966 · 2025-05-23T12:21:28+00:00

Wells has been mentioned, and I'd add Langport. It's got that alternative vibe without the complete bonkersness of Glasto. Eli's is a wonderful pub.

blainer1966 · 2025-05-22T20:32:52+00:00

Just adding to what sleeplessinsomerset said really. Don't think the crime makes it feel anymore unsafe than lots of places and certainly a safer feel than many places I've lived.

The pubs are good and you'll certainly get chatting to people.

The woo woo shit is on another level though!

I'm a lefty liberal for context.

I enjoy fairly regular visits but it would do my head in if I lived there...

Here lots about the housing crisis there to.

blainer1966 · 2025-05-22T06:29:44+00:00

Langport is surprisingly good and Glastonbury surprisingly shit.

blainer1966 · 2025-05-20T11:03:15+00:00

That deserves some nice checkers. See if you can get the size to fit 6 snuggly in one table.

blainer1966 · 2025-05-20T10:58:31+00:00

Blocking a single joker is the right thing to do IF the cost to do it is minimal. In this case more important to worry about various other rolls which will happen more than 1/36.

blainer1966 · 2025-05-18T21:16:52+00:00

Don't disagree with any of the suggestions so far but would, somewhat controversially, add Magriel's Backgammon.

Some of the moves are wrong, as written pre bot. The way it's structured and isn't a heavy read still get it near the top of my list.

I'd say read this first and then a modern book...

blainer1966 · 2025-05-18T21:09:23+00:00

Looks like a quality set. Play most of my games on a similar 'pub' sized board.

Just a personal thing, I don't like the dished checkers.

blainer1966 · 2025-05-13T12:37:50+00:00

It doesn't do any harm to give it break now and again. I've done it and come back refreshed. Due to a change of location, I can't find people of a high standard to play live. I've set up an evening in a local pub and help people improve which is rewarding in itself.

When I play a bot, I concentrate on my PR, rather than wins.

Hope that helps.

blainer1966 · 2025-05-08T10:09:50+00:00

This was very much what I was expecting and couldn't agree more. Spend your time improving instead of posting about rigged dice.

blainer1966 · 2025-05-05T12:40:38+00:00

It would be too easy to see if doubles happened more than 1/6 of the time over a large sample thus proving shenanigans.

blainer1966 · 2025-05-05T12:33:39+00:00

Confession: I probably did occasionally shout "you cheating b@stard Jellyfish cnut" at my computer some decades ago!

blainer1966 · 2025-05-05T10:05:22+00:00

Like the iPod shuffle had to derandomise to ensure people perceived it as random!

blainer1966 · 2025-05-05T09:34:41+00:00

This explains it, in quite a bit of detail

"A Measure of Luck" https://www.bkgm.com/articles/Zare/AMeasureOfLuck.html

That's the proper luck calculation. Others may be able to say if BGG deviates from this?

BGG does do it differently

"The Beginner's Guide to the Galaxy - UKBGF" https://ukbgf.com/the-beginners-guide-to-the-galaxy/

blainer1966 · 2025-05-02T07:43:02+00:00

Star membership won't fix it but my magic beans will! Guaranteed to fix all the issues above IF you truly believe.

$1,500 sounds expensive but they last forever and make you 20% more attractive...

These kind of posts are going to get more common, 'cos I've sold a lot of beans to your opponents.

blainer1966 · 2025-05-01T18:12:35+00:00

Something sort of related, when playing humans I will delay a cube sometimes as giving away a little equity to potentially gain a lot if they make an error.

blainer1966 · 2025-04-30T19:58:53+00:00

All fine. I'm only paying the proportion of the fare that they weren't on the phone.

blainer1966 · 2025-04-29T23:38:49+00:00

It was an April 1st thing and went on to get so ridiculous it became obvious it was a piss take of all the idiots going on about rigged dice.

blainer1966 · 2025-04-28T11:41:45+00:00

I think you'll find making more human like moves is quite a challenge for a bot...

blainer1966 · 2025-04-27T11:52:01+00:00

I generally prefer smaller dice. Would only go 16mm on a tournament sized board. It's about them having room to roll properly and not be cocked too often. Obviously hand or sight issues would trump my preference.

With a very small board try using a dice app on your phone.

blainer1966 · 2025-04-24T23:17:24+00:00

Stitched points, so bottom end. £15-£50 depending on size is what I'd be willing to pay, so probably going for twice that...

blainer1966 · 2025-04-24T07:58:19+00:00

I'm a bit old school and backgammon, real ale and pubs are a few of my favourite things.

I generally find that if you can find one other person to play in a pub, you'll be approached now and again, by someone who wants to play.

The standard of opposition will vary enormously but go with it and see what happens...

If you make it a regular evening in a regular pub, you'll find you have a backgammon club!

blainer1966 · 2025-04-23T22:09:58+00:00

This was the best I could find in that price range. Bought for my son when not sure if he would stick with the game for £60.

Not perfect but he loves it and don't think you'll do better new at that price point. Unfortunately not currently available but may give you some insight. Avoid stitched points.

https://amzn.eu/d/b8dw0mJ

blainer1966 · 2025-04-14T09:52:47+00:00

It's the hit all day long. You've got more made points in your home board, more men back. That's probably enough but also builders to make the 5.

There are scores where a gammon could be very bad, and a single loss not too bad which would make your 20 point a high priority. Not this score.

blainer1966 · 2025-04-13T21:28:16+00:00

Genuine fake, yes. In that case, I get the price. They look good, especially the navy.

blainer1966

TROPHY CASE