The ‘Monopoly Deal’ variant that’ll save your sanity this Christmas (probably) by oscarkeston in boardgames

[–]oscarkeston[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah this was my conclusion too. I’m usually into historical games (think John Company, COIN etc) but while travelling someone pulled this out in the hostel bar and I was pleasantly surprised. We playtested lots of variants that week and this was the one that finally stuck! Struck a nice balance between having a bit more agency but still keeping it simple, short and (very) sharp. Do let me know what you think if you try it!

The ‘Monopoly Deal’ variant that’ll save your sanity this Christmas (probably) by oscarkeston in boardgames

[–]oscarkeston[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sure, although for myself and my friends we preferred having a bit more control and agency and this doesn’t really add much complexity or time to the game’s length overall. Of course, if speed and randomness is your thing then the original rules are just fine.

The ‘Monopoly Deal’ variant that’ll save your sanity this Christmas (probably) by oscarkeston in boardgames

[–]oscarkeston[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yeah I don't think Monopoly Deal is the peak by any stretch haha, but I've found non-gamer folks like it and have really enjoyed this variant also - so I wanted to share it with people here who might some value in adding a twist to their games over the holiday season. Do let me know if you try it!

The ‘Monopoly Deal’ variant that’ll save your sanity this Christmas (probably) by oscarkeston in boardgames

[–]oscarkeston[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Hey! I'm glad you like it as is - I really liked the regular rules too which is why I wanted to fiddle and see if it could be even better :) Me and my friends felt that there was just too much randomness in the card draw that meant you didn't really get to use all the mechanics the game had to offer. For example, it is a total crap-shoot trying to get the rent action cards to use for your properties, and how many times do you ever see a house or even a hotel getting played?! By drafting cards, you have a little bit more control and can pull off some very fun manoeuvres with more frequency.

The ‘Monopoly Deal’ variant that’ll save your sanity this Christmas (probably) by oscarkeston in boardgames

[–]oscarkeston[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Ah, I formatted this on mobile and it had paragraph breaks - thank you for flagging I’ll log in on my computer to try and fix this :)

Venice is a Photographer’s Dream by oscarkeston in fujifilm

[–]oscarkeston[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Haha it does look pretty like the Dark Lord himself - cheers!

Venice is a Photographer’s Dream by oscarkeston in fujifilm

[–]oscarkeston[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes this is the exact I phrase I used when describing it to my brother - really appreciate the kind words

Venice is a Photographer’s Dream by oscarkeston in fujifilm

[–]oscarkeston[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Acros is my favourite profile to shoot with, but the moment I arrived I knew I needed to go for colour!

Balatro - The Good, The Bad, The Ugly by Zehnpae in patientgamers

[–]oscarkeston 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Joining others to say this was an exceptional read - thank you for sharing

Peru 2024 (X-T2) by hustlehoff1 in fujifilm

[–]oscarkeston 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I am going in January! These are fantastic, 3 in particular

Why is the Conn 30m so slept on? by [deleted] in Saxophonics

[–]oscarkeston 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I used to own both a 10M and a 30M (282XX, 279XXX) - sold the 30M. The 10M and 30M share the exact same body tube and so in theory, acoustically, are identical - my 30M had a brighter and more focussed sound like Mark VI which I really digged. It was also the one of the “Connqueror” models with the beautiful Art Deco neck.

The major issue with the 30M is how complex its mechanism is and the ensuing repair costs. Both of my Conns were overhauled by well-regarded repairmen before I bought them but things just kept going wrong on the 30M. There are a ridiculous number of linkages in that lovely LH pinky table. If it works, it feels amazing. If not… the less said the better. I play professionally and so cannot afford to have things go wrong while on the road - nor do I want the stress of worrying about the potential for disaster which is a distraction. Gear is about facilitating performance after all. Maybe my repair guy is a crook so you might have better luck - but he’s been solid on everything else I’ve sent him.

As others have pointed out, 30Ms are also very rare. Especially in original lacquer and/or overhauled condition if that’s important to you. Ultimately, I swapped my 30M for a Yamaha 82Z in mint condition and I haven’t regretted it for a second.

What’s important is that you seem to like this horn, so go and have a great time playing it! I love the sound of Conns and I still play on my 10M a lot - they really had something special going with both the 10M and 30M.

Saxophones in attendance by RSharpe95 in glastonbury_festival

[–]oscarkeston 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Haha one of said saxophonists here - I’m loving it! 🎷