Three very enjoyable games today.

First up: 878: Vikings, Invasions of England from Academy Games. I very much like 1812: Invasion of Canada, and this uses a similar game system. It worked very well in this setting too, with the English scrambling to deal with hordes of Viking invaders.

First they landed in the south, seizing London, and later Oxford.

Then came the raids in the North. York fell, as did Durham.

Still more Vikings. Southern towns are overrun, limiting the English ability to raise reinforcements. However, a lonely detachment of Fyrd does hold back Björn Ragnarsson.

The English manage to clear Northumbria of Norsemen, and Alfred marches in the south. The next season, Guthrum arrives with his Great Heathen Army, sacking Chester and advancing to Hereford. The English retreat to Lichfield.

Soon thereafter, the Treaty of Wedmore brings an end to the fighting. Much of England has become part of the Viking kingdoms.

The next game up was Photosynthesis. It is a beautiful game with simple, elegant rules. I’m clearly better at growing a forest than defnding against barbarian hordes, because I won this one.

Finally a game of Rise Up, in which a small cooperative group of social activists sought victory against the System.

However, the System won. You’ll find a full review at PAXsims.