Monthly Gather­ing

5:00 PM

Mensa Admissions Test (for anyone who wishes to become a member) — Pre­reg­ister to reserve a space for this session or for a different test lo­ca­tion/date. Walk-ins are welcome but you cannot be late; it’s best to contact the test coordinator in case the session is cancelled. To see if any of your past tests (ACT, SAT, LSAT…) qualify for membership, see which tests qualify. Or arrange for an approved private test.

5:00 PM

Business Meeting — Our five elected ExComm members and any other interested members discuss various topics and issues. Members are welcome to attend and voice their opinions, but only the Executive Committee can vote.

December
Games
Spotlight

December Games Spotlight

by Elizabeth W.

Firefly: The Game – 10th Anniversary Collector's Edition with Vera Map

In Firefly: The Game—based on the popular Firefly television series created by Joss Whedon—players captain their own Firefly-class transport ship, travelling the 'Verse with a handpicked crew of fighters, mechanics, and other passengers. As a captain desperate for work, players are compelled to take on any job—so long as it pays. Double-dealing employers, heavy-handed Alliance patrols, and marauding Reavers are all in a day's work for a ship's captain at the edge of the 'Verse.

Players begin with a ship, and travel from planet to planet, hiring crew, purchasing ship upgrades, and picking up cargo to deliver (jobs) all in the form of cards. Some crew and cargo are illegal, and can be confiscated if your ship is boarded by an Alliance vessel. Traveling from planet to planet requires turning over “full burn” cards, one for each space moved. Most do nothing, but you can also encounter an Alliance ship, have a breakdown, or even run into Reavers. Completing jobs gets you cash. First player to complete the story goals wins!

Runes & Regulations with the Nefarious Neighbors Expansion

Runes & Regulations is a a family-friendly, 2-4 player strategic card game that combines the aggressiveness of a horde of dragons with the passive-aggressiveness of a suburban unicorn. Immerse yourself in this world of magic and the mundane by summoning mythical pets and casting powerful spells, all within the comfort of your own home.

The Nefarious Neighbor expansion opens the Runes & Regulations game up to 5-8 players, and it completely changes the dynamics. In this expansion, a dark sorcerer with horrifying powers (and intentions) moves into the neighborhood, forcing other players to decide whether to team up or continue to quibble. The Nefarious Neighbor steals Creatures from other players and performs dark rituals to mutate them into frightening beasts. That neighbor plays with their own standalone deck (included in the expansion pack) which includes Corrupted Creatures, Curses, and Dark Runes.

Runes & Regulations by itself is a super fun and interactive game, and we designed it to stand entirely alone. I say this because the game really works without the expansion, and we didn't even start working on the expansion until we had the original game completely finished and play tested. Getting to add on this expansion was a dream, though, and getting the opportunity to actually make it a reality because of the support so far on this project is incredibly exciting. The introduction of this expansion just makes the game so much more dynamic (and really creates two different games). Then we are going to continue with another packet from Threads of Fate. I will have an update of everything we know so far for anyone in attendance.

Threads of Fate

Threads of Fate is a remastered version of PostCurious' acclaimed debut game, The Tale of Ord. Blending escape rooms, board games, and interactive fiction, Threads of Fate will have players progressing through a narrative over four episodes, each packed with puzzles of varying difficulty. Taking on the role of a private investigator, you will be tasked with finding two missing professors from the Emerens Institute, but when information is uncovered about a mysterious relic found by an archaeological team, you will have the opportunity to change the course of destiny. Provided with an assortment of letters, articles, drawings, websites, and strange artifacts, you will set out on a journey to explore the supernatural forces of Norse mythology and uncover the truth behind the disappearances. The meaning of mysterious glyphs will be revealed throughout your journey as you progress through the story and begin to unravel the secrets of fate and time.

Please come out and check out our spotlighted December games. Also if you can think of a game that you would like to have spotlighted, let us know and I can add it into the plans for the future.

6:00 PM

Games Room opens for any early-arrivers and game enthusiasts. At recent gatherings, members have played their favorite games such as Chess, Scrabble, Set, and Boggle, as well as current hit games. Our game collection is pretty extensive, so if you have a favorite, there’s a fair chance we’ll have it on hand. Here’s the list of our entire collection (minus a couple of oldies for which the Geek has no entry) over on Board Game Geek, although not all games are conveyed to every Gathering (there are just too many). Contact our Game Warden to ensure a specific one is available.

Kids Room opens under the supervision of volunteers and parents. The Youth Program has been relaunched. We’ll have hands-on activities, often shaped by the kids themselves.

December
Topic

Speaker Presentation for December

Anacondas: The Misunderstood Marvels

presented by Terry Cullen

Did you miss meeting Buttercup and her remarkable friends at WeeM? Don't worry—your next chance is just around the corner! Terry Cullen, director of The Dragonwood Conservancy, will take us on a fascinating journey into the world of anacondas, the largest snakes on Earth. Terry will separate fact from fiction and bust some of the wildest myths surrounding our legless friends.

Terry is bringing along some of Dragonwood's reptilian ambassadors for a special Meet & Greet! Get up close with these incredible creatures and learn what makes them unique.

With over 60 years of experience in veterinary herpetology and conservation, Terry is a powerhouse of knowledge. He's a member of the IUCN, the Crocodile Specialist Group, the Crocodilian DNA Group, and many other prestigious organizations. His stories and insights are not to be missed!

Come for the snakes. Stay for the science. Leave with a new appreciation for these misunderstood marvels.

7:30 PM

Speaker Presentation — The gathering usually begins with announcements from our Local Secretary (LocSec), followed by a guest who speaks on an interesting topic for about an hour.