Kosmos will be at GenCon 2015 promoting the current and upcoming game titles. Here’s a sneak peek at what to look for.

Dohdles!

SYNOPSIS: Dohdles! are riddles made of dough! Exercise your imagination in this artistic and hilarious sculpting and guessing game for families and parties of three to six players. Ages: 8+ | MSRP: $39.95

REVIEW: If you enjoy the sculpting part of Cranium, you should enjoy Dohdles!. However, the goal is to make it to where the other players cannot figure out what it is. I could see this not being fun to play with certain types of people, but with a fun bunch, you should have a good laugh.

Ubongo

SYNOPSIS: Ubongo is a fast-paced, addictive, and easy-to-learn geometric puzzle game. Players race against the timer and against each other to solve a puzzle of interlocking shapes. The faster you solve the puzzle, the more gems you get. Ages: 8+ | MSRP: $39.95

REVIEW: Tetris and puzzle fans will love Ubongo. Turn and flip the tiles in a race against the clock, and see if you can solve the puzzle. One thing that does take a little getting used to is thinking to flip the tiles over.

Dimension

SYNOPSIS: Dimension is a fast-paced, innovative puzzle game that takes place in three dimensions with 60 colorful spheres. Ages: 8+ | MSRP: $49.95

REVIEW: In Dimension you draw 6 cards that determine how your spheres need to be arranged, so it’s a different game every time. I found it easy to play with the kids, and pretty quick.

Lost Cities: The Board Game

SYNOPSIS: Lost Cities: The Board Game: The research teams are outfitted and ready to embark on their adventures to find five forgotten cities. Who will lead the way to fantastic discoveries? Each player guides a team of explorers on up to five expeditions. To advance along an expedition path, a card in the path’s color must be played for each step forward. For two to four players. Ages: 10+ | MSRP: $39.95

REVIEW: Of the Kosmos offerings, Lost Cities: The Board Game is by far the biggest hit with my kids. It took a few rounds to get the hang of how game play worked out, but after that, they’re able to sit down, and get to it.

The gist is you explore the paths to the lost cities, via cards, and gather points and artifacts along the way. After three rounds, all points are tallied, and a winner is declared.

The only thing I would do differently with Lost Cities, is to add a 5-6 player expansion option. For the times you want a few extra players, that would be fun, and would mix things up a little more.

Lost Cities: The Original Card Game

SYNOPSIS: Lost Cities: The Original Card Game: Who will discover the ancient civilizations? Two explorers embark on research journeys to remote corners of the world: the Himalayan Mountains, the Central American rainforest, the Egyptian desert, a mysterious volcano, and the bottom of the sea. As the cards are played, the expedition routes take shape and the explorers earn points. For two players. Ages: 10+ | MSRP: $19.95

Kahuna

SYNOPSIS: Kahuna: Who will rule the South Seas? Two Kahuna — ancient sorcerers of the Pacific —compete for dominance on an archipelago consisting of twelve small islands.

Like the best two-player games, this classic card-based board game is deceptively simple and highly strategic. Ages: 10+ | MSRP: $24.05

REVIEW: Kahuna is a fun game for two players that allows for both strategy and some luck to win the game. Kahuna is similar to Settlers of Catan in how it plays, yet not as complex, and it plays faster. Since I typically play games with 4-6 players, the two player aspect is a bit of a downside for me.

Kosmos Games – Fall 2015 Releases

At GenCon 2015 Kosmos will also have sneak peaks available of their fall 2015 game releases.

Legends of Andor (Base Game) – November 2015

SYNOPSIS: The country Andor is in danger. From the forests and the mountains, the enemy back to the castle of the old king Brandur. Only your little hero group opposes them. If you succeed in defending the castle? After the first adventure still followed by many more. The witch must be found and to obtain a medicinal herb for the sick king. In the underground mines valuable gems are waiting for you, but also great risks. Finally, you have to compete against the revived ancient dragon.Will you, all these challenges? Only together you are strong and can become heroes of Andor.

Legends of Andor: New Heroes – November 2015

Expansion for Legends of Andor.

Legends of Andor: The Star Shield – November 2015

Expansion for Legends of Andor.

Tumult Royale – December 2015

Steam Time – December 2015

SYNOPSIS: It is the year 1899. For centuries, there have been myths about Stonehenge, The Great Pyramid of Giza and other monuments of times long past. But recently, they also caught interest from various nations. Rumours of strange phenomena and scientific reports multiplied: time acts strange at these places! And there’s more – crystals with new and unique features have been reported. With those crystals and state-of-the-art technology, phantastic gadgetry has been invented, which can store the knowledge of mankind or commute lead to gold. But the most wondrous thing is, they also enable us to embark on the greatest adventure: time travel! The race is on for long lost knowledge, vanished cultures and hidden treasures. With huge efforts, gigantic, steam driven airships are created to travel through time and space. On one of those steam airships, you embark on a journey to past ages, search for new crystal deposits and use your crystals wisely, to stay ahead of your competitors. Prepare for a great journey with Steam Time!

We rarely cover politics through the Naptown Buzz channels, and tend to steer clear of anything that might be deemed political agenda based. Linus said it best when he said, “There are three things I have learned never to discuss with people: religion, politics, and the Great Pumpkin.”

So it pains me that I need to write on this subject, but the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) is an elephant in the corner of the 2015 GenCon room.

Since this where the state of things is this year, bear with me as I get a little windy, and I delve into the situation from my vantage point as a lifelong Hoosier, and Indianapolis resident. Then we’ll get on to the fun GenCon topics, I promise.

Politics and the 2016 Presidential Campaign

As everyone should be aware, the next United States Presidential election will take place on Tuesday, November 8, 2016.

Former U.S. Congressman, and current Indiana Governor, Mike Pence, had long been expected to throw his hat into race for the Republican nomination.

Now for the part where it sounds like I’ve watched too many episodes of House of Cards, or listened to too many late night Coast to Coast AM conspiracy theories.

As history repeats itself, the two major political parties like to do what they can to control who the candidate is on the opposing side, and to stir up whatever “controversy” they can around those who are running. This is usually done via media outlets, both locally and nationally.

Earlier this year Mike Pence ruffled local feathers by announcing what was said, by Gannett’s Indy Star, to be “a state–run news service that will compete with independent media”. That quickly lead to a national fiasco, as the Democratic media did not like that threat at all. Quickly that idea went away as a “misunderstanding”.

Strike one.

Next up, the RFRA comes into play in the 2015 Indiana legislative session. All hell breaks lose on a national level, focusing the firing squad on Mike Pence and all of the “homophobes” in Indiana.

Strike two.

GenCon jumps in, threatens to move the convention elsewhere after their contract is up in 2020, has talks with the Governor’s office, and Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard.

The RFRA is amended, and GenCon is reportedly feeling better about things. At least for the time being.

Via a statement from GenCon on April 2nd, “we believe that all attendees will continue to receive the warm response that we have enjoyed for more than a decade. We won’t stop pushing for more diversity and inclusiveness in Indiana, and we will include new concepts and partnerships into our preparations for Gen Con 2015.”

In May 2015, Mike Pence decides to run for another term as Indiana Governor in 2016 instead.

Strike three, he’s out.

A History of the Religious Freedom Act

Under Democratic President Bill Clinton, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 was approved on a national level.

Since then, twenty-two states have approved their own versions of the law (Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas & Virginia). With Indiana and Arkansas joining the list in 2015.

In addition to those states, eleven states (Alaska, Hawaii, Ohio, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, North Carolina, Washington & Wisconsin) have had RFRA-like provisions handed down by state court decisions.

To my knowledge, none of these acts are specifically focused on religion versus the LGBT community, nor any other specific group for that matter, but some states do have specific clauses, or other laws, to make sure that’s not an issue. And, other than the Mike Pence connection, that would appear to be why some are worried about Indiana’s RFRA, but not the others.

Bottom line, the law means nothing until verdicts are handed down by a judge, and the RFRA would not negate the civil rights of an individual. Nor would it change how someone acts.

Hoosier Hospitality

If you’ve stuck with me this far, thank you. Grab yourself a beverage, and let me continue down the road of what you can expect in Indianapolis when you visit.

In Indiana we have what is known as “Hoosier Hospitality”. Most of us who were born and raised here, greet everyone with open arms, and enjoy the occasional small talk over a cup of coffee and slice of sugar cream pie, or with a Coke (here in the Hoosier State it’s not a “soda”, a “pop” or a “Pepsi”, it’s a “Coke”) and breaded pork tenderloin sandwich (if you’ve not had one before, GET ONE).

We are a somewhat laid back bunch, and enjoy our local sports & hot spots. In May you’ll find many of us at the race track, and in the fall you’ll find us at a football tailgate somewhere.

But there are also a lot of people in Indy who are here by way of a job, or some other circumstance, thus they bring their own heritage along with them. We welcome them as well, and try to get them up to speed on the Hoosier way of life, and we also like to learn more about their background and their customs.

Whether it’s during the Indy 500, hosting the Super Bowl, hosting the NCAA Final Four, or hosting any of the numerous conventions that make Indy their home, I’m constantly hearing people comment on how nice the city and the people are here. Having been to some rude major cities elsewhere, it makes me appreciate my home town citizens.

What To Expect During GenCon 2015

Absolutely nothing has changed due to the RFRA being signed into law. At GenCon in 2015, and through the end of the current contract in 2020, you should expect to be treated the same way you were at the first GenCon in Indianapolis back in 2003.

Yes, you had us wondering why Wookiees & Storm Troopers had convened in downtown Indianapolis, but we didn’t hop in our AT-AT’s, but instead decided to check things out for ourselves. And personally, I’m glad that I did, because GenCon is, quite frankly, pretty awesome.

In the event you feel that you’re being treated unfairly while in Indianapolis, under the guise of religion, or for any other reason, bring it up with the management wherever you happen to be. There is only one place in town that I know of that would put up with that sort of behavior from their employees…and you go into that downtown restaurant chain expecting that since it’s their shtick. Every place else would deal with the issue immediately, and do their best to make you feel welcomed.

Now that we have this unpleasant conversation out of the way, let’s break out the games, tap the kegs and have “The Best Four Days In Gaming!” Who’s with me?!