Card models/P&P games

Top and bottom view of paper model skateboards.

It is only one week to Christmas. If the gift shopping list is longer than the available finances we have some suggestions that may help. Free print and play games and free paper models can be found on the Internet. Both of these activities are great for children and adults. All that is required is a computer with Internet access, a printer, paper, scissors and glue.
One interesting site we visited recently is called Phil’s Creations at http://sitekreator.com/thewoodengraver61/freepapertoys.html. The skateboards in our photo today come from this website. Other models at this site include a locomotive, “blowrockets” and a “spybot.”
In the print and play game category a good resource for game reviews is the “Print & Play” podcast. It can be found on iTunes, or on the web at http://printandplay.blogspot.com/. It reviews a wide variety of mostly free games. They even include seasonal games to help with the Christmas spirit.
Another source for information is the Board Game Geek. They have a list of free print and play games at http://www.boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/7351/item/117550#item117550.
We tried several of these games and have a few favorites. One is called “Cthul-B-Q.” It is a tongue-in-cheek card game about fighting monsters, taking them to your kitchen and serving them up on a platter. Each player is a cook, and they have certain cooking skill points and sanity points. The one that can cook up the most monsters without going insane wins.
Also we liked a game called “It’s All Chinese to Me.” This is a card game that has the players, who probably don’t speak Chinese, order food in Chinese, like they were in a Chinese restaurant. The one that actually get the most of what they order wins.
Another clever game is called “Pirates and Plunder.” This is a tile laying game where each player on their turn places a tile that becomes part of the game board. The tiles include ocean and island areas and can be played in a number of ways. Depending on the play, the tiles are worth various points. The player with the most points at the end of the game wins.
Some of the games are based on historical events and some are just for fun. Any family is sure to find something they like. And don’t forget the assembling. Sometimes that is as much fun as the game itself.
Our past columns on this subject can be found at the blog site listed below. They were “Card models” on July 18 and “Making Dune game” June 13.
Just a thought: “And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? [Christmas] came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.” Dr. Seuss