-
Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!
Boardgame-Age
- Thread starter SCHUEY F1
- Start date
- Status
Flynn said:
Haha my wife and I had an idea for that once--make 1960 occur at a certain point in Twilight Struggle and have a direct effect on that game (kind of like the debate sub-game in 1960). One of these days we'll put together some massive, multi-part, loosely connected game day like that.
The reason I like TS better is because it just gives players so many more options (and more interesting options). Even though I like 1960 a lot, and definitely play that with non-gamer friends before TS, the advertising is nearly always completely irrelevant and the issue positioning is just overpowered.
Another interesting thing about 1960--it has all these nice systems built in to deal with regular campaigning in carried states (support checks, media support, etc.) but the design leads to almost no such campaigning whatsoever. Why am I going to waste points in a carried state when nine times out of ten I'll have a card that lets me remove support cubes anywhere I want for free?
There are a lot of aspects you can house rule but just as a matter of personal preference I hate house ruling unless it's an absolute necessity.
Of course that makes it sound like I hate the game or think it's broken, which is certainly not the case. I really like the campaign strategy pile and the intrigue it adds to the endgame. I also like the theme, cards, and the aesthetics of the game in general--one of my favorites.
spikydavid
Member
Evlar said:
That is new.
Um.
New to me, as well. I really should read the rules of these darn games more carefully...
Chairman Yang
if he talks about books, you better damn well listen
One of my problems with Twilight Struggle is that many of the cards are highly deterministic, which means learning them gives a big advantage. This means that the simplicity of the basic rules is a little misleading, since many of the rules are offloaded from the rulebook to the deck.swoon said:
Chairman Yang said:
It's very important to know the cards in 1960 as well though, e.g.:
Not to mention all the cards that interact with other cards (e.g., prevention events) as well as the basic strategy that is not particularly evident to new/inexperienced players (e.g., issue positioning).
Cyan said:
It's very similar, as both San Juan and Race for the Galaxy are card game versions of the board game Puerto Rico. Apparently the RftG designer was working on adapting Puerto Rico when that game's designer opted to make San Juan, so after retooling RftG was born. I'd suggest you try out Puerto Rico and see how you like the mechanics in a board game structure and with virtually no luck. That said, sure, San Juan is a fine game.
FnordChan
Chairman Yang
if he talks about books, you better damn well listen
Well, my criticism of Twilight Struggle was in the context of board games as a whole, not just in comparison to 1960 (which I haven't played). I suppose it'd be hard to maintain the Cold War flavour without specific events that actually happened in the Cold War, but I wish more of the TS cards were a bit more dynamic. Instead of cards like "Vietnam Revolts", I'd want something like "Unstable Asian Country Revolts", for example. Players would still have to learn the cards, but not to the extent of learning the very particular effects in TS.AstroLad said:
So in the next few weeks will be getting in (at least) Conflict of Heroes (yay, but I still have to catch up on Memoir '44) and Touch of Evil (super yay, although my recent Arkham Horror infatuation has slightly dampened my love for Last Night on Earth).
Next month will have a TON of games coming in, including the Pandemic reprint, King in Yellow reprint, Hannibal reprint, and Black Goat in the Woods.
If things keep going as they have the past few weeks though, we'll be spending 90% of our time on Arkham Horror. But please no more Nyarlathtotep in our random games. That guy is a joke.
Next month will have a TON of games coming in, including the Pandemic reprint, King in Yellow reprint, Hannibal reprint, and Black Goat in the Woods.
If things keep going as they have the past few weeks though, we'll be spending 90% of our time on Arkham Horror. But please no more Nyarlathtotep in our random games. That guy is a joke.
ProfessorLobo
Banned
Zalasta said:
I guess not. Boardgamegeek has an excellent board game trading system, though.
Gatekeeper
Member
Zalasta said:
Yes. I think this is a fantastic idea.
platypotamus
Member
My board game group is all into Rock Band 2 now. I'm not going to get to play board games for months 
So I'm a pretty big Flying Frog fan, and a recently big Arkham Horror fan--that said, WOW Touch of Evil has A LOT in common with Arkham. I've got the box here, have read through the instructions and done a quick playthrough and there are certainly material differences but I'm not sure how much I'll be pulling out Touch of Evil over Arkham--most likely when time is more limited.
AstroLad said:
Our group played a round of Touch of Evil a week or so ago. It was like a light-weight Arkham. I think you're right that it'll be a good choice when time is short. Set up and playtime were reasonable. We played co-operative, which didn't seem to be the ideal way to play. We're thinking competitive might make the game a little more interesting.
BronzeWolf
Banned
I don't know if this counts, but my group and I have been having a blast with the new edition of D&D!
Nothing like getting together to kill some monsters!
Nothing like getting together to kill some monsters!
echoshifting
Banned
D&D is pretty much all I've had time to play lately :X
XiaNaphryz
LATIN, MATRIPEDICABUS, DO YOU SPEAK IT
My game group's still pretty into Agricola. We had a pretty good session this past weekend.
Over my vacation last week didn't get to play too much (cross-country trip meant I could only bring as many games as I could fit into a carry-on suitcase), but RoboRally was a big hit with non-gamers as always, Battle Line was quick fun, and had a dreadful LNoE game (have determined that it's really not for two players at all). Unfortunately didn't have time for TtR, which was to be the "casual gamer" highlight, so RoboRally wins again. I have about six games at home waiting to be played/learned. This weekend will be Touch of Evil, which should be cake since we all know Arkham inside-out by now.
XiaNaphryz said:
Been playing a bunch of two player with a friend while I'm in Northern California. It's a great way to shore up your strategies. We played a five player game with some new players that went a little long for my taste. We had four babies in various states of sleep and/or hunger nearby so that didn't really help matters.
BUUMP.
Getting in next week:
-Arkham Horror: The King in Yellow and Black Goat Expansions
-Mr. Jack Expansion (finally!)
All stuff I had pre-ordered a while ago, haven't had too much time for board games the past month or so but I've got a really nice bunch to dig into now.
Getting in next week:
-Arkham Horror: The King in Yellow and Black Goat Expansions
-Mr. Jack Expansion (finally!)
All stuff I had pre-ordered a while ago, haven't had too much time for board games the past month or so but I've got a really nice bunch to dig into now.
Thanks for the heads up on Black Goat of the Woods. I just ordered a copy online (my local shop started as a web retailer before opening a brick and mortar store) and will be picking it up this afternoon. Woo!
In other gaming news I've had a couple of fun games of Wiz-War recently. Apparently the Chessex license has just expired and Tom Jolly will be announcing a new publisher in short order. So, I may even be able to snag my own copy before long, rather than spending years on end waiting for Chessex to do something.
I also recently played Cthulhu 500, a game that combines eldritch horror with NASCAR racing. No, really. It's a fun, goofy card game where you spend a lot of time adjusting your position among the pack, modifying your car with mystic equipment, rounding up fungi pit crew members, and so forth. I'm not anxious to own a copy (perhaps because I took such an arbitrary beating during the game) but it's cute for the Cthulhu fan, or perhaps the racing enthusiast in your life.
FnordChan
In other gaming news I've had a couple of fun games of Wiz-War recently. Apparently the Chessex license has just expired and Tom Jolly will be announcing a new publisher in short order. So, I may even be able to snag my own copy before long, rather than spending years on end waiting for Chessex to do something.
I also recently played Cthulhu 500, a game that combines eldritch horror with NASCAR racing. No, really. It's a fun, goofy card game where you spend a lot of time adjusting your position among the pack, modifying your car with mystic equipment, rounding up fungi pit crew members, and so forth. I'm not anxious to own a copy (perhaps because I took such an arbitrary beating during the game) but it's cute for the Cthulhu fan, or perhaps the racing enthusiast in your life.
FnordChan
SatelliteOfLove
Member
FnordChan said:
:lol
That's just flat-out awesome; no other way to describe it.
Just got back from day one of "Dockcon" a get-together we do twice a year with a bunch of gaming dorks -- most of the guys we go to GenCon with, plus some more locals.
We kicked the festivities off with the retail version of Dominion.
Many does this game deliver. It's a fantastic card game that plays off the drafting mechanic you get playing competitive CCGs. The coolest part is the way the game gets customized -- you can randomly select the different action cards you'll be drafting into your deck, making each play entirely different (it's kinda like Argicola in that way).
Don't let the shitty box art fool you. Dominion is a great, great game.
We had two groups of guys playing four men per game. I played at least six rounds.
I'll get some pics up to Flickr tomorrow and update with the games we play. Three more days to go.
We kicked the festivities off with the retail version of Dominion.
Many does this game deliver. It's a fantastic card game that plays off the drafting mechanic you get playing competitive CCGs. The coolest part is the way the game gets customized -- you can randomly select the different action cards you'll be drafting into your deck, making each play entirely different (it's kinda like Argicola in that way).
Don't let the shitty box art fool you. Dominion is a great, great game.
We had two groups of guys playing four men per game. I played at least six rounds.
I'll get some pics up to Flickr tomorrow and update with the games we play. Three more days to go.
Finally got to play my Race for the Galaxy yesterday. This seems to be one game that everyone has played but me, and now I know why. Really an incredibly fun and mercifully short game--the action doesn't let up. I can see what people mean when they say you feel like you're playing by yourself since none of the regular cards affect anyone else, but since action cards affect everyone, every decision you make is relative to what others have on their tableaus and what action cards you think they will play, so the social element is there. Probably helps that I eked out a last-round-blitzkrieg win in my first game.
Also love the cheesy Choose-Your-Own-Adventure-style art. Reminds me of Netrunner and it's great.
This is going to be my 30-minute go-to game for some time. I love Catan card game, but sometimes that can be brutally long and while the end-game conditions seem to come up really fast here, I like it.
AstroLad, had you ever played Puerto Rico? I really like Race for the Galaxy as it borrows a lot (with permission) from Puerto Rico, but it adds a fun random element to give it quite a bit of variety. Now, I have yet to really get a good handle on the game, but I've really enjoyed it every time I've played, and being able to play games in a half hour makes for a great filler option. I recently played with the first Race for the Galaxy expansion, The Gathering Storm, and while I haven't exhausted the basic game or anything, I do look forward to picking it up. The Gathering Storm adds a lot of new cards, obviously, but it also adds Settlers-esque mechanics for point achievements that players can vie for ala Longest Road or Largest Army. Fans should check it out, and folks new to Race for the Galaxy have something to look forward to once they're getting tired of the regular game.
FnordChan
FnordChan
Actually no! I have played a decent amount of San Juan though since I picked it up a little while ago. I'll ask someone to bring it over though. Definitely considering the Storm expansion once we've played 10-20 more rounds of this. Sadly I actually have an expansion backlog currently with the new Arkham expansion I haven't had a chance to dig into yet.
platypotamus
Member
So it borrows heavily from Puerto Rico and is a nice short 30 min game? I'll add that to my list of games to get (with Agricola and Dominion).
biggyfries
Member
anyone play Zombies? how does it compare to Last Night on Earth? which would you recommend?
Been looking at it for a while, but havent sprung for it yet, mainly because my wife is not into that genre.
Been looking at it for a while, but havent sprung for it yet, mainly because my wife is not into that genre.
So wow Touch of Evil really is Arkham Lite. I mean my goodness it's rare to play such a blatant rip-off. I say that not as negatively as it sounds, since it does give AH a much-needed slimming down and shortening. It is funny to see how they dance around AH, like refusing to call "investigation markers" clues even though they function almost exactly like AH clues and provide, ahem, "information." Instructions are some of the best I've read recently, just incredibly lucid though I do have a bone to pick with Flying Frog's tendency to divide games and instructions into "basic" and "advanced" versions. Just unnecessary and confusing.
Having a playthrough tonight with a couple friends (competitive). Curious to say how it holds up. imo LNoE, though I really liked it at first, did not hold up that great. The game was just a huge grind at times, and if Monsters Menace America taught me anything it's that controlling huge swarms of pieces that can all move individually is not particularly fun or exciting. Glad that the mechanics in ToE are quite different.
biggy--I haven't played it much, but they're actually developing an xbla version fwiw.
Having a playthrough tonight with a couple friends (competitive). Curious to say how it holds up. imo LNoE, though I really liked it at first, did not hold up that great. The game was just a huge grind at times, and if Monsters Menace America taught me anything it's that controlling huge swarms of pieces that can all move individually is not particularly fun or exciting. Glad that the mechanics in ToE are quite different.
biggy--I haven't played it much, but they're actually developing an xbla version fwiw.
AstroLad said:
Yeah, our group had a similar reaction to Touch of Evil. It's like a game you played before, but smaller and less colorful.
I'm still gonna say, the most interesting Talisman/Arkham-style tabletop RPG I've played up to this point remains Prophecy. I found the Euro-style balancing keep the game interesting.
Flynn said:
For whatever reason, I just don't find the actual combat in LNoE or ToE to be very fun even though I think LNoE at least does a pretty good job conveying the zombie vibe (even if this makes the actual gameplay a bit dull b/c of the waves and waves of zombies involved). I feel that AH is far more immersive, especially with some of the expansions.
But since AH easily requires a solid afternoon to play I still think ToE is a good option for evening play and is not just a total garbage throwaway game like the aforementioned Monsters Menace America.
biggyfries
Member
Thanks, GAF. You have piqued my interest in non-mainstream games.
went and got Fluxx. that will be a xmas present for the family.
next on my list: Bell-Bottomed Badasses on the Mean Streets of Funk.
went and got Fluxx. that will be a xmas present for the family.
next on my list: Bell-Bottomed Badasses on the Mean Streets of Funk.
AstroLad said:
Yeah, it's pretty great.
There are two phases. A timed one where you build your ship, then the race where all competitors run the gauntlet, hoping their ship survives.
If you ever played Factory Fun the building phase is a bit like that.
I quite liked the game.
I'm playing La Havre tomorrow. Will report back.
Zyzyxxz--I play with a lot of casuals, so try to seek out good, easy-to-get-into games. One of the more popular choices is Ticket to Ride. I've had people go out and buy this right after playing with us. It takes literally five minutes to learn and is a very good-looking game that can involve a fair amount of screwing other people (cutting off their routes).
A more off-the-beaten-path casual game I would recommend is Robo Rally. Basically a race game where you go through different maps with hazardous elements and you never know what move cards you're going to get, or how others are going to move, so there's lots of mayhem.
You can find detailed reviews of these games at boardgamegeek. You can also search their geeklists for casual/party games, e.g.: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/23029
What about the learning curve?
A more off-the-beaten-path casual game I would recommend is Robo Rally. Basically a race game where you go through different maps with hazardous elements and you never know what move cards you're going to get, or how others are going to move, so there's lots of mayhem.
You can find detailed reviews of these games at boardgamegeek. You can also search their geeklists for casual/party games, e.g.: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/23029
Flynn said:
What about the learning curve?
vicissitudes
Banned
Settlers of Catan seems to be a pretty "mainstream" board game now. Ticket to Ride is pretty obscure where I'm from (California).
Haven't played Power Grid in a long time. That's a great game.
Haven't played Power Grid in a long time. That's a great game.
Settlers of Catan (an elegant German game about, well, settling, with lots of player interaction that doesn't just boil down to raw aggression) is almost universally popular and makes for a great 3-4 player game (and a reasonably good 5-6 player game with an expansion). However, for something more in a party game vein, nothing beats Apples to Apples, a clever game about adjectives, nouns, and vast amounts of silliness.
FnordChan
FnordChan
Ignatz Mouse
Banned
Apples to Apples has been the #1 casual game among people I know for the longest time. It's take 1 minute to learn, it can be played with as many people can sit comfortably in one place (a dozen is probably a reasonable limit) and it can go as fast or slow as you like. It can be played on a coffee table or floor, it doesn't need space for more than a few decks of cards and a pile.
Basically, people get a hand of Noun cards (ex: James Bond, Nuclear War, My High School Prom, Mammals) and then the player who's turn it is draws an adjective card (ex: slimy, hard, expensive, nasty, delicious, fragrant) and places it face up. Everybody picks the best match in their hand and puts in a pile, and the player picks the one they like the best. It may be the most fitting, or just the funniest one. Player who submitted that card gets a point.
We play a variant where we turn up two adjective cards, which makes the results more humorous and creative. The real skill is in guessing how the choosing player will react to your choice.
Basically, people get a hand of Noun cards (ex: James Bond, Nuclear War, My High School Prom, Mammals) and then the player who's turn it is draws an adjective card (ex: slimy, hard, expensive, nasty, delicious, fragrant) and places it face up. Everybody picks the best match in their hand and puts in a pile, and the player picks the one they like the best. It may be the most fitting, or just the funniest one. Player who submitted that card gets a point.
We play a variant where we turn up two adjective cards, which makes the results more humorous and creative. The real skill is in guessing how the choosing player will react to your choice.
My friends and I always play board games on Sunday nights whilst drinking. We play a lot of the standard party games (Cranium, Pictionary, Loaded Questions etc.), but I've been wondering on how I can make the switch to the more "nerdy" games (Catan, Axis and Allies, shoot, even RISK!). There's usually about 8-9 of us, with a smattering of both genders. Any ideas on how to suggest these new games to the people?
Edit: Also, Apples to Apples is a GREAT game.
Edit: Also, Apples to Apples is a GREAT game.
Ignatz Mouse
Banned
FnordChan said:
Wow, a post that's both prescient and late all at once! :lol
Ignatz Mouse
Banned
Hey Board Game Geeks, answer me this--
Catan always seemed really, really simplistic to me, with basic strategy and a fair amount of luck.
Now, granted I am a game vet going way back, so I tend to suss out the rules/strategies of a game very fast, but am I missing something? Not that it's bad or anything, but so many people swear by it and perhaps it has depth I am missing.
Catan always seemed really, really simplistic to me, with basic strategy and a fair amount of luck.
Now, granted I am a game vet going way back, so I tend to suss out the rules/strategies of a game very fast, but am I missing something? Not that it's bad or anything, but so many people swear by it and perhaps it has depth I am missing.
I play word games...Scattergories, Boggle, and Scrabble.
Scrabble is the main one I play though. I'm in the National Scrabble Association, go to a weekly scrabble club here in Pittsburgh (East Liberty, if anyone is interested), and play online quasi-religiously on ISC. Yeah, I get my nerd on, I get my nerd real good.
Scrabble is the main one I play though. I'm in the National Scrabble Association, go to a weekly scrabble club here in Pittsburgh (East Liberty, if anyone is interested), and play online quasi-religiously on ISC. Yeah, I get my nerd on, I get my nerd real good.
- Status