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[Zalasta]

I would not recommend buying Betrayal at Houst on the Hill on eBay. $100+ is just way too overpriced. You can still get a good conditioned copy from anywhere between $70-$90 if you know where to look.

Has anoyone else been hearing rumours of a Space Hulk remake out in september?

Sure, AICN reported it.

I need a recommendation....

I want a game good for two people. And please dont suggest cards, Im looking for a boardgame.

Pretty much any type of game is fine.

Note that Im specifically looking for a game thats fun with two people. Yes, you could play monopoly with two, but it isnt as fun.

Eh, if you are willing to learn and have no problem with political theme, Twilight Struggle and 1960 are very good card-drivened boardgame. KOSMOS also make a lot of quick 2-player stuff. There is the GIPF project if you don't mind abstract games.

Seriously, you can find a lot of what you need on BoardGameGeek.

 

[spikydavid]

I need a recommendation....

I want a game good for two people. And please dont suggest cards, Im looking for a boardgame.

Pretty much any type of game is fine.

Note that Im specifically looking for a game thats fun with two people. Yes, you could play monopoly with two, but it isnt as fun.

One thing to bear in mind with these recommendations is that I play a lot of two-player games, but the person I spend most time playing with prefers non-confrontational gaming, so with that in mind...

Ticket To Ride (all versions) - excellent fast-paced game. Generally non-confrontational (occasional fights over a specific route). I would recommend any except Europe. USA is the starter game, and the simplest. My preferred game is Marklin (Germany). The swiss and nordic countries games are specifically designed for 2-3 players (get Nordic first, as swiss is not a stand-alone game)

BattleLore - Fairly standard, intuitive wargame. Obviously, very confrontational (it's a wargame...) but I really enjoy it, and has a little of that fantasy flavour.

Tomb - Only got this at christmas, but have already played about 15 times with various groups. Fantastic dungeon crawl style game. Again, generally non-confrontational, though there is a little player interaction if you want to be nasty

Carcassonne - Can be played two-player, but is a bit meh. Build your own towns/roads. Very little interaction. Can come down to a feeling of "which tile did I draw?" There are a couple of versions (City, Hunters & Gatherers) that are specifically designed for two players, but I haven't played these specifically

Thurn And Taxis - Again, only got at christmas, and only played a couple of times. I really like this - very eurogame, very non-confrontational. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

Agricola - Very good. I've only played this two and three player, and it is excellent. Highly recommended (I would play more, if only I could get the english version...)

RoboRally - Good with any number of players, but rarely broken out as a two player game, simply because of the set-up time.

Formula D - Designed for multiple players, but a lot of fun with just two. Non-confrontational, just roll your own dice, and move your car. You can do some blocking, but it's minimal. This is an expensive game to get into, however, as it only comes with two racetracks, and each new track is quite dear.

Fury of Dracula - Interesting game, with some interesting twists if played 2-player. Not ideal (best for three players, really), and not a massively sociable game if played 2-player

There are any number of wargame style boardgames that are designed as two player games (GMT games, for example), but I'm not really an expert on these. I would recommend "Crimson Skies" and "Wings of War" as 'gateway' games between boardgames and wargames (if you want to go in that direction)

 

[AMUSIX]

I need a recommendation....

I want a game good for two people. And please dont suggest cards, Im looking for a boardgame.

Pretty much any type of game is fine.

Note that Im specifically looking for a game thats fun with two people. Yes, you could play monopoly with two, but it isnt as fun.

Two player games? Well, as you said, a lot of games can be played two player (Ticket to Ride, Carcassone, Tsuro) and while they are fun, they certainly shine with more. As for games that are specifically two players, I'd go with the following three:

-Gobblet

Think of it like a 4-space tic-tac-toe, but the smaller pieces can be swallowed by the bigger pieces.

-Stratego

A true board game staple. Anyone who doesn't have this in their collection is doing something wrong.

-Project Kells

Irish game that focuses on creating knots. Best thing is that there are three different variants to play, all of them fun.

 

[FnordChan]

Very nice. My take on each since I own and play them all save Bang! and Agricola (which I still haven't gotten around to seriously playing yet)

Meanwhile, I can comment on both of those:

Alas, new editions have decided that Bang! is no longer the Spaghetti Western game so hardcore that the cards are in Italian, but it's still pretty great for what it is: a bluffing game where you try to figure out the role (outlaw, vice, renegade) each of the players has taken where, when you get bored trying to think too hard about things, you have plenty of cards that allow you to just start taking pot shots at 'em anyway. The later part really livens things up and with a good group you'll have fun both trying to figure out who's who and also cheerfully blasting away at the other folks. Don't take it too seriously or over analyze it and you'll have a fine time. Bang! works well for up to seven players, so it's nice if you have a large group to play with. However, an important note about the expansions: while some of the new characters are fun, the rest of the cards only add playing time to the game. Bang! is just about the right length as it is and I feel that the expansions drag things out horribly, to the point where it's just no fun for anyone. The basic set is all you really need.

As for Agricola, it's a really terrific game about farming, which is not something I ever thought I'd find myself saying. Up to five players (and as few as one; the solitaire angle works well here) are all looking to build a nice, diversified farm with a nice new house, kids to help out in the fields, grain and veggies to grow, and animals to breed. The trick is that there are a limited number of actions that you can take each turn, so if you really wanted to, say, build fences in order to start raising sheep, you may find that on any given turn someone has beaten you to that option. Fortunately, you have special cards in your hand that react to many different aspects of the game, so ideally you can shrug your shoulders, resolve to build fences the next round, and take an action that works well with a card that you've played. The point of the game is to build the best farm you can when optimal moves are limited. Okay, so it's a bit like multiplayer solitaire, but it's engrossing enough that you won't care. It comes highly recommended. jamesinclair, Agricola would make for a fine two player game.

FnordChan

 

[AstroLad]

One thing to bear in mind with these recommendations is that I play a lot of two-player games, but the person I spend most time playing with prefers non-confrontational gaming, so with that in mind...

Following up on this, jamesinclair, it really depends on how much complexity you want, and also whether you want to go totally card-free (not sure why you would, as a lot of the best 2p games like Twilight and 1960 are all card-driven board games as noted above; Catan Card and Race for the Galaxy are almost pure card but probably two of my top 3 two-player games period). If you want something lighter and quicker, try out Mr. Jack. I would second the recommendation on Ticket to Ride, especially if you're looking for a quintessential "board" experience, while also cautioning you to stay away from the standard version, which is incredibly dull 2p.

As always whenever you get a recommendation boardgamegeek is absolutely the place to go for an insane amount of information on any game.

 

[platypotamus]

This weekend I finally had a chance to play Android, a dystopian science fiction detective game from Fantasy Flight. The owner of the game was happy to teach me how to play - provided I was willing to set aside most of Saturday afternoon for the occasion with the understanding that I wasn't going to really know what was going on until after I'd played through an entire game, and maybe not even then. This sounded just fine to me and we started up around 3pm.

I don't think my group would go for something like that, but reading your impressions made me want to try it, bad.

As for Agricola, it's a really terrific game about farming, which is not something I ever thought I'd find myself saying. Up to five players (and as few as one; the solitaire angle works well here) are all looking to build a nice, diversified farm with a nice new house, kids to help out in the fields, grain and veggies to grow, and animals to breed. The trick is that there are a limited number of actions that you can take each turn, so if you really wanted to, say, build fences in order to start raising sheep, you may find that on any given turn someone has beaten you to that option. Fortunately, you have special cards in your hand that react to many different aspects of the game, so ideally you can shrug your shoulders, resolve to build fences the next round, and take an action that works well with a card that you've played. The point of the game is to build the best farm you can when optimal moves are limited. Okay, so it's a bit like multiplayer solitaire, but it's engrossing enough that you won't care. It comes highly recommended. jamesinclair, Agricola would make for a fine two player game.

The wife DID want to play last night, so I got to play my first real game of Agricola. Two player style. It is a great two player game. It is intimidating as hell, though. There is so much stuff going on, and so many options on any given turn, that it can be incredibly overwhelming. I found myself, on pretty much every round, wanting to take about 4 more actions than I was able to. It's kind of nice, because when the wife beat me to one that I wanted, I had plenty of backup plans, but also kind of rough, because every time a turn ended, my first thought was, "but I still want to..."

There are so many different things to focus on too. You can plant crops in fields. You can build pastures/stables and raise livestock. You can expand/remodel your house. You can have kids (read: child labor to give you more actions). Occupations/improvements are kind of their own thing, but usually impact all the previously mentioned categories. They are kind of alone in that regard though... there is very little overlap between fields/livestock/house/family. If you are expanding your herd, you are generally doing it at the expense of the other stuff. Oh, and you can't really specialize too far, or your final score will kind of suck, since ALL of this gets roped into scoring. For example, I ended the game with 3 or 4 points from my herd of sheep. I had -2 points for having no pigs or cows though. I had 2 points from grain, but -1 from no vegetables. Grabbing veggies, pigs, or cows never seemed like the right move for the round though.

 

[Flynn]

IThere are so many different things to focus on too. You can plant crops in fields. You can build pastures/stables and raise livestock. You can expand/remodel your house. You can have kids (read: child labor to give you more actions). Occupations/improvements are kind of their own thing, but usually impact all the previously mentioned categories. They are kind of alone in that regard though... there is very little overlap between fields/livestock/house/family. If you are expanding your herd, you are generally doing it at the expense of the other stuff. Oh, and you can't really specialize too far, or your final score will kind of suck, since ALL of this gets roped into scoring. For example, I ended the game with 3 or 4 points from my herd of sheep. I had -2 points for having no pigs or cows though. I had 2 points from grain, but -1 from no vegetables. Grabbing veggies, pigs, or cows never seemed like the right move for the round though.

I'm still not sick of this game. It's so damn fun.

 

[Monroeski]

Played some Cosmic Encounter over the weekend. Pretty fun game; there are enough alien races that I can't imagine any two games ever playing out the same, and the abilities are varied enough that you really don't know what to expect when you're first heading in.

 

[Calcifer]

modern art is fun for 5 players...barnes and noble should have it for %50 off right now

 

[echoshifting]

Playing Robo Rally for the first time in many years tonight. Pretty fucking excited.

This'll be the first time I play it with five players. Any tips I need to keep in mind for a big game? I've always heard it's a lot more fun with plenty of people and it's always felt that way while playing.

How many boards do you guys think I should use if I want to be done in 2.5 hours, and a couple people have never played before? I'm thinking three...

 

[Neverfade]

I picked up Catan: Card Game earlier.

I need to read the instructions on the toilet several times to take all this in I think. I can tell I'll eventually like it when I get the grasp of it though.

 

[jamesinclair]

Thanks guys, over the next few days Ill look over your recommendations with gameplay details.

One concern right now is the price. I really like what I see of Twilight Struggle....but amazon lists 60$ for the game.

Thats....pretty steep for something I dont know if Ill like....

 

[AstroLad]

Thanks guys, over the next few days Ill look over your recommendations with gameplay details.

One concern right now is the price. I really like what I see of Twilight Struggle....but amazon lists 60$ for the game.

Thats....pretty steep for something I dont know if Ill like....

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_bo...TwilightStruggle#Twilight Struggle Board Game

you can also read really detailed reviews, playthroughs, rules, view components etc. etc. etc. at bgg http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/12333

 

[platypotamus]

I picked up Catan: Card Game earlier.

I need to read the instructions on the toilet several times to take all this in I think. I can tell I'll eventually like it when I get the grasp of it though.

That's my next game pick up!

 

[Neverfade]

Anyone have any impressions of Red Dragon Inn?

 

[AMUSIX]

Quick question...friends and I have been enjoying Arkham Horror, and are looking for something like it, but a bit simpler/faster. Am I correct in assuming Last Night On Earth would be good to check out?

Granted, the zombies might sell it alone...

 

[AstroLad]

Touch of Evil (by the same guys who do LNoE) is basically like a mini-Arkham Horror. Take a look and see what you think. If you are into zombies, LNOE is always a pretty good bet.

 

[Donkey Thong]

So, a couple of years ago, I completed a series of trades on Boardgamegeek and got Atlantic Star (+ a couple of other titles):

I got it mainly cause, aside from Bohnanza, I was sorely lacking in games that accommodated 2 - 6 players. Well, I got it, read the rules, and they didn't really 'click'. So away it went. Confined to the shelf. My one unplayed game for at least 2 years. It became kind of a running joke: "Well, we could play Atlantic Star! *badum chin*"...

Finally, last weekend I pulled it out, read the rules, had no problem understanding them and played a game with the wife.

Holy crap! Turns out Atlantic Star is FANTASTIC.

Why did I wait so long?

The game is about organizing cruise lines. It's kind of like a Ticket to Ride set collecting game minus the map, with an economic engine added where you have to carefully spend your money buying cards. If you go bankrupt you can borrow money from your victory points to stay in the game. It's a great combination of simple play mechanics (slightly meatier than a TtR or Carcassonne) but completely engrossing gameplay with agonizing decisions throughout.

Alas, Atlantic Star is a german only release that has been out of print for a while now so, it's a meaningless recommendation that very few people will get to try. A shame because it's become a favorite of mine. Can't wait to try it with more.

 

[Darko]

Best.

 

[AMUSIX]

Best.

I've set this board up so many times...and launched the trap...but I can't recall ever actually playing the game.

 

[Neverfade]

I've set this board up so many times...and launched the trap...but I can't recall ever actually playing the game.

You've seen the mountaintop then. No need to climb that hill again.

 

[Belgand]

This weekend I finally had a chance to play Android, a dystopian science fiction detective game from Fantasy Flight.

Saw this at the store the other day and I'm glad to see a review of it. It looked interesting, but due to being unemployed poor I haven't had a chance to try it. On the other hand if anyone would be interested in roping me into a few games of something I'm usually always interested in getting in on some new games.

Except, oddly, Race for the Galaxy, which I didn't care for and found increasingly unpleasant with each passing hand. Perhaps the worst was being taught by people who didn't seem to understand my desire to read the rules fully before starting the game and who never bothered (and proved resistant when asked) to telling me what the goal of the game was. Always a fun time when you're shoved into a game and told how to start making things work, but have no damn idea what you're trying to accomplish.

 

[Calcifer]

the game has an inebriation meter.

Review:

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/374365

 

[platypotamus]

the game has an inebriation meter.

Somehow, this is really all you needed to say about the game, and I think you knew that :lol

 

[Ward]

http://www.coolstuffinc.com/main_bo...TwilightStruggle#Twilight Struggle Board Game

I'm looking to buy some board games as per this thread.

Have you used coolstuffinc.com? Their prices are really good, but I'd like some feedback before I use them.

 

[AstroLad]

Yep I've ordered about four games from them no problems. They have free shipping at $100 on board games I believe.

 

[Ikael]

Awesome, awesome topic. As a person who cannot stand discos or pubs, I am finding myself more and more into spending a night with friends, booze and a board game (or a card game, that is). So i have a question here: I have heard about A game of thrones card game. It is self contained like Bang! or is it a collectible one a la Magic? Also, is the Battlestar Galactica table game any good? how it is like?

 

[Flynn]

Day one of Con of the Dorks (our annual February gaming get-together) is complete. For starting around six we got a lot done.

Played three eight player rounds of Shadow Hunters.. It's a secret identity game. The monster faction fights the hunter faction with several neutral characters in the mix. It moves fast considering we were playing with so many.

Most interesting is the fact that the board game is made by Game Republic -- makers of Genji and Folklore. Notice that their wiki page makes no mention of the board game side of their business.

Once Upon a Time and Cosmic Encounter were played.

I closed the night with a group of four learning the set up and movement and combat for Titan. The game is daunting at first, but now that we're all up to speed I think we'll able to get a good beefy play out of it tomorrow.

I'll take pictures tomorrow.

 

[Zalasta]

Also, is the Battlestar Galactica table game any good? how it is like?

Can't answer your question about A Game of Thrones CCG, I suggest checking BGG or Fantasy Flight Games website itself.

As for BSG boardgame. Basically each player pick a character to play as, then they are dealt a loyalty card which will tell them whether they are human or cylon. Then you play against the game (which will churn out some kind of obstacle after every turn), except the cylon player(s) will be secretly sabotaging the human's effort to try to reach Kobol. It takes a big investment (in time), especially if you've never play co-op with a traitor element before. However, if you are a fan of the show, I'd say you'll be richly rewarded for the effort.

 

[Neverfade]

Astrolad, maybe you can clear this up for me:

I played my first game of Catan: Cards with the GF last night. Both of us liked it, though we may or may not have been bending a rule..

Are the yellow action cards put back on the bottom of a deck or removed entirely from the game when played?

Edit: I also watched a video review of the Battlestar Galactica game and it went from "Probably a purchase on day..." to "Lets order this now!".

 

[AstroLad]

Astrolad, maybe you can clear this up for me:

I played my first game of Catan: Cards with the GF last night. Both of us liked it, though we may or may not have been bending a rule..

Are the yellow action cards put back on the bottom of a deck or removed entirely from the game when played?

Just as an aside, Catan has tons of tricky little details like that. Even more so than Arkham Horror, you are almost guaranteed to be playing it wrong your first through playthroughs (and forever absent serious diligence).

The action cards are removed from the game after being played. Also just some things to remember off the top of my head--you can't play action cards (except Scout, which you can play any time) until the two players have 7 VPs between them (don't forget this includes your Knight & Commerce token VPs) but that the Commerce token is only awarded when the player has the most windmills AND a city.

Here is a really good short-and-sweet rule summary: http://www.headlesshollow.com/downloads/games/CatanCardGame_v2.pdf

 

[APZonerunner]

Love, love Risk. Just came in this thread to say how much. Love it.

A few years back, me and some friends actually made a Final Fantasy variant on Risk. It was our own ruleset inspired by the changes added in LOTR Risk. It featured the map from FF11, with each continent named after the 'main place' of an FF title. For example, you had the "Mist Continent" with Lindblum, Alexandria, Burmecia, Cleyra etc, and you had "Midgar" with Cosmo Canyon, Kalm, Condor etc.. all that jazz.

We designed this because we didn't like the LOTR map layout, and so many of us used to play (often 8 or 9) we needed a bigger map than the standard Risk Map. Back in those days we used to have Risk Nights every two weeks or even more frequently where we'd order a pizza, play risk and get mindblowingly drunk. The main FF map has 9 continents representing FF1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12. And the map itself is from 11, as I mentioned, so only 2 and 5 are left out.

Like LOTR risk, the map features special 'event cards'. These are gained by moving a troop onto or a territory with a "Moogle Merchant" on it - represented by the FF6 moodle sprite on certaint territories. These event cards had various effects. Some had to be played immediately and had effects from FF games - like an AVALANCHE attack on a Reactor in Midgar, killing some troops stationed there.

Other cards could be kept by the player who gained them and used when needed. Bahamut, for example, would add +1 to an army's dice roll for the duration of an attack. Some summon monsters did more - some (like Alexander) added a defensive bonus. There were cards that allowed troops to move more than one territory at the end of the turn too. There were 60 or so cards in total, each printed 5, 3 or 1 times depending on their rarity.

In addition to this, the usual Rifleman, Horseman, Cannon cards were switched for Moogles, Cactaur and Crystals.

Other additions included Castles on capital territories like Baron and Zanarkand, which also gave a defensive dice-roll bonus, and sea routes with a 'sea stopping point' in between - indicating a sea route which is so long it takes two turns to traverse - forcing the army to stop halfway. This could often give the player on the other side of the shore a chance to 'spot' the army approaching their shores and quickly move reinforcements.

Like LOTR Risk, there's mountains stopping attacks from certain directions.

The big, big game changer was airships. Airships could be launched from territories with an airbase (usually one airbase per continent.) Airships could carry up to 5 troops and had to be launched with an event card - though there were some other cards that allowed for more troops per ship. They can they attack anywhere on the map. This forced people to play a little more defensively, as that '1 troop city' in the middle of their vast empire could get a strike from the air at any moment if somebody as the right card and enough men to do so.

It was incredibly fun to make and we had it all (the board & the cards) professionally printed, which wasn't cheap... but we played it a hell of a lot, and still do whenever we get the chance and are all together in a big group. Fun as fuck.

It actually led to three more variants, too - an FF9 Risk with FF9 map and cards designed to be small, for 3-5 players), an FF8 Risk which was a 'medium sized' map, and a completely unrelated, all new Risk Map with no relation to anything existing.

Ultimately nerdy, but it was so much fun. I can post some images of the maps if people like.

 

[Neverfade]

The action cards are removed from the game after being played.

Here is a really good short-and-sweet rule summary: http://www.headlesshollow.com/downloads/games/CatanCardGame_v2.pdf

Thanks a ton. We were not permanently discarding them per the rules, and I think doing so next go 'round will eliminate the only complaint I have about it (that all these repeated actions lengthened the game greatly).

Loving it.

 

[trinest]

Best game ever.

 

[Belgand]

Best game ever.

I think your link might have changed because that certainly doesn't look like Dark Tower. Orson Welles doesn't just do ads for any game y'know.

Let's also not forget about Fireball Island. Flame away, I've got the talisman.

 

[Flynn]

Today's games:

Axis and Allies: Epic, but way more fun than I'd expect for such a combat heavy game. We played the new edition -- a very handsome reproduction.
Age of Steam: Hurt my brain. Not sure what I think.
St. Petersburg, Tigris and Euphrates were played by the other half of the group.

 

[trinest]

I think your link might have changed because that certainly doesn't look like Dark Tower. Orson Welles doesn't just do ads for any game y'know.

Let's also not forget about Fireball Island. Flame away, I've got the talisman.

Green Ghost is better then that crap man.

 

[AstroLad]

Finally got a chance to play my copy of Ticket to Ride: Nordic Countries yesterday and man is it great with 2-3. We played with 3 and just by nature of the board it was a super aggressive game without a clear winner until the very end. Also so nice to not have a Longest Train card. Longest Train just makes the basic game too boring and mechanical imo. I would put Nordic Countries well above Switzerland, USA, & 1910 for 2-3. It's basically like Switzerland 2.0 and I don't know if I'll ever need Switzerland again. USA+1910 is of course still the best for 4-5.

Just noticed there's a new Race for the Galaxy expansion (hell yeah) and a new Arkham Horror expansion (wtf ALREADY?) coming out in the next few months. As well as a Dominion expansion (will have to learn more about this before I decide on it).

 

[Evlar]

Finally got a chance to play my copy of Ticket to Ride: Nordic Countries yesterday and man is it great with 2-3. We played with 3 and just by nature of the board it was a super aggressive game without a clear winner until the very end. Also so nice to not have a Longest Train card. Longest Train just makes the basic game too boring and mechanical imo. I would put Nordic Countries well above Switzerland, USA, & 1910 for 2-3. It's basically like Switzerland 2.0 and I don't know if I'll ever need Switzerland again. USA+1910 is of course still the best for 4-5.

Just noticed there's a new Race for the Galaxy expansion (hell yeah) and a new Arkham Horror expansion (wtf ALREADY?) coming out in the next few months. As well as a Dominion expansion (will have to learn more about this before I decide on it).

I agree completely on Nordic Countries, particularly on the aggressiveness of the board. That was a surprise when we first started playing it; we had only played vanilla TtR USA before which in my experience is typically nonconfrontational. Nordic Countries, on the other hand, punishes you severely for over-extending yourself on Destination Tickets or failing to grab routes into a handful of southern cities with limited paths because it's unlikely everyone will be able to complete all their plans. In TtR USA you could usually get to where you wanted, you just may have to take a detour or three. In Nordic Countries you can be truly screwed.

 

[AstroLad]

I agree completely on Nordic Countries, particularly on the aggressiveness of the board. That was a surprise when we first started playing it; we had only played vanilla TtR USA before which in my experience is typically nonconfrontational. Nordic Countries, on the other hand, punishes you severely for over-extending yourself on Destination Tickets or failing to grab routes into a handful of southern cities with limited paths because it's unlikely everyone will be able to complete all their plans. In TtR USA you could usually get to where you wanted, you just may have to take a detour or three. In Nordic Countries you can be truly screwed.

Yep especially with 2 or 3 on USA you have a few routes contested, maybe. And just as often you just have everyone going on their own separate paths, with the winner often coming down to whoever was the most efficient. 5 is good though with USA.

Nordic Countries just has so much more interaction. Feels like what TtR should be.

 

[Calcifer]

T2R: Europe has Train Stations (along with tunnels and ferries) you can put on cities to claim other people's routes. Does Nordic Countries have this?

 

[AstroLad]

No, just tunnels and ferries. I don't think they would work as well in Nordic Countries though since they would dampen some of the blocking fun you can have in the game.

 

[Saerk]

I agree completely on Nordic Countries, particularly on the aggressiveness of the board. That was a surprise when we first started playing it; we had only played vanilla TtR USA before which in my experience is typically nonconfrontational. Nordic Countries, on the other hand, punishes you severely for over-extending yourself on Destination Tickets or failing to grab routes into a handful of southern cities with limited paths because it's unlikely everyone will be able to complete all their plans. In TtR USA you could usually get to where you wanted, you just may have to take a detour or three. In Nordic Countries you can be truly screwed.

This may be why I havent really enjoyed TtR. The lack of conflict in the US version.

 

[AstroLad]

I'll add that the one thing I never got about tunnels is why you draw three cards regardless of the size of the tunnel. Seems like you should draw more for larger tunnels or vice versa.

 

[platypotamus]

As well as a Dominion expansion (will have to learn more about this before I decide on it).

Pretty much a day one thing for me. <3 Dominion.

 

[AstroLad]

Dominion is pretty fly. I've found that playing with a random set of cards is a very bad idea though. What are your favorite sets? I think I still like the first one the best.

 

[Calcifer]

I'll add that the one thing I never got about tunnels is why you draw three cards regardless of the size of the tunnel. Seems like you should draw more for larger tunnels or vice versa.

i think drawing 3 cards is fine.

i think it should cost more cards of the same color for long tunnels to claim it and cost even more cards for shorter tunnels...(other way around would make it near impossible to claim tunnels)

but they should be also worth more points than laying down regular tracks

 

[AstroLad]

Going to drop a quick recommendation to my fellow board-gaming dorks in here just because it saddens me that this amazing game got so little attention: CULDCEPT SAGA.

I'm going to crib from community site Culdcept Central's beginner's guide:

Culdcept Saga is a game that many look at as a hybrid between any Collectable Card Game (CCG) and Monopoly the Board game. Most commonly, Magic: The Gathering is used in the analogy so far as the CCG is concerned. For the most part, they're right. The very basic aspects of this game are the players walking around a large board, claiming territory with "Cards" that cast spells or summon creatures, and after acquiring a goal amount of manna, they win.

http://www.culdceptcentral.com/inde...csguidesbeginner&option=com_content&Itemid=16

As shown in the full guide above, the game has an amazing amount of depth. imo it's much better than the other board-game video games because it is designed to take advantage of the format despite feeling very much like a board game.

The board graphics and cutscenes are pretty mundae, but the card art is amazing.

Not only that, but the game has an unrivaled amount of customizability for online play. You can play with blind decks (random assortment of cards), themed decks, adjust all the standard settings, and even make your own rules. Best of all it's about $20 new pretty much everywhere.

 

[Cyan]

Except, oddly, Race for the Galaxy, which I didn't care for and found increasingly unpleasant with each passing hand. Perhaps the worst was being taught by people who didn't seem to understand my desire to read the rules fully before starting the game and who never bothered (and proved resistant when asked) to telling me what the goal of the game was. Always a fun time when you're shoved into a game and told how to start making things work, but have no damn idea what you're trying to accomplish.

Man, that's a bummer. It's a great game. In their defense, it's actually kind of hard to explain the rules... but sucks they wouldn't let you just read them.

 

[Calcifer]

Carcassonne

- easy to learn
- build the board as you play
- you play with meeples in your hand which is a refreshing change from dice or cards
http://images.boardgamegeek.com/images/pic170809_md.jpg


Review:

http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/367942