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[AMUSIX]

Innsmouth Horror looks like it's going to throw in everything, including the kitchen sink. That said, if you were to buy one of the big boxes available right now, I recommend Dunwich Horror very highly. It's an excellent expansion, with lots of great new characters, tons of cards and such, and the excellent Madness/Injury mechanic to use in place of losing half your stuff when you die. Of the card expansions, I like the Dark Pharaoh as a straight forward expansion that integrates very neatly with the original set. It won't add as much difficulty to the game as King in Yellow or Black Goat, but there's still plenty of nastiness included and the theme is very nice.

FnordChan

Thank you, looks like I'll be picking up Pharaoh, Dunwich, and Innsmouth. Dunwich's characters are indeed a great set...and I'm captivated by Innsmouth's 'personal stories' mechanic.
I'd really like to get the characters from Kingsport, without having to buy the whole set, though. Maybe I can find it at a garage sale some day.

 

[Flynn]

I just played Roll Through The Ages with a friend. It works as a two-player game. You're rolling dice, picking which resources you'll take from them and using those resources to climb a tech tree. The games are fast and full of those sought-after interesting decisions.

 

[Zyzyxxz]

just got Settlers of Catan. Pretty fun game, I plan to get the 5-6 player expansion.

What othe expansions should I get as I go?

 

[platypotamus]

just got Settlers of Catan. Pretty fun game, I plan to get the 5-6 player expansion.

What othe expansions should I get as I go?

Cities and Knights is the best expansion, as far as I'm concerned. Even if the gameplay wasn't improved, it'd be worth it just for the cardboard "frame" that surrounds the board and interlocks, preventing the shifting on a table bump.

Also, the gameplay is a solid and awesome. Adds a slight cooperative mechanic to the game (not really, but kind of) that changes things up.

I've only played it and Seafarers though, never any of the other expansions.

 

[Neverfade]

Cities and Knights or Traders and Barbarians for sure. Seafarers is cool, and adds a lot more variation as far as the board setup goes, but the other two expansions just blow it out of the water (no...pun intended?) as far as adding depth and content go.

 

[FnordChan]

While I like Cities and Knights a whole helluva lot, it's main purpose is to add another level of complexity to Catan. That's not a bad thing by any means, mind you, but sometimes the lighter aspect of Catan appeals to me. That's where Seafarers really shines, as it adds a couple of simple mechanics to the basic game without increasing the complexity level. It still chugs along at a rather fast pace, and while the new systems in Cities and Knights integrate elegantly with basic Catan, they do add about an hour to the game overall.

FnordChan

 

[AstroLad]

Recs request: Looking for some 4-5 player games that are fairly quick to learn but still fun and deep. TtR is a no-brainer. I might bring along RftG too (may take a tad too long to learn though, even though by now I am an accomplished RftG teacher). Just wondering if I'm missing anything since I don't tend to look for or play games for more than 4.

Also Betrayal at House on the Hill is going for like $150 on ebay, with few sealed left. Maybe I never will open up my copy lol.

 

[Cyan]

while the new systems in Cities and Knights integrate elegantly with basic Catan, they do add about an hour to the game overall.

Yeah, this is what annoys me about the game. Well, also the slightly greater complexity makes it less fun for me. But the extra length... ugh.

Anyway, finally picked up the RftG expansion. Only to hear the next one is coming in a month or so? Nice.

 

[Vinci]

My local game store is having a helluva time finding the Catan Card Game. Guess I'll get it online then. Was hoping to be able to just walk in, grab the thing, and go - but, oh well.

 

[AstroLad]

I'm putting in an order soon:
RftG expansion
Dominion expansion
Pandemic expansion
[whatever 4+ player games are recommended here]

 

[FnordChan]

Recs request: Looking for some 4-5 player games that are fairly quick to learn but still fun and deep.

How about Puerto Rico and Cosmic Encounter? They both support up to five players and work very well with a full contingent.

FnordChan

 

[eznark]

The games I ordered should be delivered today. Hopefully we get a chance to try them out tonight.

 

[borghe]

Innsmouth Horror looks like it's going to throw in everything, including the kitchen sink. That said, if you were to buy one of the big boxes available right now, I recommend Dunwich Horror very highly. It's an excellent expansion, with lots of great new characters, tons of cards and such, and the excellent Madness/Injury mechanic to use in place of losing half your stuff when you die. Of the card expansions, I like the Dark Pharaoh as a straight forward expansion that integrates very neatly with the original set. It won't add as much difficulty to the game as King in Yellow or Black Goat, but there's still plenty of nastiness included and the theme is very nice.

FnordChan

innsmouth isn't out for a month or two. but yeah, they're bringing over the personal goals mechanic from Android... dark pharaoh is pretty easy if you just add it into the decks. basically just a handful of more cards.. if you play the traveling exhibit variation of it IMHO it adds a lot more to the game, BUT the game becomes heavily focused on the expansion and gates end up opening much faster thus the doom track fills up much faster..

I agree that dunwich is the current best city expansion, but also feel that innsmouth looks to blow dunwich out of the water. I'd almost say frmo the looks of it that base+innsmouth looks to be the de facto entry to the game now (previously base+dunwich I felt was the bare minimum needed to really experience the game)

As for my gaming, I have pirate's cove coming on Wednesday.. looking through some recent stuff I really am looking forward to Android, and am a bit curious on the Scary Tales (non-C)CG. Also am looking forward to the new/revised Dungeon expansion for Talisman.

 

[Flynn]

I played a couple rounds of Pandemic this weekend. It didn't really do it for me. Could be the group I was playing with. But I found the consensus game play kind of limiting. By the time your turn comes around everyone has decided what you're supposed to do.

It's a nifty game and it goes fast, which is good. I think its another one of those games that is more interesting when you're losing.

 

[AstroLad]

The biggest things it has going for it are that it's co-op and can be learned in about two minutes. The game feels a little too[/u] didactic at times though, and the mechanics aren't clever enough to conceal that. Yes, I know that communication is central to addressing epidemics. But forcing me to "talk through" what cards I have, rather than simply showing makes me feel like a fourth grader. Looking forward to the expansion though as I think it could be a very good game if it had more depth.

 

[Flynn]

The biggest things it has going for it are that it's co-op and can be learned in about two minutes. The game feels a little too[/u] didactic at times though, and the mechanics aren't clever enough to conceal that. Yes, I know that communication is central to addressing epidemics. But forcing me to "talk through" what cards I have, rather than simply showing makes me feel like a fourth grader. Looking forward to the expansion though as I think it could be a very good game if it had more depth.

I think the talking through the cards has a good purpose. We had one player who would have tried to play the game one player if we gave him the chance. Hiding our cards was our best defense against him.

 

[AstroLad]

:lol ok I didn't run into that problem (probably because I was that one player--hey, we won! i get things done!, but i digress).

 

[Deleted member 20415]

Where do you guys even find the groups to play these bigger games? I can get maybe 2 people together... everyone is way too scattered.

Do people find groups through MeetUp or something like that or personal friends?

 

[Flynn]

Where do you guys even find the groups to play these bigger games? I can get maybe 2 people together... everyone is way too scattered.

Do people find groups through MeetUp or something like that or personal friends?

I got really lucky when I moved to MN -- fell in with a group of four or five guys who love this kind of thing. I met them at The Source, the local game shop. Started out playing A Game of Thrones with them. So maybe go to your local game shop on board game night?

 

[FnordChan]

Where do you guys even find the groups to play these bigger games? I can get maybe 2 people together... everyone is way too scattered.

Do people find groups through MeetUp or something like that or personal friends?

I'm fortunate enough to live in a college town with a very active campus gaming group. You can also usually find board game nights at specialty game stores in your area. Finally, check out the game group forums at boardgamegeek.com. Good luck!

FnordChan

 

[Deleted member 20415]

I'm fortunate enough to live in a college town with a very active campus gaming group. You can also usually find board game nights at specialty game stores in your area. Finally, check out the game group forums at boardgamegeek.com. Good luck!

FnordChan

Thanks for the recommendation! I may have already found a group that gets together on the Lower East Side... might work!

Thanks!

 

[borghe]

I am on the totally lucky end of the spectrum. I have a couple of brothers AND we are fortunate to have kept a few really good friends from our high school days who all still have a decent interest in board gaming.. mind you it would be impossible with these guys to play anything beyond a board game (aka pnp RPG).. definitely no interest... but board gaming for a few hours a couple of times a month works out perfectly... almost too perfect.. hmm.....



If I didn't have them I would just hit a dedicated gaming hobby shop in the area. most of ours in the area usually run some kind of regular board gaming meet up.. I mean nowhere near as regular as CCG or CMG gaming, but also not as impossible as finding a pnp group at one of those places. Most places have a group that meets at least once or twice a month.

 

[AstroLad]

I just force it upon my wife and friends. And her friends. Thankfully for me they are all smart people. That's pretty much all it takes.

 

[Cyan]

Haha, I play with some buddies from Toastmasters.

 

[slayn]

Where do you guys even find the groups to play these bigger games? I can get maybe 2 people together... everyone is way too scattered.

Do people find groups through MeetUp or something like that or personal friends?

This probably depends on your work environment. But all I did was send an email to everyone at work I thought may be willing to play games, and said, "Hey I have this awesome game you've probably never heard of. If you want to check it out you should stop by the main conference room after work where I will be teaching this cool game to anyone who is interested. Also we will be ordering pizza."

Now we have a weekly game night from 5pm->8pm after work.

 

[Deleted member 20415]

I just force it upon my wife and friends. And her friends. Thankfully for me they are all smart people. That's pretty much all it takes.

If you ever need another player, I will take the PATH trip to Newark, I am totally

Spoiler

not

crazy.

 

[platypotamus]

I just force it upon my wife and friends. And her friends. Thankfully for me they are all smart people. That's pretty much all it takes.

Same here. Wife + Sister-in-law + Brother-in-law. Occasionally other player or two.

As an aside, I think my general mode of life is very well suited for Agricola. If you are getting your butt kicked at it, try going with the flow as much as possible. Whenever I decide "I MUST DO X" and try to force something, I lose ground. If Agricola had existed when I took that Taoism class back in college, I probably would have wrote my paper on it.

 

[Neverfade]

Just got my latest shipment in:

RftG: Gathering Storm
1960: Making of the President
Memoir '44
Puerto Rico.

Cracked them open and amazed at the quality of the components, especially Memoir;s and 1960's!

 

[Flynn]

Just got my latest shipment in:

RftG: Gathering Storm
1960: Making of the President
Memoir '44
Puerto Rico.

Cracked them open and amazed at the quality of the components, especially Memoir;s and 1960's!

I liked Memoir '44 quite a bit. Can't wait to play more of it. You gotta love custom dice.

 

[Neverfade]

I liked Memoir '44 quite a bit. Can't wait to play more of it. You gotta love custom dice.

I do! I in fact just had to open the box back up and take a look, I missed them the first go 'round, playing with the minis!

Custom dice is another reason I love Fantasy Flight. A ton of their games use them!

 

[Neverfade]

I played scenario 1 of Memoir the other night.

Hopefully it gets a bit more complex than this! :/


Extra credit: someone sell me on Game of Thrones (the board game, not the cards)!

 

[AstroLad]

It's been a while, but Memoir 44 is a pretty simple game. Not a hardcore wargame by any stretch, which is why it's actually one of the few that can be played with non-gamers.

 

[Neverfade]

I'm not particularly looking for an epic...but I thought there'd be a little meat with these potatoes!

 

[Flynn]

Anybody else get the Board Game Geek Dominion promo cards? They just showed up in the mail yesterday.

EDIT: And Memoir isn't meant to be super technical. You play both ends quickly and compare performance. It's a good palate cleanser so to speak.

Also: Bummer about AGOT. I think the card game is really, really good. I suggest trying out the new collectible box. It's a much smarter game than most CCGs.

 

[Neverfade]

Well I'm not completely uninterested in the cards, my interest is just currently piqued with the board game. I know next to nothing about it, and currently boardgamegeek is kaput for me. Don't you have some experience with it Flynn? Could have sworn I saw you reference it many pages ago in this thread.

 

[AstroLad]

Anybody else get the Board Game Geek Dominion promo cards? They just showed up in the mail yesterday.

Ordered but haven't received yet.

Just put in an order today for more 4+ player games to round out the collection (and prepare for a big meet-up):

Formula D Board Game
PitchCar
Bohnanza Card Game
Puerto Rico Board Game

 

[Flynn]

Well I'm not completely uninterested in the cards, my interest is just currently piqued with the board game. I know next to nothing about it, and currently boardgamegeek is kaput for me. Don't you have some experience with it Flynn? Could have sworn I saw you reference it many pages ago in this thread.

I sat in on a beta test of the new adventure game. The reviews from my friends who actually played weren't all that enthusiastic. Haven't played the older boxed games. But, again, little enthusiasm from my crew who were once all competitive AGOT CCG players.

 

[spikydavid]

Ive decided to give Warhammer (40k specificaly) a shot, and bought myself a box set called Attack on Black Reach. Anyone have any recomendation or links on ways to paint, or other things to buy, or pretty much anything on 40k i should know!

It's not really a boardgame, but here goes

Ways to paint - spray the minis first with a primer (you can get some from Games Workshop, or most hobby shops). I (almost) always use black. Pick a small selection of colours, and go at it. Neatness is good. There's some fantastic stuff called 'Army Painter' (http://thearmypainter.com/) which is easy to use and gives good results for a large range of armies

Other things to buy - more Orks! The Assault on Black Reach set comes with Space Marines and Orks, but there are way more Space Marines than Orks (in terms of points) so you'll need some more Orks to balance the sides. I'd get a wartrukk, and more boyz. The ork battleforce comes with a trukk, some more boyz, and some bikes - pretty good value. You also need the Space Marine and Ork codexes (army lists)

Other stuff to know - plenty, too much to write here. Check out http://www.warhammer.org.uk and http://www.warseer.com for a couple of pretty active and reasonable forums (both quite UK-centric), and, um, have fun!

 

[AstroLad]

Ordered but haven't received yet.

Just put in an order today for more 4+ player games to round out the collection (and prepare for a big meet-up):

Formula D Board Game
PitchCar
Bohnanza Card Game
Puerto Rico Board Game

So I got these yesterday. Formula D is a very nice little package; the individually painted cars in particular are a great touch. Well worth the dough. What is with Euros and awful broken-up manuals recently though? First Galaxy Trucker, now this. The manual is split up into "Beginner" and "Advanced" rules, when clearly the "beginner" rules would only be fun to someone who enjoys Candyland and the division only serves to make understanding the real rules more confusing and complicated. As usual I will have to do my read-throughs of the manuals and then browse all the questions on the bgg rules boards for the game (thank God for BGG).

D and PitchCar are huge though; I was planning on bringing them on a trip but might have to reconsider.

Gonna take a pic of and post my collection later today I think.

 

[Flynn]

Played Zooloretto last night. I wasn't terribly wowed by it. And was kind of amazed to learn that the iPhone game planned will be hotseat only. Then realized that we'd probably play this way while having dinner at PAX.

 

[platypotamus]

While I don't have kids yet, I do actually enjoy when games include beginner and advanced rules. I'm looking forward to one day adding my kids to the board gaming fun, and I will probably try to do this when they are far younger than the box says, so the beginner/family rules will make that a simpler prospect methinks.

 

[AstroLad]

as promisedish

 

[Vinci]

Nice collection, AstroLad.

 

[AstroLad]

And the only one I regret is Monsters Menace America! (Ok I haven't played For the People or PitchCar yet).

 

[Vinci]

And the only one I regret is Monsters Menace America! (Ok I haven't played For the People or PitchCar yet).

What are you most recommended for 2 players out of your collection? I've Catan Card Game on the way. Otherwise my wife and I have kept with Senet, Backgammon, Chinese Checkers - mostly the old-school stuff.

 

[AstroLad]

Battle Line is pretty damn fun and super-simple (yet still strategic)--would fit in well with the rest of those. Race for the Galaxy is actually at its absolute best in the 2p advanced variant as long as you are into/can laugh at the sci-fi theme. And then of course Mr. Jack is another 2p specific game, quite chesslike actually (the one game my wife always kicks my ass at, so I don't play it that much). Only one I don't recommend is Lost Cities--not a terrible game, but you are much better off with Battle Line as a 2p card game.

 

[Vinci]

Battle Line is pretty damn fun and super-simple (yet still strategic). Race for the Galaxy is actually at its absolute best in the 2p advanced variant as long as you are into/can laugh at the sci-fi theme. And then of course Mr. Jack is another 2p specific game, quite chesslike actually (the one game my wife always kicks my ass at, so I don't play it that much).

Awesome. Thanks for the suggestions. Definitely keep those in mind: We're supposed to go on a shopping spree for games in the next week or two, so ... I'm sure our local store has at least one of these.

 

[Flynn]

Handsome collection, Astrolad. I've never finished a game of Antiquity -- you ever manage?

 

[AstroLad]

Handsome collection, Astrolad. I've never finished a game of Antiquity -- you ever manage?

:lol I was just thinking about how I should have included Antiquity in that list of "games not played" above. What a bear. I still have the rules on my desk.

 

[Flynn]

:lol I was just thinking about how I should have included Antiquity in that list of "games not played" above. What a bear. I still have the rules on my desk.

hehe We've played twice for at least three hours per session. It's brutal. We usually get to a point where we agree that somebody is obviously winning (or not losing) and call it. It's been a year or so. Perhaps we're ready for another go.

Also: I noticed that you have Hannibal. I really like Mike Doyle art direction. His Caylus is pretty sweet.