The Board Game Thread

[frank ryan]

I love this game! I always win!

(Though if I were Surf I think I'd raise eyebrows at the assertion that I'd need a "simple" game to be interested.)

Settlers has caused more marital strife than I care to recall, but it's so worth it. Carcasonne is another good one.

You should quit putting the robber on your husbands number 8 wood producing hex

[doctorcoug]

Acquire is a little known game that is great for those who enjoy that type of stuff.

[ERCougar]

So I picked up this game a few weeks ago and it has quickly become my favorite game. It took some swallowing of pride to get over the medieval theme of the game, but I'm glad that I did. It is a great game. Games are quick, only about 30 minutes, and there is lots of strategy involved. However, despite the strategy the game is really easy to grasp. There is also a lot of variety in the game. You have a total of 25 different types of cards and you only use 10 per game, allowing several different combos. The game can be played more cutthroat with some of the attack cards in play or a little more laid back. I personally enjoy the more laid back game and haven't played with the more nasty attack cards. There is an expansion out that operates also as a standalone game, but I see no reason to get the expansion.

I picked up Puerto Rico yesterday and hope to try it for the first time this week. I also rented Power Grid and am planning on trying it this week as well.

Let me just say, you've acquired a very fine taste in games. Power Grid is a classic and PR is as close to I know to the perfect game (except for the blatant racist aspect...). I can't wait to pick up Dominion.

[ERCougar]

Acquire is a little known game that is great for those who enjoy that type of stuff.

I have Acquire on my Treo. I wouldn't call this one "little known" (at least in the boardgaming ubergeek world).

[OhioBlue]

I have Acquire on my Treo. I wouldn't call this one "little known" (at least in the boardgaming ubergeek world).

Yeah, I don't know how Acquire qualifies as little known. Many who've never been fans of playing board games have at least seen or heard of Acquire. Sid Sackson produced a game that has stood the test of time.

Though not in my house, unfortunately. We bought it when it was re-released several years ago, played it a few times, and sold it for $80 on Ebay after that printing was discontinued.

[Babs]

You should quit putting the robber on your husbands number 8 wood producing hex

Well he should have thought of that before he cut off my road!!!!

[wuapinmon]

Risk is good. Axis and Allies is much better. I play Japan better than anyone I have ever met.

I should like to play you at the Anniversary edition some day.

Axis and Allies is fun, but you must have at least 10 hours.

Especially if you're playing against Tim....he takes forever.

Over Thanksgiving I played the new Anniversary Edition of Axis & Allies... AMAZING! It adds Italy to the Axis and starts the game in 1941 rather than 1942. I love the original, but the Anniversary Edition is a great revision. Worth checking out for sure!

Tim

Te echo de menos, hermano. Ahora no tengo con quien jugar.

I love trivia games. It exposes everybody for the frauds they are.
"What's the capital of Iceland?..."Um, I don't know...let's play Pictionary!"

If we ever meet, I should like a chance at playing with you.

My FIL once got really angry at me when playing Monopoly for giving all my money and property to my wife in exchange for almost nothing. He accused me of something or other and then got up and walked away, really angry. It was pretty funny. I think I actually laughed, which made him even more angry.

My monopoly strategy is to negotiate privately (get up and leave the room) with people. I give them the properties they need in exchange for never paying rent on any of their properties, ever. If I'm able to get all of the players to agree to this, eventually I amass all the money and break the bank. When people realize what I've done, they have not taken it very well at times, accusing me of "cheating."

It has been years since I have played this game, but A&A probably took up more of my high school life than video games and make out sessions combined (not that I was deprived in either of those categories). I play a killer Japan, which I think has the most interesting gameplay options in that game. The US takes too long to get into the action. Russia ends up stockpiling military to ward off Germany. Germany has interesting early options, but quickly overextends itself. Plus, the success or failure of Germany in the early game depends too much on lucky dice rolls, which is never too fun (if the dice don't roll in your favor). Britain's role in the game seems to be to control Germany's navy and to conduct air raids on German industrial buildings. Not that exciting, and again, a few unlucky rolls will bring down GB's airforce, and it usually too expensive to rebuild very quickly.

A&A is fun, but it has some serious flaws as a game (some listed above). One major flaw is that it takes WAY too long to play for anyone but teenagers with a lot of time to kill. Also the whole industrial development gambling aspect is ridiculous. It costs too much to do very often, but a couple of lucky rolls will destroy the balance of the game (heavy bombers).

I agree, but I think you'll find that the Anniversary edition addresses many of the issues with older versions. Also, A&A reminds me of my father. The first time I ever beat him (after countless games) was the last time he ever played me at it. I assure you that Little Robin will thrill about the game should you get it for him; it's that good.

[RobinFinderson]

Let me just say, you've acquired a very fine taste in games. Power Grid is a classic and PR is as close to I know to the perfect game (except for the blatant racist aspect...). I can't wait to pick up Dominion.

We picked up Dominion right before our trip up to Utah, and have been filling some leisure hours with friends and family with this game. It is very fun. I agree with you that Power Grid and Puerto Rico are close to perfect games. I don't think Dominion is quite in the same league, but it is very good. What really gives Dominion legs is that every game has a different mix of action cards, which requires a different strategy each time. There is also a new expansion for the game (I haven't played it) which expands the card choices and makes the game more interactive. The basic game, depending on the cards, will often operate like a game of multi-player solitaire, so the extra interactivity from the expansion will 'improve' the game if you like your strategy to be subverted by a capricious neighbor.

[MartyFunkhouser]

I think I am done buying boardgames for awhile, but figured I would bump this thread one more time with the latest acquisitions.

Picked up Endeavor the other day. If you don't like the racist aspects of Puerto Rico, you are going to hate the use of slavery in Endeavor. It plays very much like Puerto Rico Lite. I have only played about 1/2 a game so far, but enjoyed what I played.

I picked up the expansion for Pandemic the other day, but haven't had a chance to play it yet.

I have the following collection now:

Puerto Rico
Power Grid
Dominion
Endeavor
Pandemic and Pandemic On the Brink
Ticket to Ride Europe
Tales of Arabian Nights
Lost Cities
Mr. Jack
Bohnanza

It is a nice collection and I'm not sure that I'm going to add anything to it for a long time. I would say that my favorites right now are Puerto Rico and Dominion.

[ERCougar]

I think I am done buying boardgames for awhile, but figured I would bump this thread one more time with the latest acquisitions.

Picked up Endeavor the other day. If you don't like the racist aspects of Puerto Rico, you are going to hate the use of slavery in Endeavor. It plays very much like Puerto Rico Lite. I have only played about 1/2 a game so far, but enjoyed what I played.

I picked up the expansion for Pandemic the other day, but haven't had a chance to play it yet.

I have the following collection now:

Puerto Rico
Power Grid
Dominion
Endeavor
Pandemic and Pandemic On the Brink
Ticket to Ride Europe
Tales of Arabian Nights
Lost Cities
Mr. Jack
Bohnanza

It is a nice collection and I'm not sure that I'm going to add anything to it for a long time. I would say that my favorites right now are Puerto Rico and Dominion.

Nice selection.

I can't say I would have pegged you for a Bohnanza fan.

[ERCougar]

I've really tried to like Pandemic, but just can't get into it. Maybe it's need a few more plays. I think I'm just not a fan of that mechanism. The only "all against the game" one that I've found that really works for me is Shadows over Camelot.

funk--before you go on your game-buying hiatus, you should pick up Bang! It's cheap and really fun with a group.

[MartyFunkhouser]

Nice selection.

I can't say I would have pegged you for a Bohnanza fan.

Bohnanza was one of the games that I bought initially. Mrs. Funk and I went to a game store and bought Bohnanza and Ticket to Ride: Europe on the recommendation of the employee. It is a fun, light card game. I don't play it much anymore as I think the Dominion and Lost Cites are both card games that play better with 2 players, but I would bust it out again in a larger group of people.

[ERCougar]

Bohnanza was one of the games that I bought initially. Mrs. Funk and I went to a game store and bought Bohnanza and Ticket to Ride: Europe on the recommendation of the employee. It is a fun, light card game. I don't play it much anymore as I think the Dominion and Lost Cites are both card games that play better with 2 players, but I would bust it out again in a larger group of people.

Then you definitely should pick up Bang. It's a fun group card game that's not quite as silly as Bohnanza. (nothing against silliness in games and I'm definitely a Bohnanza fan, but I'd think Bang would be more your style.)

[falafel]

Don't you people have electricity? TV solved these problems long ago.

[smokymountainrain]

Don't you people have electricity? TV solved these problems long ago.

I thought it was the invention of the ball. But if you're saying bored games suck, I agree.