The Board Game Thread

[Pheidippides]

Hey I have no problem with people who don't care for boardgames. And I'm not often going to pick boardgames over something like a game of basketball (or a round of golf). To each his/her own. As much as one side of my extended family loves all varieties of skiing, I'm probably never going to enjoy it, regardless of the pressure they bring.

For me it happens to be a fun way to get friends/family together and engage the old noggin. And some of the boardgames mentioned in this thread are pretty fun to play--so much so that most people I introduce them to, once they get over the 'boardgames? really?' phase, they end up going out and buying some for themselves. Plus it's also inexpensive entertainment.

I'm just holding out the suggestion that some of you may enjoy playing some games you haven't played before, with people who don't make up cheesy house rules, and that dont take 8 hours to play after the prerequisite instruction manual reading. Games that involve nearly all tactics and strategy and only minuscule amounts of luck, and have no serious design flaws.

Or you might not.

I am not allowed to play board games. Self-imposed restriction. I never lose. And when I lose, I either get cranky, or I cheat next time.

I have not lost a game of Monopoly or Risk in ages. Mostly because I have endurance and a solid grounding in statistics and finance.

I lost a game of Settlers once. But it was to a fellow economist, who recruited the entire table to have a forced trade embargo on me. I literally kicked him out of the house. I was on no sleep for 36 hours, in my defense.

[ERCougar]

OhioBlue, you have inspired me. I will be a good sport. Since I will be in Utah for an eternity starting next week, I will invest in one of these games, read the rules, and then make a valiant attempt to explain the rules to my in-laws, BILs, and SILs. I am praying the game pieces are all color coded and have very large numbers and letter on them.

Please make a suggestion. Here are my criteria:

1. Can purchase it most places, not specialty shops
2. Fun for everyone
3. No yelling, buzzers, or acting things out
4. Requires more skill and less luck
5. Lasts about an hour, maybe a little less.

Now that I think about it, those are also my lovemaking requirements.

#1 is going to limit you. You're gonna have to swallow your anti-geek pride and step in. Europeans view boardgames as nearly works of art. Creators of boardgames (Reiner Knitzia, Klaus Teuber, etc) are household names. They expect great components. None of this comes cheaply and they don't mind paying $30 for a game, which is still a fairly cheap form of entertainment. Americans expect to pay $5-10. Walmart can't afford to devote shelf space to a product that's not going to move, and a $30 game is not going to move in America. The other advantage to going to a good game store is that they'll usually have knowledgeable workers who know the different games well and can steer you towards a game you'd like. They also will generally have open copies that you can take a look at and get a feel for whether or not you'd like it. It's sort of liking shopping running shoes at Wal-mart or at a specialty running store. A good store in SLC is Game Night Games--doesn't have a D&D, nerdy feel, like some stores have. OhioBlue could probably tell you a place in Utah County.

That said, it may just not be your thing. If you've played Settlers and genuinely don't like it, you've given it a shot. To overuse the cheese analogy further, Settlers is the Camembert of games--it's a well-made game with a good mechanism and most people who are going to like boardgames will at least sort of appreciate it. There are lighter games that are easier to get into (Ticket to Ride is one that comes to mind), but I'm not sure you'll like those either. Risk and Monopoly are not good examples of good boardgames--they're long, they eliminate players, there's nothing to do or think about when it's not your turn, they're almost entirely luck-driven, etc. They've obviously tapped into some market, but they don't represent boardgames well, IMO.

I get that boardgames are geeky. I'm not really too concerned about it because it's a fun way to spend time with friends (plus, I could beat about any of you at basketball, so I'm comfortable with my geeky side... ). I obviously like talking about them, just as you like talking about food or fashion or whatnot. It's fun to connect with some other people on here who "get it" so I've already spent way too much time on this thread.

[ERCougar]

There is a new version of this, I believe called I Bet You, I bought it for a family gift this year for Christmas, I would check for sure on the title but I already wrapped it.

Wits & Wagers was just barely rereleased in a deluxe version, so I doubt you're talking about the same game. Agreed--it's a great trivia game.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

My FIL proclaimed himself to be one of the best Monopoly players. I didn't really care one way or the other, but he started in with this whole "let's play and I will prove it" nonsense.

My FIL also claims to be very good at Monopoly. A couple of years ago I was so sick of hearing him go on and on about how great he was I set it up on a family vacation. I was able to get 3 monopolies and absolutely crushed everyone. He got upset and said I am better at playing real life monopoly. I have not let him live that one down.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

Filsdepac introduced us to a simple party game that we enjoy with friends when we get together: Wits and Wagers. It's a kind of trivia game, but one wins by betting on the guesses of others, so even trivia morons can win. It moves fast and a game can be completed easily in under 30 minutes.

There is a new version of this, I believe called I Bet You, I bought it for a family gift this year for Christmas, I would check for sure on the title but I already wrapped it.

[MarkGrace]

Now all the giggling during late night board games makes sense. I wish I hadn't been let in on that one.

[TripletDaddy]

I think everyone in the DDD family would enjoy this one: http://boardgames.about.com/gi/dynam...temno%3DRS2244

That game is directly responsible FOR the DDD family!

[MarkGrace]

I think everyone in the DDD family would enjoy this one: http://boardgames.about.com/gi/dynam...temno%3DRS2244

[TripletDaddy]

I just told Gidget the same and would be willing to try some of these games. But holy shnikes these games are expensive. I'd rather pick up a game for the 360 at some of those prices. I think I'd be down to try San Juan or some other card game that doesn't take 3 hours.

whoops. add that to my board game/lovemaking requirements....I don't want to pay a lot.

I am not dropping 50 bones to buy a board game.

[Surfah]

OhioBlue, you have inspired me. I will be a good sport. Since I will be in Utah for an eternity starting next week, I will invest in one of these games, read the rules, and then make a valiant attempt to explain the rules to my in-laws, BILs, and SILs. I am praying the game pieces are all color coded and have very large numbers and letter on them.

Please make a suggestion. Here are my criteria:

1. Can purchase it most places, not specialty shops
2. Fun for everyone
3. No yelling, buzzers, or acting things out
4. Requires more skill and less luck
5. Lasts about an hour, maybe a little less.

Now that I think about it, those are also my lovemaking requirements.

I just told Gidget the same and would be willing to try some of these games. But holy shnikes these games are expensive. I'd rather pick up a game for the 360 at some of those prices. I think I'd be down to try San Juan or some other card game that doesn't take 3 hours.

[TripletDaddy]

Hey I have no problem with people who don't care for boardgames. And I'm not often going to pick boardgames over something like a game of basketball (or a round of golf). To each his/her own. As much as one side of my extended family loves all varieties of skiing, I'm probably never going to enjoy it, regardless of the pressure they bring.

For me it happens to be a fun way to get friends/family together and engage the old noggin. And some of the boardgames mentioned in this thread are pretty fun to play--so much so that most people I introduce them to, once they get over the 'boardgames? really?' phase, they end up going out and buying some for themselves. Plus it's also inexpensive entertainment.

I'm just holding out the suggestion that some of you may enjoy playing some games you haven't played before, with people who don't make up cheesy house rules, and that dont take 8 hours to play after the prerequisite instruction manual reading. Games that involve nearly all tactics and strategy and only minuscule amounts of luck, and have no serious design flaws.

Or you might not.

OhioBlue, you have inspired me. I will be a good sport. Since I will be in Utah for an eternity starting next week, I will invest in one of these games, read the rules, and then make a valiant attempt to explain the rules to my in-laws, BILs, and SILs. I am praying the game pieces are all color coded and have very large numbers and letter on them.

Please make a suggestion. Here are my criteria:

1. Can purchase it most places, not specialty shops
2. Fun for everyone
3. No yelling, buzzers, or acting things out
4. Requires more skill and less luck
5. Lasts about an hour, maybe a little less.

Now that I think about it, those are also my lovemaking requirements.

[Mormon Red Death]

if the game is at night, they always wind up giggling about nonsense and then saying, "I'm getting really punchy! ha ha h ha!"

If there was one thing I could change about my in laws it would be this. Seriously, inside jokes from 15 years ago just arent funny.

[PaloAltoCougar]

These game summaries are excellent as I head into the home stretch buying stuff for the kids, most of whom love Settlers and other games (I can't seem to get into them, but I love the trivia games).

Filsdepac introduced us to a simple party game that we enjoy with friends when we get together: Wits and Wagers. It's a kind of trivia game, but one wins by betting on the guesses of others, so even trivia morons can win. It moves fast and a game can be completed easily in under 30 minutes.

I used to like Risk, but haven't played it since the '90s when my BIL entered into a secret alliance with his toadie sons against me, eventually overcoming my valiant but vain defense of Irktusk. I was genuinely pissed. I assume this evil is what led him to speak out against Yes on 8. Board games are a slippery slope.

[MarkGrace]

I also have nothing against people that enjoy them, I just don't. Ok, that's a lie, sometimes I do have something against my in-laws. I mean, did you see that MAC Christmas tree I posted? Normal people just don't do that.

[OhioBlue]

Hey I have no problem with people who don't care for boardgames. And I'm not often going to pick boardgames over something like a game of basketball (or a round of golf). To each his/her own. As much as one side of my extended family loves all varieties of skiing, I'm probably never going to enjoy it, regardless of the pressure they bring.

For me it happens to be a fun way to get friends/family together and engage the old noggin. And some of the boardgames mentioned in this thread are pretty fun to play--so much so that most people I introduce them to, once they get over the 'boardgames? really?' phase, they end up going out and buying some for themselves. Plus it's also inexpensive entertainment.

I'm just holding out the suggestion that some of you may enjoy playing some games you haven't played before, with people who don't make up cheesy house rules, and that dont take 8 hours to play after the prerequisite instruction manual reading. Games that involve nearly all tactics and strategy and only minuscule amounts of luck, and have no serious design flaws.

Or you might not.