The Boardgame Thread

[Ragnoros]

Is the game actually any good though or is it just another minis game that is all about random dice rolls and didn't really need minis?  I've played XWing a little and enjoyed it if that is a good comparison at all.

Near as I can tell, it's Descent 2.0 (which I did not enjoy) re-skinned.

[eldaec]

Speil des Jahres nominees are Colt Express, Machi Koro, and "The Game".

Kind of think they've given up now.

[Hawkbit]

I didn't play the others, but I found Machi Koro a bit... unfun.

I thought the harbor expansion would help, but it makes the games last more than an hour, which kills it for family night. Great idea, but needs some cards removed I think.

[eldaec]

Colt Express is fun though probably not all that replayable.

Given the last two winners were Hanabi (awful) and Camel Cup (unremarkable retread), I guess those nominations aren't any worse.

In related news, been playing a lot of Kingdom Builder last couple of weeks (the 2012 SdJ). You place settlements on a modular map according to rules and at the end score points according to randomly drawn victory conditions. Often variable set up games get complaints about being too complex for non-gamers, but here the victory conditions are really well calibrated so they work across the ability range.

I gather the game also gets complaints about being too random (you draw a card each turn to decide which terrain type you can build on) - we found this to be bullshit, game is mostly about ensuring you are set up to make progress whichever of the 5 terrain cards you draw next turn.

Most of all we enjoy how different each game feels, despite a short running time around 10-15 minutes per player.

[Soln]

So, there's a KS on now for Phil Eklund's High Frontier: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/highfrontier/high-frontier-0

[Ghambit]

If you've never played a Phil Ecklund game, this is your shot.  But, look at the game-board b4 you decide.     And realize his games are near-simulations.  He's basically the STEM version of Ruhnke and you need a special group of fairly hardcore gamers to play his stuff, but if you can find 'em the results can be glorious.

Hopefully this version eases the player into the game a bit better.

[Teleku]

But, look at the game-board b4 you decide. 

Just did.   




I'll probably kickstart it at a higher tier than is sensible.

[eldaec]

I espeicially like how everytime science finds out new stuff about space, they do an errata for that board to reflect the new information.

[Hawkbit]

Semi-interested in Ashes by Plaid Hat; watching Watch It Played on it now. Not sure I like the randomness of how dice are used, but the game looks interesting.

I might have to buy in, only $35 on their site.

[grebo]

Anyone going to WBC?

[Ghambit]

I espeicially like how everytime science finds out new stuff about space, they do an errata for that board to reflect the new information.

All stretch goals were realized, and then some.  Makes the game an order of magnitude more deep and complex.  I love the politics module; so now the politics will change outside the players' control.  Of course, the deep space addon just   

I'm layin down coin.  Comes out in a few months.

[lamaros]

I've been getting rid of some games and getting new ones, out goes LotR:tCG (played it once years ago), Descent, Mice and Mystics, and Mascarade.

In comes Merchants and Marauders, Tigris & Euphrstes, and Risk Legacy.

[Soln]

Anyone going to WBC?

Sadly, no.  Something I might like one day.

Lamaros, what did you think of Mice&Mystics?  I heard it can be grinding, on rails.  I like the look and story approach and want to try.

[lamaros]

I didn't play it much but in terms of a game it was OK, if simple, in terms of a story telling experience it was much lighter than I expected.

I'd rather read a book with a young kid, or play with toys and make our own narrative. With older ones I think you can play a better game that creates a story from the play in a more mechanically engaging way.

[Bunk]

Been playing Concordia lately and really enjoying it: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/124361/concordia

Nice change of pace from all the worker placement games I've been stuck on lately. Very little random luck involved, with enough variation in strategy to keep it going.

Uses a deck of action cards to determine what you do on your turn. Colonize cities to get resources to spend to get more resources, or more action cards. The only scoring is based on the cards you end up with at the end game. Each functional card also scores points based on a different aspect of the game (resources, cities, colonists, money, etc.)

Its nicely interactive because you can colonize the same areas as your opponents, so when you gather resources, they get them as well. So your actions each turn have a significant impact on your opponents. Solid game.

[Chimpy]

Concordia is really good.

[jgsugden]

If Mice and Mystics appeals to you conceptually, I'd suggest a generic role playing game that is light on rules might give you a better experience.  Heck, the (free) new basic D&D would work really well with a few tweaks.  Reaper has a few sets of mouse figures that would work if you want them.

Different topic: I am looking for palate cleansing games.  These are quick games involving little serious thought that people can set up and play quickly (in a half hour or less) while waiting for another group to wrap up their game.  Examples would be Toc Toc Woodman, Zombie Dice, Tsuro, Booggle, Bananagrams, Coup, etc...  Games that tend more towards physical skill / dexterity over knowledge / strategy would be particularly useful.  Suggestions?

[Bunk]

Palate cleansing games: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/37371/piece-o-cake goes over well for my group. Takes 30 seconds to setup, maybe 20 minutes to play.

For a bit longer, but still casual game, I like https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/117959/las-vegas. Another really easy setup game, its basically just dice and money. The random shit luck of dice rolling leads to some pretty good moments of tension.

[Hawkbit]

Zombie dice was fun until we played King of Tokyo. Then we never played ZD again. I've heard King of New York does the same to KoT.

Not that those were skill or dex based games, but rather definitely filler and pallete cleanser games.

I just sleeved up my copy of Ashes, will play a few games tomorrow and report back. Production quality was good, art is great.

[lamaros]

I don't know why people play collectable card games without the collectable bit. That's half the (expensive) fun.

I didn't mind the one game I've played of Concordia, but I don't know if I'd be that interested in playing it again. I enjoy the puzzle elements of the more solo eurostyle games, but when I get together with a group I always prefer a more interactive social experience.

Played Chicago Express again on the weekend. It's such a terrific game. I can't think of many multiplayer games that combine such simplicity and depth with enough 'casual' fun elements. Everyone might not have picked up on all the  subtleties, but they enjoyed it anyway. And it's decently short.

[eldaec]

Different topic: I am looking for palate cleansing games.  These are quick games involving little serious thought that people can set up and play quickly (in a half hour or less) while waiting for another group to wrap up their game.  Examples would be Toc Toc Woodman, Zombie Dice, Tsuro, Booggle, Bananagrams, Coup, etc...  Games that tend more towards physical skill / dexterity over knowledge / strategy would be particularly useful.  Suggestions?

Don't know about dexterity games, but fillers that always go down well in these parts...

Port Royal
Qwirkle
Marrakech
Dobble
If you like Coup, Coup Guatemala is far better
Coloretto (never Zooloretto)
Saboteur
One night werewolf
Love letter
No thanks
Paperback

[Ghambit]

Ascending Empires by z-man is a dexterity-based space-empire building game.  You 'flick' your ships over the board.  It's fun.

[Sky]

Wish I could be at gencon for the Kingdom Death demo, but core game should be arriving around a month or two...soo close...

Exploding Kittens will be here Monday. Hoping that will lure the old lady into some casual gaming.

[eldaec]

Also, now I think of it, new edition of Catacombs. Not sure how short it is, but it is a flicking based dungeon crawl which I've heard more than one positive report about.

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/57390/catacombs

[Sky]

Wish I could be at gencon for the Kingdom Death demo

https://youtu.be/T_Im2AaXK18

Only a small slice of the showdown phase, but mmmhmmm...

[eldaec]

MULE, the board game, to be launched at Essen.

https://boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/45059/mule-board-game-debuting-lautapelitfi-spiel-2015

It's all about whether they get auctions right. If it were up to me, the computer game auction mechanism would be copied exactly onto a companion app.

[lamaros]

Played a few games of Witness the other night, good fun I say.

[eldaec]

Kickstarter that has caught my eye for a legacy dungeon crawler that doesn't use dice, steals some good ideas from Mage Knight, and seems like it would scale well down to 2 players...

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1350948450/gloomhaven/comments

[Goldenmean]

Kickstarter that has caught my eye for a legacy dungeon crawler that doesn't use dice, steals some good ideas from Mage Knight, and seems like it would scale well down to 2 players...

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1350948450/gloomhaven/comments

Pretty stoked about this one. A legacy game I actually want to play (Hate Risk, and am only middlingly interested in Pandemic). I really like Forge War as well, which is this guy's previous design, plus I generally agree with the blog entries of his I've read at http://www.cephalofair.com/ (though it seems like it's getting hammered lately)

[ghost]

Concordia is really good.

Describe.  Was thinking about getting this one.

[Bunk]

See my post directly above his.

[ghost]

See my post directly above his.

Cool.  What was fun about it?  Your description sounds like every other WP I have. 

[eldaec]

The difference seems to be almost a hand building and management feel instead of an action space blocking feel for doing stuff. But still ultimately a game about efficiency.


(this is from watching not playing)

[lamaros]

I found Concordia to be good, but didn't especially capture me. However I'm not usually the sort that overly loves those types of game.

[Shannow]

Anyone played the pc beta of twilight struggle?