Board Games

[tarcone]

Havent tried that yet.

A boardgame cafe opened up in downtown St Louis a few days ago.

Its called Pieces. It has a big library of games, food and drinks.
Hopefully, I can get there soon.

[jeff061]

Been trying to build up 2-player options with my wife. Current inventory is:

- Ticket to Ride. I prefer Nordic version for 2 player, she finds that a bit to aggressive compared to America, which I argue is like playing solitaire with 2 players.
- Mr. Jack. Hadn't heard of this game before I stumbled on it. If we created a mutually ranked list, this would probably top it.
- Exploding Cats, usually for drunk or tired nights.
- Arkham Horror. I love, but too much going on and too involved for her to get into.
- Pandemic. Only played 1 game so far. I like it, not sure if it's her style. She likes simple rules, deep strategy, fun themes. Think this is straddling the simple rules line, but we'll give it a few more shots.

Any other reccomendations out there? Skimmed the last few pages, hoping I'm not jerk posting.

[Vince, Pt. II]

Castles of Burgundy is an amazing two-player game, and one of my all time favorite games.

Other great options:

• Balloon Cup
• 7 Wonders: Duel (haven't played this enough to know if it will hold up over time)
• Splendor (though better with 3 players, in my opinion)

[mckerney]

Originally Posted by jeff061

Been trying to build up 2-player options with my wife. Current inventory is:

- Ticket to Ride. I prefer Nordic version for 2 player, she finds that a bit to aggressive compared to America, which I argue is like playing solitaire with 2 players.
- Mr. Jack. Hadn't heard of this game before I stumbled on it. If we created a mutually ranked list, this would probably top it.
- Exploding Cats, usually for drunk or tired nights.
- Arkham Horror. I love, but too much going on and too involved for her to get into.
- Pandemic. Only played 1 game so far. I like it, not sure if it's her style. She likes simple rules, deep strategy, fun themes. Think this is straddling the simple rules line, but we'll give it a few more shots.

Any other reccomendations out there? Skimmed the last few pages, hoping I'm not jerk posting.

Have you looked into the Arkham Horror card game?

[Carman Bulldog]

Originally Posted by jeff061

Been trying to build up 2-player options with my wife. Current inventory is:

- Ticket to Ride. I prefer Nordic version for 2 player, she finds that a bit to aggressive compared to America, which I argue is like playing solitaire with 2 players.
- Mr. Jack. Hadn't heard of this game before I stumbled on it. If we created a mutually ranked list, this would probably top it.
- Exploding Cats, usually for drunk or tired nights.
- Arkham Horror. I love, but too much going on and too involved for her to get into.
- Pandemic. Only played 1 game so far. I like it, not sure if it's her style. She likes simple rules, deep strategy, fun themes. Think this is straddling the simple rules line, but we'll give it a few more shots.

Any other reccomendations out there? Skimmed the last few pages, hoping I'm not jerk posting.

I'd strongly recommend the following...

Agricola: All Creatures Big and Small
Patchwork
Paperback (a deckbuilding word game)
The Duke or Onitama (simliar abstract games, the Duke is pretty thinky... also if you like abstracts Hive is another option)
Morels / Jaipur / Lost Cities (all card games that involve some sort of set collection but play differently)
13 Days: The Cuban Missile Crisis (a light take on Twilight Struggle)

Other options to explore further...

Takenoko
Viticulture
Memoir '44
Dominion
Star Realms
Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective

[Carman Bulldog]

Originally Posted by Vince, Pt. II

Castles of Burgundy is an amazing two-player game, and one of my all time favorite games.

Other great options:

• Balloon Cup
• 7 Wonders: Duel (haven't played this enough to know if it will hold up over time)
• Splendor (though better with 3 players, in my opinion)

DOLA: Haven't played Balloon Cup but I would also second Castles of Burgundy and 7 Wonders: Duel.

[jeff061]

Excellent, thanks for the tips guys, will investigate.

[jeff061]

I did quickly order Paperback, that looks right up her alley.

[Glengoyne]

Originally Posted by jeff061

Been trying to build up 2-player options with my wife. Current inventory is:

- Ticket to Ride. I prefer Nordic version for 2 player, she finds that a bit to aggressive compared to America, which I argue is like playing solitaire with 2 players.
- Mr. Jack. Hadn't heard of this game before I stumbled on it. If we created a mutually ranked list, this would probably top it.
- Exploding Cats, usually for drunk or tired nights.
- Arkham Horror. I love, but too much going on and too involved for her to get into.
- Pandemic. Only played 1 game so far. I like it, not sure if it's her style. She likes simple rules, deep strategy, fun themes. Think this is straddling the simple rules line, but we'll give it a few more shots.

Any other reccomendations out there? Skimmed the last few pages, hoping I'm not jerk posting.

Definitely posting in the right place.

I have lots of two player games, and my wife doesn't care for complex or conflict oriented games either.

Our favorite is kingdom builder. There is a lot of replay ability built in, and a number of expansions that add even more.

Castles of burgundy is also a lot of fun, but was a bit longer than we typically play.

Machi koro is another one that hits the table all of the time. For this one, the expansions really make a big difference in game play. There just isn't enough to the base game. There are a lot of versions of this one. start with the blue box, and then get the expansions if you think the base game has any merit.

Another one that is new, but I think has lots of potential is Santorini. It is an abstract with simple rules and some pretty satisfying gameplay.

For ticket to ride, the consensus is that the Switzerland map is the best two player TTR map. I haven't tried it, but it may be worth checking out.

For any of these recommendations you should check out videos at BGG.

[PilotMan]

So for Christmas I built up our family board gaming list. My wife doesn't like board games that much, so it's been the boys and I. The last year we've played a bunch of Settlers and I added Exploding Kittens.

This year I added Joking Hazard, even though it's mostly inappropriate, I can PG-13 it by getting rid of some of the cards.

Then for Christmas I added:

An expansion for the Magic the Gathering board and miniatures game that we've only played a couple times, but had fun.

Dominion, base game. Which has been a great addition. My youngest started a Yu-Gi-Oh club at school and the teacher advisor tried to get their group into this one. I'm glad I picked it up, it's good with great replay ability.

Risk Legacy. Still haven't broken the plastic on it, but I'm looking forward to trying it out.

Imploding Kittens. The expansion for Exploding, good addition. New strategy with some the new cards, good for light laughs.

I got the 5-6 player expansion for Catan. Gift from my middle son so we can get all 5 of us in a game.

[tarcone]

I tell you a game I really like. It is listed 2-4 players. I only played 4.

The game is Samurai.

Samurai | Board Game | BoardGameGeek

Just a great game.

[AnalBumCover]

At Christmas with the family, I just got introduced to Bang! and loved it.

Now I'm looking for more social deduction type games. Quick searches are pointing to The Resistance and Secret Hitler. Any more like these you can point out?

[tarcone]

One night ultimate werewolf?

[Vince, Pt. II]

Originally Posted by AnalBumCover

At Christmas with the family, I just got introduced to Bang! and loved it.

Now I'm looking for more social deduction type games. Quick searches are pointing to The Resistance and Secret Hitler. Any more like these you can point out?

Coup is another great one, by the same folks who made The Resistance. It's a little more structured, which helps introduce it to less "game-y" people. It's a game of bluffing and deduction - each player has two hidden roles (cards) with specific abilities. The catch is that anyone can take any of the possible actions each turn, even if they don't have a card granting them that action. If you get called out and cannot back up your claim with the appropriate role, you lose a card. Likewise, if you call someone out and they DO have that role, you lose a card. Last person standing wins. It's a nice, quick, light strategy game.

[Easy Mac]

We finally got around to opening the game of Life and play it with our 7 year old. Brand new, we bought it a few years ago.

I haven't played in 20 years, but how have they still not fixed the spinner that flies out every other turn. You would think they could come up with a better spinner over the life of the game.

[PilotMan]

Originally Posted by Easy Mac

We finally got around to opening the game of Life and play it with our 7 year old. Brand new, we bought it a few years ago.

I haven't played in 20 years, but how have they still not fixed the spinner that flies out every other turn. You would think they could come up with a better spinner over the life of the game.

It's a spinner, not a Price is Right wheel.

[Warhammer]

Originally Posted by tarcone

I tell you a game I really like. It is listed 2-4 players. I only played 4.

The game is Samurai.

Samurai | Board Game | BoardGameGeek

Just a great game.

One of Knizia's best games, it scales well from 2-4 players.

[Umbrella]

I never really got into Samurai. As a matter of fact, on BGG, I met someone from my hometown that wanted to buy it from me. Long story short, he flaked out on about 3 different meetups before I told him to screw off.

I just got Mage Knight over Christmas. I've only soloed it so far, but I'm not sure it is clicking for me. Maybe I'm playing it wrong, or maybe it definitely needs more players, but I'm not seeing what all the fuss is about.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by Umbrella

I just got Mage Knight over Christmas. I've only soloed it so far, but I'm not sure it is clicking for me. Maybe I'm playing it wrong, or maybe it definitely needs more players, but I'm not seeing what all the fuss is about.

My experience with Mage Knight was very similar.

[Warhammer]

Originally Posted by Honolulu_Blue

My experience with Mage Knight was very similar.

If you play carefully, you will never make any big moves. The fun is when you level, have a hand of 6-7 cards and can make big plays. Also, the more advanced tactics you have, the better.

I will say it is better with more players. Whether you play coop or competitive, I believe it spices the game up.

[Vince, Pt. II]

I need to actually get it to table before rating it, but as a solo-play only experience I am right in line with Umbrella and HB. As someone who LOVES complexity in his games, it almost felt like the game was too complex.

[AnalBumCover]

I just scored a small Craigslist haul of some board/card games. I'd like FOFC's opinions on these if you've played them:

The Resistance: Avalon
For Sale
Incan Gold

(also included in this haul is Bang! which I recently played over the holidays,
and Coup which has briefly been discussed earlier on this page)

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by Warhammer

If you play carefully, you will never make any big moves. The fun is when you level, have a hand of 6-7 cards and can make big plays. Also, the more advanced tactics you have, the better.

I will say it is better with more players. Whether you play coop or competitive, I believe it spices the game up.

This could be very true. I played two co-op games with two friends. I think the problem I had was that each turn felt so limited. There was a bunch of cool stuff I wanted to do, but I felt like I didn't have the ability to do any of it because of the way the card system works.

[Warhammer]

Originally Posted by Honolulu_Blue

This could be very true. I played two co-op games with two friends. I think the problem I had was that each turn felt so limited. There was a bunch of cool stuff I wanted to do, but I felt like I didn't have the ability to do any of it because of the way the card system works.

I find that I am a careful player in a lot of games. In Mage Knight, being careful in my mind means taking no wounds. To get started, you have to be willing to take up to 3 wounds (IMO) to get started. Take the wounds, rest the next turn if needed, and then heal them the next round. There are enough healing avenues in the game that it should not be a major factor. Additionally, several of the mages do not care if they have wounds, and one gets stronger with them.

Once I got over this, the game opened up a ton. You can still have the odd bad game, but that is a feature. A game is too easy if you can always beat it.

[Glengoyne]

Originally Posted by AnalBumCover

I just scored a small Craigslist haul of some board/card games. I'd like FOFC's opinions on these if you've played them:

The Resistance: Avalon
For Sale
Incan Gold

(also included in this haul is Bang! which I recently played over the holidays,
and Coup which has briefly been discussed earlier on this page)

For Sale is a fun filler type game. Incan Gold is a lot of fun as a push your luck game. Both of these are very accessible very solid, fun games and arguably belong in any collection.

Resistance Avalon is an improved version of the resistance, which is a game that Is much loved, but also one that I've only had bad experiences with. It is a social deduction game like werewolf, and I think the Avalon fixes a lot of what ails the resistance.

[AnalBumCover]

Originally Posted by Glengoyne

...the resistance, which is a game that Is much loved, but also one that I've only had bad experiences with. It is a social deduction game like werewolf, and I think the Avalon fixes a lot of what ails the resistance.

What issue(s) did you have with The Resistance? It was on my wishlist before I got Avalon.

[Vince, Pt. II]

The Resistance can be tough for groups new to the game concept - if no one wants to talk, the game is not only extremely challenging, but the abstract nature of missions and who gets to select whom doesn't exactly intuitively push new players toward conversation or discussion.

[albionmoonlight]

Mrs. A got the Oregon Trail card game for Christmas.

It is a nice piece of nostalgia. But it is more like a party game than a strategy game. And the game play is a bit unbalanced insomuch as if you die, you are out and have nothing to do while the rest of the team tries to make it.

We played it with a group on NYE, and we were all drinking, so we managed to have fun with it by making the dead people ghosts and all ball busting each other. But I don't see it coming out of the box again.

[PilotMan]

Good review. I had seen that and wondered if there was anything there worthwhile. Nice to see that no time was wasted with it.

[Honolulu_Blue]

We played our traditional game of Arkham Horror on New Year's Eve.

The Great Old One was Shub-Niggurath. We ended up winning with one turn left. It was very tight game with a ton of activity up in Dunwhich, though we managed to prevent the Dunwhich Horror from coming out.

A few months back I decided to buy the painted miniatures that Fantasy Flight released for the game a few years ago. I found some off the FFG site, some off some gaming sites, and some off Ebay. I have all the investigators and most, but not all, of the monsters. I really like them even if it adds yet another component to an already component heavy game.

It was good times as always!

[Glengoyne]

Originally Posted by AnalBumCover

What issue(s) did you have with The Resistance? It was on my wishlist before I got Avalon.

The saboteurs know who each other are, and frankly almost have to be brain dead to lose. They just have such an advantage over the rest of the table. It is fun for the saboteurs, but frustrating to everyone else. It is possible for experienced players to even the odds, but honestly the game isn't rewarding enough to make me or my family want to gain the experience.

Avalon adds some roles that seem to even the odds, and adds more interesting elements to the game play.

[AnalBumCover]

I have an opportunity to purchase TWO core sets of Arkham Horror: The Card Game for $70 on craigslist. One set played only once, and the other still sealed in shrinkwrap. Seller discloses that this type of game wasn't his cup of tea.

Worth a purchase?

I fear the complexity of this game may deter us among my family (still newbies to tabletop gaming) from getting it to the table, but I'm hopeful that they're willing to at least give it a try.

[Thomkal]

I see Mysterium is now out on Steam for PC's. Available for other devices as well.

[AnalBumCover]

Star Wars: Rebellion just arrived at my doorstep. So excited about getting this game, but I know it's light years before it gets played with my group. For now, I'll just watch some playthroughs and learn the rules.

[NobodyHere]

Originally Posted by AnalBumCover

I have an opportunity to purchase TWO core sets of Arkham Horror: The Card Game for $70 on craigslist. One set played only once, and the other still sealed in shrinkwrap. Seller discloses that this type of game wasn't his cup of tea.

Worth a purchase?

I fear the complexity of this game may deter us among my family (still newbies to tabletop gaming) from getting it to the table, but I'm hopeful that they're willing to at least give it a try.

Did you ever bite on this? I play the Lord of the Rings LCG and I'm interested in this one.

On a side note, my wallet would cry if Fantasy Flight Games ever came out with a Star Wars LCG

[SirFozzie]

Something like, say, this?

https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/e...-wars-destiny/

[AnalBumCover]

Originally Posted by NobodyHere

Did you ever bite on this? I play the Lord of the Rings LCG and I'm interested in this one.

On a side note, my wallet would cry if Fantasy Flight Games ever came out with a Star Wars LCG

I did. The two sets allow 4-player games. But I haven't opened the sealed box in case the game never takes off among my group and I can sell/trade at full value.

[AnalBumCover]

Originally Posted by SirFozzie

Something like, say, this?

https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/e...-wars-destiny/

I think this is more of a CCG than a LCG.

[AnalBumCover]

Well, apparently there IS a Star Wars LCG out there. I'm guessing it's not getting the same love as Destiny is, but one does exist.

https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/e...the-card-game/

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

SIAP.......has anyone heard anything about this PlayTable? Looks like a fantastic idea for people who like board games but also like the ease of a digital interface.

https://playtable.xyz/

[NobodyHere]

Originally Posted by AnalBumCover

Well, apparently there IS a Star Wars LCG out there. I'm guessing it's not getting the same love as Destiny is, but one does exist.

https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/e...the-card-game/

I should have said "soloable Star Wars LCG"

[AnalBumCover]

Is there a Boardgamers' Anonymous group? Because I think I may have a problem.

I've entered the Accumulation Phase of my disorder, having picked up a number of games on the cheap on Craigslist since already having bought Arkham Horror LCG (x2) and Star Wars: Rebellion:

7 Wonders
Colt Express (+Horses & Stagecoach Expansion)
Eldritch Horror
Flash Point: Fire Rescue
Legendary Marvel (+Dark City Expansion)

I got all this for $110

Legendary was a special treat, because the seller didn't realize there was the expansion included inside the box until just before our meeting time.

All were in excellent condition, only played 1-3 times, the only blemish in the lot being a dent in the Legendary box.

[albionmoonlight]

7 Wonders is a really fun one

[Umbrella]

One of the things about GMT games is you never know when your order will actually get fulfilled based on the P500 system. So I was pleasantly surprised to get an email saying Churchill had shipped, and it arrived the same day!

I played the solo variant, and I am loving it. I'm going to have to find some players to sit down for a proper session.

[albionmoonlight]

Originally Posted by Umbrella

One of the things about GMT games is you never know when your order will actually get fulfilled based on the P500 system. So I was pleasantly surprised to get an email saying Churchill had shipped, and it arrived the same day!

I played the solo variant, and I am loving it. I'm going to have to find some players to sit down for a proper session.

Still waiting for my P500 order of 1960: The Making of the President to ship. If they didn't get enough orders during election season, it might be a long wait.

[AnalBumCover]

I played Deception: Murder in Hong Kong over the weekend. It's a fun social deduction game that requires minimal "lying" as it leans more towards "redirection" of information by the bad guy(s). So it's a good game for individuals who have difficulty keeping an honest face.

[dzilla77]

Originally Posted by AnalBumCover

I played Deception: Murder in Hong Kong over the weekend. It's a fun social deduction game that requires minimal "lying" as it leans more towards "redirection" of information by the bad guy(s). So it's a good game for individuals who have difficulty keeping an honest face.

This has hit the table a few times with our group as well. I like it alot.

[Ragone]

Played machi koro with my wife a few times, it'll be alot more fun with 3+ players.. but it was very enjoyable.

[AnalBumCover]

Continuing to feed the addiction.

From the monthly bazaar on /r/boardgames I found Forbidden Island and Forbidden Desert.

And on OfferUp (a Craigslist-type site) I picked up Legendary Encounters: An Alien Deck Building Game.

[bob]

Anyone played V-Commandos yet? Looks pretty cool and like something that can be played solo, but not sure I want to plunk down $65 for it without some good word about it.