Good Board Game?

Greyroofoo · 08-23-2005, 03:42 PM

My coworkers and I are thinking of getting together every other week or so to play a board games. As none of us have much knowledge about board games beyond risk or monopoly. I am turning to the wise sages that reside on this board for help.

So what's a good strategy oriented board game would you recommend?

WSUCougar · 08-23-2005, 03:45 PM

Need some parameters to narrow the list down a bit:

# of players?
Time available?
Historical period interests?
Level of complexity desired?

Buzzbee · 08-23-2005, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WSUCougar

Need some parameters to narrow the list down a bit:

# of players?
Time available?
Historical period interests?
Level of complexity desired?

He said co-workers. That narrows it down a bit.

Chutes and Ladders
Candyland

Greyroofoo · 08-23-2005, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WSUCougar

Need some parameters to narrow the list down a bit:

# of players?
Time available?
Historical period interests?
Level of complexity desired?

at least 4 people should be able to play
we plan on playing on the weekends or anything other time we can get drunk.
Any historical time period
As for complexity, I guess anything we can pick up the rules for after a game or two.

Lathum · 08-23-2005, 03:48 PM

A few good "game night" games are

Apples to Apples
Cranium
Taboo

terpkristin · 08-23-2005, 03:49 PM

It's not a board game, but I always recommend Munchkin by Steve Jackson.
http://www.warehouse23.com/search.cgi?pline=Munchkin

If you're a former D&D'er, you'll get the reference to "munchkin." Works best in a group, and as the tag for the game says, "Kill the Monsters Steal the Treasure Stab Your Buddy …"

I like it anyway...

If you like different types of games (unique), try http://www.sjgames.com

/tk

terpkristin · 08-23-2005, 03:50 PM

Oh, and I second Cranium. Great game for a group.

/tk

Chas in Cinti · 08-23-2005, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greyroofoo

My coworkers and I are thinking of getting together every other week or so to play a board games. As none of us have much knowledge about board games beyond risk or monopoly. I am turning to the wise sages that reside on this board for help.

So what's a good strategy oriented board game would you recommend?

Grey.

If you have a good amount of folks (4-6) try:

Shadows over Camelot or Ticket to Ride by Days of Wonder

Conquest of the Empire, Age of Mythology, or Bootleggers by Eagle Games

Settlers of Catan by Mayfair Games

Finally, a good slash 'em up game is Zombies! by Twilight Creations.

If you ever desire higher-level military games, let me know...

Have fun and good luck!

Chas

Lathum · 08-23-2005, 03:54 PM

Scatergories

SegRat · 08-23-2005, 03:54 PM

http://www.apbagames.com/stadium/games/index.html

jbmagic · 08-23-2005, 03:54 PM

Psmith · 08-23-2005, 03:56 PM

You might have trouble finding a strategy board game for 4+ players that isn't too complicated for intermittent, possibly drunken play. I recommend the card game Bohnanza. It's very simple to learn, works well with 4-6 players, yet is more strategic than the typical "party game." Settlers of Catan is a big favorite among board gamers who are just branching out beyond Monopoly and Risk, but I believe it only takes 4 players.

WSUCougar · 08-23-2005, 03:59 PM

Actually, I'd recommend any of the Mayfair train games for good group drinking fun. The flow of play is fairly simple (good for inebriated players), but the strategy is still there and the gameplay is fun.

Take a look at "Empire Builder" for starters.

BrianD · 08-23-2005, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by terpkristin

Oh, and I second Cranium. Great game for a group.

/tk

Great game if you don't have any overly shy people. I've seen people get filled with anxiety more than fun with this game.

Psmith · 08-23-2005, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WSUCougar

Actually, I'd recommend any of the Mayfair train games for good group drinking fun. The flow of play is fairly simple (good for inebriated players), but the strategy is still there and the gameplay is fun.

Take a look at "Empire Builder" for starters.

I love Empire Builder, but you'd have to be a masochist to want to count those little mileposts while drunk.

My objection to playing Empire Builder with groups of people is that 1) the gameplay can be very slow while people try to figure out the best route from say, Memphis to Seattle, and 2) aside from cutting people out of cities, there's very little interaction between players. I'm very interested to find that you've had such a different experience with it. I enjoy it best playing with just Tredwel, when it takes us under an hour to finish.

Greyroofoo · 08-23-2005, 04:05 PM

One of my coworkers mentioned Settlers of Catan. I believe it is 4 players but there's also an "expansion" that makes it 6 players. We're kind of lwaning towards that.

Diplomacy was also mentioned a couple of times.
There's also a board games based on "Civilization". Has anyone played it?

Lathum · 08-23-2005, 04:08 PM

Tell me more about Empire Builder

Schmidty · 08-23-2005, 04:09 PM

If you have a Wizards of the Coast store around there, they have a lot of good choices. Also, you can order from their website: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=ah/products

Psmith · 08-23-2005, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greyroofoo

One of my coworkers mentioned Settlers of Catan. I believe it is 4 players but there's also an "expansion" that makes it 6 players. We're kind of lwaning towards that.

Diplomacy was also mentioned a couple of times.
There's also a board games based on "Civilization". Has anyone played it?

Now I hate you (for maligning my beloved Civ)

Civ the computer game was based on the board game, NOT the other way around. (Unless you're talking about the piece of crap version that was released recently) And it's not for newbie gamers. It requires 7 or so people, about as many hours (add a few if you aren't pretty experienced with it), and at least one person who knows the rules thoroughly. I'm not trying to be elitist, just being honest.

If there's an expansion of Settlers, go for it. Almost everyone who plays it likes it, and it's not too complicated or time-consuming. Diplomacy, like Civ, requires someone who really knows the rules. It also requires that your coworkers can backstab each other without it affecting things Monday morning. Try out some other games first to get a feel for how you interact while gaming.

WSUCougar · 08-23-2005, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lathum

Tell me more about Empire Builder

Empire Builder

Lathum · 08-23-2005, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WSUCougar

Empire Builder

thanks, but I could have done that myself

I am looking for something more objective.

Psmith · 08-23-2005, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lathum

Tell me more about Empire Builder

The board is a map of the US overlayed with a grid of dots. You use crayons to draw railroad track from dot to dot, connecting cities. Different cities produce different goods (like cattle, bauxite, and machinery). The players are randomly dealt contract cards, which say, for example, "Los Angeles will pay $30 million for bauxite. So you build track to somewhere you can get bauxite (that would be Memphis) to Los Angeles. Then you take your train token and move it along the track, so many dots per turn, from Memphis to Los Angeles, at which point you get 30 mil and a new contract card. Building the track is practically irresistable, because, hey, you're drawing on the board! And it's sanctioned! The real fun comes when you have a well-developed track system and you get multiple contracts you can do at once (you can do up to three simultaneously), so you zip across the board throwing sheep and cotton around willy-nilly, accumulating millions of dollars in a few turns.

I need to take a cold shower now.

WSUCougar · 08-23-2005, 04:25 PM

Ah, sorry.

Map of U.S./Canada/Mexico, cities, rivers, and mountains overlayed with a dot pattern. Each city produces one or more products which are used as loads on your train. You build a network of rails by connecting the dots (drawn with a crayon). You draw load cards which have three options for city + load + payoff. You select which cities you can reach for the biggest payoffs, then build more, etc.

WSUCougar · 08-23-2005, 04:25 PM

It appears Mr. Smith out-matrixed me.

Lathum · 08-23-2005, 04:27 PM

It sounds exactly like the fantastic PC game railroad tycoon

WSUCougar · 08-23-2005, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psmith

The real fun comes when you have a well-developed track system and you get multiple contracts you can do at once (you can do up to three simultaneously), so you zip across the board throwing sheep and cotton around willy-nilly, accumulating millions of dollars in a few turns.

Yeah, or when you pull off a $100 million triple play (three distinct loads, all dropped in the same city simultaneously), and you do the Empire Builder equivalent of the Funky Chicken dance to taunt your wife.

Psmith · 08-23-2005, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WSUCougar

It appears Mr. Smith out-matrixed me.

No, no, it's Psmith, with a silent P.

Thomkal · 08-23-2005, 04:38 PM

Grey,

I give you boardgamegeek.com

All you could ever want to know about any board game. Settlers of Catan is a popular choice there, especially as an introduction to more "modern" board games.

st.cronin · 08-23-2005, 04:42 PM

Whatif

Chas in Cinti · 08-23-2005, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WSUCougar

Empire Builder

I prefer's Days of Wonder's "Ticket to Ride" and "Ticket to Ride - Europe"

But it's all just preference...

-Chas

Glengoyne · 08-23-2005, 04:46 PM

A ticket to Ride!

Settlers is a good choice as well. Chas In Cinci is all over this one.

I'd also throw Niagra in the mix.

Check out www.funagain.com Also www.boardgamegeek.com.

Have fun.

Mustang · 08-23-2005, 06:00 PM

Well.. if you are getting drunk while doing this.. I wouldn't go with anything too heavy..

I'd recommend such games such as Axis & Allies, Heroscape, Monsters Menace America, Zombies!

Karlifornia · 08-23-2005, 06:46 PM

Taco · 08-23-2005, 06:58 PM

Blokus!

saldana · 08-23-2005, 09:38 PM

i would second the above axis and allies comment...5 players, a good game takes 5 or so hours, and as long as you actually have 5 players, the strategy period usually takes place while other people are rolling their battles, so the game can move along at a pretty good pace.

apples to apples is a great party game because it is impossible to complain about losing or rules or pretty much anything else.

i would hesitate on cranium with coworkers, just because some of the questions/categories can be a bit odd, and depending on your co-workers, you may not want to try to act out "butternut squash" for them (ask lathum

)

houle · 08-23-2005, 09:44 PM

Best strategy board games for 4 person play in my experience are

1. Titan by Avalon Hill
2. Settlers of Catan by Mayfair
3. 1830

Pick Settlers if you want to play 4 games in 4 hours,
Titan if you want more in depth strategy and are willing to play 1 game for 4 hours.

You can check out Titan online here http://colossus.sourceforge.net/

and you used to be able to play Settlers here
http://settlers.cs.northwestern.edu/
but now yahoo has a pay version so you may not be able to anymore.

WSUCougar · 08-23-2005, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by houle

Titan by Avalon Hill

Wow, pulling out a classic there. I'll see your Titan and raise you a Merchants of Venus.

Lathum · 08-23-2005, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saldana

depending on your co-workers, you may not want to try to act out "butternut squash" for them (ask lathum

)

LMAO

houle · 08-23-2005, 09:58 PM

Never played MoV, though I believe I have an unopened copy on a shelf somewhere.

Schmidty · 08-23-2005, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by houle

Never played MoV, though I believe I have an unopened copy on a shelf somewhere.

Ouch, WSU. It wasn't even good enough to open.

houle · 08-23-2005, 10:02 PM

Sorry didn't mean that as a slight.

Schmidty · 08-23-2005, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by houle

Sorry didn't mean that as a slight.

You need a full-scale apology thread.

Schmidty · 08-23-2005, 10:05 PM

By the way, I'm kidding.

Peregrine · 08-23-2005, 11:21 PM

I would suggest checking out some of these games, all are very good intro games, personally I wouldn't stick new gamers with Empire Builder, I think you want to break them in a bit easier than that, say with Ticket to Ride.

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/geeklis...ew&listid=5152

Then you can move onto slightly meatier games:

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/geeklis...ew&listid=9556

Warhammer · 08-24-2005, 01:04 AM

Why go TTR?

Go Union Pacific!

Axxon · 08-24-2005, 01:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psmith

No, no, it's Psmith, with a silent P.

I would suggest that if it's a silent P then you may be P'ing in the wrong place.

Chas in Cinti · 08-24-2005, 07:39 AM

I had a HUGE gaming group back in Evansville, IN before and during college... then I went and graduated, got married, and moved to Cincinnati.... I got nothing here (and now I'm divorced)...

I would LOVE to have a gaming group again... a little KingMaker, Republic of Rome... SPQR, Perryville... No Better Place to Die (double blind with a GM of course)... eh well... Have to settle for solitaire play and convention gaming I guess. Now where's that new copy of Devil's Horsemen?

-Chas

Jonathan Ezarik · 08-24-2005, 07:59 AM

Chas,

Have you ever posted on Consimworld that you are looking for gamers? Or have you ever considered moving to Pittsburgh?

moriarty · 08-24-2005, 08:09 AM

Puerto Rico (I think that was the name) was a pretty good board game.

WSUCougar · 08-24-2005, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by houle

Never played MoV, though I believe I have an unopened copy on a shelf somewhere.

That's probably worth a pretty penny.

08-23-2005, 03:45 PM	#2
WSUCougar Rider Of Rohan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Port Angeles, WA or Helm's Deep	Need some parameters to narrow the list down a bit: # of players? Time available? Historical period interests? Level of complexity desired? __________________ It's not the years...it's the mileage.

08-23-2005, 03:48 PM	#5
Lathum Favored Bitch #1 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: homeless in NJ	A few good "game night" games are Apples to Apples Cranium Taboo Last edited by Lathum : 08-23-2005 at 03:49 PM.

08-23-2005, 03:49 PM	#6
terpkristin Grizzled Veteran Join Date: May 2003 Location: Ashburn, VA	It's not a board game, but I always recommend Munchkin by Steve Jackson. http://www.warehouse23.com/search.cgi?pline=Munchkin If you're a former D&D'er, you'll get the reference to "munchkin." Works best in a group, and as the tag for the game says, "Kill the Monsters Steal the Treasure Stab Your Buddy …" I like it anyway... If you like different types of games (unique), try http://www.sjgames.com /tk __________________ GO TERPS! https://www.flickr.com/photos/terpkristin https://twitter.com/terpkristin

08-23-2005, 03:50 PM	#7
terpkristin Grizzled Veteran Join Date: May 2003 Location: Ashburn, VA	Oh, and I second Cranium. Great game for a group. /tk __________________ GO TERPS! https://www.flickr.com/photos/terpkristin https://twitter.com/terpkristin

08-23-2005, 03:54 PM	#10
SegRat High School Varsity Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Oshkosh, WI	http://www.apbagames.com/stadium/games/index.html __________________ USFL: Charlotte Fightn' Squirrels

08-23-2005, 03:54 PM	#11
jbmagic Pro Starter Join Date: Apr 2004	Risk

08-23-2005, 03:56 PM	#12
Psmith n00b Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Scranton	You might have trouble finding a strategy board game for 4+ players that isn't too complicated for intermittent, possibly drunken play. I recommend the card game Bohnanza. It's very simple to learn, works well with 4-6 players, yet is more strategic than the typical "party game." Settlers of Catan is a big favorite among board gamers who are just branching out beyond Monopoly and Risk, but I believe it only takes 4 players. __________________ I've been good and I've been bad, but common sense I've never had.

08-23-2005, 03:59 PM	#13
WSUCougar Rider Of Rohan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Port Angeles, WA or Helm's Deep	Actually, I'd recommend any of the Mayfair train games for good group drinking fun. The flow of play is fairly simple (good for inebriated players), but the strategy is still there and the gameplay is fun. Take a look at "Empire Builder" for starters. __________________ It's not the years...it's the mileage.

08-23-2005, 04:05 PM	#16
Greyroofoo Pro Starter Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Alabama	One of my coworkers mentioned Settlers of Catan. I believe it is 4 players but there's also an "expansion" that makes it 6 players. We're kind of lwaning towards that. Diplomacy was also mentioned a couple of times. There's also a board games based on "Civilization". Has anyone played it?

08-23-2005, 04:08 PM	#17
Lathum Favored Bitch #1 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: homeless in NJ	Tell me more about Empire Builder

08-23-2005, 04:09 PM	#18
Schmidty Coordinator Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Early, TX	If you have a Wizards of the Coast store around there, they have a lot of good choices. Also, you can order from their website: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=ah/products __________________ Just beat the devil out of it!!! - Bob Ross

08-23-2005, 04:25 PM	#23
WSUCougar Rider Of Rohan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Port Angeles, WA or Helm's Deep	Ah, sorry. Map of U.S./Canada/Mexico, cities, rivers, and mountains overlayed with a dot pattern. Each city produces one or more products which are used as loads on your train. You build a network of rails by connecting the dots (drawn with a crayon). You draw load cards which have three options for city + load + payoff. You select which cities you can reach for the biggest payoffs, then build more, etc. __________________ It's not the years...it's the mileage.

08-23-2005, 04:25 PM	#24
WSUCougar Rider Of Rohan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Port Angeles, WA or Helm's Deep	It appears Mr. Smith out-matrixed me. __________________ It's not the years...it's the mileage.

08-23-2005, 04:27 PM	#25
Lathum Favored Bitch #1 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: homeless in NJ	It sounds exactly like the fantastic PC game railroad tycoon

08-23-2005, 04:38 PM	#28
Thomkal Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Surfside Beach,SC USA	Grey, I give you boardgamegeek.com All you could ever want to know about any board game. Settlers of Catan is a popular choice there, especially as an introduction to more "modern" board games. Last edited by Thomkal : 08-23-2005 at 04:39 PM.

08-23-2005, 04:42 PM	#29
st.cronin General Manager Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: New Mexico	Whatif

08-23-2005, 04:46 PM	#31
Glengoyne Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Fresno, CA	A ticket to Ride! Settlers is a good choice as well. Chas In Cinci is all over this one. I'd also throw Niagra in the mix. Check out www.funagain.com Also www.boardgamegeek.com. Have fun.

08-23-2005, 06:00 PM	#32
Mustang Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Wisconsin	Well.. if you are getting drunk while doing this.. I wouldn't go with anything too heavy.. I'd recommend such games such as Axis & Allies, Heroscape, Monsters Menace America, Zombies! __________________ You, you will regret what you have done this day. I will make you regret ever being born. Your going to wish you never left your mothers womb, where it was warm and safe... and wet. i am going to show you pain you never knew existed, you are going to see a whole new spectrum of pain, like a Rainboooow. But! This rainbow is not just like any other rainbow, its... Last edited by Mustang : 08-23-2005 at 06:01 PM.

08-23-2005, 06:46 PM	#33
Karlifornia Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: San Jose, CA	__________________ Look into the mind of a crazy man (NSFW) http://www.whitepowerupdate.wordpress.com

08-23-2005, 06:58 PM	#34
Taco High School JV Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: New Zealand	Blokus! __________________ CFL - Durham Bulldogs WOOF - Des Moines Monks

08-23-2005, 09:38 PM	#35
saldana Pro Starter Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Bethlehem, Pa	i would second the above axis and allies comment...5 players, a good game takes 5 or so hours, and as long as you actually have 5 players, the strategy period usually takes place while other people are rolling their battles, so the game can move along at a pretty good pace. apples to apples is a great party game because it is impossible to complain about losing or rules or pretty much anything else. i would hesitate on cranium with coworkers, just because some of the questions/categories can be a bit odd, and depending on your co-workers, you may not want to try to act out "butternut squash" for them (ask lathum )

08-23-2005, 09:44 PM	#36
houle n00b Join Date: Aug 2005	Best strategy board games for 4 person play in my experience are 1. Titan by Avalon Hill 2. Settlers of Catan by Mayfair 3. 1830 Pick Settlers if you want to play 4 games in 4 hours, Titan if you want more in depth strategy and are willing to play 1 game for 4 hours. You can check out Titan online here http://colossus.sourceforge.net/ and you used to be able to play Settlers here http://settlers.cs.northwestern.edu/ but now yahoo has a pay version so you may not be able to anymore.

08-23-2005, 09:58 PM	#39
houle n00b Join Date: Aug 2005	Never played MoV, though I believe I have an unopened copy on a shelf somewhere.

08-23-2005, 10:02 PM	#41
houle n00b Join Date: Aug 2005	Sorry didn't mean that as a slight.

08-23-2005, 10:05 PM	#43
Schmidty Coordinator Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Early, TX	By the way, I'm kidding. __________________ Just beat the devil out of it!!! - Bob Ross

08-23-2005, 11:21 PM	#44
Peregrine Pro Starter Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Cary, NC	I would suggest checking out some of these games, all are very good intro games, personally I wouldn't stick new gamers with Empire Builder, I think you want to break them in a bit easier than that, say with Ticket to Ride. http://www.boardgamegeek.com/geeklis...ew&listid=5152 Then you can move onto slightly meatier games: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/geeklis...ew&listid=9556

08-24-2005, 01:04 AM	#45
Warhammer Pro Starter Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Dayton, OH	Why go TTR? Go Union Pacific!

08-24-2005, 07:39 AM	#47
Chas in Cinti High School Varsity Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Cincinnati, OH	I had a HUGE gaming group back in Evansville, IN before and during college... then I went and graduated, got married, and moved to Cincinnati.... I got nothing here (and now I'm divorced)... I would LOVE to have a gaming group again... a little KingMaker, Republic of Rome... SPQR, Perryville... No Better Place to Die (double blind with a GM of course)... eh well... Have to settle for solitaire play and convention gaming I guess. Now where's that new copy of Devil's Horsemen? -Chas __________________ Email: [email protected]

08-24-2005, 07:59 AM	#48
Jonathan Ezarik College Benchwarmer Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bossier City, LA	Chas, Have you ever posted on Consimworld that you are looking for gamers? Or have you ever considered moving to Pittsburgh?

08-24-2005, 08:09 AM	#49
moriarty College Starter Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: A negative place	Puerto Rico (I think that was the name) was a pretty good board game.

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