The Board Games Thread

[Kaylore]

So I am a huge nerd. If there is something with the word "game" in it, I'll probably play it; Video games, computer games, role playing games and board games. When you ask most people about board games, they will say something old like Monopoly (which objectively isn't even that great of a game) or long, like Risk. For whatever reason, most people just play what their parents played. In the last decade alone there have been a lot of really good games that have come out that are way better than connect four or whatever old crap you've been playing just because you always do.

People often say they don't like games. Well it could be because the games you've tried to play all suck and they've made better stuff. Have you ever thought about what you are really looking for when you sit down? Like what would make a game good? I have.

I have a few criteria for what makes a good game for me.

1. The game has to finish between 20-60 minutes. This means multiple plays and if someone loses they don't have to feel like they wasted their day.
2. The game has to be relatively easy to learn but difficult to master. This ensures replayability and it makes it easy for others to learn.
3. The game has to have some amount of player interaction. I think games are best when working with, and sometimes manipulating an opponent is a part of the process. This makes it more fun.
4. The theme has to be interesting . There are some really well designed games that I can't get into because the theme is too boring for me.
5. The game needs to be well made. Like have decent quality components and good artwork.
6. Not a must have, but my preference is games where players have unique abilities from each other. It adds flavor.

Now obviously not every game has all these elements, and some of my favorite games break some of these rules. But this list is what works for myself and the group I play with.

With that said, here's a list of five games I like that I think everyone could enjoy:

1. Cosmic Encounter - The premise is each player is an alien race trying to do battle with other races and invade each other's planets to build colonies. There's a few versions of this floating around, but the most recent iteration by Fantasy Flight is absolutely the best. The artwork is fantastic. The components are well made and the theme is awesome. It's incredibly simple, too; It's basically a card game repackaged as an alien war strategy game. And with all the different cards and alien powers, the permutations of the dynamics of each game change every single time you play. It's one of the best games out there.



2. Pandemic - This is a cooperative game (meaning everyone wins or everyone loses) and it is very difficult. The premise is the world has been infected by four major diseases that threaten humanity and each player is a disease control specialist with an ability to stop the disease from spreading and work towards a cure. You have to work together. Cooperative games aren't for everyone, but even people that don't like them enjoy this because it's so intense. There's a time element at work and enough randomization to keep things fresh.



3. Carcassone - This is a tile-laying game where the players take turns laying plots of land around a medieval community and assign workers to earn points. The turn-taking approach makes it especially interesting, and a child can play. It's a fun game that you can learn in a few minutes but the strategy is pretty complex.



4. Bohnanza - This is a card game about beans. I know, right? When one of the members of our gaming group busted this out, we all rolled our eyes. And then we played it the entire night. It's a game where you grow beans and the mechanic forces you to trade with other players. Great for the whole family.



5. No Thanks - This is a simple card game where you use chips to bid on cards that can hurt, or if you play it right, help your score. Easy to learn and great for people who think they don't like games.




Popular* games that missed my cut:

1. Ticket to Ride - This is a train car connecting game. It's very addictive (for people besides me) and easy to learn. I don't care for trains.

2. Settlers of Catan - I actually like this game, but it's kind of broken. You have to use some kind welfare rule for if someone's resource never gets rolled or a player or two will never be in it.

3. Duel of Ages II - takes too long and only two player.

* Popular among board game geeks.


So what about all of you? Any board games you enjoy?

[Pick Six]

I don't think I've played a board game since Trivial Pursuit...

I'm glad to see board games still exist, in the Internet age...

[Kaylore]

Originally Posted by Crushaholic

I don't think I've played a board game since Trivial Pursuit...

I'm glad to see board games still exist, in the Internet age...

They do. In fact they are an industry that benefited enormously from the kickstarter age as they are a perfect fit. As a result there is an over-saturation of new and existing board games flooding the market. I think also as people want to unplug, it affords "something to do with someone without electronics or cost." The internet has afforded us the ability to remind everyone that there are other options besides your 1977 version of Trivial Pursuit .

[winstoncup bronco]

Before anyone ever heard of fantasy leagues, there was Strat-O-Matic.

[stoxman]

Originally Posted by winstoncup bronco

Before anyone ever heard of fantasy leagues, there was Strat-O-Matic.

Played that A LOT! Along with Stratego.

[Old Dude]

Originally Posted by winstoncup bronco

Before anyone ever heard of fantasy leagues, there was Strat-O-Matic.

I played that once, in about 1967. I had the Broncos; my cousin had the Chiefs. On the first play, I had Steve Tensi throw an 80 yard TD.

At that point I figured it was BS.

Although, if I remember right, I wound up losing 35-10, so maybe it was more accurate than I realized.

[broncosteven]

Originally Posted by Old Dude

I played that once, in about 1967. I had the Broncos; my cousin had the Chiefs. On the first play, I had Steve Tensi throw an 80 yard TD.

At that point I figured it was BS.

Although, if I remember right, I wound up losing 35-10, so maybe it was more accurate than I realized.

One of my cousin's does the baseball version. He has done whole seasons of games from the 1960's. I never got why but he is disabled and has a lot of time on his hands, plus he grew up with the game.

I find it more disturbing that he watches/listens to every minute of every White Sox baseball season(s). That is a big commitment.

[Bronc0guy]

My two favorites are ones you already mentioned above, monopoly and risk. I love those two, especially risk. Haven't played just a ton of different games in my life though, and less and less as I get older. Oh and the NFL version of monopoly I especially enjoyed.

[Requiem]

Game of Thrones Board Game. Takes hours.

[v2micca]

Originally Posted by Requiem

Game of Thrones Board Game. Takes hours.

Only because you have to explain the rules to every player every ****ing phase of every ****ing turn. Seriously, no one was ****ing paying attention the last twenty times you explained what the support token does why the hell would they start now. Yeah, go ahead and re-issue your orders for the third goddamn time this turn because you still don't have a ****ing clue how the rules work and didn't mean to do that.



Might have some issues from the last time I played that game.

[Requiem]

Originally Posted by v2micca

Only because you have to explain the rules to every player every ****ing phase of every ****ing turn. Seriously, no one was ****ing paying attention the last twenty times you explained what the support token does why the hell would they start now. Yeah, go ahead and re-issue your orders for the third goddamn time this turn because you still don't have a ****ing clue how the rules work and didn't mean to do that.



Might have some issues from the last time I played that game.

Yeah, I feel you.

I ended up having an "alliance" with a guy, who ended up basically screwing me over after 5 hours of me helping him out and not messing with him. Pulled some dumb card that made me basically lose in battle right away or gave everyone of his army's a +1 to each foot soldier. Oh well.

[v2micca]

Originally Posted by Requiem

Yeah, I feel you.

I ended up having an "alliance" with a guy, who ended up basically screwing me over after 5 hours of me helping him out and not messing with him. Pulled some dumb card that made me basically lose in battle right away or gave everyone of his army's a +1 to each foot soldier. Oh well.

Yeah, that happens too. In my game everyone was playing nice until about the 6th round and we all collectively realized it was time to get real if we wanted to win. Game got real ruthless real quick. I'm talking "promising to support a player's march order then throwing your support with his opponent when it was time for combat resolution then taking his stronghold that he just left vulnerable because you were supposed to be his ally" ruthless.

[DENVERDUI55]

Longer ones that are good are Axis and Allies and Risk.

[Requiem]

Originally Posted by DENVERDUI55

Longer ones that are good are Axis and Allies and Risk.

Risk is classic. Settlers of Katan or whatever is similar and cool too.

[Kaylore]

Originally Posted by DENVERDUI55

Longer ones that are good are Axis and Allies and Risk.

I don't agree. Risk has a player elimination element that is never fun, and Axis and Allies is the same set up every time.

Try Twilight Imperium, Twilight Struggle (these two aren't related to each other) or Memoir '44 if you want the WWII mechanic. They are both more balanced and more fun.

[55CrushEm]

Originally Posted by DENVERDUI55

Longer ones that are good are Axis and Allies and Risk.

This. LOVED Axis and Allies. Replaying WW2 over and over was great.

[UltimateHoboW/Shotgun]

Originally Posted by 55CrushEm

This. LOVED Axis and Allies. Replaying WW2 over and over was great.

Attachment 34012

I love that GAME! I even got the computer game and the expansion Axis and Allies war in the Pacific. Back in the day me and a bunch of my friends tried to make a extended expansion board for ourselves. It would have been the size of a pool table. China, Italy, Australia, and Canada would have been their own players. Hell the China player could raise either National troops or Communist Troops. . I still have some of the boards that they created.

[UltimateHoboW/Shotgun]

Originally Posted by TheReverend

I love that kind of youthful creativity. The game is totally fun for a few hours until you all realize it sucks and was better the original way.

. I wonder if there is a meetup group I could join to play that game now.

[UltimateHoboW/Shotgun]

Originally Posted by TheReverend

I love that kind of youthful creativity. The game is totally fun for a few hours until you all realize it sucks and was better the original way.

. I hated the expansion pack rules. At one point you had to divide you air force between Combat Air Patrol and ground air attack and if your CAP failed your ground air attack forces were withheld. Hated that rule.

[BroncoBeavis]

Originally Posted by 55CrushEm

This. LOVED Axis and Allies. Replaying WW2 over and over was great.

Attachment 34012

By far what sank the most hours growing up.

I'll never forget some of those multi-day near stalemates. As for balance, there's different things you could do to balance it (ie, let the Axis roll for a technology at the beginning) Often wasn't needed though. If you had a less experienced player, you could give them allies and it served as a kind of handicap.

Lost a lot of its fun though when the internet came along and gave everyone a recipe to play. Strategies seemed a lot more creative and unpredictable before that.

[gyldenlove]

Junta, by a wide margin is the most entertaining board game.

Other good ones: Carcassone, RoboRally, Diplomacy, Formula De, Advanced Squad Leader, Settlers (with expansion packs).

[bronco militia]

[Arkie]

One of my favorite games as a kid was Survive! I played it again in college, and it was still fun. I had to relearn the rules, and I already forgot them again. lol

Basically, you try to save all your people and take them to safety in the corners. There's a lot more strategy involved though.

[bronco militia]

[broncosteven]

Originally Posted by bronco militia

I had this exact same game when I lived in Denver!

The guys just wiggled around alot!