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#1 |
Three Lombardis
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Ceti Alpha V
Posts: 53,570
Adopt-a-Bronco: Pat Bowlen |
![]() 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.
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? Last edited by Kaylore; 03-21-2014 at 09:42 AM.. |
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#2 |
Armchair Poster
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Topeka, KS
Posts: 22,918
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![]() 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... |
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#3 |
Three Lombardis
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Ceti Alpha V
Posts: 53,570
Adopt-a-Bronco: Pat Bowlen |
![]() 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 .
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#4 |
Crew Chief
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NEW YORK CITY, USA
Posts: 6,168
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![]() Before anyone ever heard of fantasy leagues, there was Strat-O-Matic.
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#5 |
Ring of Famer
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: St. Louis
Posts: 1,253
Adopt-a-Bronco: Malik Jackson |
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#6 | |
Super Moderator
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: DIA Tunnels
Posts: 17,543
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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. |
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#7 | |
Kranz Dictum
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Tranquility Base
Posts: 52,508
Adopt-a-Bronco: Trevor Penrose |
![]() Quote:
I find it more disturbing that he watches/listens to every minute of every White Sox baseball season(s). That is a big commitment. |
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#8 |
Hard hat & lunch pail guy
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Texas
Posts: 5,848
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![]() 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.
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#9 |
The OM's #1 Draft Pick
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 36,487
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![]() Game of Thrones Board Game. Takes hours.
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#10 |
This is the Water
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 2,322
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![]() 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. |
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#11 | |
The OM's #1 Draft Pick
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 36,487
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![]() Quote:
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. |
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#12 | |
This is the Water
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 2,322
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![]() Quote:
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. |
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#13 |
Gambling is a SIN^^^^^^
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 13,713
Adopt-a-Bronco: None |
![]() Longer ones that are good are Axis and Allies and Risk.
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#14 |
The OM's #1 Draft Pick
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 36,487
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#15 |
Three Lombardis
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Ceti Alpha V
Posts: 53,570
Adopt-a-Bronco: Pat Bowlen |
![]() 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. Last edited by Kaylore; 03-21-2014 at 10:07 AM.. |
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#16 |
Dynamic Duo
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: North of Boston, MA
Posts: 6,721
Adopt-a-Bronco: Shaq Barrett |
![]() This. LOVED Axis and Allies. Replaying WW2 over and over was great.
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#17 | |
"No Fate"
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: SkyNet
Posts: 8,166
Adopt-a-Bronco: CJ Anderson |
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#18 |
"No Fate"
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: SkyNet
Posts: 8,166
Adopt-a-Bronco: CJ Anderson |
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#19 | |
"No Fate"
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: SkyNet
Posts: 8,166
Adopt-a-Bronco: CJ Anderson |
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#20 | |
Ring of Famer
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 27,879
Adopt-a-Bronco: None |
![]() Quote:
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. |
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#21 |
Ring of Famer
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Nęstved, DK
Posts: 12,223
Adopt-a-Bronco: Spencer Larsen |
![]() ![]() 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). |
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#22 |
made a business decision"
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: 719
Posts: 31,034
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#23 |
Ring of Famer
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 12,996
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![]() 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. ![]() |
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#24 |
made a business decision"
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: 719
Posts: 31,034
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#25 |
Kranz Dictum
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Tranquility Base
Posts: 52,508
Adopt-a-Bronco: Trevor Penrose |
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