Board Games are great
Quote: WizardI like just about any game that is a mixture of chance and strategy. In my much younger years I played board games a LOT. A significant percentage of my life was spent playing Risk. That was pretty much all I did the summer of 84. Other games I have played hundreds of times are Monopoly, Clue, Careers, Battleship, Casino (go figure), Life, Boggle, Scrabble, and the Stock Market Game. Lately the only board game I seem to play with my kids once in a while is Settlers of Catan.
I have a lot of respect for the Wizard, but his choice in board games is a little outdated ;) I also used to play these games a lot when I was younger, but there is a new world out there. Risk, Life, Battleship and Monopoly are almost shunned by the modern community. Boggle and Scrabble are good fun, but modern online implementations such as Words with Friends and Word Hero have almost eliminated the need\will to play the board game version. Settlers with Catan is a good 'gateway' game, but it has its own flaws.
People who play poker, otherwise gamble, or like analyzing games of chance will almost certainly enjoy some of the games on this list, the equivalent of the IMDB top 100 movie list, for board games:
http://boardgamegeek.com/browse/boardgame
If you like movies, you owe it to yourself to check out the IMDB list and see what you are missing. If you like board games, you owe it to yourself to check out the BGG list.
Quote: dwheatley
If you like movies, you owe it to yourself to check out the IMDB list and see what you are missing. If you like board games, you owe it to yourself to check out the BGG list.
+1... I collect and play a LOT of boardgames, and that list is a good one for the bigger strategy games. My biggest claim to fame... I have a playtest credit on the Number 6 game in that list :)
Quote: IbeatyouracesI looked at the list and never heard of any of them.
It's a large subculture. There's cafe's dedicated to playing of these designer games, and a entertainment industry of its own that's as complex and byzantine as the Casino world (just less dollar value). Game designers are 10 times more likely to get published in that world than in the casino game world, though... you can do your own thing via kickstarter, for instance.
This is a better list of games to play with the family with a smaller learning curve to get in and play with friends and family. Ticket to Ride is an excellent 'Rummy-like' set collection game, and Small World beats Risk hands down.
Risk Legacy , though, is fantastic rework of Risk. Each game is smaller than traditional Risk, but you edit and morph the board after each game, personalizing it and adding new rules each game. If you wanted to scratch that Risk itch from your youth with the kids.
Quote: KeyserSozeCandy Land is the gold standard of board games.
It's the exact opposite. It's like the Casino War of board games.
A great game has simple rules and sublime strategy. The best games have survived not years, or centuries, but millennia.
Quote: MoscaIsn't a great game one that would engage casual gamers? Everything I saw on either list was fantasy, war, etc. nothing interested me at all.
Depends. I love Terra Mystica and Caylus and Steam. They aren't for casual gamers, and take some learning and desire.
Ticket to Ride, Kingdom Builder and Settlers are great family games. Snake Oil and Cards against Humanity are good games for the more verbally efusive players.
Quote:A great game has simple rules and sublime strategy. The best games have survived not years, or centuries, but millennia.
Those are your terms for great :) I like games with a lot of discovery in the game, which may not come from simple rules. I like games which have two or three things going on that one has to balance, and has variance from the start, less so from random elements like dice or card draws.
Like I said, it's a sub-culture that many members would look at casino 'games' as overly simple and dull.
My favorites
Broadside
trivial pursuit
Chutes and ladders
Sorry
Life
Stratego
Chess
Othello
Monopoly
Clue
Risk
Panzer blitz
Operation
Now I live in the computer age, huge fan of the Sid Meier Civilization series. Currently playing version 5 Brave new world edition.
Quote: IbeatyouracesI looked at the list and never heard of any of them.
How old are you? lol
Favorite Classics:
Life
Sorry
Scrabble
Careers
Mystery Date
Monopoly sometimes
Eye Spy
Concentration
3M bookshelf games (Acquire, OhWaRee aka Mancala)
Favorite new Classics:
Trivial Pursuit and all variations
Outburst
Pictionary
Taboo
Finish Line
Tribond
Not sure how to quantify:
Dominoes
Backgammon
Chess
Can't say I really LOVE RPG's, but happily played original D&D for a couple of years in college. Hung out more with the group playing the Favorite New Classics above more than the RPG crowd as that side advanced. I do have a couple of dozen custom games that were put out in very limited editions decades ago; if someone is a collector of obscure games, I could let loose of a few; PM me if you want a list and photos.
If you like strategy games, not as strategic as chess, but in theory there's no luck element (other than other player's actions) there is a genre of "18xx" (http://boardgamegeek.com/wiki/page/18xx); it's based on having various railway companies and buying shares and/or building tracks, buying trains. If you're a beginner Mainline (http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/13924/1829-mainline) is a simpler introduction (albeit it introduces a luck element) by removing some of the advanced rules (such as trains going defunct).
Other games we play include Race For The Galaxy, Dominion, Settlers, Ticket To Ride, Puerto Rico, 6 Nimmt, Ave Caesar, Carcassonne, Crayon Rails (aka Iron Dragon), Saint Petersburg, Seven Wonders, Tzolk’in, Union Pacific, Village.
Quote: beachbumbabsLove board games.
Favorite Classics:
Life
Sorry
Scrabble
Careers
Mystery Date
Monopoly sometimes
Eye Spy
Concentration
3M bookshelf games (Acquire, OhWaRee aka Mancala)
Favorite new Classics:
Trivial Pursuit and all variations
Outburst
Pictionary
Taboo
Finish Line
Tribond
Not sure how to quantify:
Dominoes
Backgammon
Chess
Cribbage
Phase 10
Boggle
Can't say I really LOVE RPG's, but happily played original D&D for a couple of years in college. Hung out more with the group playing the Favorite New Classics above more than the RPG crowd as that side advanced. I do have a couple of dozen custom games that were put out in very limited editions decades ago; if someone is a collector of obscure games, I could let loose of a few; PM me if you want a list and photos.
Quote: Beethoven9thHow old are you? lol
How many of the top 100 boardgames on BoardGameGeek have you heard off?
Quote: ahiromuRisk is all about North America first. Nobody ever sees it coming and if you can pull it off, you win.
Nah, hide in Australiasia, and get the easy defendable 3 units/turn. Or South America.
Quote: thecesspitNah, hide in Australiasia, and get the easy defendable 3 units/turn. Or South America.
South America is good feel Australia is too overused. You have everyone trying for it so no one is able to get it. I mean its basically the first strategy everyone learns.
Quote: thecesspitHow many of the top 100 boardgames on BoardGameGeek have you heard off?
Didn't count, but I've definitely heard of some of them. I was surprised that someone here hasn't heard of any at all.
Quote: KeyserSozeCandy Land is the gold standard of board games.
What is the optimal strategy for Candy Land?
I know my list dates me like a birth certificate. It is what it is. I'm not sure it counts as a board game, but like most nerds, I also played D&D. I never got too deep into it, as was often the case with players of that game.
A few people have told me I would be good at games like Magic. I bought a starter set for that but never got far because I don't know anybody else in my vicinity who plays it.
It would be awesome to start a WoV group for the game! It is without question, in my mind, the greatest strategy game of all time.
We could have year long tournaments with players putting in money, and players betting from the outside. 3 month period for each game, final table in Oct/Nov/Dec!
---
What's best is we can have all the moves posted publicly so everyone can watch along. Planning/scheming and sending in orders to a moderator all via email.
---
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHtUl94werY <--- Watch
Looking over the top 100 list, I've only played 32. I think I need to fix that if I want to call myself a boardgamer.
Quote: dwheatleyI used to play a lot of Diplomacy, both in person and by email. It's claim to be the greatest strategy game of all time is hurt in some modern measures by the unsuitability of playing with less than 7 and the player elimination (which makes it difficult to invite 6 people over to your house for a game).
Which is why email based play is preferred. Unless you have a dedicated group of friends willing to come play for a few days or consistently on weekends.
It is in my opinion, when played to it's fullest, the greatest strategy game of all time.
Another EXCELLENT short term "strategy/decision making" game is Puerto Rico. The upside with it is that you can finish a game in one evening. Quite interesting, the sway in power changes so much it's more of a "tactical" game. Making short term plans and decisions based on the most recent actions and possible future actions.
EDIT- A few other good games. "Settlers of" series and Chinatown.
Quote: WizardWhat is the optimal strategy for Candy Land?
Palm all the picture cards. When its your turn to draw, pull out the 'ice cream cone' card.
Quote: WizardWhat is the optimal strategy for Candy Land?
Not to play. There's no strategy in the game.
Quote:I know my list dates me like a birth certificate. It is what it is. I'm not sure it counts as a board game, but like most nerds, I also played D&D. I never got too deep into it, as was often the case with players of that game.
A few people have told me I would be good at games like Magic. I bought a starter set for that but never got far because I don't know anybody else in my vicinity who plays it.
I really enjoyed Magic back in my Uni days, but moved to boardgames... games like Dominion and Blue Moon scratch the deck building/card play itch, while other have the depth of strategy. Without spending 100's on cards and having to spend hours deck building.
There's a whole bunch of new 'Living Card Games' that help avoid the rare hunt with all the fun of two player duel (Netrunner, Call of Cthluhu and WarHammer Invasion).
I did like Diplomacy, but it's no fun with people you know. Much better with strangers. Less hurt feelings. At least, if there are, there's less chance of them cutting of all ties or never sharing a beer again.
Quote: IbeatyouracesDie influencing.
Edit. I take that back. You draw colored cards in candy land. I was thinking chutes and ladders.
Chutes & Ladders don't use dice either. I think there's a spinner or something.
Try this twist for 2 players and it really ramps-up the strategy. Each player starts from an opposite side of the square board, and the goal is to put as many of your pieces into the back row of your opponent as you can, while they try to do the same thing to you.
Quote: RorryAnyone ever gotten into the game Diplomacy?
Diplomacy is a great game to play with some friends that you don't really like and are looking for an excuse not to hang out with any more.
...there are throw the dice and find out what happens games (yes they're fairly boring) through to chess and sit there for ages and work it out. Personally I prefer games with some thinking required but, due to player interaction, not fully deterministic. There are some very interesting games that really keep your mind active - 18xx (which I play monthly) might be depending on who you can find to play (warning some games last hours) - or perhaps some of the other mentioned in the thread.Quote: BuzzardI always thought that that Boardgames should be spelled Boredgames.
If you're in Germany there's a massive games event (where you can try before you buy) in Essen (http://www.merz-verlag.com/ ). It's like a set of massive halls (similar to NEC UK) and is the biggest in Europe held every year. Also the games (warning some are only in German) are cheaper and many dealers get theirs at the fair.
If you're near Manchester (and I guess other cities have the same) there's a games shop near the Piccadilly centre (Cavell / Newton St) that sometimes has games running, sells games and will know future events.
Quote: AxiomOfChoiceDiplomacy is a great game to play with some friends that you don't really like and are looking for an excuse not to hang out with any more.
You need to find players who are able to differentiate the game from reality. And you have to learn to respect and applaud the backstab. My family+relatives will play over a couple of weekends (the game can take 70+hours of play sometimes) and we all love each other still. Some (my uncle) wont touch it because he gets emotionally compromised by it and feels literally betrayed when he's backstabbed.
So you gotta have the right mindset when playing, knowing the backstab is part of the game and an intelligent strategic move. You have to be able to commend your enemy when he makes a good move, and keep the strife of the game outside of reality.
Quote: Beethoven9thChutes & Ladders don't use dice either. I think there's a spinner or something.
Yes, there is a spinner numbered one to six.
Speaking of Chutes & Ladders one of my many annoyances is there is a space on that game showing a kid walking through a puddle in bare feet. This causes him to go down a chute with the consequential space being sick. Getting your feet cold and wet will not by itself make one sick. As I've said hundreds of times, being cold does not cause you to get a cold.
Quote: WizardWhat is the optimal strategy for Candy Land?
Stack the deck.
Anyone play Songburst?
Quote: RorryI'd like to know Michael's thoughts on Diplomacy the game?
Everyone tells me I'd love it, but I have never played it.
I liked just about any game. ones that come to mind.
risk
Pictionary
Scattergories
chess
Not a board game, but the most addictive game online was the Age of empires series.
I made money playing Sims online at one time, it was a very interesting virtual world game, I built a casino and other businesses. Sims ONLINE was more of a social game with no rules. Women out numbered men by about 7 to 1. You could build and do anything could imagine.
I really find the game second Life interesting. It has its own virtual publicly traded dollar I think. I know at one time you could have your own casinos. People still do this somehow, but they cracked down on it. Supposedly someone made a million real life dollars buying and selling retaliate on that game. Not sure if i believe it or not. here is the story http://realestate.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=13107800
Quote: AxelWolfNot a board game, but the most addictive game online was the Age of empires series.
YES! I just re-downloaded AoE III plus expansions into my new gaming rig. Many funs. So wow.
Quote: AxelWolfI made money playing Sims online at one time, it was a very interesting virtual world game, I built a casino and other businesses. Sims ONLINE was more of a social game with no rules. Women out numbered men by about 7 to 1. You could build and do anything could imagine.
I really find the game second Life interesting. It has its own virtual publicly traded dollar I think. I know at one time you could have your own casinos. People still do this somehow, but they cracked down on it. Supposedly someone made a million real life dollars buying and selling retaliate on that game. Not sure if i believe it or not. here is the story http://realestate.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=13107800
I believe it. Dunno about Second Life, but people are always making bank on MMO's. Whether it's gold farming or selling characters outright, it's amazing the amount of bank others will spend.
I gifted my FFXI character to a friend of mine, who has since gotten offers in the four digits for it.
The big time money game of the online world(before bitcoin casinos) was Entropia Universe. You had people buying and selling virtual items for real money. Some places like planets were sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Never got too into it but I heard it is on a decaying scale so if you don't make money in a certain amount of time, you start having to pay more.
Quote: AxelWolf
I made money playing Sims online at one time, it was a very interesting virtual world game, I built a casino and other businesses. Sims ONLINE was more of a social game with no rules. Women out numbered men by about 7 to 1. You could build and do anything could imagine.
I loved that game. Still miss going to the factory and making robots.
Interesting I would like to hear more about your character you made. That stuff fascinates me.Quote: FaceYES! I just re-downloaded AoE III plus expansions into my new gaming rig. Many funs. So wow.
I believe it. Dunno about Second Life, but people are always making bank on MMO's. Whether it's gold farming or selling characters outright, it's amazing the amount of bank others will spend.
I gifted my FFXI character to a friend of mine, who has since gotten offers in the four digits for it.
I didnt like AOE III as much as age of conquerors. I had to stop playing games like that it was taking up way to much of my time. and pissing off my GF. Girls on the game would send me very explicit PMs and emails including photos. I would receive gifts and money occasionally.
One thing about the Sims, you didn't have to mine anything you just had to be creative. I was offered a large sum for my character. I put a ton of time in developing popularity and becoming a icon with god like status. It turns out not selling it was a big mistake the game went under suddenly.
Quote: AxelWolfI didnt like AOE III as much as age of conquerors. I had to stop playing games like that it was taking up way to much of my time. and pissing off my GF. Girls on the game would send me very explicit PMs and emails including photos. I would receive gifts and money occasionally.
Can kind of agree. The auto farm upgrade in III was welcome (didn't have to keep clicking on it to rebuild) but I really missed some of the stuff from II, most notably the monk ability to convert.
Quote: AxelWolfInteresting I would like to hear more about your character you made. That stuff fascinates me.
Wasn't anything super special, it was just very good at what it did. Instead of wasting time and effort trying to make a hybrid or some oddball cobination of skills, it was just a pure healer. Usually that's a pain as it can't do anything but heal and is screwed if you can't find a group, but I had another account (one on PC, one on Xbox) so I just played with myself lol.
Since I was my own group, I could do whatever I wanted and focus on whatever I wanted. So I spent most of my time doing all the ridiculously long quests to get the proper spells and mounts, stuff most people either didn't want to waste time getting, or would try and lose out on the roll to see who in the group got it.
Playing the character alone would've been hopeless, and playing with unknown groups would be long, arduous, and probably would've left me somewhat incomplete. But since it was all me, he was solid.
Most healers had to branch out, especially in the lower levels, or they wouldn't be able to kill even the smallest of foes. But since mine always had a generous partner (myself), it was free to be a solid healer for it's whole life. That paid off in the end game, and led him to become somewhat powerful and valuable. Last I heard, my buddy was offered in excess of $3,000 for him.
Crazy.
I understand some of what you said I get the basic idea but that is all. I have never played a Fantasy type MMO. AOC II is kind of different.Quote: FaceCan kind of agree. The auto farm upgrade in III was welcome (didn't have to keep clicking on it to rebuild) but I really missed some of the stuff from II, most notably the monk ability to convert.
Wasn't anything super special, it was just very good at what it did. Instead of wasting time and effort trying to make a hybrid or some oddball cobination of skills, it was just a pure healer. Usually that's a pain as it can't do anything but heal and is screwed if you can't find a group, but I had another account (one on PC, one on Xbox) so I just played with myself lol.
Since I was my own group, I could do whatever I wanted and focus on whatever I wanted. So I spent most of my time doing all the ridiculously long quests to get the proper spells and mounts, stuff most people either didn't want to waste time getting, or would try and lose out on the roll to see who in the group got it.
Playing the character alone would've been hopeless, and playing with unknown groups would be long, arduous, and probably would've left me somewhat incomplete. But since it was all me, he was solid.
Most healers had to branch out, especially in the lower levels, or they wouldn't be able to kill even the smallest of foes. But since mine always had a generous partner (myself), it was free to be a solid healer for it's whole life. That paid off in the end game, and led him to become somewhat powerful and valuable. Last I heard, my buddy was offered in excess of $3,000 for him.
Crazy.
Quote: AxelWolfI understand some of what you said I get the basic idea but that is all. I have never played a Fantasy type MMO. AOC II is kind of different.
Gotcha. Well, you've played AoE III... you know how you level up your town, which unlocks more cards for you to use? Well, if you play for 100+ hours, you can unlock all the cards and have a robust deck to use, making you quite powerful indeed.
Now, some dude with money wants that power, but doesn't feel like spending 100 hours to get it. So, he'll just offer to buy it off you. Same concept. You spend time making something of worth to someone who has a need.
Quote: JohnnyQEver heard of BLOCKUS ? It isn't a board game exactly, it's kindof a TETRIS with multiple players. We played it a lot when we first got it.
Yeah, I know this game well. Played it often with my son (probably around five years ago). I'm gonna have to go in the basement and find it. Great game.
Quote: WizardEveryone tells me I'd love it, but I have never played it.
It's a game of social engineering, not of numbers and game theory. Convincing other people that doing what is best for you is best for them as well.
There's other games like that, but much less aggressively so, that also have a much stronger game-theoretical basis. Chicago Express springs to mind, which is all about manipulating a set of train companies so that people expand the ones you want them to. But in the context of a set of rigid rules, rather than diplomacy which is -mostly- about talking someone into something.
