Board Games - what'...
 

Board Games - what're you currently playing?

276 Posts
80 Users
0 Reactions
1,893 Views
Posts: 76786
Free Member
 

Oh yeah,

I haven't played the 2P outing myself yet, but 7 Wonders: Duel is supposed to be excellent.

 
Posted : 13/12/2021 12:26 pm
Posts: 6091
Full Member
Topic starter
 

Happy with either tbh, your place is a bit bigger, we've probably got more parking.

I'm off between Christmas and New Year and most weekends now if that helps.

 
Posted : 13/12/2021 1:23 pm
Posts: 76786
Free Member
 

Parking isn't too bad here so long as you don't arrive when the chippie is open. And there's an actual car park like fifty yards away.

ION, I'll just leave this here:

https://www.micromacro-game.com/en/democase.html

 
Posted : 13/12/2021 1:29 pm
Posts: 11605
Free Member
 

And finally: Jaipur. I hated everything about this game from the premise to the artwork to… just everything, there was nothing about it that appealed other than people saying it was good. Then I found something that did appeal: the price when it went on sale. I impulse-bought it and, it is outstanding. Anyone with a passing interest in playing a card game at a 2-player count needs this in their collection.

Jaipur is a fantastic game, can't believe I forgot it!

What's your rule for drawing the panda?

 
Posted : 13/12/2021 1:38 pm
Posts: 76786
Free Member
 

🤣

I've never house ruled it, but I know the backstory is that it was a gentle dig at a rival game at the time.

 
Posted : 13/12/2021 3:07 pm
Posts: 76786
Free Member
 

Ah, got it. From the designer via BGG:

"the race between Zooloretto's panda and Yspahan's camels was a running gag during Summer 2007 in the French-speaking ludosphere, and the panda pelt as a good on one of the camels in Jaipur is a wink to that. ;-)"

Sauce

 
Posted : 13/12/2021 3:12 pm
Posts: 9046
Full Member
 

Not really a 'board' game, but when round at Sisters for dinner, it's the occasion of Dominoes that has the 5 of us round the dinner table for a few hours.

It's all power play and stratagem.Nobody wants to finish on a duck.

 
Posted : 13/12/2021 3:19 pm
Posts: 76786
Free Member
 

I said this earlier, don't dismiss "old" games. I love me a game of does.

 
Posted : 13/12/2021 3:25 pm
Posts: 6091
Full Member
Topic starter
 

Right.

Boardgame season has taught me a few things:

If you're taking Codenames, always take Qwirke as well. Everyone will absolutely adore one or the other.

A 10 year old can explain Forbidden Island to an 8 year old better than a 62 year old who's been at the Benedictine for several hours.

8 year olds should be held upside down regularly to dislodge Quirkle tiles that have been 'saved for emergencies'.

Small children cannot be beaten at Dobble.

Don't buy the basic Arkham Asylum core set. Sent mine back and replaced it with the new October revised release - over twice as many cards so can accommodate 4 players. And no, I still have no idea what's going on, so it fails Cougar's 'easy to learn' test. Massively.
But I suspect that when it all falls into place, it's going to be epic.

Brass, Lancashire.....(thanks Sue!)
Firstly, it's very nicely presented. Dark, lots of small text on the cards, but everything fits the theme and the rulebook is a work of art.
It takes a while to set up, so factor that in.
Not played it yet, had a solo run-through and it looks like a properly deep, tactical challenge.

Looking forward to it once we've sent the grandkids back home and de-stickied the table. 🙂

 
Posted : 29/12/2021 3:07 am
Posts: 6458
Full Member
 

Hasn't got a board, but Bananagrams is fun. Word game - Scrabble-ish but er, without the board. It's the only game I've played so far this Christmas.

 
Posted : 29/12/2021 12:23 pm
Posts: 863
Full Member
 

My niece brought Mind with her this Christmas. Cooperative card game for 2 to 4 players.
It's really good fun (IMO), quick to set up an play and dead easy to learn.

It all went a bit south after we had a Baby Guinness or two though...

 
Posted : 29/12/2021 12:27 pm
Posts: 23013
Full Member
 

Got a few new ones in the house over Christmas:

Azul - Played lots. Still haven't won.
Pass the Bomb. Makes me sweat. Didn't win.
Dr Who* Uno. Got beat 4-0.
Dr Who** Dalek Invasion Earth Risk***. Played for 5 hours. Lost.

*My son likes Dr Who.

**A lot.

***Risk, but with warring Dalek armies.

 
Posted : 29/12/2021 12:37 pm
Posts: 7150
Full Member
 

Fancy a 10 minute fix of Ticket to Ride? The New York edition is aces 🙂

 
Posted : 29/12/2021 2:07 pm
Posts: 293
Free Member
 

Wingspan was this year's addition. Only played a couple of times so far but like it lots.

 
Posted : 29/12/2021 2:46 pm
Posts: 1109
Full Member
 

+1 for Bananagrams and Qwirkle - both simple to play and fun for all the family

Latest games here are:

Memoir 44: Excellent for WW2 fans. 20 odd scenarios based around D-Day missions. 2 players (but more could team up and confer). Sure, a bit of luck is involved with drawing cards, but ultimately it comes down to figuring out strategies for taking/holding various positions. I'd heard it was good and it really is. Loads of expansions available too.

Arcadia Quest Inferno: An expansion for Arcadia Quest. Great fun for 2-4 players if you have a penchant for fantasy creatures or simply like a good old hack n slash / loot n shoot. Flexible rules allow you to work together or tear into each other. Excellent quality miniatures, cards, artwork etc. Hero upgrades are fun and encourage you to play harder levels. Does take 5-10 mins to set up though.

On the radar:

Mage Knight: Said to be the 'best' adventuring game out there with plenty of scope to buddy up. High quality miniatures. Bloody complex though, and hard to get hold of at present.

Gloomhaven Jaws of the Lion: The more I look at this the more I think I'll get it. Far easier to learn than the full GH, with booklet-based scenario maps meaning super quick set ups.

 
Posted : 29/12/2021 5:27 pm
Posts: 76786
Free Member
 

Oh, I meant to post this earlier. Micro Macro is getting a bit of attention, I haven't played it directly but they have a free online demo and it looks like it might be fun.

https://www.micromacro-game.com/en/democase.html

 
Posted : 29/12/2021 8:12 pm
Posts: 716
Free Member
 

I’ve just discovered this thread. Quite a few games entered the household this Christmas:

Carcassonne
Ride the Rails
Z-Cars
Elf (snakes and ladders engine so youngest happy)

Ticket to Ride arriving tomorrow after reading the above.

Finding one the kids don’t get upset with is a challenge and the easier to play the better.

Thanks for the interesting suggestions.

 
Posted : 29/12/2021 8:22 pm
Posts: 739
Free Member
 

My wife picked up Kids Against Maturity as a family Christmas pressie. Basically a toned down version of Cards against humanity. Played it on Christmas day. I didnt think it was going to be any good but it surprised me. We had 3 kids aged 9,10 and 11 and 4 adults playing. Lots of belly laughing at some of the answers. Edgy enough for the adults to find funny but not too dodgy for the kids. It won’t have much longevity so probably not great value for money but good fun in the short term.

 
Posted : 29/12/2021 8:31 pm
Posts: 7790
Full Member
 

That micro macro demo was quite interesting. Nice concept.

We added Catan and a Ticket to ride expansion this Christmas. Got beaten be our 9 year old at Catan last night 😠.

 
Posted : 29/12/2021 8:36 pm
Posts: 6091
Full Member
Topic starter
 

About a dozen more added to the list!

Brass Lancashire:
My head hurts, but in a good way.
By far the most complex game we've touched.
Every rule is conditional - you can do this, but only if x, y or z applies. And then each condition has sub conditions. And there are lots of them.
Annoyingly, it's all logical, but the manual barely scratches the surface.

Tactically, it's terrifying.
Unless your called Marvin, don't attempt to think too far ahead.
Everything links to everything else.
A degree in economics might help, but don't count on it.
A very deep game indeed, I could see us losing an awful lot of time to this one.

Anyone else played it?
If so, how's the counselling going?

I watched an interview with the designer where he said he came up with this in response to those who complained he'd gone soft and his games were getting too simple.
The utter ****. 🙂

It's like reading 'A Brief History Of Time'. Occasionally, you can cling onto some of the simpler ideas whilst catching fleeting glimpses of the overarching concept.

So far so good.

Arkham next. That has a manual thicker than a whale omelette.
Great....

 
Posted : 04/01/2022 2:43 am
Posts: 76786
Free Member
 

If it's any reassurance, I found Arkham to be brutal. 😁

There are several incarnations though, the game you have and the one I have may well be somewhat different.

 
Posted : 04/01/2022 3:16 am
Posts: 23013
Full Member
 

At the other end of the complexity scale we have absolutely battered Azul over Christmas in our house over Christmas. Somebody must have played it everyday. Thanks for the recommendation!

Ticket To Ride Europe got a good few outings too.

 
Posted : 04/01/2022 7:52 am
Posts: 8543
Full Member
 

We got Labrynth for Christmas.

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/1219/labyrinth

Bit too much for our 6yo but if it's not too complex (board changes every game) we can get through a game with some help.

In the encroaching debate of whether to get her a tablet / console, this is exactly the kind of game that would be good online - then msJimmy pointed out she'd be playing it online, alone, without family time. True enough, we've had some good time playing board games.

 
Posted : 04/01/2022 9:48 am
Posts: 6091
Full Member
Topic starter
 

Swapsies, anyone?

Just ordered the Port Royal and Colt Express Big Boxes (base games plus all expansions) from Zatu.
Good value, cheaper than buying the expansions separately.....

....so, have mint duplicates of:
Port Royal, original base game.
Poer Royal, One More Contract expansion.
Colt Express, the base game.

Happy to swap, what've you got?
Would be £42 brand new, to give an idea of value.

Also, received Small World a few weeks ago for my Birthday and yes, it's bloody marvelous.
Basically, what Risk should be, but less reliance on lucky dice rolls, a fantasy theme and only takes an hour.
Another one of those easy to learn games with a surprising amount of depth. Lovely maps and artwork too. Everyone seems to really enjoy it and I can see why.
I've just ordered the River World expansion, half price at Zatu at the mo.

Also ordered the Sherlock Holmes, Thames Murders - wanted this one for years, really looking forward to it.

How about you lot, owt new?

 
Posted : 31/05/2022 12:15 am
Posts: 76786
Free Member
 

New, you say.

I got Alien: Fate of the Nostromo for Christmas. I've not played it as yet, seems to be a fairly generic "collect all the things without getting eaten" outing with a decent theme theme bolted on.

Also picked up Fossils a couple of weeks back. Literally - I backed it on Kickstarter forever ago, it arrived over a year ago and I forgot to collect it from the guy who offered to mule a group pledge back up North. I only realised when I came across his address on a Notepad file on my desktop! Now, this is decent. Production quality is very high, some love has gone into it. The centrepiece board is a dig site where you move archaeologists to extract bones hidden at random, then use those bones to collect dinosaur cards which score you points. There's a bunch more things going on but it's towards the "family" end of the difficulty curve and as I said, is just a Nice Thing.

 
Posted : 31/05/2022 10:56 am
Posts: 6091
Full Member
Topic starter
 

Oooh, Fossils looks really good.
Nice theme too.
What's the minimum age recommendation? The eldest granddaughter would love that.

I'm getting seriously tempted by the smaller Gloomhaven gateway game as well. Must resist......

 
Posted : 31/05/2022 12:05 pm
Posts: 76786
Free Member
 

The forum ate my previous reply. Let's try again.

The box says 8+ but there's a paragraph at the start of the instructions explaining how you can remove various gameplay features if you want to simplify it. There's a degree of thought gone into this, eg on the skills cards anything which is an attack has an icon identifying it as such so you can easily remove them if you've got a group which doesn't like player conflict.

My biggest concern with younger players would be that there's a lot of very small components. If you can trust them not to eat the fossils or otherwise stick them somewhere unmentionable you'll likely be fine.

 
Posted : 31/05/2022 1:27 pm
Posts: 76786
Free Member
 

... if she likes the theme I also have Tiny Epic Dinosaurs (another as-yet unplayed Kickstarter...!) It looks to be a bit worker-placement / resource management a la Agricola, which appeals to me.

 
Posted : 31/05/2022 1:30 pm
Posts: 76786
Free Member
 

Huh. It's actually "Fossilis" not Fossils, I totally didn't notice that until trying to look it up just now.

 
Posted : 31/05/2022 1:31 pm
Posts: 6091
Full Member
Topic starter
 

Cheers fella!

The removable elements aspect is very clever and as you say, bodes well.

 
Posted : 31/05/2022 1:34 pm
Posts: 76786
Free Member
 

Further reading:

https://boardgamegeek.com/filepage/212428/fossilis-english-rules

When are we having a games evening?

 
Posted : 31/05/2022 2:32 pm
Posts: 6091
Full Member
Topic starter
 

Soon.

Been a bit hectic this end health/job wise.

Will contact you in a day or so....sorry for the delay.

 
Posted : 31/05/2022 2:45 pm
Posts: 1109
Full Member
 

Recently, a few of us have been getting together weekly to smash out some Call of Cthulu one shots. Obvs more RPG than board game and certainly an acquired taste. Lots of fun though and we're all somehow just about still alive. Ramping up to Mask of Nyarlathotep soon, which should last us a few months. Interestingly, all of our characters' back stories are coming to the fore and we're starting to understand why we make the decisions we do.

Have also been playing Mansions of Madness. I expected to like it a lot, and the app works very well, driving the narrative and explorative parts well. But some scenarios are a bit unsatisfying and only one of us wants to continue playing.

A group of us also started on 7th Continent last week. Pretty intense to get your head around the rules, but perseverance helps make the mechanics kind of fluid. We've agreed we'll do our best with the first scenario/curse then give it a break.

I think we're playing Eldritch Horror next week.

 
Posted : 31/05/2022 11:08 pm
Posts: 6091
Full Member
Topic starter
 

Have you played the Arkham card game?
If so, give us a clue!

And if you've not listened to The Lovecraft Investigations on BBC Sounds, I cannot recommend it enough!
Genuinely scary, and because it's radio, you can't even hide behind the sofa.
One of the best things the BBC has done for years.

 
Posted : 01/06/2022 12:10 pm
Posts: 1109
Full Member
 

Have you played the Arkham card game?
If so, give us a clue!

I think that might be what I meant to say we’re playing next week, not Eldritch Horror.

Not heard of that Lovecraft series so I’ll give it a go, ta.

 
Posted : 02/06/2022 12:23 am
Posts: 9095
Full Member
 

Can't remember if I previously said, but Patchwork is an outstanding 2P game. Just bought a draughts board - as soon as we work out how to drive it, job's a good 'un! 🙂

 
Posted : 02/06/2022 1:48 am
Posts: 7341
Full Member
 

just had an ad for 'outsmarted' appear in my facebook feed. looks a bit like a quiz game my daughter has where you use your phone to select answers, but also seems to be a board game too.

anyone played it and can either recommend it or not? it would appear to be a decent game for a family night in with a few beers but thought id ask here first.

 
Posted : 10/06/2022 8:17 am
Posts: 8482
Free Member
 

Viking Chess or Tafl

I made the board/design and the pieces were collected from the beach. Then varnished.

Awesome game, no dice or cards 😉

I also like the Roman version.

 
Posted : 10/06/2022 9:51 am
Posts: 76786
Free Member
 

That's incredible. Fair play.

 
Posted : 10/06/2022 11:01 am
Posts: 8482
Free Member
 

@cougar

Thanks. Pondering making few more, people do ask where it came from 🙂

Also, making a game based on HG Wells "Little War"but trying to replace the actually toy canon with with a dice/basic chart mechanism... hard to to come up with something simple but not a maths test 🙂

 
Posted : 10/06/2022 12:52 pm
Posts: 23013
Full Member
Posts: 65805
Full Member
 

Smallworld's lovely. Though I don't think it works anything like as well with 2 players- in a larger game, I love the ebb and flow but it doesn't work that well in a duel imo.

Just mentioned it in the other thread but we played a whole lot of Splendor recently, what an excellent little game. Really like the blend of reactive and strategy, and the early game vs late game economy thing. Marks off for its poor card design though, especially for colourblindness suitability- I've a feeling the Marvel cash-in version is the exact same game just with better distinguished colours and better readability.

And it's probably over a year since I recommended London to everyone, but if you like economy builders then London is awesome.

 
Posted : 07/11/2022 6:44 pm
Posts: 6091
Full Member
Topic starter
 

Sorry, not looked at this for ages......

Right, Splendour's on the list.

Smallworld is bloody amazing.
So easy to learn and set up, so much depth.
Reminds me of Bloodbowl in a way as you develop an affinity for certain races and learn how to use them to your best tactical advantage.
Only played as a larger group a few times, quite enjoying the 2 player setups, look forward to giving it a go with a larger group.
It's superb, up there with Port Royale as our favourites.

Loving the Sherlock Holmes, Consulting Detective game.
But....playing it on my own. Everyone else finds it boring.
Huge Holmesian so I love it tbh.

Bought but not played:
Pandemic.
Gloomhaven - Jaws of the Lion.

Arkham Card Game currently giving me nightmares.

And if you fancy a little selfish, self indulgent pleasure, get 80 Days and Overboard by Inkle on your Tablet/Phone.
Absolute genius and well worth the money.

Really fancy Sleeping Gods.
It's that or the Carcassonne Big Box next.

 
Posted : 23/12/2022 2:22 am
Posts: 76786
Free Member
 

Smallworld is bloody amazing.

Small World of Warcraft is in (of all places) Game for not much money. It's like £20 for a £50rrp game or similar.

 
Posted : 23/12/2022 2:45 am
Posts: 76786
Free Member
 

But….playing it on my own. Everyone else finds it boring.

You know the answer to that one.

Maybe I need to start a board game version of the MNPR?

 
Posted : 23/12/2022 2:46 am
Posts: 1890
Full Member
 

Has anyone invested a large chunk of their life into Gloomhaven?

I keep hearing really good things and me and my two gaming buddies are up for it…. But it seems pretty serious!

Or are there any stepping stone games to build us up to it?

 
Posted : 23/12/2022 8:23 am
 nbt
Posts: 12292
Full Member
 

Maybe I need to start a board game version of the MNPR?

We used this a bit to play online games when we weren' working in the office

https://en.boardgamearena.com/

 
Posted : 23/12/2022 9:33 am
Posts: 76786
Free Member
 

Has anyone invested a large chunk of their life into Gloomhaven?

I keep hearing really good things and me and my two gaming buddies are up for it…. But it seems pretty serious!

Or are there any stepping stone games to build us up to it?

Jaws of the Lion as mentioned by Rusty yesterday is supposed to be a lighter, streamlined version of Gloomhaven (and doesn't cost the GDP of a developing country).

Disclaimer: I haven't played either of them.

 
Posted : 23/12/2022 11:40 am
Posts: 76786
Free Member
 

We used this a bit to play online games when we weren’ working in the office

https://en.boardgamearena.com/
/blockquote>

That's a good shout, but I've got a dining table that seats 6 and more games than I know what to do with.

 
Posted : 23/12/2022 11:42 am
Posts: 6091
Full Member
Topic starter
 

Hiya!

Carcassonne Big Box 2022 arrived yesterday.
My word, I can see why it's so popular, should have bought it ages ago tbh.
Two games in, Mrs S has opened the gin and declared 'Nessun Dorma' until she wins. 😀

This is going to be another Small World/Ticket To Ride/Port Royal - easy to learn, impossible to put down.

Also got the original Pandemic for Christmas, really looking forward to that one.

On the rare occasion I'm not completely shattered Brass has had a few plays. It's not a casual game. Really, it hurts, but so rewarding.

Off this weekend, Sat, Sunday night and Monday.
Cougs (and anyone else local), fancy a games session?

 
Posted : 10/01/2023 11:50 pm
Posts: 76786
Free Member
 

Cougs (and anyone else local), fancy a games session?

[size=30]YES![/size]

Christ on a pogo stick, I've only been asking you since pre-covid.

Carcassonne Big Box 2022 arrived yesterday.
My word, I can see why it’s so popular

I have the old-style Big Box. A lot of the later expansions are diminishing returns but you can often just go "hey, moar tiles" and ignore the additional rules if you like. I rarely play without the Inns & Cathedrals set beyond 'my first game' even if you ignore the I&C rule changes (which are minimal anyway).

 
Posted : 11/01/2023 1:22 am
Posts: 76786
Free Member
 

Also, "big box" is not a misnomer is it, it's stupid big! You could (probably, with a bit of care) get all that content in the regular box.

 
Posted : 11/01/2023 1:36 am
Posts: 6091
Full Member
Topic starter
 

Took me a while to work out where everything should go in the box, but I enjoy that sort of thing!

What a delightful game. She's beaten me now,so honour is satisfied.

We're pub quizzing tomorrow (Crooked Billet in Worsthorne if you fancy it, 8pm) but weekend sounds great.
We ok to bring a couple of people?
What day is best for you?

Christ on a pogo stick, I’ve only been asking you since pre-covid.

No one has yet accepted my speaker cable pizza and beer challenge.
And I've offered that one for over 10 years.

 
Posted : 11/01/2023 2:15 am
Posts: 1890
Full Member
 

in my gaming group (i say group, there are 3 of us) we have been playing 'Root'.

Very different and distinctive factions to play, with a real strategic depth to it. Still learning the ropes, but an enjoyable play!

We dip in and out of Catan and Pandemic, which are still great.

I cant decide if i prefer the co-op nature of pandemic rather than the head to head stuff of the other games!

 
Posted : 11/01/2023 9:34 am
Posts: 1890
Full Member
 

No one has yet accepted my speaker cable pizza and beer challenge.
And I’ve offered that one for over 10 years.

a what challenge...?? tell us more 😛

 
Posted : 11/01/2023 9:34 am
Posts: 644
Free Member
 

I got Wingspan for Christmas and have been playing a lot it’s brilliant. Bit of confusion at the beginning as the rules aren’t to clear but a couple of videos later we realised it was actually quite simple.

 
Posted : 11/01/2023 11:02 am
Posts: 23013
Full Member
 

Carcassonne Big Box has had an absolute battering in our house since Lock Down No.1. We ended up getting the Czech language version and downloading the instruction. We call the large double points meeple “Big Dave”. I think that this should be made compulsory.

Can’t be arsed with a lot of the expansions and the rest have all morphed into the main game. Inns and Cathedrals, Mage and Witch, Flying Machines, the one with Crop Circles, Pigs, the Builder and river extension always get used. We have the Towers, but only use it to hold the card decks. The Bandit one is too confusing, ferries is too fiddly and The Princess and Dragon nearly caused a punch up, so doesn’t get out anymore.

We got Small Worlds and an expansion off ebay last week for £30. Only played it once, so can’t judge as we were learning as we went along.

Ticket to Ride Europe is still my favourite. Port Royal is great too, but the wife and kids have played it more, so I get slaughtered every time.

Dr Who Risk is tedious, but my son loves it.

 
Posted : 11/01/2023 12:05 pm
Posts: 33768
Full Member
 

Got Pandemic: Reign of Cthulu for xmas, loving it, but seems harder than the normal pandemic

Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn

 
Posted : 11/01/2023 1:02 pm
Posts: 1109
Full Member
 

Ticket to Ride Europe is still my favourite. Port Royal is great too, but the wife and kids have played it more, so I get slaughtered every time.

We got this last year based on reviews/hype and all agreed it was just plain dull. I get the mechanics and the aim, and I guess if you play it with enthusiasts them it's probably okay, but doesn't do it for us.

Has anyone invested a large chunk of their life into Gloomhaven?

I keep hearing really good things and me and my two gaming buddies are up for it…. But it seems pretty serious!

Or are there any stepping stone games to build us up to it?

Similar position a year ago. Wanted the full fat GH but couldn't justify the outlay, the table space or the time to play it. So we got Jaws of the Lion and it's a bloody good intro to GH. The first 5 scenarios teach you the core elements and are an excellent example of how to onboard players.

Monkey jnr and I smashed through the first 7-8 quests in a few days and loved the combat mechanics. However, the core gameplay is too similar/repetitive with each quest, the story does nothing to engage you, and there are quite a few stats/bits of admin to manage.

I started looking around for an accompanying app over Xmas because I wanted to give it another go and found Gloomhaven Helper. Unfortunately the mobile apps have been taken down after the dev fell out with the GH founder, but the Windows version is genuinely excellent in the way it manages stats/admin. Saves a lot of time and faff.

Using the app we did a few more quests but still can't get past the repetitive gameplay. I reckon playing it with fans would be cool because combat is brilliant and it calls on you to adjust your tactics when things go awry.

JOTL often available for £35 or so. Bargain IMO, even for full RRP.

GH recently available for £95 from Chaos Cards.

I've had my eye of FrostHaven for a while, and reckon I'll snap it up one day and just sit and stare at the innards!

 
Posted : 11/01/2023 4:07 pm
Posts: 76786
Free Member
 

reckon I’ll snap it up one day and just sit and stare at the innards!

Welcome to half my collection. 😁

Pete, I've messaged you on WhatsApp (or at least attempted to).

 
Posted : 11/01/2023 5:27 pm
 a11y
Posts: 3467
Full Member
 

Excellent topic, I missed it until now.

On the back of this thread I've got a decent shortlist of games to add in future. Thanks to all with suggestions/recommendations, brilliant thread. We got Ticket to Ride Europe at Christmas and it went down well with the adults, less so with mini-a11ys (7 and 10), so I think I need to add the First Journey version. Dobble and Exploding Kittens both sound great too.

Not a board game, but Grabolo's gone down extremely well with my kids who're infuriatingly good at it. Slight carnage playing it out and about when on holiday - I'm very grateful the tables on the ferry were secured firmly to the floor, and not really one to play on the train...

 
Posted : 11/01/2023 5:50 pm
Posts: 677
Free Member
 

Jengopoly ( other random
Mashups at your discretion).

Think we made pass go the jenga move and a fine paid to other players whomever toppled.

Kept the kids interested at least.

 
Posted : 12/01/2023 8:50 am
Posts: 2810
Free Member
 

Dobble and Exploding Kittens both sound great too.

If you like that sort of thing then "Taco, cat, goat, cheese, pizza" is (imho) a great game for the family.

 
Posted : 12/01/2023 10:30 am
Posts: 1890
Full Member
 

@spacemonkey - thanks for the Gloomhaven feedback. sounds like it has pro's and con's. Isnt Frosthaven the same as gloom just in a different environment?

 
Posted : 12/01/2023 10:32 am
Posts: 739
Free Member
 

We got Splendor over the holidays based off this thread and agree it is excellent! Not played too many times yet but really enjoyed it. Still haven’t worked out the best tactics whether to try and build coins early and save for higher value cards or keep picking up the low value cards to discount the higher ones. Have tried both and haven’t won either way yet!

 
Posted : 12/01/2023 10:53 am
Posts: 14
Free Member
 

Quick/Easy but fun 'board game' (card game) I've had for a while... Exploding Kittens. Great fun especially with the expansions. I've got the EK party pack (2-10 players) plus Zombie, Barking and Streaking Kittens expansions. Just Imploding to go!
Back before Christmas (black Friday I think) I ordered Plague Inc. (reverse Pandemic) but never turned up and was refunded 🙁 and Gyrating Hamsters. Another card game like EK but that's also great fun.
My 10 and 7yr olds love both.

Other half paid for me to buy the newest game as a birthday present, but haven't played it yet (next Friday at games night!) namely Bonfire. Looks proper cool but cant comment on game play yet.

Edit: spelling

 
Posted : 12/01/2023 10:55 am
Posts: 2801
Free Member
 

Gloomhaven, I played Jaws of the Lion first, but I definitely prefer Gloomhaven. There is a new helper app called Xhaven- really helps with setting up and running the monsters, and helps with table space, if that’s an issue. Gloomhaven is fantastic. However I haven’t finished it, since my old game group fell apart 🙁 . I’ve started playing Gloomhaven Digital this week, holy crap, it’s even better than the board game!

I preordered Frosthaven, but it has since doubled in price, so I may not get it.

Other current games with my new gaming group are lighter, they want to play Eclipse, but they’re not ready. So we’re playing Kingdomino, Flamme Rouge, Ethnos, Quacks of Queddlingburg, Skull and King of Tokyo. I’m gradually upping the complexity building up to games like Bloodrage, Terraforming Mars and Eclipse.

 
Posted : 12/01/2023 11:00 am
Posts: 1109
Full Member
 

@spacemonkey – thanks for the Gloomhaven feedback. sounds like it has pro’s and con’s. Isnt Frosthaven the same as gloom just in a different environment?

FH is the sequel, with similar - but streamlined - gameplay, and more focus on resource gathering and town building, ie a bit leaner but also bigger.

Get JOTL and see how you get on with it. You'll pretty much get your money back if you decide to sell it.

I’ve started playing Gloomhaven Digital this week, holy crap, it’s even better than the board game!

The one on Steam?

 
Posted : 12/01/2023 11:29 am
Posts: 2801
Free Member
 

Yep, on steam. It’s a full implementation of Gloomhaven.

Frosthaven is identical to Gloomhaven (minor rules tweaks) - with an added town building/resource management phase, so I would say it’s more involved than Gloomhaven!

 
Posted : 12/01/2023 11:40 am
Posts: 10155
Full Member
 

Pandemic: Reign of Cthulu for xmas, loving it, but seems harder than the normal pandemic

yes it is, you soon learn to **** a shoggoth as soon as it appears or you'll be playing with great tentacley entities in no time at all!

 
Posted : 12/01/2023 12:09 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

My 8 year old has shown a massive interest recently in D&D, she's never played and getting other people involved has become a challenge. But I found this on Amazon so grabbed it for her birthday (I can't wait till February so we can play it)

Got her a book too and was very pleased when I offered to read her a book about a Fairy Gymnast but she refused in favour of her Dungeon Academy book......I'll have her painting a 2000 point Dark Angel army in no time

 
Posted : 12/01/2023 12:52 pm
Posts: 6091
Full Member
Topic starter
 

a what challenge…?? tell us more 😛

Not on this thread. This is my Happy Place 🙂.

Hang on for the next HiFi thread, I might give it another go.....😀

 
Posted : 12/01/2023 1:25 pm
Posts: 1109
Full Member
 

Cthulu

Our group are halfway through the Masks of Nyarlathotep RPG campaign, having survived Peru, New York, England and about to embark for Cairo. It's taken about 7 months so far, playing roughly once per week. It's very investigative and we've all nearly died at various points, but our keeper is cool and we all have a laugh.

 
Posted : 12/01/2023 1:34 pm
Posts: 2801
Free Member
 

I’m also playing the Undaunted series of games, (Normandy, North Africa) solo mostly, though I have a Stalingrad campaign running too. One of the best light war games system out there!

 
Posted : 12/01/2023 9:49 pm
Posts: 6091
Full Member
Topic starter
 

We got Small Worlds and an expansion off ebay last week for £30. Only played it once, so can’t judge as we were learning as we went along

Which expansion Harry? Any good?
We got the River World, it's great, but we like the base game just as much.

Still getting to grips with Carcassonne, had the farmers and the river added in tonight - might try another expansion tomorrow.
Loving it.

As for Gloomhaven, Jaws of the Lion is delightful, based on a quick run through but I'm not sure we have time for the full game.

I'd love to have a go at Sleeping Gods, but again, commiting to a six month campaign is hard as an adult!
Mind you, my Middleton mates are still playing the D&D campaign we started at 14.
Serge Perchmaster, chaotic neutral cleric, 'nuff said.

 
Posted : 15/01/2023 12:27 am
Posts: 23013
Full Member
 

Which expansion Harry? Any good?

Can't remember the name of it. Half a dozen more races and powers.

Anyway, second outing yesterday and it was much better for 3 reasons:

1) We understand the rules
2) My wife wasn't constantly shouting "Will you lot shut up and let me read this!"
3) I won.

 
Posted : 15/01/2023 10:55 am
Posts: 76786
Free Member
 

Small World rules are,

Conquest cost = bits of cardboard already on the region +2 (usually).
You can't decline AND move, declining is your entire turn (unless you have a power that says otherwise).

I've got Small World, Underground, Realms, and (I think) all of the race expansions). I really fancy Small World of Warcraft, it's in Game for like half price at the moment.

 
Posted : 15/01/2023 2:38 pm
 Pook
Posts: 12663
Full Member
 

Carcassonne: the Mayor in our house is "Big Pants the Mayor" or MC Hammer.

Double size meeple are MEGA MEEPLE

 
Posted : 15/01/2023 9:05 pm
Posts: 76786
Free Member
 

PSA. Hero Quest is going for £40 on Amazon.

At that price you could probably flip it on eBay and double your money.

 
Posted : 31/01/2023 5:28 pm
Posts: 76786
Free Member
 

Klaus Teuber, creator of Catan passed away on Saturday aged 70, after a "brief and severe" illness.

 
Posted : 04/04/2023 1:57 pm
Page 3 / 4