anybody play board games?

[lazarus]

We really got into board games a year or so ago with Settlers of Cataan, but have really been hooked on Puerto Rico.

My daughter got one from Steve Jackson Games called Munchkin which is almost more of a card game, but you do build a board in a way. It's a fun parody of classic D&D. If you've ever played D&D, I recommend it.

Transamerica is a fun little train game, but I'm saving up for Ticket To Ride, which I've heard is amazing and the best train game out there.

Of course, my pride and joy is my 1963 edition of Risk with the wooden pieces. I need to get that out of storage.

[bergie321]

1. I love board games

Favorites are Settlers of Cataan, Axis & Allies, and Risk.

[lazarus]

2. I've got Lord of the Rings Risk

I thought it would just be a cheap knock off, where they took place names from the books and put it on the map, but it's a completely reworked game using the basic mechanics of Risk.

It's only four players, two "good" and two "evil". You get located in different regions based on your alignment, but random within that region.

There are strongholds and Sites of Power. Holding one of these can allow you to complete a mission for bonus points.

oh, yeah, points. You can win either by conquering the world, or having the most points. There's a ring that follows a path on the board. It moves one territory per turn based on die rolls, unless you find a way to stop it using a card. Once it's off the board, play stops and you add up points for strongholds, Sites of Power, territories, etc.

It's actually quite a fun game.

For some reason I've never played Axis and Allies. How many players do you need for it to be fun? We have three most of the time, but a fourth is available at times.

Have you played any of the Settlers expansions? Seafarers is a fun variant, but we mostly love the Fishermen of Cataan add on.

[Ignis]

3. Oh, Munchkin is such dirty, dirty fun.

I love seeing how quickly a game of Munchkin can turn old friends into sworn enemies. :evilgrin:

The game rewards double-dealing and back-stabbing almost as much as the game on which it's based. ;)

[Forkboy]

4. Puerto Rico is a good one. There's variants of it as well.

St. Petersburg and San Juan come to mind. All very addictive. :)

[HappyCynic]

5. Some I own/enjoy

I've played the Battlestar Galactica board game a few times and it's quite good. It's a semi-cooperative game - one or two players may be Cylons and be secretly working against the group. It's fairly tough but fun.

I've also played the new Arkham Horror game. It's fun but I found the original Arkham Horror game simpler and more fun. The new one is quite challenging and much more complex.

I own a game called Pandemic that I haven't had a chance to play yet. It's one of the few truly cooperative games out there.

I also have a few card games. Chrononauts is pretty fun. Grave Robbers From Outer Space is amusing (the game mechanics aren't unusual but the cards are great for people who enjoy B movies). Gloom is twisted fun.

[Occulus]

6. I have Twilight Imperium

It's fun, but it takes a looooonnnng time to play. Like, "Risk" long.

Here's a screenie of a full game in progress:



The ships on the table are plastic pieces, by the way.

[Salviati]

7. Race for the Galaxy is a lot of fun.

it can be a bit complicated at first, but once you get used to the meaning of the symbols, it's pretty straight forward. It's a lot like Puerto Rico in a way, but with less set up hassle or competition for roles.

The first expansion adds a lot to the game. The second makes it a bit unwieldy, it feels like there are too many cards in play to plan a reliable strategy. I haven't played at all with the third expansion yet.

[lazarus]

8. just thought of another one - Robo Rally

this is by Richard Garfield. You have 'bots that move through a factory floor filled with obstacles. Thing is, their computers are messed up, and you have to give them directions one step at a time. You get 7 direction cards, and pick the five you want in the order you want.

What's hilarious is to see someone's 'bot go flying into the abyss because they got mixed up and put "left" instead of "right".

Very fun game.