Top 10 boardgames on BGG

[MerricB]

I've only played Twilight Struggle a handful of times, but so far it seems pretty cool. I understand why so many people like it. I also got 1960: The Making of the President, since I heard it was similar, and sounded like it might fit my tastes a tad better. After playing both, I find I like Twilight Struggle better. I have the same problem with both games, though, which is that I'm not very good at them.

You'll get better.

Here's a a short session report of TS to amuse you:
Our shortest game yet! | Twilight Struggle | BoardGameGeek

1960 doesn't engage me the same way as TS; I personally think the mechanics are nowhere near as good. In TS, you've got a bunch of hand management going on, and card cycling is important. In 1960, it's once through the deck and some elements (like media) don't properly gel with the rest of the game.

Cheers!

 

[FriarRosing]

You'll get better.

Here's a a short session report of TS to amuse you:
Our shortest game yet! | Twilight Struggle | BoardGameGeek

1960 doesn't engage me the same way as TS; I personally think the mechanics are nowhere near as good. In TS, you've got a bunch of hand management going on, and card cycling is important. In 1960, it's once through the deck and some elements (like media) don't properly gel with the rest of the game.

Cheers!

I definitely agree about 1960, for the most part. I do kind of like the drawing cubes instead of rolling dice, but other than that Twilight Struggle is certainly superior. I do like any game where you can play as Nixon, though.

With Twilight Struggle, the only thing that keeps me from suggesting it very often is how long it takes. For whatever reason, I prefer two player games to be shorter. It's only if there are multiple people that I like it to go for very long. Of course, a long game of Twilight Struggle isn't necessarily always going to be the case, as your session report illustrates!

Every time I've played TS I've gotten stomped. I've only played it a handful of times since I've bought it, but each time I've felt somewhat overwhelmed by my choices, and I've had a hard time decided exactly what I wanted to do. Also, it didn't help that in those games I wasn't very familiar with the cards, which is something I've gotten better about.

 

[DonTadow]

Twilight Struggle is my #1 game, and though it has a relatively long play time (2-3 hours), the set-up time is quite short; less than many other games in my experience, and certainly less than Agricola. Not quite sure why you say it has a long set-up time.

Cheers!

. Placing all the little pieces on the board, for a two player game is kinda of cumbersome. Look at something like Dominion which has at most a 5 minute setup. Twilight's other problem is the quality of components and the shabby board. The card stock is low for a game that is primary card playing and the board requires a half dozen books to keep straight. It seemed like there were easier ways to do without all the pieces.

 

[MerricB]

. Placing all the little pieces on the board, for a two player game is kinda of cumbersome. Look at something like Dominion which has at most a 5 minute setup. Twilight's other problem is the quality of components and the shabby board. The card stock is low for a game that is primary card playing and the board requires a half dozen books to keep straight. It seemed like there were easier ways to do without all the pieces.

The board is getting the mounted treatment in the next edition. I wonder if you have a lower-quality card deck than I have, since my TS cards (and Randy's set) are as durable as any game I've seen; they're really good and on a pretty heavy card stock!

I count that each player needs to place about 12 counters on the board, plus 6 information markers. That's not that many and shouldn't take more than a couple of minutes.

Cheers!

 

[FriarRosing]

. Placing all the little pieces on the board, for a two player game is kinda of cumbersome. Look at something like Dominion which has at most a 5 minute setup. Twilight's other problem is the quality of components and the shabby board. The card stock is low for a game that is primary card playing and the board requires a half dozen books to keep straight. It seemed like there were easier ways to do without all the pieces.

My only problem is with my board lying flat, but it's good enough that it's not really big deal. Otherwise, I don't see very many criticisms. I mean, it's not super attractive, but it's certainly not hideous.

Also, I know of plenty of other 2 player games that have much more involved set up.