What boardgames are you playing in 2012?

[Jhaelen]

LotR LCG was hard to win solo, got beat twice.

Oh, yes. Even for expert players with perfect decks some of the scenarios are extremely hard to beat. Personally, I prefer playing two decks at once when playing solo. It also gives a better idea how the game might play when playing it coop.

All three (not me) are fans of Das Zepter von Zavandor and gave it another run.

Ugh. This is probably the most terrible game I ever played. Our first (and only) game took almost six hours and the winner was obvious right from the start. It's extremely math-heavy with a badly tacked-on theme, leading easily to analysis-paralysis and there's almost no way to swing the game around once someone's got a lead.

One of my friends was a fan of the online version of the game, which I assume is a lot better suited to this kind of game. As a boardgame, at least, it's atrocious.

 

[MerricB]

I rather enjoy Sceptre, but it does take time and I'm not sure if you can catch up. (You need people of about the same skill level, which is hard).

Last night we ended up playing Epic Spell Wars (by Rob Heinsoo), a light beer'n'pretzels game which was surprisingly amusing, Thunderstone Advance, which remains just as clunky and "not as good as Dominion" as ever, and Dungeon Petz, a Vlaada game, which was very enjoyable.

Cheers!

 

[catsclaw227]

I've heard some good stuff about Urban Sprawl too, a Chad Jensen game from GMT. Has anyone played it?

 

[MerricB]

I've heard some good stuff about Urban Sprawl too, a Chad Jensen game from GMT. Has anyone played it?

Yes. I rather enjoy it, but it's certainly more chaotic than your average Eurogame. It has something of a mixed reputation.

I've played it three times, and enjoyed it each time. I really need to get it out again (the main problem is the over 300 other boardgames I have clamouring for attention...)

There are a few of my friends who I wouldn't play it with, as they'd have trouble handling the chaos. It tends a bit towards creating AP-situations. Doesn't bother me much, but I try to play games that my friends will enjoy.

Cheers!

 

[MerricB]

LotR LCG was hard to win solo, got beat twice.

I really enjoy the challenge of LotR. There are a few scenarios that are nearly impossible solo (though I've seen them defeated), and I need to find a friend to help me complete them, but most of the scenarios are fine.

I tried taking the same deck through the three Khazad-dum missions, but you need completely different strategies to get through the first two - aced the first mission, was slaughtered in the second. Good fun, though!

I haven't played Elder Sign yet; I'm too much of an Arkham Horror fan. I've played a *lot* of that solo over the years, and I have all the expansions for it.

Cheers!

 

[catsclaw227]

I haven't played Elder Sign yet; I'm too much of an Arkham Horror fan. I've played a *lot* of that solo over the years, and I have all the expansions for it.

I'm a big Arkham Horror fan as well, and I enjoy the solo play of it too. I did find that I can solo Elder Sign with 2 investigators and be done a lot faster -- Arkham Horror can really cut into late night, even solo. Though this may be because I like to break out at the minimum two expansions (a big box one and a small box one).

It's really fun and doesn't make AH any less fun, just that you can play a game with less time.

With regards to AH, I don't have all the expansions, maybe half, and I really want to get the Dunwich Horror one next. I currently am missing Dunwich, Miskatonic, Curse of the Dark Pharaoh, and Black Goat in the Woods. I also don't have any of the promotional stuff.

What was wrong with Dark Pharaoh that required a revision?

Oh... and I am drooling over the two new Monster Mini sets. And I want the investigator minis too.

 

[MerricB]

What was wrong with Dark Pharaoh that required a revision?

It was the first expansion and a lot of it didn't mesh that well with the later sets. I actually rather liked it as it was, but there's no doubt that the revision tremendously improved how it interacted with everything else.

Misk. Horror. is *really* good because it ties the expansions together a lot more, as well as providing new elements for existing expansions.

When I play solo these days, I use one investigator, the easiest difficulty level from Black Goat of the Woods (2 clues appear rather than 1 on the gate locations), and an expansion + Misk. Horror. A game takes about 30 minutes, but setting up takes more... so it tends to sit on my table for a week and I take several shots at it.

Cheers!

 

[Wycen]

Last night we ended up playing Thunderstone Advance, which remains just as clunky and "not as good as Dominion" as ever, and Dungeon Petz, a Vlaada game, which was very enjoyable.

Cheers!

I have a couple of friends who love Thunderstone but I find it too much about wondering around "town" trying to build your deck while picking off the weaker monsters in the dungeon.

Dungeon Petz I will have to play again, and probably again, before I get a handle on the magic rainbow of pet needs. It just seemed needlessly complex or too many things to keep track of.

 

[Fast Learner]

I mostly enjoy Thunderstone and quite enjoyed my one game of Thunderstone Advance, while Dominion has consistently left me cold (and I played it first, of course, even in playtest). Not sure why, though; I should consider that.

 

[frankthedm]

Dungeonquest 1987 GW edition, Catacombs & Heroes expansions.