[ot, kinda] Board Game suggestions

[Shallown]

I second or third Settlers of Catan and also suggest Starfarers of Catan which is also fun.

I also second of third Risk 2210. It is an improvement over the endless Risk game. Lots of strategy and tactics to try for pints to win. A good smack talking game.

We also play dominoes a lot and other card games like cribbage or spades.

Later

 

[Gizzard]

It sounds like you might be more interested in wargames, which I haven't really kept up with. As for board games:

As other people mentioned, Settlers of Catan and Carcassone are excellent board games which can be quickly taught to novices, are interactive enough to have wide appeal and, of course, remain fun for experienced players.

Puerto Rico seems to be the hot new thing in board gaming, potentially in the same league as the previous two, which are already classics. Somehow I haven't managed to play Puerto Rico yet, but everyone is raving about it.

 

[WizarDru]

So many games, so little time....

Hmmm, lately?

Dragon's Gold is fun, and so is Elfenland. I'm quite partial to Mhing, which is a mah-jongg inspired card game.

ZOMBIES! is a lot of fun, and it has lots of little zombies, which is a party in and of itself.

I love Titan:Arena (which is nothing like the original, utlracool Titan), which is more of a betting game. It plays quick, too. Pirateer is a lot of fun, and quick to play. And you can make Pirate sounds like "Arrr!"

RoboRally is fun, but can become tedious. FRAG! is lots of good, killing fun, and requires little brain power. Most of Cheap Ass Games line is worth a look, though my personal favorite is Bitin' off Hedz, a game about dinosaurs racing to commit suicide in a volcano.

I have Honor of the Samurai, Overthrone, King of the Elves and lots of games I haven't gotten around to playing, yet.

 

[emergent]

Wow! So many games to try. Right now I am leaning toward Risk 2010 or Settlers of Catan (which I am embarrassed to admit I have never played). Pirateer sounds good as well, because it is always fun to say "Arrgh!"

This would also be a good chance to game with my wife. She is not into RPG's, but likes board games (Monopoly, Life) and card games.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

 

[jmucchiello]

This would also be a good chance to game with my wife. She is not into RPG's, but likes board games (Monopoly, Life) and card games.

For someone who somehow likes both Monopoly and Life, I'd suggest Carcassone is more up your alley than Puerto Rico or even Settlers of Catan. (Settlers is a bridge game between family gaming and hardcore strategy gaming. Puerto Rice is a strategy game, though not hardcore. El Grande is hardcore. Tigris and Euphratis is hardcore. Diplomacy is hardcore but with a great RP element and the nasty requirement of exactly 7 players.)

Whoever suggested getting the original Civilization -- Do you realize you may as well have said "pick up an original Gideon Bible?" It is so popular it is nearly impossible to find a good copy. Add in advanced civ and the expansion and now you're sendng the person on a snipe hunt. Ebay doesn't even have advanced civ.

 

[Zogg]

Let me reiterate ACQUIRE!

It's really good. I promise.

 

[Utrecht]

It sounds like you might be more interested in wargames, which I haven't really kept up with. As for board games:

As other people mentioned, Settlers of Catan and Carcassone are excellent board games which can be quickly taught to novices, are interactive enough to have wide appeal and, of course, remain fun for experienced players.

Puerto Rico seems to be the hot new thing in board gaming, potentially in the same league as the previous two, which are already classics. Somehow I haven't managed to play Puerto Rico yet, but everyone is raving about it.

Having played Puerto Rico many times I doubt that it will reach the classic level - there are some balance issues with it......

Some other options:

Bohnanza
Fist of Dragonstones
Ra
Tikal
Evo

 

[pogre]

1835
Doge

 

[d20Dwarf]

Having played Puerto Rico many times I doubt that it will reach the classic level - there are some balance issues with it......

Some other options:

Bohnanza
Fist of Dragonstones
Ra
Tikal
Evo

I agree about Puerto Rico. I picked up on the correct strategy the first time I played it and it hasn't failed since, for anyone that's gotten it (and it does require a bit of early luck to pull off). I have yet to try my variant that removes the one problem card, but I think the game will be better for it.

I love El Grande, but it is probably a bit too hardcore for a non-gamer, as is Princes of Florence (another excellent game by the same designers, Ulrich and Kramer).

Carcassone (preferably Hunters & Gatherers) and Settlers of Catan are probably your best bets, and can be used to bridge a non-gamer into more strategic games such as those mentioned above. Evo is also a good choice, as it has some strategy but is also easy to grasp.

 

[emergent]

Looks like Carcassone is a front runner. Can anyone tell me more about it? I need to sell it to my wife.

Do you realize you may as well have said "pick up an original Gideon Bible?"

Do you mean Gutenberg Bible? Aren't the Gideon Bibles the ones you find in every hotel room in the U.S.? I have a copy of each, but I just wanted to make sure.

And I will check out Acquire, because Zogg seems so enthusiastic about it. Big fonts and everything.