Reccomend some (non-RPG) games

[der_kluge]

If you ever come across it, the MAD board game was a hoot. We used to play it as kids. It's WAY out of print now, but you might be able to find it on eBay.

The goal was to lose all your money. It had a bunch of cards that read things like:

"sit on your hands, cackle like a chicken, and lay an egg. If you're believable, lose $500, otherwise gain $500."

or

"place this card on the top of your head and walk around the table backwards. If you make it all the way around without losing the card (or your head), lose $1000"

The board even had a place that said "if your name is Alfred E. Neumann, you win $1,367,892, otherwise do nothing". I don't remember the exact amount, but it was some huge amount. And they even printed a special bill that had that exact amount on it, just in case someone playing the game's actual name was Alfred E. Neumann!


Fun game

 

[CarlZog]

If you can find it, Junta is an excellent board game. You're the dictator of a banana republic that is trying to get to the airport with as much cash as you can manage.

Junta! I haven't thought about that game in years. What a blast!

 

[Terath Ninir]

Carcassone (and Carcassone: Hunters and Gatherers, which is a slightly better game IMHO) is pretty good with 2 (admittedly better with 3-4)

I'll second Carcassone: H & G being better. My wife and I play that a lot (though she *is* a gamer).

We just played a game called Metro: you build subway lines under Paris. Very simple game, but fun. We played with 5 people, but it works for 2-6 and I actually think it would be more fun with fewer players.

Fluxx is also a fun game, though I've found the reply value kind of lacking.

Formula De Mini is a great game. Formula De is a racing game with pretty huge boards; the Mini version has half-sized boards, simpler rules (not that they were complicated to begin with, really), and quicker game play. A single lap around the board on the big game can take 1-2 hours; it's more like 20-30 minutes on the small board. We also found that the simplified rules were actually more fun.

 

[der_kluge]

I wish WoTC would re-release RoboRally. I never knew about it, and only played it for the first time a couple of years ago, and loved it. It takes a LOT of spatial reasoning skills though, and so might be considered kind of a geekish game. But it's really fun. And apparently sells for tons of cash on eBay.

 

[Maerdwyn]

Junta! I haven't thought about that game in years. What a blast!

A blast, yes, but no good for 2...5 minimum, 7 is better

 

[thalmin]

RoboRally, though out of print now, is scheduled for re-release late this summer. Guillotine is likewise due back.
Of the crayon-based rail games, Nippon Rails (out of print, but contact me) is the best for 2 players, British Rails is also decent.
Carcassone plays well for 2, as well as being a great multi-player game.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

These two are fantasy, but fun:

WizWar -- an absolutely hilarious combination board/card game about wizards in a maze trying to steal each others' treasure, using some wild spell cobinations.

FlipQuest -- just discovered this combination board/card/rpg. The rules aren't written very well, but it has a neat way of using tiles to generate what is esentially a random dungeon adventure for exploration.

Non-fantasy:

Nuclear War/Nuclear Annihilation -- there's nothing quite as off-kilter as a nuclear card game where you use body count to keep score.

 

[Terath Ninir]

Of the crayon-based rail games, Nippon Rails (out of print, but contact me) is the best for 2 players, British Rails is also decent.

Both great games, but it's hard for me to go back to the simpler games after playing Iron Dragon. The added complexity (though not all that much, really) makes the game for me.

For a really, really simple rail game, try Ticket to Ride. Easy enough for most anyone, and a blast. Easier to explain than the crayon-based games, too.

 

[buzz]

These are all great suggestions, peeps. Thanks! Feel free to keep 'em coming.

 

[xrpsuzi]

We are both interested in learning GO, but my guess is that may be a little more involved

It's zen-like simplicity juxtaposed with the infinite strategy make my brain hurt. If you pick it up, start by limiting the board size (I think they start people playing 9x9). And don't be fooled by false eyes.