The Thread Where We Are Board Game Geeks

I'm don't have the expertise of most in this thread, but King of Tokyo is a safe bet. 2-6 players, very easy, very fun and addictive (though maybe not as involved as the two games you mention).

We have started playing Labyrinth and it is basically brain-consuming AND SUPER FUN. I am representing the Jihadists and Thnig is the US. So far we have played through two turns (two rounds of cards) and after an immersive weekend, I think we're getting the hang of it a little better. It's MUCH MUCH more serious than any game I've ever played before, totally love that. I've got troops in a variety of places, but my plots have all failed. The US can't seem to withdraw from Afghanistan until the posture returns to soft. I only with there were an expansion that would allow the US to add private contractors once the troops became fatigued.

Just for the hell of it, I took a picture. I, personally, have never seen a game like this one, much less played one. The game acknowledges up front that everyone loses. It seems to be about how you play the game and who loses least. VERY appealing basic premise for me, at least.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7301/8935708161_2130567ec6.jpg

also -- the end of the rule book has a list of the cards and more information about the strategic historical significance of the event. it's very complete! there's a glossary.

Hmmm, tried googling that and all I got was a kiddie boardgame from 1986.

Labyrinth: the war on terror
http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/62227/labyrinth-the-war-on-terror-2001

Oh ta

oh hey that looks like terror twilight struggle (which i have never played it is a kind of grail)

xxxp I did that too, mainly because that kiddie boardgame from 1986 was a regular feature of visits to cousins/grandparents and I was fairly sure it wasn't what was being talked about, but...

(Thanks for the link, LL. Spying on this thread despite not being a board game geek because I've been made aware of a board game night I might be able to invite myself to and want to know what I might be letting myself in for if I turn up)

i should mention that i saw this game when we were browsing in a store (a game geek store) and was interested because it was realistic, and seemed really dry and fair. not bloodthirsty (kill the enemy!) and 0 goofy but more complex and strategy-oriented. i've never played any games like this at all, and generally the concept of learning all about another world just to try to kill more zombies/monsters/whatever than my opponent doesn't really interest me, but when i saw that there were markers measuring both US prestige and the overall success of the GWOT (that's what we call it after a weekend of this), i was pretty convinced it would be fun. and it totally is!!

i'm not exactly an expert, is what i'm saying!

also board game nights tend to vary a lot depending on who's having them -- i wouldn't take this thread as any representation of what it might be like!

I haven't played a board game in forever. Feel like I should start again.

I've played more conventional card driven wargames (Hannibal vs Rome is one) where the cards have multiple uses so there's lots of decision making going on. In terms of hard core strategy games the card driven ones are my favorite type. Steep learning curve imo but it is rewarding.

Learning curve is often a barrier for me. I prefer complex games that don't have a huge luck component. However, I hate learning games and I feel like it takes me many plays to actually get it and even longer to understand strategy. I think I'm slower than most in that regards.

Basic games are fun, but I get bored by them after a few plays.

here is a closeup of 4 of the 6 little chit holders
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7371/8907801065_a4dca54acf.jpg

I don't like the learning curve either! I guess I really like the idea that Labyrinth/war strategy games use stuff/terms/events I already know exist, not an imaginary world full of nouns and verbs i don't know (you have to lapiderate the ontodoctyl before you can etc). i mean, i already understand most of the implications "regime change". at least the game allows me to use that understanding. I think I'm too old to learn about the ontodoctyl.

another quick Netrunner question: in competitive play, how do they decide who is corp or runner?

Learning one of these games that use a card driven system really makes it easier to learn the others that interest you. A good upfront investment.

xpost

i'm already looking forward to andean abyss! i feel like someone designed that game just for me!

LL did you cut some the corners off your counters?

no
they just look like that
i'm not a counter customizer! i barely understand what they're for.

i'd argue that real life cheating/corruption among the players of Labyrinth should be fair game!

i'm not a counter customizer!

haha, I am :/

once we're ten years in and funding is low on both sides, i can see some subterfuge. at this point, it's technically 2002. according to the game, the us is entrenched in afghanistan and the jihadists have been causing trouble in EU countries. that's all that's happening at the moment.

does this sound like a lot of fun or WHAT

another quick Netrunner question: in competitive play, how do they decide who is corp or runner?

you play each. if you win both games, you win the round. if it's a split, then whoever scored the most points in their losing game wins.

sounds like fun to me, but i'm a nerd who keeps dreaming about a geopolitical LCG

it is fun!

i floop the tony blair

I spent days of my teenage years clipping corners off cardboard wargame counters. I wouldn't recommend this.

Previews for the final Dominion expansion are happening this week:

http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/986175/previews-1-baker

this is the thread where we are dekulakization dice game geeks:
http://cosstropolis.com/games/kulak/

an interesting idea, but is it fun?

idk haven't tried it yet. i intend to tho

Has anyone ever won at Pandemic?

i have! only once tho iirc

We win all the time... (hope i'm not jinxing it)

The secret is to focus on curing diseases much more than anything else. (And hopefully having roles to support.)

Normally I play with 2 players though - might be harder with more?

I don't think I've lost at Pandemic yet - I think the key is probably to get your team spread across into each disease zone and tackle them individually, even if it involves sacrificing research to travel there.

Forbidden Island is a lot more challenging imo, and can feel from the outset that you're not going to win (which makes it all the sweeter when you do).

Wow, we've played Pandemic about four times now and lost hopelessly each time. Four players. Maybe we're just hopeless.

is Pandemic more difficult to beat than Arkham Horror?

i think arkham horror is harder

In my experience, the game is way harder with 4 players than with 2. At 4 players with all epidemics you can definitely get screwed over sometimes, but if you really focus on curing diseases you end up OK more often than not.

Arkham Horror is definitely harder.

I agree that Pandemic is counter-intuitive in that you would think that more players would cure more easily but the number of epidemics plus the combination of putting the already infected cities back on top and the outbreak mechanic mean it's much more difficult to win.

Drum Roll is the most fun game I've played recently, but Tammany Hall (or at least the new edition) is game of the year, for sure.

We'd kind of assumed that Pandemic would be easier with even more players. Hmmm.

pandemic is DEF harder with four. almost impossible. every move counts.

i think arkham horror is harder

― Mordy , Thursday, September 12, 2013 7:55 AM (Yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

ugh I hate arkham horror for a long list of reasons. when my friends play they always seem to win easily just by punching cthulu in the face.

i just bought race for the galaxy. everyone loves that right?

i wasnt crazy about arkham horror cuz i wasnt really sure what to do with myself in it. that's also a bit of a prob in the first few turns of pandemic

I've really wanted to try Race for the Galaxy.

I got dominion recently but haven't played it yet

dominion is fun but don't google strats or you'll ruin it for yourself. gets better w/expansions too

race for the galaxy looks complicated.

anyone fuck w/king of tokyo or the resistance? I've probably asked that before but they're fun games