Nate Hayden Games

Never played any of them, they all intrigue me. Which one should I obtain? I'd like to just purchase everything on his site, but with how little I play games anymore I can't really justify it. Leaning toward Cave Evil (mounted board should be purchased with it?) but I'm open to whatever... even PnP like doing After Pablo doesn't scare me off.

Hell, people here prolly know my own gaming tendencies as much as anyone else I interact with on a daily basis. Suggest away.

Gawd it's like asking which child I love more (the middle one). I'm not sure about what you like but Cave Evil is a resource management dungeoncrawl and After Pablo is a set collection/ area control / worker placement / resource management game.

I love 'em both for different reasons.

I have not played AP, but Cave Evil is amazing. I don't think the mounted board is in any way necessary. In fact, I feel like it kind of takes away from the very clear, very well executed, slightly-crappy-but-definitely-metal aesthetic choices they made for all the components.

Just a word of warning, though, Cave Evil is pretty brutal. You'll definitely find out who in your group can't handle elimination games.

I want all of Nate's stuff but only have CE right now. I would never part with my copy. I would say, loosely, that it's a distant cousin of TITAN.

Who got Psycho Raiders? That looks like a good 2p game.

Psycho Raiders is great. I reviewed it here:

www.2d6.org/2014/11/psycho-raiders-a-written-review/

Hex Sinister wrote: I want all of Nate's stuff but only have CE right now. I would never part with my copy. I would say, loosely, that it's a distant cousin of TITAN.

Who got Psycho Raiders? That looks like a good 2p game.

I do. So far I think it's a fantastic game. It's defintely weighted towards the Raiders but the experience is super fun. I've been meaning to write up a review for this but I would like to have a few more plays.

I did do a solo play by play on Facebook and the response was hilarious. Like a horror movie, my buddy kept calling out to the characters not go into that building or not to trust that townsperson. The narrative aspect is very strong in this game.

By the way charlest reviewed it on BGG.

UPDATE: Charles beat me to it.

Nice review, Charlie. You guys know I want it lol.

Think of Nate as something of a spiritual cousin of Phil Eklund, but more interested in metal, psychonautics, drug cartels and slasher films than esoteric history and science. I think there are many points of comparison between the way that these guys design games, and I think Nate would be the first to state that Eklund is a big influence on his designs.

You have to kind of know what you're getting into with his stuff. I would easily call him one of the best, most innovative and creative designers working today but along with that maverick sensibility you've got to accept that not everything he does is spit-shined polished. There is some roughness in all of his work, but if you like experimental strands in music, film, art and literature then you will likely appreciate where he is coming from and what he is doing. With that said, you have GOT to have people with you playing these games that are on the same page. If you bring out Cave Evil or Mushroom Eaters and your group expects something like a Fantasy Flight or Z-Man game...well, it's not going to go over well.

But for the right crowd, these games can be just amazing.

Cave Evil is Titan crossed with Dig Dug and Emperor's first album.

Psycho Raiders video