What BOARD GAME(s) have you been playing?

My recently retired mom stopped by to visit for a few nights. She loves board games despite not really ever trying to learn rules at all or have any desire to form strategy beyond the current moment (Ticket to Ride is likely the most "complex" game she would enjoy playing).

I taught her Luchador!: MWD and she promptly kicked the shit out of me in ways the laws of averages should deem not possible. 3 Wins in a row with both of the final wins without taking damage and the last game taking a mere 2 rolls. Her laughter was a combination of enjoyment, disbelief, and just a hint of uncharacteristic cockiness.

Can't say I've ever enjoyed losing much more than that.

Played more of the new San Juan last night, really digging the new buildings (except for the Park, which is absolute shit.) Also the Archaeology card game, which isn't bad, and some Dead Man's Draw while waiting for two others to arrive.

The main was a four-player game of Roll for the Galaxy, my second time playing and everyone else's first. This time around fewer dice-manipulation powers turned up and people got kind of hosed at their die rolls and that is a good thing. It gave me some sense of hope for this game, though I still don't understand why it needs to exist when Race is just fine. It doesn't do anything particularly interesting with the dice or with the basic idea of the game. Folks seem to like it okay, though. It's a shame they kept up with the idiotic cryptic iconography even though the tiles say in plain English what they do. The game looks far more complicated than it actually is and the new player who actually won by a long shot visibly cringed at the sight of the "player aid". Look at this nonsense.

Finished out with two games of Pairs, which is such stupid fun.

Dabid, you are welcome for the recommendation even though you didn't thank me. Still, you're welcome.

This will be up on the main page soon enough, but here's a link to my review in the mean time: blog.cardboardinsanity.com/2015/02/putti...-chokehold-with.html

[quote="Legomancer" post=197432The game looks far more complicated than it actually is and the new player who actually won by a long shot visibly cringed at the sight of the "player aid". Look at this nonsense.
[/quote]

That is truly horrendous but it still for my money doesn't quite live up to the original flow diagram from Glory to Rome. Somehow Glory to Rome remains the superior game despite that!

iguanaDitty wrote: Somehow Glory to Rome remains the superior game despite that!

I've never really bitten on GtR. Or Uchronia. They both seem like San Juan except someone decided it needed more wheels within the wheels.

Stay away from Uchronia, just go full on GtR.

Couple games of solo Gears of War. I just finished the Roadblocks scenario. The tickers section wasn't really that hard, at least not with 2 players. They are a minor nuisance, but when they're all you're facing and you can guard it isn't that big a deal. I managed to get through it when it heated up at the end when all the boomers and drones spawned in... Killed the last boomer with a grenade, then had to pick up downed Marcus before new enemies spawned. That was a pretty exciting 2nd half. Tickers mean a lot more when they're mixed in with the other enemies, the 1 automatic damage on death is really irritating while you're under other fire.

Then I played the "Separated!" scenario, which I thought was a clever scenario that twisted the mechanics a bit. The basic premise is that the team is split up and they'll need to complete sub objectives before the other side can move on to the next area. Then there's a final room where everyone meets up that contains a new enemy, Grinders, who have tons of defense and huge machine guns. They are really tough if you let the drones and tickers get going... you really have no choice but to sit down in cover while the grinders fire at you because their special power does tons of damage if you aren't in cover.

I won because I picked up the "Mortar" special weapon earlier in the map, which is absolutely WICKED. 5 dice, no cover defense, and if you roll a special it does damage to all adjacent area. If I didn't have that I'm not sure I would have won the scenario. As it was, I got a double mortar shot off and rained some serious destruction on the grinders which left me with only one wounded enemy to face.

My favorite part of the game is that you can get FUCKED UP by even minor enemies. Drones can one shot you if you aren't careful---usually if they roll pretty well and you aren't in cover. Sometimes even if you are in cover you come up empty handed on defense dice and they put you out (rare). I like this because you're never sure you're safe.

stormseeker75 wrote: Dabid, you are welcome for the recommendation even though you didn't thank me. Still, you're welcome.

Dirty LIES!

fortressat.com/forum/35-mos-eisley-canti...ing?start=105#196715

Thanks again you thank you monger... perhaps mentioning Sons of Anarchy first brought up some bad memories between us...

Gary Sax wrote: My favorite part of the game is that you can get FUCKED UP by even minor enemies. Drones can one shot you if you aren't careful---usually if they roll pretty well and you aren't in cover. Sometimes even if you are in cover you come up empty handed on defense dice and they put you out (rare). I like this because you're never sure you're safe.

And that's exactly why I like running just one dude. No safety net. You really have to think if it is worth it to take a risk and leave your guy vulnerable. Play too conservative though and you won't make any progress.

Blood Bowl!

Have managed to get a group of us playing a mini league for a friends 40th birthday. As good as I remember (bought 3rd Ed new on release) with the new tournament rules streamlining and balancing a few glitches. There is plenty of information and handy downloads out there to make things easier - updated reference sheets, excel files for team and league results. Also a whole host of small manufacturers making figures and boards - next week the final, with a four player Death Bowl match on a Comixininos printed board.

Sam