Recommend me a board game?

JM1 · 2011-12-29T06:34:12.000Z

Reldan:

It’s an good game if all you want is something that’s quick for a 1v1. I was under the impression that he was wanting something that could play more than that well.

Ah. That bit of info wasn’t in the posts I read! :)

SlyFrog · 2011-12-29T06:47:06.000Z

Jason Lutes:

Mage Knight is probably my boardgame of the year at this point. I absolutely love it. I haven’t tried 2-player co-op, but the solo game is good. As a 2-player competitive game it’s great; haven’t had the chance to try it with more than 2 yet. The only issue with more players is downtime if some of them are AP-prone. There is a lot to think about when it’s not your turn, though – you can plan out exactly what you’re going to do next because you have all the cards to work with in hand. If everybody at the table spends their downtime planning their next turn, things can move relatively quickly.

Thanks. That’s really helpful.

It sounds like they sold out and are reprinting (including some errata fixes). Though I of course want it now, the rational thing to do is wait for the next printing, but it definitely sounds like something I want.

I love Magic Realm, but it honestly doesn’t get to the table very often due to its lengthy setup (and complexity).

Don_Quixote · 2011-12-29T07:37:42.000Z

Mage Knight (and Eclipse) are only sold out if you only buy from online game stores. Plenty of brick-and-mortar game stores probably still have copies.

Chuck_Jordan · 2011-12-29T09:55:24.000Z

Gus_Smedstad:

While you can play that way, combinations are usually the essence of Race for the Galaxy.
[combos deleted]

Sounds like I need to play more of the game, then.

The part I’m skeptical about: I never feel like I’m in any control of the cards I get. Unlike Dominion, where the cards are all accessible “random access” style, and it’s just a case of being able to afford them; there are so many cards in Race for the Galaxy and they’re used for so many different purposes, that it always feels like it’s entirely up to chance.

Are there strategies for getting more control over your hand? Like, I’m guessing, concentrating on exploration at the expense of development early on in the game?

apost8 · 2011-12-29T11:11:31.000Z

Chuck Jordan:

The part I’m skeptical about: I never feel like I’m in any control of the cards I get. Unlike Dominion, where the cards are all accessible “random access” style, and it’s just a case of being able to afford them; there are so many cards in Race for the Galaxy and they’re used for so many different purposes, that it always feels like it’s entirely up to chance.

Well, unlike Dominion, you can’t go into the game with a particular combo that you want to use in mind. In Race, your top priority in your first few turns should be to increase the number of cards in your hand, and beyond that you should take a hard look at, say, the first dozen cards you have access to – between those in your newly increased hand and those you’ve already played to your tableau, and recognize, “Hey, I’ve got this Mining Conglomerate card, and I’ve already played two Rare Elements generating worlds, so there is some synergy there!”

That is, the control comes in due to the fact that you will be spending the majority of your cards to pay for settling and developing a minority of the cards you have in your hand, and you should choose that particular minority to be the one that maximize their synergy with each other.

SamF7 · 2011-12-29T11:29:55.000Z

A great PC implementation of RftG with exceptional AI:

http://www.keldon.net/rftg/
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/7379896/rftg/index.html (adds some UI improvements).

It’s really excellent, and even supports MP to boot!

SamF7

Tracy_Baker · 2011-12-29T11:50:16.000Z

SamF7:

A great PC implementation of RftG with exceptional AI:

http://www.keldon.net/rftg/

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/7379896/rftg/index.html (adds some UI improvements).

It’s really excellent, and even supports MP to boot!

SamF7

It’s one of the best PC translations of a board game ever, and the programmer secured Rio Grande’s blessing to use their artwork so there’s no need to feel guilty as the AI pounds the snot out of you.

Jason_Lutes · 2011-12-29T13:17:40.000Z

SlyFrog:

Thanks. That’s really helpful.

It sounds like they sold out and are reprinting (including some errata fixes). Though I of course want it now, the rational thing to do is wait for the next printing, but it definitely sounds like something I want.

I love Magic Realm, but it honestly doesn’t get to the table very often due to its lengthy setup (and complexity).

Someone wrote a direct comparison of MK and MR here.

Tracy_Baker · 2011-12-29T13:36:13.000Z

Arcanum recently went on sale for a buck, but I passed because I didn’t want to mess with a print-and-play beast. Now I’m kind of kicking myself because it sounds a lot like Magic Realm with an updated design that doesn’t water down certain elements like Mage Knight does.

William_Abner · 2011-12-29T13:56:15.000Z

Don Quixote:

Mage Knight (and Eclipse) are only sold out if you only buy from online game stores. Plenty of brick-and-mortar game stores probably still have copies.

Actually CoolStuff has a lot of MK copies. Just ordered mine.

SlyFrog · 2011-12-29T14:04:26.000Z

William Abner:

Actually CoolStuff has a lot of MK copies. Just ordered mine.

Yeah, I know I can get it. My point was more, if they’re going to be reprinting it, it makes logical sense for me just to wait 2-3 months (or whatever) and get it with the corrected errata.

Vincent19 · 2011-12-29T15:20:40.000Z

I got Munchkin for Christmas. I’m curious, as someone who mostly plays games with just my roommate, is the game suitable for two players. I’ve heard that three and up is ideal, but would the game work (and be fun) with just two?

Mysterio · 2011-12-29T15:22:17.000Z

SlyFrog:

Yeah, I know I can get it. My point was more, if they’re going to be reprinting it, it makes logical sense for me just to wait 2-3 months (or whatever) and get it with the corrected errata.

There are only three spell cards that need correcting, right?

SlyFrog · 2011-12-29T15:52:01.000Z

Mysterio:

There are only three spell cards that need correcting, right?

I think so, though I haven’t looked into it that closely yet.

Another issue is that while I can afford Mage Knight, I don’t want my game buying to get out of control. I probably spent $400 or so on board games in the last couple of months. I want to get Festung Budapest for ASL as well. That costs $100. It’s getting much easier to spend a couple hundred bucks just buying a few games.

So waiting would enforce some discipline as well. Of course, I want it now. Even though I don’t need it now. :)

Mysterio · 2011-12-29T15:57:32.000Z

SlyFrog:

Of course, I want it now. Even though I don’t need it now. :)

You’re preaching to the choir, brother!

Don_Quixote · 2011-12-29T17:20:42.000Z

SlyFrog:

I think so, though I haven’t looked into it that closely yet.

Another issue is that while I can afford Mage Knight, I don’t want my game buying to get out of control. I probably spent $400 or so on board games in the last couple of months. I want to get Festung Budapest for ASL as well. That costs $100. It’s getting much easier to spend a couple hundred bucks just buying a few games.

So waiting would enforce some discipline as well. Of course, I want it now. Even though I don’t need it now. :)

Mysterio:

You’re preaching to the choir, brother!

Amen to that. I’ve tried to be good. But sooo much new stuff that’s targeted right at me came out all at once, and my will broke. :(

At least I managed to hold off buying the Civ Boardgame and RuneWars expansions. Though I did buy the boxed Mansions of Madness supplement (without waiting for reviews), only to find out it’s pretty much completely broken. :(

Bahimiron · 2011-12-29T17:23:00.000Z

Is it? I’d been thinking of getting it with my CSI gift certificate. What’s the problem with it?

Aristophan · 2011-12-29T17:33:51.000Z

Apparently, at least one of the maps for the expansion cannot be made, since it requires rooms that are on opposite sides of the same tile. There are also some other issues, documented at BGG.

Don_Quixote · 2011-12-29T17:40:38.000Z

Bahimiron:

Is it? I’d been thinking of getting it with my CSI gift certificate. What’s the problem with it?

Well, it started with a pretty harsh (but apparently non-exaggerating) review. Which was apparently just the tip of the iceberg as far as problems- more have come to light.

FFG responded thus, which is pretty big of them, but still a hassle. This is doubly annoying as several of these problems were also problems with the original scenarios, so they should have been on the lookout for them. :(

Apparently the expansion lists six playtesters. Really, Corey, you should do more than one runthrough of each scenario with your buds, yeah?

z22 · 2011-12-30T08:57:47.000Z

Corey Konieczka is on these boards??? :]