I never realized how many different games there are out there. I always figured you had your classics, the Monopoly, Scrabble, Sorry-type stuff, and then a few other oddball sorts of games. Well, you learn something new all the time.
I've got some friends, my two previous roommates and some other old acquaintances from my undergraduate days, and they have get-togethers frequently to play all sorts of different games. And even though I live about two hours away, they're nice enough to invite me up to take part in the fun. Which is why yesterday's post was so early (so I could hightail it up there) and today's is so late (not really, I've just haven't felt motivated today, but it gives the sentence a sense of symmetry this way). I just wanted to talk briefly about some of the games.
For Sale: Very quick, easy to pick up. You bid for properties, numbered 1-30. After x number of rounds (depending on how many are playing), you set out four different checks, for amounts from 0 to 15 grand. Each person lays out one of the cards they picked up, face down. Person whose card is the highest number, gets the most money, second gets second-most and so on. After all the cards are used up, see who has the most cash (including any left over from the bidding). So it's all about knwoing when to go all out.
Arkham Horror: This was my personal favorite, because it promotes cooperative gameplay. If one of the other characters lacks weapons to defend themselves with, you can give them one of yours, as you scramble through the town trying to seal portals to stop the ascension of some Lovecraft monster. Depending on what monster you face, and how successful you are at closing portals, you may never face the boss at all, or you may lose instantly. I felt bad for Tomato, because at the time the boss showed, her character was "Lost in Time in Space", and so she never got to take a shot at him. Still a lot of fun though.
Carcassonne: I'm not even gonna try and explain this one, other than to say you use tiles to build cities, roads, and cloisters. Suffice it to say, I got harshly poned ("pwned" just seems such a dumb way to spell it) by everyone else.
Vegas Showdown: As near I can tell, it's a game about building a casino/hotel, which you attempt to set up to bring in high revenue and people. To do that you, have to buy certain things for it, like restaurants, slots, sports books, etc. Depending on how many other players want the same thing, you may get into a bidding war, but you can always go for publicity to raise your fame (provided the card that says "no publicity this round" wasn't drawn) For someone who doesn't feel he has a good gift for strategy like myself, it can't be that hard to play, seeing as I won on my first try. *does victory dance, in an horrific display of poor board game sportsmanship*
And here I thought board games were for kids. After all, who needs 'em when you've got the Xbox and the PC and the *begins making goofy, Bill Cosby noises*
Ahem. Sorry about that. My point was that, well, I really do learn something new every day. Good night all.
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9 comments:
My friends like to do the same thing. When I'm home, I'll drive four+ hours and spend the weekend with them playing board and card games.
Tell your friends to look at Betrayal at House on the Hill. That game is incredibly fun. And well worth trying. If only they'd release a supplement for it. *sigh*
p.s. Carcassonne...man that game's tough. I think I finished once with a whole two points.
todd: Betrayal at House on the Hill, huh? I'll mention that one to them. Thanks.
Some other great ones are the old nouveau classic, Settlers of Catan (an economic, resource disbursement, settling game that sucked down many an evening with friends - I courted my wife over many games of this) and the nearly 100% strategy game of colonization and resource disbursement, Puerto Rico. They're both pretty engaging games, though maybe not as easy to pick up as Carcasonne.
There's another game I dig called Bang! It was described to me as a kinda card game version of Mafia (which made me never want to give it a shot). I suppose it's a fair description, but really, it's like a suped-up Spaghetti Western game of killing and betrayal. And beer. Beer = Life in the game. It's 4 to 7 players (or 3 to 8 with an under-ten-dollar expansion) and so is really one of the most versatile games in my collection.
Yes, I'm told that Setllers of Catan is the greatest board game of all time. Unfortunately, it also has a suitably great price tag, so I've never played it. Apparently it's available (or soon will be) online for the X-Box. Not that you'll get me anywhere near Micro$soft's Death Machine, but I thought I'd mention it for those who don't value their souls.
Also fun is Zombies! which is replete with expansions but also great fun on its own, perfectly capturing that George Romero feel, but at the kitchen table.
Games Workshop, they of the expensive metal figures, once did some cracking board games. The Battle For Armageddon is simply superb, and Advanced Space Crusade/Tyranid Attack and Advanced Hero Quest/Warhammer Quest aren't bad either. Space Hulk is suitably legendary, but my absolute favourite of their board games, and probably my favourite board game of all time ever, is their fantasy football sim Blood Bowl. I don't even like that funny Yanqui Football thing, but the board game is absolutely fantastic. Just make sure it's the third edition with the card playing field; the first edition (with the interlocking foam board) was good, but the third one was where it all came together into one big delicious package.
dane: I actually played Puetro Rico and Bang! with the gang a couple of months back. Bang! was pretty enjoyable, but I don't think we should have waited until 10 p.m. to start Puerto Rico.
kelvingreen: Thanks for the suggestions. Zombies sounds especially intriguing to me.
Zombies! is quite cheap too, as I recall.
Yeah, Puerto Rico is especially lengthy when you're new to the game and it absolutely slaughters you if you're getting tired.
Playing Bang!, we've realized three things. The game lends itself well to 1) saying inappropriate things to another's spouse without fear of reprisal (a la, "That's it. I am now going to Bang Kristen!" followed by nervous laughter around the table), 2) people feeling obliged to singing "I Shot the Sheriff," and numerous jokes about the virtues of alcoholism.
RE: computer versions of Settlers of Catan; I'm told that a PC version exists too, and can still be obtained at various locations on these wonderful Internets.
Kelvin, was Blood Bowl's third edition the one that had a supplement called Elves, Dwarves and Dungeonbowl? I played that one time and it was awesome.
Matthew, Dungeonbowl was a second-edition supplement, and was perhaps the only thing missing from the majesty of the third edition.
That said, the only major difference was the board, and that's easy enough to emulate using Advanced Hero Quest or Warhammer Quest boards, or the original board pieces if you still have Dungeonbowl.
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