The Big Board-Gaming Catch-All

Regarding win states for Euros. I went to look at my collection, and honestly I think most Euros end game is dictated by Victory Points. Some Euros have a very clear score track like a Ticket to Ride or Stone Age. Others like Ra or Samurai the victory points by rule are obscured from the other players. I generally stay away from the more complex euros so can't really speak to them.

I don't consider Chess a Euro but if you want other "clear win state" type game that may at least smell like a Euro...

Santorini
Battle Line

Fredrik_S wrote:
Nevin73 wrote:

Played Air, Sea, Land with a friend (who is in our bubble). It's essentially a 2-player trick taking card game where you bid on which theaters to win. Each card can be played for a number of points to the theater it belongs to or played face-down as a wildcard to any theater. The kicker is that each card has some sort of special action, either a one-off or persistent which only activates if the card is face-up. The mechanics really come down to playing cards, flipping cards, and moving cards. It's simple, but has some depth.

One of my favorite, favorite, games.

I've never heard of it. Time to research!

Bubblefuzz wrote:

Seems like we should have a game of async Targi? Maybe a 7WD if up for it.

I am Fredasaurus on board game arena. Hit me up.

Jolly Bill wrote:

This is a bit of a sideways recommendation based on your question, but maybe give Lords of Xidit a look?

Thanks for the info, I'll take a look!

Lords of Xidit is an interesting recommendation. I love that game, but I never really thought of as a Euro until now. You're totally right though. You collect and spend resources (heroes) to buy things (killing monsters) to get different kinds of arbitrary points to win the game (bard songs, towers, and gold). When you ignore the theme it's just a pick up and deliver Euro.

A damned good one though. The only thing I recommend is that you absolutely do not play it with fewer than 4 players.

Natus wrote:
Fredrik_S wrote:
Nevin73 wrote:

Played Air, Sea, Land with a friend (who is in our bubble). It's essentially a 2-player trick taking card game where you bid on which theaters to win. Each card can be played for a number of points to the theater it belongs to or played face-down as a wildcard to any theater. The kicker is that each card has some sort of special action, either a one-off or persistent which only activates if the card is face-up. The mechanics really come down to playing cards, flipping cards, and moving cards. It's simple, but has some depth.

One of my favorite, favorite, games.

I've never heard of it. Time to research!

I'd not come across Air, Land & Sea either. I've found a print & play version online which seems a good way to try it out. https://www.pnpparadise.com/set-3/ai...

Bubblefuzz wrote:

Which 3* games have you been introduced to online this year that you would love to add to your own physical board game shelf in readiness for post 2020 return to in person gaming? (Money no object)

*I would have said which ONE game, but I wouldn't be able to narrow it down that far

Mine would be...
Targi (board game arena)
Russian Railroads (board game arena)
Food Chain Magnate (board game core)

... and close but no cigar, but still worth a mention... 7 Wonders Duel (most honourable of mentions), Alhambra, City of the Big Shoulders, Castles of Burgundy.

Mine would be...
Concordia (Tabletop Simulator)
Targi (Board Game Arena)
Root (Digital Version)

All these could have made joint 3rd place: Great Western Trail, Terraforming Mars, Grand Austria Hotel and Yellow & Yangtze.
Others I enjoyed that would make it into a top 10: Pax Pamir (second edition), Blood Rage and Tiny Towns.

Just got my copy of Gloomhaven as a work thank you gift. Firing up the first scenario tonight. Let's see how many rules I flub in a single night

We have our semi-annual 6-player TI4 (now with Prophecy of Kings!) game coming up in twelve days. I am very excited.

I picked up a copy of Horrified today, looking forward to getting that played given all the good stuff I've heard about it.

Also played a proper game of Wingspan with the Oceania expansion last night. Great to see some local birds in there (although trashy Aussie birds outnumber those from NZ).

(* I like trashy Aussie birds also.)

Horrified is fantastic, but it doesn't have much staying power. I was expecting a bunch of mini-expansions adding new monsters to spice the game up, but it's been over a year and nadda.

Basically it's Super Mario Party again. A great game, but with only 4 boards you expected some post-launch DLC which never came.

That's okay, I was thinking it would fit in that sort of role in my collection. Plus I already saw that there's lots of fan-made extra monsters on BGG.

Neutrino wrote:
Bubblefuzz wrote:

Which 3* games have you been introduced to online this year that you would love to add to your own physical board game shelf in readiness for post 2020 return to in person gaming? (Money no object)

*I would have said which ONE game, but I wouldn't be able to narrow it down that far

Mine would be...
Targi (board game arena)
Russian Railroads (board game arena)
Food Chain Magnate (board game core)

... and close but no cigar, but still worth a mention... 7 Wonders Duel (most honourable of mentions), Alhambra, City of the Big Shoulders, Castles of Burgundy.

Mine would be...
Concordia (Tabletop Simulator)
Targi (Board Game Arena)
Root (Digital Version)

All these could have made joint 3rd place: Great Western Trail, Terraforming Mars, Grand Austria Hotel and Yellow & Yangtze.
Others I enjoyed that would make it into a top 10: Pax Pamir (second edition), Blood Rage and Tiny Towns.

We tried Concordia live a while back on Boiteajeux website (like BGA but not nearly as good). Not played since, but could see potential.

Thinking about getting the Root app to learn the game, am assuming good implementation as you've rated it highly here?

Where are you playing Great Western Trail, Grand Austria Hotel and Pax Pamir online?

Bubblefuzz wrote:

Thinking about getting the Root app to learn the game, am assuming good implementation as you've rated it highly here?

It's very good indeed.

Bubblefuzz wrote:
Neutrino wrote:

Mine would be...
Concordia (Tabletop Simulator)
Targi (Board Game Arena)
Root (Digital Version)

All these could have made joint 3rd place: Great Western Trail, Terraforming Mars, Grand Austria Hotel and Yellow & Yangtze.
Others I enjoyed that would make it into a top 10: Pax Pamir (second edition), Blood Rage and Tiny Towns.

We tried Concordia live a while back on Boiteajeux website (like BGA but not nearly as good). Not played since, but could see potential.

Thinking about getting the Root app to learn the game, am assuming good implementation as you've rated it highly here?

Where are you playing Great Western Trail, Grand Austria Hotel and Pax Pamir online?

I enjoyed Concordia very much, it's such a well-designed game that I would love to play at the table someday soon.

I also played Great Western Trail, Grand Austria Hotel and Pax Pamir on Tabletop Simulator using Discord for voice comms. I find Tabletop Simulator is the best way to learn a game when someone is willing to include a teach. I've tried playing heavier games on BGA and it's not such a fun learning experience for me. I find it better for two player games or games I already know how to play.

Pax Pamir (Second Edition) is also available on the Vassal engine, with an up-to-date module. I've yet to try it.

Root Digital Edition is very good (except for a few early bugs that have mostly been squashed) The tutorial is decent too. Here's a review that gives a good overview of the app. I've been playing it regularly since launch. I'm also a fan of the developers (Dire Wolf Digital) earlier digital boardgame versions, Yellow & Yangtze and Raiders of the North Sea (although Raiders really needs an expansion for more replay value).

^What Neutrino said. The Root implementation is fantastic because it enforces the rules for you...I might miss it when playing in RL. And I've played Pax Pamir 2nd Edition twice on VASSAL. Works just fine, and I was VASSAL-phobic at the time.

Good to know about Dire Wolf Digital. I really enjoyed Raiders of the North Sea on IOS.

I have not yet seen this boardgame documentary on Amazon Prime, but it looks neat.

Natus wrote:

Good to know about Dire Wolf Digital. I really enjoyed Raiders of the North Sea on IOS.

They've done a fine job with all the games that they have released since their announcement at the beginning of 2019. Two more games still to come from that list: Mage Knight and Wings of Glory I'm looking forward to both!

Anyone get any good hauls for the holidays? Santa was good to me. Got Quacks of Quedlingberg plus expansion, Space Base and both Expansions, the Crew, the quest for el dorado and My 8 year old got the PAC-Man board game from 2019 which is actually pretty cool with a high toy factor.

Not a bunch of games, but I did get the second expansion for Wingspan. Looks like it changes the game up a lot.

Santa brought me pitchcar mini to play with my two offspring. So far it’s a winner!

Eldon_of_Azure wrote:

Not a bunch of games, but I did get the second expansion for Wingspan. Looks like it changes the game up a lot.

Yes, I thought it added another level of complexity. Overall I like it, but it's a bit more intimidating for new players.

Santa brought Feeglet and Feegling Brandon the Brave and My First Carcassone. Grandma went more mainstream with My First Game of Life, and Kerplunk. All have been hits.

Aside: It's been ages since I played Life, and while I wouldn't label the My First version as a good game, or fun for adults in any way other than "I'm having fun playing with my kids," it's fast (~20 mins) and varied. The active player draws a card basically every turn, and the cards have actual activities - charades, name that tune - mixed in with the standard board game (you get/lose a star or some money) types. I thought I'd hate it, but it's not a bad time, and the kids LOVE it. I'm guess I'm just pretty traumatised by the seven hundred games of Candyland I've played over the past year.

Frakkin' Candyland. >(

Feegle wrote:

Frakkin' Candyland. >(

There's a game designer I watch on Twitch named Ryan Spain. He's said in the past that one of the most important skills you can have as a parent of young children is learning how to cheat at Candyland. You play for a bit, have your fun, and then "Oh look, you drew the card that takes you to the end. Congratulations, you win!"

My kids are super perceptive, unfortunately. At nearly 6, it's pretty hard to sleight of hand the card they need without them noticing and getting mad about cheating.

Candyland hasn't been a fun game for me since I was their age, but what really pushed it over the top was about a year ago I read somewhere that the winner is determined when you shuffle the cards, and the "game" is really just revealing the winner one step at a time. It's a very philosophical and determinist insight, but accurate.

We're playing My Little Scythe right now, which I gave my daughter for Christmas - so thank you, whoever recommended that several pages back! Despite being a Scythe AND Euro hater, I'm really enjoying this cute game, although my daughter says that might only be because I'm playing with my kids.

Vargen wrote:
Feegle wrote:

Frakkin' Candyland. >(

There's a game designer I watch on Twitch named Ryan Spain.

Of Limited Resources fame! Is he still working on Magic?

Feegle wrote:

My kids are super perceptive, unfortunately. At nearly 6, it's pretty hard to sleight of hand the card they need without them noticing and getting mad about cheating.

Kids are amazing at that. When we played the D&D boardgames (curse of Strahd etc), even at 8 my friend's kid always knew when we were forgetting a rule - despite not knowing English

Fedaykin98 wrote:
Vargen wrote:
Feegle wrote:

Frakkin' Candyland. >(

There's a game designer I watch on Twitch named Ryan Spain.

Of Limited Resources fame! Is he still working on Magic?

He left Wizards about two years ago. His wife got a full-time job and he decided to take over the domestic duties so he could spend more time with his teenage kids before they left the nest. He sometimes says "working at Wizards was the best six years of my game design career. I worked there for seven." Now he streams MtG Arena on Twitch weekdays at 9am Pacific. His channel name is GoingOptimal.

Prozac wrote:

Anyone get any good hauls for the holidays? Santa was good to me. Got Quacks of Quedlingberg plus expansion, Space Base and both Expansions, the Crew, the quest for el dorado and My 8 year old got the PAC-Man board game from 2019 which is actually pretty cool with a high toy factor.

I also got Quacks for Christmas. I'm excited to try it in person (I played once via Tabletop Simulator).

I got a card game called Beagle or Bagel.