The Big Board-Gaming Catch-All

Dreaded Gazebo wrote:

Have you tried Near and Far?

Yeah, I've got that on the shelf too. Never managed to organise a full runthrough of it–just a few one-off games. The Now or Never group are keen to go through it next, and I'm looking forward to the less complicated rules.

Anyone tried 7th Continent ? I'm looking at picking up another exploration type game for solo play, and it's looking like either this or Tainted Grail.

davet010 wrote:

Anyone tried 7th Continent ?

Yep. It’s good but hard, as much a survival game as exploration.

My top recommendation for solo exploration is Sleeping Gods, but 7th Continent is number two.

MikeSands wrote:
davet010 wrote:

Anyone tried 7th Continent ?

Yep. It’s good but hard, as much a survival game as exploration.

My top recommendation for solo exploration is Sleeping Gods, but 7th Continent is number two.

And it looks like the sequel to Sleeping Gods is launching on Gamefound in a few days.

Aristophan wrote:

And it looks like the sequel to Sleeping Gods is launching on Gamefound in a few days.

Yep. That's one is easy for me to resist: I've only seen about 10% of Sleeping Gods so far.

It looks like the new one might be a lighter game, though, so perhaps a better one to start with?

Went to an event organized for International Tabletop Day, and got to play a few games.

Modern Art: Don't know how I've missed this one for so long, but I was blown away by just how very good this game is. Players auction off art pieces, with the value based on the popularity of the artist's work. There's so much damn depth to this game, and we were screaming at several points when someone dropped an unexpected Manuel Carvalho. I've rarely played a game that halfway through the first playthrough leapt to near the top of my favorites list. I'm deeply angry it's out of print.

New York: 1901: This game is the actual manifestation of the word "meh". Players are working to build skyscrapers in New York, moving through different levels to score points. Somehow, they made an area control game that doesn't care about controlling area. There's nothing wrong with the game, but there's absolutely nothing right either. If this game was a spice, it'd be all-purpose flour.

Atlantis Rising: Co-op game in which the players race to assemble a gate to escape Atlantis as the gods are sinking it under the ocean. The production value of this game is amazing, and it's got some teeth. We were fairly stunned at just how quickly the island began disappearing beneath the waves. The game is worker placement, with a clever mechanic that the spaces most likely to sink are always the most beneficial. The only unbelievable part of the game is that you have to spend valuable time convincing residents of the island that this public health crisis is, in fact, real, and that they need to take part in community efforts to mitigate the damage. Could you imagine?

Had a friend over last night and busted out Half-Truth, which I'd kickstarted ages ago - as probably the best trivia person among the players, I did end up winning, but the format of the game made the score pretty close and competitive, and everyone had fun.

davet010 wrote:

Anyone tried 7th Continent ? I'm looking at picking up another exploration type game for solo play, and it's looking like either this or Tainted Grail.

I love 7th Continent as a solo game, and while there is a strong element of exploration, the core gameplay loop is more about survival/crafting and deck management. You will visit and revisit many of the same places as you play (and replay) different curses. It is actually kind of cool learning the island, and it fits with the story of you returning to the island after a previous expedition to lift your curse. But what I am trying to say is, if the only thing you care about is the exploration, you will burn out on it.

What keeps me coming back to the game is that I also enjoy the deck management mechanics, which not everyone does.

Suuuper tempted by the Sleeping Gods all-in for $333. I liked 7th continent okay, and I'm always looking for exploration solo/co-op games.

Reviews of Sleeping Gods seem to check all the right boxes, but I'm also pretty bad at buying into a ton of content and not finishing it. (I never got through all the 7th Continent stuff)

mrwynd wrote:

Any recommendations for a 6 player board game thats 2 hours long or less?

I know I'm a few weeks late to this question, but how about a bit of a non-standard board game suggestion:

Telestrations

Immensely fun, always entertaining, the entire game can be explained to a group of gaming novices in about 30 seconds, and experienced gamers do not inherently have a significant advantage.

Orphu wrote:

Suuuper tempted by the Sleeping Gods all-in for $333. I liked 7th continent okay, and I'm always looking for exploration solo/co-op games.

Reviews of Sleeping Gods seem to check all the right boxes, but I'm also pretty bad at buying into a ton of content and not finishing it. (I never got through all the 7th Continent stuff)

You can probably skip the dungeons expansion for Sleeping Gods: I'm not too impressed with that one. Definitely grab Tides of Ruin, however.

I find it's a bit more manageable to actually play than 7th Continent, too. You'll still likely have to save your game and come back to it later, but as you play your expedition there's more of a sense of progress (and how far is left to go).

I loved Sleeping Gods (I have it set up for a 3rd play through right now) but I can't believe how easily $300+ is being thrown around for board games like this. The original game pledge of $205 contains the stuff that can be bought at retail for a little over $100, which still feels expensive. And that doesn't even include the shipping!

I looked at even the base Distant Skies - $85 doesn't sound too bad, but on top of that there is shipping to the UK ($10 - seems a bit low, but fair enough), and VAT to be added on, 20% here. So I'm looking at around £95.

Which is probably what I'd end up laying out for a day out at a Premiership game, including ticket, travel etc.

I'm down for that.

trichy wrote:

Went to an event organized for International Tabletop Day, and got to play a few games.

Modern Art: Don't know how I've missed this one for so long, but I was blown away by just how very good this game is. Players auction off art pieces, with the value based on the popularity of the artist's work. There's so much damn depth to this game, and we were screaming at several points when someone dropped an unexpected Manuel Carvalho. I've rarely played a game that halfway through the first playthrough leapt to near the top of my favorites list. I'm deeply angry it's out of print.

I know its not the original, but CMON re-released Modern Art that AFAIK is the same rules as the original with different art and components that can be had for less than $20 USD.

Carlbear95 wrote:
trichy wrote:

Went to an event organized for International Tabletop Day, and got to play a few games.

Modern Art: Don't know how I've missed this one for so long, but I was blown away by just how very good this game is. Players auction off art pieces, with the value based on the popularity of the artist's work. There's so much damn depth to this game, and we were screaming at several points when someone dropped an unexpected Manuel Carvalho. I've rarely played a game that halfway through the first playthrough leapt to near the top of my favorites list. I'm deeply angry it's out of print.

I know its not the original, but CMON re-released Modern Art that AFAIK is the same rules as the original with different art and components that can be had for less than $20 USD.

The only thing I've been able to find is the Modern Art card game, which has pages of people on BGG disappointed that it isn't the same ruleset as the board game version. Specifically, it removes auctions, and is more of a set collection game. Near as I can tell, the 2017 reprint is out of print as well.

Oh wow.. I didn't realize there was a CMON Modern Art re-release and a CMON Modern Art Card Game... that really is unfortunate.

I have had Fake Artist goes to NY sitting on my shelf for 5? 6? years. Last night I threw it on the table and it's so much fun. Like crazy amount of fun. Kinda kicking myself for never bothering to try it out. It will absolutely become a regular thing in my group.

Boudreaux wrote:

I loved Sleeping Gods (I have it set up for a 3rd play through right now) but I can't believe how easily $300+ is being thrown around for board games like this. The original game pledge of $205 contains the stuff that can be bought at retail for a little over $100, which still feels expensive. And that doesn't even include the shipping!

The sequel crowdfund period is about to close, and I'm waffling. I haven't played the original, but I like the idea of a good solo game, because that's the only way I'd get to play board games these days. I've got the base game of Distant Skies, the base original game, and the Tides of Ruin expansion sitting in my cart. It winds up being $200 before shipping. Which is definitely high, and I don't like it.

On the other hand, what seems to keep happening with games I'm interested in is that if you didn't back or preorder early, they sell out almost instantly. What winds up happening (to me, anyway) is

1. Maybe hear about a game during funding, decide to think about it.
2. Forget and miss the deadline.
3. Plan on preordering from an online site before release.
4. Forget to preorder.
5. Someone talks about it.
6. Go looking, find out it's already sold out everywhere. Either there's plans for a reprint in the next year or so, or they're going to do another crowdfunding campaign for a reprint, or will offer this game as an addon for the expansion/sequel.

If I find out about a game via a SU&SD review, jump directly to step 6. Recently had that cycle happen with Final Girl. I wound up doing a late pledge for the second season, and added all the season 1 stuff, and sprung for split shipping so I'd get the season 1 stuff earlier than season 2. Was it stupid expensive? You bet. But I'm basically deciding to spend more to cover for how my brain is wired.

I'm making myself feel better because I'm way more likely to actually play these solo games, and they're more expensive because of actual content, not just forty pounds of elaborate, but mostly useless, miniatures.

I wonder what it is about Sleeping Gods that has made it so popular. Laukat's other games have been very hit or miss with me, though the art is amazing.

Laukat's other games have been a miss for me too, usually ok ideas done not very well due to tedium (near and far) or just not very well balanced (above and below). But Sleeping Gods hits. Its a coop game that gets everyone at the table involved. Theres a little bit of alpha-player and analysis-paralysis (APAP!) but I actively push my group through that to move a little more quickly. I do wish it was faster, in a night we might get through about 6 turns (4 players+'narrator') and a full game takes something like 50.

That said, I dont want to want this new one. We've got 1 act left to play on our second campaign of Sleeping Gods and Im looking forward to clearing it out of the gaming table for the first time in like 8 months and playing something else for a while

New Leder Games (Root, Oath) project just going live. A space-themed 4X

https://www.polygon.com/23124230/arc...

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...

Keithustus wrote:

New Leder Games (Root, Oath) project just going live. A space-themed 4X

https://www.polygon.com/23124230/arc...

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...

I'm keen to check this one out. There's an official Tabletop Simulator mod available too, I'll be taking a look.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfil...

Keithustus wrote:

New Leder Games (Root, Oath) project just going live. A space-themed 4X

https://www.polygon.com/23124230/arc...

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...

I learned my lesson when I did not back Root originally and then it was awesome.
Already backed Arcs

So I got a copy of gloomhaven in the frosthaven Kickstarter and after it sitting on the shelf for the pandemic I finally got the party together and we spent the weekend adventuring. It’s everything I wanted and a bit more, good tactical combat alongside a fun overarching adventure. The group can only meet every few months due to adult life but it’s going to be a blast.

Gloomhaven is the most fun I have had in boardgaming. Me and two friends played through the entire campaign in about a year and a half. Good times. I can whole heartedly recommend getting the digital gloomhaven tracker to keep track of enemy health. It speeds up the busy work tremendously.

Some preview discussion of Arcs, great site for frank discussion typically:
https://spacebiff.com/2022/05/23/arc...

Also the designer seems to be answering a lot of questions on the Reddit post of that preview:
https://www.reddit.com/r/boardgames/...

Wow, the writing in that guy's preview made me actively hate him.

Finished up the campaign of Now or Never this week (it’s 6 games).

We had fun but I am not in a hurry to play through again. For me (and my group) we really enjoyed the story encounters, getting gear and levelling up the characters, and fighting monsters. However that’s about 40% of the game, and the rest is all optimisation puzzles that kind of detracted from the adventure stuff. They were still fun, but quite heavy.

DudleySmith wrote:

Wow, the writing in that guy's preview made me actively hate him.

That's unfortunate. Dan Thurot does some of the best board game commentary writing out there.

Oh neat, they've got Arcs available as a free Tabletop Simulator mod. I'll have to check that out.