The Big Board-Gaming Catch-All

Got my notice that Claustrophobia 1643 is shipping. Very excited about this one. Did anyone try the older version of this?

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doubtingthomas396 wrote:

Has anyone gotten in on the Trogdor game?

Even though we didn’t hear about it until after the Kickstarter ended, my wife scored us a deluxe edition thanks to her mad internet-fu skills. (A real one, not an eBay markup)

Looking forward to the burnination.

Let me know how it goes. I backed the kickstarter.

Played Condottiere last night. Wow. A fantastically tense game where every decision matters. There is no downtime. Just one difficult choice after another. Absolutely loved it.

dRailer wrote:
doubtingthomas396 wrote:

Has anyone gotten in on the Trogdor game?

Even though we didn’t hear about it until after the Kickstarter ended, my wife scored us a deluxe edition thanks to her mad internet-fu skills. (A real one, not an eBay markup)

Looking forward to the burnination.

Let me know how it goes. I backed the kickstarter.

You’ll probably get yours before I do. I think we’re expecting deliver in June.

Went on a bit of a painting spree this evening and put together a force of Bots for the game my mate and I have developed in his garage over the past 6 months.

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Sigh... Still have to get through the rest of the good guys.
Any 80's giant robot cartoon nerds want to take a stab at naming them all?

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Wanted to thank PewPewRobo for his generosity. Since no one else took him up on his offer of shipping only for Nexus Ops, I did. Got it yesterday and can't wait to get it to the table. Thanks a lot!

Sweet Transformers!

Played the Prologue and Chapter 1 of Betrayal Legacy last night. Good times! It is a little weird, in the light of Pandemic Legacy, for everyone to sit down excited about sharing this collaborative story creating experience together, go along peacefully marveling in the cool stuff, and then BAM! Someone in the group tries to murder us all.

I guess that cognitive dissonance is at least thematic?

Also, I was the first one to die both games.

Totally loving all the legacy stuff they've added to the game, and the rules do seem a little bit more refined.

Fedaykin98 wrote:

Played the Prologue and Chapter 1 of Betrayal Legacy last night. Good times! It is a little weird, in the light of Pandemic Legacy, for everyone to sit down excited about sharing this collaborative story creating experience together, go along peacefully marveling in the cool stuff, and then BAM! Someone in the group tries to murder us all.

I guess that cognitive dissonance is at least thematic?

Also, I was the first one to die both games.

Totally loving all the legacy stuff they've added to the game, and the rules do seem a little bit more refined.

That’s good to hear. I’m still making new friend here so it might be awhile. I’m excited.

You certainly want to get a group of people who enjoy thematic games and can hopefully make it all the way through the campaign. Betrayal is a really polarizing game in the community; people seem to love it or hate it.

Well, it wouldn't be a Betrayal game without someone betraying the rest of the group. That is part of the fun! I'd recommend not getting too invested in winning the game, and just enjoying the story being told.

Fedaykin98 wrote:

You certainly want to get a group of people who enjoy thematic games and can hopefully make it all the way through the campaign. Betrayal is a really polarizing game in the community; people seem to love it or hate it.

Just tried BiHotH two weekends ago. The traitor became super-powered and took everyone else out. Not my kinda game, honestly.

lostlobster wrote:

Played Condottiere last night. Wow. A fantastically tense game where every decision matters. There is no downtime. Just one difficult choice after another. Absolutely loved it.

Thank you for reminding me to get that on the table. I always felt it was just a bit thin for what it promised, but I think my kids might really enjoy it.

Prozac wrote:

Went on a bit of a painting spree this evening and put together a force of Bots for the game my mate and I have developed in his garage over the past 6 months.

IMAGE(https://scontent.fbne2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/49855571_10156699923825491_131208287365365760_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&_nc_ht=scontent.fbne2-1.fna&oh=b9a77ceff3ce6f4a5d785a35d3b0282a&oe=5CBF1DD2)

Sigh... Still have to get through the rest of the good guys.
Any 80's giant robot cartoon nerds want to take a stab at naming them all?

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Nice! I was more into the Decepticons and didn't have enough allowance to buy more than a handful. I can only recongize: Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Jazz, Rawhide, and...Sideswipe(?). I hadn't realized how shallow my Autobot lore was, but I also grew up without commercial television in the house.

[edit] You make me want my old Soundwave avatar back, which I sadly overwrote when I did the Xmas conversion...oops.

Pfft. Amateurs.

Top Photo:
Ironhide, Cliffjumper, Optimus Prime, Arcee, Ratchet, Bluestreak

Bottom Photo:
Back row: Jetfire, Slag, Grimlock, Sludge (?), Perceptor
Middle Row: Mirage, Brawn, Hound, Trailblazer, Prowl, Jazz
Front Row: Bumblebee, Wheeljack, Hot Rod (?)

Dare I ask what's going on with the licensing, Prozac?

[Edit for transparency: The one I've labelled Hot Rod could be Sideswipe, but I don't remember him having those "wings" above his shoulders. But most of my expertise comes from the comic series, as opposed to the cartoon and I know there were 1) several aesthetic differences between them, and 2) only a few issues that Sideswipe appeared in before getting "killed" by Shockwave and never being repaired. (Issue #4, true believers!)

God damn, I have a lot of Transformers trivia in my brain that I forgot about. Just needed to be nudged, apparently.]

Feegle wrote:

Pfft.

I can't hold a candle to that, but am I wrong that the Jetfire model above is a retcon of the bootleg Veritech fighter that I remember? I have a strong memory of wondering why Jetfire was so different from the other bots and later "discovering" Robotech.

I didn't recognize Wheeljack without a missile launcher on each shoulder.

FFG announced a new app driven lord of the ring games. People are comparing it to descent:

Feegle wrote:

Dare I ask what's going on with the licensing, Prozac?

Yeah, no license, so it's a grassroots game with the models being cast in my mate's garage. Sales have been solid though and he's recouped all his development costs and my contributions mean I have free bots for life

The game has expanded to include a Joe faction and Cobra faction as well

Hit up the BOT WAR! facebook group or head over to Trader's Galaxy

PewPew, the Soundwave sculpt is probably my favourite.

Here's some better photos than mine.

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This article makes me sad. Era of one and done printing by Portal Game’s Ignacy Trzewiczek.

I think part of the problem is that in my most of my past game groups people will almost ALWAYS prefer a new game over a old game. There is a couple reasons for this.

When you get four people together and you bring out the old game that everyone has played and 1-2 people don’t like it by default the new game wins because it’s unexplored territory of a game doesn’t have an opinion. Then one person doesn’t like that one, so it’s already dead on arrival. I think this a problem with smaller game groups. This is why I’m doing my best to try to get variety of tastes in my game groups so we can actually repeat old games.

One thing I’m noticing is I can’t get deeper niche games I love to the table. I have to buy light short “safe” games to get to the table. Rising Sun was the biggest victim in this in my group. My group played another player’s copy and a couple of people hated it and I can’t get it to the table now.

Also I remember Root had a the opposite problem. New game that everybody loved. I only played it twice game group. Our group wanted to play a third time but the owner didn’t want to play because he’s tired of playing it with other friends and other game groups he’s in.

Another problem is when huge board game nerds get together and they all brought their massive collections in Ikea Bags and giant plastic containers what’s the likely hood of that good old game you bought to come out unless it’s blew everyone’s mind.

I’m by all means not saying I’m part of the problem. In both of these instances I am the problem! I’m that guy who doesn’t want to play that boring euro the rest of the group wants to play. I’m that guy who doesn’t want to play Azul anymore because I played it a hundred times with friends and family outside of my game group and ready for something new.

I think board game i industry is finding some solutions to this problem. One being solo gaming and variants. No one No problem, just play it solo. I think legacy games make people want to commit more than to a non legacy game. Also apps lets the content exist in the digital space.

It’s still frustrating and I know this problem will never go away. I guess that’s why more than ever I’m getting into solo gaming.

It seems like Tabletop Simulator could fill the gap for some of these games that are going out of print. Lewis and Clark for instance or my personal favorite out of print game, Battlestar Galactica. I know it isn't the same as playing with a physical copy, but it can be damn close. And it has the advantage of being able to play with friends long distance.

People on Reddit were pointing out that while people consider Kickstarter part of the problem with the cult of the new, it's also a great solution for reprints: You can find out if the demand is there and take pre-orders if so.

Boardgame design is evolving so fast that it shouldn't be a surprise that newer games keep replacing older games. I consider Secret Hitler to be much better than The Resistance, which is itself a million times better than Werewolf. Heck, the makers of The Resistance surely consider Avalon to be a big improvement, right? That's why they made it.

I'm not saying the death of a great game doesn't happen, but it probably doesn't happen very often without being replaced by something as good or better. Homo superior replaces homo sapien, Magneto was right!

The only boardgames I'm remotely sad that I can't get are out of print because of licensing issues or were Kickstarter editions that were created to trigger FOMO in people, but not because of cult of the new.

I preordered Wingspan today! Excited.

Fredrik_S wrote:

Got my notice that Claustrophobia 1643 is shipping. Very excited about this one. Did anyone try the older version of this?

I heard really good things about it, and I almost KSed this one. Can't wait to try it and see what all the fuss was about.

Crockpot wrote:

This article makes me sad. Era of one and done printing by Portal Game’s Ignacy Trzewiczek.

I think part of the problem is that in my most of my past game groups people will almost ALWAYS prefer a new game over a old game. There is a couple reasons for this.

I agree with everything you said in your post, but for brevity, I won't quote the whole thing. The group I play with there's one guy who is constantly on the hunt for new and shiny. I have decided to make an effort to slow down my purchasing to things that really makes my blood hot and make an effort to revisit games on my shelf multiple times.

I do think that kickstarter (like the Claustrophobia people did with the new version) is a great way to make older games available again. Make a refresh of the original content and rules and put it out there again.

Natus wrote:
Fredrik_S wrote:

Got my notice that Claustrophobia 1643 is shipping. Very excited about this one. Did anyone try the older version of this?

I heard really good things about it, and I almost KSed this one. Can't wait to try it and see what all the fuss was about.

I played the original a few years ago. I enjoyed it!

Fredrik_S wrote:

I do think that kickstarter (like the Claustrophobia people did with the new version) is a great way to make older games available again. Make a refresh of the original content and rules and put it out there again.

I agree! I think iteration is great. One reason people might not be into an older game is because it has elements that many players have decided they don't like (player elimination, just for one example). I seriously doubt there are very many "lost" games out there that couldn't be improved on.

Some of my favorite games are updates of older designs. Mansions of Madness 2 is one. Betrayal at House on the Hill is also a second edition - the original red box released in 2004, making Betrayal an ancient 15 years old this year! Honestly, I get a kick out of playing "older" games.

Speaking of older games kept fresh through new and improved editions, one game I recently mentioned finally getting to the table was Fury of Dracula (3rd edition). It's now on the 4th edition of a game that originally released in, if you can believe it, 1987!

I can relate to this conversation as someone who's been around long enough to have gone through the 'acquisition phase' and come out the other side with drastically waning interest, so much so that I'm considering getting out of the hobby. The 'new and shiny' thing combined with me no longer being in acquisition mode is a big part of it - my primary game group is run by someone who's so deep into acquisition mode these days that it's impossible to get anything to the table beyond the new. Meanwhile I have a 50-100 game collection that mostly just sits collecting dust. Feels pretty pointless. The rest of it is the growing "sameness" of the experiences these days and (as the resident learner/teacher of most games) the accumulation of hundreds if not thousands of hours learning, assimilating, and teaching all these games. It's really kinda worn me down over time.

Alternatively, could be I just need a break to do something else for a while. Time will tell.

tuffalobuffalo wrote:

I preordered Wingspan today! Excited.

This looks so lush. A big part of the appeal of getting back into board games for me is the art, graphic design, and physical quality of print and components. If I'm honest as much as the gameplay... I enjoy books, but I'm the chap who enjoys reading books about the design and print of books if that makes sense? I enjoy playing games, but experiencing the physical design/production of a game I'm really getting into. More so than say my interest in art and graphic design in say video games, just because of physical nature.

Aaaanyhow... That's a game I'd love to buy myself, it looks like a decent game as well as looking so so pretty with a theme that appeals... but it won't get the play at home at the moment and there's no real point in buying to take along to group because...

Fredrik_S wrote:

[The group I play with there's one guy who is constantly on the hunt for new and shiny.

Jow wrote:

my primary game group is run by someone who's so deep into acquisition mode.

I'm 99% sure that the lovely guy who runs group will already have it on order, will learn and teach really well and even be happy for folks to borrow, take home and play for a while outside the group a little way down the line.

It's a double edged sword for all really, his generosity means that others don't need to buy the new and shiny... Even if really they'd quite like to now and again.

Also though it means he's always having to be the teacher and doesn't just get to chill, sit back and enjoy a game. We are trying to rectify this as he would like to do this more. Over the festive period a big games night was organised with the one light hearted rule in place that this guy take a night off and wasn't allowed to teach anything. We played someone else's game, Container and had a good time. We just need games where they aren't the most qualified to teach a game, for the obvious reason that he owns the majority and anything with any buzz will buy day one.

Two cracks in his collection though... Family games and Coop games.

Through necessity I'm building a small selection of family weight games. Family time and fill a gap in group selection. Coop was my thinking with a couple Pandemics over Christmas.

Family lvl Coop games then (still researching your suggestions), jobs a good 'un, double ++. Non competitive family time with boy main reasoning for picking one or two up. Also though something quick and fun to take along to group that group runner is highly unlikely to own, so take a teaching break... a bonus.

Jow wrote:

I can relate to this conversation as someone who's been around long enough to have gone through the 'acquisition phase' and come out the other side with drastically waning interest, so much so that I'm considering getting out of the hobby. The 'new and shiny' thing combined with me no longer being in acquisition mode is a big part of it - my primary game group is run by someone who's so deep into acquisition mode these days that it's impossible to get anything to the table beyond the new. Meanwhile I have a 50-100 game collection that mostly just sits collecting dust. Feels pretty pointless. The rest of it is the growing "sameness" of the experiences these days and (as the resident learner/teacher of most games) the accumulation of hundreds if not thousands of hours learning, assimilating, and teaching all these games. It's really kinda worn me down over time.

Alternatively, could be I just need a break to do something else for a while. Time will tell.

Nooo you still have to play with me! I haven't gotten a meaty board game in over two years, there's still plenty of fun to be had playing the old favorites for as rarely as I play these days.

It looks like all of the Wizards D&D 5th edition hardcover books are on sale (~60% off). I haven't played D&D in literally decades, but I'm sorely tempted to pick some of these up just because they look so damn nice.