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Todd
United States
Phoenix
Arizona
Fez.
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As you can see from my supporters badges, I really like Board Game Geek. I have no plans to go elsewhere. But there are a number of alternative board game sites and I'm curious about what BGG'ers think of them. It seems that lately an effort for alternatives is growing. Why is that happening?
Fortress Ameritrash is a great site, with lots of interesting articles, but for whatever reason I don't get there as much as I'd like. I know that at least in part, folks went there due to BGG moderation policies, etc.
Recently, Boardgameinfo.com came online and it appears to be a very good site as well. I learned it because one of my favorite game reviewers (Drake's Flames) supports it and has expressed frustration with "censorship" at BGG. What do folks think of Boardgameinfo? With Boardgmaenews now a daily part of life at BGG, I find boardgameinfo less necessary than it might otherwise be. Still, I'd like to see it grow and do well.
Most recently, www.boardgaming.com came online as a Beta run. I love the look of this site but it is very, very limited in the beta stage (you can't add games and inexplicably you can't change your review or rating of games once you've made a review). I love the structure of this new site and its look and feel. It would be outstanding if it were, say, 100 times bigger in terms of content and functionality, but I realize it is a beta and these things take time. BGG could learn something from its visual appeal and the various "quests."
So what say folks about these various sites?
Wed Aug 17, 2011 11:55 pm
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Todd
United States
Phoenix
Arizona
Fez.
-
Games I'd like to Demo and/or Buy at Gencon 2011.
(Eminent Domain is not included because I've pre-ordered it).
Let me know what you think of the games on my list and what you'd add!
1. Quarriors!. I don't like the cartoonish art and theme but the reviews make this a "must try" and if the price is reasonable, a must-buy.
2. Discworld: Ankh-Morpork Hmmmm... I have zero interest in Discworld, and Sci-Fi games have been pretty hit or miss with me, but Martin Wallace? I'm in for a Demo and if no Demo is to be had, I'll buy the thing.
3. Obviously A Few Acres of Snow is a must-buy since Wallace designed it. I'd love to demo it first, and the price needs to be reasonable.
4. Blood Bowl is too expensive to collect and Games Workshop Ltd. is an annoying company (at best), but Blood Bowl: Team Manager - The Card Game looks too fun to pass up. I'll buy it if its at Gencon.
5. Elder Sign. Don't know much about this one, but it looks interesting. Demo.
6. I really like Irondale, and the reviews for Omen: A Reign of War have been very good, but this is one I'd want to Demo first.
7. Rave reviews for Battleship Galaxies: The Saturn Offensive Game Set but another I'd want to Demo first.
8. Barons I love Glory to Rome and (like many) hate the art. If anything, the art for Barons looks even more garish and obnoxious, but the game looks interesting. Hope to say hi to the CGC guys and try it out. Demo first but will buy if no demo available.
Update: After reading Endersgame's review of Barons, I'm buying regardless. Actually the Art doesn't bother me at all --I like it much more than GtR. But the Colors are too bright and obnoxious. An upgrade, but slightly muted colors would have been much better. That said, given my fondness for Irondale and Glory to Rome, this is now a must buy.
So what did I miss or what shouldn't be on that list?
Also, let me know if you would like to join our The World Cup Game game with 8 players on Thursday around 7pm. We have room for 3 more.
Fri Jul 29, 2011 11:57 pm
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Todd
United States
Phoenix
Arizona
Fez.
-
I'll be attending Gencon for the 2nd year in a row and staying with my old friend Greg (thus "Gregcon") and 3 close frieds. All 5 of us are in our 40s and spread from coast to coast, so this is a great opportunity to see each other. Before last year, it had been well over a decade since we were all together.
My brother
Brad Lang
United States
Unspecified
Unspecified
and my old high school buddy
Sean Turner
United States
Columbus
Ohio
and my childhood friend Tom will also be there. We had a blast last year, but we missed a great deal because the Con was new to us and I was the only one who had ever attended a con before (and they were small local AZ conventions). In fact we did not play a single game that required pre-registration. This year we are trying to come up with a plan and do more than the Exhibit Hall and the Rio Grande game room (which is great of course).
So your suggestions are welcome! We arrive Thursday night, so Friday, Saturday, and Sunday AM will be our Con days.
Some of the games we plan to play at Greg's house (outside the convention) to supplement what we do at the Convention:
1. Dominion Dominion and its various expansions. (in particular Cornucopia as I have not yet played it). I had played before last year, but this was a revelation to my friends. Now Tom has most of the expansions. Always fun and light.
2. 7 Wonders I've only played a few times, but I really like it and look forward to teaching it to the guys.
3. Founding Fathers As a politics geek, I love this game. I'm not sure what reception it will receive, but Sean really likes Campaign Manager 2008, so I'm optimistic. Some might find this theme boring, but this crew should like it.
4. Automobile I'm a sucker for Martin Wallace games, and I love the theme of this one and have enjoyed all 3 times I've played. I think it will go over well as all the guys like cars.
5. Patrician Tom picked this one up a month ago at Origins (he's hooked on games now!) and liked it. I played it a bit on Michael Schacht's website but I like Schacht's "China" much, much more. Building towers just doesn't do it for me. But I'll play of course. The company of old friends is the important part. Maybe I should bring China...
6. The World Cup Game Very fun game (even for non-soccer fans), but we all played soccer together in high school (and Sean I attended WC '94 together) so it should be great. Join us!
I'll probably grab some other games.
Thinking about Cosmic Encounter because we played this version: as kids. (this was really my intro to "Euro" games in the early 80s.)
Any other games? Any particular suggestions for the convention??
My Gencon Schdule> Let me know if you want to join us.
Thurs
5:00 PM -arrive in Indy. Go to Con.
6 to 10- Find games. Play them. (Any suggestions).
I'm thinking a The World Cup Game game would be perfect around 7pm. 8 players --which leaves room for three folks to join my group (Tom, Greg, Sean, Brad, and me). Let me know if you'd like to join us for a little World Cup tournament.
11:00 PM - Cosmic Encounter with Greg, Sean, Tom, and Brad.
FRIDAY
AM: Waking up late. Go to Con and browse hall. Look for games.
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM Catan: Settlers of America @ Hall K Mayfair HQ
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM Dust Tactics @ FF HQ in Hall F.
7:00 PM- Looking for a game. Mayfair room?
SATURDAY:
AM: Waking up late. Go to Con and browse hall. Look for games.
10:00 AM - 12 noon Alhambra. Hall E: RJ: HQ
12:00 NOON - GENCON MATH TRADE MEET UP.
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM "Giant" Imperial Airways @ Hall K Mayfair HQ.
4:00 PM - 5:30 PM 1955: The War of Espionage. Hall E. Yellow 5,6.
Saturday Night: AEG or Mayfair or Rio Grande HQ or game with friends.
SUNDAY:
AM: Find games to play.
12:00 noon - 2pm: Hope to play Black Gold.
3pm: Buy games then leave con.
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Todd
United States
Phoenix
Arizona
Fez.
-
I've been working on several game designs for a few years now and thought I'd take note of where they are in development. I'd love your feedback.
The Diggers
Theme: The Diggers is an area control game based on a Billy Bragg song about the Digger uprising of 1649 in Britain. The Diggers tried to use "common" land to raise crops and feed the poor, but were crushed by the landlords and vested interests.
Play: Players use cards to place workers to claim and develop plots in four towns. The unique aspect of this game is a "cooperative" phase at the end of each turn in which the players must work together (by sacraficing cards) to hold off Cromwell's troops (which destroy developments and claims).
Development Status: Rules are complete and I have a few working completed prototypes with board, tokens, and cards. Many playtest games have occurred. Playtesting shows the cooperative phase is interesting and challenging. This one has been gathering dust for over 6 months now (no further work, re-writting, submissions, or playtests)
Game Publisher Status: The game has been submitted to a few game companies with no interest. I'd love to have a publisher in England give it a serious look.
My thoughts- The playtesting went well, but I have been unable to get a publisher to give it a playtest. The theme is unusual and so I have to figure out a way to make it interesting to a publisher.
The game is difficult to do well in (because of Cromwell's attacks) but the game play is pretty simple. Perhaps too simple? I am considering another re-write to add a planning element to the game (adding a step before players can place their workers on the board). Perhaps an improvment of the claim/develop portion of the game will enable me to generate interest.
"Obelisks of the Shaman" (or just "Shaman")
Theme- Another card/ area control game in which players place cards in an attempt to control elemental "obelisks." This game is a cousin to Knizia's "Battleline" as it uses a similar card structure. I've tried to provide a deeper theme here by assigning different elemental powers based on colors and numbers. It can be played by 2-4.
Status: Prototype with cards and a board complete. Several playtests demonstrate the game works well but more feedback needed.
Game Publisher Status: Never submitted for review.
My Thoughts- This is my earliest design and I never tried to get it published. The game is fun but do we really need an improved, more thematic, 2-4 player version of Battleline?
America Redux
Theme- Post Armageddon America political card game. Players play "Leaders" trying to establish control over an unorganized post-disaster North America.
Play- A multi-level game with several decks of cards. The first round simulates the players initial power grab in their local community. Using different aspects of power (Military, Political, Media, Financial, etc.) players try to control geographic regions of their portion of the Country. Once local controol is achieved, the leaders of each area of the country then once 'in charge' try to defeat the other leaders through the same influence cards. Game play involves play of cards on limited spaces on the board. Players can use certain tokens and cards to affect the outcome or change the powers of cards. There is a late game player elimination issue, but I think tweaks to the rules have reduced that.
Development Status- Several card decks printed and a rough board (depicting several control zones of North America) are complete. The end game is still not satisfying.
Publisher Status- Not ready for prototype submission.
My thoughts --this is a game that really excites me as I like the theme and the game play is unusual. One thing that concerns me is that my theme was pretty unique when I came up with it a few years ago, but during the past 18 months as this design sat in a box gathering dust, several games with distressingly similar themes have been published (in particlar 51st State causes me concern --though I have yet to play it). I really should dig this one out and try to fix the end game, as I think I have a fun rather unique card driven game here.
The League
My most recent effort -this is a 3-6 player game about investors in a new rival football league. It attempts to combine the stock ownership elements of recent train games with a sports theme. Players can buy stock in teams and make management decisions and take profits or invest them and play games each week. The actual franchsie v. franchise games are simulated each week with rolls of verious dice. Players try to improve their teams in order to win more games and make more profits.
Status: First Draft of rules and game board complete. Only preliminary playtesting. Need to figure out how many games per season the game can accomodate without getting too repetitive.
Thu Mar 17, 2011 10:57 pm
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Todd
United States
Phoenix
Arizona
Fez.
-
My other "best of" lists. Feel free to comment or disagree!
1999: http://boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/403/my-top-10-games-of-199...
2007: http://boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/395/my-top-10-games-of-200...
2011: http://boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/225/my-most-anticipated-ga...
1994 was not a good year for games. This is a list of what I could cobble together as I really don't play these games any more. Lots of dead CCGs populate the list. When I saw the top ranked game from this year (RoboRally) I knew I was in trouble. I really don't like that game. This is a very sad moment for me. Just 3 games on it, and none of them great.
Since I cannot come close to a "Top 10" I will ask BGGers to make recommendations. There are a few good 18XX games from that year and some other interesting games. The "list":
1994
1. Loco! A simple, fun Knizia card game. I am happy to play this any time.
2. Kingdoms Another simple Knizia game. This one recently received a Beowulf retheme. I used to play on BGG but not in the last several years.
3. UNO Hearts A fun hearts variant (even though its UNO).
4. That's it. That's all I got. Wow. So what are your suggestions?
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Todd
United States
Phoenix
Arizona
Fez.
-
My taste in games certain changes. Games that I loved in 1999 barely make the table 12 years later. But here are my Top 10 games from the end of the last century as I rank them now. This was a much tougher list to make than my 2007 list.
My other "best of" lists. Feel free to comment or disagree!
1994: http://boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/560/my-top-games-of-1994
2007: http://boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/395/my-top-10-games-of-200...
2011: http://boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/225/my-most-anticipated-ga...
1. Lost Cities *Fun and simple card game with a pasted on theme that works perfectly. I love the art.
2. Chinatown * Great diplomacy/negotiation game with the right group. Time limits for negotiating are key to make this work.
3. Ra *Fun bidding game that I still play on IPad.
4. Tikal *Great exploration game that has great staying power.
5. Schotten-Totten *Battleline's uncle. Fun though I'm very annoyed that the Knitzia empire saw fit to take this game off www.yucata.de
6. Mordred *Martin Wallace goodness that hasn't made it to the table in years.
7. Money! *Mr. Knizia's second entry on my top ten. Still play on the Ipad. You know its good because the title has an exclaimation point!
8. Apples to Apples *My kids LOVE this game, so I put up with it.
9. Vinci *I like Small World Much more.
10. Starfarers of Catan *Too fiddly and complex for a Catan game. Why play this when you can just play Catan?
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Todd
United States
Phoenix
Arizona
Fez.
-
It can be fun to go back and see how your feeling about a game has changed. For instance, in 2007 "Agricola" was a must-have and "Brass" was to be avoided at all cost. But here's how I rank the top 10 games of 2007. My other "best of" lists. Feel free to comment or disagree! 1994: http://boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/560/my-top-games-of-19941999: http://boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/403/my-top-10-games-of-199...2011: http://boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/225/my-most-anticipated-ga...Please post your agreements/disagreements or alternative choices! 1. Container This game seemed heavy with a boring theme (shipping) and the bits were all similar monochrome brown,tan, orange... But what fun to play. I like this better than the train games and I think that is because it feels "less structured" to me. Maybe its just because there is no game board (your ships sit on the table, between each players personal playing area or mini-game board). The market economics are so interesting even though I'm not a math guy who calculates the perfect price for each item I manufacture or put on the docks. (Maybe that's why I don't win). I am always ready to play this one. 2. Race for the Galaxy A very fun space development card game that some find too dry. I like this game very much even though it took me awhile to grok it --despite having played the similar " San Juan" many times. One group of friends refuse to play as the symbols and learning curve "gave them headaches." For such a simple game this does seem to happen fairly often. But I'm ready to play. 3. Brass This devlopment game can seem very dry and random (coal must be connected, iron can fly by magic) but I love the mechanics of it. I still get beat regularly on http://brass.orderofthehammer.com because I have a hard time taking early turns to use the develop option, but thats another story. 4. Midgard This is a very fun game with a thin theme of Nordic Mythos that just works great for me. Light but interesting with lots of options. I think this one is underrated because it is so cheap to get through Tanga and other discounted sites. Always fun to play. 5. Agricola Yes the farming theme is less than exciting. But this game is fun, if a bit fiddly to get rolling. I like but don't love this game because it is hard to catch up after you fall behind. 6. Thebes I think the "pay with time to take actions" mechanics works quite well in this explore/find treasure Euro. 7. 1960: The Making of the President I love this game and I want to rank it higher but I never get to play it. never. All the bits and the rules scare off my 2player opponents (yet they'll play Container). 8. Zooloretto Fun, light game that my kids enjoy. Since it is one of the few games I can get them to play, it makes the list. 9. Kingsburg This game is a fun dicefest but after one play I'm all set with no interest to play again for several weeks. A bit too repetitive, but still fun. 10. Cold War: CIA vs KGB I really like this small card game. The mechanics are fairly simple and the agents feel a bit random, but the theme really works and plus my wife will play --so it is included. Honorable mention: Vikings --a bit too fiddly for the fun to be had and Oregon- I used to hate this game, but now I like it even though the theme feels completely pasted on.
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Todd
United States
Phoenix
Arizona
Fez.
-
I have a very large game collection --especially for a guy who plays games less than once a month. I suppose that is why I am such an active math trader. I can justify getting new games only if I trade away those cool games that I never get a chance to play.
I'd love to hear your suggestions or thoughts on these games.
Five Games I own that I'd love to play:
1.Battles of Westeros I love the "Songs of Fire and Ice" series of books and I really looked forward to playing A Game of Thrones. But after playing the game a few times, I really didn't enjoy it. It had the characters of the books but it didn't really have the feel of the books for me. Opening moves were often scripted and the game had the feel of a stilted, hostile, session of Diplomacy. So I traded away Game of Thrones and am really looking forward to getting a chance to play Westeros. I love the battlelore system and its my understanding that this is close.
2. London I love Martin Wallace's games but I rarely get to play them as they are too "heavy" for my gaming buddies. (Brass went over like a lead balloon with them). I'm hoping that London will make to the table --though I'm still waiting for my copy of Mordred to be played. The Rules to London were pretty straight-forward (and brief) so I am optimistic...
3. Rush n' Crush My 9 yr son isn't into board games at all, but he does enjoy two games:Castle Panic and Battleball. He loves sports, so battleball is perfect for him. I'm hoping Rush N Crush is a slightly more complex game with the same fun factor. Maybe I can lure him into better games through these sports/battle games?
4. The Hunger Games: Training Days My 11 yr old daughter is also a bit reluctant to play board games but does enjoy Catan. She loved the Hunger Games series of books, and so I bought her this licensed game when I saw it at the WizKids booth at Gencon. To my dismay, she has not been willing to play. I play to try again this weekend. Any tips?
5. Samarkand: Routes to Riches I do like me some train games, but this one was just so-so when I played its low production value cousin "Routes to Riches" with Eric at Rincon '09. I've had the deluxe Queen Games version on my shelf for some time. Is it time to break it out?
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