-
Rick Baptist
United States
Redlands
California
-
Here we are once again to visit my 'Top 10 in some category' list. Overall, I was pretty content with how my Top 10 Thematic Games went along a few weeks ago. Of course, I'm already second-guessing myself on a few entries (Descent should be higher than #6! Why did I leave off Castle Ravenloft?) but I can live with it. But I will admit that the Strategy Top 10 has been a ton more difficult for me to get through. I had about 15 games for the Thematic list, having to leave 5 off. But this strategy list numbered above 20, so there were some tough decisions to be made. Sorry to those titles that didn't make it -- tell your publisher to make an expansion and perhaps that can set you over the top. On to #10.
#10 - Colosseum
Okay, time to make my apologies to Yspahan, Thurn and Taxis, Rattus, Egizia, China, and a few more even! I still love you guys, but Mr. Kramer's Colosseum beat you this year. It's ironic, too, because everyone knows that I'm the king of the short, light euro. I usually don't get too excited about 2-3 hour long euros. But every time I play Colosseum, I have a good time. Perhaps it has something to do with the presentation and components, which are spectacular. Maybe it's the wonky scoring system. I just really like this game. Although I can see it being dry to some, I feel it's very thematic (but not thematic enough for my Top 10 Thematic games, sigh) and I'm very involved with the process of each turn. I also happen to really enjoy the time period. I do have some niggling issues with the playtime, but it was the experience that set me over the top here. Then again, I just played Rattus recently, and once I get that expansion I bet I'll enjoy it even more ... nope! Not gonna do it! Colosseum gets number ten, so stop your yapping, you filthy rats!
#9 - 7 Wonders
I've already played 7 Wonders 11 times this year! 11! I don't even own it (yet)! Granted, the games are short, but that's pretty amazing to me. Amazing, but I believe it. After a rather hideous first play, this game has me frothing to play again and again. Why? After all, 7 Wonders is a quite simple drafting game, with a short playtime and accompanies up to 7. The strategy involved after 10 plays is light, as I've gotten to the point where I usually know what I'm looking for and when I see it I'm ready to go. That's why! I just love it. To me, 7 Wonders is what I've always wanted games like David & Goliath and other quick-playing card games to be. I don't have a lot of interest in just sitting around and flipping a card onto the table with little thought. But, Rick! That's how you just described 7 Wonders! Well, that's true, but it's also false (what?) Because instead of making tricks that form and go away in less than a minute, you're building something in front of you (oh!) That appeals to me very, very much -- I like creating an empire, regardless of the game, and looking down on what I've created at the end. Carcassonne is a good example of that and one of the main draws for me there also. So to combine all these things, plus playing well with 7 players (!) -- sign me up. I don't know if it can get any higher on this list, but I love this game, and can't wait to get a copy.
#8 - BattleLore
Ah, yes. This game is kind of like comfort food to me. When I got serious about this hobby, this was one of the first designer games that I bought. If I remember correctly, I had stumbled across Battlelore due to some research of Memoir '44 -- the system looked fun and the presentation was very nice. I remember thinking to myself, geez, this game is $65! But being a video game player in my youth, that number doesn't mean that much to me. I pulled the trigger. Well, this was a great purchase! It ticked all the boxes off from what I was looking for in a game at the time -- it was fantasy-themed, easy-entry, and had dice. Since then my tastes have expanded, but I continue to love and enjoy Battlelore. I have several of the expansions and there's probably 50 scenarios I haven't played yet, even though I've played my set 35 times. In fact, I have yet to use that three-headed hydra in a battle yet -- anyone want to come over for a quick game?
#7 - Metropolys
I warned you that this list might get a bit odd. Metropolys, you say? What the heck is that? You haven't played it, I bet. For shame! Don't worry, Metropolys came out of the blue for me, too . A few cons ago I was considering turning in for the night, but there's a good fellow named David Mines that convinced me to try this out. This was right after a game of #10 on this list, Colosseum, so I was in good spirits and even though the board looked a bit wacky, I sat down with several others. The rulebook to this game is about two pages, and that's with pictorial examples. This is a good sign. And as I picked up my buildings with the numbers on them and digested the quick rule explanation, something hit me. "I'm going to like this game!" I remember thinking that. Metropolys works for me for a lot of reasons, but I'm sure the main reasons are that it uses auction and area control mechanics. The trick is that each of us have one numbered building from 1-13 (or something like that, I don't own the game YET!) and those are both your bidding chips and the playing pieces. It's downright GENIUS, it is. Place one out on the board and the opportunity to trump it goes to the next person. If everyone passes, you build your building there and get the opportunity to score in a variety of secret and sexy ways. Sexy? You bet. There's some things you can collect in this game, and one of them is women with funny hats on. I vividly remember my friend (another) David complaining, "Rick keeps getting all the ladies!" I can't help it, they're two points each. Anyway, I could go on and on, but I love love love this game, and I need a copy like [insert analogy].
#6 - The Pillars of the Earth
Worker placement, one of my favorite mechanics for sure. Combine that with a neat theme (I read the book years ago) and most of the time I'd be interested in playing. That doesn't apply in this instance, though. In this case, Pillars was a game that I bought around the time I bought Battlelore, early in my gaming history. I bought it entirely because of the book -- I had no idea what worker placement was at the time. I didn't know who Michael Rieneck was, I didn't know who Michael Menzel, I didn't even know much about this site! All I knew is that I wanted a copy of The Settlers of Catan, and being the fool that I was, I went to Mayfair's website to purchase it (buying something away from CoolStuffInc? What?) While I was there I saw this, and freaked out, and proclaimed I must have it as well. Just based on the book! I feel like such a tool right now. Anyway, I ended up going to Amazon and finding a game seller that had this, Settlers, and some Battlelore expansions. It was a large order, but I pulled the trigger. So I remember clearly busting this open, trying to read the rules to this (at the time) very complex eurogame, and trying it out a few times with my wife and others. It went over ... okay. I wasn't ready for it yet! My euro tastes had not been cultivated, and not having someone to teach me I had a hard time understanding the flow and process of the game. I traded it away a few months later (in my first trade on BGG). Flash forward a few years, and I play Pillars again. WHAT! I LOVE THIS GAME! I can't believe I traded it! Too funny. And I do love it -- it's a wonderful game with great mechanics and pieces and presentation. I want to play it right now. And, oh yes, another copy is sitting right behind me on my game shelf.
     
Tune in some time later (or subscribe, if you wish) to see the Top 5 of my favorite strategy games. Those of you that know me, well, you might know two or three. But there might be some surprises there, too! Thanks for reading.
|
|
Would it be okay if I add you as a Geekbuddy strictly so I know which games I probably wouldn't like?
