House of Melissa & Fraser - Games waiting to get off our shelves and onto the table
Fraser
Australia
Melbourne
Yep that was 12 Power Grid maps back to back over two days. Worth doing, but possibly not in such a concentrated burst.
Ooh yes, now a little to the left - my nose is itchy. No, no the other left! Now what colour is 12 supporter badge going to be I wonder?
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OK I bit the bullet and renamed and updated this list. It is now a list of games that are waiting to be played at our house (well excluding many old wargames that aren't likely to be played soon). For a game to be considered to be played it must be played face to face and the logging of the play must have occurred since late 2003, which was when I started logging plays on BGG. Some of these games were played prior to that cutoff date, some of them a lot of times, but they don't count for this list.
With two small children (six eight nine and onethreefour), we generally can only find time for the two player games, for those requiring more players finding time is a little bit harder - however we do manage it occasionally, we probably manage to get game playing adults over on average once a fortnight.
My adjusted yardstick is at least two plays before it gets marked as Played, because for non-trivial games the first play is usually just a learning game.
Now using Played, F Played and M Played depending on both played, Fraser has played or Melissa has played.
The list is in no particular order and could be considered by some to be a little esoteric.
We're interested in suggestions of which we should try next and also how many times any particular game should be played to get a decent feel for how good or bad the game is and to have a decent idea of how to play it.
14-Feb-2004 - Renamed list and made significant modifications to the items it may be a bit "under construction" for a while. This has probably sent a few comments that other kind people had added to the original version of the list down to Davy Jones' locker - sorry.
21-Feb-2004 Added details of companion list. now removed as it was not being updated.
18-Mar-2004 Added Mutiny
05-Apr-2004 Removed Ninja Burger, updated age of daughter the younger, added Age of Steam expansion, Armada and Puerto Rico comments.
17-May-2004 Minor updates to some comments here and for Pirate's Cove and Puerto Rico.
24-May-2004 The slow boat from the USA arrived with Tigris & Euphrates, Amun Re and El Grande to add to the shelves.
05-Nov-2004 I really should update this more! Removed Pirate's Cove, Puerto Rico and Euphrat & Tigris and added Die Macher, Civilization and Finstere Flure.
14-Aug-2005 Removed Finster Flure, El Grande and Amun Re added Vinci, Monkeys on the Moon, Penguin Ultimatum and Lunar Rails
26-Feb-2007 Time for a bit of a revisit, revamp and revitalisation given the new GeekList system.
22-Jul-2007 Went though and added a bunch more
18-Aug-2007 It was ConVic 6 last week and there were some really good prices (I'm not even counting the games that we have played previously).
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Fraser
Australia
Melbourne
Yep that was 12 Power Grid maps back to back over two days. Worth doing, but possibly not in such a concentrated burst.
Ooh yes, now a little to the left - my nose is itchy. No, no the other left! Now what colour is 12 supporter badge going to be I wonder?
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Game of Thrones - Based on comments, reviews etc. here at BGG both my wife and I put this on our wishlists.
F Played
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Fraser
Australia
Melbourne
Yep that was 12 Power Grid maps back to back over two days. Worth doing, but possibly not in such a concentrated burst.
Ooh yes, now a little to the left - my nose is itchy. No, no the other left! Now what colour is 12 supporter badge going to be I wonder?
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Age of Steam - I am sure I will like it. Probably a bit too long for our normal 2-3 hour gaming evenings though. The expansions seem very hard to get in Australia - should I import?
05-Apr-2004 update - My local games shop imported expansion #1 for me, the main Australian distributors don't actually bother to import this. The lovely person at the shop suggested in future I import it myself and gave a couple of options to use since it cost AUS $40!
F Played
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Fraser
Australia
Melbourne
Yep that was 12 Power Grid maps back to back over two days. Worth doing, but possibly not in such a concentrated burst.
Ooh yes, now a little to the left - my nose is itchy. No, no the other left! Now what colour is 12 supporter badge going to be I wonder?
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The Princes of Florence - Based on reviews and comments we should both like this.
Played
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Fraser
Australia
Melbourne
Yep that was 12 Power Grid maps back to back over two days. Worth doing, but possibly not in such a concentrated burst.
Ooh yes, now a little to the left - my nose is itchy. No, no the other left! Now what colour is 12 supporter badge going to be I wonder?
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Mammoth Hunter - Still in its shrink wrap. The pieces look cute though.
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Fraser
Australia
Melbourne
Yep that was 12 Power Grid maps back to back over two days. Worth doing, but possibly not in such a concentrated burst.
Ooh yes, now a little to the left - my nose is itchy. No, no the other left! Now what colour is 12 supporter badge going to be I wonder?
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Carcassonne King & Scout - A gaming Christmas present my wife got. Isn't this just *the cutest* little box?
We haven't played it yet. We have both Carcassonne and Hunters and Gatheres, so could play either when we get around to it.
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Fraser
Australia
Melbourne
Yep that was 12 Power Grid maps back to back over two days. Worth doing, but possibly not in such a concentrated burst.
Ooh yes, now a little to the left - my nose is itchy. No, no the other left! Now what colour is 12 supporter badge going to be I wonder?
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Atlanteon - This will probably be the next quick two player one we try. It looks like it will be a quick and simple game.
05-Mar-2004 - This just keeps getting bumped down the priority list. Bohnanza, Balloon Cup, Lost Cities, Carcassonne, Carcassonne: The Castle and Settlers the Card Game have all beat it off the shelf, some of them many times.
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7.
Board Game: Armada
[Average Rating:5.26 Overall Rank:7308]
Fraser
Australia
Melbourne
Yep that was 12 Power Grid maps back to back over two days. Worth doing, but possibly not in such a concentrated burst.
Ooh yes, now a little to the left - my nose is itchy. No, no the other left! Now what colour is 12 supporter badge going to be I wonder?
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Armada - Only played it once so far and that was without the optional rules. Next game I think we will include the optional rules. Haven't decided between open piracy against the other players vs the exploit the natives vs a mixture yet.
05-Apr-2004 - Must say now that Pirate's Cove (q.v.) is also sitting on the shelves, this is no chance that this will beat Pirate's Cove onto the table.
26-Feb-2007 - Well it is almost three years later and that statement is as true as it the day it was written!
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Fraser
Australia
Melbourne
Yep that was 12 Power Grid maps back to back over two days. Worth doing, but possibly not in such a concentrated burst.
Ooh yes, now a little to the left - my nose is itchy. No, no the other left! Now what colour is 12 supporter badge going to be I wonder?
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Die Macher - Melissa speaks German plus there's the English rules available. One day...
17-Jun-2007, another five player game with our copy this time. That makes two, which means it is
Played
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Fraser
Australia
Melbourne
Yep that was 12 Power Grid maps back to back over two days. Worth doing, but possibly not in such a concentrated burst.
Ooh yes, now a little to the left - my nose is itchy. No, no the other left! Now what colour is 12 supporter badge going to be I wonder?
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Civilization - Only one thing, the time. With Daughter the Elder and Daughter the Younger there just isn't that much free time in one block
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Fraser
Australia
Melbourne
Yep that was 12 Power Grid maps back to back over two days. Worth doing, but possibly not in such a concentrated burst.
Ooh yes, now a little to the left - my nose is itchy. No, no the other left! Now what colour is 12 supporter badge going to be I wonder?
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6 Billion - Played once a couple of years ago on a friend's homemade board (the original is very artistic, the homemade one is more logical but not at all artistic).
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11.
Board Game: Java
[Average Rating:7.08 Overall Rank:307]
Fraser
Australia
Melbourne
Yep that was 12 Power Grid maps back to back over two days. Worth doing, but possibly not in such a concentrated burst.
Ooh yes, now a little to the left - my nose is itchy. No, no the other left! Now what colour is 12 supporter badge going to be I wonder?
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Java - We like La Citta. We are bound to like this too and it can be played two player. Why is still on the shelf?
[21-Apr-2007] Now that we have got and played Tikal does that mean it is more or less likely that Java will hit the table? Or does mean that hunting down Mexica becomes more important for the completist  ?
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Fraser
Australia
Melbourne
Yep that was 12 Power Grid maps back to back over two days. Worth doing, but possibly not in such a concentrated burst.
Ooh yes, now a little to the left - my nose is itchy. No, no the other left! Now what colour is 12 supporter badge going to be I wonder?
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1830 - Based on my research I should like this. Possibly a bit long for the normal gaming evening.
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Fraser
Australia
Melbourne
Yep that was 12 Power Grid maps back to back over two days. Worth doing, but possibly not in such a concentrated burst.
Ooh yes, now a little to the left - my nose is itchy. No, no the other left! Now what colour is 12 supporter badge going to be I wonder?
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Alan Jones Formula 1... - OK have played this but not for more than 10 years I think. I want to play it again just so I can write a review for BGG
Played the introductory version with our daughter, still waiting on the "grown-up" version.
[08-Apr-2007] Played the full version with Daughter the Elder. I must say, given the choice between this and {i]Formula Dé[/i] it will not be Alan Jones Formula 1 Grand Prix Racing Game very often.
F Played
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Fraser
Australia
Melbourne
Yep that was 12 Power Grid maps back to back over two days. Worth doing, but possibly not in such a concentrated burst.
Ooh yes, now a little to the left - my nose is itchy. No, no the other left! Now what colour is 12 supporter badge going to be I wonder?
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Star Munchkin - We have and both enjoy Munchkins (probably helps that we are both roleplayers too).
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Fraser
Australia
Melbourne
Yep that was 12 Power Grid maps back to back over two days. Worth doing, but possibly not in such a concentrated burst.
Ooh yes, now a little to the left - my nose is itchy. No, no the other left! Now what colour is 12 supporter badge going to be I wonder?
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Carcassonne Traders & Builders - We've got Carcassonne, the expansion with Bubba (what the big guy is called at our house) Hunters and Gatherers, and The River (don't like the river with two players though, but it came as a freeby with the expansion so can't complain too much).
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Fraser
Australia
Melbourne
Yep that was 12 Power Grid maps back to back over two days. Worth doing, but possibly not in such a concentrated burst.
Ooh yes, now a little to the left - my nose is itchy. No, no the other left! Now what colour is 12 supporter badge going to be I wonder?
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Seafarers of Catan - We have and enjoy Catan. Played Seafarers once at a friend's place some years ago.
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Fraser
Australia
Melbourne
Yep that was 12 Power Grid maps back to back over two days. Worth doing, but possibly not in such a concentrated burst.
Ooh yes, now a little to the left - my nose is itchy. No, no the other left! Now what colour is 12 supporter badge going to be I wonder?
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Seafarers of Catan 5-6 player expansion - Have to keep the set complete n'est ce pas?
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Fraser
Australia
Melbourne
Yep that was 12 Power Grid maps back to back over two days. Worth doing, but possibly not in such a concentrated burst.
Ooh yes, now a little to the left - my nose is itchy. No, no the other left! Now what colour is 12 supporter badge going to be I wonder?
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Cranium - Looks better than Trivial Pursuit which still gets a workout on occasions. Definitely in the list of things to play, possibly with the less "serious" gamer crowd. Still shrink wrapped.
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Fraser
Australia
Melbourne
Yep that was 12 Power Grid maps back to back over two days. Worth doing, but possibly not in such a concentrated burst.
Ooh yes, now a little to the left - my nose is itchy. No, no the other left! Now what colour is 12 supporter badge going to be I wonder?
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Red Empire - Melissa acquired this via ebay 05-Mar-2004. A game from her gaming past as she described it. This copy was evidently owned or played by a smoker, a HEAVY smoker. Should come off the shelf after Alan Jones I think
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Fraser
Australia
Melbourne
Yep that was 12 Power Grid maps back to back over two days. Worth doing, but possibly not in such a concentrated burst.
Ooh yes, now a little to the left - my nose is itchy. No, no the other left! Now what colour is 12 supporter badge going to be I wonder?
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Mutiny - A late or delayed arrival birthday present for Melissa. Based on a little research this may be a "love it or hate it" type of game. We both like pirates and both like games so it will be interesting to see.
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Fraser
Australia
Melbourne
Yep that was 12 Power Grid maps back to back over two days. Worth doing, but possibly not in such a concentrated burst.
Ooh yes, now a little to the left - my nose is itchy. No, no the other left! Now what colour is 12 supporter badge going to be I wonder?
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Monkeys on the Moon - I got this because the only way to get Penguin Ultimatum (see next entry) was to order it direct from the publisher, so I researched it and decided to add it to the order.
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Fraser
Australia
Melbourne
Yep that was 12 Power Grid maps back to back over two days. Worth doing, but possibly not in such a concentrated burst.
Ooh yes, now a little to the left - my nose is itchy. No, no the other left! Now what colour is 12 supporter badge going to be I wonder?
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Penguin Ultimatum - Unobtainable in Australia and I had been searching for it for ages as a present for a friend, so I ordered it direct from Eight Foot Llama and bundled in an extra copy for us and Monkeys on the Moon too.
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23.
Board Game: Vinci
[Average Rating:7.24 Overall Rank:216]
Fraser
Australia
Melbourne
Yep that was 12 Power Grid maps back to back over two days. Worth doing, but possibly not in such a concentrated burst.
Ooh yes, now a little to the left - my nose is itchy. No, no the other left! Now what colour is 12 supporter badge going to be I wonder?
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Vinci - It was on special, I did the research and it looks like something I will enjoy so I got it.
F Played (not our copy, but a couple of times at Gamers@Dockers)
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Fraser
Australia
Melbourne
Yep that was 12 Power Grid maps back to back over two days. Worth doing, but possibly not in such a concentrated burst.
Ooh yes, now a little to the left - my nose is itchy. No, no the other left! Now what colour is 12 supporter badge going to be I wonder?
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Lunar Rails - It was going cheap cheap cheap. I have played some crayon rail games in the past and liked them. How could I resist?
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Fraser
Australia
Melbourne
Yep that was 12 Power Grid maps back to back over two days. Worth doing, but possibly not in such a concentrated burst.
Ooh yes, now a little to the left - my nose is itchy. No, no the other left! Now what colour is 12 supporter badge going to be I wonder?
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(Yes the original one)I played this once with my regular Call of Cthulhu group years ago and we liked it.
I think it is fair to say it is quicker than the FFG version 
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Yep that was 12 Power Grid maps back to back over two days. Worth doing, but possibly not in such a concentrated burst.
brooklyn
New York
Also, how old are your kids? Lately, I get games in mind for them more often than my wife or friends. The suggested ages on boxes aren't neccesarily accurate. For example, my 7 year old understood New England which says 12 & up.
Melbourne
Victoria
Colorado
My Debbie does humor me on occasion with the above games, so I can't complain. To return the favor I'd have to go to church or start crocheting, neither of which I have an aptitude for.
Oh, but to play Puerto Rico every night...and lose!
Melbourne
Ottawa
Ontario
However, about a year ago we were invited over by one of her friends to play board games for an evening. I was prepared to be bored out of my mind playing something like Scrabble (which I hate). Instead I was pleasantly surprised to see that we would be playing Settlers of Catan. I had heard that it was a good game, but had never played it. I had a great time, and so did my wife. On the way home she told me that if I wanted to add that game to my collection she would approve. I bought it the next week and a whole new era in my gaming hobby life began.
I still play game with my gaming buddies (war games, fantasy games etc) but now I also play games on a regular basis with my wife and another couple we know. We mostly play Settlers, Carcassone (which my wife got as a gift for Christmas), History of the World and other non-wargame type games. However, I recently convinced them to try Risk 2210 and they seemed to like it. Its amazing how my wife's attitude on games changed completely simply because she found one that she liked.