The Hotness
Games|People|Company
Eclipse
Gunship: First Strike!
Mage Knight: Board Game
Midnight Men
Agricola: Die Bauern und das liebe Vieh
Hawaii
Star Wars: Battle of Hoth
Wiz-War
Ora et Labora
Rex: Final Days of an Empire
Snowdonia
Barbarian Prince
The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game
Twilight Struggle
War of the Ring
Agricola
7 Wonders
A Game of Thrones: The Board Game (second edition)
Dominion
7 Wonders: Cities
Kingdoms
A Few Acres of Snow
Risk Legacy
Arkham Horror
Through the Ages: A Story of Civilization
Thunderstone Advance: Towers of Ruin
1812: The Invasion of Canada
Dixit: Journey
Elder Sign
D-Day Dice
The Castles of Burgundy
Le Havre
Kingdom Builder
Sid Meier's Civilization: The Board Game
Race for the Galaxy
Cosmic Encounter
Dominant Species
Dungeon Petz
Battlestar Galactica
Power Grid
Mansions of Madness
Last Will
Twilight Imperium (third edition)
Nexus Ops
Agents of SMERSH
Puerto Rico
Star Trek: Fleet Captains
Kairo
Core Worlds
Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective
Solidly mediocre: Games almost noone thinks are great or awful
Matthew Gray
United States
Reading
Massachusetts
admin
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Recommend
27 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
The Geek tends to be focused on the games everyone loves, or occasionally the games everyone hates. But what about the games "everyone" agrees are just sort of mediocre. This list catalogs the games that very uniformly get ratings of 4, 5 or 6 and relatively infrequently outside this bound.

Specifically, the games are those where the average plus standard deviation is under 7 and the average minus a standard deviation is above 4. For games with a gaussian rating distributions, this means roughly 68% of the ratings fall between 4 and 7. Game ratings don't tend to be quite gaussian, but they're close. In most cases, these games earn almost no 10s and almost no 1s. In many cases, they're even more tightly grouped around the center. Games have to be rated by at least 125 people to get on the list.

So, where are the strong opinions, positive or negative, on these games? Or will everyone just say "Enh, they're ok."?

Games are listed in average rating order, starting with the "best of the mediocre".
Your Tags: Add tags
Popular Tags: stats [+] rating [+] lies_damn_lies_statistics [+] [View All]
1. Board Game: The Hunt for Red October [Average Rating:5.74 Overall Rank:4981]
Matthew Gray
United States
Reading
Massachusetts
admin
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Over half the ratings of this game are 5 or 6.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
Charles Hasegawa
United States
Mesa
Arizona
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Sounds about right from what I remember about this game. An interesting premise with TONS of fiddlyness for a very medicore experience.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Thu Oct 26, 2006 8:34 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Joe McKinley
United States
San Jose
California
When I heard the learn’d astronomer; When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me; When I was shown the charts and the diagrams, to add, divide, and measure them; When I, sitting, heard the astronomer, where he he lectured with
badge
much applause in the lecture-room, How soon, unaccountable, I became tired and sick; Till rising and gliding out, I wander’d off by myself, In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time, Look’d up in perfect silence at the stars. W.W.
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Thu Oct 26, 2006 8:36 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
James Lowry
Spain
Sunnyvale
California
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
An unexciting game with no real problems. I'd rate it, but I'm not sure I can build up the energy to. snore
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Thu Oct 26, 2006 8:41 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
David Seddon
United Kingdom
Congleton
Cheshire
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
A 6 from me. I think it's slightly better than average. It can be fun, and it was quite new for its time, but essentially it's pretty chromey. There is its bother, Red Storm Rising, as well. I would play either if anyone had an interst, but there are other games I'd prefer to play.

I own both. Not sure what their value is, but there you go.

 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Thu Oct 26, 2006 10:19 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
k b
United States
Unspecified
mb
I've heard, somewhere or another, that the scenario in which you try to find the Red October is really fun. Any comments about that from anyone who knows?
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Sat Oct 28, 2006 2:44 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
2. Board Game: Gold Digger [Average Rating:5.75 Overall Rank:4005]
Matthew Gray
United States
Reading
Massachusetts
admin
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Another "consensus 6" from Dr. Knizia.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
Joe McKinley
United States
San Jose
California
When I heard the learn’d astronomer; When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me; When I was shown the charts and the diagrams, to add, divide, and measure them; When I, sitting, heard the astronomer, where he he lectured with
badge
much applause in the lecture-room, How soon, unaccountable, I became tired and sick; Till rising and gliding out, I wander’d off by myself, In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time, Look’d up in perfect silence at the stars. W.W.
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Thu Oct 26, 2006 8:36 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
()


msg tools
IIRC, The Eurogamers didn't find the game was meaty enough, while the "beer and pretzel" crowd didn't find enough "take that" in the game. I'd say it's a useful filler game to see if the "beer and pretzel" gamers in the group can even catch onto basic basic Eurogame strategy.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Fri Oct 27, 2006 8:51 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Andy Daglish
United Kingdom
Cheadle
Cheshire
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
this is usually given as the prime example of the poor designs Knizia did before Digging.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Fri Oct 27, 2006 6:35 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
3. Board Game: The Warlock of Firetop Mountain [Average Rating:5.68 Overall Rank:5012]
Matthew Gray
United States
Reading
Massachusetts
admin
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
A couple haters, one 9, and a lot of "enh".
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
Joe McKinley
United States
San Jose
California
When I heard the learn’d astronomer; When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me; When I was shown the charts and the diagrams, to add, divide, and measure them; When I, sitting, heard the astronomer, where he he lectured with
badge
much applause in the lecture-room, How soon, unaccountable, I became tired and sick; Till rising and gliding out, I wander’d off by myself, In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time, Look’d up in perfect silence at the stars. W.W.
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Thu Oct 26, 2006 8:38 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
4. Board Game: Frog Juice [Average Rating:5.65 Overall Rank:5350]
Matthew Gray
United States
Reading
Massachusetts
admin
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
This always looked sort of mediocre, but I've never tried it.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
Derek H
South Africa
Durban
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
My daughter **loved** this game as a 8-10 year old. One of the very few games she would take and teach her to her friends. I guess if the BGG had more "junior" members, the ratings for this game might show some shift. So, yes, its a nice little game and just right for its target audience!
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Thu Oct 26, 2006 8:20 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Joe McKinley
United States
San Jose
California
When I heard the learn’d astronomer; When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me; When I was shown the charts and the diagrams, to add, divide, and measure them; When I, sitting, heard the astronomer, where he he lectured with
badge
much applause in the lecture-room, How soon, unaccountable, I became tired and sick; Till rising and gliding out, I wander’d off by myself, In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time, Look’d up in perfect silence at the stars. W.W.
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Thu Oct 26, 2006 8:40 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Scott Russell
United States
Clarkston
Michigan
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
We played this a lot as a filler without kids involved. Our kids weren't impressed with it, but did enjoy teh Mu variant that is very similar, go figure. laugh
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Thu Oct 26, 2006 9:24 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Germán R. Gómez
United States
Chula Vista
California
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
I may have the highest rating for it (I haven't checked as I type this) but my kids love it and will request it often. Maybe adults are rating it for adults when it is plainly a kids game? Don't know, but it is recommended on a couple of lists, which is where I found out about it.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Thu Oct 26, 2006 11:07 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Fraser
Australia
Melbourne
admin
designer
Yep that was 12 Power Grid maps back to back over two days. Worth doing, but possibly not in such a concentrated burst.
badge
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?
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
It's a good kids type game, but the witch cards make it a tad too wild luck dependent for it to be much above a six in my opinion. Thus I am not surprised to see the ratings clumping around 5-6.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Sun Oct 29, 2006 6:57 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
5. Board Game: T-Rex [Average Rating:5.59 Overall Rank:5648]
Matthew Gray
United States
Reading
Massachusetts
admin
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Only a single rating (a 2) on the edges. No 1s, 9s or 10s.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
Joe McKinley
United States
San Jose
California
When I heard the learn’d astronomer; When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me; When I was shown the charts and the diagrams, to add, divide, and measure them; When I, sitting, heard the astronomer, where he he lectured with
badge
much applause in the lecture-room, How soon, unaccountable, I became tired and sick; Till rising and gliding out, I wander’d off by myself, In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time, Look’d up in perfect silence at the stars. W.W.
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Thu Oct 26, 2006 8:37 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Justin Green
United States
Des Moines
Iowa
Avatar
Heh. I'm one of those eights. Like many card games, it benefits from getting played often. But I haven't played it in a while and I'm tempted to revise my rating down. Guess I can't do that now!
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Fri Oct 27, 2006 2:04 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
6. Board Game: Savannah Café [Average Rating:5.59 Overall Rank:5380]
Matthew Gray
United States
Reading
Massachusetts
admin
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
No 1s, 9s or 10s for this one.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
Joe McKinley
United States
San Jose
California
When I heard the learn’d astronomer; When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me; When I was shown the charts and the diagrams, to add, divide, and measure them; When I, sitting, heard the astronomer, where he he lectured with
badge
much applause in the lecture-room, How soon, unaccountable, I became tired and sick; Till rising and gliding out, I wander’d off by myself, In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time, Look’d up in perfect silence at the stars. W.W.
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Thu Oct 26, 2006 8:41 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
bruno faidutti
France
LES ANGLES
designer
Avatar
This one is great as well, after a few games have teached you that antelopes don't have a sure win.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Sun Oct 29, 2006 8:39 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
7. Board Game: Draco & Co [Average Rating:5.54 Overall Rank:5785]
Matthew Gray
United States
Reading
Massachusetts
admin
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
And this game gives each of the designers, Schacht (of Knights) and Faidutti (of Democrazy) their second game on the list, joining Knizia in the "sufficiently prolific to have 2 games few people have strong opinions of" category.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
Joe McKinley
United States
San Jose
California
When I heard the learn’d astronomer; When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me; When I was shown the charts and the diagrams, to add, divide, and measure them; When I, sitting, heard the astronomer, where he he lectured with
badge
much applause in the lecture-room, How soon, unaccountable, I became tired and sick; Till rising and gliding out, I wander’d off by myself, In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time, Look’d up in perfect silence at the stars. W.W.
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Thu Oct 26, 2006 8:35 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Kochenbowls
United States
Tucson
Arizona
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Some people at my group were playing this about three weeks ago. They all said it was the worst game they had ever played. Something about being a drinking game without the booze...?

I've never played it, so I can't comment.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Fri Oct 27, 2006 8:07 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Andrew Clarke
United Kingdom
St Albans
Unspecified
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
This isn't mediocre- it's terrible. And I agree with the above assessment of it, though I wouldn't have come up with it myself.
Vaguely cool idea, theme good enough to make one play worthwhile, but not depth of any kind and to long to even be a good filler.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Fri Oct 27, 2006 10:13 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
8. Board Game: Knights [Average Rating:5.56 Overall Rank:5646]
Matthew Gray
United States
Reading
Massachusetts
admin
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Another dice game. Is this a trend?
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
Joe McKinley
United States
San Jose
California
When I heard the learn’d astronomer; When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me; When I was shown the charts and the diagrams, to add, divide, and measure them; When I, sitting, heard the astronomer, where he he lectured with
badge
much applause in the lecture-room, How soon, unaccountable, I became tired and sick; Till rising and gliding out, I wander’d off by myself, In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time, Look’d up in perfect silence at the stars. W.W.
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Thu Oct 26, 2006 8:38 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Huzonfirst
United States
Manassas
Virginia
designer
For the second time in five years, the G-Men are Super Bowl champs! Woo hoo!!!!!
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
This, on the other hand, is way, WAY too long for what it is. I like dice games, but they need more decisions and a much shorter duration than this one. A 4.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Thu Oct 26, 2006 10:32 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Bryan Johnson
United States
North Andover
Massachusetts
designer
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Yeah, this one's been on my trade list forever. Bought it in Sweden almost 5 years ago. I didn't know anything about the game at the time, but I like Schacht so I gave it a go.

 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Fri Oct 27, 2006 12:21 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Mike Adams
United States
Brigham City
Utah
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Quote:
This, on the other hand, is way, WAY too long for what it is.


I generally play this with only 2 or 3 people and it plays very quickly. We enjoy it a lot. If it dragged, I can see it would be a problem, but I've never played a game of it that felt long at all.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Fri Oct 27, 2006 2:55 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Ogdred Weary
United States
San Francisco
California
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
I like this game with 2 or 3 players. I would avoid playing with more than 3.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Fri Oct 27, 2006 7:52 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
9. Board Game: Ever Green [Average Rating:5.52 Overall Rank:5967]
Matthew Gray
United States
Reading
Massachusetts
admin
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Wow, given some of the things I've heard about this one, I expected more low ratings.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
Joe McKinley
United States
San Jose
California
When I heard the learn’d astronomer; When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me; When I was shown the charts and the diagrams, to add, divide, and measure them; When I, sitting, heard the astronomer, where he he lectured with
badge
much applause in the lecture-room, How soon, unaccountable, I became tired and sick; Till rising and gliding out, I wander’d off by myself, In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time, Look’d up in perfect silence at the stars. W.W.
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Thu Oct 26, 2006 8:37 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Bob Matthews
United States
Berkeley
California
Avatar
mbmbmb
Evergreen is a fun, quick game that plays up to 6. It's been positively received by almost everyone I've shown it to.

Much better than the other games on this list, imo.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Fri Oct 27, 2006 8:05 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Maman Jean-Michel
France
Le Pré-Saint-Gervais
Ile-de France
designer
It's not a bad game ! Not the greatest, but an honnest one.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Fri Oct 27, 2006 5:11 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Stven Carlberg
United States
Atlanta
Georgia
designer
Avatar
Two recommendations to keep this experience from rating lower than mediocre: Don't play with six players; five is the game's sweet spot. Don't play without the timer; people have to be forced into making quick decisions or the game outlasts its welcome by a wide margin.

Not the greatest game on the shelf, but one that can be played without pain.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Fri Oct 27, 2006 9:38 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
E.R. Burgess
United States
Glendora
California
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
I think this game is underrated and even though Kramer was unhappy with the retheme, I think it is fun and has been well-received by everyone I've played the game with.

Is it overproduced? I suppose so but I generally find that to be a silly complaint and it sure is here since moving the dials on the records is amusing and an active part of the game.

I reviewed Evergreen on Boardgame Babylon way back on Volume 9 and it continues to hit the table occasionally.

...Sheylon

www.boardgamebabylon.com
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Sun Oct 29, 2006 4:07 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
10. Board Game: Smess: The Ninny's Chess [Average Rating:5.51 Overall Rank:6238]
Matthew Gray
United States
Reading
Massachusetts
admin
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Noone hates it and only a few are particularly fond of it.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
Dan Poole
United States
Goldsboro
North Carolina
Ph'nglui Mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn!!
badge
We're charging our battery. And now we're full of energy. We are the robots. We're functioning automatik. And we are dancing mechanik. We are the robots
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
I used to love this as a kid. I would like a copy now, though mostly out of nostalgia
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Thu Oct 26, 2006 8:02 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Joe McKinley
United States
San Jose
California
When I heard the learn’d astronomer; When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me; When I was shown the charts and the diagrams, to add, divide, and measure them; When I, sitting, heard the astronomer, where he he lectured with
badge
much applause in the lecture-room, How soon, unaccountable, I became tired and sick; Till rising and gliding out, I wander’d off by myself, In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time, Look’d up in perfect silence at the stars. W.W.
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Thu Oct 26, 2006 8:38 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
11. Board Game: Labyrinth: The Card Game [Average Rating:5.50 Overall Rank:6360]
Matthew Gray
United States
Reading
Massachusetts
admin
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
My view is with 2 this is a little better than mediocre and with more players, worse than mediocre.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
Joe McKinley
United States
San Jose
California
When I heard the learn’d astronomer; When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me; When I was shown the charts and the diagrams, to add, divide, and measure them; When I, sitting, heard the astronomer, where he he lectured with
badge
much applause in the lecture-room, How soon, unaccountable, I became tired and sick; Till rising and gliding out, I wander’d off by myself, In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time, Look’d up in perfect silence at the stars. W.W.
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Thu Oct 26, 2006 8:42 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Mitchel Stein
United States

California
mbmb
The ratings would be better if it came with a little plastic Bowie.
1 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Fri Oct 27, 2006 8:13 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
12. Board Game: Orcz [Average Rating:5.49 Overall Rank:6054]
Matthew Gray
United States
Reading
Massachusetts
admin
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
More 6s than any 2 other ratings combined. I sense consensus.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
Joe McKinley
United States
San Jose
California
When I heard the learn’d astronomer; When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me; When I was shown the charts and the diagrams, to add, divide, and measure them; When I, sitting, heard the astronomer, where he he lectured with
badge
much applause in the lecture-room, How soon, unaccountable, I became tired and sick; Till rising and gliding out, I wander’d off by myself, In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time, Look’d up in perfect silence at the stars. W.W.
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Thu Oct 26, 2006 8:37 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
David Bohnenberger
United States
Swarthmore
Pennsylvania
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
What a wackjob I am - I gave it a "7".
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Thu Oct 26, 2006 11:08 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Bryan Johnson
United States
North Andover
Massachusetts
designer
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Quote:
What a wackjob I am - I gave it a "7".


And so did 18 other people. At least you're not the one and only whackjob that gave it a "9".
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Fri Oct 27, 2006 9:23 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
bruno faidutti
France
LES ANGLES
designer
Avatar
I consider this one a great and largely underrated game. I've never entered ratings in the geek, since I have my own ideal game library, but if I would, this one will be 8 or 9, ezven when I didn't play it for a while.
1 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Sun Oct 29, 2006 8:36 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
13. Board Game: Desperados [Average Rating:5.48 Overall Rank:6434]
Matthew Gray
United States
Reading
Massachusetts
admin
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
A Reiner Knizia game noone thinks is great and almost noone thinks is awful?
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
Rick Holzgrafe
United States
San Jose
California
designer
"the understandably frightening and chimeric semicolon" -- HiveGod
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
This is reputed to be his first (or at least first-published) game, and came out when he was still in his teens. I have it and can report that it's pretty dull with two players, but it's clearly intended to be a four-player two-team game and is probably much better that way.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Thu Oct 26, 2006 8:34 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Andy Daglish
United Kingdom
Cheadle
Cheshire
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
this, for Dr Knizia, was the turning point.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Fri Oct 27, 2006 6:36 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Stven Carlberg
United States
Atlanta
Georgia
designer
Avatar
I liked this game when I first got it (and the play a card OR draw a card idea was new to me), but I think Knizia uses the same system better in Korsar.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Fri Oct 27, 2006 9:41 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Ender Wiggins


msg tools
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
It is essential to play Digging with the original German rule which penalizes you a card for closing a mine under attack from bandits. Even then, it's a very mediocre game at best, even when played in partnerships with four players - it's just too dependent on the luck of the draw, and doesn't really allow for much strategic play. Has anyone else noticed that Knizia's "Loot" (1992) basically reworks the mechanics of "Digging" and is a similar game? "Loot" is a much better game as a result.
2 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Sat Oct 28, 2006 4:08 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Ender Wiggins


msg tools
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Here's the all-important rule from the original German edition:

"If a mine is closed while it is being fought over, then the fight is over immediately. The last chest played on this mine is put onto the discard pile along with all the bandit cards played. Any other chests on the mine are turned over and counted at the end of the hand in the normal way."

Source: http://www.gamecabinet.com/sumoRulesBank/Digging.html
2 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Sat Oct 28, 2006 4:10 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
14. Board Game: Democrazy [Average Rating:5.47 Overall Rank:6536]
Matthew Gray
United States
Reading
Massachusetts
admin
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
This one gets a reasonable showing of 7s, but a lot of 4s 5s and 6s.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • 11 comments [Hide]
Joe McKinley
United States
San Jose
California
When I heard the learn’d astronomer; When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me; When I was shown the charts and the diagrams, to add, divide, and measure them; When I, sitting, heard the astronomer, where he he lectured with
badge
much applause in the lecture-room, How soon, unaccountable, I became tired and sick; Till rising and gliding out, I wander’d off by myself, In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time, Look’d up in perfect silence at the stars. W.W.
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Thu Oct 26, 2006 8:41 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Randy Cox
United States
Clemson
South Carolina
designer
1024x768 works just fine - Don't Wide the Site!
badge
The Back Alley gets no respect.
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Yep, this one is bad. I guess I'll need to check out what Cedric owns and propose a trade.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Fri Oct 27, 2006 9:56 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Martin Bell
United States
Santa Clara
California
Avatar
mbmbmbmb
I really enjoy this game for what it is. It was a kick when we voted to conduct future votes standing up. The screwage factor is dialed up so high as to make the outcome fairly random, but it's the journey that's important here. I would recommend this to anyone who likes catch phrase. Both are more of an activity than a game.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Fri Oct 27, 2006 11:19 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Ender Wiggins


msg tools
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
I'd be inclined to classify this as a party type game. It's definitely not a gamers game, and shouldn't be taken too seriously. I'd play this more for the social experience, than to win. As a result, it's not something that will get pulled out often, but it's perfect for the occasion when you have a group of 8-10 and don't want to play traditional party games like Pictionary. Maybe it's the fact that it's a crossover between Euro games and party games that makes it "solidly mediocre"?
2 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Sat Oct 28, 2006 4:14 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Randy Cox
United States
Clemson
South Carolina
designer
1024x768 works just fine - Don't Wide the Site!
badge
The Back Alley gets no respect.
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Martin, I just don't understand comparing Democrazy to Catch Phrase. I love Catch Phrase. It's reasonably sedate. You sit there and look at the little device, hoping to come up with a clue or two to get your team to get the answer and then pass it on to the next player. No, we don't shove it into the other player's hand to avoid the timer and we don't get frantic. It's a good game in the same way Trivial Pursuit or Jeopardy is, only quicker.

Democrazy, on the other hand, isn't just chaos--it's uncontrolled chaos. It completely loses the competitive game spirit and comes down to nothing more than an "experience." And not a good one at that.

I can see breaking out Catch Phrase at a party. I can't see subjecting Democrazy on a bunch of non-gaming friends at the church social, say.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Fri Nov 3, 2006 2:01 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
15. Board Game: Lucky Loop [Average Rating:5.46 Overall Rank:6521]
Matthew Gray
United States
Reading
Massachusetts
admin
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
I'm confident if this were shorter it would get some people who actually really liked it.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
Joe McKinley
United States
San Jose
California
When I heard the learn’d astronomer; When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me; When I was shown the charts and the diagrams, to add, divide, and measure them; When I, sitting, heard the astronomer, where he he lectured with
badge
much applause in the lecture-room, How soon, unaccountable, I became tired and sick; Till rising and gliding out, I wander’d off by myself, In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time, Look’d up in perfect silence at the stars. W.W.
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Thu Oct 26, 2006 8:39 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Maman Jean-Michel
France
Le Pré-Saint-Gervais
Ile-de France
designer
Yes, no good ! But the box, the bits and the theme seemed nice...
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Fri Oct 27, 2006 5:12 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
16. Board Game: Fossil [Average Rating:5.43 Overall Rank:6597]
Matthew Gray
United States
Reading
Massachusetts
admin
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Also a reasonable number of 7s, but almost nothing above that.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
Joe McKinley
United States
San Jose
California
When I heard the learn’d astronomer; When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me; When I was shown the charts and the diagrams, to add, divide, and measure them; When I, sitting, heard the astronomer, where he he lectured with
badge
much applause in the lecture-room, How soon, unaccountable, I became tired and sick; Till rising and gliding out, I wander’d off by myself, In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time, Look’d up in perfect silence at the stars. W.W.
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Thu Oct 26, 2006 8:40 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Randy Cox
United States
Clemson
South Carolina
designer
1024x768 works just fine - Don't Wide the Site!
badge
The Back Alley gets no respect.
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
And a GAMES magazine Game of the Year, to boot.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Thu Oct 26, 2006 10:02 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Tim Benjamin
United States
Los Alamos
New Mexico
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Interesting game play with somewhat convoluted scoring combined with screwage. The fossil art is never completed and is thus both wasted and a disappointment for those expecting some developing 'beauty' (which, in a form, is one appeal of Carcassonne).
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Fri Oct 27, 2006 2:53 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Mike Banks
United States
Camp Hill
Pennsylvania
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
I couldn't trade this turkey fast enough -- This was part of my very first purchase, under-informed as I was...

gulp
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Fri Oct 27, 2006 9:32 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
14 comments [Hide]
Post Comment
Joe McKinley
United States
San Jose
California
When I heard the learn’d astronomer; When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me; When I was shown the charts and the diagrams, to add, divide, and measure them; When I, sitting, heard the astronomer, where he he lectured with
badge
much applause in the lecture-room, How soon, unaccountable, I became tired and sick; Till rising and gliding out, I wander’d off by myself, In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time, Look’d up in perfect silence at the stars. W.W.
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Feel free to remove my comments if you think they are too distracting!
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Thu Oct 26, 2006 8:43 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Michael Sosa
United States
Wilmington
Delaware
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
I don't like this list. I simply do not appreciate mediocre games giving me the finger....
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Fri Oct 27, 2006 6:53 pm
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
the scrub
Canada
Mississauga
Ontario
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
LOL, Belisarius88! I was just about to post the same thing.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Sat Oct 28, 2006 12:00 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Myke Madsen
United States
Salt Lake City
Utah
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
This list could include about 70% of the games on the geek.
 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Sun Oct 29, 2006 12:04 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Chris Schenck
United States
Dayton
Ohio
GO BUCKS!
badge
Stop touching me!
Avatar
mbmbmbmbmb
Noone?

[/grammerCop]

 
 Thumb up
 tip
 Thumb up
  • Posted Mon Dec 1, 2008 12:01 am
    • Choose your Dice
      • Roll
      • Comment (Optional)
    • Reply
    •  
    • Quote
Front Page | Welcome | Contact | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Advertise | Support BGG | Feeds RSS
Geekdo, BoardGameGeek, the Geekdo logo, and the BoardGameGeek logo are trademarks of BoardGameGeek, LLC.