Which way do you play? Vote on your favorite variants.

United States
Mountain View
CA

Recommend

Many games either come with a published variant, or have one particular variant that has gained massive popularity in the gaming community through other means.

If you have a preference for playing with or without the variant, vote with your thumbs!

(disclaimer: others have been accused of creating lists like this just to get lots of thumbs for themselves. I'm sorry. I don't care about thumbs, I just legitimately think this would be a really useful thing to have people vote on. So there!)

Again: It does not have to be an official published variant; it could just be one that's reasonably popular among geeks.

This list is NOT for discussion of whether or not to play with a particular expansion, or of differences between similar games that are bought separately. It's purely for RULES variations that any owner of the game can freely use or not use without having to buy anything extra.

Also, please don't post any variants that are like "do you play with open [something trackable] or closed?" as it's pretty well-known that some gaming subcultures prefer to play with all trackable information open and this would lead to a lot of pointless bloat in the list.

All right, let's get voting!

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Edited Wed Apr 2, 2008 4:36 am
Posted Mon Mar 31, 2008 9:07 am

1. Board Game: San Juan [Average Rating:7.34 Overall Rank:114]

Kevin Bourrillion

United States
Mountain View
CA

Do you use the published variant, where the players get 5, 6, 7, 8 cards (governor gets 5, then so on around the table) and discard down to 4 before the game begins?

(Corrected.)

8 comments [Hide]

Edited Tue Apr 1, 2008 4:25 am
Posted Mon Mar 31, 2008 7:54 am

Werner Bär

(Werbaer)

Germany
Karlsruhe
Baden

We play with the variant setup in the published rules. The first round governor gets 5 cards, the next players 6, 7, and 8. What is the intention of this mini-variant with one less card to chose from?

Posted Mon Mar 31, 2008 6:16 pm
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Show 3 more comments...

D L

(xsoul)

United States
Ankeny
Iowa

Unless I'm teaching new people to play, we always use the 5,6,7,8 cards variant.

Posted Fri May 9, 2008 8:28 pm
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User-maat-Re Ramses

(Meriamun)

Germany
Unspecified

We always use the variant.

Posted Tue May 13, 2008 3:32 pm
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peter mumford

(photocurio)

United States
seattle
washington

Delight is to him – a far, far upward, and inward delight – who against the proud gods and commodores of this earth, ever stands forth his own inexorable self

Always. The game is much better with the variant.

Posted Thu Aug 28, 2008 10:49 pm
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Donald Wilbur III

(gilesclone)

United States
Sacramento
California

We always use this variant.

Posted Tue Feb 10, 2009 7:26 pm
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2. Board Game: San Juan [Average Rating:7.34 Overall Rank:114]

Kevin Bourrillion

United States
Mountain View
CA

... Or do you just deal four to everyone and go?

(Corrected.)

3 comments [Hide]

Edited Tue Apr 1, 2008 4:26 am
Posted Mon Mar 31, 2008 7:54 am

If Actions Speak Louder Than Words, Then Actions x2 Speak Louder Than Actions

United States
Hutto
Texas

Chit Chat Hamstring!!!

Vote

Posted Mon Mar 31, 2008 1:47 pm
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Kevin Bourrillion

United States
Mountain View
CA

I had never even known that! Fixed.

Posted Tue Apr 1, 2008 4:26 am
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tim

(eightbit)

United States
hudsonville
Michigan

generalpf wrote:

Why do you say "published rules" here? The variable card setup variant above is in the published rules.

Its in the published rules as a variant.

Posted Thu Apr 3, 2008 8:08 pm
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3. Board Game: Lord of the Rings: The Confrontation (Deluxe Edition) [Average Rating:7.57 Overall Rank:104]

Kevin Bourrillion

United States
Mountain View
CA

Three choices on this one: Regular characters only?

2 comments [Hide]

Posted Mon Mar 31, 2008 7:55 am

Mark Kittel

(kimapesan)

United States
Albany
New York

Only have the original and, frankly, was not impressed by the deluxe edition's new characters.

Posted Thu Apr 10, 2008 2:15 am
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Chester Ogborn

(cornjob)

United States
Albuquerque
New Mexico

Nothing against the deluxe edition....I just felt like the original characters were so thematic and interestingly balanced, that I can't get too excited about the new guys.

Posted Thu Apr 24, 2008 4:59 am
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4. Board Game: Lord of the Rings: The Confrontation (Deluxe Edition) [Average Rating:7.57 Overall Rank:104]

Kevin Bourrillion

United States
Mountain View
CA

... Variant characters only?

0 comments

Posted Mon Mar 31, 2008 7:55 am

5. Board Game: Lord of the Rings: The Confrontation (Deluxe Edition) [Average Rating:7.57 Overall Rank:104]

Kevin Bourrillion

United States
Mountain View
CA

... Or a custom mix?

4 comments [Hide]

Posted Mon Mar 31, 2008 7:56 am

The New Rasputin

United States
Morriston
Florida

We use a mixture.

Posted Wed Apr 2, 2008 6:06 pm
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Martin DeOlden

(tawnos76)

United States
Reno
Nevada

This is my favorite. A draft of both characters for a different mix each time.

Posted Thu Apr 24, 2008 5:54 pm
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Ricky C.

(bumblescrump)

United States
Seattle
Washington

I don't really fit any of these, sometimes i play all variant and sometimes all original, but I hate the draft games (I might like them if you had to write down who you picked and give the list to the other player for reference). It's not a very fun game when you have no idea what your facing...

Posted Fri Aug 15, 2008 8:58 am
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José Agüero

(joseaguerof)

Costa Rica

mixture, without letting your opponent know what you chose.

Posted Thu Jul 9, 2009 11:15 pm
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6. Board Game: Carcassonne [Average Rating:7.46 Overall Rank:87]

Kevin Bourrillion

United States
Mountain View
CA

Play it by the book?

11 comments [Hide]

Posted Mon Mar 31, 2008 7:57 am

If Actions Speak Louder Than Words, Then Actions x2 Speak Louder Than Actions

United States
Hutto
Texas

Chit Chat Hamstring!!!

Vote

Posted Mon Mar 31, 2008 1:47 pm
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Kevin Bourrillion

United States
Mountain View
CA

Werbaer wrote:

You forgot to ask:

If you play by the written rules, do you use
- 1st edition rules
- 2nd edition rules
- 3rd edition rules
- HiG Big box rules
- RGG Big box rules?

Actually, I remembered some of the other issues like how farmer scoring works, but I decided to leave that open for someone else add to the geeklist themselves!

Posted Thu Apr 3, 2008 12:49 am
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D L

(xsoul)

United States
Ankeny
Iowa

90% of the time we play by the book. No extra tile variants.

Posted Fri May 9, 2008 8:31 pm
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Patrick Twitchell

(Desiderata)

United States
Ayer
Massachusetts

by the book.

Posted Thu May 29, 2008 5:21 pm
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Donald Wilbur III

(gilesclone)

United States
Sacramento
California

By the book, basically. My 6.75 year old is too young for the farmer rules just yet, but the rest is strictly by the book.

Posted Tue Feb 10, 2009 7:31 pm
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7. Board Game: Carcassonne [Average Rating:7.46 Overall Rank:87]

Kevin Bourrillion

United States
Mountain View
CA

Or do you use any one of the variants that give players some choice over which tile they will play?

7 comments [Hide]

Posted Mon Mar 31, 2008 7:58 am

Sheamus Parkes

(Isamoor)

United States
Indianapolis
Indiana

And take away the player interactivity of everyone trying to see all the places it would work well?!? I don't think so. I like discussion and chat at my table

Posted Mon Mar 31, 2008 12:46 pm
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Play Games - Interact - Have Fun!

(manowarplayer)

United States

California

Starting hand of 2-3 and you draw immediately after your turn - much better strategically methinks.

Posted Mon Mar 31, 2008 9:38 pm
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Kevin Bourrillion

United States
Mountain View
CA

Isamoor wrote:

And take away the player interactivity of everyone trying to see all the places it would work well?!? I don't think so. I like discussion and chat at my table

Not all of the variants take that aspect away. For example, one I played recently is that a starting player turns up N tiles, then the players each choose and place one in turn, then the starting player honors go to the next person to the left, etc.

BUT, it is very clear that most people feel this game doesn't need to be fixed!

Posted Tue Apr 1, 2008 4:28 am
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Dominic Crapuchettes

(domcrap)

Spain
Bethesda
MD

NorthStarGames: Bringing Gamers and Non-Gamers Together!

I normally play by the book because I play this game with non-gamers (my girlfriend and sometimes my parents). But my favorite variant is to play with a hand of tiles that is equal to the number of your meeples that are not in play.

If you place a meeple, you do not draw a tile at the end of your turn. As soon as one of your meeples comes off the board, you draw another tile. This means you start off with a hand full of tiles, but your hand gets progressively smaller as you place your meeples. This variant creates an interesting tension between placing meeples for points, and holding them back for more strategic control.

Posted Tue Apr 1, 2008 2:17 pm
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Just call me Erik

(unixrevolution)

United States
Waldorf
Maryland

domcrap wrote:

it also means the more meeples you play, the harder it will be to get them back, effectively punishing you for taking risks.

Also, when you have all your meeples deployed, do you cease taking turns?

Posted Wed Apr 2, 2008 1:18 pm
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8. Board Game: Battle Line [Average Rating:7.48 Overall Rank:85]

Kevin Bourrillion

United States
Mountain View
CA

NOTE: This question applies to either Battle Line or Schotten Totten!

Do you play using the Tactics cards?

3 comments [Hide]

Posted Mon Mar 31, 2008 7:59 am

Joe McKinley

(The Unbeliever)

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

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.

Well, I play with them, but they are almost never used. (Basically, when someone is getting desperate, they go fishing in the tactics deck.)

Posted Mon Mar 31, 2008 4:12 pm
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Russ Williams

(russ)

Poland
Wrocław
Dolny Śląsk

"This question applies to either Battle Line or Schotten Totten!"

When playing Schotten Totten I don't use Tactics cards because (unlike Battle Line) Schotten Totten doesn't have Tactics cards...

Posted Wed Apr 2, 2008 7:17 am
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Kevin Bourrillion

United States
Mountain View
CA

Russ, you just have an older edition of Schotten Totten. The ones for sale nowadays, and when I got mine, do have them.

Posted Wed Apr 2, 2008 7:39 am
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9. Board Game: Battle Line [Average Rating:7.48 Overall Rank:85]

Kevin Bourrillion

United States
Mountain View
CA

NOTE: This question applies to either Battle Line or Schotten Totten!

... Or leave them out?

1 comment [Hide]

Posted Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:00 am

Fraser

(Karlsen)

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?

Mainly because we have Schotten Totten and Melissa has not bothered to translate the rules

Posted Wed Apr 2, 2008 7:51 am
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10. Board Game: Schotten-Totten [Average Rating:7.28 Overall Rank:233]

Kevin Bourrillion

United States
Mountain View
CA

NOTE: This second question ALSO applies to either Battle Line or Schotten Totten!

Do you prefer to allow claiming stones (flags) only at the beginning of a turn? (a la flexgames.com)

1 comment [Hide]

Edited Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:01 am
Posted Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:00 am

Gary Pressler

(GaryP)

United States
West Lafayette
Indiana

Giving an opponent a rare chance to ditch a useless card is an important tradeoff for when the other player is able to quickly lay down an unbeatable combo. It is often better to just work on what you can, but having the option helps to mitigate the effects of a bad draw.

Posted Mon Apr 7, 2008 1:32 am
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11. Board Game: Schotten-Totten [Average Rating:7.28 Overall Rank:233]

Kevin Bourrillion

United States
Mountain View
CA

NOTE: This second question ALSO applies to either Battle Line or Schotten Totten!

... Or do you allow stones (flags) to be claimed at the end of a turn? (a la yucata.de)

0 comments

Edited Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:02 am
Posted Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:01 am

12. Board Game: Ingenious [Average Rating:7.33 Overall Rank:128]

Kevin Bourrillion

United States
Mountain View
CA

When playing four-player, do you like to use partnerships?

3 comments [Hide]

Posted Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:03 am

Charles Hasegawa

(Tatsu)

United States
Mesa
Arizona

I've played a load of the computer game and in the end, I've decided there is a serious lack of control in 4-player-everyone-for-themselves play. If I make a sub-optimal play to stymie someone, I only hurt myself and one other player, and then the other two go to town at my expense. If I do nothing but play "optimally" then I'm at the luck of the draw.

At least in partnership, your luck is drastically reduced and you can be aggressive against the other team.

If you are going to play 4-player, I'd rather see a common visible stock that EVERYONE chooses from - it makes taking a tile more tactical as you can try and score to your advantage as well as keep it away from someone else.

Edited Wed Apr 2, 2008 4:50 am
Posted Wed Apr 2, 2008 4:49 am
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Arthur

(OldestManOnMySpace)

United States

California

Ingenious with more than 2 players is horrible. Ingenious with partnership rules is not as bad.

Posted Wed Apr 2, 2008 6:27 am
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The New Rasputin

United States
Morriston
Florida

Boo, to partners.

Posted Wed Apr 2, 2008 6:09 pm
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13. Board Game: Ingenious [Average Rating:7.33 Overall Rank:128]

Kevin Bourrillion

United States
Mountain View
CA

... Or every player for him/herself?

3 comments [Hide]

Posted Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:03 am

Andreas Johansson

(Orcoteuthis)

Sweden
Linköping

I spent 200 GG and all I got was this lousy overtext!

This is the only way I've played it. Partnerships sounds worth trying ...

Posted Wed Apr 2, 2008 4:37 pm
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Randall Bart

(Barticus88)

United States
Granada Hills
California

I love you

David asked Don to draw this pretty picture of me

Cutthroat Ingenious works very well. It's a little confusing, but you just have to watch everyone's scoreboard. When you are in the lead in a color, you want to block it off. When everyone has a low score in a particular color, don't play that color until someone else goes first, because you know they will. Lots of plays to look for. Sure there is a lot of luck, but the good player is the one who makes best use of that luck.

Posted Wed Apr 2, 2008 5:00 pm
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Bruce Gibson

(amberaleman)

Canada

Alberta

Never refuse to do a kindness unless the act would work great injury to yourself, and never refuse to take a drink-under any circumstances.

Here we've been playing the Cutthroat version all along and didn't even know it.

But I think we may give partnerships a try as well.

Posted Wed Apr 2, 2008 9:42 pm
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14. Board Game: Tikal [Average Rating:7.40 Overall Rank:107]

Kevin Bourrillion

United States
Mountain View
CA

Auction version?

4 comments [Hide]

Posted Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:04 am

Play Games - Interact - Have Fun!

(manowarplayer)

United States

California

The game goes from really, really good to simply outstanding by adding in the auction rules. Luck is reduced to almost nothing with this addition too (the only luck left is which treasure you draw).

Posted Mon Mar 31, 2008 9:34 pm
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Kevin Bourrillion

United States
Mountain View
CA

I agree -- it really gives you more control over your own destiny, and I like that.

Posted Tue Apr 1, 2008 6:29 am
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Kevin Beckey

(beckeykevin)

United States
Minneapolis
Minnesota

I prefer the Auction version.

Posted Wed Apr 2, 2008 7:58 pm
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Jason Gische

(gische)

United States
San Carlos
California

Auction version when I play in person.

Posted Thu Apr 3, 2008 6:59 am
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15. Board Game: Tikal [Average Rating:7.40 Overall Rank:107]

Kevin Bourrillion

United States
Mountain View
CA

Or regular version?

4 comments [Hide]

Posted Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:04 am

Give Me Gas In My Ford

(ipgyst)

United States
Elkhart
Indiana

Simplicity is my choice here - I'm usually playing with either new people or people who haven't played in so long that they've forgotten most of the rules, so we kick the auctions to the curb.

If I played with people who were familiar with the game - thumbsup

auctions

Posted Wed Apr 2, 2008 9:28 am
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♫ Eric Herman ♫

(Grudunza)

United States
West Richland
Washington

I like elephants. I like how they swing through trees.

I think auctions make this otherwise great game very, very tedious.

People keep claiming that auctions reduce the luck in Tikal, and I find that strange, as there is already very little luck to begin with (the tile draws and the treasure draws, which are really elements of randomness, not necessarily luck) and the auctions do little to change that (tiles are still drawn randomly and you're still only going to end up with one out of four of them, and your treasure draws are still entirely random).

There should be the level of randomness in Tikal that there is, as you are exploring into a jungle and digging for treasure, unsure of what might be there. And it's not as though you are tied to the tiles you draw... you can move into the tiles other people drew and they can move into yours. Yes, drawing a 5 temple late in the game when you can place it next to your camp where nobody else can reach it will benefit you and you only, but that is your reward for placing your camp where you did, or should be to the detriment of other players who didn't have their workers within range of that. Even the treasure draws can be mitigated somewhat by trading at the right times.

The auction variant is also a big negative for what is otherwise a nearly perfectly themed game. The mechanics in Tikal generally match what you would be doing in terms of exploration. Stopping every four turns to gather together again and auction which areas you each want to go to doesn't make much sense and loses the "exploration" aspect for me.

Non-auction Tikal is a 9.5 for me.

Auction Tikal is a 5. yuk

Edited Wed Apr 2, 2008 3:26 pm
Posted Wed Apr 2, 2008 3:12 pm
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Jason Gische

(gische)

United States
San Carlos
California

Regular version when I play at SpielByWeb, and some of the time in person. I think the auction version drags terribly in PBEM mode.

Posted Thu Apr 3, 2008 7:00 am
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Martin Cassel

(Marfried)

Canada
Montréal

I don't like the auction in this game, but only because of the thematic aspect. I do think that it balances the luck somewhat; if you're always stuck with a volcano you're not going anywhere in this game...

Posted Wed Jul 9, 2008 5:42 am
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16. Board Game: Union Pacific [Average Rating:7.36 Overall Rank:151]

Kevin Bourrillion

United States
Mountain View
CA

Question A:

Limited quantities of Union Pacific shares?

4 comments [Hide]

Posted Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:05 am

Fraser

(Karlsen)

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?

This is the "by the rules" option?

Posted Wed Apr 2, 2008 7:52 am
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Give Me Gas In My Ford

(ipgyst)

United States
Elkhart
Indiana

Yes this is the "by the rules" option - there are 20 and only 20 UP shares. I find this rule doesn't matter so much with 3 or even 4 players, but if you play with 5 or 6 then unlimited shares is mandatory.

Posted Wed Apr 2, 2008 9:30 am
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The New Rasputin

United States
Morriston
Florida

In my experiences, if you do not limit the number of UP shares then the game just degrades into a battle of who has the most UP. All the other shares get turned under and everyone just goes for UP. That makes for a horrible and boring game. That is why the rules limit the UP shares to 20.

Posted Wed Apr 2, 2008 6:14 pm
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Tony Watson

(DoctorW)

United States
San Diego
California

Shares for all railroads should be limited, UP included, regardless of the number of players. In my opinion, it's a fundamental element in the game's design.

Posted Tue Jan 20, 2009 5:12 pm
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17. Board Game: Union Pacific [Average Rating:7.36 Overall Rank:151]

Kevin Bourrillion

United States
Mountain View
CA

Question A:

... Or unlimited quantities?

0 comments

Posted Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:06 am

18. Board Game: Union Pacific [Average Rating:7.36 Overall Rank:151]

Kevin Bourrillion

United States
Mountain View
CA

Question B:

Can players take a Union Pacific share like any other share (as well as being able to exchange a share for one)?

2 comments [Hide]

Edited Thu Apr 3, 2008 12:46 am
Posted Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:07 am

The New Rasputin

United States
Morriston
Florida

We need an answer for both. You can acquire UP by either directly picking a UP stock or by turning under another drawn share.

Posted Wed Apr 2, 2008 6:16 pm
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Kevin Bourrillion

United States
Mountain View
CA

I meant this item to mean "both"! I considered it beyond question that you could do the exchange; doesn't everyone do the exchange? Was I wrong?

Edit: ok, I reworded the description. thanks!

Edited Thu Apr 3, 2008 12:46 am
Posted Thu Apr 3, 2008 12:45 am
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19. Board Game: Union Pacific [Average Rating:7.36 Overall Rank:151]

Kevin Bourrillion

United States
Mountain View
CA

Question B:

... Or can UP shares only be acquired by exchanging a regular share?

1 comment [Hide]

Posted Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:08 am

Bill Gallagher

(Yuglooc)

United States

California

I believe the corrected rules state that this is the only way to acquire shares of the Union Pacific. One can no longer choose a UP share in lieu of taking one of the face-up shares (or random share).

Posted Thu Apr 3, 2008 8:24 pm
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20. Board Game: Shadows over Camelot [Average Rating:7.14 Overall Rank:208]

Kevin Bourrillion

United States
Mountain View
CA

Do you prefer the "Squires" variant, where you aren't assigned a Knight (with his special power) until after you've completed a quest?

1 comment [Hide]

Edited Mon Mar 31, 2008 9:00 am
Posted Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:11 am

DC Clark

(dcclark)

United States
Houghton
Michigan

We also play with these sub-variations:

- Each quest can only make one player a knight (i.e. if someone is knighted by beating the black knight, no other player can get knighted by fighting the black knight in the future). Rationale: It's just not that heroic once someone else has done it.

- Squires cannot spend life to take a second action. Rationale: squires aren't heroic yet.

Posted Fri Apr 4, 2008 12:37 am
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21. Board Game: Shadows over Camelot [Average Rating:7.14 Overall Rank:208]

Kevin Bourrillion

United States
Mountain View
CA

... Or do you not like that variant?

6 comments [Hide]

Edited Mon Mar 31, 2008 9:00 am
Posted Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:10 am

If Actions Speak Louder Than Words, Then Actions x2 Speak Louder Than Actions

United States
Hutto
Texas

Chit Chat Hamstring!!!

Vote

Posted Mon Mar 31, 2008 1:47 pm
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Kevin Bourrillion

United States
Mountain View
CA

Wow, that is conclusive.

Posted Wed Apr 2, 2008 3:51 am
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Dennis Ugolini

(Uethym)

United States
San Antonio
Texas

kevinb9n wrote:

Wow, that is conclusive.

And surprising. I think the game is too easy without the Squires variant.

Posted Wed Apr 2, 2008 2:07 pm
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Greg Jones

(morningstar)

United States

Washington

Sounds fun, but I'd never heard of it. I don't own the game and I never read the rules.

Posted Wed Apr 2, 2008 5:01 pm
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Chad Harrison

(capthairy)

United States
Sugar Hill
Georgia

morningstar wrote:

Sounds fun, but I'd never heard of it. I don't own the game and I never read the rules.

I don't know why, but this comment made me laugh so hard I could hardly breathe. Sucks I'm in my school's cyber cafe, which was pretty quiet until I showed up.

Posted Thu Apr 3, 2008 10:13 pm
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Kevin Bourrillion

United States
Mountain View
CA

Chad, you might wanna check with your supplier to see if he slipped a little something special in there this time.

Posted Fri Apr 4, 2008 2:30 am
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22. Board Game: For Sale [Average Rating:7.20 Overall Rank:177]

Kevin Bourrillion

United States
Mountain View
CA

Pay half rounded down? (as mistranslated in the English rules)

3 comments [Hide]

Edited Wed Apr 2, 2008 4:38 am
Posted Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:12 am

If Actions Speak Louder Than Words, Then Actions x2 Speak Louder Than Actions

United States
Hutto
Texas

Chit Chat Hamstring!!!

Vote

Posted Mon Mar 31, 2008 1:48 pm
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Paul Sauberer

(Psauberer)

United States
Hendersonville
Tennessee

The original German version had the half rounded down rule. I think that the designer's issue, that someone could bid one and not have to pay anything, could have been solved better by just making a minimum cost of 1 when a player did not immediately pass. Personally, I don't have a problem with a bid of one ending up being a payment of zero.

Posted Wed Apr 2, 2008 5:22 am
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Randall Bart

(Barticus88)

United States
Granada Hills
California

I love you

David asked Don to draw this pretty picture of me

Actually the rule is worded strangely and mistranslated. The original German said you get half of your bid back "rundet ab" (rounded down). This was mistranslated into English as take half your bid back rounded up. The logical way to describe this is pay half your bid, rounded down.

Actually, I prefer no rounding at all. You bid in $1000 increments, but use $500 chits for change. If you are down to your last $500 you have nothing left to bid.

Posted Wed Apr 2, 2008 5:43 pm
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23. Board Game: For Sale [Average Rating:7.20 Overall Rank:177]

Kevin Bourrillion

United States
Mountain View
CA

... Or pay half rounded up? (as was the designer's intent)

5 comments [Hide]

Edited Wed Apr 2, 2008 4:32 am
Posted Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:13 am

Gil Hova

(IngredientX)

United States
Newark
New Jersey

I actually like this version better, but I leave it up to the group.

Posted Mon Mar 31, 2008 7:11 pm
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(rayito2702)

United States

Arizona

I've played both ways and have found absolutely no affect on game play either way.

Edited Wed Apr 2, 2008 6:50 am
Posted Wed Apr 2, 2008 6:49 am
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Kevin Wood

(kvn299)

United States
Alexandria
Virginia

Vote. The designer himself has indicated this is the proper rule!

Posted Wed Apr 2, 2008 12:26 pm
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Damon Asher

(drasher25)

United States
Jefferson
MA

It doesn't make a big difference as long as you account for the rule you're using when you bids. Having played many games each way, I prefer paying half your bid rounded up, so that you can't bid 1 then pay nothing.

Posted Wed Apr 2, 2008 7:52 pm
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Jools Thomas

(Jools)

Japan
Kobe

I play this way too.

Posted Sun Apr 20, 2008 1:13 am
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24. Board Game: Santiago [Average Rating:7.21 Overall Rank:219]

Kevin Bourrillion

United States
Mountain View
CA

Palm trees?

1 comment [Hide]

Posted Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:13 am

Daniel W.

(oeste)

United States
Portland
OR

Yes, it is a simple rule, and I like the destination aspect they add to the game.

Posted Mon Feb 6, 2012 7:01 pm
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25. Board Game: Santiago [Average Rating:7.21 Overall Rank:219]

Kevin Bourrillion