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So, who else is a builder?
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I found out I'm a builder when it comes to board games. I want to build things. I find it very frustrating to play a game and leave nothing behind. I want to create things and shape the maps. I don't mind difficult games, but I can't stand games that destroy what I've built. Understanding this has brought some light into why I like or dislike certain games. This GeekList takes a look at some of my favourites and some recent games I've found lacking. Feel free to add to the list if you have something to contribute to the idea.
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Posted On: 2008-04-18 12:38:57
Edited On: 2008-04-18 11:24:47
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1 , 2 Next »
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Let's start with a look at some of my favourites. I love Age of Steam. It's an unforgiving game where success is hard to achieve - but at the same time you're building stuff, creating routes. No matter what happens, at least you've done a network of railroads and even if you lose, you can be proud of what you've created.
Same goes with 18xx. You don't necessarily own the companies you develop the whole game and all the track is common, but I just love seeing the networks that are created during the game. It's very pleasing, and most certainly one of the reasons I like all these train games so much. |
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Posted On: 2008-04-18 11:27:44
Edited on: 2008-04-18 12:38:08
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Antiquity is another tough game - but once again, it's about building things. You get to take over the landscape, fill it with industry (and leave pollution behind). Sure, you may lose what you've built if you have to build graves, but I can live with that. One needs some challenge, after all. |
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Posted On: 2008-04-18 11:29:28
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3.
Go [Average Rating:7.91 Overall Rank:26]
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Go is a builder's game as well (Chess is a warrior's game, or at least more than Go). Stones that lose their liberties are removed from the board, but still, the general idea of the game is to build chains and formations. |
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Posted On: 2008-04-18 11:30:49
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Even something like Mhing (a commercial card game version of Mahjong) has building, as players build sets of cards to win. |
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Posted On: 2008-04-18 11:31:37
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Another recent favourite of mine, another building game. Let's add San Juan, Puerto Rico, Agricola... you get the drift. Perhaps it's time to look at some games I don't like. |
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Posted On: 2008-04-18 12:05:01
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Cuba [Average Rating:7.46 Overall Rank:111]
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What's this doing here? At first look Cuba looks like a builder game. That it certainly is, definitely a builder game and not a warrior game. But it's not enough for me. The game is short and the buildings are all pretty equal: there's no "get this building first and then you can get this more impressive building next" effect. On the sixth round, you're still almost as helpless as in the beginning. I don't get enough sense of achievement out of this game. |
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Posted On: 2008-04-18 12:17:50
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I played Shogun yesterday. It's a fine game, if you can stand the chaos. However, it's also a fine example of a warrior's game. Sure, you can build things, but if you do, someone's going to come after them. In our game I built a castle on the first turn and later on the same season, an enemy attacked, the battle was undecided and the castle I built was undone. Not cool.
The whole game is all just tug of war, you win a province from someone and then lose another province. Nothing lasts for long. |
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Posted On: 2008-04-18 12:21:08
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Posted On: 2008-04-19 12:09:43
