I actually enjoy this version better than the big multiplayer production. The tiny tiles are cool, as is the plastic board. Maybe it's just that...I dunno...this version seems more humble than its overblown multiplayer predecessor.

I have yet to try this, but I certainly enjoy the big version.

So my favourite is the favourite of many other players...
Deserved.

The Tolkien theme is very tastefully done. In fact, of all games with a Middle Earth theme, this is one of the top of the pile, as is evident from the "Best of the Best" here:
http://www.boardgamegeek.com/geeklist.php3?action=view&listi...

The best of 2 players game, in my opinion.
as the fact, this game is for 2 players only

Haven't been able to locate this game in my area, but I'm definitely looking forward to eventually playing it!

Solid game though at this point I would recommend one get the deluxe version. Tense game with a great mix of strategy, guessing, bluffing and planning.

Zero theme, but engrossing gameplay.

People always grumble about this game but the fact is it's a great 2 player card game with really nice components. Simple yet deep, it really hooks you in. I love it, not my fave 'for 2' game though...

I rarely like thinly veiled abstracts, but this one has such nice looking cards and board that it makes the pasted-on "theme" forgivable. It's light, easy to learn, yet meaty enough to sink your teeth into. While not my favorite Kosmos 2-player game, this one has seen a LOT of table time at my house!

Lovely decorative motif with the idea of going on these different expeditions that evolve as the card numbers get higher.... but after about 50 plays, I was worn out on it.

Bought this game for my mercurial wife, and it was an instant hit. Quick setup, fast play (I often play too slow for her liking, even in this game), and nice balance of luck and skill.

It's a bit light and abstract for my taste, but I have fun with it. My only complaint is the trouble of having to score each hand. When I play a game, I want to just play the game; I don't like having to pause and do math problems periodically. (It gets to be second nature, so it's not that big a deal. Just a minor annoyance to me.)

Still, Lost Cities has gotten much more play than any other non-computer game in our house. And even after two or three years with it, I'd still be up for another game.

I've only played this and Lost Cities. I really enjoy Lost Cities but Jambo seems far more interesting and deep.

Jambo was a real surprise to me. A fairly deep game in such a small box. It always feels as if we're playing a "big" game.

The expansion, while not neccessary by any means, really does add some fun new possibilities to the game. If you already enjoy Jambo, give the expansion a try.

Jambo may be the next game I buy for my wife and me. But I worry a little about the "confrontational" bit. That's what spoiled the Settlers card game for us: I used the Arsonist against her one too many times; she got upset and never wanted to play again.

Still, Lost Cities is too "light and simple" for my taste, so I'm still hoping I can get my wife interested in something with a bit more substance. (She enjoyed Advanced Civilization, which has a pretty high BGG "weight" rating, so there's hope.)

Actually I don't think Jambo is that confrontational, so you are probably safe..... In order of confrontation I might go:

Lost Cities
Odin's Ravens
Jambo
Babel
Hera and Zeus
Blue Moon

Babel feels the most confrontational of the lot though. When you play Blue Moon or Hera and Zeus, you know the point of the game is to stirke and counterstrike. When you play Babel you think you are playing Lost Cities until a bunch of Assyrians come over to dinner and raise your temple....

My boyfriend and I play this quite often and love it. It takes us about 45min to an hour. Sometime the first few rounds are slow until you can accumulate some utility cards to help you get going.

Hope this helps!

Obscure? I got it just from reading the title!

::waxes nostalgic::

It's not really doo-wop, but here are the lyrics:

Blue Moon

From the Movie "Apollo"
Performed by Tony Bennett


Blue Moon
You saw me standing alone
Without a dream in my heart
Without a love of my own

Blue Moon
You knew just why I was there for
You heard me say a prayer for
Someone I really could care for

And then there suddenly appear before me
The only one my arms could ever hold
And then somebody whispered
Please adore me
And when I looked the moon
Had turned to gold

Blue moon
Now I am no longer alone
Without a dream in my heart
Without a love of my own


I think it was also in "Grease" or some other movie too.

you eighties freaks
i was thinking more along Elvis Presley "Blue Moon Of Kentucky"

ahem...so how's the game?-

"Doo Wop"- You're thinking The Marcels version - dang-a-dong-ding, Blue Moon.

But the Presley version is also terrific, as I'm sure Tony Bennett's would be.

Also like the Cowboy Junkies reworking of it on The Trinity Session; never played the game, I'm afraid!

Yhis is my favorite of the lot..... Though to be fair, I think you need at least some of the expansions to get the full mileage out of this engine.

The game is easy to learn/teach.
The cards are written in such a way that it is almost always clear what to do.
The decks play very assymetrically; each one has its unique strengths, weakensses and styles of play.
It plays very fast
The cards are illustrated beautifully.

Interesting game with various strategies to try (a BIG plus for me). The windmill token seems overpowered to me, though.

I rate it an 8.

Bought this several years ago, since my wife had taken an instant liking to the Settlers of Catan board game. We rarely had another couple over to play that with, so the 2-player card game sounded great.

At first, it seemed great. We played two or three games, IIRC. Then I used the Arsonist against her one too many times, I guess. She complained about my BS luck, got fed up with being attacked, and said she never wanted to play the game again.

Since then it has been sitting on a shelf, and we've been playing Caesar & Cleopatra, Lost Cities, and Bohnanza instead. I've been looking at the Settlers Card Game expansions, wanting to complete my collection. But I'd have to talk her into playing again, and I don't know how much luck I'd have with that.

I always enjoy playing this game, although it does take longer to play than most of the other Kosmos 2-player games, I'd say, so I don't get the chance to do so too often.
There's some luck involved but there is still a great deal of strategy required to develop your domain/ district/ whatever they call it.

I sort of disagree with "The Windmill" comment ("too stong") since both players have to have developed a city before the commerce points count, so the windmill doesn't come into play until the middle of the game- about the same time as the yellow cards do- which can make the other person's game miserable.
So if your opponent seems to be intent on collecting windmill points, use the arsonist to burn down some of his buildings. That can get pretty expensive for the other guy, and he might shift his collection of cards to try to prevent future attacks.

You're forgetting a man's #1 rule of being married (I'm 20 years in and this saying has helped me numerous times):

Happy wife, happy life!

I've had many chances to do something really mean (read: fun) in this game to my wife, but I would only do it against one of my drinking buddies- since he would do the same to me.

My wife wouldn't accept a win unless we were fighting as hard as we can for that victory!

Fight hard, win glory!

OK, guys. I just don't get it. Why do you like it? I jus don't get it, I just don't get it...???

Resource managment/economic maximization is certainly a big aspect of the game - but competition wise I just think of it as a race.

I know a lot of people dislike the game because you don't really interact with an opponent, but how much do you ever interact in a race, except to get somewhere first or to block a route? I've just been turning over the idea in my head over the past few months that maybe the reason why some people like it, and some people don't, is just how they approach the competitive element - thinking of it as a race discounts the need for a lot of "interaction".

Anyway... this whole train of thought is probably better suited for the game page itself, so I've posted an article there to explore the whole idea.

Oh please. This game is boring! The Settlers card game is much better.

I agree that this game is primarily a race. It's my favorite on this geeklist, and while I have played this one many, many times, I can hardly get myself to break out the Settlers card game. The explorations stacks, along with the great bits and super theme are my favorite parts.

I'm a huge fan of Starfarers of Catan so I love playing this game when I can only find one other fan around...Or when we just don't want to play that long.

And yes, this is more of a resource game - it is after all in the Catan family. However, if you view getting the right resources at the right time to build things that give you victory points in order to get to the goal number of points for the game ending condition a race then yes, it's a racing game too - as much as any of the Catan games.

This one is tied for my favorite, but only if played with closed hands. (I.e., no open cards on the table.) It's quick, light fun that way.

Still mighty tempted to get this one. Maybe one day...

OK, I bought it...

love this game!!

Babel left me cold after 10+ playing. I wanted to like the game and, sure, there are some neat mechanics. Get 3 cards consequtively is puzzle-like and fun with unlimited actions you can do each turn. What I don't like about this is there is no long-term strategy because your opponent can make half of your cards discard and it is meaningless to construct something in the hand. Am I missing a point?

This is the first one on the list I own. (although, I've bought Confrontation as a gift, wishing it were mine).

I really, really like this game a lot.

Do tell why.

I think Babel is underappreciated. To me, it is Lost Cities on steroids.

The basic mechanics are as simple to learn as in Lost Cities but Babel has significantly deeper strategy,
There are plenty of devious tricks and devices you can do to slow down your opponent.
Your options are not always intuitively obvious. There are many ways to approach your turn.
It forces (and rewards) a clever balance of aggression, defense, planning and patience.

Hardly surprising.

great little time-filler...

I love this one. Unusual theme (there are not many Norse games!) and the artwork on the cards is just gorgeous. And on top of all of that, it's even fun to play!

Excellent, My absolute favorite of those i've played from the 'for 2' range.

*giggity*

What Lost Cities should have been. Now Balloon Cup is a simple game that I like. More to the decisions without being a complicated game.

I think BC is better with the designer's original rules that limit the ability to play cards on the opponent's side.

This is a real looker of a game and plays a treat (with amended rules)

Nah, not really. For once, the publisher's "variant" is actually more interesting.

That comment makes me want to look into this title. So I think I will.

Haven't played this but am very pleased to hear RGG are producing an English edition. I Hope it has the same components as the German edition which look really nice. Can't wait to try it.

Oh boy oh boy oh boy... yes, bring on the English edition please!

Well, now . . . my wife (who has become my main and only human gaming partner) always loved Merchant of Venus (which has been sitting in a closet for several years, partly for lack of players). Maybe this will be just the thing for us.

Mine didn't come with a buzzer. Drat.

I used to like it a lot, but we have NEVER had someone win the first round go on to lose the game. Maybe we are playing incorrectly?

Had a close, tense game the other night. I won the first round, we tied the second, and the third round gave two points to my opponent. A 2-1 game that I lost in the end, but I had won the first round. Played well by both players, Kahuna can be a very, very close game that is not very forgiving of even the smallest of errors. Brilliant little game, right at the top of the Kosmos 2 player series. My first purchase in the series, remains one of my favorites.

Too agressive for us, the whole game is about destroying what your opponent has built. Could probably play with a friend, but this game did not make for marital bliss. Ebay'ed it.

We gave this one gladly away after playing it for a year or so. We never go the hang of it, and it was always too soon clear who was going to win.

This one is actually my favourite. Deepest tactical game on the list.

This rating surprises me as Flowerpower is probably our least favorite of the (17) Kosmos 2-player games we own.

We like this game on occasion. Effective use of the neutral zone can be decisive (a ten-flower bed that sneaks into the opponent's zone to take away a three-flower bed from them can be a slick move) and the correct placement of weeds in their garden can stunt their long-time growth potential.

I'm not saying that it should be rated higher than it is, but it's a nice warm-up or late night closer.

I thought this game was just okay until I played with a friend of mine who'd figured it out, and found that I couldn't beat him. It turns out to be a lot deeper (and a lot less random) than it looks.