Letter Based Word Games by Mechanic - List #2 - Simple Word Formation
Vince Londini
Canada
London
Ontario
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I would like to suggest 5 mechanics for letter-based word games. Some games may involve aspects of several mechanics, but usually one of them impacts the score more than the others. For example, Jarnac involves simple word formation, but the game is won by rearranging and expanding those words to increase their point value.
1. Recognition - identify words from a jumble of letters. Players are not allowed to manipulate the letters, only observe them (Boggle).
2. Simple Word Formation - here players form words from their own pool of letters without using other players' letters or being concerned about board position (Quiddler).
3. Complex Word Formation - players form words, but they may/must also use letters from already played words. Crosswords style games dominate this category (Scrabble). Are there other games where you play off of already exposed letters, but that DON'T involve cross-word style play?
4. Guessing - players try to discover words formed and hidden by other players (Hangman, Probe).
5. Rearrangment - players may begin with simple word formation or recognition, but the real scoring opportunities are offered by rearranging existing letters to form more valuable words (Jarnac, Word Search).
You can access these lists from my Metalist at http://www.boardgamegeek.com/geeklist.php3?action=view&listi...
List #2: SIMPLE WORD FORMATION
Which games require players to form words from their own pool of letters, without requiring them to play off of another player's work or worry about board positioning?
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Vince Londini
Canada
London
Ontario
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Quiddler requires players to form short words from letters in their own hands. While they do draw and discard, the words they play will be formed entirely from their own cards and are not required to fit into anyone else's words.
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Vince Londini
Canada
London
Ontario
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While this game requires crossword formation, it remains a simple word formation game because players use only their own cubes. There is no persistent board upon which players must build.
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W M Shubert
United States
Portland
Oregon
KGS is the #1 web site for playing go over the internet. Visit now!
Yes, I really am that awesome.
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I think perquacky belongs in this list. Many years ago I used to play a computer version of this for the VAX, where each player sat at a different terminal. Lots of fun!
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Jason Monroe
United States
St Louis
Missouri
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I think this one qualifies for this list
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Jason Monroe
United States
St Louis
Missouri
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aka Scribbage. This should also qualify -if not feel free to delete it.
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.sanders .
United States
Florida
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How about this one?
You buy letters, then from your pool of letters you form a word that you turn around and sell for profit.
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Lourdes Tallet
United States
Unspecified
Massachusetts
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Kind of like Spill and Spell with pattern cards and a nerve-wracking timer. You can easily add a push-your-luck component where you can stop after a completed card and score your accumulated points OR lose your accumulated points if you can't complete the card you are working on when the timer rings.
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8.
Board Game: Logomachy
[Average Rating:5.00 Unranked]
Vince Londini
Canada
London
Ontario
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I think this one fits here because there is no persistent construction of words, only "trick-taking" as it were in forming words and thus capturing those cards.
This is quite old - 1874!
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Vince Londini
Canada
London
Ontario
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From the box: This game combines features of both chess and word games. The objective is to move markers to different squares that contain letters, in order to connect letters, in order to form words - thereby scoring points. The markers move like chessmen, though their moves are simpler than chess. The formation of words is simpler than in other board games or cross word puzzles. Special rules and hadicaps allow for persons of different age and skill levels to compete.
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Vince Londini
Canada
London
Ontario
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From the rules:
"Chessword is an original game combining chess and words. All the chess pieces are used except the pawns, and they move and capture the opponent's pieces the same way as in chess. But instead of attempting to check the King, each player tries to gain all the letters of the chosen word before his opponent."
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Vince Londini
Canada
London
Ontario
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From the game's description:
This is a word game where you are given six letter dice. Each turn you roll them to make a word. The catch is that only the first roll is free. You can make up to two additional roles, but you have to pay for them. When you finally make your word, based on its length, you earn money back. There is also a time limit on making the words.
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Vince Londini
Canada
London
Ontario
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From the game's description:
Dealer shuffles cards and deals five cards to each player. Once card is turned face up in the discard pile. Each player spells a word using the consonant cards that will score the most points. The vowels (a, e, i, o, u) are free; players can use as many as needed. Vowels have no score value except they count as letters in each word.
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13.
Board Game: Bali
[Average Rating:6.34 Overall Rank:3192]
Vince Londini
Canada
London
Ontario
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Think the classic card-game "Solitare," but with letter cards...
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Tim Johnson
United States
Las Vegas
Nevada
Hoarders: BGG Edition
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Each player or team has a number of magnetic wheels with letters on them. Players rotate, exchange, or trade their letter-wheels in an attempt to form the greatest number of high-scoring words. Word Spin Scramble was a Mensa Select winner for 1995. The game also includes rules for solitaire play.
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Aspley
Queensland
London
Ontario