Just thinking about the games I've been playing lately and the games I want to play/get lately, and thought I'd throw out a few questions that I'd love to hear your answers on, and figured I'd answer them myself while I'm at it. So have at it; what are you thoughts on questions A through E... and maybe you have a question F or G you'd like to add to the mix while you're at it?

A) Most Played Four Games During 2008

Loopin' Louie
Roads and Boats
Antiquity
Crokinole

The inspiration for this thread was actually noticing this strange mix of top 4 most played games during 2008. I love the pairing of Roads & Boats and Antiquity with Loopin' Louie and Crokinole. The only repeat on this list from my all-time most played games since I started tracking games is Crokinole, while the other three spots on that list are occupied by Carcassonne, Tigris & Euphrates, and Ingenious. I guess the 2008 list shows my trend of late towards playing games that are more at the extreme ends of the complexity/length spectrum. I seem to be enjoying the middle-weight 90-minute games less lately, and preferring a meaty 3-hour game or a very light/quick (often dexterity) game. This is not to say I've abandoned the center of the spectrum altogether, just this month I've played Louis XIV, Hansa, Hamburgum, and Big City from the middle of the spectrum, but it does seem that if I have the opportunity I'll try to choose to pair a Splotter game and a dexterity game. Sometimes it seems as if a 3-hour game can be greater than the sum of its parts, that is to say that you can get more out of (and have a more memorable experience) from one 3-hour game than from three 1-hour games in a row. Although obviously it's a lot harder to find time for the former, and the latter certainly has its merits... and I suppose the latter makes more sense when spaced out over different evenings. Anyway, what are you most played games during 2008 and what trends do you notice there in your gaming habits?

B) Game You Most Want to Play Right Now

Galaxy Trucker

This just arrived in the mail today and I'm extremely eager to get it to the table. I've actually already played friends' copies 4 times over the past two weeks, but I'm still very anxious to play again... and again and again! There's something very addictive about this game, perhaps because it's not the type of game I usually play (due to the puzzle nature of it, the simultaneous play, and the large role of dice). I'm also eager to play a lot more because I'm finally starting to get better at it, and want to get good enough to introduce the Rough Road Ahead expansion cards, and maybe some of the other fan variants posted on BGG. I just finished punching out the components, bagging them, and reading over the rules (even though I already knew how to play because the rules are just that good), then since I don't have anyone handy to play against, I had to go and read all the threads on the game's page and listen to the Garret's Games & Geekiness podcast interviewing the publisher. Did he say they're working on publishing a second expansion with new tiles and cards?! Joy! As for other games I'm eager to play soon, those would be Liberte and Extrablatt. Hmmm, and Trias, and Um Reifenbreite, Mississippi Queen: Black Rose, Chinatown, Java, VOC, Santiago, and on and on... So what are you eager to get to the table next and why?

C) Game You Played Most Recently

Through the Ages: A Story of Civlization

I played Through the Ages twice over the weekend. Once as a two-player game using the Advanced Version, then the next day as a four-player game using the Full Version (adding in the 3rd Age and Wars and the ever so painful loss of two people after each Age). I'm very conflicted over Through the Ages! I come from a background of thinking that Sid Meier's Civilization 2 is the greatest video game ever made by the most enormous long shot that you could ever imagine. So in a sense, Through the Ages is a dream come to true. It's the closest thing to Civ that I've ever seen in a boardgame, and is extremely clever in how it does away with a map in order to make a civilization game playable in a somewhat reasonable amount of time. It's a very clever game that really gives you a sense of slowly progressing over time, building your civilization, improving your technology, and definitely a sense of accomplishment. On the other hand, I don't think it's something I see myself playing a lot, or even as something that I'm always eager to play, like Die Macher or Antiquity. It just wasn't as engaging as those games, perhaps due to the downtime between turns and the inability to plan very much during other players' turns since the card pool changes so much before it gets back around to you. There also seemed to be some balance issues, but just as with Brass which I played twice and thought the same thing, I won't make any definite judgment on either Through the Ages or Brass without playing them more, since I know the designers played them a lot more than me and I could be mistaken on that front. I'm not sure either game will see enough plays to reach that point since I've slotted both in at a 6 rating, but that doesn't mean I'd necessarily turn down a game if suggested by someone else. So what was the last game you played and what did you think of it?

D) Game You Most Want to Add to Your Collection

Tribune: Primus Inter Pares

This game by Karl-Heinz Schmiel is the one that I'm most eager to add to my collection right now. I pre-ordered back in the Fall of 2007 shortly after Essen, but after it was delayed a couple times, I ended up cancelling my pre-order so that the rest of my Essen 2007 order would ship. Since then it's been delayed again... and again, so I'm glad I made that decision, but that's not to say that I'm not eager for Tribune to finally be released, so that I can re-order it and finally try it. I don't even know that much about this game, except for the positive comments I've read about it on BGN and BGG, and the designer's name of course. This is the only must-have for me on my wishlist currently, with a couple other games being ones that I'm intrigued by but not dying to get, like Survive and Die Handler... and then a whole slew of expansions that I need to get my hands on someday (Mr. Jack Extension, Reef Encounters of the Second Kind, Elfengold, &cetera, Mykerinos: The Nile). So what about you, what game are you most eager to add to your collection and why?

E) Game Just Itching to Crack Into Your Top 20 Favorites

Imperial

If you're anything like me, then you wish your Top 10 favorite games could go to 11 so you would be able to fit that one extra game that you love but just can't fit into your list of favorites. Well, I got sick of that, and decided to turn my Hot 10 list into my Top 11-20, thinking that would relieve the pressure of picking just 10 games. You guessed it, 20 just wasn't enough, and now I wish it could only go to 21... or maybe 22 or 23... The game I'm currently dying to add to my Top 20, but just can't find room for it is Imperial, which is followed closely by Twilight Struggle and Wallenstein. If my Top 20 could by my Top 23 then those three would find room in there for sure... but then I suppose I might find just one more game that needed to get added, and so on. I guess I should add Imperial to the list of games I'm eager to play again soon since it's been a little while since it's seen the table, but I've loved it every time I've played it so far, and think it's definitely my favorite game released in 2006. I initially ignored the game when it was released because I had played Antike and not enjoyed it, and figured that Imperial couldn't be all that different given the fact that both games featured the Rondel. Thankfully some fellow BGG users cleared up that misconception and I gave the game a chance, and I'd like to pass along that message to anyone who might have played Antike or Hamburgum and been underwhelmed. You owe it to yourself to give Imperial a try even if you didn't fall in love with Antike or Hamburgum. Imperial has a totally different feel, actually all of the games play completely differently despite the Rondel. While I didn't enjoy Antike, and wasn't particularly wowed by Hamburgu, I absolutely love Imperial. The mechanic of changing who controls each country is genius and makes the game both very engaging and highly replayable for me. So what game are you just itching to add to your Top 10 (or Top 20) and why?

So what are your answers to questions A through E, and do you have any questions F or G to add to the mix?

A) Most Played Four Games During 2008

Chicago Express x24
Container x14
Sticheln x7
GIPF x7
Die Sieben Siegel x6

Which makes sense. Wabash Cannonball is a brilliant game and it has been in regular and near constant rotation since I got a copy last year. 40-some games later it still gets played at least once most weeks and often more than once (or more than once in a single evening). Wabash Cannonball will probably get another twenty-ish plays this year. Container is good but faded relatively quickly. There's still demand for it, but only really from diehards. It will probably get another half-dozen-ish plays this year. Sticheln is simply my favourite trick taking card game. It is an automatic three player default when time is short. Die Sieben Siegel is popular with locals and not bad.

B) Game You Most Want to Play Right Now

The topmost game is very simple, 1873 Harzbahn, but it is unavailable (searching for a publisher) and not likely to be available soon.

In terms of games that I actually have a reasonable chance of getting to the table?

1) Pampas Railroads
2) Dutch InterCity
3) Länderbahnen
4) Wooden Shoes & Iron Monsters
5) Muck & Brass (not ready to play yet, but I can and do dream)

Some might notice a theme in that set and they'd be right. I've become very fond of perfect information small stock-manipulation/incentive-manipulation games and that above is my queue of games to investigate. I find them fascinating. Happily I own all but Länderbahnen. Sadly I don't know where to get Länderbahnen...but, hope springs eternal.

I've been waiting for 1873 for a long time. I'll continue to wait patiently.

C) Game You Played Most Recently

Twixt

I like TwixT, perhaps more than it deserves. I'm not very good. When I play with poor players I barely pay attention and slaughter them. When I play with someone who has some clue, as happened tonight, I find myself suddenly hunkering back like a raptor mantling over prey and feeling my mind growing and growing as I flex it outward over the game and try and rise above the challenge. It is heady but wonderful. I won 3 of 4 games tonight. The first was a cakewalk. I lost the second by a landslide. The third I suddenly hunkered down in a game that was almost a forgone conclusion loss and inchingly pulled it out, fork after fork after fork. The fourth game was against a different but also competent player. By then I had the groove down and kept initiative against him until the end, practicing all the things I'd just re-invented and built in the previous game. However it was the third game that was the most enjoyable.

In tonight's case TwixT formed a filler for a pair of us left-over players at the evening's end.

D) Game You Most Want to Add to Your Collection

Asides from 1873 Harzbahn which still hasn't been published? That game has free access to my wallet.

This is a toughie. I'm not sure I can order the list. The top few after 1873 however are clear even if not what their order is:

Länderbahnen plus Länderbahnen Expansion Set
Symbioz (very much a change of pace for me)
1848 Australia
Terrain Vague (another huge change of pace]

Länderbahnen is just an obvious because I'm still tracing down and investigating the small perfect information stock/incentive manipulation games and it seems a fine example of one. Symbioz has attracted me for some years now as possibly a sort of Dune-like game that I could actually like and wouldn't be distracted by blind bidding or spurious and unnecessary luck elements etc. 1848 Australia just seems delightful in concept, especially in regard to how the Bank of London is handled, and I do like Ohley's work. Terrain Vague is a flight of whimsy with some meat behind it. It strikes me as a proto-game of a genre that could appeal greatly and perhaps launch me on another binge of investigating other like designs. It...calls to me.

E) Game Just Itching to Crack Into Your Top 20

Scarab? I've recently put it back in rotation and it is charming me all over a gain as a delightful 4 player partnership game that specialises in getting you loathe, hate and despise your partner, all while wishing him the very best success ever!

A) Most Played Four Games During 2008

Hive (great choice, Secret Santa!)
Gheos
Wiz-War
Rat-a-Tat Cat

Gheos and Wiz-War are game-night staples whenever there are 3 or 4 of us, and Hive gets played before & after others arrive & leave.

Rat-a-Tat Cat is kind of a surprise, but it's the game Hellhammer (age 4) requests most often; she likes being the one to end the game.

B) Game You Most Want to Play Right Now

EastFront II. No, EuroFront II! I can't play that, though, because I don't have a large enough table, and won't anytime soon. Another one I've been in the mood for lately is Conquest of the Empire.

Another answer would be the game of FAB: The Bulge I'm in the middle of over VASSAL with SabreRedleg. I'm the Germans; unfortunately, I suspect we'll finish it this week with a Sudden Death victory for the Allies.

C) Game You Played Most Recently

Chess, with the burrito boy, age 8. Tonight he had a 3-piece handicap; he chose both my rooks, and a pawn (!?) to make a hole where he was planning to put me in check with his second move. (Not quite sneaky enough, ha ha--I ruined that with my first move.) I was slapping him around the board until he spotted a move I hadn't seen, and put a knight between my king & queen. It was downhill from there on; this was the best game he's played so far, and I think next time he moves up to a 2-piece handicap.

Before that it was Napoleon's Triumph on Friday night. Such a sweet game!

D) Game You Most Want to Add to Your Collection

Mystery Rummy: Jack the Ripper! I stupidly traded it away, and I want it back. Other than that, The Republic of Rome? I'm sort of bloated with games right now, and am happy to wait for Valley Games to finish their edition (although I guess I have to re-pre-order it?).

E) Game Just Itching to Crack Into Your Top 20

I don't have one! A general-purpose Top 10 or Top 20 isn't really useful to me, as a "top 10" game for one situation just won't work in other situations. And for more specific lists--top 10 2-player wargames, top 10 2-player abstracts, top 10 multi-player fighty games, etc.--ten games are plenty!

A) Most Played Four Games During 2008

Race for the Galaxy x70
Unpublished Prototype x27
In the Year of the Dragon x20
Pandemic x16
Terra Prime x13

I listed 5 because the Unpublished Prototype entry really consists of many different games that I've played 1-4 times each. Here's the 3 unpublished protos I've played the most this year:

Fermat x4 - A game like Set but with math by Tom Jolly
Lost Adventures x3 - A deduction game with an Indiana Jones theme by Jeff Warrender and Steve Sisk
Love Means Nothing x3 - A tennis themed card game by Ariel Seoane

B) Game You Most Want to Play Right Now

1) Homesteaders - I love this game, and it's currently under consideration by a publisher.
2) Reading Railroad - A game I'm working on with Scott Slomiany which I'm entering in a contest next month.
3) Lost Adventures - Because it's cool! IJ4 is coming out in about a month, so I've been watching the Last Crusade and playing this a lot.

C) Game You Played Most Recently

League of Six

For some reason I remembered reading something about League of 6 that made me think I wouldn't like it, so I avoided playing it for a while. I finally tried it last night, reluctantly, and it turns out that it's really my kind of game. It's unspectacular though, so I won't run out and buy it... but if my friend who did doesn't love it, I might trade it off of him.

D) Game You Most Want to Add to Your Collection

Container has been on the list, but I fear I'm losing interest
Agricola is not technically in my collection, but it's on its way
League of Six I'm considering trading for I guess.

The big one that I'd really like to own is Railroad Tycoon and maybe Rails of Europe to go with it.

I'm looking forward to checking out Steam to see how it compares.

E) Game Just Itching to Crack Into Your Top 20

I'm not even sure what this means. I don't keep a list of my top X favorite games. Maybe it means top 20 most played games ever (since I started keeping track), in which case the answer is either Diamant at 15 plays (21st most not including Unpublished prototypes - but counting those prototypes that have game entries), or Liar's Dice, Mykerinos, or Homesteaders which are all further down the list, but are much more likely to get played than Diamant.

A) Most Played Four Games During 2008

Through the Ages: A Story of Civilization
Glory to Rome
Tichu
Wabash Cannonball


B) Game You Most Want to Play Right Now

1861: Russian Rails

C) Game You Played Most Recently

Pampas Railroads

Game You Most Want to Add to Your Collection

Neu-Neuland

E) Game Just Itching to Crack Into Your Top 20

Thinking Galaxy Trucker would be the newest trying to creep into my top 20 this year.

A) Most Played Four Games During 2008
Agricola
Race for the Galaxy
Pandemic
Descent / Arkham Horror

B) Game You Most Want to Play Right Now

Descent

C) Game You Played Most Recently

Portrayal

Game You Most Want to Add to Your Collection

Portrayal

E) Game Just Itching to Crack Into Your Top 20

Haven't played it yet.

A) Most Played Four Games During 2008

McMulti
Bolide
Power Grid
San Juan

Container would be on this list if I'd gotten to play it last Saturday like I wanted to. But my girlfriend and my brother both really like McMulti, so they keep requesting to play it.

B) Game You Most Want to Play Right Now

Bolide

I can't get enough of this game. I really want to play with 4-6 using the advanced rules.

C) Game You Played Most Recently

San Juan

It was the last game played Saturday night before my brother finally went home.

D) Game You Most Want to Add to Your Collection

Galaxy Trucker

To be honest, this isn't really what I want most. It's just what I want most that isn't OOP.

E) Game Just Itching to Crack Into Your Top 20

Starmada

I recently picked this up, and I can't wait to give it a go. I'm already thinking about running a sci-fi role-playing game just to use this for the ship combat system.

Thanks for all the great responses so far everyone! It's really interesting to see all the very different games that everyone has been playing, enjoying, coveting, etc. It's amazing to see the incredible breadth of games all being adored here

The only downside is that all your collective praise for various games is making me want to try/buy a bunch of new games that I hadn't considered before

A) Most Played Four Games During 2008

HeroScape Master Set: Swarm of the Marro

I just got this and my daughter and I are loving going through the scenarios.

Avatar the Last Airbender Trading Card Game

I just got this too for my daughter and I to play. It's simple but she really enjoys it.

Go

I've been teaching my wife to play.

Mancala

Just the basic game rules that come with the Mancala sets in the USA. Both my wife and daughter like this.

B) Game You Most Want to Play Right Now

Hammer of the Scots

I played a partial game of this recently and really want to get a full game in.

C) Game You Played Most Recently

Avatar the Last Airbender Trading Card Game

Recently, when I have time in the evenings, it's either this or Heroscape with my daughter.

D) Game You Most Want to Add to Your Collection

Dune

I played this a few weeks ago and really liked it.

E) Game Just Itching to Crack Into Your Top 20

N/A

I don't even know what my top 20 are.

A) Most Played Four Games During 2008

Pandemic
Race for the Galaxy
Kingsburg
Key Largo

The group I play with owns a wide variety of games, both new and old, so repeat plays of a certain title can take time. Pandemic has been the go to game of late for both new and experienced players.

B) Game You Most Want to Play Right Now

Utopia (Love this game on so many levels.)

C) Game You Played Most Recently

Container (Even though it was taught wrong regarding loans, it does look promising.)

D) Game You Most Want to Add to Your Collection

On one hand, Stone Age
On another, Monsterpocalypse (My avatar would demand no less)

E) Game Just Itching to Crack Into Your Top 20 Favorites

I don't have a formal "top 20," but I would have to say Age of Gods. That game scratches quite a few itches.

A) Most Played Four Games During 2008

Twilight Struggle x38
1960: The Making of the President x27
Notre Dame x20
Tichu x14

I had to add #5 for the oddity of it.
Pokémon Jr. Adventure Game: Pokémon Emergency! x6

Don't think there are any trends in my gaming besides what I play most is what I can easily play on-line. Twilight Struggle and 1960 I have been playing in the WarGameRoom Leagues and Notre Damn and Tichu are my BSW staples. I think these game make up 40% of all the game plays I have this year. I do love Twilight Struggle and enjoy playing the rest of them so it is not a bad list.

I added the 5th because it was a surprise and a unique game to have on any top 5 list. My friend Matthew had given it to me years ago along with a bunch of Pokemon stuff and it sat on my self unplayed until recently my kids asked to play it. We played it 6 nights in a row, through all the adventure and I even wrote an adventure for it (and after my self made adventure they never asked to play it again, hmm). It is a very simple role playing game, with no board, how did it get in the database anyway?



B) Game You Most Want to Play Right Now

Die Macher

Have not played this game in a long time and been thinking I would very much like to get it to the table.

C) Game You Played Most Recently

1960: The Making of the President

Played league games on Sunday and Monday.

D) Game You Most Want to Add to Your Collection

Agricola

E) Game Just Itching to Crack Into Your Top 20 Favorites

Never thought of wanting to have an extra game in my top 10. Don't see any real difference between 10 and 11 much less 20 and 21. May have something to do with how I rate the games only having a very week influence on which games I get to play. I do hope games I have not played will be my next favorite game so I would answer Agricola or Combat Commander games I am hoping to play soon and think I will like.

Added the counts

A) Most Played Four Games During 2008
The Settlers of Catan: A hit with family and friends.

Caracassone: Not surprisingly.

The Battle for Hill 218: This game is GREAT! Got it a little over a week ago and has seen a ton of plays. It is fast, fits in your pocket, (The rules are) simple, and is fairly deep. Played it on the way down to Southern California on an improvised card table.

Race for the Galaxy and Others: Can't quite pick a forth I haven't kept count.

B) Game You Most Want to Play Right Now

FAB: The Bulge
I have only gotten in two plays and I want MORE!

C) Game You Played Most Recently

Hill 218: Just whipped it out of my pocket during lunch.

D) Game You Most Want to Add to Your Collection

Twilight Struggle: Heard it was good and sounds fun. Sadly I worry that I would have a lack of oppents like for FAB: The Bulge.

A) Most Played Four Games During 2008
Race for the Galaxy x 27
Pandemic x 12
Commands & Colors: Ancients Expansion Pack #1: Greece & Eastern Kingdoms x 6
Power Grid x 6

I bought Race for the Galaxy to use as a filler and my friends took to it instantly. Each time it hits the table it gets played multiple times. Pandemic has to be my biggest suprise for 2008 thus far. I bought it to make free shipping after reading a few reviews and it has been very popular. The other two titles are solid favorites and I don't see that changing any time soon.


B) Game You Most Want to Play Right Now
Descent: The Road to Legend

This expansion added everything to Descent that I thought it was missing. Our group just started a new campaign and I can't wait to play again. Oh and playing as the Overlord is wicked fun.


C) Game You Played Most Recently
Pandemic


Game You Most Want to Add to Your Collection
Risk: Black Ops

This looks like a Risk for grownups. Sure there will be a mass market version out soon but it will look too "busy". I think it's a damn shame that this edition is so limited. My only critique of it is why did they include a black army? I guess it had something to do with what parts they had on hand at the time it was printed. *shrug*


E) Game Just Itching to Crack Into Your Top 20
Space Hulk

Our 40k group is in a lull while we wait for the release of 5th edition and all the drama that will entail. In the meantime I borrowed a friend's long unused copy of Space Hulk for our next gathering. Should make for a good time.

Interesting thread. Thanks for posting it.

-Will

A) Most Played Four Games During 2008

Race for the Galaxy
18GL
Brass
Age of Steam

Brass and Age of Steam was the top 2 most played this year but Race for the Galaxy is slowly chalking up the milage. This week alone I've played about 11 games of it. Each session we crammed in about 3-4 games.

18GL is played 5 times so far, much more than the other 18xx in my collection. 18MEX is still in the mail (on the way here).

B) Game You Most Want to Play Right Now

18MEX

It's currently being shipped from Deepthoughtgames. Sent out on 9th of April 2008, should arrive in Malaysia anytime now.

18MEX is a medium length 18xx game (4-7 hours) with interesting mix of privates and minors. It also has a mega-merger corporation (Mexican Railways). Other features are the map is terrain heavy (pay as you build), the share market is 3D and there are enough public corporations to support a 5 player game comfortably.

C) Game You Played Most Recently

Race for the Galaxy

Just played it yesterday and will be playing it again tonight. Most probably we will be slotting in a game of Age of Steam : Ireland map expansion somewhere between our frantic RftG sessions. As both games support up to 4 players.

D) Game You Most Want to Add to Your Collection

Indonesia

Need to get Indonesia... Need to complete my collection with Roads & Boats and Antiquity already in my collection....

E) Game Just Itching to Crack Into Your Top 20 Favorites

Europe Engulfed

I have only played it twice since I acquired it 3 months ago. The fog of war element (wooden blocks ala Hammer of the Scots) and changing weather conditions added some sorely needed realism to the wargame genre. And it is playable in only 12-15 hours.

I love this sentence

It really shows how varied everyone's perspective is!

A) Most Played Four Games During 2008

52x Race for the Galaxy
14x Through the Ages: A Story of Civilization
10x UR
9x China

Race is a great filler for our group, which sometimes turns into the main event. Everyone is an ex- (or current) CCG player, and we all like Puerto Rico. It's not exactly shocking that it gets to the table a lot.

TtA continues to be very fun, and I'm anticipating at least 20 more plays this year.

Three of us kind-of went nuts on UR for a short while. We had played it some last year, and resurrected it. We'll play it some more, but it's not in a regular rotation.

China (or Web of Power for that matter) is new to everyone here. We've been playing it on the more family-oriented game nights.


B) Game You Most Want to Play Right Now

Pampas Railroads
We played our first game of this last weekend, and it went over well. I heard feedback ranging from, "We need to play that again" to "I like that a lot more than Wabash."

I really enjoyed my first play, and I'm interested to see where this falls for me in relation to Chicago Express. I like how difficult it is in Wabash to correctly set a value on a share of stock. That is missing in Pampas, as the shares can nearly be calculated to the dollar. However, the development action is a lot stronger in Pampas than in Wabash. I have this wild speculation that there's more room for evil, cutthroat track building that we missed in game 1.


C) Game You Played Most Recently

Race for the Galaxy

Random chance. I wandered into the local shop tonight and some people were having their game night. I joined in for some games, and we capped it off with a two-player Race after everyone else had left.


D) Game You Most Want to Add to Your Collection

Hive - The Mosquito

Seriously, why the hell is this so hard to find? I own multiple sets, so it's not a big crisis (just use a extra queen upside down). It'd be nice to have the real thing though.

For a non-expansion I'd say Magic Realm. I've passed on several eBay auctions already where this sold for less than I was willing to pay. I really just need to pull the trigger. I see it as a personal challenge to learn and teach the system. I already have people who want to play.

It's pretty sweet having a wide enough variety of regular game partners where I can have this conversation:

"So yeah, there's this old Avalon Hill adventure game with an 80+ page rulebook and god only knows what kind of a playing time. If I score a copy, are you interested?"

"Sounds good to me. Let's play it."


E) Game Just Itching to Crack Into Your Top 20 Favorites

I don't know what this question means, so I'll just say that my group would enjoy Struggle of Empires and Imperial if we'd just play them once.

Of the three, I'm missing Antiquity. We need to get Indonesia on the table again, as it was most definitely enjoyable. It appears to be a deep game, and we haven't even begun to explore it.

You mentioned Bass as being one of your heavily played games this year. That's seeing a decent amount of play at one of the local groups. Between that and one of my friends who just bought it, I'm hoping to try it soon. It looks really cool, but I haven't had the three hours to spare any time it's been offered to me.

A) Most Played Four Games During 2008

Race for the Galaxy (120 plays)
Go (26 plays)
Notre Dame (15 plays)
Goa (14 plays)

The first 2 are miles ahead of the rest and will probably stay there. I was a bit surprised to see Notre Dame at the third spot; if you ask the same question later this year it won't be in the top 4 anymore if only because I don't like it with 2 players, so it gets fewer opportunities to see table time. Goa will also be surpassed, probably by In the Year of the Dragon (13 plays, but great staying power), Bloodbowl (for which I just started a league) and Mordheim (of which a shrink wrapped copy is on its way to my door right now, and will certainly result in a campaign! ) Mmm, that would make a top 5...

B) Game You Most Want to Play Right Now

Mordheim! And Blood Bowl. I'd like to try Merchants of Venus as well. And the yet unreleased RftG expansion and Agricola. To be honest, there's tons of games I'd sit down and play right now...

C) Game You Played Most Recently

That would be Goa.

D) Game You Most Want to Add to Your Collection

As for B), a difficult question for me... Counting out the unreleased stuff, my shortlist would probably include Through the Desert, Maharaja:PBiI, Commands & Colors Ancients and Taluva. Among others.

E) Game Just Itching to Crack Into Your Top 20 Favorites

No idea as I don't keep a top 20, but I'm guessing Blood Bowl will be in my top 10 shortly.

A) Most Played Four Games During 2008

Race for the Galaxy
Combat Commander
Descent
World at War: Eisenbach Gap

Well the first three were no real surprise. World at War is rather sadly there. I'm sure I'll change this by the end of the year, if I counted online plays Paths of Glory would be above it. RftG is obvious, great filler, Combat Commander, again isn't long. Descent would be the longest game there, but it is popular with my group, so nothing out of the ordinary there.

B) Game You Most Want to Play Right Now
Case Blue probably, although if I had to play a more mainstream game probably twilight struggle.
C) Game You Played Most Recently

Race for the Galaxy

D) Game You Most Want to Add to Your Collection

Hmmm hard one, I have The Devil's Cauldron coming so I won't count that. I'd have to choose Triumph of Chaos.

E) Game Just Itching to Crack Into Your Top 20 Favorites
Well nothing, if I wanted it to be in my top 20 it would be there.

A) Most Played Four Games During 2008

Samurai
Memoir '44
Ca$h 'n Gun$
Chicago Express

B) Game You Most Want to Play Right Now

Tichu is right up there, so is Age of Steam.

C) Game You Played Most Recently

Indonesia face-to-face. I've been playing a load of Samurai online.

Game You Most Want to Add to Your Collection

Antiquity

E) Game Just Itching to Crack Into Your Top 20

Yeah, I dunno. There are a few games I'd like to try - Imperial, Hamburgum, Winds of Plunder, Antiquity... I can see any of these making the list.

Four most played games:
Lost Cities (10x) It is quick and my daughter (age 11) loves to play.
Tikal (6x) Purchased new in Dec, 07. One of my current top loved games.
Ingenious (4x) Another game my daughter will play with me.
The Game of Life (4x) Yet another 'daughter game'. I hate this one, but she loves it so I bear with her and try to slip more Lost Cities & Carcassonne in the mix.

I get together with my gamers group at least monthly but we play such a varied fare that many games don't get replayed. My daughter and I play a couple times a week, and mostly quick, easy games. They tend to dominate my 'Most Played' list.

Game I want to play right now:
Twilight Imperium 3rd Edition We managed to squeeze in a fantastic 5 player session last month and it has whet my appetite for more. I posted a session report if you are interested. http://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/304005

Game I played most recently:
Ingenious

Games I most want added to my collection:
Diamant A 'next step' for luring my daughter deeper into the hobby.
Agricola I like the versitility (gamer, family, solo)
Reef Encounter I like this kind of game (similar depth to my favorates: Tikal & T&E)

Game wanting to crack my top 20:
Memoir '44 I bought it before trying, and was disappointed. I want to like it and think the expansions might save it for me. But I also can find no one who wants to play it with me. I won't buy the expansions till it gets played more. What a conundrum.

Four most played games:
Lost Cities (10x) It is quick and my daughter (age 11) loves to play.
Tikal (6x) Purchased new in Dec, 07. One of my current top loved games.
Ingenious (4x) Another game my daughter will play with me.
The Game of Life (4x) Yet another 'daughter game'. I hate this one, but she loves it so I bear with her and try to slip more Lost Cities & Carcassonne in the mix.

I get together with my gamers group at least monthly but we play such a varied fare that many games don't get replayed. My daughter and I play a couple times a week, and mostly quick, easy games. They tend to dominate my 'Most Played' list.

Game I want to play right now:
Twilight Imperium 3rd Edition We managed to squeeze in a fantastic 5 player session last month and it has whet my appetite for more. I posted a session report if you are interested. http://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/304005

Game I played most recently:
Ingenious

Games I most want added to my collection:
Diamant A 'next step' for luring my daughter deeper into the hobby.
Agricola I like the versitility (gamer, family, solo)
Reef Encounter I like this kind of game (similar depth to my favorates: Tikal & T&E)

Game wanting to crack my top 20:
Memoir '44 I bought it before trying, and was disappointed. I want to like it and think the expansions might save it for me. But I also can find no one who wants to play it with me. I won't buy the expansions till it gets played more. What a conundrum.

Most Played in 2008:
Zark City
Ingenious
San Juan
The Settlers of the Stone Age

Most Want to Play Right Now:
Notre Dame -- I keep suggesting it, but nobody around here is interested. I may have to resort to trying it on BSW.

Most Recently Played:
Ra

Want to Add to Collection:
Space Hulk -- I have read a lot of cool things about it, but unfortunately, it's out of print.

Compare to Case Blue and Campaign for North Africa, Europe Engulfed is a filler game...

Actually to tell you the truth, Brass will take around 3 hours to play for the first time. Subsequent games will only take 1 hour for a 3 player session and 1 1/2 hours for a 4 player game.