"It's the holiday season..." Or at least it's coming. And that's probably why this was a slow week. (That, or everyone was at BGG.Con.) In any case, here's this week's NEWS:
Race for the Galaxy: Alien Artifacts coming soon [Link] The news has to be legit this time, since the designer diary was posted on Board Game Geek. Also, Tom Lehman comments that it is in transit now to the Rio Grande warehouses. Alien Artifacts takes Race for the Galaxy in a new direction, beginning a new arc for the game. It may be time to jump back in...
Showing posts with label cosmic encounter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cosmic encounter. Show all posts
Monday, November 25, 2013
Thursday, September 19, 2013
It's Dangerous to Go Alone (Take this!) (A Review of Cosmic Encounter: Cosmic Alliance)
Space is not a safe place to be. It can be dangerous to go alone.
Fortunately, in this galaxy there are
many alien races. In fact, it seems as
if the heavens are packed to the brim with multitudes of strange creatures just
itching to get the chance for galactic domination.
Fortunately, because some of them might
just be willing to help you out.
Cosmic Alliance, the 3rd expansion pack
for Cosmic Encounter, offers new races, new cards, and a few new variants to
play around with.
The Time For Peace Is Over (A Review of Cosmic Conflict)
Drawing upon these diverse and infinite
multitudes, Cosmic Encounter finds itself expanding even larger in the second
expansion, Cosmic Conflict, which adds a set of 20 new races to the already
substantial mix, races that tend to skew thematically towards the title of the
expansion - that is, heavy on the conflict.
What mysteries lie beyond the great vale?
Monday, July 29, 2013
News Bits: 7/29/2013
The big news this week was a failed Kickstarter campaign and the discussion surrounding it. But there's more than that. Here is the NEWS:
Fred Hicks discusses the Doom That Came to Atlantic City Kickstarter campaign [Link] Kickstarter for board games is coming out of its infancy into the shaky years of adolescence. This kind of scenario (along with many, many, many others) has with good reason made many people wary of using the platform. I know there's a lot of idealism surrounding Kickstarter, about it being used to fund people's dreams, but really, I think Hicks's advice is on the money. And because there is no great way to test first-time campaigners (to see if they're overreaching), and since I've had several less than stellar experiences myself, I'm much more likely to use my money to fund Kickstarter veterans. Against the spirit of the service? Perhaps, but less risk. (Also, the game's designer responded here. Designer/publisher relationships are complicated, to say the least.)
Fred Hicks discusses the Doom That Came to Atlantic City Kickstarter campaign [Link] Kickstarter for board games is coming out of its infancy into the shaky years of adolescence. This kind of scenario (along with many, many, many others) has with good reason made many people wary of using the platform. I know there's a lot of idealism surrounding Kickstarter, about it being used to fund people's dreams, but really, I think Hicks's advice is on the money. And because there is no great way to test first-time campaigners (to see if they're overreaching), and since I've had several less than stellar experiences myself, I'm much more likely to use my money to fund Kickstarter veterans. Against the spirit of the service? Perhaps, but less risk. (Also, the game's designer responded here. Designer/publisher relationships are complicated, to say the least.)
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
He Who Controls the Spice (A Review of Rex)
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| REX! Starring: Lions |
The final days of the Lazax began in the seventy-third year of the war.
These words can be found buried in the introductory chapters of Fantasy Flight Games' flagship title Twilight Imperium. The words continue: Without warning, an alliance of Sol, N'oor, and Hacan attacked Mecatol Rex itself. Of all the planets in the galaxy, no planet was more war-torn than Mecatol Rex. Over the course of only a few years, the planet's ecology was ravaged by bombardments, its population decimated, and its green fields blasted into a toxic wasteland.
It is in this scenario which players find themselves during the course of Rex: Fall of an Empire, the prequel game to Twilight Imperium. Storyline-wise, TI takes place after a long period of galactic disarray and a vacancy in the seat of power; Rex occurs thousands of years before this, during the fall of the Lazax, the once-great empire that ruled the galaxy for untold ages. But does it capture the feeling of chaos and destruction described in the paragraph above? And more importantly, is the game fun to play?
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Holiday Gift Guide 2012
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(And if you want to see how the list has changed over time, here is the list for 2011. And check out our guide to stocking stuffers as well.)
Thursday, May 3, 2012
A Cosmic Expansion (A Review of Cosmic Encounter: Cosmic Incursion)
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| The box is small enough to fit inside the original |
[Editors note: The following is a Nemesis Review, featuring opinions from our in-house thematic-loving @futurewolfie and his ferocious opponent, the stodgy euro-loving @Farmerlenny. Make sure to read both opinions to get a better overall picture of the game!]
The original version of Cosmic Encounter was the first board game that had expansion packs, and with a subtitle like "A game of infinite possibilities," it's no surprise to see Fantasy Flight's current edition of the game get some expansion love.
Cosmic Incursion is the first expansion. Does it add more for fans of the original? Does it make the game appeal to those who didn't like the original? Find out below!
Friday, April 27, 2012
FDQ: What Game Gets a '10'?
There was quite the Twitter conversation a few days ago based on what games (if any) deserve a 10 on the Board Game Geek 10-point scale. So that's the question today: what games do you rate a 10? Answer in the comments! (Special thanks to @benny275 for the question.)
@FarmerLenny answers:
I had a professor in college who never gave a perfect score on papers because he wanted to let his students know there was always room for improvement. That's why I counted it among my best moments at college when he gave one of my papers a 96—the highest he would possibly go.
But listen, folks: this isn't college, and we're not trying to keep entitled college students humble. We are part of a hobby that is supposed to be fun. Saying "There is no perfect game" with our noses in the air isn't exactly inviting to newcomers. And while I agree that there is likely not an absolutely "perfect" game that fits every situation and group, that's no reason to avoid giving a game a 10. This is also why the discussion of late about "serious" board game criticism is not attractive to me. Have we forgotten the joy of the hobby? There is such a thing as overthinking it or too much self-reflection, and we're in serious danger of it when we travel these waters.
I don't exactly hand them out liberally, but when I look at my list on Board Game Geek, the games I've given a 10 are El Grande, Dominion: Intrigue, and Dominion: Prosperity. There are a few games at the 9.5 level (Dominion and Dominion: Hinterlands), and many at the 9 level. Actually, my ratings appear to follow a fairly standard distribution: five 10s, twenty-one 9s, thirty-four 8s, twenty-four 7s, five 6s (and then a few fall in the 3-5 category). Do my ratings skew high? Probably a bit, but there are a few explanations for that. First, I do a lot of research before I add any games to my collection. With a limited budget, I can only add to my collection periodically, so every purchase counts. I usually only buy a game that there's a good chance I'll like. Second, I try to evaluate games based not on my favorite game but based on how well it fits a situation. I rate The Resistance a 9; that doesn't mean I always want to play The Resistance. And third, I try to keep gaming as a hobby, not an all-consuming passion. This can be difficult at times, but when I approach board games looking for fun, I can usually find it—even in Cosmic Encounter.
@Futurewolfie answers:
It all depends on the target "audience" per say when handing out ratings. When I rate games as far as how I feel about them, there are definitely a few 10's - Cosmic Encounter, Twilight Imperium for certain, and a few others that will probably make the cut once i've played them more (such as Battlestar Galactica or Rex... holy crap those are all FFG games. Not on purpose. Dominion (w/expansions), Smallworld, phew, there's a few non FFG ones.) Plenty of 9's (I find it rather funny that no matter what scale of rating system we use, we will almost certainly want to add a ".5" in there somewhere). These are games that I greatly enjoy and love playing and have no reservations at all about playing them.
But rating publicly, I feel I need to be more objective. Do I think any of these games is truly flawless? Twilight Imperium certainly lasts too long and has a few finicky issues, especially without expansions. Cosmic Encounter has a few unbalanced powers, and some games end too quickly, go to long, or just fall flat. Dominion has a few weird uber-strategies that might come into the mix, and is not extremely interactive between players (although more than some would claim). Smallworld might just last a little too long. These are things that should objectively knock off points from a public review. Or should they? What do you think?
Another thing about the number rating system is that it's wildly arbitrary. A number can be based off a whole slew of conditions, including the person's emotional state at the time of rating, based on a play with annoying players (or even a bad day having nothing to do with the game itself). Which is why you should find a trustworthy review site and read what they have to say about the game, and not just go on the numbers.
@FarmerLenny answers:
I had a professor in college who never gave a perfect score on papers because he wanted to let his students know there was always room for improvement. That's why I counted it among my best moments at college when he gave one of my papers a 96—the highest he would possibly go.
But listen, folks: this isn't college, and we're not trying to keep entitled college students humble. We are part of a hobby that is supposed to be fun. Saying "There is no perfect game" with our noses in the air isn't exactly inviting to newcomers. And while I agree that there is likely not an absolutely "perfect" game that fits every situation and group, that's no reason to avoid giving a game a 10. This is also why the discussion of late about "serious" board game criticism is not attractive to me. Have we forgotten the joy of the hobby? There is such a thing as overthinking it or too much self-reflection, and we're in serious danger of it when we travel these waters.
I don't exactly hand them out liberally, but when I look at my list on Board Game Geek, the games I've given a 10 are El Grande, Dominion: Intrigue, and Dominion: Prosperity. There are a few games at the 9.5 level (Dominion and Dominion: Hinterlands), and many at the 9 level. Actually, my ratings appear to follow a fairly standard distribution: five 10s, twenty-one 9s, thirty-four 8s, twenty-four 7s, five 6s (and then a few fall in the 3-5 category). Do my ratings skew high? Probably a bit, but there are a few explanations for that. First, I do a lot of research before I add any games to my collection. With a limited budget, I can only add to my collection periodically, so every purchase counts. I usually only buy a game that there's a good chance I'll like. Second, I try to evaluate games based not on my favorite game but based on how well it fits a situation. I rate The Resistance a 9; that doesn't mean I always want to play The Resistance. And third, I try to keep gaming as a hobby, not an all-consuming passion. This can be difficult at times, but when I approach board games looking for fun, I can usually find it—even in Cosmic Encounter.
@Futurewolfie answers:
It all depends on the target "audience" per say when handing out ratings. When I rate games as far as how I feel about them, there are definitely a few 10's - Cosmic Encounter, Twilight Imperium for certain, and a few others that will probably make the cut once i've played them more (such as Battlestar Galactica or Rex... holy crap those are all FFG games. Not on purpose. Dominion (w/expansions), Smallworld, phew, there's a few non FFG ones.) Plenty of 9's (I find it rather funny that no matter what scale of rating system we use, we will almost certainly want to add a ".5" in there somewhere). These are games that I greatly enjoy and love playing and have no reservations at all about playing them.
But rating publicly, I feel I need to be more objective. Do I think any of these games is truly flawless? Twilight Imperium certainly lasts too long and has a few finicky issues, especially without expansions. Cosmic Encounter has a few unbalanced powers, and some games end too quickly, go to long, or just fall flat. Dominion has a few weird uber-strategies that might come into the mix, and is not extremely interactive between players (although more than some would claim). Smallworld might just last a little too long. These are things that should objectively knock off points from a public review. Or should they? What do you think?
Another thing about the number rating system is that it's wildly arbitrary. A number can be based off a whole slew of conditions, including the person's emotional state at the time of rating, based on a play with annoying players (or even a bad day having nothing to do with the game itself). Which is why you should find a trustworthy review site and read what they have to say about the game, and not just go on the numbers.
Friday, March 30, 2012
FDQ: How Many Chances Do You Give a Game?
"Three strikes and you're out!" is a common system for deciding when enough is enough. Fifty pages of a book is supposedly a good gauge of whether the whole thing is worth reading. But then there are things that are "acquired tastes," supposedly worth the effort given enough time. What's the cut-off for board games? How many chances do you give a game before passing judgment? Answer in the comments!
@FarmerLenny answers:
The board game hobby is already pretty saturated, so it seems like the answer should be low. After all, if you don't like game X, surely game Y won't disappoint. Why waste your time on what you don't like when there's a clear better option available?
I don't feel this way, though, at least not all the time. I usually give a game more than one chance (the exception is if a game really fails to grab me or anyone else the first time), since one play is rarely definitive. Puerto Rico is a great example of this. The first time I played the game, I wasn't too enamored of it and didn't see what all the fuss was about. But my brother-in-law insisted that I borrow it, and after the very next play, I was hooked. I don't know about number-one-game-of-all-time hooked, but I recognize its merits.
Of course, with other games, multiple plays only confirmed my opinion, as with Glen More. And multiple plays can even sour an experience. I liked San Juan and Cosmic Encounter the first several times I played. It was only later that I realized those games are not really for me. I had a very high opinion of Eminent Domain when I first had it, but it has since left me feeling cold. All of this weighs on me as a reviewer: how many plays is enough to give a definitive opinion? And who's to say my opinion won't change later? There comes a time when you have to put fingers to keyboard; I try to make sure it happens when my opinion is set, but we all make mistakes, I'm sure.
Because of these things, I appreciate all the more the games that are still awesome, all these plays later.
@Futurewolfie answers:
There's really no definitive answers to this one. However there is this; I am much more likely to give a game multiple tries if either 1. the theme interests me greatly or 2. one of my friends really likes the game.
Some games (such as, you know, Bacchus' Banquet - the worst "hidden identity" game I've ever played) are immediately unpleasant. The game is clearly flawed, I have absolutely no fun playing it, and the theme isn't exactly interesting to me. I'm not going to try that game again - unless one of my friends (read: @Farmerlenny) really want to (fortunately in the case of Bacchus, no one did.)
Some games immediately spark my interest - even though I'm still learning the game, I can see the potential or I really love the theme or I enjoy the mechanics and see a lot of potential for depth.
Other games I dislike which may or may not be broken, but I just don't really have fun playing them or find the experience very frustrating. Again if the theme really interests me (something in Space) or @Farmerlenny really likes it (Ra) I will give it more tries.
And then there are games which I enjoy but are kind of "meh" but I will give them a few shots to see if they grow on me. And many of them do. Dominion is one such example - I enjoyed it when I first played, but it wasn't until I really began to grasp the higher concepts and intricate strategies involved that I really began to appreciate it a lot.
@FarmerLenny answers:
The board game hobby is already pretty saturated, so it seems like the answer should be low. After all, if you don't like game X, surely game Y won't disappoint. Why waste your time on what you don't like when there's a clear better option available?
I don't feel this way, though, at least not all the time. I usually give a game more than one chance (the exception is if a game really fails to grab me or anyone else the first time), since one play is rarely definitive. Puerto Rico is a great example of this. The first time I played the game, I wasn't too enamored of it and didn't see what all the fuss was about. But my brother-in-law insisted that I borrow it, and after the very next play, I was hooked. I don't know about number-one-game-of-all-time hooked, but I recognize its merits.
Of course, with other games, multiple plays only confirmed my opinion, as with Glen More. And multiple plays can even sour an experience. I liked San Juan and Cosmic Encounter the first several times I played. It was only later that I realized those games are not really for me. I had a very high opinion of Eminent Domain when I first had it, but it has since left me feeling cold. All of this weighs on me as a reviewer: how many plays is enough to give a definitive opinion? And who's to say my opinion won't change later? There comes a time when you have to put fingers to keyboard; I try to make sure it happens when my opinion is set, but we all make mistakes, I'm sure.
Because of these things, I appreciate all the more the games that are still awesome, all these plays later.
@Futurewolfie answers:
There's really no definitive answers to this one. However there is this; I am much more likely to give a game multiple tries if either 1. the theme interests me greatly or 2. one of my friends really likes the game.
Some games (such as, you know, Bacchus' Banquet - the worst "hidden identity" game I've ever played) are immediately unpleasant. The game is clearly flawed, I have absolutely no fun playing it, and the theme isn't exactly interesting to me. I'm not going to try that game again - unless one of my friends (read: @Farmerlenny) really want to (fortunately in the case of Bacchus, no one did.)
Some games immediately spark my interest - even though I'm still learning the game, I can see the potential or I really love the theme or I enjoy the mechanics and see a lot of potential for depth.
Other games I dislike which may or may not be broken, but I just don't really have fun playing them or find the experience very frustrating. Again if the theme really interests me (something in Space) or @Farmerlenny really likes it (Ra) I will give it more tries.
And then there are games which I enjoy but are kind of "meh" but I will give them a few shots to see if they grow on me. And many of them do. Dominion is one such example - I enjoyed it when I first played, but it wasn't until I really began to grasp the higher concepts and intricate strategies involved that I really began to appreciate it a lot.
Friday, February 10, 2012
FDQ: What Game Doesn't Love You Back?
We all have games we love and games we strongly dislike. Usually we get pretty good at our favorite games: we play them frequently, we learn the ins and outs of strategies, and our passion for the game carries us to victory.
But sometimes, sometimes we fall in love with a game that we just kinda suck at. It defies logic; you'd think getting hit over the head repeatedly would turn us off. But for some reason, these games continue to have a special grip on our hearts. It's not that we never win, we just more often than not fail to end up on top. But we sure had a blast along the way.
What game do you love that doesn't love you back? Answer in the comments!
@Futurewolfie answers:
I have a couple games that fit in this category. Kill Doctor Lucky is pretty much always a blast. It's a good laugh, it keeps me engaged the whole way through trying to figure out how to maximize my turn or get Doctor Lucky alone in a choice room for a brilliant murder attempt... but in the end, I usually fail to win. More often than not, I draw out the last failure card from other players, only to have the next person in line strike for the victory.
Cosmic Encounter, currently my #1 favorite game, is also a game that I often lose. I'm probably victorious more often than with KDL, but I constantly find myself making terrible decisions (in restrospect), or letting someone else get great positioning, or otherwise losing the top spot. It speaks volumes that despite my poor record, this is still my favorite game; it's just so much fun to play it doesn't matter if I win or not.
Olympos is very new to me and hasn't really been played enough to make a solid judgment, but I have yet to scrape a victory and it's still a blast every time. I love the time mechanic that makes you try and perform your actions in as few steps as possible. It's tense, it's great fun, and I still haven't nailed down a successful strategy. We haven't reviewed this one yet, but we will get it up there soon.
@FarmerLenny answers:
Ascending Empires probably tops the list for me. For those not in the know, Ascending Empires is a dexterity space empire building game (which, incidentally, @Futurewolfie and I chose for 2011's Game of the Year). I'm not very good at flicking my ships around or with negotiating with other players, but still, more often than not, it's the game I want to play.
I'm also not terribly good at Power Grid and its various iterations, but I love economic games, and it's hard to keep me away for too long.
But sometimes, sometimes we fall in love with a game that we just kinda suck at. It defies logic; you'd think getting hit over the head repeatedly would turn us off. But for some reason, these games continue to have a special grip on our hearts. It's not that we never win, we just more often than not fail to end up on top. But we sure had a blast along the way.
What game do you love that doesn't love you back? Answer in the comments!
@Futurewolfie answers:
I have a couple games that fit in this category. Kill Doctor Lucky is pretty much always a blast. It's a good laugh, it keeps me engaged the whole way through trying to figure out how to maximize my turn or get Doctor Lucky alone in a choice room for a brilliant murder attempt... but in the end, I usually fail to win. More often than not, I draw out the last failure card from other players, only to have the next person in line strike for the victory.
Cosmic Encounter, currently my #1 favorite game, is also a game that I often lose. I'm probably victorious more often than with KDL, but I constantly find myself making terrible decisions (in restrospect), or letting someone else get great positioning, or otherwise losing the top spot. It speaks volumes that despite my poor record, this is still my favorite game; it's just so much fun to play it doesn't matter if I win or not.
Olympos is very new to me and hasn't really been played enough to make a solid judgment, but I have yet to scrape a victory and it's still a blast every time. I love the time mechanic that makes you try and perform your actions in as few steps as possible. It's tense, it's great fun, and I still haven't nailed down a successful strategy. We haven't reviewed this one yet, but we will get it up there soon.
@FarmerLenny answers:
Ascending Empires probably tops the list for me. For those not in the know, Ascending Empires is a dexterity space empire building game (which, incidentally, @Futurewolfie and I chose for 2011's Game of the Year). I'm not very good at flicking my ships around or with negotiating with other players, but still, more often than not, it's the game I want to play.
I'm also not terribly good at Power Grid and its various iterations, but I love economic games, and it's hard to keep me away for too long.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
On the Horizon: 2012
New years are great. New Year's Day may be a seemingly arbitrary holiday to some, but I think it marks a great time to look back and reflect on the past year, and at the same time look forward to new and excellent things on the horizon.
The same is true for games. It's a good time to be a board gamer. The hobby is growing and getting noticed, and a lot of high-quality, excellent games are being produced. Kickstarter has become a major launching pad for independent and small-time game publishers to find an audience and succeed. And there's no shortage of awesomeness coming in 2012 (especially as Essen 2011 releases s-l-o-w-l-y make their way to the States). Here are some of the games we're excited to see.
The same is true for games. It's a good time to be a board gamer. The hobby is growing and getting noticed, and a lot of high-quality, excellent games are being produced. Kickstarter has become a major launching pad for independent and small-time game publishers to find an audience and succeed. And there's no shortage of awesomeness coming in 2012 (especially as Essen 2011 releases s-l-o-w-l-y make their way to the States). Here are some of the games we're excited to see.
Friday, January 6, 2012
iSlaytheDragon's GAME OF THE YEAR
Now that 2011 has come to a close, we can safely look back at all the games we played and loved. We love to hand out kudos to those who deserve it, and the new year is our chance to point out the games that stood above the crowd, at least to us. We're only picking games that we played, and games that released in or around 2011, so if you think a different game deserves the top spot... well, go ahead and let us know in the comments. Now, without further ado...
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Christmas Gift Guide 2011
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| Even dragons love Christmastime. |
(Oh, and so you know, we're not the only ones doing this. Check out other great lists on Dice Hate Me, Gamer Chris, Games and Grub, The Board Game Family, The Game Aisle, and of course, Board Game Geek. Their lists differ significantly from ours, but they have good suggestions, too.)
Friday, August 19, 2011
Friday Question: Are You a Dissenter?
Maybe it's hipster contrarianism. Maybe you really are special. In any case, for better or worse, there's that one game that everyone else seems to love that you can't stand. Or, conversely, there's that game that everyone else hates but that you can't get enough of. Does this describe you? That's this Friday's question: Are you a dissenter? Do you disagree with popular (or friends, or the Indisputable BGG Top 100) opinion about a game? Tell us about it in the comments!
@FarmerLenny answers:
I realize @Futurewolfie might go crazy about this one, but I'm not a huge fan of Cosmic Encounter (gasp!). I don't dispute that others are justified in their love for it (and I like it much better with the Cosmic Incursion expansion), but it just doesn't deliver the goods for me. It feels too random and imbalanced for my tastes, and it's hard to get a handle on what I'm supposed to do. I realize others will respond with "You need to read the other players," blah, blah, blah. It's just my dissenting opinion: it's not for me. I'll still play it, I just need space between the plays to cleanse my palate. More recently, I have a dissenting opinion on Quarriors, but I'll save that for a forthcoming mini-review. Of course, on the other end, I love Canasta, which too often is derided as a game for old ladies. Clearly, those who say such things have never played in my household.
@Futurewolfie answers:
"Hipster contrarianism"? Well, I guess @FarmerLenny was a hipster before hipsters were cool, so he would know about that kind of thing. Anyways, I feel like "dissenter" is a strong term, unless we're talking about dissenting against @FarmerLenny's cruel tactics and ganging up on innocents whenever he can. I dissent against meanness.
I like to think that I mostly just dissent against things that are... you know... dumb. For example, when I tell people I like board games, they almost always ask, "You mean like monopoly and risk?" I didn't even capitalize those names, I dissent against those games so much. I used to like Munchkin, but the last few times I've played it has kind of sucked for one person, so I'm starting to generally dissent against that game. It doesn't help that they keep rehashing the same game over and over with different names. I also dissent against games that have better alternatives... for example, Werewolves. I mean who doesn't love a game whose entire point is to vote who doesn't get to play anymore? I realize that it supports a large number of people... but the more people, the longer the first guy has to wait. Play the Resistance, or if you have more than 10... play... I dunno... Caveman Telephone. Dissent!
For the record... I am a little crazy about @Farmerlenny's rejection of Cosmic Encounter. That's pretty much the best game ever. At least, it's my favorite game. (Although Ascending Empires, you are a hot contender. Hot!)
Do you dare dissent against games that people love?
@FarmerLenny answers:
I realize @Futurewolfie might go crazy about this one, but I'm not a huge fan of Cosmic Encounter (gasp!). I don't dispute that others are justified in their love for it (and I like it much better with the Cosmic Incursion expansion), but it just doesn't deliver the goods for me. It feels too random and imbalanced for my tastes, and it's hard to get a handle on what I'm supposed to do. I realize others will respond with "You need to read the other players," blah, blah, blah. It's just my dissenting opinion: it's not for me. I'll still play it, I just need space between the plays to cleanse my palate. More recently, I have a dissenting opinion on Quarriors, but I'll save that for a forthcoming mini-review. Of course, on the other end, I love Canasta, which too often is derided as a game for old ladies. Clearly, those who say such things have never played in my household.
@Futurewolfie answers:
"Hipster contrarianism"? Well, I guess @FarmerLenny was a hipster before hipsters were cool, so he would know about that kind of thing. Anyways, I feel like "dissenter" is a strong term, unless we're talking about dissenting against @FarmerLenny's cruel tactics and ganging up on innocents whenever he can. I dissent against meanness.
I like to think that I mostly just dissent against things that are... you know... dumb. For example, when I tell people I like board games, they almost always ask, "You mean like monopoly and risk?" I didn't even capitalize those names, I dissent against those games so much. I used to like Munchkin, but the last few times I've played it has kind of sucked for one person, so I'm starting to generally dissent against that game. It doesn't help that they keep rehashing the same game over and over with different names. I also dissent against games that have better alternatives... for example, Werewolves. I mean who doesn't love a game whose entire point is to vote who doesn't get to play anymore? I realize that it supports a large number of people... but the more people, the longer the first guy has to wait. Play the Resistance, or if you have more than 10... play... I dunno... Caveman Telephone. Dissent!
For the record... I am a little crazy about @Farmerlenny's rejection of Cosmic Encounter. That's pretty much the best game ever. At least, it's my favorite game. (Although Ascending Empires, you are a hot contender. Hot!)
Do you dare dissent against games that people love?
Friday, July 29, 2011
Friday Question: Do You Use House Rules?
We all know the drill. If you go over to Billy's house, he may play the game this way, but with Phyllis, you play the game by the book. It can be difficult to keep track of the different rules that different players use. So here's today's Friday question: are you a house-rules culprit? Which game, and which rules do you add? Feel free to answer (or just discuss house rules in general) in the comments.
@FarmerLenny answers:
I try to play games strictly by the book, but in some cases (namely, in poorly written rulebooks) a house rule is necessary. There are really only a few games that I play with house rules. One of these is a game called Ulcers, which I picked up at Half Price Books on the clearance shelf for $2. I loved the premise of the game (hiring personnel and trying to keep them happy to avoid corporate raids), but the game itself was rather...boring. So, with my wife's permission, I have been slowly tweaking the rules to make it more fun. Basically, instead of making it a simple roll-and-move kind of game, I've played with shortages, acquisition order, and adding interesting decisions to make the game more cutthroat. We both enjoy it more with these additions. I also have added a house rule in Canasta (since it wasn't covered in the rule book) that players cannot pick up the prize pile based on a canasta they already have. This keeps the game a bit more even and more fun, we've found. Most of the time I eschew house rules if I can, but I try not to begrudge them to my friends who use them more frequently.
@Futurewolfie answers:
I rarely add house-rules to board games, especially if they're good games. Someone has already put hundreds of hours testing, tweaking, and figuring out what works best, so even if I don't quite understand why a rule is or isn't in place, it likely has a balancing effect on the game somehow. However, as Jon mentioned above, sometimes games are ALMOST fun, but it feels like whoever made the game didn't really playtest it. It just needs some tweaking - it's not bad enough to toss out completely, but it's not good enough to enjoy without a fix.
And then sometimes it's just worth house-ruling to settle arguments more quickly or make a game more fun in a particular situation. The only house-rule I consistently use is for Cosmic Encounter - when alien powers are dealt out at the beginning of the game, I made it a rule that if you are dealt a card you have played with before, you can return it and get a new power to choose from. That doesn't affect the gameplay at all, and part of the fun of CE is experiencing the ridiculous variety of alien races.
@FarmerLenny answers:
I try to play games strictly by the book, but in some cases (namely, in poorly written rulebooks) a house rule is necessary. There are really only a few games that I play with house rules. One of these is a game called Ulcers, which I picked up at Half Price Books on the clearance shelf for $2. I loved the premise of the game (hiring personnel and trying to keep them happy to avoid corporate raids), but the game itself was rather...boring. So, with my wife's permission, I have been slowly tweaking the rules to make it more fun. Basically, instead of making it a simple roll-and-move kind of game, I've played with shortages, acquisition order, and adding interesting decisions to make the game more cutthroat. We both enjoy it more with these additions. I also have added a house rule in Canasta (since it wasn't covered in the rule book) that players cannot pick up the prize pile based on a canasta they already have. This keeps the game a bit more even and more fun, we've found. Most of the time I eschew house rules if I can, but I try not to begrudge them to my friends who use them more frequently.
@Futurewolfie answers:
I rarely add house-rules to board games, especially if they're good games. Someone has already put hundreds of hours testing, tweaking, and figuring out what works best, so even if I don't quite understand why a rule is or isn't in place, it likely has a balancing effect on the game somehow. However, as Jon mentioned above, sometimes games are ALMOST fun, but it feels like whoever made the game didn't really playtest it. It just needs some tweaking - it's not bad enough to toss out completely, but it's not good enough to enjoy without a fix.
And then sometimes it's just worth house-ruling to settle arguments more quickly or make a game more fun in a particular situation. The only house-rule I consistently use is for Cosmic Encounter - when alien powers are dealt out at the beginning of the game, I made it a rule that if you are dealt a card you have played with before, you can return it and get a new power to choose from. That doesn't affect the gameplay at all, and part of the fun of CE is experiencing the ridiculous variety of alien races.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Joining In...?
Saturday night should have been an ideal time to game. My wife was having several women from church over for a craft night, and I was (thankfully) banished from my home. I found a new store in the area that was offering open gaming on Saturday nights, so this seemed like a promising way to pass the evening away from my own hearth.
Unfortunately, I chickened out.
Unfortunately, I chickened out.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Friday Question of the Day: What is your favorite game, and why?
Everybody likes to talk about their favorite things, and today we satisfy that urge with a Friday Question of the day:
What is your favorite board game, and why?
Tell us about it in the comments!
@Futurewolfie answers:
My favorite board game is definitely Cosmic Encounter. First of all, I'm a total sci-fi geek and the "space/alien" genre really speaks to me. But beyond that, I love the variety and humor of the aliens. There are a lot of subtle references and just plain old hilarious abilities that lead to laughter and fun. I really enjoy how each game requires a different approach based on the alien powers in play. And possibly most of all, I love the interactivity, the bluffing, the role-playing, and the imagination that is sparked almost automatically by playing this game. Win!
@FarmerLenny answers:
My favorite board game is probably the Sid Sackson classic Acquire. Part of this is nostalgia (my roommates all played it when I moved to Illinois; we even kept recorded stats). Part of this is Acquire is just a great game. It has high tension, high stakes, and lots and lots of money. It involves some math, but there's a good deal of player interaction and bluffing as well. It has a steep learning curve, but it's totally worth learning the game (and getting slaughtered your first time--I know from experience). G.K. Chesterton said that it's those who play badly who truly love the game itself--that describes my experiences with Acquire. And by how badly I play, I must really enjoy it!
What is your favorite board game, and why?
Tell us about it in the comments!
@Futurewolfie answers:
My favorite board game is definitely Cosmic Encounter. First of all, I'm a total sci-fi geek and the "space/alien" genre really speaks to me. But beyond that, I love the variety and humor of the aliens. There are a lot of subtle references and just plain old hilarious abilities that lead to laughter and fun. I really enjoy how each game requires a different approach based on the alien powers in play. And possibly most of all, I love the interactivity, the bluffing, the role-playing, and the imagination that is sparked almost automatically by playing this game. Win!
@FarmerLenny answers:
My favorite board game is probably the Sid Sackson classic Acquire. Part of this is nostalgia (my roommates all played it when I moved to Illinois; we even kept recorded stats). Part of this is Acquire is just a great game. It has high tension, high stakes, and lots and lots of money. It involves some math, but there's a good deal of player interaction and bluffing as well. It has a steep learning curve, but it's totally worth learning the game (and getting slaughtered your first time--I know from experience). G.K. Chesterton said that it's those who play badly who truly love the game itself--that describes my experiences with Acquire. And by how badly I play, I must really enjoy it!
Sunday, March 13, 2011
An intergalactic review! (A review of Cosmic Encounter)
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| Actually, a new printing in 2011 added aliens to the cover, which is much better. |
You may have heard me talk about Cosmic Encounter before. This game is a zany, wild, off-the-hook game of alien expansion. Take on one of 50 alien races, each with their own unique game-changing powers, and try to get 5 foreign colonies before your opponents. Sound easy? Maybe. But maybe not.
This gem was originally created in the 1970s by a group of guys tired of rolling dice in Risk. Since then it has been published and re-published, refusing to die as it passed from publisher to publisher, edition to new edition. The latest version, released in 2008 by Fantasy Flight games, is the culmination of years of playing, refining, and inventing alien race after alien race. There is a reason why Cosmic Encounter has lasted so long.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
A Cosmic Encounter: an Interview with Peter Olotka, designer of Cosmic Encounter
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