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Original poster

What board game are you playing - chat thread

385 replies

frenchfancy · 28/12/2015 14:05

I thought it would be nice to continue on the discussion about board games.

Our favourite game is 7 wonders.

Our favourite card game is Bohnanza.

We are currently learning to play Puerto Rico.

Anyone else.

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BreakingDad77 · 29/12/2015 14:47

I used to like playing Magic the Gathering but the game has changed over the years and our out of date.

We played Cards against humanity - which can tell you a lot about your friends!

Chillywhippet · 29/12/2015 16:01

Lords of Waterdeep

DS (9) - like Monopoly in that there are houses and you build up properties but better because you can plan ahead

DD (13) - It's more "strategical". You have to prioritise. It is less luck based. You build up an army only for it to disappear. Should you spend money now or save it? It's far more rewarding.

DD (16) - great. Quite cutthroat. You play for 8 rounds so you can see how long to go and it isn't endless like Monopoly.
Loved the background to each Lord and the illustrations in the instruction book. In a Dungeans and Dragons game you normally play the part of an adventurer so it was fun to be the Lord.

Original poster
frenchfancy · 30/12/2015 20:38

Sounds great Tilly I love the different descriptions from the different DCs.

We have now played Puerto Rico twice. I love it. It is very strategic, I think the strategies will change as we get used to the game. I was pleased that DD3 (who is 9) managed to keep up (and beat her Dad). The game is rated for 12+ but she has been playing games since she was 6 and got the idea pretty quickly.

Played a round of Bohnanza this evening - such a great little game.

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HanSolo · 30/12/2015 22:58

Favourite game: ticket to ride (or settlers of Catan, or Dominion)

Favourite card game: Love Letter

Most recently learned: Ghost blitz, v fun, and v v fast (DD is a whizz at it)

Helenluvsrob · 30/12/2015 23:03

Dixit was the hit this year.

Difficult to pitch a game for 2 fiendishly bright PhD students ( one not of uk origin) 2 uni students, 2 middle aged parents and a 16yr old that doesn't give someone an unfair advantage but this seems to be it. I cannot hold my one in word or general knowledge but here I can, as can 16yr old - though she wins cut throat games of ankh morpork !

NowBringUsSomeFuzzpiggyPudding · 31/12/2015 12:05

We had a quick go at Dixit. I just don't get it! I hope my friend (who I'd bought it for) likes it though. I don't think we quite did the scoring right, and also DS (6) was very literal in his description of the card ("there's a cat painting a picture" etc) so that didn't really work. Once the rest of us started only using one word it got a bit more interesting but I think it would be better with more than 4 players.

I'm intrigued about the Ludwig game! That's on my wishlist.

I've been given two games as presents from friends recently, both perfect for us... so perfect in fact that we already had them! Didn't want to say so though so we are going to see if we can exchange them somewhere. I'm thinking of asking at the local game shop, what do you think? Seeing if we can give them the games (both new and sealed, and both definitely sold in their shop - in fact I think we bought our copies there in the first place!) and use that as like a trade against a more expensive game, so we pay the excess? I've no idea if that would be acceptable to them.

I've also been given some money from a dear friend (in her words "well, I don't have a daughter so..." :) Blush) with the strict instruction to spend it on myself only! Am not allowed to get anything necessary, or anything for the DCs. Needless to say some of it will be spent in said game shop! :o

TwatTheNinja · 31/12/2015 12:30

Looks like I'll be buying lords of deepwater then Smile

Our current favourites are super cluedo, Scotland yard, family triv we got for Xmas, Labyrinth and a type of monopoly game ds2 made himself its actually really good

Ds2 also likes Risk but we have conveniently misplaced it Grin

Original poster
frenchfancy · 31/12/2015 13:01

If he likes risk then take a look at Smallworld. Like risk you are taking over countries, but unlike risk you are playing the part of elves, dwarves etc. Also unlike risk there is a definite end to the game (takes about 90mins) and everyone gets to play right to the end (which to my mind is one of the big problems with risk - 1 or 2 people get knocked out fairly early on and have to watch the others finish the game)

OP posts:
TwatTheNinja · 31/12/2015 13:08

Oo thanks French yes a definitive end would be good!

NowBringUsSomeFuzzpiggyPudding · 31/12/2015 14:27

Smallworld sounds good for my DSCs too then, thanks. Might do that as a present next year (although definitely getting them Exploding Kittens NSFW as well - had a look at my friend's copy, they will love it!).

SeekretSquirrels · 31/12/2015 16:26

DC are 17 and 19 and brought up playing games.
All time family favourite is Ticket to Ride. I've just been persuaded to buy the Europe version.
I like bananagrams and Rummikub.
Fluxx is another regular.
We have Smallworld and King of Tokyo but neither has ever been played.

fuzzpig · 01/01/2016 10:36

I love the Europe version of TTR (although I haven't actually played the other ones) - think some of the features in it are not in the original USA ones, tunnels and stations or something.

I think I'm going to use some of my birthday money to get Phantom Society. It's my turn to choose the big board game at Christmas this year, but I can't choose it then because it doesn't sound like a very child friendly theme!

Original poster
frenchfancy · 01/01/2016 10:38

I think the Europe Ticket to Ride is the best. If you play a lot the extra routes expansion is worth getting.

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fuzzpig · 01/01/2016 10:45

Are the extra route things just boards that you put next to the old board? Or is it a whole different board that you use instead?

fresta · 01/01/2016 10:50

We got Dixit, The Magical Layrinth, Exploding KIttens, and Katamino for Christmas.

So far I like Dixit best, it was a great hit with all the family, although MIL couldn't quite grasp the concept which lead to much hilarity among the younger ones. Just looking at the artwork was entertainment enough for most.

DD aged 10 likes The Magic Labyrinth, she's has a really good memory and enjoys beating everyone else. Easy to understand and easy rules so kids can play by themselves.

Exploding kittens is fun, it took a few games before getting the idea and strategies to develop but think this will be played quite frequently.

Katamino- not quite what I expected as the instruction boo is dire, but quite a challenge- not as easy as it seems- great mooching over while watching TV.

DropYourSword · 01/01/2016 10:53

We love Dominion, although I suppose it's technically not a board game!

An absolute favourite is Sequence!

Original poster
frenchfancy · 01/01/2016 10:55

fuzzpig The expansion is just extra route cards - the board doesn't change. We find the original set just didn't have enough long routes to make for varied play.

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fuzzpig · 01/01/2016 11:21

Ohhh I see, thank you French - that sounds useful. DSCs play more often than we do and when we all played together the other day they were quite easily referring to routes by name! So that might make a great little extra present for them next Christmas. :)

I really like the look of all those games like Katamino, there are loads on The Happy Puzzle Company. I've wanted to get something like that for DS, he's 6 and has really good spatial awareness and loves that sort of thing. But DH pointed out that he is more in need of things that he can play while communicating with others rather than being in his own little world, I do see his point TBH. I might get myself something like that though, as I love puzzles and logic games. I often play through my pack of SET cards by myself if I can't sleep (and nobody else plays it with me anyway as they don't 'get it' :(). My worry would be that once you've done all the puzzles there's no point keeping it? Or are there enough puzzles for that not to matter, do you think?

Pipbin · 01/01/2016 11:47

Hmmm. I might have to look deeper into Lords of Waterdeep

Last night we played 221b Baker Street and Star Wars X Wing, which is much better than you might think.

Chillywhippet · 01/01/2016 19:05

Pipbin some more about Lords of Waterdeep

We have just played it as a family.

DCs big gamers, into D&D, Magic the gathering etc
I love a board game but don't go to game shop to play games on way home from school Grin
DH doesn't really like playing board games but will to spend time with kids

So as I said previously the DC love Lords of Waterdeep. For DH it wasn't the most intuitive game in that you didn't roll a dice Confused. While it's not a complex game, you have to make decisions from the beginning so it's a steep learning curve. Also the theme isn't that obvious from the game mechanics. The kids love the D&D theme but then they love D&D. For DH and me it felt more like repeatedly collecting cubes to earn points.

It is very competitive as you really mess up each others plans by getting in each other's way and giving each other mandatory quests. This may not suit some families/people.

Sooo my kids love it and have played it loads. It is set to be a big favourite with them so thank you to Toffeelatte for the recommendation but DH wouldn't choose to play it again ever Grin

Toffeelatteplease · 01/01/2016 19:59

Definitely LTB Wink

Your welcome, glad it was enjoyed. Awesome game.

myrtleWilson · 01/01/2016 20:02

We've got Pandemic legacy to start tomorrow - excited!

fuzzpig · 01/01/2016 20:42

I have ordered Phantom Society :o

fuzzpig · 03/01/2016 12:49

Other card games came up on my Amazon recommendations - Parade (seems to be Alice in Wonderland related) and Arboretum. Anyone played?

Original poster
frenchfancy · 03/01/2016 14:29

not heard of either of those fuzzpig

We've just played Ticket to Ride - the Asia expansion. It changed the game vs the Europe one, mostly because we don't know the map, but also because there is no 8 train route which changed the stategy of DD2 who normally wins. She didn't even come close to winning. DD1 who normally loses won by a mile. I love it when a familiar game can be changed by an expansion, I might consider getting the USA set next.

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