I think Scott made a great comment about the difference in sales numbers between Vinci and Small World. I'm just wondering if you could make a "Small Worldify" Hansa Teutonica to make it more appealing but keep the mechanics.
Yes, you can definitely do that. If you streamlined the rules, keep the core gameplay, and retheme with fantasy, sci-fi, or IP license you can definitely get it into Small World sales territory.
Star Wars IP. You could call that 7-point connection the Kessel Run.
The starkness of an 18XX board or a Food Chain Magnate tile are a bit of an acquired taste. Same with the board for Fast Food Franchise, until you start filling it with franchise markers.
Hansa Teutonica has at least one thing going for it: the most glorious euro dude style to ever grace a box cover.
The primary place where Hansa Teutonica falls down for me is that the theme does not help you understand how the game works at all, and occasionally gets in the way. The rules and the metaphor that explains them pass like ships in the night.
I've noticed that most of the euro-centric cube/machine/workerplacement type people I know never log anything in BGG, but the people who play less "traditional" games obsess over BGG logs and stats.
The starkness of an 18XX board or a Food Chain Magnate tile are a bit of an acquired taste. Same with the board for Fast Food Franchise, until you start filling it with franchise markers.
Hansa Teutonica has at least one thing going for it: the most glorious euro dude style to ever grace a box cover.
The Golden Ages is a brand new civ game from Stronghold that fits this bill completely. I actually really liked the game. You build the world as you go, try to control spots on the map, work on your tech tree, etc. You can perform combat, but are limited to three combat actions for the *whole game.* And the graphical style is ripped straight out of late 90s German games.
But that's why this Ghostbusters game is a glorious disaster: the miniatures are a letdown too. On many of the ghosts, they chose to mold them in blue translucent plastic, which makes any detail on the minis incredibly hard to see. They also didn't sculpt them properly to allow painting. The shallow details smooth out completely once you get a little bit of primer and paint in there.
First, a challenge. I'm going to play every game I own at least once in 2016, or let it go. A few people I follow on BGG have been doing this, and it seems like a worthwhile effort - if nothing else, it will free up some limited space in my apartment when Anthony moves in next month.
And a short update this week, since I was out:
Android: Netrunner - A flashback to the card pool from the core set... Jinteki feels bad. At the same time, I could have landed a flatline several times if the cards had come up in a different order.
Race for the Galaxy - With the new Race for the Galaxy: Xeno Invasion expansion. I don't have a feel for all of the cards yet, but enjoyed the change of pace in the invasion game. Building up defenses against a common enemy and contributing material to the war effort both work within the existing framework of the game. And unlike Brink of War and the Alien Orb, it seems like I can get others interested in playing the invasion game.
Food Chain Magnate - The closest game of Food Chain Magnate I've ever seen, first and fourth were separated by $100 at the end. More importantly, I came within a hair's breadth of my goal of playing and fully utilizing the manager who supports 10 people.
I have failed at every "play X games" challenge, but I am always tempted to join up. However, I definitely own too many board games for this one.
Had two game nights this weekend. First, played the 6th and 7th missions of our Imperial Assault campaign, and I'm convinced that this is the ideal state for dungeon crawling/Heroquest-ish games. They players are into it, talking up their characters, and it's just an all-around solid game.
Had couples friends over and played more Sheriff of Nottingham, which I knew would be a hit with this group. My asterisk on this game is that I would avoid playing with slow players. Their effect will be more pronounced here than in other games. Sheriff being limited to two turns around the table helps resolve the game before it overstays its welcome. Don't push that length.
Busted out a recent Kickstarter game, Hocus. It's good! Another innovative twist on poker. Here, you get a hand of 9 cards and have to play two simultaneous hands of Texas Hold 'em. On your turn, you can play cards to your pocket, one of the two lines of community cards, or one of the two prize pots. Alternatively, each player can use special ability actions that are small rule twists like "draw 2, play 1" instead of just playing a card into a location.
This is a game where time runs out on you. Once you feel very confident that you can win a hand, you can fatten the pot, but you very often run out of turns before you can accomplish this. I also really like that you can build two 2-card pockets, and only decide during the hand resolution which pocket goes to which row of community cards.
Other people brought: Give Me the Brain, a Cheapass Game that is not worth playing.
Grog Island, a very recent Pegasus Spiele/Eggertspiele title that I hadn't seen before, which raised my eyebrows. It's not trash, but it's not very good either. The whole game is built around a unique auction mechanic. Players bid by arranging and modifying a pool of community dice (which are rolled at the start of each auction). Without getting into it, it's definitely a cool mechanism, but it doesn't make for interesting/meaningful decisions every turn, and the rest of the game is just scaffolded around this auction. Falls into boring territory at the whims of the dice.
Do you actually have a count for your collection? I know it's large, but it didn't feel too much bigger than mine (I'm at 203 games, and a good amount of those are small and don't take up too much space - but I'm not tracking Anthony's games that are a significant chunk of shelf space too)
Hocus sounds interesting, historically I've enjoyed poker games that add more complicated tactical bits, at least for a while.
My count is probably very similar. I know the BGG number is way higher but that adds promos and stuff that I've clicked "own" on. The big difference here is that I don't get as many games to the table. I'll go in bursts, a game night here, a game night there, PAXes, Extra Life, etc., but life schedule hasn't allowed me to attend any weekly game nights in a long time.
Update: Actual count is 290, but that does include a stack of 10+ kid games, and a stack of 10+ "classic" games that I keep in a separate area.
Android: Netrunner - A flashback to the card pool from the core set... Jinteki feels bad. At the same time, I could have landed a flatline several times if the cards had come up in a different order.
Had couples friends over and played more Sheriff of Nottingham, which I knew would be a hit with this group. My asterisk on this game is that I would avoid playing with slow players. Their effect will be more pronounced here than in other games. Sheriff being limited to two turns around the table helps resolve the game before it overstays its welcome. Don't push that length.
Yes this is so true, I taught this to 2 new players and one played so slow for how simple the game is, it took almost 50 minutes to play where as you should be able to play it in 20 - 30 minutes.
Update: Actual count is 290, but that does include a stack of 10+ kid games, and a stack of 10+ "classic" games that I keep in a separate area.
Ok, a snapshot of my actual collection at the beginning of 2016 (discounting my trade pile) is 135, which seems like a totally reasonable number by some measure. Help me play all of these games this year:
My favorite bit of that story is that she has several designer and co-designer credits beyond Jenga... I checked BGG and found lots of word games, and even an abstract and a train game.
This was a week of many short games - mostly under an hour. The new RftG expansion means I get to play more Race, which I will always consider a good thing...
2016 Collection Playthrough: 8%. 124 games to go.
Karuba - A welcome return from the Essen 2015 crop. And you can actually buy this in the US, now (there were a pile of Karubas in the store when I arrived). There is something satisfying about reaching the last temple on the last possible turn of the game.
Ticket to Ride - on the new Pennsylvania board. I barely connected two corners of the board to get all my tickets, but totally missed the fact that there's no 'longest route' bonus... Pennsylvania is a board I'd be happy to play any time.
Schnappchen Jagd - This has been one of the most versatile and enjoyable games among those I've imported. I'll borrow Raithnor's phrase because it is perfect: Schnappchen Jagd is "controlled losing".
Unpublished Prototype (new to me) - Playtesting a friend's game. Not much to say, other than I can finally use the "Unpublished Prototype" BGG entry.
Pixel Tactics (new to me) - Five years ago, I would have preferred this over Art of War, but now? This is occupying an awkward middle ground between Innovation (every card is wildly different) and Art of War (only five cards, but they can all go into three different locations)
Kashgar: Handler der Seidenstrasse (new to me) - 30 minute engine building card game purchased from the BGG store. Played twice on Friday, with custom-printed English cards. Totally baffling that this doesn't have a real English release and likely never will.
Race for the Galaxy - One game with the alien orb (at Raithnor's request - I still don't "get" the Orb, even though I like the AA cards) and twice with the Xeno Invasion game. My ability to predict the pace of the game is all wrong in both expansions... I won't really know how I feel about the invasion game until I play it 5-10 more times. Or until it shows up in Keldon and I play it 10 times at a stretch like I have with every other expansion.
Concordia - Still discovering new things after five plays... even if I continually mix up "tribune" and "prefect". Quote: "Why don't we play Concordia all the time, again?"
This was a week of many short games - mostly under an hour. The new RftG expansion means I get to play more Race, which I will always consider a good thing...
2016 Collection Playthrough: 8%. 124 games to go.
Schnappchen Jagd - This has been one of the most versatile and enjoyable games among those I've imported. I'll borrow Raithnor's phrase because it is perfect: Schnappchen Jagd is "controlled losing".
Pixel Tactics (new to me) - Five years ago, I would have preferred this over Art of War, but now? This is occupying an awkward middle ground between Innovation (every card is wildly different) and Art of War (only five cards, but they can all go into three different locations)
Race for the Galaxy - One game with the alien orb (at Raithnor's request - I still don't "get" the Orb, even though I like the AA cards) and twice with the Xeno Invasion game. My ability to predict the pace of the game is all wrong in both expansions... I won't really know how I feel about the invasion game until I play it 5-10 more times. Or until it shows up in Keldon and I play it 10 times at a stretch like I have with every other expansion.
Concordia - Still discovering new things after five plays... even if I continually mix up "tribune" and "prefect". Quote: "Why don't we play Concordia all the time, again?"
Schnappchen Jagd - Winning Tricks seems counter-productive, you're more likely -2 points for every trick you win. I feel like you have to figure out what three cards you're going for in the begining of the game and go for them.
Pixel Tactics - Two player games are always a tough sell in a field dominated by LCGs, CCGs, and Miniature games.
I think Xeno Invasion is a much better expansion that some of the earlier Rebel vs Imperium sets. As for the orb, it's too different from standard Race for Race fans to enjoy it, I was curious.
One thing I learned about Concordia, if you're lucky to get one of the Minerva cards early, leverage the hell of out it. You don't have time to leverage two.
Comments
Money pls.
The starkness of an 18XX board or a Food Chain Magnate tile are a bit of an acquired taste. Same with the board for Fast Food Franchise, until you start filling it with franchise markers.
Hansa Teutonica has at least one thing going for it: the most glorious euro dude style to ever grace a box cover.
And a short update this week, since I was out:
Android: Netrunner - A flashback to the card pool from the core set... Jinteki feels bad. At the same time, I could have landed a flatline several times if the cards had come up in a different order.
Race for the Galaxy - With the new Race for the Galaxy: Xeno Invasion expansion. I don't have a feel for all of the cards yet, but enjoyed the change of pace in the invasion game. Building up defenses against a common enemy and contributing material to the war effort both work within the existing framework of the game. And unlike Brink of War and the Alien Orb, it seems like I can get others interested in playing the invasion game.
Food Chain Magnate - The closest game of Food Chain Magnate I've ever seen, first and fourth were separated by $100 at the end. More importantly, I came within a hair's breadth of my goal of playing and fully utilizing the manager who supports 10 people.
Schnappchen Jagd - Yes, much better with the correct rules.
Had two game nights this weekend. First, played the 6th and 7th missions of our Imperial Assault campaign, and I'm convinced that this is the ideal state for dungeon crawling/Heroquest-ish games. They players are into it, talking up their characters, and it's just an all-around solid game.
Had couples friends over and played more Sheriff of Nottingham, which I knew would be a hit with this group. My asterisk on this game is that I would avoid playing with slow players. Their effect will be more pronounced here than in other games. Sheriff being limited to two turns around the table helps resolve the game before it overstays its welcome. Don't push that length.
Busted out a recent Kickstarter game, Hocus. It's good! Another innovative twist on poker. Here, you get a hand of 9 cards and have to play two simultaneous hands of Texas Hold 'em. On your turn, you can play cards to your pocket, one of the two lines of community cards, or one of the two prize pots. Alternatively, each player can use special ability actions that are small rule twists like "draw 2, play 1" instead of just playing a card into a location.
This is a game where time runs out on you. Once you feel very confident that you can win a hand, you can fatten the pot, but you very often run out of turns before you can accomplish this. I also really like that you can build two 2-card pockets, and only decide during the hand resolution which pocket goes to which row of community cards.
Other people brought:
Give Me the Brain, a Cheapass Game that is not worth playing.
Grog Island, a very recent Pegasus Spiele/Eggertspiele title that I hadn't seen before, which raised my eyebrows. It's not trash, but it's not very good either. The whole game is built around a unique auction mechanic. Players bid by arranging and modifying a pool of community dice (which are rolled at the start of each auction). Without getting into it, it's definitely a cool mechanism, but it doesn't make for interesting/meaningful decisions every turn, and the rest of the game is just scaffolded around this auction. Falls into boring territory at the whims of the dice.
Hocus sounds interesting, historically I've enjoyed poker games that add more complicated tactical bits, at least for a while.
Update: Actual count is 290, but that does include a stack of 10+ kid games, and a stack of 10+ "classic" games that I keep in a separate area.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1oR8R31ByAKCxpjaV3WhfL5cQre1--0QjLC6Eo3jcLFk/edit?usp=sharing
My favorite bit of that story is that she has several designer and co-designer credits beyond Jenga... I checked BGG and found lots of word games, and even an abstract and a train game.
Ex Libris
The Celtic Game
Great Western Railway Game
Leslie Scott's designer page
2016 Collection Playthrough: 8%. 124 games to go.
Karuba - A welcome return from the Essen 2015 crop. And you can actually buy this in the US, now (there were a pile of Karubas in the store when I arrived). There is something satisfying about reaching the last temple on the last possible turn of the game.
Ticket to Ride - on the new Pennsylvania board. I barely connected two corners of the board to get all my tickets, but totally missed the fact that there's no 'longest route' bonus... Pennsylvania is a board I'd be happy to play any time.
Schnappchen Jagd - This has been one of the most versatile and enjoyable games among those I've imported. I'll borrow Raithnor's phrase because it is perfect: Schnappchen Jagd is "controlled losing".
Unpublished Prototype (new to me) - Playtesting a friend's game. Not much to say, other than I can finally use the "Unpublished Prototype" BGG entry.
Pixel Tactics (new to me) - Five years ago, I would have preferred this over Art of War, but now? This is occupying an awkward middle ground between Innovation (every card is wildly different) and Art of War (only five cards, but they can all go into three different locations)
Kashgar: Handler der Seidenstrasse (new to me) - 30 minute engine building card game purchased from the BGG store. Played twice on Friday, with custom-printed English cards. Totally baffling that this doesn't have a real English release and likely never will.
Race for the Galaxy - One game with the alien orb (at Raithnor's request - I still don't "get" the Orb, even though I like the AA cards) and twice with the Xeno Invasion game. My ability to predict the pace of the game is all wrong in both expansions... I won't really know how I feel about the invasion game until I play it 5-10 more times. Or until it shows up in Keldon and I play it 10 times at a stretch like I have with every other expansion.
Concordia - Still discovering new things after five plays... even if I continually mix up "tribune" and "prefect". Quote: "Why don't we play Concordia all the time, again?"
Pixel Tactics - Two player games are always a tough sell in a field dominated by LCGs, CCGs, and Miniature games.
I think Xeno Invasion is a much better expansion that some of the earlier Rebel vs Imperium sets. As for the orb, it's too different from standard Race for Race fans to enjoy it, I was curious.
One thing I learned about Concordia, if you're lucky to get one of the Minerva cards early, leverage the hell of out it. You don't have time to leverage two.
On the other side of the world, virtually every Kickstarter game is printed at Panda GM.