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[AstroLad]

no way, there's gonna be a ton of Awakenings in June.

Spirit of Rebellion is air shipping in a first allotment for may the 4th, it's kind of Wave 0. Most stores are getting 12-15% of their order, so if they didn't order a lot more than their pre-orders, you may see some shortages. In theory a big shipment off the first boat should hit a couple weeks later.

And that said, no rotation, no problems at this point

Set 3, Empire at War was announced, Sabine Wren shown, Thrawn and Lando confirmed for the set. Sounds like a lot of Rebels stuff in it.


also Astrolad's "Tier 2/Tier 1.5" Han-Rey is now solidly a tier 1 / deck to beat. Sorry dude, you were playing one of the best decks all along

Ha! Well H/R was around forever I guess but hampered (imo) by people playing stuff like Scavenge, melee weapons, and Awakening. Now it's pretty focused in. It's funny I was listening to tiny and he was complaining about it like "even if I play well, I might not beat it...and that's annoying." Like dude you're playing a card and dice game with many levels of randomness just built in. If you hate the fact that your self-perceived brilliant play doesn't always prevail, maybe go play chess? Also what does "playing well" in such a way that you "deserve to win" even mean in Destiny? Like you turned your blank Vader die into a Force Strike or saved up for a big No Mercy? Look out Magnus Carlsen. I do actually really like tiny's commentary but find most of the Destiny podcast people (including one of the Knights of Ren guys) to be obnoxious about how every win of theirs is this result of amazing play and literally every loss is due to some bullshit randomness. People who play games with some element of chance need to realize that there is an inherent bias in most people to remember the times they got screwed but completely forget (or even fail to recognize) the dozens of times randomness helped get them wins they didn't "deserve" (even under their own definition of that word). But I digress....

Spirit of Rebellion release news is really interesting. I'm a bit worried that the optics will be another huge mess since it looks like they have a good amount of supply but are basically rushing to get 10% over here for May 4 street date. Most people will not appreciate this nuance of just having to wait a few more weeks, and I fear that it will drive even more of the casuals away after seeing yet another release and then poof it's gone with Destiny. Already seeing people on our local FB group being like so dudes I can just walk in on May 4 and get stuff since they fixed the supply issues right? :eek

The set itself is amazing though. I'll be on board for as long as there is a viable tournament scene up here, and even though they're a bit far off right now I'm excited for Regionals and Store Champs to pick up the interest in the tournament scene again.

 

[fenners]

I recently picked up Conquest of Paradise from GMT. What initially drew me to the game was that it was a 4X game that's set in the South Pacific, which is pretty novel. Reading through the rules, it seems pretty light for a GMT game.

We played it for the first time just this week, and it was a big hit with all 4 of us. We didn't have much direct confrontation, people were feeling out the game systems more than anything, and they let me walk away with a win. War was coming, but one turn too late. The only concern we had was how a good lucky draw early with a tile could give one player an early head start (which is more or less what happened to me).

It's well produced, rules are concise & well written, and everything just works well. It's a nice wee 4x style game for sure.

 

[Phthisis]

High Frontier might be one of the best games I've ever played. We cracked into the advanced rules last night, and it was a total blast. Managed to industrialize a bunch of the asteroid belt and was on the verge of moving into the Uranus and Jupiter systems when the game ended. Such a fascinating design that is really satisfying to master.

 

[joeyjoejoeshabadoo]

We played it for the first time just this week, and it was a big hit with all 4 of us. We didn't have much direct confrontation, people were feeling out the game systems more than anything, and they let me walk away with a win. War was coming, but one turn too late. The only concern we had was how a good lucky draw early with a tile could give one player an early head start (which is more or less what happened to me).

It's well produced, rules are concise & well written, and everything just works well. It's a nice wee 4x style game for sure.

Oh nice! Yeah looking forward to getting it to the table soon.

High Frontier might be one of the best games I've ever played. We cracked into the advanced rules last night, and it was a total blast. Managed to industrialize a bunch of the asteroid belt and was on the verge of moving into the Uranus and Jupiter systems when the game ended. Such a fascinating design that is really satisfying to master.

I tried it years ago and it turned my brain to mush. I'm willing to give it another go but it feels like it's just so much.

 

[Polioliolio]

Anybody ever play Bios: Genesis?

These a kickstarter for an updated 2nd edition, and I like the subject matter and the new art and components look pleasing enough, but wonder how fun the game is..

 

[Neverfade]

Played Voyages of Marco Polo Saturday night.

A bit underwhelmed. It was ok, but plenty of very similar games out there that I'd rather play. To the chopping block it goes.

 

[XShagrath]

Played Voyages of Marco Polo Saturday night.

A bit underwhelmed. It was ok, but plenty of very similar games out there that I'd rather play. To the chopping block it goes.

What are you asking for it?

 

[fenners]

Anybody ever play Bios: Genesis?

These a kickstarter for an updated 2nd edition, and I like the subject matter and the new art and components look pleasing enough, but wonder how fun the game is..

See the comments literally in the post above you about High Frontier? Phil's games are often hard to wrap your brain around. There are few designers out there pushing the limits of mechanics and science. It doesn't always work out, note.

 

[BomberMouse]

Played Voyages of Marco Polo Saturday night.

A bit underwhelmed. It was ok, but plenty of very similar games out there that I'd rather play. To the chopping block it goes.

Agreed. Marco Polo is so bland.

I played a lot of Energy Empire and Keyflower last week. Keyflower is pretty cool, ordered both expansions. Energy Empire is fun but feels a bit derivative. Game flow super quickly though.

 

[Lyng]

High Frontier might be one of the best games I've ever played. We cracked into the advanced rules last night, and it was a total blast. Managed to industrialize a bunch of the asteroid belt and was on the verge of moving into the Uranus and Jupiter systems when the game ended. Such a fascinating design that is really satisfying to master.

Phil Eklund is a Master!

 

[Neverfade]

What are you asking for it?

Hadn't thought about it. PM me an offer I suppose?

 

[Toma]

Played Voyages of Marco Polo Saturday night.

A bit underwhelmed. It was ok, but plenty of very similar games out there that I'd rather play. To the chopping block it goes.

Fascinating because I played a shit ton of similar games and its actually among my favourites of the bunch.

 

[JSR_Cube]

We like Marco Polo but we have played the life out of it. Hope the expansion will inject some new life into it.

 

[Xater]

Fascinating because I played a shit ton of similar games and its actually among my favourites of the bunch.

Same.most other games like this have not clicked with me like this one.

 

[AbsolutBro]

Fantasy Flight announced the next main storyline for Arkham Horror: The Card Game:

The Path to Carcosa

I'm on mobile so I can't link the cards, but it sounds interesting. 6 new investigators, one for each role and a "neutral" role investigator.

 

[SCHUEY F1]

Fantasy Flight announced the next main storyline for Arkham Horror: The Card Game:

The Path to Carcosa

I'm on mobile so I can't link the cards, but it sounds interesting. 6 new investigators, one for each role and a "neutral" role investigator.

Nice!

 

[One Foul Note]

The Path to Carcosa

Rather excited about that news. Despite it being a little patchy I am rather fond of the original The King in Yellow so having a campaign focused around Hastur and his yellow mad cult is a rather awesome one.

 

[AbsolutBro]

Cards and card fans:

While much of the article is dedicated to Lola (which makes sense as she's directly tied to the scenario and the first "neutral" investigator, I gotta admit my fondness for purple/mystic investigators makes Akachi Onyele look REALLY nice. 5 charges for Shriveling? 4 charge, rechargeable flashlights make her Knowledge stat effectively 4 for Shrouding. Just curious what her other deck building limits are.

 

[zulux21]

Fantasy Flight announced the next main storyline for Arkham Horror: The Card Game:

The Path to Carcosa

I'm on mobile so I can't link the cards, but it sounds interesting. 6 new investigators, one for each role and a "neutral" role investigator.

man I really need to play my copy to see if I want to get into it seriously.

 

[Neverfade]

Fascinating because I played a shit ton of similar games and its actually among my favourites of the bunch.

Yeah, it's fine.

When you're comparable to something like Troyes though its understandable when you come up short.

 

[Karkador]

Yeah Troyes is pretty much the gold standard for a big game involving dice.

 

[AstroLad]

Any 7 Wonders/Duel fans played Pantheon? I love 7W and Duel and just cannot get into it after a couple tries now. Feel like it turns the game into a fiddly AP-inducing mess with all the combos that are possible (and not even fun combos like oh wow I can do X and Y, more like -- OK the entire universe of possibilities in this game is now open to me and I need to find that one permutation that maximizes my points or I'll lose) and the constant cross-referencing that's necessary. Funny too b/c reviewers universally praised it and usually a game jibes well w/ me when that's the case, but I almost feel like it was just a case of "seemingly stock expansion for great game, so must be good" than anyone digging deep b/c it's one of the more unpleasant play experiences I've had in a long time.

 

[Blizzard]

I played Pantheon once or twice. I think I need to play more to be sure. It does add more to think about.

 

[Lyng]

Any 7 Wonders/Duel fans played Pantheon? I love 7W and Duel and just cannot get into it after a couple tries now. Feel like it turns the game into a fiddly AP-inducing mess with all the combos that are possible (and not even fun combos like oh wow I can do X and Y, more like -- OK the entire universe of possibilities in this game is now open to me and I need to find that one permutation that maximizes my points or I'll lose) and the constant cross-referencing that's necessary. Funny too b/c reviewers universally praised it and usually a game jibes well w/ me when that's the case, but I almost feel like it was just a case of "seemingly stock expansion for great game, so must be good" than anyone digging deep b/c it's one of the more unpleasant play experiences I've had in a long time.

Havent played Pantheon and dont have any desire to do so. Saw some playthroughs and thought the whole thing just added fiddliness.
Some times a lot of the "famous" board game reviewers get super excited for "more stuff", thats probably also why so many love Caverna and Feast for Odin but a game like Glass Roads hasnt got that many fans.
Streamlined design is alot less popular, which I find very weird.

 

[toddhunter]

Any 7 Wonders/Duel fans played Pantheon? I love 7W and Duel and just cannot get into it after a couple tries now. Feel like it turns the game into a fiddly AP-inducing mess with all the combos that are possible (and not even fun combos like oh wow I can do X and Y, more like -- OK the entire universe of possibilities in this game is now open to me and I need to find that one permutation that maximizes my points or I'll lose) and the constant cross-referencing that's necessary. Funny too b/c reviewers universally praised it and usually a game jibes well w/ me when that's the case, but I almost feel like it was just a case of "seemingly stock expansion for great game, so must be good" than anyone digging deep b/c it's one of the more unpleasant play experiences I've had in a long time.

I thought it was universally panned? Granted I can't remember which reviews I watched, but it certainly left me thinking it was something I didn't want to buy.

 

[ty_hot]

Can anyone recommend me a card/board game that has some level of strategy but not so deep that make it hard for newcomers? It shouldn't also take hours to play. Id play with my girlfriend mainly so it must be a great 2 player game. Our friends dont speak English so its hard to play with them.

We have Exploding Kittens (great game but not when you are just 2...), currently waiting to get the Imploding Kittens expansion though.

 

[toddhunter]

Can anyone recommend me a card/board game that has some level of strategy but not so deep that make it hard for newcomers? It shouldn't also take hours to play. Id play with my girlfriend mainly so it must be a great 2 player game. Our friends dont speak English so its hard to play with them.

We have Exploding Kittens (great game but not when you are just 2...), currently waiting to get the Imploding Kittens expansion though.

What theme do you like?

 

[Lyng]

Can anyone recommend me a card/board game that has some level of strategy but not so deep that make it hard for newcomers? It shouldn't also take hours to play. Id play with my girlfriend mainly so it must be a great 2 player game. Our friends dont speak English so its hard to play with them.

We have Exploding Kittens (great game but not when you are just 2...), currently waiting to get the Imploding Kittens expansion though.

Century: The Spice Road
Splendor
Kingdom Builder
Agricola: Family Edition

 

[Xater]

Century: The Spice Road
Splendor
Kingdom Builder
Agricola: Family Edition

I would say that almost any gateway game would work as long as the 2 player experience is good. Hell you would not go wrong with just getting Carcassonne.

 

[emag]

Can anyone recommend me a card/board game that has some level of strategy but not so deep that make it hard for newcomers? It shouldn't also take hours to play. Id play with my girlfriend mainly so it must be a great 2 player game. Our friends dont speak English so its hard to play with them.

We have Exploding Kittens (great game but not when you are just 2...), currently waiting to get the Imploding Kittens expansion though.

The following (from my collection) are language independent (outside of rulebooks), scale well between two and four/five players, have simple rules, and play in 90 minutes or less:

El Capitan - travel around around the Mediterranean, setting up trading posts
Hey! That's My Fish - use your penguins to block off territory to claim the most fish
Splendor - gather gems and mines to get to X victory points first
Stone Age - use your workers to gather a variety of resources that can be used to build huts or advance your civilization

 

[Lyng]

I would say that almost any gateway game would work as long as the 2 player experience is good. Hell you would not go wrong with just getting Carcassonne.

True enough. Even though the farmer mechanic can throw people off

 

[Rudimental]

Anybody ever play Bios: Genesis?

These a kickstarter for an updated 2nd edition, and I like the subject matter and the new art and components look pleasing enough, but wonder how fun the game is..

I've only got one game of it in and haven't looked at the 2nd edition changes.

Like the other Bios games, it's hella luck dependent. So if you don't mind your shit getting wrecked or potentially getting stuck waiting for the right dice numbers to come up and buy into the theme, then you'll probably like it. Like HF, its a great achievement when you get something complex done, but like Megafauna its very easy for an event card to wreck your plans. If I had to describe it in genre terms, I'd say it is like a complex worker placement with push-your-luck elements and very light asymmetry.

 

[Palmer_v1]

Can anyone recommend me a card/board game that has some level of strategy but not so deep that make it hard for newcomers? It shouldn't also take hours to play. Id play with my girlfriend mainly so it must be a great 2 player game. Our friends dont speak English so its hard to play with them.

We have Exploding Kittens (great game but not when you are just 2...), currently waiting to get the Imploding Kittens expansion though.

In regards to playing with your friends, there's a handful of games that don't require any reading to play. Well, someone would have to read to learn the rules, but actually playing the game requires no english, outside of recognizing numbers, i.e. 1-10.

Splendor
Codenames(whichever one is based on pictures instead of words)
Mysterium

I'll add some more later

 

[chifanpoe]

Looking for advice from anyone who had played Vinhos Deluxe Edition. More specifically played it with the tasting room expansion. From the looks of it it adds tourists along with a few upgraded wooden bits. Are the tourists worth playing with or do they add much to the game?

 

[-tetsuo-]

Can anyone recommend me a card/board game that has some level of strategy but not so deep that make it hard for newcomers? It shouldn't also take hours to play. Id play with my girlfriend mainly so it must be a great 2 player game. Our friends dont speak English so its hard to play with them.

We have Exploding Kittens (great game but not when you are just 2...), currently waiting to get the Imploding Kittens expansion though.

7 Wonders: Duel

 

[Keasar]

Played my first full mission of Arkham Horror LCG with a friend for the first time and absolutely loved it. Definitely going in for full on this game.

Played also some Ashes: Rise of the Phoenixborn and enjoyed it. I liked how the dice mechanic shaped your play a bit, but never really locked you in as you could manipulate them into what you needed.

Then later tried playing Viticulture with 2 others, personally I enjoyed the game, it had a nice relaxing feel and the visitor cards actually brought up player interaction with some decisions needed. However, the player who came last hated it because he lost and the player who won thought it was unbalanced because he won basically by focusing on visitor cards since he started with the cottage (+1 visitor card in the Fall) and he started to dig through all the Mama and Papa cards to find which ones were actually good (some had objectively lower starting points than others) and to see how the visitor cards were balanced against each other. So that kinda ruined the whole experience a bit for me.

Still, wouldn't mind trying to take it out with another group some other time.

 

[bonesmccoy]

Leaving Earth is fantastic. It is very mathy but it isn't anything too difficult. It is quite unique and beyond the tense mechanics lots of diplomacy and cooperation can spring up.

Got it for myself at Christmas but I haven't had the time to sit down and learn the game yet (the challenges of board-gaming when you have 4 young kids). The components are lovely though - I adore the game just on an aesthetic level.

I've heard that it's a better solo/co-op game than it is a competitive one. Not much player interaction apparently?

 

[ty_hot]

Century: The Spice Road
Splendor
Kingdom Builder
Agricola: Family Edition

I would say that almost any gateway game would work as long as the 2 player experience is good. Hell you would not go wrong with just getting Carcassonne.

The following (from my collection) are language independent (outside of rulebooks), scale well between two and four/five players, have simple rules, and play in 90 minutes or less:

El Capitan - travel around around the Mediterranean, setting up trading posts
Hey! That's My Fish - use your penguins to block off territory to claim the most fish
Splendor - gather gems and mines to get to X victory points first
Stone Age - use your workers to gather a variety of resources that can be used to build huts or advance your civilization

In regards to playing with your friends, there's a handful of games that don't require any reading to play. Well, someone would have to read to learn the rules, but actually playing the game requires no english, outside of recognizing numbers, i.e. 1-10.

Splendor
Codenames(whichever one is based on pictures instead of words)
Mysterium

I'll add some more later

7 Wonders: Duel

thanks for the help, I will read about them and see which of them are available around here.

 

[joelseph]

The Geekway Play-to-Win list is amazing this year
https://www.boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/224179/geekway-west-2017-play-and-win/page/1

So fucking hyped. Anyone else going? Stooge gonna make it?

I will be there Wednesday until Sunday after the game giveaways. The only thing that is bumming me out is the new venue's food policy.

 

[chifanpoe]

The Geekway Play-to-Win list is amazing this year
https://www.boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/224179/geekway-west-2017-play-and-win/page/1

So fucking hyped. Anyone else going? Stooge gonna make it?

I will be there Wednesday until Sunday after the game giveaways. The only thing that is bumming me out is the new venue's food policy.

I was scheduled to be traveling for work at that time so I did not sign up. Now it looks like it might be pushed back. It is sold out now so I am bit sad. It would have been fun to take my girls.

 

[Experien]

My FLGS guaranteed me Spirit of Rebellion, one last go around with this game. Hopefully I have enough to make good decks to play with friends.

 

[mercviper]

Can anyone recommend me a card/board game that has some level of strategy but not so deep that make it hard for newcomers? It shouldn't also take hours to play. Id play with my girlfriend mainly so it must be a great 2 player game. Our friends dont speak English so its hard to play with them.

We have Exploding Kittens (great game but not when you are just 2...), currently waiting to get the Imploding Kittens expansion though.

Competitive:
Carcassonne
Potion Explosion
Blokus

Cooperative:
Hanabi
Forbidden Desert

 

[Phthisis]

I've only got one game of it in and haven't looked at the 2nd edition changes.

Like the other Bios games, it's hella luck dependent. So if you don't mind your shit getting wrecked or potentially getting stuck waiting for the right dice numbers to come up and buy into the theme, then you'll probably like it. Like HF, its a great achievement when you get something complex done, but like Megafauna its very easy for an event card to wreck your plans. If I had to describe it in genre terms, I'd say it is like a complex worker placement with push-your-luck elements and very light asymmetry.

So more akin to Neanderthal/Greenland than High Frontier or Pax.

 

[AstroLad]

Played my first full mission of Arkham Horror LCG with a friend for the first time and absolutely loved it. Definitely going in for full on this game.

yesss another convert! it's actually kind of crazy i've been to three or four game stores the past month and every one of them had 1-2 groups there playing ALCG. it just threads the needle so nicely on so many levels.

 

[SCHUEY F1]

It's so good. Can't wait to play Blood on the Altar. There was like 2-3 pages of resolutions which is amazing.

 

[BassForever]

Backed exceed season 2 at $160. Having played a bunch of battlecon (with myself orz) I'm pretty confident I'll enjoy exceed as well.

 

[Polioliolio]

Can anyone recommend me a card/board game that has some level of strategy but not so deep that make it hard for newcomers? It shouldn't also take hours to play. Id play with my girlfriend mainly so it must be a great 2 player game. Our friends dont speak English so its hard to play with them.

We have Exploding Kittens (great game but not when you are just 2...), currently waiting to get the Imploding Kittens expansion though.

Lost Cities
Jaipur

Haven't played these one's yet, but they're supposed to be good 2 player games:

Patchwork
Onitama

 

[HashtagLapsed]

I will second Onitama and Patchwork as good 2 player games.

Onitama always changes up and scratches the itch when thinking about what you can do this and the next turn as well as what your opponent can do.

Patchwork is just really wonderful. Nothing too heavy but really satisfying. There isnt too much conflict either so it is a nice one to play while having a chat and wine or whatever too.

 

[Rudimental]

So more akin to Neanderthal/Greenland than High Frontier or Pax.

Yes, but it leans more towards Bios: Megafauna in the development of play. You have your refugium (sort of like biomes in the other games), which you can then turn into a micro-organism, which can then buy mutations, and can then turn into a macro-organism. So it is similar to B: MF, where you're buying mutations to build up your species DNA to (ultimately) buy a genotype, but here the 'biomes' involve dice-rolling to consume them to generate a micro-organism before you can buy mutations, each player can have parasites that can steal cubes and there is more attrition. Its kind of mix between getting most 'workers' (cubes) from dice rolls or mutations directly onto the cards, and getting some you place (catalysts, bioints), so I guess 'worker placement' isn't that accurate, but I can't think of how to better describe it. I guess maybe resource generation and management with card purchasing?

 

[Draxal]

Seeing the FFG LCG reveal of Lo5R has me happy.

1. Total reboot.
2. FFG art and polish is second to none.