General chatter - discuss anything here

[Freylis]

Also trying to convince my mum to get Roborally, is it as good as it sounds for a family game?

No.

I really love Roborally, but its far too complicated a game for the family. Its like trying to solve a complex maths problem in 30 seconds every turn. It gets very hectic and consequently very funny, but I really wouldn't suggest it for board game virgins.

What I would suggest are games like Apples to Apples, Times Up, Ticket to Ride, Carcassonne, the Great Dalmutti, Lost Cities, Bohnanza, Through the Desert, Guillotine, etc. All of them are considered "gateway games" which means you can stealthily introduce new players to some of the rules and themes you'll find in modern designer games. Then hit 'em up with Twilight Imperium and watch their faces melt...

[Digimortal]

Thanks for advice, upon further reading I have to agree that it isn't suitable. Here's my first impressions of the games we got this christmas:

Memoir 44 - Played it a few times now, it is really brilliant. Within a few turns everybody understands exactly what the rules are. The depth is minimal, but all I wanted was a light wargame that I can play quickly for cheap thrills. It is still very tactical, but moderately luck based, highly recommended.

Settlers of Catan is hilarious, we were drunk when playing, and as I explained the rules everyone looked kind of confused. It quickly became clear what we were doing, flowed nicely and it became a blast. Next time it will be good because we'll approach it with some tactics.

The other board game we got this christmas was The really nasty horse racing game, which was good too, lots of arguments (Fun arguments though). You have to be a complete bastard to win (And I did). I've played a couple of horse racing/betting games in the past, and this is definitely the best.

[roskelld]

Anyone played Formula De? Nearly impulse-bought it the other day in Travelling Man in York, but decided against it in the end due to already having spent too much on Christmas presents. Is it any good?

I've played it a few times in the past. Really good fun. The acceleration/braking system they devised is really simple but effective given that it's a turn based dice game.

Has anyone played Advanced Heroquest recently? I'd totally forgotten about it till a conversation I had not long ago. Spent a long time playing that game when it came out. Just wondered how it's stood the test of time.

Looking back it was basically Diablo the bored game.

[xibxang]

I played AD&D and then 2nd edition from around '83 until the early 1990's. My interest warmed again as playing RPGs by email used to be very popular. PBEM works really well in these types of games. Would be interested in playing again if we got enough people into it.

[Joyrex-J9]

Well I've plucked up the courage to go near my Magic: The Gathering collection. One final sort out before they go into the loft.

OMFG I've got a lot of cards... I didn't realise how many until I put some out on the table ready for packing.

Here are my spare cards (cards I have more than 4 of)

And the cupboard has 16 binders, each stuffed to bursting full of cards (the main part of the collection)

(the shit binders are ones I bought off eBay but still haven't got round to merging into my collection)

Well I'm sorry to see 'em go back into the loft, but as I'm not playing it's madness having them cluttering up the place. I also really need to think about getting them added to the insurance, some of the cards are worth a bit now.

So long old chums!

[Mogster]

I've been reading through this thread as a complete board game noob (beyond the likes of Monopoly), and I think I've decided what my £10 Amazon voucher is going towards. I've been playing the Live Arcade versions of Catan and Carcassone, which both seem rather good, and Ticket To Ride has piqued my interest as well. The question is, which one's best?

EDIT: Also, are there any high street stores that actually sell games like these? The only remotely similar one I can find is Risk.

[Sabreman]

Waterstones has started stocking a nice range of the less 'geeky' ones - Carcassonne and the like. If you want the other stuff you'd be best locating a Travelling Man.

[paddyo]

I have a long history of playing board, ccg and roleplaying games...

currently i mainly play Magic the Gathering, we have a good playgroup here in Lincoln with regular tournaments and a fun not too serious crowd who we can have fun with

at home i like to play Catan with the missus and also try and rope people into playing my 3 fave games which i have managed to keep over the years: Talisman, Block Mania (3 player Judge dredd world based comabt game between rival high rise tower block residents!!) and kings n things (a bit like Catan on acid!!)...

I recommend to people who want to try magic the gathering to download magic online... you can find links to officially download it at Wizards of the coast website... you have to buy cards BUT you can usually get LOADS free from people and stuff to try out the game and just have fun pm me if anyone needs any help setting up or advice

also especially for you joyrex and anyone else with large old collections of magic cards... look up playing TYPE 4 Magic the Gathering... its a casual way of playing where you just make one huge deck that multiple players use and it uses all the oldest funnest cards that you would never normally play with, its so much fun again pm me if anyone wants help advice with that

take care, good gaming!!

[LaParka]

Block Mania sounds interesting. Well, anything based in Dredd's universe does!

[RIKT]

I played AD&D and then 2nd edition from around '83 until the early 1990's. My interest warmed again as playing RPGs by email used to be very popular. PBEM works really well in these types of games. Would be interested in playing again if we got enough people into it.

I'd definitely be up for some PBEM Dungeons & Dragons if we can get enough people together. I've sold all my AD&D books off years ago and so it doesn't really matter to me which version as i'll need to buy the books no matter which we went for. I guess if it was up to me i'd be happiest investing in the newest 4th Edition ones when they're released in a couple of months, but i'm more than happy to go with whatever everyone else wants to go for.

Quite happy to either play as a PC or DM.

[paddyo]

sign me up for some PBEM d&d too guys

more info on block mania here:

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/330

also got the judge dredd boardgame too!!:

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/1098

[Lorfarius]

I played AD&D and then 2nd edition from around '83 until the early 1990's. My interest warmed again as playing RPGs by email used to be very popular. PBEM works really well in these types of games. Would be interested in playing again if we got enough people into it.

How does it work playing by email?

[Mogster]

Waterstones has started stocking a nice range of the less 'geeky' ones - Carcassonne and the like. If you want the other stuff you'd be best locating a Travelling Man.

The closest Travelling Man to me is in Bristol, which would involve a bit of a trek. I'm off to Waterstones now though, where I intend to pick up whatever they have. Based on what I've read, Ticket To Ride seems like the best first choice.

[RIKT]

How does it work playing by email?

Each player basically sends their instructions by email either to whole group of in some cases just to the DM and any other character that they want to know about their action. It's something where everyone playing would really need to commit to taking part everyday otherwise it'd slow the game down too much i think. I reckon it'd also be best if the DM was reponsible for making all the dice rolls needed too, mainly for speed of play, but also so that he / she could keep the game going in the direction that they wanted it.

I reckon a slightly alternative and perhaps way of doing this would be to set up a private forum (something i'd be happy to do if we get the players) and do this via posts and pms.

If people can commit to a few hours at a certain day / time each week i guess it would also be good over instant messenger too.

A small website or perhaps better still wiki where the DM could upload any required maps, diagrams or documents as and when they were needed would also be a good thing.

[Sardan]

Each player basically sends their instructions by email either to whole group of in some cases just to the DM and any other character that they want to know about their action. It's something where everyone playing would really need to commit to taking part everyday otherwise it'd slow the game down too much i think. I reckon it'd also be best if the DM was reponsible for making all the dice rolls needed too, mainly for speed of play, but also so that he / she could keep the game going in the direction that they wanted it.

I reckon a slightly alternative and perhaps way of doing this would be to set up a private forum (something i'd be happy to do if we get the players) and do this via posts and pms.

If people can commit to a few hours at a certain day / time each week i guess it would also be good over instant messenger too.

A small website or perhaps better still wiki where the DM could upload any required maps, diagrams or documents as and when they were needed would also be a good thing.

Have you had any success playing this over email before. I'd love to get involved but have two concerns:

1. Not sure I can commit fully everyday, how consuming is it; and

2. presumably things develop at a snail's pace?

[RIKT]

No, i've not played via email before, only 'in person'.

As xibxang has mentioned above though it does seem pretty popular if you look over various sites on the net so it must work quite well i'd have thought.

I guess the game would progress a lot slower than it would if played normally, but as long as everyone is aware of that and they just look at it as something that they need to put aside a small amount of time each day (i guess 15 minutes to read through the other posts properly and then compose the email for your turn would be enough as a minimum) then it's surely got to be better than not playing at all?

Playing over messenger would the best i think though as long as everyone can commit to a couple of hours or so at a given time each week.

[xibxang]

Yeah, it can take a while to get through a game. I think that the idea of playing it on a forum is absolutely stellar.

One thing is that it's a tough job for a DM. Because of the time it takes to play, it can be an amazing opportunity to tell a real story which makes for great reading. Of course, the DM has the job of putting everyone's plays together, editing them into prose and them posting them. The DM also makes all of the dice rolls to keep it fair.

I suppose you could split the DM's job into 2 people but how we would divide up the roles and responsibilities I wouldn't be too sure about.

It is a commitment, but if run well it can be a good way to spend 20-30 minutes per day.

[Joyrex-J9]

Has anyone tried any of the virtual RPG systems that let you play a traditional pen & paper RPG but online?

OpenRPG or Fantasy Grounds?

I think WOTC are doing one too, as part of

.

[Mogster]

Well, Waterstones was a wash-out. They had a handful of everyday games, and nothing else. How can Worcester not have a single specialist board game shop?

[smac]

Well, Waterstones was a wash-out. They had a handful of everyday games, and nothing else. How can Worcester not have a single specialist board game shop?

Because they all crashed and burned in the mid-late 80s and GW took over?

Or because the Brits just don't play board games, unlike the Germans?

And margins in retail are poor, at best.

[Mogster]

Because they all crashed and burned in the mid-late 80s and GW took over?

Or because the Brits just don't play board games, unlike the Germans?

And margins in retail are poor, at best.

Well, there's that I suppose.

EDIT: Settlers Of Catan is now ordered from Amazon. Can't go wrong with that.

[paddyo]

If anyone has any CCGs or board games they want to sell or trade please get in touch as i would love to get hold of some more stuff

[Freylis]

If anyone has any CCGs or board games they want to sell or trade please get in touch as i would love to get hold of some more stuff

No board games for sale, but I do have a load of World Of WarCraft and Deadlands: Doomtown CCGs for sale... interested in either of those?

[paddyo]

oops!! sorry should have said MTG specifically for ccgs... thanks for offering though, maybe someone else would like them?

[RFT]

How can Worcester not have a single specialist board game shop?

There was one until fairly recently- though it was mostly a computer game shop. Called "format" next to tandys (down the road that goes downhill from waterstones). I think it closed a year or so ago. I used to live in worcester and go back a few times each year.

More annoyingly, there used to be one in central Birmingham where I bought a copy of "Frag" - it was near that church by the bull ring - but that had disappeared last time I went looking for it and all I could find was a rubbish second-hand book shop.

Coventry has an awesome trad games shop, though. LINK

[revlob]

There was one until fairly recently- though it was mostly a computer game shop. Called "format" next to tandys (down the road that goes downhill from waterstones). I think it closed a year or so ago. I used to live in worcester and go back a few times each year.

More annoyingly, there used to be one in central Birmingham where I bought a copy of "Frag" - it was near that church by the bull ring - but that had disappeared last time I went looking for it and all I could find was a rubbish second-hand book shop.

Coventry has an awesome trad games shop, though. LINK

Bishop Games is great, although one member of their staff frightens my girlfriend for being a little overeager. I just reckon he's enthusiastic. They advertise gaming sessions, have a lot of stock on the shelves, and moved into larger premises a year or two ago, so they can't be doing too badly for themselves. They were unable to sell me a Rubik's Cube though, claiming there was a national shortage, when I went into The Entertainer round the corner and picked up one of their several. *shrug*

[jonnyalpha]

I've been reading through this thread as a complete board game noob (beyond the likes of Monopoly), and I think I've decided what my £10 Amazon voucher is going towards. I've been playing the Live Arcade versions of Catan and Carcassone, which both seem rather good, and Ticket To Ride has piqued my interest as well. The question is, which one's best?

EDIT: Also, are there any high street stores that actually sell games like these? The only remotely similar one I can find is Risk.

Both Settlers and Carcassone are great although I think Settlers is best with at least 3 players and Carcassonne is best with 2. I end up playing Caracassonne the most as I normally only have one person to play against.

[jonnyalpha]

Well, Waterstones was a wash-out. They had a handful of everyday games, and nothing else. How can Worcester not have a single specialist board game shop?

I bought my copy of Zombies at Waterstones but I had to ask for it as they had left all their board games in the stock room. There was nothing on display at all.

[RIKT]

If anyone is still interested in playing D&D (or another system) online, then this site has loads of games running in their own sub forums. Will give you an idea of how they'd work online.

http://pbphouse.com

[Mogster]

I bought my copy of Zombies at Waterstones but I had to ask for it as they had left all their board games in the stock room. There was nothing on display at all.

Now that's interesting. I might have to ask tomorrow.

RFT, Format was indeed great. I went there all the time when I was into CCGs, and I was mourning its loss on my hunt for a games shop. There's a rubbish luggage shop in its place now.

EDIT: Looks like I'll have to pay a visit to Coventry soon. Bishop Games looks ace.