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The gaming world appears -at least from an "outsiders" point of view- to revolve around a select few titles. You know the ones we're talking about, the "gateway" games, for the sake of conversation, let's say they are:
Hey gang, we know it's been a little quieter than usual around here this week, but rest assured: we're working hard on some very cool things that we'll share with you soon! In the meantime we thought we would get a little discussion going and see what your thoughts are on the flip side of last week's discussion...
Read MoreWe spend a lot of time here on TOG critiquing games. Every day brings a new batch of games to this great hobby, and we get to analyze what's good and what's not. We've spent the last nearly two years telling you what we like about games--well, at least Jeremiah has, anyway... Now we want to hear from you.
Read MoreBy Jeremiah Dice have been a part of gaming for... well I don't know how long, but let's just say when the average person thinks of gaming the image of a pair of d6's pops into their mind. And a d12 brings up images of a D&D session...
Read MoreA few weeks ago we told you that Hans im Gluck is preparing to crowd fund the latest edition of Saint Petersburg. Firestone and I (Jeremiah) have recently had some discussions about whether or not it's right, or a misuse of the crowd funding tools, for well-established publishers to bring new titles--or special edition/big box versions of classic titles--into the marketplace via crowd-funding sites such as Kickstarter.
Hans im Gluck is giving fans the opportunity to cast votes for their favorite gaming industry personalities, designers, artists, developers, and---ahem--bloggers, whose likeness will be used for eight cards in the game. Fans have also already cast their votes for the new edition's box color--teal. And the campaign will go live on March 21, 2014.
But the real question is: should it? According to Hans im Gluck, the fans have been clamoring for this, but where do you land on the topic of large publishers crowd funding? Is crowd funding for everyone? Should the "big boys" stay away and let "the least of these" scrap it out? What's the difference between Kickstarting a game and having a preorder system? Does it make any difference how they fund the game, as long as it gets on the shelves? Let us know what you think in the comments below, and/or by taking our survey!
Thanks for reading and have a great weekend!
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Well, it's 2014, and it's early enough in the year that you're still writing 2013 on things... That sounds like the perfect time to trot out our Top 10 Games of 2013! So what made the cut? Let's see...
Okay a few things first...
1) These are in no particular order—in fact, they aren't even numbered. These are our 10 favorite games of the last year, and trying to slot them into specific numbers seems like more trouble than it's worth. We did, however, each pick one game as our personal Game of the Year.
2) Some of these aren't strictly from 2013. But for each of them, they were widely available to play here in the States in 2013. That's where we live, and it's our list, so those are the rules we're playing by.
Let's start with a few honorable mentions...
Honorable Mentions
Two Rooms and a Boom—There are two reasons this didn't make our main list. First, it's only available as a print-and-play right now, so it's hard to count that as coming out this year. Second, it really needs a larger group to work well. But if you have a large group, THEN YOU SHOULD PLAY THIS. I fully expect to see this game on next year's main list...
Space Cadets: Dice Duel—This one is conditional, too. If you're playing with the full complement of eight players—three players and a captain on each team—then this is an incredible gaming experience. Anything less than that full complement is just...less.
Lords Of Waterdeep: Scoundrels of Skullport—Neither of the two included expansions are "necessary," but they're both fun and interesting, and add some legs to this good worker-placement game.
Kemet—It's a highly confrontational game that encourages fighting over turtling. And everything on the map is the same distance from every other thing, so you're not fighting someone because they happen to be closer, but because they happen to be the person who most needs to be attacked. Plus it's got cool minis. Plus it's got tons of tiles with cool special powers. Wait, why isn't this on the main list...?
Walk The Plank—Two of my (Firestone) pals designed this take-that piratey madness. It's really fun, and just missed making the Big List.
And without further ado...
Coup—
Coup is a small little card game that's just full of bluffing. There are roles, and you can bluff that you've got a role in your hand. If someone calls your bluff, though, you better hope you're telling the truth... Don't believe us? Well Wil Wheaton loves it, and
Hanabi—
This little card game took me completely by surprise. You can't see your own hand of cards, but you can see every other player's. Your challenge, as a team, is to place down the numbers 1 through 5 in each of five suits, in order. It's challenging and thrilling and nerve-wracking. Those are all good things. You can read our review of the game
.
La Boca—
I (Firestone) wasn't sure anything could replace Ticket To Ride as my go-to game to bring out with nongamers. But then along comes La Boca and does just that. Part of the reason is that it works with gamers, nongamers, kids, youth groups, parties—EVERYONE! And there's a tricksy red piece you can add to up the challenge. Watch for a review of this one soon.
Suburbia—
It's like SimCity, but not mind-numbingly boring. Okay, it's more than that. You're building a borough, and buying new areas based on what you have, and what your opponents have, and what you can afford. Some people don't think there's much interaction here, but I respectfully disagree.
Forbidden Desert—
If you've played Pandemic or Forbidden Island, you'll have no problem picking up Forbidden Desert. But this game adds completely new and clever mechanisms and ideas that make it more than just a retheme. This is a great cooperative family game that we'll be playing for years to come.
Bora Bora—
That mad genius Stefan Feld came out with four games in 2013, and I (Firestone) was able to play three of those four. While the others were "merely" good, Bora Bora was clearly the best of the bunch. It has a ridiculous number of ways to score VPs, but despite that, it all just...fit.
Viticulture—
This is the first release from Stonemaier Games, and what we believe should be the measuring stick for all Kickstarter projects. A very in-depth worker-placement game, Viticulture exceeded all of our expectations—in gameplay, components, and everything. This game is great from top to bottom. If you're into worker-placement games at any level, snatch up a copy of Viticulture—well, as soon as the reprint is available! You can check out our Double-Take review here
The Duke—
If you've read Theology Of Games for any amount of time, you know that we don't often see eye-to-eye on games. We have two distinct gaming personalities, and though we do sometimes agree on games, it's rare for us to both love or hate one.
We both love The Duke.
It's a 2-player abstract where you're trying to move different pieces around the board in an effort to capture your opponent's Duke. It's like chess, except fun.
Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar—Tribes and Prophecies—
This is the lone expansion on the list, but with good reason. It is EXACTLY what I want in an expansion. First, there are the Tribes, which basically give you a unique special power. When you first read one, you think, "That's crazy and overpowered!" Then you read the others and realize they're ALL crazy and overpowered! And it's awesome!! The Prophecies are events that make the game a little harder by causing some things to cost a little more to achieve—but then you get some VPs for achieving those things. Great, great expansion.
Great Heartland Hauling Co.—
Our pal Jason Kotarski designed this neat little pick-up-and-deliver game with a trucking theme. It doesn't break new ground, or change the landscape, but it's a fun and clever little game. Our families have had some great times playing this one. And
here's the review.
Well, there's our list. What would your list look like? What did we forget? What should we have left off? Sound off in the comments. And thanks for reading!
This year we've both experienced the stresses of life; the hustle & bustle; and the joy, wonderment, and hope that comes with the holiday season. But we wanted to take a minute, and a deep breath ,and say thank you to all of our readers, subscribers, followers, and.... likers???And to wish you a very Merry Christmas and holiday season. May the true meaning of Christmas be enough for us all.
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:8-11)
We will be back a little later in the month with our regular flow and schedule of content. Until then you officially have our permission to take a break, be with the ones you love, and, of course, get a game in the table!
Merry Christmas to all!
Jeremiah & Firestone
We understand that having a gamer in your life can lead to confusion during the holiday season. Chances are you've found yourself walking into a store, or looking at Web sites you never knew existed, and are wondering if someone is playing some sort of elaborate prank on you.
So we've taken it upon ourselves to explain some of the oddities you might be experiencing this year with that gamer in your life, and hopefully make this a joyous and bright Christmas for all.
So here are 11 ways to tell if there is a gamer on your Christmas list, and a little help in figuring out what exactly it is they are talking about, or would like under the tree this year.
1—They keep talking about "Deck-Building" but you're pretty sure you've never seen them pick up a tool...ever.
It's okay, you're not imagining things. They do like to build decks, but they're not referring to an overgrown porch; they're talking about cards. Deck-building games are all the rage these days, and chances are your gamer likes them. Games to check out include: Dominion, Ascension, and the DC Comics Deck-Building Game. Here are some other deck builders!
2 —They appear to talk in a strange, secret language that mostly involves random letters and numbers : RPG, CCG, LCG, d12, d6, etc.
Most trades/vocations/sub-cultures have a certain vernacular, and gamers are no exception. Here's a few quick tips to help decipher this code: G = Game, C= Card, and d = die/dice. So in the examples above, we've referred to Role Playing Games, Collectible Card Games, Living Card Games, and 12- and 6-sided dice.
3—They make your kids roll a d20 for initiative to see who gets to open the next present under the tree.
In this case, you've got a serious RPGer in your life (See #2). Sometimes a roll of the dice can be a non-objective way to resolve a dispute. Just don't let them get carried away with modifiers, or equipping support items and spells. If you want to get on your RPGer's good side, a nice custom or metal set of polyhedral dice
4—They often refer to playing with a hidden identity, being a spy, and/or a werewolf.
Chances are they're talking about the last time they played The Resistance or Werewolf, or some other game that requires them to hide their identity from others in order to win. You shouldn't be too concerned, unless they start wearing dark sunglasses even at night. Or unless, of course, you find multiple counterfeit passports in their underwear drawer. You may want to look into the newest sensation in this genre, "Two Rooms and a Boom." You can't buy it yet, but you could print and cut the cards from the DIY print and play files. Anyone who's ever gone through that process will surely appreciate the thought AND the effort put into that gift!
5—They repeatedly refer to a certain group of people they keep calling "Settlers" and can't stop making "wood for sheep" jokes.
A word of warning here: (this may come off as snobbish) but if this describes a person you know, and they claim to be a gamer, you could be dealing with a poser here. Settlers of Catan, while a fine game in its own right, is just a few clicks up from Monopoly in the "Oh, I like board games... I've played..." category. Regardless, there are plenty of iterations, accessories, and Catan-themed gifts out there
6—They measure everything in mm (millimeters).
Looks like you've got a real miniatures/wargame fanatic on your hands. You've no doubt seen them more than once with their nose deeply inserted into a 2 inch—errrr...make that 5.08 mm manual for games like Warhammer 40K (pronounced 4DK for some reason), or hunched over a table meticulously painting the highlights into every knuckle of their Eldar Bowman's fingers, or writing thesis-length back-stories for why that particular figure has a small grass stain on its left knee. You may consider getting this gamer some art supplies
7—They spend countless hours constructing foam weaponry and mastering their dueling skills.
These are classic tell-tale signs of a LARPer. (We'll help you out: "Live Action Role Player.") This form of gaming takes the stakes to a completely higher level by adding in actual, physical activity to the gaming experience. Many folks who LARP can be found in the woods on weekends camping out, battling nasty orcses, and looking rather stylish while doing it. LARPers generally appreciate any accessory, medieval garb, or foam weaponry that would go well with their character's taste or clan's colors. If you want to be more practical, some camping gear, and bug spray (aka magical mist of repulsion), comes in handy, too. A word of warning: Do not attempt to go all Pinterest and make your LARPer some "snazzy" cardboard weapons or armor; such things are frowned upon by this crowd.
8—They're always discussing "Streamlined Mechanics" but the guy who works on your car is some clumsy dude named Bill.
In the gaming world the term mechanic is used to describe the way a game plays, the actions a player can do on a turn, and the way game pieces or cards interact with each other in a game. Streamlined mechanics are a way of referring to a game that is simple to play and learn, without a lot of in-depth mechanics, or actions to slow the game play down. If your gamer is into games that are streamlined, you might want to check out some simple, but fun, games like Council of Verona, or Coup. Find Coup online here.
9—They have a mega hypochondriac obsession with the Measles.
They're not obsessed with the Measles; they're saying Meeples. Meeple has been slowly usurping the terms Token and Pawn for some time now. A standard Meeple is essentially a wooden representation of a person. But of late we've seen everything from Truck-eeples (in The Great Heartland Hauling Co.) to Canoe-eeples (in Paradise Fallen) to awesome monster-eeples and adventurer-eeples (in Dungeon Heroes) and even Lincoln-eeples (albeit hat-less ones, in Pixel Lincoln). If your gamer likes trinkets and such, any of the games we just mentioned will add some unique Meeples to their collection. You can also find tons of customized/painted Meeples on sites like Etsy and Ebay.
10—They don't work in HR, but they're constantly bringing up "Worker Placement."
Worker Placement is an increasingly popular game mechanic (see #8) that involves placing Meeples into certain areas of a game board to perform a certain task or gain a resource to hurtle you toward victory. If you've got a worker-placement fan, they probably already have Agricola or Stone Age, but they'd love a copy of T'zolk'in or Viticulture to add to their collection. Get Tzolik'in here.
11—They repeatedly confess their LOVE of abstracts, but they've said they think Jackson Pollock is a hack.
While this may seem confusing, we're unfazed by this apparent dichotomy. Abstracts are once again a specific genre of games that are, well...non-specific. They usually involve moving random pieces around on a board until someone wins for whatever reason. Very rarely do they have a theme or any sort of story-driven explanation as to why you're doing what you're doing, but they are also generally highly strategic. If this describes the games your gamer is into, go grab a copy of The Duke, RIGHT NOW! Find it online, right here!
We certainly hope that this list has been both entertaining and helpful to you. If there's something we didn't cover, let us know down in the comments!
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It's no secret that one of the biggest events in gaming happened just over a week ago, in Indianapolis. Yes, we are of course referring to Gencon. Mayfair Games, one of the world's top publishers, and gatekeepers of the Catan franchise, had HUGE plans for the con this year. How huge? Well, let's find out...
Mayfair set out to make the Guinness Book of World Records by hosting the world's largest group of people playing a single game of Settlers of Catan. And set the record they did! 922 Settlers fans sat down to roll the dice and trade resources on the Island CONTINENT of Catan. Setting an Official Guinness World Record.
With so many game events going on at Gencon, you may have been playing in this event and not even realized it. So we've compiled a list to help you determine if you're a part of gaming history
10 Signs You’re Playing in a Guinness World Record Breaking, 922-player, Settlers Of Catan Game.
10. You have 2.5 hours between turns to use the bathroom.
9. You have to keep track of which of the 153 subtle shades of blue you are. “You’re Cambridge blue, not Carolina blue! Sheesh!”
8. GenCon has been over for a week and you’re still on turn 2.
7. The Longest Road is 4.2 actual miles long.
6. There’s a 1 in 922 chance of the robber hitting you, and it still happens three turns in a row...
5. The 75-pound accountant in the Wolverine costume keeps screwing up the board with his homemade, aluminum-foil claws.
4. You were the last to place your first settlement and the only hex left was in Gary, Indiana.
3. Someone finally snaps, jumps onto the table, rips off his shirt, yells “I am the king of Catan!!” and passes out.
2. You find out that guy was Klaus Teuber.
1. 3,723 “Wood for sheep” jokes!
Congratulations to Mayfair, and thanks for reading!
Stay tuned this week as we bring you all sorts of other fun stuff from around the gaming world! And don't forget to check us out on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube!
How would you handle playing a game with nearly one thousand people? Leave it in the comments!
By Jeremiah
So as a follow-up to Scott's post yesterday, I thought I'd write a companion piece about "that game"—the one you got, but somehow STILL haven't had a chance to play yet!!
Maybe I'm alone in this, but every so often a game comes your way, you're VERY excited about the game, you've heard lots of great things about it, it's getting great ratings from reviewers, and it's right up your alley in terms of genre and mechanics. This is a game that you CAN. NOT. WAIT. TO. PLAY!
But somehow, whenever game night comes along, you fail to get it on the table. Well for me that game is...
Chicken Caesar! I just don't understand it, this game has everything that I and many of my gamer friends enjoy: intrigue, negotiation, bluffing, backstabbing, heated player interaction... At least I'm pretty sure it does. I, of course, wouldn't fully know, because it's never been on my table.
I was super excited to get this game, and Bryan Fischer (designer of the game) was kind enough to arrange for me to receive a review copy of the game to share my thoughts with him and our readers,—he's even given me his personal phone number and offered to teach the game to my group via phone to get us started! Yet somehow it still remains unplayed. I truly feel awful about this.
To some degree I do understand. I bring a LOT of new games to game night, and sometimes we just want to play an old favorite, and other times we don't have the time for a lengthy and meaty game to learn and then play. For over 6 months (actually much longer) this game has never left my game case, ever. I literally have carried it to every game night in hopes of bringing it out. But for some reason when we've got plenty of time, and are feeling adventurous the game gets overlooked. It's like there is some sort of mental block for us when it comes to learning and playing this game.
Anyway, I'm baffled as to why this has happened. Has some ill timing or cruel touch of fate fallen upon this game? I'm REALLY hoping that someday soon we will play Chicken Caesar, and experience the full glory of manipulating the barnyard political structure to rule the roost and cement my place in history! Until then, I may have to take drastic measures...
Am I alone in this? Is there a game that sits completely UN-played in your collection?
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to check us out on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube! And be on the lookout for our brand new podcast coming soon!!
Two Geeks, Hundreds of Games, One God. We bring you the best in board game talk, tabletop news and compelling interviews with those in the boardgame industry! Stay tuned for all things gaming, here on Theology of Games!
