Board Games - what are you playing?

[talltexan]

It's spring break, and my son is bugging me to break out "Roll for the Galaxy".

Worst case scenario is that it's too complicated, and he'll lose interest.

[neo von retorch]

Good luck! The meta game is learning how to teach the games, and in such a way that new players learn quickly, and enjoy their first run-through!

That one is one I like a lot, but haven't played in a while, and would definitely need to refresh my memory on the rules. Something something, pick a phase, assign your dice/workers, reveal phases, do the things, PROFIT!

[Michael in ABQ]

I'm playing Axis & Allies: D-Day with my two oldest (12 and 13). We've played through it once before and I won (playing as the Germans). It only has 10 turns total, so it doesn't take too long. Though at their age and experience level it still takes a few hours.

[talltexan]

Did anyone here play the Buck Rogers: Battle for the 25th Century board game growing up?

Loved that one, but a six hour game just doesn't work with my current lifestyle.

[jnw]

We have the following board games here:

Pandemic; Pandemic: On the Brink; Pandemic: Iberia
Dominion
Carcassone (original) w/ a couple expansions
San Juan (original)
Splendor

[ixtap]

If any San Diego area members are interested in some table top games, let me know.

I know for sure we still have Agricola, Sagrada, Skip Bo and party size Apples to Apples to shift before our lease ends in June.

[NorthernBlitz]

A little FYI: Gloomhaven has an awesome rule book, but it's still a little confusing. For example, there's a "standard modifier deck" you create and use for each player and shared among monsters, but each player gets additional modifier cards. Do NOT add the additional cards in. The rules tell you this, but in a bit of a non-linear fashion. We messed it up. Ended up buying Jaws of the Lion, and it has an improved rulebook and eases you into the rules in a much more seamless, metered manner. Huge improvement.

lol I have Jaws of the Lion too...again, never played. Thanks for the tip - we'll start with Jaws of the Lion!

Have you watched the 2.5hrs of explanatory videos for jaws of the lion? :D

oh dear, what am I in for?

We've been playing for three months straight, 4-5 scenarios a week.

The hourly cost of this game is pennies.

We bought Jaws on sale for $40 close to when it came out and Gloomhaven used (but unplayed) for $75.

We've been playing it for about 2 years in my family and have completed about 70 scenarios across the two games. My wife and I have each retired two characters and my daughters (12 and 12 years old) just retired their 3rd.

It's not the only game we play, but I think it's the best game I've ever played. I like the theme, but I LOVE the mechanics.

We also bought the fan made expansion "The Crimson Scales", which is I think something like another 70 scenarios and 10+ characters. Sounds like it was developed by several play testers. They can't sell it for profit, but they did organize a print run of all the components (files available for free if you want). It's supposed to be arriving in the next month or so. They have a 2nd print run open now.

[CNM]

My 9 year old and I played Spy Alley last night.  It'd been a while since the last time we played, and it was fun!

[nereo]

A little FYI: Gloomhaven has an awesome rule book, but it's still a little confusing. For example, there's a "standard modifier deck" you create and use for each player and shared among monsters, but each player gets additional modifier cards. Do NOT add the additional cards in. The rules tell you this, but in a bit of a non-linear fashion. We messed it up. Ended up buying Jaws of the Lion, and it has an improved rulebook and eases you into the rules in a much more seamless, metered manner. Huge improvement.

lol I have Jaws of the Lion too...again, never played. Thanks for the tip - we'll start with Jaws of the Lion!

Have you watched the 2.5hrs of explanatory videos for jaws of the lion? :D

oh dear, what am I in for?

We've been playing for three months straight, 4-5 scenarios a week.

The hourly cost of this game is pennies.

We bought Jaws on sale for $40 close to when it came out and Gloomhaven used (but unplayed) for $75.

We've been playing it for about 2 years in my family and have completed about 70 scenarios across the two games. My wife and I have each retired two characters and my daughters (12 and 12 years old) just retired their 3rd.

It's not the only game we play, but I think it's the best game I've ever played. I like the theme, but I LOVE the mechanics.

We also bought the fan made expansion "The Crimson Scales", which is I think something like another 70 scenarios and 10+ characters. Sounds like it was developed by several play testers. They can't sell it for profit, but they did organize a print run of all the components (files available for free if you want). It's supposed to be arriving in the next month or so. They have a 2nd print run open now.

Sorry, but i'm confused.  Is Jaws the best game you ever played, or Gloomhaven? 

[neo von retorch]

Sorry, but i'm confused.  Is Jaws the best game you ever played, or Gloomhaven?

While I haven't played enough to say this, I'd say they are effectively the same game, but containing different sets of characters and scenarios.

Jaws of the Lion is newer, and offers a better rules book for new players. Overall they are both Gloomhaven games.

[nereo]

Thanks for the clarification

[Lews Therin]

Gloomhaven is multiple times bigger, so better value,

Jaws is simpler, easier to jump in with, and can add on to gloomhaven.

(Starting with Jaws, then Gloomhaven is good ; Gloomhaven then Jaws, less optimal)

[lazycow]

Have been playing Azul lately. It is such a beautiful looking game as well as elegant to play.

[NorthernBlitz]

A little FYI: Gloomhaven has an awesome rule book, but it's still a little confusing. For example, there's a "standard modifier deck" you create and use for each player and shared among monsters, but each player gets additional modifier cards. Do NOT add the additional cards in. The rules tell you this, but in a bit of a non-linear fashion. We messed it up. Ended up buying Jaws of the Lion, and it has an improved rulebook and eases you into the rules in a much more seamless, metered manner. Huge improvement.

lol I have Jaws of the Lion too...again, never played. Thanks for the tip - we'll start with Jaws of the Lion!

Have you watched the 2.5hrs of explanatory videos for jaws of the lion? :D

oh dear, what am I in for?

We've been playing for three months straight, 4-5 scenarios a week.

The hourly cost of this game is pennies.

We bought Jaws on sale for $40 close to when it came out and Gloomhaven used (but unplayed) for $75.

We've been playing it for about 2 years in my family and have completed about 70 scenarios across the two games. My wife and I have each retired two characters and my daughters (12 and 12 years old) just retired their 3rd.

It's not the only game we play, but I think it's the best game I've ever played. I like the theme, but I LOVE the mechanics.

We also bought the fan made expansion "The Crimson Scales", which is I think something like another 70 scenarios and 10+ characters. Sounds like it was developed by several play testers. They can't sell it for profit, but they did organize a print run of all the components (files available for free if you want). It's supposed to be arriving in the next month or so. They have a 2nd print run open now.

Sorry, but i'm confused.  Is Jaws the best game you ever played, or Gloomhaven?

I guess I don't really differentiate between the two.

Jaws basically is Gloomhaven. It's just a smaller set of scenarios and a more limited number of characters to play.

Jaws is also a little easier to set up because you play in a story book (like Stuffed Fables if you've ever played that) instead of on tiles.

But Jaws is definitely where I'd start. The first few tutorial missions are great for learning the game (along with the videos from Rodney)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCpQqrCiTDs

I guess it's only "essentially" the same game because there are some minor simplifications like there are no summons in Jaws (but summons haven't been that good for us in the big game...but my daughter just unlocked a summons specific character, so maybe that will be better?).

We also play with Gloomhaven Helper, which makes the game MUCH easier to set up and play through...especially since it's basically only me in our group of 4 that tracks everything. Unfortunately, this fan made app is no longer available because of what appear to be IP issues and royalties (there seems to be some drama about this on the internet). The developers of the game have announced that they are creating their own app. But it will be Frosthaven first, then expanded to include Gloomhaven (and presumable Jaws). Hopefully the app covers custom content too...seems like it should since Gloomhaven encourages us to make and play our own custom scenarios (which is kind of insane since I can't imagine many people finish the ~ 100 premade scenarios).

[NorthernBlitz]

Have been playing Azul lately. It is such a beautiful looking game as well as elegant to play.

Nice...my daughter was in an extracurricular "board game class" and they sell all the games at the end of the course.

We picked this up for cheap, but I haven't played it yet (my 12 year old was teaching my 10 year old how to play yesterday though).

[fuzzy math]

Got a brand new to the market game and have really been enjoying it! Its called Doomlings and it plays a bit like Dominion and Exploding kittens... not sure that its a great description. Really fun and ends unpredictably. You're a creature and you play traits to describe yourself. Some traits have actions that affect yourself or others. There are random rules for each round and catastrophes that halt your progress. It was on kick starter and like any game these days has a number of expansions to get more cards and do more things. Costs about $90 for all the goods.

[Psychstache]

Have been playing Azul lately. It is such a beautiful looking game as well as elegant to play.

Yes! well designed game and very aesthetically pleasing.

[simonsez]

Can someone educate me on the Catan expansions?

We have the original plus the extension for 5-6 players (2 of each actually, as my in-laws love it so much they bought a set for the lakehouse). 

In glancing at the expansions, I like the idea of a Harbormaster for 2 points (akin to Longest Road or Largest Army) and I also like the idea of turning a desert into a lake (plus the chevron pieces that go on the perimeter) and then having the fish to purchase things/move the robber or even "catch" the Old Boot.  But like, that's $40+ for some fancy cardboard as I think both are contained in the Traders & Barbarians pack. 

I'm tempted to add in those two elements without buying it.  Has anyone done something similar?  E.g. the fish tokens have 1, 2, or 3 fishes on them.  Seems I could just use extraneous dice or playing cards or something simple and color-coded for that, and then for the Harbormaster special 2 point card, just use some other totem.  The trickiest part would be replicating the chevrons for the 4,5,6,8,9,10 pieces.  For the "lake", I feel you could just turn the desert upside down (it's already blue on the other side!) and know that it's for the 2,3,11,12 rolls.

Am I missing anything?  What about the other expansions?  What are the best aspects that those add?  How easy are those aspects to add in without buying fancy cardboard?  Or the opposite question is also helpful for me at this point - which expansions of Catan are NOT worth it?

Edit: changed 'extension' to 'expansion' in one place.

[fuzzy math]

Can someone educate me on the Catan expansions?

We have the original plus the extension for 5-6 players (2 of each actually, as my in-laws love it so much they bought a set for the lakehouse). 

In glancing at the expansions, I like the idea of a Harbormaster for 2 points (akin to Longest Road or Largest Army) and I also like the idea of turning a desert into a lake (plus the chevron pieces that go on the perimeter) and then having the fish to purchase things/move the robber or even "catch" the Old Boot.  But like, that's $40+ for some fancy cardboard as I think both are contained in the Traders & Barbarians pack. 

I'm tempted to add in those two elements without buying it.  Has anyone done something similar?  E.g. the fish tokens have 1, 2, or 3 fishes on them.  Seems I could just use extraneous dice or playing cards or something simple and color-coded for that, and then for the Harbormaster special 2 point card, just use some other totem.  The trickiest part would be replicating the chevrons for the 4,5,6,8,9,10 pieces.  For the "lake", I feel you could just turn the desert upside down (it's already blue on the other side!) and know that it's for the 2,3,11,12 rolls.

Am I missing anything?  What about the other expansions?  What are the best aspects that those add?  How easy are those aspects to add in without buying fancy cardboard?  Or the opposite question is also helpful for me at this point - which expansions of Catan are NOT worth it?

Edit: changed 'extension' to 'expansion' in one place.

Not what you’re asking for but have you ever tried the Catan card game? It’s 2 player and I find it more enjoyable than the board game


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[zolotiyeruki]

Can someone educate me on the Catan expansions?

We have the original plus the extension for 5-6 players (2 of each actually, as my in-laws love it so much they bought a set for the lakehouse). 

In glancing at the expansions, I like the idea of a Harbormaster for 2 points (akin to Longest Road or Largest Army) and I also like the idea of turning a desert into a lake (plus the chevron pieces that go on the perimeter) and then having the fish to purchase things/move the robber or even "catch" the Old Boot.  But like, that's $40+ for some fancy cardboard as I think both are contained in the Traders & Barbarians pack. 

I'm tempted to add in those two elements without buying it.  Has anyone done something similar?  E.g. the fish tokens have 1, 2, or 3 fishes on them.  Seems I could just use extraneous dice or playing cards or something simple and color-coded for that, and then for the Harbormaster special 2 point card, just use some other totem.  The trickiest part would be replicating the chevrons for the 4,5,6,8,9,10 pieces.  For the "lake", I feel you could just turn the desert upside down (it's already blue on the other side!) and know that it's for the 2,3,11,12 rolls.

Am I missing anything?  What about the other expansions?  What are the best aspects that those add?  How easy are those aspects to add in without buying fancy cardboard?  Or the opposite question is also helpful for me at this point - which expansions of Catan are NOT worth it?

Edit: changed 'extension' to 'expansion' in one place.

I've only played the Seafarers and Cities & Knights expansions.  I haven't played them enough to get a deep feel for them, but my opinion so far is that they add complexity without adding enjoyment.  That's probably a personal taste thing, though--I find that as games add complexity (and game length!), my enjoyment tops out and starts dropping.  There are several games that, for me, hit the sweet spot:  Catan (stock), Splendor, Jaipur, Sagrada, and Azul all have a fair amount of depth while being easy to learn.  Seven Wonders is pretty easy to learn, but there's too much stuff to keep track of.  I find that Sushi Go, which has very similar mechanics, is more enjoyable. I like Pandemic, but (at least with my younger kids) it takes a bit too long to play.

I played a 6-player game of Settlers of Catan with Cities & Knights and Seafarers, and it took us like 3 hours to finish the game.  Granted, most of us were playing the expansions for the first time, but still. Terraforming Mars falls into that category as well, as does Battlestar Galactica.

[Archipelago]

These are both games better suited for larger groups (8+)

Werewolf - akin to the card game Mafia. Cards are randomly given to each player for roles i.e. Werewolf, Townsperson, Robber, Minion, Troublemaker, etc. All players close their eyes to sleep (signifying nighttime when the werewolves come out) and there's a narrator mobile app that declares what each role does and the order of roles. Then everyone wakes up for the morning and there's deliberation amongst all players. A majority vote is taken for 2 suspected werewolves. Then a final vote is cast for killing a final suspect. Then all cards are revealed. Werewolf wins if an innocent person is selected. If the werewolf is selected, the other players win. It's a fun game because during the deliberation phase you can be sly about your role, and frame people of course. Things get very interesting, and it becomes difficult who to trust and how to read bluffs. Some of the roles also involve switching cards around and messing with people.

Poetry For Neanderthals - charade-like game played in team where one person for 60 seconds has to describe words shown on cards using only 1 syllable words. There are 'easy' words worth 1 point and 'hard' words worth 3 points. Included in the game is an inflatable caveman bat for bopping people if they accidentally use words containing more than 1 syllable. It's silly and it's fun.

[Archipelago]

For anyone familiar with Through the Ages, Lords of Waterdeep, Istanbul, Azul, Pandemic Legacy: Season 1

Is it possible any of these games can be adapted for 8 players (or 4 teams of players)? We generally play board games as 4 couples, so there are more players, but we can make teams of 2 to get everyone involved.

Or do you have any other BG suggestions besides these for 8+ players?

[zolotiyeruki]

For anyone familiar with Through the Ages, Lords of Waterdeep, Istanbul, Azul, Pandemic Legacy: Season 1

Is it possible any of these games can be adapted for 8 players (or 4 teams of players)? We generally play board games as 4 couples, so there are more players, but we can make teams of 2 to get everyone involved.

Or do you have any other BG suggestions besides these for 8+ players?

8 players really puts you in the realm of party games, unless you form teams. It's just too many people to manage the intra-team dynamics that make board games so much fun. I suppose you could form teams, have the members of each pair sit across from each other, and limit their communication to make it interesting.

[neo von retorch]

For anyone familiar with Through the Ages, Lords of Waterdeep, Istanbul, Azul, Pandemic Legacy: Season 1

Is it possible any of these games can be adapted for 8 players (or 4 teams of players)? We generally play board games as 4 couples, so there are more players, but we can make teams of 2 to get everyone involved.

Or do you have any other BG suggestions besides these for 8+ players?

I think Pandemic has plenty of cooks in the kitchen at 4 players!

Lords of Waterdeep seems fine at up to 4-5 players, but thematically, if it's couples, you could be Lords and Ladies of Waterdeep, and make decisions as couples!
I don't have any expansions, but I do believe one of them bumps the count to 6 players. Ah yes Scoundrels of Skullport!

7 Wonders with the Cities expansion becomes an 8 player simultaneous turn strategy game.

Azul is inexpensive... maybe buying two copies, you could adapt it for 8. Might do some math on how many "factories" to set up.

[talltexan]

For eight player games, I'd honestly prefer two tables of 4, play two layouts of a game, then switch. Our family has done this a lot with Dominion, and it keeps things moving faster.

[Dicey]

Just found this thread via your journal. We just got introduced to "Quirkle" and really enjoyed it.

[BNgarden]

I've very much enjoyed Concordia which a friend introduced us to.  A few different maps are available and the game has lots of variability in strategy / outcomes even without those.

And, an older one that needs to be bought used is La Granja No Siesta.  Very compact roll and write that is surprisingly satisfying.

[lemonlyman]

Played Nemesis Lockdown a couple of times. I think it has the worst rulebook I've ever read, but it's a fun game.

Captain Sonar is good with 8 players. Two teams of 4 where each player has a role on an opposing submarine.

[neo von retorch]

Played Nemesis Lockdown a couple of times. I think it has the worst rulebook I've ever read, but it's a fun game.

Captain Sonar is good with 8 players. Two teams of 4 where each player has a role on an opposing submarine.

Glad you were able to have fun despite the rulebook! My vote for worst rulebook is Betrayal on House on the Hill. I know it's a game a lot of people love. We played it once and it has sat on our shelf ever since. We had such a miserable time trying to work out some of the rules, especially for the scenario we were unlucky enough to land on. We just hated it and ever tried it again.

Gloomhaven is... my second pick. Jaws of the Lion is much better. But the original doesn't really do any linear delivery of rules. And once again, we messed them up so much that we ended up never really getting into it.

They are two very popular, well-loved games. So maybe we just have to look inward. But it's hard to overcome the inertia of a bad first play!

[mm1970]

I LOVE Qwirkle. It's hard to get my kids to play it.

We discovered an old game this summer that my SIL had found that a friend had introduced her to called "Can't stop".  I bought it on E-bay.  It's pretty fun.

Mostly DH and I play it.

[simonsez]

Azul - I prefer the 3 player gameplay the most I think (then 2, then 4 - all are still enjoyable).  Haven't nailed down optimal strategies yet, good variation in offense vs defense based on the random tiles, and as everyone mentions - it's very pretty!

[talltexan]

We somehow got the MONOPOLY BUilder game in our house, and I actually like it better than the original. It has all the mechanics that I like, but also a mining/trading mechanic like in Settlers of Catan, and--when you feel like it's time for it to end--it's over!

[PathtoFIRE]

I was one of those kids that always wanted to play Monopoly, to the (I now see) chagrin of all the adults, and I feel the same way now when my kids want to play. But then we got to try out Monopoly Deal, which is entirely card-based, has some of the mechanics of the original and adds more player2player interaction, and when everyone knows the rules a game lasts about 15 minutes. It's very cheap and portable too, I always include it along with a few other small games on our trips.

[talltexan]

I cannot imagine anyone loving Monopoly more than I do, but intellectual honesty requires acknowledging that the winner of the game becomes obvious too long before the game ends.

[simonsez]

I cannot imagine anyone loving Monopoly more than I do, but intellectual honesty requires acknowledging that the winner of the game becomes obvious too long before the game ends.

I know it's been discussed already in this thread, but when people add on their house rules to Monopoly especially or do not utilize a certain concept of the game, it usually results in the game taking much longer (lack of auction, adding money for landing on free parking, trading not being commonplace, etc.).  When it's obvious that I'm going to lose and it's down to 2 or 3 people (if obvious that two players have close to a 0% to win), I have no problem getting a conversation started about forfeiture and acknowledging the winner.  If you're playing Monopoly and no one has a monopoly of a certain color yet after say, 3 laps around the board, I'd wager trading more would do a lot to speed up the game.  Also, you can make trades, build/sell houses/hotels, and mortgage/unmortgage properties when it's NOT your turn.

Similarly with Risk or chess, just wave the white flag earlier when it's obvious and get a move on.

Even in poker tournaments, it's commonplace when it gets down to an inevitable outcome to stop playing and agree to terms (either some pre-agreed upon terms for finishing with a certain rank or proportional to the money you have at the time) rather than play it all the way out to the last hand.  Sometimes I want to play it out to the last hand, especially in no limit games as the swings can be drastic.  But most board games have it set up (and rightfully so IMO) that whoever is leading comfortably (as players almost have perfect information on all the other players, unlike other games where you can hide resources and only "appear" to be behind) in the mid-game have an unstoppable path to victory.  Of course, not every game ends with a runaway but it's not rare.  If you play with people who demand to play it out every time no matter what, that's fine but there's an element of masochism there and that leads to people dreading certain games due to the long duration.

It's nice to play with others who will forfeit early when the outcome is obvious.  Sometimes you squeeze in a whole extra game (or rotate to a different game)!

[talltexan]

That's why I love the doubling cube in Backgammon so much, it can kick-start negotiations like what you describe.

Of course, my family members all think the cube is dumb and refuse to play with it. Which turns it into not-backgammon-at-all.

[nereo]

That's why I love the doubling cube in Backgammon so much, it can kick-start negotiations like what you describe.

Of course, my family members all think the cube is dumb and refuse to play with it. Which turns it into not-backgammon-at-all.

Whoa…. I had never even heard of the doubling cube in backgammon before, and I used to play it all the time with my grandmother (who was staunchly against gambling, so perhaps that explains some of it?)

Now I’ll have to give it a whirl.

[talltexan]

No money need be at stake, it's just a way of keeping score.

I did persuade my wife and her father to use the cube one time. I started a game with my wife, she got a lead, then offered me the cube. I refused it, but my father-in-law asked if he could jump in. Rolled doubles several consecutive turns, then he offers her the cube back!

She accepts, and wins, so her quadruple share came 3/4 from him, and 1/4 from me.

I would have thought after an exciting game like that, everyone would want to use the cube, but nah...

[jinga nation]

Azul - I prefer the 3 player gameplay the most I think (then 2, then 4 - all are still enjoyable).  Haven't nailed down optimal strategies yet, good variation in offense vs defense based on the random tiles, and as everyone mentions - it's very pretty!

this. i play with my 8 + 10 year olds, tons of fun and i always lose.
when we go 4 player, it seems a little slow and boring.
2 player, not enough time to strategize, sometimes make silly bad decisions.
3 players seems to provide the right amount of time between moves and to assess the others' moves.

[rocketpj]

Despite my best efforts I don't live in a house with tabletop gamers, so I don't buy games anymore.  I do however play a lot of them on Board Game Arena.

Current top games:

Agricola, with various expansions.  Incredible depth yet very accessible.

Catan.  The original is fun.  I very much prefer to play the Cities and Knights expansion, ideally on a larger island.  That brings more skill into the game and reduces but does not eliminate luck.

Azul.  Great, fun and accessible game.

Ticket to Ride.

Lost Cities - a good 2 player game

Mice & Mystics is a really fun game that approaches 'rpg' while staying a bit more accessible.

[zolotiyeruki]

I always wondered why the hype for Ticket to Ride Europe. Now I get it. It addresses a few shortcomings of the original, by making sure that everyone gets a chance at a long destination, that nobody can get more than one destination, and that Locomotives/wilds are useful.

[nereo]

I always wondered why the hype for Ticket to Ride Europe. Now I get it. It addresses a few shortcomings of the original, by making sure that everyone gets a chance at a long destination, that nobody can get more than one destination, and that Locomotives/wilds are useful.

I learned to play ticket to ride with,y in-laws, who never used the “draw card” option. One time I decided to actually read the rules for myself and learned about this option and it’s added another layer of strategy.

Oddly my in-laws are “play nice” board gamers and they will not try to purposefully block other players routes, even when the other player is being deliberate and obvious. My family on the other hand likes to “play defense”

[talltexan]

Periodically I have to remind people that this is a "family game." I just don't think my kids (ten and seven) are ready for a truly cut-throat experience.

[zolotiyeruki]

I always wondered why the hype for Ticket to Ride Europe. Now I get it. It addresses a few shortcomings of the original, by making sure that everyone gets a chance at a long destination, that nobody can get more than one destination, and that Locomotives/wilds are useful.

I learned to play ticket to ride with,y in-laws, who never used the “draw card” option. One time I decided to actually read the rules for myself and learned about this option and it’s added another layer of strategy.

By the "draw card" option, do you mean the option to take a card off the top of the deck?

[neo von retorch]

I always wondered why the hype for Ticket to Ride Europe. Now I get it. It addresses a few shortcomings of the original, by making sure that everyone gets a chance at a long destination, that nobody can get more than one destination, and that Locomotives/wilds are useful.

I learned to play ticket to ride with,y in-laws, who never used the “draw card” option. One time I decided to actually read the rules for myself and learned about this option and it’s added another layer of strategy.

By the "draw card" option, do you mean the option to take a card off the top of the deck?

Took me a second, but remember you can "draw new tickets" - you have to keep at least one of them, and if you don't complete it, you'll lose points at the end. But sometimes you have nothing better to do than take your chances, and sometimes get lucky and draw a ticket for a route you've already completed!

[zolotiyeruki]

I always wondered why the hype for Ticket to Ride Europe. Now I get it. It addresses a few shortcomings of the original, by making sure that everyone gets a chance at a long destination, that nobody can get more than one destination, and that Locomotives/wilds are useful.

I learned to play ticket to ride with,y in-laws, who never used the “draw card” option. One time I decided to actually read the rules for myself and learned about this option and it’s added another layer of strategy.

By the "draw card" option, do you mean the option to take a card off the top of the deck?

Took me a second, but remember you can "draw new tickets" - you have to keep at least one of them, and if you don't complete it, you'll lose points at the end. But sometimes you have nothing better to do than take your chances, and sometimes get lucky and draw a ticket for a route you've already completed!

I was referring to drawing cards off the top of the train cars deck, rather than from the five exposed cards, but drawing additional destinations would also match.

[neo von retorch]

By the "draw card" option, do you mean the option to take a card off the top of the deck?

Took me a second, but remember you can "draw new tickets" - you have to keep at least one of them, and if you don't complete it, you'll lose points at the end. But sometimes you have nothing better to do than take your chances, and sometimes get lucky and draw a ticket for a route you've already completed!

I was referring to drawing cards off the top of the train cars deck, rather than from the five exposed cards, but drawing additional destinations would also match.

Oh you meant you ONLY draw from the face up cards vs having the option of taking two from the deck... it's been a while since I played. I was thinking "there's literally no game if you don't draw train cards!"

[nereo]

I always wondered why the hype for Ticket to Ride Europe. Now I get it. It addresses a few shortcomings of the original, by making sure that everyone gets a chance at a long destination, that nobody can get more than one destination, and that Locomotives/wilds are useful.

I learned to play ticket to ride with,y in-laws, who never used the “draw card” option. One time I decided to actually read the rules for myself and learned about this option and it’s added another layer of strategy.

By the "draw card" option, do you mean the option to take a card off the top of the deck?

Took me a second, but remember you can "draw new tickets" - you have to keep at least one of them, and if you don't complete it, you'll lose points at the end. But sometimes you have nothing better to do than take your chances, and sometimes get lucky and draw a ticket for a route you've already completed!

This is what I meant. You can get extra points by choosing new routes, but it can bite you if you are unlucky.

[BuffaloStache]

I went on a business trip recently to a different part of the country, and was able to hang out with one of my best friends from High School who is obsessed with board games.

We played 3000 Scoundrels, and I definitely enjoyed it!

[nereo]

I went on a business trip recently to a different part of the country, and was able to hang out with one of my best friends from High School who is obsessed with board games.

We played 3000 Scoundrels, and I definitely enjoyed it!

How’s the two-player gameplay?