Absolutely. There are many Americgames that I like. But Zombies!! is the stereotypical bad Amerigame, it has every flaw that Amerigame detractors like to point out and unfairly tar all Amerigames with.
I'm sure there's a Chris Rock bit in there somewhere.
That actually reminds me of discussion I had with a few German gamers, who cannot stand German boardgames for a lot of the things they lack in comparison to "ameritrash" games. Namely they are dry, themeless and abstract and reduce playing them to card-counting or calculating everybody else's movements/scoring in advance.
Games like Keltis and Verrater seem to be some of the worst offenders in that category. Whenever I played them I was playing for the sweet sweet release of somebody kicking over the gametable "by accident".
That actually reminds me of discussion I had with a few German gamers, who cannot stand German boardgames for a lot of the things they lack in comparison to "ameritrash" games. Namely they are dry, themeless and abstract and reduce playing them to card-counting or calculating everybody else's movements/scoring in advance.
And those themeless, counter pushing, play themselves, zero interaction games get labeled Eurotrash.
I feel we're moving away from the core point of Zombies!!! being an affront to both God and Humanity though.
I think if you house-rule it somewhat, it can be a nice diversion. Last time we played, we used the quick-play rules from BGG and just used the Mall Walkers expansion and we were done in about 45 minutes. Which is still a little too long for such a game, but it's far from being the soul-crushing banality of a regular, straight out-of-the-box Zombies!!! game.
I think if you house-rule it somewhat, it can be a nice diversion. Last time we played, we used the quick-play rules from BGG and just used the Mall Walkers expansion and we were done in about 45 minutes. Which is still a little too long for such a game, but it's far from being the soul-crushing banality of a regular, straight out-of-the-box Zombies!!! game.
Don't talk to me about the expansions, don't talk to me about house rules, don't talk to me about the zombies mailing list, about how if you apply fix x,y,z and play with expansion alpha and shuffle in the helipad tile, and if only you BLAH BLAH FUCKING BLAH. It's not my job to fix the silly goose game.
But those of us who were unlucky enough to be given the game as a well-meant present need to salvage the situation somehow.
At least you can do that with Zombies!!!. Settlers of Catan or Carcassone on the other hand are a lost cause. They are not actively broken, just unbelievably dull.
When I first was getting into boardgames I foolishly purchased Zombies. I taught it to my roommates and in our first game managed to close up the city so that no additional tiles could be placed. We gave up in frustration as there was no way anybody was going to get 25 zombie kills.
We never played the game again, it sits dejected in the corner along with Roborally and Munchkin.
Settlers of Catan or Carcassone on the other hand are a lost cause. They are not actively broken, just unbelievably dull.
It warms the cockles of my heart to see that there's someone else out there who shares my opinion of Settlers. My friends who think they're into board games but really are just into bad board games and aren't really very good at games fucking love it and ask me to play all the time, but I have to say no because I don't feel like breaking my nose on the table when I fall asleep from a bad game.
Wow, apparently I really needed to vent about Settlers.
How is Space Alert? Is it something that we could play a lot, or is it more of a one-shot thing?
A lot in my opinion, great co-op game.
Variation kicks in with the different 'announcer music tracks' and cards that are drawn and special events like 'communication breakdown' which forces every player to quicky play his moves on his own without being allowed to communicate. Which can be hectic, as you need energy to fire lasers needed to destroy incoming threats and if the energy isn't being readied in a prior move you got a lil' problem. Individual action is important.
The time pressure (and occasionally not being allowed to communicate and whatnot) alleviate the "one player solves the puzzle" problem I experience with other co-op board games.
But I do waiting for that game to end. I can actually feel the minutes of my life slip away as those hexagon tiles stare at me. Eating away at my will to live.
Settlers was the first game I ever played past Risk. I was in elementary school, or maybe middle school, and each afternoon I would play tons of Settlers with my little brother. So I adore it based on nostalgia if nothing else.
I don't really care to play Settlers ever. It's not a bad game, like Echo said, it's just dull to the point of boredom. Nothing ever happens. You roll dice, you get your cards, you trade, you build stuff. Not a lot of decisions to make.
Well, crap. I left my Old World and Ruination cards at home since I use them for reference in my online game. Is anyone available for the next hours in case I need to ask what a card does?
Well, crap. I left my Old World and Ruination cards at home since I use them for reference in my online game. Is anyone available for the next hours in case I need to ask what a card does?
How is Space Alert? Is it something that we could play a lot, or is it more of a one-shot thing?
Space Alert is a great game but it is HARD. It is definitely a gamer's game and I would not play it with people who've never played a "real" boardgame.
That said, it's also a blast to play. It definitely suffers with less players because the chaos of everyone talking over each other and trying to figure out adds to the fun.
My group of players are pretty smart and we play a lot of games and even for us, it took us a while to beat the training missions so while there are a finite amount of missions on the CD, it will probably take you a couple tries to beat them even when you figure out the game, and, if you play the CD tracks randomly, you won't remember what's going to happen.
Plus, due to how the game works, the tracks just control WHEN things happen. WHAT happens can change every time depending on what cards you draw. There is replay-ability.
I really hope they come out with an add-on with more missions.
And while not completely necessary, the Star Trek themed remixes on BGG just make the game that much more AWESOME!
How is Space Alert? Is it something that we could play a lot, or is it more of a one-shot thing?
I still haven't gotten to play it yet; iamtheaznman has a copy, but we didn't break it out at our DC games day. My impression is that they play it a lot in his group at college, though.
It's kind of taken a backburner role due to people wanting to play Chaos in the Old World and the BSG expansion, but I really enjoyed the game for the time we played it.
Basically you draw cards and program moves and actions by placing these cards face down (similar to Robo Rally), but you are working together and only have a limited time to decide your actions. During this time, a computer is indicating what kind of threats are attacking your ship, and obviously you have to deal with them. Once time runs out, you go through a resolution phase where you resolve your card actions and the threat actions and see if you survive.
It builds in complexity, so make sure you get the same group of people to play all the learning missions with so you can play some real advanced missions. I currently find it to be my favorite co-op game since there's more pressure on each person working together and less on a taskmaster micromanaging. Also it seems to have better re-playability than other co-ops especially since there are mission generators online, and the encounters you have are randomly chosen as well. The gameplay can get stale if people aren't into it, but you can play it for a long time if people are into it.
I don't really care to play Settlers ever. It's not a bad game, like Echo said, it's just dull to the point of boredom. Nothing ever happens. You roll dice, you get your cards, you trade, you build stuff. Not a lot of decisions to make.
What? I disagree. I feel that there are plenty of decisions to make. What is trading but a series of decisions made between multiple parties? Where and when and what to build are all very important, as is who to attack with the robber, an intelligently played monopoly can swing games (plus the fun of trading all of one resource away and then getting it all back with a monopoly), blocking other peoples ability to build, dissecting their roads, etc.
Now that the newness of my christmas gifts have worn off Catan still is my favorite board game. If you want more choices on what decision to make each turn there is always cities and knights or traders and barbarians.
Does anyone know if Innsmouth Escape is worth playing at all? On the one hand I love the theme and The Shadow Over Innsmouth is a great story that lends well to adaptation. I think it'd also be nice to own a Lovecraftian game that doesn't extend its themes of byzantine nightmarish voids of insanity to the setup and upkeep of the boardgame, ARKHAM HORROR*.
On the other hand, it's a Twilight Creations game. Zombies!!! is awful. Admittedly that's the only other game of theirs I've tried, but I'm not sure if I should give them another shot.
I don't really care to play Settlers ever. It's not a bad game, like Echo said, it's just dull to the point of boredom. Nothing ever happens. You roll dice, you get your cards, you trade, you build stuff. Not a lot of decisions to make.
What? I disagree. I feel that there are plenty of decisions to make. What is trading but a series of decisions made between multiple parties? Where and when and what to build are all very important, as is who to attack with the robber, an intelligently played monopoly can swing games (plus the fun of trading all of one resource away and then getting it all back with a monopoly), blocking other peoples ability to build, dissecting their roads, etc.
Now that the newness of my christmas gifts have worn off Catan still is my favorite board game. If you want more choices on what decision to make each turn there is always cities and knights or traders and barbarians.
I think you may be biased against it since it's your favorite game. I won't say I hate the game, but I never offer to play it. When offered, I'll suggest something else. The development deck usually gets you one of two cards. 1 VP or Knight (That is the card, right?). You usually play your knight immediately in order to get Largest Army or if you know you won't get it, you do wait until the most opportune time to play it. You could make arguments for the game and stuff, but in the end I don't really feel like I ever accomplish anything after Settler's. Sometimes I win, sometimes I lose, but I always feel like the game never really went anywhere.
Man I do enjoy Zombies!!! :rotate: It is extremely simple and great for family gatherings with the in-laws. I like Ticket To Ride and Pandemic better, though. Just played Last Night on Earth yesterday before the Super Bowl and that is definitely better than Zombies!!!. I really enjoyed that one and will be picking up some of the expansions.
I got Arkham Horror too... the game looks super complicated. I doubt it is good for 2player, either, so I'm gonna have to get some neckbeards from the LGS to play eh?
Posts
Absolutely. There are many Americgames that I like. But Zombies!! is the stereotypical bad Amerigame, it has every flaw that Amerigame detractors like to point out and unfairly tar all Amerigames with.
I'm sure there's a Chris Rock bit in there somewhere.
I made a game, it has penguins in it. It's pay what you like on Gumroad.
Currently Ebaying Nothing at all but I might do in the future.
Games like Keltis and Verrater seem to be some of the worst offenders in that category. Whenever I played them I was playing for the sweet sweet release of somebody kicking over the gametable "by accident".
And those themeless, counter pushing, play themselves, zero interaction games get labeled Eurotrash.
I feel we're moving away from the core point of Zombies!!! being an affront to both God and Humanity though.
I made a game, it has penguins in it. It's pay what you like on Gumroad.
Currently Ebaying Nothing at all but I might do in the future.
Ahem.
I made a game, it has penguins in it. It's pay what you like on Gumroad.
Currently Ebaying Nothing at all but I might do in the future.
But those of us who were unlucky enough to be given the game as a well-meant present need to salvage the situation somehow.
At least you can do that with Zombies!!!. Settlers of Catan or Carcassone on the other hand are a lost cause. They are not actively broken, just unbelievably dull.
We never played the game again, it sits dejected in the corner along with Roborally and Munchkin.
It warms the cockles of my heart to see that there's someone else out there who shares my opinion of Settlers. My friends who think they're into board games but really are just into bad board games and aren't really very good at games fucking love it and ask me to play all the time, but I have to say no because I don't feel like breaking my nose on the table when I fall asleep from a bad game.
Wow, apparently I really needed to vent about Settlers.
Never. Gets. Old.
I made a game, it has penguins in it. It's pay what you like on Gumroad.
Currently Ebaying Nothing at all but I might do in the future.
I'd play either anyday over that pile of drek.
COME FORTH, AMATERASU! - Switch Friend Code SW-5465-2458-5696 - Twitch
A lot in my opinion, great co-op game.
Variation kicks in with the different 'announcer music tracks' and cards that are drawn and special events like 'communication breakdown' which forces every player to quicky play his moves on his own without being allowed to communicate. Which can be hectic, as you need energy to fire lasers needed to destroy incoming threats and if the energy isn't being readied in a prior move you got a lil' problem. Individual action is important.
The time pressure (and occasionally not being allowed to communicate and whatnot) alleviate the "one player solves the puzzle" problem I experience with other co-op board games.
But I do waiting for that game to end. I can actually feel the minutes of my life slip away as those hexagon tiles stare at me. Eating away at my will to live.
And now I'm packing my stuff for an evening of CitOW!
Best TotP
And call people silly gooses they block your settlement.
Or use as a base for Settlers of Riskopoly
I'm around-ish.
In the end phase when Old World cards are resolved, any player with one or more followers in Bretonnia must discard a Chaos card, if able.
Space Alert is a great game but it is HARD. It is definitely a gamer's game and I would not play it with people who've never played a "real" boardgame.
That said, it's also a blast to play. It definitely suffers with less players because the chaos of everyone talking over each other and trying to figure out adds to the fun.
My group of players are pretty smart and we play a lot of games and even for us, it took us a while to beat the training missions so while there are a finite amount of missions on the CD, it will probably take you a couple tries to beat them even when you figure out the game, and, if you play the CD tracks randomly, you won't remember what's going to happen.
Plus, due to how the game works, the tracks just control WHEN things happen. WHAT happens can change every time depending on what cards you draw. There is replay-ability.
I really hope they come out with an add-on with more missions.
And while not completely necessary, the Star Trek themed remixes on BGG just make the game that much more AWESOME!
http://forums.penny-arcade.com/showthread.php?t=110928
http://forums.penny-arcade.com/showthread.php?t=111841
Selling Board Games for Medical Bills
It's kind of taken a backburner role due to people wanting to play Chaos in the Old World and the BSG expansion, but I really enjoyed the game for the time we played it.
Basically you draw cards and program moves and actions by placing these cards face down (similar to Robo Rally), but you are working together and only have a limited time to decide your actions. During this time, a computer is indicating what kind of threats are attacking your ship, and obviously you have to deal with them. Once time runs out, you go through a resolution phase where you resolve your card actions and the threat actions and see if you survive.
It builds in complexity, so make sure you get the same group of people to play all the learning missions with so you can play some real advanced missions. I currently find it to be my favorite co-op game since there's more pressure on each person working together and less on a taskmaster micromanaging. Also it seems to have better re-playability than other co-ops especially since there are mission generators online, and the encounters you have are randomly chosen as well. The gameplay can get stale if people aren't into it, but you can play it for a long time if people are into it.
What? I disagree. I feel that there are plenty of decisions to make. What is trading but a series of decisions made between multiple parties? Where and when and what to build are all very important, as is who to attack with the robber, an intelligently played monopoly can swing games (plus the fun of trading all of one resource away and then getting it all back with a monopoly), blocking other peoples ability to build, dissecting their roads, etc.
Now that the newness of my christmas gifts have worn off Catan still is my favorite board game. If you want more choices on what decision to make each turn there is always cities and knights or traders and barbarians.
COME FORTH, AMATERASU! - Switch Friend Code SW-5465-2458-5696 - Twitch
Yay!
Also, the description for that is hilarious.
Well, shit, I guess I need to actually get one of the others soon, then.
IOS Game Center ID: Isotope-X
its main use is to expose people to the notion that boardgames can be something different than distractions for your horrible little children.
On the other hand, it's a Twilight Creations game. Zombies!!! is awful. Admittedly that's the only other game of theirs I've tried, but I'm not sure if I should give them another shot.
*
I think you may be biased against it since it's your favorite game. I won't say I hate the game, but I never offer to play it. When offered, I'll suggest something else. The development deck usually gets you one of two cards. 1 VP or Knight (That is the card, right?). You usually play your knight immediately in order to get Largest Army or if you know you won't get it, you do wait until the most opportune time to play it. You could make arguments for the game and stuff, but in the end I don't really feel like I ever accomplish anything after Settler's. Sometimes I win, sometimes I lose, but I always feel like the game never really went anywhere.
I got Arkham Horror too... the game looks super complicated. I doubt it is good for 2player, either, so I'm gonna have to get some neckbeards from the LGS to play eh?
Selling Board Games for Medical Bills