Octopus Overlords

I've been playing Talisman The Prologue HD on my Android phone.

Now I want to buy the boardgame ^^

What's your experience with Talisman?

hentzau wrote:Played a game of King of Tokyo with my wife and son last night. Wife was not impressed.

I just bought it myself and played a couple of games. One friend said he didn't enjoy it, the other said he loved it and thought it was perfect.
The first one likes Kingsburg, Blokus, Carcassonne and fine whiskey. The second one likes Dungeonquest, Munchkin and vast amounts of cheap beer.

The Rocketman wrote:

hentzau wrote:Played a game of King of Tokyo with my wife and son last night. Wife was not impressed.

I just bought it myself and played a couple of games. One friend said he didn't enjoy it, the other said he loved it and thought it was perfect.
The first one likes Kingsburg, Blokus, Carcassonne and fine whiskey. The second one likes Dungeonquest, Munchkin and vast amounts of cheap beer.

Sorry, not really adding anything to this discussion other than

Played Pax Porifiana again Saturday. We started with 5 but one of the players had to leave before we finished. Oddly enough, a player leaving mid-game doesn't break the game we found.

Still made a few mistakes in the rules, but I think I'm getting to the point where I can actually consider a game a game and not a learning experience.

Then we broke out Sentinels of the Multiverse. Such a great coop game. We played against the Dreamer and it was a very unique experience. She's a victim as much as the players and you have to defeat her projections without harming her. We lost all but one hero and he managed to squeak out a win.

Finally, picked up Libertalia over the weekend. It's been hard to get hold of this game for some time and I just happened to come across a copy at a local gamestore while picking up some paints. when the owner threw in the nifty metal coins that came as a pre-order promo, there was no way to resist.

EzeKieL wrote:I've been playing Talisman The Prologue HD on my Android phone.

Now I want to buy the boardgame ^^

What's your experience with Talisman?

Don't do it! Talisman is less of a game and more of an experience. It can be great with certain people and at certain times, but it can also go for hours and hours and drag on terribly. IMHO, Relic, the Warhammer 40K resin of Talisman is worlds better due to some major rules tweaks. I also did not like the PVP aspect of Talisman, but YMMV.

Yes, Relic is a big thumbs up over Talisman, unless the Warhammer setting is really a big downer for you.

hepcat wrote:Then we broke out Sentinels of the Multiverse. Such a great coop game. We played against the Dreamer and it was a very unique experience. She's a victim as much as the players and you have to defeat her projections without harming her. We lost all but one hero and he managed to squeak out a win.

I played a solo game of sentinels playing 3 heroes myself and got destroyed. It seems a lot harder (and more complicated) than Legendary, though it seems that more heroes would make it easier.

Sentinels, in spite of having simpler rules, is a bit more complex than Legendary due to the nature of the cards. Each villain and his deck essentially create a unique game based on that character's numerous rules. Legendary is meant to be a light and (hopefully) quick experience. Sentinels is more of a "gamer's coop game" and as such, it can be brutal. I prefer Sentinels when I'm playing with gamers or looking for a challenge on my own.

baelthazar wrote:

EzeKieL wrote:I've been playing Talisman The Prologue HD on my Android phone.

Now I want to buy the boardgame ^^

What's your experience with Talisman?

Don't do it! Talisman is less of a game and more of an experience. It can be great with certain people and at certain times, but it can also go for hours and hours and drag on terribly. IMHO, Relic, the Warhammer 40K resin of Talisman is worlds better due to some major rules tweaks. I also did not like the PVP aspect of Talisman, but YMMV.

Aha, thanks for the heads up ^^

Terra Mystica x2
Lord of the Rings Deckbuilding Game x2
Maharaja: Palace Building in India
Coup
T'zolkin: The Mayan Calendar x2
Spartacus x2
Bootleggers
Colonial
Merchants and Marauders
Catacombs
D-Day Dice
Blood Bowl Team Manager

Random thoughts:
Terra Mystica is not quite the second coming people seem to want it to be, but it's very good. Managed a win on my second game, so my impressions are colored by that.

LOTR Deck-Building game is surprisingly good, despite that genre being oversaturated right now. Impossible mode should be renamed "No Fun Mode" though. Geez.

Spartacus continues to be a fantastic experience, but I need to pay attention to my Intrigue cards more. In one game I took Spartacus to the arena against Crixus with 9 Influence (we were playing to 10) and lost. Woe is me, because I forgot I held a card that gives +1 influence to a Dominus whose gladiator dies in the arena. Gah!!! Managed a win on the second game though.

T'zolkin was an impenetrable mess during my first game and I began to regret getting in on Miniature Market's $25 sale a couple of weeks ago. The second game was much, much better.

Colonial was a nice surprise - interesting mechanics and a gorgeous board, each player is a European power attempting to explore/trade/colonize the rest of the world. Game is played through a series of programmed action cards, sort of like Roborally. Some nice decisions and varying strategies, but in the end the fact that naval power could be exploited to crush everyone else seemed...unsatisfying. I probably think that because I was winning through exploration and colonization, and then got smacked down by another player's Navy o' Doom. This would probably be even better with the optional variable player powers, but it was interesting enough.

Merchants and Marauders continues to entertain, although once again the first player to get a Galleon was the one to run away with the victory. I'm still seeing a lack of ways to knock players down. Galleons are so freaking powerful.

Catacombs needs more mulligans when you play it at 1am.

Did not get to play my copy of Kemet, and did not get in a game of Game of Thrones 2ed, which I've been trying to do for over a year. Someday...

Got in a game of Suburbia, Agricola, and The Village. Good times.

I was really tempted to run down to Geekway on Saturday, but I think my mom would have disowned me...

The dates for Geekway next year have already been set - May 15-18, which is the weekend AFTER Mother's Day.

Also, the organizers mentioned over the weekend that they grew by 75% this year (~ 700 people attended). Based on that plus recent years, they are expecting 1200 or more next year and are unofficially setting their sights on surpassing BGG.con someday.

Prize drawings this year were pretty good. They gave away two $100 shopping sprees to Game Nite (a local St. Louis FLGS) and two $100 shopping sprees to Miniature Market. Grand prize (which I'm surprised they didn't split up) was a $200 Game Nite shopping spree PLUS a $200 MM shopping spree. I didn't win.

I may just come down next year for Gateway then. I like the idea of hitting up Miniature Market's store for some cheap prices at the same time. Plus, it's only about 5 or 6 hours from Chicago.

Played a 2-player (co-op) game of Conquest of Planet Earth. We won, but barely. If the other guy did not win that last fight (and thanks to my Martians "Souting" ability) we would have lost that very next round.

We then set up and "played" through a (learning) game of Mage Wars (I was the Warlord, he was the Forcemaster). We made so many mistakes...but I think I have it down, for the most part, now. My son and I are going to be playing another game of Mage Wars when he gets home from school.

Anyone coming to Origins this year? It is very likely I will be there on Saturday.

Just wanted to pop in and say that I won an X-Wing miniatures game regional tournament in New Jersey over the weekend. I have been playing with a good friend of mine for several months and we've been using that time to fine-tune our builds. It seems like all of the work paid off and I was lucky enough to go 5-1 during the competetion. After the first round of play my 3-1 record was good enough to get me a 3rd seed in the finals out of 17 participants. I fought a really awesome, fast-paced battle with the 2nd seed to advance to the final game, and I won a slog against a really good opponent to take the final win. My loot included some acrylic focus tokens (given to the top 8 finalists), a first-round bye for the World Championships this November, and a really sweet trophy. I was fortunate to play with some really great guys and gals and I had a ton of fun.

For an all day game, I love Talisman.

For a stay up too late cuz it takes so long evening game, I still love Talisman.

But, yeah it takes quite a bit of time.

Played about 4 games of Legendary over the weekend with 2 other friends.

The games were quick and fun, and really got everyone in the mind set of wanting the expansion. So I have to add that to my must buy list.

I might pick up the Sentinels of the Multiverse, as that seems like a little deeper game than Legendary is. But all gaming purchases are on hold until after the Disney trip with the family.

Benhur wrote:Just wanted to pop in and say that I won an X-Wing miniatures game regional tournament in New Jersey over the weekend. I have been playing with a good friend of mine for several months and we've been using that time to fine-tune our builds. It seems like all of the work paid off and I was lucky enough to go 5-1 during the competetion. After the first round of play my 3-1 record was good enough to get me a 3rd seed in the finals out of 17 participants. I fought a really awesome, fast-paced battle with the 2nd seed to advance to the final game, and I won a slog against a really good opponent to take the final win. My loot included some acrylic focus tokens (given to the top 8 finalists), a first-round bye for the World Championships this November, and a really sweet trophy. I was fortunate to play with some really great guys and gals and I had a ton of fun.

Congrats! That's great!

Benhur wrote:Just wanted to pop in and say that I won an X-Wing miniatures game regional tournament in New Jersey over the weekend. I have been playing with a good friend of mine for several months and we've been using that time to fine-tune our builds. It seems like all of the work paid off and I was lucky enough to go 5-1 during the competetion. After the first round of play my 3-1 record was good enough to get me a 3rd seed in the finals out of 17 participants. I fought a really awesome, fast-paced battle with the 2nd seed to advance to the final game, and I won a slog against a really good opponent to take the final win. My loot included some acrylic focus tokens (given to the top 8 finalists), a first-round bye for the World Championships this November, and a really sweet trophy. I was fortunate to play with some really great guys and gals and I had a ton of fun.

That's awesome. I'd love to hear more about the strategies that people brought to the table.

Keep on representin' OO, man!

True story and totally random -- I will be in Cedar Brook this weekend. I will scan the local papers and look for a picture of you posing next to a cardboard Death Star, holding a trophy high above your head.

Benhur wrote:Just wanted to pop in and say that I won an X-Wing miniatures game regional tournament in New Jersey over the weekend. I have been playing with a good friend of mine for several months and we've been using that time to fine-tune our builds. It seems like all of the work paid off and I was lucky enough to go 5-1 during the competetion. After the first round of play my 3-1 record was good enough to get me a 3rd seed in the finals out of 17 participants. I fought a really awesome, fast-paced battle with the 2nd seed to advance to the final game, and I won a slog against a really good opponent to take the final win. My loot included some acrylic focus tokens (given to the top 8 finalists), a first-round bye for the World Championships this November, and a really sweet trophy. I was fortunate to play with some really great guys and gals and I had a ton of fun.

Awesome! Great job. I have the starter set, and sadly never even opened it. Can not get my gaming group engaged to play it....Or even try it..

baelthazar wrote:Anyone coming to Origins this year? It is very likely I will be there on Saturday.

Yup, I'll be there with Seppe and Zarathud from Thursday through Sunday. There's an Origins 2013 thread below this one (depending on when you read this, I guess).

hepcat wrote:

baelthazar wrote:Anyone coming to Origins this year? It is very likely I will be there on Saturday.

Yup, I'll be there with Seppe and Zarathud from Thursday through Sunday. There's an Origins 2013 thread below this one (depending on when you read this, I guess).

Cool! We should make some plans to at least meet and say hello. I will be there with my father and have (hopefully) a press pass, so that is nice.

RMC wrote:

Benhur wrote:Just wanted to pop in and say that I won an X-Wing miniatures game regional tournament in New Jersey over the weekend. I have been playing with a good friend of mine for several months and we've been using that time to fine-tune our builds. It seems like all of the work paid off and I was lucky enough to go 5-1 during the competetion. After the first round of play my 3-1 record was good enough to get me a 3rd seed in the finals out of 17 participants. I fought a really awesome, fast-paced battle with the 2nd seed to advance to the final game, and I won a slog against a really good opponent to take the final win. My loot included some acrylic focus tokens (given to the top 8 finalists), a first-round bye for the World Championships this November, and a really sweet trophy. I was fortunate to play with some really great guys and gals and I had a ton of fun.

Awesome! Great job. I have the starter set, and sadly never even opened it. Can not get my gaming group engaged to play it....Or even try it..

Thanks! Are there any local gaming stores in your area? If so I'm sure at least some of the regulars play X-Wing...

Benhur wrote:

RMC wrote:

Benhur wrote:Just wanted to pop in and say that I won an X-Wing miniatures game regional tournament in New Jersey over the weekend. I have been playing with a good friend of mine for several months and we've been using that time to fine-tune our builds. It seems like all of the work paid off and I was lucky enough to go 5-1 during the competetion. After the first round of play my 3-1 record was good enough to get me a 3rd seed in the finals out of 17 participants. I fought a really awesome, fast-paced battle with the 2nd seed to advance to the final game, and I won a slog against a really good opponent to take the final win. My loot included some acrylic focus tokens (given to the top 8 finalists), a first-round bye for the World Championships this November, and a really sweet trophy. I was fortunate to play with some really great guys and gals and I had a ton of fun.

Awesome! Great job. I have the starter set, and sadly never even opened it. Can not get my gaming group engaged to play it....Or even try it..

Thanks! Are there any local gaming stores in your area? If so I'm sure at least some of the regulars play X-Wing...

Yeah, there is a group there at the store, I just have three kids and limited time to play... Good idea though, thanks!

4%!

coopasonic wrote:4%!

You don't say! Shocking!

RMC wrote:

coopasonic wrote:4%!

You don't say! Shocking!

I'm guessing he's talking about this:

Correct and since it will be years before I level up again, I need celebrate this one.

coopasonic wrote:Correct and since it will be years before I level up again, I need celebrate this one.

I don't even want to say my percentage. I think it is around that too. Still, it is a nice little boost. I just wish their shipping prices had not risen for me.

Cloudy day today. Perfect day to get either Mage Knight or Dawn of the Zeds on the table for some solo gaming goodness! God, I love overcast days.

hepcat wrote:Cloudy day today. Perfect day to get either Mage Knight or Dawn of the Zeds on the table for some solo gaming goodness! God, I love overcast days.

I would do the same with Hornet Leader, except the idiot girl who manages the property's office decided to be out when the Post Office came by, so no game until Monday.

I could play Thunderbolt Apache Leader, I guess.

I bought Hornet Leader because Dan Veressen said that the Cthulhu Conflict expansion was at the printers and is soon to be released. Very excited about sending fighters to destroy the Old Ones!

They're not coming back, so it's best to be excited about sending them into doom.

Played Le Havre for the first time today and I liked it ^^

Took a while for it to hit the table because my girlfriend and I feared that it might be a bit too complicated to grasp immediately.

Turns out it only looks that way. It has a nice pace and loads of options every turn, liked it a lot!

Maybe because I managed to score a wicked 53 points on the last turn of the game, winning with a nice 201 against her 150.

I played about 6 games of Crokinole tonight. Introduced several new folks to it.

Also, last Thursday, got in a 3 player game of Merchants and Marauders. Had a great time as usual, but we had to quit before we got to the end of the game. It was a learning game for one player, and a re-learning game for Tommy and myself. I ran with a Merchant, because I had lousy Seamanship and Searching skills, but lots of influence. Tommy and Stuart both went the pirate route, and while Stuart got the first glory point on his first merchant raid, he kind of stalled there and didn't make much headway at all.

Tommy was having a tough go of pirating though. He only had a 2 in search, and just could not find another ship to save his soul. I was doing pretty well with my merchanting, having acquired 3 glory points through trade and rumor resolving. About this point, Tommy out of frustration decided to try and take on my flute with his sloop. He made his search roll, much to his regret, because the Glory card I had just pulled was the "Escort" card, allowing me to pay 5 gold and have an NPC ship show up to fight him instead of me. He soon found himself starting over with another captain.

Ended the game around 11:30, with me at 6 VP, Tommy at 3 and Stuart at 2. We're going to give it another go tonight, see how fortunes favor us now that we're all re-familiar with the rules.

Arr.

So I am going away on vacation in a few weeks with my kids and a bunch of nongamers. I have Carcassone and forbidden island that are more lite. But not that many others.

I was thinking of getting Settlers of Catan, but does anyone have any ideas for other lite games for nongamer type games. Also, they have to be semi-small, and easy to teach and play quick. <sigh> And after typing that, I am not sure that the above games will fit all that either.... Hmm...

Well any suggestions?