My housemate thinks this is the Best Game Evar, but the theme just doesn't pull me in.

There's a rather similar game called Twilight Struggle that covers the Cold War. I don't have that one yet. Wallybee and I went through all seven seasons of The West Wing last year, so it's actually a theme that interests her quite well.

billytea, we should be co-located. The DH and I have only been able to play War of the Ring a couple times - the figures are irresistible for the toddler. I have managed to lose as the Fellowship, sadly.

I think the Fellowship is supposed to be both harder to play well, and harder to win with. So just to make it even harder to manage logistics, you really should play twice in a row, once on each side.

And agreed that Kingmaker has its issues, though I'd call it stalemate rather than balance. Grab an heir, figure out your base, and stay there.

Yep. But the initial heir grab was heaps of fun.

My brother and I played WotR via email, using Cyberboard, a number of times. I really like the way it captures the flavor of the Lord of the Rings.

Yeah, the thematic details are cool. Both players being able to win a military victory or a Ring victory gives it a great boost. (And means that both players can simultaneously be on the brink of victory and the verge of defeat.)

First and foremost is Civilization. I miss that game SO MUCH. And I no longer have a copy. I have every now and again found copies of Civ and CivII (an expansion game) on Ebay for about $60, but always when I couldn't actually afford it.

See, Sean, you need to move to Melbourne. I have both of them. (And also have a dearth of actual play-possibilities.)

Then there's this game I mentioned called Republic of Rome. It's a lot of fun, too.

I Should look into that. I love the period, studied ancient history at high school and uni.

In Age of Empires II, is there a way to play in "I just want to see what happens" mode without having the computer outbuild me on every single point? I just want to track the development of my community without getting my butt kicked all the time.

The only thing that really comes to mind for me is just to reduce the difficulty level. At the lowest level, I don't think the computer player takes much initiative for itself. But it's imperfect. Alternatively, you could put other computer players onto your team, so they spend more of their time fighting each other.

wow! looks like Buffistas had some pent up gaming! Look at all these posts in one day or so!

So? Does anyone like backgammon? One of my fav's. Sadly the iBackgammon online one that fits iPhone screen is easy to beat. :: sigh :: Also, my uncle gave me a rather unique board. Made in Brazil eons ago of butterfly wings. dunno what kind, but it's mesmerizing. I need to find some pips for it, as he only had the board.

First and foremost is Civilization.

See, Sean, you need to move to Melbourne. I have both of them. (And also have a dearth of actual play-possibilities.)

AAAH! Must. Get. To. Melbourne. STAT!

Except that once I got there, we'd still need to get at least two more players besides you, me and Wallybee interested to get a good game going. The other drawback of one of my favorite games ever.

Still pricing Melbourne tickets, though...

I've long wanted to play the LotR board game(s, I know there's a few). I'm not sure what the variance is between any of them.

I've played Empires of the Middle Ages once or twice. Along with a number of other Avalon Hill bookshelf games that were played only once.

Growing up, my dad and one of his brothers got interested in Panzer Leader at just about the time I was old enough to be interested myself, and be able to understand the rules.

Yeah, gamer for life.

So? Does anyone like backgammon?

Many Buffistas are backgammon players, and I have watched many games played at F2Fs.

I myself still find it a bit of a mystery, but want to learn and play more.

So? Does anyone like backgammon? One of my fav's.

Oh yeah. I am a KILLER backgammon player. (Ask Tep - she thinks I play dirty.)

I loves me some backgammon, and I would not mind meeting up for an online game at some point (assuming I can find a place to play online).

I play the a variety of it, Acey-Duecy. Not a lot of difference, but it's what I learned in the Navy and I kinda stick with it.

I quite like the Backgammon variant (Dutch?) where you both start with your pieces off the board, so every piece has to pass every point to finish. This does favour the blocking game over the running game, though.

Does anyone like backgammon?

Backgammon was one of my favorite "need to kill five minutes" games on my Clié, but the version I had was one of the few apps. I had that doesn't run on my T|X, and I'm not happy with the replacement I found. Still looking....

I have no idea how to play backgammon.

But I love the etymology of the name.