River: I know you have questions. Mal: That would be why I just asked them.

'Objects In Space'


Gaming 1: You are likely to be eaten by a grue

A thread for the discussion of games: board, LARP, MMORPG, video, tabletop RPG, game theory etc. etc. and all attendant news, developments and ancillary subjects thereof, as well as coordinating/scheduling games either online or IRL. All are welcome to chime in, talk about their favorite games or learn about gaming of any sort.

PLEASE TO WHITEFONT SPOILERS for video games, RPG modules or anything for which foreknowledge of events might lessen one's enjoyment of whatever gaming experience.


megan walker - Apr 27, 2008 7:03:01 am PDT #205 of 26133
"What kind of magical sunshine and lollipop world do you live in? Because you need to be medicated."-SFist

I like the multi-player games. Pit's a longstanding favourite. (I once played with a group that actually stopped to think between bids. How perverse is that?)

OMG, the whole fun of Pit is the crazy bidding and everybody screaming out their trades. I can't even imagine pausing. I'm sad I don't have my old cards anymore with flax, etc., but I do love the bell that came with my new version.

Right now, though, the multi-player game I always reach for is Bohnanza. It's a trading game set in the competitive world of bean farming and has an excellent balance of fun and competitiveness.

I've found that Bohnanza is a great introduction to games for people who think they don't like them. And it's really good for any number of players because of the trading.

Wallybee is just so much fun to play against, she really takes to trading games. I wound up buying a board game, Traders of Genoa, on the strength of her enjoyment of Bohnanza.

Hmmm, how do they compare?

I gave Lost Cities to my nephew this past Christmas. I liked it, but it seems that it might get old quickly.


Pix - Apr 27, 2008 9:08:34 am PDT #206 of 26133
We're all getting played with, babe. -Weird Barbie

I bought Lost Cities for Drew for Christmas, but we haven't played it yet. (Hence, game closet cleaning needed.)


billytea - Apr 27, 2008 12:53:28 pm PDT #207 of 26133
You were a wrong baby who grew up wrong. The wrong kind of wrong. It's better you hear it from a friend.

Hmmm, how do they compare?

Traders of Genoa is a full board game, and is more complicated. (Not as bad as your average wargame, but there's a bit to keep track of.) Less of a gateway game than Bohnanza. It's still heaps of fun though, and the scope for negotiation is broader than in Bohnanza - you can basically trade anything you have, for anything the other player has.

If someone enjoyed Bohnanza, I'd give that a few rounds, and then try them out on Traders.

I gave Lost Cities to my nephew this past Christmas. I liked it, but it seems that it might get old quickly.

It feels that way to me too, though it's stayed fresh longer than I expected so far. Odin's Ravens is the two-player card game I'm most likely to recommend these days.


omnis_audis - Apr 27, 2008 8:35:15 pm PDT #208 of 26133
omnis, pursue. That's an order from a shy woman who can use M-16. - Shir

There is a facebook app for backgammon! Anyone game?
OMGOMGOMG! I must now go install it!
Apparently there are a bunch. I went with the first I found, which is "Gammonmania": [link]


Sean K - Apr 27, 2008 9:35:48 pm PDT #209 of 26133
You can't leave me to my own devices; my devices are Nap and Eat. -Zenkitty

At the moment, I think I'm keenest to find out more of what they've done with social encounters. If they've made it easier for me to give PCs real challenges outside of combat, then that's a great advance for me. (I like designing combats, but I'd really rather have more time left over to plan the talky meat.)

I'm very intrigued by this as well. It's one of the parts of the new rules that interests me the most.

You know, when it comes down to it, any and all issues I have with 4th Edition would go away if it wasn't actually called Dungeons and Dragons.


NoiseDesign - Apr 27, 2008 9:56:43 pm PDT #210 of 26133
Our wings are not tired

I feel that way about some incarnations of Yes.


Sean K - Apr 27, 2008 10:02:57 pm PDT #211 of 26133
You can't leave me to my own devices; my devices are Nap and Eat. -Zenkitty

So do I.


NoiseDesign - Apr 27, 2008 10:04:18 pm PDT #212 of 26133
Our wings are not tired

I've almost got the office to the point where I can take some time with FG. I had to install a wireless bridge and some other gak that took up extra time, but I should be booting up the spare iMac shortly and hopefully starting my journey into FG.


Sean K - Apr 27, 2008 10:04:20 pm PDT #213 of 26133
You can't leave me to my own devices; my devices are Nap and Eat. -Zenkitty

I saw the Big Generator tour in Detroit. I don't think I can actually say I've seen Yes in concert.


Pete, Husband of Jilli - Apr 28, 2008 12:36:07 pm PDT #214 of 26133
"I've got a gun! I've got a mother-flippin' gun!" - Moss, The IT Crowd

It is now less than 22 hours until I get mY GTA IV fix.

Yes, I'm counting. Wellllllll, okay, kinda. I'm just very AWARE.

In D&D 4th ed news, apparently multiclassing is now achieved via feats. You get a lot more feats now it seems.