Munchkin....

So we own a lot of Munchkin versions...we have played a lot of versions.  There are some great ones out there and this is just a fun game as the cards are plain silly.  For us, one main issue is that this does NOT play well at two player.  So we don't play it a lot on our own because, well, why...there are so many games that DO play well at 2 and this isn't one of them.  What this is is a great game for a group. We've just recently played this is twice with 6 players and once at 4.  This reminded me of why I enjoy the game. That it is very fun in a large group where you can take turns helping/hurting each other's character. You also see a lot of cards, which is nice, as they are half the fun.  We played Cthulhu, Star and Christmas. 

What I was reminded of tonight (Star Munchkin in case you were wondering) is one thing I don't like about the game, at any level.  That eventually you are all at about 8 and 9...and someone will win...and it is just a waiting game on who it is because you are waiting for someone to get a low enough monster that no one can stop them...and the game often goes on a round or two more than it "needs" to while you wait for this to happen.  And most of the table is just wanting SOMEONE to win, they don't care who anymore....and that isn't fun. So for me, the first 90% is super fun...and the last bit is just kind of like "get it over with." I wish there was a way to get rid of that last little bit. 

Kid Games

We are already working on getting our kids into gaming.  Adam (our 6 year old) got My First Carcassonne for Christmas.  This is a simplified version of the big name Carcassonne. My son got it quickly and seemed to really enjoy it.  He also got Robot Turtles for Christmas.  He loved this as well.  Both are also decent enough that Ray and I don't mind playing them. 

Catan and Catan Histories

We recently played Catan, the Ancient Egypt edition.  Now I like Catan...Ray doesn't. It isn't that he hates it, just that he feels it is too long for what it is (for instance with 4 players, Egypt took us 3 hours).    I like base Catan and I enjoy the various expansions (I think the seafarers one is pretty cool), but I really enjoy the historicals.  So I wanted to tell you about the ones I like/don't like of those. 

Now Trials to Rails (the American one)...I want to like this one. Seriously, I did.  But I don't. It is long and repetitive and the mechanics just weren't well thought out/executed.  There are some cool features, but it just isn't that good.  We ended up selling this one.  From what I've seen/heard, the European one (Merchant of Europe) seems to be very similar, so I haven't even tried it.

We do have Struggle for Rome, which I really like. I like that there are two stages of the game...you are wandering, then settle down. I think this really helps and makes this a cool, and unique, version.  I think this is worth picking up and trying.

I also think the new Ancient Egypt one is as well.  Now this comes with the base game in essence, but I have no idea why you'd want to play it. We did the Great Pyramid one and that was fun. I like the addition of the Nile, the God cards, the Great Pyramid.  My biggest "beef" with the game is that the components just aren't up to snuff...and given the price point, they should be.  So that was a major disappointment...the Great Pyramid was well....pathetic. 

My husband's (who doesn't like Catan much as mentioned) favorite is Catan Germany, which was one of the Geographies.  I think the rest ended up just being maps. The production value here is EXCELLENT and the game is fun, the landmarks are just cool and the map is very true to Germany. 

We also have a few random maps, which are just fun to have around. 

We also have played Star Trek Catan and have the extra maps, really this is just a re-theming, no new additions. 

There are two card games: Rivals and Struggle. Rivals is just two player and has a TON of expansions. My biggest beef is that this pretty long and takes a TON of room to play. I like it, but I wish it wasn't so cumbersome to set up/play.  Struggle plays 2-4 and is much more compact....this is the one we still own (we gave the other to my brother). It is fast version of Catan and relatively simple to set up/play. 

Our Airplane Game: Brave Rats

A couple of months ago I challenged Ray to find me a game we could play on the airplane (or in another small space).  The idea was this would have be very compact, very portable and fairly easy to play.  We found BraveRats.  This is quick and easy and only 16 cards.  That's it.  It is pretty much War with special powers.  You play cards simultaneously, out of a deck of 0 to 7, where each has a "special" power.  It takes no room to carry, no room to play and doesn't take a lot of brain power to play. Each game only takes 5 minutes.  Perfect carry-on material!

Underrated Dice Bulding Game: Airships

 

Airships is a game that Ray and I just love, but it seems to have flown under the radar and very few people know it.  You can't find good review of it and there are online video reviews (at least in English, I did see one in Spanish).  And I will be the first to admit the rulebook sucks.  There are like 6 copies of it, in 6 languages...I am assuming the original is probably the best, but the English isn't so great.  In addition, even with a better translation, it still is really hard to wade through.  Ray and I probably played it about 4 times before we figured out all the rules and we just learned a new (kind of major one!) tonight! 

 

This is a dice building game and with the craze for dice building games (Quarriors and Marvel Dice Masters), a game like this should appeal to all those dice crazy people.  So I'd really like to see all those dice people give this a try.  It is a solid dice game, with a nice combination of luck and skill.

 

The idea is that your country is building airships and you are picking up different cards, by rolling dice, that give you  better dice and better aids in rolling those dice, that allow you to build the various airship and then the Hindenburg. When you have with built most of the airships of the entire Hindenburg, the game is over and you count VPs.  The mechanics, once you figure them out, are relatively simple and the components are decent quality.  This is a game we have gotten a lot of play out and plan to continue to play into the future. It has been playing very well for us at 2 players, we have not yet played it with any larger group.  

Top 10 for Beginning Gamers

Ray and I also worked together on a list of games for "newbie" gamers - these are games we enjoy and think are great to introduce people to because they are easy to teach and quick to learn.  These aren't in any specific order. 

Mystery at the Abbey
This is grown up Clue, so this is a great introductory game because it is very simliar to a game most of us played as a kid.

King of Toyko

This is really just Yahtzee, only you get up to beat up monsters. We play it with our six year old.

Lords of Waterdeep

This is an excellent starter worker placement game. While the theme might seem heavy, it really isn't. It is light and fun and a good way to learn worker placement.

Star Realms

This is a easy, quick, small, deck builder. There are tons of deck builder games (Dominion of any of the Cyptopzoic deck builders (Lord of the Rings, DC)), but this is a light, quick two player one.

Forbidden Island

This is an excellent starter coop game.  It is fun and easy to plan and works great in groups and can easily be taught to kids.

Ticket to Ride

This is a very easy set collection game and it includes fun little trains.   It is easy to teach to anyone.  There are tons of maps out there for this, so once you learn the base game, you have tons of options.

Rise of Augustus

This gamer bingo. It shouldn't be fun, but it really is.  It is light and quick.

Smallworld

This is an area control game and while it might seem like it would be vicious, it really is fun and tight.  Your races "rise" and "fall" quickly, so it doesn't feel like you are losing people all the time. 

Survive

This is a fun little family game that can get quite tense as you try to get your figures onto the land!

Catan
This is a standard bearer - there are tons of versions of this and everyone plays it, so it is a good place to start. 

Ray's Top 10

This is Ray's current Top 10...as I said, we had to stop somewhere!

Suburbia
Suburbia is a great game where you are create a simulated city.  You create your city and try to do better than your opponents. I love this game, it works great for all the player levels and with the expansion this takes my top spot.

Carson City

Carson City is a worker place/role selection game that allows you to create the city of Carson City. You get different buildings and other ways to get money and resources. This is hard to find, but it also is a worker placement. You can kick someone off the spot you wanted through a shoot out!!! Great game.

King of Tokyo

Okay, this is the odd ball choice. It is Yahtzee only you are using the dice to gain points, heal or beat on the other players. My son Adam can play, but I have had so much fun with adults that I think this is a great game and I would throw down whenever this is brought out. I have not played King of New York so this one might get replaced down the road.

Pandemic

The solid co-op that most people will jump at. This game is all about people working together to beat the diseases. This can be intense especially when you amp up the difficulty by adding epidemic. I love introducing people to advanced board gaming!

Lords of Waterdeep

The second worker placement game on the list. This game is a simple worker placement, but has enough twists to keep it interesting. It made it into the top 10 because of the expansion. This actually added enough to make it a great game.

Aton

A two player game that my wife hates.:)  It is truly abstract, but with a great many ways to win yet you need to counter your opponent as well as move forward with your strategy. It is only 10-15 minutes, but has a lot of depth.

Magic: The Gathering

Yea, Yea I know a CCG, but it is a great game.  If you just build decks for fun and not tournament play and try and make them better with what you have it is great. It is fun and fast and you can spend time thinking and working on decks and have fun with that as well. So PPPPPP to all you!:)

War of the Ring (second edition)

This is a great war game, with asymmetrical player goals and strengths. This game is fun,  but makes you think. This is an afternoon game, not something that can be played quickly. Get the ring bearer to the mountain or run over the Free People. This may change based when I play Battle for Five Armies.

Star Wars: X-Wing Miniatures Game

This is a fun tactical miniature game where you try to out think your opponent based on movement selection and some dice rolling. I like it a lot and come on, dogfighting!

Legendary: A Marvel Deck Building Game

I actually like deckbuilding games a lot, but this one is just fun. I actually get the flavor of super hero fights in a great format. You can play it completely co-op or semi co-op. It is fun and works great two player.

Jennie's Top 10

This is my current top 10...had to start somewhere! This is a CONSTANTLY changing list!

Freedom
This is a great historical coop game. It is rather long, but I just adore it!

LOR Deck Building

I love deck building games, but this is a very easy and quick one. I love that it sets up really quick and is easy to teach and play.

Suburbia

This is a city building game - it takes what I liked about Sim City and removes everything I didn't like in that computer game!  It is timed, which keeps it from getting too long.

Fleet

This is a great bidding game.  I love the theme and artwork as well as the way you building up your licenses and fish. 

Pandemic: the Cure

This is a great dice version of the traditional coop game. I like this one because it sets up so much faster than the original. 

Forbidden Desert

This is a great intro coop game.  It is fun and enjoyable for all.

Agricola: All Creatures

This is a shortened, two player, version of Agricola. I love that it is much faster (and 2 player) than the original.

Dominion (Alchemy)
This was my first deck builder and I still really enjoy it. Alchemy is my favorite set. 

Kingsburg

This is a great dice game.  It is fun and quick to set up.

Catan (Rome)

I love Catan, but it does require 3, which is an issue for us.  I really like the "theme" ones and this is my current favorite. 

Welcome to Our Gaming World!

So we are total gamers now...Jennie has been drug into it! We wanted a place to share our views and favorites with our friends.  Hopefully, this will help!

Our gaming collection (and we are slowly rating all our games) can be found here.

A little about us.  We are married (12 years at this point), have two little kids (4 and 6) and live in Alaska.  We are both professors.  We like all games to be playable at 2 players because we play mostly with each other. We also are always looking out for games we can share with our kids, who we are already introducing to gaming.  We also like games we can share with our friends and family, so a lot of games that appeal to a wide audience.  Ray likes the medium to heavier games and Jennie tends to go for medium to light.  She's really into DBGs.  Ray likes miniature war gaming, like Warhammer 40K, as well, plus Magic.  Jennie really isn't into either of those.