Rule changes, additions and options proposed by players for players. This is not for officially sanctioned variations, see below!
15
votes
4answers
2k views
How can I play Pandemic with 6 players?
I've recently bought Pandemic, and really liked the game. But since the basic game is only 2-4 players, I ordered the expansion "On the Brink", which brings it up to 5 players.
Is there a rules ...
15
votes
8answers
473 views
Pre-drawing cards or tiles
This goes for many games where players take turns to draw cards, but I specifically wondered about Carcassonne:
Do you allow players to pre-draw tiles? So they don't have to wait until it's their ...
4
votes
3answers
715 views
Without breaking the game, how can I fix Memoir 44's problem with having no cards to order units in a certain section?
I find Memoir 44 very interesting and exciting, but it seems everyone I introduce it to has the same gripe. They (and I) don't like having a unit getting pummeled by the opposing force without being ...
6
votes
1answer
98 views
Non-team variants for four or more players in Mille Bornes?
Has anyone come across variant rules for Mille Bornes where the players don't play on teams? I've seen rules for 2 player, 3 player, 2 vs 2 and 3 vs 3, but nothing for four or more solo players.
For ...
15
votes
6answers
486 views
Carcassonne — problem telling the difference between the Big Meeple and regular Meeples
In our gaming group, we have a very hard time picking out the Big Meeple from the other Meeples on the board. While the Big Meeple certainly is bigger than the others, it's not by a significant ...
11
votes
4answers
2k views
Recommended Axis & Allies alternative rules / variations?
What rule variations do you recommend for playing Axis & Allies, from ones meant to balance the game to ones that add a little spice?
Here are the variants I've played with - always looking for ...
19
votes
9answers
281 views
How to eliminate advantages gained from the seating position of inferior players?
In many games, such as Liar's Dice or On The Underground, there is an advantage to be had by sitting immediately after (in the turn order) the player who is least experienced or just plain bad at the ...
6
votes
2answers
163 views
18xx Companies able to buy other companies, what will be the impact
One of the fun parts of the 18xx games, is that its fairly easy to create your own (local) version. I like to create a dutch version (yes there have been two already but with limited availability). ...
4
votes
3answers
78 views
Would Steam/Age of Steam benefit from a non-constrained set of tiles
Steam and Age of Steam provide a finite set of tiles, and the rules explicitly mention that if a certain type of tile runs out then it is effectively unavailable anymore -- unless a tile comes back ...
7
votes
1answer
372 views
Are there disadvantages to the house rule that you always end before the starting player?
Once an end condition is reached, I like the house rule where you play until just before the starting player. It seems more fair to me.
Are there any counterarguments? It seems like the game ...
17
votes
8answers
1k views
Trivial Pursuit - Rules for a “short to medium length” game?
The standard rules for Trivial Pursuit say that in order to win, the player must collect all six wedges from the special category spaces, then proceed to the center and answer a final question in a ...
7
votes
2answers
246 views
San Juan variant to balance prices
San Juan is a admittedly a game with a good deal of luck involved. However the luck element seems to be emphasised when we play, as some of the cards seem significantly better than other cards of the ...
6
votes
3answers
541 views
House rules to fix LotR Risk endgame
I've been playing Lord of the Rings Risk, in the variant where the Ring moves one territory per turn, requiring a roll of 4 or higher to leave certain territories, and the game ends when the Ring ...
2
votes
1answer
160 views
The New Dungeon lengthening
Now and again I play the The New Dungeon (with people who don't normally play board games), but I'm always struck by how fast the game is over. It seems like you're barely getting started on the ...
12
votes
6answers
793 views
Is bribing off the robber a good addition to Settlers of Catan?
When I play Settlers of Catan with my family we sometimes allow bribing of the person placing the robber to not place it in a particular spot. Does anyone else play this way and if so do you find ...
7
votes
4answers
390 views
Are there good two player rules for resource trading in Settlers of Catan?
I've tried playing two-player Settlers, where each player controls one set of pieces, and each time a player builds they need to play a piece of the same type for one of the two uncontrolled colors ...
12
votes
9answers
1k views
Clarifying house rules for Monopoly
It seems likely that I may be involved in a game of Monopoly soon. I'm not a big fan of Monopoly for a number of reasons, one of which is that part way through the game someone will reveal that they ...
28
votes
8answers
2k views
What are some alternatives to using dice in Settlers of Catan?
In Settlers of Catan, there's a variant where instead of rolling the dice, you use a stack of 36 cards with each combination. This reduces the luck component, but has as disadvantage that you can ...
17
votes
4answers
273 views
Ideas for handicapping strong Boggle players?
My family enjoys playing Boggle. Usually it's all adults that play, but come the holidays it's not uncommon to have elementary and junior high aged cousins, nieces, and nephews interested in playing ...
8
votes
2answers
355 views
Descent Campaign Shortening
Myself and some friends meet up for some games every so often, and enjoy a good game of Descent to Darkness.
We recently tried a campaign over an extra long weekend (the idea of carrying equipment ...
7
votes
2answers
302 views
Alternative major improvements for Agricola
Are there any (official/unofficial) alternatives to the major improvements in Agricola?
5
votes
2answers
161 views
House rules for Crokinole?
Any recommendations or variants for playing Crokinole? We say that you have to stay seated in your chair with at least one cheek touching to make your shot.
10
votes
2answers
436 views
Alternative rules for SimCity: The Card Game
Back in the 90s, I enjoyed collecting SimCity: The Card Game. I can't help but feel excited that there's a lot of potential in the game, but that the rules are broken and in certain aspects, to be ...
13
votes
3answers
684 views
What are some good house rules to balance the sides in Saboteur?
My group of gaming buddies, after playing plenty of Saboteur, has found that the "good dwarves" can pretty easily win consistently once they learn which pieces are most valuable and how to best ...
21
votes
2answers
2k views
Is it possible to play 2-player, 2-character Arkham Horror successfully?
I've tried playing Arkham Horror with 1, 2 and 4 players. I've found that the game seems extraordinarily difficult with less than 4 characters. Simply put, you don't have enough gos to do everything. ...
55
votes
13answers
751 views
Taking back turns, and forgotten privileges
A generic question across most board games: once a player has taken their turn (taken their finger off the piece they are playing), should they be allowed to change their mind?
Similarly, if a player ...
11
votes
2answers
245 views
Removing the Luck from Stone Age
Stone Age is one of my personal favourite games. The game dynamics are excellent and requires plenty of skill and strategy to win, with the only exception of the dice roll when determining resource.
...
5
votes
1answer
177 views
House rule to fix vindictive behavior in Princes of Florence
In Princes of Florence, the bugbear is this rule:
A player may move his figure backwards
on the fame track at any time during
the game. For each space moved
backward, the player takes 100 ...
9
votes
6answers
911 views
House rules to make the cloister less of a game winning tile in Carcassonne?
In my experience, cloister tiles in Carcassonne are often "too lucky". If you draw a cloister tile in the beginning of the game, it will typically still require an investment of quite a bit of ...
17
votes
8answers
1k views
Playing with less or more than 10 Kingdom card types in Dominion
In Dominion you choose 10 of the 25 Kingdom cards to play with in a given game, generally at random. Is it possible/advisable to play with less or more sets? I've considered playing with less to make ...
