Officially sanctioned optional rules only. This is not for house rules, see below!
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 ...
3
votes
1answer
63 views
How can I balance mandatory quests in two-player games of Lords of Waterdeep?
I am looking for a variant to balance out mandatory quests when playing 2 player. I understand that normally they are powerful, and exist as a catch up mechanic, allowing all players to target the ...
3
votes
1answer
154 views
What's the point of the covered character in the Bang! 2-player variant?
The official two-player variant rules say that at the start of the game, you get two character cards, and you choose one to be your "exposed" character and one to be your "covered" character. You can ...
15
votes
3answers
401 views
How can I play a short/small, but still satisfying round of Diplomacy?
I liked playing Diplomacy back in university, where I had almost no problem gathering seven people with a whole day (including the nights) to spend.
Nowadays however, I'd consider myself lucky to ...
4
votes
1answer
30 views
Must all three men be on the back line at once in Little Wars' “Blow to the rear” Variation?
On page 56 of Little Wars, Wells writes,
The Blow at the Rear game is decided when at least three men of one force reach any point in the back line of their antagonist. He is then supposed to ...
2
votes
1answer
58 views
6 player Dog variation
In Dog there is a expansion from 4 to 6 players. The only variation I know and have played is 3 vs 3. Does anyone have experience with 2 vs 2 vs 2? Does that play well too?
Background: I'm thinking ...
10
votes
2answers
345 views
Opening strategies in Chess 960 (Fisher Random Chess)
I had a go at Chess 960 the other day, but whereas I thought I might do better against the computer as it didn't have an opening book, in fact the opposite happened as it quickly found holes in my ...
7
votes
2answers
311 views
What are the Differences Between Formula Dé and Formula D?
Thinking about trading for one of these variations of Formula D, but would like to know which one is the preferable version. Are there differences in rules, component quality, or both?
17
votes
8answers
2k views
Why Does Magic Use The “Paris Mulligan” Rule?
In the early days, Magic had crazy, subpar mulligan rules: you could shuffle up and draw a new 7 if your hand had no lands or all lands, otherwise you were out of luck. A long time ago the Paris ...
8
votes
5answers
401 views
Promised future trades as part of legal trades? (Solution described, alternatives/comments requested)
When making a trade in Settlers of Catan, there is no official rule encouraging or prohibiting making a promise (to make a certain type of trade or perform some kind of action in the future) during a ...
3
votes
0answers
62 views
How to counter oddities of Shade-Tree Checkers? (long distance king jumps, etc)
I know someone who played checkers with a guy, and he plays with non-standard rules. People he plays with have their own rules, in this case, he played where the kinged checkers piece can jump ...
3
votes
1answer
204 views
Where can I find more Brood War scenarios?
The Brood War expansion of Starcraft introduces the idea of the Scenario Game Mode, which basically comprises a pregenerated galaxy setup with special victory conditions. Often, playing scenarios ...
13
votes
3answers
731 views
Is there a “Campaign Mode” set of rules available for Arkham Horror?
Are there any rules (official or otherwise) that would govern trying to string together multiple games of Arkham Horror into some sort of a campaign structure? The idea would be for the investigators ...
8
votes
4answers
382 views
Chess variant that allows humans to be competitive vs computers
It seems that computers can beat the majority of chess players out there, and at the current rate in which distributed computing is going, it seems like the #1 chess player out there will be computers ...
5
votes
1answer
341 views
Is there another good 3 player variant of Canasta?
The only 3 player variant of Canasta that I know is Cutthroat Canasta. Are there any other good 3 player variations?
13
votes
3answers
499 views
Official Diplomacy sets, variations and where to buy
Diplomacy only seems to have one set available to buy widely that I am aware of, built by Gibson Games.
It's nothing special, an averagely constructed cardboard board with plastic pieces.
Are there ...
0
votes
0answers
201 views
Good places to purchase a hexagonal chess board (or materials to build one with)? [closed]
I am interested in getting a hexagonal board to play the ImmortalStarMasters chess variant on (it allows you to have six players playing on the same board). Does anyone know where to get one?
7
votes
1answer
2k views
Extra Adventures for Castle Ravenloft
Where can I find other adventures for Castle Ravenloft? So far I've only found the two bonus adventures that WotC released.
4
votes
3answers
117 views
Is there a variant of chess such that in the starting position Bishops and Knights are switched?
White's back row would look like this: RBNQKNBR and Black's would undergo an equivalent change.
Where can I learn more about this variant/play this variant with someone experienced?
4
votes
1answer
211 views
Boggle variations?
This summer we have company staying with us, and they greatly enjoy playing Boggle. I'm looking to spice things up a bit, though - any ideas for Boggle variations that we can try? There will be two to ...
9
votes
2answers
585 views
What are the differences between the various versions of Axis & Allies?
I used to play Axis & Allies all the time when I was younger. I recently purchased the Axis & Allies Revised Edition, and was floored by all the added complexity/new units/new rules/map ...
4
votes
2answers
167 views
What do you do about contradictory rules of Pit?
The rules of Pit are oddly contradictory. For n players choose n commonities, add in the Bull and Bear, shuffle and deal out the cards. The rules state that everyone gets 9 cards. Doh! With the Bull ...
4
votes
1answer
282 views
Axis & Allies Chess
My curiosity in this variant was piqued by this comment in my 'Games that have no element of luck' thread.
I'd love to read an expanded explanation of the rule changes and peoples experience ...
2
votes
1answer
115 views
Tales of Arabian Nights — Story versus Destiny and variants?
In the ZMan version of Tales of Arabian Nights, you choose 20 points between Story and Destiny. I tend to do 10 of each or something similar. Is this the best strategy?
Also, the game is very ...
