All Questions
43
votes
14answers
3k views
Boardgaming Online
This is a community maintained list of online resources to play boardgames with.
Does anyone know of more resources for online play?
Answers that address the following points would be much ...
73
votes
22answers
3k views
What cooperative board games are there that I could safely play with my wife? [closed]
My wife loves board games, but dislikes very competitive games, and is completely uninterested in aggressive "beat up the other guy" games. We recently discovered Pandemic, where each player works ...
43
votes
41answers
4k views
Games that have no element of luck. [closed]
Most of my favourite games, such as Diplomacy, have little or no element of luck - either via dice rolls, hands dealt, or other methods.
What other games can you recommend that rely on 'skill' alone? ...
37
votes
28answers
12k views
Board games for two players [closed]
My wife and I enjoy playing board games (having gotten hooked on Settlers of Catan and expanded from there) but we don't often have the opportunity to play with other people. The question What ...
35
votes
24answers
2k views
Games that are quick to teach to new people, yet still fun and strategical [closed]
I love board games and don't mind sitting down for 10-15 minutes with some experienced players to learn how to play a complex game. However, I don't think most of my friends are as tolerable of ...
37
votes
14answers
914 views
Countermeasures to “analysis paralysis”?
Several of my gaming friends are victim to more or less chronic analysis paralysis, which can drag down even the simplest of games.
We've occasionally used an hourglass to combat this, but it tends ...
24
votes
2answers
728 views
There seem to be several different scoring systems for fields/cities in Carcassonne — which is correct?
It seems that the scoring for fields and cities in Carcassonne varies -- has this changed over the years, or is this a difference between the US and international versions? Are there ...
15
votes
1answer
475 views
Can a resource card be used more than once in a turn when allowed to build more than one structure?
Scenario:
Player is using Babylon (side B)
2nd wonder has been completed (allows playing last card of each age instead of discarding)
Player has a Mine in play (can produce either Stone or Ore)
...
28
votes
30answers
2k views
Interesting boardgames to play with children. [closed]
I have two children aged 8 and 6 and they like to play board games. Some of the ones they have are for very young children and boring for an adult to play. Are there any suggestions for games that ...
36
votes
6answers
1k views
In Settlers of Catan, how do you overcome bad initial settlement placement?
In Settlers of Catan, how do you overcome bad initial settlement placement? In a lot of games of Catan I've played, initial settlement placement seems to really make or break the game for a player. ...
21
votes
13answers
4k views
What are good standard tactics for Dominion?
Googling reveals several sites listing standard tactics for Dominion. Let's collect ideas here, and discuss and judge them using the voting system.
One tactic per post please.
25
votes
7answers
1k views
How important is memorizing chess openings in casual play?
I've played chess since I was kid and after much practice have become a decent player. I still though, have little strategy to my opening moves besides starting with a King's Pawn Game. I know ...
55
votes
13answers
736 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 ...
41
votes
10answers
2k views
Should I trash Copper or Silver with Mine?
Assuming I've got both Copper and Silver in my hand, which is better to trash in general and why?
14
votes
28answers
2k views
What are good games to play during a one-hour lunch break? [closed]
On any given day we can have any number of players, up to ten, so that's not a limitation. Keep in mind that setup, play and packing up needs to be done in the hour. My coworkers are all experienced ...
13
votes
3answers
3k views
What are good strategies for booster drafts?
I know that doing a booster draft can be somewhat complicated, because to really be good you need to know a lot about the set you're drafting (or be really good at evaluating cards quickly) and to pay ...
19
votes
4answers
825 views
What are common contracts in Catan?
Players in my Catan groups never reneg on deals, so we have a number of common contracts. For example, we often sell each other a "Not-Hit," the right to be avoided the next time the seller gets to ...
7
votes
4answers
861 views
How do twitch effects work with the stack vs activated tap abilities?
I'm becoming more and more confused as I learn about how things have changed during a break in play I had some time ago. Seems the stack has changed now, and oft times abilities use a source's last ...
10
votes
1answer
365 views
How does Babylons's second stage wonder work for building/discarding your last two cards? [duplicate]
Babylon: When you have the second stage of the wonder that allows you to buy your last 2 cards in the age instead of discarding, does this count as 1 turn or as 2 separate turns? Here's why I ask... ...
7
votes
4answers
3k views
What does protection from [quality] do?
Example 1) Let's say I have some random creature with protection from white, and my opponent plays Day of Judgement, a white card with the effect "destroy all creatures." Can my creature with ...
37
votes
23answers
9k views
Good board games for single player [closed]
I love playing board games but often there's not many people around that share my passion. For that reason I'm looking for board games that can be played with just one player. I've discovered Arkham ...
57
votes
10answers
5k views
How can I beat “Big Money” in Dominion?
Our group has determined that buying (almost exclusively) money and points is the way to go.
Most kingdom cards are ignored, or are bought very sparingly. This has lead to games feeling 'samey' and ...
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 ...
29
votes
9answers
1k views
Which resources are better at the start of a Catan game?
Is it better to start with Wheat and Ore in order to rapidly upgrade settlements into cities, or is it better to start with Wood and Brick to build roads?
27
votes
23answers
4k views
Recommendations for 6-player board game [closed]
What's a good game for six players? Many games can be played by 6 players, but suffer from a loss of pace, and long waits between turns. What games have parallel planning phases, or lots of ...
13
votes
15answers
3k views
Good travel games for two players, especially for playing on trains? [closed]
I would be interested to hear if anyone had recommendations for 2-player games that are particularly suitable for playing while travelling on trains. (I ask this as someone who mostly enjoys games ...
20
votes
10answers
3k views
Games with features like Battlestar Galactica's “Traitor” Mechanic? [closed]
My local gaming group has been playing the heck out of Battlestar Galactica for some time now. Are there any other board games that can be recommended that have a similar theme, or similar mechanics? ...
12
votes
6answers
776 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 ...
23
votes
4answers
2k views
What is a safe and accurate technique for shuffling cards?
Especially for games which involve frequent card shuffling by multiple players of decks of uneven sizes is there is a technique for shuffling which is quick and easy for everyone to learn yet also ...
16
votes
1answer
3k views
In MTG, what happens when a player loses in multiplayer?
In Magic: The Gathering, the rules for a player losing in a multiplayer game are quite complex, so I'd like to try to understand them by example. I would be happy to ask each of these situations as a ...
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 ...
14
votes
9answers
3k views
Axis and Allies - Is there a best country?
I've been told by several people that different countries are statistically better choices for Axis and Allies?
Is there any evidence that one or more countries have a significant advantage?
12
votes
1answer
403 views
What factors should be considered before doubling pawns?
I know the basic strength of double pawns is that it may open up a rank for a rook, and that the weakness is that the pawns can no longer defend one another. Other than an obvious material advantage, ...
9
votes
1answer
5k views
In Magic free-for-all multiplayer, what happens when someone dies?
In a free-for-all multiplayer Magic game, what happens when someone dies?
Specifically:
What happens to spells they've cast that are on the stack?
What happens to enchantments they have cast onto ...
8
votes
2answers
1k views
Why couldn't this hand win with ron?
I have just started learning Japanese Mahjong and I am a bit lost as to why this hand failed.
I did several pons and chis over the course of a hand, having a total of three open melds (one set and ...
7
votes
1answer
3k views
If I Unsummon a blocking creature will my attacker damage my opponent?
Suppose Player 1 has a Dragon on the table and Unsummon in hand, while Player 2 has two Spiders on the table.
Player 1 chooses to attack with the Dragon and Player 2 chooses to block with one of the ...
5
votes
2answers
1k views
Can you claim a Double Sacrifice Bonus?
Two very closely related questions:
If a card has two different "Sacrifice this creature for X" abilities on it, does sacrificing it give both benefits?
Likewise, if a card requires a creature to be ...
27
votes
6answers
682 views
What do you recommend to learn Go?
I am a beginner at this great game, and I would like to improve my skills at the game of Go. What resources would you recommend?
19
votes
6answers
425 views
Where I can buy good resources to build games?
Where I can buy boards, cards, dice, fake money, figures, and any sort of pieces? It would be nice if the store sells on the internet.
Another good reason is to buy replacements for damaged or lost ...
18
votes
2answers
819 views
How do I become a professional game designer?
How I can become a full- or part-time professional developing games? Are there specific courses? What specific knowledge should I be looking to learn? How do I enter the industry?
8
votes
4answers
619 views
What is the best 18xx game to teach someone? [closed]
There are several 18xx games easily available, maybe 8 or so that have mass produced and a few dozen kits that can be purchased or downloaded.
I love 18xx games, but I've found that not everyone I ...
18
votes
7answers
3k views
What is the Best Random Card Setup Tool? [closed]
In this question I received two different recommendations for iPhone specific apps to assist with Dominion setups. My group uses a third (non iPhone specific).
Which is the best, and why?
Please, ...
18
votes
27answers
666 views
Games that play well with a wide range of different numbers of players [closed]
Many times, I have limited space to pack games, and don't know how many players there are going to be. I frequently end up in a situation in which we have 5 players, but games that only work with 3 or ...
17
votes
3answers
3k views
What are the most busted cards in Agricola?
There's quite a few Occupations in Agricola that elicit a traumatized shudder from hardened Agricola players. I'm thinking of cards like the Taster, which basically allows one player to be in a ...
10
votes
4answers
2k views
Evaluating a Dominion Kingdom set
How do you analyze a Dominion Kingdom set to determine what your strategy is going to be for the game? In other words, are you looking for specific cards? for abilities (e.g., trashing cards or ...
39
votes
14answers
1k views
Is pretending to want to trade before playing a monopoly card objectionable?
In Settlers of Catan, I sometimes try to ask people if they want to trade a certain resource, tricking them into revealing the approximate amount of that resource in everyone's hand. After this I play ...
23
votes
3answers
840 views
How do you place your initial settlements in Settlers of Catan?
Initial settlement placement in Catan can really affect the outcome of the game. What strategy do you follow in Settlers of Catan for initial settlement placement. Does this strategy change if you ...
18
votes
5answers
1k views
What is the best way to keep everything organized and spend less time setting up?
When playing Dominion, how do you go about organizing all of the various cards and sets while maintaining a priority to getting games started quickly?
15
votes
3answers
3k views
I have the Dominion base set only, in what order should I buy the expansions?
I've heard a lot about the different Dominion expansions, but I'm still not really sure which direction to go.
In what order would you suggest I buy the expansions?
How does each one change the ...
20
votes
9answers
1k views
Why is real-money-betting necessary for poker to be fun?
Obviously, all games may be played with an ante, but it is often not mandatory for the game itself to be fun.
I've long wondered what makes poker so different from everything else: poker, when played ...
