So it's a speed based game? That would count against it for me, as I prefer more laid back games that let me take my time and think about what I'm doing. I do enjoy making strategy, though...

Well, speed in the sense that it's about efficiency, like most victory-point based games.

...Although learning how to be quick can also be good thing when you're building a substantial engine, just so the other player's won't have to wait too long.

So I played my first few games of Space Alert yesterday. Anyone else familiar with or played that game? I found it to be very entertaining even if we did lose 4/5 missions we did - although I must say it's probably going to steal the 'board game most likely to make you want to punch your stupid friend in his stupid face' crown.

For those of you afraid to click on Wikipedia links you play the crew of a ship dealing with the threats that arise during your missions. The game is played over 2 main steps; a action phase and resolution phase. The action phase lasts 10 minutes during which an accompanying audio CD (serving as the ships computer) announces events that are occurring (enemy spacecraft appearing, systems malfunctions etc). Each player puts down cards (face down) showing different actions that they are taking on the ship (moving around, firing guns, powering shields, re-fueling reactors etc) - each card occupies a 'time slot' which will determine when it will activate during the next phase. The idea is you respond to threats in real time by discussing plans of action with people to ensure every threat is neutralized before it can cause permanent damage.

After the action phase you enter the resolution phase during which the cards people laid down are turned up one after another and the actions printed on them are carried out. This is where things tend to go haywire - depending on how well the group communicated the plan can go off without a hitch or half the crew can run to the wrong side of the ship and stare out of windows, fire lasers at nothing or drain precious energy reserves to do nothing with. It can be hillarious/frustrating to see how just one guy putting down the wrong card has a huge chain reaction on every other action on the ship. Honestly it's just as much fun watching everything fall apart in a glorious fashion - especially when it all works out anyway.

Has anyone played Lords of Waterdeep?

Yes. I find SU&SD's description of it as aggressively mediocre rather accurate.

http://www.shutupandsitdown.com/podcast ... h-podcast/

Starts at 16:00

Hanabi was several times more enjoyable than I expected it to be. Certainly one of my better fillers.

Do tell? I've not heard of it.

There are five suits of cards, ranging from 1-5. The objective is to play cards into a central area, where you play cards of the same color in ascending order, so white 2 over white 1, blue 4 over blue 3, etc. It's a co-operative game where you play with your hand facing outwards, so you can only see what your teammates have in their hand. On your turn, you can choose between spending a time token to give a hint to a player (Either "These cards are color [C]" or "These cards are number [N]"), discarding a card from your hand to buy time, or play a card into the central area. Tally the score after a cumulative 3 cards played without a pile to put it in, or after the deck is empty.

Hmm interesting. Reminds me of a mix between Uno and stick cards to each others heads and trying to guess your own. Haha.

I'd tell you what's so great about it, but I don't really know for sure. Part of it is trying to keep a poker face as your friend describes the content of his hand with great failure, but at the same time, not being able to directly tell a teammate to "JUST PLAY THAT CARD GODDAMNIT" is also very infuriating at times. I guess it's my like for bluffing games, and this is sort of the opposite of that, where you're trying to tell a lot with very little.
It also solves the alpha gamer problem a lot of co-op games have, which is nice.

Haha. Yeah, I've always enjoyed board games that centered around teams rather than just a free-for-all, but can see how something like that would both be fun and infuriating.

Gonna be running to the game shop in a few hours actually. Its mostly for D&D stuff, but I may end up picking up a few other things if the prices are good though they'll have to wait until I can play them. The store is doing an 'easter egg hunt' and random things throughout the store will ring up as $0 at the register.

I'm usually quite hesitant when it comes to co-op unless it includes copious amounts of backstabbing opportunities.

If there is no visual cue then that sales strategy sounds downright infernal. I like it.

No visual clue at all. Just random things through out the store will apparently cross the scanner as $0.

But turns out everything in the store was at least 10% off. So I ended up getting about $100 worth of pathfinder stuff for only $70. Cant complain.

Have there been any board games that released recently you guys would suggest? Looking for something to get.

I honestly don't know. I watch TableTop for ideas here and there, but aside from that.... board games are a lot like video games in that new and interesting ones usually run $60, so it's hard to pick them up on a guess.

~SE++

I haven't been following the releases as much recently, actually. I've heard good things about Caverna, I suppose.

I watch Tabletop from time to time as well but I just dont have the players to establish a game night or something... I'd have myself and one other reliable person.

Anyone have any experience with a game called The Castle of the Devil? I was looking around for more forum bluffing games like Mafia and Resistance, and this name popped up. I was wondering if people have played it and / or could recommend it for NGA.

~SE++

I have heard Coup is fun. Never heard of The Castle of the Devil.