Ok so i've been playing settlers of Catan with a few friends of mine for about ten years now (the cities and knights expansion mainly). However, i've finally tired of this game as the dice just bring too much luck into the game. We've tried Tigris and Euphraties as well, and as much as i enjoy this game, we generally find it a little too complex to play with a glass of wine. We generally reach our fill after one or two games. I'm really interested to hear if any of you have any recommendations? My one criteria is that, preferably, there shouldn't be any dice involved. I think what i'm looking for a something quite like chess, where all players start with a certain amount of material and play is a test of pure skill, though i'm open to suggestions... Obviously i'm talking about a social game for 2-6 players. 🙂
Originally posted by MarinkatombStratego is a classic.
Ok so i've been playing settlers of Catan with a few friends of mine for about ten years now (the cities and knights expansion mainly). However, i've finally tired of this game as the dice just bring too much luck into the game. We've tried Tigris and Euphraties as well, and as much as i enjoy this game, we generally find it a little too complex to play i'm open to suggestions... Obviously i'm talking about a social game for 2-6 players. 🙂
There was also an old Avalon Hill game (not a wargame tho) called Facts in Five which I played the heck out of when I was younger. It helps to have a good general knowledge base when playing this.
For more players, the card game Munchkin is a good time. They have a lot of expansions to add to your card deck, too.
http://www.worldofmunchkin.com/
Another card game called Killer Bunnies is similar, yet different (obviously).
http://killerbunnies.com/
Originally posted by Marinkatomb"I think what i'm looking for a something quite like chess, where all players
Ok so i've been playing settlers of Catan with a few friends of mine for about ten years now (the cities and knights expansion mainly). However, i've finally tired of this game as the dice just bring too much luck into the game. We've tried Tigris and Euphraties as well, and as much as i enjoy this game, we generally find it a little too complex to pla i'm open to suggestions... Obviously i'm talking about a social game for 2-6 players. 🙂
start with a certain amount of material and play is a test of pure skill..."
Old fasioned Parker Brothers Monopoly continues to be underrated.
Too fatigued to tell you why just now but will do so tomorrow.
gb
Stratego was an excellent recommendation for 2 players. Cribbage is the best 2 player card game I'm aware of.
Other strategy board game recommendations are
Twixt
Go
Pente
Or, you can go to boardgamegeek.com and check out their recommendations among about 56,000 games reviewed. Looks like some good ones there.
Originally posted by Grampy BobbyBought this book (authored by the brainy guy who went on to build an incredibly accomplished resume) decades ago, at a time when both my wife's family and mine often played into the weekend wee hours. Later on loaned it to a friend along with the lawnmower. Way leads on to way. We lost touch. Neither was ever returned. No longer even recall his last name.
[b]"I think what i'm looking for a something quite like chess, where all players
start with a certain amount of material and play is a test of pure skill..."
Old fasioned Parker Brothers Monopoly continues to be underrated.
Too fatigued to tell you why just now but will do so tomorrow.
gb[/b]
Slim paperpack is highly readable. Contains a series of in-depth statistical analysis the scope of which would, I dare say, put 90% of all chess players to shame. One little known aspect of of the game of "Monopoly" is that any imaginative activity not expressly forbidden by the simple rules (such as creative property purchase price negotiations, auctions, trades and verbal contracts providing 'free stays' at specified hotels or rides on all four railroads, utility bill waivers, etc) may be appropriated as fair game. Of course none of us had a clue that we were thinking and behaving like Donald Trump would at a later time.
Bottom Line: 1) Monopoly's more like chess than many mindless table and electronic games, even though dice rolls are involved; 2) Both Monopoly and Chess are simple and easy to learn; 3) Both take time and passion to learn to play well.
gb
http://www.amazon.com/1000-Ways-Win-Monopoly-Games/product-reviews/0440048125
http://www.amnesta.net/other/monopoly/
Here's another vote for Stratego but it takes two like-minded players, and it is a rather simplistic game. I believe it is won or lost at deployment. We used to make it more challenging by stipulating the flag could not be in the rear rank.
I also enjoy (as you have posted and tired of) Settlers of Catan. The strategy is working the dice odds and placement of your initial cities. In my opinion that is where the game is won or lost.
Something else I play is tabletop ancient wargames - it uses miniature figurines and dice. It's like chess except there are no "odd moving pieces", no square limitations, no King to protect, a much bigger board and hundreds of troops - so I guess it is nothing like chess! 🙂
There are differing genres available depending on your preference (e.g. American Civil War, Napoleonic Wars, WW1 & 2, modern warfare, Colonials, cowboys etc.). I prefer ancients which uses actual ancient armies e.g. Celts, Seleucids, Macedonians, Galatians etc. versus Romans, Greeks, Byzantines etc. After playing ancients I usually lose interest in chess.
There are multiple rulesets available and mulitple scales - I prefer DBMM in the 25mm scale. Here is an example of what it looks like:
http://dbmm.org.uk/forums/index.php?topic=612.0
It isn't a cheap hobby given you have to acquire and paint (or pay to get painted) at least one army. Think warhammer and then immediately remove that from your mind because it is nothing like that. Ancients (in particular) requires strategy and tactics, and a knowledge of historical warfare methods helps. As time progresses you tend to lose command and control and if you aren't careful things can spiral out of control. A game can last up to 4 hours, often less depending on how long you spend mulling over moves and rules.
Puerto Rico is one of my favorites. There is randomness involved, but it's not nearly as dicey as Catan. It also has many paths to victory, like Catan, giving it good re-playability. Power Grid is also pretty good.
Check out http://boardgamegeeks.com. Lots of games listed and discussed there.