I've managed to play a few board and card games so far this year. so a quick trot through some of them is in order.
Firstly I've played a few games of Magic: The Gathering, including one with the significant other! I first played M:TG some 25 years ago, when it was a radically new game, and I still play on and off, though I didn't touch it for some twenty years.
Compared to back then the game is both far more complex, and in my opinion at least, far fairer. The sheer range of cards has levelled the playing field somewhat, at least for the casual players, and the prebuilt decks are at least capable of providing a fair challenge. Despite the potentially mind melting variety of cards and potential complexity, its a game I enjoy from time to time.
Next up, and in no particular order, me and Gav have been playing some more Imperial Assault, this time with me getting a victory as the Empire. I'm starting to wonder if they have all the best troops...
But it may very well be simply that they have the most troops in a typical game. To this end I feel I need to pick up some more rank and file for the Rebellion and Mercenaries forces to even the odds.
Priests of Ra is a Reiner Knizia classic, from his auction period; with players bidding to create the finest civilisation on the banks of the Nile. Players can push their luck to win auctions for the favours of the gods, but at the same time they can only do so by sacrificing their riches, and can only ever win four auctions per age. Over three ages the player compete for glory. It's a relatively simple concept but one that I find I enjoy.
Santorini is a classically simple abstract game, with beautiful components (albeit a little pricey as a result) for 2 or 3 players. Rather like a three dimensional version of connect four, players vie against one another to build and then ascend to the top of a three storey building. The problem being that whenever you move you must build somewhere adjacently, and you have no exclusive rights to build or climb a tower. Also players can cap a three storey tower, with a dome. Thus making them unscaleable.
Such a simple game may not sound much, but it is really engrossing. Having played it five times in a row, I might well say that though!
If you'd prefer a game of near suicidal sub-aqua exploration perhaps Deep Sea Adventure would be for you. It's the sort of game that you can teach the whole family in five minutes, and get lots of fun from. As you dive to the depths you attempt to discover and retrieve undersea treasures, but each players efforts impact all and soon the oxygen will run out; leaving any players who let hubris dictate they dive deeper and grab more gold in need of the kiss of life. Rarely does the first go at this game not end with every player sinking to the depths!
Lastly, some Azul, another abstract and one of my favourites. Another game with lovely components, and some simple to learn mechanics that as in the best abstracts, can be hard to master whilst allowing the novice a chance to still win.
Board and Card games are always a nice break from miniatures for me, and certainly easier to arrange and transport. Plus easier to 'sell' to the unfamiliar.
A nice relaxing social diversion for the modern geek-hipster.
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