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blob2
Undefeatable Hero
Blob-Ohmos the Second
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posted June 03, 2014 09:18 PM |
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Thanks for your opinions guys, I actually did buy Castle Ravenloft. And I'm really satisfied with it. I have a lot of fun playing the game with my brother. It's exactly what I was looking for when it comes to two player co-op play. It's other strong point is it's playtime (we don't have a lot of time to play board games nowadays). Though we are still learning it, I must say it's difficulty is well balanced. You either win or lose by a horse's nails length  The art style is a bit ascetic, but after some time with it, I must say I really like this clean and easy-to-read style. Plus, you don't get this many well sculpted figures for this price (over 40!). And some of them like the Dracolich are really impressive, and not that common to see in a standalone board game. And don't forget all those tokens (practically each adventure in the booklet has it's own tokens to use in game). It's also nice that every event or power card has a short text that gives it some meat. Of course the game could use some more flavor, but in a way it's kinda faithful to its D&D roots: your imagination plays the main part  And as I'm a fan Gothic horror, the game hits the right spot
I thought about Descent but while it's premises are similiar (dungeon crawling) it's a lot longer to play, and it does not encourage co-op game when there are less then three players (one player always needs to be a DM), and that was one of my main criteria...
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OmegaDestroyer
Hero of Order
Fox or Chicken?
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posted June 19, 2014 07:30 PM |
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Bang! The Dice Game
Players: 3-8
Play Time: 15 minutes
Price: Currently $12.00 on Amazon.com
In short:
A showdown between the sheriff, his deputy, outlaws, and a renegade.
In long:
Bang! The Dice Game is a light dice-rolling game set in the Old West where a shoot-out is taking place. It is the sequel to Bang! and improves upon it in every way.
At the start of the game, players receive a roll card and a character card.
Pictures courtesy of itiswon
Picture courtesy of Deep Sleep Operative.
Each character has X amount of hitpoints, represented by bullets. The sheriff receives +2 hitpoints because he or she is the only known character at the start of the game. Everyone else's role is hidden at the start. Each character has special abilities, such as avoiding certain types of damage, healing for more health than normal, or gaining health upon the death of a character.
The game is won in one of three ways:
1. The Sheriff (and deputy) eliminates the Outlaws and Renegade.
2. The Outlaws eliminate the Sheriff.
3. The Renegade eliminates the Sheriff, Outlaws, and Deputy.
Turns are played by rolling dice. The Sheriff starts first and play continues clockwise in a circle. A player to the immediate left or right of the current player, is considered 1 space apart. The players next to those players are considered 2 apart. On a turn, you roll five dice:
Image courtesy of the Deep Sleep Operative.
On each die there is:
1 & 2. A "1" or "2" symbol. May be rerolled. That means for each one rolled, you can shoot someone either exactly 1 space or exactly 2 spaces away for 1 health.
3. Beer - May be rerolled. Allows you to heal one health point.
4. Arrow - May be rerolled. When you roll an arrow, you immediately take an arrow token. You can reroll the die. More on that in a bit.
5. 3 bullet holes. May be rerolled. If you roll three of these, you activate a gatling gun and shoot every player for one damage. Additionally, you discard all arrows.
6. Dynamite. May not be rerolled. If you get three of these, your turn ends immediately and you suffer 1 point of damage. (Funny note: That is how the sheriff died a couple of weeks ago.)
You can reroll all permissible dice up to two times. For example, let's say you roll a beer, dynamite, two arrows, and a "2". You would immediately take two arrow tokens and keep the dynamite. You could then reroll the beer, arrows, and 2. You do so, and you roll 1 beer, a "1", a "2", and a gatling symbol. Being unahppy with the result, you reroll and end up with 2 dynamites, 1 beer, and a "1". You immediately lose 1 health and gain 1 health (dynamite and beer) and shoot the person to your left or right for 1 health.
I mentioned the arrow tokens earlier and they can have a significant impact on the game. I believe there are 10 or 12 tokens. Once you roll an arrow, you take an arrow token from the pool. When the last arrow token is taken, everyone gets damaged 1 health for each arrow they have. So if you have 3 arrows, you take 3 damage. Often this occurs at critical times and can easily change the course of the game. The only way to get rid of arrows is with a gatling gun or with certain character abilities.
When a non-sheriff character loses all of their bullets, they flip over their role card. The circle then shrinks. So instead of requiring a "2" to wound a player, it may only require a "1". Once there are three players left, "2" counts as a "1".
The tricky thing about the game is the only known character is the Sheriff. It is very possible for the Sheriff to kill the Deputy or one Outlaw to waste another. You never really know who is who. With smaller groups, however, it is fairly easy to figure out.
So how do I like the game? I love it. It is a fantastic addition to my library and I strongly recommend it for anyone interested in gaming. It is easy to teach, quick to play, and a lot of fun. The only thing that I do not like is how obsolete it made the original Bang! After playing the Bang! The Dice Game, I will never go back. The original Bang! could take a very, very long time to play and people constantly were checking to see which cards did what. Bang! The Dice Game improves on everything good about the original while cutting out everything bad. You simply cannot go wrong with this game in my eyes.
In conclusion:
For $12, Bang! The Dice Game is one of the best games for the value. It is easy to teach, quick, and a blast to play.
____________
The giant has awakened
You drink my blood and drown
Wrath and raving I will not stop
You'll never take me down
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Minion
Legendary Hero
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posted June 19, 2014 11:22 PM |
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Great to know, I wasn't too keen on the original Bang! This might be more down my alley, I don't see the point of having cards do random things when dice can do it too ^^
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"These friends probably started using condoms after having produced the most optimum amount of offsprings. Kudos to them for showing at least some restraint" - Tsar-ivor
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OmegaDestroyer
Hero of Order
Fox or Chicken?
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posted June 20, 2014 12:37 AM |
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Speaking of board games, I just won another game over at BoardGameGeek called Ghosts Love Candy.
____________
The giant has awakened
You drink my blood and drown
Wrath and raving I will not stop
You'll never take me down
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fred79
Disgraceful
Undefeatable Hero
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posted June 20, 2014 02:57 AM |
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i think the artist that did the artwork for "bang!" is the same artist who did the in-between loading screen characters for the GTA series of games. looks like it, anyway. 
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LucPatenaude
Famous Hero
Owning all 7 Heroes games
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posted June 21, 2014 11:06 AM |
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Physical Board Games? Nah.
Well, ok. Maybe during the winter season's holiday statutory holidays.
Only the Hasbro and Parker Brothers ones though. Dating my youth = About 25-30 years ago. I am, now, 46 years of age. You do the math.
Your board games are trying to mimic computer age like games = Sorry! does not make any sense at all.
Even the most classical board games known to the American countries are remade for online play through new age smartphones and, now, tablets.
Do you believe that there are, already, 100's of millions of youngsters calling the large tablets, a PC? I noticed it in the Electronics Shops' flyers and E-mail advertisement like newsletters.
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OmegaDestroyer
Hero of Order
Fox or Chicken?
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posted June 21, 2014 05:22 PM |
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The hobby does not have to make sense and is far stronger than you realize.
____________
The giant has awakened
You drink my blood and drown
Wrath and raving I will not stop
You'll never take me down
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Galatea
Supreme Hero
Well, I'm Ceres!
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posted August 17, 2014 03:48 AM |
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I became interested with board games lately but I'm finding a hard time to choose which one to buy. I began to like those D&D (Castle Ravenloft and Legend of Drizzt) boardgames but when I saw Descent it looked more appealing to me.
My problem is, most of the time I'm just alone and can't find somebody to play with me. So I was wondering if Descent can be played solo.
Now I'm having a hard time to pick. Please help!
____________
And she told you, laughing down to her core, so she would not cry, as she lay on your lap,
"Nobody here can live forever, quiet in the grasp of dusk and summer."
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OmegaDestroyer
Hero of Order
Fox or Chicken?
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posted August 25, 2014 07:34 PM |
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I have heard rumors there is a variant of Descent, called Forgotten Souls, that allows pure co-op, which would allow you to play against the game itself and not need other players. That said, I have not picked it up.
For solo play, I believe Pathfinder Adventure Card Game would be appropriate for you. I have played it solo many times and have enjoyed doing so.
It certainly has been a long time since I reviewed a game so allow me to fix that.
=======================================================================
Splendor
Players: 2-4
Play Time: 30 minutes
Price: Currently $32.82 on Amazon.com
In short
A very entertaining, engine-building Eurogame with a pasted on theme.
In long
Splendor is a game where you assume the role of a guild leader trying to create the most lucrative gem trade in the city. Throughout the game, you acquire gems which help you acquire mine and the attention of nobles. The goal of the game is to get the most points.
Splendor is all about engine-building. You acquire gems to purchase cards that generate gems, which allows you to purchase more cards.
Image provided by W. Eric Martin
The above image is what the game area looks like. Along the bottom are six different stacks of gems represented by poker chips. There are emeralds, diamonds, sapphires, onyx, rubies, and jokers. Jokers serve as wilds.
Above the chips are the cards you can purchase. The image in the upper-right corner indicates what kind of gem the card produces. In the upper-left corner are how many points you get for the card. In the bottom-left corner are the types of gems you need to purchase the card. When a card is purchased or reserved (more on that later), it is replaced by a new card drawn from the corresponding deck.
Lastly, above the decks there are nobles. Nobles cannot be purchased and can only be earned once each. To earn a noble, you simply have to have X amount of cards listed on the lower-left hand corner of their card. For example, in the upper-left corner of the image, the noble has listed 4 black and 4 white cards. In order to earn her, you have to have 4 cards that generate onyx and 4 cards that generate diamonds. If you do so, the noble visits you and you earn 3 points. Nobles can never be stolen and only visit the first player to meet their criteria.
To start the game, you determine a random start player. On a player's turn, he or she can take one of the following actions:
-Take up to 3 gems of different colors, such as 1 diamond, 1 onyx, and 1 ruby. You can only ever have 10 gems in your hand.
-Take up to 2 of the same color gem, provided that doing so will leave at least 4 gems in that stack.
-Reserve a card and take a joker. In the game, you can reserve up to three cards. When you do so, you gain a joker. This is the only way to acquire jokers.
-Purchase a card from the table OR from your reserve. This is done by using your acquired gems and gems generated by cards. Once you purchase a card, you place it in front of you. You now receive the gem provided by that card until the rest of the game. So if you have 2 mines that produce rubies, you will receive 2 rubies every turn to put towards purchasing more cards.
Gems, purchased cards, and a noble. A gem-producing machine....
Image provided by The Innocent
Play continues until a player reaches 15+ points. When a player reaches 15+ points, each other player gets one more turn. If you were cunning enough to reserve a card earlier, you can pull off an upset by playing the right card during this last step.
Splendor appears to be a very simple game but can be surprisingly deep. You are constantly thinking of which cards you need to acquire and balancing whether or not it is better to go for the big point cards, reserve cards for a joker, or beeline for the nobles. Interestingly, the game becomes quite quiet due to concentration.
The theme of gem merchants does fit somewhat but the game is definitely more about mechanics than theme. If you are the type of gamer who really loves theme, this may not be for you.
Lastly, the game comes in a really tight package and has great components. As I mentioned earlier, the gems are poker chips and feel quite weighty. Throughout the game, I am constantly playing with them, pretending I have great wealth in my hand. The artwork on the cards and nobles is also quite good and the cards are of good stock.
Image provided by The Innocent.
So what do I think about it?
I greatly enjoy Splendor. It is easy to teach, the components are top notch, and it has a surprising amount of depth. You are always forced to think ahead. Is it better to acquire a lot of gems to buy the larger point cards or should you reserve a card to get one of the immensely valuable jokers? Do you go for the high point cards or do you try and attract the nobles to your cause? You have to be careful in your strategy because if you neglect certain resources, it will come back to bite you later. Last game I played, my buddy neglected sapphires which he desperately needed and ultimately lost because he could not meet the expectations of the nobility. The machine building mechanic is really enjoyable and it feels great to get to the point where you don't need gems because you can purchase your cards for free. So far everyone who has played it has really enjoyed it. The theme is paper-thin but the core mechanics are strong enough that it does not bother me.
As always, I encourage you watch & read reviews before purchasing the game.
In conclusion
If you do not care about theme and are looking for a game with great mechanics, top-notch components, that is easy to teach, and plays quickly, then you'll enjoy Splendor.
____________
The giant has awakened
You drink my blood and drown
Wrath and raving I will not stop
You'll never take me down
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blob2
Undefeatable Hero
Blob-Ohmos the Second
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posted August 25, 2014 11:30 PM |
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Edited by blob2 at 23:32, 25 Aug 2014.
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I recently bought Battlelore 2 ed (yes my board game geekizm has fully blown), and I'm playing it with my brother. It's probably the last game I bought for now (enough is enough). Talisman was my choice for starting my adventure with board games, Castle Ravenloft for trying RPG dungeon crawlers, and now I've bought Battlelore to try tactical figure battle games. I didn't want to invest in games like Warhammer cause they are to expensive.
For now I will say that Battlelore is a lot of fun, though the counter system, and the fact that even weakened units can kill a whole unit are the downside of this game. Also Legends and Elite's are too weak if you ask me. Imo it's better to muster more archers and infantry then invest in those more expensive units...
Aside from that, I'm very proud to show you my fellow countryman ideas to enhance board gaming . I've recently bought this:
and this:
Both are game play enhancing gadgets. The first one is a dice tower: a nice gadget for rolling dice. Not only it looks nice, it also makes throwing dice a lot easier. No more dice rolling out of the table, ramming figures or making re-rolls because the dice stuck beetween edges. Plus it comes in few designs, and it's made from laser-cut wood (some from plastic if you like). It even has this charred decorative touches. The second is a Talisman companion. It's a kind of a plaque, made from solid plastic. Every element of the game fits into it. There are little slots for tokens, and room for cards (for instance slots for at least three spells). Plus it perfectly fits between two corner expansions (24 cm)! It's really great, and can even be used in other games...
Check their shop yourself, they are called E-Raptor (some of you probably know about it already). I can guarantee you that those are made very solid. And I don't think the price is to steep, though unfortunately it seems it's more expensive in euros then in my local currency. Check it out on: E-Raptor
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OmegaDestroyer
Hero of Order
Fox or Chicken?
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posted August 26, 2014 12:16 AM |
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Your pictures are not displaying properly, Blob2.
As to dice towers, I have one. They are really useful for my friends who can't roll to save their life, especially during Eldritch Horror.
____________
The giant has awakened
You drink my blood and drown
Wrath and raving I will not stop
You'll never take me down
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Corribus
Hero of Order
The Abyss Staring Back at You
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posted August 26, 2014 01:06 AM |
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OmegaDestroyer said:
They are really useful for my friends who can't roll to save their life,
It's not as if this is a particularly complex mechanic, is it?
____________
I'm sick of following my dreams. I'm just going to ask them where they're goin', and hook up with them later. -Mitch Hedberg
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OmegaDestroyer
Hero of Order
Fox or Chicken?
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posted August 26, 2014 02:42 AM |
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You'd be surprised at how much difficulty some of them have rolling dice on the table.
____________
The giant has awakened
You drink my blood and drown
Wrath and raving I will not stop
You'll never take me down
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Corribus
Hero of Order
The Abyss Staring Back at You
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posted August 26, 2014 03:44 AM |
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LOL, I see what you mean.
Keep the reviews coming, OD. I enjoy reading them.
____________
I'm sick of following my dreams. I'm just going to ask them where they're goin', and hook up with them later. -Mitch Hedberg
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OmegaDestroyer
Hero of Order
Fox or Chicken?
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posted August 26, 2014 04:46 AM |
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Thank you. 
I will try and update a bit more frequently than once a month or so.
____________
The giant has awakened
You drink my blood and drown
Wrath and raving I will not stop
You'll never take me down
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blob2
Undefeatable Hero
Blob-Ohmos the Second
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posted August 26, 2014 08:29 AM |
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Edited by blob2 at 08:30, 26 Aug 2014.
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OmegaDestroyer said:
Your pictures are not displaying properly, Blob2.
Strange, I see them displaying properly...
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OmegaDestroyer
Hero of Order
Fox or Chicken?
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posted August 26, 2014 03:33 PM |
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At first they weren't working properly. Now they are.
____________
The giant has awakened
You drink my blood and drown
Wrath and raving I will not stop
You'll never take me down
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Galatea
Supreme Hero
Well, I'm Ceres!
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posted August 26, 2014 11:51 PM |
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OmegaDestroyer said:
I have heard rumors there is a variant of Descent, called Forgotten Souls, that allows pure co-op, which would allow you to play against the game itself and not need other players. That said, I have not picked it up.
For solo play, I believe Pathfinder Adventure Card Game would be appropriate for you. I have played it solo many times and have enjoyed doing so.
Thanks for replying Omega! I've been thinking of buying the d&d game, well because its a lot cheaper. I think I'll buy Descent and Pathfinder when I get enough funds. I also heard Arkham is a great game too. But its very complicates but sonce I'm new, gotta stick to the basics first.
Is there a video tutorial, or could be written, for these board games? I've seen some in youtube but not really that detailed like the Descent tutorial that I watched.
____________
And she told you, laughing down to her core, so she would not cry, as she lay on your lap,
"Nobody here can live forever, quiet in the grasp of dusk and summer."
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OmegaDestroyer
Hero of Order
Fox or Chicken?
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posted August 27, 2014 02:40 AM |
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I would avoid Arkham Horror. Eldritch Horror is the superior game in every way.
As to videos, a lot can be found at BoardGameGeek. For Eldrtich Horror related material, click here. For Pathfinder, click here.
Generally, for my reviews, I go to The Dice Tower. Tom Vassal and the gang do a very good job of explaining how the games are played.
If you are looking for solo games, you may want to give Friday a shot.
It's a small game where you try to help Robinson Crusoe survive on a hostile island and ultimately defeat pirates. It is very challenging and has some interesting mechanics.
____________
The giant has awakened
You drink my blood and drown
Wrath and raving I will not stop
You'll never take me down
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Galatea
Supreme Hero
Well, I'm Ceres!
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posted August 27, 2014 03:04 AM |
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Thanks!
And wow, I just looked at Eldritch Horror and it seems fun and exciting! Can play it solo too! And its cheaper than Descent! But its not yet available in the store where I purchase my boardgames. At least for now, I have something to look forward too. Again, many thanks!
____________
And she told you, laughing down to her core, so she would not cry, as she lay on your lap,
"Nobody here can live forever, quiet in the grasp of dusk and summer."
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