The Tao of Gaming

Summary thoughts...

A good year. The San Antonio Board Gamers really took off, which meant that I played less of my beloved Shadowfist, but more of everything else. In prior years I played ~100 titles. This year it jumped to 150, about half of which got a single play. Some of those were just bad games, but some were older games that get dragged out from time to time. Perhaps I play fewer games more often. Nah.

My favorites from the last year...

Light games:

Roma — A quick two player game; strategy and luck in a nice mix. (Also my most played game of the year). It needs a tweak or two (the "Delano/Fitzgerald variant") but great fun.

No Thanks! — 5-10 minutes and done. Light and breezy. More luck than you think, but did I mention 5-10 minutes? And some "push your luck" aspects.

Cash N Guns — Party game, or psychological? A little of both. Good fun.

To Court the King — Tom Lehmann's quick dice game. Fast, simple. I may start playing with my General variant, but I've played it quite a bit already.

Wits & Wagers — Solves the problem of people who know too much with the betting element (and having lots of bizarre thing

Middleweights:

Scepter of Zavandor — Remakes Outpost, and adds technology tracks (the 'knowledges'). Also adds time ... we played Outpost with 5-8, and 5-player Scepter might make me break out. (I'll try one more 5-6 player game, I guess).

Indonesia — Some may treat this as a heavyweight, but we finish in under two hours. Some nice math, tactics and medium planning.

Vegas Showdown — One I missed from 2005 (I think). Not a title that grabbed my imagination and ran, but solid.

Wargames

Combat Commander: Europe — I want to play again. Checking forums, reading notes, looking at decks. Obsessive. I burn out like this, but its fun now.

Here I Stand — Another experience game. It may be that I'll tire of this after a few more games, but that will mean it's lasted 20-30 hours of play, a good total.

Others like; I'm not sold:

• Arkham Horror — Too long, all information shared.
• Byzantium — I really dislike this.
• Fury of Dracula — Too long.
• Masons — My favorite Colovini, but only OK.
• Blue Moon City — Some oddness with endgames.

Too soon to tell, but hopeful:

• Antiquity
• BattleLore — No doubt a good game, but are there good scenarios?

Looking over my 2005 review, let me issue a few revisions:

I burnt out on Caylus. I'd still play it, but I don't think it holds more to discover. (That's after 100+ games). The 2 player game is pure, but dry.

I still own Around the World in 80 Days and throw it in the bag sometimes, but its inclusion on the Top 10 list was tenuous.

I played Shadows over Camelot more than I expected, but never to my satisfaction, really. Ditto Battlestations.

The other games mentioned got played; but new titles always take up a large chunk of my gaming attention.

I expect that to be true this year, too.

Some other opinions:

• Mikko's [Congrats, Mikko! You don't need a last name, just like Cher. Or Chewbacca.] [1 GG to anyone who can name where I got that joke].
• Chris Farrell's YIR
• Yehuda's Nickel and Dime list
• John Gravitt's YIR (and Nickel and Dime)