Tikal

The Basics
Description: Tikal is a game of exploration within the Central American jungles in search of lost temples and the treasures within. Players send their team of explorers into the jungle, exposing more and more of the terrain. Along the way you find temples which require further uncovering and treasures. Players attempt to score points for occupying temples and holding onto treasure.

Tikal is the first game of the Mask Trilogy.

How to Play

• Spiel by Web (Web Guide)
• Rio Grande Games (Rulebook)
  

Where to Play Online

• Spiel by Web (Free - Registration Required)

Cheat Sheets (from the Geek)

• Teaching Aid (Downloads a Pdf)

Game Hints

• Basic Strategy: Thread on the Geek
  
• My Tips: Coming Soon, but mini version is fun. Link to it on the Geek
  

Views

• Opinion: I enjoy this game. Forgot it was a fun game, need a few more plays for a final opinion.
• Online: Works fine online, if not better online.
• Work: To for lunch time play, but more than fine with online play.
• Home: Solid, but not a great game for the family or a couple.

Other Info

• Plays best with: Works fine with 2-4 players, best with 4.
• Gateway Suitability: Not a gateway game, might take a few games to grasp.
• Spouse Suitability: Chrissy hasn't played this yet.
• Re-playability: It does not see table action with me.
• Real Life Setup: A few minutes, just sorting tiles.
• Real Life Time/Length: 120 minutes.
• Geek Link: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/54

Clans

The Basics
Description: The game is set in late prehistory, a time of transition – when our distant ancestors, who had struggled and barely survived for ages in very small nomadic groups, began to feel that their lives would be more secure and less arduous if they formed larger groups. This led to the formation of the first villages.

How to Play

• Cycloop Spellen (Web Guide)
• Marquand (Web Guide)
• Gravon (Web Guide)
• Rio Grande Games (Rulebook)

Where to Play Online

• Cycloop Spellen (Free - Registration Required)
• Marquand (Free - NO Registration Required)
• Gravon (Free - Registration Required)
• Brett Spiel Welt (Free - Registration Required)

Cheat Sheets (from the Geek)

• Player Aid (Downloads a Pdf)

Game Hints

• Basic Strategy: Thread on the Geek
  
• My Tips: Coming Soon

Views

• Opinion: I enjoyed this game when it came out. Since then I haven't played it much.
• Online: Works fine online
• Work: Should be for lunch time play.
• Home: Great game for the family, easy rules and not that hard to grasp.

Other Info

• Plays best with: Works fine with 2-4 players, best with not sure, works fine with any number of players.
• Gateway Suitability: Easy to learn, might take two games to grasp. Not a gateway game in my opinion.
  
• Spouse Suitability: Chrissy hasn't played this yet.
• Re-playability: For me not that high.
  
• Real Life Setup: A few minutes, sorting and handing out pieces.
• Real Life Time/Length: 30 minutes.
• Geek Link: http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/4636

Amun-Re

The Basics
Description: Everyone knows of the pyramids on the Nile - eternal monuments of a powerful and beautiful culture, that can still take our breath away. The pharaohs choose their sites, build their pyramids, and thank Amun Re and the other Gods for their bounty.

Each player wants, as pharaoh, to build the most pyramids. To accomplish this, he must first acquire a province, where he can trade and farm. With his profits, he can buy new provinces and building stones to erect pyramids. For all his actions, the player must make clever use of his power cards, and always offer appropriate sacrifices to Amun Re. Players must always keep his eyes on his goal of the building of the eternal pyramids or risk falling behind in points.

How to Play

• Spiel by Web (Web Guide)
• Rio Grand Games (Official Rulebook)

Where to Play Online

• Spiel by Web (Free - Registration Required)

Cheat Sheets (from the Geek)

• Player Aid (Downloads a Word doc)
• Player Aid (Downloads a Pdf)
  
• Teaching Aid (Downloads a Pdf)
• Quick Reference (Downloads a Pdf)
  
• All the Cards (Downloads a Jpg)
  
• Pen and Paper (Web Site)
  

Game Hints

• Basic Strategy: Thread on the Geek
  
• My Tips: Coming Soon

Views

• Opinion: I enjoy this game.
  
• Online: Works fine online, if not better
• Work: Could be to long the first time, but should be fine after that for lunch time play.
• Home: Better games are available.

Other Info

• Plays best with: Works fine with 3-5 players, best with 5.
• Gateway Suitability: Not to hard to learn, but not a gateway game.
• Spouse Suitability: Chrissy hasn't played the game.
  
• Re-playability: Online high, real life pretty good if your into it.
  
• Real Life Setup: A few minutes of separating pieces.
• Real Life Time/Length: 90 minutes.
• Geek Link: http://boardgamegeek.com/game/5404

Taj Mahal

The Basics
Description: Another game in Alea's bookcase series, this game takes place in India. There are twelve turns with an auction for up to six different prizes each turn. Players use cards to bid for the various prizes. The trick is when you take a turn and you've got the highest bid on a prize, you can either spend more cards to try for other things or simply take your winnings and walk away. The prizes are mostly positions on the board and players get more points for connecting provinces on the map. But as is typical for Dr. Knizia, there are several other ways of scoring points in this game. After the final area on the board is auctioned, the player with the highest point total takes the game.

How to Play (I can go over the rules with you)

• Hilinski - (Online Rules)
  
• Rio Grande Games (Official Rulebook)

Where to Play Online

• Hilinski (Free - Registration NOT Required)

Cheat Sheets (from the Geek)

• Player Aid (Downloads a Pdf)
• Teaching Aid (Downloads a Pdf)

Game Hints

• Basic Strategy: Thread on the Geek
• My Tips: Coming Soon, but for now try it online. Grab cards the first few rounds, then start the bidding wars.

Views

• Opinion: Play it online a few times, and then you are hooked. Some tough choices at times on what to do (bid more, take less, grab cards, etc).
  
• Online: Works great online.
  
• Work: Not enough time at lunch, until everyone gets on the same page.
  
• Home: Could work at home, might take a game or two to get the game down pat.
  

Other Info

• Plays best with: Works fine with 3-5 players, best with 4.
• Gateway Suitability: Would not call this a gateway game, but not a bad game after your past just playing gateway games.
  
• Spouse Suitability: Chrissy has not played the game yet.
  
• Re-playability: Very high online, so-so in person.
  
• Real Life Setup: 5 minutes or so, sorting pieces and cards.
  
• Real Life Time/Length: 90 minutes.
• Geek Link: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/475

Torres

The Basics
Description: Torres is an abstract game of resource management and tactical pawn movement. Players are attempting to build up castles and position their knights to score the most points each turn. Players have a limited supply of knights and action cards that allow special actions to be taken. Efficient use of pieces and cards, along with a thoughtful awareness of future possibilities, is the heart of this game.

How to Play

• Spielezeit (Power Point)
• Rio Grande Games (Official Rulebook)
  
  

Where to Play Online

• Boite a Jeux French (Free - Registration Required)

Cheat Sheets (from the Geek)

• Player Aid (Downloads a Pdf)

Game Hints

• Basic Strategy: Thread on the Geek
• Strategy: Thread on the Geek
• My Tips: Read Jon Aquino's Blog
  

Views

• Opinion: I like this game live, over PC or Online. The pieces, the game play make it fun.
  
• Online: Works fine online
• Work: Will be real tight on playing at lunch time.
• Home: Might take a few turns, if not a whole game to get the whole family into it.
  

Other Info

• Plays best with: Works fine with 2-4 players, best with 4.
• Gateway Suitability: A little to much for gateway game.
• Spouse Suitability: Chrissy hasn't played this yet.
• Re-playability: I would say high, once you understand it.
  
• Real Life Setup: A few minutes, of sorting player pieces.
• Real Life Time/Length: 60 minutes.
• Geek Link: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/88

Tally Ho

The Basics
Description: What happens if the hunter becomes the hunted?

One player takes the role of the hunters and the lumberjacks; the other takes the role of the foxes and bears. Both players hunt each other!

At first the forest lies peacefully under the face down tiles. As the players turn the tiles over and move them on the board, the forest awakens and the hunt destroys the serenity of the forest. The lumberjacks cut swaths through the forest to provide hunting fields for the hunters. The bears then use these same aisles to track the hunters and lumberjacks.

The two sides are balanced with luck dominating the early game, but skill taking over at the end. Good hunting!

How to Play

• Yucata (Web Guide)
• Your Turn My Turn (Web Guide)
  
• Rio Grande Games (Official Rulebook)
  

Where to Play Online (I play on Yucata, but you can play right away on YourTurnMyTurn)

• Yucata (Free - Registration Required)
• Your Turn My Turn (Free - Registration for PvP Play)
• Brett Spiel Welt (Free - Registration Required)

Cheat Sheets (from the Geek)

• Teaching Aid (Downloads a Pdf)

Game Hints

• Basic Strategy: Coming Soon (a link to the Geek)
• My Tips: Coming Soon

Views

• Opinion: I didn't enjoy this game until I played it online. Now I like it online or in person.
  
• Online: Works great online, highly recommended.
• Work: We could play 2-3 games at lunch time.
• Home: Easy to teach and learn for any age group.

Other Info

• Plays best with: 2 player game.
• Gateway Suitability: The game is pretty could, and could be used to gateway others into gaming (better options are available).
• Spouse Suitability: Chrissy hasn't played it.
• Re-playability: Very high for me.
• Real Life Setup: A few minutes, of placing tiles face down on the board.
• Real Life Time/Length: 15-20 minutes.
• Geek Link: http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/908

Balloon Cup

The Basics
Description: In Balloon Cup, the players compete in several short balloon flights (hops) to collect the colored cubes associated with each hop.

Four landscape cards, two Plains alternating with two Mountains, are laid out and 1, 2, 3 or 4 cubes in assorted colors (gray, blue, green, yellow, red) are added. From a hand of 8 Balloon cards must try to pass each landscape by adding cards matching the colored blocks onto their side of table, although winds (and cunning) may occasionally cause them to play on their opponent’s side - a move that can really ruin the opponent’s plans.

High-valued balloons are played on the Mountains and low-valued balloons on the plains. Whoever is the better balloonist takes the cubes from the card, which is then flipped over and refilled with cubes. Mountains becomes Plains and vice-versa. 5 Trophy cards of value 3 to 7 are placed at the top of the cards. When a player has collected enough cubes of a given color, he earns the Trophy card for that color. Players may even trade 3 otherwise useless cubes for 1 they can use.

The first player to earn 3 trophy cards is the winner!

How to Play (I can teach, or you can read the online rules)

• Yucata (Web Guide)
• Gravon (Web Guide)
  
• Rio Grande Games (Official Rulebook)

Where to Play Online (I play on Yucata)

• Yucata (Free - Registration Required)
• Gravon (Free - Registration Required)

Cheat Sheets (from the Geek)

• Player Aid (Downloads a Pdf)
• Teaching Aid (Downloads a Pdf)

Game Hints

• Basic Strategy: Thread on the Geek
  
• My Tips: Remember if you score for someone else you get to go again. Plus remember the card distribution of numbers.

Views

• Opinion: I enjoy this game, fills a quick filler role for two players.
• Online: Works fine online, if not better online.
• Work: We easily could play 2-3 games of this.
• Home: Easy game to teach to kids, and has enough choices at times to keep parents into it.

Other Info

• Plays best with: 2 player game.
• Gateway Suitability: Very easy to learn, solid two player gateway game.
• Spouse Suitability: Chrissy liked the game.
• Re-playability: Very high online, and pretty good to high for a two player game.
• Real Life Setup: A few minutes of shuffling and dealing cards, and putting cubes on cards and in the bag.
• Real Life Time/Length: 20 minutes.
• Geek Link: http://boardgamegeek.com/game/5716

San Juan

The Basics
Description: A card game based on Puerto Rico. The pack of 110 cards consists of production buildings (indigo, sugar, tobacco, coffee, and silver) and "violet" buildings that grant special powers or extra victory points. Cards from the hand can be either built or used as money to build something else. Cards from the deck are used to represent goods produced by the production buildings, in which case they are left face-down. A seven-card hand limit is enforced once per round.

In each round or governorship, each player in turn selects from one of the available roles, triggering an event that usually affects all players, such as producing goods or building. The person who picks the role gets a privilege, such as producing more goods or building more cheaply.

Though similar in concept to Puerto Rico, the game has many different mechanics. In particular, there are no colonists and no shipping of goods; goods production and trading are normally limited to one card per phase; and trades cannot be blocked.

Victory points are gained exclusively by building, and the game ends as soon as one player has put up 12 buildings.

How to Play

• Spielezeit Official Video) (Web Guide) (Power Point)
• Audio Rules (MP3)
  
• Rio Grande Games (Official Rulebook)

Where to Play Online

• Brett Spiel Welt (Free - Registration Required) (real-time)
• Compound Eye (Free) (Strong Computer AI)
• PC Version 1 (Free) (Zipped Version on the Geek)
• PC Version 2 (Free) (Zipped Version on the Geek)
  
• Underdogs (Free) (Zipped)

Cheat Sheets (from the Geek)

• Player Aid (Downloads a Pdf)
• Quick Reference (Downloads a Word doc)

Game Hints

• Basic Strategy: Thread on the Geek
• My Tips: Coming Soon

Views

• Opinion: I love this game. A great way to spend some time. A must if you love Puerto Rico.
  
• Online: Works fine online or as a PC game.
• Work: Should be fine for lunch time play.
• Home: Solid card game for families. Card management and role selection aren't hard to pick up.
  

Other Info

• Plays best with: Works fine with 2-4 players, best with 3 (but fine with 2 or 4).
• Gateway Suitability: Fairly easy to learn, might take two games to grasp what to buy and what to discard.
• Spouse Suitability: Chrissy hasn't played this yet.
• Re-playability: Very high for gamers.
  
• Real Life Setup: A few minutes of pulling the Indigo card for each player, then shuffle cards and sort out other pieces.
• Real Life Time/Length: 30-45 minutes.
• Geek Link: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/8217

RA

The Basics
Description: Ra is an auction game with an Ancient Egyptian theme. Each turn players are able to purchase three lots of tiles with their bidding tiles. Once a player has purchased his three lots for the round, the other players continue until they do likewise, which may set up a situation with a single uncontested player bidding on tiles before the end of the round occurs. Tension builds because the round may end before all players have had a chance to win their three lots for the epoch. The tiles give either immediate points, prevent negative points for not having certain types at the end of the round (epoch), or give points after the final round. The game lasts for three epochs. The game offers a short learning curve, and experienced players find it both fast-moving and a quick play.

How to Play

• You Tube (Video)
• Quick Reference (Downloads a Pdf)
• Rio Grande Games (Official Rulebook - reprint and link coming soon)

Where to Play Online (I love the real thing more, but the free PC version is fine)

• Brett Spiel Welt (Free - Registration Required)
• PC Version (Free Zipped Files)

Cheat Sheets (from the Geek)

• Player Mat (Downloads a Pdf)
• Player Mat (Downloads a Pdf)
• Quick Reference (Downloads a Pdf)
• Small Player Aid (Downloads a Pdf)
• How to Make a Bag (Thread on the Geek)

Game Hints

• Basic Strategy: Thread on the Geek
• My Tips: Coming Soon

Views

• Opinion: I love this game. Chanting "RA RA RA" is fun stuff.
• Online: Works fine on BSW, or on the PC
• Work: Could be to long the first time, but after that should be fine for lunch time play.
• Home: Great game, great pieces, push your luck always good for families.

Other Info

• Plays best with: Works fine with 3-5 players, best with 3 or 4.
• Gateway Suitability: Fairly easy to learn, I would say a small step above gateway, but still easy to push on folks.
• Spouse Suitability: Chrissy liked the pieces and playing on the PC.
• Re-playability: A classic in modern board games. Replay value should be high.
• Real Life Setup: A few minutes, place all tiles in the bag, and hand out cash tokens.
• Real Life Time/Length: 45-60 minutes.
• Geek Link: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/12

Carcassonne: Hunters & Gathers

The Basics
Description: Carcassonne: Hunters and Gatherers is a game in the Carcassonne series set in the stone age. Players build a prehistoric landscape with tiles depicting forests, rivers, lakes and grasslands. They then send out members of their tribe to hunt, gather, fish and establish fishing camps. It includes many of the familiar mechanics from Carcassonne with a few new options.

How to Play (if you can play Carcassonne, you can play this version as well)

NO VIDEO OR POWER POINT (But you can use the Carcassonne Power Point to play)

• Yucata (Online Rules)
  
• Rio Grande Games (Official Rulebook)

Where to Play Online (I play on Yucata, but the PC version is fine.)

• Yucata (turn-based) (Free - Registration Required)
• Brett Spiel Welt (Free - Registration Required)
  
• Vassal Engine (Free Client Download - Never played with it)
• Carcassonne Online (Not Free - PC Version)
  
  

Cheat Sheets (from the Geek)

• Player Aid (Downloads a Word doc)
• Player Aid (Downloads a Pdf)
• Smaller Player Aid (Downloads a Power Point)
• Tile Distribution (Web Page)
  
  

Game Hints

• Basic Strategy: Thread on the Geek
• My Tips: Coming Soon
  
  

Views

• Opinion: I really enjoy this game, more than regular Carcassonne. I can teach it and go over it at lunch time, at the house or online.
• Online: Works fine online, prefer it online.
• Work: Table size will be the only thing stopping us from playing anywhere we want at lunch time.
• Home: Great game for any family, just watch the small pieces.
  
  

Other Info

• Plays best with: Works fine with 2-5 players, best with 2.
• Gateway Suitability: Very easy to learn, might take two games to grasp the scoring.
• Spouse Suitability: Chrissy likes the tile placement aspect.
• Re-playability: This game will see table and online action.
• Real Life Setup: A few minutes, just placing tiles in the bag, and handing out pieces.
• Real Life Time/Length: 45 minutes.
• Geek Link: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/4390

Hacienda

The Basics
Description: Hacienda has players competing for space on the South American pampas, aiming to bring their livestock to the most markets. You get three actions a turn to buy cards which then let you lay tiles to control land and herds, or you may buy extras, such as waterholes or the haciendas of the title to get bonus points.

The game has two card decks, one showing the different land types on the hex map, the other the different animals (pigs, cows, horses and sheep). Some cards are laid face up and you pay 3 pesos to buy the ones you want, or 2 pesos for an unknown card from the draw deck. You spend the cards to put your markers on land and to place your animal tokens on the board. Animals of a type go together to make a herd naturally, and each time a herd touches a market town on the board, you earn money for the size of herd and land attached. With careful hand and herd management, you can make good cash gains and also block your opponents. You need the money to buy more cards of course. 12 pesos also buys waterholes you can place next to your herds, or haciendas to go on your land or herds. If you run short of money, you can call a harvest and get cash off your land.

But the game is not about money. You score victory points halfway through the game and at the end. The more markets you are serving, the more points you get. The herds and the land get you points. The water and haciendas get you bonus points as well, which can be crucial to your success.

It should be noted, the game board has two sides: a symmetrical dog-bone shape of land types (appears in most of the photos), and a "random" more varied pattern of land types.

How to Play

• NO Video or Power Point (I can show you at lunch or online)
  
• Spiel by Web (Online Rules)
  
• Yucata (Online Rules)
  
• Rio Grande Games (Official Rulebook)

Where to Play Online (I play on Spiel by Web 24x7)

• Spiel by Web (Free - Registration Required)
• Yucata (Free - Registration Required)
  

Cheat Sheets (from the Geek)

• Player Aid (Downloads a JPG)

Game Hints

• Basic Strategy: Thread on the Geek
  
• My Tips: Coming Soon

Views

• Opinion: Did not care for it until Bob showed me how to play. Now I own it and is one of the games I play every day online. Easy to learn, easy to play, lots of choices.
  
• Online: Works very well on Spiel by Web
• Work: Could be long the first time, but should be fine after that for lunch time play.
• Home: Great game, small pieces might make it a teenager and older game.

Other Info

• Plays best with: Works fine with 2-5 players, best with 2-4. I love 2 player versus Bob. 2 player gives you more space.
  
• Gateway Suitability: Easy to learn, but not a Gateway game.
• Spouse Suitability: Chrissy likes the online version more.
• Re-playability: Online (or Offline) you can play with so many custom boards. If you get into the game, replay value is almost unlimited just on the board options alone.
• Real Life Setup: A few minutes of sorting pieces.
• Real Life Time/Length: 60 minutes (much quicker online).
• Geek Link: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/19100

Samurai

The Basics
Description: Part of the Knizia tile-laying trilogy, this game is set in medieval Japan. Players use hexagonal tiles to surround cities, which have one to three different figures: rice paddies, Buddhas, or high hats. The tiles represent influence on particular facets of the cities, and the highest influence on a figure when the city is surrounded takes that figure. The object of the game is to have more of any one else in one category, and then have the most remaining figures.

How to Play (I had Dave show me years ago, but you can use Mr. Bass step by step guide. If we play at lunch I can show you in person.)

• No Video or Power Point
• Mr. Bass (Web Guide)
• Mabi Web (Online Rules)
  
• Ted Cheatham (Download an Audio Only Review)
• Rio Grande Games (Official Rulebook)

Where to Play Online (I play on Mabi Web, but the PC version is good)

• Mabi Web (Free - Registration Required)
• Klear (Free - PC Version)
  
• Pen & Paper Samurai - (Free - Play on Paper)
  

Cheat Sheets (from the Geek)

• Quick Setup (Downloads a Word doc)
• Cheat Sheet (Downloads a Pdf)
• Quick Reference (Downloads a Pdf)

Game Hints

• Basic Strategy: Thread on the Geek
• My Tips: I tend to use my boat tiles early, then hold the rest of the special tiles until the end. Mainly for extra screwage.
  

Views

• Opinion: I love this game. I play it online everyday.
• Online: The Mabi Web version, is almost like playing in person.
• Work: Could be a little long the first time, but should be fine after that for lunch time play.
• Home: Great game, great pieces. Scales well, and easy to understand for all family members.
  

Other Info

• Plays best with: Works fine with 2-4 players, best with 2 to 3 (quicker play).
• Gateway Suitability: Very easy to learn, might take a few turns to grasp.
• Spouse Suitability: Chrissy likes the game. Cheat sheets help a lot.
• Re-playability: This IMHO has high replay value.
• Real Life Setup: A few minutes, sorting out pieces.
• Real Life Time/Length: 45 minutes.
• Geek Link: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/3

Puerto Rico

The Basics
Description: The players are plantation owners in Puerto Rico in the days when ships had sails. Growing up to five different kind of crops: Corn, Indigo, Coffee, Sugar and Tobacco, they must try to run their business more efficiently than their close competitors; growing crops and storing them efficiently, developing San Juan with useful buildings, deploying their colonists to best effect, selling crops at the right time, and most importantly, shipping their goods back to Europe for maximum benefit.

A novel game system lets players choose the order of the phases in each turn by allowing each player to choose a role from those remaining when it is their turn. No role can be selected twice in the same round. The player who selects the best roles to advance their position during the game will win.

How to Play

• Preemminent (BSW Demo)
• Boardgames With Scott (Video)
  
• Geek (Audio Rules)
  
• Rio Grande Games (Official Rulebook)
• Geek (Tutorial)
  

Where to Play Online (I play Phial, or the Eagle Games version which you pay 7.50 for as of June 2008)

• PR Game (Free - Registration Required)
• Phial (Free - Curl Downloaded)
• Mark Blanco (Free - Windows Download)
• Tony Mitton (Free - Excel Download)

Cheat Sheets (from the Geek)

• New Player One Page (Downloads a Word doc)
• Welcome to Puerto Rico (Downloads a Word doc)
  
• Teaching Aid (Downloads a Word doc)
• Turn by Turn Guide (Thread on the Geek)
• Flowchart (Downloads a pdf)
  

Game Hints

• Basic Strategy: Compilation Thread on the Geek
• Beginner Strategy: Zipped file from The Geek
• Another Strategy Guide for Beginners: Thread on the Geek
  
• My Tips: Read the Warehouse Article

Views

• Opinion: I enjoy this game more on the PC, than in person. A lot quicker, and if you lose you can play another.
  
• Online: Works fine online, if not better.
  
• Work: Could be to long, might work on a long lunch or lunch/break combo.
• Home: Great game to play, but not a family game, unless everyone is into it.

Other Info

• Plays best with: Works fine with 3-5 players, best with 4.
• Gateway Suitability: Takes two games to get it, unless you read the guides and have a good teacher. Not a gateway game, maybe a gateway into serious gaming.
• Spouse Suitability: Chrissy hasn't played, but has watched.
  
• Re-playability: Very very high if you get into it.
• Real Life Setup: 5 minutes, less if you bag the parts post game.
• Real Life Time/Length: Without the expansion 60-90 minutes.
• Geek Link: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/3076

Masons

The Basics
Description: One thing is certain: in the middle ages, the best living was to be found behind the protection of nice thick castle walls and towers. But once they're standing, you can take you time building houses and palaces behind them. And if that goes especially well, the castles grow and merge with each other. To accomplish that, you only need some tactical skill and the right cards.

But watch out: You need to sense when the best time to play your cards is in order to score the most points. Masons (Mauerbauer), a tense castle-building game about points and palaces.

How to Play

• Board Games with Scott (Video)
  
• Rio Grande Games (Official Rulebook)
• Yucata (Online Rules)
  

Where to Play Online

• Yucata (Free - Registration Required)

Cheat Sheets (from the Geek)

• Player Aid (Downloads a Pdf)
• Player Aid (Downloads a Pdf)
  
• Scoring Cheat Sheet (Downloads a Word Doc)

Game Hints

• Basic Strategy: Thread at the Geek
• My Tips: Coming Soon (Basic info on Rio Grande Site)
  

Views

• Opinion: Played it when it first came out at the Gathering. I really enjoyed at that time. Got bored of it, then online play got me back into it, and into purchasing it.
  
• Online: Works fine online.
• Work: Could be to long the first time, but should be fine after that for lunch time play.
• Home: Ok, better choices available.
  

Other Info

• Plays best with: Works fine with 2-4 players, best with 3.
• Gateway Suitability: Not that hard to learn, might take two games to grasp scoring and and card play.
• Spouse Suitability: Chrissy hasn't played it yet.
• Re-playability: At this time, I would say low after the newness factor goes away.
• Real Life Setup: Five plus minutes of separating pieces.
• Real Life Time/Length: Without the expansions 45 minutes.
• Geek Link: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/21791

Saint Petersburg

The Basics
Description: Saint Petersburg is a card game in which you acquire workers for income, build buildings for fame, and attract aristocrats to your city in order to gain the most fame at the end of the game.

Santiago deals with 'gracious living along the river Neva': the baroque palaces, wide boulevards, and imposing bridges of St. Petersburg. On May 16th, 1703, Czar Peter laid the cornerstone for the first building. Quickly, glorious buildings were added, always being expanded, so that Nobility (as well as victory-bringing Fame Points) may want to move in. But to accomplish this, one needs merchants who can bankroll the necessary Rubles, or the glory is over. The competition isn't sleeping either, and can sometimes steal a desired card right out from under your nose.

How to Play

• Spielezeit (Power Point)
• Yucata (Online Rules)
• Rio Grande Games (Official Rulebook)

Where to Play Online (I play it on Yucata, download is a good tool for solo play.)

• Yucata (Free - Registration Required)
• Brett Spiel Welt (Free - Registration Required)
• West Park Gamers (Free - A download for PC Freeware)

Cheat Sheets (from the Geek)

• Player Aid (Downloads a Word doc)
• View of all Cards (Downloads a jpg)
  

Game Hints

• Basic Strategy: Thread at the Geek
• Advance Strategy: Thread at the Geek
  
• My Tips: Remember that different Aristocrats score at the end. I always forgot that when I started playing.

Views

• Opinion: I enjoy this game. I just don't like play with any St. Pete sharks.
• Online: Works fine online, and the PC version is very good.
• Work: Could be to long the first time, but should be fine after that for lunch time play.
• Home: Great game to play, if no one takes it to seriously.
  

Other Info

• Plays best with: Works fine with 2-4 players, best with 2 or 4.
• Gateway Suitability: Easy to learn, might take two games to grasp when to buy and taking cards to hand instead of playing them.
• Spouse Suitability: Chrissy hasn't played it yet.
• Re-playability: If your into it, very high. Otherwise a monthly regular. But worth a try to see where it falls.
  
• Real Life Setup: A few minutes, just sorting cards and giving folks pieces.
• Real Life Time/Length: 45 minutes (with or without expansion)
  
• Geek Link: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/9217 .
  

TransAmerica & TransEuropa

The Basics
A very simple railway game. Each player has a set of 5 cities strung across the US that need to be connected by rail. Players place either 1 or 2 rails each turn. The player who can make the best use of the other players' networks is generally victorious.

Both games play the same, only difference is the maps, rules are the same for both.

How to Play

• Spielezeit: (Power Point) for TransAmerica
• Board Games with Scott: (Video) for TransEuropa
• Board Game Geek: (Zipped Power Point, Classroom Style) for TransAmerica
• Cycloops: (Online Rules)
  
• Rio Grande Games: Official TransAmerica Rulebook (pdf)
  
• Rio Grande Games: Official TransEuropa Rulebook (pdf)
  

Where to Play Online (I recommend Cycloops, it has both)

• Cycloops (Free - Registration Required)
• Brett Spiele Welt (Free - Registration Required)

Cheat Sheets (from the Geek)

• No Cheat Sheet is needed, the game is pretty straight forward and easy.
  
• Travel Version : - Cheapo Travel Version on the Geek.
  

Game Hints

• Strategy: A Thread on the Geek
• My Tips: Online, do the math before placing the piece, you cant pick up pieces afterwards.
  

Views

• Opinion: I really enjoy this game. One of the first Euro's Chuck and Lani showed me. A very gateway game to learn.
  
• Online: Works real well. I play multiple games a day.
• Work: We could probably play 2-3 games at lunch time.
• Home: Works well with kids, spouses non gamer family members.
  

Other Info

• Plays best with: Works fine with 2-6 players, best with 2-3.
• Gateway Suitability: Very easy to learn, might take two games to grasp the screw factor. Real Life expansion, makes it more cutthroat, and still keeps it fun.
  
• Spouse Suitability: Chrissy likes it.
• Re-playability: Very high, unless you don't like any luck in your games.
  
• Real Life Setup: 5 minutes, shuffle cards, deal cards, select placement of first piece.
• Real Life Time/Length: Without the expansion 30-45 minutes.
• Link at the Geek: http://boardgamegeek.com/game/2842 (America)
  
• Link at the Geek: http://boardgamegeek.com/game/16267 (Europa)