Vegas Showdown

The Basics
Description: Build your own hotel/casino by bidding against the other players to acquire tiles that represent slot machines, lounges, restaurants, and other casino-related places. Put those tiles on your player board, which represents your own customized casino. The tiles will allow you to increase your revenue, services, and fame.

The player who builds the most famous hotel/casino wins the game.

How to Play

• Wizards (Official Demo)
• Board Games with Scott (Video)
• Wizards (Rulebook)
  

Where to Play Online

• Gleemax (Free - Registration Required)
  

Cheat Sheets (from the Geek)

• Player Aid (Downloads a Pdf)

Game Hints

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

Views

• Opinion: So far I like this game.
• Online: Works fine online
• Work: Could be to long the first time, but should be fine after that for lunch time play.
• Home: Great game, but better options available.

Other Info

• Plays best with: Works fine with 3-5 players, best with 5.
• Gateway Suitability: Not sure yet.
• Spouse Suitability: Chrissy hasn't played it yet.
• Re-playability: Not sure yet.
• Real Life Setup: A few minutes.
• Real Life Time/Length: 60-75 minutes.
• Geek Link: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/15364

Axis & Allies

The Basics
Description: Axis & Allies (2004) aka Axis & Allies Revised Edition is the fourth edition of the classic light weight war game Axis and Allies. The game simulates the entire scope of World War II.

The game is nominally designed for five players, representing the Allies: United States of America, United Kingdom and Russia vs. the Axis: Germany and Japan. However, it is most often played as a two-player game.

Axis & Allies features a simple dice-based combat system; a small number of types of naval, air and land units; territory control; and technology research to improve unit capabilities.

Major new features of Axis & Allies (2004) include new units (e.g. destroyers, artillery), revised unit capabilities (e.g. armor defend at 3, fighters cost 10 IPCs), directed technology research, and totally new victory conditions (key territories must be controlled to win the game).

How to Play

• Wizards (Official Demo) (Web Guide) (Power Point)
• Wizards (Official Rulebook)

Where to Play Online

• Gleemax (Free - Registration Required)

Cheat Sheets (from the Geek)

• Player Aid (Downloads a RTF doc)
• Teaching Aid (Downloads a Pdf)
• Battle Calculator - (Website)
  

Game Hints

• Basic Strategy: Thread on the Geek (Part 1)
• Basic Strategy: Thread on the Geek (Part 2)
• My Tips: Coming Soon

Views

• Opinion: Oldie and a good, long but fun.
• Online: Works fine online, maybe even better online.
  
• Work: Online only.
• Home: Great game for teenagers and above.

Other Info

• Plays best with: Works fine with 2-5 players, best with 2.
• Gateway Suitability: For war games ok, otherwise it might be to long.
• Spouse Suitability: Chrissy wont play.
• Re-playability: Very high when I was a teen. Now it takes to long in person.
• Real Life Setup: It takes a while.
• Real Life Time/Length: Two to Four Hours.
• Geek Link: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/10093
  

Robo Rally

The Basics
Description: Imagine that you're a supercomputer. Now imagine that you're bored. So you dream up a little contest for you and a couple of your supercomputing buddies. Your task is to move one of the stupid little robots out on the factory floor through a series of checkpoints scattered throughout the factory. The wrinkle, however, is that the factory floor is filled with all kinds of inconvenient (if not down-right deadly) obstacles located in various locations: conveyor belts, crushers, flame-throwers, pushers, teleporters, oil slicks, pits, et cetera. But the real fun comes when the robots cross each other's path, and suddenly your perfect route is something less than that...

How to Play

• Wizards Demo (Official Demo) (Web Guide) (Power Point)
• Wizards (Official Rulebook)
• Geek (Copy of Official Rulebook)
  

Where to Play Online (I like Gleemax, but Eye Play and Palm version are fine)

• Gleemax (Free - Registration Required)
• Eye Play Games (Free - Registration Required)
  
• Source Forge (Free - Registration Required)
• Lurk Lurk (Free for Palm OS - No Registration Required)
  

Cheat Sheets (from the Geek)

• Great Website on Robo Rally (Not the Geek)
  
• Teaching Aid (Downloads a Pdf)

Game Hints

• Basic Strategy: Thread on the Geek
  
• My Tips: None from me, but a good thread on the Geek

Views

• Opinion: I really enjoy this game. I enjoy Hunters more, but this is an easy game to learn. I can teach it and go over it at lunch time, at the house or online.
• Online: Works fine online
• Work: Could be to long on the table, might work better online.
• Home: Great game for families after they get the rules down.

Other Info

• Plays best with: Works fine with 2-8 players, best with 5 or 6.
• Gateway Suitability: Easy to learn, a little hard to master. So it might take a few games, then you are hooked.
• Spouse Suitability: Chrissy loved the pieces and the game.
• Re-playability: Once you get into it, replay is high.
• Real Life Setup: A few minutes, sorting pieces and cards.
• Real Life Time/Length: Without the expansions over an hour, the more players could take 2 hours in person.
• Geek Link: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/18

Guillotine

The Basics
Description: The French Revolution is famous in part for the use of the guillotine to put nobles to death, and this is the macabre subject of this light card game.

As executioners pandering to the masses, the players are trying to behead the least popular nobles. Each day the nobles are lined up and players take turns killing the ones at the front of the line until all the nobles are gone.

However, players are given cards which will manipulate the line order right before 'harvesting,' which is what makes the game interesting. After three days worth of chopping, the highest total carries the day.

How to Play

• You Tube (Video)
• Official (Online Rules)

Where to Play Online

• Gleemax (Free - Registration Required)

Cheat Sheets (from the Geek)

• One Pager (Downloads a Word doc)
• Rulebook Scan (Downloads a Pdf)

Game Hints

• Basic Strategy: None that I can find
  
• My Tips: There isn't much strategy in Guillotine. Maybe in terms of using your action cards to maximize your own score while screwing your opponents is about it.

Views

• Opinion: I fun light game. Good to use at the beginning or at the end of a game session.
• Online: Works fine online once your in Gleemax.
• Work: Could easily play a game during lunch.
  
• Home: Fun and light, the beheading and gloomy aspect might not be good for kids.
  

Other Info

• Plays best with: Works fine with 2-5 players, best with 4.
• Gateway Suitability: Very easy to learn, might take two games to grasp it.
• Spouse Suitability: Chrissy liked it.
• Re-playability: This has ok replay value if you view it as a light game. Otherwise mid to low replay value.
• Real Life Setup: A few minutes, shuffle and deal.
• Real Life Time/Length: Takes around 30 minutes.
• Geek Link: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/116

Citadels

The Basics
Description: Players seek to build a collection of buildings worth from one to eight points. Once someones built eight buildings, then the game is over and the player with the highest total value wins. However to facilitate the process (and make the game interesting), players sequentially choose a character from a rapidly dwindling pool of eight each turn. The characters give players special abilities for the turn.

This is a rock solid cut throat game. Better in person than online IMHO.

How to Play

• Spielezeit (Power Point)
• Book Shelf Games (Video)
  
• Thread at the Geek (Web Guide)
  
• Fantasy Flight Games (Official Rulebook)

Where to Play Online (I like it live, but Amarriner and Java are a ok)

• Amarriner: Turn Based (Free - Registration Required)
  
• Citadelles Java Game: Solo or Real Time (Free - Registration Required)
• Frenopatico: Turn Based (Free - Registration Required)
• Brett Spiel Welt: (Free - Registration Required)
• Free PC Version at FIADE (Freeware Download)
  

Cheat Sheets (from the Geek)

• Player Aid (Downloads a Pdf)
• Player Aid (Downloads a Pdf)
• Player Mat (Downloads a ZIP)
• Fancy Player Aid (Downloads a Pdf)
• Two Player Variant (Downloads a Word Doc)
• Cheat Sheet (Downloads a Word Doc)
  
• All Characters Cards (Downloads a Pdf)

Game Hints

• Basic Strategy: Thread at the Geek
• My Tips: I like playing this game, but I stink don't take my advice.
  

Views

• Opinion: I enjoy this game. I like the base version more. But it is fun to play, even though I always lose.
• Online: Works fine online, via AI on the PC.
• Work: Could be to long and to many folks for lunch time play. Two Player variant or after some online play, lunch time play might work.
  
• Home: Solid game to play at home, but with folks who don't mind back stabbing.
  

Other Info

• Plays best with: Works best with 5 players, can play 2-7.
• Gateway Suitability: Middle of the road for gateway. With player aids and a once over on the rules, folks should grasp the game.
• Spouse Suitability: Chrissy hasn't played it yet.
• Re-playability:Very high if folks know how to play it.
• Real Life Setup: A few minutes for sorting cards.
• Real Life Time/Length: Without the expansion 50-60 minutes.
• Geek Link: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/478

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 .
  

Santiago

The Basics
Description: This game is about cultivating and watering fields. To accomplish this, a number of tiles denoting various plantation types come into the game each round. The tiles are auctioned off such that each player gets one, and the tiles are then placed onto the game board along with an ownership marker that also indicates how plentiful the tile’s yield will be. Whoever bid the lowest in each round gets to be the canal overseer and decides where a canal will be built that round. The other players may make suggestions to help the canal overseer decide, and back up their suggestions with money. The final decision is always wholly up to the overseer, though.

At the end of each round, players determine what the water supply situation looks like. Should a plantation not be sufficiently watered, its production drops dramatically; should it happen more than once, then that plantation may revert to fallow ground. At game’s end, naturally only the cultivated land counts. Each plantation is counted according to type – the bigger the better. But since the ownership markers play a role as well, the same plantation can give drastically different points for different players.
Goal

How to Play

• Board Games with Scott (Video)
• Spiel by Web (Online Rules)
• Amigo (Official Rulebook in pdf)
• Z-Man Games (Official Rulebook in pdf)
  

Where to Play Online

• Spiel by Web (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: Read the Thread
  

Views

• Opinion: I really enjoy this game. I like it more live, than online. The game is constantly moving live.
  
• Online: Works fine, a little slow if everyone isn't online.
• Work: First game could go over an hour of lunch time.
• Home: Great for gamers, ok for others. Still pretty easy to pickup.
  

Other Info

• Plays best with: Best with 5 (ok with 3-4).
  
• Gateway Suitability: S0-s0, might take a few games to grasp everything.
• Spouse Suitability: Chrissy didn't care for this.
• Re-playability: Online it will be pretty high, as its a turn based game.
• Real Life Setup: A few minutes, just organizing the pieces..
• Real Life Time/Length: 45-65 minutes.
• Geek Link: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/8125
  

Hey! That's My Fish!

The Basics

A short game in which players control a number of penguins. The penguins move over hex-shaped ice tiles with 1, 2 or 3 fish on them. The player takes the hex from where the penguin started his movement from the table, thereby creating a gap which other players can't cross. If a penguin can't move, he's taken from play. The player with the most fish in the end wins.

How to Play (I recommend Spielezeit or Mr. Bass)

• Spielezeit (Power Point)
• Mr. Bass (Web Overview - Very Good)
• GamesOverBoard (You Tube Video)
• Yucata (Web Rules)
• Your Turn My Turn (Web Rules)
• Game Pixies (PDF - Official Rulebook)
  

Where to Play Online (I recommend Yucata)

• Your Turn My Turn Turn Based (Free - Registration Required)
• Yucata Turn Based (Free - Registration Required)
• Game Pixies Turn Based (Free - Registration Required)
• Brett Spiel Welt Real Time (Free - Registration Required)

Cheat Sheets (from the Geek)

• Real Life Board Aide (Downloads a pdf)
• Cheapo Free Play (Downloads a pdf)
  

Game Hints

• Basic Strategy: Thread on the Geek
• My Tips: Coming Soon, not good enough for any tips. Maybe, don't forget you can jump multiple tiles.
  

Views

• Opinion: I really enjoy this game. This is an easy game to learn. I can teach it and go over it at lunch time, at the house or online.
• Online: Works fine online
• Work: Could be to long the first time, but should be fine after that for lunch time play.
• Home: Great game.

Other Info

• Plays best with: Works fine with 2-5 players, best with 2.
• Gateway Suitability: Very easy to learn.
• Spouse Suitability: Chrissy like it.
• Re-playability: This does see table and online action.
• Real Life Setup: A few minutes of tile placement and handing out pieces.
• Real Life Time/Length: Without the expansions 30-45 minutes.
• Geek Link: http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/8203
  

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)
  

Lost Cities

The Basics
Lost Cities is a two-player card game by Kosmos. The object is to mount profitable expeditions to one or more of the five different lost cities. Card play is quite straightforward, with a few agonizing moments sprinkled through what is mostly a fast-moving game. If you start a given expedition, you'd better make some progress in it, or it'll score you negative points. If you can make a lot of progress, you'll score quite well. After three rounds, the highest total score takes the day.

How to Play (with Scott or Mr. Bass)

• Board Games with Scott (Video)
• You Tube (Video)
  
• Mr. Bass (Web Guide)
• Flex Games (Online Rules)
  
• Your Turn My Turn (Online Rules)
  
• Rio Grande Games (Official Rulebook)

Where to Play Online (Flex Games at Work, YTMT at Home it has solo play)

• Flex Games (Real Time) (Free - Registration Required)
• Your Turn My Turn (Turn Based, or Solo) (Free - Registration Required)
• Brett Spiel Welt (Real Time) (Free - Registration Required)

Cheat Sheets (from the Geek)

• Teaching Aid (Downloads a Pdf)
• Score Pad (Downloads a Word doc)
• Score Pad (Downloads a Pdf)

Game Hints

• Basic Strategy: Thread on the Geek
• More Strategy: A Deeper Thread on the Geek
  
• My Tips: Focus on two to three colors. Typically focus on two, play one, while you build your hand on the other color.
  

Views

• Opinion: I enjoy this game. Plays quickly, lots of decisions. Do you focus on two or three colors, do you grab cards first, do you play cards. Not that deep, but just enough choices.
• Online: Works fine online and quick
  
• Work: Very easily could be played in 20-30 minutes at lunch time.
• Home: Great game for family, kids, or gamer. Most folks point to this as the gateway for a spouse game.
  

Other Info

• Plays best with: It is a two player game.
• Gateway Suitability: Very easy to learn, might take two games to grasp farmer scoring.
• Spouse Suitability: Chrissy like this a lot, she beat me in it.
• Re-playability: This has a high replay value. Two player game, that is easy to grasp and play.
  
• Real Life Setup: A few minutes, just shuffle the cards place the board and start.
• Real Life Time/Length: Depends on how many rounds, but easily under 30.
• Link at the Geek: http://boardgamegeek.com/game/50
  

Cartagena

The Basics
Cartagena takes as its theme the famous 1672 pirate-led jailbreak from the fortress of Cartagena. Each player has a group of six pirates and the objective is to have all six escape through the tortuous underground passage that connects the fortress to the port, where a sloop is waiting for them.

Each card bears one of six symbols (dagger, pirate hat, etc.), and you move a pirate forward by playing a card and moving ahead to the matching symbol in the tunnel, leapfrogging over those where another pirate already stands, but the only way to get more cards is to move backwards. This turns into a simple but smart game of patience and opportunity, well received by casual gamers.

How to Play

• Spielezeit (Power Point)
• You Play It (Online Rules)
  
• Rio Grand Games (Official Rulebook)

Where to Play Online (I recommend You Play It)

• You Play It (Free - Registration Required)
• Cartagena Online (Free - Registration Required)
• Brett Spiel Welt (Free - Registration Required)

Cheat Sheets (from the Geek)

• Teaching Aid (Downloads a Pdf)

Game Hints

• Basic Strategy: Thread on the Geek
  
• My Tips: Nothing wrong with sliding a piece back to collect more cards.

Views

• Opinion: I do enjoy this game. Light and very quick with 2-3 players.
• Online: Works fine online, if everyone is online goes by real quick.
• Work: Could play 2-3 games worth at lunch.
• Home: Could easily hit the table, a quick filler. Kids like the theme, others like the simplicity.
  

Other Info

• Plays best with: Works fine with 2-5 players, best with 2-3.
• Gateway Suitability: Very easy to learn, might take two games to grasp moving back.
• Spouse Suitability: Chrissy like the tile placement and spreading the board.
• Re-playability:This can see lots of action when you get into it.
• Real Life Setup: 2-5 minutes, placing tiles and sorting cards..
• Real Life Time/Length: 20 minutes.
• Link at the Geek: http://boardgamegeek.com/game/826

Ticket to Ride

The Basics
Description: With elegantly simple game play, Ticket to Ride can be learned in 3 minutes, while providing players with intense strategic and tactical decisions every turn.

"The rules are simple enough to write on a train ticket – each turn you either draw more cards, claim a route, or get additional Destination Tickets," says Ticket to Ride author, Alan R. Moon. "The tension comes from being forced to balance greed – adding more cards to your hand, and fear – losing a critical route to a competitor."

Goal: Players collect cards of various types of train cars they then use to claim railway routes in North America. The longer the routes, the more points they earn. Additional points come to those who fulfill Destination Tickets – goal cards that connect distant cities; and to the player who builds the longest continuous route.

Game Components: Ticket to Ride continues in the tradition of Days of Wonder's big format board games featuring high-quality illustrations and components including: an oversize board map of North America, 225 custom-molded train cars, 144 illustrated cards, and wooden scoring markers.

How to Play

• Days of Wonder (Official Video)
• Spielezeit (Quick Power Point)
• Boardgames with Scott (Video)
  
• Mr Bass (Web Instructions)
• Days of Wonder (Rulebook)
  

Where to Play Online:

• Days Of Wonder (Free – Registration Required)

Cheat Sheets: (on the Geek)

• One Page Cheat Sheet (Downloads a pdf)
  
• Strategy Guide (Downloads a pdf)
  

Game Hints

• Basic Strategy: Thread 142743 at the Geek
  
• My Tips: At first, take fewer routes, save your cards, and build long routes.

Views

• Opinion: I really enjoy Ticket to Ride (all versions of it). I would even say it’s the king of all Gateway Games. It can easily be played at anytime, by anyone.
• Online: Works fine online
• Work: Should be fine after for lunch time play.
• Home: Great game, easy to play.

Other Info

• Plays best with: 4 players, but 3 and 5 are fine, but I like it best at 4.
  
• Gateway Suitability: None Gamers love the game pieces, and the easy to learn system.
• Spouse Suitability: Scared at first, but loves playing it. Compared it to Rummy.
• Re-playability: High Replay value. Easy to learn and play, leads to regular table action (or online action) for gamer and non-gamer.
  
• Real Life Setup: 2-5Minutes
• Real Life Time/Length: 45 Minutes (15 online)
• Geek Link: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/9209
  

Settlers of Catan, The

The Basics
Description: You are a pioneer on the island of Catan, your goal is to grow your settlement by producing and trading resources like grain, ore, and wood. Expand your settlements with roads and cities and be the first player to earn 10 victory points and win the game. Random maps are created each time you play so each game provides a new and exciting challenge.

The goal is to be the first player to reach 10 points. Points are gained done by building towns, cities, roads, creating the longest road, or largest army.

How to Play

• Professor Easy (Interactive Video)
  
• Mr. Bass (Web Page)
  
• You Tube (Video)
  
• Online Rules: Still looking for online rulebook
  

Where to Play Online: (I recommend AsoBrain)

• AsoBrain (Free - Registration Required)
• Play Catan (Free - Registration Required)
• Brett Spiel Welt (Free - Registration Required)
• Other: You can also download it at Yahoo Games, MSN Games or XBox Live.

Cheat Sheets (From the Geek):

• Rules (Word Document)
• One Pager (Pdf)
• Good Stuff (pdf)
• War Version (Word Document)
  

My Tips: (Coming Soon)

Views

• Opinion: I really enjoy Catan (it hits the light to medium game). It is what gamers call an elegant game system. (more to come).
• Online: Very smooth play online.
  
• Work: Not much space is needed, can be played during lunch time.
  
• Home: I got so many copies, home, work, online.
  

Other Info

• Plays best with: 3-4 players, 5-6 player expansion slows down the game way to much for me.
• Gateway Suitability: Very easy to learn and play. This is what got me hooked into boardgames.
• Spouse Suitability: Chrissy liked it, compared it to Monopoly.
• Re-playability: With a modular board, and easy play, the game has high replay value.
• Real Life Setup: 5 to 10 minutes
• Real Life Time/Length: 30-45 Minutes
• Geek Link: http://boardgamegeek.com/game/13
  

Carcassonne

The Basic
Description: In this tile-laying game, players pull a tile from the pool and place it against one of the previously played tiles. If you start a new object (city, road, farm, or monastery), you can place one of your control markers on the tile to denote your control. Markers cannot directly compete when placed, so to achieve some gains, you must place your marker and use later tiles to connect up to it. As subsequent tiles are arrayed on the board, objects get bigger or even merge. When roads or cities are completed, or a monastery is surrounded, the control marker is returned to you and you score the points. However, farmers are not returned and will score points at the game end (there are several rules variations for the farmer scoring). Therefore, it's possible to have all of your control markers locked on the board on incomplete objects, and not be able to convert them into farmers later in the game. You must balance the need to score points during the game with the need to score farmer points at game end. The goal is to have the most points at the end. This can be tricky to control considering your choice for each turn isn't the tile itself, but rather the placement of the tile that you drew.

How to Play

• Spielezeit (Power Point Video)
• Tutorial (www.Geekdo.com)
• Boardgamegeek (Rio Grande Games)
  

Where to Play Online:

• Aso Brain (Free - Registration Required)
  

Cheat Sheets (from the Geek):

• Overview and Summary (from the Geek)

Game Hints

• Basic Strategy: Thread on the Geek
• My Tips: The link above is pretty good. The first few games, focus on castles and roads. Once you got that down, then start playing with sneaking into farms.

Views

• Opinion: I really enjoy this game. I enjoy Hunters more, but this is an easy game to learn. I can teach it and go over it at lunch time, at the house or online.
• Online: A lot quicker and easy to manage online
• Work: We would need a big table, the tiles can take up space. Would play easily at lunch time.
  
• Home: Only issue could be space.
  

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 farmer scoring. A great gateway game.
• Spouse Suitability: Chrissy like the tile placement aspect.
• Re-playability: This and Carcassonne: Hunters & Gatherers 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: Without the expansions 30-45 minutes.
• Geek Link: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/822
  

What Is This Blog About?

What is my blog about?

For Me: I got a link to send to someone who saw a cool game I am playing online or in-person.

How useful will this blog be:
If your new to boardgames: Very, just ask and I'll point you to a game posting that will be helpful.
If your kinda new: Very, just go through the blog, to something that seems fun or something you always wanted to try.
If you saw something on my bookshelf or my desktop at work: Very useful, just email, call, text me or walk over and I'll point out some good games we can learn and try out.
If your a pro: Not at All, just go to the Geek and find what you want

In Conclusion, I hope you enjoy and find the blog useful, and eventually migrate over to www.Geekdo.com . Then you wont need to use this blog any longer, unless you want to push games on others or want to see what I am playing.

Peace,
Kostas