10 Days Across Africa

The Basics
Description: Chart your course from start to finish using destination and transportation tiles. With a little luck and clever planning, you just might outwit your fellow travelers. The first traveler to make connections for a ten day journey wins the game.

All of the 10 Days Across games have the similar rules, just different maps.

How to Play

• Toy Directory (Official Video) (Web Guide) (Power Point)
• Out of the Box (Official Rulebook)

Where to Play Online

• Game Table Online (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 really enjoy this game. I own the Europe and USA versions. Asia and Africa are next.
• Online: Don't play it online, like it in person more.
  
• Work: Very easily can be played at lunch time.
• Home: Great game, can teach kids about geography and it plays very well.

Other Info

• Plays best with: Works fine with 2-4 players, quicker with 2, but fun with any amount.
• Gateway Suitability: Gateway Family Game.
• Spouse Suitability: Chrissy hasn't played it.
• Re-playability: Very high, since it is so easy to learn and play.
• Real Life Setup: A few minutes of sorting the pieces into stacks.
• Real Life Time/Length: 30 minutes.
• Geek Link: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/7865 (Africa)
• Geek Link: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/7866 (USA)
  
• Geek Link: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/5867 (Europe)
  
• Geek Link: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/22398 (Asia)
  

Hoity Toity

The Basics
Description: What do bored English noblemen do with their free time? Well, according to this Klaus Teuber Spiel des Jahres (1990) winner, they like collecting old junk and then showing it off. Players buy or steal various pieces of junk in the form of cards, trying to form the largest and oldest collection. Built on a 'rock-paper-scissors' mechanism, this game gives all players a couple of choices each turn. The trick is in guessing what your opponents are likely to do, and planning your choice accordingly -- only after everyone's decision is revealed do you know for certain whether you made the right one.

How to Play

• Boardgames With Scott (Video)
  
• Spiel by Web (Online Rulebook)

Where to Play Online (I only play on the fast and free Spiele by Web site)

• Spiel by Web (Free - Registration Required)
• Play Catan (PAY SITE - not recommended)
  

Cheat Sheets (from the Geek)

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

Game Hints

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

Views

• Opinion: Not a big fan of this.
  
• Online: Works fine online, try it for free first.
• Work: Could be to long the first time, but should be fine after that for lunch time play.
• Home: Not sure, but should be fine, it is an award winner.

Other Info

• Plays best with: Works fine with 2-6 players, best with 5.
• Gateway Suitability: Easy to learn, Hoity Toity version might be borderline gateway.
• Spouse Suitability: Chrissy has not played it.
• Re-playability: For me not that high, for others it might be different.
• Real Life Setup: A few minutes of sorting pieces.
• Real Life Time/Length: 45 minutes.
• Geek Link: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/120

Mr. Jack

The Basics
Description: One of the two players represents Jack the Ripper, who will be one of the 8 characters on the board. This player knows the identity of this character and his goal is to flee from the district as soon as possible (or avoid being accused for eight turns). The other player represents an independent investigator (not represented on the board) who tries to guess the identity of Jack. But he can make only one accusation during the game!

During each turn the players move the characters, using their special powers, placing them either in shadow or light. At the end of each turn, the witnesses declare if Jack is visible (in light, or adjacent to another character) or not (alone in the shadows). This allows the investigator to know which characters are innocent. This continues as the investigator tries to eliminate suspects while Jack tries to escape. Intuition, logic and cold blood will be necessary for each of the two participants.

How to Play

• Bookshelf Games (Video)
• Hurrican Games (Official Rulebook)

Where to Play Online

• Biludi (Free - Registration Required)

Cheat Sheets (from the Geek)

• Player Aid (Downloads a Png image)
• FAQ (Downloads a Word doc)

Game Hints

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

Views

• Opinion: After a few plays, this game hits a nice two player game.
• Online: Works great online
• Work: Pretty quick, could play 2-3 times at lunch time.
• Home: Great game, not sure if theme is family friendly.

Other Info

• Plays best with: Works best with 2.
• Gateway Suitability: Very easy to learn, not that hard to teach. Could be a two player gateway game.
  
• Spouse Suitability: Chrissy hasn't played it.
• Re-playability: Very high IMHO.
• Real Life Setup: A few minutes of sorting pieces.
• Real Life Time/Length: 30 minutes (less after you know the rules, and no AP).
• Geek Link: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/21763

Blokus

The Basics
Description: Blokus is an abstract strategy game with transparent, tetris-shaped, colored pieces that players are trying to play onto the board. The only caveat to placing a piece is that it may not lie adjacent to your other pieces, but instead must be placed touching at least one corner of your pieces already on the board.

There is a solitaire version where one player tries to get rid of all the pieces in a single sitting.

How to Play

• You Tube (Video)
• Coming Soon (Rulebook)

Where to Play Online (I play on Blokus or on Facebook)

• Blokus (Free - Registration Required)
• Blokus (Free - Registration Required)
• Facebook (Free - Registration Required)
• Sekkoia (Free - Registration Required)
  
  

Cheat Sheets (from the Geek)

• Knizia Blokus (Downloads a Word doc)

Game Hints

• Basic Strategy: Thread on The Geek
• My Tips: Read this thread on the Geek
  

Views

• Opinion: Fun time, learn and play it.
  
• Online: Works fine online if not better.
  
• Work: Easily plays 2 to 3 times at lunch time.
• Home: Great game for everyone.

Other Info

• Plays best with: Works fine with 1-4 players, best with 2 or 4 only IMHO.
• Gateway Suitability: Very easy to learn.
• Spouse Suitability: Chrissy likes the game.
• Re-playability: Very high and quick.
• Real Life Setup: A few minutes, of separating pieces.
• Real Life Time/Length: 20 minutes.
• Geek Link: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2453

Hive

The Basics
Description: Hive is a highly addictive strategic game for two players that is not restricted by a board and can be played anywhere on any flat surface. Hive is made up of twenty two pieces, eleven blue and eleven silver, resembling a variety of creatures each with a unique way of moving.

With no setting up to do, the game begins when the first piece is placed down. As the subsequent pieces are placed this forms a pattern that becomes the playing surface (the pieces themselves become the board). Unlike other such games, the pieces are never eliminated and not all have to be played. The object of the game is to totally surround your opponent's queen, whilst at the same time trying to block your opponent from doing likewise to your queen. The player to totally surround his opponent's queen wins the game.

How to Play

• Spielezeit (Power Point)
• Hive Mania (Official Rulebook)

Where to Play Online (Both are fine, I play at Hive Mania)

• Hive Mania (Free)
• Board Space (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 this Thread on The Geek

Views

• Opinion: :Learn it, and lets play some. Great game for two players.
• Online: Works perfectly online
  
• Work: We could play 3-4 games at lunch time.
• Home: Bugs and easy game play, lead to a great family game.
  

Other Info

• Plays best with: Works fine with 2 players, best with 2.
• Gateway Suitability: Very easy to learn, player aid helps.
• Spouse Suitability: Chrissy hasn't played it.
• Re-playability: Very high.
• Real Life Setup: A few minutes of getting your pieces.
• Real Life Time/Length: 20 minutes.
• Geek Link: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2655

Hansa

The Basics
Description: Players are merchants of the Hanseatic League. Players take control of the ship and buy and sell goods, establish trading posts, and sail to find new markets. The board is a very simple map of Scandinavia, with arrows from point to point restricting where the boat is able to move. Active player takes control of boat and must pay to move to each new city where he may either buy, sell, or expand. Players want sets of goods that they can trade for victory points, but also need to expand market presence to generate revenue.

How to Play

• Spielezeit (Power Point)
• Spiele Aus Timbuktu (Official Rulebook)

Where to Play Online

• Michael Schacht (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
• More Strategy: Thread on the Geek
  
• My Tips: Coming Soon

Views

• Opinion: Not a big fan of the game. But worth playing and is enjoyable.
• Online: Works fine online.
• Work: Would work for lunch time play, would rather play other games.
  
• Home: Would rather play another game.
  

Other Info

• Plays best with: Works fine with 2-4 players, best with 2.
• Gateway Suitability: Easy to learn for most. Not a gateway game, as subject is boring to non gamers.
  
• Spouse Suitability: Chrissy hasn't played.
• Re-playability: For me it is low.
• Real Life Setup: A few minutes of sorting pieces.
• Real Life Time/Length: 45 minutes.
• Geek Link: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/8989

Web of Power and China

The Basics
Description: Players struggle for influence over regions of Europe by placing two different type of control markers, Monasteries and Advisors. Monasteries are the basic placement, with the goal of securing a majority in a region or chain of monasteries or even decent points from second place. The placement of the Advisors is more restricted as the total number of Advisors in a region is limited by the majority player's number of monasteries. The game is played in two rounds and is very fast paced.

How to Play

• Spielezeit (Power Point)
• Geek (Rulebook)

Where to Play Online

• Online Brett Spiele (Free Solo Play - Kardinal & König)
• Brett Spiel Welt (Free - Registration Required)
  

Cheat Sheets (from the Geek)

• Teaching Aid (Downloads a Word doc)

Game Hints

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

Views

• Opinion: A solid game, I do like it, but I don't play it much.
• Online: Works fine online
• Work: A solid lunch time game.
• Home: Good game, better options are out there.
  

Other Info

• Plays best with: Works fine with 3-5 players, best with 3.
• Gateway Suitability: Fairly easy to learn, not sure if it is a gateway.
  
• Spouse Suitability: Chrissy hasn't played.
  
• Re-playability: Could be mid to high for some.
• Real Life Setup: A few minutes, sorting cards and pieces.
• Real Life Time/Length: 45 minutes.
• Geek Link: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/491

Ingenious

The Basics
Description: Anyone who knows a little about Reiner Knizia’s games will know that the good Doctor loves games that deal with trying to get points in various different categories and then only score that category in which the player has the fewest.

The game is played on a hex board. 120 equally sized pieces, each consisting of two joined hexes, come with the game. There are symbols on each hex that make up the piece – some pieces have two identical symbols, some have two different symbols (not unlike dominoes). The pieces go into a cloth bag so that they get drawn randomly. Each player receives six pieces to start the game, which are placed onto a rack and visible to them alone.

The goal of the game is, through clever placement, to obtain points in the different symbol colors. Points are claimed by placing a piece such that the symbols on it lie next to already-placed pieces with the same symbol. Pieces are placed onto any open spaces. So, for example, if a player places a piece with a purple circle on it such that it sits next to an unbroken line of four other purple circles already on the board, then the player scores four purple points. A newly placed symbol can lie next to at most five individual rows of symbols.

Each player uses a scoring track to keep track of his points – one track for each colour going from 1 to 18. If a player reaches the 18th space with any colour, then he gets to call out “Ingenious!” (or just think it if he’s not an extrovert) and take another turn. At the end of their turn, players draw as many tiles out of the bag as required to bring their rack back up to six.

The game ends when no more tiles can be placed onto the board or when a player reaches the 18th space in every color. Now each player looks to see how many points they scored in the colour they scored the fewest in. Whoever has the most points in their least-scored colour is the winner. Simple.

The author of the game has also come up with solitaire and team play, in which two teams of two play with each player not being able to see his partner’s tiles.

How to Play

• Spielezeit (Power Point)
• Mevio (Video)
• Fantasy Flight Games (Official Rulebook)
• Marquand (Online Rules)
  

Where to Play Online (I play the PC version)

• Marquand (Free)
• Brett Spiel Welt (Free - Registration Required)
  

Cheat Sheets (from the Geek)

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

Game Hints

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

Views

• Opinion: I really enjoy this game.
  
• Online: Works fine online. If you search hard enough you can find free download of the PC game.
  
• Work: Should be fine for lunch time play.
• Home: Great game.

Other Info

• Plays best with: Works fine with 1-4 players, best with 2.
• Gateway Suitability: Very easy to learn, might take a few turns to get it.
• Spouse Suitability: Chrissy like the tile placement aspect.
• Re-playability: Very high.
• Real Life Setup: A few minutes, just placing tiles in the bag, and grabbing pieces.
• Real Life Time/Length: 45 minutes.
• Geek Link: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/9674

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

Just 4 Fun

The Basics
Description: Players have hands of four cards numbered 1 through 19. Play 1, 2, 3, or 4 cards to place a stone on the game board, which consists of 36 numbered squares in a non-obvious order.

The yucata implementation allows for alternate arrangements.

The goal is to claim four squares in a line, horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. But multiple stones can be placed on a square, and a square is only safe if a player has two more stones on it than any other player. If four-in-a-row is not achieved within 20 turns, the game ends in favor of the player with the most points.

How to Play

• Spielezeit (Power Point)
• Geek (Rulebook)
• Yucata (Online Rulebook)
  

Where to Play Online

• Yucata (Free - Registration Required)

Cheat Sheets (None on the Geek)

Game Hints

• Basic Strategy: Coming Soon
• My Tips: Coming Soon

Views

• Opinion: Learned this online, and lead me to purchase the actual game. So far I like it, still need to learn all the tricks.
• Online: Works fine online, if not better and quicker online.
  
• Work: Very easily can be played at lunch. Probably 3-4 games if we wanted.
  
• Home: Good game to play with kids and adults. Not that hard to learn.
  

Other Info

• Plays best with: Works fine with 2-4 players, best with 2.
• Gateway Suitability: Very easy to learn, but not a gateway game.
• Spouse Suitability: Chrissy likes it so far.
• Re-playability: Online very high, offline could find better.
• Real Life Setup: A few minutes.
• Real Life Time/Length: 20 minutes.
• Geek Link: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/17534

Kingdoms, aka Auf Heller und Pfennig

The Basics
Description: Auf Heller und Pfennig takes participants to a medieval marketplace which looks remarkably like a plain matrix for square tiles. Each turn players place tiles onto the board which modify (either positively or negatively) the amount of money to be made by the shops that share that tile's row or column. Three times the board is filled with tiles and shop money is earned, after which the player with the most money wins.

In Reiner Knizia's Kingdoms (Fantasy Flight, 2002), the English version of Knizia's Auf Heller und Pfennig, players try to collect the most gold by establishing castles in the richest regions of the realm while avoiding hazards like dragons, swamps, and trolls.

How to Play

• Bookshelf Games (Video)
  
• Fantasy Flight Games (Official Rulebook)

Where to Play Online

• Geek (Free, turn based - Registration Required)

Cheat Sheets (None on the Geek)

Game Hints

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

Views

• Opinion: A quick fun game to play on the geek.
• Online: Works well, I still prefer live.
  
• Work: Could play twice at lunch time.
• Home: Easy to teach and learn for all family members..

Other Info

• Plays best with: Works fine with 2-4 players, best with 2.
• Gateway Suitability: Very easy to learn, might take two games to grasp farmer scoring.
• Spouse Suitability: Chrissy is so so on this so far.
• Re-playability: Not sure.
• Real Life Setup: A few minutes, just placing tiles in the bag, and handing out pieces.
• Real Life Time/Length: Without the expansions 35-45 minutes.
• Geek Link: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/119

The Games I Have Played in May

The Games I Played In May.

Not surprised by the list, my favorite and my newest game were 1 and 2 on the list.

Crokinole 11

Risk Express 6
Settlers of Catan, The 6
Lexio 5

Carcassonne 4
Circus Flohcati 4
TransAmerica 4
Can't Stop 3
Cartagena 3
Hey! That's My Fish! 3
Lost Cities 3
Password 3
Ticket to Ride 3
Wizard 3
Citadels 2
Guillotine 2
RoboRally 2
Santiago 2
Vegas Showdown 2
Acquire 1
Axis & Allies 1
Balloon Cup 1
Bang! 1
Category 5 1
Puerto Rico 1
Ra 1
Saint Petersburg 1
San Juan 1
Wyatt Earp 1

The Plan For June

Weekend: Games getting Blogged
June 6th - 8th, 2008: Kingdoms, Just4Fun, Masons
June 13th - 15th, 2008: Puerto Rico, Ingenious, Web of Power
June 20th - 22nd, 2008: Hansa, Hive, Blokus
June 27th - 29th, 2008: Mr Jack, Hoity Toity, 10 Days Across

If Your New Try: Hive
If Your a Pro: Puerto Rico, Masons, Mr Jack

Other:
June 1st: Posting of Games Played in May

Acquire

The Basics
Description: This Sid Sackson classic has taken many different forms over the years depending on the publisher. Each player strategically invests in businesses, trying to retain a majority of stock. As the businesses grow with tile placements, they also start merging, giving the majority stockholders of the acquired business sizable bonuses, which can then be used to reinvest into other chains. All of the investors in the acquired company can then cash in their stocks for current value or trade them 2-for-1 for shares of the newer, larger business. The game is a race to acquire the greatest wealth.

How to Play

• You Tube (Video)
• Wizards (Official Online Instructions)
  
• Wizards (Official Rulebook)
• Wizards (Official Demo)
  

Where to Play Online (I play it on Gleemax)

• Gleemax (Free - Registration Required)
• Palm Version (Free Download)
• Netquire (Free Online)
• dos game (Free Download)
• Shareware (Free Download)
• PC version (Free Download)
  
• Old pc game (Free Download)
  
• Games by Email (Free - Registration Required)
  

Cheat Sheets (from the Geek)

• Player Aid (Downloads a Word doc)
• How To (Downloads a Word doc)
  
• Teaching Aid (Downloads a Pdf)
  

Game Hints

• Basic Strategy: Thread on the Geek Coming Soon (a link to the Geek)
• Strategy: Thread on the Geek
• Strategy: Thread on the Geek
• My Tips: Read this blog overview at Jon Aquino.

Views

• Opinion: I really enjoy this game.
• Online: Works fine online
  
• Work: Could be to long for lunch time play.
  
• Home: Great game for the home.
  

Other Info

• Plays best with: Works fine with 2-6 players, best with 4.
  
• Gateway Suitability: Very easy to learn.
  
• Spouse Suitability: Chrissy hasn't played it.
• Re-playability: Very High.
  
• Real Life Setup: A few minutes of sorting.
  
• Real Life Time/Length: 60-90 minutes (more if everyone is new).
  
• Geek Link: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/5