Fluxx

The Basics
Description: A card game where the cards themselves determine the current rules of the game. By playing cards, you change numerous aspects of the game: how to draw cards, how to play cards, and even how to win.

I recommend using the YouTube video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcR0nSmoUsw and the Wunderland site http://www.wunderland.com/LooneyLabs/Fluxx/HowToPlay.html to understand the game (outside of asking me).

How to Play Wunderland

• YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcR0nSmoUsw (Video)
  
• Wunderland: http://www.wunderland.com/LooneyLabs/Fluxx/HowToPlay.html (Online Rulebook)

Where to Play Online

• Volity.Net: http://volity.net/index.html

Cheat Sheets

• 1 Page how to on the Geek: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/filepage/1916
• Wunderland: http://www.wunderland.com/LooneyLabs/Fluxx/HowToPlay.html

Game Hints

• Basic Strategy: http://www.wunderland.com/LooneyLabs/Fluxx/HowToPlay.html
• My Tips: Just play, I don't feel there is much strategy here, the game constantly changes.
  

Views

• Opinion: I enjoy this game only face to face. It is an easy game to learn. I can teach it and go over it at lunch time, at the house.
• Online: Works fine online, but you don't get the same feel as face to face.
• Work: Would easily fit after lunch.
• Home: Easy and fun game for a family and friends.

Other Info

• Plays best with: Works with 2-6 players, best with 4-5.
• Gateway Suitability: Very easy to learn, at the most just watch the YouTube video.
• Spouse Suitability: Chrissy hasn't played this yet.
• Re-playability: Very infrequent it does not see table or online action.
• Real Life Setup: Seconds, just shuffle the cards.
• Real Life Time/Length: 15-20 minutes.
• Geek Link: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/258
• Geek Link: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/36345

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

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

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

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

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