Capitol

The Basics
Description: This wonderful game by Alan R. Moon and Aaron Weissblum is a mix of territory acquisition, resource management and even a little auctioning thrown in for good measure. Subtitled "Architects of the Eternal City", compete in old Rome for the most spectacular buildings and dominance in the Roman prefectures. Whomever uses the 90 blocks and 40 roofs best will win.


How to Play

• Spielezeit (Power Point)
• Ludoholic (Web Guide)
• CCG Workshop (Web Guide)
  

Where to Play Online

• Luodoholic (Free - Registration Required)
  

Cheat Sheets (from the Geek)

• Quick Ref
  

Game Hints

• Basic Info: Thread on the Geek
  
• My Tips: I have played this a few times, no tips to share.
  

Views

• Opinion: After a few plays, I do enjoy 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: Not sure on this yet
  

Other Info

• Plays best with: Works fine with 2-4 players, best with 3.
• Gateway Suitability: Easy to learn, might take a few games to grasp.
• Spouse Suitability: Chrissy hasn't played this yet.
• Re-playability: Infrequent for me.
• Real Life Setup: A few minutes.
• Real Life Time/Length: 60 minutes.
• Geek Link: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/1155
  

War of the Roses, Texas

The Basics
Description: Originally published as Texas by db-Spiele.

The battle between farmers and ranchers is fairly abstract. A single pawn travels on a square grid. Each player has a hand of cards face up. These each have a direction and a distance. The player can either draw a card and add it to his hand, or play a card. If he plays a card, then the pawn moves the appropriate distance to an empty square, and the player places one of his markers. Each player also has judge symbols that can each be used only once. The judge lets you move onto a previously placed opposition marker and reverse it. Players score points for each contiguous region equal to the square of the number of markers. If a player is not careful, such a move may be forced, as there is a maximum number of cards that a player may hold.

Contains rules for playing with 4 (in two partnerships of two players).

Later republished 1999 as Rosenkönig by Kosmos, as part of the two-player game series. The republication also included a re-theming of the game. The setting changed from Texas to England, and the factions changed from farmers and ranchers to the factions of the Plantagenet family from the Wars of the Roses (1455-1485) - the Lancaster (red rose) and the York (white rose) factions in a similarly abstracted fashion.

How to Play

• Spielezeit (Power Point)
  
• Yucata (Web Guide)
  
• Your Turn My Turn (Web Guide)
  

Where to Play Online

• Yucata (Web Guide)
  
• Your Turn My Turn (Web Guide)
  

Cheat Sheets (None Available)

Game Hints (None Available)

Views

• Opinion: Not at a big fan.
  
• Online: Works fine.
• Work: Very easily played at lunch time.
• Home: Ok, probably will be taught after a lot of other games.

Other Info

• Plays best with: Works fine with 2-4 players, best with 2 (never played 4).
• Gateway Suitability: Very easy to learn, I don't view this a gateway.
• Spouse Suitability: Chrissy hasn't played it.
• Re-playability: For me it is low.
  
• Real Life Setup: A few minutes of sorting out pieces.
• Real Life Time/Length: 45 minutes.
• Geek Link: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/image/283565

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

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

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

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

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 .
  

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)
  

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