Board Games

Anyone else here into playing a good board game? I've found in the last 5 years or so it's turned into one of my favorite social activities - either stupidly difficult ones like Game of Thrones or relatively simple games like Sheriff of Nottingham?

Anyone else into them? Any recommendations?

This seems like a really fun hobby for gatherings, but I can't say I have played any of these cool board games as an adult.

If you have nerdy or even semi-nerdy friends it's a really good excuse to hang out, have some food on the table, have a few drinks and have a really good job. Nothing sparks conversation better (with new people especially) than open deceit in the name of fun ^__^.

With me and my girlfriend and our neighbors we have a pretty consistent group of four which we've found is enough for pretty much any game.

I don't play a lot of board games, but I do like them. It's something I wish I did more, but never attempt to do it.

I have recommendations!

I don't really have semi-nerdy friends that play board games, except for one. My wife would hate that kind of thing. So if you recommend anything keep that in mind.

Even though we can't help you, I wouldn't mind hearing about the games you play Twolf.

@Bret: You might be successful with games that are about bluffing. Not deep strategy stuff just straight up lying and bribing. Or try to put them down the dark path by starting with easy card games like Exploding Kittens.

@Trip - we've been playing Pandemic Legacy - Legacy board games play out like a campaign so you play it with the same group and things that happen in one game change the next or have permanent consequences so it's pretty stressful. That one is about stopping a global disease outbreak (probably could have guessed from the name) but as the campaign progresses certain diseases mutate and new abilities become available.

Game of Thrones is another standby in our group but that is a beast of a game. SUPER complex and takes about 4 hours (we usually have a break for food). That game is all about scheming and forming alliances. Think Risk on steroids.

Our more chill out games are Sheriff of Nottingham, which is a bluffing game. You're a merchant trying to get as much money as possible in your shop and you take turns being the Sheriff. You put your goods into a bag (literally) and tell the Sheriff what you have. But you could be lying and trying to sneak in contraband. The sheriff then tries to call people's bluffs, or he could elicit a bribe ("I wont open your bag if you pay me 5 gold right now") or anything really.

Another one we play a lot is Ticket to Ride. It's about making Train routes...that's it really. Very relaxed, satisfying game.

A lot of newer board games have really built the social aspect of the games into their design, so usually bargaining or bluffing or forming strategies with other players is kind of inherent in the game. Creates a very "flexible" game experience and one thing I like about board games is a well designed board game is you never feel like you get the exact game twice.

For recommendations for games to maybe try and lure in friends or people on the fence that are easy to pick up and understand: The resistance (or Avalon - very similar). Tokaido is another good one.

Sorry...I like board games! Ever since my friend turned me onto some of the trickier ones in Japan they have really turned into a staple of my game playing habits and a large part of why I don't play as many multiplayer video games anymore. Not that there's anything wrong with multiplayer video games, mind you. I just find what I like in multiplayer I get more out of board games. I would highly recommend checking out a board game meet up in your area if you're up to it.

Someday when I'm rich and famous (ha) I'll fly us all out to a house and play games!

I don't really know anyone who plays them so I never do. I do like card games a lot though. I'm one of the best Cards Against Humanity players out there. Mostly because I have such a sick, twisted mind.

Man, I want to sit you guys all in a room to play some proper board games. It would be a whole new world of nerddom.

I got a Buffy board game for Christmas. The instruction booklet is like 20 pages long. One thing that seems cool is that you can play by yourself if you want to, which I"m sure will be the case for me.

Is it this one? https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/203102/buffy-vampire-slayer-board-game

Seems pretty well reviewed/kind of intense!

Yup, that’s the one. I haven’t played it yet but I’ll give my thoughts when I do.