Board and Card Games

[Firnafth]

Here are some questions about board and card games. Answer away!
Which games are you bad at? Which are you good at?
Which ones do you like? Which ones do you detest?


I am dreadful at scattergories - that game where you have to come up with words in a category that start with a certain letter (well, it's not technically a board or a card game, but I'm still including it).
I am good at scrabble and OK at chess.

My favorite board game is scrabble, hands down. Of card games, I like 500 euchre the best.
I am not fond of poker. It is not my kind of strategy, and I do not have a poker face.

 

[tree]

I am not really any good at games requiring strategy.
Likely an 8 year old could beat me at checkers.
I don't play any games involving betting.

I am ok at Scattergories.
There is no one around to play any games with IRL.
I make up games/past times to amuse myself.
Word games.

I like co-operative games in which everyone wins or
no one wins. I have several games from Cooperative board games for all ages on-line, in toy & gift shops
Zen blocks, tic tac toe, Predator, one that looks like chess but isn't,
Word Star.

 

[paloftoon]

I like strategy co-op: Axis and Allies, Arkham or Eldrich Horror, Vanished Planet, Pandemic

 

[Sylar]

I don't play many board games now but I do enjoy the game based on the show Lost. Scrabble I'm quite good at too. As far as card games go, I really like Texas Hold 'em poker.

 

[qwerty]

I am not really any good at games requiring strategy.
Likely an 8 year old could beat me at checkers.
I don't play any games involving betting.

I am ok at Scattergories.
There is no one around to play any games with IRL.
I make up games/past times to amuse myself.
Word games.

I like co-operative games in which everyone wins or
no one wins. I have several games from Cooperative board games for all ages on-line, in toy & gift shops
Zen blocks, tic tac toe, Predator, one that looks like chess but isn't,
Word Star.

The one that looks like chess but isn't looks amazing! I think the idea behind it is just fantastic and would love to play it. I wonder if there is an online version?

 

[StephF]

I roll 2D6 to see whether to reply to this post. The post opens up to reveal a door to an overgrown forest with a winding path snaking into the distance.

 

[tree]

OK.
I have repressed the urge long enough to say "I have a whole box of polyhedra dice."
I like polyhedra dice and probabilities.
I have never played any RPGs.
Somehow, trying to put myself into other people's stories is difficult.
It depends on the story.

 

[clg114]

I like most board games. I love to play chess and poker. Unfortunately these are social activities, so I do not play very often.

 

[Flinty]

If you don't know what my game of choice is, well, welcome to Aspies Central.

Elsewise, I would love to play some Scrabble and backgammon. But that's currently implausible.

 

[Sylar]

If you don't know what my game of choice is, well, welcome to Aspies Central.

Elsewise, I would love to play some Scrabble and backgammon. But that's currently implausible.

I completely forgot about backgammon. I'm sure there are online versions where private groups can be set up for free, the same with chess and maybe poker. That'd give those of us who don't have anyone to play with in person a chance to have fun with the games we like.

If there was enough interest I'm sure we could all arrange something.

 

[Flinty]

I completely forgot about backgammon. I'm sure there are online versions where private groups can be set up for free, the same with chess and maybe poker. That'd give those of us who don't have anyone to play with in person a chance to have fun with the games we like.

If there was enough interest I'm sure we could all arrange something.

It's not interest with me, it's time. Maybe once November rolls around...

 

[IContainMultitudes]

I have a few sets of Looney Pyramids on the way, I'm really looking forward to seeing what the people in the gaming group I've been involved in for a few months think of them (they're not just one game, they're pieces you can use for a variety of games, and you can even invent your own):

Looney Pyramids | Family | BoardGameGeek

Some new-to-me games I've played recently that I liked:

* Hanabi (A cooperative card game where you can't see your own cards and have to give each other hints about what you have. There's also a deluxe version with pieces kind of like dominoes instead of cards that most people seem to prefer, but it's a lot heaver and less portable.)
* Fluxx (A card game with several different versions, including things like Cthulhu, Zombies, and Monty Python. It can get a little chaotic, and the people I've played it with go a little fast for my liking, but it's fun with a group.)
* Chrononauts (Another card game from the same company as Fluxx, kind of similar, but I think I prefer this one a little since it feels a bit less chaotic and confusing, although that's kind of the point with some of the Fluxx games.)
* Hive (an abstact strategy game with hexagonal tiles that you use without a board)
* Khet (A chess-like game involving lasers and moving mirrors around to reflect the laser beam to attack pieces, I only have a computer version I got on sale from Steam for $2.50 right now [the computer AI is pretty easy to beat and I haven't found many online opponents, unfortunately], but I'd like to get a copy of the actual board game sometime soon)
* Abalone (Abstract strategy game where you push marbles around, only played computer version)

Some that weren't really my thing:

* Werewolf and Spyfall: Social deduction games that involve reading people, which I'm not really good at (although I was complimented on my ability to keep a "poker face" while playing these at a game meetup, so a little bit of aspiness may be helpful for these games.)
* Eminent Domain (A deck-building game where I felt a little bit lost most of the time and people had to keep correcting me and it took longer to play than what I prefer)
* Seven Wonders (Kind of the same as the above)

Games that I found a bit confusing that would probably be better if I tried them again:

* Carcassonne (There is a free computer version of this one called JCloister that I'm still not very good at, playing it with someone offline who actually knows what they're doing would probably help a lot.)
* Splendour

 

[IContainMultitudes]

Another new-to-me game I tried recently that I liked (only played computer version so far): Ticket to Ride, which is a bit like a somewhat more skill-based, strategic version of Monopoly. It's one of the most popular "Euro-style" board games (even though I believe it's actually American) and of the three I've tried so far (the others Carcassonne and Settlers of Catan), I think it's the one I liked the most (the "Euro-style" game category is a bit confusing because it includes games that aren't actually from Europe, and there are some games that actually are originally from Europe, like Risk and Stratego, that aren't "Euro-style").

 

[Datura]

I like all sorts of games, but Euro games and abstract strategy with complete information are my favorites. I would also include RPGs, but I believe those are a bit outside of this thread's purview.

Just today a went with my brother to a Magic draft. Magic is one of my favorite games, despite contradicting my general preference for elegant game design. The collectible card game format produces a form of hyper-modularity that produces an incredible array of possibilities. The artwork and lore of the game are also quite absorbing.

I have been playing Magic for a few years now, with varying degrees of frequency (Return to Ravnica was my heyday). Despite this, I'm not really that good. I think this is largely to do with my short term memory. I will forget to drop land before ending my turn, try to cast a sorcery at instant speed, or just become generally discombobulated. I think I am starting to notice that this is worst in busy tournament environments, so maybe over-stimulation plays a factor. I was just remarking to a rather understanding opponent that I really wish they made RAM upgrades for humans.

Some new-to-me games I've played recently that I liked:


* Fluxx (A card game with several different versions, including things like Cthulhu, Zombies, and Monty Python. It can get a little chaotic, and the people I've played it with go a little fast for my liking, but it's fun with a group.)
* Hive (an abstact strategy game with hexagonal tiles that you use without a board)

I have to agree. I really enjoy Fluxx despite generally despising excessive randomness in gaming. The very notion of scratch tickets, or games where you just "go where the dice take you" infuriates me. Despite that, this game is fun precisely because it is so unpredictable. The rules and objective of the game are literally always in flux. I have seen new players win without even realizing it.

Hive is essentially the opposite. You always know all of the factors involved. It is purely a matter of outthinking your opponent. Hive is much like chess, with the objective being to lock down your opponents queen bee. Where it differs dramatically is that there is no board. All of your pieces are tiles and it is these tiles which define the play space. All in all it is a very elegant game design, moreso even than chess, though probably not quite as deep.

Games that I found a bit confusing that would probably be better if I tried them again:

* Carcassonne (There is a free computer version of this one called JCloister that I'm still not very good at, playing it with someone offline who actually knows what they're doing would probably help a lot.)
* Splendour

Yes! I was playing Splendor at a friend's house a while ago and found the same thing. It was fun, but I really didn't grasp the strategy. There is a delicate balance between investing in cheep resources in the early game and more expensive ones later on.

 

[Beverly]

I don't play many board games but, I do enjoy and, am good at Trivial Persuit.

For cards, I play Canasta, Hand and Foot Canasta, Screw Your Neighbor (a canasta variation again.) Five Card Stud, Texas Hold 'em, Five Card draw and Seven card Stud Poker. I'm pretty good at all of them. I don't play Gin Rummy anymore - no one will play with me because I win too often.

I like Pai Gow too but few casinos near me offer it and, no one around here knows the game so, I don't get to play often.

 

[vangelis]

I completely forgot about backgammon. I'm sure there are online versions where private groups can be set up for free, the same with chess and maybe poker. That'd give those of us who don't have anyone to play with in person a chance to have fun with the games we like.

If there was enough interest I'm sure we could all arrange something.

I like backgammon, bridge, cribbage etc. happy to join in when time permits

 

[Jennacide]

I love board games and would say im especially skilled with strategy and word games.
I kick butt at scattegories, risk, jenga, monopoly, battleship, ludo, simpsons trivia game, scrabble and even twister.

I love chess but i seem to rush and not think it through enough in fear of making the other player wait too long lol.

I love cards games too.
Not good at poker, but still enjoy it.
Love memory, snap and uno.

Really love love this form of entertainment but struggle with finding other players..sigh

 

[Datura]

Board games, making social interaction tolerable since ~3000 B.C.

 

[Butterfly88]

I'm good or halfway good at most strategy games. My favorite games lately are Tsuro, Word on the Street, and 10 Days in Europe. I like most games but I hate Cards Against Humanity, adult themes are just not my thing.

 

[Datura]

I kind of enjoy Cards Against Humanity, but I is overplayed in my opinion. There are many more worthwhile games out there, and frankly I don't think it should be played in public spaces, and that includes board game cafes, unless you have a private room with some sound insulating qualities.