Board & Card Games? Not Risk or Monopoly in here...

[Chris]

Well, you're going to have to make the pick. I'd suggest going to boardgamegeek.com and reading about any game before buying it, though. Also, if you happen to go to boardgamegeek, see something you really like, but can't find it anywhere, let me know. There is a fantastic brick and mortar game store close to me that has shit-tons of wargames, many of which are out of print. I know the guy who runs it so I can get something even though it is closed.

For "war" games to recover your manhood from your wife:

Twilight Imperium was mentioned above, and it's great. But it is complex. If that doesn't bother you, then get that.

Memoir '44 has a rep as a comparatively simple, but very good WW2 game.

Axis and Allies 1941 - Never played this personally, but it apparently is extremely popular and well-reviewed. I don't think you could go wrong with this.

War of the Ring (Tolkien, obviously). It's a great strategy war game.

Hannibal and Hamilcar -- very well-reviewed Roman era war game.

Cooperative Games

Pandemic has been mentioned. It's a well-designed game, though I personally think it's a bit lacking in "flavor" Personal bias -- as I've said, I really like both Eldritch Horror and Mansions of Madness (Second Edition). Read up on both of those.

This is a big help, thanks. Gonna research them all individually as suggested.

 

[Scholar]

King Maker,. Third Reich..

But Pandemic is a cooperative game..

Those are two Avalon Hill games. I've played both back in the day. I actually own Third Reich. Plus, I have a bunch of SPI and GDW games from back then. Basically all simulation military games. Sadly, I haven't played any of them in years. There are also a whole series of railroad games, Games like Acquire that you form hotel chains by placing tiles and buying stocks in them.

 

[CleveRocks]

Those are two Avalon Hill games. I've played both back in the day. I actually own Third Reich. Plus, I have a bunch of SPI and GDW games from back then. Basically all simulation military games. Sadly, I haven't played any of them in years. There are also a whole series of railroad games, Games like Acquire that you form hotel chains by placing tiles and buying stocks in them.

If you are from Columbus, have you heard of CABS? Buddy Sauer?

I was a big Avalon Hill fan, and I have Third Reich, Kingmaker, Rail Baron and Battle of the Bulge. My youngest is big into board games, so we still play the old stuff so he doesn't kick my ass everytime..

 

[2 For The Brew]

Wife beat me at Power Grid yesterday.

I played one of the European Theater simulations with classmates at grad school. I was Great Britain -- a then-current member of the Browns (two-time SB Champ) was Germany (appropriate since he had marked the Kaiser), and another classmate (by far the oldest at 35 -- we were all early-to-mid 20s) was France. When I pulled a Dunkirk after France was hopelessly beaten this guy bitterly claimed that I "fought to the last Frog" which was unfair and not politically correct at all.

Anyway, we all played Kingmaker at another date. The same older dude was paranoid, convinced we were all out to get him (we weren't) and in a rage flipped over the board and ended the game.

The game I have a copy of and always anted to play but never did was Diplomacy.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

Those are two Avalon Hill games. I've played both back in the day. I actually own Third Reich. Plus, I have a bunch of SPI and GDW games from back then. Basically all simulation military games. Sadly, I haven't played any of them in years. There are also a whole series of railroad games, Games like Acquire that you form hotel chains by placing tiles and buying stocks in them.

Holy crap, it's like we have/had the same stuff. Even had Acquire. I must have had 50-60 SPI games at some point. Had two of the really massive ones -- Terrible Swift Sword and Wacht Am Rhein -- 2000 and 1600 counters respectively. Third Reich was a fun game, except France always held on much longer than it should have. I preferred SPI's Global War just because of the production mechanic. You could really choose to fight a completely different war by focusing on production.

My "trick" was to have the Brits and U.S. focus on strategic bombers really early. Catch the Germans by surprise, and cripple their industrial production for a year. Game had a lot of flaws, though....

A game store around us has a ridiculous number of those games. Sometimes just fun to walk through there and look. I do buy other games there even though they're cheaper online just because I like the place.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

The same older dude was paranoid, convinced we were all out to get him (we weren't) and in a rage flipped over the board and ended the game.

 

[FiveThous]

Anyone want to play catan? The lady found a simulator that you can play online. I can set up a game if anyone is interested.

 

[Scholar]

Holy crap, it's like we have/had the same stuff. Even had Acquire. I must have had 50-60 SPI games at some point. Had two of the really massive ones -- Terrible Swift Sword and Wacht Am Rhein -- 2000 and 1600 counters respectively. Third Reich was a fun game, except France always held on much longer than it should have. I preferred SPI's Global War just because of the production mechanic. You could really choose to fight a completely different war by focusing on production.

My "trick" was to have the Brits and U.S. focus on strategic bombers really early. Catch the Germans by surprise, and cripple their industrial production for a year. Game had a lot of flaws, though....

A game store around us has a ridiculous number of those games. Sometimes just fun to walk through there and look. I do buy other games there even though they're cheaper online just because I like the place.

I very likely still have that many SPI games. Not sure how many GDW games since they used to come in large ziplock bags. I have Diplomacy. Plus, an old favorite the Civilization board game that was out well before the computer versions of the game. but is quite a bit different from the computer games that at have come since then. Anyways, back in the day. I was an board and miniatures player. Btw, Wooden ships and iron men was an absolutely great AH game. I have been sitting here forgetting Squad Leader and Star Fleet battles.

 

[2 For The Brew]

I very likely still have that many SPI games. Not sure how many GDW games since they used to come in large ziplock bags. I have Diplomacy. Plus, an old favorite the Civilization board game that was out well before the computer versions of the game. but is quite a bit different from the computer games that at have come since then. Anyways, back in the day. I was an board and miniatures player. Btw, Wooden ships and iron men was an absolutely great AH game. I have been sitting here forgetting Squad Leader and Star Fleet battles.

"Through the Ages" is a thinly-disguised ripoff of "Civilization" that's pretty good. I have the older version -- the newer version s by all account the one to get.

Somewhere I might have the 1975-76 version of APBA Pro Basketball. It's bullshit though because (1) playability sucks (2) no ABA.

I also have Strat-O-Matic hockey 1981-2 which was probably the best year for any hockey simulation because of the high scoring (Gretzky 92 goals). Awesome playability. The first team all-NHL line was Gretzky - C Bossy - RW and Messier - LW which is not only a ridiculously talented line but is notable because Messier did not play on the Gretzky line (he played with Hunter and Glenn Anderson -- saw them play in Pittsburgh the following season where they won 10-7 with a ton of penalties, power plays, 4 on 4 and 3 on 3, etc as those two teams led the NHL in penalty minutes). Sucks that the NHL never got a fair shot in Cleveland although to be fair there's no way the market could support both the NBA and the NHL.

 

[Scholar]

Anyone want to play catan? The lady found a simulator that you can play online. I can set up a game if anyone is interested.

I have played the table top version many times, though it has been a while.

 

[Scholar]

"Through the Ages" is a thinly-disguised ripoff of "Civilization" that's pretty good. I have the older version -- the newer version s by all account the one to get.

Somewhere I might have the 1975-76 version of APBA Pro Basketball. It's bullshit though because (1) playability sucks (2) no ABA.

I also have Strat-O-Matic hockey 1981-2 which was probably the best year for any hockey simulation because of the high scoring (Gretzky 92 goals). Awesome playability. The first team all-NHL line was Gretzky - C Bossy - RW and Messier - LW which is not only a ridiculously talented line but is notable because Messier did not play on the Gretzky line (he played with Hunter and Glenn Anderson -- saw them play in Pittsburgh the following season where they won 10-7 with a ton of penalties, power plays, 4 on 4 and 3 on 3, etc as those two teams led the NHL in penalty minutes). Sucks that the NHL never got a fair shot in Cleveland although to be fair there's no way the market could support both the NBA and the NHL.

I have the old version of Strat=o=Matic Football with the Mel Gray Cardinals Roger Staubach Cowboys. Plus, a game called Pursue the Penant with various seasons of p;layers. I , also, used to played a football game that an independent designer made. Back in the Dan Marino, Jim Kelly era. I might also have Stra-O-_Matic baseball. Don't remember. for sure.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

I think the Twilight Imperium mention above needs way more disclaimers.

1) A single game of it will take you about 8 hours to complete
2) It's expensive, and last time I checked, sold out everywhere. If I remember correctly, it goes for like $120-$150?
3) Complex is an understatement. You're going to have to dedicate some time beforehand to learning the rules, and even then you're gonna have to figure the rules out as you play, and after finishing that first game, you're going to have questions that you'll look up afterwards, and realize you did it wrong.

It's the most fun I've had playing a board game, but it's possibly the largest, most complex game around, and I couldn't imagine it being much fun with two players, if that's even the minimum (might be a min of 3/4 to play?).

I mentioned it out of jest. If you're looking for a game for two players, unless you're a hardcore board game geek already, this isn't it.

 

[Chris]

I think the Twilight Imperium mention above needs way more disclaimers.

1) A single game of it will take you about 8 hours to complete
2) It's expensive, and last time I checked, sold out everywhere. If I remember correctly, it goes for like $120-$150?
3) Complex is an understatement. You're going to have to dedicate some time beforehand to learning the rules, and even then you're gonna have to figure the rules out as you play, and after finishing that first game, you're going to have questions that you'll look up afterwards, and realize you did it wrong.

It's the most fun I've had playing a board game, but it's possibly the largest, most complex game around, and I couldn't imagine it being much fun with two players, if that's even the minimum (might be a min of 3/4 to play?).

I mentioned it out of jest. If you're looking for a game for two players, unless you're a hardcore board game geek already, this isn't it.

Looks cool, though. Might check it out at some point for when we have people over.

 

[CleveRocks]

I played both stratomatic football and baseball. Good freind of mine had multiple teams/years. Favorite was Gale Sayers Bears..

Good times!

 

[2 For The Brew]

I have played the table top version many times, though it has been a while.

There's also the expansion game "Seafarers of Catan."

My wife doesn't like the game and won't play. Might have something to do with my son and I asking "Got wood for sheep?" over and over. (Cripes he's been out of the house for over ten years; guess it's been that long). He keeps sending us new games -- played "7 Wonders - Duel" which we both enjoyed (good two-player game).