Here's another, more general thread.

How many do you play? What's your impression? Have you heard of BoardGameGeek (http://boardgamegeek.com/)?

Opps, I shouldn't have voted #1 (just #2 and #3).

Just got introduced to Catan about a year and a half ago, I just bought it myself a couple weeks ago. My girlfriend and buddy enjoy it (I kick their ass at it though, something like twelve victories out thirteen games, they really ought to do a better job teaming up on me :D).

Complete boardgame geek here.

Back in secondary school (F.1), a few big brothers introduced me to D&D in the chess club... then I joined a group they formed a year ago, "Game's Life". It's an interest group under Charitas (http://www.caritas.org.hk/), we used Charitas' resources (just the rooms and some storage) and we gave volunteer work (bazaar, house cleaning for the elderly) in return. The aim of the group was to promote a healthy hobby - boardgames, and make friends in the process.

We did a lot for the group... we (a bunch of secondary students) bought all the games ourselves (the fund from Charitas is only good for serving drinks), and we published some leaflets and delivered them to nearby schools' chess club ourselves.

But no... most people in HK do not like to learn boardgames. For some, even the simple and short rules like Uno or Upwords will bore them to death - yes, they play Uno, but not according to the rules, instead they use their own ridiculous house rules (e.g. you get to hold at least 1/3 of the deck because you're unlucky, and they find no problem with that kind of play). They will fall asleep if you try to teach them any of the Settlers, or walk off to watch TV if you try Quests of the Round Table. For others, it's because of language barrier. HK has *no* game companies... only *toy* companies. So all the boardgames we played are imported. Most contain too much text (cards) to be translated.

So we only had a little more than a dozen members... soon people quit because of these:
1. Exam
2. Too much English
3. Other hobbies / Lost interest
4. Mom said no (for younger ones)
5. GF

So after 10 years the group is no more... and only 8 of us left. Most are the ones who formed the group.

We still buy new boardgames and get together and play now and then, but not as frequent as a boardgame geek would like to.

Games i like : Settlers of Catan, Axis and Allies, Risk.

I love Risk, Dark Tower, and Win Place And Show.

All excellent games from years ago, but Dark Tower is apparently worth 250$.

I work with total BGGs. I see the designers of ASL, Twilight Struggle, Here I Stand, and Monsters Menace America (among many others) pretty much every day. Just imagine the cut-throat lunch time games.

I envy you, warpstorm. I don't know a single soul (besides my BG pals) that plays boardgames.

Dormant board game geek here.

Used to play many role playing games: AD&D, Top Secret, Travellers, Gammaworld (even child oriented BootHill). Also map games like Diplomacy, Risk, A&A, Divine Right. Unusual games like Source of the Nile, StarFire, Creature TAS. Even sports games like PayDirt, Formula 1 and Speed Circuit. I like the new Euro games.

Not enough time or like-minded friends now though.

Always liked Risk, and Axis & Allies. Wife refuses to play either, though. So, when we do play a boardgame, it's either Scrabble or Scene-It. I seem to have a tendency to pick up games whenever I see them at a bargain price, even if I don't think I'll ever really play them. Recently bought Stratego at a garage sale for $0.50, but later discovered that it was incomplete. Oh, well. . . . :(

I would have really gotten into board games if I had someone to play against who likes them as well.

Pen&Paper RPGs are considered boardgames? Then i'm a former geek. ;)
As for the usual boardgames, my family has maybe 20 of them. I used to play them with my friends when i was younger. Nowadays, i just play them with my family, when i visit them.
My favourites are Settlers of Catan/Nürnberg.

Pen&Paper RPGs are considered boardgames?

I wouldn't think so. After all, there's typically no board.

I wouldn't think so. After all, there's typically no board.
I was operating under the same assumption, but Slax's post made me wonder!

I was operating under the same assumption, but Slax's post made me wonder!

RPGs not boardgames? - Maybe, but we always had a map in front of us (a little like having a "board"). These days, with the enormous popularity of video games, I tend to lump all the other games together (except perhaps for gambling games, maybe).

I don't think of RPGs as boardgames, but I almost made mention of maps, battlemats (I think they're called) and the like in my last post. I think that the place that the line between the two really begins to get fuzzy is when miniatures get involved.

Is that a common theme among board-gamers, that we don't have anyone to play with?
I have a basement full of Strategoes, Axis & Allies, 87 different RISKS, and my personal favorite, Zombies, but no one 'round these here parts is that kinda gamer.

Is that a common theme among board-gamers, that we don't have anyone to play with?
I have a basement full of Strategoes, Axis & Allies, 87 different RISKS, and my personal favorite, Zombies, but no one 'round these here parts is that kinda gamer.
It is true, at least for me.
Because of that, i occasionaly play boardgames online at http://www.brettspielwelt.de . It is a German site, but it is apparently available in English as well.

There're some games at You Play It (http://youplay.it/play/main.asp) as well.

The Blue Max there isn't 100% following the rules though.

One way to get in contact with fellow boardgamers is through conventions. Next week, for example, is the World Boardgaming Championship. There will be hundreds of gamers there. You might be surprised that some live near enough to play with regularly.

Is that a common theme among board-gamers, that we don't have anyone to play with?

I know that it's true for me.

I have a basement full of Strategoes, Axis & Allies, 87 different RISKS, . . . but no one 'round these here parts is that kinda gamer.

Yeah, this sounds awfully familiar.

Thanks guys for the sites.
and where is the world gameboarding championship held?
I'd look forward to attending.

Lancaster, PA, according to this website:

http://www.boardgamers.org/

Don't forget to check out BoardGameGeek (http://boardgamegeek.com) to find other boardgamers in your area.

I play Axis & allies twice a month with friends.

Huge boardgame nerd. After I discovered boardgamegeek there was no turning back. It started with Settlers, Carcassonne and Puerto Rico and steamrolled from there. Right now I'm really enjoying the wargame titles developed by Columbia Games. They feature excellent rules, streamlined mechanics and, best of all, a respectable playtime (around 2 to 3 hours). Titles to checkout: Hammer of the Scots, Liberty, Crusader Rex, Napoleon, War of 1812, Quebec 1759. While I do enjoy many traditional "Euros" (Puerto Rico, Princes of Florence, El Grande, Tigris & Euphrates, etc), I'm kinda starting to burn out on 'em.... too similiar and somewhat "dry" for my tastes.

For those of you who enjoy Axis & Allies, check out Blood Fued in New York or Twilight Emperium.

-V

Volstag, it sounds like you are going hardcore. The test, have you given money to GMT's P500 to get a game published sooner?

Volstag, it sounds like you are going hardcore. The test, have you given money to GMT's P500 to get a game published sooner?

Not yet, but I've definitely been tempted to do so.

I think besides Civ and other computer games I already play, I'm now more of a tabletop gamer than a videogamer now. It's quite shocking to see the sheer wealth of quality out there in boardgamedom compared to the videogame industry.

Titles to checkout: Hammer of the Scots, Liberty, Crusader Rex, Napoleon, War of 1812, Quebec 1759.

I've played Hammer of the Scots several times, but I've found it to be very random. Maybe I just haven't played enough to know what I'm doing, but the game seems to hinge a lot on how often the english player picks the King. Because without the king, you can't keep most of your guys in Scotland.

Anybody play Paths of Glory or one of the 1800 railroad games? :drool:

I've played Hammer of the Scots several times, but I've found it to be very random. Maybe I just haven't played enough to know what I'm doing, but the game seems to hinge a lot on how often the english player picks the King. Because without the king, you can't keep most of your guys in Scotland.

Yeah, the "learning curve" for the Scots is quite a bit steeper than the English. It took about 4 or 5 games before we got our first Scottish victory. Now we're at the point where it's a roughly equal split. As a matter of fact, a couple of games ago, we had the Scots win within the very first round. The only advice I can give is that the Scots have to exploit weaknesses and avoid the English strongpoints like the plague. Though, even then, there are going to be rounds where the Scots are, essentially, on the ropes and taking body blows from the English.

Anybody play Paths of Glory or one of the 1800 railroad games? :drool:

I wish PoG was in print... that and Hannibal: Rome vs. Carthage. Haven't had the chance to look at any of the 18xx games, but I know many consider them to be classics.

-V

I just played Mall Madness (http://boardgamegeek.com/game/5086) for the first time! :ack:

Obviously I need to explain - this girl that moved in with a buddy of mine heard I liked board games and wanted to bring over "a game she liked as a kid". I would have prefered to play Catan but was mildly curious and wanting to be pleasant so I went along. It actually wasn't that bad. :D I'd play again.