Games I'm Really Into Right Now
Tonight I want to talk about a few games that I am either playing a lot lately or really into right now.
First up: Glory to Rome
This is a great card game with a really cool theme and some solid gameplay. The idea here is that each of the players is trying to rebuild Rome after a great fire destroys much of it. The mechanism here is quite novel. Every card has multiple uses. They can be played for actions, which in game terms are called roles, resources, raw materials, or patrons. Resources are placed into your vault for points. Raw materials are used to build buildings that, when finished, provide a special ability and are worth points. Patrons allow the player that controls them to take additional actions when that specific role is taken.
The unique thing here is that this game is played mostly from the discard pile. Every time a card is played it is placed in the center of the table. Whenever players are able to gather resources or hire patrons, they take those cards from the discard pile. Thus, every card you play may be helping your opponent.
The bottom line for this one is that it is a unique card game for 2-5 players that typically plays in about 30 minutes once everyone knows what they are doing (depending on the number of players, of course). Pick it up. You won't be disappointed (and it's cheap!).
Age of Steam
Age of Steam. This is fast becoming my favorite train game (Chicago Express holds that title right now, but more on that one later). Age of Steam is a beast of a train game that is based squarely in the pick-up and deliver category. You start the game in debt. Over the course of a limited number of turns (depending in the number of players), the players must turn their less than profitable company into an economic monster.
A turn involves taking out shares for a little extra cash to get rolling, a turn order auction that influences special action selection and the order of play for the rest of the turn, laying track, delivering goods, earning income, and paying expenses. Money is very tight and one can simply not afford to make any large miscalculations at to the income available to them for the turn. Even a small mistake can take a player from first to last.
A big draw for this one is the sheer expandability of the game. Tons of expansion maps have been released for Age of Steam since 2003. Currently, I have ten maps, including the Rust Belt map that ships with the game. Age of Steam will have a place on my shelf for a long time to come as it has all but replaced Railroad Tycoon for me. Check it out.
Chicago Express
Chicago Express is my favorite train game and in my top three games. It is simply that good. This is a simple to play, hard to master game about investing in five different historical railroads (Pennsylvania Railroad, Baltimore & Ohio, New York Central, Chesapeake & Ohio, and Wabash) and expanding them from the East Coast to Chicago.
Each player has three options on their turn. They may auction a share in a company, build track, or develop a hex. Additionally, players have the option of selecting an action and doing nothing. Thus, wasting that action and possibly taking away a key move for another player. Each action can only be taken 3-5 times, and once two of the three options are used up the round ends and dividends are paid to the share holders.
In order to do anything for a railroad, one must own shares in that company. This forces a lot of player interaction as players must work together to build each railroad into a profitable enterprise while also making sure that their opponent is not getting ahead. Chicago Express is a balancing act. Knowing the worth of a railroad at any given time is key to successful play. Knowing when to take a railroad down can be even more important.
This one has an iPhone app. It is listed under the original title of this game: Wabash Cannonball. It is a lot of fun and I have been playing it to death. I believe it is still .99. Check it out and pick up the physical game if you enjoy it. Chicago Express is one of my favorites.
Cosmic Encounter, Cosmic Incursion (expansion #1), and Cosmic Conflict (expansion #2)
Cosmic Encounter is my favorite game. Ask anyone in my regular gaming group. They will corroborate this statement. Cosmic Encounter is a game of negotiation, bluffing, and chance that is, quite possibly, the largest amount of raucous fun one can have within an hour.
At it's basest form, Cosmic Encounter is a 3-5 player game that revolves around drawing a card to see who you will be attacking, asking for allies, letting your opponent ask for allies, and then playing a card and comparing them with the higher number winning. Here is the catch: every one of the 50 alien powers in the game (each player is given one at the start of the game) breaks a rule. This makes for a different game every time you play. If you toss in the first expansion you get an additional 20 alien powers and pieces for a sixth player. Toss in the second expansion and the alien count is upped another 20 (for a total of 90 unique powers!) and a seventh player is added.
For a more complete look at the rules and gameplay in Cosmic Encounter, check out my review. You owe it to yourself to give this game a shot!
There you have it. Four games that I have been playing or wanting to play a lot lately. Some are favorites; some are moving up my list. All of them are great.
Until next time, keep playing and keep winning!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
First up: Glory to Rome
This is a great card game with a really cool theme and some solid gameplay. The idea here is that each of the players is trying to rebuild Rome after a great fire destroys much of it. The mechanism here is quite novel. Every card has multiple uses. They can be played for actions, which in game terms are called roles, resources, raw materials, or patrons. Resources are placed into your vault for points. Raw materials are used to build buildings that, when finished, provide a special ability and are worth points. Patrons allow the player that controls them to take additional actions when that specific role is taken.
The unique thing here is that this game is played mostly from the discard pile. Every time a card is played it is placed in the center of the table. Whenever players are able to gather resources or hire patrons, they take those cards from the discard pile. Thus, every card you play may be helping your opponent.
The bottom line for this one is that it is a unique card game for 2-5 players that typically plays in about 30 minutes once everyone knows what they are doing (depending on the number of players, of course). Pick it up. You won't be disappointed (and it's cheap!).
Age of Steam
Age of Steam. This is fast becoming my favorite train game (Chicago Express holds that title right now, but more on that one later). Age of Steam is a beast of a train game that is based squarely in the pick-up and deliver category. You start the game in debt. Over the course of a limited number of turns (depending in the number of players), the players must turn their less than profitable company into an economic monster.
A turn involves taking out shares for a little extra cash to get rolling, a turn order auction that influences special action selection and the order of play for the rest of the turn, laying track, delivering goods, earning income, and paying expenses. Money is very tight and one can simply not afford to make any large miscalculations at to the income available to them for the turn. Even a small mistake can take a player from first to last.
A big draw for this one is the sheer expandability of the game. Tons of expansion maps have been released for Age of Steam since 2003. Currently, I have ten maps, including the Rust Belt map that ships with the game. Age of Steam will have a place on my shelf for a long time to come as it has all but replaced Railroad Tycoon for me. Check it out.
Chicago Express
Chicago Express is my favorite train game and in my top three games. It is simply that good. This is a simple to play, hard to master game about investing in five different historical railroads (Pennsylvania Railroad, Baltimore & Ohio, New York Central, Chesapeake & Ohio, and Wabash) and expanding them from the East Coast to Chicago.
Each player has three options on their turn. They may auction a share in a company, build track, or develop a hex. Additionally, players have the option of selecting an action and doing nothing. Thus, wasting that action and possibly taking away a key move for another player. Each action can only be taken 3-5 times, and once two of the three options are used up the round ends and dividends are paid to the share holders.
In order to do anything for a railroad, one must own shares in that company. This forces a lot of player interaction as players must work together to build each railroad into a profitable enterprise while also making sure that their opponent is not getting ahead. Chicago Express is a balancing act. Knowing the worth of a railroad at any given time is key to successful play. Knowing when to take a railroad down can be even more important.
This one has an iPhone app. It is listed under the original title of this game: Wabash Cannonball. It is a lot of fun and I have been playing it to death. I believe it is still .99. Check it out and pick up the physical game if you enjoy it. Chicago Express is one of my favorites.
Cosmic Encounter, Cosmic Incursion (expansion #1), and Cosmic Conflict (expansion #2)
Cosmic Encounter is my favorite game. Ask anyone in my regular gaming group. They will corroborate this statement. Cosmic Encounter is a game of negotiation, bluffing, and chance that is, quite possibly, the largest amount of raucous fun one can have within an hour.
At it's basest form, Cosmic Encounter is a 3-5 player game that revolves around drawing a card to see who you will be attacking, asking for allies, letting your opponent ask for allies, and then playing a card and comparing them with the higher number winning. Here is the catch: every one of the 50 alien powers in the game (each player is given one at the start of the game) breaks a rule. This makes for a different game every time you play. If you toss in the first expansion you get an additional 20 alien powers and pieces for a sixth player. Toss in the second expansion and the alien count is upped another 20 (for a total of 90 unique powers!) and a seventh player is added.
For a more complete look at the rules and gameplay in Cosmic Encounter, check out my review. You owe it to yourself to give this game a shot!
There you have it. Four games that I have been playing or wanting to play a lot lately. Some are favorites; some are moving up my list. All of them are great.
Until next time, keep playing and keep winning!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
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