Quotebut smart placement has a LOT to do with how your game will turn out.

Only initial placement. And then there are those games whithout any 6 but with loads of 5s or 3s. Then you are "blue oystered".

I got Descent last Christmas.  Pretty cool- huuuuge box, hundreds of pieces.  It's fun to play, too.

Quote from: Lisa NadazdyI got Descent last Christmas.  Pretty cool- huuuuge box, hundreds of pieces.  It's fun to play, too.

Couldn't agree more.  The expansion due out later this year (if we're lucky) is going to add the one piece that I wish would have been part of the core game: campaign rules.

Quote from: Thjalfimeaning that everyone plays them, yes. meaning complicated, well, not really.
I'm a big fan of Settlers, so I hope you meant the d20 analogy as a good thing...

Yes everyone plays them... which is good and bad like d20.

Good that it can get new people into playing board games that thought monopoly and risk are the epitome of design (I do like both of these games BTW). Bad in the sense that sometimes you can't get people to try new things because they like their tried and true. I have and like both these games and I hope you can see my analogy

Quote from: EmryysYes everyone plays them... which is good and bad like d20.

Good that it can get new people into playing board games that thought monopoly and risk are the epitome of design (I do like both of these games BTW). Bad in the sense that sometimes you can't get people to try new things because they like their tried and true. I have and like both these games and I hope you can see my analogy

It is a good analogy. we approve, though we may disagree somewhat.

Quote from: SettembriniBut if you like german style, look at "La Citta". That´s a real gem. Hardcore decision making every turn. And luck is not a big factor.

Look's interesting. Even though it's published by Rio Grande my LGS's don't carry it here in B.C. Canada

Lucky Germans have all the cool games

I'll make two recommendations then that were newly re-printed (at least over here): RA and Caylus. Both excellent games. Even the picky guy who dislikes any boardgame he can find *any* flaw in liked them (he thought the colors on Caylus' tiles were a little on the murky side, but still enjoyed the game)...

Finally played Ticket to Ride this weekend and love it.  I also finally got around to picking up Zombies!!! but haven't played it yet.

Quote from: kryystI also finally got around to picking up Zombies!!! but haven't played it yet.

I don't know if this has been mentioned, but you should definitely give the Quick-Rules over on Boargamegeek.com a try. The game works much better this way, IMO.

Quote from: WhitterI don't know if this has been mentioned, but you should definitely give the Quick-Rules over on Boargamegeek.com a try. The game works much better this way, IMO.

Quick rules for which game?  Ticket to Ride or Zombie?  I'll assume Zombie, but it could be Ticket To Ride becasue I can see how the game could be sped up by allowing you to draw and claim a route on the same turn (though personally I think that would add to a lot of cheapness in the game).

As for Zombie, I read through the rules and upon reading not seeing how it could be spead up that much more.  Seems pretty straight forward to me, draw, move combat.

Also for Zombie on the subject of expansions.  How exactly do they work?  Do they just plug into the main game and increase the map size?  Or do they make for a sub game within the game?  In particular I'm thinking of the Shopping expansion and the 3.5 rules ones.

Quote from: kryystQuick rules for which game?  Ticket to Ride or Zombie?  I'll assume Zombie, but it could be Ticket To Ride becasue I can see how the game could be sped up by allowing you to draw and claim a route on the same turn (though personally I think that would add to a lot of cheapness in the game).

As for Zombie, I read through the rules and upon reading not seeing how it could be spead up that much more.  Seems pretty straight forward to me, draw, move combat.

Also for Zombie on the subject of expansions.  How exactly do they work?  Do they just plug into the main game and increase the map size?  Or do they make for a sub game within the game?  In particular I'm thinking of the Shopping expansion and the 3.5 rules ones.

The variant rules for Zombies on the Board Game Geek speed up the game in spots, but the base game runs alright IME.  The expansions will add new areas that branch off of the main board.  For instance, if you draw the Mall Entrance tile, you can then start exploring the Mall for the helipad there.  The Zombies 2 expansion adds a helipad in the military base, but you can also play the game with the variant of killing the super zombies.  Zombies 4 allows you to end the game by collecting book pieces and casting the spell that ends the zombie apocalypse.  (Zombies 4 can easily be played as a seperate game.)  I've got zombies 5, but I haven't used it yet (or even read through the new rules) so I don't know if there are any new goals there.

Ok sounds good.   I was looking for the quick play rules and all the links point to a website that is no longer found.  I found a few rules smattered here and there but they don't seem (on reading) really speed up the game significantly.   From reading reviews the 3.5 expansion sounds like a must and the Mall sounds to be better then Corpses.

My brother-in-law brought PANDEMIC to the cabin for Christmas.
Very challenging. It's a cooperative game, so you're working with the other players to beat the game, instead of playing against each other, which so often leads to name calling and cheating and hurt feelings in small children (whom we were playing with). I can't see "winning" this game with less than 4 players who are on the ball. And you're dead if no one draws the medic.

Holy thread necromancy.  

But I agree pandemic is a great game made even better with the expansion.  Not only does it add support for 5 players but the extra roles make it more interesting and the scenarios make for some really interesting additional challenges.

If you like co-op play but want something a little more geeky.  Then I suggest picking up Arkham Horror.

We held a Talisman barbecue earlier in the year for about a dozen friends, many of whom had no interest or knowledge of boardgames beyond Scrabble.  Now half of them are clamouring for another session, and one got the game for her birthday.

Gateway drug to RPGs, perhaps.