Random board game thoughts

[DistinctlyBenign]

Best new board games from GenCon.

I think NMBR 9 looks really neat, I'll probably grab that.

[DistinctlyBenign]

I'm apparently behind the times, but there is going to be a Twilight Imperium Fourth Edition.

[Mikel]

I think Quinns, in his review of First Martians, just summed up why I've gotten sick of co-op games like Dead of Winter and Robinson Carusoe: They feel like a one player game that has rules for sharing the decision making.

There are co-op games I like. They tend to be the ones that either don't give you the time to talk much about what everyone should do (Space Alert) or have everyone kind of doing their own thing that's working towards the end.

[Glenn]

I think Quinns, in his review of First Martians, just summed up why I've gotten sick of co-op games like Dead of Winter and Robinson Carusoe: They feel like a one player game that has rules for sharing the decision making.

There are co-op games I like. They tend to be the ones that either don't give you the time to talk much about what everyone should do (Space Alert) or have everyone kind of doing their own thing that's working towards the end.

That's why I've stayed away from co-ops for the most part. Although i hoped that Dead of Winter wouldn't have the problem because of the secret goals. I've almost bought that a couple times, but never did.

The problem is only made worse when one player knows (or thinks they know) the game better than the other players. Then it becomes one player telling everyone what their best option is.

[Morgan_Lockbreaker]

I think Quinns, in his review of First Martians, just summed up why I've gotten sick of co-op games like Dead of Winter and Robinson Carusoe: They feel like a one player game that has rules for sharing the decision making.

There are co-op games I like. They tend to be the ones that either don't give you the time to talk much about what everyone should do (Space Alert) or have everyone kind of doing their own thing that's working towards the end.

That's why I've stayed away from co-ops for the most part. Although i hoped that Dead of Winter wouldn't have the problem because of the secret goals. I've almost bought that a couple times, but never did.

The problem is only made worse when one player knows (or thinks they know) the game better than the other players. Then it becomes one player telling everyone what their best option is.

Sometimes you just have to make your own decision and let your gut lead you. Would-be Alpha gamers need reminders every so often that they aren't the only ones with worthwhile ideas. BUT, sometimes you should just let them have the reins, watch their plans go up in flames, and (while they wonder what happened to their perfect plan) the other players can regroup and work out a better plan for next time. If the Alpha wanna-be doesn't learn their lesson about overconfidence after a few games, then find another player to take their place.

[Mikel]

Sometimes you just have to make your own decision and let your gut lead you. Would-be Alpha gamers need reminders every so often that they aren't the only ones with worthwhile ideas. BUT, sometimes you should just let them have the reins, watch their plans go up in flames, and (while they wonder what happened to their perfect plan) the other players can regroup and work out a better plan for next time. If the Alpha wanna-be doesn't learn their lesson about overconfidence after a few games, then find another player to take their place.

Part of the problem is sometimes the Alpha Player's right. They've figured it out and everyone else doesn't matter that much to the process.

I'd prefer a lot of them if they were single player computer board games, honestly.

[DistinctlyBenign]

Big Warmahordes bundle over at Humble Bundle right now.

[GinDragon]

Sometimes you just have to make your own decision and let your gut lead you. Would-be Alpha gamers need reminders every so often that they aren't the only ones with worthwhile ideas. BUT, sometimes you should just let them have the reins, watch their plans go up in flames, and (while they wonder what happened to their perfect plan) the other players can regroup and work out a better plan for next time. If the Alpha wanna-be doesn't learn their lesson about overconfidence after a few games, then find another player to take their place.

Part of the problem is sometimes the Alpha Player's right. They've figured it out and everyone else doesn't matter that much to the process.

I'd prefer a lot of them if they were single player computer board games, honestly.

I like to remind Alpha Players that there is no extrinsic reward for winning a board game, (unless you're in a tournament or something) and sometime it's fun to try something sub-optimal.

I also often catch myself giving new players advice, and I think it's ok, as long as you frame it as an option rather than a command. I like to give more than one option, and and gently explain my reasoning- but even then usually only if they seem stuck. If it's a cooperative game and some is suggesting what I perceive as a bad move, I might ask what their reasoning is, but I'd never try to force someone to play a certain way.

[DistinctlyBenign]

There's an Amazon daily deal on board games and puzzles. I grabbed The Castles of Burgundy, it's $20 today (normally $42). San Juan is also cheap, $18 instead of $35.

[Ikoma]

Part of the problem is sometimes the Alpha Player's right. They've figured it out and everyone else doesn't matter that much to the process.

As one of those Alpha Players, let me say the key (for us) is once you have 'figured it out' to describe to other players how awesome they are going to be rather than order them around like pawns in your bigger game. AND to accept that sometimes part of the challenge is to 'figure it out... again' when another player decides to take a different action and not pushing back against that player.