Board Game Suggestions

[Trinak]

Ok, I like the WoW boardgame (just have the first one, none of the expansions), and the OOTS Boardgame, but both are fairly long. I also enjoy strategy games like Axis and Allies and Risk (two more games that can be fairly long). Wondering if anyone knows of any RPG or Strategy boardgames that have reasonable play times (maybe 1 1/2 hours at most). Thanks.

[king.com]

Well this would probably break the 1 1/2 limit but the starcraft boardgame is impressive. It plays in much the same form as risk but with a whole lot of other factors to add to it, steep learning curve i believe though.

[Oeep Snaec]

I don't know too many under 1 1/2 hrs, but Axis and Allies is an absolutely amazing game that can take a while, but is great game nonetheless.

[Nibleswick]

Settlers of Catan is a very good game, and it is't to long.

[Charity]

My favorite subject

Many player games-
Puerto Rico (http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/3076) is still my favorite game, beautifully balanced with many paths to victory, easy mechanics, and in depth strategy.. If you buy one game, make it this one.
The expansion is also very good, and refreshingly inexpensive. This game has excellent replayability.

Age of Empires III (http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/22545) I got this little gem for Christmas, we've only played a few times, but it is fast becoming a favorite another excellent game with more paths than we have currently explored. I cannot yet vouch for its replayability, though the signs are good. There is an expansion that allows 6 players, it's just some extra pieces, and in honesty should have been included in the original game.

Tigris & Euphrates (http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/42) This is another good game, incredibly simple to play, though its scoring mechanic is unusual. A good game, underplayed in my gaff as one of my mates has an entirely unreasonable dislike of it... he does that a lot, don't think any worse of the game as it is a cracker.

The ubiquitous Settlers of Cattan (http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/13) There is a reason why you've all heard of this one, it is a gem of a game. Seafarers is a straightforward expansion to the basic game, which makes sheep more valuable, an underused resource in the basic game. Knights and cities expansion changes the game quite considerably, it adds to the complexity, I love it, others not so much. If you like things kept simple it won't be for you.

Through the desert (http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/503) is a highly rated game, but I found it distinctly wanting, I would not recommend this one.

Shadows over Camelot (http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/15062)Is a cool game, it is co-operative with a twist, one of you is working for the bad guys. Fairly simple though with all co-operative games there is a danger that it becomes formulaic, this danger is somewhat diminished by the traitor, if played well it can really hurt the other players.

Galaxy Trucker (http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/31481) Played this the other night, it was pretty fun. Simple a little bit random, but a fun scramble game. A fun game that does not warrant taking too seriously.

Ta Yu (http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/117) My fav game of the moment! This game rocks, it is painfully simple, but don't let that put you off it is a planners and a thinkers game. It is also beautifully made which sounds trivial but does in fact add to the enjoyment of a game. This one is two or four player. It is rarely left in the box for more than a few days in my house.

There are more... many more, I may come back and post some later.

All of these fall within your time limit.

[Athaniar]

Not played many board games, but Risk is a game I reccomend. And there's always chess, good training for the bran... brian... brani... the thing in your head.

[Charity]

Risk is long winded and heavily luck dependant.

Here is my list of games that I am currently interested in aquiring, if anyone has played any of these I would be grateful of any input... there's quite a few.


Ticket to Ride (http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/9209)
(actually this one is on it's way so it had better be good.)
Game of Thrones
(http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/6472)
Ingenious
(http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/9674)
Reef Encounter (http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/12962)
Hive
(http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/2655)
RoboRally (http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/18)
Blokus
(http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/2453)
Torres (http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/88)
Antike (http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/19600)
Age of Piracy (http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/25292)
ZÈRTZ
(http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/528)
DVONN (http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/2346)
Maharaja: Palace Building in India (http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/9440)
La Città (http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/554)
Descent: Journeys in the Dark (http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/17226)
History of the World (http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/224)
Nexus Ops (http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/15363)
Britannia (http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/240)
Actually I've played Britannia it's on the list cos I like it.
Primordial Soup
(http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/124)
Löwenherz (http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/66)
Coloretto (http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/5782)
GIPF
(http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/527)
Zooloretto (http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/27588)
Titan (http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/103)
Kingsburg
(http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/27162)
Neuroshima Hex! (http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/21241)
Tales of the Arabian Nights
(http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/788)

[Silroc]

Not sure about RPG style, but here are a few board games I can't recommend highly enough:

Vegas Showdown. (http://boardgamegeek.com/game/15364) Bid on and buy rooms for your hotel/casino, and compete with friends to see who can make the best casino on the strip. Winner takes them all.

Betrayal at House on the Hill. (http://boardgamegeek.com/game/10547) It's like living through classic cult horror movies. With 50 different randomized scenarios, and you build the house each play through, it's a different game each time.

Amun-Re. (http://boardgamegeek.com/game/5404) Egyptian themed, all about building pyramids and sacrificing to the gods. It's beautiful to look at, and better to play.

Alhambra. (http://boardgamegeek.com/game/6249) Fast and fun. Buy tiles to build your own city, and try to have the most of certain types of buildings.

Dork Tower. (http://boardgamegeek.com/game/8508) Like Munchkin with a board. Play as favorite Dork Tower characters, run around killing monsters, level up, buy new gear, and challenge the evil wizard to win.

Talisman. (http://boardgamegeek.com/game/27627) Classic game of fantasy quests. Like Dork Tower, but not a spoof. Fight monsters, win loot, level up, etc..

[Silroc]

Here is my list of games that I am currently interested in aquiring, if anyone has played any of these I would be grateful of any input... there's quite a few.

Edit: Answers to Charity in spoiler, since it's a long post. Anyone interested in my take on some of the games can take a look.



Ticket to Ride (http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/9209)
(actually this one is on it's way so it had better be good.)

It's a good one. Each of the sequels (Europe, Marklin, etc..) gets a bit more complex with a few new things added. The original is simple and elegant. Great "bridge" game for folks who claim they don't like board games.


Game of Thrones
(http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/6472)

I can't personally say I liked this one. But I played it with a group who LOVE to screw over anyone near them. So your mileage may vary. It's very detailed, and gives lots of options. Just watch your back.


Ingenious
(http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/9674)

This is one of my favorites. Hard to explain why, but it's just very fun and easy for anyone to pick up and learn.


Reef Encounter (http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/12962)

Beautiful game, fun to play, but for some reason, very hard to explain the rules for. It usually takes a few playthroughs before new players go "Oh. Is that how that works?"


RoboRally (http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/18)

I love this game. It's like the old show Robo-Wars, but on cardboard. The only down side to this game is that it can take FOREVER to play. Limit the number of players and the number of checkpoints, or plan to spend 4-6 hours planning cards and moves.


Descent: Journeys in the Dark (http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/17226)

This is an ok dungeon crawl. Get a good GM for it, and it can be a lot of fun. Also, very expensive.


Titan (http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/103)

*Sigh* I miss Titan. It's like "Heroes of Might and Magic" from the PC, translated to a board game. Terribly hard to find, and expensive as heck, but worth it to play it.


Tales of the Arabian Nights
(http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/788)

Ah, yes. I own this one, and it's the gem of my collection. Discontinued in ... 1984 I think it was. You can go blind sorting the 3,000 chits it uses, but it's a lot of fun. I always tell people it's like a "Choose-your-own-Adventure" book from when I was a kid, turned into a romp through the Arabian Nights mythos in a board game. I can't count the number of times I've wound up married to a Djinni and locked in prison with a hunchback.

[Charity]

^Thanks Silroc.

Race for the galaxy (http://boardgamegeek.com/game/28143)
Bought and played this one just the other day. Initial impressions are very good. Possibly more luck (random card draw) than I would ideally like (I prefer none, so any luck element is less desirable to me) but we played it back to back for three games and it was short and sweet every time. Good game.

I also bought Bang! (http://boardgamegeek.com/game/3955) Which was a fun little game, somewhat like the werewolf varients played in SMBG in principle, but with cards and guns and stuff. This was a good fun game, not serious but plenty of fun... even though my lovely wife blew my brains out before I got started in the first game... when I was on her side... grumble moan. Fortunately the game is short enough that this does not matter, and I was able return to triumphantly get shot in the face again scant minutes later.

[Ethdred]

Titan is great - lots of set up time, and probably outside your time limit, but a really good game. Good concept and good playability. Ripe for a PC version

Edit: And that link leads me to a freeware version!!! Fab! Guess what I'll be doing this evening!

[Bierhoff]

Arkham Horror is a really good game (if Call of Cthulhu appeals to you), but it's longer than 1-1.5 hr.
I haven't tried it yet, but Runebound looks nice as fast fantasy RPG-esque game.
Settlers of Catan is a classic in my circle of friends and if you like strategy its worth trying. The cities and knights expansion adds alot. and it should be about the length of play you are looking for.

I'd also recommend checking out games on http://www.boardgamegeek.com/newuser.php before making a purchase, particularly if your local game store doesn't let you play the game before buying.

[banjo1985]

I haven't tried it yet, but Runebound looks nice as fast fantasy RPG-esque game.

I have the base Runebound, and we've played it a few times. It takes a good 3 hours or so to play, and bogs down very easily in games of above five players. It does work reasonably well though, as long as you have a limited number of players. Not sure about the longevity, but the expansion might add to that.

[Charity]

^ what he said.. The unfortunate problem is that there are a limited number of adventures of each level, so if someone takes on the 2nd tier ones from the off they will run them out pretty quick, and the power leap from tier 1 to tier 3 is too big to be surmounted.

I would not rate Runebound that highly, especially if your game group is at all competative.
Arkham horror is much better.

[Charity]

*Sigh* I miss Titan. It's like "Heroes of Might and Magic" from the PC, translated to a board game. Terribly hard to find, and expensive as heck, but worth it to play it.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TITAN-Boardgame-Avalon-Hill-100-complete-Superb-Condit_W0QQitemZ270206772069QQihZ017QQcategoryZ117 199QQcmdZViewItem

If you wish to bid I shall bow to your greater need, if not I might try sniping it at the end.

[Silroc]

I appreciate it, but the logistics of shipping it to the US makes it more difficult than I'm wanting to endure at the moment. Go ahead and try to grab it, I'm actually focusing right now on another hard-to-find game, Turfmaster.

Edit: Wouldn't you know it, as soon as I say something, I find out it's finally been reprinted. Yay.

[caden_varn]

Carcassonne is a good game - if you like Settlers of Catan I suspect that you will like that too.

Lord of the Rings is a good game too, but may not be what you are looking for - it is a game for 2-5 players to play co-operatively rather than competitively. It is quite hard to win (at least I have found it so)