Board Games!

[Brandi]

It could be group related, true. But...it's not that anyone HATES "the bossy one" it just doesn't feel as fun for all of your actions and choices to be constantly influenced by other people, be it a sole dictator or everyone in the group.
That is why in my opinion, co-op dexterity games are the best, as no one can really contribute to your logic because it is on your own personal skill whether you succeed or not and therefore it feels like a real challenge.

Also Pandemic is really really boring.

[Mina]

co-op dexterity games

These exist? Do you know any good examples?

I enjoyed Pandemic, but it seems like it'd get old upon a replay.

You might like Hanabi, since it's a game where every person has to contribute.

[xRECKONERx]

yeah that was my basic experience with Pandemic

"man it's almost like playing a single player game"

[Brandi]

co-op dexterity games

These exist? Do you know any good examples?

I enjoyed Pandemic, but it seems like it'd get old upon a replay.

You might like Hanabi, since it's a game where every person has to contribute.

The first few games of Pandemic for me were alright but yeah my issue with it is replayability.

Re: Dexterity Co-Op- UNFORTUNATELY not many exist which makes me sad
but a great one is

Space Cadets
http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/123096/space-cadets

Takes a decently sized group to get the full of it though.

[Mina]

The rules for

Pandemic

actually have a clause that on harder modes, you're not supposed to show your cards "so everyone can play a part in solving the game!" But that stupid and tacked-on solution causes more problems than it solves.

This conversation makes me wish I had someone to play board games with right now. I can't wait two weeks!

[Faraday]

A LOT Of co-op games suffer from "everyone do what that ONE GUY says and we all win, no making your own decisions because they might not be the most efficient, wow we won that was easy, YAY!" syndrome.

They do if you have someone who plays like that? Also sure, it's not fun if someone is dictating your actions or playing the game for you - but I don't think that really should be happening anyway.

[Faraday]

Also I love the sense of "holy shit, we're winning, we're winning but oh FUCK next turn we're gonna get screwed what can we do?" that you get with games like Pandemic and Forbidden Island. I think the bossy gamer thing is more of a problem with your group than the game, tbh - I made sure say, when playing Pandemic with someone who hadn't to allow them to have their own input, if I wanted to play it by myself I would.

Also think Pandemic is pretty fun, sure it may get old eventually but I've got 10 plays or so out of my game which I got fairly recently and still want to keep playing it. (I think for sheer theme, I like forbidden island better - the "oh fuck we're about to sink" mechanic is super fun)


Space Cadets looks fun, but I'm not sure it's the type of co-op game I'd like to try all the time.

[Faraday]

Although Hanabi is an excellent, if at times frustrating co-op game. "HOW THE FUCK DID YOU FORGET THAT WAS A 5?"

[hasdgfas]

Although Hanabi is an excellent, if at times frustrating co-op game. "HOW THE FUCK DID YOU FORGET THAT WAS A 5?"

YES YES YES. This is a game that does not suffer from "one player says everything that should be done" just due to the way the game is played. It might also be my favorite game right now.

[Faraday]

Yeah, it's really fun. I never got a chance to play with the rainbow extra deck...but it sounds like it'd be super chaotic!

[sthar8]

I don't get how co-op games are enjoyable

A LOT Of co-op games suffer from "everyone do what that ONE GUY says and we all win, no making your own decisions because they might not be the most efficient, wow we won that was easy, YAY!" syndrome.
Pandemic is a huge offender, and IMO is one of the worst co op games out there.

When we're selling or reviewing games, we call that 'quarterbacking.' It's a serious flaw in many team and co-op games. I've heard that one of the Pandemic expansions adds an eco-terrorist that plays against the group win condition. That should help fix the problem.

Red November also has a mechanic that combats quarterbacking. At some point, one player can decide to screw the team and attempt to win alone.

Has anybody played Ghost Stories? We've played like 15 times and never won.

How about Level99's Minigames Library? I've played all six games with both the kids' group (9-17) and the adult group (acts like they're 9-17). Some of the rules are a little complicated and the player numbers are very specific and awkward, but they're almost universally well received.

[Faraday]

I got ghost stories for christmas, but haven't played it yet! I've heard it's hard, I also know hito raves about it, so I'm sure it's fun!

[penguin_alien]

It is fun, and I think it's actually easier with the White Moon expansion.

[Chevre]

Escape: The Curse of the Temple is another game which prevents quarterbacking due to the hectic, ten-minute nature of the game. Also allows for mutliple layers of complexity with curses and treasrues.

[penguin_alien]

Escape has been the surprise hit of my game club. Although a couple of people really hate it because they couldn't make a fast decision standing between two barrels of water with their pants on fire.

[Aegor]

I enjoyed Pandemic, but it seems like it'd get old upon a replay.

You can bump up the difficulty, experiment with different role combos, get the expansion... I do not play it regularly, but I am always open to breaking it out again for any number of players (greater than 1).

You might like Hanabi, since it's a game where every person has to contribute.

Hanabi is truly an excellent game. Strategy after a couple of plays becomes focused on developing effective conventions.

[Chevre]

Escape has been the surprise hit of my game club. Although a couple of people really hate it because they couldn't make a fast decision standing between two barrels of water with their pants on fire.

Despite my enthusiasm for it, my group didn't like it either. They found it too hectic, which makes me wonder if they would like games like Galaxy Trucker. But then again, they like the timed party games like pictionary and stuff. :/

[Sudo_Nym]

Galaxy Trucker is awesome, though. I love the panic at the table when you flip the timer for the last time.

[xRECKONERx]

Whoafuck. Just got Letters from Whitechapel for my birthday, played two games last night.

Technically I shouldn't have been caught because Gamma lied about the rules, but it seems pretty fun, at least from the SK's perspective. Not sure how fun it would be as an investigator, but Fate/Nuwen/Gamma/Grimm seemed to enjoy it. I think once we start adding in the extra rules (like investigator abilities + "false clues" + letters) it should get even better. It's a pretty basic game to understand but one that's very hard to play.

[Chevre]

If you have a seasonal Go! Calendars, Games, Books store near your area, everything there is now 50% off. Mine has a pretty limited selection, so I may pick up Ticket to Ride or some party games, but I've known ones to include a wider selection of designer board games. If you want to brave the cold, check it out!

[sthar8]

OhMyGod fuck letters. That game exists to make me want to murder my brother. Also I think there's a breaking strategy. And the setup app is almost necessary.

The kids are playing Infinity Dungeon in the back of the store right now, and the youngest just ran up to tell me "Keith died because he tried to rescue me in a helicopter but it ran out of fuel and he hit a brick wall and it exploded because it was full of dynamite but I escaped and now he's a postman." No breaths, it was adorable.

[Mina]

sthar8, do you work in a games store?

[sthar8]

Yes.

[Faraday]

so if there's one thing that the reckoning confirmed it's that hanabi is awesome

mascarade is pretty awesome too, though!

[Chevre]

I know plenty people who went to the Reckoning have frequented this thread, so give me some thoughts! What type of people liked those games? I've looked into both but they just seem like they cater to specific types of people.