The Collectors Alphabet: B is for Boardgames
GrapeApe and I recently sat down with Laramie to show off some board games. Check out the full video here if you haven't seen it yet: The Collectors Alphabet: B is for Boardgames
Here is a breakdown of what I brought to the table and why:
Current Favorites
Sea Salt & Paper (Pandasaurus): A fun, set-collecting card game with incredible art. It’s easy to pick up and plays fantastically at two players!
Knarr (Pandasaurus): An engine-builder with a Viking theme. You trade your engine to buy land and build an even better one. There are multiple pathways to victory, it works great for 2–4 players, and there is an expansion on the way!
Solo Favorites
- Witchcraft!: You build a coven to complete tasks threatening a village. The goal is to earn support from the jury so they find you "Not Guilty" by the endgame. It also features a great campaign mode.
- Hoplomachus Victorum (Chip Theory Games): This was my "grail" solo game purchase from a few years ago. Full disclosure: it’s still in the shrink wrap, but I am determined to get it to the table soon!
Grognard Life
- Gettysburg (Avalon Hill): My dad taught me this when I was eight. It started my lifelong obsession with gaming, pushing cardboard, and the history of Gettysburg itself.
- Three Days at Gettysburg (GMT): A massive map and a truly tough simulation. This version gets deep into the nitty-gritty of the battle.
- Advanced Squad Leader 2nd Edition (MMP): This is a lifestyle game. I played it regularly for years. It’s the ultimate wargame for the ultimate wargamer. If you can get through the rulebooks, it is a fantastic experience!
Rarities & IPs
- Archer Love Letter (Once You Go Blackmail) & Batman Love Letter: These are proof that adding a great IP to a solid game can get people to the table. No one wanted to play standard Love Letter, but the moment I pull out Batman, it's on!
- Legendary Encounters: An Alien Deck Building Game: This takes a great IP and actually improves the mechanics. If you encounter a Facehugger and a Chestburster, you can play as the Alien against your former teammates!
Two-Player Hits
- Sky Team: A co-op game where you try to land a plane by placing dice in slots for brakes, flaps, and speed. It’s easy to teach, but there is a catch: once the dice are rolled, no talking allowed.
- Lord of the Rings: The Duel: This takes the 7 Wonders Duel mechanics and adds a theme that actually makes the game better. The theme is integrated perfectly, and there are several viable strategies for all player levels.
The "All-Time" Favorite
- Space Base: In my book, designer John D. Clair can do no wrong. This is an engine builder that can play up to seven with expansions. You are engaged on every single turn because you’re building two engines: one for when you roll, and one for when everyone else rolls. I’ve played this over 50 times and would play it again in a heartbeat!
What are you playing this week?