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Dave W.
Info Junkie
USA
26022 Posts |
 Posted - 06/22/2013 : 16:47:08
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I don't recall how, but I stumbled across a YouTube show called TableTop, all about table-top gaming. The show was created by Wil Wheaton and Felicia Day, and also hosted on a site called “Geek & Sundry,” which includes a slew of other shows.
Basically, TableTop is a game review show except they don't actually do any sort of proper review. Wil Wheaton introduces the game, explains how it plays, and then he and some other famous people play the game. The losers (which usually include Wil) are humiliated and the winner(s) exhalted. Roll credits.
So there's not a lot of stuff you might expect to find in a regular review, like comparing the features of the game of the week to other similar games. You won't find complaints about bad game mechanics or praise for new and interesting ones. It's just a bunch of people playing a game. Different people each week (but always Wil Wheaton).
And for reasons I can't explain, I think this show is awesome.
Awesome enough that I needed to post about it here, and put my own episode list together because the interfaces both at YouTube and Geek & Sundry suck for watching episodes in order. So here they are (I'll update as the episodes past S2E6 come online):
Season 1
S1E1: Small WorldExtended Edition (2:05)
Jenna Busch
Grant Imahara
Sean Plott
Gag Reel
S1E2: Settlers of CatanJane Espenson
Neil Grayston
James Kyson
Gag Reel
S1E3: Zombie Dice, Get Bit! & TsuroRyan Higa
Ron Roddenberry
Freddie Wong
Gag Reel
S1E4: Ticket to RideAmy Dallen
Colin Ferguson
Anne Wheaton
Gag Reel
S1E5: MunchkinFelicia Day
Steve Jackson
Sandeep Parikh
Gag Reel
S1E6: Castle PanicExtended Edition (1:47)
Yuri Lowenthal
Andre Meadows
Tara Platt
Gag Reel
S1E7: GloomAmber Benson
Michele Boyd
Meghan Camarena
Gag Reel
S1E8: FiascoPart 2 (actually S1E9)
Set-up
Bonnie Burton
Alison Haislip
John Rogers
Gag Reel
S1E10: Say AnythingJosh A. Cagan
Matt Mira
Jonah Ray
Gag Reel
S1E11: Elder SignFelicia Day
Mike Morhaime
Bill Prady
Gag Reel
S1E12: DixitLeo Chu
Casey McKinnon
Beth Riesgraf
Gag Reel
S1E13: Wits & WagersVeronica Belmont
Phil LaMarr
Jimmy Wong
Gag Reel
S1E14: PandemicExtended Edition (1:24)
Ed Brubaker
Robert Gifford
Morgan Webb
Gag Reel
S1E15: Last Night on EarthFelicia Day
Riki Lindhome
Kate Micucci
Gag Reel
S1E16: Star FluxxAlex Albrecht
Chloe Dykstra
Jordan Mechner
Gag Reel
S1E17: AlhambraAshley Johnson
Dodger Leigh
Shane Nickerson
Gag Reel
S1E18: Chez GeekStorm DiConstanzo
Andrew Hackard
Paul Sabourin
Gag Reel
S1E19: Dragon AgePart 2
Chris Hardwick
Chris Pramas
Kevin Sussman
Sam Witwer
Gag Reel
Season 2
S2E1: Formula DExtended Edition (1:55)
Greg Benson
Hannah Hart
Grace Helbig
Gag Reel
S2E2: The ResistanceAshley Clements
Amy Okuda
Allison Scagliotti
Gag Reel
S2E3: Once Upon a TimeAmy Berg
Mike Phirman
Chris “Doc” Wyatt
Gag Reel
S2E4: King of TokyoJohn “Totalbiscuit” Bain
Craig “Wheezy Waiter” Benzine
Greg Zeschuk
Gag Reel
S2E5: Forbidden IslandBobak Ferdowsi
Jason Finn
John Scalzi
Gag Reel
S2E6: Smash UpCara Santa Maria
Rich Sommer
Jen Timms
Gag Reel
S2E8: Star Trek CatanExtended Edition (2:25)
Jeri Ryan
Kari Whalgren
Ryan Wheaton
Gag Reel
S2E9: Star Wars X-WingExtended Edition (1:40)
Clare Grant
Seth Green
Mike Lamond
Gag Reel
S2E10: Lords of WaterdeepExtended Edition (2:21)
Felicia Day
Brandon Laatsch
Pat Rothfuss
Gag Reel
S2E11: Shadows over CamelotJerry Holkins
Mike Krahulik
Tara Strong
Gag Reel
S2E12: Betrayal at House on the Hill, part 1 and part 2Ashly Burch
Keahu Kahuanui
Michael Swaim
Gag Reel
S2E14: TakenokoExtended Edition (1:27)
Harley Morenstein
Rosanna Pansino
Drew Roy
Gag Reel
S2E15: Unspeakable WordsTroy Baker
Erin Gray
Gag Reel
S2E16: Qwirkle and 12 DaysExtended Edition (1:39)
Kelly Hu
Nolan Kopp
Meredith Salenger
Gag Reel
S2E17: Tsuro of the SeasExtended Edition (1:03)
Brendan Halloran
Andy Hull
Kevin Pereira
Gag Reel
S2E18: CarcassonneExtended Edition (1:35)
Jesse Cox
Nika Harper
Kumail Nanjiani
Gag Reel
S2E19: Ticket to Ride: EuropeEmma Caulfield
John Kovalic
Anne Wheaton
Gag Reel
S2E20: Fortune and GloryRyon Day
Brandon Routh
Gag Reel
S2E21: Lords of VegasThe Doubleclicks
Miracle Laurie
Gag Reel
Season 3
S3E1: TokaidoChris Kluwe
J. August Richards
Jason Wishnov
Gag Reel
S3E2: Forbidden DesertFelicia Day
Jon Heder
Alan Tudyk
Gag Reel
Notes on gameplay errors
S3E3: Catan JuniorEmily Anderson
Brett Baligad
Adam Chernick
Gag Reel
S3E4: The Hare and the Tortoise & Council of VeronaAlison Haislip
David Kwong
Jessica Merizan
Gag Reel
S3E5: Stone AgeJesse Cox
Nika Harper
Jordan Maron
Gag Reel
S3E6: Geek OutBonnie Burton
Clare Kramer
Anne Wheaton
Gag Reel
S3E7: Sheriff of NottinghamAshley Clements
Derek Mio
Meredith Salenger
Gag Reel
S3E8: Dead of WinterGrant Imahara
Ashley Johnson
Dodger Leigh
Gag Reel
S3E9: Epic Spell WarsVeronica Belmont
Emily V. Gordon
Jonah Ray
Gag Reel
S3E10: Cards Against Humanity (NSFW!)Laina Morris
Ali Spagnola
Aisha Tyler
Gag Reel
S3E11: Five TribesJenna Busch
Richard Garriott
Satine Phoenix
Gag Reel
S3E12: ConceptRhett McLaughlin
Link Neal
Joseph Scrimshaw
Gag Reel
S3E13: Dread, Part 1 and Part 2Laura Bailey
Molly Lewis
Ivan Van Norman
S3E14: LibertaliaKaren Gillan
Clare Grant
Seth Green
Gag Reel
S3E15: Love Letter & CoupFelicia Day
Benny Fine
Rafi Fine
Gag Reel
S3E16: Kingdom BuilderYuri Lowenthal
Tara Platt
Paul Scheer
Tabletop, Kingdom Builder, and Screwing Up the Rules
Gag Reel
S3E17: LegendaryAllie Brosh
Mark Fischbach
Brea Grant
Gag Reel
S3E18: Sushi Go & Roll For ItJohn Ross Bowie
Jennifer Hale
Jason Ritter
Gag Reel
S3E19: Mice & Mystics, Part 1 and Part 2Nolan Kopp
Anne Wheaton
Ryan Wheaton
Gag Reel
Season 4
S4E1: LanternsZac Eubank
Becca Scott Kerns
Ivan Van Norman
S4E2: Champions of MidgardChris Kluwe
Alison Haislip
Marisha Ray
S4E3: MonarchAshley Clements
Brea Grant
Satine Phoenix
S4E4: Tiny Epic GalaxiesMayim Bialik
Tim Schafer
Andy Weir
S4E5: Fury of Dracula, Part 1Grant Imahara
Ify Nwadiwe
Amy Okuda
S4E6: Fury of Dracula, Part 2Grant Imahara
Ify Nwadiwe
Amy Okuda
S4E7: HarbourNika Harper
Matt Mercer
Kyle Newman
S4E8: Dragon FarkleNeil Grayston
Derek Mio
Brandon Routh
S4E9: Star RealmsMelissa DeTora
S4E10: Fate CoreFelicia Day
Ryan Macklin
John Rogers
S4E11: Star Trek: Five Year MissionJessica Chobot
Jesse Cox
Jaime King
S4E12: MysteriumLaura Bailey
David Kwong
Shannon Woodward
S4E13: Steam ParkJonathan Coulton
Greg "Storm" DiCostanzo
Paul Sabourin
S4E14: Misspent Youth (Part 2)Amy Dallen
Kelly Sue DeConnick
Matt Fraction
S4E15: Flash Point: Fire RescueClare Grant
Seth Green
Kelly Hu
S4E16: Welcome to the DungeonRhea Butcher
Hector Navarro
Janet Varney
S4E17: CodenamesJohn Ross Bowie
Ashley Esqueda
Jackie Kashian
Michelle Morrow
Travis Willingham
S4E18: Eldritch Horror (Part 2)Jess Marzipan
Patrick Rothfuss
Stef Woodburn
Titansgrave: The Ashes of Valkana (the RPG show)
Cast:Chapter 0 - Wil Wheaton Introduces Valkana! (YouTube)
Chapter 1 - The Journey Begins! (YouTube)
Chapter 2 - Evil Awakens! (YouTube)
Chapter 3 - Danger at the Market! (YouTube)
Chapter 4 - Sewer Terror (YouTube)
Chapter 5 - Staff of Forlorn Hope (YouTube)
Chapter 6 - Heroes of the Past (YouTube)
Chapter 7 - Danger at Reed Manor (YouTube)
Chapter 8 - Finding the Portal (YouTube)
Chapter 9 - Nightmare Visions (YouTube)
Chapter 10 - The Prophet (YouTube)
Other Media
Vidcon - Wil Finally Wins a Game
TableTop Hangout with Wil Wheaton (0:57) - Wil answers questions
March 30th, 2013, was International TableTop Day, which they live-streamed:Amy Dallen’s Behinds the Scenes at TableTop
Wil Wheaton - NOT the Flog (TableTop Bonus)
Wil Wheaton - NOT The Flog 2 (TableTop Bonus)
Wil Wheaton - NOT The Flog 3 (TableTop Bonus)
TableTop wins The Diana Jones Award for Excellence in Gaming
TableTop also won (see @3:23 and @5:00) an Ennie
Wil Wheaton Interview - Gen Con 2013
Wil Wheaton at Denver Comic Con on What to Look Forward to for Season 2.5 of TableTop
Wil Wheaton - NOT The Flog 4 (TableTop Bonus)
TableTop Day 2014:- Felicia Day, Wil Wheaton Announce International TableTop Day 2014
- Jesse Cox, Anne Wheaton, Michele Boyd, and More Love TableTop Day!
- The Vloggers Love TableTop Day
- Felicia Announces LA TableTop Event!
- We Want YOU for International TableTop Day!
- TableTop Day Games: Rampage, Love Letter, and Labyrinth with Neil McNeil and Tigermonkey
- Wil Wheaton Talks International TableTop Day Goodies!
- International TableTop Day 2014 Live Stream:
- 6:40 Intro/Krosmaster with Michael Swaim, Jesse Cox, and Alison Haislip
- 1:07:00 Tanto Cuore with Ashley Johnson, Ryon Day, and Colin Ferguson
- 2:23:10 Rampage with Miracle Laurie, Ashley Clements, and Neil Grayston
- 3:34:30 Love Letter with Grant Imahara, Anne Wheaton, and Nika Harper
TableTop Season 3:
TableTop's Spin-Off RPG Show:
International TableTop Day 2015 will be on April 11.
International TableTop Day 2016 will be on April 30.Tabletop season 4:
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- Dave W. (Private Msg, EMail)
Evidently, I rock!
Why not question something for a change?
Visit Dave's Psoriasis Info, too. |
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ThorGoLucky
Snuggle Wolf
USA
1487 Posts |
Posted - 06/23/2013 : 08:53:52 [Permalink]
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Thanks for the list, Dave. I had forgotten about that Will Wheaton series. I saw the first one with Small World, a fun game that I have including some expansions. I have also played Pandemic many times, and the new World War Z game is basically Pandemic with the diseases replaced with zombies. Speaking of zombies, Last Night on Earth is a fun semi-party-game but the rules can be a bugger.
My little 1000' house is configured for hosting board gaming that can have a table in every room, up to four tables with a score of players at a time.
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Dave W.
Info Junkie
USA
26022 Posts |
Posted - 06/23/2013 : 09:57:12 [Permalink]
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Before ever seeing the show, we owned Smallworld, Munchkin, Castle Panic, King of Tokyo and Forbidden Island. (I'm just talking about games mentioned on the show so far, we had lots of other games, too.) We had regular Fluxx, but I ran out and bought Star Fluxx because of TableTop. I got my wife to watch the show, and she insists we need a copy of Get Bit! now, and thinks Ticket to Ride would be good for our family, too.
Our dining room is actually our game room. We've had six players at once before, but we don't often have people over for anything.
My wife and I are actually hooked on Dominion, buying the first three sets before discovering the joy of online play where we don't have to shuffle. So we're on Goko quite often. The newest expansion, Guilds, throws quite a few twists around. |
- Dave W. (Private Msg, EMail)
Evidently, I rock!
Why not question something for a change?
Visit Dave's Psoriasis Info, too. |
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sailingsoul
SFN Addict
2830 Posts |
Posted - 06/23/2013 : 10:08:11 [Permalink]
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| I can't find a way to search for games they've played or done shows on. Is that the case or an I mistaken? |
There are only two types of religious people, the deceivers and the deceived. SS |
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Dave W.
Info Junkie
USA
26022 Posts |
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sailingsoul
SFN Addict
2830 Posts |
Posted - 06/23/2013 : 13:22:07 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by Dave W.
SS, all the shows they've done so far are listed in the OP.
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Thanks. ummm, I was going to look up "Pig Mania" but it not there, so I won't. |
There are only two types of religious people, the deceivers and the deceived. SS |
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Dave W.
Info Junkie
USA
26022 Posts |
Posted - 06/23/2013 : 14:43:51 [Permalink]
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Yeah, they've only done 26 games so far. Give 'em a chance to get to Pig Mania (which is now known as Pass the Pigs).
My family has this game. The score sheets are too dang small for my aging eyes. |
- Dave W. (Private Msg, EMail)
Evidently, I rock!
Why not question something for a change?
Visit Dave's Psoriasis Info, too. |
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BigPapaSmurf
SFN Die Hard
3192 Posts |
Posted - 06/24/2013 : 10:47:25 [Permalink]
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No collection is complete without Pig Mania, aka Pass The Pigs. bonus of being cheap and enjoyable for alcoholics.
I am a huge board game fan and obsessive about mechanics and the always over-looked rulebooks, heres a few I would suggest.
Best game since Chess Award
Dvonn (the simplicity of Checkers and the strategy of Chess) No one will play with me:(
Best Board Design
Axis and Allies Pacific v1, I have made many maps for many games and none stand up to the glory of this one. Hard to explain but someone like me made it and I have mad respect for them. Also this is my favorite War game, If you own a copy of Risk it should be thrown away, not even worthy of being recycled.
Classics you might not own,
Mastermind
Stratego
Some others I enjoy (meaning the ones people are willing to play)
Tikal
Metro
Ricochet Robots (Note: they really love playing this game, until one player becomes too good)
P.S. The # 1 feature that will indicate a terrible, poorly thought out game design.... 3 players minimum.
P.P.S. House rules can make a game a winner, Me and my buddies modified the forgettable Dune 1984 movie board game into a house favorite, now you can drink the water of life and have a 1 in 6 chance to become the Kwisatz Haderach.... or a 5 in 6 chance of instant death!
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"...things I have neither seen nor experienced nor heard tell of from anybody else; things, what is more, that do not in fact exist and could not ever exist at all. So my readers must not believe a word I say." -Lucian on his book True History
"...They accept such things on faith alone, without any evidence. So if a fraudulent and cunning person who knows how to take advantage of a situation comes among them, he can make himself rich in a short time." -Lucian critical of early Christians c.166 AD From his book, De Morte Peregrini |
| Edited by - BigPapaSmurf on 06/26/2013 05:45:40 |
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ThorGoLucky
Snuggle Wolf
USA
1487 Posts |
Posted - 06/24/2013 : 15:51:01 [Permalink]
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Ricochet Robots is a great mind-exercising party game. The more, the merrier.
BigPapaSmurf, I disagree with the minimum number of players as a judgement of a game. Like Puerto Rico is a superb game that plays great with 3-5 players, though unofficial 2-player rules have been finagled (the iOS version allows 2 players with interesting mechanics).
Some games have an optimal number of players. Like Battlestar Galactica is just perfect with exactly 5 players.
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sailingsoul
SFN Addict
2830 Posts |
Posted - 06/24/2013 : 20:40:56 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by Dave W.
Yeah, they've only done 26 games so far. Give 'em a chance to get to Pig Mania (which is now known as Pass the Pigs).
My family has this game. The score sheets are too dang small for my aging eyes.
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From what I've seen they have fun playing and doing the shows.
"Pass the pigs" Awwwh that was a mistake in my mind. It is a hoot to play for such a simple game. Two little plastic pigs for dice, scoring pad and set of rules, all in a little box. I think I played it in the early 80's.
PS About the vision, that's what kids are for and they get to do their math. |
There are only two types of religious people, the deceivers and the deceived. SS |
| Edited by - sailingsoul on 06/24/2013 20:46:03 |
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moakley
SFN Regular
USA
1888 Posts |
Posted - 06/25/2013 : 04:12:22 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by sailingsoul
Originally posted by Dave W.
Yeah, they've only done 26 games so far. Give 'em a chance to get to Pig Mania (which is now known as Pass the Pigs).
My family has this game. The score sheets are too dang small for my aging eyes.
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From what I've seen they have fun playing and doing the shows.
"Pass the pigs" Awwwh that was a mistake in my mind. It is a hoot to play for such a simple game. Two little plastic pigs for dice, scoring pad and set of rules, all in a little box. I think I played it in the early 80's.
PS About the vision, that's what kids are for and they get to do their math.
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When I saw the name Pass the Pig I began to wonder whether it could be Pig Mania. Yep, second sentence of the link. My wife and I use to play that a very long time ago. Not for long. It got old rather quickly. Then we tried it with our cats, but that became old quick as well. Double trotters are fine and amusing for while, but apparently not for the cats.
Edited: Forgot to add  |
Life is good
Philosophy is questions that may never be answered. Religion is answers that may never be questioned. -Anonymous |
| Edited by - moakley on 06/25/2013 04:13:13 |
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Dave W.
Info Junkie
USA
26022 Posts |
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BigPapaSmurf
SFN Die Hard
3192 Posts |
Posted - 06/26/2013 : 05:36:14 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by ThorGoLucky
Ricochet Robots is a great mind-exercising party game. The more, the merrier.
BigPapaSmurf, I disagree with the minimum number of players as a judgement of a game. Like Puerto Rico is a superb game that plays great with 3-5 players, though unofficial 2-player rules have been finagled (the iOS version allows 2 players with interesting mechanics).
Some games have an optimal number of players. Like Battlestar Galactica is just perfect with exactly 5 players.
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Im not saying that it is impossible to make a good game with 3+ players minimum. But those house rules you mentioned are an indicator of the most important factor in board gaming: 90% of the time only two people will be available or want to play a game. Any designer that ignores that fact is suspect in my mind. I won;t purchase such a game and im the target demo.
How difficult is it for you to get a 5 man game of BG going? |
"...things I have neither seen nor experienced nor heard tell of from anybody else; things, what is more, that do not in fact exist and could not ever exist at all. So my readers must not believe a word I say." -Lucian on his book True History
"...They accept such things on faith alone, without any evidence. So if a fraudulent and cunning person who knows how to take advantage of a situation comes among them, he can make himself rich in a short time." -Lucian critical of early Christians c.166 AD From his book, De Morte Peregrini |
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BigPapaSmurf
SFN Die Hard
3192 Posts |
Posted - 06/26/2013 : 05:44:07 [Permalink]
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I should point out that I am a game design Nazi, reasoning with me won't help. Tikal only gets a pass for its poor rulebook and very poor scoring system because it does so many other things well.
Im still working on the final solution to the >2 players minimum problem. |
"...things I have neither seen nor experienced nor heard tell of from anybody else; things, what is more, that do not in fact exist and could not ever exist at all. So my readers must not believe a word I say." -Lucian on his book True History
"...They accept such things on faith alone, without any evidence. So if a fraudulent and cunning person who knows how to take advantage of a situation comes among them, he can make himself rich in a short time." -Lucian critical of early Christians c.166 AD From his book, De Morte Peregrini |
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Dave W.
Info Junkie
USA
26022 Posts |
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ThorGoLucky
Snuggle Wolf
USA
1487 Posts |
Posted - 06/26/2013 : 18:52:57 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by BigPapaSmurf
Originally posted by ThorGoLucky
Ricochet Robots is a great mind-exercising party game. The more, the merrier.
BigPapaSmurf, I disagree with the minimum number of players as a judgement of a game. Like Puerto Rico is a superb game that plays great with 3-5 players, though unofficial 2-player rules have been finagled (the iOS version allows 2 players with interesting mechanics).
Some games have an optimal number of players. Like Battlestar Galactica is just perfect with exactly 5 players.
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Im not saying that it is impossible to make a good game with 3+ players minimum. But those house rules you mentioned are an indicator of the most important factor in board gaming: 90% of the time only two people will be available or want to play a game. Any designer that ignores that fact is suspect in my mind. I won;t purchase such a game and im the target demo.
How difficult is it for you to get a 5 man game of BG going?
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There are many board gamers in my circle of friends, so it's rare that there is only just two of us for long. We play BSG about every month if not sooner. |
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TableTop
