Everything including the kitchen sink... but with special attention paid to board games, Jesus Christ, my family, being a "professional" (and I use that word loosely) Christian, and the random firing of the 10% of the synapses I'm currently using.
A cleaner and more accessible take on the excellent zoo-building game Ark Nova (by the same designer).
Tips & Tricks:
Hate drafting (taking a tile that might benefit someone else) is an option in this game. I find it most helpful when my range (the set of tiles I can select) doesn't have anything useful for me.
Remember - "bad" tiles can be used to trigger scoring on some tiles and placed as open space when the opportunity arises.
Any game that involves guys riding dinosaurs into combat around a volcano is totally worth my time. The fact that it's stupidly fun just makes it even better.
Tips & Tricks:
Sometimes, it pays to decimate a particular type of dino (raptors, for example)... so you can use their cards as wild cards for other dino types with more firepower.
Whatever happens... no matter how bad you want revenge for a sneak attack... remember the win condition - when one player is knocked out, the player with the most dinos left wins. It's "all too easy" (thank you, Lord Vader) to get preoccupied and give the game away to satisfy a thirst to beat on the guy who's been hitting you.
Extras
The literal translation of the game's name is "The Battle of the Dinosaurs"... but I've always called it The Battle of the Dinosaur Riders.
Yes, I've badgered the good folks at Restoration Games to take a close look at re-imagining this game.
This is the first of two games on my countdown designed by Stephen Baker... who is also the genius behind the flawed but wonderful Battle Masters (currently being re-imagined by Restoration Games as Battle Monsters).
There was a 2 player variant in the original 7 Wonders box... but it wasn't particularly interesting. Enter 7 Wonders Duel, which managed to capture the drafting "feel" of the original game but work perfectly for 2 players.
Tips & Tricks:
There are three ways to win: military, science, and points... focusing on military or science can force your opponent to fight to stop you - and short circuit their plans.
Wise use of money is key to winning - being cash poor gives your opponent freedom to leave cards out that you can't use.
The combination of yellow (commercial) cards and burning cards for cash (increased by each yellow card you have) can be an effective strategy to deny players important cards while increasing your coffers.
Extras
The picture above includes the excellent Pantheon expansion... and there is second (also excellent) Agora expansion. I've never played them at the same time, as one son like Pantheon and the other likes Agora.
There's a print'n'play solo mode that works - but there are better solo games out there (and on this list).
The first of two solitaire games on my top 50 list... this is an inventive use of the deckbuilding mechanic as you are Friday from the novel Robinson Crusoe... trying to keep Robinson alive and get him ready to face down the pirates.
Tips & Tricks:
I used to be really good at this game... actually won once on Level 3 (there are four levels). Those days are gone - I haven't defeated both pirates on Level 1 in my last 10 games.
The rules for the various powers are a little tick-y... you need to make sure you read EXACTLY what they do (and do not do) in the rulebook.
Extras
This is an extremely portable game - when I'm traveling to speak, it's easy to throw in the suitcase and beats the heck out of watching HGTV in a hotel room.
If you get a chance to play a game with Friedemann, take the chance... even if it's not one of his games. He single handedly made our game of Mord im Arosa into a laugh riot a few years back.
As much as I love Entdecker (the parent game to the Im Reich series), I love this gamer-friendly take on desert nomads & the struggle for water & goods even more.
Tips & Tricks:
The name literally means "in the realm of the desert sons". And while the game rules are in German, almost all of the actual components are language-neutral.
This is designed by Klaus Teuber - the same guy who gave us Catan.
There is one other game in this series: "In the Realm of the Jade Goddess" - which is a little more of a family game. There was supposed to be a third game - "In the Realm of the Demons" - but it was never published. (This continues to make me sad in my heart.)
Water is your friend - do not (if you can help it) run out of water.
Camels are also your friend - you'll need some in order to win the game.
An important rule change was made AFTER publication - in order to complete an oasis on the edge of the board, the outer edge of the piece must be desert. Makes the game trickier - and better.
Extras
I need to actually write a review of this game... which is probably not going to happen any time soon.
I also need to bug my friend (who shall remain nameless) with a connection to Herr Teuber to see if
a. this can be reprinted
b. In the Realm of the Demons could be released into the wild!
Just a thought: a Kickstarter "big box" with all three games in one box. :-)
This is the first of five (5!) Klaus Teuber designs in my top 100 games.
This extremely clever flip’n’write game doesn’t actually contain any writing – but it does have enough look-ahead to make wise decisions and enough luck of the draw to force you to hedge your bets.
Tips & Tricks:
Creating villages gives you jumping-off points for later rounds... which is essential to scoring well.
Keep track of which cards have been flipped - so that you don't base your plays on something that can't happen this round.
It’s been a hit with everyone I’ve taught it to… and I find it relaxing and enjoyable to play as a solo game.
Extras
There are four different maps in the original box, with 2 more maps available as an expansion from AEG.
Couple a unique treasure-hunting mechanic with beautiful production to create a nifty push-your-luck family game.
Tips & Tricks:
Read the rules carefully - we messed things up in a couple of different ways because we (gamer-ly) assumed we knew how it would work.
It doesn't always work - but it's not a bad idea to put clues into each search - so you get something out of every treasure discovery.
The game ends quicker than you think it will.
Extras
The one thing missing from the game is a helpful player aid to remind you about amulet powers - thankfully, one has thoughtfully been posted by Evan S over on BoardGameGeek.
An excellent expansion for the game was published in 2020 - Tobago: Volcano. It's not impossible to teach newbies - but it has some nice twists for folks who've been scavenging about the island a time or two before.
follower of Jesus, husband, father, "pastor", boardgamer, writer, Legomaniac, Disneyphile, voted most likely to have the same Christmas wish list at age 58 as he did at age 8
