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.
I wouldn't go as far to say that New Frontiers has fired the classic Puerto Rico for me... but it covers a lot of the same ground with better graphics and a more compelling theme.
Tips & Tricks:
New Frontiers does not seem to have the same "newbie automatically assists player to their left" problem as Puerto Rico... but players still need to pay careful attention to the downstream effects of their action choices.
Don't put all your point-scoring eggs in one basket - especially when it comes to the 9 cost technologies. I have been known to buy a 9 cost tech that was only marginal for me in order to keep it out of the hands of someone who could really benefit from it.
I personally like the goals (which is also true for with both the original card game and Roll for the Galaxy)... but not everyone is fond of them.
Extras
The Starry Rift expansion adds new worlds, a much greater selection of developments, and an excellent solo option.
This is the fifth of seven (7!) Tom Lehmann games that will appear on my top 100 list this time around... and the second of three Race for the Galaxy universe games. Sue me.
It doesn't so much simulate soccer (like Pursue the Pennant attempts to simulate baseball)... instead, it uses a backgammon-ish mechanic to simulate the feel of a soccer game - and does so brilliantly.
Tips & Tricks:
Like playing backgammon, winning at StreetSoccer is as much about the position you leave yourself in as well as pushing hard to score...
And like backgammon, what appears initially to be a random dice game actually reveals itself to be a very tactical game of risk & probability.
Extras
There are three different online PBEM versions of StreetSoccer... the one I used to play on (a lot!) was Little Golem.
A civilization-building game that packs in the game mechanics: deckbuilding, resource management, tableau building, asymmetric factions, multiple game timers, keywords to differentiate similar actions… and each individual civilization has a uniquely structured deck.
Tips & Tricks:
Know what's in the deck you're playing... they do NOT work the same way and tactics can be very different.
Don't forget about Innovate (dropping your hand to get a card you want from the market)... sometimes, it's the best thing you can do.
It will take a few plays, but watching what other players are doing is key to winning.
Extras
I'm on the fence about buying the 3D-printed bits from MeepleSource - but they look really nice..
Here's the review I wrote about Imperium Classics/Legends for the Opinionated Gamers website.
It is a brilliant solo system.
Horizons adds a LOT of content to the game... as well as a trade module which twists things in some interesting ways. It's also has the best comprehensive rulebook for the game.
This is the first of two games on my list by designer Nigel Buckle & the third of four games by Dávid Turczi. (Extra credit - Imperium is the first of two games designed by this team on my list!)
This 3D re-implementation of Matt Leacock's classic Roll Through The Ages did not impress me on my first play... but subsequent plays changed my mind. It's not the same game with cuter bits - it is a different (and more confrontational) game with limited amounts of certain buildings and the ability to bleed your opponents if you choose to pursue that route.
Tips &Tricks:
Important safety tip: don't forget the final phase of each turn, which is Extort. Simply using all your resources won't prevent pain (you gain disaster points instead).
Corollary to the safety tip: in a 3 or 4 player game, you could potentially get hit multiple times in the Extort phase. Plan accordingly.
You can't do everything - but you should at least build a walled area and put some valuable buildings in it (since they are doubled in a completed walled area).
Extras
I consider the Rivers & Roads expansion essential - not only does it add some very interesting new buildings and the titular rivers & roads, it also adds cards for the middle of the table that are much easier to see and understand about the cost & power of each building.
I also own all of the Collector Set expansions... which add a variety of tricky twists to the system. They're not cheap (I used leftover Christmas money to buy them) but if you're enjoying the game system, they're pretty nifty.
The solo mode works well... and building a little working medieval city is very satisfying.
Bag-building and whimsy combined to produce an easy-to-teach press-your-luck game that has been 100% successful with everyone I've introduced it to.
Tips & Tricks:
You need to look at what powers are available - and remember that you can't do everything.
Not worrying about scoring for the first couple of rounds is sometimes worth it for the rat-tail catch-up mechanic.
Extras
I like both of the expansions... though they make the game a little trickier to teach and get into for new players. I'd recommend you wait on Herb Witches and/or Alchemists until everyone at the table has a game or two under their belts.
I have two nifty add-on things for my Quacks collection - the splendid GeekUp Bits tokens (seen in the picture) thanks to a very good friend (King Bob!)... and the Folded Space organizer.
I don't love the new cover for Quacks - but I'm not angry about it. (And I haven't actually played with a new edition, so I have no thoughts on whether it's better or worse.)
This is the second of two games designed by Wolfgang Warsch on the countdown.
designers: Richard Ámann, Thomas Vande Ginste, Viktor Péter, Wolf Plancke, and Dávid Turczi
Print Status
in print - sort of? (it was primarily a Kickstarter product)
Why It's On The List
Crunchy dice-drafting decisions are coupled with oodles of thematic elements across a four game system with gorgeous production values.
Tips & Tricks:
The four games ("episodes") that make up the series are related to each mechanically - each uses a dice drafting mechanism that is placed to activate a variety of actions. But, in practice, each game develops in very different ways as the objectives of the overarching story create intriguing new puzzles for players to struggle with.
The story is a like a fever dream mash-up of LOST, Jurassic Park, and Stargate - but the team makes it work with evocative card & board art as well as really nice miniatures.
The solo system is impressive - not particularly simple to learn but thematically strong and clever to play against.
Objective for 2026: finally play the Chronicles box that connects the four episodes together!
Extras
I purchased a nearly pristine used copy of all three boxes from the BGG Marketplace (thank you, kind sir!)... our hobby can be a really wonderful sometimes.
Mindclash Games has specialized in these sprawling 'heavy' games with splendid production. No surprise - there's another Mindclash game coming on the countdown.
This is the seventh new-to-the-top-100 game on the countdown.
This is the second of four games designed by Dávid Turczi on the countdown.
The best of the customizable dice games out there... and it moves along at a furious pace as you develop your little medieval realm.
Tips & Tricks:
Much like Dominion, being able to look at the collection of special powers/die faces available in the game and make a coherent plan for development is a key to victory.
When there are "attack" die faces in play, you want to make sure you have some defensive capabilities... as the combination of attacks + winter can put you into a death spiral (and hasten the end of the game).
Extras
The Trade expansion is very, very good - and incorporates a version of thesolo & cooperative rules that designer Tom Lehmann posted on BGG.
This is the fourth of seven (7!) games designed by Tom Lehmann on the countdown.
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
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