ZachSka87

Just because dice rolling is a core mechanic does NOT mean the game is only about luck. In fact, the board is designed in a way that small rolls often can yield much more needed results than large rolls.

The basic premise of the game is that in each production phase (summer, spring, autumn) each player rolls three dice. They may then place these dice on the numbers 1 through 18 to acquire certain resources to help them build buildings for certain advantages such as increased military power or more affordable buildings. When winter comes, the players must defend themselves against the barbarian hordes.

The three dice may be played on up to three of these spaces. For example, a dice roll of 3,5,6 may be played in many ways:

-The 3 die on 3, the 5 on 5, and the 6 on 6
-The 3 and 5 on 8 and the 6 on 6
-The 3,5, and 6 on the 14

By splitting up the numbers, placing one die on each space, the “luck” factor of rolling high can be negated as a player can still receive multiple goods even on a low die roll.

The game plays smoothly and is easy to learn, and the pieces are of above average quality.

The river expansion works by placing the river tiles before playing any of the normal game tiles. The “starting tile” is removed from play and a new starting tile comes with the river expansion. After the river is complete, game play resumes normally with the original games’ tiles.

The river adds a new layer of complexity for Carcassonne veterans without burdening the game with many additional rules.

As I use Carcassonne as a “gateway game” to get others into board gaming, I rarely use my river expansion as I teach the basic game first and the people I teach are usually ready for a more advanced game by then.

However, for people who play Carcassonne often or have kids, this is definitely a worthwhile expansion.

Anyone who thinks Rook has no replay value isn’t playing with the right people and doesn’t fully grasp the game. 5/5

Despite classifying myself as an avid gamer, I will take Rook over almost any other game every single time.

Yes, Rook *is* a trick taking game, but the strategy goes significantly further than other games like Hearts or Spades. In Rook, the strategy is all about reading your partner and playing to their strengths and weaknesses.

The rules are easy enough to understand, but the game takes a few play throughs with a patient partner before one REALLY begins to understand how the game works. 3/5

I love the way this game makes fun of gamers. Steve Jackson is not afraid to poke fun at himself and his culture and this game is an excellent example of that.

However, Munchkin is another example of a game that, while supposedly able to be played with 2 people, is almost PAINFUL to play in groups of 3 or less. For this game to really shine, at least 4 people are needed. For this reason, replay value will be scored lower than I otherwise would as a result of packaging promising a fun experience for 2 players. 3/5

Anyone who’s played any kind of RPG will catch on quickly to the rules of Munchkin, but people who haven’t get overwhelmed quickly by words even as simple as “class” and “race.” 4/5

I got this game thinking it would be a really fun game to teach my non-gamer fiance. I was wrong. She hated it, and I wasn’t a big fan myself. Not for two players, at least.

Adding more players makes the game significantly more playable.

By nature, Fluxx is a difficult game for some people to grasp as the rules change constantly. 4/5 for easy to learn.

Zombie Fluxx, especially, can drag on FOREVER as a result of these rule changes. With only two players, the objectives change so quickly that this silly little card game can last an hour or more. It’s been played 2 times by my fiance and I and I’m looking to sell it now.

That said, with more players, I am sure that it would be a much better experience! 3/5 for replay value.

I honestly don’t understand the hate here for Monopoly: The Board Game, but I do understand the love for this card game. It takes the most popular aspects of the board game and lays them out simply for the player: Collect properties, make money.

Force your opponents to trade value properties to you for garbage, or make them pay you rent. Be sure to keep cash on hand yourself as a defense against being forced to sell properties!

Easy to learn and with great replay value. The first night I played this, my friends and I played probably 6-7 games in a row. It plays really fast and was a lot of fun.

A great coop game that honestly forces people to think for a change.

This game is all about the ultimate strategy. Especially at higher difficulties, mistakes cannot be made. This turns some people off to the game. My fiance, for example, hates this game because there’s almost always only “one right move.” I, however, love that about the game because it’s a test of wit.

The components are actually of a pleasantly surprising quality considering the cost of the game. 5/5

The game rules are very, very simple to learn, but the strategy seems to be difficult for some to fully grasp at first. 4/5

As each game is unique and the rules include difficulty options, this game has an excellent replay value, even for veterans. 5/5

My favorite thing about Carcassonne is how much depth there is to the game while still being probably the easiest board game I’ve ever taught.

Line up the tiles. It’s really that simple. 5/5

Replay value is excellent as each game is a completely different world by design. 5/5

The components are of fair quality and definitely worth the price of the game. 5/5

This game is really great for a quick play. For me, this is both a positive and a negative thing.

Every time I’ve played this game, it’s been easy to tell whether or not we would win by the 5th or so turn. By then, diseases have spread so far and rapidly that it’s obvious that the humans cannot win, or the humans are doing so well that the game is a breeze. Rarely is there ever a real ‘suspenseful’ play that I’ve seen.

However, the expansions attempt to add some balance and even without them each game is still unique, so I will award the game a 4/5 for replay ability.

The components are fairly high quality, and I really enjoy the petri dishes used to hold the diseases. This game is a perfect example of using cheap materials but making them feel quality and not rushed. 5/5

Pandemic is not terribly difficult to learn at all and is very “noob friendly,” especially if there’s someone in your group who has played before. 5/5

It’s hard to write a review for 4th edition without comparing it to the others, but I will do my best. Personally, this is not my favorite edition.

4th edition works incredibly well to teach new players the basics of DnD, but in my opinion WotC have really stifled the role playing aspect of the game.

4th edition is balanced very well, but in my eyes this is not exactly a “good” thing. For example, whether one is a wizard, a rogue, or a fighter, almost every ability reads “Do 1dx dmg to target creature.” Every class has essentially the exact same abilities, removing in many cases the need to work as a team and properly balance a group.

4th edition works very well as boardgame of sorts, but I personally feel that they are moving away from what made DnD popular in the first place.

The replay value is excellent, as each adventure is unique and up to the DM. 5/5

The books, while the first printing had issues with bleeding ink (I have MANY smudged pages in mine) it was corrected in later printings. For the price, though, I don’t feel it includes quite enough. 4/5

Easy of use? 4th edition is the easiest DnD to learn/teach BY FAR, but it *is* still DnD and too rules intensive for some. 4/5

This game is fairly easy to learn but, just like the “real” stock market, difficult to master. (4/5) One is never sure what is going to happen and the entire game can change directions very quickly. At a certain point, however, it’s obvious which “company” is going to annihilate the others and at that point it’s just a mad scramble for a piece of the action. Each game is fun and unique, however, adding a lot of replay value. 5/5

I had the good fortune of playing this game at a gaming convention a few months back. The gentleman we were playing with made a custom board for the game with really nice stone tiles and a board with inlaid pieces.

That said, when I saw the “real” game board I was sorely disappointed. The quality of the pieces in this new, revised edition of the classic is passable but disappointing. 3/5