Category: Syndicated

Progress: Evolution of Technology is my and my wife favorite in that genre. Think “Tech-tree, the game”.

Progress: Evolution of Technology is my and my wife favorite in that genre. Think “Tech-tree, the game”.

I recently got Peloponnesian War in a BGG trade and am quite happy to get this old 1991 game. It is by far the oldest thing in my collection. It’s speciality is the way it solves the “AI opponent” conundrum of solo games: it just presses you into service in a interesting way: you play one side, but when you get ahead enough, the game switches and you then have to play the other (weaker) side. In a way, the game makes you punish yourself and still have fun doing so.

I recently got Peloponnesian War in a BGG trade and am quite happy to get this old 1991 game. It is by far the oldest thing in my collection. It’s speciality is the way it solves the “AI opponent” conundrum of solo games: it just presses you into service in a interesting way: you play one side, but when you get ahead enough, the game switches and you then have to play the other (weaker) side. In a way, the game makes you punish yourself and still have fun doing so.

But they will totally be happy to be forced to close their web stores, because then they will be saved by Asmodee! Nothing like being saved by the guy you are highly dependend on, monetary-wise, already! /s

Yeah, I kinda think this whole thing won’t really fly in the long run. But it is a good reminder of why we shouldn’t be ok with market concentration in the hand of very few. It always goes to the head of the CEO …

But they will totally be happy to be forced to close their web stores, because then they will be saved by Asmodee! Nothing like being saved by the guy you are highly dependend on, monetary-wise, already! /s

Yeah, I kinda think this whole thing won’t really fly in the long run. But it is a good reminder of why we shouldn’t be ok with market concentration in the hand of very few. It always goes to the head of the CEO …

I only played it solo, so far, and it feels great. The opponent is just a timer, essentially, stealing you opportunities and turns, but provides you ways to get additional actions in (the core interaction of bumping). Of course, the base of the solo is just a “beat predefined socres” in a way, even if they are formulated as “achievements”, but they are damn hard to reach and provide for exciting game play nontheless. I’m not usually a fan of “beat a given score or your last one” solo games, but in the case of The Gallerist I am totally ok with it.

But I have to say it doesn’t hit the table as often as I want, because of it’s size, setup time and play time. It needs a bit of dedication, which I don’t have most of the time, which makes me pull out lighter games instead.

I only played it solo, so far, and it feels great. The opponent is just a timer, essentially, stealing you opportunities and turns, but provides you ways to get additional actions in (the core interaction of bumping). Of course, the base of the solo is just a “beat predefined socres” in a way, even if they are formulated as “achievements”, but they are damn hard to reach and provide for exciting game play nontheless. I’m not usually a fan of “beat a given score or your last one” solo games, but in the case of The Gallerist I am totally ok with it.

But I have to say it doesn’t hit the table as often as I want, because of it’s size, setup time and play time. It needs a bit of dedication, which I don’t have most of the time, which makes me pull out lighter games instead.

It is ok – everything is placed on the map and in addition you need a bit space to roll your die, but thats it. I’d say it should work on a coffee table if it is not too small. I have the c3i edition, can’t say if the map is larger or smaller than the normal version from vpg.

It is ok – everything is placed on the map and in addition you need a bit space to roll your die, but thats it. I’d say it should work on a coffee table if it is not too small. I have the c3i edition, can’t say if the map is larger or smaller than the normal version from vpg.

As others said already, Hostage Negotiator carries it’s theme quite well. For me it is a bit in the same group of games as Space Hulk: Death Angels and the state of siege games like Soviet Dawn. Yes, tons of randomness, but ways to mitigate rolls exist. But at it’s core it is a game of risk management with some very strong press your luck moments. I often like to play this (HN) over other titles, because it sets up fast, plays very fast and still keeps me entertained with repeated plays. It got a bit competition from aforementioned Soviet Dawn, because that theme captures me even more (and it’s as fast to set up and play), but HN is solid.

So to sum it up: if you like Space Hulk: Death Angels and are interested in the theme of Hostage Negotiator, you probably are safe to get it.

As others said already, Hostage Negotiator carries it’s theme quite well. For me it is a bit in the same group of games as Space Hulk: Death Angels and the state of siege games like Soviet Dawn. Yes, tons of randomness, but ways to mitigate rolls exist. But at it’s core it is a game of risk management with some very strong press your luck moments. I often like to play this (HN) over other titles, because it sets up fast, plays very fast and still keeps me entertained with repeated plays. It got a bit competition from aforementioned Soviet Dawn, because that theme captures me even more (and it’s as fast to set up and play), but HN is solid.

So to sum it up: if you like Space Hulk: Death Angels and are interested in the theme of Hostage Negotiator, you probably are safe to get it.

Aside from the usual rotation of almost daily Progress: Evolution of Technology (actually some days 2-3 times) and Paperback, I lately introduced our little weekly game group to San Juan. Lots of fun, although they still struggle with some parts of it, but slowly getting the ideas in it down. It’s mostly played to get them prepared for other games with cards-with-multiple-use mechanics.

But with my wife we got into Imperial Settlers, and that’s something that makes me quite happy, because I think that game is really awesome. I hope we can get some more in, so we get into the strategy of it more. It’s definitely one where I wouldn’t mind if it got as much play as Progress (we are somewhere in the higher 80s with Progress now, my wife is getting quite obsessed with it).

Aside from that sadly nothing else. I had hoped to get some more COIN games in (Cuba Libre at the moment, waiting for delivery of Liberty or Death any day now), but didn’t find the time slot for it.

Regarding budget: that’s the strange concept of limiting your spending on board games, right? I have heard of it, never experienced it myself – limiting factors are more the amount of shelf space I am tolerated to take up with games. Which made me choose smaller games, lately, as you can pack more per cubic meter.

With themes – well, there are tons of themes out there and I would have a hard time to find one without good games. But quite often those are not available in German, so they are not an option for us, since my wife doesn’t understand English. For example not many steampunk themed games are available in German language.

Aside from the usual rotation of almost daily Progress: Evolution of Technology (actually some days 2-3 times) and Paperback, I lately introduced our little weekly game group to San Juan. Lots of fun, although they still struggle with some parts of it, but slowly getting the ideas in it down. It’s mostly played to get them prepared for other games with cards-with-multiple-use mechanics.

But with my wife we got into Imperial Settlers, and that’s something that makes me quite happy, because I think that game is really awesome. I hope we can get some more in, so we get into the strategy of it more. It’s definitely one where I wouldn’t mind if it got as much play as Progress (we are somewhere in the higher 80s with Progress now, my wife is getting quite obsessed with it).

Aside from that sadly nothing else. I had hoped to get some more COIN games in (Cuba Libre at the moment, waiting for delivery of Liberty or Death any day now), but didn’t find the time slot for it.

Regarding budget: that’s the strange concept of limiting your spending on board games, right? I have heard of it, never experienced it myself – limiting factors are more the amount of shelf space I am tolerated to take up with games. Which made me choose smaller games, lately, as you can pack more per cubic meter.

With themes – well, there are tons of themes out there and I would have a hard time to find one without good games. But quite often those are not available in German, so they are not an option for us, since my wife doesn’t understand English. For example not many steampunk themed games are available in German language.

Friday is great until you “solve” it – when you know what to do in what way, it starts to feel samey. But until that happens, it is great.

Space Hulk is thematically cool, but dice can be devastating. But due to it more random nature it has IMO more replay value, as there is never “the solution/strategy” – it all depends on the mission cards and the dice.

Another one kinda in the middle would be Hostage Negotiator – dice can screw you and it is more hand management than deck building, but the play feel is a bit like both of the others. You play a negotiator trying to rescue hostages. The game tells great stories and the base box comes with 4 hostage takers for variance. There are expansions to get more variation in the cards you can play, which over time would be something you want to raise replay value, though.

And last but not least, take a look at Victory Point Games State of Siege games, if you like games with historic background and live in the US (because of high shipping they aren’t cheap outside the US). My favourite solo game to get out lately (aside from aforementioned Hostage Negotiator) is Soviet Dawn from them, a game about the Russian revolution. Tons of – admittedly sometimes quite random – action. The nice thing about the SoS games is that they are card driven (as in a stack of event cards drives the story along) and therefore keep a consistent structure, just with different order of events happening each game. You have to react and prioritizes your actions and verify their result with dice.

Friday is great until you “solve” it – when you know what to do in what way, it starts to feel samey. But until that happens, it is great.

Space Hulk is thematically cool, but dice can be devastating. But due to it more random nature it has IMO more replay value, as there is never “the solution/strategy” – it all depends on the mission cards and the dice.

Another one kinda in the middle would be Hostage Negotiator – dice can screw you and it is more hand management than deck building, but the play feel is a bit like both of the others. You play a negotiator trying to rescue hostages. The game tells great stories and the base box comes with 4 hostage takers for variance. There are expansions to get more variation in the cards you can play, which over time would be something you want to raise replay value, though.

And last but not least, take a look at Victory Point Games State of Siege games, if you like games with historic background and live in the US (because of high shipping they aren’t cheap outside the US). My favourite solo game to get out lately (aside from aforementioned Hostage Negotiator) is Soviet Dawn from them, a game about the Russian revolution. Tons of – admittedly sometimes quite random – action. The nice thing about the SoS games is that they are card driven (as in a stack of event cards drives the story along) and therefore keep a consistent structure, just with different order of events happening each game. You have to react and prioritizes your actions and verify their result with dice.