Favorite board games?

[HPLovecraft]

This is kind of a nerdy topic, but I've always loved board games. There's something about interacting with friends face-to-face on the table-top that a video game just can't come close to. That, and opening a big box full of colorful little figurines and boards and goo-gads.

I'm excited for the new D&D board games that they're releasing, starting with Castle Ravenloft. It was just released, but I'll be waiting until September sometime to buy a copy. It's a co-op dungeon crawl with very stripped down D&D rules. You can complete a game in about an hour, which I'm happy about since I don't want to sit all afternoon and evening playing something too often.

Any other board game fans on CP? If so, what are some of your favorites? Axis & Allies still ranks at the top of my list, even if it does take a bloody day to set-up.

[SebC]

Monopoly.

[CMPunk]

I like D&D, but I always had to be the DM...I wanted to play damn it!

Otherwise I'm a Trivial Pursuit fan

[Jimmy Stang]

Some friends have "Ticket to Ride" and it is pretty fun. Especially if you're a train nerd. It is fairly easy to learn but still involves some strategy as you try and lay tracks across the continent to complete your assigned routes.

http://www.daysofwonder.com/tickettoride/en/

[HPLovecraft]

Originally Posted by CMPunk

I like D&D, but I always had to be the DM...I wanted to play damn it!

Otherwise I'm a Trivial Pursuit fan

Good thing about the new D&D board games is that there is no DM. Everyone gets to play as a character, and the scenarios and monsters are automatically controlled by certain tactics they have on their cards.

[CMPunk]

Originally Posted by HPLovecraft

Good thing about the new D&D board games is that there is no DM. Everyone gets to play as a character, and the scenarios and monsters are automatically controlled by certain tactics they have on their cards.

Interesting...I just don't think my friends are geeky enough these days to play

[SebC]

You might be interested in:

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/group.php?groupid=27

Not that it really does anything.

[icecube]

Settlers of Catan, especially the seafarers expansion.

Absolute Balderdash (more fun than the regular version)

Cranium

all these games are super sweet imo and a must own for board game fans. I don't know if they measure up for the hardcore, but good enough for the average joe.

[Leon]

Settlers of Catan is an awesome board game.

[Komskies]

Carcassone, Settlers of Catan, and Blokus.

[HPLovecraft]

Originally Posted by Komskies

Carcassone, Settlers of Catan, and Blokus.

I love Carcassone! The only thing I don't like about it is the hundred expansions, although they do make the game a lot better. It's good for quick games and for those that don't play a lot of board games.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Monopoly is a classic, and my all time favourite

Axis and Allies is like Risk but on crack

Sports Franchise is a fantastic game where you build a sporting empire and take down your opponents, you play games, and win a championship with the all mighty dollar determining the winner!

Taboo is a very simplistic game that can last hours or take mere minutes. The simplicity keeps you coming back for more while on your toes and laughing all night long.

Edit: Totally forgot about Settlers of Catan. That is another gem, I'm a huge fan despite only playing it once after being introduced to it at the end of last semester.

[Dion]

[HPLovecraft]

Originally Posted by Dion

You need to expand your board gaming horizons! Risk is alright, but there is a lot better out there nowadays. . . . Give Axis & Allies a try. If you like Risk a lot, you'd probably love A&A.

I own one of the Risk variants, "Godstorm." It's Risk-style combat, set in a stylized ancient world map, where you summon your civilization's different gods, such as God of Death, Sky, etc. You draw cards based on their special abilities and they impact the game somehow. Only thing about them is that they're terribly strong and kind of unbalanced. For instance, one card for the God of Death sinks the entire continent of Atlantis, killing every unit on it.

Another twist is that when your little guys die, they go to the Underworld, where you fight it out to resurrect them to temples on the main board.

[dissentowner]

[Aeneas]

I enjoy Carcasonne, and Settlers to a lesser degree. (Too much dice rolling)

CPSW Slopitch enjoys werewolves. Not necessarily a "board" game, as it can be well played around the fire at night.

[HOOT]

Catan w/ Seafarers expansion...I'm a little embarssed I play the game but my buddy got me hooked.

Monopoly is my all-time favorite but Catan is my current favorite as no one plays me in Monopoly because I win all the time.

[SebC]

I only said Monopoly because HPLovecraft said not to. Most Monopoly games I've played have involved excessive arguments over whether profit sharing agreements are legal or someone making a bad trade that screws everyone else over.

My actual favorite is Settlers, although the bad trade scenario can definitely occur in that one too. I also enjoy Scrabble, but it's a bit different in that your opponent really has to be at the right level to make it a good game as it requires a lot of specialized knowledge.

[HOOT]

It's not a board game but Dominion is fun...and very geeky.

[Crazy Bacon Legs]

Diplomacy is my all time favorite board game.

There are no dice (i.e. no chance), and most of the game is actually conducted off-board in negotiations. A good time will be had by all.

A warning: it is an evil game. If you ever want to see a "friend's" true colours, play this with them. It is this game that provided me with my healthy distrust of all humanity.