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The Rise of German Board Games

theatlantic.com

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Re: The Rise of German Board Games

#11

Post by quink »

JoeAltmaier wrote: post #2

Wow, this explains so well why I despise Eurogames. Instead of eliminating opponents, everybody plays until the end after some arbitrary score limit is reached (or turn limit or whatever). I play Dominion or Catan and I'm working away and suddenly somebody says "game over! I won!" and I'm thinking, well that was a waste of time. I'm resentful and frustrated - what did I do all that for if it ends at such a meaningles…

Assuming that you really consider the destination to be the goal rather than the journey, Splendor and Patchwork are two highly rated cheap games that while they don't eliminate players early have no hidden information and transparent scoring as you go, with quality iOS apps if you want to try that first.

I think the downvotes you're getting are unjustified, yours is a valid opinion to have. Player elimination games can be excellent, but IMO mostly only if they're short. Love Letter is a great example. King of Tokyo/New York and Loopin' Louie are two others I have. Player elimination is a pretty good mechanic for short games, so I'm reading your comment as more of a perfectly legitimate complaint about long games with hidden information rather than a lack of player elimination.

Re: The Rise of German Board Games

#12

Post by Karrot_Kream »

JoeAltmaier wrote: post #2

Wow, this explains so well why I despise Eurogames. Instead of eliminating opponents, everybody plays until the end after some arbitrary score limit is reached (or turn limit or whatever). I play Dominion or Catan and I'm working away and suddenly somebody says "game over! I won!" and I'm thinking, well that was a waste of time. I'm resentful and frustrated - what did I do all that for if it ends at such a meaningles…

Different people play games differently. On the converse, I find a game with elimination to encourage petty behavior and find the overall experience of longer games with big elimination mechanics to be arbitrary. I'm glad that Eurogames give me a chance to play without all of us attempting to specifically undermine the other.

Re: The Rise of German Board Games

#13

Post by LearnerHerzog »

thriftwy wrote: post #4
JoeAltmaier wrote: post #2

Wow, this explains so well why I despise Eurogames. Instead of eliminating opponents, everybody plays until the end after some arbitrary score limit is reached (or turn limit or whatever). I play Dominion or Catan and I'm working away and suddenly somebody says "game over! I won!" and I'm thinking, well that was a waste of time. I'm resentful and frustrated - what did I do all that for if it ends at such a meaningles…

But it's realistic. These days you don't get to eliminate your opponents. What you do is endless rat race on tiny margins. Plug: "Epic Spell Wars of the Battle Wizards" are pretty awesome if you insist on elimination.

Looks fun— that artwork reminds me of the show "SuperJail" https://goo.gl/Sc12Qb

Re: The Rise of German Board Games

#14

Post by techsupporter »

JoeAltmaier wrote: post #2

Wow, this explains so well why I despise Eurogames. Instead of eliminating opponents, everybody plays until the end after some arbitrary score limit is reached (or turn limit or whatever). I play Dominion or Catan and I'm working away and suddenly somebody says "game over! I won!" and I'm thinking, well that was a waste of time. I'm resentful and frustrated - what did I do all that for if it ends at such a meaningles…

I agree with you to some extent, at least if the game does it poorly.

"Points reached, game over" is the only quibble I have with the two-player version of Agricola, "All Creatures Big and Small." The end game condition is reached far too quickly for my tastes so I wind up asking the other player if he or she would like to have a "house rule" of more points.

Re: The Rise of German Board Games

#15

Post by newen »

tonydiv wrote: post #3

Clearly the author has never played Settlers of Catan, it does not make friends. Hence the memes: https://imgur.com/a/tUGcn

Seriously though, Euro board games are how I made friends in grad school, and how I spend a lot of my time with friends and family.

Re: The Rise of German Board Games

#16

Post by taggart »

Wow, I had no idea Phil Eklund was such a superstar! I met him waaaay back in 1990 when he still lived in Tucson and would bring his whacky home made games to the “Historical Games Society” club at the U of A. Way to go Phil!

Re: The Rise of German Board Games

#19

Post by droopyEyelids »

taggart wrote: post #16

Wow, I had no idea Phil Eklund was such a superstar! I met him waaaay back in 1990 when he still lived in Tucson and would bring his whacky home made games to the “Historical Games Society” club at the U of A. Way to go Phil!

Have you met other famous or successful people?

Re: The Rise of German Board Games

#20

Post by arkh »

IntronExon wrote: post #10
k__ wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think a good game lets everyone play till the end AND gives them the opportunity to win at any time. Otherwise you lose too early OR have to look at the rest of the crowd winnig...

Monopoly is like that, and your point dovetails with the tendency of that game to end abruptly when someone quits in a rage. Who wants to spend dozens of rounds slowly, yet inevitably losing?

Here is the trick: gang up on the current winner.

Playing with at least 3 or 4 players most games become more about diplomacy and getting other players to do what you want than getting good roll / cards. A good trick is to get hit hard at the start of the game (when you win a lot it is not hard to be a target) then once someone start getting ahead focus everyone on them while retelling how everyone fucked you over early-on. When you get in a position to win start speaking less to not attract any attention, don't use flashy combos. Then win.

If you play a lot, learn how one game can help you for next one: if don't break your promises or help someone when they need it; you may get some help next game. Or people will be a lot more willing to trust you, until breaking this trust can give you a win.

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