2014 October | Board Games Weekly

Show notes and links:

Featured game review – Shadowrun Crossfire

Matt and Dave review Shadowrun Crossfire, a cooperative deck-building game that’s very difficult to win. Seriously, we have not won yet.
The larger Shadowrun universe can enhance your enjoyment of the game, but those unfamiliar with it will still have fun.
Fire and Frost is a forthcoming book set in the Shadowrun universe.
Dominion is a similar, popular deck-building game.
Firefly’s Mandarin swears. Matt promised to learn to pronounce some.
Everquest as an example of an MMORPG.
World of Warcraft, another MMORPG stalwort.
“Faceman,” or “Face” did all the talking on The A-Team.

Recommendations:

Dave’s take: It’s fun and you should get it, but gird your loins. You probably won’t win.

Matt’s take: It’s a compelling game but I can’t recommend it as a definite buy. Too difficult. Perhaps expansions will make it easier.

What are we playing?

Dave’s messy character sheet, as described.

Aaron – D&D 5th edition. The venerable RPG has gotten a nice makeover from parent company Wizards of the Coast. Also mentioned:

Aaron’s recommendation: If you’ve got an interest in D&D, and are lucky enough to have a game store near by, to and play D&D Encounters. It’s a very casual atmosphere and extremely welcoming to new players.

Dave – Gloom (by Keith Baker, plays 2–4 ages 8 and up), a story-telling card game about making your “family” miserable while making others happy. It’s twisted in an Edward Gorey kind of way. Also mentioned:

Here’s the Tabletop gang playing Gloom.
Cthulhu Gloom adds everyone’s favorite elder god to the mix.

Dave’s recommendations: Gloom is hilarious but needs the right group. If you’re not comfortable making up a story on the fly, or if public speaking is not your thing, move along. Otherwise, have at it. Kids should enjoy making silly stories.

Matt – Steam Park (by Aureliano Buonfino, plays 2–4 ages 10 and up), a great-looking city-building game that’s deeper than you’d think at first glance.

Matt’s recommendation: Fun for the family and more thought-provoking than you’d think. Setup is time-consuming, though.

If you like…

This is the segment that introduces you to new games. This week our feature review was Shadowrun Crossfire. If you like that game (or deck-building games in general), you’ll probably like…

The Pathfinder adventure card game combines elements of a classic RPG and a deck-builder. It’s a cooperative game for 1–4 players.
Dominion. You can’t talk about deck-building games without mentioning Dominion from Rio Grande Games. Hire minions, construct buildings and stuff your treasury. For 2–4 players aged 13 and up.
Fantastiqa. Slay creatures and fulfill quests in this atmospheric deck-builder. You build your deck by subduing creatures you find. From Gryphon games, plays 2–4 ages 8 and up.
Android Netrunner. Cyperpunk! Expose the secrets of massive corporations hidden behind ice. Fantasy Flight Games, 2–4 players ages 13 and up.
Munchkin. The light-hearted, hack-and-slash card game is everywhere. There are more iterations available than we can count. This one’s good for the family. Munchkin is from Steve Jackson games, and plays 2–8 ages 8 and up.
Tanto Cuore. This (admittedly divisive) card game has you hiring maids to work in your mansion. Here’s our full review of Tanto Cuore. It’s from Japanamie Games and plays 2-4 ages 12 and up.
Ghost Stories is another title that’s very, very difficult to win. It’s a deck-builder like the others, but it offers four levels of difficulty: Initiation, Normal, Nightmare and Hell. That should tell you all you need to know. Ghost Stories is from Asmodee and plays 1-4 players aged 12 and up.