Which Game First: A Board Game Podcast

Scotland Yard

The hunt is on for Mister X!

Designed by: Manfred Burggraf, Dorothy Garrels, Wolf Hoermann, Fritz Ifland, Werner Scheerer and Werner Schlegel

Published By: Ravensburger (1983)

Edition Played: Ravensburger (2004)  

Players: 3 – 6

Ages: 10 +  

Time: ~ 45 min

Unearthed by: Joe

The players are all working together as Scotland Yard Detectives. Well, all of them EXCEPT that shady, nondescript evil mastermind who’s incredibly dangerous. . . the notorious Mr. X, who must be hunted down and brought to justice! The detectives must hunt this nefarious character down, and the chase is on immediately!

The detectives know what mode of transport Mr. X takes each turn — train, subway, or taxi. Mr. X records his locations each turn so he can’t cheat; he must also periodically reveal his current location. Detectives try to deduce where he currently is, based on his last known location (and his recent modes of travel).

 

Lanterns: The Harvest Festival

Create the grandest decorations for the Emperor’s festival!

Designed by: Christopher Chung

Published By: Foxtrot Games, Renegade Game Studios (2015)

Players: 2 – 4   

Ages: 8 +

Time: 30 min

Unearthed by: Ed

Players take the role of artisans, decorating the lake around the Imperial Palace. Everyone starts with a hand of 3 Lake Tiles, each with its own colorful arrangement of floating lanterns. On their turn, each player adds a new Lake Tile of lanterns to the festival, and then draws a new one add to their inventory, replacing the one just put on display.

Players earn Lantern Cards according to the orientation Lake Tile, and earn extra cards for matching colors to adjacent Tiles. Platforms on the matching colors get you Favor Tokens, which allow you exchange one card for another. Returning sets of Lantern Cards (four of a kind, three pair, or seven different colors) will gain Dedication tokens to earn Honor!

The player who ends this visually exquisite game with the most Honor is declared the winner.

 

Squint

The game where pictures take shape!

Designed by: Deborah Boss

Published By: Out of the Box Publishing (2002)

Players: 3 – 8

Ages: 12 +

Time: 20 – 30 min

Unearthed by: Celeste

72 cards with various shapes on them (such as a cross, various sized circles, wavy lines, etc…) get tossed up in the center of the table. Players take turns drawing from a set of cards with words on them, trying to convey one of the written words by using any number of the shape cards.  

Other players try to guess what the word is. If a player guesses the word before the timer is up, the player who guessed right — and the cluegiver — rack up  points!

Galaxy Trucker

In a galaxy far, far away… they need sewer systems, too.

Designed by: Vlaada Chvatil

Published By: Czech Games Edition (2007)

Edition Played: CGE / Rio Grande Games 2nd Edition (2008)

Players: 2 – 4

Ages: 10 +

Time: 60 min

Unearthed by:  Celeste

This game starts with throwing a bunch of spaceship parts into the middle of the table. And because the game maker does not want you to get radiation poisoning from fuel cells, OR scratch the surface of your fine custom mahogany gaming table, the ship parts are represented by pictures on tiles.  They are placed face down in the center. All players will share this “Warehouse” of parts to build their ship.

Each player is given a personal game board of an empty ship schematic to build on.  Simultaneously, players build their ship taking one part at a time from the warehouse.  

Once all the ships are built, the players go trucking across the galaxy, trying to avoid calamity, survive meteor storms, and salvage cargo, while also getting to port before everyone else. The player with the most money (after deducting for casualties, jettisoned cargo and missing parts) — wins!

The Voyages of Marco Polo

Embark on a voyage of discovery and trade!

Designed by: Simone Luciani & Daniele Tascini

Published By:  Z-Man Games (2015)

Players: 2 – 4

Ages: 13+

Time: 40 – 100 min

Unearthed by: Ed

You are associates of Marco Polo, trying to complete contracts and visit as many cities as possible. Each turn, players use their dice to perform several actions, which can include taking a contract, going to the bazaar, getting the Khan’s favor, getting gold, or travelling. The first player to reach a city will earn discounts — and each city offers a special ability which may help you reach the next city or complete a contract.  After 5 rounds, the game ends and the player with the most points wins.

Uncle Wiggily

Skip and hop along to No. 151 Green Moss Avenue.

Designed by: Howard R. Garis

Published by: Milton Bradley (1916)

Edition Played: Parker Brothers (1967)  

Players: 2 – 4

Ages: 5 to 11

Time: 30 min

Unearthed by:  Mike

In Uncle Wiggily, you play the game’s namesake, a gentlemanly rabbit with rheumatism. Your goal is to hop 151 spaces to Dr. Possum’s office for a cure to your (probably psychosomatic) ailment, avoiding pitfalls along the way. Players draw cards with rhymes and instructions on how many spaces to hop. (Occasionally they are directed to another deck with further instructions.) The first player to reach Dr. Possum wins.  

 

Galaxy Trucker

In a galaxy far, far away… they need sewer systems, too.

Designed by: Vlaada Chvatil

Published By: Czech Games Edition (2007)

Edition Played: CGE / Rio Grande Games 2nd Edition (2008)

Players: 2 – 4

Ages: 10 +

Time: 60 min

Unearthed by:  Celeste

This game starts with throwing a bunch of spaceship parts into the middle of the table. And because the game maker does not want you to get radiation poisoning from fuel cells, OR scratch the surface of your fine custom mahogany gaming table, the ship parts are represented by pictures on tiles.  They are placed face down in the center. All players will share this “Warehouse” of parts to build their ship.

Each player is given a personal game board of an empty ship schematic to build on.  Simultaneously, players build their ship taking one part at a time from the warehouse.  

Once all the ships are built, the players go trucking across the galaxy, trying to avoid calamity, survive meteor storms, and salvage cargo, while also getting to port before everyone else. The player with the most money (after deducting for casualties, jettisoned cargo and missing parts) — wins!

The Voyages of Marco Polo

Embark on a voyage of discovery and trade!

Designed by: Simone Luciani & Daniele Tascini

Published By:  Z-Man Games (2015)

Players: 2 – 4

Ages: 13+

Time: 40 – 100 min

Unearthed by: Ed

You are associates of Marco Polo, trying to complete contracts and visit as many cities as possible. Each turn, players use their dice to perform several actions, which can include taking a contract, going to the bazaar, getting the Khan’s favor, getting gold, or travelling. The first player to reach a city will earn discounts — and each city offers a special ability which may help you reach the next city or complete a contract.  After 5 rounds, the game ends and the player with the most points wins.

Uncle Wiggily

Skip and hop along to No. 151 Green Moss Avenue.

Designed by: Howard R. Garis

Published by: Milton Bradley (1916)

Edition Played: Parker Brothers (1967)  

Players: 2 – 4

Ages: 5 to 11

Time: 30 min

Unearthed by:  Mike

In Uncle Wiggily, you play the game’s namesake, a gentlemanly rabbit with rheumatism. Your goal is to hop 151 spaces to Dr. Possum’s office for a cure to your (probably psychosomatic) ailment, avoiding pitfalls along the way. Players draw cards with rhymes and instructions on how many spaces to hop. (Occasionally they are directed to another deck with further instructions.) The first player to reach Dr. Possum wins.  

 

Suburbia

Live in the town of tomorrow … TODAY!

Designed by: Ted Alspach

Published By: Bézier Games (2012)

Players: 1-4

Time: 90 min

Ages: 8+

Unearthed by:  Ed

Ed brought this Mensa Select winner to the Which Game First table to indulge his nostalgia for the age of great city-building games.

The Basics:

Suburbia is a tile-laying game where you develop your small borough into a critical hub of a thriving metropolis. As you might have guessed, good planning is critical, but so is adapting to the ever-changing cityscape. New tiles are added every turn, bringing new residential, commercial, civic and industrial developments.  These all affect your income, reputation, and population. If your borough ends up with the most people, you’ve won — and made the whole city your oyster.

Ex Libris

Collect the best books to become the village’s Grand Librarian!

Designed by:  Adam P. McIver

Published By:  Renegade Game Studios (2017)

Players: 1 – 4

Time:  45 min

Ages:  10 +

Unearthed by: Joe

Joe brought this game to the WGF table because he was intrigued by game where setting things into alphabetical order holds such a high priority.

The Basics:

The game’s set in a gnomish village, casting the players as book collectors in a high-adventure fantasy world.  And as you might suspect with such a premise, the gnomes aren’t just reading the books to kill time, they’re researching contingency plans for messing with the next dragon attack or undead uprising. That’s why the town’s new position of Grand Librarian is both lucrative AND prestigious. And THAT’S why all the players are trying to grab that position — by winning the contest for who builds the best book collection.

In Pursuit

Lead, follow or jump ship!

Designed by:  Rob Daviau, Dan Sanfilippo

Published By:  Hasbro (2001)

Players:  4 to 8 players in teams

Ages:  Adults

Unearthed by:  Celeste

Celeste brought this innovative Trivial Pursuit spin-off to the WGF table — hoping the two-team play style would quicken the game’s pace while also providing a more social experience. Find out if she’s right!

The Basics:

The players are divided into two teams (red and blue), competing on trivia questions in the same style as Trivial Pursuit.  However, regardless of what team you’re on, only one player can win, so there’s ample opportunities for coups and betrayal: take over the captain’s chair from your team leader, or even jump to the other team! Do whatever you have to do to answer the final, winning question!

Suburbia

Live in the town of tomorrow … TODAY!

Designed by: Ted Alspach

Published By: Bézier Games (2012)

Players: 1-4

Time: 90 min

Ages: 8+

Unearthed by:  Ed

Ed brought this Mensa Select winner to the Which Game First table to indulge his nostalgia for the age of great city-building games.

The Basics:

Suburbia is a tile-laying game where you develop your small borough into a critical hub of a thriving metropolis. As you might have guessed, good planning is critical, but so is adapting to the ever-changing cityscape. New tiles are added every turn, bringing new residential, commercial, civic and industrial developments.  These all affect your income, reputation, and population. If your borough ends up with the most people, you’ve won — and made the whole city your oyster.

Ex Libris

Collect the best books to become the village’s Grand Librarian!

Designed by:  Adam P. McIver

Published By:  Renegade Game Studios (2017)

Players: 1 – 4

Time:  45 min

Ages:  10 +

Unearthed by: Joe

Joe brought this game to the WGF table because he was intrigued by game where setting things into alphabetical order holds such a high priority.

The Basics:

The game’s set in a gnomish village, casting the players as book collectors in a high-adventure fantasy world.  And as you might suspect with such a premise, the gnomes aren’t just reading the books to kill time, they’re researching contingency plans for messing with the next dragon attack or undead uprising. That’s why the town’s new position of Grand Librarian is both lucrative AND prestigious. And THAT’S why all the players are trying to grab that position — by winning the contest for who builds the best book collection.

In Pursuit

Lead, follow or jump ship!

Designed by:  Rob Daviau, Dan Sanfilippo

Published By:  Hasbro (2001)

Players:  4 to 8 players in teams

Ages:  Adults

Unearthed by:  Celeste

Celeste brought this innovative Trivial Pursuit spin-off to the WGF table — hoping the two-team play style would quicken the game’s pace while also providing a more social experience. Find out if she’s right!

The Basics:

The players are divided into two teams (red and blue), competing on trivia questions in the same style as Trivial Pursuit.  However, regardless of what team you’re on, only one player can win, so there’s ample opportunities for coups and betrayal: take over the captain’s chair from your team leader, or even jump to the other team! Do whatever you have to do to answer the final, winning question!

Which Game First heads out to the Dig Site of Crispy Games Company for an interview with Chris Pinyan, designer of Clear the Decks!

Clear the Decks! is on Kickstarter until August 16, 2018.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1480427463/clear-the-decks

Chris will be at Play NYC this weekend, August 11 & 12, at The Manhattan Center, 311 West 34th Street, NYC.

https://www.play-nyc.com/

 

Which Game First heads out to the Dig Site of Crispy Games Company for an interview with Chris Pinyan, designer of Clear the Decks!

Clear the Decks! is on Kickstarter until August 16, 2018.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1480427463/clear-the-decks

Chris will be at Play NYC this weekend, August 11 & 12, at The Manhattan Center, 311 West 34th Street, NYC.

https://www.play-nyc.com/

 

WGF went to Seven Springs, PA to check out the 20th anniversary of the World Boardgaming Championships (WBC), organized by the Boardgame Players Association.

http://boardgamers.org/

The convention evolved from Avaloncon, which started back in 1991,featuring games from Avalon Hill Game Company, which are still prominent in the lineup of over 150+ tournaments / events.  The cover of this year’s program honors the 51 games that have been in the competition at every WBC. Games like: 1830, Acquire, Advanced Civilization, Axis & Allies, B-17, Britannia, Circvs Maximvs, Dune, El Grande, Empire Builder, History of the World, Merchant of Venus, Panzer Blitz, Robo Rally, Settlers of Catan,Slapshot, Squad Leader, Tigris & Euphrates, Titan, Win Place & Show, and Wooden Ships & Iron Men.

The panel chats about the games they watched and played and the WBC’s large open gaming area and huge gaming library with hundreds of games to check out and play.

They cover the WBC game Auction, where Ed acquired a few games for us to explore including:

a Spiel Winner from 2009…

A “game of world Conquest” first published by Avalon Hill in 1993…

Another Avalon Hill classic from 1976 based on a book from Robert Heinlein…

The anniversary edition of a game about the events following the Council of Elrond

The panel also chats about:

The expanded vendor area. Wargame publishers have a strong presence including GMT Games, Lock N’ Load, Compass Games, Academy Games, Multi-Man Publishing, Decision Games and Rio Grande Games among the publishers present.

Vassal game engine for building and playing online adaptations of board games and card games. Many designers use it to playtest games.

http://www.vassalengine.org/

Academy Games was showing one of it’s upcoming games: Agents of Mayhem: Pride of Babylon. A Fast paced and over the top 3D Tactical Board Game.

https://www.academygames.com/

Compass Games will host an games expo at the Red Lion Hotel, Cromwell, CT from Nov 9-12, 2018.

www.compassgames.com

WGF went to Seven Springs, PA to check out the 20th anniversary of the World Boardgaming Championships (WBC), organized by the Boardgame Players Association.

http://boardgamers.org/

The convention evolved from Avaloncon, which started back in 1991,featuring games from Avalon Hill Game Company, which are still prominent in the lineup of over 150+ tournaments / events.  The cover of this year’s program honors the 51 games that have been in the competition at every WBC. Games like: 1830, Acquire, Advanced Civilization, Axis & Allies, B-17, Britannia, Circvs Maximvs, Dune, El Grande, Empire Builder, History of the World, Merchant of Venus, Panzer Blitz, Robo Rally, Settlers of Catan,Slapshot, Squad Leader, Tigris & Euphrates, Titan, Win Place & Show, and Wooden Ships & Iron Men.

The panel chats about the games they watched and played and the WBC’s large open gaming area and huge gaming library with hundreds of games to check out and play.

They cover the WBC game Auction, where Ed acquired a few games for us to explore including:

a Spiel Winner from 2009…

A “game of world Conquest” first published by Avalon Hill in 1993…

Another Avalon Hill classic from 1976 based on a book from Robert Heinlein…

The anniversary edition of a game about the events following the Council of Elrond

The panel also chats about:

The expanded vendor area. Wargame publishers have a strong presence including GMT Games, Lock N’ Load, Compass Games, Academy Games, Multi-Man Publishing, Decision Games and Rio Grande Games among the publishers present.

Vassal game engine for building and playing online adaptations of board games and card games. Many designers use it to playtest games.

http://www.vassalengine.org/

Academy Games was showing one of it’s upcoming games: Agents of Mayhem: Pride of Babylon. A Fast paced and over the top 3D Tactical Board Game.

https://www.academygames.com/

Compass Games will host an games expo at the Red Lion Hotel, Cromwell, CT from Nov 9-12, 2018.

www.compassgames.com

Skyline

A quick push-your-luck dice game of erecting urban buildings

Designed by: David Short

Published By: Tasty Minstrel Games (2012)

Players: 1-4

Time: 15 min

Ages: 10+

Unearthed by: Celeste

Celeste found Skyline’s small box on Ed’s shelves. She liked the unique looking dice, making her eager to roll them instantly.  And was fascinated by its origin as a reward for the Kickstarter funding campaign for Ground Floor.

The Basics:

Skyline is simple: The dice faces represent different types of floors for urban buildings. Some dice show the lower floors, some the middle floors and some the upper floors.  You roll these dice and use them as the building blocks of your buildings. You start with a ground floor and build up, just like real construction. Taller buildings are worth more points, but they are also more difficult to complete. The player with the most points wins.

 

Grand Austria Hotel

Compete for customers to transform your café into a world famous hotel.

Designed by: Simone Luciani and Virginio Gigli

Published By: Mayfair Games (2015)

Players: 2 – 4

Time: ~ 90 min

Ages: 12+

Unearthed by: Joe

Joe was intrigued by the game’s box art and pictures of the staff and guests situated in the hotel’s luxury just made it look like a fun place to be!

The Basics:

You are a sharp, driven, and dangerously charismatic hotelier at the height of Austria’s glory days. You stake your name and fortune on your hotel becoming the favored stomping grounds of the richest, savviest, most stylish Central European elites, who rapaciously consume prodigious quantities of your delicious cake in the afternoons — sip your fine wine by night — and pour out your hot, tasty coffee in the morning to nurse their hangovers. To win, you must even attract the attention of the Imperial family, until every other vacation destination in the world is in your shadow! Make Paris aspire to be the Vienna of Western Europe!

 

For Sale

Bid and bluff as you purchase properties to become the richest real estate mogul!

Designed by: Stefan Dorra

Published By: Ravensburger (1997)

Edition Played: Überplay (2005)

Players: 3 – 6

Time: ~ 15 min

Ages: 8+

Unearthed by: Ed

Ed enjoys this bidding/bluffing game that offers interesting strategies in a short playing time, he finds it to be a good filler game.

The Basics:

In the first half of the game, players first bid to buy the best properties (numbered 1 – 30) with their starting cash. Then, the players sell those properties vying for the highest value checks. The player with the most money wins.