New to Games? 24 - Shut Up & Sit Down

Ingenious

Anyone who knows a little about Reiner Knizia’s games will know that the good Doctor loves games that deal with trying to get points in various different categories and then only score that category in which the player has the fewest.

The game is played on a hex board. 120 equally sized pieces, each consisting of two joined hexes, come with the game. There are symbols on each hex that make up the piece – some pieces have two identical symbols, some have two different symbols (not unlike dominoes). The goal of the game is, through clever placement, to obtain points in the different symbol colors. Points are claimed by placing a piece such that the symbols on it lie next to already-placed pieces with the same symbol.

The game ends when no more tiles can be placed onto the board or when a player reaches the maximum number in every color. Now each player looks to see how many points they scored in the colour they ‘scored the least’. Whoever has the most points in their least-scored colour is the winner. Simple. The author of the game has also come up with solitaire and team play, in which two teams of two play with each player not being able to see his partner’s tiles.

Build a House of Terror. Tile by Tile.

It’s never the same game twice. As one of twelve mysterious characters, you’ll explore a house filled with deadly secrets. As you play, you’ll build the house. But beware! One of your fellow players will betray you. The traitor will test your sanity as you use all your skills to survive.

With fifty fiendish scenarios, Betrayal at House on the Hill puts you face-to-face with legendary monsters, modern nightmares … and your friends.

In Augustus, you will vie with your fellow players to complete “objective” cards for special powers and ultimately for victory points. Each card has 2-6 symbols which you must populate with legionnaire meeples in order to complete the card. These symbols are drawn one at a time from a bag, with all player gaining the benefit equally, but interestingly, there are more of some symbols than others.

So the pivotal skill you’ll deploy is in making your choice of which three objectives you’ll start the game with (you’re dealt six) — balancing potential difficulty of completion against value of the reward — and then which of five available objectives you’ll add to your plate each time you complete one of your three. The game ends when someone completes seven. So there’s real strategy but the game is still ruled by luck of the draw.

Beautifully illustrated, about 30 minutes to play, and already a favorite for many families, Augustus is one of the nominees for the 2013 Spiele des Jahres.

Ladies & Gentlemen! Plunge into the heart of the Victorian era and, as part of a team, take on the roles of highly fashionable ladies and gentlemen. As the men play the stock market the women peruse boutiques in search of the latest essential fashion items.

You will not want to be the laughing stock of London town at the upcoming ball!

In Ladies & Gentlemen, what you do in the game depends on who you are! Make the most of your situation and try – alongside your partner – to be the most fashionable couple of the moment – as well as discredit your opponents!

Ladies & Gentlemen is a highly original, light-hearted group game and a clever mixture of opportunism, tactics and mockery for up to 10 players.

To begin A la carte, you receive a stove and pan with which to cook a range of delectable dishes. Each player then selects a meal and attempts to skillfully complete it by adjusting the heat level of their stoves to the perfect level, or pouring spices into the dish to get them just right. You can also take a coffee break in order to exchange stoves with another player, gain an extra turn, decrease the heat on rivals’ stoves, or even add spices to another player’s dish in an attempt to ruin it. It’s all fair game in A la carte.

To win, complete as many meals as possible, since each one adds to your score at the end of the game. Any time you lose a dish because it is overheated or overspiced, you’ll lose precious points. So, work quickly to get ahead, and do your best to avoid any catastrophes that could fork your chances of winning.

Welcome to the Tokaido, the legendary East Sea Road connecting Kyoto to Edo. Here you will begin an extraordinary journey during which you will discover a thousand marvels for the first time.

Be sure to take the time to contemplate the sumptuous vistas before you: the majestic mountains, peaceful coastland, and vast rice paddies… Let the brushstrokes of nature be an anchor for your memories.

Appreciate the beneficial stopovers that punctuate your path, the restorative tranquility of the hot springs, and the countless culinary delicacies that will astonish your palate.

Bundle together with your belongings delightfully unexpected souvenirs, from the most modest to the most sophisticated, that you gather from surprising encounters that may change the course of your travels.

Time will be your best means to remain clear-sighted, methodical, and patient so that you don’t miss anything on this unique route but instead can fully savor the experience the Tokaido has to offer!

Waterdeep, the City of Splendors—the most resplendent jewel in the Forgotten Realms, and a den of political intrigue and shady back-alley dealings.

In this game, the players are powerful lords vying for control of this great city. Its treasures and resources are ripe for the taking, and that which cannot be gained through trickery and negotiation must be taken by force!

Lords of Waterdeep is a strategy board game for 2-5 players. You take on the role of one of the masked Lords of Waterdeep, secret rulers of the city. Through your agents, you recruit adventurers to go on quests on your behalf, earning rewards and increasing your influence over the city.

Expand the city by purchasing new buildings that open up new actions on the board, and hinder—or help—the other lords by playing Intrigue cards to enact your carefully laid plans.

Stretch your imagination as you build a twisting, turning railway network. Using colourful strings as your tracks, you’ll aim to outwit your opponents by strategically placing and connecting your stations with the result of creating the most successful railway network.

Exquisite visuals, simple rules and strategic game play make String Railway a delight for famiy nights and avid players alike!

Did you know that magical wizards are battling to the death … and beyond … right now!? “Why battle?” you might ask. “What have I got to prove, magic man?” Only who’s the most awesomely powerful battle wizard in the entire realm, that’s what! As a Battle Wizard, you’ll put together up to three spell components to craft millions* of spell combos. Your spells might kick ass, or they could totally blow — it’s up to you to master the magic. You will unleash massive damage on the faces of your wizard rivals in a no-holds-barred, all-out burn-down to be the last Battle Wizard standing. And it doesn’t stop there! Powerful magic items bring on a whole new level of bloody carnage as you and your mighty wizard opponents tear each other limb from limb in an orgy of killing! Do you have what it takes to use epic spells in a war at Mt. Skullzfyre? Will YOU be the Ultimate Battle Wizard!?!

*Not actually millions of combos … but like thousands or more, maybe.

Each age has its special challenges. The stone age was shaped by the emergence of agriculture, the processing of useful resources, and by the building of simple huts. Trade begins and grows and civilization takes root and spreads. In addition, traditional abilities like skillful hunting are in demand, in order to be able to nourish the growing population.

The goal of the players is to master all these challenges. There are many ways to do so, so everyone can work to achieve his goal in his own way.

Find your own way and learn at the end whether it was the best way.

Ingenious

Betrayal at House on the Hill

Augustus

Ladies & Gentlemen

A La Carte

Tokaido

Lords of Waterdeep

String Railway

Epic Spell Wars

Stone Age

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