Huh, I was not aware ScorePal was abandoned, I’ve been using it since 2017 and still use it regularly. Guess that’s why the Google Drive backup is wonky now haha. Abandoned or no still a fantastic and functional app, maybe it’s proof of the “if it ain’t broke” philosophy
Edit: I’m seeing it was updated Feb 2022 to fix BGG syncing, are you sure you’re using the original and not a clone? Or is it an iPhone thing maybe? I’m on Android
One of my favorite pictures I’ve taken, playing Hive Pocket on a stream bed:
Seconding Feast for Odin, the worker placement style combined with the Tetris puzzle and the feeding your people really makes for a great game
I had a lot of fun playing Century: Spice Road, it also has the card-based system which I appreciate. I really enjoy Splendor as a 1-player phone app (multiplayer tends to take a little long, although maybe that’s just the people I played with). Not anywhere near the Mediterranean, but I feel like Broom Service fits the general gameplay themes, and adds an exciting bluffing game
I had a lot of fun playing Century: Spice Road, it also has the card-based system which I appreciate. I really enjoy Splendor as a 1-player phone app (multiplayer tends to take a little long, although maybe that’s just the people I played with). Not anywhere near the Mediterranean, but I feel like Broom Service fits the general gameplay themes, and adds an exciting bluffing game
I just can’t get excited for Concordia personally. I like the card-based action system, that’s pretty cool. But the game feels way too “flat” everytime Ive played it, there isn’t any interesting tension or big plays, it kind of just feels like I’m doing things and maybe some things get more points or maybe not, and then it ends. I know Euros in general have that kind of reputation, but even other Mediterranean trading simulators I’ve played have those moments where a plan all comes together.
Great game! I love that it’s full of wheeling and dealing, but that it actively encourages generosity by how the bean planting works. Means everyone gets to be a boisterous bean merchant, but no one feels like they never get any deals or are getting scammed
Horizontal, I have my games to play with, not for decoration. I don’t mind a little scuffing or denting of the box, and it never damages it so much that the box doesn’t function as a box. And then the upside is I don’t have to reorganize everything every single time, and I don’t have to keep them packed in there to avoid them falling over
Jealous! I’m finally getting to see my Arkham buddy soon after 2 months, excited to get back into it myself. I wish there was a good Arkham LCG Lemmy to tide between sessions
Oh man I didn’t even know Aeons End had a digital app! And it’s steam deck verified! I just found what I’m playing on my flight tomorrow, thanks :D
Oh man I forgot about bananagrams! Such a cool and fun word game
Lightweight: The Crew: Deep Sea. Don’t get to play it so often, but if I had to pick a game to fill a few minutes this is it. Rules are dead simple, decision space is deep without being paralyzing, and there’s lots of room for fun stories either good or bad.
Medium: Dominion. Love it, all-star game for me, could play this anytime anywhere. Perfect mix of strategy and luck, and building a deck is always satisfying win or lose.
Heavy: Fury of Dracula 3E. Another I don’t play often (the local taste for board games is solidly in medium weight). I very enjoy the hide and go seek aspect, as dracula you get to feel like a mega-genius pulling all sorts of dastardly tricks, and as a hunter you get to feel great teamwork and satisfaction when you corral dracula with coordination and skill. The card-based combat system is great too, and makes fighting a constant duel of mind games
Most played: Dominion, see above. Sadly I played the most of it before I started tracking my plays, but even with that it is at the lead of my most played games, eclipsed only by MtG Commander (which isn’t a board game imo)
Favorite game: okay let’s pretend it’s not Dominion again lol. Besides that, I’d have to say… Cthulhu Wars. It’s not the best designed game I have, or even necessarily the most fun, but the combination of crazy asymmetric abilities, familiar risk-like gameplay with several crucial twists, and the physical aspect of a huge board and giant toys, all combine to make it a real show-stopper of a game. I’ve literally gained friendships because of this game and it’s raw appeal. And hey, it looks like I may finally get those xpacs I kick-started soon, only 4 years after estimated delivery lol
They are definitely called workers in the version I have from 2015 or so, must’ve been a change they made soon after release
Besides Gloomhaven, I have to shout out Race for the Galaxy. The physical version isn’t bad, but the digital is so well made and so snappy, and with the AI I can play a full game in 5 minutes. Just wonderful experience
Came here to say the same. The rules and upkeep is so finicky in the real version, and the digital just handles it. The digital version is still kinda janky, but miles better
Ha I figure I’ll get that “finding a group” problem solved after I’ve got the game, will be easy I’m sure 😅
I have no idea who Carmichael is outside of this so I’m glad to hear your confidence!
Definitely. I’m not gonna pretend just the core gives you much in the way of options, but the starter decks are truly god-awful and can be vastly improved just by taking out some wtf cards and replacing them with stuff good for your role (eg Daisy should not have knives)
And isn’t the price much higher etc…
Haha, I did have that exact thought when I was posting 😅 Although imo the barrier to entry is lower for the base game, and once I know I like a game I don’t mind spending, so that’s my idea behind it.
I did bounce off AHLCG the first time, and even sold it off. The “starter decks” they give you are god-awful and it really does feel like you’re at the mercy of random bullshit, but once you learn enough to deckbuild half decently (or look up the “better starting decks” published on Arkhamdb) the game feels much more rewarding, and the amount of nonsense you can get up to is amazing. There’s still the occasional bad luck (it is Arkham after all), but the game and strategy feels much more in your hands.
Didn’t even think of trying Spirit Island on TTS, maybe I’ll give that a go to see how I like it!
Haven’t tried Spirit Island yet! To be honest, the big price tag kind of scares me from casually trying it(esp since I hear the consensus is you want the branch & claw xpacs too to really make it great).
It might be cheating since it is only sorta a board game, but my favorite is the Arkham Horror LCG. So much content, each campaign has its own quirks and twists, and the deckbuilsing is incredibly deep, especially with the experience leveling up system. One of my favorite board games overall
Got to play Cthulhu Wars with 3 friends, one was brand new and two had played two years ago so pretty fresh all around. I had a lead as Daemon Sultan, but made a greedy ritual play and got punished hard. New player playing black goat had the win in the bag with a ritual and 6 gates, but decided not to ritual and play with her food. She ended the next (final) round with zero gates and Cthulhu took the win instead lol