Category: Topic Discussions

Stop Toying With Me – when gimmicks in board games have a purpose (Topic Discussion)

Post read time 4 min read2 Comments on Stop Toying With Me – when gimmicks in board games have a purpose (Topic Discussion)

Some might argue that board games are basically just toys. Some games add to that argument when they play on the toy factor by including one or more components that are basically just a gimmick. These components could easily be replaced by something else without affecting gameplay. Yet, some games are accused of capitalising on the attraction of gimmicks when these playful components are actually an integral part without which the game wouldn't function. In this article, I want to look at this a bit more closely.

No Win Situation – a look at victory conditions in board games (Topic Discussion)

Post read time 5 min read2 Comments on No Win Situation – a look at victory conditions in board games (Topic Discussion)

Whether we play competitive or cooperative games, we all expect someone to be the winner. Even if it's "the game" who wins in a cooperative game. In fact, there is usually a single winner or a team in team games. Most games will list one or multiple tie-breakers to decide who is the ultimate winner. So the idea of victory conditions has become second nature to most of us in the board game hobby. Yet, there are games that don't elect a winner and in this article, I want to talk about what this might feel like.

Fear Leads to Anger – X-Wing Miniatures fans claim company is ruining tabletop skirmish game (Topic Discussion)

Post read time 5 min read9 Comments on Fear Leads to Anger – X-Wing Miniatures fans claim company is ruining tabletop skirmish game (Topic Discussion)

In this latest guest post, Samuel Webb, an experienced news reporter and copywriter based in Coventry, discusses why some X-Wing Miniatures fans are unhappy with the company that they claim is ruining this beloved Star Wars tabletop skirmish game.

Trick-Taking it to the Next Level – my fascination with trick-taking games (Topic Discussion)

Post read time 4 min readLeave a Comment on Trick-Taking it to the Next Level – my fascination with trick-taking games (Topic Discussion)

As you probably know by now, I absolutely love trick-taking games. I have long wanted to share this love with other people, but found it can be hard to teach trick-taking to people who have never come across it. Luckily, in recent months, I have found one or two games that are great for introducing people to trick-taking. They have allowed me to share my passion for this genre of card games. They are great stepping stones. I can start to draw on this giant collection of games that are often great for all the family and key to many of my social interactions as a teenager - but let me explain.

Repeated Replayability – another look at games’ longterm interest (Topic Discussion)

Post read time 6 min readLeave a Comment on Repeated Replayability – another look at games’ longterm interest (Topic Discussion)

I have previously looked at replayability in board games and I must admit, I still can't put my finger on why a game like Chess, which has no variability and no randomness, is so hugely replayable and remains interesting even after dozens of plays, while other games with variable setup, different factions and a large amount of chance are sometimes boring after only a handful of plays. So let me grapple with this topic in yet another article.

Fun to Lose – how opponents’ skill levels affect gameplay experience (Topic Discussion)

Post read time 4 min readLeave a Comment on Fun to Lose – how opponents’ skill levels affect gameplay experience (Topic Discussion)

I don't mind losing. In fact, when I play with my weekly game group, I usually lose. There are very few board games that I am confident that I will win or at least have a good chance of winning. However, there is something interesting I noticed recently. Irrespective of whether you're a sore loser or gracious winner, I think it is true that gameplay experience changes depending on the skill level of the other players. Playing the same game with people who are as good at a game as you just feels different to playing it with people who are better than you or worse than you. In this article, I want to investigate this a bit further.

The Representation of Bees – the latest buzz in the board game hobby (Topic Discussion)

Post read time 4 min read2 Comments on The Representation of Bees – the latest buzz in the board game hobby (Topic Discussion)

Here is another article inspired by the wonderful Bez from Stuff by Bez. She suggested I talk about the representation of bees. There wasn't any particular angle she wanted me to take, but the title alone gave me some inspiration. So in this article, I want to look at board games that feature bees in some way.

Working Hard – a look at worker placement mechanisms (Topic Discussion)

Post read time 4 min read2 Comments on Working Hard – a look at worker placement mechanisms (Topic Discussion)

The genre of worker placement games is quite large and has evolved a lot over the years. Traditionally, worker placement was all about certain actions being unavailable to other players as soon as someone placed their worker there. At some point, games introduced shared worker place spots. Some games allowed players to kick workers out, returning them to another player who would effectively get another go. In this article, I want to look at the genre and pick out different implementations and variations on the theme.

About Time – time as a mechanism in board games (Topic Discussion)

Post read time 5 min read6 Comments on About Time – time as a mechanism in board games (Topic Discussion)

Time as a concept, is something we are very familiar with in our daily lives. Sometimes time goes quickly, at other times it seems to almost stand still. Time is also a concept that appears in board games. There is the play time, of course, but some games also use time directly as a mechanism. I want to look at how board games represent time and how they use the concept in different ways.