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Dean Gregory (18 KP) rated Tsuro in Tabletop Games

Jun 2, 2019  
Tsuro
Tsuro
2004 | Abstract Strategy, Fantasy
7
7.2 (19 Ratings)
Tabletop Game Rating
Quick to play (3 more)
Simple to learn
Interesting concept
Charming
Very little scope for strategy (1 more)
Not much replay value
A Path Into Gaming
Tsuro is a game with a very simple concept: be the last player on the board. You do this by laying tiles which link to create winding paths around the board, which inevitably end up running off the board altogether. But be careful - colliding with another player results in a double elimination.

Because it boasts such trivial mechanics, it is very easy to pick up and play a few rounds quickly (some games can last under 10 minutes including setup), as well as being one that young children could enjoy. The player meeples have a good quality feel, and it can be satisfying watching the winding paths in the game board grow.

However, it very quickly becomes obvious just how simple this game is - winning is often less about trying to run your opponents off the board as it is trying to keep yourself in play for as long as possible, until you inevitably take yourself out of the game.

Tsuro, then, is an inviting game for introducing regular folk to the mad world of tabletop gaming, and is a solid option for beginning a proper games night with its simplicity and charm. I used it recently myself as a sweetner to help ease a new player into game night, and it worked a treat. It probably won't make regular appearances however.

I like it. Worth a look.
  
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Booksnthreads (19 KP) rated The Maze Runner in Books

Jun 4, 2018  
The Maze Runner
The Maze Runner
James Dashner | 2011 | Children
7
8.0 (55 Ratings)
Book Rating
Eventually, this one redeemed itself for me. The last half of the book, once all the exposition is out of the way, gets really interesting and does eventually reach the point where you can’t put the book down.

I think Dashner’s strength here is really in his character development. Even once the action begins, the characters’ actions and choices align with what you’ve learned about them, and while some of those choices lead to tragic consequences, they are completely in keeping with the characters’ personalities and experiences. It’s nice to see this kind of thought and sophistication put into a novel geared toward young adults.

In addition to my complaint about the frustratingly slow start and exposition, I was also bothered by what seems to be the standard strategy for serial writers…the ending that leaves you with more questions than answers. I’ve only read a handful of YA novels that deal with this well, where the current storyline is given just enough resolution to satisfy me as a reader while leaving enough of a door open to entice me to continue reading the series.

Dashner really treads that fine line and doesn’t quite make it for me, leaving me frustrated enough that rather than being eager to begin the next novel, I just want to toss this one in the corner. Okay, maybe not that strong of a reaction, but the jury is still out on whether or not I’ll pick up the next book in the series.
  
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Sam Hill (23 KP) rated Carcassonne in Tabletop Games

Jun 20, 2019  
Carcassonne
Carcassonne
2000 | City Building, Medieval, Territory Building
9
8.1 (53 Ratings)
Tabletop Game Rating
Quick, classic game, great to play with people who are more casual boardgamers (0 more)
Not going to satisfy someone looking for a deep strategic challenge (0 more)
Carcassone is one of the classics of board gaming and great for moving people away from the likes of Monopoly into proper board games.

The basic rules, pick a tile at random, place in a legal position and choose to place a needle, is simple enough that people who do not board game regularly are able to get comfortable quickly with the game. Its simplicity also means that a younger audience is able to readily partake in the game, making decisions on their own, and still have a chance of doing reasonably well.

There is little in the way of language in the game, other than being able to read the score chart everything is pictorial, so this also opens it to playing with people who are too young to read, or speak other languages without buying another copy.

If you're looking for an in depth Euro game however this will not help. There is little in the way of long term strategy, and the tile you pick is random - as a major factor of what you do with your turn this constricts long term planning.

To sum up this is a great game if you are putting it in front of the right audience, or want a simple game to chill out with a beer with, but don't expect such a positive reaction from everyone.