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Brass: Lancashire
Brass: Lancashire
2007 | Economic, Business / Industrial, Transportation
Gameplay, art, location, strategy (0 more)
Plenty o Brass
This is a very deep game, on the surface it seems simple, build a few coal mines, some foundrys, a port or two and a cotton mill. And then link your towns to make a network.
In reality it will stretch you to the limits of strategising, you will always be trying to think 2 to 3 moves ahead while also watching what your opponents are doing and trying to guess what direction they're heading with their network, as anyone who has played knows that the ship is often key to winning.
I would reccomend to anyone who likes tabletop strategy games.
  
Gloomhaven
Gloomhaven
2017 | Adventure, Exploration, Fantasy, Fighting, Miniatures
Endless adventure (1 more)
Team work
The best ever up-to-4-player-Offline-Role-Playing-Game
This is easily one of the best tabletop games out there. Generally, I prefer games that does not heavily rely on the element of luck (Terra Mystica, Puerto Rico, etc), and rather rely on strategy. I find GloomHaven to be a good mix of both, it promotes good team work and understanding of players' strengths and weaknesses. The extensive content allows the game to go on and on and on for as long as you want to explore the world of GloomHaven. The scenario book makes me giddy with joy. The game also allows you to play any combination of 2, 3, or 4 player scenarios, so if you can't get all of your people together, fret not, level a character you want, or try a different one, the possibilities are endless!!
  
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jd2105 (10 KP) rated Lords of Waterdeep in Tabletop Games

Feb 26, 2020 (Updated Feb 26, 2020)  
Lords of Waterdeep
Lords of Waterdeep
2012 | City Building, Fantasy
A great begginer game
This worker replacement game is a very good games to start with for anyone who has never played tabletop games before. The strategy for this game is minimal, it is always good to have some kind of strategy, however other players moves may change your strategy for you in this game, but its effects are not very harsh. There is always another option in this game especially the further into the game you get as more placements will be available. However worker placement is the main mechanic in this game set collection is also a mechanic which is really important in this game. Collecting your pieces are almost just as important as placing your workers. Even though it is generally considered a beginner's introductory game I find this game to be a great go to for myself even though I am beyond beginner level. This is a great game for beginner intermediate to expert and family all different groups enjoy this game.
  
7 Wonders
7 Wonders
2010 | Ancient, Card Game, City Building, Civilization
7 Wonders is one of my go-to games for larger groups. Capable of handling up to 7 players, it's both strategic and a good casual game. As the game that brought drafting as the primary game mechanic into the forefront of tabletop gaming, it still remains on the top of the list. It does take a game for a new player to understand what they need to prioritize and need to keep an eye out of cards, but once they make it through a round, they'll be enjoying it in no time. Quick gameplay with lots of decision space allows for a fulfilling game that you can look back on and realize oh I should have done this!. There are issues with a lack of player interaction with people not next to you, but expansions do offer solutions to that.
  
Exploding Kittens
Exploding Kittens
2015 | Animals, Card Game, Comic Book / Strip, Humor
This is an OK game if you don't play any other tabletop games, the artwork is silly and can make you chuckle. (0 more)
The base mechanics are unimaginative, player elimination itself is not the best mechanic but add to it the extreme luck evident in the game, it feels like pure luck who wins. (0 more)
Exploding Kittens? More like explode with boredom
Exploding Kittens is a game trying to evoke emotions through a silly name and theme but the essence of the game, the gameplay, is lack luster and after a few plays is boring. I have owned this game since it has come out and I can count on one hand the number of times I have played this game.

 The only positive point is that the artwork is great and the game is worth playing just to get a look at all the fun art.
  
Above and Below
Above and Below
2015 | Adventure, Book, City Building, Economic, Exploration
Design is awesome (2 more)
Mechanics are fun and easy to teach
Mechanics have lots of replayability
Stories can get repetitive (0 more)
Above and Below is a great introductory game to adventure mechanics. Nothing in the game is difficult, and players can feel accomplished, even in their first game. But there is also enough variety to allow for great replay ability and to still keep the game interesting for experienced tabletop players.

And oh man, is the design awesome. You'll be amazed at the level of detail that went in to the cartoony graphic design.

Ultimately, the biggest downfall is the lack of adventure stories. You might think I'm crazy, because there are 208. But in just a few games, we managed to replay quite a few stories. This is less than ideal, because not knowing the outcomes of the stories is integral to the gameplay. Perhaps this is something that the expansions fix, but I have not played them.
  
Forbidden Island
Forbidden Island
2010 | Adventure, Card Game, Fantasy
Easy to learn. Good character choices. Clear objectives. Decent replay value. Promotes cooperation to win. (0 more)
Can be frustrating for younger or newer players. (0 more)
Race time and a booby-trapped island to find lost treasures!
I bought this game as an intro to strategy tabletop gaming for my kids. Our first game was a win, but the second ended in tears as the island defeated us.
It didn't stop us though. We still play it and have learned how to apply strategies to help each character meet objectives quickly.
We are considering other games in the franchise, but now the kids are hooked on gaming and we're trying new types.
Well worth the money for adventure and strategy for even seasoned players. The scaled difficulty and multiple characters make strategy and replay a must. The more people playing, the more the game seems to adapt.
Maybe not the best intro to new gamers, but it worked for us!
  
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Christine A. (965 KP) rated Smashbomb in Apps

Nov 27, 2018  
Smashbomb
Smashbomb
Entertainment, Lifestyle, Social Networking
8
8.9 (123 Ratings)
App Rating
Can review many types of media and import ratings and/or reviews from other sites. (0 more)
Must wait to edit a review. (0 more)
Smashbomb allows users to review many types of media.
I recently discovered Smashbomb. It's similar to Goodreads but you can review more than books. Movies, apps, TV shows, music, video games, tabletop games, podcasts, and tech are reviewed also.

You can access Smashbomb by downloading the app or by going to Smashbomb.com.

You can easily import your ratings and/or reviews from Goodreads. I had difficulty importing my ratings from IMDb. When I figure out what I'm doing wrong I'll write a blog post to explain.

You earn badges and can be awarded KP, kudos points.

Users can award you KP because of your review or "for submitting high quality content". The amount of daily KP you are rewarded is based on your KP score. The more KP you earn, the more influential you become.

"Some badges are earned based on kudos points (KP) awarded by other users, and others are awarded by Smashbomb directly." As of 11/27/18, approximately 90 badges are offered. "Higher level badges are a sign of authority and trust, which will result in increased exposure and more followers."

I like the KP system, the badge system, and the concept of being able to go to one place for all of the reviews offered.
  
Constitution Check (Dungeons and Dating #4) by Katherine McIntyre
Constitution Check (Dungeons and Dating #4) by Katherine McIntyre
Katherine McIntyre | 2022 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
10
10.0 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
Independent Reviewer for Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!

 

This is book number 4 in the Dungeons and Dating series and I have to say I have loved every one so far. The series is centred on a group of people who run a business called the Tabletop Tavern and have come together through their love of board games, particularly Dungeons and Dragons.


Each book focuses on different characters and their love life and life in general. This book focuses on Kelly who is trying to get over a domestically violent relationship that ended with the death of her then-girlfriend and Tabby who has never felt any good for anybody.


Katherine is an absolute wizard with words and you get a clear understanding of what each character is going through. She tackles the tougher subjects abuse/homophobia/grief etc in such a delicate but powerful way. It is a pleasure to read even though some of it is heart-breaking.


I 100% recommend reading not just this book but the whole series. Fantastic Katherine.

 

** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
  
Village Attacks
Village Attacks
2018 | Horror, Miniatures
Fantastic miniatures and great concept (0 more)
A tad pricey, but well worth it. (0 more)
UK Games Expo 2018 was filled to the brim with new and shiny games, but one of our stand out picks was a cooperative castle defence game, with a twist. In Village Attacks, you take on the role of some of the most infamous and feared folklore legends. What could go wrong?

Set within the depths of a particularly immense castle, you and your fellow villains must defend your home from the local villagers who are laying siege to your home in an effort to exorcise your evil from the world.

Although the villagers themselves may be weak, they aren’t alone. Hunters and heroes from across the world have come to lend sword, shield and gun to rid the world of your taint.

The castle interior is constructed using a modular tile system made up from beautifully illustrated game tiles that allow for near limitless combinations and layouts. The villagers will attempt to reach the heart of the castle and destroy it, but they must be stopped! Only by slaying enough villagers and breaking their morale will you be able to drive them from your home for good.

The brainchild of two friends, Adam Smith and Mike Brown of Grimlord Games, an independent developer of tabletop games, Village Attacks uses custom dice to control the outcome of your turn. Dice results can be used to move your monster, activate your abilities, purchase traps, defend yourself from incoming attacks and even be stored for the next round.

Each monster possesses their own unique abilities that they are able to level up by slaying villagers and completing objectives. Monsters are categorised into types, which can affect how they interact with the enemy forces. Hunters and Town Heroes deal extra damage to monsters that match their types, creating another level of strategy and planning.

I had the opportunity to give Village Attacks a whirl at UK Games Expo and I really did fall in love with it. I’m a sucker for a good miniature and this has plenty of options, particularly if you backed the Kickstarter. While the game itself comes with a lot of components (see the list below), it’s fairly quick to get into. Once the heroes and hunters take to the board, that’s when things really start to heat up. This one is certainly going on the wish list.