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Kevin Klemme
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Mycelia Board Game Review

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Outback Crossing Review

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Bugs: Recent Topics Paging, Uploading Images & Preview (11 Dec 2020)

Recent Topics paging, uploading images and preview bugs require a patch which has not yet been released.

× Talk about whatever you like related to games that doesn't fit anywhere else.

Recent Hidden Gems?

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05 Jul 2018 06:54 #276906 by hotseatgames
Replied by hotseatgames on topic Recent Hidden Gems?

ubarose wrote: Have we talked about Wasteland Express? Why don’t we have a review for Wasteland Express? Someone should jump on that.


I remember Charlie being lukewarm on this. It does look cool.

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05 Jul 2018 09:40 #276910 by ubarose
Replied by ubarose on topic Recent Hidden Gems?

hotseatgames wrote:

ubarose wrote: Have we talked about Wasteland Express? Why don’t we have a review for Wasteland Express? Someone should jump on that.


I remember Charlie being lukewarm on this. It does look cool.


I never agree with Charlie.
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05 Jul 2018 11:41 - 05 Jul 2018 13:42 #276916 by Gregarius
Replied by Gregarius on topic Recent Hidden Gems?
Ethnos - An area majority game not unlike El Grande, but with a card drafting/push your luck element that makes for interesting play. Plus it has a variable set up so that no two games play the same. We like it quite a lot, and it usually only lasts about an hour.

Orongo - A Knizia auction game that everyone dismissed, but would have been loved if it came out 10 (20?) years earlier. Admittedly, there are some inconvenient playability problems with the art, but I've heard they did a better job in later printings. It's always on clearance, so any Knizia fans who don't pick it up are fools!

The Insider - A very quick social deduction game that combines elements of Werewolf with 20 Questions. It's been a huge hit with every group I've taught it to, gamers or not. The small box original should sell for $20, but since it's frequently out of print you'll see scalpers selling for 4x that. Just wait, it'll drop down again. There's also Werewords, which is apparently a complete rip-off of the game, but I have no experience with it and I'd rather support the original.
Last edit: 05 Jul 2018 13:42 by Gregarius. Reason: Edit: Clarification on Orongo
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05 Jul 2018 12:31 #276920 by ubarose
Replied by ubarose on topic Recent Hidden Gems?
Ethnos is great. I need to get my own copy.

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05 Jul 2018 12:58 #276922 by Josh Look
Replied by Josh Look on topic Recent Hidden Gems?

ubarose wrote: Ethnos is great. I need to get my own copy.


Charlie doesn’t like Ethnos, so there’s that.
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05 Jul 2018 13:18 #276929 by Michael Barnes
Replied by Michael Barnes on topic Recent Hidden Gems?
Ethnos really is a hidden gem. It’s smooth playing, competitive, and really a lot of fun. The John Howe illustrations are nice, and there’s tons of variability. Not many games like this play -six players- in an hour and change.

I’ve been meaning to check out Orongo.
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05 Jul 2018 16:06 #276934 by ubarose
Replied by ubarose on topic Recent Hidden Gems?

Josh Look wrote:

ubarose wrote: Ethnos is great. I need to get my own copy.


Charlie doesn’t like Ethnos, so there’s that.


See, I am the Anticharlie.
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05 Jul 2018 19:44 #276948 by Colorcrayons
Replied by Colorcrayons on topic Recent Hidden Gems?
I forgot about Indigo and only recalled it because of Erik Twice's post about second tier games.

This is one where it shares the same design space as Tsuro, yet this is one of Knizia's better, if unoriginal, designs.

The hex tile placement offers more avenues, and the goal is to leave the board instead of attempting to remain on it.

Last but not least, Ravensburger really went the full nine yards to make this game be the definition of lavish. It's fit for a majarajah to play.

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05 Jul 2018 20:41 #276951 by trif
Replied by trif on topic Recent Hidden Gems?
I really think Illimat is kind of passed over despite being a more promising game than it appears.

It has the strange terminology of a centuries old folk card game (which is what they were shooting for) but is actually a very good variant on Casino and similar games of card collection.

Despite being based on a game shown in a Decemberists' film clip - there's actually been a bit of thought put into it. It's certainly one of the best kickstarter games I have.

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08 Jul 2018 16:58 #277123 by charlest
Replied by charlest on topic Recent Hidden Gems?
Ethnos is dull as hell.

I do like Wasteland Express, but I had several criticisms. I reviewed it at Ars Technica. The campaign sucks and the game is a little repetitive. With an expansion it will be pretty damn good. I kept it because the designers mentioned an expansion was coming.

In its current state though, you're better off playing Merchants and Marauders or Xia with expansion.
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08 Jul 2018 17:58 #277124 by southernman
Replied by southernman on topic Recent Hidden Gems?

ubarose wrote:

Josh Look wrote:

ubarose wrote: Ethnos is great. I need to get my own copy.


Charlie doesn’t like Ethnos, so there’s that.


See, I am the Anticharlie.


Better than being the Anti-Elvis (Michael J. Fox has no Elvis in him.)
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08 Jul 2018 18:33 #277127 by Bernie
Replied by Bernie on topic Recent Hidden Gems?
It is still Spirit Islandfor me. Best Co-op and all around great game. Not exactly under the radar as there was an article here about it though.
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08 Jul 2018 19:18 #277130 by Josh Look
Replied by Josh Look on topic Recent Hidden Gems?

trif wrote: I really think Illimat is kind of passed over despite being a more promising game than it appears.

It has the strange terminology of a centuries old folk card game (which is what they were shooting for) but is actually a very good variant on Casino and similar games of card collection.

Despite being based on a game shown in a Decemberists' film clip - there's actually been a bit of thought put into it. It's certainly one of the best kickstarter games I have.


Illimat is fantastic. I’ve got a group where a week doesn’t go by where we don’t take it out to finish off the night.
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09 Jul 2018 10:12 #277158 by charlest
Replied by charlest on topic Recent Hidden Gems?
Agree with Sons of Anarchy, Greed, Jim's games, and Techno Bowl.

I'd also add:

Tiefe Taschen - This may blow up with the impending North American release, although the new setting sucks

A Tale of Pirates - One of the best real-time, family weight games around

Battlestations (2nd Edition) - Excellent re-release of this classic

Sidereal Confluence - This is getting its due now and becoming more popular

Wartime - This game was DOA. I cherish my copy.

Vengeance - Love this take on the revenge film from 2017.

Hypergrid - You've never heard of this and it's not even available in North America, but it's the best modern abstract.

Codex - Sirlin sucks, but this game is great.
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09 Jul 2018 10:28 #277159 by hotseatgames
Replied by hotseatgames on topic Recent Hidden Gems?
I was going to mention Codex, good call Charlie.

I saw a copy of Vengeance at a game store... I'd like to try that one.

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