The only downside of in person for the games is the set up / pack away time. Arkham Horror (2nd Edition) is the worst of games we've got for that. Goodbye 90 minutes setting up and at least 30 putting away.
Yeah it's the least attractive aspect of GH. Our group uses the Gloomhaven Helper app to lessen the amount of elements you need to have on the table (and for in-game housekeeping).
I like the tiles, as they can give you more options then a map book, but I can see the appeal (haven't gotten Jaws of the Lion yet). Our money tends to go for new games, but did spring for Frosthaven Kickstarter the broken token inserts. I still get tempted to get those for Gloomhaven, even though now onto Forgotten Circles. I think having neat spots for everything would alleviate some of the annoyance.
It is. You can do it as a single game - pick any map and go, the campaign (10 maps in order, total score across all) or character mode (3 maps in order, sort of a mini-campaign) or co-op mode for a map. Have done single games and campaign is almost done. Would like to try co-op for a map after the campaign is done to see what that is like. Has a solo mode as well, but not a solo player really, with wife also a board gamer we mostly get in 2 players for games, with 4 with friends on average once a month.
I have each of the Century series. Spice Road is still my favourite, though the most recent one A New World is really good too. Eastern Wonders is fun but just plays a little too long for what you actually do, I think. Love the game designer's work across his career, Volt is one of our favourites he has been involved in.
Yesterday a gaming catch up. Firstly Stop the Train!
Four players, with each getting a character. You get shuffled as many character cards as players, with one the Saboteur who wants to reach Paris.
Each turn you draw 3 effect cards, mostly slow or speed up the train (there’s more speed ups). You take 3 put one on the discard, give 2 to the next player who discards 1 and plays 1.
The primary mission of the Saboteur is to reach Paris, everyone else though is either wanting to stop the train and a secondary mission or have one of only 2 permits to travel.
There are two key points - the signal vote where you choose between the Scenic route, Fast track (obviously the shortest route) and Viaduct. Unfortunately to make it harder to pick the Saboteur some characters have their secondary mission as take the Fast Track. With a limited number of Effect cards most don’t want the Fast Track (if Effect cards run out the train is stopped).
When we played though one of the others had a mission of take the Fast Track.
When you reach a bridge near the end of the track you have Emergency meeting where you discuss who to throw off the train. Each player in turn says who they think the Saboteur is and why then a vote. Well usually except if like us someone confuses things by playing a Secret vote card where you don’t show who you are going to vote for.
It went from sure my wife was the Saboteur to the other player - why would you do that if not? Unfortunately she confused us all and we threw her off and my initial suspicion was right.
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Then our good run at Pandemic Legacy Season 0 came to an end. Two failures in March
I enjoyed it. It's a 10-15 minute setup and rule confirmation for the first time you play (probably 5 - 10 subsequently I'd think) and it took around 30 for 4 of us to play, so not a long one. Time to play would be only marginally more at 5 or 6 players, as most of it is moving along the track, which doesn't change length with player count.
Via Kickstarter, but it's not a Kickstarter exclusive. That was just to get it early. You can order at their web site Escape Plan Board games, if it doesn't come to games stores here.
