# General Purpose Board Game Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [August 19, 2016, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-purpose-board-game-thread/763361 "2016-08-19T23:56:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2016, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-purpose-board-game-thread/763361/1 "2016-08-19T23:56:50Z")
So there’s another thread about board games but I thought it’d be nice to have one dedicated to just general talk. Anything new coming out that’s exciting? Play anything new to you? I went on a spate of kickstarter backing last year and a lot of them are coming in right now. I’ve played [Scythe](http://stonemaiergames.com/games/scythe/) and [Pursuit of Happiness](https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/181687/pursuit-happiness). Scythe is an area control game with resources and mechs and comb at (although combat isn’t necessary). I’m so glad I splurged on the collector’s edition of Scythe. It’s such a pretty, pretty game. And very fun! I’ve only been able to play once so far but I can’t wait for it to get to the table again. Pursuit of Happiness is fun, as well. It’s like the game of Life if Life was…good. You don’t just use a spinner, but you use “time units” to decide what you do. Should you get a job? Raise a family? You can get a lot of points for those but you’ll hamper the amount of actions you can take. I’m so very stoked for [Captain Sonar](https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/171131/captain-sonar). It plays up to eight people, four v four, where each party has a specific role and your job is to sink the enemy submarine. I really, really, want it, but I’d have to figure out how to get a big enough gaming group together. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2016, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-purpose-board-game-thread/763361/2 "2016-08-20T00:18:55Z")
I think I have 3 Kickstarters. I try to forget when they are supposed to be delivered (they are often late). I’m looking at [Terraforming Mars](https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/167791/terraforming-mars) I’m intrigued by [The Oracle of Delphi | Board Game | BoardGameGeek](https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/193558/oracle-delphi) – I always look at Feld games (though I haven’t bought his last few) Brian ---
**Author:** ![Lok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e8c25b/32.png) [@Lok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lok)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2016, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-purpose-board-game-thread/763361/3 "2016-08-20T05:28:58Z")
I’ve backed a few games on Kickstarter. Scoville is one of them and I’ve had the chance to play it once with my nephews. Pretty fun game with 4, and it seems like it would expand up to 6 without much problem. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2016, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-purpose-board-game-thread/763361/4 "2016-08-20T07:21:58Z")
This week, I’ve played Age of War, Valeria, El Gaucho, King of Tokyo, Codenames, Hansa Teutonica, Dead of Winter, and A Game of Thrones. I also ordered two Kickstarters: Fields of Green and Henchmania. ---
**Author:** ![Teuton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teuton/32/3864_2.png) [@Teuton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teuton)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2016, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-purpose-board-game-thread/763361/5 "2016-08-21T16:48:29Z")
I got Scythe as DLC on Tabletop Simulator as an utter impulse without really checking it out after noticing there’s a single player mode. I have since attempted to make sense of the rules without success, do you think it’s worth it for just single player? ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2016, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-purpose-board-game-thread/763361/6 "2016-08-21T16:50:41Z")
> [@Teuton](#): > > I got Scythe as DLC on Tabletop Simulator as an utter impulse without really checking it out after noticing there’s a single player mode. I have since attempted to make sense of the rules without success, do you think it’s worth it for just single player? I haven’t played the single player yet. I’ve been way too lazy to try and take the automata system. But I’ve played with two people and it’s been a blast. ---
**Author:** ![Gedd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gedd/32/4938_2.png) [@Gedd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gedd)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-purpose-board-game-thread/763361/7 "2016-08-29T20:03:14Z")
This past weekend I was able to learn _Galaxy Trucker_, _Istabul_ and _Pandemic_ because the kids are away. We have a fairly large collection, but our kids aren’t old enough to play most of them. Either they need to make better kid’s games, or my kids need to gain a few years. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2016, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-purpose-board-game-thread/763361/8 "2016-08-30T19:46:34Z")
The two I have heard the most buzz about are Star Trek Ascendancy and SeaFall, although I don’t think either of them are out yet. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2016, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-purpose-board-game-thread/763361/9 "2016-08-30T22:38:21Z")
I got _Vast_ last week but haven’t had a chance to play it yet. But the early word is not encouraging. I can confirm the rulebook is not well written. It looks like I’m going to have to set up each character and play my way through while consulting videos and online FAQ’s to learn the game. Other people are saying the same thing. Hopefully the end effort will be worth it and this won’t be another _504_.