Games for the Holidays #1
Jennifer Stone
Responding to the earlier post with a game question made me think about
how wonderful it is to give games for Christmas and the holidays. A
game is something that can be shared and played by many people, bringing
families and friends together for quality time. I thought I would make
a few posts over the next week or so and introduce some of the lesser
known, but still very popular games that make great gifts for anybody.
Some of you may have already heard of or even played the board game
TICKET TO RIDE. Produced by Days of Wonder, Ticket to Ride is a very
high-quality and all around appealing game, both visually and
thematically. See the game here: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/9209
<http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/9209>
Ticket to Ride - 2-5 players, ages 8 and up. Play time 45 min-1 hour.
The board is a map of the United States, and each player receives a
stash of colored plastic trains. The goal is to earn the most points by
completing Destination Tickets (designated routes from one point to
another). Each destination ticket has a point value. Complete multiple
destination tickets for more points, but have any incomplete tickets
when the game ends and those points are deducted. Destination Tickets
are given out at the beginning of the game.
On a player's turn they can choose to do ONE of 3 things:
1) Draw 2 cards - either from the face down draw deck, or from a layout
of 5 face up cards (replenshed when drawn). The cards can be any color.
2) Play a meld of same colored cards to claim a route. A route is from
one city to another. For each colored section of a route, the player
must play one matching colored card. They place one of their trains on
each of the colored sections.
3) Draw 3 destinations tickets, and must choose to keep at least one.
Points are earned for each route that is claimed by a player, depending
on the length of the route, and by completing destination tickets.
The game ends when one player runs out of their colored trains.
So that is the bare bones of it! Every person I have introduced this
game to has loved it. In gaming lingo, this game is considered a
"gateway" game, meaning it's a step up from the more usual and common
games (Monopoly, etc) and introduces people to the lesser known
Euro-style games. (Definition of Eurogame:
http://sodaklady.wordpress.com/what-is-a-euro-game/
<http://sodaklady.wordpress.com/what-is-a-euro-game/> )
Priced a little higher than games you find at the local stores and only
obtainable through specialty stores or online retailers, this game is
worth every penny. I haven't even seen my copy for some time now
because it's always being borrowed by friends or family members.
I'll post another game introduction in a couple of days, and will focus
on something a little more budget-friendly.
HAPPY GAMING!
Jennifer
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
how wonderful it is to give games for Christmas and the holidays. A
game is something that can be shared and played by many people, bringing
families and friends together for quality time. I thought I would make
a few posts over the next week or so and introduce some of the lesser
known, but still very popular games that make great gifts for anybody.
Some of you may have already heard of or even played the board game
TICKET TO RIDE. Produced by Days of Wonder, Ticket to Ride is a very
high-quality and all around appealing game, both visually and
thematically. See the game here: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/9209
<http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/9209>
Ticket to Ride - 2-5 players, ages 8 and up. Play time 45 min-1 hour.
The board is a map of the United States, and each player receives a
stash of colored plastic trains. The goal is to earn the most points by
completing Destination Tickets (designated routes from one point to
another). Each destination ticket has a point value. Complete multiple
destination tickets for more points, but have any incomplete tickets
when the game ends and those points are deducted. Destination Tickets
are given out at the beginning of the game.
On a player's turn they can choose to do ONE of 3 things:
1) Draw 2 cards - either from the face down draw deck, or from a layout
of 5 face up cards (replenshed when drawn). The cards can be any color.
2) Play a meld of same colored cards to claim a route. A route is from
one city to another. For each colored section of a route, the player
must play one matching colored card. They place one of their trains on
each of the colored sections.
3) Draw 3 destinations tickets, and must choose to keep at least one.
Points are earned for each route that is claimed by a player, depending
on the length of the route, and by completing destination tickets.
The game ends when one player runs out of their colored trains.
So that is the bare bones of it! Every person I have introduced this
game to has loved it. In gaming lingo, this game is considered a
"gateway" game, meaning it's a step up from the more usual and common
games (Monopoly, etc) and introduces people to the lesser known
Euro-style games. (Definition of Eurogame:
http://sodaklady.wordpress.com/what-is-a-euro-game/
<http://sodaklady.wordpress.com/what-is-a-euro-game/> )
Priced a little higher than games you find at the local stores and only
obtainable through specialty stores or online retailers, this game is
worth every penny. I haven't even seen my copy for some time now
because it's always being borrowed by friends or family members.
I'll post another game introduction in a couple of days, and will focus
on something a little more budget-friendly.
HAPPY GAMING!
Jennifer
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Jennifer Stone
Whoops! Forgot to include a few reasonably priced online retailers for
this game:
www.cardhaus.com
www.thoughthammer.com
www.boardsandbits.com
this game:
www.cardhaus.com
www.thoughthammer.com
www.boardsandbits.com
Sandra Dodd
Jennifer,
I'm going to save your reviews in the games section of my site!
Another idea:
Five Crowns is on sale on Amazon for under $10. I've paid $12 to 15
for sets happily over the years, for gifts and to replace ours when
they get old and less slick. We're on our third set. I love that game.
Sandra
I'm going to save your reviews in the games section of my site!
Another idea:
Five Crowns is on sale on Amazon for under $10. I've paid $12 to 15
for sets happily over the years, for gifts and to replace ours when
they get old and less slick. We're on our third set. I love that game.
Sandra
Sandra Dodd
Ticket to Ride could become an obsession pretty easily, but it looks
like a very geographically and logically productive obsession.
In addition to the game Jennifer described, there's a 1910 Expansion
set for that one, and other sets whose game boards are Europe,
Switzerland, and Nordic Countries.
http://www.amazon.com/Ticket-Ride-USA-1910-Expansion/dp/B000K8FYAS/
ref=pd_bxgy_t_img_c
I put Jennifer's review here:
http://sandradodd.com/game/board
and at the bottom of this page is the min-review and link to Five
Crowns that's been there for a long time:
http://sandradodd.com/game/cards
If you want holiday-idea reminders of games you had forgotten about,
or if you just want to spend some time learning and remembering and
discovering about games, try
http://sandradodd.com/games
http://sandradodd.com/game
(Yes, sometimes my website is screwy, but they say every prairie dog
tunnel has at least two entrances.)
Sandra
like a very geographically and logically productive obsession.
In addition to the game Jennifer described, there's a 1910 Expansion
set for that one, and other sets whose game boards are Europe,
Switzerland, and Nordic Countries.
http://www.amazon.com/Ticket-Ride-USA-1910-Expansion/dp/B000K8FYAS/
ref=pd_bxgy_t_img_c
I put Jennifer's review here:
http://sandradodd.com/game/board
and at the bottom of this page is the min-review and link to Five
Crowns that's been there for a long time:
http://sandradodd.com/game/cards
If you want holiday-idea reminders of games you had forgotten about,
or if you just want to spend some time learning and remembering and
discovering about games, try
http://sandradodd.com/games
http://sandradodd.com/game
(Yes, sometimes my website is screwy, but they say every prairie dog
tunnel has at least two entrances.)
Sandra
Angie
Has anyone heard of the game, Would You Rather? The main premise is
you ask a scenario like would you rather have a head too large or too
small and why. (Just an example).
Angie
you ask a scenario like would you rather have a head too large or too
small and why. (Just an example).
Angie
--- In [email protected], Sandra Dodd <Sandra@...> wrote:
>
> Ticket to Ride could become an obsession pretty easily, but it
looks
> like a very geographically and logically productive obsession.
>
> In addition to the game Jennifer described, there's a 1910
Expansion
> set for that one, and other sets whose game boards are Europe,
> Switzerland, and Nordic Countries.
> http://www.amazon.com/Ticket-Ride-USA-1910-Expansion/dp/B000K8FYAS/
> ref=pd_bxgy_t_img_c
>
> I put Jennifer's review here:
> http://sandradodd.com/game/board
> and at the bottom of this page is the min-review and link to Five
> Crowns that's been there for a long time:
>
> http://sandradodd.com/game/cards
>
> If you want holiday-idea reminders of games you had forgotten
about,
> or if you just want to spend some time learning and remembering
and
> discovering about games, try
> http://sandradodd.com/games
> http://sandradodd.com/game
>
> (Yes, sometimes my website is screwy, but they say every prairie
dog
> tunnel has at least two entrances.)
>
> Sandra
>
Lyla Wolfenstein
Has anyone heard of the game, Would You Rather? The main premise is
you ask a scenario like would you rather have a head too large or too
small and why. (Just an example).>>>>
yeah. grrrrr. we used to play that with our kids, from the time they were little - just verbally. we'd make up all sorts of torurous choices. as far as i know that book and that game didn't exist at that time. we missed the boat! should have "invented' it!
Lyla
.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
you ask a scenario like would you rather have a head too large or too
small and why. (Just an example).>>>>
yeah. grrrrr. we used to play that with our kids, from the time they were little - just verbally. we'd make up all sorts of torurous choices. as far as i know that book and that game didn't exist at that time. we missed the boat! should have "invented' it!
Lyla
.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Sandra Dodd
-=-yeah. grrrrr. we used to play that with our kids, from the time
they were little - just verbally. we'd make up all sorts of torurous
choices. as far as i know that book and that game didn't exist at
that time. we missed the boat! should have "invented' it!-=-
Well...
It was already invented. People have marketed all kinds of games
that were already invented. <g> It doesn't make them better.
Not worth "grrr"ing about, because the important thing about being
with kids is to be peaceful and joyful with them. Let childless
people design and market games. Some people are childless by choice
and some (very sadly) wish they had children and didn't.
Those who have children should play happy games with them!
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
they were little - just verbally. we'd make up all sorts of torurous
choices. as far as i know that book and that game didn't exist at
that time. we missed the boat! should have "invented' it!-=-
Well...
It was already invented. People have marketed all kinds of games
that were already invented. <g> It doesn't make them better.
Not worth "grrr"ing about, because the important thing about being
with kids is to be peaceful and joyful with them. Let childless
people design and market games. Some people are childless by choice
and some (very sadly) wish they had children and didn't.
Those who have children should play happy games with them!
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Gwen
We play Would You Rather all the time! I didn't know it was a board game. It is always fun on car trips, but we play it at dinner sometimes too.
We also also play "Silly Signs" where we pretend to see silly signs ("Lasagna must be eaten with chopsticks", for example).
And the "Thinking Game" where someone thinks of something and gives clues for the other players (sort of like Twenty Questions, I guess).
A new one is the "Animal Game" where someone thinks of an animal and the other player(s) have to come up with ten things they know about that animal. Five seemed too easy and ten is an easy number to keep track of on fingers.
We used to spend lots of time in the car driving places, so we made up lots of car games. When Megan was younger she liked me to call out a color or number I saw and then she'd see if she could find the same one.
Gwen
We also also play "Silly Signs" where we pretend to see silly signs ("Lasagna must be eaten with chopsticks", for example).
And the "Thinking Game" where someone thinks of something and gives clues for the other players (sort of like Twenty Questions, I guess).
A new one is the "Animal Game" where someone thinks of an animal and the other player(s) have to come up with ten things they know about that animal. Five seemed too easy and ten is an easy number to keep track of on fingers.
We used to spend lots of time in the car driving places, so we made up lots of car games. When Megan was younger she liked me to call out a color or number I saw and then she'd see if she could find the same one.
Gwen
--- On Mon, 12/1/08, Angie <ethantlukem@...> wrote:
Has anyone heard of the game, Would You Rather? The main premise is you ask a scenario like would you rather have a head too large or too
small and why. (Just an example).
Angie
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Robyn L. Coburn
We play "Word Charades". We think of a movie, tv show or book title and say
descriptive clues until someone gets the answer. The trick is to make the
clues cryptic enough that the title isn't an immediate snap. It's a great
car game - the hardest part is thinking up a new title that Jayn has a
chance at being familiar with when it's my turn.
Robyn L. Coburn
www.Iggyjingles.etsy.com
www.iggyjingles.blogspot.com
descriptive clues until someone gets the answer. The trick is to make the
clues cryptic enough that the title isn't an immediate snap. It's a great
car game - the hardest part is thinking up a new title that Jayn has a
chance at being familiar with when it's my turn.
Robyn L. Coburn
www.Iggyjingles.etsy.com
www.iggyjingles.blogspot.com
Meghan Anderson-Coates
<<<<Has anyone heard of the game, Would You Rather? The main premise is
you ask a scenario like would you rather have a head too large or too
small and why. (Just an example).>>>>>>
We used to play a game like it in the car (especially on road trips) when the kids were small. We got the game a couple of years ago, but don't really like to use the board. We just have the cards in the car for 'fresh' ideas. It's great for that!
Meghan
Childhood is not preparation for adulthood - it is a part of life.
~ A. S. Neill
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
you ask a scenario like would you rather have a head too large or too
small and why. (Just an example).>>>>>>
We used to play a game like it in the car (especially on road trips) when the kids were small. We got the game a couple of years ago, but don't really like to use the board. We just have the cards in the car for 'fresh' ideas. It's great for that!
Meghan
Childhood is not preparation for adulthood - it is a part of life.
~ A. S. Neill
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]