tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6829360209113689355.post5523908429789261197..comments2024-03-22T01:20:21.749-07:00Comments on Board Game Reviews by Josh: Top Ten Abstract Strategy Board Games - January 2012Joshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14011225292134198772noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6829360209113689355.post-33939363583867717912013-06-13T04:47:47.378-07:002013-06-13T04:47:47.378-07:00You caught me. I definitely do have a bias like c...You caught me. I definitely do have a bias like chess. I think that you're right, though, that most of the long downtime that some of these games are susceptible to can be fixed with a chess clock - assuming that your opponents are willing to use one. <br /><br />I'm actually not sure when I will be updating this one. It is over a year old now, but I don't know that I've played a lot of new abstract strategy games that would make the list. I'll probably come back to it at some point, but I have a few other ideas for top ten lists that I will probably write first. Thanks for your interest, though!Joshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14011225292134198772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6829360209113689355.post-75183849151786090812013-06-13T00:25:04.414-07:002013-06-13T00:25:04.414-07:00Downtimes are solved by using a clock like in Ches...Downtimes are solved by using a clock like in Chess. I just read your review on Ploy and I see that you have a bias against Chess. And since Ploy is like Chess, then it loses points. I played Chess and Checkers since I was 8 so I guess i'm partial to games similar to them. I've played other board games but I'm more intrigued with pure abstract games where there are no hidden information and/or random elements or luck involved giving one player an advantage/disadvantage, i.e. dice. The reason why I lost interest in games like Backgammon and Stratego. <br /><br />As for Arkeon. I found it on my Android device a week ago through Google Play store. I guess it does not have a board game version as I don't think it's possible but it looks very intriguing. <br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4idlv4YN9Hc<br /><br />Will you be updating this list for 2013? <br /><br />Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17489397784294274973noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6829360209113689355.post-13367814011568093482013-06-09T16:27:30.934-07:002013-06-09T16:27:30.934-07:00Hey, Joe. I've actually tried Ploy (since mak...Hey, Joe. I've actually tried Ploy (since making this list), but haven't heard of Arkeon. Ploy is a solid game, but I don't think that it would make this list. At least in my plays of it, it seems to encourage long down times related to thinking more than a lot of these others.Joshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14011225292134198772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6829360209113689355.post-81165899295346313992013-06-08T16:48:35.033-07:002013-06-08T16:48:35.033-07:00Two abstract boardgames I want to try are Ploy and...Two abstract boardgames I want to try are Ploy and Arkeon. They seem to be very interesting and I'm curious how they would rank on your list.Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17489397784294274973noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6829360209113689355.post-13037432239431965502013-05-03T04:48:19.272-07:002013-05-03T04:48:19.272-07:00I haven't tried that one. I'll look into ...I haven't tried that one. I'll look into it - thanks!Joshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14011225292134198772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6829360209113689355.post-23366300865198083282013-05-03T04:25:04.795-07:002013-05-03T04:25:04.795-07:00I know this is an old list now, but if you haven&#...I know this is an old list now, but if you haven't played Indigo yet, then you should try it. It's the game that killed Tsuro for me.<br /><br />Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11661746607521712942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6829360209113689355.post-25060752364301957742013-04-20T08:15:55.998-07:002013-04-20T08:15:55.998-07:00My bad ... I don't know how I overlooked it! ...My bad ... I don't know how I overlooked it! <br /><br />I'm putting <i>Dvonn</i> on my wishlist right now.Paul Owenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02260814589584723033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6829360209113689355.post-3335994840564836052013-04-20T06:58:44.780-07:002013-04-20T06:58:44.780-07:00Guess I'm a bit confused on your comment, Paul...Guess I'm a bit confused on your comment, Paul - Yinsh is the #5 game on my list! I have actually tried For the Win, but I believe I tried it after I made this list. I'd have to play it a few more times before I would put it on my top 10 list, though - just to see how much it grows on me.Joshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14011225292134198772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6829360209113689355.post-4806547946118500112013-04-19T22:41:46.316-07:002013-04-19T22:41:46.316-07:00Wow, fascinating list. I'm very familiar with...Wow, fascinating list. I'm very familiar with a few of them (<i>Tsuro, Hive, Hey That's My Fish</i>) and very pleased to see them on the list. I'm not at all familiar with some of the others, so I'm interested in exploring those. <br /><br />The only GIPF project game I've played is <i>YINSH</i>, and that only once. Did you consider it and decide it doesn't make the top ten, or is it unfamiliar to you?<br /><br />If you like <i>Hive</i>, I would recommend <a href="http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/114871/for-the-win" rel="nofollow"><i>For the Win</i></a> (Tasty Minstrel). Paul Owenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02260814589584723033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6829360209113689355.post-53777410852567485422012-01-25T04:55:06.221-08:002012-01-25T04:55:06.221-08:00I think we define abstract a bit differently. I a...I think we define abstract a bit differently. I agree that Tsuro has hidden information, but I've never thought of that as a prerequisite for abstract. My definition is more related to the lack of a theme affecting the game. Either way, thanks for the advice on some of those games. I'm sorry my list caused you a "problem" by not including Arimaa, but truly, the main issue there is that I have not played it yet! If I recall correctly, it is on my want in trade list - I'll actually go double check to make sure that I can try it out!Joshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14011225292134198772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6829360209113689355.post-24021979303604097402012-01-24T22:12:18.795-08:002012-01-24T22:12:18.795-08:00I agree with many of these but Tsuro is not an abs...I agree with many of these but Tsuro is not an abstracts since it has hidden information. Any list without Arimaa at top or close to it is also problematic in my opinion. I am glad you rate Gipf highly. It is the best of the Gipf Project. Hive is a great game but suffers from draws. Although that doesn't bother chess players I suppose. Canon is another gem although the production value is not that impressive. Another to consider is Qyshinsu (pity about the name;they're as bad as Kris Burm's names) which has a cool mechanic.davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09812909531246291908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6829360209113689355.post-71680937347471657302012-01-19T10:00:21.362-08:002012-01-19T10:00:21.362-08:00I've seen Quarto but not tried it - I believe ...I've seen Quarto but not tried it - I believe it's from Gigamic, from whom I've tried a few others that ranged from mediocre to good - but maybe Quarto's the one that'll make me feel different about them...Joshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14011225292134198772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6829360209113689355.post-56021643924832480042012-01-19T09:15:46.629-08:002012-01-19T09:15:46.629-08:00Another that we'd suggest you take a look at i...Another that we'd suggest you take a look at is Quarto. All you have to do is complete 4 in a row of one matching characteristics of the pieces (light/dark, tall/short, round/square, flat top/hole). But your opponent chooses which piece you play each turn.Trenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12008103863362056677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6829360209113689355.post-85150146115682096902012-01-04T07:29:34.939-08:002012-01-04T07:29:34.939-08:00I haven't played Cathedral - maybe I should lo...I haven't played Cathedral - maybe I should look into it. I have played both Blokus and Blokus 3D (previously known as Rumis). I thought about putting Rumis on the list, but the others all bumped it down off the list.Joshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14011225292134198772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6829360209113689355.post-9734118115213968892012-01-04T05:06:18.580-08:002012-01-04T05:06:18.580-08:00Excellent! Have you played Cathedral? We have it...Excellent! Have you played Cathedral? We have it, but it hasn't made it to the table yet. It's interesting to me that none of the Blokus titles made your list.SoFranklyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14629984479802083360noreply@blogger.com