Catan – Nerds on Earth https://nerdsonearth.com The best place on earth for nerds. Fri, 18 Dec 2020 20:43:18 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://nerdsonearth.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/cropped-nerds_head_thumb2-100x100.png Catan – Nerds on Earth https://nerdsonearth.com 32 32 All the podcasts from NerdsonEarth.com, under one umbrella. We create short run podcasts for nerds, covering D&D, Marvel, Starfinder, and more! You vote for your favorite shows and they just might get a second season. Catan – Nerds on Earth false episodic Catan – Nerds on Earth jason.sansbury@nerdsonearth.com podcast All the podcasts from NerdsonEarth.com, the best place on Earth for nerds. Catan – Nerds on Earth https://nerdsonearth.com/wp-content/uploads/powerpress/noe-podcast-logo.png https://nerdsonearth.com/blog/ 7 Great Games to Jump Start a Board Game Collection https://nerdsonearth.com/2020/03/grow-a-board-game-collection/ Thu, 19 Mar 2020 12:00:00 +0000 https://nerdsonearth.com/?p=29637

Are you ready to get on the gaming band wagon but don't know where to begin when starting a board game collection? Here are 7 games to start with.

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Are you board game curious, yet don’t know where to begin? Well, here are 7 great hobby board games to get you going. Warning, these games will mark the start of your next obsession.

Starting a Board Game Collection

1. Pandemic

pandemic-board-game

Pandemic is what’s called a co-op game. What Monopoly was to yesteryear, Pandemic is to our time. It is a “gateway” game that has introduced most of blue state America to hobby-style board games.

Pandemic has you take on the role of CDC workers, trotting around the globe, knocking off disease cubes to prevent a global catastrophe. Pandemic popularized the cooperative board game, meaning you don’t compete with your teammates, you work together.

Pandemic is a clean, elegant game and one that is perfect to add to your collection, being that it rewards cooperation instead of competition. And if Covid-19 has you feeling uneasy, Pandemic is an excellent outlet for gallows humor.

You can get Pandemic here.

2. Zombicide

Review of Zombicide

Zombicide is nothing but big, dumb fun. Few games go better with beer than Zombicide, and there isn’t a game that has a better horde of cool miniatures. It’s consistently the best-seller through Nerds on Earth affiliate links.

In Zombicide you play survivors who are working against a legion of the undead. It’s pulpy fun. We’ve done a full review, but trust us when we say you’ll get lots of hoots and hollers from Zombicide.

A 2nd edition of the game releases in late 2021, but the later Green Horde and Black Plague editions will continue to hold up. In the days of Covid-19, I recommend the Black Plague edition obviously.

Get Zombicide: Black Plague here.

3. Dominion

Dominion-hand-580x351

Dominion is the granddaddy of what are called deck builders. You start out with a small hand of cards and limited actions. Turn by turn you add cards and your actions increase.

Dominion is chill, yet still thoughtful. It works great as a two player game, so it makes for a nice, quiet date night at home. It also has loads of expansions, and while there are flashier games that exist, you’d be hard pressed to find a game that is more universally appreciated than Dominion.

Get Dominion here. You won’t regret it.

4. Century Spice Road

I have introduced more people to hobby board gaming via Century Spice Road than any other game. It is simple to teach, good with a variety of player numbers and types, and makes for a smooth, enjoyable time.

You play as spice traders of yesteryear. You play cards to gather cubes that represent different types of spices. You then turn those cubes in to purchase cards that grant you victory points.

I realize that previous sentence sounds boring as heck, but Century Spice Road is a wonderful game, despite what many would consider a ho-hum theme. But it’s a GREAT game. It’s elegant and smooth, which makes it ideal for an evening at home or if you have another couple over.

Get Century Spice Road here.

5. Ticket to Ride

Ticket to Ride

Ticket to Ride is a game about laying rails. Players get cards that list train routes, then race the other players to collect the colored train cars that allow them to complete the routes.

I’ve never a met a human that didn’t enjoy the game. Everyone from grandpas to older kids enjoy playing, so it’s worth a purchase if just to have something to do after thanksgiving dinner. It’s a modern day classic for a reason.

Get Ticket to Ride here.

6. Raiders of the North Sea

No spoilers on the awesome Viking crew cards.

If you itch for something a little more exciting that spices or trains, give Raiders of the North Sea a try. Raiders of the North Sea is a Viking-themed game, something I appreciate as a Minnesotan. But what I really appreciate is how smooth and fun the game is.

The core gameplay has players place a worker, then take a worker. Those actions allow a player to build up a raiding party that can then plunder the countryside.

I’ve written more here, so suffice it to say that I give Raiders of the North Sea my highest recommendation.

Get it here.

7. Lords of Waterdeep

Lords of Waterdeep might be the deepest cut on this list, as it is a D&D-themed board game and slightly more difficult to learn than a straight gateway game like Ticket to Ride. But it will absolutely become a cornerstone to a growing board game collection.

Lords of Waterdeep isn’t D&D, but it is D&D inspired. Cards are placed across the top of the game board. These cards are quests that have different requirements to complete. As players complete those objectives (plus hidden ones), they score victory points.

It’s one of my wife’s absolute favorite games and she isn’t into D&D at all. She loves Lords of Waterdeep solely because the gameplay is so smooth.

Get Lords of Waterdeep here.


There you have it: 7 great games to consider when starting a board game collection. And you are starting a board game collection, aren’t you?

Which titles would you recommend to brand new board gamers who are looking to ramp up a collection?  Drop in to our Boarderlands Facebook Group, which is a dedicated space for all things tabletop, and let us know!

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7 Great Board Games to Replace Settlers of Catan https://nerdsonearth.com/2017/11/board-games-to-replace-settlers-of-catan/ Mon, 06 Nov 2017 12:40:02 +0000 https://nerdsonearth.com/?p=14801

Catan is a great board game, but you may be looking for what is next. Here a re 7 board games to replace Settlers of Catan.

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I know it’s not cool to like Settlers of Catan…excuse me, just Catan. It’s become so popular that the hipsters have turned on it for being too trendy.

But Catan’s combination of mass market availability, easy to teach rules, non-threatening theme, and overall solid game mechanics make it an ideal gateway game that gets new gamers away from Monopoly and into more modern gaming. Besides, Catan really is a fine game.

Alas, I also understand where the hipsters are coming from. My friends and I rarely plan Catan anymore. Sure, it was our gateway just like it was for many others, but we’ve now evolved to a higher plane of gaming existence.

With that in mind, you might be familiar with Catan but are likewise looking for some logical next steps toward a deeper dive into modern board gaming. If so, we’ve got you.

7 Great Board Games to Replace Settlers of Catan

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Bohnanza

If you love the trading aspect of Catan… try Bohnanza. Trading wood for sheep jokes have simply became a part of our cultural lexicon at this point. And with good reason because, you know, there are some funny jokes in there.

But that shouldn’t diminish the fact that the trading in Catan is actually pretty fun and provides a nice sense of non-threatening player interaction. If that’s your cup of tea, consider Bohnanza, another game with a trading aspect to it.

Bohnanza is a game about trading legumes (beans). Boy, that sounds scintillating, doesn’t it? It may not look like much, but she’s got it where it counts, kid. It’s a solid game. We did a full review on Bohnanza, so I’ll send you there.

Ticket to Ride

If you love the planning routes aspect of Catan…go with Ticket to Ride. Sure, I just recommended another board game that feels nearly as saturated as Catan, but the reason these games are so popular is because they are overall really good games.

Ticket to Ride is a game where players have “tickets” that direct them to attempt to race with other players to create rail lines.

The game has that ye old timey charm that is associated with trains and this aspect really helps it be a hit with everyone. Your nephew on up to your grandpa will enjoy it.

Ticket to Ride is a solid game that takes a similar route planning aspect that is available in Catan, but turns it into the core mechanism of the game.

Suburbia

If you love laying tiles out in different configurations….try Suburbia. I like setting up Catan and placing the hex tiles down in the random configuration that gives the game some replayability.

But what if you took that tile laying, modernized it, then really made it player directed and the central aspect of the game?

Suburbia is a tile-laying game in which each player plans, builds, and develops a small town into a major metropolis. Players lay hex-shaped building tiles to add residential and commercial, as well as special points of interest to grow your town.

We did a full review of Suburbia, so I’ll send you there.

Viticulture

If you love the settlement building aspect of Catan…try Agricola: All Creatures Great and Small. Scratch that. All Creatures has been frequently out-of-print, so try Viticulture.

Viticulture is a game about making wine. It has a wonderful aspect where you build up your vineyard to both increase quality and production, while also making your vineyard be a place that visitors would want to tour.

It’s a great game and one that has made our list of great games for couples. We also did a full review of Viticulture.

Stone Age

If you love dice used non-combatively…try Stone Age. Catan doesn’t use dice ala Candyland to pick up and move a marker across squares, nor does it use dice combatively like in D&D.

Instead, the dice rolls in Catan allow some randomness and variability in collecting resources. Stone Age uses dice in a similar way.

Stone Age has players in the roles of Stone Age era hunters, collectors, farmers, and tool makers. During three phases, players use dice to add tools to their culture, increase their population, gather resources, or feed their people.

Stone Age works great. It’s clear and streamlined, while also giving a nice depth to strategy. The dice rolls don’t feel caprecious, in other words.

Dominion

If you love that it is easy to teach...give Dominion a try. Catan is so popular in part because it’s not hard to pick up. After only a few minutes a new player can muddle through some sample rounds and get their feet under them. Dominion is very similar in that regard.

Dominion is a deck-builder, a very different kind of game than Catan, but it is very much like Catan in that it can be a nice gateway game for players new to board gaming.

Players start with a hand of cards. As turns progress, players use their cards to “purchase” better and better cards from the card decks in the center of the table. As the cards get better, players’ hands get more powerful and efficient, allowing them to parley their purchasing power into points.

My wife and I play Dominion all the time. It’s so low key that it provides an easy ‘yes’ if you only have a little time in the evening and you aren’t interested in the thought of an intense game.

Century Spice Road

If you are simply looking for a next step board game recommendation...try Century Spice Road.

This is a newer game (2017) on this list and it is wonderful. With Century Spice Road, I’m not trying to recommend an analogue of a particular aspect of Catan, as much as I am simply recommending a great game.

Players of Century Spice Road are spice traders from centuries ago. Players begin with a few simple cards that allow them to purchase spice cubes or upgrade their cards, becoming more powerful in their purchasing power.

Turns play quick, but not because it’s a frantic game. It’s a wholly relaxing game that plays quickly because it’s so darned elegant and smooth. It’s a wonderful game that could very easily become that game you break out every game night because literally everyone would enjoy it.

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Hey, if you’re still kicking it with Catan, then keep having fun! But if you are looking for something a bit more, the above might be nice replacements for Catan in your collection.

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Here are 7 Games to Jump Start Your Modern Board Game Collection https://nerdsonearth.com/2016/08/starting-a-board-game-collection/ Thu, 18 Aug 2016 12:35:11 +0000 https://nerdsonearth.com/?p=8141

Are you ready to get on the gaming band wagon but don't know where to begin when starting a board game collection? Here are 7 games to start with.

The post Here are 7 Games to Jump Start Your Modern Board Game Collection appeared first on Nerds on Earth.

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We’re in the midst of a gaming renaissance, nerds. The water is warm. You need to hop on the bandwagon. Time to get in on the action. Yada yada yada.

But what if you are board game curious, yet don’t know where to begin? Well, here are 7 great hobby board games to get you going. Warning, these games will mark the start of your next obsession.

Starting a Board Game Collection

catan.0.0
cImage: Cheatography.com

Settlers of Catan is the game that will have you have you trading sheep for wood. What Monopoply was to yesteryear, Catan is to our time.

Catan is the gateway game that has introduced most of blue state America to European-style board games. (Learn more about Euro games and Catan.)

In Catan, you’ll gather resources that allow you to build roads and cities, then trade for the resources you lack. In re-reading that sentence, I realize that sounded boring, but it’s not. Catan really is a great game to get you started.

pandemic-board-game
Image: Chris Norwood on BoardGameGeek.com

Pandemic is what’s called a co-op game. Pandemic has you take on the role of CDC workers, trotting around the globe knocking disease cubes to prevent a global catastrophe. Pandemic popularized the cooperative board game, meaning you don’t compete with your teammates, you work together.

Pandemic is a clean, elegant game and one that is perfect to add to your collection, being that it rewards cooperation instead of competition.

Review of ZombicideZombicide is nothing but big, dumb fun. Few games go better with beer than Zombicide, and there isn’t a game that has a better horde of cool miniatures.

In Zombicide you pick play survivors who are working against a legion of the undead. It’s pulpy fun. We’ve done a full review, but trust us when we say you’ll get lots of hoots and hollers from Zombicide.

Dominion-hand-580x351
Image: GeekDad.com

Dominion is the granddaddy of what are called deck builders. You start out with a small hand of cards and limited actions. Turn by turn you add cards and your actions increase.

Dominon is chill, yet still thoughtful. It works great as a two player game, so it makes for a nice, quiet date night at home. It also has loads of expansions, and while there are flashier games that exist, you’d be hard pressed to find a game that is more universally appreciated than Dominion.

151105_GAME_Betrayal-on-House-on-the-Hill.jpg.CROP.promo-xlarge2
Image: Slate.com, Steve Krause

Betrayal on the House on the Hill is a complete left turn from Dominion. Choosing an adventurer, you build a mansion room-by-room, encountering all sorts of creepy, menacing interruptions. But when a certain action is triggered, the players go from co-operating, to fighting for their survival, as one player becomes a traitor!

Betrayal is great fun. It’s a got a spooky theme, and it packs a lot of tension as you await which player ultimately becomes the betrayer. It’s been one of the hottest games last year, and an expansion is coming soon. Get it here.

Ticket to RideTicket to Ride is a game about laying rails. Players get cards that list geographic train routes, then race the other players to collect the colored train cars that allow them to complete the routes.

I’ve never a met a human that didn’t enjoy the game. Everyone from grandpas to older kids enjoy playing, so it’s worth a purchase if just to have something to do after thanksgiving dinner. You can get it here.

king of tokyoKing of Tokyo pits monster against monster. Players select iconic baddies like King Kong and Godzilla, then battle it out to be “king.”

It’s a relatively simple game, yet it packs a lot of fun. It’s also a game that kids can pick up and play as well, making it a nice family game. You can pick it up here.


There you have it, 7 great games to consider when starting a board game collection. And you are starting a board game collection, aren’t you?

Which titles would you recommend to new collectors?  Drop in to our Boarderlands Facebook Group, which is a dedicated space for all things tabletop, and let us know!

The post Here are 7 Games to Jump Start Your Modern Board Game Collection appeared first on Nerds on Earth.

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Why are Board Games Suddenly a Big Deal in a Digital World? https://nerdsonearth.com/2016/08/board-games-suddenly-big-deal-digital-world/ Thu, 04 Aug 2016 12:00:18 +0000 https://nerdsonearth.com/?p=8146

Board games shouldn't be thriving in a digital world. So what's going on?

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I have approximately 43 Apple devices in my home, yet I also have a collection of modern board games as well. How are board games thriving in a digital World?

To say we’re in a board game renaissance would be an understatement. The board game industry has seen double digit growth for years now and I’d bet you a nickel that you have a friend who regularly hosts game nights.

Are we living in a crazy upside pocket dimension full of intelligent chimps and technomancer wizards, or is there really something interesting going on with the popularity of board gaming?

In order to answer that, we’ll need a brief history lesson. I’ll try not to make it boring.

Dead of WinterGermany is integral to the hobby of board games. In the time after World War II, Germany understandably didn’t encourage military toys for their kids, so they began to create games that were based instead on economics, trading, and other ways of engaging with each other. (While in the U.S., they were flexing their muscles in creating military games. Think of Risk, Axis and Allies, and the military miniatures games that were the early precursors to D&D.)

An enthusiastic industry built around these German games, such as the The Spiel Des Jahres (Game of the Year) award, where the media voted on which game families should buy for Christmas. German game designers focused hard on games for families to enjoy, and this led to a renaissance of creativity in 80s and 90s board game design in Germany, then throughout Europe. Meanwhile, North America was stagnant, creating more of the same — Scrabble, Clue, Monopoly, and those sorts of things.

As Atari, Apple, and Nintendo were making screens more engaging in America, German “Eurogames” (as they came to be called) were getting really elegant and sophisticated. Besides being extremely face-to-face social, they were becoming less luck based (roll of the dice) and more odds-based.

Review of SuburbiaThese Eurogames weren’t necessarily known for simple rules, but they certainly were streamlined, well-designed, and balanced. Additionally, there was much less direct player competition, which was unlike the more combative, longer, luck-dependent games that are in the “Ameritrash” vein (like Risk or Axis & Allies).

Think of Monopoly: you play until everyone but one person is eliminated. That’s not very fun for a social activity.

But then the German game Settlers of Catan became the breakout game in America. For whatever reason, it was the magic missile that launched people into realizing that there were games out there that were not these sort of standard, destroy-everyone, player-elimination games like Sorry and Trouble that they had been used to.

Since Catan, board games have even gotten more sophisticated. The rules and game play has become even more accessible. New styles of games in the Eurogame mold have opened up co-operative gaming, so you can be working with everyone against the game. Only games like Pandemic have given the co-op an engaging Ameritrash theme to further increase popularity.

People often fondly remember their childhood favorites — Life, Scrabble, Connect Four, Sorry — but then realize they can graduate to newer, better games.

Still, how are they thriving in the digital age?

A Review of Lords of WaterdeepIn an era when smart phones, social media, and videogames dominate social interaction, board games provide a welcome cross-current.

Humans are physical beings and we like touch and we like tangibility, especially when engaging in shared activities. In cell phones and with video gaming, companies are trying to replicate that by creating screens that vibrate when you touch them to try to give the person some sort of tactile feedback, but in a tabletop world you have that feedback right away.

Handing someone cards, rolling dice, and moving pieces on a board – all while face-to-face – bring a board game to life in a way that doesn’t happen if it’s just on the screen.

But that doesn’t mean that screens themselves haven’t added to the innovation of board gaming! Games like Ticket to Ride and other tabletop games have app-based versions of their games that suit excellently to tablets. These are allowing people to try out the games at a much lower price point (around $5) than to buy the game in cardboard, which might be $50. These companies that are putting out app versions of their game are actually seeing an uptick in their tabletop game sales.

Review of ZombicideAdditionally, the internet has opened up tons of tools and means where board gamers can connect and strategize, most notably the gigantic barbarian horde that is Board Game Geek, the YouTube reviews of the Dice Tower, and the teaching tool of Watch it Played.

Finally, America has had cult hits of its own. Board game Kickstarters like Zombiecide have made millions. While Cards for Humanity–a card where where you essentially participate with your friends in being vile and awful–is understandably a huge seller with the casual American gamer.


So what’s stopping you from jumping into the board game craze? Sure, you could binge another season of NCIS, but wouldn’t you rather trade sheep for ore or stop deadly diseases with some friends around your kitchen table?

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