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Columns > Unplugged > #42: Five and Dime
Time for the Doctor to put his money where his mouth is, what has he played lately?  It is a growing trend for the movers and shakers within the board game hobby to compile a "Five and Dime" list of all the board games they've played over the course of the year. What, you say you don't keep track of the various games you play over the year? Well, that may well be a healthy attitude, but have no fear as you can now boardgame vicariously through me, as I have kept track of most of the games I played in 2005 and am prepared to list them for you now. Five and dime lists were created as a way to recognize those games that were played the most throughout the year. "Dimes" were those games that were played 10 or more times, while "Fives" were unsurprisingly the games played five or more times that year. 2005 was a pretty good year for me, as I started up a board game club at the High School where I teach, guaranteeing I got a solid game or two in every week even if my schedule was busy. Unlike many board game enthusiasts, I don't play with a weekly group of board gamers so fall far short of the more prolific gamers in the hobby ﾖ there are those who add "quarters" or even "dollars" to their lists. To compensate, I am also including in my "Nickel" list those games that I was able to get played at least four times. I find these lists rather revealing as they don't necessarily show which games are a player's favorites. They show which ones actually make it to the gaming table. For instance, I do like more complex games like Puerto Rico and El Grande, but neither show up on my lists as I more often play lighter games as I am often introducing modern board gaming to new players. Finally, you will find these lists often emphasize shorter games. Since they take less time to play, they can be played more frequently. On to the lists!
 Gloom by Atlas Games I haven't yet had a chance to write a review of this fun little depressing card game, but it deserves a mention. The cards are made of that nice clear plastic material and are one of the best features of the game. Players start with a family of woe begotten people and attempt to make their lives as miserable as possible - presumably, the more miserable their life, the better their afterlife. However, other players are also seeking to do the same and will often play happy events (such as an inheritance, or a nice wedding) on your cards. The clear cards come into play as cards are played one on top of another and even though a new card may be laid on an old one, some of the aspects of previous cards might still be in effect. As the positive events provide game advantages, some players will choose to play them on their own people, intending to play over them later. There are cards that cause the death of characters, and choosing when to "bump off" your own or your opponents' characters is part of the strategy. The game ends when one family is entirely eliminated and the points for all the dead characters are totaled. Whoever has the least number of points (usually in the negative digits) is declared the winner. Heroes Incorporated by Quest Machine Quest Machine is unfortunately closing up shop, but they managed to produce of the best superhero board games around. It doesn't include any famous characters, but playing the game definitely gives one the "feel" of a superheroic game. Various crime tokens wander around the tile game board while players maneuver their two hero pawns to the crime locations in order to combat them. The superhero characters all have slightly different powers and can also be upgraded throughout the game, requiring players to adapt to strategies appropriate for their own characters. I found it quite fun inmy review. If you find it intriguing, try to find a copy fast as it is now out of print. Memoir '44 by Days of Wonder Several Days of Wonder games make it on to the list, as I reviewed them last summer and gave them a good run-through. I suspect that Memoir '44 will have the longest staying power of the three. It is a very simple, but still excellent light war game. Two players fight out combats on a game board using high quality plastic figurines of tanks, artillery, and infantry. Simple, but effective, rules provide for terrain modifiers and other hazards of war to preserve that war game feel. The game comes as a two-sided board with terrain and buildings provided as cardboard tiles. In this way, many possible scenarios are possible, and no two games need be the same. I particularly enjoy the provided and online scenarios that also include historic background relavant to the battle that is being simulated. For even more combat fun, two copies of the game can be combined to create a multiplayer grand battle for up to four players on a side. It is no wonder this Days of Wonder title was included in the 2005 Unplugged Holiday Guide Shadows over Camelot by Days of Wonder When I first reviewed this game I enjoyed it immensely. As the months have gone by, I haven't played it as frequently, but I still regard it as a great example of a cooperative game. Players each take on the role of Knights of the Round Table, while one player may also be designated a traitor. The loyal knights attempt to accomplish knightly tasks by moving around the game board and playing appropriate cards from their hand. Meanwhile, the traitor attempts to subtly foil the knight's plans without being revealed. Fist of Dragonstones by Days of Wonder I enjoy a good auction game, and Fist of Dragonstones is nothing but auctions. Players bid on a set of cards to earn dragonstones or to score points using dragonstones. Two special cards are added into the core deck each round, which makes every game slightly different. If you like auction games, this is a keeper. If you want to know more, read the full Unplugged review.
 For Sale by Uberplay Uberplay wisely obtained the American printing rights to this European card game and it is far and away my most played game for this year. I gave it high marks in my review of the title, and it continues to impress me. Players bid to acquire cards from a set of cards numbered 1 to 30 representing houses. They then turn around and use those cards in a blind bidding auction that represent selling those same houses. A single game can be played in 20 minutes and the rules are simple enough to teach even boardgame-shy players. The basic strategy of buying cheap and selling expensive is easy for anyone to grasp, so even beginners have a decent shot at winning the game. All this comes in a small tissue-box sized package, making it easy to carry to group functions. For people who haven't tried the new sort of modern board games, playing For Sale opens up entire new horizons about what a card or board game can be. For those curious about how I might even have the patience or organization to keep track of the various games I've played, the very popular and useful web site: www.BoardGameGeek.com provides a very easy interface for members to keep track of the games they play. In fact, if you wish to learn entirely too much about the games I play, my game collection, and even the rankings for most of my games. Just look at the user profile for "Happycamper". The BoardGameGeek is the largest single repository of information about board games on the internet. Other sites, such as GamerDad Unplugged, are great for reviews and opinions, but if you ever need a copy of lost rules, want to see if a favorite game has an expansion, the BGG as it is called is a nice resource. If Five and Dime lists intrigue you, a large compilation of five and dime lists of many board gamers can be found at Five and Dime Home. At the time of writing, the results for 2005 had not yet been published.
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