Best Solitaire Games

[Barthheart]

Cards of Cthulhu is a fun light game. Easy to play. Good solo. Haven't played it co-op, my guess is it would be harder as the evils will appear faster....

[DennisS]

B-29 is on my table at the moment waiting to take off.....

Anyone played the expansion for B-29 -  Hell Over Korea?  Any thoughts on it or is it worth it?

Also, has anyone else played the 2.0 version of the rules for Picket Duty and what are others opinion of the game?

I have the following in the cart:  Cards of Cthulhu and Warfighter (Base Game).  .....And a couple of unboxing pics I have been needing to upload of some games.


PE

B-29, as compared to B-17, is like watching paint dry. Seriously not fun, just one roll after another for weather, or navigation error.

[Nefaro]

B-29 is on my table at the moment waiting to take off.....

Anyone played the expansion for B-29 -  Hell Over Korea?  Any thoughts on it or is it worth it?

I have the Hell Over Korea expansion.  Not played it yet.  I grabbed it because I wanted less navigational worries and more enemy aircraft worries.  It still looks mostly the same, with some small additions, but the biggest change looks to be different style of mission and their length.  The Korean ones aren't as long range but they look like they can be more deadly considering they're more precision-oriented strikes, probably from lower altitudes more often.  And the freakin MiG-15s of course - they may also have a higher amount of Vet/Ace pilots in them too IIRC.  I believe it differentiates between Russkie and NK pilot encounters with the MiGs (there are also NK Yak-9s).  That would make sense since there were Russian WW2 vets flying them.

I can't really say if it's "worth it" since I've not played it yet.  But I decided to pick it up at the same time I got the original B-29 Superfortress game because it's the more interesting theater to me.  I recall it seeming a bit pricey for an expansion although it still has the high quality components similar to the original and Picket Duty.

Also, has anyone else played the 2.0 version of the rules for Picket Duty and what are others opinion of the game?

Nope, not yet.  I've printed them off and read through part but haven't busted it out yet.  I've been in more of a sci-fi/fantasy mood recently.  Was gonna bust out Mage Knight again soon but picked up some new stuff today, so the historical stuff is down the list a bit.

I have the following in the cart:  Cards of Cthulhu and Warfighter (Base Game).  .....And a couple of unboxing pics I have been needing to upload of some games.


PE

I'll waffle on Warfighter for a long time but I definitely want to get Cards of Cthulhu soon.  Hopefully the DVG run doesn't sell out too quickly, as seems to happen with some of their stuff. 

B-29, as compared to B-17, is like watching paint dry. Seriously not fun, just one roll after another for weather, or navigation error.

I played a bit of the vanilla B-29 and my big complaint was the excessive amount of Navigation rolls.  I mean.. you figure DRMs and roll on three different tables, THEN combine the results into another DRM reckoning and associated table.  And again, again.  That's just too much. 

I intended to create a much more compressed homemade replacement version of that mess which only requires one roll.  But that would take some work & time to get somewhat similar results.  Hopefully that got cut down some in the expansion, but I haven't looked yet. 

Reportedly the Hell Over Korea expansion was made to specifically move the focus away from navigational error and other such conerns and back to the fun explode-y stuff.  Dunno how well that was accomplished yet but I'll let you guys know when I get there.

[Nefaro]

Oh.. I did pick up Gears Of War boardgame today.  Good 'ole Fantasy Flight quality stuff in there.  :)  That's definitely gonna be out and running ASAP.

I was also gonna pick up Zombicide (the original "season 1") while I was there, but they had sold out of them.  It's certainly still quite popular.  They said they sold two copies out recently, along with some of the others in the series.  I'm really just getting it for a crowd pleaser rather than solitaire.  It seems to be pretty popular even with casual gamers and easy enough for youngsters to get into.  There are gamers of varying tastes in my small extended family, and this is obviously one that will be a hit for all of them.   Maybe I'll just order a copy from the 'net for next week.

[PanzersEast]

B-29, as compared to B-17, is like watching paint dry. Seriously not fun, just one roll after another for weather, or navigation error.

There is no doubt the game is well designed and thought out... however, while being a historically accurate game, the game suffers a little flatness.  I have read that buying the Hell Over Korea add-on helps this, but simply modifying the encounter tables and the amount of planes you face helps this game out a lot.  I have started modifying the encounters and the number of encounters.  The idea is that the Japanese have  started targeting bombers for more Ramming and swarm attacks at bombers..... and in greater numbers.  I think mixing in a lot of Green pilots to reflect the lack of training, but just a swarm of them being thrown at you and as the missions progress it reflects the desperate measures helps......


PE

[BanzaiCat]

I as well have 2.0 of Picket Duty printed, including log sheets and everything ready to go...I just need to spread it out on the dining room table and try it out. Hopefully this weekend.

[Nefaro]

By contrast, Picket Duty is all about the shooting.  And maybe the occasional damage control team or officer placement.

[PanzersEast]

Cards of Cthulhu is a fun light game. Easy to play. Good solo. Haven't played it co-op, my guess is it would be harder as the evils will appear faster....

I've been on the fence about and think I will hold off.  I am interested more in Warfighter when it releases.  I can see myself having more longevity in that game then CoC, although it appears that CoC is not a bad game.


PE

[Barthheart]

Cards of Cthulhu is a fun light game. Easy to play. Good solo. Haven't played it co-op, my guess is it would be harder as the evils will appear faster....

I've been on the fence about and think I will hold off.  I am interested more in Warfighter when it releases.  I can see myself having more longevity in that game then CoC, although it appears that CoC is not a bad game.


PE

Truthfully, I wish I'd backed Warfighter instead of Cards of Cthulhu. WF came out just after I had backed CoC and I didn't have the cash to do both.
cards is a good game but, like you, I think I'd get more play out of WF.

[Grimnirsson]

I can see myself having more longevity in that game then CoC, although it appears that CoC is not a bad game.

No, it's not a bad game, quite the contrary. We are currently deep in the game sessions for preparing the HFC review. Very promising impressions so far and the game definitely is an interesting combination of very simple mechanics and the need to avoid mistakes in how you play it, a wrong decision can bring doom on your gaming table quickly ;)

[Nefaro]

I can see myself having more longevity in that game then CoC, although it appears that CoC is not a bad game.

No, it's not a bad game, quite the contrary. We are currently deep in the game sessions for preparing the HFC review. Very promising impressions so far and the game definitely is an interesting combination of very simple mechanics and the need to avoid mistakes in how you play it, a wrong decision can bring doom on your gaming table quickly ;)

Marco put up a video review of Cards of Cthulhu about a week ago:

[Nefaro]

Also.. I've been pleasantly surprised with the Gears of War boardgame. 

I already knew the gameplay was fun, from watching the videos, but what I was surprised about was just how quickly and smoothly it plays out.  I played the first mission using two characters in an hour or less - on my first game.  I didn't expect that!  Granted, it wasn't the longest mission but it wasn't "fidgety" at all.

I also got my ass kicked at the very end, which is good.  Glad it's got some challenge too.  O0

[PanzersEast]

Also.. I've been pleasantly surprised with the Gears of War boardgame. 

I already knew the gameplay was fun, from watching the videos, but what I was surprised about was just how quickly and smoothly it plays out.  I played the first mission using two characters in an hour or less - on my first game.  I didn't expect that!  Granted, it wasn't the longest mission but it wasn't "fidgety" at all.

I also got my ass kicked at the very end, which is good.  Glad it's got some challenge too.  O0

Interesting.... I am looking to hear more as I have thought it would not offer much.

I have started learning Andean Abyss and Next War: Korea.....


PE

[Nefaro]

Also.. I've been pleasantly surprised with the Gears of War boardgame. 

I already knew the gameplay was fun, from watching the videos, but what I was surprised about was just how quickly and smoothly it plays out.  I played the first mission using two characters in an hour or less - on my first game.  I didn't expect that!  Granted, it wasn't the longest mission but it wasn't "fidgety" at all.

I also got my ass kicked at the very end, which is good.  Glad it's got some challenge too.  O0

Interesting.... I am looking to hear more as I have thought it would not offer much.

I have started learning Andean Abyss and Next War: Korea.....


PE

Gears of War really isn't complicated regarding rules and such.  Like I said, it seems like there is almost no little fidgety crap to remember or deal with.  A character's turn just consists of drawing 2 action cards, choosing and playing one to use it's actions in order as listed, and then drawing an AI card and following it's programmed If>Then>Or instructions to perform the AI's turn.  You can also spend extra cards from your hand during the AI part, using their reaction abilities, although doing so will weaken your character.  There are more details to it of course, but it's not rules heavy and I didn't have to refer back to the manual at all after a couple turns. 

I believe it only comes with six (?) scenarios, however.  But the way you set up the map tiles means the layout is a bit different every time and the AI spawns & such are randomized with cards as you play too. There is also a cheap mission card expansion available for it but I dunno if I'll need it unless I play the snot out of the game.

It kinda reminds me of the D&D Boardgames but with more decisions to be made regarding character activations, due to the action card play & hand management (your hand is also used as your health).  The way the AI plays out is more unpredictable, which is great.  The artwork is also better, although my first complaint about GOW is how red and/or dark everything is.  It's nice that the game has that grittiness but some of the artwork can be tough to make out and the overall dark red & black colors of pretty much all the components doesn't make it "pop" when you have it on the table (not a big issue for me).  So it's not for those who want bright-colored components.  ;D 

My first impression is that it's a light but challenging "dungeon crawler" with some game mechanics that I usually prefer -  card-based actions, hand management, map tile/enemy/loot randomization.  Or maybe a Mage Knight Lite, even.  Let it be known that I never played the Gears of War games, and had no specific interest in them, so the theme wasn't a hook for me.  It obviously doesn't have the wide range of general "stuff" to be found, such as those you might find in games like Arkham Horror, but it also plays much more quickly with steady action and decisions to be made throughout.

I promptly set up another game of that same first scenario, after having been beaten by the AI.  So maybe that's a good indicator of the replayability?  The map definitely came out differently and I have a feeling it won't be a cakewalk this time, either.

One last thing.. After playing my first game I thought to myself, "Why didn't they use this game system with a WH:40K theme?"  It would fit the bill perfectly.  I bet others had already came to this conclusion as it's pretty obvious.  Maybe it would blow away the Space Hulk thing too much.  Emperor forbid they ever give 40K stuff better game mechanics.   ???

[Arctic Blast]

It is a really good game...one that I'm in the process of re-acquiring.  O0 My only complaint is that 3 of the 4 COG minis look REALLY similar.

With regards to 40K board games, I suspect that Horus Heresy was a bit of a test. Had that done well, then perhaps other reprints of older GW 40K strategy games would also have appeared (Battle for Armageddon, for example). But HH pretty much bombed (largely thanks to a needlessly over the top production in a pointless coffin box), and that was that.