Carcassonne Central

Well played it last night for the first time. A four player game and it was great fun. Easy to follow rules and a well printed map and pieces. The way the game handles will allow for many variations so difficult to see it getting stale too quickly.

sounds like a disney game

Yes...but it really is from Days Of Wonder...after all.

Second game of this with four players and it was a lot more combative. Execllent fun with easy quick rules.

Thanks for the info and the the follow-up.  I got an email from DOW promo'ing this game and it looks interesting, unfortunately it will have to go onto my Christmas wish list, since my dicretionary fund$ are currently depleted.

Don't mean to be a wet blanket, but this game did not live up to the pre-release hype that it got. No, it is not a bad game. I would play it again, but I don't think I will buy it.

I just got my copy.  I'll probably do an unboxing over the weekend.  BTW, does anyone know what the BGG thing is all about?

What is the BGG thing?

There seems to be some sort of Boardgamegeek exclusive or something or the other.  I don't have any info, so I was asking if anyone knew what it was about...

There's a mini expansion that's only available through the BGG store. $5, including shipping to anywhere in the world. BGG Link (http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/60054/small-world-leaders-of-small-world)

Played a couple of three player games of this over the past couple of weeks. A friend at work bought it. Absolutely brilliant! I shall be making a opurchase very soon. It scores on just about every front.... Simple rules, can have very strategic gameplay, different board depending on number of players, no game is ever the same, expandable, and absolutely gorgeous to look at it plus very well made and presented. Top marks.

Have now played several games - 3, 4 and 5 player and it gets better every time.

Regards the BGG expansion - 'Leaders of Small World'. It's a bit on the pricey side... you only get a card of pop-out tokens for the money. Unlike the BGG Dominion cards exclusive which was a real bargain. That said, the set is popping up on ebay for upwards of £10.00 stirling plus p&p so could end up being the 'Cathars' set of the game!

This reminds me that I am quite overdue in getting this game to the table. Thanks.
Fun, light, and very re-playable.

I've now bought my own copy of Small Worl. Also bought the the two main expansions; Cursed and Grand Dames. Decided against the the Tales.. card set for now. And I take back the coment I made regards the Leaders of Small World BGG expansion being expensive... the guy at the shopadded it to my purchase for Free! Result!!

I've just spent the morning un-boxing (as you guys like to call it) and popping out hundreds of pieces.

We have friends staying with us for the week so I can see a few rounds of it being played.

This won't be of much help to many of you, but if your ever in the West Country (Of UK) then a visit to Clifton Road Games in Exeter is an absolute must. Only discovered them yesterday. What a terrific shop.

Also finally picked up a copy of Cult, Seige and Creativity.

I've used Clifton Road Games for mail order. I have found their service excellent (http://www.cliftonroadgames.co.uk/ (http://www.cliftonroadgames.co.uk/)).

Just a heads up for those of you with this game - The new expansion 'Be Not Afraid' is about to be released along with a limited edition expansion 'Necromancer Island'.

What's a Limited Edition Expansion?

er... exactly what it says... An expansion that's a limited edition. What else did you think then?  ::)

OK, I got them earlier in the week.  My opening pictures and first look commentary is at:

Be Not Afraid (http://toyaday2010.blogspot.com/2010/11/small-world-be-not-afraid.html)
Necromancer's Island (http://toyaday2010.blogspot.com/2010/11/small-world-necromancers-island.html)

There's also the first look/opening of Tales and Legends as well:

Tales and Legends (http://toyaday2010.blogspot.com/2010/11/small-worldtales-and-legends-and.html).  This one has Carc:Bridges, Castles and Bazaars as well.

Was out Black Friday shopping today and I nabbed Small World at Borders for $25!!! Win! It retails for $50 but for the weekend, Borders has a 50% off coupon that works on ANY one item in the store, including Small World, Forbidden Island, Reiner Knizia's Black Sheep, The Game of Thrones, Catan: Seafarers, Settlers of Catan 5-6 Player Extension, Carcassonne, Ticket to Ride (USA), the new RISK, and a few others I can't remember. If you live in the US, grab a Borders ad from Thursday's newspaper, and run to your Borders by Sunday to grab a EuroGame at 50% OFF retail!

Edit: I also got a Leaders of Small World expansion last week from BGG before they ran out. Double win!

So I guess that means you now understand the meaning of a limited edition expansion then?  ;D

lol. Actually, I also nabbed a copy of Necromancer Island at my local game store. And when I went there a week later, they still had all their copies of it, so I nabbed a second to sell next Christmas. I understand the meaning of limited edition, I just often don't take advantage of it until it's too late.

Finally got hold of Be Not Affraid and with a copy of Necromancer Island, and whilst I was at it completed the set with Tales and Legends. Guess I better play it now.  ;D

Anybody play a 2-player round of this?  Is it fun and playable with two people?

It's a bit boring with 2 players.  Having said that, playing vs the computer on an iPad is a great way to kill time...

I do not think I would enjoy this two player. Think the game needs player interaction to hit its stride.

Thanks for the replies guys!

For reference, do either of you enjoy a two player game of Dominion?

I enjoy 2 player dominion.

Sorry for the late reply. I play Smallworld and Dominion two player quite frequently. I just picked up Cursed! and Grand Dames of... for Smallworld. I always play with Seaside and Intrigue for Dominion. Dominion plays just fine two player, in my opinion. Sure it doesn't have as high a level of conflict, but it is quite enjoyable. Smallworld plays just fine too. My only noteworthy comment about it is that I find myself abandoning races much more frequently in two player games. Last time I played, I think I switched to a fifth race on the second-to-last turn, just to nab some easy territories.

Thanks for the replies guys.  I may go ahead and give Small World a chance then. 

We play every Friday night.  However, I only have one guarenteed person to come over.  ANother friend has finally been moved to first shift so he gets to come now too so we are usually good with three.  However, I like to make sure all the games I buy can be played with two players so if it is just two of us we can still have fun. 

Thanks again!  I appreciate the feedback.

Ok, on a whim, I bought it yesterday.  I went to a gaming/comic store about an hour away for a Munchkin gathering.  The guy had a ton of games on the wall.  The store was basiclly his house.  He cut me a deal, I got Ark of the Covenant and Small World for $60.  Now I'll just have to absorb the rules and figure it out. 

Just got Small World, along with all expansions, in a trade. The only expansion missing is Necromancer Island. If anyone can help me out obtaining this please drop me a PM. Cheers.

People Trading:
http://boardgamegeek.com/collection/items/boardgameexpansion/84183?fortrade=1

People Selling:
http://boardgamegeek.com/geekstore.php3?action=listforsale&gameid=84183

The good news is that I didn't see the 'Tales and Legends' expansion deck for Small World (and did not get that in my trade), but a FOLGS added 'Necromancer Island' to my purchase of this deck of cards. Now my Small World collection is up to date and complete.

We played it last Friday, and I think we got it figured out.  It was a 2-player game.
Last night, we played a whole game, with three people.  Quite fun!

I saw Tales and Legends at a shop today and bought it. 

I think we are going to enjoy this game!

There is another expansion or stand alone game in the works. DoW are releasing previews of the characters from Small World: Underground slowly. At present art has been previewed for 'Gnomes' and 'Mime Shadows'.

See this thread at BGG: http://boardgamegeek.com/article/6636359#6636359 (http://boardgamegeek.com/article/6636359#6636359)

Small World Underground is now released and acts mostly as a spin-off but parts can be used as an expansion. Both games expand each other. I have a feeling the original Small World has run its course since Be Not Afraid... did a great job of wrapping all the races/abilities/leaders up in a nice little travel case. Underground expansions, I suspect, are next on the list for Small World.

I saw a review of this game that said it was rather predictable and got boring after a few plays.  Any thoughts to the contrary?

I would disagree completely.  It has become one of our favorite games.  I don't think you could say "predictible".  The only thing predictible would be that you are going to capture territories and try to get money, but that's like me saying I predict you will be laying tiles and trying to build a city in Carc.

I have all the expansions so that adds way more races and special powers than just the base set so there are combos we have not seen yet, but we have no issues with boredom.  A big game of five people can take time though, maybe that's the boredom factor.  But a three play game can go quick and you never know what people are going to do.  And if you think you know, then rather than say it's predictible I'd say try to mess with them.

As far as Underground, I'd say that is a step up.  The board is smaller and all but MAKES you attack the other players more.  There are subtle differences in the game, but I feel it makes them better.  No Lost Tribes at start up, but you have Monsters on a few regions that net you powerful places or relics that give special abilities.  I also like the races and abilities too, almost more intense abilities. 

I also saw many people playing demos at Gen Con while I waited for my Munchkin World Cup tournament, and they all loved it. 
Everybody is different, but I would hardly call Small World boring.  It's more fun that Ticket to Ride if you like that, and I liked that demo enough to spend $50 on that game too.