...doesn't the "TEN" rating on BGG require you to want to play that game and ONLY that game 24 - 7? That wouldn't leave you much time to play anything else, like ... Carcassonne, or even to talk about any other games on this web site. hehehe
I have two games I rated as Ten. HeroScape and Poker.
To me, a ten is a game that is highly enjoyable, I will always play it, not turn down a fgame, and I do not see my enjoyment diminishing over time.
Lucky you! I succeeded in getting my friends (probably a lot older than yours) away from Gin Rummy, Monopoly, and Scrabble -- to try new things like Carcassonne (with ALL the expansions), Poison, Deadman's Chest, Tsuro, Ticket To Ride, and lately Shadows Over Camelot, but I'm the only one BUYING the new games and promoting them and it's getting old since my funds are low. I've only been playing HeroScape with my grandsons (ages 7 & 9), but recently met some new friends who like to alternate HeroScape with HeroClix and Star Wars Mini's. Also I joined a board gaming club which seems addicted to never ending cycle of trying every new game as soon as it it comes out, when I still prefer some of the old classics, like Carcassonne and even Risk. Both are 45 minutes away and with the price of gas and GSP Trolls, I glad when I can make it there once a month.
I am the main game purchaser / collector in our group. I am ok with that as it is my number 1 hobby. I do not have any other expensive hobbies so I put more money into this than most. We have some tried and true standby games, and we are always introducing a new game every few weeks. Our group has grown consdierably in size this past year. I run a discussion forum for family and friends and there are more and more people hosting game nights now so it is rewarding to see the hobby grow and flourish. Carcassone is still a favourite for my wife and I to play though.
I will check out those photo's when I get a chance. Regarding House Rules and Hybrids ~LOL ~ that's what I LOVE BEST about HS, the dynamic nature of the mechanics being adaptable to just about *ANY* figure or story line. An HS friend in PA, PeterParkerH, told me he created a "My-Littlest-Petshop-Scape" set of characters for his daughter to use on the same Battlefields of Valhalla terrain boards. And as an experiment, I just finished gluing Dora, Diego, Boots, and Backpack figures (from a Candyland game) onto HS bases and created Stat' Cards for each one. Thus Dora-Scape is born. Hasbro is really dropping the ball on this one by not realizing the full potential if it was marketed properly. I suspect their Legal Dept is tied up in knots over copyright infringements issues.
Wow. Very creative. You have done more unit customization than I have. I have a bunch of figures ready to re-base to make HS Customs; I just need to get at it. It is a very extensible game *system*.
Didn't Shakespeare say, all the world's a play and we merely players upon it's stage (paraphrased)? So to your tag line I would reply: "Life is a game; let's roll the dice and see what happens."
&OBTW: When and where is the next Bix-Con?
BixCon was a small humble gathering of friends that grew into a full blown three-day convention.
More info here:
http://www.boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/39863 P.S. Sorry Steve, I did not mean to hijack your tread about "War Games in general" with a diatribe about only one (HS) in particular. I'll come back soon with a list of the war games that I have played, own, and want to play. ~JG~
Yes Steve, I too am sorry for the Hijack. Here is some wargaming related information:
Concerning war games, I used to play a lot of Supremacy. It has some interesting elements that our group enjoyed when I live in Halifax. I have Memoir '44 and Tide of Iron and both have hit the table only a couple of times in the last year and a half. I may decide to part with them. I bought two more games that have not hit the table that I would REALLY like to play. Twilight Struggle and Hammer Of The Scots. I am hoping to play both of those this year.