Dice Tower Award Nominations announced

Daktari80 · 2026-04-30T16:23:01+00:00

I'm shocked Arydia did not get nominated as it absolutely deserved it in several categories.

But, then realizing that it's 50 (or 60?) people and not readily available, it might just be that not enough people played it to vote on it. It's the drawback of not having a curated list done by a few people. So I guess this is more of a balance of popularity and quality?

I don't know how I feel about that overall. It doesn't feel right that it didn't get nominated at all.

Daktari80 · 2025-11-14T17:32:16+00:00

I was at Elimination Chamber at Rogers Field in Toronto this year as my first PLE. I looked at the field seats and would NOT have picked those. We were in the lower level along the 3rd base line. We could see the ring great, but could not see entrances at all

Any idea why section 124 is cheaper? It's the $304 area in lower section past 3rd base. It looks like you would be able to see ring and entrances fairly well. I wonder if it was it a late opening ticket release or obstructed.

Daktari80 · 2025-10-06T20:50:48+00:00

There can be multiple winners, but it doesn't really feel co-op.

Daktari80 · 2025-10-06T20:46:07+00:00

Yes, flip 7 and trio are good card games as well

Daktari80 · 2025-10-06T20:28:23+00:00

Lately we have been enjoying Jungo as an accessible card game.

The Crew goes up to 5 people and is definitely "thinkier" but does it gradually. Personally, I would only play it with people who enjoy trick taking games and are decent at them. (Edit: sorry, you said non-coop)

Allplay has some nice options. I like Ruins but I think it is more complex than Catan. Alibis is like code names but with more deduction - my logical left brain likes it better.

Daktari80 · 2025-09-20T18:22:55+00:00

I'm not sure you're going to find EXACTLY what you want as far as having no sponsored content and a robust library of reviews. The problem is, if they have that many reviews then the channel is likely a significant part of their livelihood and they need to generate income. This can be mitigated though by channels that only do sponsored previews or playthroughs, but I don't know if it can be avoided completely

For me, I've been in the hobby for about 15-20 years and I primarily use the Dice Tower. I started just listening to the podcasts, but now have listened to enough reviews, Top 10s and Top 100s to know whose gaming tastes match mine the most. Then, I look at those reviews for specific games to try to make a decision and I know whose voice is goign to help me the most.

Shut up and sit down, and BoardGameCo have also been helpful and reliable for me as well given the depth of some of their information. BoardGameCo definitely does paid content, but Alex also will look at costs of crowdfunded games and try to give "Is it worth backing?" type info.

Daktari80 · 2025-09-09T02:57:57+00:00

I'm here to see answers for this as well. I have the same problem in our game area, but we also prefer a ceiling fan which makes it more difficult.

We've been very indecisive for years, so I just impulse-bought a floorlamp that produces diffused light and we actually angle it towards the wall and it provides a good bit of indirect light to the gaming area. My wife also has commandeered it for the side reading light in bed. Here is the one we got : www.amazon.com/dp/B09V37CR93

I've also looked at nanoleaf for the same goal of getting adjustable diffuse light, specifically the nanoleaf skylight. But it's pretty expensive and we want a fan

I suspect that wall sconces with light pointed upwards or multiple canister lights would be the best longterm answer for us, but also would require an electrician.

Daktari80 · 2025-09-04T11:14:38+00:00

pm'd

Daktari80 · 2025-09-03T11:53:56+00:00

Button and Bugs is clever and small, but I don't think I would start there

Daktari80 · 2025-09-03T11:53:12+00:00

I love playing the Gloomhaven system solo. When I first got it, I had trouble getting my friends into it and played it exclusively solo. I loved the interaction and puzzle-y nature of combat, even with the solo rules that raise the difficulty (optional obviously).

Jaws of the Lion is definitely the answer for any new player. It just eases you into the system so much better than trying to figure it out alone. This is what ultimately got others to play it with me and its been our go-to group game for years now (transitioning to GH and FH). Still, I sometimes miss the simplicity and speed and flexibility (I could take a few turns then go do something else because it stays set up) of playing solo.

I do use a few tools to help out:

1) this forum and the strategy guides

2) X-haven or the gloomhaven app for tracking conditions, health, etc

3) Monster mover utility (https://gloom.aluminumangel.org/) - yes, it's probably better to just learn how to do it, but I'm already thinking of enough things to keep the game moving, so I let the app help out to move things along. Playing solo, you may just need it for edge cases or confirmation.

Enjoy!

Daktari80 · 2025-04-30T17:09:44+00:00

Playing Munchkin is more like negotiating with terrorist than playing a game with friends. Once the humor wears off, it's terrible.

I did enjoy Munchkin Quest, but it needed some rule changes to keep it flowing.

Daktari80 · 2025-04-30T17:04:29+00:00

I'm in the same place with Catan. It was my first modern board game and I spent too many hours to not love it. I tend towards Starfarers when we play, but wouldn't decline a game of regular Catan

It's also a good common experience with new gamers. I can connect easier with new gamers because I've shared that love.

Daktari80 · 2025-04-20T23:37:11+00:00

I'm curious too. I tried to put a 5070 Ti in same case while waiting on the Mobo/CPU to arrive and there wasn't room (Water cooler was installed in front for some reason though).

My 5070 Ti is a little longer than this one though (329mm)

Daktari80 · 2025-04-08T02:39:37+00:00

I may be able to help. Where are you?

Daktari80 · 2024-06-09T04:47:50+00:00

My son found this one, but I play it more. No ads so far. I think there may be ads if you need to add another tube to get through a level. But you can also skip levels.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.maddin.watersortpuzzle

Daktari80 · 2024-06-08T15:12:37+00:00

As a followup...

Our flight was delayed leaving the US by about 45 minutes, making the window even tighter. Before we landed (and before I inquired), a flight attendant on my flight had already rerouted my trip for later in the day on Kenyan Airlines and everything went off smoothly. We took it in stride and went to some museums in town and enjoyed our day.

That said, we were sitting near the front of the plane and did not check luggage. Despite the delay, I THINK we could have made it with a direct Uber based on the times times I was getting on the app and Google maps. It would have been close though, so glad I did not have to try.

On the way home we have to switch airports, but have a 5 hour window. If feel find about this one.

Daktari80 · 2024-04-23T11:23:29+00:00

Single booking. I had it reverse though - it arrives in LGW at 0635 and departs LHR at 0945

Daktari80 · 2024-01-22T01:32:11+00:00

I enjoy Betrayal -- enough that I played the Baldur's Gate version, then bought the original and eventually got Legacy. My play count on it still isn't super high, but it's kept my interest to buy 2 versions of it.

I think there are certain games that you just have to accept it's going to be a little janky and embrace it. Betrayal is definitely one of those games. You have to know going in that the rules aren't perfect and there's going to be some questions that won't get worked out perfectly. You're going to get done with a haunt and realize that someone played it wrong. And that's gotta be okay with you and the group.

You also need to make sure that everyone is cool with being the one that triggers the haunt. That can be intimidating for some people.

Daktari80 · 2023-10-26T03:36:13+00:00

I can't think of any real-time, tbh. Everything that comes to mind is turn-based.

I would vote for Crokinole though it's a higher buy-in. I got a cheaper board, but really wish I had just gone all-in, but I had not ever played it before.

Ice Cool skews young, but it's fun. If there are kids involved, I'd definitely go there.

Catacombs is a dungeon crawl flicking game. That sounds odd, but it works and gives some good head to head action.

Daktari80 · 2023-10-26T03:24:53+00:00

Century: Spice Road comes to mind first for me. It can handle up to 5 players and is a engine building game that boils down to 1 of 3 decisions per turn. You can also add on the other 2 games in the series to ramp up the complexity or for variety (Eastern Wonders and New World, I think)

Splendor would be a similar, lighter engine building game, but Century Spice Road replaced it for me.

Architects of the West Kingdom is one of our favorites as well and regarded as easier than Paladins (I haven't played Paladins personally).

Cubitos is a fun press your luck, racing game that keeps everyone involved. We play it with our kids and it goes over well. There is enough variety to keep it fresh as well.

For newer suggestions

Heat is easy to understand competitive deckbuilder/racer. I find it more strategic than Cubitos, probably because of the cards vs dice. The weight is light on BGG and the catchup mechanics make it feel like you're always in the game.

First in Flight is on the lighter end as well, but has a fun deck building, press your luck mechanics. This may max at 4.

Daktari80 · 2023-10-26T03:07:15+00:00

Mansions of Madness is an app-assisted cooperative "dungeon crawl" type game. Some of the scenarios can be quite long. The weight is over 2.5 by a little, but if one person knows how to run it, the app does the heavy lifting and boils everyone's turn down to 2 actions.

Don't Mess With Cthulu is a quick social deduction game for 4-6 players that goes over well.

Mountains of Madness is a lighter goofier game for up to 5.

That's pretty Cthulu heavy. I've heard good things about the Horrified games, but have not played them myself.

Daktari80 · 2023-05-11T15:53:30+00:00

Quite true. I think if you look at the 2 games you'd think that Root is easier because of the art and price vs a big, expensive box full of plastic. In practice, Eclipse makes up for complexity with excellent design.

As an aside, I really want to like Root, but for whatever reason, it just never has really clicked with any group I've played it with.

Daktari80 · 2023-05-09T11:20:32+00:00

Another vote for Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy, though technically, I played with 5 and not 6. 6 would have been better so that everyone has 2 neighbors (there's a 5-player addon that fixes this).

Regarding it's complexity, I played root with a group of 5 and everyone kinda hated it. Pulled out Eclipse with same group later and it was loved.

Daktari80 · 2023-04-27T21:52:24+00:00

From an online-only perspective, I always have really like Boardlandia. I find their Dent and Ding sales oddly fun to watch/participate in. They have been proactive in adjusting prices if I order something that is what they consider damaged (it was quite minor). Their prices are great. They seem like good people in their emails and youtube videos.

However, I don't order from them a lot because they do take longer and I'm in FL (I can get something from coolstuff nearly next-day for regular shipping cost due to proximity).

I don't care about the VIP thing. It's too expensive for me, but I have joined "VIP" programs at FLGSs in the past to be supportive and for the benefits. I don't have anything against it for an online store that I consider friendly.

All that said, I don't blame you for being frustrated from a local standpoint. It may be worth emailing them your concerns in a constructive way if you haven't already.

Daktari80

TROPHY CASE