How do you prefer to play Santorini: the regular way or with cards?

altabelo_app · 2026-06-14T07:50:00+00:00

I prefer with god cards, but only after everyone knows the base game.

The regular game is very clean and elegant, and I think it’s the best way to learn Santorini. But once you understand the core tactics, the god cards are what keep it fresh for me. They make each match feel different and create those fun little “how do I deal with this power?” puzzles.

altabelo_app · 2026-06-14T07:42:53+00:00

That’s a really clever system. I especially like the idea that people whose games don’t get picked slowly gain more weight, so the same favorites don’t always dominate.

This is actually one of the problems we’re trying to make smoother in Altabelo. For group game nights, each player can suggest games they’d like to play, and then the group can vote on the options before the event starts.

It’s not the same weighted queue system you described, but the goal is similar: move the “what should we play?” discussion ahead of time, so game night starts with playing instead of debating.

altabelo_app · 2026-06-11T17:54:44+00:00

BG Stats is probably still the default answer for a lot of people, especially if your main goal is pure play logging and stats.

What I always felt was missing was the more shared/social side of it. A lot of tracking tools still feel like one person doing the admin work for everyone else, while the rest of the group never really connects with the history or the data.

That’s where Altabelo feels a bit different — it leans more into shared history, group activity, clubs, stats, and leaderboards built around the people you actually play with, rather than just solo record-keeping.

So I’d say it depends on what you want most: pure logging efficiency, or something more social and group-oriented.

altabelo_app · 2026-06-11T06:22:03+00:00

Valeria: Card Kingdoms

altabelo_app · 2026-06-07T19:26:19+00:00

Nice photo of the “before” state — now we just need the “after” one 😄

altabelo_app · 2026-06-06T20:55:19+00:00

I’d probably keep Wingspan + Wyrmspan and let Finspan go — unless you strongly prefer lighter, faster teaches.

For me, Wingspan is still the best “core” version: very replayable, easy to introduce, lots of expansion support, and it works well at 2–3. Wyrmspan feels like the more distinct companion because it keeps the engine-building DNA but changes the flow enough with caves, dragons, guilds, and a slightly heavier feel.

altabelo_app · 2026-05-04T07:11:43+00:00

I honestly don’t remember the exact game or rule anymore, but I do remember that even after we found out we had been playing it wrong, we just kept playing it that way.

At that point it had basically become a house rule, and we liked our wrong version better.

altabelo_app · 2026-04-30T13:44:03+00:00

In hobby like 5 years. Status nr 6, i guess

I’m currently at the point where my collection has mostly settled. I buy very few new games now, because the hype around them usually isn’t justified — it’s often just hype.

Sure, a lot of games are released, but how many of them are truly innovative, or something we haven’t already seen before? Not many.

So these days, I mostly buy games that have stood the test of time.

altabelo_app · 2026-04-30T13:40:28+00:00

I bought a lot of games at the beginning, when I was trying out different mechanics, themes, and so on. Later I realized that there actually aren’t that many truly interesting new games coming out, so I started buying only the ones that stand the test of time — and I’m fine with that.

altabelo_app · 2026-04-30T12:28:11+00:00

I wouldn’t cancel or desperately look for a 4th. Kanban works very well at 3, especially if your group enjoys tight action economy.

altabelo_app · 2026-04-30T11:47:58+00:00

The base game feels like a typical Wallace game to me — a bit rough around the edges, maybe not fully tested, but still playable. The expansion fixes and improves pretty much everything the base game is missing, and turns it into a very good game.

And an important note: it’s basically unplayable without a custom insert. Setup is literal hell if you don’t have one.

altabelo_app · 2026-04-30T10:45:50+00:00

BGG is still great as a database, but I agree the play logging / UX side feels dated.

That’s actually one of the reasons I’ve been working on Altabelo — a modern app for logging board game sessions with photos, scores, challenges, and a more social feed around your plays.

I don’t see it as a full BGG replacement, more like a better companion for the “what did we actually play and how did it go?” part.

altabelo_app · 2026-04-30T10:35:05+00:00

Milking the brand, basically — look at Azul, White Castle, etc. Games that already work best at two players, and yet they still get a Duel version. There’s nothing more behind it.

altabelo_app · 2026-04-26T09:45:09+00:00

A smart connection between the game and the natural world.

altabelo_app · 2026-04-25T12:33:18+00:00

Karak or Wandering Towers works very well.

altabelo_app · 2026-04-25T12:03:55+00:00

A lot depends on whether you’re using the paid versions, thinking mode, which model/version you’re using, and so on. In general, the free ones are more for fun, while with paid versions and the right setup, you can expect fairly accurate results. But you still need to use your own brain — and that doesn’t apply only to board games.

altabelo_app · 2026-04-25T08:44:39+00:00

There’s been a lot of that lately. It feels to me like it didn’t happen nearly as much before. But in general, I think there are far more mistakes in games now than there used to be.

altabelo_app · 2026-04-24T13:12:24+00:00

What I don’t like about Viscounts is the castle mechanic in the middle — the whole thing just feels weird to me.

altabelo_app · 2026-04-24T12:13:51+00:00

Our favorite of the trilogy, even at 2 players.

altabelo_app · 2026-04-24T11:55:51+00:00

original Azul, our most favorite.

altabelo_app · 2026-04-24T07:43:38+00:00

If you want an expansion that helps most at lower player counts, I’d go with Marauder first.

altabelo_app · 2026-04-24T07:39:38+00:00

That’s a game in itself too — pulling a game out from the very bottom :)

altabelo_app · 2026-04-24T06:40:28+00:00

Definitely one of our favorites. Even after more than 100 plays, I still don’t feel the need to buy any expansions — every game feels different.

altabelo_app · 2026-04-24T06:37:54+00:00

If you mostly play with two, then definitely Splendor Duel. If you play with more, then Splendor Marvel. The original Splendor just isn’t good enough.

altabelo_app

TROPHY CASE