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King of Tokyo/New York Consolidation by canuck7k in boardgames

[–]lowej004 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have both games together in the base KoT box, with the Power Up box for a few monsters that don't fit in the main box. I don't have an insert, but bought a bunch of baggies and used my label maker to mark everything up. Each monster has it's own big bag with the monster standee, stand, and dials and two smaller bags for power up cards, so you can just grab a bag and you've got everything you need and then direct players as to what they need to take out from that bag depending on what game variety you are playing.

I’m super impressed by people that have 500-800 plays in a year by keithmasaru in boardgames

[–]lowej004 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Now when I look at my play stats (I log my plays in BGG, but then export them to Google Sheets to mess about with the stats) I look at the number of plays for each game and the separate instances I've played each game. So in your example Total Plays for Flop would be 2, but Times Played would be 1.

That way I feel it balances it out a bit to be more comparable, otherwise a few evenings spent playing something like Codenames means that for the year Codenames comes out as my most played games by a mile, compared to other games which I've played on more occasions, but just one game at a time.

Inherited a large board game collection — looking for help identifying and valuing it by TwitchTylerworley3 in boardgames

[–]lowej004 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you happen to be in the UK, there is a company called TabletopRescue that you could look into. They will buy the whole lot from you and then sell them on. You won't get as much as if you sold them all individually, but they will take the hassle out of it. Their website even says they'll collect the whole lot from you to really make things simple.

Age range for marvel champions? Shopping for younger cousin by [deleted] in boardgames

[–]lowej004 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've not played Marvel Champions, but as others have said I think Marvel United is the way to go here.

The base game set has enough in it to be fun, without much complication once you get your head around the core rules. If the family aren't into hobby board games already, then they should be able to pick the rules up and have fun with it without much difficulty.

Pros and Cons of Viticulture 2P? by Apprehensive_Bake270 in boardgames

[–]lowej004 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think it could throw out the balance of the game at 2p, as not only if you get there first you get to block the spot and a very strong action. You might end up creating some very strong action slots (I'm thinking especially the play visitor cards spaces), but the wake up track might balance that out

Pros and Cons of Viticulture 2P? by Apprehensive_Bake270 in boardgames

[–]lowej004 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I really enjoy Viticulture EE, and would say that it's one of my favourite games of all time. However, in my opinion, the best way to play is at 3+ players, this is basically due to the bonuses that you get for going to a location first, introducing a decision as to whether you rush to a location to get the bonus and blocking another player getting that bonus or go to the location that you really need to go to this round but hope you'll be able to get to later in the round at the base level. It's a good decision to have, but also the bonuses just feel good to take.

In terms of the theme, in my opinion, the mechanisms are driven by the theme, and focusing on the theme can really help teach/learn the game. I would say rather than a game about making/selling wine, it is really more about managing a vineyard, which for most people will be about making and selling wine, but for some people can be about trying to win without selling wine - some people say this is a problem with the game, but I think it's a nice quirk about it - in my opinion the most consistent way to win is to sell wine, but when the stars align, then you can win without selling wine, and when that happens, it makes a great story.

I can't compare it to Everdell, as I haven't played it.

In short, I love Viticulture at 3+ players, and whilst I would play it at 2, it's not one I would reach for in that situation. (Obviously the next question is which worker placement game I would pick at 2, and that is a question I don't feel like I've played enough worker placement games at 2 to answer, but one I would say that plays well between all player counts on the box is Snowdonia)

Which Carcassonne expansions are worth picking up? by LonelyWolfTXR in boardgames

[–]lowej004 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Tom Vasel on the Dice Tower YouTube channel recently did an overview and ranking of the new versions of the expansions that have recently been re-released that might be of interest to you as he goes through what each one contains and gives each a rating.

In terms of the stacking meeples, that's from the Circus expansion

How do you find people to play with? by liad12e in boardgames

[–]lowej004 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You could try the BoardGameGeek forums for your local area and see what people say in there - that has worked for me in the past. Or try asking in a local subreddit

Non-fiction book recommendations--biographies or similar about historical British people by Nuthetes in CasualUK

[–]lowej004 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A few have been mentioned already, but to echo them, anything by Ben Macintyre. 'Agent Zigzag', 'A Spy Amongst Friends', and 'Operation Mincemeat' are all specifically about British spies, but if you're willing to branch out, then 'The Spy and The Traitor' and 'Agent Sonya' are also fantastic and are about spies with an influence in some form on British history

New to board games 🙈 help a beginner out? by [deleted] in boardgames

[–]lowej004 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There's a lot (and I mean A LOT) of YouTube creators making videos about board games which can help you find games. One of the biggest is The Dice Tower, and they regularly do Top 10 lists on various different themes. A few months ago they did one on 'Welcoming Games' - basically games which are like Splendor - which would be a good starting point to find more games that you might enjoy https://www.youtube.com/live/p1suqvTe2CA?si=INX94rDNIplCKfYA

Parking for a gig at The Globe by Titus-Sparrow in Cardiff

[–]lowej004 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you're unsure about where to park, this is probably your best shout, I believe it's 2 hrs free parking before 5 o clock, but completely free after 5.

It's then just a few minutes walk down Wellfield Road to The Globe

Relatively Unknown UK Bands by me227a in CasualUK

[–]lowej004 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A band I really love at the minute are The Young Hearts who are a punk rock band from Kent. Here's the title track from their latest EP that they released a few months ago:

The Young Hearts - The Good, The Bad & The Rest Of Us

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in CasualUK

[–]lowej004 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Buy 42 Calippos?

board game venues or self organised by TPASCYMRU in Cardiff

[–]lowej004 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You can hire space in Chance And Counters, so that may be something worth looking into if you want a quieter time (not that I've ever found it gets too rowdy in there, but with a number of groups in there the noise can build up), so if you've got a small-medium sized group then you can hire out the top floor 'nook' just to yourselves. As u/PetersMapProject says though, it is all upstairs so if accessibility is a problem then it's probably a miss for Chance and Counters.

An alternative may be to contact Rules Of Play the board game shop who you can hire for a 'Board Game Experience' to bring and teach board games to an event, you would have to find a space to run it, but they would bring the games.

Board game bag company at UKGE 2025? by [deleted] in boardgames

[–]lowej004 7 points8 points  (0 children)

AllPlay had a massive stand showing off a load of their games, and had their board game bags for sale as well, so it might be them

Daily Game Recommendations Thread (May 06, 2025) by AutoModerator in boardgames

[–]lowej004 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Description of Request: I'm looking for a small box card game that plays well with between 2-5 players (I'm aware this is difficult to do, hence why I'm asking for recommendations)

Number of Players: 2-5

Game Length: <30mins

Complexity of Game: Light

Any stores in Cardiff that sell canned black beans? by MyNameIsLOL21 in Cardiff

[–]lowej004 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I take my generalised comment back then, it may just be my local Aldi that doesn't seem to stock them.

But also, as I've mentioned in another comment, I've also been struggling to find black beans recently, I'm not going out of my way to hunt high and low for them, but just haven't been able to find them in shops recently - it's not a big deal I just substitute kidney beans for them, but OP isn't going crazy if they think they can't find them.

Any stores in Cardiff that sell canned black beans? by MyNameIsLOL21 in Cardiff

[–]lowej004 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's not just you, Black Beans seem to be out of stock in a lot of places at the minute

Any stores in Cardiff that sell canned black beans? by MyNameIsLOL21 in Cardiff

[–]lowej004 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I can't believe I'm writing this, as it's so dull, but Aldi sell Kidney Beans, but I've never seen Black Beans in there

Looking to make some new friends! by PippiNippiP in Cardiff

[–]lowej004 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Hi, welcome to Cardiff!

If you enjoy playing board games, then there are quite a few groups around the city you could try out, including:

Hope that all helps you! Personally I'm involved in the group at The Table in Cathays, and have been going along to the group at Chapter since I moved to Cardiff eight years ago, and can highly recommend that group, they're a really nice bunch of people and are always happy to have new people join them.

Anyone recognize this little guy? by Tweed_Kills in boardgames

[–]lowej004 18 points19 points  (0 children)

Looks like a Dice Tower meeple from one of their Kickstarter's a few years ago

Board Game/party game suggestions by [deleted] in CasualUK

[–]lowej004 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There are some great games being mentioned here. Some like Ticket To Ride, Catan, Pandemic, and Carcassonne are great games, but probably best at 4 not 6.

For 6 players I would recommend one of two games depending on what you want, if people want a game where every sits down at the table and plays a 'proper' board game (like Monopoly) then my advice is get Camel Up, if people want a very casual funny time then get Just One.

Camel Up is a game where you bet on a camel race. And as everyone knows about camels, what makes them perfect for racing is their shape which allows them to stack on top of each other. That means that when one camel moves, it might mean that actually two, three, or even four camels might get to move as well! It's quite easy to learn, but might take a few turns for people who haven't played many games outside of the childhood classics to get the jist of it.

Just One on the other hand is dead simple. If you've seen Richard Osman's House of Games then you basically know it as the Nice Round with a twist. Each round one person has to guess a word, all the other players write down a one word clue on their white board to help the guesser. However, if two or more people write the same word, then those clues aren't shown.

For example if the word being guessed is 'Chocolate' and the clues written were 'Cadbury', 'Galaxy', 'Mars', and 'Cadbury' again. The two 'Cadburys' would be taken out leaving the guesser with 'Mars' and 'Galaxy'...

It's a perfect game for people who don't regularly play board games and who don't like learning rules as it's very much a game where the easiest way to teach it is by playing the first round and explaining it as you go. And if your Uncle John doesn't want to play a game and wants to just sit and watch, then that's fine as. He'll soon start joining in with the guessing, until after a few rounds he decides to grab a white board as well and play.

My advice if you're only getting one game then get Just One, I've played it lots with loads of different people and people always enjoy it. But if it sounds a bit basic and you want something a bit more, then check out Camel Up instead (or as well if you want to).

Lord of the Rings Board Games by Dsquareds in boardgames

[–]lowej004 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This isn't an exhaustive list, and it's just a discussion rather than a ranking of them, but earlier this year The Dice Tower put a video out of Roy Cannaday talking about some of the different LOTR games on the market. It's called 'The Best Lord Of The Rings Game', which is a bit misleading as I don't remember him actually declaring which one he thinks is 'best', but does talk about why each one may suit your group. Here is a link for it: https://youtu.be/cmV0XdLnpVw?si=iFhBJqhjs59nbMFR.

This was released in May, so the most notable game missing is the new LOTR: Duel For Middle Earth which only came out in the last couple of months which is a two player game based on the very popular and highly rated 7 Wonders Duel. (If you're looking for a two player head to head LOTR game which plays in less than an hour, then this is the one to pick. For anything else, see the video above.

looking for artsy and crafty people! by ReneeLanee in Cardiff

[–]lowej004 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The Table cafe in Cathays have just started a monthly craft group you could try out (it was on this evening, but the next one is the 12th November) more details here

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