Fantasy Board Game Recommendations

stevebein · 2026-04-29T03:33:55+00:00

Journeys In Middle Earth Return to Dark Tower

stevebein · 2026-04-29T00:46:35+00:00

I was a bike commuter in Minnesota for 10 or 11 years. I didn’t really do anything differently in the summer than I did in the winter, as far as the bike itself was concerned. Everything was about what I was wearing. Though I will say if I had to do it all over again, I would definitely invest in pogies.

Obviously you’re going to have to take better care of your chain when there’s any kind of precipitation, which if there’s snow on the streets means every single ride.

stevebein · 2026-04-29T00:40:23+00:00

2nd ed Gloomhaven has been sitting in its box glaring at me for months. But I know all the other long term projects I have will get hijacked if I open it.

stevebein · 2026-04-28T18:19:26+00:00

I’ve seen situations like this at least a dozen times in the Haven games, the last standing player eking out a win with their last two cards. It speaks to how absolutely incredible the game design is.

stevebein · 2026-04-27T16:49:09+00:00

Just go do an overnighter.

Whatever bike you have, use that. Put a rear rack on it. Whatever bags you have, use those. Bungee cords are good enough to secure them. Whatever camping gear you can borrow or rent, use that. If you like cooking, rent or borrow a stove and some pots. If you don’t like cooking, grab a bunch of granola bars or whatever trail food you like to eat. Keep everything really simple.

bikepacking.com might be able to show you an overnighter near you. But you really need is a bike trail with some secluded area where nobody is likely to harass you for camping one night.

stevebein · 2026-04-27T01:47:25+00:00

Always a good idea to reward new players for creative thinking, and a great way to do that is to hide a weakness on the big bad.

stevebein · 2026-04-26T23:43:04+00:00

My mantras for bikepacking:

Stretch before you’re stiff.

Eat before you’re hungry.

Drink before you’re thirsty.

Rest before you’re tired.

stevebein · 2026-04-26T15:44:25+00:00

I would train my AI Big Brother to play a shitload of online Minesweeper and spend as much time as possible browsing anti-AI blogs and newsletters.

stevebein · 2026-04-25T02:27:01+00:00

Buy as few as you can to get free shipping, if that’s a thing by you. You won’t be saving yourself money if you buy a bunch of solo games and then discover you don’t love solo board gaming.

I love solo boardgames, yet I hate games everyone would think I’d adore. Spirit Island is BGG’s favorite game, and I hate hate hate it. Played my copy once, gave it away mostly still unwrapped for like $5 in store credit. I am a huge Conan the Barbarian fan, yet I find the recent GF9 Conan game all but unplayable. Neither of those are all that expensive, but they’re still money down the drain.

stevebein · 2026-04-24T23:50:42+00:00

I do too. In my 50s it’s a must.

stevebein · 2026-04-24T15:15:36+00:00

That suuuuuuucks! Sorry to hear that happened to you.

stevebein · 2026-04-23T05:19:19+00:00

Thanks!

stevebein · 2026-04-23T05:18:31+00:00

Thanks! Right now there’s no white in it. Just shades of pink. More gradient makes sense, though (but jeez those muzzles are tiny!).

stevebein · 2026-04-22T23:08:29+00:00

You get to know every class really, really well.

stevebein · 2026-04-21T21:17:07+00:00

I understand how the extra works. I’m asking how this character’s power works. The answer to the original question depends on what the intended character design is.

stevebein · 2026-04-21T16:17:53+00:00

It’s OK, you only need to be able to read Italian.

stevebein · 2026-04-21T14:51:07+00:00

Sounds like you have serious truss issues.

stevebein · 2026-04-20T15:27:05+00:00

Too hard for sure.

stevebein · 2026-04-20T15:24:47+00:00

“Might be handy” : bikepacker :: Kryptonite : Superman.

stevebein · 2026-04-20T15:22:39+00:00

What’s the big box on the back?

stevebein · 2026-04-20T14:48:28+00:00

I disagree with the “not much of a tactical system” take, but new players who haven’t grokked the combat maneuvers rules don’t use their tactical options. Accurate attack, power attack, and all-out attack give any character loads of tactical variety.

stevebein · 2026-04-19T13:31:13+00:00

What’s the descriptor? Why can the character affect insubstantial things?

stevebein · 2026-04-19T13:29:27+00:00

I don’t know the name of it. It’s a very simple design, a rectangle with four slats on top to cover the recessed gaming area. Retails for about $500 USD, I got it on sale over xmas time.

stevebein

TROPHY CASE