Carcassonne Central

Off Topic => Other Games => Topic started by: jungleboy on February 11, 2016, 07:10:50 AM

Title: Other games with wooden pieces thread
Post by: jungleboy on February 11, 2016, 07:10:50 AM
In the spirit of Paul's Other tile laying games thread (http://www.carcassonnecentral.com/community/index.php?topic=2301.0), I thought I would start an Other games with wooden pieces thread. While tile-laying is at the heart of Carcassonne, I think we all enjoy the wooden pieces aspect of the game too. 

I don't intend to make a long list of games with wooden pieces in this thread, but if you own or know of a game with nice wooden pieces, feel free to share it here.

Let me start with two games that have a lot of wonderful wooden components and are the kinds of games where you take a photo at the end because you've created a beautiful scene.

The first is
Medina (https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/167270/medina-second-edition), which I think I'm getting for my birthday in a few weeks and can't wait for. This photo is from the 2014 second edition.

(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160211/bf797be81eee57f306ca7b2d5ff89a16.jpg)

The second is
Cathedral (https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/7/cathedral), which was first published in 1978 (!) but which has been republished several times. This photo is from the 2013 edition.

(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160211/cfe80c134e138db9aa4393774157d6bb.jpg)
Title: Re: Other games with wooden pieces thread
Post by: Paul on February 11, 2016, 07:59:51 AM
Glad to inspire a new thread and the images really look amazing. I'll be looking forward to the games! A short list is all good and would be easier. I should update my thread and narrow it down to more Carcassonne-type rather than just tile laying. :)
Title: Re: Other games with wooden pieces thread
Post by: Decar on February 11, 2016, 08:54:47 AM
Cathedral is an all time favourite in my household.  Very short quick games, with a surprising amount of strategy.
Title: Re: Other games with wooden pieces thread
Post by: jungleboy on February 11, 2016, 11:10:32 AM
Cathedral is an all time favourite in my household.  Very short quick games, with a surprising amount of strategy.

Cool, which version do you have? It seems that in addition to the beautiful wooden editions, there are also some nice ones with plastic pieces.
Title: Re: Other games with wooden pieces thread
Post by: Decar on February 12, 2016, 01:13:18 AM
There seem to be dozens of versions of Cathedral.  Ours would have been printed in the 90s. 

It's wooden and looks very similar to the picture above, except the box is different. https://boardgamegeek.com/image/2884497/cathedral

I know the staining changes; my Uncle had a copy and one of the 4-block pieces was the same for both players, while ours was a mirrored copy.

_|- vs -|_

This made little difference to the game though.

I love the aesthetic of the wooden pieces; they're weighty...plus oak.
Title: Re: Other games with wooden pieces thread
Post by: Andrew the Ambo on February 12, 2016, 01:24:48 AM
And even better, the game was designed in New Zealand.
I have a wood version with the black box which came out in 1978 I believe.
Title: Re: Other games with wooden pieces thread
Post by: jungleboy on February 12, 2016, 03:29:10 AM
I know the staining changes; my Uncle had a copy and one of the 4-block pieces was the same for both players, while ours was a mirrored copy.

_|- vs -|_

This made little difference to the game though.

Yeah, a quick perusal on the BGG forums shows that this is a common problem, where some editions have all the pieces as mirrors of the equivalent piece of the other colour (which I believe is what it should be), whereas some editions have some pieces that are identical rather than mirror images.
Title: Re: Other games with wooden pieces thread
Post by: Decar on February 12, 2016, 04:59:54 AM
Half the fun is working out how to put all the pieces back in the box.  :(y)

Paul - there's a lego variant somewhere you should try too.
Title: Re: Other games with wooden pieces thread
Post by: Hounk on February 13, 2016, 01:43:40 PM
Five Tribes

I played this game yesterday for the first time. For setup tiles with different functions are placed randomly, then three meeples in 5 different ("tribal") colours are placed randomly on each tile out of a bag. You then have to move the meeples around and collect some of them on the end of the move, for different benefits. Wooden bits, other then the meeples, feature camels (to own a tile) and towers (for bidding for turn order) in the player colours and palm trees and palaces for bonus points.

I really enjoyed the game, even won it, although the other two players were already familiar with it, but it was extremely lucky and tight, I got one point more in a three digit score then the second player. There are many different ways to victory in this game, and it is a real puzzle to find the optimum turn and estimate, if you want to pay a lot of gold, to be sure, nobody else can do it before you, or pay nothing, risking, there is nothing really interested left, when it comes to you.
Title: Re: Other games with wooden pieces thread
Post by: Rosco on February 13, 2016, 02:06:45 PM
Cathedral looks good but I can't find a reasonable priced one on ebay.  If anyone finds a reasonably priced copy with wooden pieces I would appreciate it.

The games I have with wooden pieces are;

Trainmaker - a kickstarter I backed whi ch is a good little game.  Quite quick and doesn't take much thinking when playing the basic form but it is fun.
Rummikub - this is usually plastic but I recieved a wooden version for christmas and I love this game.  I love seeing the patterns in the numbers to be able to get rid  of some number which seemingly won't fit anywhere.

Chess, Draughts, Backgammon, Monopoly, Scrabble, and various other classics. 

But that is all I have, I would like Agricola and Caverna but  I don't have them yet.
Title: Re: Other games with wooden pieces thread
Post by: Paul on February 13, 2016, 02:48:34 PM
boardgamegeek.com is listing Cathedral (New) for 7 USD + shipping. Sadly ships only within the States. I looked at his feedback of 59 and seems legit.

A store here in Sweden has 1 copy of it, that I could find searching entire Sweden, but it's used condition retail store for about 25 Euro + shipping.
Title: Re: Other games with wooden pieces thread
Post by: JoeSesquipedalian on February 13, 2016, 03:32:04 PM
boardgamegeek.com is listing Cathedral (New) for 7 USD + shipping. Sadly ships only within the States. I looked at his feedback of 59 and seems legit.

I just looked at this one.  It is actually just a placeholder for an auction that was carried out.  The game is not actually available for $7,  unfortunately.  I did find it in an auction on ebay US.  It is at $6 right now, with no bids.  Shipping in the US seems to be about $13.  So, a potential buyer in the US could end up with Cathedral for under $20USD.  It appears to be the version that amazon is selling for$49USD.
Title: Re: Other games with wooden pieces thread
Post by: franks on February 13, 2016, 08:23:45 PM
Also a big fan of Cathedral. Wood sets seem readily available here. I’ve thrifted 3 copies. I won't go on a thrifting kick again though maybe I should change my handle to frankisthrifty  ;D

In regards to Cathedral, probably the favourte one I found is a 'stone' set, (not on topic but since were discussing that game). It’s more like a hard plaster but is certainly very weighty. In the end it’s not that practical to play with but looks nice on display.

A few of other games for the list here, Masons and Ponte Del Diavolo. We enjoy these and the wood components are the big basis of the game.

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/21791/masons (https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/21791/masons)     https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/27172/ponte-del-diavolo (https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/27172/ponte-del-diavolo)

(https://cf.geekdo-images.com/images/pic130372_md.jpg)
Masons

(https://cf.geekdo-images.com/images/pic217026_md.jpg)
Ponte Del Diavolo

I also have to mention some more favourites, the Gigamic series of abstract games like Pylons, Quorto and Quoridor.

(https://cf.geekdo-images.com/images/pic669972_md.jpg)

By weight, honourable mention to Wood Block war games like Command and Colors Ancients and Napoleonics, just to name a couple. There is just a tonne of wood in these sets.

Images lifted from users on Boardgamegeek, Gigamic website. The Cathedral image which is my own.
Title: Re: Other games with wooden pieces thread
Post by: Paul on February 13, 2016, 09:27:58 PM
So if the store thst list Cathedral for 25 Euro is worth checking out?
Title: Re: Other games with wooden pieces thread
Post by: jungleboy on February 13, 2016, 11:09:11 PM
Thanks for your contributions franks! Ponte del Diavolo looks intriguing to me, I'll have to look into it more.
Title: Other games with wooden pieces thread
Post by: jungleboy on February 19, 2016, 09:33:38 AM
First game of Tigris and Euphrates today. Even though I lost, I think it's an incredible game! Here's a look at some of the wood on display.

My lion leaders were in control of this kingdom early on, but that didn't last!

(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160219/c7927584bb749493d3ec374d3b057d3d.jpg)

The monuments/ziggurats had a big influence on the game:

(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160219/6e6e6b3262a4eff998e0756469e0f940.jpg)
Title: Re: Other games with wooden pieces thread
Post by: Paul on February 19, 2016, 11:34:59 AM
Nice teaser image for those of us not owning it yet! Argh, 75 Euro in the local store for this game, it's killing me.
Title: Other games with wooden pieces thread
Post by: jungleboy on February 19, 2016, 11:38:25 AM
Nice teaser image for those of us not owning it yet! Argh, 75 Euro in the local store for this game, it's killing me.

Just remember that if you buy the 2015 FFG edition, there is no wood. The leaders and monuments are plastic and the wooden point cubes are replaced by cardboard tokens, as discussed here (http://www.carcassonnecentral.com/community/index.php?topic=2439.msg34914#msg34914). But I think the tiles in the new edition are spectacular, so I'm still thinking about getting it.
Title: Re: Other games with wooden pieces thread
Post by: Paul on February 19, 2016, 11:53:01 AM
Nice teaser image for those of us not owning it yet! Argh, 75 Euro in the local store for this game, it's killing me.

Just remember that if you buy the 2015 FFG edition, there is no wood. The leaders and monuments are plastic and the wooden point cubes are replaced by cardboard tokens, as discussed here (http://www.carcassonnecentral.com/community/index.php?topic=2439.msg34914#msg34914). But I think the tiles in the new edition are spectacular, so I'm still thinking about getting it.

As long as the game itself is enjoyable I don't mind. :)
Title: Re: Other games with wooden pieces thread
Post by: jungleboy on February 19, 2016, 11:55:59 AM
As long as the game itself is enjoyable I don't mind. :)

The game is fabulous, don't worry about that. But we're in the wooden pieces thread :)
Title: Re: Other games with wooden pieces thread
Post by: jungleboy on February 29, 2016, 04:17:05 AM
The stackable wooden camels from Camel Up:

(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160229/7a120d655a40a3b253115a7c6bf00e74.jpg)
Title: Re: Other games with wooden pieces thread
Post by: Decar on February 29, 2016, 05:06:39 AM
I love it when a plan fits together.... :(y)
Title: Re: Other games with wooden pieces thread
Post by: danisthirty on February 29, 2016, 05:23:10 AM
I love it when a plan fits together.... :(y)

I just love stackable camels. I've tried it with the real thing but they don't much like it.

I think I may need to get this game. It seems surprisingly popular, although I'm not sure where the element of surprise comes from in my case. Is it more family friendly or does it have a serious side to it? And am I allowed to be asking about it here if my question isn't wooden?
Title: Re: Other games with wooden pieces thread
Post by: jungleboy on February 29, 2016, 05:48:09 AM
I think I may need to get this game. It seems surprisingly popular, although I'm not sure where the element of surprise comes from in my case. Is it more family friendly or does it have a serious side to it? And am I allowed to be asking about it here if my question isn't wooden?

I think it definitely falls into the family friendly / fun category. I haven't played it yet and I've yet to plough through the Italian rules, so I can't offer much more than that. But as I start building my games collection I'd like to have a variety of different types of games and I think this is a good one for banter and social gaming. And apparently it gets better with more people (up to 8 ).

P.S. Your non-wooden question is acceptable, just.
Title: Re: Other games with wooden pieces thread
Post by: dirk2112 on February 29, 2016, 06:32:33 AM
I absolutely hated Camel Up the first time I played it.   I couldn't believe it beat Splendor for the Spiel des Jahres.  My son loved it and asked for it for his birthday.  After a few plays, I started enjoying it too.  It is ridiculous, but it can be a lot of fun if you let yourself get into it.  At the very least, the more you play it, the less you will hate it. 
Title: Other games with wooden pieces thread
Post by: jungleboy on March 05, 2016, 11:49:16 AM
First game of Medina today. I think it's a tremendous game and it's such a pleasure to put your wooden pieces out on the board and watch the city grow.

(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160305/47021231b596c4920bd7f705cfa24d65.jpg)
Title: Re: Other games with wooden pieces thread
Post by: danisthirty on March 05, 2016, 03:42:43 PM
First game of Medina today. I think it's a tremendous game and it's such a pleasure to put your wooden pieces out on the board and watch the city grow.

Looks good. How long does it take to play?
Title: Re: Other games with wooden pieces thread
Post by: franks on March 05, 2016, 03:46:25 PM
Great photo jungleboy.

Yet to get mine to the table  :(
Title: Re: Other games with wooden pieces thread
Post by: dirk2112 on March 05, 2016, 04:26:54 PM
I want Medina, but am afraid to buy it online.  The only person I know who bought it had mold all over the pieces.  According to BGG he is not alone
Title: Re: Other games with wooden pieces thread
Post by: franks on March 05, 2016, 04:57:38 PM
I want Medina, but am afraid to buy it online.  The only person I know who bought it had mold all over the pieces.  According to BGG he is not alone

I didn't see that post on BGG in advance: https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/1417615/mold (https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/1417615/mold)

But the copy I had didn't appear to have any mould. The piece did look like they had more than expected dust in the creases and I wiped each piece as I counted and separated them. It wasn't bad and there wasn't any coloured mould, maybe I got lucky.

I always save and keep a large jar of Silica Gel packets that comes in packaging and add these to all my boardgames. I live in a very dry climate to begin with but my collection is in my basement which is a cooler and there might be a little more humidity.

Now that I have all the pieces of Medina in separate baggies I will add a silica packet to each or maybe save them in something else other than plastic.

I wonder if has something to do with the paint they used(?)
Title: Re: Other games with wooden pieces thread
Post by: jungleboy on March 05, 2016, 10:52:54 PM
The mo(u)ld issue seems to be limited to the Stronghold Games editions in the US. Luckily I got the White Goblin Games edition from the UK with no mould, and I'm super happy with the components.


Looks good. How long does it take to play?

I must admit that I didn't time our game. It's supposed to take about an hour and that seems about right. The setup can take about 10 minutes as there are a lot of pieces to divide and distribute, plus I had to explain the rules to the other players. 
Title: Re: Other games with wooden pieces thread
Post by: dirk2112 on March 06, 2016, 06:49:22 AM
So I need the White Goblin edition.  Amazon UK has either edition for the same price, but in the US, the mold free edition is twice the price. 

I just learned about the mold vs mould spelling difference.
Title: Re: Other games with wooden pieces thread
Post by: jungleboy on March 17, 2016, 09:10:27 AM
The adventurers and their temples from Karuba:

(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160317/e603678bef2a306fbabe34149f5c78f6.jpg)
Title: Re: Other games with wooden pieces thread
Post by: Hounk on March 24, 2016, 03:14:56 AM
Yakitori (http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/188526/yakitori) is a game, featured in Suzanne's Kickstarter-segment of recent Boardgame Breakfast #120 (roughly 10~15 min into the show), and it seems, it's made completely out of laser edged wood.
Title: Re: Other games with wooden pieces thread
Post by: Hounk on April 11, 2016, 05:30:36 AM
At BGG, I stumbled over Barony (http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/167513/barony), in particular over this photo blog (http://boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/51752/photo-impression-barony-who-will-be-new-king-presi), and thought it might be of interest, mentioning here.