5 points

• Find an item on your wishlist that is the same as something on my wishlist that you added BEFORE August 16th (the date of this contest). Link it.
  
  Do already-purchased items count? If so, I had the 2nd and 3rd CAH expansion on there, but I have them now. If that doesn't count, we both have a gift card on there :)
  
  
• Summon a mod and thank them for helping maintain this wonderful sub
  
  /u/rarelyserious - You do a fantastic job of keeping the awesome levels in the sub up high! Also, you're always looking dapper in those ties! You rock. :)
  
  
• Participate in another contest (post the link to your comment)
  
  Done.
  
  
• Check all of your Wish Lists on Amazon to make sure you have a shipping address, and that your items are still available. Post the phrase "GIVE ME SOME SUGAR!" after you have completed it.
  
  Done. GIVE ME SOME SUGAR! :)
  
  
• Post a selfie!
  
  Selfieeee!
  
  
• Post a picture of whatever is in front of you RIGHT NOW.
  
  Taken with the phone while walking dogs :)
  
  
• Post a picture of your purse/wallet/hand bag/backpack/etc
  
  Purse!
  
  
• Post a picture of your favorite VHS/DVD/Blu-Ray. Bonus points if you have it on HD-DVD.
  
  The Great Mouse Detective! I love Professor Ratigan! :D
  
  
• Tell everyone about your favorite movie
  
  Ok, so my favorite movie changes fairly frequently. There are just so many good movies. One of my reoccurring favorites is definitely The Great Mouse Detective though. I love Disney movies, and this one was a staple of my childhood. Plus, it has, IMO, one of the best Disney Villains of all time: Professor Ratigan. One of the VERY few Disney Villains that actually kills someone. I mean, yeah ok, it's a mouse not a human. But it is a movie about mice... so it's kinda like it was a person. But, I have fond nostalgia any time I watch the movie, paired with the fact that it's my favorite disney villain? It's definitely a winner. :)
  
  
• Tell a joke
  
  A piece of string walked into a bar and said "Gimme a beer!" but the bartender said "Get outta here! We don't serve your kind here!" So the string left, but he was thirsty, and he really wanted a beer, so he messed up his hair real badly and looped himself around until he had tied himself into a knot. When the string went back into the bar, the bartender looked at him suspiciously and said "Aren't you that worthless piece of string I just threw outta here?" No, the string replied, "I'm a frayed knot!" (ba-dum, chh.)
  
  
• Post a picture of you with your favorite accessory (hat, sunglasses, necklace, ring, bracelet, whatever)
  
  Engagement ring is definitely my favorite! :)
  
  
• Post a picture of your primary method of transportation (feet, bicycle, motorcycle, car, bus, helicopter, private jet, whatever)
  
  Augustus!
  
  
• Tell a story about your primary mode of transportation
  
  This is the story of how I got a big dent in my car less than a year after buying it. Ok, so his name is Augustus. He's a lovely blue Ford Focus (hatchback). He has less than 10k miles on him. I was meeting my brother and dad for lunch one Wednesday, like I do most Wednesdays, and I was driving through a parking lot. As I was driving, looking for a spot, a rather large truck started backing out of her spot. I didn't have time to react, and neither did the driver of the truck. About a second after the backing started, there was an audible "crunch". It was very sad. But luckily, the lady had fantastic insurance and Augustus got a new fender/bumper. :)
  
  
• A picture (or screen shot) of you participating in the RAoA Daily or Nightly Thread
  
  I do this one a lot!
  
  
• A picture of a domestic currency
  
  A US quarter. Better quality US quarter
  
  
• A picture of a foreign currency
  
  I collected coins as a kid.
  
  
• A picture of you with a domestic or foreign currency stuck to your forehead
  
  Forehead quarter! Sorry for bad quality, I was having some balance issues :P
  
  
• A picture of you and your pet OR someone else's (that you know, preferably) pet
  
  Demetri yaaaawn
  
  
• Tell everyone about your favorite pet
  
  Awh, do I have to pick? I have a little doggy named Pookie and a big doggy named Demetri. I love them both so much, for very different reasons. Demetri is a snuggle bug. He always wants to be close and love you and lay with you and sit with you and just relax with you. Pookie is the playful one. She loves her toys and always wan't to fetch or tug of war! They're both so very loving and so very loved. They're both my favorite pet :)
  ___
  
  1 point
  
  
• Summon any other person/team and wish them good luck!
  
  /u/szor - good luck! I love your pics :)
  
  
• Post the phrase "I had fun!" if you had fun participating in this contest!
  
  I had fun! :D
  
  
• Guess how many points you will receive! Bonus points if you get it exactly right (before I count this question).
  
  479, counting everything except this. 477 if I'm not supposed to count the things after this yet either.
  
  
• Smile in any one of your pictures!
  
  RE: Pet pic!
  
  

• Post a smiley face in your entry!
  

  
  

  D :) \^_^ \^.^ \^-\^ :3

Long post incoming; some of this stuff is copied from other posts I've made:

Getting into D&D is going to be a lot simpler and easier to rolling your own RPG system, unless the system you design is ultra simple and rules-light. And unless your friends happen to be game design experts or prodigies, what they come up with probably isn't going to be as fun, balanced or robust as a system designed and iterated upon by professionals and the RPG geek community.

D&D isn't rocket science, but the first few sessions will almost certainly be fraught with confusion, rules referencing, and/or people getting the rules wrong... but all that's OK. The key is to keep a relaxed attitude and for the DM err on the side of what seems most fun and entertaining. After a few sessions, everyone will probably have a decent grasp on the fundamental rules and things will go a bit more smoothly.

If you do decide to play D&D, you have to decide upon an edition to play, as there are several and they aren't compatible with each other. Right now the two most popular and recent editions are 3.5 and 4th edition. A 3rd party spin-off of 3.5 called Pathfinder is also popular. A big advantage to Pathfinder if you're on a tight budget is that pretty much the entire system is available online for free. For your conservative friends, the fact that it's not called D&D may also eliminate some of the social stigma, making it an easier sell.

My preferred edition though, and the one that is most newbie-friendly, is 4th edition. A slightly dated and incomplete overview of 4e's rules is available in this free quickstart guide. This tells you about 90% of what you need to know to sit down at a table and play as a player, and includes some pregenerated characters, but lacks the rules for character creation and progression.

A free 4e adventure, Keep on the Shadowfell can also be downloaded and perused by the DM, but KotS is not the finest example of adventure design, though you can find fan suggestions online to improve and tweak it.

As far as what products you should or need to buy, the Red Box Starter is probably the simplest and most straight-forward route. Avoid paying more than $25 for it new (a lot of 4e products seem to have spotty availability, which means sometimes they are overpriced).

Like the free quickstart guide, however, the Red Box does not you access to the full rules, but rather a simplified and stripped down overview. It almost follows the model of a choose your own adventure book in some respects rather than true D&D, which can make it a good stepping stone, though some players are impatient with it. It does, however, include some items that will remain useful to your game even when you outgrow the rules and content of the box: a double-sided poster map which can be reused, punch-out cardstock tokens to represent player characters and monsters and a set of dice. At $20 shipped, it's a good value if you feel your need a really gentle introduction into D&D.

However, if the members of your group are not averse to doing a couple hours of reading before their first adventure, and would rather skip the frying pan and jump straight into the fire, you can safely skip the Red Box.

What you really need is: a book that descriptions character creation and level 1-30 character options, an encounter design guide for the DM, a monster resource, plus some physical tools/props.

As for as the player resource goes, any one of the following will fulfill the need: the Player's Handbook, Heroes of the Forgotten Lands, Heroes of the Fallen Kingdoms. I would recommend the latter two, as they are 4e "Essentials" products, which are more up to date and feature more newbie-friendly steamlined design. However, all of the books are compatible with each other, and you can use them all.

You also need a book that tells the DM how to design encounters, run skill challenges, and reward teh players. You have basically three options here: the Dungeon Master's Guide, the DM's Book from the DM's Kit or the Rules Compendium.

Each has their pros and cons. The DMG is written with the new DM in mind and gives you all the rules info you need that isn't include in the players' books, but as one of the originally published books in the edition, it's less refined and does not include the latest errata (which you can download online, though it's a bit of a pain to read through all of it). It's probably your least expensive option.

The DM's Kit seems to be out of print (or on a reduced print run) so it's selling at above retail price. IMO it'd be the best option for a new DM, as it contains useful goodies (tokens, maps, and two quality published adventures) like the Red Box, plus a more up to date version of the Dungeon Master's Guide. But if you have to pay $55+, that's kind of difficult to justify.

The Rules Compendium has all of the rules information a DM needs, and it includes most of the latest errata, and it's generally a handy reference that you'll probably want to get eventually anyway. The problem is just that: it's a reference, and is light on insight and advice on how to build entertaining adventures and run a fun game. Like the DM's kit, it may be out of print, but it's still a good value. The Rules Compendium may be the best option if you're willing to read forums and web sites for DMing advice, which can be system neutral.

The DM also needs a monster resource. Hands down, the best option here is the Monster Vault. It's basically a far superior revision of 4e's Monster Manual, and contains an adventure, a ton of tokens and a battle map to boot. It's a steal at $20.

Another recommended product would be a D&D Insider subscription, which will give you access to the Character Builder, which as the name implies, makes building/progressing characters a cinch, and the Compendium, which gives you access to every bit of crunch in the entire published history of 4e: all the classes, powers, feats, races, monsters, items, themes, etc. as well as a glossary which describes much of the rules. You also get access to Dragon and Dungeon magazine archives, which contains a lot of flavor, design advice, and many pre-made adventures (see this thread for some highlights). It also has a handy monster builder tool. A subscription is $10/month or less if you commit to a longer subscription. Getting one subscription and sharing it among the group can be worthwhile.

Finally, you also need some physical things:

• A sufficiently large playing surface and seating.
  
• Pencils, paper for character sheets.
  
• Dice. You could get by with a single set (including 1d20, 1d12, 1d10, 1d8, 1d6, 1d4) but you probably want a full set for every player plus some duplicates. A pound of dice would likely suffice.
  
• A blank/customizable gridded map. There are at least three good options for this:
  
• A basic Paizo flip mat to be used in conjunction with erasable markers
  
• Gridded easel pads which work equally well for preparing detailed, pretty maps before a session, or whipping up something quick and dirty at the table -- a single pad will last you a good long time. This is what I use.
  
• Gaming paper which is like a compromise between the previous two options.
  
• Miniatures, tokens or other markers to represent monsters. As previously mentioned, several 4e Essentials products include tokens (if you get the Monster Vault, you're set). You can also buy miniatures from gaming stores, on eBay, etc. or you can use just about anything that's roughly a square inch in diameter -- coins, polished stones used in aquarium bedding, dice (though this can get confusing), etc.
  
  Finally, as for convincing your friends, as you've said, D&D is essentially no different from Skyrim, World of Warcraft, etc. D&D is pretty much the granddaddy of those games. If you can tolerate the "occult" elements in those other games, there shouldn't be anything offensive about D&D. And ultimately, the DM and players have full control over what they want to allow in the game. Have a discussion and decide if there's any subject matter that is the party finds offensive and exclude it from the game (or re-fluff it so it it's not so offensive).

oh this is perfect. An excellent exercise.

$100 to buy games on Amazon with a newbie who has specific needs.

Ok so we're looking to minimize card games, adult players, 2+

1. Alhambra - $30 - it's a fun game and it gets our requirements right out of the way. it's more than just a card game there's a board, there's tiles to play with, A nice amount of physicality. it's new player friendly and works with 2 players.
   
   
2. Last Night on Earth - $45 - Again going hard on the requirements here. It may be totally cheesy and it might not last a long time in your collection but if you're gonna get this game better to get it when you're young in the hobby so you'll have the most fun. It's team based but works with one player teams. It's a zombie game with a lot of mini zombie figurines to play with. It's a lot of fun to play with.
   
   

3. Blueprints - $30 - I want a dice game in your library and in my head the first game is King of Tokyo which is an excellent game but I don't know how useful it is for two players. Blueprints is easy to learn fun to play and performs well with two players.
   
   -------
   At this point I'm about $5 over maybe a little more because i think i rounded down a few. I might have been able to switch a few things to get more games in but I wanted quality games that minimized or compensated for cards. Plus all of these games play 2 or more pretty wel.
   
   -------
   
   Honorable Mentions:
   
   Jaipur - $35 - For a couple I think one of the best beginner games is Jaipur. It's a two player card game with a welcoming theme that's easy to learn and yet when you play it's as difficult as your opponent makes it. The games aren't long so even when you want to try and experiment with headgames you're not investing too much into it.
   
   Looney Pyramids aka IceDice - $9-15 - Now obviously the one to get is the Ice Dice. It's two "stashes" for $15 vs 1 for $10. Ideally you want three stashes and you can play the most excellent "Space Chess" like game Binary Homeworlds
   
   Bananagrams - $15 - Bananagrams is an excellent party game if you have the tablespace. Honestly this is the singular reason I haven't played my copy yet. It's light it's fluffy, it's fun.
   
   Splendor - $30 - Splendor is an excellent game. Nothing feels good as holding the poker chips in this game. It's a nice strategy game with a dash of tactical planning if you want. You could substitute it for Blueprints and still have excellent picks. Very fun quick game. But it is card heavy.
   
   Word ARound - $15 - Now most people probably haven't heard of this charmer. It's cheap, it's probably best as a party game. I happen to like the look of it but no doubt it'll burn out as you become familiar with the words a bit.
   
   -------
   Race for the Galaxy
   
   I happen to love that game. If you're ever stuck may I recommend this awesome video tutorial.
   
   Modern Table Gamer
   
   Also don't forget you can play online at BoardGameArena. Some people might be recommending Roll for the Galaxy the new spin off game. I haven't played it yet but I found the Miami Dice episode about it to be very enlightening. Both Tom and Sam speak highly of the game especially in comparison to the original game.
   
   -------
   Ticket to Ride
   
   Excellent game I hear for two players you want the Switzerland/India map
   
   -------
   Agricola
   
   I think this might be a bit heavy for new players
   
   
   -------
   Eldrich Horror/Castles of Burgundy
   
   While I have played CoB i don't know it well enough to judge it. I didn't have a great time with my play but it was just one time. I hear lovely things about Eldrich especially compared to Arkham.
   
   -------
   
   -------
   
   

D&D Basics (Getting started)

The Absolute Basics

First you will want to grab either the Basic rules (Free), the Starter Set (Cheap), or the Players handbook, Dungeon Masters Guide, and Probably Monster Manual

Then you need to have at least a few items

• Dice (Phone apps will work if absolutely necessary, or these)
  
• Paper & Pencil (for notes)
  
• Character Sheet (In the free PDF or an app)
  
  The starter set is nice because it does a bunch of the work for you, it has an easy to follow adventure, pre-made characters, Dice, and rules for the DM and players. And at half the cost of just the players handbook AND including an adventure, it is an incredible value.
  
  Once you finish that then looking at at least a players handbook for the extra races, classes, backgrounds, and other things is a good deal. That should let you run free adventures people have put online.
  
  The DM's guide will let you get deeper into rules and the right way to call them, break them, and make them.
  
  The monster manual can be a great tool to make better encounters.
  
  If you want to run a commercial adventure after the one's included in the starter set, "Tales from the Yawning Portal" includes the Sunless Citidel, considered by many to be an excellent adventure for those new to the game and just recently brought up from 3.5e into 5e
  
  

  Common Tools of the Trade
  

  
  As you start running more complex adventures you are going to want to have a few tools to keep things moving, either as a player or as a DM.
  
  

  As a Player
  

  
  The bare essentials every players should have are listed above, but most players agree having a few extras can make the game run really quick.
  
  

  Spell Cards
  

  
  These cards have all the spells available for specific classes or from specific books on really well organized cards that make it easy to set aside your prepared spells and quickly reference all the core details.
  
  Cleric, Arcane, Ranger, Druid, Bard, Paladin, Martial Powers and Races, Xanathars Guide to Everything
  
  

  Binders & Sheet Protectors
  

  
  Keeping everything neat and organized can be a huge time saver and make it much easier for you to find what you need. Binders can be a great way to keep your notes and other materials organized. In addition many sheet protectors easily erase dry erase markers making it easy to keep track of spells and other changes without ruining character sheets with constant erasing.
  
  

  As a DM
  

  
  DMs have their work cut out for them. But a few simple tools can make the game run smooth and leave everyone having that much more fun.
  
  

  Index Cards
  

  
  A set of index cards can go a long way to speeding up the game. Players can put details on spells or magic items on them. You can prepare loot for the game ahead of time and hand it out allowing players to look over the gear as the game continues. You can also use them to hide portions of a battle map or commerical map to give the effect of fog of war.
  
  

  Game Mats
  

  
  A game mat let's you make single maps by drawing on them with dry erase or wet erase markers. Many are made of vinyl and can last a long time. Normally they will have either 1" squares or hex shapes.
  
  

  Minitures
  

  
  These things can be expensive, but giving your game that 3D upgrade and helping players better manage space in a game can be well worth it. You can use actual miniatures (Like those from Reaper), Create custom ones on Hero's Forge, or even just buy some cheap stand in tokens from Game Mash.
  
  If you just need a cheap way to keep track of positions army men, bottle caps, colored game pieces, and even legos can all play the role.
  
  No matter what you use, you can pick up colored rubber bands to mark status conditions or other information.
  
  

  Where Can I Play?
  

  
  You can find tons of places to play D&D.
  
  

• Get together a gaming group.
  
• Find a Guild or club in your area. Meetup.com,
  
• Most hobby shops and especially comic book and gaming shops offer games, usually Adventure League. WotC offers a tool to find stores here.
  
• /r/lfg can be a great way to find others to play online with.
  
• Play by Mail sites like RPoL allow you to play by forum post.
  
  

  Also:
  

  
  Critical Role - Voice actors playing DnD, Matt Mercer (The DM) is an amazing Dungeon Master and shows how the game should be played.
  
  Matthew Colville - Amazing videos on being a DM, must watch material for every DM. Even when your opinions differ he gives good reasons and great advice.
  
  

  Compendiums
  

  
  These let you ciew all the free open rules (SRD & Basic Rules) for D&D 5e at no cost.
  
  Roll20 Compendium - Has all the open rules for the game, so a good source for monsters, items, spells, etc.
  
  DnDBeyond - A more official source for the content, plus you can buy all the materials released by WotC to use, and has a great character builder.
  
  

  Adventures & Maps
  

  
  DMsGuild - Tons of free and paid adventures and other materials. The quality can be varying, but many are free and that can be great.
  
  /r/dndmaps/ - What more can they say, D&D Maps.
  
  Mike Schley Makes many of the maps for the D&D Adventures.

You could go all in with an awesome collection of Cards Against Humanity!

It requires you to have a pretty twisted sense of humor but it's a ton of fun with friends.

You could check out Firefly the Game.

If you're a fan of the space opera, this is one of the more enjoyable games I've ever played.

If you really don't mind blowing 300 bucks, there's the Star Wars X-Wing miniatures game!

You take control of a spacecraft in the Star Wars universe and each game is like an episode of a Star Wars tv show, with a clear goal and twists and turns along the way as you try and accomplish that goal. The miniatures can get pricey but 300 bucks would get you started on a pretty sweet collection if you buy the smaller ships.

300 bucks would also get you started with the world's greatest trading card game: Magic the Gathering!

This classic card game has been around for over 20 years, features thousands upon thousands of cards to select from and, just like chess, takes 10 minutes to learn and a lifetime to master. For 300 bucks you could both have a gaming mat, plenty of dice, a kick-ass card collection and more than enough to start building multiple decks. Heck, you can just go and buy pre-made decks from a plethora of websites. Check out Youtube for suggestions on what formats you might enjoy, but kitchen table Magic the Gathering is VERY satisfying for two people.

Of course, if you really want an epic adventure, you could check out the bigger, meaner, older cousin of Magic the Gathering, and maybe the most infamous table top game in the world: Dungeons and Dragons!

A little more effort than most, but hugely rewarding if you have a colorful imagination and don't mind some simple math (most games requre SOME math, just look at Monopoly), and you have decades of books to explore, and many are available for pretty cheap from both used book stores and your local library (hopefully). This is a hobby that lasts for the rest of your life.

Like Dungeons and Dragons but want a more easy and accessible game to start out? How about [Muchkin!] (http://www.amazon.com/Steve-Jackson-Games-1483SJG-Munchkin/dp/B004U7JJWE/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1462113434&sr=1-1&keywords=munchkin)

We're talking dungeons...dragons...knights in shining armor and a LOT of fun. It's a good start for tabletop gaming.

Of course, Tabletop gaming is pretty extensive when it comes to choices. Here are a few more to check out:

The Game of the Century: Settlers of Catan

Spooky fun with Arkham Horror!

Big Adventures: Small Heroes... Mice and Mystics!

Survive the Zombie Apocalypse with Dead of Winter!

Of course, like Levar Burton says, you don't have to take my word for it. Here is the awesome Wil Wheaton's Youtube series, Tabletop! He plays with his friends so you don't have to! This series is amazing at helping to decide which tabletop game might be best for your playing needs.

Need a little help deciding if Magic the Gathering is right for you? How about Spellslingers on Youtube! Game Guru Day[9] plays Magic with his friends. Not only is this a super easy way to learn the game, it's a lot of fun to watch.

Need a little help understanding Dungeons and Dragons? Give Critical Role on Youtube a listen!

Luckily, you happened upon a time where tabletop games are going stronger than ever so...good luck!

This is extraordinarily thorough. So thorough in fact, that you should also consider board gaming. Reading this, it just makes a lot of sense for you. I think board gaming would fit you like a glove.

1. Video games have moved away from couch co-op. You've made a great list here with a lot of solid points, but I doubt you would have ever reached your conclusion, had you considered board games. Keep Talking is certainly a good entertaining game, nothing against it. It's just, that game feels plucked like a needle out of a haystack. Like you've biopsied out a very small node from inside a large mass.

You don't really have this problem with board games. Literally every single board game in existence is designed to be played with people immediately around you. I hesitate to use the phrase "played co-operatively" simply because most board games are NOT co-operative - though there are notable exceptions like Pandemic or Ghost Stories. Both great games.

Board games use human beings as the engine the game runs on. That's not to say board games pit intellects against each other in some sort of valid competition of "who's the most smartest", but to say: humans are social machines and will surprise you with their grasp of system thinking. If I have five or six people in the room with me, I'd prefer the game that we're playing to exist in the head-space between us rather than on some electronic device.

People have come over to my house in the real world. Why not play a game with them that also exists in the real world? I can play videogames over online multiplayer until I'm blue in the face. Just last night I reinstalled Bad Company 2 and played with a few old college roommates. If I had those old friends over to my house, we'd play a board game. It seems crazy to me that someone has taken the time to drive over to your place and you set them down in front of a computer.

2. Because boardgames have always been designed around a social experience taking place in the real world, they're just better at it. This is definitely subjective. You can feel free to disagree with me all you want, but there are mechanics that I just don't see in videogames. Sure, I could load up Gremlin's Inc and replicate what is probably the best roll n' move game I've ever played, but roll n' move is a Monopoly era game genre. Board games can move past this.

You can't play Two Room's and a Boom on a machine. You can't play Bid n' Bluff games like Liar's Dice, Sheriff of Nottingham, or social deduction games like Coup or Love Letter. You can't play physical dexterity games like Jenga (still great fun btw), Flick em' Up, or Catacombs.

There are just games that play better with groups of people because they exist in the real world and make use of humans as the operating system.

3. Board games are much more open to much more people. I don't know about you, but in my experience board games are just more accessible to a wider range of people. I'm maybe going to get a round of Mario Kart out of the adults in my life that love me, but I've sat down with people over 50 and had a great time with Ticket to Ride. At family reunions I've enjoyed Dominion with young children and grandparents alike. Settlers of Catan, Blockus, and Carcassonne are all genuinely fun games I played to death with my family.

How crazy is that? I would really look forward to playing one of those games with my whole family. I can't think of even one videogame that fits that criteria.

4. Perhaps most simply, there are incredible games that just don't exist in videogame form - even though they could. Is the total conversion mod for Crusader Kings II not giving you that full heady Game of Thrones experience? Why not just play Game of Thrones. This is probably my favorite game and it's just not on computers. I can imagine a version of Cosmic Encounter played over online multiplayer, but why? It already exists in perfect form. If I want to play El Grande, or Arctic Scavengers, or Lords of Vegas - well . . . those games just don't exist as videogames.

5. Just honorable mentions. Seven Wonders. Splendor. Blueprints.


TL;DR. There are a ton of great board games out there and if you actually are struggling to think of something that you and your friends can enjoy together in the same room - maybe give it a shot rather than lament the lack of couch co-op in videogames.

My list would include a variation of games

Code Names - $16

Sushi Go - $10

7 Wonders - $26

Tsuro - $19

Castles of Burgundy - $27

Total: $98

Explanations:

First, I want to preface these selections: our play group varies in size from week to week with anywhere from 4-10 players averaging 5-6. So, we often get caught "splitting the party." That's fine at times, but sometimes, we all want to jump in on one game together because splitting up feels bad man^TM since we're all there to socialize in addition to playing games.

As such, I wanted to include games that ran the gamut and for the most part games that scaled well from 2-X players.

First, Code Names. Now, we've played this game so many times, we actually purchased the expansion Code Names Deep Cover which is a fun variant which adds tons of more playability. This is the go-to "party" game as, for our group, Cards Against Humanity has grown a bit stale. At least it hits the table much less frequently than in years past. Code Names is easy to teach, easy to understand and difficult enough for some of your more entrenched board gamers. In general, I find this a great starter to transition from your Milton Bradley games everyone knows (and hates) into board games that offer sustenance.

Secondly, I offer Sushi Go (cheating a bit here as you'll probably have to buy a couple copies for larger groups or just get Sushi Go Party). Sushi Go is our groups go-to game to introduce games that use a drafting mechanic and to teach that board games can be cute, fun, and delightful while also requiring strategy, maths, and a bit of hope (our group tends to dislike dice-rolling games so for the most part, we stick to games where we can mostly "control" our own fates - YMMV). This game is super quick, so you don't get bogged down at the table for hours. I feel for new board gamers, quicker games are a MUST as many people may not be able to handle the length many of our Beloveds require.

7 Wonders comes next. We tend to introduce this game right after Sushi Go as the mechanics are super similar and the newer players feel like they already know what's going on for the most part. There will be questions, there will be some confusion and oversight, but this game follows easily and feels like a natural step up from Sushi Go and gets players right into the mix of heartier board games. Oh, and I could personally play 7 Wonders every week, especially with all the options offered through the expansions Cities, Leaders, and Tower. The interchangeability of these expansions has kept this game on our table long past many others and continues to bring it back. Again though, YMMV as we all have different tastes.

Tsuro, our board game palatte cleanser. This is another quick game which offers a lot of replayabiliity with minimal rules learning. Aside from those positives, the artwork is what sent this board game over the top for me. I am mesmerized by the board, the tiles, and the pieces each time we open this. This game offers a quick break between your heavier meeple-laiden board games so even after we've surpassed "newb" status, we often come back to this.

Castles of Burgundy I included as a final game because ultimately, we need a game with a strong theme and wonderful mechanics which offer replayability from a more traditional Euro point of view. This game really surprised me. I loved it the first time we played it, and though it may not hit the table but once every other month due to time constraints, it always feels like reuniting with an old friend. It offers a setup for further Euro games and sets the scene on what's really out there in weightier board games. I know there could be other games that fit this description, but at the price, this game is amazing for what it offers.

And that's the list. I know there are many criticisms of these games and I don't devalue those. All my favorites have points in them where they fall a little flat at times, or don't elicit the enjoyment I thought they might, but many times, it's usually my perception and frame of mind. I can often come back months later with renewed enjoyment for them, so trust me, I know there are imperfections; I just choose to ignore them for the post. These games, while some may take a bit longer to learn, offer a great springboard into board games and offer the new player a slow wade into the pool without feeling too slow or drab as one might feel with something like Settlers of Catan. Will I stand by this opinion in 5 or 10 years? We'll see.

Thanks for such a fun contest! I have always loved August. One reason being...my little brother is named August! Here is an adorable picture of us from a few years ago. So I love August and always will! Everyone always asks if he was born in August but he was not...but still, it's a great name. I definitely think that name will continue to make its way through our family.

I also just love the month because I'm such a summer girl. From 9 until 16, I spent at least one week every August at my favorite place...summer camp! And then 17-22 I spent the entire summer there. It's just the best time of the camp season! The summer has settled in, you've got your tan, you're comfortable with the job because you've been doing it for a little while, you've made great friends, the kids love being there. It's just great! I miss working there so bad but I always make sure to go back in and visit. OOooooh camp in august, you are the best.

And my brother worked there with me. SO AUGUST IN AUGUST at camp...even better!!

31 days for Augustus (growing up, my brother was known as Gus. he always used to get asked if he was Augustus or Gustav. Just August!)

I'd love this game!! Everyone loves CAH It's on my $20-$30 WL.

Guillotine is fantastic. My friends always ask for that one at game night :)

Timeline has become a new favorite to pull out in-between longer games. We're all in our mid-twenties and enjoy trying to remember our high school history and science classes but I think this would be a good game for Redditors that are looking for games to play with their kids as well. There are a few alternate decks--you can mix and match; they're not true "expansions." Bonus: it comes in a very attractive, small, metal tin and is very portable!

Citadels is another card game that can be played with 2-7 players (though it's honestly better with at least 4). First person to build up their medieval-themed city ends the game, however, all players then count points for their city landmarks (so the biggest city is not necessarily the winning city.) It gets a little madcap as you change "profession" (each with their own special ability) every round but I really enjoy it.

For the Redditor with a darker sense of humor, get Gloom ! The creator actually came up with the idea for the game because his wife didn't like being "mean" to other players in games. In this game, you have 4 spooky families that you literally have to kill with kindness! It's quirky and another one that gets asked for fairly frequently at game nights. It's best with 4 players but there are expansion packs available to gain new families and fit more players in.

Wits and Wagers is a trivia game that isn't, where everyone gets a white board and a marker and has to write either a number or date according to the trivia question on the card (how many feet tall is the Statue of Liberty, etc.) Then you arrange the boards and bet with chips on which one you think is correct--the closest answer wins, everyone is dealt chips, and it goes on for 7 rounds in total. Highly recommended!

As someone who looks forward to having the occasional quiet night in with my boyfriend, I find that there are a lot of games that say they can be 2 player but aren't actually any good with any fewer than 3 or 4 players. Lost Cities is a very good 2 player only game where you're playing as much against yourself as the other player. The Amazon reviews are all more or less indifferent or negative so I had put off buying it but after playing it during a visit with a friend, I knew I had to have it. Mr. Jack , though pricier at $30.47 is another very good 2 player only game of cat and mouse. (I haven't tried the pocket version, which is less expensive, but it seems to have favorable reviews.)

OP has a great list so I hope it's "the more the merrier" with my additions (not trying to step on any toes!)

What price range are you talking about? Here's some gifts divided into categories and price:

Lord of the Rings (Does she like LotR?):

• LotR Lego - You said she was smart and likes things to be clean, so I'm going to assume she likes decorating. And what's better than decorating your house with things you have built yourself? These sets range from $29.99 to $199.99. Check out the rest out!
  
• The One Ring - Ranges from $59.95 to $99.99. If she likes it, she will wear it multiple times a week.
  
• Arwen's Evenstar Pendent - Ranges from $72.99 to $149.00 (I like the higher end products myself). Subtle, fancy, and looks nice when going out.
  
• Sting - For the sword and the scabbard it's going to almost always cost around 174.98. Hang it on the wall, use it for home protection, it's shiny, ect.
  
  Games:
  
  
• Zombie Dice - BLARRGH BRAINZ FOR $13.13 ARRRUUGGH SUPER CASUAL FUNNY
  
• Munchkin - Very casual party game with lots of expansions. Listed at $24.95 on their website, but it usually will sell for ~$20 at your local Barnes & Nobel or Target.
  
• DOMINION - I bolded this suggestion because it is a card game and this is the Hearthstone sub-reddit. A brilliant German Board Game which invented the genre of deck-building games. Players draw 5 cards from their deck every turn, using the cards they draw to buy more cards for their deck. When they have no new cards to draw, they shuffle their discard pile back into the deck and keep on playing. If you enjoy the deck building element of any card game, this game is immensely fun. The base set is $30.30 on Amazon right now.
  
• Settlers of Catan - Want to get into more hardcore board gaming? This is the gateway game to start. Being another German Board Game, it focuses on non-combat economic decision making. That doesn't mean you cant screw eachother over, as in any good board game. The site asks for $42.00. Again, this game has a lot of expansions. I like the Star Trek Version which goes for $49.99.
  
  Other:
  
  
• Espresso Machine - Does she like Coffee? For ~$79.00 you could cut out Starbucks entirely from your life. If you go to Starbucks every other day, this will pay for itself in just over a month.
  
• Record Player - Nothing beats some nice Analog sound, it's so much more real to me. These vary all over in price depending on what you want out of it. Here's a really nice one for $150.98. Just go to BestBuy/Walmart to find one more precisely for what you're looking for. Here's one of my favorite records of all time. Here's a really sexy big band one.
  
• Wacom Tablet - Is she artistic at all? One of these for ~$229.99 and she'll be able to draw beautiful things on her computer.
  
• A good memory - Take her on a nice date. Inform her she will need to dress well and rent a tux. Go out to an expensive local restaurant and split a meal. Both walk in overdressed and own it. Watch the sun set. Go home, pour her some wine and give her a massage. Bathe each other. Watch her favorite show all night. Go out for breakfast and watch the sun rise. Something different; something exciting! Live life in a routine? CHANGE THE ROUTINE. She will not forget it and this is the best gift you can give her.
  
  These are my main suggestions, for everything else there's Think Geek. But really, browse this site.
  
  ^^Moved ^^from ^^your ^^original ^^comment ^^to ^^the ^^thread, ^^as ^^was ^^original ^^intended ^^location.

1. I would love to have this yoga mat! Not only am I trying to get the motivation to go back to the gym for regular exercise, but my physical therapist has recommended yoga as a way to help strengthen my core muscles which should help with the pain I've had since my car accident almost a year ago. I've tried one class already and used the gym mat, but having this pretty one would give me warm fuzzies and help motivate me to go to class!
   
   
2. I'm sure you've already heard about/played Cards Against Humanity, but it is one of my favorite games, along with Killer Bunnies.
   
   (For your reference: How The Game Works
   
   The basic strategy of the game is to keep as many bunnies alive as possible while eliminating your opponents’ bunnies. Of course all the other players are trying to do the same thing, which can get dreadfully vengeful, horribly nasty, hilariously messy, and just plain fun! While folks are trying to eliminate each other’s bunnies, each player is also trying to collect as many Carrots as possible. At the end of the game, one of the Carrots is revealed to be the Magic (or winning) Carrot and each game, the Magic Carrot will be different. Logically, the more Carrots that a player collects, the better his chances will be of winning the game. Collecting as many Carrots as possible is another basic strategy of the game.)
   
   
3. A WOMAN'S MY WEEK AT THE GYM
   
   Dear Diary,
   
   For my birthday this year, my hubby (the dear) purchased a week of personal training at the local health club for me. Although I am still in great shape since being a high school football cheerleader 19 years ago, I decided it would be a good idea to go ahead and give it a try.
   
   I called the club and made my reservations with a personal trainer named Belinda, who identified herself as a 26-year-old aerobics instructor and model for athletic clothing and swim wear. My hubby seemed pleased with my enthusiasm to get started! The club encouraged me to keep a diary to chart my progress.
   
   MONDAY: Started my day at 6:00 a.m. Tough to get out of bed, but found it was well worth it when I arrived at the health club to find Belinda waiting for me. She is something of a Greek goddess - a thinly built female, dancing eyes and a dazzling white smile. Woo Hoo!!
   
   Belinda gave me a tour and showed me the machines. I enjoyed watching the skillful way in which she conducted her aerobics class after my workout today. Very inspiring! Belinda was encouraging as I did my sit-ups, although my gut was already aching from holding it in the whole time she was around. This is going to be a FANTASTIC week!!
   
   TUESDAY: I drank a whole pot of coffee, but I finally made it out the door. Belinda made me lie on my back and push a heavy iron bar into the air then she put weights on it! My legs were a little wobbly on the treadmill, but I made the full mile. Belinda's rewarding smile made it all worthwhile. I feel GREAT!! It's a whole new life for me.
   
   WEDNESDAY: The only way I can brush my teeth is by laying the toothbrush on the counter and moving my mouth back and forth over it. I believe I have a hernia in both pectorals. Driving was OK as long as I didn't try to steer or stop. I parked on top of a GEO in the club parking lot.
   
   Belinda was impatient with me, insisting that my screams bothered other club members. Her voice is a little too perky for early in the morning and when she scolds, she gets this nasally whine that is VERY annoying. My chest hurt when I got on the treadmill, so Belinda put me on the stair monster. Why the f would anyone invent a machine to simulate an activity rendered obsolete by elevators? Belinda told me it would help me get in shape and enjoy life. She said some other s too.
   
   THURSDAY: Belinda was waiting for me with her vampire-like teeth exposed as her thin, cruel lips were pulled back in a full snarl. I couldn't help being a half an hour late; it took me that long to tie my shoes. Belinda took me to work out with dumbbells. When she was not looking, I ran and hid in the restroom. She sent another skinny cow to find me. Then, as punishment, she put me on the rowing machine -- which I sank.
   
   FRIDAY: I hate that cow Belinda more than any human being has ever hated any other human being in the history of the world. Stupid, skinny, anemic, anorexic little cheerleader. If there was a part of my body I could move without unbearable pain, I would beat her with it. Belinda wanted me to work on my triceps. I don't have any triceps! And if you don't want dents in the floor, don't hand me those stupid barbells or anything that weighs more than a sandwich. The treadmill flung me off and I landed on a health and nutrition teacher. Why couldn't it have been someone softer, like the drama coach or the choir director?
   
   SATURDAY: Belinda left a message on my answering machine in her grating, shrilly voice wondering why I did not show up today. Just hearing her made me want to smash the machine with my planner. However, I lacked the strength to even use the TV remote and ended up catching eleven straight hours of the Weather Channel.
   
   SUNDAY: I'm having the Church van pick me up for services today so I can go and thank GOD that this week is over. I will also pray that next year my hubby (the f**ing ss) will choose a gift for me that is fun, like a root canal or a hysterectomy. I still say if God had wanted me to bend over, he would have sprinkled the floor with diamonds!!!
   
   Thank you for the contest!

For miniatures, be warned that the Heroclix and Mage Knight minis, while useable, are mostly larger than the 1" standard width (for a medium character or creature) - this is generally not that big of a problem but if you're going with modular terrain it means they may not fit well, especially along with other miniatures beside them.

Ebay is a good choice for miniatures, especially if you have particular needs for certain things - you want that male elf archer in leather armor, or are you looking for a beholder? You can find and get them there. Here's my favorite seller for these things, shipping is definitely reasonable and the choices are expansive:
http://www.ebay.com/usr/auggest?_trksid=p2053788.m1543.l2754

Another option to miniatures are tokens, and they are much, much cheaper. These are small cardboard circles that fit a 1" block as standard size (larger creatures will fill more, of course). The best starter set for this for a DM is the Monster Vault, but there are a ton of others as well. I suggest ebay for these for the most part, there are some that sell them by the sheet and others that sell the full boxed sets. You can get these for characters as well as monsters. Here's a link to the Monster Vault so you can see what you get with it:
http://www.amazon.com/Monster-Vault-Essential-Dungeons-Dragons/dp/0786956313/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1420725056&sr=8-2&keywords=dungeons+and+dragons+Tokens

Cheapest and most versatile "professional looking" option for the map / terrain is a chessex battlemat - make sure you have WET ERASE markers, not dry erase and keep it clean between adventures. Below are links to one of their mats (there are other sizes, just search on amazon) and to some excellent markers:
http://www.amazon.com/Chessex-Role-Playing-Play-Mat/dp/B0015IQO2O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420724703&sr=8-1&keywords=chessex+mat

http://www.amazon.com/Expo-Vis-A-Vis-Markers-Colored-16078/dp/B00006IFGW/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1420724703&sr=8-9&keywords=chessex+mat

Cheapest option for modular-type terrain would be tiles. These are cardboard "grids" that most often have designs on them and come in different sizes. The best starter set out there is the Dungeon Tiles Master Set - The Dungeon. It has a lot of tiles and is pretty versatile, at least for base grid options like dungeons and general floors. There are a ton of other options for them - again I suggest you look on ebay for these because you can often find used ones that are in perfect shape sold as a set, or even individual tiles if there's something in particular you need. This is the link to the aforementioned base set on amazon so you can see what it has:
http://www.amazon.com/Dungeon-Tiles-Master-Set-Essential/dp/0786955554/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420724907&sr=8-1&keywords=dungeon+tiles+master+set

If you want to spend more money and go with something much more dynamic, there are 3-d modular sets ranging from paper to near-stone like quality but they can cost a ton. I have a large set of Dungeonstone (www.dungeonstone.com) that I bring out and always get oo's and ahh's. But they're heavy to carry around a lot, especially if I need the whole set. Another option, that's generally slightly more expensive than dungeonstone is Dwarven Forge. You can look them up - but I only mention this in case you decide to spend more money than you want to at this point. :)

Good luck! I hope this helps.

My lil bro is the shit. He graduated law school this year & is getting his masters in Vancouver, BC right now. Throughout the whole time he's put himself through school as a sushi chef (and a damn good one too!). Although he wants to practice law in Canada, his dream is to have a small sushi resturant and serve excellent food. This guy always achieves. I know he struggles with depression, health issues, etc, but he NEVER lets it get him down. & he knows about my struggles & is ALWAYS there to support me. He always knows the right thing to say, and he's fun to ague with. (he's a good lawyer) I love him. I'm so proud of him. He amazes me for his accomplishments. He's awesome!

Every year for Christmas I give him a Sushi themed gift. I wish I could afford an amazing knife, but those cost hundreds. Last year I gave him an Andrew Bell Sushi Oh-No print for his collection. This year I would like to give him Sushi Go! game, cos he loves games, or Midori Sushi Magnets, cos his fridge is covered in cool magnets.

He deserves it because he loves so much and works so hard & is such a great guy.

Thanks for the contest!

4e is pretty simple. Even simpler than that is Swords and Wizardry which is made to resemble old school DnD. Microlite 74 is similar but does not hew as closely to any incarnation of DnD. All of these are free.

Swords and Wizardry has quick start rules here. I listed some beginner modules for it.

>Is there a D&D "basic" set in its latest incarnation?

You mean like this?

The Red Box, then Rules Compendium, Heroes of the Fallen Lands, and then the Monster Vault.

The Red Box comes with some premade characters and a quick adventure. Its pretty cheap and will help you determine if this is the system you want (note your free options.)

If you like it, then:

Then the Heroes book will help you guys build characters.

The Rules Compendium contain all the... rules. (What happens on each players turn, etc etc).

Monster Vault has monsters for the DM.

Not a lot of good adventures available for 4e though, though if you like 4e and want to run premade stuff for it, some options are laid out here.

You also have the option of subscribing to a service called DnD Insider, which will give you access to, among other things, an online character builder for the players and a monster builder for the DM with all the stuff from the books,. It costs like 10 bucks a month... but its an option that you should be aware of.

You might get some recommendations for Pathfinder, because redditors love them some Pathfinder (which is based off DnD 3.5 so if you know that, you know PF). It's a good system--I'm playing it right now--but its so complex that I have some trouble recommending it to absolute beginners in good conscience. You can look into it here. If you do go with it, I highly highly recommend a character builder like PCGen.

EDIT: Fixed some links.

I own all of these (plus quite a few more), and enjoy playing them regularly. Prices are approximately accurate at places like Target, walmart, Amazon, etc. Most games below can be played by up to 4-6 players (some more), but all support a minimum of two. (An important distinction, as many games require 3 or more players.)

$5-10:

• Scrabble/Monopoly are fun if you're both into the classics. For some reason, these are both almost $20 on Amazon, but I've seen them for under/around $10 each at Target/Walmart.
  
• Scrabble Slam (card game) - sets Scrabble on it's ear and adds some adrenaline.
  
• A copy of Hoyle's Rules of Games and a deck of cards.
  
• Uno - One of my favorites - An absolute staple, and works with as many people as you want, though you might want to add a second deck for more than 4-5.
  
• Phase 10 - kind of like a cross between Uno and Rummy.
  
  $10-20:
  
  Here, we start getting into some really interesting ones...
  
  
• Munchkin - One of my favorites - Like pen & paper RPGs? This makes fun of them ALL in a way only a true gamer would get. Plenty of expansions if you get bored.
  
• Guillotine - You're each executioners during the French Revolution, trying to collect the most prestigious heads.
  
• Gloom - You're each one of up to four tragedy-ridden families. Play misery-inducing cards on your family to make them as unhappy as possible before you shove them off into the hereafter, and play happy puppies and fluffy bunnies on your opponent to do the opposite.
  
• Fluxx - The rules are the cards you play. Start with 3 cards, then draw 1 and play 1 each turn. Oh, but now it's draw 3 and play 1, so you'll need to draw 2 more to catch up. Now it's draw 3 and play 5, so play 4 to catch up, except that someone played inflation, so it's draw 4 and play 6... etc.
  
• Citadels Out of the hundreds of games I've played over the years, this is the only one I've seen that claims to have "intrigue"... and really does. Play the role of various nobles, each with different abilities, to gain gold, build cities, and steal from/assassinate your opponents to prevent them from doing the same. The catch? You each play different roles each turn, and the roles are chosen part randomly, and part secretly, so that no one knows who is who until it's too late.
  
  $20-30
  
  
• Carcassone - One of my favorites - Lay down tiles to build cities, roads and farmland, and place your followers to claim them for points. Just because you lay something down doesn't mean someone else won't claim it instead, and claiming it doesn't ensure that you keep it. Lots of strategy involved, and plenty of expansions if you want to change gameplay. Good for up to 5 players, or more with expansions. Has some similarities with Settlers of Catan, to be mentioned shortly.
  
• Chez Geek, House Party Edition - You're all college kids in a dorm, trying to get the most slack points with fun/cool things to do, while reducing slack points in your opponents with annoying cards like car alarms (no sleep), the drunk friend (drinks all your slack-gaining booze), etc. The basic game is under $20, but it's worth it to buy the House Party Edition for $25, as it includes some expansions and extras.
  
• Illuminati - I haven't played this yet, but from what I've read, it's a blast. By Steve Jackson Games, the makers of Munchkin.
  
• Kill Dr. Lucky - Here's a quote from the rules: "You have hated Dr. Lucky for as long as you can remember, and you've been secretly awaiting this perfect chance to do the old man in. Maybe he destroyed your dry cleaning business; maybe you think he's the leader of the vampires. Perhaps he's the only person standing between you and the family fortune. Or maybe his cat just keeps peeing in your shrubs. Whatever your reason, its good enough to push you over the edge, and now you absolutely can't wait to take the lying old bastard down!"
  
  
  $30-50
  A bit pricier here, but some very interesting gameplay is to be found.
  
  
• Settlers of Catan - One of my favorites - no game shelf is complete without it - Build roads and settlements using the tradable resources provided by the areas around your settlements, and the roll of the dice. Note: This is not a two player game. I made an exception here because it rocks, but unfortunately you'll need a third wheel to play.
  
• Dominion - One of my favorites - I grew up with Magic: The Gathering, but disliked always having to buy new cards to be competitive. Gameplay is somewhat similar to Magic, though instead of plinking away at your opponent's health, you are gaining victory points. Also, Dominion includes all of the cards you will need for up to 4 players, and you "build" your deck (similar to Magic), by buying new cards every turn.
  
• Ticket to Ride - Build your train routes across the US (or Europe, if you get that edition) without revealing your destination, because your opponents might cut you off!
  
• Small World - Kind of like a cross between Risk and... something else. Control territory to gain gold, using various races with special abilities. Send your races into decline (continuing to own the territory until it is taken), while expanding out with your new race. Knowing when to send a race into decline makes all the difference.
  
• Red November - You're a bunch of drunken gnomes on a doomed submarine. Put out the fire by shunting the flooded compartment to the burning one, but now there are two flooded compartments and you have to pump them out while the engine has a problem and oh my god it's the kraken. INSANE gameplay, but can be stressful. This has skyrocketed in price (from $30 to $50), probably because they're about to release a revised edition, so the old one is out of print. You might want to wait a month for the new version to come out before you buy this.

1. You NEED to get a board game collection when people come over to your house! My husband and I have an awesome collection of old-school video games and over the past year we've really gotten into board games. It wasn't until we got some really good board games that we had friends coming to visit more constantly! The Resistance is a great 5-10 player game and 7 Wonders is a beautiful 3-7 player game full of strategy. With the right group, Cards Against Humanity is hilarious.
   
   
2. DOES PIXAR COUNT?! I have so many Monsters Inc plushies! :) I also love Aladdin! Great movie, loved growing up with the tv show, and a prince with some personality! WOO!
   
   
3. A pug napping with a teacup pig <3
   
   
4. Happy early birthday! PIXELCHARKATTACK
   
   I also just caught up on all of the Adventure Time episodes recently. OMG SO GOOD! I like how it went from silly, incoherent adventures to a legit, interesting story line!

Space Cadets - really fun co-op game, much lighter but very long.

Agricola - Farm themed worker placement, Longer game as well, very component heavy and very fun (If you happen to go anywhere near this, be sure to tell your giftee hes going to hate this game with a passion until he understands the rules)

Android Netrunner - Very in depth game from my understanding. I havent played it But my boyfriend and his circle of friends love it and say it's a very good game. (They're all D&D players)

CitOW Expansion: the horned rat - I don't know much about this game, but from what I've read ill be checking it out, this is the first expansion I believe.

Blood Bowl: Team manager - This is probably my favorite game to date, plays up to 4. Fantasy themed fantasy football basically. It sounds really silly, but the game play and the actual idea is amazing. It's really easy to pick up and a pretty fun quick game.

Hope that helps, if you come across any games you have questions about, let me know :) and if I think of anything else I'll let you know!

Ever since the first time I saw my first Cards Against Humanity card that read "Mecha Hitler" and said outloud "Whisky-Tango-Foxtrot?", I've been hooked. What I really love is the spirit of the guys behind it. They made it open-source and gave it to the masses for free in the form of do-it-yourself cards. The drawback is, your cutting skills almost certainly suck.

In the same spirit of wanting to make this game available to everyone, including those who are so astoundingly lazy that they won't take the time to properly cut their cards, I give you Business Cards Against Humanity. It's pretty much the same as the do-it-yourself cards, but it's set up to work with common business card cutters you'll find at most print shops. The result is nice, very uniform cards. Here's how it works:

1. Download the pdf files you want to use
   
2. Take them to your local print shop. I used Staples, and they should have the correct business card cutter too.
   
3. Print them out on thick cardstock, ask for matte BCIM if they have it.
   
4. Have them print one test page and run it through the cutter.
   
5. If all is well, run the rest through.
   
   Here's some tips.
   
   

• Get a quote on the entire job before they print. You don't want any hidden fees after the fact. Call it in if you are feeling lazy.
  
• Like the do-it-yourself cards, ask if they will print them on their color printer at the black and white prices since, you know, it's all in black and white anyways, the color printer just does a much better job.
  
• Ask if they will run it through the cutter for free or not. Apparently Staples doesn't have a fee set up for just that, they said some other stores may charge one or two dollars, or worst case charge the same price as it costs to print custom business cards from their kiosk.
  
• I suggest you use the black backs file to print solid black on the back of the black cards, they will have to run it through a second time for that.
  
• If you want you can skip the card extras file, it has the rules, fill-in-yourself black and white cards, and display cards for the nice little cardboard box the finished cards came in.
  
  Any feedback on this is much appreciated. I've got more that I want to do with the sets, but I'm pretty busy at the moment. Eventually I'll have the expansions when I find out if they too are Creative Commons licensed like the original game, I've heard conflicting points of view on that. I'll also have a way for you to make your own cards, this was actually made using just Publisher and Excel, I'll get the files up once I can make it easier to do.
  
  Lastly, I have no affiliations with CAH. The original game, and all glory go to the hypnotoad the fine folks at Cards Against Humanity. I made this just as a fan of the original. Speaking of which, go buy a copy. It's much nicer than this version, this is mostly so you can have nice cards when they are sold out/you have $10 to print but not $25 to buy the real thing.
  

Weymouth, MA 02190

[H]

• Epic Spell Wars of the Battle Wizards: Rumble at Castle Tentakill (played twice, great condition)
  
• Citadels (2000 version - opened but never played, great condition)
  
• Munchkin & Munchkin Booty (played once, great condition)
  
• Pirate Fluxx & Fluxx Dice (both played once, great condition)
  
• Pixel Tactics (opened but never played, great condition)
  
• The Resistance (played ~5 times, great condition, includes Inquisitor expansion)
  
• Superfight w/ Purple Deck and Core Expansion 1 (played 3-4 times, great condition. couple cards show very slight wear)
  
• Sushi Go Party! (played once, great condition)
  
• Welcome to the Dungeon (played once, great condition)
  
• Pandemic (played ~5 times, great condition)
  
• King of New York (played ~5 times, great condition
  
  [W]
  
  
• Dominion: Intrigue
  
• King of Tokyo
  
• 7 Wonders, 7 Wonders Duel
  
• Burgle Bros
  
• Five Tribes
  
• Roll for the Galaxy
  
• Generally into light-medium deckbuilders, worker placement games, and dice rolling games
  
• Paypal

As others have mentioned, Magic can be very expensive. I know how to play, it's quite fun, but never spent any money on it.

However, board games and card games are very cool! And offer great opportunities to hang out and get along with other people. I would recommend also giving your son another game to try and tangentially redirect his interests a bit. There are some quite nice two-player games that you could play against him at, providing a great opportunity to spend time with him.

Netrunner is a quite good 2-player game, where both players play completely differently from one another (I forget the phrase for this). Tash-Kalar, while sounding quite strange, is a rather enjoyable game in which you have to position minor units in order to spawn larger units. Galaxy Trucker (another Vlaada Chvatil game) makes you build your own spaceship then recklessly pilot them into asteroid fields and lasers to make a cargo delivery.

But no matter what you do, there's one thing to keep in mind. If your son is interested in the game and wants to play it, then get HIM to learn about the game and teach it to YOU. Otherwise, make sure that YOU learn about it first and teach HIM about it (and be excited about it!). If you're both apathetic about it, it probably won't go anywhere.

Thanks!

Okay, so I am a huge board game advocate and I will always, ALWAYS, offer up a board game solution whenever the chance arises to do so. Your dilemma is one that can definitely be addressed with the proper games. As such, I have a few very engaging, fun, and easy to learn two-player games for you:

First up is Patchwork by my favorite board game designer, Uwe Rosenberg. It's a game about collecting cloth patches and adding them to a patchwork quilt. If you enjoyed the video game Tetris and liked the spatial puzzle aspect of it, you'll love this game.

Next, we have Jaipur. This is a game about acquiring and trading goods. It's a set collection and bluffing game. You've got a hand full of cards and you can trade them for goods from a common display of cards that both players can see. The goal is to get a handful of the same goods and trade them in for victory point tokens. The bigger the handful you trade in for tokens, the bigger the stack of tokens you get to keep and the more bonus points you'll receive. However, the cards that you trade in might be exactly the cards your opponent is after, so you've got to be smart! It's an excellent game and I love, LOVE, LOVE playing it.

Last up is Lost Cities. In this game you're going on expeditions by playing cards in numeric order to a tableau. However, expeditions cost money, so if you don't play enough cards or you play the wrong cards, you could wind up costing yourself a lot of points. Hanging onto useless cards can clog up your hand, but you might also deny your opponent the cards that they critically need to keep themselves in the black instead of the red. It's a very well designed game and plays pretty fast. Like I mentioned earlier, my wife loves it and you probably would, too.

These are three small box board games that you need in your life. If you don't rush out and buy them then, at the very least, you should definitely add them to your wishlist! =)

I'm still a kid at heart!

I had first played WoW and then moved on to Aion when all of my friends moved on.. In my school I was probably one of the only people who played this (grindy-as-hell) game as most of my friends went back to WoW. So, whenever I would talk about it they wouldn't really listen to me.

But I also had ASL class (they offered sign language as a foreign language at my school), and one guy in there was super sweet and also enjoyed playing games. He would always listen to my silly ramblings about the dungeon I did the night before or whatever it was that I had to talk about.

He not only listened to my silly nonsense about my games, but also shared his own personal experiences about the games he was playing.

The summer after he graduated he asked to come over to my house to bum off of my high-speed internet. I told him that I was going to be busy playing Aion but sure. So he comes over and plays WoW next to me and watches me do my boss battles and listens to me talk to my internet-friends on ventrilo and even talks back at them.

Before I knew it, he was coming over every day to play WoW and watch me play Aion and now we've moved in together and been together for almost 4 years.

Sorry my story wasn't exactly game-related but it does have the happiest ending I've played yet! (Also, he doesn't have to steal my internet anymore)

Cards Against Humanity

Wow, she sounds like my kind of girl. My GF really likes model planes. Something like this is a good starter model if she has never tried model planes before. It's not a very good way to introduce someone to the hobby, but down the road if she's interested and more experienced, she can get FPV systems, which put a camera in the cockpit of your model plane and fly it from a first person perspective. Another good idea in the realm of flying might be a basic simulator set-up for a computer like this (this one is just an example, I'm not well versed enough in these to give a specific model recommendation, so you should do some research on your own to find the best one).

When it comes to board games, there's so, so many great ones. Its hard to really recommend one because there are so many vastly different games that are ideal for different people. One that everyone seems to like is Ticket to Ride. My GF happens to like Pandemic. One of my favorites is Dominion. Head over to /r/boardgames (maybe with a little more info about what she likes?) and you'll get a ton of great recommendations if you are interested in going the board game route.

Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes.

Well, how serious are you? Cause if you're serious... here ya go

Otherwise, without knowing what you're into, it's a bit tough. Sushi Go! is an absolutely awesome card game - super easy to teach, pretty quick to play, but really fun for anyone. It's... "THE BOMB" at parties.

I would also extremely recommend Dominion, it's probably my favorite table-top game. However, I can't say it's for everyone.

I would absolutely love KTANE... wish I could buy it, but I've already spent way too much on games, and college is eating into my pockets. Thanks much! Sir Soaring Spud

Love Letter - Ultra fun game for 2 to 4 players, super small, super simple, but tons of replayability. One of my favorite games ever, and a hit with everyone. Currently $8 on amazon.

Coup- Super basic social deduction game, tons of fun for not a lot of money. More complicated than Love Letter, but not very difficult. The hardest part about teaching a younger kid this game is the idea that you can (and should) lie to your friends. Currently $9 on amazon.

Red 7 - This is a small 2-4 player game, super fun, super simple. Currently $9 on amazon

Basically, you can get all three of these for ~$25.

This year I made an amazon wishlist, and the nice thing about it is you can add items from any website to it (there's a google chrome extension but you can do it from your amazon wishlist, as well.) Some things that I added:

• Gift cards to Etsy and places I like to buy clothes from
  
• A new pair of cheapo earbuds for my purse
  
• These nice headphones
  
• A new ambidexterious gaming mouse (I game right handed but prefer to do everything else on the computer left handed and I don't want multiple mice)
  
• Crafty things (wool, painting supplies, watercolour paper)
  
• Food/candy items for stocking stuffer ideas
  
• A 64gb usb 3.0 drive
  
• A new ipod charging cable
  
• Some stuff from Sephora
  
• A few cool adult colouring books like this
  
• Some art related books (painting, hand lettering) that look interesting but I would never think to buy for myself (my family is big into books)
  
• Sheets, a mattress topper, and a mattress pad
  
• Cards Against Humanity
  
• A link to my steam wishlist
  
  
  
  I basically just took a few hours one evening and surfed the web and added things that looked cool, then revised it the next day and removed anything I didn't actually want. A lot of it is stuff I probably wouldn't buy for myself but I'd enjoy having. I tried to add a variety of stuff in the price range department and I thought listing out gift cards to specific places for clothes/etsy stuff was a better idea than them picking it out because that's usually hard.
  
  
  For etsy itself, I have a few different lists - things I'm going to buy, things I'll probably buy, and things that are maybes. If certain people (my mom, my sister) wanted to see it and pick something out from it I'd let them and that's part of the reason I've organized it that way (and so I know what I like from which stores without having to search through the whole store)

I don't have any experience DMing for young players, grain of salt and all that.

​

I would definitely recommend using spell cards.

​

https://www.dnd-spells.com/

http://hardcodex.ru/

https://www.amazon.com/73915-Spellbook-Cards-Arcane-Deck/dp/B01MRVJ1TB

​

You could simplify casting rules by letting the players cast each of their spells once per encounter. Explain that playing a spell card takes it away for a while. Level 1 Wizard with 6 spells? Make 6 spell cards, and tell the player that after using one of those cards, they have to flip it upside down. You could even let them flip up a previously cast spell card as a reward for doing something in the game. I imagine seeing the cards right in front of the player, seeing them be turned up and down, would help a lot with visualizing resource management, which even for adult players can be overwhelming.

​

You could also use a spell points system. There are a couple of ways to do it, but you basically say that instead of having x number of Level 1 slots and y number of Level 2 slots, you instead have x(1)+y(2) total "points" to spend on spells. You can represent points with poker chips or costume jewels or something. If a player has access to spells of both levels, show them how the "more expensive" (Level 2) spell costs 2 points or gems or chips, while the less expensive one (Level 1) costs 1. If these kids play video games this singular resource pool can be thought of as a mana/energy bar, rather than an abstract number of different size slots.

​

If its a short campaign and the rules are being used in a more cinematic sense rather than for gritty balancing purposes, I'm sure anything you choose will work just fine. The main reason balance matters is so one player doesn't feel significantly less impactful upon the action than the others. I think it'll be fine to do away with strict slots if you make sure to let each player have a moment in the spotlight, and reward any creativity (which, based on your post, I'm sure will not be a problem for you).

​

Spell slots are limited in number because they unbalance things in the favor of the caster, especially when compared to a low level ranger or fighter making a single attack per turn. Try to let the martial classes do something a bit out of the box or extraordinary whenever they think of it, to help them keep up with the wizard casting Burning Hands or Sleep every round.

​

TL;DR- The spirit of the game is more important than the rules, so just make sure each player gets something cool to do and the rules won't matter so much.

Check this out. Super fun game right? You know when a good time to play a super fun game is? College, that's when. You know what's special about college? I'm starting college in about a week. You know what's awesome about super fun games? they make me friends. So when you buy me this super fun game, you're really buying me college friends too.

I had to look up the word conviviality and now I can say that when my new college friends and I play this super fun game, we will be doing so convivially.

Based on what you've written, I would recommend Dominion, for 28 dollars here on Amazon.

Dominion is a great standalone game, but it also has a wealth of (mostly) excellent expansions, so it's a game she can play for a very long time. It's easy to learn and teach, and it scales decently well from 2-4 players.

If she doesn't have any deckbuilders, Dominion invented and, in my opinion, perfected the genre. It's an absolutely superb game, and I've logged at least 200 plays with my different sets and expansions. And if she does, Dominion is still the best one around.

Answers to your questions in order:

1. You may want to pick up other books in the Essentials line. As a DM start with the Rules Compendium and you may want the Monster Vault as well. Both of these books have a lot of the same material as the old Core rulebooks but with up to date errata and the monsters in the Monster Vault are also written far better than those in the original Monster Manual. The Core rulebook you might want to get is the Player's Handbook since your players may want to use options out of that. The Essentials series of Player Handbooks are fully compatible with the Core book but the Core book has more options and has more complicated abilities like Rituals.
   
   
2. You don't really need the DMG2 or the later Player's Handbooks. A lot of the material in the DMG2 was folded into the Essentials Rules Compendium or DM's Kit. I think the DM's kit is a better buy than the DMG2 since you get more tokens, some adventure modules, a book with monsters, and a DM screen. Note that if you get the Monster Vault and DM's Kit you'll end up with some duplicate monsters (stats and tokens) or ones that are only slight variations. The later Player's Handbooks have more class and race options for players so as a DM you probably don't need them. Let your players pick them up and share with the group. If you've got the money you can obviously pick them up but you don't need them.
   
   
3. Every square on the D&D maps represents a 5'x5' square. So if someone is four squares away they are 20' from your character. Starting out I would get used to using a grid for combat situations. Those numbers are there to help you come up with consistent travel times and distances for your game. When your player asks how far they can travel in a day you can give them an internally consistent answer. You can have characters move at the speed of the plot if you want though. What I like to do for long distance travel is make it a Skill Challenge. Say characters need to get to a town several miles away. Their normal walking rate would say how long they could get their normally but if they hurried I'd make them make some endurance checks. If they passed their checks they could run the distance and get there in half the time.
   
   
4. A staple of the classic D&D adventure is finding awesome loot in those dangerous dungeons the characters are exploring. Gold is kind of abstracted in the game. In the Rules Compendium and DM's Kit book you'll find suggestions for rewarding your players with gold and items. You can have them just find gold and other valuables and let them buy stuff back at town in Final Fantasy style or have them find magic items worth that much gold down in the dungeon. Some DMs like to ask for shopping lists from the players, magic items they want for their character, to give them some ideas about what they find inside the dungeons. It sucks as a player if you fight with a sword for the DM have you find a +1 quarterstaff. Magic items all have levels which tell you what level of character for which the item is appropriate. You can give a character an item a little above their level but don't give a level 5 PC a level 28 magical armor.

I'm still a kid at heart!

My most recent favorite memory was playing Cards Against Humanity at my friend Sarah's most recent Birthday party. We took so long in between rounds because we were all socializing so much, which was a good thing! We so rarely connect to that depth with real human beings because we're so technology-centric, and a "like" on a photo is supposed to tell soneone, "Hey! How are you doing? I'm great. You look nice today. I hope you have a good week..."

My other favorite is when I brought my 3 Gameboys to my college graduation and passed along my games and systems to my fellow teaching graduates. We played Tetris, Tony Hawk Pro Skater, Mickey Mouse, Pokemon, etc. together during the 3-hour ceremony and goofed around in the back row like hooligans!

---

$25.00 (Prime) Cards Against Humanity!

Thanks for the contest! ♥

This may sound odd, but one thing I love about myself is the fact that I find humor essential in life. I love to laugh and make people laugh. I appreciate sarcasm and I'm not afraid to get down and dirty in the interest of a non-stop giggle fit.

This Game pretty much sums it up.

Thanks for the contest!

After a tough day I always feel better when I come home, throw on my yoga pants and a big comfy hoodie, order some take out (preferably Bob Evans - because comfort food), and get snuggled under my Brookstone N.A.P. blanket with my hubby and our beags.

On a related note, if I've had a rough day at school I always make a "good news" phone call before I leave the building. Meaning, I'll call a student's parents and share progress the child has made or something great they recently did in class. Sharing positive messages about my students and hearing the pride in their parents' voices always lifts my spirits and reminds me of how much I truly love my job.

Playing [CAH] (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004S8F7QM/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1JO70KSHHD8UU&coliid=IAA8MREJ5UORW) tends to make me feel pretty friggin' wonderful too! ;)

Thanks for the uplifting contest!

Soooo over the past few years, my husband has bought a lot of two player games. Since I think most games are designed for more players than that, I wanted to put in some suggestions because we have found some really great ones!

1. Codenames: Duet - this was a gift from my cousin to my husband last year for Christmas. Wasn't sure about it when she asked me about it...but we play it ALL THE TIME. It's a cooperative game (I'm not super competitive), challenging but not mindnumbingly so, and there are so many different combinations of words being used that I doubt it will ever get stale.
   
   
2. Roll For It! - another hit! You roll your dice and try to match them to the patterns on the cards. Different points values are allotted to each card and your goal is to get to 40 points. Fairly easy to pick up. It actually pretty fun with two people but can be played with up to four (and if you buy two sets, up to 8). It's also very portable for vacations!
   
   A few others we like but don't play as often
   
   
3. Sushi Go - a little complicated to learn but there's a demo on youtube that is helpful. The cards are super cute!
   
   
4. Jaipur - we've only played this once or twice because it takes a little longer/requires a little more strategy but I really enjoyed it. I think this one is exclusively for two players
   
   
5. Quiddler - We just broke this one open a few weeks ago so only played once. This is more of a word game combined with a strategy game. Again, takes a little bit to get the hang of it....but I think we will be playing this one a lot too.

Oooh, I looooove board games. From what you're describing I feel like Ticket to Ride could work really well; there are a good amount of instructions but they're pretty easy to follow along with (it's mostly for scoring purposes).

For something way more light/fun, there's also Sushi Go! or Love Letter -- they're both card-based games that look deceptively simple but are never played the same way twice. My wildcard choice would be Carcassonne, which is definitely more of a hard sell -- you build a Medieval French town with picture tiles -- but I promise is really, really fun. Again, the scoring is where it gets slightly more complicated, and it can be intimidating-looking, but the game is really fantastic. Lots of strategy and luck needed, and it's a really unique experience.

Whatever this is for sounds like it'll be a lot of fun!

I have teen boys (14 and 16) and shockingly we have not yet seen the lego movie and would love to win a digital copy!

Your son sounds similar to mine in their taste profile, so I asked them what they liked as gifts when they were 12. Here are their thoughts:

• 50 Dangerous Things book. My boys got this as a gift and decided to do all they could to accomplish all 50 of the things.
  
  
• Munchkin. It's a card game that is easy to learn and fun to play as a family and with friends. My boys love it still!
  
  
• Trip to Disneyland
  
  My recommendation (in addition to my kids) is based on his love of the titanic. Have you heard of Ernest Shackleton? He did a journey to the South Pole that was very much an adventure story about leadership and teamwork. There is a graphic novel about it that might be right for him (I haven't read it) and a larger book called Endurance.
  
  Good luck on the gifting!

This coffee press. Not for me, but for my husband. While he refuses to admit it, he got a little jealous of the past few gifts I received, so I wanted to get him something just for him, that I know he wants. :)

Or, Cards Against Humanity, because I've never played it before, and Reddit talks about how great it is all the time and I want to be in the loop. It looks hilarious and I know my husband and his friends will enjoy it.

Elephant Barber.

I'm kind of fairly new here too, so let's be friends. :) I don't really know how much there is to say about myself. I love board games and video games, and old cheesy movies! How about you?

Ever play Apples to Apples? Same concept. If not...

There are two kinds of cards: white cards, and black cards. These are separated into stacks. Every player has a number of white cards in their hand: this amount varies depending on whether you're playing by the book rules or house rules.

Every turn, one player draws a black card ((this position is rotated around the group.)) Black cards have a short phrase or question on them, like

>What do old people smell like?


>What will I bring back in time to convince people that I am a powerful wizard?


>In Michael Jackson's final moments, he thought about ____.

The remaining players in the game will then put down a white card from their hand that they think the person who played the black card will pick as the best answer. White cards, like black cards, have many different things printed on them, like

>The hardworking Mexican.

>Silence.

>Natalie Portman.

>Michelle Obama's arms.

The white cards are shuffled up, and the person who played the black card lays them all out and then selects a winner. The winner tacks the black card and creates a pile of black cards that they've won. The person to reach X cards (again, depending on rules) wins.

There are a couple nuance rules, like betting black cards to play more white cards, the haiku, etc. But that's the jist of it.

Personally, our group loves playing this game. It says it's a card game for horrible people for a reason. You will come up with racist, sexist, disgusting, and downright awful combinations of cards. You can play it straight, of course, but often the humor turns "dark." It's fun, but it's definitely not a game to play with, say, your conservative Christian parents.

We have the actual game and a couple expansions because we play with a larger group. However, I know you can print your own game off the internet. You can buy it off Amazon as well.

I know this is probably not the thing you want to hear, but maybe considering something other than Magic.

Magic is really good when

• you have effort money to keep up with a meta
  
  
• you have enough money to not get stomped by your local meta
  
  
• you have the time and energy to keep up with how devoted your local players are
  
  These things make the game incredibly fun; but they also make it not really great for two players to play against each other on a low budget. It's unlikely with the amount that you drop that you will be able to ever compete with your local playgroup as they have inevitably spent much, much more. Not to mention you lose out on many aspects that make mtg fun at such a low budget - you're not playing competitively in pickup games with other mtg players, you're stuck playing the small amount of cards you have against each other.
  
  I would recommend something like Android: Netrunner (https://www.amazon.com/Android-Netrunner-The-Card-Game/dp/1616614609). For $30 you're getting a complete card pool as it's a CCG - there isn't the booster pack aspect of spending money on random cards, you just get every card in the set and can buy expanding sets if you'd like. You can play with each other and aren't limited by cards you don't have, and you can incorporate other players as well.
  
  If you really wanna stick to mtg, two intro decks or deckbuilders toolkits will give you a pretty deep pool to entertain yourself for a while. I have to say though that going this route, you're going to chafe the edges of your cage pretty quickly - mtg isn't really a game designed for what you're looking for.
  
  

As far as pre-constructed decks, I'd recommend Keldeo vs. Rayquaza. That set comes with many good trainer cards that can be used for building other decks as well: https://www.amazon.com/Battle-Arena-Decks-Rayquaza-Keldeo/dp/B01GT1CY7K

If you're up for some reading, I recommend taking a look at the beginner deck building page in the sidebar: https://www.reddit.com/r/pkmntcg/wiki/beginnerdecks

The core trainers mentioned on the page are cheaper than what it says. Current price per card on tcgplayer:

0.11 Shauna

0.48 N

0.16 Ultra Ball

0.05 Switch

0.14 Rescue Stretcher

0.10 Energy Retrieval

0.29 Lysandre

Most of the other trainers should be cheaper by now too. Once you have some basic trainers I'd recommend choosing some of your favorite pokemon and building a deck around them (maybe keep them within the same type + colorless to start with).

Also don't worry about staying within the current tournament rulesets of standard / expanded - it would only serve as an arbitrary restriction on cards played for casual play.

To get some ideas on what's available, you could browse these pages for released cards:

Sets: http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/List_of_Pok%C3%A9mon_Trading_Card_Game_expansions

Trainers: http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/List_of_English_Trainer_cards

Energy: http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Energy_card_(TCG)

Though for pokemon I'd recommend just searching for the pokemon name on tcgplayer because they have listings from every set. Usually newer expansions are cheaper due to availability unless it's a popular card in the current rotation.

One last side note, depending on the theme deck it can be cheaper to look up the card list and buy the deck as singles if you don't need the coin / markers.

Buying Pikachu Power as singles from tcgplayer for example:

3 pikachu = 0.12

2 raichu = 1.74

1 magneton = 0.64

3 magnemite = 0.21

2 electabuzz = 0.12

2 voltorb = 0.16

2 beedrill = 0.24

3 kakuna = 0.18

3 weedle = 0.21

2 metapod = 0.12

3 caterpie = 0.24

2 tangela = 0.14

2 doduo = 0.12

1 energy retrieval = 0.10

1 evosoda = 0.38

1 pokeball = 0.04

1 pokemon center lady = 0.47

1 pokemon fan club = 0.15

1 professor oak's hint = 0.06

2 professor's letter = 0.20

1 revive = 0.07

1 switch = 0.05

2 tierno = 0.24

9 lightning energy = 0.63

9 grass energy = 0.63

total = $7.26
(without grouping for shipping)

I bought some INSIDE3 cube puzzle thing. I've no idea if it'll hit the spot or not but looks interesting anyway. There also seems to be a site where you can trade them in so effectively upgrade your difficulty cheaper than just buying new ones, if she likes it!


As for other ideas... maybe something of a board/card game? Something like exploding kittens which is pretty easy to understand, has cute pictures, and largely seems to go down well with all audiences (read: might make having to suffer time with your family mildly more amusing). I bought this to play with friends and stuff but I showed it to my mum when a couple of people were over before and she still loves to mention how much fun it was. I've played it with colleagues etc. there's also a NSFW version if you have a sibling or someone who might prefer a bit more humour that way!

I commented on here earlier, but the thing I recommended was already listed. xD Sooooo Imma suggest some board games!

If you like deck-building games, Dominion is a classic. I didn't think I would like it, but the premise is pretty simple, so it's easy to pick up.

I like the Chinese version of Bang which is called SanGuoSha. It's not always in-stock on Amazon in English; I think right now all the ones offered are in Chinese. I think the characters and items are a little more complex than Bang's, which is why I prefer this version, but Bang is good as well. :)

I also like Betrayal at House on the Hill. It usually makes for a unique experience each time. You explore a haunted house with the other plays, picking up different omens along the way until you trigger "the haunt." The thing is, the haunt varies depending on the character who triggered it, the omen that it was triggered with, and the room it happened in! So there's tons of different haunts making for awesome replayability!

Also, I gotta throw in a recommendation for Lifeboat. Lifeboat is pretty entertaining. The premise is that you're on a lifeboat with the other players. You're trying to get to shore. The person with the most points wins. Each person "loves" and "hates" another player. If the person you love survives, you get bonus points. So you want the person you love to survive and the person you hate to die, but you also don't wanted your loved one to get more points than you otherwise they would win...

Each character has different skills/strength/HP. You get to pick an item card (point items. weapons, health) every round in order. First person gets first pick, but the last person controls the boat. You can choose to switch places with someone, trade with someone or mug someone, or row the boat (you draw 2 navigation cards and pick 1 to add to the stack). If you fight someone (e.g. you want an item but they won't give it to you), all players can join on either side, and the total side with the most strength wins while the other side loses health.

At the end of a round of turns, the navigator picks from the navigation cards drawn from rowers. Those cards dictate who goes overboard and loses health. If a navigation card has a seagull on it, you get closer to shore. 4 seagulls = game over.

It's a super fun game, but be careful who you play with... Some people get REALLY angry or upset when shit goes down. Some people really hate that there's no enforcability... Like if you say you'll trade someone an item but don't go through with your end like a douche, you can do that. Buuuuut I guess if you make too many enemies, people won't take your sides on fights and could work together to kill you first.

Hope this helps!

These are both just a bit over your budget, but I guarantee both would be great. If he's competitive and likes zombies and has a dark sense of humor, I would definitely say to go for either Zombie Monopoly (which he can play with the family, could be fun!) or the little bit more cliche but tried and true Cards Against Humanity. It's super NSFW, but as a young adult, I guarantee it will get hours upon hours of use from him.

Wow, Vito Gesualdi from White Wizard Games here (creators of Star Realms). We are super amazed to have made the top fifty list, especially since this is both our first digital game release and the game has only been out for what, two months now? Glad you guys are loving the app!

As a heads up, we have lots of great suggestions coming from the community and we're working to integrate a bunch of them. Also, keep an eye out for our first expansion, which should add a new chapter to the campaign mode and a host of cool new cards!

I'd also suggest trying out the physical game if you can ever find it at MSRP (or don't mind paying scalper prices on Amazon... http://www.amazon.com/White-Wizard-Games-Realms-Deckbuilding/dp/B00HRGMPIU). We've got a third (and forth) printing on the way and four mini-expansion sets coming around the holidays.

Oh and uh, feel free to challenge 'Vito' on your device. I promise I won't hurt you too bad... ;D

If you play Pathfinder, then note that they put all their rules and bestiary online for free and so you can save some serious dough. You can then spend your money on things like battle mats, paper miniatures, and adventure modules. They have an upcoming beginners box that would probably be perfect for you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KPv80QsBfI

If you play D&D 4th Edition, you kind of have to choose between the original line and "Essentials" line (it's very confusing). Personally I say go with the Essentials line because it is easier, cheaper, and (to me at least) "feels" more like what D&D is supposed to be like. WotC doesn't publish anything online for free like Paizo, so you'll have to buy some stuff. I recommend:

• At least one copy of Heroes of the Fallen Lands (class book for fighters, clerics, wizards and rogues: ~$14 on Amazon
  
• Optional: At least one copy of Heroes of the Fallen Kingdoms (class book for rangers, druids, paladins and warlocks): ~$14 on Amazon.
  
• Semi-Optional At least one copy of the Rules Compendium:~$14 on Amazon. The reason I list this as semi-optional is because most of the rules you'll need as a beginner are contained in the class guide books
  
• Monster Vault. This contains monster stats and a whole bunch of tokens. ~$20 on Amazon.
  
  If no one wants to play a ranger, druid, paladin or warlock at first you can skip the one book and meet your $60 budget. Eventually you'll probably want to get a Dungeon Master guide of some sort. The kind of information in those books is mostly generic advice on how to run games and handle personalities, so it's possibly to buy an older used copy from the original line even though you are playing Essentials. Hell, since it's just generic advice, you could even buy the Pathfinder guide (which is amazingly well written) and use it for D&D.
  
  In summary - I think it's easier for you to meet your budget by going with Pathfinder, since they publish a lot of material for free, leaving you to spend your money on the adventure modules which is where all the fun is anyways. It's unanimous that Pathfinder does a much better job on published adventures too, since they are a company that started off as an adventure publishing company and that is their strength. However, D&D 4e (especially Essentials) is much easier to play, but you won't have as much money left over to spend on adventures (and those adventures kind of suck).

These are all great suggestions, one that I don't see here however, is the clash pack. Here is a link to it on amazon so you know what it looks like and how much it is.

http://www.amazon.com/Magic-Gathering-Card-Game-2015/dp/B00KXY3NS4

You say that he's dying to get into it, which to me means he has very few or even no cards and has played with friends cards and the like. This is a fantastic option because it has two preconstructed decks in it which allow you to just jump right in and play with your friends. You could even play with him with this if you and him each took one of the decks and learn the game together. (this comes with instructions too :P)

There are a couple pretty good cards in this pack that will translate into being playable at a more competitive level, something which doesn't always happen with the pre-constructed decks such as this. It's also relatively cheap and you can add a couple boosters packs to it to spice it up a little as a gift.

Any local games store provided by http://locator.wizards.com/ should have these or similar products from past sets.

I have the following set, it should suit your needs:

• https://i.imgur.com/sOSE4Zj.jpg
  
  Here is price information from Amazon, for what is included:
  
  Item | Amazon Price
  --- | ---
  The Bigger Blacker Box | $15
  Cards Against Humanity | $25
  Cards Against Humanity: First Expansion | $10
  Cards Against Humanity: Second Expansion | $10
  Cards Against Humanity: Third Expansion | $10
  Cards Against Humanity: Fourth Expansion | $10
  
  You can "complete" the set by ordering expansions Five and Six on Amazon.
  
  The Bigger Blacker Box case has enough room to fit both additional expansions, if you take out the foam spacers. It also comes with black dividers, for helping organize.
  
  I have not done this, btw, but apparently if you cut open a specific place inside the lid of the Bigger Blacker Box, there is a special card inside. Something about big black cocks, naturally.
  
  Purchase price on Amazon for all of these items is $80 total. I will offer my set at $70. It is in excellent condition. We've only used it on two occasions.
  
  Also, I know people are probably wondering why I don't offer a larger discount. $70 for a used CAH set might seem "not generous enough". Here's my perspective though. a) This is a pretty comprehensive collection in excellent condition (most of the cards have never been used) and well organized, b) I don't care if I sell it or not, c) I suspect you might be interested in completing the collection anyway, and this collection gets you 80% of the way there, and d) you have a tight timetable.
  
  I live downtown. I work from home. PM me if you're interested, my schedule is flexible.

Adults are just outdated children. I know I am.

Well the item on my wishlists that would make me the happiest is really expensive and not for me, I really want the Zelda themed 3DS XL off of my Gifts for friends & family list for my best friend who lost his, but that's just silly to request that. So instead I will just go for the next thing that will make me happy: A set of Cards against humanity so I have something fun to do while I spend time with him and other friends :)

Thanks for the contest!

Love Letter 1-4 Players tons of different versions available.

Exploding Kittens :1-5(base game) Very easy/amusing game.

FLUXX : (1-5)A game where each turn the basic rules change. lots of different versions.

Cards Against Humanity Great Raunchy Party Game, Any number of players..

Bohnanza Fun plant/crop production card game.

Citadels Fun Role based Card game. Each round you play as a different role. Kill people, build items, etc..

Dixit Great Party Game. Artistic

Most of the games above are quick and short.

As others have said Munchkin/7 Wonders are ton a fun, and take a decent amount of time to play.

My list of games to learn/play in the future:

Dominion

Sushi Go

Forbidden Island

The Resistance



If you like the games above and want actual board games.
You should check out these that are popular with me and my friends:

Ticket To Ride 1-5 player building strategy board game.

Pandemic 4 player co-op save the world game

King of Tokyo Yahtzee with monsters. Roll to get money, attack other players, for victory points etc..

Here's what I'd do if I had to rebuild a collection from scratch for $1k trying to have a wide variety of play styles:

7 Wonders $32.99
Agricola $45.79
Battlestar Galactica $39.97
Carcassonne $30.02
Carcassonne Inns & Cathedrals$15.71
Dixit $22.65
Dominion Big Box $69.18 Prosperity is one of the best expansions; Alchemy is not, but you're pretty much getting it for free in this set.
Eclipse $61.49 It wouldn't be a board game library without a 4X game, and I think Eclipse is the best currently.
Eldritch Horror $40.47 - I love Arkham Horror, but Eldritch streamlines a lot of the fiddly rules of the original.
Formula D [$41.96] (http://www.amazon.com/Asmodee-FDUSASM-Formula-D/dp/2914849648/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1395757676&sr=1-1&keywords=formula+d)
Gloom $17.98
Guillotine $13.52
King of Tokyo $30.19
Love Letter $9.34
Memoir 44 $47.43
No Thanks! $9.98
Pandemic $31.65
Power Grid $32.27
Puerto Rico [$31.20] (http://www.amazon.com/Rio-Grande-Games-195RGG-Puerto/dp/B00008URUT/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395756360&sr=8-1&keywords=puerto+rico)
Race for the Galaxy $24.11
Resistance, The $17.99
Roborally $37.49
Settlers of Catan $37.99
Telestrations $19.99 Awesome and funny party game. My friends and I eventually tire of Apples to Apples or Cards Against Humanity, but seldom do so with this.
Ticket to Ride $37.24
Ticket to Ride 1910 Expansion $18.21
Tsuro $24.22
Twilight Struggle $49.98
Village $35.47
Wits & Wagers $19.99

That comes up to $946.47; room for a couple more expansions or another game.

Guillotine (BGG; $14 at Amazon) is a 2-5 person card game based on the French Revolution.

The game takes place over three rounds ("days"). Each day, you line up twelve noble cards. Each noble has a different point value. At the end of each turn, a player decapitates the noble at the front of the line. The player with the most points at the end of the game wins (novel concept, right?)

Every turn, you can:

1. Optionally play an action card from your hand, which allows to adjust the line, gain points, or mess up other player's plans with various cards.
   
   
2. Collect the nobel at the front of the line (unless your action card lets you do something else.
   
   
3. Draw another action card.
   
   In addition, certain nobles have special actions that trigger when collected, allowing you to draw more cards, gain points, or extend the day.
   
   Really simple to learn, with a skill cap coming in 3 or 4 games later, once you've learned all the cards. Pretty luck based (depends on card draw,) but fun nonetheless. I play 5-6 games on a gaming night, then don't touch it for a few weeks. It's a ton of fun as long as it's not the only game you're playing.

Dead of Winter is a great game, takes quite a while to set up though, and maybe not really a game that you can play casually.
Dominion is more of a card game, but there are many expansions.
Following the card game theme, you also have Legendary. Both Legendary and Dominion are deck building games, Legendary is Marvel themed and I believe have other versions/expansions.
Superfight is a debating game, I really enjoy playing this with a lot of people, I got into an hour debate with my dad over who would win in a fight, a samurai, or a 7 member boy band.

I have some more recommendations that just aren't coming to mind right now. If you want to know more about a particular game, feel free to PM me. I really love Board games.

Welcome to the hobby!

Lords of Waterdeep is a very good fantasy-themed board game to start with. It is set in the Dungeons & Dragons universe and uses a game mechanic called "worker placement". Amazon currently has it for about $34.

Dominion is a very popular "deck-building" game that plays with cards only (i.e. no board). It has a loose fantasy-ish theme, but it will be a good introduction to the world of modern gaming. Another deck builder with a more conventional fantasy theme is Ascension: Deckbuilding Game. [Amazon has Dominion for about $29.]
(http://smile.amazon.com/Rio-Grande-Games-RGG370-Dominion/dp/B001JQY6K4/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1464598805&sr=1-1&keywords=dominion)

And yes, while not fantasy, Pandemic is one of the greatest cooperative board games ever made (my opinion of course). Definitely worth getting. Amazon has this for about $24.

Happy gaming!

/u/r2d8 getinfo long

I would really like to play a game that you can play with only two players. Right now all of the games my husband and I have are for 3 or more players, but sometimes it is hard to find a third player, and we would like to have some games to play ourselves. I played Dominion once with a few people but I would like to get it myself so I can try playing with just two people. I also would like to try Forbidden Island since you can play that with two players as well. An interesting thing is that I decided to get a PhD at 30, so I am older than most people in my grad program. Elephant Barber!

My late great grandmother was a survivor of the Leningrad Blockade. I was (am) her namesake, so I would always put in extra effort to visit her after school everyday as a teenager. She was an incredible person and a fantastic raconteur, letting slip these absurd adventures, but always in a passive, off-handed mode, as if they were afterthoughts.

Her facial expression whenever she'd mention escaping the Siege on the back of a supply truck, tearing across frozen over Lake Ladoga and watching other vehicles fall through the ice, or how she gave birth to my grandmother on a train, or the sight of cannibalism and the consumption of pets & pests during the Blockade, was always so calm and unaffected-- and I found this devastatingly magical.

Her stories and storytelling awoke me. They were like nothing else I knew then or know now. My entire family is very, very dear to me, but my great grandmother is special, somehow; not just to me, but to the shopkeepers that would slip her extra egg rations or the veritable battery of suitors that lined up at her doorstep, too.


[This is $10] (http://www.amazon.com/Cards-Against-Humanity-Third-Expansion/dp/B00B3YT030/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=IO036WM9PQ06&coliid=I295FY35WGTYDR). Thanks for the contest.

This may sound silly but I got braces about 5 months ago and am already seeing an improvement. I am millimeters away from my two front teeth touching. They have not touched since my baby teeth fell out. Its amazing what braces can do for your smile. While I will always wish I got them when I was young, I am so grateful that I have the opportunity to do this. [And if my babbling on is not OBNOXIOUS enough, here is my blog about my journey so far] (http://ann-nonymous.blogspot.com/) Have a great week! [This is something I've wanted because I have the other expansions!] (http://www.amazon.com/Cards-Against-Humanity-Third-Expansion/dp/B00B3YT030/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=1L8ON2MX2QPTV&coliid=I2GV5I8TV983O0)

It's more simple than the games you listed, but I've never gotten a bad review from Guillotine. It's quick to learn, all the cards say what they do, it's funny, it's colorful, and has the right balance of randomness and strategy that lets experienced players play better, but other players always have a chance to get back in the game.

Set is another game I'd recommend, though it is a bit tougher. It's all about finding a pattern and calling it first, so usually adults/older kids have the advantage (though you'd be amazed how fast kids pick up on that stuff).

In my experience, Puerto Rico is very long and very difficult to master. Dominion is rather light and fast, but the interactions between cards take time to learn. As juniperapolo said, Pandemic is good (all the players team up against the board), though it can be a bit random and intense sometimes. Roborally is ok; it's a bit long, and, in my experience, one person ends up way ahead by the second or third checkpoint, and everyone else has no chance of catching up for the entire second half of the game. And I'm all for teaching kids Arkham Horror ;)

Also, if they have Catan, maybe getting the Seafarer's expansion might be good, or the 5-6 player expansion.

Gullotine is definitely on amazon for like 11 bucks.. it's a two player game that i really love. you can play up to four. i've found that three players is best.

Othello is my other favorite go to 2 player game. i really like this one.

I also play chess and connect four. I like two player games a lot. lol

Sushi Go!

Sushi Go! is a quick to teach, quick to play light drafting game. I love it as an intro to the drafting mechanic and as a filler.

No Thanks

Probably my favorite "light" card game. Very easy to teach.

For Sale

Great filler auctioning game. Every time I teach it we end up playing 2-3 games in a row.

Love Letter

A must own IMO. Quick and easy.

Zombie Dice

Under rated push your luck dice game. Plus zombies.

You should be able to pick 2-3 from this list and be happy with it :).

I enjoy giving people notebooks and staionery from [May Designs] (http://www.maydesigns.com/). They're pretty and personalized (and they're having a 50% off sale through 7/28).

If friends like the same kind of games that I like, then I like to give out [Bohnanza] (https://www.amazon.com/Rio-Grande-Games-RGG-155/dp/B00008URUS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1469562466&sr=8-1&keywords=bohnanaza) and [Guillotine] (https://www.amazon.com/Wizards-of-the-Coast-5510919/dp/B000ARTT7S/ref=pd_sim_21_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=51XbxH977yL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL320_SR216%2C320_&psc=1&refRID=6T7SEJV85QKQKCQJNC1Q) and [Timeline] (https://www.amazon.com/Asmodee-TIM01USASM-Timeline/dp/B005N57CNU/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1469562501&sr=1-1&keywords=timeline).

I'm just getting into fountains pens and am considering giving my best friend from high school (and penpal) a [fountain pen] (https://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Metropolitan-Collection-Fountain-91104/dp/B009M3PIK8/ref=sr_1_4?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1469562565&sr=1-4&keywords=pilot+metropolitan+fountain+pen) and some [ink samples] (http://www.gouletpens.com/ink-samples/c/21) (this website has a ton of colors to choose from) for Christmas.

Base game: Jerking off into a pool of children's tears. Just because it's so cringe-inducing that it's always worth playing. I always love hearing friends do that sort of chuckle laugh where they're also a level of completely uncomfortable. Kind of like "ha-ha-ha-heh-heh-ho-hooo....trail off"

I don't have it on me but we made a white card in our friend's game that said "Because Evan was late". We have a friend who is notoriously running late for everything and he's also a really sweet & good guy, so it's great to blame horrible things on him.

It's just the best. I absolutely LOVE CAH!

Do you have any interest in playing magic at all?

Because if you do, you could be the coolest girlfriend in the world by purchasing a gift for yourself! (You can tell him it's for him if you want.)

There is a magic product called a Clash Pack. It comes with two decks of roughly equal power level that are designed to be played against each other. It is intended as an introductory product. It also includes instructions on how to combine the decks together to make a single stronger deck.

Here is the link to it on amazon for $22: http://www.amazon.com/Magic-Gathering-Card-Game-2015/dp/B00KXY3NS4

If you decide that this is something you want to do, then before you give him the gift, You should download the Magic 2015: Duels of the Planeswalkers for Android or iOS (Free to download). Go through the tutorial and you will know the basics of how to play. Then, your boyfriend will think that you are a quick learner when he teaches you to play!

Anyway, it would make for a few fun hours/date night activity, and even if you don't continue to play yourself, you would come away with a better understanding of this hobby your boyfriend likes. (If you do end up doing this, please follow up and let us know how it went!)

Citadels, Tsuro, and 7 Wonders might be good for you guys to try.

Citadels is a game that can handle 2-8 players, and the structure of the game is rather different, making for more replayability, for differing numbers of players. http://amzn.com/158994030X

Tsuro is a simple but fun game (and the guys that make it are good people). http://amzn.com/B002SQBB3O

7 Wonders is a nice balance between strategy, complexity, and ease of play. It can seem complex at first play, but it doesn't take long to figure out and is a lot of fun. http://amzn.com/B0043KJW5M

Assuming you want to spend half of your money:

Star Realms: http://www.amazon.com/White-Wizard-Games-Realms-Deckbuilding/dp/B00HRGMPIU

Sushi Go: http://www.amazon.com/Sushi-Go-Pick-Pass-Card/dp/B00J57VU44

One is a deck builder like dominion, the other is drafting like 7Wonders. (If you want 4 player star realms pick up two copies). That is a grand total of $24/$36. If you add Coup OR/and Resistance/ Resistance Avalon:

http://www.amazon.com/Coup-Card-Game-Resistance-Universe/dp/B00GDI4HX4/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1417653537&sr=1-1&keywords=coup

http://www.amazon.com/Indie-Boards-Cards-AVA1IBC-Resistance/dp/B009SAAV0C/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1417653562&sr=1-1&keywords=resistance+avalon

Which are similar (made by the same people), you could be three games in for 40 bucks.

Then add a heavier game or two medium sized games-- check out TableTop, or our "What did you play this week" threads for some ideas-- and you come out with a nice collection of games (5 or six of them) for about 100 bucks.


I'm not saying you have to get these exact games, but think about a few smaller card games with a bigger game for the most bang for the buck.

The resistance (avalon preferably) is 100% worth it since it plays 5-10... but what about days when you only have 4, etc. Catan can't do all the work forever.


I can give better recs if you edit to add more info; even if it's just things like "I like space. The people I play with like space... and Pirates!"

I'm super happy I stumbled on this contest!!

I feel as though /u/poweredbyanxiety is very deserving of a gift. I've had a lot of people bring me a wonderful feeling of acceptance here, however she's really opened her arms to me and has given me someone to talk to. c:

Although it's just a tad over $20, I feel as though this would be a really awesome gift for anybody really. I mean come on, who wouldn't want to give the gift of... well... crude humor. :D!

That is too cute. I love Kevin because he is so smart and funny. :)

I went into your movie list and chose The Hobbit. I actually just watched this a couple of days ago and it was awesome. Long but awesome.

Here's a card game around 20 bucks from my list - of course you don't have to buy it. But you should consider putting it on your wishlist because it's super fun!

I love board games! That is an awesome prize because I did not even know that this game existed. I would glady become your new board game friend. What about cards? Would your friends play Cards Against Humanity with you? It is an awesome game and if you don't have it just start by getting one of the [expansion packs] (http://www.amazon.com/Cards-Against-Humanity-Third-Expansion/dp/B00B3YT030/ref=sr_1_4?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1367846499&sr=1-4&keywords=cards+against+humanity)- they can be played on their own as the game itself. It is a really fun time. [This] (http://imgur.com/vsiStok) has a bit of handwriting on it. It was my Zombie Manicure that I did for the walking Dead Premiere this season!

HAPPY HAPPY CAKE DAY!

1. ---
   
2. ---
   
3. No book is currently higher on my want list.
   
4. ---
   
5. Not just an animal.
   
6. Purple and poignant.
   
7. A game for misanthropes.
   
8. A guilty pleasure, albeit one I don't get to partake in too often.
   
9. This tool allows near instant face to face communication.
   
10. This may be from my childhood but its still a part of my life to this day.
    
11. Now hear me out on this one: in order to use this item your organizational skill have to be off the charts.
    
12. I got to live music events and write reviews on them, and writing is one of my three biggest hobbies.
    
13. Not sure it gets nerdier...
    
14. Few things are more natural than hair.
    
15. The Great Old One.
    
16. Something I'd wear all the time.
    
17. A lot of people of people tell me this is funny. I've only played once, and only online.
    
18. ---
    
19. ---
    
20. As a writer, gamer and aspiring video/sound editor, this is the ultimate dream item on my wishlist.
    
    BONUS. Off your High Priority wishlist, the thing that sticks out the most to me, because I'm a war buff, was THIS. Though peronsally, I'd probably grab THIS above the rest.

I have an Amazon wish list for Gifts that I add to anytime I run across something cool that I want to remember.

[Pot Rack](http://www.DecoBros.com/ Wall Mount Square Grid Pot Pan Rack includes 8 hooks, 25 by 12-inch,Bronze https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00U86XNM8). We have one and love it.

An [atomic clock](http://www.La.com/ Crosse Technology WT-3122A 12 1/2-Inch Wood Atomic Analog Clock https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0001PG238/) that's not ugly.

A [laser maze](http://www.Laser.com/ Maze (Class 1) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071X6YSJZ/) for a STEM loving kid.

[Smart plugs](http://www.Wifi.com/ Smart Plug Mini, GMYLE Smart Home Power Control Socket, Remote Control Your Household Equipment from Everywhere, No Hub Required, Works with Amazon Alexa & Google Home (2 Packs) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072J1D8L1/) that can be controlled by Alexa.

Beautiful [Tea Forte](Tea Forté Petite Presentation Box Sampler with 10 Handcrafted Pyramid Tea Infusers - Black Tea, White Tea, Green Tea, Herbal Tea https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0153PUZSS/) box set and a pair of [tea bag trays](Tea Forte Ceramic TEA TRAY for Presenting and Resting Signature Pyramid Tea Infusers, Two Per Box, Orchid White https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016CDOV4Y/).

Good looking [Swiss Gear backpack](http://www.SwissGear.com/ 1900 Scansmart TSA Laptop Backpack - Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006HFJA12/)

[Exploding Kittens game.](http://www.Exploding.com/ Kittens: A Card Game About Kittens and Explosions and Sometimes Goats https://www.amazon.com/dp/B010TQY7A8/)

And everyone needs [avocado socks.](http://www.Socksmith.com/ Avocado Socks in Parrot Green https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IPQZTWK/)

Edited to add something for the pets. [Self heating mat.](Thermal Warming Pad for Dogs and Cats - XL Couch Protecting Pet Bed- Machine Washable https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01C4OG9AO/)

This makes my mind hurt at the same time as being incredibly fascinating.

What I really want is Cards Against Humanity so I can play with my friends irl and try to get in with the community here. Everyone talks about this game and I feel like I'm missing out on the greatest thing evarrrr. Lol

This isn't my item, but I wanted to share because the price dropped to $13.37 (hee hee).

Of course, you may pick whatever you'd like if you pick me. :) Thanks!!! Happy Birthday!!!

I'm excited to see your post, because I was going to write something similar. In particular, I wanted to link to the five geek social fallacies which is all about why nerdy gamers feel obligated to include socially awkward friends at the table, even when they're disruptive. And then, I wanted to suggest that OP transition this high-anxiety friend over to a different social event, and your suggestion of board games is perfect. Board games do not require role play in which a socially awkward person bungles the social interactions. Here are some of my favorites that seem to work well with socially difficult people:

• Dominion (a deck building game -- start with 10 cards, mostly cards to buy stuff, and spend the game buying up more cards that give you extra actions or cash -- what's extremely cool is that the cards you buy are varied, so one game might feel very different from the next game).
  
• Rummikub (you gain 14 tiles and must put them down in runs of color or number -- this is great for aspergers types, because it goes at your own pace, and someone who can envision adjusting all the numbered tiles on the board/table can sometimes on a single turn get rid of tons & tons of tiles in an epic reconfiguring of... everything).
  
• Sequence (team-based card game that involves putting down cards on a game board to form lines, sorta like Connect 4, but involving teamwork, so if someone nervous doesn't want all the pressure on himself or herself, there will be teammates to help in this game).
  
• Munchkin (a joke game based upon D&D but without the social interactions... perfect).
  
• Carcassonne (a slower game that involves making "kingdoms" by placing tiles, pretty good for someone looking for low-pressure).
  
  Good luck OP!

Dominion is Magic The Gathering for ex-Magic nerds. It is pretty good and has lots of expansion potential, but I would love to steer you towards Citadels instead.

http://www.amazon.com/Fantasy-Flight-Games-MA04-Citadels/dp/158994030X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1299539948&sr=8-1

~20 bucks shipped, it travels well, plays quick, and is suited towards playing multiple rounds with the same group of people.

Dominion IMHO doesn't travel as well (you have to separate all the cards, etc) and the interaction doesn't grab me quite as much as other board games. Lots of people love it though, but for me, the bang-for-buck would be better investing in Descent.

~$70 shipped: http://boardgamegeek.com/geekstore.php3?action=viewitem&itemid=261005

probably ~$70 shipped: http://boardgamegeek.com/geekstore.php3?action=viewitem&itemid=265256

one for ~$60 shipped: http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B000AQDPTW/ref=dp_olp_collectible?ie=UTF8&condition=collectible

...the reason descent is so expensive (including shipping) is it has a ton of crap in it:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Descent-Journeys-into-Dark-board-game-/180635402466?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a0eb580e2

...this is dominion:
http://boardgamegeek.com/image/386432/dominion

...and this is citadels:
http://boardgamegeek.com/image/429381/citadels

(might be relevant: http://boardgamegeek.com/image/545801/citadels )

and here is what you're getting into with descent:
http://boardgamegeek.com/image/100699/descent-journeys-in-the-dark

...tougher to manage, but fun, and a ridiculous amount of fiddledy-bits.

--Robert

It looks lame, but trust me, you'll be happy you got one.

If you have an Iphone 4 or 4S

A little big, but can store a lot

For when friends come over

Because sometimes you need to take a break

For whipping up healthy drinks

The obvious accessory to most college dorms

Retractable extension cord

A little expensive, but c'mon...

Make lots of friends in the most childish way possible

And finally, the most important thing of all...

Would you like a falafel with that?

Looking through your wishlists - did we just become best friends?

I'd be into this. I love this game, but I think it'd be easier to play if I had the physical game so I could play with real life friends.

This! I love me some drums, and I need more effects cymbals.

Also, treat yourself to Dark Souls. I've spent 253 hours in that game according to Steam, and I regret none of that time.

Twinsies!

If your bar is quiet and spacious enough for people to play board games, I'd say anything goes. But I think you're looking for "quick, easy-to-learn, exciting games that people can play even if they're drunk."

In that case, get Saboteur. I played it last weekend and it was an insane amount of fun. Everyone was shouting at one another, accusing every other player of being a saboteur. Ton of fun, cheap as hell, and can be played with as much as 9 players.

Now, you need to lay the cards out on a surface. So hopefully you have a big enough surface to play it on. It shouldn't take too much space, but check out a youtube video of people playing or reviewing it just to make sure it'll work. That is, it's not something you can play on bar stools.

Also, Citadels is worth looking into. Another easy, quick, cheap, fun game.

Happy happy cake day and thanks for the contest! :D


1 Cake or birthday related (It is my cake day after all). Scrapbook calendar tape to mark your birthday in your scrapbook.


2 Simon Pegg was in a zombie movie and this is a zombie thing, so...yeah. Yeah?


3 A book you are eager to read


4 Eating Utensils


5 Animal


6 Purple


7 A game. From the game Magic: The Gathering


8 Guilty pleasure. One of my favorite instruments! It's guilty because apparently a lot of people don't like accordions/concertinas O_o


9 A Tool


10 Something from your childhood. From going to Renaissance Fairs with my Mom when I was a kid.


11 An organizational item. Scrapbook paper, because scrapbooks are a way to organize photos.


12 Hobby. One of my hobbies is camping :D


13 Nerdy/ Geeky


14 Something Natural. Sunlight!


15 Green


16 Something you wear


17 Funny


18 Beads, Bees or Beans. Filled with BEANS!!


19 Gardening. The smells of what makes a garden grow


20 Your absolute favorite item on your wish list no matter the price.. For school because Chromebooks are awesome.

Thank you, oh venerable Daemon Primarch.

After looking it up, it seems like a game I would have played with my 40k buddies. Not really the kind of thing I'd play with my fiancée. For just the two of us I'm thinking either cooperative games, or fairly quick to play. Things like Ticket to Ride or Pandemic (just going off descriptions and reviews).

We also play games with a few siblings and/or couples, but none of them gamers, per se. Games like [The Resistance] (http://www.amazon.com/The-Resistance-Dystopian-Universe/dp/B008A2BA8GG) or [Coup] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00GDI4HX4/ref=mp_s_a_1_7?qid=1448982177&sr=8-7&pi=AC_SX110_SY165&keywords=Indie+Boards+%26+Cards&dpPl=1&dpID=41UHjXzUbiL&ref=plSrch) have been dabbled in, with great enjoyment. Cards Against Humanity as well. So I'm doubting anybody would be up for something as intense as Game of Thrones. But thank you for your offer.

Certainly (in general) the more pieces the game involves, the more costly it's going to be. There's definitely something to be said for having epic games with the immersion that the board and the pieces bring, but I'm also a fan of a number of more compact games.

They're mostly cards with maybe a couple chits, but they're all fantastic and bring a different experience. It's nice having a lower price point, taking up less room, and being more travel friendly -- especially when you're building a collection with friends and playing at each other's apartments/homes.



Game | Price | # Players
---|---|----
Love Letter | $6.84 | 2-4
Fairy Tale | $17 now; I picked it up for $13 | 2-5
Resistance | $15.13 | 5-10
Coup | $13.13 | 2-6
Hanabi | $10.13 | 2-5
Citadels | $19.95 | 2-7
Innovation | $18.30 | 2-4

I think it can be reinforced this way, but I feel that a lot of the asking of "why?" can be important for students, albeit annoying at times for teachers, and that may not come up in the same way with games(Though it also might).

Beyond this, there are students who do desire to continue with mathematics after the basic high school curriculum, and many of them do not really know that until after they complete some higher-level math courses like Calculus. So the math is still important.

That being said, I love bringing games in to the classroom. Though I typically stay away from anything advertised as a "math game." Instead, I bring games that I like, but in which mathematical concepts can be found. Some examples I've used in class include: Set, Mao, The Great Dalmuti, Settlers of Catan, and Formula D.

Welcome welcome! How exciting that you are able to join in the fun after lurking in wait! We are happy to have you here.


What do you do for fun? Favorite board game or video game?

This would be what I wanted. Because you can never have too much C.A.H.

The lans I go to are too small to really bear much advice to you on the questions you listed.

Where I can provide some insight is in the types of table top games you should consider. Lots of folks (in the lan community) have been exposed to traditional pen/paper stuff like DnD. If you're looking to spice things up a bit, consider trying out some of the modern board games that are out. I'm sure some of your attendees will have already been exposed to these, but for the rest that haven't, they'll probably strike at least an interest or a few questions. BoardGameGeek has a list of the top board games out right now, some of which you might not have heard of. Settlers of Catan, Dominion, Race for the Galaxy, Carcassonne are some of the most popular. They're flashy, they're interesting, and they're usually under an hour (if not usually under 45 min) to play. They're an up and coming type of gaming that's spreading fast among the table-top/CCG/comics folks.

Edit: In retrospect, I kinda seem like a fanboy for this post, but holy shit they're really awesome games.

Just One is FABULOUS and takes two seconds to learn! You can easily take it out of the box and travel with it in a baggy!

Avalon/Werewolf social deduction type games are fun for big groups!

Age of War is a small push your luck die roll game (not the best for a big group but for a portion of the group)

Box of Rocks is a trivia type game where it is all humans versus a box of rocks

Set is good solitaire or with big groups but is going to cause lots of head scratching. It's good for those who like puzzles!

Red7 is a personal favorite but doesn't play to 10 people

We use dot us these Training Swords in my medieval combat class!

They also make a Shield

This steampunk flavored Cryptex Flash Drive might be appreciated! Useful and stylish in a similar vein to this Steampunk Watch
As for board games, I recommend Shadow Hunters, Splendor, and Coup

For tabletop games, you could get him A Nice Set of Color Coded Diece

When it comes to video games, this Retro Arcade Console Desk Toy could be a great work passtime with 200 games! Alternatively if you have a fridge or a metal workspace, Magnetic Tetris! for idle hands


Hope any of these help haha

Wow.. this is very generous of you. :)

I'd give you my lucky pickle as a token of my admiration, but I ate it just now. :x PICKLE SURPRISE!

If possible, I'd love to have the Cards Against Humanity card game. It's only $25, so to reach the price range you could include the first, second and maybe even third expansion set for a total of $55? :)

Or just the main card set and spend the remaining $25-35 on someone else here? :) Either way... you're incredible for it! <3

The pathfinder bestiary boxes are usually considered highly prized by many for a price-to-minis ratio.

I personally use and prefer game mash tokens as they're pretty cheap (about 60 cents a pop) and look really nice.

Sometimes you can find an old D&D 4E monster vault on sale for cheap, but that's getting much more rare these days as they've been out of print for a while. It comes with a pretty good number of tokens.

And as others have said, you can use various objects (washers, candy, etc.) instead of tokens/minis in a pinch.

Edit: in the past, i've also made some pretty good use out of fish tank glass beads.

oh ok, definetely check out the rayqauza battle arena deck right here ---> Here , there about 20$ and they come with 2 ready to play deck, these have competitive trainer cards and there good for new players, if you can get 2, that would be ideal because then you can combine them and build even better decks. The decks Come with N, Sycamore and VS Seekers which are all competitive and expensive cards so it is a pretty good deal if your just starting out. Hopefully this helps. :)

You NEED Munchkin!

It's a table-top game for up to 8 people AND it's roleplaying. Everything changes, you can team up with friends to help take another friend down or help out. It's great. Look into it!

new tires. unknown.

Thanks for the contest! Enjoy the origin games you got and the new game you end up getting through this contest!

My suggestions for fun two player games that have a small footprint are below. I haven't tried playing these in a pub, but I think they should work.

Love Letter - I played this at a party recently and enjoyed it. There are various themes, including a munchkins variant.

Pass the Pigs - I used to bring this game with me on plane trips because it is compact and playable on a tray table.

Toss Up - Fun dice game, simple rules, could be turned into a drinking game if you are so inclined.

Timeline - Lots of different versions of this game, all have to do with history, but you can pick different topics, and even combine packs.

Exploding Kittens - random fun, there is also a NSFW version that is full of boob/penis/poop/etc jokes.

Hanabi - I have the tile version of this, which is a little bulkier, but is much more drink and food resistant.

Happy birthday! Have an awesome 21st, but don't party TOO hard!

Could always celebrate by buying yourself something cool and classy for school/work/other

A game to play that goes well with friends and booze with always great.

These are great suggestions. Other light, cheap games I enjoy are:

• Hanabi - great co-op game about fireworks. Very popular.
  
• Coloretto - well-designed set-collecting game with press your luck mechanism.
  
• Guillotine - fun silly card game about rival executioners during the French revolution, vying to chop off the heads of the highest ranked nobles.

If he is into gaming you can't go too wrong with a steam gift card.

Just techy in general an amazon echo dot is an great for a techy and is ideal for your price

An amazon fire tv stick or Chromecast might be a good idea

If he is into Electronics and/or emulating he may like a Raspberry Pi (basically a tiny computer that you can do DIY electronics on or setup to play old nintendo games on). You could even setup the emulator for him and load him some games if you wanted to link here (pm me if you want to do this and need help with the install etc)

Board games could be a good idea if he is a gamer but it would depend on what kind of board games he likes. Some good ones of the top of my head though. Ticket to Ride, Coup or Catan

Troyes (pronounced "twah") is a great worker placement-esque game that is great for 2 players, up to 4. The theme might bore you until you start playing, it's intuitive and great for any number of players.

Jaipur is only for 2 players, but is inexpensive and tons of fun.

I don't have anything that perfectly fits that criteria, but think that having a diverse collection for different numbers of players is the solution rather than one game to rule them all.

Apples to Apples, Dixit, Jungle Speed, Pictionary, Anomia, SET, Loaded Questions, and Jenga are a few that come to mind where the adults wouldn't necessarily have an advantage over the kids. Also Fluxx and We Didn't Playtest This are both hilarious card games that would be perfect for kids in that age range, but I have a blast playing them with other adults on a regular basis too; Spaceteam looks like another good one but I haven't personally played it. If you're looking for more involved strategy games, Ticket to Ride and Carcassone would be fine for that age, just require more of a learning curve. Cranium and Quelf are silly games that involve a variety of tasks (drawing, acting, singing, trivia, etc) and although they're supposedly aimed at adults, kids love them too (just skip cards that are too hard; or you could also consider the kids' versions of both games, Cranium Cadoo and Quelf Jr.). Uno (or Crazy Eights with a regular deck of cards) is always a classic, and you can always play charades or the category game!

edited to add: not sure about a good choose your own adventure story, but Mad Libs are always fun!

Only exercise thing I have left is a Zumba game but if this counts, I really need a scale. I don't have one at all and I just got a lot of things recently that I need to start a healthier life. :) I think this card game looks like a ton of fun. Thanks for the contest! :)

This discussion comes up a lot, and is very repetitive. I'm sorry for assuming that you were already familiar with the arguments on the other side of it. The short version:

• Cards are cheap, but they're not free. None of FFG's LCG core sets have more than about 250 cards. Presumably there's a breakpoint there where they would actually have to raise the price if they put in more.
  
• Presumably, FFG knows enough about pricing board games to have determined that raising the price would reduce sales. And, for that matter, that most people won't be too upset with $40 for the contents of one core set.
  
• They've said several times that most core set buyers play it as a self-contained board game and never buy any expansions. From discussions here, we know that many of them never do any deckbuilding either. Such kitchen table players actually seem pretty happy with the core set as it is.
  
• Less casual players don't usually start with three core sets. They start with one, buy some expansions, buy a second core, buy some more expansions, then buy a third core. So they don't seem to see one core as "a third of a game," and they don't actually start with an incredibly expensive 120 euro purchase. This may have been a problem when the game was new and there were no expansions, but it isn't now.
  
• There are actually fewer full playsets and more one-ofs in the new core. Weirdly, this is actually an improvement for competitive players; if you do buy three core sets, the number of different cards it will give you full playsets of is substantially larger. I bought my third original core set basically just for Desparado. New players buying a third revised core will get a lot more value out of it.
  
  Incidentally, the MSRP is $40 US, which Google says is about 34 euro. Amazon France has the original core for EUR 35,50. So your costs are a bit high.

2.

This For clarification on relation of #2

4. I think it counts :D

5.

7.

8.

9. I'd consider it a tool, buut some may not.

10. This was the best as a kid. Still is xD

12. I game a lot

13. Best i could come up with

14. Some may call it unnatural...

15.

16.

17. Gotta have em all :P

18. Jelly beans! :D

19.
This will clarify #19

20. This most definitely :P

Bonus:

Happy happy cake day! Make it rock.. you only get one a year... :P

By the way, of few of those say they were added August 3rd, but it was honestly at like 2 in the morning before I went to bed, so I thought they were added yesterday.

Android Netrunner is a Living Card Game. It's packaged more like a board game.

The core set comes in a big box... but once you learn how to play it, you can easily put 1 or 2 decks in deck boxes and and the extra bits in another one, and leave everything you won't use inside the box.

• This game right now is very popular
  
• Each side plays differently, so you have two things to master learning
  
• Core set comes with 7 decks basically to get you started (3 for one side, 4 for the other)
  
• You CAN deck build by pulling cards from one deck to the other to a point, which can keep the game very fresh
  
• There are expansions should you enjoy it enough to explore more
  

Cards against humanity is on both your list and on mine! It's such a fun game to play, and great to pull out at any party. :)

This cow car set is pretty awesome! Not only is it cow print, because I love cows, but it'll help me keep my hands from burning during the 100+ degree summer heat. :D

Thanks for the contest, we're such twinsies!

I host a regular Dominion game with other redditors, which is a game a lot like Magic: The Gathering and a tiny bit like hold'em. Previous meetup events here: http://www.meetup.com/NYC-Redditors/events/30012491/ & http://www.meetup.com/NYC-Redditors/events/28428671/

Amazon description of the game here: http://www.amazon.com/Rio-Grande-Games-RGG370-Dominion/dp/B001JQY6K4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1314746416&sr=8-1

It's a great, low-pressure way to meet fellow redditors. And while it's like M:tG, there's no expense on your end-- I've bought the game and all expansions, which is all you need to host up to 8 people. Would you be interested in that? We're happy to teach new people. If so, let me know and I'll be happy to let you know when the next game is and/or you can subscribe to the reddit meetup NYC group to be automatically notified of that and other events.

If your willing to spend a little money (less tha $5) may I suggest buying the code for "Battle Arena Decks: Keldeo vs Raquaza"

It comes with 2 pre made decks. The Keldeo one is actually quite good and both decks great for starters.

It contains 4 meta EX Pokemon, several meta trainer cards, and other meta Pokemon.

There is one caviat it only works in expanded format. Not theme!

It's a very good start and well worth the money! Heck buy the IRL for you and your son and use the code it comes with online!

Here is an Amazon link:
https://www.amazon.com/Battle-Arena-Decks-Rayquaza-Keldeo/dp/B01GT1CY7K

You could search eBay and find the code alone fairly easily.

GL Have Fun!

I'm not greendot, but you'd probably have good success with the one I mentioned: Set. The way the game works is you're trying to make sets of three cards that either all match or all differ on four characteristics (color, shape, number, and shading). An easy set from the Amazon photo would be the empty red ovals that differ in number. I'm not seeing a really brainmelting set in their photo, but an example would be single shaded purple diamond, two empty red ovals, and three filled green triangles.

When the five-year-old's called "SET!" three times in a row the 18- to 40-year-olds around the table tend to start questioning their self-worth. =)

1. When my parents were dating, my dad told my mom she had to make a good pie. My mom makes the best fucking pies I have ever had. I need to get this for her for reals. Transport all the times!
   
   
2. My family loves to play party games at holidays. One of my cousins has Cards Against Humanity, but we really need a copy here because this is where all the parties are. The one my mom picked for her little brother… I am still disturbed by it.
   
   
3. When my family travels together, we all rotate books and discuss them. When we were in Spain, we all read The Time Traveler's Wife. I never watched the movie because the book was too good. My mom and I would totally read Takedown Twenty because we adore the Stephanie Plum novels. They might be tacky brain candy, but you need that from time to time.
   
   
4. No question. Sister Act
   
   
5. I tried really hard to find the fragranced Strawberry Shortcake dolls I had as a kid. That smells takes me right back to the 80s. Then I remembered that I liked Strawberry Lip Smackers because they reminded me of the same thing. It's a two step situation, here. But I think it works.
   
   You are this many
   
   You don't have to give birth to someone to make a family.

There's Munchkin Treasure Hunt which is pretty fun and easy to grasp



I also highly recommend Exploding Kittens

These are on the easier side and are a great starting point to get acclimated to board games and card games.

This card game

This shot glass

My hubby and I are so competitive when it come to games. To the point that one of us is always laughing at the others little tantrum. All in good fun of course. And to have a little alcohol in an amazingly awesome shot glass to go with a round of Cards Against Humanity may give me a fighting chance seeing as I can't drink right now it would give me the upper hand :)

Schmad on my add. Thanks for the contest.

Thanks for the contest! I PM'ed you the answers ;)

I would love Cards Against Humanity to give my boyfriend for Christmas since money is a little tight. He deserves it since he is such a sweetheart! (or surprises are great too!)

Happy Birthday. I usually get cards from my grandparents but that's about all I get. Normally people just forget my birthday so I feel for you. I hope you find something fun to do for yourself, I mean besides having a contest because those are awesome! Also being in your 30's is great, don't let anyone tell you any different.

edit No I changed my mind, it would be this

It is far from my favorite game, but I think Star Realms fits this category. Super simple deck builder, super quick to play, super cheap ($13 on Amazon) and a small package (can fit in your pocket).

Since she is just a beginner, you'll probably want to get her a deck that is ready to play out of the box. I'd recommend picking up the recent Clash Pack that came out a little while ago. This will give her 2 fairly well built decks to start from.

If you want to get her some more stuff, then I'd also say wait and pickup the 2014 Holiday Gift Box. It's a fairly sturdy box for her to store her cards in, and it comes with a bunch of booster packs as well. After that, stocking stuffers such as dice, card sleeves, or playmats are always great gifts.

Check these out. They're a great for noobs learning to play. It's simpler and needs no DM. Great way to get your feet wet and learn the basic mechanics. I took one when i deployed and used it introduce new players to the game.

https://www.amazon.com/Wizards-Coast-Dungeons-Dragons-Ashardalon/dp/0786955708

https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Legend-Drizzt-Board/dp/0786958731/

If you still want to dm, these are great supplies to get started:

https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Wizards-Team/dp/0786965592/ (i highly suggest you get this)

https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Spellbook-Cards-Accessory/dp/0786966726/r (i find these really helpful)

https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Spellbook-Cards-Arcane/dp/B01MRVJ1TB/

Also, check out your local gaming store. They are a great resource. Also ask about Pathfinder, which was created based off of D&D

The Resistance is really fun, especially when you have a large group of people :)

Have you tried Fluxx or Munchkin at all? They're not exactly board games, but they're a blast to play, especially if you enjoy RPGs.

Not sure if you're into cookbooks or not, but both Grillhouse: Gastropub at Home and This is a Cookbook look like they'd be neat.

Eggplant Wizard

I absolutely adore Cards Against Humanity it caters to my somewhat sick sense of humor and I have many friends who I know would love to play it with me.

Ever since I started okay CAH here, I can no longer play apples to apples. I always find myself thinking of a CAH card that would be so much better lol

Thanks for the contest.

Ok, a $20 budget is way tougher than I expected. (Most of my normal recommendations hit around $25).

[Hive Pocket] (https://www.miniaturemarket.com/tci013.html) - $17.09 - Great chess-like strategy that can be played anywhere. The components feel great, and I really like the travel size. Plays equally well at a cafe, beach, patio, or coffee table.


Flip City - $16.06 - As a disclaimer, this is a very light deckbuilder. This game works better as a "simple zen game to decompress with" than a "game to ponder and analyze". However, it's pretty good for a light deckbuilder.

Valley of the Kings: Afterlife - $15.11 - Some people love this one, other people hate it. I fall in the former camp. This is a more unique "zen" deckbuilder that has you sacrificing your high-powered cards to convert them to victory points. One of the common complaints is that it is too easy. There are a few variants on BGG that address this.

Star Realms - $13.61 - Another "light-ish" deckbuilder. This one feels quite luck-based, but it has a quick set-up and tear down, and plays at a decent clip as well.

1 Cake or birthday related

2 Simon Pegg (zombies remind me of him)

3 A book you are eager to read

4 Eating Utensils

5 Animal

6 Purple

7 A game

8 A guilty pleasure

9 A Tool (for learning!)

10 Something from your childhood

11 An organizational item

12 Hobby

13 Nerdy/ Geeky

14 Something Natural

15 Green

16 Something you wear

17 Funny

18 Beads, Bees or Beans

19 Gardening

20 Your absolute favorite item on your wish list no matter the price.

Darn, got all but one!

Thanks for the contest and Happy happy cake day

I'm glad you posted, as you bring a valuable perspective to the conversation. You may be getting downvotes because you're not addressing the whole "hate" issue. You believe MtG is not as good as other games - Netrunner for example - and you have your reasons, but it doesn't sound like you'd ridicule or "nerd-shame" someone for playing Magic. In fact, OP mentions friends who play Catan all night will laugh at him/her for playing Magic. Catan is even worse than Magic for resource-screwing you out of productive gameplay! So poor game mechanics is not the reason for the Magic-hate in the original post.

That's all I got. As an aside, I bought Netrunner (base game? I dunno. it's this product) this past year, have yet to play it. It looks fun, and as soon as I find someone willing to sit down and learn it with me, I will play!

Here is a better alternative, at least in my opinion: Star Realms. It's not fantasy and magic, but it is a deckbuilding card game that is fun to play with friends. It's not expensive and the rules are easy to learn, so it isn't intimidating to new players who are drunk. It may not satisfy the uber-nerd that wants to collect every last card out there since it uses standardized decks, but even still it may be a better option for you.

Well you have two options.

Either get the original game or the sequal Colony Wars. They should be around $15 each. They are both base games and play exactly the same so it doesn’t matter which one you pick up. If you like it then you can do a bit of research on where to go next.

Alternatively if you have a smart phone or a Steam account there is a free digital version on Android, iPhone, and Steam. The free version is you vs. the computer and a campaign mode. The paid version unlocks online and local multiplayer modes and additional campaign content. But the free version is enough to let you figure out if you actually want to buy the physical version.

Sushi Go - Amazon US - $12

Sushi Go Party - Amazon - $20

As I mentioned above, I far prefer the party version and think it's worth the $8 extra; it's more than twice the "content" whereas the original is always the same. I'd only recommend the original over "Party" if a super portable game (about the size of two standard decks of cards) is useful to you.

Heellloooo Squeakachoo! Good for you for getting rid of old stuff! I've learned how to de-clutter my life significantly and it's GREAT! I'm a forever-child that likes being outside, listening to oldies, and being a nerd. I like Arrested Development, Jericho, Firefly, Breaking Bad, Mad Men & Jeopardy. I think the Cards Against Humanity would represent me well, because I love my friends and family, love playing games, and have a good sense of humor.

Riddle the First: Wine
I’ve heard tell that wine can be paired with fruit and cheese. Because I’m a classy lady I would have no trouble substituting traditional cheese for some White Cheddar Cheez-its:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001ONPN9K/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=3OX0211BFWC4U&coliid=I2QRJJ8FY0PH3O

Riddle the Second: Broom
Do you know how dusty White Cheddar Cheez-its are? Of course I need a broom to keep my side of the dormitory clean!
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006TESANU/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=3OX0211BFWC4U&coliid=I37I11D6JNTLOL

Riddle the Third: Hat
What “classy lady” wouldn’t want a miniature top hat headband fascinator? I just hope its not too distracting to the other students…
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IB052U4/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=3OX0211BFWC4U&coliid=IPL430LO8ISSR

Riddle the Fourth: Book
I chose a muggle book of fiction I’ve wanted to read for a while now, The Windup Girl, by Paolo Bacigalupi. I’ll give you a prize if you can say “Bacigalupi” three times fast…
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1597801585/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=3OX0211BFWC4U&coliid=I3IYSDZAX1N183

Riddle the Fifth: Trunk
Cards Against Humanity would be stowed away in my trunk. What better way to learn about all my new housemates after sorting is complete?
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004S8F7QM/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=3OX0211BFWC4U&coliid=I1Z7ZLARVMKSAN

For Bonus Points: Cape
I need variety! Why wear the same boring old cape day after day if I don’t have to? With Dancing Colors Scarves I could have a different colored cape, or a cape of many colors, anytime I pleased!
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0042SR4F0/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=3OX0211BFWC4U&coliid=I2KTI79YW1128G

This really depends on your sense of humor and the people you hang out with. With that said, my friends and I have had a great many laughs over this card game:

• Cards Against Humanity
  
  If that's a bit too much for you, here are some other suggestions:
  
  
• For the Chewie lover
  
• Or perhaps you prefer the dark side?
  
• As lover of trivia, perhaps this book will give you entertainment and ideas.
  
  
  
  
  

Both Star Realms and Ascension are available on Steam and Android (don't know about iOS) I highly recommend giving them a play. You can find physical copies of those two, and Dominion at any local game store. Star Realms is especially a steal since you can just buy one small deck of cards and it comes with everything you need to play.

I seriously love Star Realms and look how stupid cheap it is. It's one of the most fun 1v1 games I know of. It's easy to learn and there is a ton of depth to game play. Plus some really great expansions and add-ons.

I need to find a large enough group of friends that I can regularly play Shadows Over Camelot. That game is super fun.

But for 2 player games stuff like Zombie Dice, Exploding Kittens, and Fluxx are a boatload of fun.

Jaipur!

It's a really really clever and elegant two-player game and I love it and it is great for couples (I spent most of my New Years Eve last year playing this with my girlfriend at the time, and it was a ton of fun!)

(Also it has camels which makes it an instant winner!)

Farkle, Killer Bunnies, Munchkin, Netrunner, x-wing, jaiper (super fun 2 player game), Guillotine, Small World...we can't think of any other ones at this time.

She isn't a nerd or anything, but she really likes playing games together. It brings us closer (even though the loser usually wants to strangle the winner for a few minutes after the game). Lots of "I WANT A REMATCH" and "THAT WAS PURE LUCK" is said around our dinner table.

I really really want it!

Science/Gardens: Because bugs

Writing: Because they are food like and cute

Movie: Its a classic

Book: Cuz its John Green

Spirituality: It smells nice

Art Supplies: I love deco paint pens

Math: Because they talk about science and math stuffs

Travel: Because you always need one

Food: You need to live out your childhood dreams sometimes

Nature/outdoors: Because Nature can be scary and filled with "Nope"

Fun stuff:

• If your not already watching you should be
  
• Its good to have something to do with friends

My suggestion is Disney Pictopia...it's fun, it's not hard to learn and a single game only takes about 30 min depending on how things go.

We also played Exploding Kittens at the ILs over Thanksgiving and that is hilarious. :D

We've also played Watch Ya Mouth at the ILs and that is a super fun game.

My favorite from your list because I just discovered this game and it tickles just the right part of my brain.

My favorite from mine because omg the colors! I've been dying to try this yarn out. Noro does such creative stuff.

We look like we could share tastes, but my list is heavily yarn/book oriented. Anyone who likes Cards Against Humanity is awesome in my book!

I haven't dug through the bag they bring yet because I was mostly interested in meeting people and trying new things, but I saw people playing the following.

Boss Monster http://www.amazon.com/Boss-Monster-Dungeon-Building-Card/dp/B00DK3P856

Love Letter http://www.amazon.com/Alderac-Entertainment-Group-5104AEG-Letter/dp/B00AGJ4HC2

Cards Against Humanity http://www.amazon.com/Cards-Against-Humanity-LLC-CAHUS/dp/B004S8F7QM

DC Deck Building Game http://www.amazon.com/DC-Comics-Deck-Building-Game/dp/1617681709

Splendor http://www.amazon.com/Asmodee-SCSPL01-Splendor-Board-Game/dp/B00IZEUFIA

Kittens in a Blender http://www.amazon.com/Sandstorm-55010NRD-Kittens-in-Blender/dp/B004U5R9J6

and Samurai Spirit http://www.amazon.com/Passport-Game-Studio-FNFSAMUS01PGS-Samurai/dp/B00QD78KZG

There is also an N64 with Goldeneye and Smash and an Emulation Station with many nes / snes / ps / gb / sega games.

Bananagrams - simple word game. A bit like Scrabble only without the scoring system. Really great to play with my kids.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Toys-Winning-Moves-Bananagrams-Game/dp/B00ZR6V5HO


Exploding Kittens - fun as hell card game. Easy to learn and play. Full instruction video on their website. Again, fun to play with my 9 and 13 year old. There's a NSFW version too.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Exploding-Kittens-About-Explosions-Sometimes/dp/B010TQY7A8

(NSFW version http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B010TU7LP2/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1449901848&sr=8-2&pi=SX200_QL40&keywords=exploding+kittens&dpPl=1&dpID=51g9KWUTKPL&ref=plSrch)

31 days for Augustus

I like August because it is the end of summer which means fall is almost here & the weather is finally cooling down. Also even though it has been a while since I have been in school I take full advantage of all the back to school sales. Especially at Target, the best time to stock up on stuff I need around the house. Also is there anything better than baseball in August? I think not.

Munchkin would be nice or speaking of August baseball This baseball book.

Thanks for the contest!

1. Birthday: BH Cosmetics BH Party Girl
   
   
2. Book: As I Lay Dying
   
   
3. Animal: Eeyore Pillow Pal Pet
   
   
4. Purple: Nokia Lumia 920 Low Profile Covert Branded PU Leather Wallet Case (Purple)
   
   
5. Game: Cards Against Humanity
   
   
6. Guilty Pleasure: Green Tea Kit Kats
   
   
7. Tool: Nail Art Tweezers
   
   
8. From my childhood: Animal Crossing: New Leaf (The original was my first DS game :)
   
   
9. Organizational: Wristwatch Sticky Notes
   
   
10. Hobby: Mumford and Sons Sigh No More Song Book
    
    
11. Nerdy/Geeky: Barron's AP Italian Language and Culture
    
    
12. Natural: Special Teas - Loose Leaf Tea Sampler Set
    
    
13. Green: Essie Spring 2012 Nail Polish Colors
    
    
14. Wear: Giraffe Pajama Onsie
    
    
15. Funny: Futurama: Volume 7 (1999)
    
    
16. My Favorite: Fred & Friends ManaTEA Infuser
    
    I think you'll pick this as the item you'll purchase with this order
    
    Happy happy cake day

You would like this portable charger because it's seriously something everybody needs.

I'd like [this honeybee dress] ( https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0711B5N7Y/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_YHbqzb3RESXB1) because bees are so essential to our ecosystem and it's summer so it's dress season 👗.

***

Alternatively, we'd both like Cards Against Humanity because it's such an awesome game.


Thanks for the contest and congratulations!

you're a big girl now ! THIS is absolutely necessary! :P You're gunna want to invite people over :)

Oh, and feel free to stalk my wish list ;) I have fun adding things to it. I promise I am not as creepy in person as the list may or may not suggest...

Yesterday I'm not even sure what to write. I really hope my sponsor calls me back today. I've been trying really hard not to eat ALL THE COOKIES.

Today

• Chandlee
  
• training
  
• computer in room?
  
• safety olympics meeting
  
• take out recycling
  
• run
  
• bleach growlers
  
• print roaster, print certificates
  
• desiccator follow up
  
• keep reading HAZWOPER
  
• think about what I want to put in my garden pots, and which flowers in the planters
  
• call someone
  
  BQ It depends on the friends, and how many are playing. My husband and I got a few two player games when we got married, and Rivals for Catan has been a (sort of) favorite. We also really like playing Jaipur. Short rounds, fun, simple, but still challenging. I'd love to hear other two player game suggestions.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Android-Netrunner-Card-Game-Core/dp/1616614609/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417704403&sr=8-1&keywords=netrunner

25 pounds! You should be okay.

And as far as needing the data packs go, you do not need them. I play with a friend who is pretty skilled and there is a TON of game here. In this box alone, there are 3 Runners and 4 Corporations, meaning 12 matchups alone. Each matchup is very different and interesting as well. There are also 2 different sides to play in this game. You can either play as the aggressive and nimble runner or the slow and brooding corporation.

It is a very intense game and one of my favorites.

Board games are awesome. I wish my FH and I could play video games together, but I get motion sick from 90% of the ones we try. Board games, luckily, don't elicit the same response. We recently started playing one called Guillotine that's pretty fun!

edit: technically, Guillotine is a card game, not a board game. Close enough!

Dinner was my only meal for the day, which is the only reason it looks so nice! 😆

Congrats on your new job!

I feel like we have a lot of similar items on our wish lists, but the only item we both have is CAH.

I'm pretty sure you would like the following things from my WL:

1. Dino earrings
   
2. Living stone plant
   
3. Dino fossil cookie cutters!

The base set contains the best white card

Why? Because it has "A Micropenis". A card so versatile and hilarious that it is a near guaranteed victory within my group.

Since I don't write on my white cards and instead have everyone playing write up ones that then get voted on and put on little sticky notes... my personal favorite from the times we've played was "Receiving anal from a raptor and having it call you a clever girl."

There's actually a good amount of fun games for under $40 on Amazon that I would suggest looking at.

• Pandemic | $28
  
• Catan | $30
  
• Dominion | $30
  
• 7 Wonders | $31
  
• Love Letter | $8
  
• Coup | $8
  
• Sushi Go | $10
  
• Lord of Waterdeep | $37
  
• Betrayal at House on the Hill | $34
  
• Ticket to Ride | $31
  
  These are all pretty popular games and I think they give you a good start into the different genre's of modern board games.

Yes! Game of Things is a favorite amongst my friends. Loaded Questions is great. Also, Cards Against Humanity is an always a good one.

Yours: Because my husband and I LOVE this game

Mine: I'm introducing childhood favorite movies to my son and this is one I'd looooove to have!

Thank you so much for the contest and I love Kevin! <3

I'm not sure how much shipping would be to your location, but Jaipur is still cheap here in Europe! Amazon.de for instance will probably ship to you, and it's only €13,50 ($15.00)

My wife and me both love Jaipur and Splendor. We've probably played Jaipur a bit more with just the two of us.

It's not too expensive ($30 on amazon), but a really fun 2 player card game is Android: Netrunner. I've only had a chance to play it a couple of times but I've found it to be quite a lot of fun.

Hanabi is a great, coop game that is about 10 dollars on Amazon right now. It plays between 2 and 5 players and is a lot of fun. It also is in a tiny box, so it makes it really easy to carry around. Definitely worth a buy.

Depending on her playing level, a great competitive entry point would be the Keldeo vs. Rayquaza Battle Arena Decks. It has two decks, so she could play/learn with her parents or a friend. It has numerous trainer cards that are seen in competitive play (VS Seeker, Professor Sycamore, N, Lysandre, Ultra Ball), so once she "outgrows" the template decks, she could take those trainers and build a deck of her own.

At the moment Amazon already offers the set with $6 off -- it's a great deal. https://smile.amazon.com/Battle-Arena-Decks-Rayquaza-Keldeo/dp/B01GT1CY7K

Bought Forbidden Island Friday, already played at least 15 rounds haha Great game!

I'm also a big fan of Three Dragon Ante Link

Set (really gives the brain a workout) Link

Pandemic (slightly over $20) Link

My favorite in the past year or so has got to be Pirate Fluxx! WIth a good group of people I've never laughed so hard in my life Link

Batman Suit.

I hear this is rad so why not get it for yourself? Just think of all the rad times you could have. DO IT. NOW.

And for me, This super rad Super Nintendo game would be super rad. (I'm assuming you can gift used items? There should be a used copy to ship right at or under $30) I recently made the decision to collect old games and my main interest is the SNES and kind of the NES so this game would be a super rad addition to my collection. I've played it before and its frustrating as all hell compared to the newer ones we're used to, but I love it and need it.

This is a great offer! I'd like to enter for Exploding Kittens here: http://amzn.com/B010TQY7A8

It would be for the whole family...but I chose this because 1. My son ADORES cats...and is into the whole survival genre, so exploding anything is up his alley. And 2. I love The Oatmeal, who created this.

We have been gifted more than 5 items, but no family games so I figured I'd throw our name in the hat anyways.

Thanks and Merry Christmas!

The set game along with this book. Its fun for all ages such a simple game but always a favorite for anyone I have shown it too. Great to play with groups also.

I would love this It's always up to us to bring the games to our parties.

Christmas in April is great. My family normally celebrates all the holidays in July. We exchange presents, shoot of fireworks, dress up in our halloween costumes and hunt easter eggs. While pigging out on chocolates and deep fried turkey and drinking green beer.

1. [How the what in where?!?!?!?]
   
   
2. I'm sort of embarrassed this is on my wishlist...NSFW Super Sonico figure! >.< It's just so cute. But also...other things.
   
   
3. Cards Against Humanity is hilarious! And very NSFW. Don't bring it to the work meeting. It's great for parties and friends.
   
   
4. I like it when the OP chooses, so there's nothing I really want to specify for you! But, for your convenience, here's a BD&A amiibo Question Block Case that I want!
   
   
5. Here's a penis cake pan. Enjoy.
   
   
6. Sixth? SIXTH? THE DEVIL!
   
   Is it okay that my NSFW wishlist is marked like this: 'Figures! (some nsfw)' ?
   
   

Favorite game right now is probably Insurgency. I'm also really into Blade and Soul (my first MMO). Favorite game of all time is probably Europa Universalis IV, though Civilization IV and V are close behind. For "board" games, my current top game would be Dominion. My law school friends play this all the time. Personally, I would prefer to be playing Risk, but I like playing with my friends.

For a base set I prefer Munchkin Deluxe. It has a board added to it, but you can still just use the cards. I find the board really helpful in getting people to play because it’s easier to describe what the goal of the game is. Also, it makes it much easier to play drunk (if thats what youre into). You can always buy expansions and other base sets and use the board to go along with it.

Munchkin Deluxe https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004U7JJWE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_80oYAbP0TA8NJ

I think the base set has my favorite. It is "the Virginia Tech Massacre" because it ALWAYS works. Also, because I'm a terrible person. But really, it always fits.


In the online game, It's always fun to fill in the white card with someone's username... but if I had a real life one, It would be "the eyes of white people" -- because one of my mixed race students was talking about how he liked the eyes of white people because they got so many colors and his whole family just gets brown lol... and I had never thought about it, so the phrase makes me laugh, and I think it would be funny in a lot of situations.

Well my two favorite cards are from the second expansion of the game.

Those are "A bigger blacker dick" which is a classic and "The mere concept of Applebees." This is just because one of our friends LOVES to go to Applebees and we never understood why. Every time we want to go eat, he would always propose it. So when this card was played while he was being card czar we lost it.

Here is one of my blank cards, I don't like writing on them so I put little pieces of paper. It's between that one, "The gap between Rose Tyler's teeth" for my whovian friends and "Before taking a piss, yelling: "Squirtle! Use Water Gun!"

Awesome that you were able to go to PAX. It's too far from me but I'm really excited they just announced PAX South (which will be where I live.) Hopefully the CAH guys attend along with the Game Grumps.

If you can find a local game store, I'd go and ask what their policy is on returns. You could just go with a gift card to the place, though I know that can be impersonal, but if they allow it on unopened games, I'd get him something small like Zombie Dice, Hive, Codenames, Forbidden Island, or Sushi Go (all between $5 and $20 generally). If he has the game he can return it for some dice, or something else he needs, but I think the thought of going out and researching what good games are out there is nice.

But you are literally saying the exact same thing xTheOOBx was saying other than "I don't agree".

If the game is well stocked, it is significantly cheaper than local stores. If it isn't well stocked, it is only a little bit cheaper than your local stores. The only exception is MayFair games, where they have a cap on their retail discount.

And for what it is worth:

BGG Top 10

1. 26% Off
   
   
2. OOP/BPR
   
   
3. 35% Off
   
   
4. 31% Off
   
   
5. 27% Off
   
   
6. 25% Off
   
   
7. 37% Off
   
   
8. 28% Off
   
   
9. 32% Off
   
   
10. 23% Off
    
    
    Some other games I just stumbled across.
    
    24% Off,
    31% Off, 34% Off
    
    It looks like when I said "frequently between 30% and 40%, I was pretty damn close. It's okay to want to support the local game stores, as we all have said, they provide something more than just the game. I visit the same exact stores you do, and I know "not that much cheaper" is down right false. Buying games online is almost a buy 2-3 get 1 free - and that's not considering any significant sale.

Alternatively sushi go! (Sushi Go! - The Pick and Pass Card Game https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00J57VU44/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_.zVCybJR74EKP)

And love letter (Love Letter Boxed Edition https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00J1JLT8I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_HBVCybD3TR08K)

Are two of my favorite under thirty minutes games... if the boys cringe at the idea of love letter you can also get a Batman, Adventure Time, or Hobbit version to make it "manly"

Almost all of these are $15 and under (plus shipping):

Best value:

• Love Letter Factory Edition - recommend over aeg edition for the minister card
  
• Set and/or Swish - i might give swish the edge due to the ability to dial in the difficulty
  
• Coup
  
• Make your own Skull set with blank coasters and day of the dead temporary tattoos
  
• Forbidden Island - recommending over forbidden desert because scuffed tiles can spoil forbidden desert
  
  2 only:
  
  
• Cribbage
  
• What's My Word - you only need the refill pads, the rules can be read online
  
• Star Realms
  
  The 2-3 player weird spot (it's harder to find games good at this player count):
  
  
• Wurfel Bohnanza - dice! but no one will accuse you of gambling with bean dice
  
• Haggis
  
  Great with 4:
  
  
• Hanabi
  
• Sushi Go!
  
• No Thanks!
  
• Tichu - can be played with a standard deck plus four marked-up jokers
  
  Great for 5+:
  
  
• Bohnanza
  
• 6 nimmt!
  

I would totally say "OMG YAAAAAAAY!!!!" if I were to receive either Cards Against Humanity or this great Dremel Flex Shaft attachment for my Dremel, which would help me with my etsy orders! :D

Thank you for the contest! Yay! :D Keep on being awesome!

I think hes gonna take you to Busch Gardens. But before he does I think he's going to serve you a very NSFW breakfast in bed. After that a pumpkin carving contest judged by no other than SquishMonster himself. When you arrive at Busch Gardens the entire staff will perform their own version of the "thriller dance". After a fun filled day riding coasters your husband will shower you with gifts and give you a painting he had commissioned in your honor. It will feature you in kate winslets pose from titanic.

Haha I think I got a little out of control with that but seriously, congrats. And even though I said it before I'll say it again squishmonster because I love the name so much.