I have been thinking about the mechanisms I tend to enjoy in boardgames. One of the things I love about boardgames is exploring the different mechanisms and the ways in which they interact with each other. I suppose that is something that most of us boardgamers tend to enjoy.
This list should be pretty self-explanatory. I will be listing them in order most to least favorite. I will, briefly, explore the mechanisms and then mention some of my favorite examples of games that use those mechanisms.
These are my favorite mechanisms. What are yours? Are there any that you think are grossly underused? Or, do you think that there are mechanisms that are terribly overused?
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Marshwiggle92 Moderator Level 112 months ago
That is a good list. I am not super familiar with the 1st one on your list, maybe it has to do with me being a solo gamer LOL.
apertotes 12 months ago
I agree on your number 3 and almost on your number 1. What I really enjoy is engine building, even if it does not take the form of a tableau.
I will add role selection because I love simultaneus actions by all players and even though the poster child for this is #Puerto Rico I think that it was #Race for the Galaxy the game that got it right.
I will also add the traitor mechanic seen in games like #Battlestar Galactica: The Board Game or even simpler games like #Saboteur. I love the tension that it adds while the roles are still hidden.
And finally, even though they are uncool on some circles, I still love dice. That is probably my favorite gaming mechanic. Dice of all type. Dice to attack, to draft, to move or whichever any other purpose.
Marshwiggle92 Moderator Level 112 months ago
I considered putting role selection on the list. I really do love that.
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WadeB1977 Moderator Level 112 months ago
To some degree, I think I like any mechanism employed well. I used to think I really liked worker-placement games but after playing a few that fell flat for me I decided I enjoy the mechanic but it really has to be woven into the gameplay nicely. Some other mechanics I tend to find appealing:
1. Kick-out/Executive Actions: These are most notable in Vital Lacerda games but other games have hints of the same idea. #Clans of Caledonia has the neighborhood bonus that sort of does this. #Viscounts of the West Kingdom allows for a bonus now and then when landing on a player's space or during collisions. #Coffee Traders has a follow mechanic in the third phase that is closer to the mechanic I enjoy and #Wingspan has pink powers that do something a tad similar.
2. Dynamic Board state changes - #Brass: Birmingham is certainly the best I know at this and I love the dynamic game situation from turn to turn. #Coffee Traders isn't too far removed from this and #Teotihuacan: City of Gods captures a bit of this with it's system. #Founders of Gloomhaven does this reasonably well also.
3. Asymmetric Powers - #Dinosaur Island: Totally Liquid , #Root , #Scythe , and #Anachrony, offer nicely balanced asymmetric starting points in the game. I enjoy the replayability of a game that gives you the option of trying for different starting positions.
I have to stop at three given my time, but this is fun to consider.