Games with low rules overhead, but complex strategy?
I am slowly learning that this type of game is my bread and butter and that it is my gaming groups as well. A game that can be taught in like 10-20 minutes but has some really nice strategic depth, an interesting decision space and sometimes the theme helps. The most recent game of this has been #Hansa Teutonica: Big Box but I am curious if you all have game suggestions that fit this?
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nealkfrank 6 days ago
These are great, I di dnot htink about Baseball Highlights but it makes sense especially if you have knowledge of the real game!
I have been playing Innovation on BGA and have enjoyed it!
I am also thinking about #The King is Dead: Second Edition as something that would fit in this category!
theDL Premium User6 days ago
Yeah you're probably right about The King is Dead. Another one I just thought of (because I just played it again last night) is #Orléans. On BGG, the weight is voted at above a 3, but honestly the rules are fairly simple. The strategies you can take are pretty varied though, especially with the new Beneficial Deeds board from the #Orléans: Trade & Intrigue expansion.
nealkfrank 6 days ago
Ahhh yes I can see Orleans fitting that for sure. I love that it feels like a strategic Quacks! The only overhwleming aspect of it is the buildings. I think just having the whole stack to look through is brutal!
theDL Premium User6 days ago
Yeah that's the only time it drags. Usually I end up just saying "take all your turns, I gotta pick a building" because most of the time order doesn't matter, haha. In a higher player count game, I could see doing a "draw 3, pick 1" rule being helpful.
nealkfrank 5 days ago
Definitely, we played where you should have a tile picked out before you take that action. We just passed them around the table most of the game!
theDL Premium User5 days ago
Nice, yeah that sounds like it would help! In a 2 player game it's not too bad to just pick them when it's your turn.
nealkfrank 5 days ago
It might even be worth having them all just displayed in a 2-player game! I would loke to get another play of this soon.
theDL Premium User5 days ago
I just played using the new Beneficial Deeds board from the #Orléans: Trade & Intrigue expansion and I loved that. Eventually I'll want to try the new events from that expansion as well. It's really a great game - I just wish setup wasn't so annoying, haha
nealkfrank 5 days ago
I can for sure see that being a problem...My group is big fans of going to Dollar Tree and getting some small plastic containers to hold everything and store it too. Could help!
theDL Premium User5 days ago
Yep I've done that already haha. Just setting up that map with all of the tokens is tedious no matter how you slice it.
SamuelRichards New User3 days ago
I also think 20 minutes is enough to explain all the rules of the game.
I know there are some nuances within the cards, but I actually think after one play #Pax Pamir (Second Edition) is pretty easy on the rules overhead and most of the complexity comes in the strategy of playing the game well.
nealkfrank 5 days ago
I definitely agree. I can probably get a game started in 20 minutes for this one, then explain a couple nuanced rules as we play!
philryuh Owner6 days ago
This is my go-to category of games so many of the games I own tend to fall under this. By "complex strategy," how complex do you need it to be usually? And by the way, for my personal preferences, I'd only consider games that can be taught in under 10 minutes as low on rules overhead 😆
nealkfrank 5 days ago
Lol, When I have games that could easily take 40-50 minutes to teach 20 minutes is great!
I am looking for games in the mid-3 range on the strategy complexity scale! There does not seem to be much out there.
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theDL Premium User7 days ago
Abstract strategy games tend to fit this description, but I recognize that that's probably against the spirit of the question. Still, I'll list some of those in case anyone else is interested. #Chess (duh), #Go, #Santorini, #Hive, #Tak, and to a certain extent, #War Chest.
Other games I own that can fit this: #Innovation, #Concordia, and (much to my delight), #Baseball Highlights: 2045. One that I think fits especially well that may not come to mind immediately for this is #Inis. The rules are fairly simple, but the strategy around drafting and timing seems very deep after my few plays so far.