We actually still have a set.Yeah, I remember posting about it ages ago, but you can't play that multiplayer online
Also a set of Dragonmaster.
I love 'em just for the art.
--Patrick
[Question] Board Game Night?
- Thread starter AshburnerX
- Start date
Also a set of Dragonmaster.
I love 'em just for the art.
--Patrick
I will probably be up on Wednesday, so I can either join in, if there's a spot, or just kibitz and snark, which is what I usually do with board game nights. 
Well, the good thing about Vassal is that even if you aren't playing, it's still possible to WATCH us play to pick up how it works. So if someone dropped out after a game, you'd be able to take their spot.I will probably be up on Wednesday, so I can either join in, if there's a spot, or just kibitz and snark, which is what I usually do with board game nights.
Finally got a chance to watch @GasBandit's tutorial. Yeah, he's spot on about how it works and other game modules handle things in a similar fashion, though each game module has it's own quirks.
GasBandit
Staff member
It occurred to me this morning I forgot to put in the initial "synchronize" to the first player, so we'll have to remember to tell people to do that tomorrow night.
Yeah, that too. It's especially important if the Vassal server is down, as we'll need to manually connect to the host player's IP to play then.
GasBandit
Staff member
So I think the general consensus is we play 2 games tonight, one earlier for @Celt Z and one later for @MindDetective . That's easily doable, we played 2 games on sunday back to back pretty easy. I generally get home around 9 eastern (and I'm hoping that happens tonight despite my work situation), so any time after that should be good, I think.
Yeah, that works. I pretty much figured that was the plan.
I'd be interested in joining in the early game if there's room. The plan is to play BaHotH?
Well, we could always sit out one of the games and plot our Terrik shaming video. [emoji14]
Well nothing starts until 9pm EST, so we still have a bit.
Yeah. I'll get a board set up by 9 and then we'll see who all wants to do an early game.
So I came across this program called Vassal, which is sort of a universal table-top program. Some folks use it for pen and paper stuff, but it's mostly used for BOARD GAMES. Yes, it can simulate board games online so we could all play it online. So I'm putting feelers out there for people interested in maybe trying it...
Right now, the two games I'm looking at are...
Betrayal at House on the Hill
This game is a lot of fun when it goes right, but some of the Haunts aren't as balanced as others and it the game play itself takes a bit of explaining. But once things are going, this game is all about knifing your friends and cursing their name.
Dead of Winter
A survival/horror cooperative tabletop game set in the dead of winter during a Zombie Apocalypse, where players must achieve personal goals and keep the community of survivors alive until spring. Designed by Isaac Vega and Jon Gilmour in 2014 for Plaid Hat Games, it is the first of a planned series of games that uses the Crossroads system.
Can be ordered via the official website
2-5 players select a Main Objective the group must achieve before the game is over, as well as Once Per Round Crisis Card to resolve before the round is finished. Players select 2 or more Survivors to control on the board, moving them from the relative safety of the Colony and venturing out to forage and fight in the dangerous locations of the town. However, players also have a Secret Objective for themselves to achieve by the end of the game, which could be as harmless as collecting lots of tools, or as malicious as seeking to destroy the colony from within. Food is running short, trash is piling up at the Colony, characters are getting frostbite, and worse, the zombies are massing at the doors and smashing through your barricades. The goal is survival, but not everyone can make it until spring.
This is sort of the same idea, but teamwork is more of the focus... even if you have a betrayal goal, it's in your best interest to work together until you can get away with it.
Ideally, I'd want at least 4 of us before we try this. I'm also up to suggestions of other games (and I'll try to find the module to play it) but let's keep it to games at least one of us is familiar with. I own and have played both of these so I can explain most of the issues (but it's been awhile for both).
DOWNLOADS:
Vassal Client
Betrayal at House on the Hill module (Includes Manual)
Dead of Winter module
Dead of Winter Instruction Manual
And this is the module library, in case you guys want to browse for possible stuff in the future to play.
I'm still getting an error installing the Betrayal mod, on both Mac and Windows versions of Vassal.
All things considered, I'd say Board Game Night has been a success. But I don't want us to burn ourselves out on Betrayal at House on the Hill by grinding it... some of us have done it four times this week (and @Dei was the Traitor 3 of those times...) and we have lots of options for games. So let's talk about other titles to try... everyone should pick a game they enjoy (that has a module in the VASSAL Library) and we'll pick on of those to play next time.
We should also pick a firm day and time, so everyone can plan around it.
We should also pick a firm day and time, so everyone can plan around it.
Arkham Horror? 
GasBandit
Staff member
That name's come up a few times when we were discussing modules. I don't know it, myself, but the others said it takes a long time to play?Arkham Horror?
Yeah, thus the devious face. It will be 2 hours for experienced players. As long as 4 or 5 for a group of first timers. You really have to internalize the scads of rules to keep the game moving along.
Here are some serious options:
RoboRally - http://www.vassalengine.org/wiki/Module:RoboRally
Legendary (Marvel deck building game) - http://www.vassalengine.org/wiki/Module:Legendary:_A_Marvel_Deck_Building_Game
Pandemic (mentioned earlier, I think) - http://www.vassalengine.org/wiki/Module:Pandemic
Android (another long game) - http://www.vassalengine.org/wiki/Module:Android:_Netrunner
Robinson Crusoe - http://www.vassalengine.org/wiki/Module:Robinson_Crusoe:_Adventure_on_the_Cursed_Island
Merchants and Marauders - http://www.vassalengine.org/wiki/Module:Merchants_&_Marauders
Mage Knight (can be long...but worth it!) - http://www.vassalengine.org/wiki/Module:Mage_Knight_Board_Game
I can post more as I think of them. I've played all of these, although I only own about half of them.
RoboRally - http://www.vassalengine.org/wiki/Module:RoboRally
Legendary (Marvel deck building game) - http://www.vassalengine.org/wiki/Module:Legendary:_A_Marvel_Deck_Building_Game
Pandemic (mentioned earlier, I think) - http://www.vassalengine.org/wiki/Module:Pandemic
Android (another long game) - http://www.vassalengine.org/wiki/Module:Android:_Netrunner
Robinson Crusoe - http://www.vassalengine.org/wiki/Module:Robinson_Crusoe:_Adventure_on_the_Cursed_Island
Merchants and Marauders - http://www.vassalengine.org/wiki/Module:Merchants_&_Marauders
Mage Knight (can be long...but worth it!) - http://www.vassalengine.org/wiki/Module:Mage_Knight_Board_Game
I can post more as I think of them. I've played all of these, although I only own about half of them.
From what I posted, Arkham Horror is actually similar in a lot of ways (but way long), as is Android (same company, also way long), and to a lesser extent Mage Knight (which can also be pretty long). They all have an RPG feel to them.
GasBandit
Staff member
Just need to learn to work a magic elevator a little better there, Miz Frizzle.
GasBandit
Staff member
I managed to make it through a stomach without being digested!
Oh, like your rolls were coming out perfectly!
But then, yes, I nearly did cost us the game by failing to stab the heart with the spear so badly that it summoned an antibody... which then stole the spear from me.... and gave it to the traitorous Ash... allowing him to escape to the furnace room... where he almost succeeded in burning it.
Fun fact: I have died in EVERY SINGLE game of BaHotH we've played so far.
GasBandit
Staff member
Game 1 last night was also the first game we've played where knowledge didn't turn out to be a critical stat. Naturally, mine was the highest it'd ever been that game. Maybe I should start playing as Jock Mooseknuckle or whatever his name is, instead of Professor Noodle-Arms.