Matt Ollis
@mattollis.bsky.social
Mathematician at Emerson College, Boston. Combinatorics with a hint of group theory. Brit living in Vermont. Board games. Maps. AVFC. Beginner bassist and even-more-beginner drummer. SciFi. Other stuff.
I think I've changed my mind about 20 times while reading the thread. But, based roughly on amount of time invested and with hefty recency bias:
Can't Stop Express
Castles of Mad King Ludwig
Chess
Cosmos Empires
Heroscape
Mantis
Moonshine
Nekojima
Pandemic
Summoner Wars
Can't Stop Express
Castles of Mad King Ludwig
Chess
Cosmos Empires
Heroscape
Mantis
Moonshine
Nekojima
Pandemic
Summoner Wars
November 15, 2025 at 6:22 PM
I think I've changed my mind about 20 times while reading the thread. But, based roughly on amount of time invested and with hefty recency bias:
Can't Stop Express
Castles of Mad King Ludwig
Chess
Cosmos Empires
Heroscape
Mantis
Moonshine
Nekojima
Pandemic
Summoner Wars
Can't Stop Express
Castles of Mad King Ludwig
Chess
Cosmos Empires
Heroscape
Mantis
Moonshine
Nekojima
Pandemic
Summoner Wars
Ha, yes. PVC bricks for the super-deluxe edition?!
Apparently I meant "mil", meaning thousandth of an inch, and something got mistranslated somewhere. So 30mil, which is a much more reasonable 0.03".
Apparently I meant "mil", meaning thousandth of an inch, and something got mistranslated somewhere. So 30mil, which is a much more reasonable 0.03".
November 14, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Ha, yes. PVC bricks for the super-deluxe edition?!
Apparently I meant "mil", meaning thousandth of an inch, and something got mistranslated somewhere. So 30mil, which is a much more reasonable 0.03".
Apparently I meant "mil", meaning thousandth of an inch, and something got mistranslated somewhere. So 30mil, which is a much more reasonable 0.03".
Oh, also meant to say: they're 30mm PVC (I don't know why two dimensions are imperial and one is metric) and double-sided printing is possible.
November 14, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Oh, also meant to say: they're 30mm PVC (I don't know why two dimensions are imperial and one is metric) and double-sided printing is possible.
That'd be awesome! I've dug up the old emails and these are 2.125" x 3.375". Before you put any effort in though, let me talk to them when I'm in next week and see if there are other options.
November 14, 2025 at 8:00 PM
That'd be awesome! I've dug up the old emails and these are 2.125" x 3.375". Before you put any effort in though, let me talk to them when I'm in next week and see if there are other options.
Will do! Here're the Pentaquest ones I had done. The pictures don't really show off the card material. But they're really like the texture and firmness of credit cards, and might even be exactly the same stuff.
Pentaquest! A print-n-play designed by Lucio Gozzi for Nerdura Games.
Fun as a little solo Yahtzee-like challenge. Roll your dice, defeat the monsters to turn them to your team, where you can use them once to change a roll (at the expense of not scoring for defeating them).
Fun as a little solo Yahtzee-like challenge. Roll your dice, defeat the monsters to turn them to your team, where you can use them once to change a roll (at the expense of not scoring for defeating them).
November 14, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Will do! Here're the Pentaquest ones I had done. The pictures don't really show off the card material. But they're really like the texture and firmness of credit cards, and might even be exactly the same stuff.
Just purchased the PNP version, including the solo expansion. The metal cards are intriguing, but I have a great printshop so I love PNP and choose it whenever possible. They made me some nice credit-card-like ones for Pentaquest; maybe I'll have them do the same here.
Looking forward to playing!
Looking forward to playing!
November 14, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Just purchased the PNP version, including the solo expansion. The metal cards are intriguing, but I have a great printshop so I love PNP and choose it whenever possible. They made me some nice credit-card-like ones for Pentaquest; maybe I'll have them do the same here.
Looking forward to playing!
Looking forward to playing!
Cave Goblins are probably my favourite from the original and I like the Polar Dwarves and Fallen Kingdom a lot too. From the expansions I was enjoying the Skyspear Avians and Cloaks a lot before I stopped playing as much. I see there are a whole bunch of newer expansions to check out too.
November 14, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Cave Goblins are probably my favourite from the original and I like the Polar Dwarves and Fallen Kingdom a lot too. From the expansions I was enjoying the Skyspear Avians and Cloaks a lot before I stopped playing as much. I see there are a whole bunch of newer expansions to check out too.
I love Summoner Wars!
November 14, 2025 at 6:25 PM
I love Summoner Wars!
And I'll work on getting these to the table. Not the worst problem to have. Maybe there solo versions out there, or I quite like playing multi-handed solo for this type of game. And I can use them at least tangentially in my board games class as illustrations of implementing theme. n/n
November 14, 2025 at 5:37 PM
And I'll work on getting these to the table. Not the worst problem to have. Maybe there solo versions out there, or I quite like playing multi-handed solo for this type of game. And I can use them at least tangentially in my board games class as illustrations of implementing theme. n/n
Completely my own fault and I know this is how kickstarter projects have to work.
Anyway, I'll keep backing stuff that looks fun. It's really unlikely that my needs/tastes will change again in the next 6 months, and I probably won't buy any other games in that time. Right? 3/n
Anyway, I'll keep backing stuff that looks fun. It's really unlikely that my needs/tastes will change again in the next 6 months, and I probably won't buy any other games in that time. Right? 3/n
November 14, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Completely my own fault and I know this is how kickstarter projects have to work.
Anyway, I'll keep backing stuff that looks fun. It's really unlikely that my needs/tastes will change again in the next 6 months, and I probably won't buy any other games in that time. Right? 3/n
Anyway, I'll keep backing stuff that looks fun. It's really unlikely that my needs/tastes will change again in the next 6 months, and I probably won't buy any other games in that time. Right? 3/n
On the other, these are the games that I chose 6+ months ago and they're a less good fit for my collection now. We've both purchased other games at this time/complexity commitment in the meantime and also discovered that we get more value from slightly simpler ones. 2/n
November 14, 2025 at 5:34 PM
On the other, these are the games that I chose 6+ months ago and they're a less good fit for my collection now. We've both purchased other games at this time/complexity commitment in the meantime and also discovered that we get more value from slightly simpler ones. 2/n
Oh wow, I didn't know it was going to be open access. I was wondering whether the timing would work with the physical edition for me to get hold of it, read (enough of) it and then share some/discuss with my game studies class this semester.
Problem solved (well, onto the reading stage anyway).
Problem solved (well, onto the reading stage anyway).
November 7, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Oh wow, I didn't know it was going to be open access. I was wondering whether the timing would work with the physical edition for me to get hold of it, read (enough of) it and then share some/discuss with my game studies class this semester.
Problem solved (well, onto the reading stage anyway).
Problem solved (well, onto the reading stage anyway).
Will it be possible to buy this after IGNM? I just read the Space-Biff review, and it sounds great.
November 6, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Will it be possible to buy this after IGNM? I just read the Space-Biff review, and it sounds great.
It's called Saltfjord. Lots going on as you build up your fishing village on the banks of a Norweigian fjord.
November 6, 2025 at 7:03 PM
It's called Saltfjord. Lots going on as you build up your fishing village on the banks of a Norweigian fjord.
Do you have some that you particularly like? I haven't tried one, but am curious.
November 5, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Do you have some that you particularly like? I haven't tried one, but am curious.
I like this one more than the Pandemic one.
November 5, 2025 at 3:29 PM
I like this one more than the Pandemic one.
And, I'm sure, lots more imaginative routes too.
Perhaps a die to determine/constrain color/number/suit somehow? A distance challenge with legal moves? Or maybe better, a cram-into-a-small-space challenge?
Lots to think about and play with.
Perhaps a die to determine/constrain color/number/suit somehow? A distance challenge with legal moves? Or maybe better, a cram-into-a-small-space challenge?
Lots to think about and play with.
November 5, 2025 at 2:37 PM
And, I'm sure, lots more imaginative routes too.
Perhaps a die to determine/constrain color/number/suit somehow? A distance challenge with legal moves? Or maybe better, a cram-into-a-small-space challenge?
Lots to think about and play with.
Perhaps a die to determine/constrain color/number/suit somehow? A distance challenge with legal moves? Or maybe better, a cram-into-a-small-space challenge?
Lots to think about and play with.
It seems to have great potential for that (admittedly, this opinion formed after just one play, and a solo one at that). I like the solitaire in your video.
I think there's potential for some sort of get-the-highest-score solo version that's similar to the original, or maybe a bot opponent?
I think there's potential for some sort of get-the-highest-score solo version that's similar to the original, or maybe a bot opponent?
November 5, 2025 at 2:35 PM
It seems to have great potential for that (admittedly, this opinion formed after just one play, and a solo one at that). I like the solitaire in your video.
I think there's potential for some sort of get-the-highest-score solo version that's similar to the original, or maybe a bot opponent?
I think there's potential for some sort of get-the-highest-score solo version that's similar to the original, or maybe a bot opponent?
Tussie Mussie is great (but well hyped?). I'm usually carrying it in case there's an opportunity for a quick game. I've been enjoying Adventurous as a solo game recently. (It claims to be multiplayer co-op, but you just play a solo game together, I think, rather than any meaningful addition.)
November 4, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Tussie Mussie is great (but well hyped?). I'm usually carrying it in case there's an opportunity for a quick game. I've been enjoying Adventurous as a solo game recently. (It claims to be multiplayer co-op, but you just play a solo game together, I think, rather than any meaningful addition.)
Yep, on the heavier/nicer end of the scale for playing cards, but definitely playing cards. A version with magnets or slots in tiles that /only/ let you overlap in legal ways would be awesome, but probably make it massively more expensive.
November 3, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Yep, on the heavier/nicer end of the scale for playing cards, but definitely playing cards. A version with magnets or slots in tiles that /only/ let you overlap in legal ways would be awesome, but probably make it massively more expensive.
Yeah, I can definitely see that. Maybe not a good one for in class, where there'd be ~20 players around ~4 games, probably on the floor, in a just-about-big-enough classroom.
Could still be a good candidate for take-home or assignments.
Could still be a good candidate for take-home or assignments.
November 3, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Yeah, I can definitely see that. Maybe not a good one for in class, where there'd be ~20 players around ~4 games, probably on the floor, in a just-about-big-enough classroom.
Could still be a good candidate for take-home or assignments.
Could still be a good candidate for take-home or assignments.