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As of late... Age of Steam, Twilight Struggle (IGA winner 2006), Traders of Genoa, 1830, Power Grid, Friedrich, War of the Ring... mostly interested in economic / stock market simulations and war games (GMT Games, MMP Games). I do play chess, poker and some other lighter fare...

If I was suggesting a gift / newbie games in the ease to teach / pick-up realm that you place Fluxx then I'd suggest For Sale, Bonhanza, Bang!, Coloretto, That's Life. Though I've had success converting people with much deeper games... the ones I list are fun, quick to play, high replay value and easy to teach / learn. You can look them up here: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/

I've had fun with Lord or the Rings.

There's an individual component as well, but we've always ignored that aspect.

This is the best game I've ever played: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/12333 It's a two player recreation of the Cold War. Remember Chris Crawford's "Balance of Power"? It was kind of the inspiration for this game, but this is much more fun than that game ever was. (Still no reward if you blow up the world though :-) ). You won't be sorry if you get a chance to check it out - I'm addicted myself.

Puerto Rico. The only randomness in that game is the plantation availability and that is a relatively minor factor (especially when compared to e.g. the ressource rolls in a Settlers game).

It sounds strangely derivative of a game called Isolation.

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/1875
http://i7.ebayimg.com/01/i/000/7d/d9/edec_1.JPG

People like Bingo and call that a game too.

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/258

Fluxx is way to random, when I same "gamer" I mean someone who likes to be challenged, be competitive, use their brain when playing. Fluxx might be fun for stoners... maybe a one time play for others... but I would not suggest it as a gift for anyone that is into gaming or that you'd like to turn on to the hobby.

Everyone knows about BB guns but when I was a kid Daisy sold this strange cast iron thing that you were supposed to attach paper bullseye targets to. In other words it was a big, flat piece of metal that kids were supposed to shoot at. The purpose? It produced a truly awesome *ding* sound when you hit it. "You'll shoot your eye out!"

Crossbows and Catapults was a game where two players build little castles and then try to destroy each others castles with the aforementioned medieval weapons. Made of hard plastic, powered by rubber bands and firing solid plastic discs that weighed about an ounce it was a lot of fun. But being boys my brother and I were unsatisfied with the catapults destructive power so we augmented it with about a dozen extra rubber bands, increasing the catapults force so much that its plastic frame actually warped when we pulled it back to full strength. We had turned a child's game into a pair of homemade honest-to-god slingshots. We soon found that shooting them at each other was much more fun than knocking over little castles. Getting hit by one meant a bloody silver dollar size welt. My brother actually sent one through a single layer of sheetrock.

Board games are great, but if you think those lame-ass games (chess excepted) are the pinnacle of board gaming, you seriously need to check out Board Game Geek immediately. Welcome to the exciting world of modern German-style gaming. Have fun!

seems like it's high time for an unplugged Chistmas

My recommendation would be The Settlers of Catan for anyone who hasn't played it yet (or any of the 100 expansions for it), or Puerto Rico for someone with a circle of friends who are already fans of strategy games.

seems like it's high time for an unplugged Chistmas

My recommendation would be The Settlers of Catan for anyone who hasn't played it yet (or any of the 100 expansions for it), or Puerto Rico for someone with a circle of friends who are already fans of strategy games.

seems like it's high time for an unplugged Chistmas

My recommendation would be The Settlers of Catan for anyone who hasn't played it yet (or any of the 100 expansions for it), or Puerto Rico for someone with a circle of friends who are already fans of strategy games.

This IS as close to a "Golden Age" of boardgaming as there has ever been. Check out Boardgamegeek to see why. For electronic gaming, I believe that time will come when the focus shifts back from "AWESUM GRAFIX!!!" to making fun games.

At our workplace, we have a small-but-dedicated group of lunchtime gamers.

Over time, some of our female co-workers have joined us from time to time to play the games. They're usually nice and simple table-top games with straightforward game play and the like. The girls frequently enjoy themselves, as the games are not overly geeky, so even the non-tech females join in and play. We've had a few who could win some of the games fairly often.

Every game seems to develop it's own slang and silly sayings which correspond to some of the game events, which adds to the overall fun of the game for all involved.

We game because it's more interesting than having to actually have conversations which go much beyond the superficial. =)

I would definitely say table-top gaming can be a good way to include people -- though it kind of depends on having at least one board-game-geek to be the provider of the games. One of our member is constantly finding new games to play, and finding ones which fit well into a lunch-hour and have good game mechanics. I suggest Board Game Geek as a good starting point as it has a lot of resources and reviews. Some of the non-geek female co-workers have actually gone out and bought some of the games, and other gamers have started buying copies of them to play with their families on the evenings and weekends.

As far as how a guy breaks into a mostly female clique, I suspect most Slashdotters would desperately love to know that one. So if anyone has more insight into that general conundrum, tey should post it. ;-)

Cheers

Also, by visiting wikipedia, I found a link containing lots more info to help you out http://www.boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/3662/

Hopefully that will take care of everything for you.

Well, Alhambra is a rework of Stimmt So!- which is clearly a stock market game. I don't think Alhambra "feels" like a tile laying game- it is certainly a different beast from Carcassonne.

Well, Alhambra is a rework of Stimmt So!- which is clearly a stock market game. I don't think Alhambra "feels" like a tile laying game- it is certainly a different beast from Carcassonne.

Well, Alhambra is a rework of Stimmt So!- which is clearly a stock market game. I don't think Alhambra "feels" like a tile laying game- it is certainly a different beast from Carcassonne.

What Alhambra is based on was themed on stocks. What you know as Alhambra is based on an earlier game called Stimmt So! (punctuation was part of the title). The game's rules were the same, except that the start wasn't as even, the "rule of 5" for getting small currency wasn't in place, and there was no worry about having to build and fit things and connect walls. Setting that aside, it was very, very much the same game.

Stimmt So!

Alhmabra

(Linked becase BGG is a big-ass site and I doubt you'll slashdot it)

What Alhambra is based on was themed on stocks. What you know as Alhambra is based on an earlier game called Stimmt So! (punctuation was part of the title). The game's rules were the same, except that the start wasn't as even, the "rule of 5" for getting small currency wasn't in place, and there was no worry about having to build and fit things and connect walls. Setting that aside, it was very, very much the same game.

Stimmt So!

Alhmabra

(Linked becase BGG is a big-ass site and I doubt you'll slashdot it)

You can trade resources in Settlers of Catan. There is wood, sheep, ore, clay, and wheat.

There is always someone who has said "I'll give anything for some wood." or "Sheep for wood" etc

More information check out http://www.boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/7475

Then you might want to try Carcassone: Hunters and Gatherers. As the name implies, it's very similiar (it's its own stand alone game, not an add-on) but the scoring is a bit more uniform. River segments and forests are scored immediately on completion, river systems and fields are scored at end of game based on the amount of game in them.

Actually, "Werwölfe von Düsterwald" is available in english under the name "The Werewolves of Millers Hollow". Originally, it's a Russian folkgame (were you had to uncover spys) that has been brilliantly redesigned by two frenchmen : Philippe des Pallières and Hervé Marly under the name "Les Loups-Garous de Thiercelieux".

As far as Board & Card games go, a quick pick from my personnal favorites would be (in no particular order):
- Ticket to Ride my favorite point to point movement game. Excellent introduction to quality board gaming.
- The Cockroachpoker a fast and pure bluff game, ideal for parties.
- Bang! a card game in the Wild West were the sheriff and the deputy try to shoot the outlaws and guess who the Renegade is before he shoots them.
- Citadels an card game where you try to build the nicest citadel and which has a very smart power selection system. Excellent game with beautiful paintings.
- Nicht die Bohne, a fast and vicious card game.
- The Republic of Rome, has the most beautiful cooperative/competitive system I've ever seen but I'd only recommend it to serious gamers since it's quite complex.

For more, have a look at BoardGameGeek and Bruno Faidutti's (Citadel's author)website.

Actually, "Werwölfe von Düsterwald" is available in english under the name "The Werewolves of Millers Hollow". Originally, it's a Russian folkgame (were you had to uncover spys) that has been brilliantly redesigned by two frenchmen : Philippe des Pallières and Hervé Marly under the name "Les Loups-Garous de Thiercelieux".

As far as Board & Card games go, a quick pick from my personnal favorites would be (in no particular order):
- Ticket to Ride my favorite point to point movement game. Excellent introduction to quality board gaming.
- The Cockroachpoker a fast and pure bluff game, ideal for parties.
- Bang! a card game in the Wild West were the sheriff and the deputy try to shoot the outlaws and guess who the Renegade is before he shoots them.
- Citadels an card game where you try to build the nicest citadel and which has a very smart power selection system. Excellent game with beautiful paintings.
- Nicht die Bohne, a fast and vicious card game.
- The Republic of Rome, has the most beautiful cooperative/competitive system I've ever seen but I'd only recommend it to serious gamers since it's quite complex.

For more, have a look at BoardGameGeek and Bruno Faidutti's (Citadel's author)website.

Actually, "Werwölfe von Düsterwald" is available in english under the name "The Werewolves of Millers Hollow". Originally, it's a Russian folkgame (were you had to uncover spys) that has been brilliantly redesigned by two frenchmen : Philippe des Pallières and Hervé Marly under the name "Les Loups-Garous de Thiercelieux".

As far as Board & Card games go, a quick pick from my personnal favorites would be (in no particular order):
- Ticket to Ride my favorite point to point movement game. Excellent introduction to quality board gaming.
- The Cockroachpoker a fast and pure bluff game, ideal for parties.
- Bang! a card game in the Wild West were the sheriff and the deputy try to shoot the outlaws and guess who the Renegade is before he shoots them.
- Citadels an card game where you try to build the nicest citadel and which has a very smart power selection system. Excellent game with beautiful paintings.
- Nicht die Bohne, a fast and vicious card game.
- The Republic of Rome, has the most beautiful cooperative/competitive system I've ever seen but I'd only recommend it to serious gamers since it's quite complex.

For more, have a look at BoardGameGeek and Bruno Faidutti's (Citadel's author)website.

Actually, "Werwölfe von Düsterwald" is available in english under the name "The Werewolves of Millers Hollow". Originally, it's a Russian folkgame (were you had to uncover spys) that has been brilliantly redesigned by two frenchmen : Philippe des Pallières and Hervé Marly under the name "Les Loups-Garous de Thiercelieux".

As far as Board & Card games go, a quick pick from my personnal favorites would be (in no particular order):
- Ticket to Ride my favorite point to point movement game. Excellent introduction to quality board gaming.
- The Cockroachpoker a fast and pure bluff game, ideal for parties.
- Bang! a card game in the Wild West were the sheriff and the deputy try to shoot the outlaws and guess who the Renegade is before he shoots them.
- Citadels an card game where you try to build the nicest citadel and which has a very smart power selection system. Excellent game with beautiful paintings.
- Nicht die Bohne, a fast and vicious card game.
- The Republic of Rome, has the most beautiful cooperative/competitive system I've ever seen but I'd only recommend it to serious gamers since it's quite complex.

For more, have a look at BoardGameGeek and Bruno Faidutti's (Citadel's author)website.

Actually, "Werwölfe von Düsterwald" is available in english under the name "The Werewolves of Millers Hollow". Originally, it's a Russian folkgame (were you had to uncover spys) that has been brilliantly redesigned by two frenchmen : Philippe des Pallières and Hervé Marly under the name "Les Loups-Garous de Thiercelieux".

As far as Board & Card games go, a quick pick from my personnal favorites would be (in no particular order):
- Ticket to Ride my favorite point to point movement game. Excellent introduction to quality board gaming.
- The Cockroachpoker a fast and pure bluff game, ideal for parties.
- Bang! a card game in the Wild West were the sheriff and the deputy try to shoot the outlaws and guess who the Renegade is before he shoots them.
- Citadels an card game where you try to build the nicest citadel and which has a very smart power selection system. Excellent game with beautiful paintings.
- Nicht die Bohne, a fast and vicious card game.
- The Republic of Rome, has the most beautiful cooperative/competitive system I've ever seen but I'd only recommend it to serious gamers since it's quite complex.

For more, have a look at BoardGameGeek and Bruno Faidutti's (Citadel's author)website.

Actually, "Werwölfe von Düsterwald" is available in english under the name "The Werewolves of Millers Hollow". Originally, it's a Russian folkgame (were you had to uncover spys) that has been brilliantly redesigned by two frenchmen : Philippe des Pallières and Hervé Marly under the name "Les Loups-Garous de Thiercelieux".

As far as Board & Card games go, a quick pick from my personnal favorites would be (in no particular order):
- Ticket to Ride my favorite point to point movement game. Excellent introduction to quality board gaming.
- The Cockroachpoker a fast and pure bluff game, ideal for parties.
- Bang! a card game in the Wild West were the sheriff and the deputy try to shoot the outlaws and guess who the Renegade is before he shoots them.
- Citadels an card game where you try to build the nicest citadel and which has a very smart power selection system. Excellent game with beautiful paintings.
- Nicht die Bohne, a fast and vicious card game.
- The Republic of Rome, has the most beautiful cooperative/competitive system I've ever seen but I'd only recommend it to serious gamers since it's quite complex.

For more, have a look at BoardGameGeek and Bruno Faidutti's (Citadel's author)website.

Actually, "Werwölfe von Düsterwald" is available in english under the name "The Werewolves of Millers Hollow". Originally, it's a Russian folkgame (were you had to uncover spys) that has been brilliantly redesigned by two frenchmen : Philippe des Pallières and Hervé Marly under the name "Les Loups-Garous de Thiercelieux".

As far as Board & Card games go, a quick pick from my personnal favorites would be (in no particular order):
- Ticket to Ride my favorite point to point movement game. Excellent introduction to quality board gaming.
- The Cockroachpoker a fast and pure bluff game, ideal for parties.
- Bang! a card game in the Wild West were the sheriff and the deputy try to shoot the outlaws and guess who the Renegade is before he shoots them.
- Citadels an card game where you try to build the nicest citadel and which has a very smart power selection system. Excellent game with beautiful paintings.
- Nicht die Bohne, a fast and vicious card game.
- The Republic of Rome, has the most beautiful cooperative/competitive system I've ever seen but I'd only recommend it to serious gamers since it's quite complex.

For more, have a look at BoardGameGeek and Bruno Faidutti's (Citadel's author)website.

Everyone knows that the REAL best game is Blokus!

Don't forget the famous settlers of Catan from Germany, as well as for sale and bohnanza. All spectacular games in their own right - the first through pure strategy - the second two through haggling. Citadels is also a fun little game, rife with strategy particularly through guessing about opponents. My wife, myself and our couple friends play these games fairly frequently.

I wouldn't say Americans haven't created great games (balderdash & stratego come to mind), but more so Americans haven't in a long time. Americans aren't alone though - the best the Japanese have done recently is stuff like Pokemon & Yu-Gi-Oh.

Instead Americans have been busy with other great games. /sarcasm

Don't forget the famous settlers of Catan from Germany, as well as for sale and bohnanza. All spectacular games in their own right - the first through pure strategy - the second two through haggling. Citadels is also a fun little game, rife with strategy particularly through guessing about opponents. My wife, myself and our couple friends play these games fairly frequently.

I wouldn't say Americans haven't created great games (balderdash & stratego come to mind), but more so Americans haven't in a long time. Americans aren't alone though - the best the Japanese have done recently is stuff like Pokemon & Yu-Gi-Oh.

Instead Americans have been busy with other great games. /sarcasm

Don't forget the famous settlers of Catan from Germany, as well as for sale and bohnanza. All spectacular games in their own right - the first through pure strategy - the second two through haggling. Citadels is also a fun little game, rife with strategy particularly through guessing about opponents. My wife, myself and our couple friends play these games fairly frequently.

I wouldn't say Americans haven't created great games (balderdash & stratego come to mind), but more so Americans haven't in a long time. Americans aren't alone though - the best the Japanese have done recently is stuff like Pokemon & Yu-Gi-Oh.

Instead Americans have been busy with other great games. /sarcasm

Don't forget the famous settlers of Catan from Germany, as well as for sale and bohnanza. All spectacular games in their own right - the first through pure strategy - the second two through haggling. Citadels is also a fun little game, rife with strategy particularly through guessing about opponents. My wife, myself and our couple friends play these games fairly frequently.

I wouldn't say Americans haven't created great games (balderdash & stratego come to mind), but more so Americans haven't in a long time. Americans aren't alone though - the best the Japanese have done recently is stuff like Pokemon & Yu-Gi-Oh.

Instead Americans have been busy with other great games. /sarcasm

possibly ....

Hey, I agree that these are great games, but the article seems to be about games for beginners. Puerto Rico and Tigris and Euphrates certainly do not fit in these category. I think however that great games like the different flavors of carcassone, and even El grande, and Power Grid are great for beginners and seasonned players alike. Settlers of Catan is really cool if you play with the Cities & knigths expansion, but a bit lame (IMHO) without, that is a lot of rules to stomach for a starting player. My favorites also include Caylus (yes, I like both Puerto Rico AND Caylus;) and Princes of Florence, but I would recomend neither to starting players.

A great place to look for games is boardgamegeek that as listings by ranking, number of players, etc..

That being said, anyone wants wood for sheep?

Hey, I agree that these are great games, but the article seems to be about games for beginners. Puerto Rico and Tigris and Euphrates certainly do not fit in these category. I think however that great games like the different flavors of carcassone, and even El grande, and Power Grid are great for beginners and seasonned players alike. Settlers of Catan is really cool if you play with the Cities & knigths expansion, but a bit lame (IMHO) without, that is a lot of rules to stomach for a starting player. My favorites also include Caylus (yes, I like both Puerto Rico AND Caylus;) and Princes of Florence, but I would recomend neither to starting players.

A great place to look for games is boardgamegeek that as listings by ranking, number of players, etc..

That being said, anyone wants wood for sheep?

Hey, I agree that these are great games, but the article seems to be about games for beginners. Puerto Rico and Tigris and Euphrates certainly do not fit in these category. I think however that great games like the different flavors of carcassone, and even El grande, and Power Grid are great for beginners and seasonned players alike. Settlers of Catan is really cool if you play with the Cities & knigths expansion, but a bit lame (IMHO) without, that is a lot of rules to stomach for a starting player. My favorites also include Caylus (yes, I like both Puerto Rico AND Caylus;) and Princes of Florence, but I would recomend neither to starting players.

A great place to look for games is boardgamegeek that as listings by ranking, number of players, etc..

That being said, anyone wants wood for sheep?

Hey, I agree that these are great games, but the article seems to be about games for beginners. Puerto Rico and Tigris and Euphrates certainly do not fit in these category. I think however that great games like the different flavors of carcassone, and even El grande, and Power Grid are great for beginners and seasonned players alike. Settlers of Catan is really cool if you play with the Cities & knigths expansion, but a bit lame (IMHO) without, that is a lot of rules to stomach for a starting player. My favorites also include Caylus (yes, I like both Puerto Rico AND Caylus;) and Princes of Florence, but I would recomend neither to starting players.

A great place to look for games is boardgamegeek that as listings by ranking, number of players, etc..

That being said, anyone wants wood for sheep?

Hey, I agree that these are great games, but the article seems to be about games for beginners. Puerto Rico and Tigris and Euphrates certainly do not fit in these category. I think however that great games like the different flavors of carcassone, and even El grande, and Power Grid are great for beginners and seasonned players alike. Settlers of Catan is really cool if you play with the Cities & knigths expansion, but a bit lame (IMHO) without, that is a lot of rules to stomach for a starting player. My favorites also include Caylus (yes, I like both Puerto Rico AND Caylus;) and Princes of Florence, but I would recomend neither to starting players.

A great place to look for games is boardgamegeek that as listings by ranking, number of players, etc..

That being said, anyone wants wood for sheep?

Hey, I agree that these are great games, but the article seems to be about games for beginners. Puerto Rico and Tigris and Euphrates certainly do not fit in these category. I think however that great games like the different flavors of carcassone, and even El grande, and Power Grid are great for beginners and seasonned players alike. Settlers of Catan is really cool if you play with the Cities & knigths expansion, but a bit lame (IMHO) without, that is a lot of rules to stomach for a starting player. My favorites also include Caylus (yes, I like both Puerto Rico AND Caylus;) and Princes of Florence, but I would recomend neither to starting players.

A great place to look for games is boardgamegeek that as listings by ranking, number of players, etc..

That being said, anyone wants wood for sheep?

Hey, I agree that these are great games, but the article seems to be about games for beginners. Puerto Rico and Tigris and Euphrates certainly do not fit in these category. I think however that great games like the different flavors of carcassone, and even El grande, and Power Grid are great for beginners and seasonned players alike. Settlers of Catan is really cool if you play with the Cities & knigths expansion, but a bit lame (IMHO) without, that is a lot of rules to stomach for a starting player. My favorites also include Caylus (yes, I like both Puerto Rico AND Caylus;) and Princes of Florence, but I would recomend neither to starting players.

A great place to look for games is boardgamegeek that as listings by ranking, number of players, etc..

That being said, anyone wants wood for sheep?

Hey, I agree that these are great games, but the article seems to be about games for beginners. Puerto Rico and Tigris and Euphrates certainly do not fit in these category. I think however that great games like the different flavors of carcassone, and even El grande, and Power Grid are great for beginners and seasonned players alike. Settlers of Catan is really cool if you play with the Cities & knigths expansion, but a bit lame (IMHO) without, that is a lot of rules to stomach for a starting player. My favorites also include Caylus (yes, I like both Puerto Rico AND Caylus;) and Princes of Florence, but I would recomend neither to starting players.

A great place to look for games is boardgamegeek that as listings by ranking, number of players, etc..

That being said, anyone wants wood for sheep?

Hey, I agree that these are great games, but the article seems to be about games for beginners. Puerto Rico and Tigris and Euphrates certainly do not fit in these category. I think however that great games like the different flavors of carcassone, and even El grande, and Power Grid are great for beginners and seasonned players alike. Settlers of Catan is really cool if you play with the Cities & knigths expansion, but a bit lame (IMHO) without, that is a lot of rules to stomach for a starting player. My favorites also include Caylus (yes, I like both Puerto Rico AND Caylus;) and Princes of Florence, but I would recomend neither to starting players.

A great place to look for games is boardgamegeek that as listings by ranking, number of players, etc..

That being said, anyone wants wood for sheep?

Hey, I agree that these are great games, but the article seems to be about games for beginners. Puerto Rico and Tigris and Euphrates certainly do not fit in these category. I think however that great games like the different flavors of carcassone, and even El grande, and Power Grid are great for beginners and seasonned players alike. Settlers of Catan is really cool if you play with the Cities & knigths expansion, but a bit lame (IMHO) without, that is a lot of rules to stomach for a starting player. My favorites also include Caylus (yes, I like both Puerto Rico AND Caylus;) and Princes of Florence, but I would recomend neither to starting players.

A great place to look for games is boardgamegeek that as listings by ranking, number of players, etc..

That being said, anyone wants wood for sheep?

Hey, I agree that these are great games, but the article seems to be about games for beginners. Puerto Rico and Tigris and Euphrates certainly do not fit in these category. I think however that great games like the different flavors of carcassone, and even El grande, and Power Grid are great for beginners and seasonned players alike. Settlers of Catan is really cool if you play with the Cities & knigths expansion, but a bit lame (IMHO) without, that is a lot of rules to stomach for a starting player. My favorites also include Caylus (yes, I like both Puerto Rico AND Caylus;) and Princes of Florence, but I would recomend neither to starting players.

A great place to look for games is boardgamegeek that as listings by ranking, number of players, etc..

That being said, anyone wants wood for sheep?

Hey, I agree that these are great games, but the article seems to be about games for beginners. Puerto Rico and Tigris and Euphrates certainly do not fit in these category. I think however that great games like the different flavors of carcassone, and even El grande, and Power Grid are great for beginners and seasonned players alike. Settlers of Catan is really cool if you play with the Cities & knigths expansion, but a bit lame (IMHO) without, that is a lot of rules to stomach for a starting player. My favorites also include Caylus (yes, I like both Puerto Rico AND Caylus;) and Princes of Florence, but I would recomend neither to starting players.

A great place to look for games is boardgamegeek that as listings by ranking, number of players, etc..

That being said, anyone wants wood for sheep?

Others have mentioned Puerto Rico, and The Settlers of Catan, which are awesome games, but I always find myself coming back to the old school wargaming goodness of Titan which, even though it is an elimination game with a completely different style and feel as all of the newer, more slickly designed games that are all the rage now, nothing beats throwing a fistfull of dice around to really get the blood pumping. It even has a free java implementation.

Others have mentioned Puerto Rico, and The Settlers of Catan, which are awesome games, but I always find myself coming back to the old school wargaming goodness of Titan which, even though it is an elimination game with a completely different style and feel as all of the newer, more slickly designed games that are all the rage now, nothing beats throwing a fistfull of dice around to really get the blood pumping. It even has a free java implementation.

Others have mentioned Puerto Rico, and The Settlers of Catan, which are awesome games, but I always find myself coming back to the old school wargaming goodness of Titan which, even though it is an elimination game with a completely different style and feel as all of the newer, more slickly designed games that are all the rage now, nothing beats throwing a fistfull of dice around to really get the blood pumping. It even has a free java implementation.

The group I play with prefers Carcassonne: The Discovery. Is has a different spin on managing your meeples, and is a shorter but more strategic game. The other Carcassonne games are good too, though.

Check out http://www.meeplepeople.com/. I'll also team up with the previous posters regarding Settlers, Puerto Rico and especially Power Grid. PG is our group's favorite right now, and we often talk about how the various aspects of the game could be modelled in code.

We also like

Ticket to Ride: Europe
Category 5
Citadels
Seafarers of Catan
We think we might like Twilight Imperium (3rd Ed.) but it takes like 8 hours to play (the box says 240 minutes...HA!), and we've only managed
to play once ;-)

Everyone should be part of a gaming group, even if it is just casual fun.
When you are 80, your brain will thank you.

lillian