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Napoleon in Europe cost me $80, Diplomacy cost me $60, Settlers of Catan with expansions cost me $180 ($45 x 3 + $15 x 3), Through the Ages costs $70 right now, History of the World was $65. Some of us like good board games. (I own all of those except Through the Ages and History of the World, which a friend owns).

I have not even mentioned any games by Games Workshop. If you include them, the iPad + Phones would be cheaper...

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/3518/napoleon-in-europe

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/483/diplomacy

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/13/the-settlers-of-catan

http://www.eaglegames.net/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=CBG001

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/224/history-of-the-world

And Civ... Don't Forget Civ !

That's a war game if you play in a certain way - and also has a board game version.

Has anybody tried that out?

Ah hah! Rfunches post below mine spurred me to do a smidge more research, and I found this link where you can purchase the board game from Eagle Games. Which would figure. The list I linked to in the parent post didn't link to the Eagle Games website.

The Eagle Games site makes it sound like the board game was based on the video game, not the other way around. This may have its pluses and minuses. On the plus side, you'll probably get an experience closer to the video game, on the minus side the rules may be overly complex due to numbers that a computer can crunch easily whereas a human must keep track of paperwork.

If you've never played a Wargame before, I probably wouldn't recommend starting with the Civilisation board game. Wargames are *tough* if you've never played them before, and tend to require a mentor. Since you might have trouble finding one in this day in age of Computer Games, I highly recommend starting with the free Battle For Moscow board game. It's fairly easy to pick up, and should help you get down the basics of wargaming.

Not that civilization boardgame. That one was published by Avalon Hill a long time ago (there's even a computer version around, called Avalon Hill's Advanced Civilization). He probably means Sid Meier's Civilization: The Boardgame published by Eagle Games

behold

just to make the whole computer game/board game connection completely confusing some makes Sid Meier's Civilization: the board game.

Attack takes everything I like about Axis and Allies (different units with offensive/defensive capabilities, an economic system, naval combat) with everything I like about Risk (picking your own territory and more or less random unit placement for a less predictable tactics and strategy) and manages to avoid most of the bad stuff from both. It can be found at Toys R Us currently for about $20, or you can order it from http://eaglegames.net/ for $30.

Best of all, if you like the basic game, which contains all the economic cards, land units, cards representing naval units, and a board representing the western hemisphere of the world, you can buy an expansion. The expansion contains plastic naval units with more complex combat rules, a political system (your governments can be fascists, communist, monarcy, or democracy, with different bonuses and strengths for each), and a board representing the other half of the world. The basic game is good for six players and three to six hours of play, the full game can support 10-12 for some all-day sessions.

The games rules are fairly easy to learn in one go, although the implications as far as tactics go take a while to sink in. The units and board look great, and are large and detailed. The game single handedly reawakened my group's interest in the genre, bridging the gap between beer and pretzels and more serious wargaming. (I don't want to mislead the grognards, its still pretty beer and pretzels, but if all you've played is Risk and A&A, it can stretch you a bit.)

Speaking of Risk, I also like the new Risk 2210. Its classic Risk, but with "hero" units that can roll eight sided die against the standard six, sea and moon bases to conquer, some battle and diplomacy cards (somewhat similar to Castle Risk), and nuclear devastation tokens that can completely alter the board from game to game. Its a pretty fun diversion for Risk fans.

For the Video Game Type
Age of Mythology. - Awsome translation of the popular RTS video game. A unique style of play indeed. 2-4 players without expansion
Civilization: The Board Game - Not a direct translation of CIV III but provides players an opportunity for intense military, political and economic strategy. 2-6 players (standard and advanced rules)
Warcraft: The Board Game - Provides all the elements of the RTS Game in a very nice turn based style. The board is dynamic to allow for many different playing scenarios!
Frag! - Take a First Person Shooter like Quake and turn it into a board game. Run around collecting weapons to kill other players. Very fun for a quick game. Capture the flag to deathmatch rules.

For the War Gamer Type
Axis & Allies. - Classic WWII simulation. Will soon be updated with a new rules release. 2-5 players
Risk 2210 AD. - Beefed up version of the original RISK. Not my favorite game, but it is fun. 2-6 players I believe.

For the Formula One Type
Formula De. - Formula One simulation board game with real tracks! Rules for standard and league type play. 2-10+ players.

For the Fun Type
EVO. - Play as a species of dinosaur struggling to survive until the doomsday meteor hits. Great game for all ages. 3-5 Players
Drakon. - An evolving tile based board game that is different every time. The expansion is great! 2-6 Players

And Finally... For the Geek Type
Chez Geek. - This isn't a board game, but it doesn't matter. This is a must have for any gaming geek. Take everything funny (true or not) about geeks, design a wonderful card game and add in some hilarious flavor text and art and you have this game. I've played this game for hours on end with geeks and non-geeks alike. Huge laughs for all. Get this game. Trust me. Do it now. Oh, and the expansions are great too.

And no, I don't work for Steve Jackson Games.

For the Video Game Type
Age of Mythology. - Awsome translation of the popular RTS video game. A unique style of play indeed. 2-4 players without expansion
Civilization: The Board Game - Not a direct translation of CIV III but provides players an opportunity for intense military, political and economic strategy. 2-6 players (standard and advanced rules)
Warcraft: The Board Game - Provides all the elements of the RTS Game in a very nice turn based style. The board is dynamic to allow for many different playing scenarios!
Frag! - Take a First Person Shooter like Quake and turn it into a board game. Run around collecting weapons to kill other players. Very fun for a quick game. Capture the flag to deathmatch rules.

For the War Gamer Type
Axis & Allies. - Classic WWII simulation. Will soon be updated with a new rules release. 2-5 players
Risk 2210 AD. - Beefed up version of the original RISK. Not my favorite game, but it is fun. 2-6 players I believe.

For the Formula One Type
Formula De. - Formula One simulation board game with real tracks! Rules for standard and league type play. 2-10+ players.

For the Fun Type
EVO. - Play as a species of dinosaur struggling to survive until the doomsday meteor hits. Great game for all ages. 3-5 Players
Drakon. - An evolving tile based board game that is different every time. The expansion is great! 2-6 Players

And Finally... For the Geek Type
Chez Geek. - This isn't a board game, but it doesn't matter. This is a must have for any gaming geek. Take everything funny (true or not) about geeks, design a wonderful card game and add in some hilarious flavor text and art and you have this game. I've played this game for hours on end with geeks and non-geeks alike. Huge laughs for all. Get this game. Trust me. Do it now. Oh, and the expansions are great too.

And no, I don't work for Steve Jackson Games.

• Eagle Games Website
• Reviews Thereof