Our Favorite Games of the Week in 2014

By Margaret Duncan, Ed.D.

The Histocrats support the idea of incorporating board-games into your personal life as well as in the classroom.  As part of our gaming initiative, we recommend history centric games that are fun to play each week to all of our followers.  The selected games receive our “Game of the Week” distinction.  The following are some of our favorite games we played in 2014. 

Pillars of the Earth, Mayfair Games.
England at the beginning of the 12th century and Prior Phillip of Kingsbridge has a glorious vision to build the largest, most beautiful cathedral in England. To accomplish the task, Phillip recruits the most renowned builders in the country. However, the fate of the Cathedral is constantly threatened by all manner of catastrophes and oppositions. Using your workmen and resources, you must wisely deploy assets to overcome unexpected difficulties and shortages to prove yourself the greatest builder of them all.

Tokaido, Passport Game Studios
Each player is a traveler crossing the "East sea road", one of the most magnificent roads of Japan. While traveling, players will meet people, taste fine meals, collect beautiful items, discover great panoramas, and visit temples and wild places. At the end of the day, when everyone has arrived at the end of the road you'll have to be the most initiated traveler – which means that you'll have to be the one who discovered the most interesting and varied things.

Manhattan Project, Minion Games
Global Power Struggle Begins. Which nation will take the lead and become world's dominant superpower?  The Manhattan Project makes you the leader of a great nation's atomic weapons program in a deadly race to build bigger and better bombs. You must assign your workers to multiple projects: building your bomb-making infrastructure, expending your military to protect it, or sending your spies to steal your rival's hard work!  You alone control your nation's destiny. You choose when to send out your workers-and when to call them back. Careful management and superior strategy will determine the winner of this struggle. So take charge and secure your nation's future!

Kingsburg, Fantasy Flight Games
Players adopt the role of governor, and vie for resources to build up their province, military power to defend their homes, and above all the influence of the King. Over five years (five turns) players rely on various advisors to the King for resources. From tangibles like gold, wood, and stone to soldiers and portents, each acquisition will shape the future of your community.

The Builders Middle Ages, Asmodee
Recruit workers and create buildings to prove that you are the greatest builder. You'll have to start small, with cottages and stables, but you'll be building your name as you build your masterpieces and before long, you'll complete the cathedral! Hire worker cards, pay them to build your buildings and balance your income with your expenses. You can't do everything on your turn - but you'll want to! From wells and shacks to castles and churches, use your resources to create structures that will stand the test of time.

Rivet Wars Eastern Front, Cool Mini or Not
Rivet Wars is a miniatures boardgame set on a world that never quite left World War I but with crazy technology like walking tanks, diesel powered armor, uni-cycled vehicles and armor plated cavalry! Don't let the cute visuals fool you; it's a world full of angst, war-torn camaraderie and dark humor. Rivet Wars is at its heart a strategy game, with both players deploying units each round to counter the threats set forth by their opponent and stay one tactical step ahead.  Players gather resources (bunkers and capture points) and use these to deploy streams of new units! There's an ebb and flow on the tactical landscape and you can stock up surprises for your opponent to be unleashed even as he thinks he's winning!

Yedo: Rule From the Shadows, Pandasaurus Games
Japan, 1605 Hidetada Tokugawa has succeeded his father as the new Shogun, ruling from the great city of Edo (a.k.a. Yedo), the city known in present times as Tokyo. Players assume the roles of Clan Elders in the city of Edo during the early years of the Tokugawa Shogunate. The object of the game is to amass Prestige Points, mainly by completing missions. To do so, players must gather the necessary assets and most importantly outfox their opponents and prevent them from completing their missions. It's all up to you but be careful to make the right choices, for in Yedo, eternal glory and painful disgrace are two sides of the same coin.

Founding Fathers, Jolly Roger Games
Your goal in Founding Fathers is to emerge from the Philadelphia Convention acknowledged by all as the true Father of the Constitution due to your outstanding contributions to the final document. There are many avenues available for gaining recognition at the Convention and earning the points you need to win the game. The trick is to exploit these more effectively than your rivals, and to frustrate their efforts to do the same.

Sheriff of Nottingham, Arcane Wonders
In Sheriff of Nottingham, players will take turns stepping into the shoes of the Sheriff himself, while others act as Merchants attempting to bring their goods into the city for profit! Beware though, while many may act as honest merchants, there is always the possibility of contraband being smuggled into the city!

Freedom: The Underground Railroad, Academy Games
Players assume the roles of important historical Abolitionist characters pitted against the slave economy from the early 1800's thru the Civil War. Players succeed together by balancing their actions between raising funds for the Abolitionist cause and helping runaway slaves move from the Southern States to freedom in Canada. But every move risks alerting the slave catchers, who roam the board trying to return the runaway slaves to the plantations. As an educational component, players become familiar with the important historical figures, political agendas and crucial events that unfolded in America between 1800 and 1865.

*All product descriptions are from the manufacturer

November 2014 Games of the Week

By Margaret Duncan, Ed.D.

The Histocrats support the idea of incorporating board-games into your personal life as well as in the classroom.  As such, we support and participate in a local board-gaming group.  Any and all board-game enthusiasts are welcome to join the Game Nights that are held every first and third Friday night of the month.  As part of our gaming group initiative, we also recommend history centric games that are fun to play each week to all of our followers.  The selected games receive our “Game of the Week” distinction.  Recommended games are a mix of cooperative, card games, as well Euro style games.


Forbidden Island, Gamewright
Dare to discover Forbidden Island! Join a team of fearless adventurers on a do-or-die mission to capture four sacred treasures from the ruins of this perilous paradise. Your team will have to work together and make some pulse-pounding maneuvers, as the island will sink beneath every step! Race to collect the treasures and make a triumphant escape before you are swallowed into the watery abyss!




Freedom: The Underground Railroad, Academy Games
Players assume the roles of important historical Abolitionist characters pitted against the slave economy from the early 1800's thru the Civil War. Players succeed together by balancing their actions between raising funds for the Abolitionist cause and helping runaway slaves move from the Southern States to freedom in Canada. But every move risks alerting the slave catchers, who roam the board trying to return the runaway slaves to the plantations. As an educational component, players become familiar with the important historical figures, political agendas and crucial events that unfolded in America between 1800 and 1865.


 Warriors, Face 2 Face
The Game of Monsters, Myth, & Mayhem. For centuries, the kingdoms of earth have been at peace, dominated by the rule of men. But now, powerful Wizards, Dwarves, Elves, Trolls, and Goblins are ready to challenge man's reign. Even the Undead are rising up. Chaos is about to erupt as creatures battle each other and even amongst themselves for control. You must lead your armies (infantry, archers, cavalry, and more) into the fray or be crushed by the assault. It is the age of Warriors.






Monte Cassino, Institute of National Remembrance
"ZnajZnak - Monte Cassino" is an educational game for two players about one of the most important battles of World War II. During the game players learn to identify soldiers, emblems of units participating in the battle, weapons and key dates. There are 133 symbols which tell the story of the battle in a wider international perspective, highlighting the heroic effort of the Poles, as well as the Allies. The instruction and the playing cards are in Polish and English.

*All product descriptions are from the manufacturer

October 2014 Games of the Week

By Margaret Duncan, Ed.D.

The Histocrats support the idea of incorporating board-games into your personal life as well as in the classroom.  As such, we support and participate in a local board-gaming group.  Any and all board-game enthusiasts are welcome to join the Game Nights that are held every first and third Friday night of the month.  As part of our gaming group initiative, we also recommend history centric games that are fun to play each week to all of our followers.  The selected games receive our “Game of the Week” distinction.  Recommended games are a mix of cooperative, card games, as well Euro style games.

Council of Verona, Crash Games
In Council of Verona, players take on the role of influential citizens of Verona and act to use their influence to either add characters to the council or cast them into exile. Through thoughtful hand management of their cards and clever placement of influence tokens, players gain victory points based upon the agendas of the characters at the end of the game. The player with the most victory points wins!  We've all heard the story of Romeo and Juliet - now is your chance to steer the story and determine who will rule Verona once and for all!


The Downfall of Pompeii Board Game, MayFair Games
Can you escape the inferno? It's the year of the Consulship of Augustus and Vespasianus. The rich, beautiful Roman city of Pompeii sits at the foot of majestic Mount Vesuvius. Renowned for exotic, easy and ample luxury, the wealthy town attracts the best of Rome's proud citizens. But a terrible secret lies deep beneath the slopes of the mighty mountain. A primeval secret is about to unleash unspeakable horrors on this fateful afternoon. The mountain, so very long asleep, is finally reawakening. Come to beautiful Pompeii. Use your cards to attract your Roman friends and relatives to visit select sites. But beware. The dreaded Vesuvius card means the mountain is awake, spewing fiery lava onto the unsuspecting city. Now you must struggle to get your compatriots out of the doomed town before they are engulfed. Rushing to avoid lava flows, your people must flee before Vesuvius explodes and ash seals their fate. Lead the most survivors to safety and you win.


Guillotine, Wizards of the Coast
The revolutionary card game where you win by getting a head. This irreverent and humorous card game takes place during the French Revolution. Players represent rival guillotine operators vying for the best collection of noble heads over three rounds. Each round twelve nobles are lined up for the guillotine. The nobles are worth varying points depending on their notoriety. During your turn you play action cards to change the order of the line so you can collect the best nobles. The player with the most points at the end of the game wins. Will you be skillful enough to bribe the guards to collect Marie Antoinette? Or will you lose points for beheading the Hero of the People? Heads are going to roll!




Sheriff of Nottingham, Arcane Wonders
In Sheriff of Nottingham, players will take turns stepping into the shoes of the Sheriff himself, while others act as Merchants attempting to bring their goods into the city for profit! Beware though, while many may act as honest merchants, there is always the possibility of contraband being smuggled into the city!






*All product descriptions are from the manufacturer.

A Sampling of Monopoly

By Margaret Duncan, Ed.D.

The Histocrats support the idea of incorporating board-games into your personal life as well as in the classroom.  As such, we are constantly on the lookout for games that we can play for fun.  One of the games that most student own, know how to play and can be incorporated into the classroom is Monopoly.  While this game has its critics, those who say there are far better games than monopoly, it is a game that has stood the test of time.  It is also a game that has been replicated countless times, and so many variations exist.  Let us take a trip around Go so that we can collect our $200.   

Classic Monopoly
Monopoly is a competitive economic based property real estate trading game. The aim is to develop your property and to remain profitable while at the same time forcing your opponents into bankruptcy. Make a move, make a deal, and make a fortune to win it all. There can be only one winner in the Monopoly game—so, will it be you?

The thrill of bankrupting an opponent is addictive, but the player must consider their business decisions wisely. Sometimes it pays to play nice as your fortunes could change with the roll of the dice. Play nasty, and you might find everyone gangs up on you. Experience the ups and downs of the trading game with the classic Monopoly game. Collect complete color sets to build houses, and maybe even upgrade to a hotel. The more properties you own, the more rent you can charge. Chance cards could be worth money, or one might just tell you to Go To Jail. Take a trip around the Monopoly board to see who wins it all.

Collect as many properties as you can, and make deals to get color sets. Build your houses and hotels, and see if you can bankrupt everyone else to win. Keep an eye on your money, because you never know when the dice will land you with a massive rent bill to pay. Sometimes staying In Jail can be the safest place to be, but only after your properties are primed to make you money. You've got to buy, sell and negotiate to win.

Monopoly Variants
Monopoly is an easily recreated and reproduced game.  From Colleges to cities to sports teams to classic movies, you are bound to find a personalized version of the classic Monopoly.  Indeed, when students bring their personal copy of Monopoly to class it is always interesting to see what exactly will show up.  Often the Monopoly variant matches the student’s personality.

The Muppets Monoploy
Celebrate the sensational, inspirational world of the Muppets as you make like miss piggy. Monopoly, the Muppets. Celebrate the sensational, inspirational world of the Muppets as you make like miss piggy and try to own it all in this Muppets collector’s edition of monopoly.

Star Wars Monopoly
This special Monopoly game is filled with Star Wars references replacing Monopoly ones. Instead of houses, you build colonies. The colonies can be rebel (have an X-wing on them) or Imperial (have tie-fighters on them). Instead of hotels, you put Corellian Cruisers or Star Destroyers.

Pythonopoly
In this Monty Python Monopoly-esque game you can quest for the Holy Grail, as knights buy hovels, build castles, take a ride on a Llama, or charge excessive groats for hanging out at your Castle of Aaarrrggghhh. Pythonopoly is based on "Monty Python's Quest for the Holy Grail."

Bankers Game
This is a Japanese version of the ultimate real estate and money management game.  It is published by the Japanese Hanayama boardgame company.

For more info on Monopoly views:
Dice Tower Showdown: Monopoly vs. Power Grid

Pair of Dice Paradise Monopoly Overview

*All product descriptions are from the manufacturer.

 

September 2014 Games of the Week

By Margaret Duncan, Ed.D.

The Histocrats support the idea of incorporating board-games into your personal life as well as in the classroom.  As such, we support and participate in a local board-gaming group.  Any and all board-game enthusiasts are welcome to join the Game Nights that are held every first and third Friday night of the month.  As part of our gaming group initiative, we also recommend history centric games that are fun to play each week to all of our followers.  The selected games receive our “Game of the Week” distinction.  Recommended games are a mix of cooperative, card games, as well Euro style games.


Rocket Jockey, MayFair Games
It's 150 years in the future and mankind has spread throughout the solar system. To supply far-flung colonies, they look to the Rocket Jockeys. The planets depend on timely cargo arrivals. This is not enough for the rocket jockeys. They compete with one another to see who can complete the fanciest maneuvers, transport the most important cargo and visit the most planets. You must be daring and you must be quick. You must also be tough, for first contact with alien life is near at hand. Deliver your cargo with the most flair and speed and you will win the game.


Mascarade Board Game, Asmodee
Attend a Mascarade of the renaissance and try to discover the identity of your opponents. Who is telling the truth? Who is bluffing? Reveal the truth all while hiding your own true identity. The goal of the game is for players to gain the most gold pieces that they will amass either by telling the truth, or alternatively, bluffing. Players each receive a Character card, that they will switch, or not, with their opponents throughout the game play. At each turn, players have the option to either announce who there are and therefore are able to activate the power of the Character, as long as none of the other players challenge them; to secretly look at their card; or to swap their card with another player.



Founding Fathers, Jolly Roger Games
Your goal in Founding Fathers is to emerge from the Philadelphia Convention acknowledged by all as the true Father of the Constitution due to your outstanding contributions to the final document. There are many avenues available for gaining recognition at the Convention and earning the points you need to win the game. The trick is to exploit these more effectively than your rivals, and to frustrate their efforts to do the same.



Coup Reformation, Indie Boards & Cards
An expansion for the original version of Coup: City State adds new cards to the game and rules for factions and team play that increases tension in the early stages. With Coup: Reformation, each player must declare himself either Protestant or Catholic and can target only members of the other faith. Conversion is possible, however, for yourself or for another player by paying a charitable donation to the Almshouse. Like all factions, once you have eliminated the other sect, you just descend into in-fighting, so there's still only one winner and no second place.

 

*All product descriptions are from the manufacturer.

Incorporating Games into the Social Studies Classroom

By Margaret Duncan, Ed.D.
For the last year, I have been advocating to anyone who will listen the idea of incorporating games into the classroom.  After quite a bit of negotiation, I was able to get my county coordinator to purchase a number of games for my entire social studies department to use this current school year.  I thought the hardest part was going to be finding the funds for the purchase, however, now I believe it is getting members of the department to actually use the games. 

As I have written before, any and all games can be incorporated into the classroom.  Remember, teachers who incorporate board games into the classroom do more than teach a standard for one day.  A cooperative board game can be used not just to gain historical knowledge but also for the simple benefit of playing a game. 

The games chosen for the department were based on course, easy playability, and at least one game for each semester.  Each course received at least two games—one for fall semester, and one for the spring semester. 

As this is a new venture—utilizing board games across the entire social studies department, I will be blogging about our journey.  I am hopeful that this will be a positive good and that the games will achieve a solid benefit for all students.  So, as we start this journey, here are the games we chose to start with. 

Geography
For Geography, we chose Pandemic and The Resistance.  In Pandemic, students in Geography and AP Human Geography must work together to stop the spread of four diseases that have broken out and are spread around the world.  This game not only hits a key unit in Geography dealing with pandemics, but also just playing the game forces students to use map skills in order to play.  In The Resistance, students play a group of resistance fighters fighting against a powerful and corrupt government.  

World History
For World History, we chose Guillotine and Carcassonne.  Guillotine is a quick and easy card game that takes place during the French Revolution.  In the game, players represent rival represent rival guillotine operators vying for the best collection of noble heads over three days (rounds).  Carcassonne is a quick and easy tile-laying game. The game takes place in the southern French city of Carcassonne, but the theme can be easily incorporated into any town building area—medieval England or Manifest Destiny in the US.  Players will develop the area around Carcassonne and deploy their Meeples (followers) on the roads, in the cities, in the cloisters, and in the fields. 

US History
For US History, we chose three games: Founding Fathers, Freedom-The Underground Railroad, and Article 27: The United Nations Security Council Game.  In Founding Fathers, students will recreate the constitutional Convention in Philadelphia.  Freedom-The Underground Railroad is a cooperative game in which players assume the roles of important historical Abolitionist characters pitted against the slave economy from the early 1800's thru the Civil War. Players succeed together by balancing their actions between raising funds for the Abolitionist cause and helping runaway slaves move from the Southern States to freedom in Canada.  Article 27 takes place in the not-too-distant future and players assume the role of one of the permanent members of the Security Council.  As such, players have the power of the veto and no proposal can pass when a member uses their veto.  As such, players take turns as the leader of the Security Council and try to get a proposal passed.  Negotiations can include side-deals, threats, or out-right influence-peddling. 

Government
For Government, the games chosen were Puerto Rico and 7 Wonders.  In Puerto Rico, players utilize different roles-mayor, captain, settler, trader, prospector, craftsman, or builder to score the most victory points with their colony. Players can act on every turn of the game, allowing them to choose between shipping goods for points or building an impressive city. Players must manage their colonists, erect a variety of buildings, build up their plantation, and sell or ship goods.  In 7 Wonders, players lead an ancient civilization as it rises from its barbaric roots to become a world power. Players will lead troops to a military victory or create a nation of artisans and philosophers. Establish a powerful merchant state or master the mysteries of science and technology. Build an architectural wonder that will fascinate for eons to come, and rule the most powerful civilization on Earth!

AP Psychology
For AP Psychology, we chose One Night Ultimate Werewolf, The Resistance: Coup, and Psychopoly.  In One Night Ultimate Werewolf everyone gets to be a different role. In the course of only one night and the following morning, the players will determine who among them is a werewolf...hopefully.  In the Resistance: Coup, the government is run for profit by a new "royal class" of multi-national CEOs. Their greed and absolute control of the economy has reduced all but a privileged few to lives of poverty and desperation. Out of the oppressed masses rose The Resistance, an underground organization focused on overthrowing these powerful rulers. The valiant efforts of The Resistance have created discord, intrigue and weakness in the political courts of the novena royal, bringing the government to brink of collapse. But for you, a powerful government official, this is your opportunity to manipulate, bribe and bluff your way into absolute power.  Psychopoly is a psychology themed based version of monopoly. Each of the property cards belong to a famous historical psychologist and they include background information about the property owner.

*All product descriptions are from the manufacturer.

 



 

August 2014 Games of the Week

By Margaret Duncan, Ed.D.

The Histocrats support the idea of incorporating board-games into your personal life as well as in the classroom.  As such, we support and participate in a local board-gaming group.  Any and all board-game enthusiasts are welcome to join the Game Nights that are held every first and third Friday night of the month.  As part of our gaming group initiative, we also recommend history centric games that are fun to play each week to all of our followers.  The selected games receive our “Game of the Week” distinction.  Recommended games are a mix of cooperative, card games, as well Euro style games.

Spurs: A Tale in the Old West, Mr. B Games
Players take turns moving around the main board, carrying out classic activities of the Old West, like taking on cattle-herding jobs or engaging in horse-breaking; if you are good at riding, you might end up with a nice stallion to sell! Gunslingers can go searching for wanted outlaws in the badlands or take on jobs to escort stagecoaches or deal with a gang of Desperados. Hunters will seek out wildlife in the forests (be careful as some animals might hunt you instead), while others might seek fortune by searching for gold in the mountains or gambling in the town saloons. Be careful, though, as you never know when other players will challenge you to a duel and try to rob you.

Kingdom Builder, Queen Games
Players create their own kingdoms by skillfully building their settlements, aiming to earn the most gold at the end of the game. Build an engine to control more tiles, which give access to more abilities -- which help you earn more gold.










Constantinopolis, Fantasy Flight Games
Can you become the most famous trader in Constantinopolis? Effectively build up your trade district to produce goods, generate money, and earn fame points to ensure that your name stands above the rest!









Bora Bora Strategy Board Game, Ravensburger
Stake your fortunes in the mysterious island world of Bora Bora. Journey across islands, building huts where the resilient men and women of your tribes can settle, discovering fishing grounds and collecting shells. Send priests to the temples, and gather offerings to curry favor with the gods. The player who best watches how the game develops and uses the most effective strategy will prevail.




*All product descriptions are from the manufacturer.

July 2014 Games of the Week

By Margaret Duncan, Ed.D.

The Histocrats support the idea of incorporating board-games into your personal life as well as in the classroom.  As such, we support and participate in a local board-gaming group.  Any and all board-game enthusiasts are welcome to join the Game Nights that are held every first and third Friday night of the month.  As part of our gaming group initiative, we also recommend history centric games that are fun to play each week to all of our followers.  The selected games receive our “Game of the Week” distinction.  Recommended games are a mix of cooperative, card games, as well Euro style games.

Yedo: Rule From the Shadows, Pandasaurus Games
Japan, 1605 Hidetada Tokugawa has succeeded his father as the new Shogun, ruling from the great city of Edo (a.k.a. Yedo), the city known in present times as Tokyo. Players assume the roles of Clan Elders in the city of Edo during the early years of the Tokugawa Shogunate. The object of the game is to amass Prestige Points, mainly by completing missions. To do so, players must gather the necessary assets and most importantly outfox their opponents and prevent them from completing their missions. It's all up to you but be careful to make the right choices, for in Yedo, eternal glory and painful disgrace are two sides of the same coin.

One Night Ultimate Werewolf, Bezier Games
One Night Ultimate Werewolf is a fast-paced game where everyone gets to be a different role. In the course of only one night and the following morning, the players will determine who among them is a werewolf...hopefully. One Night Ultimate Werewolf is a microgame of the party game Ultimate Werewolf that doesn't need a moderator. There's no elimination, and each game lasts about 10 minutes.





1969 Game, Coffee Haus Games
The Space Race has begun! In 1969, this prestige contest will decide who is the world leader--who will win? The U.S.A.? The U.S.S.R.? Or a nation of the old Europe perhaps? Who will be able to build the most technologically advanced rocket and bring Man to the Moon without crashing? Will you be able to defend your space program from the saboteurs sent from the other world powers





Destination Hogwarts, RTL Games
Destination Hogwarts is the fast moving Harry Potter game that will take you on a journey through Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry and the surrounding grounds! As a student you will visit famous destinations in and around Hogwarts collecting House Points as you go, whilst trying to avoid the hazards along the way.  The aim of the game is to collect as many house points as possible- in one game, a player can accumulate many more house points than would be possible actually at Hogwarts- sometimes over 1000.



*All product descriptions are from the manufacturer.

June 2014 Games of the Week

 By Margaret Duncan, Ed.D.

The Histocrats support the idea of incorporating board-games into your personal life as well as in the classroom.  As such, we support and participate in a local board-gaming group.  Any and all board-game enthusiasts are welcome to join the Game Nights that are held every first and third Friday night of the month.  As part of our gaming group initiative, we also recommend history centric games that are fun to play each week to all of our followers.  The selected games receive our “Game of the Week” distinction.  Recommended games are a mix of cooperative, card games, as well Euro style games.

Rivet Wars Eastern Front, Cool Mini or Not
Rivet Wars is a miniatures boardgame set on a world that never quite left World War I but with crazy technology like walking tanks, diesel powered armor, uni-cycled vehicles and armor plated cavalry! Don't let the cute visuals fool you; it's a world full of angst, war-torn camaraderie and dark humor. Rivet Wars is at its heart a strategy game, with both players deploying units each round to counter the threats set forth by their opponent and stay one tactical step ahead.  Players gather resources (bunkers and capture points) and use these to deploy streams of new units! There's an ebb and flow on the tactical landscape and you can stock up surprises for your opponent to be unleashed even as he thinks he's winning!

Dungeon Raiders Board Game, Passport Game Studio
Players work together, but only one will win! Join a brave party of adventurers! Explore a dungeon filled with monsters, traps and treasure! In Dungeon Raiders, each player takes the role of a different adventurer.  Players need to work together to survive the dungeon, but only one will make it out with the most treasure and win the game. The dungeon is different each time you play, offering new surprises as you collect treasure, trigger traps and fight off horrible monsters.

The King Commands, Z-Man Games
Camelot has fallen. King Arthur is dead, Merlin is missing, and the treasury has been plundered. The remaining Knights of the Round Table have decided to duel over the remaining bags of gold found in the castle. To their aid they have King Arthur's crown, Merlin's crystal ball, and the magic sword, Excalibur. Players play combination of sword cards to steal bags of gold from players who can block or parry. The relics, such as the crown, crystal ball, and Excalibur, have special abilities. The player with the most points at the end can call themselves "king".


Camelot The Build Board Game, Wontan Games
A game of medieval interior design with all sorts of dubious stratagems, dirty tricks and subtle ploys designed to challenge all ages and types of players. The game has only three rules, allowing everyone to understand how to play it and win.  It is a fast-playing tile-laying board game where you are laying out tiles to build the legendary seat of Arthur’s power, Camelot.  It is the first title in “The Camelot Chronicles”, a series of easy-to-play games with a target of three rules and a maximum playing time of one hour.


Journey to the Center of the Earth, MayFair Games
Descend deep into the interior of the earth, as you lead the three adventurers from Jules Verne’s classic novel: Professor Lidenbrock, his nephew Axel and their guide Hans. Begin your amazing journey with entry through the crater of the dormant Icelandic volcano Snaefells. Explore a dense forest of giant mushrooms, traverse a turbulent underground ocean, before you are hurled out of an Italian volcano to return to the earth's surface. On your journey, collect fossils both small and large, collect gold and overcome obstacles through the prudent acquisition and use of select equipment. Explore the many parts of the subterranean cavern, using equipment and luck are critical to overcoming the obstacles within your path. The player who can escape with the best collection of artifacts is the winner. Will you direct our heroes on a journey of danger, discovery and fortune?

*All product descriptions are from the manufacturer.

A Sampling of Old School Children’s Games

By Margaret Duncan, Ed.D.
 
The Histocrats support the idea of incorporating board-games into your personal life as well as in the classroom. As such, we are constantly on the lookout for games that we can play for fun. Recently, I was able to play different “old school” games, many from my childhood. Indeed, I spent hours playing the Mad Magazine and Muppet Show games.  Some of the games hold up well and are just as fun to play today as thirty years ago, some not so much. 

Let us take a trip down memory lane.

Mad Magazine, Parker Brothers
Each Player starts with $10,000. The board is Monopoly-like, with 2 inner tracks that can also be used. Play is counter-clockwise and you must roll the dice with your left hand. Certain spaces, and the ever present 'Card' cards send you elsewhere, make you pay money (good), make you get money (bad), switch seats with someone else or exchange money with another player.  First to lose all their money wins.







Garfield Board Game, Parker Brothers
This game features Garfield, America's famous comic strip cat. Object: you and the other players must try to run three complete circles around Garfield. For each circle you complete, you'll earn a ring. The first player to earn 3 rings wins the game.  











Yoda the Jedi Master Game (Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back), Kenner
Be the first player to become a Jedi Knight, defeat the Dark Side of the Force and win! Travel to the Dagobah System where Yoda, the ancient Jedi Master, will teach you the ways of the Force. Acquire Jedi merit as you successfully accomplish the difficult tasks and trials Yoda sets for your training. Once you've obtained sufficient merit as a Jedi, enter the Jedi Knight circle and out-spin the Dark Side of the Force to win.




The Muppet Show Game, Parker Brothers
Directed by Kermit the Frog. Produced by Parker Brothers. Starring Jim Henson's Muppets. A board game in two acts, simulating the Muppet Show. Playing pieces are popular figures from the show: Miss Piggy, Animal, Fozzie Bear, Rowlf, Scooter, Statler, Dr. Teeth and Waldorf. I loved The Muppet Show as a child and this game took me back to my childhood.

Disney Monorail, Parker Brothers
This is a race game based on the transportation system of the Monorail and Casey Jr. train at Disneyland. Players race not only each other, but the train, Casey Jr. (a non-player character). Roll the dice, using the white die for your own movement on the monorail track and the colored die to move Casey on the train track.  Pure luck, no decisions at all, and Casey can win the game.



*All product descriptions are from the manufacturer.

A Sampling of Old School Games

By Margaret Duncan, Ed.D.

The Histocrats support the idea of incorporating board-games into your personal life as well as in the classroom.  As such, we are constantly on the lookout for games that we can play for fun.  Recently, I was able to play different “old school” games, many from my childhood.  Indeed, I spent hours playing Clue and Battleship.  To this day, Clue is one of my favorite games--it hasn't changed over the years and I enjoy it as much today as I did when I was twelve.  Like Clue, some of the games hold up well and are just as fun to play today as twenty or thirty years ago, some not so much. 

Let us take a trip down memory lane.
 

Perfection, Lakeside
This dexterity and shape recognition game pits players to be the quickest to fit all the shapes into the matching holes in the tray that pops up.  Set the timer, and press down the tray. Are you quick enough to match all 25 shapes before time runs out and the pieces go POP? A snap to learn, Perfection is tough to play.  The board for the game is a 5x5 grid with 25 shapes.





Battleship, Milton Bradley
Each player deploys his ships (of lengths varying from 2 to 5 squares) secretly on a square grid. Then each player shoots at the other's grid by calling a location. The defender responds by "Hit!" or "Miss!". You try to deduce where the enemy ships are and sink them. First to do so wins.  Players call out from 1 to 5 shots at a time depending on the amount of ships the player has left Players each start off with 5 ships, so they start off with 5 shots. As ships are sunk, the players get fewer shots. This version of the game is closer to the original pencil-and-paper public domain game.



Snake Eyes, Selchow & Righter
A casino game that is open to any number of players. The game has levers labeled from one to nine. Initially all the levers are in the 'up' position.  The first player rolls two dice. They then knock down the levers as dice are rolled.  The player's score is the total value of the numbers left uncovered. All the levers are then raised again, and play passes to the next player.





Trial of the Century, Companion Games
A spoof of the legal system, the media, and law & order. Players (as lawyers for the prosecution or defence) attempt to win their case while hindering the case of the other players. The humour comes from the illustrations, and the game mechanics. Based on the O.J. Simpson-trial, complete with a bloody glove card.





Careers, Parker Brothers
Devised by sociologist James Cooke Brown, players have set victory conditions in order to win. A secret "Success Formula" consists of a minimum amount of fame, happiness and money that the player must gain. Players set their own victory conditions before the game begins. Victory points can be obtained more quickly on occupation paths and each has more opportunities for certain types of victory points than others.



Clue, Parker Brothers
For generations, around the world, Mr. Boddy has met his end at the hand of one of six infamous suspects in this family game. As you search the mansion's nine rooms and secret passages, be on the lookout for those murderous suspects. And watch out for those deadly weapons. The mystery changes every time you play. If you can collect the right clues and make the right deductions, you'll solve the mystery and win.



*All product descriptions are from the manufacturer.

Talking Games in the Classroom with Tom Vasel

By Margaret Duncan, Ed.D.

In May, I attended the Cool Mini or Not Expo in Atlanta and was able to meet Tom Vasel from the Dice Tower, and discuss incorporating games into the classroom.  Vasel is the host of The Dice Tower, a podcast and Youtube channel that reviews and discusses all things boardgames.  He is also a youth pastor and former teacher.  It was his role of gamer and teacher that I sought to talk with him about my own desire to incorporate games into my history classroom.

As a teacher, I am always looking for new ways to bring history to life and have attempted to incorporate games into the classroom.  When I met Vasel, he was playing Rivet Wars: The Eastern Front and was able to share with me ideas and games.  As a former History teacher himself, he talked about playing games with students in his classes.  Among the games he would play were Diplomacy, Race for the White House, Founding Fathers, 1960: The Making of the President, and Democrazy.  These are all games that range from easy to hard, one class period to several. For example, Diplomacy is a complex and long game.  Vasel suggested giving out parts to students and then playing the game, one move a class period over a long period of time.  Therefore, do not give up an entire class period but a small fraction over time. It also allows students to build confidence in their gaming roles and excitement over the next move.  He said it was amazing when students would discuss the game outside of class, especially at lunch. 

With Race for the Whitehouse, Vasel suggested pitting class versus class rather than just groups within one class.  Indeed, using multiple classes and groups would give more of a realistic approach and feel to a true election cycle.  Another game he suggested was Democrazy.  This is a game I have never played but after speaking with Vasel, I am excited to try it out.  In this game, student players would attempt to pass laws which benefit themselves. The laws are either immediate or semi-permanent, and they can have all kinds of different effects.  For example, all players with glasses would get five points, vote cards must be played with the left hand, or some sort of re-evaluation or redistribution of the chips that each player has. The chips are the main way that players score, but their worth fluctuates constantly. On a turn, a player draws a card and then proposes a vote, and this continues until the end card is drawn or the teacher ends the game. 

One inhibitor to incorporating games into the classroom is the cost of the games.  However, Vasel was able to suggest using a document projector and smartboard to play one game as a class.  This is a much cheaper alternative to having to buy multiple games.  Simply project the game on the board and as a class play it.  This is an idea I had never thought of but will suggest it in the future to fellow teachers.

Although I was only able to speak to Vasel for a short time, I must admit it was enormously informative.  Vasel was incredibly nice and accommodating.  Even when folks were trying to hurry him away, he continued to talk with me and even did a quick video to a fellow teacher and gamer on the birth of his son. 

It is obvious that not only does Tom Vasel love games, but he is eager to help teachers use games to get students excited about learning.  Be sure to check out The Dice Tower, it will be well worth your time. 



For more information on The Dice Tower