Board games are incomplete.
Sure they have all the pieces you need to play the game, but sometimes you need a little something more to complete the experience...a dish, a plastic tub, special print-outs, ect...
Last night we played Philip DuBerry's home-engineered-hit Revolution! published by Steve Jackson Games (2009), my favorite game for "Add-Ons."
First (and most important for me) is what I call "the DISH." It comes out every time we play Revolution!...EVERY TIME. In fact we use it more for playing Revolution! than we do for eating food.
If you aren't familiar with the game (check it out, its viva la fun) there are three types of payment, blackmail, gold and force, which are used for bidding. Its important to keep the stockpile separate from your personal bidding stash, so to avoid confusion, the DISH is an essential element. I even tried to pack it away in the box...an exercise in frustration.
The other Add Ons are called LAS BANDERAS (Flags), which are actually just clothes pins. We have one for each color used in the game (yellow, blue, green and red). When we have finished placing our bids behind our player screens, we place the "flag" on top of the screen to signal to the others that we are ready to show their bids, an event I affectionately call, THE GREAT REVEAL.
Ok...So maybe these add-ons aren't exactly essential, but I like to claim that they are, and they can enhance the game experience.
What types of ADD-ONS do you use for your favorite games?
My wife has told me that buying player-colored bandannas to wear around our heads as we play might be taking it a bit too far...
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I have a collection of Square Silicone Muffin Cups that we use for nearly every game that has small components. They've never been used for baking, but they are on the game table all the time, I even take them to conventions with me :)
ReplyDeletehttp://www.amazon.com/Wilton-Square-Silicone-Baking-Count/dp/B000NBNHHE/ref=sr_1_17?ie=UTF8&qid=1295538754&sr=8-17
In my family we have a red chili pepper necklace that stays with Canasta Caliente. The last round's winner gets to wear the coveted necklace.
ReplyDeleteWe also have a traveling crown made of Dutch Blitz cards that leaves with the winner of our annual Christmas tournament.
These add-ons don't affect gameplay, but they do make it more fun when you win.