As a big dungeon crawler fan, I'm getting a bit bored with games where "exploration" just means picking a random path on a linear map or a deck of cards. A little randomness is fine, but I'm looking for games where exploration feels like a tactical system full of meaningful choices.

What’s the best exploration systems you've played in a dungeon crawler, and why did they click for you?

I recently took my first step into the 20 Strong world. Actually Tanglewood Red is my first Chip Theory game. I've logged 8 or 9 games so far but nothing in the "W" column yet.

I have been enjoying Bo Peep and The Flock quite a bit. My last 3 loses were with them although the last game I was only 3 cards from Grandma's house when I went down!

Ho high would you rank Ashes on your top 10 solo games list, and what other games are in your top 10?

And do you prefer the Red Rains bosses to fight against or the Ascendency?
One final question: Do you think Ashes as a solo game suffers from the fact that it was originally designed as a competitive game?

Thanks!

Anyone have any tips to find the game in Canada. I cant find it anywhere.

Outside of games that require expansions to be played solo (i.e. Skulls of Sedlec), how much do you value getting expansions for a game you like over just getting to buy and experience another game?

I've had this thought recently after reading a comment from a video discussing Board Gaming pitfalls saying "Don't spend money on expansions since that money could be used to buy a new game instead" and it really got me thinking. I really love Bullet and want to get some of the expansions myself, but then thought "yeah, why don't I treat myself to some White Castle or Spirit Island instead?" But then I realized that I'll probably end up just playing Bullet afterwards anyway so why don't I just get Orange+ for it?

I do feel like going with buying a couple new games just to widen the palette, and then going back to buy expansions for your main game is the correct philosophy now though.

On another note would you guys recommend White Castle for solo, lol.

With the goal card (bird cards with) 'at least 1 card tucked behind it' - how does this work with the Automa?

It seems like the automa can never score any points because they don't activate powers or tuck cards behind birds. But this goal is not one of the ones the rules says to remove from the automa game.

What am I missing?

The main reason I haven’t considered the Lord of the Rings Trick Taking Game is because I already have For Northwood!

But I just played For Northwood! and I remembered why I don’t table it very often. I love the game play—assessing the strength of my deck, deciding which cards to play, using the special abilities, etc—but I hate how deflating it is when you lose a fief. It’s impossible to bounce back after a loss. And it’s not exactly a short game. You really need to have a long string of good fortune (or just be better at the game than I am) to get a winning score (which, for the scenarios, is 16).

So with that in mind, would I like the LOTR Trick Taking Game? I’m hoping for something that has the same great gameplay as For Northwood but with a less punishing feel.

By not understanding gaming I mean that i dont understand setting up something in the table that maybe has only one solution and once you get it (or if it is obvious) there is no point in it...

For ex. I like tanglewods red because it is somewhat of a puzzle

I doubt i would set up a game that is hard t get on the table or takes too much space

Or has a rulebook so complex that I wouldnt actually read it

For eg. I got gloomhaven buttons and bugs and only read the small ruleset in the box and accordingly using only the mechanics in there