Michael Hopcroft
United States
Portland
Oregon
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One of my friends has given me a set of Munchkin that includes several of the expansions. Now this is something I would never have thought to purchase for myself as I prefer different kinds of games most of the time. But now I have it.
It isn't the sort of game one becomes fanatical about (at least I hope not) but I can't help but wonder what would happen if I were to go somewhere and look for a pickup game.
This is an entirely fantasy set, not any of the other variant games like Zombie or Axe Cop (Axe Cop? Really?). It is not sorted by expansion so everything is sort of clumped in together.
Did I mention I am a horrible Munchkin player (not that skill matters as much as it does in certain other games)?
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Ian Toltz
United States
Revere
Massachusetts
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I was going to answer your question, but I reached the end of your post without figuring it out.
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Michael Hopcroft
United States
Portland
Oregon
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I don't know if there is a question per se except wondering how I can get the best use out of my new "toy". And whether one or two of the small, quickie, silly expansions would be worthwhile to add to the game.
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Ian Toltz
United States
Revere
Massachusetts
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I'd... play a few games before investing in it. Determine if you like it or not.
I don't want to pollute your opinion of the game. Suffice to say, it tends to polarize people. 
EDIT: And when I say a few games, I *do* mean a few games. For me personally, it's entertaining the first couple of times, but it loses a lot of oomph after you've seen all the jokes.
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Roderic Sisk
United States
Washington
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Michael Hopcroft wrote: I don't know if there is a question per se except wondering how I can get the best use out of my new "toy".
Well, it being close to winter and all, if you get chilly you could always... uhm.
Ok, if not that, if you have a pet hamster or other small rodent you could... you know.
Or, hell, sometimes people come over to your house right? And you have the courtesy to give them cold beverages, and then what do they do? Why, they just go right ahead and plop that beverage right down on your favorite side table is what! Heck, I see a perfect opportunity to take out your new Munchkin collection and hand them one of the... Hmm.
If you enjoy marksmanship, say with a 10/22, sometimes those little glow spot targets, while fun, can really add up in cost, eh what? Heck not a problem anymore, right? Walk out 50 yards with Munchkin in hand and, well...
I don't know! There's GOT TO BE something someone could do with a box of Munchkin cards! I mean, isn't there?
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Igor Brígido B. Sales
Brazil
Fortaleza
Ceará
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The main problem with this game is its duration. Too long for a heavily luck driven game. Specialy if you play with 5 or 6 people.
I suggest you try to adjust that (lowering the winning level or taking a look at some fast play rules)
Cheers!
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Matt Lee
United States
East Meadow
New York
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Although the game gets little love from teh more vocal members of BGG for various reasons, it is an extremely popular game and is about as polarizing as most mainstream games tend to be, so you may either enjoy it quite a bit or find it falls flat for you.If you have the time, it is worth a couple of games to decide if you like it or sell/trade it.
Michael Hopcroft wrote:
It isn't the sort of game one becomes fanatical about (at least I hope not) but I can't help but wonder what would happen if I were to go somewhere and look for a pickup game.
You will find that some fans are absolutely rabid fans of the game and collecting everything out there for the game. Having run Munchkin tournaments at some nearby conventions, it is still consistently popular and often has the same fan makeup as fans of the Killer Bunnies game series as well.
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Michael Hopcroft
United States
Portland
Oregon
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klz_fc wrote: You will find that some fans are absolutely rabid fans of the game and collecting everything out there for the game. Having run Munchkin tournaments at some nearby conventions, it is still consistently popular and often has the same fan makeup as fans of the Killer Bunnies game series as well.
Since I generally see innumerable flavors of Munchkin being played at every con I go to that has gaming, I can't dispute that. But then the Men in Black have a substantial presence at all these cons and will start demo games at the drop of a hat. I don't know whether the game is as big a presence at events where it is not being so actively promoted.
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Matt Lee
United States
East Meadow
New York
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I staff at quite a few cons and the reality is that while the MIBS do try to start demos often, the players demand it a lot. They are often one of the most requested games at several Anime conventions just behind Apples to Apples and Fluxx without MIB presence.
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Ian Toltz
United States
Revere
Massachusetts
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klz_fc wrote: I staff at quite a few cons and the reality is that while the MIBS do try to start demos often, the players demand it a lot. They are often one of the most requested games at several Anime conventions just behind Apples to Apples and Fluxx without MIB presence.
Munchkin seems to be most popular among nerds who aren't primarily board gaming nerds, so I'm not terribly surprised about that.
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1) Find 3-4 people who will enjoy reading the bad puns out-loud and get/enjoy the references. (do NOT get 2 or 5, the game will be much worse for it)
2) Play. Try not to take it too seriously.
3) Repeat as necessary.
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Roderic Sisk
United States
Washington
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sybrwookie wrote: 1) Find 3-4 people who will enjoy reading the bad puns out-loud and get/enjoy the references. (do NOT get 2 or 5, the game will be much worse for it)
2) Play. Try not to take it too seriously.
3) Never repeat.
Fixed above for great benefit.
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Steve Wardell
United States
Carmel
Indiana
I think you ought to know I'm feeling very depressed.
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navajas wrote: sybrwookie wrote: 1) Find 3-4 people who will enjoy reading the bad puns out-loud and get/enjoy the references. (do NOT get 2 or 5, the game will be much worse for it)
2) Play. Try not to take it too seriously.
3) Never repeat. Fixed above for great benefit.
Anyone who doesn't think Munchkin should ever be played multiple times obviously has a very narrow viewpoint, and their comments should be ignored.
It may not be the "best" game created, but there are enough people that think it's good/funny enough to create ~15 base sets and well more than that many expansions.
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Roderic Sisk
United States
Washington
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Khedron wrote: obviously has a very narrow viewpoint, and their comments should be ignored.
Right, because, "different than mine" equals "narrow".
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Joshua
United States
Wolverine Lake
Michigan
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I'm in the boat of "try a FEW games first". First time I played it I liked it because I got all the fun RPG refrences. After a subsequent plays, however, I realized that it was a 1-2 hour game that overstays it's welcome by 30-90 minutes.
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Steve Wardell
United States
Carmel
Indiana
I think you ought to know I'm feeling very depressed.
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navajas wrote: Khedron wrote: obviously has a very narrow viewpoint, and their comments should be ignored. Right, because, "different than mine" equals "narrow".
No, implying that everyone else should share your view equals "narrow". You're perfectly entitled to your view (which a lot of people share), but there are also many people that enjoy this game, and they aren't "wrong".
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Freelance Police
United States
Palo Alto
California
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Yeah, if you bring it to an anime con or a Meetup boardgame event, it'll get played. Actually, same ditto for game conventions, although you sure won't get the Eurohardcores to play it.
Anyway, to make the game faster:
* Download the latest Munchkin rules, which have the fast-play variant.
* Throw out the positive monster enhancers.
* Throw out maybe half of the potions (which give bonuses to the monsters).
* Throw out any items which only hurt players.
* Play with only 3-4 players.
Strategy:
* Hoard level 1 and level 2 monsters.
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Tiwaz Tyrsfist
United States
Gladstone
Missouri
Behold in amazement as my wife demonstrates the proper way to clean your cat.
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There is an easy check list to determine if you will enjoy playing Munchkin.
1> Have you played D&D regularly since they days of THAc0?
2> Have you played D&D regularly with horrible power gamers?
3> Do you enjoy silliness? (Guideline if you like Monty Python, the answer is yes, if you find Monty Python Incomprehensible, boring, or stupid, the answer is NO)
4> Do you prefer a game with some randomness to a game with no randomness and perfect information?
5> Can you take a sudden reversal of fortune leading to a sudden unexpected loss gracefully and without becoming upset?
The more of these you answer YES, the more likely you are to enjoy Munchkin. The more of these you answered NO, the more likely you are to play two games, then chuck the box in the fire place and start the Yule Log using them as kindling.
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Kimbo Dean
United States
Syracuse
NY
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I for one am someone who thoroughly enjoys Munchkin and has the original version with several expansions and mini-expansions. Its a great game to play with 3 or 4 friends over a few drinks. I've also found that it is a good game to play with family that may be new or oblivious to the world of boardgames. So give it a chance, its fun, and although it may not be a game that you want to play every other week. It is still a good game to just have around for a random night with friends or family.
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Roderic Sisk
United States
Washington
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TiwazTyrsfist wrote: 1> Have you played D&D regularly since they days of THAc0?
2> Have you played D&D regularly with horrible power gamers?
3> Do you enjoy silliness? (Guideline if you like Monty Python, the answer is yes, if you find Monty Python Incomprehensible, boring, or stupid, the answer is NO)
4> Do you prefer a game with some randomness to a game with no randomness and perfect information?
5> Can you take a sudden reversal of fortune leading to a sudden unexpected loss gracefully and without becoming upset?
One of the mystifying things about this product for me is that, while I understand that the above is true and that it describes accurately the demographic for whom the game is designed, and to whom the game is marketed, it can be such an unmitigated failure to people like me and mine, who would answer "yes" (qualified in two instances) to all five of your metrics.
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