Spiel des Jarhead
Ward Batty
United States
Atlanta
Georgia
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Here are the games that I think either will be (or ought to be, covering my bases) nominated for Spiel des Jahres. Feel free to add your own. Presented (mostly) aplhabetically, BTW. For absolutely no good reason I'm including the odds to win the SdJ at the end of each listing. Of course this will all be moot when Fluxx wins SdJ (kidding, I hope!)
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Ward Batty
United States
Atlanta
Georgia
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Even though it is based on a computer game, I think the fact that it is from Klaus Teuber and Kosmos and has been popular enough in Germany to warrant an expansion the SdJ judges will give it consideration. It'd be funny if this won SdJ after Puerto Rico didn't. Odds to win SdJ: 5 -1.
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2.
Board Game: Attika
[Average Rating:7.02 Overall Rank:563]
Ward Batty
United States
Atlanta
Georgia
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I'd be surprised if this wasn't on the short-list for SdJ. Original game that is accessable and holds up well over many playings. 3-1
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3.
Board Game: Coda
[Average Rating:6.09 Overall Rank:2880]
Ward Batty
United States
Atlanta
Georgia
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Da Vinci Code in Germany. Combination of a deduction game and poker that seems to have a lot of appeal. 7-1
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Ward Batty
United States
Atlanta
Georgia
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A game with Blokus-like appeal. Easy to play but there's plenty of depth there for those who want it. "Genius" rule adds nice bit of levity to this abstract. 4-1
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Ward Batty
United States
Atlanta
Georgia
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A bit of a longshot from a small company. Works better if you change the 1s to 7s and allow 3 pawns them, but a clever meaty short game. 10-1
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6.
Board Game: Goa
[Average Rating:7.62 Overall Rank:107]
Ward Batty
United States
Atlanta
Georgia
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May be too much a "gamer's game" for SdJ, but it will end up on a lot of "Best-of" lists. My favorite description is from Frank Branham who described it as "Very." 10-1
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7.
Board Game: Hansa
[Average Rating:6.90 Overall Rank:709]
Ward Batty
United States
Atlanta
Georgia
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Enjoyable pick-up and delivery game. If doing the best game with your own art is an award, Michael Schacht should be a shoo-in. 8-1
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Ward Batty
United States
Atlanta
Georgia
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Too complicated for serious consideration from the SdJ folks, but I'm giving it a nod anyway. At a time when the auction mechanism seems to be falling out of favor, this game uses it in an interesting and intergral manner. Too steep of a learning curve to make it super-popular, this was a unique offering. 15-1
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Ward Batty
United States
Atlanta
Georgia
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Won't even be considered for SdJ, this is a great little game that I would love to see made available again with nicer bits at a more affordable price. 100-1
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Ward Batty
United States
Atlanta
Georgia
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This gem of a game has been under the radar of most US gamers so far, but this is a really interesting game of connections that lasts 30 minutes tops. Could be a good dark horse for SdJ that will come in a close second to Fluxx ;-). 3-1
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Ward Batty
United States
Atlanta
Georgia
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This may be the best auction/negotiation game ever. Not as cruel as Intrigue, but a lot more room for negotiation than Ra or Modern Art. "Escudo" should win an award for coolest play money name ever. 4-1
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Ward Batty
United States
Atlanta
Georgia
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Such an elegant implimentation that it makes Puerto Rico almost seem fiddily in comparison. Great job of adapting the board game to cards. I hope it does well in Germany as I think that PR was a bit overlooked there. 5-1
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Ward Batty
United States
Atlanta
Georgia
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This might get a nod. I like it OK, but I think there should be more originality about a game that gets SdJ. It isn't any less original than Alhambra, but they are similar enough that I don't see a need to give this SdJ. 7-1
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14.
Board Game: Ticket to Ride
[Average Rating:7.46 Overall Rank:124]
[Average Rating:7.46 Unranked]
Ward Batty
United States
Atlanta
Georgia
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If Kosmos instead of DOW published this it'd be a shoo-in for SdJ. I don't know the details, but talk seems to be it may hurt the chances because DOW isn't a German publisher. That would be a shame, and will make for interesting watching. 3-1
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15.
Board Game: Fluxx
[Average Rating:5.69 Overall Rank:6614]
[Average Rating:5.69 Unranked]
Ward Batty
United States
Atlanta
Georgia
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Because you just can't rule it out. 1-1
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Ward Batty
United States
Atlanta
Georgia
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Dave is right, how could I pass up mentioning such a damn cute game? 9-1
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