Trying to spread the magic of the board game

[Yamin151]

Someone was asking a bout board games for the classroom, which needed to be fairly swift etc, and some great ideas came up. I wondered about having a go at spreading the magic of the games we play as a family which have blasted monopoly etc out of hone water, and I'm hoping to convert people who maybe avoid the traditional ones (like we did) because they are sick of them. Appreciate some people still adore monopoly etc!
My first recommendation is the Ticket to Ride Series. In this game, you build train routes by the selection of coloured train cards, made more complex when you want by the addition of stations or passengers or tunnels. Several versions covering Europe, America, India etc. A fab game where it's never clear who's winning until the end. All these games are top quality so not cheap, but last and last

http://vimeo.com/45202295" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Next would be Memoir 44, this is so sexist, esp as I am a girl and love it, but it is a great one if you have boys as it's plastic soldiers which you ve across the board in hexes, in tactical moves based on card choices and re enact real ww2 battles

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2LBVJuAutk ... LBVJuAutk0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

And last for now (though I have several others ) is carcassonne, this uses card counters to build up a different each time map of roads, cities and churches, each you then 'own' with your 'meeples', little people that are your knights etc. You then gain points

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kakQvPIKyP ... akQvPIKyPY" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Others on my list are settlers of catan, forbidden island and pirates cove. All involve strategy, intelligence without being clumsily educational, and are so much more fun , IMHO, than the average board game.

Thoughts? Arguments?
If you want to get really into finding what suits your family, check out Tom Vassel's The Dice Tower (promise I have no vested interest), his reviews are always good. And following a youtube of how to lay on these games always better than just reading instructions, which can look a bit complex for my simple brain!!

[doodles]

We are on the board game train with you Yasmin, love them and get a new one every Christmas. Just beginning to research this year's purchase!

[KS10]

Mine have just discovered Wembley as my b-i-l has it.

[Sally-Anne]

There was another thread about this a while ago, and some golden oldies emerged on it (games and members, that is!): http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/forum/ ... t=totopoly" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;