Game Profile: Taiga

A fun children’s woodland game.

Classification Children’s Game
Mechanics Memory, Deduction
Publication FoxMind, 2010
Ages 5+
Time 15
Players
2 – 6
Description

Taiga is a memory and deduction woodland game where players must flip over wooden discs to reveal the animals hidden below.

Two-sided animal discs form a circle from which players search to find the 4 animals that match the card in play.  Revealing the correct tile scores the player a token and continued search.  Reveal an incorrect and the player must give up one of their tokens.  The player who finds the 4th animal scores both tokens and that animal card.  When all of the animal sets have been found players score points based on the number of cards and tokens they have acquired.



Awards: Creative Child Magazine’s Creative Toy Awards – 2011 Seal of Excellence




~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~
Continue to
check in for the latest in board games.
~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~


Come and visit us at 30 NW 2nd Street
in Historic Downtown Gresham. We have a full
range of family games, strategy games, Euro-style games, war games, card games,
dice games and more. Also for the puzzle enthusiasts we carry quality puzzles
from Ravensburger, White Mountain, Cobble Hill, and
Dowdle.

We proudly
serve Gresham and the greater Portland and Vancouver
area.

And The Results For 2011 Are…

After being in the board game business for 5 months, we wanted to put together a list of our top selling games for 2011.  So, for the curious-minded here is our Top 10 Best Selling Games for 2011.

1.  Poo: The Card Game
2.  Ticket To Ride
3.  Settlers of Catan
4.  Qwirkle
5.  Redneck Life
Tie 6, 7, & 8:
     Farkle
     Fluxx
     In A Pickle
Tie 9, 10, & 11:
     Catan Seafarers Expansion
     Lord Of The Rings: The Card Game

     Zombie Fluxx

Thank you all for supporting us and contributing to the fun of our game store.
 






Game Profile: Catan

The award winning game of discovery, settlement and trade.
Classification Family
Strategy Game
Mechanics Route/Network Building, Modular Board, Trading
Publication Mayfair Games -1995, Catan Studios – 2016
Ages 10+
Time 90
Players 3-4
Description

Catan (aka Settlers of Catan) is now considered a classic.  Each player begins with 2 settlements and a road leading away from each of these settlements.  Settlements are placed at connections between hex tiles representing 1 of 5 resources.  Each turn dice are rolled and resources are earned by hexes with the corresponding number.  Use the resources to buy roads, settlements, cities, and development cards.  Trading is a big part of the game.  The active player can offer trades to other players and can make trades with the bank.  Occupying a port can make those trades with the bank even more enticing.


In Catan, the lucky #7 is not so lucky.  Roll a seven and anyone holding more than 7 cards must give half back to the bank.  The player who rolled the seven then places a Robber on a hex of their choice and takes a resource card from the player whose settlement or city is on that hex.  The Robber remains on the hex stopping the production of its resource until another 7 is rolled and it is moved.


Points are gained throughout the game and in a variety of ways.  Settlements placed are worth 1 point each and placed cities are worth 2 points each.  Having the largest army is worth 2 more points.  Constructing the longest road will give you 2 additional points.  The 1st player to reach 10 points wins the game and is The Ruler of Catan.




We have an open copy of Catan and Catan: Explorers & Pirate Expansion available in our Store Demo Library for you come in and try out.


~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~


Add Ons (not included but available):


 5-6 Player Extension
There are slight rule modifications that allow for the 5-6 player game to not get bogged down.










Catan: Seafarers Expansion  (1997)
Adds “gold” tiles, addition water, a pirate, and ships.

(must be played with base game Catan)





Catan:
Cities & Knights Expansion (1998)
Adds Commodity and Progress cards, metropolises, event die, knights and barbarians.

(must be played with base game Catan)




Catan: Traders & Barbarians Expansion (2007)
Adds a set of 4 variants and 5 linkable scenarios. The game includes knights, barbarians, bridges,
camels, wagons and more.


(must be played with base game Catan)

Catan: Explorers & Pirate Expansion (2013)

Explore and trade with ships designed to carry settlers, cargo or adventurers.  Settle new lands, battle pirates, acquire spices and located the grand banks of Catanian fish.
This expansion really changes up the look and play of the base game.

(must be played with base game Catan)








~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~~~ ~ ~~ ~ 


Continue to check in for the latest in board games. 


~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~~~ ~ ~~ ~ 



Come and visit us at 30 NW 2nd Street
in Historic Downtown Gresham. We have a full
range of family games, strategy games, Euro-style games, war games, card games,
dice games and more. Also for the puzzle enthusiasts we carry quality puzzles
from Ravensburger, White Mountain, and Cobble Hill.

We
proudly serve Gresham and the greater Portland and Vancouver
area.

Game Profile: Zooloretto

A zoo of a family game in which less is sometimes more!

Classification
Family Strategy
Game
Mechanics Set Collection, Tile Placement
Theme Zoo Animals
Publication Rio Grande Games, 2007
Ages 8+
Time 45
Players
2 – 5
Description

Zooloretto uses a great mechanic to populate your own zoo.  To start a round players randomly select a tile and place it on a truck.  each truck has 3 slots.  Most tiles are zoo animals, but there are also vendor stalls and coins.  The round continues with players drawing and placing a tile on a truck or claiming a truck and placing tiles from the truck in their zoo.  Each zoo has 3 enclosures for animals with a 4th available for a price.  Only one type of animal can occupy an enclosure.  Baby animals will be gained if the male and female figures of an animal type are placed in the same enclosure.  Completely filling an enclosure can bring you bonus coins.  Coins can be used to move animals and expand a players’ zoo.  Any excess animals must be played in the barn.  At the end of the game points are awarded for full enclosures, enclosures with only one empty space, and animals in an enclosure where a vendor cart is present.  Any tiles remaining in the barn at the end of the game count as negative points.  The key is to know when a truck has enough of the right animals and not too many of the wrong animals.

Awards:  Spiel des Jahres (Game of the Year) 2007



We have an open copy of Zooloretto available in our Store Demo Games Library for you to come in and try.



~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~
Continue to
check in for the latest in board games.
~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~


Come and visit us at 30 NW 2nd Street
in Historic Downtown Gresham. We have a full
range of family games, strategy games, Euro-style games, war games, card games,
dice games and more. Also for the puzzle enthusiasts we carry quality puzzles
from Ravensburger, White Mountain, Cobble Hill, and
Dowdle.

Kingdom Builder Open and Available

We’ve had lots of fun learning how to play Kingdom Builder.  The modular board means the terrain is different each play.  The variable cards forces you to rethink your strategy each time.  The plays on each turn feel significant.  And, the scores ended close and competitive.

We’ve got Kingdom Builder open and available for play.  So come in and try out this game.

At Off The Charts Games we have a wide variety and selection of board games, dice games, card games, war games, family games, and puzzles.  We are located at 30 NW 2nd St in Historic Downtown Gresham.

Game Profile: Kingdom Builder

Create your own kingdom.


Classification Family Strategy
Mechanics Modular Board, Route/Network Building
Publication Queen Games, 2011
Ages 8+
Time 45
Players 2 – 4
Description

Kingdom Builder is from game designer
Donald X. Vaccarino, the creator of Dominion.

This game
features a colorful modular board, relatively easy game mechanics, and a
Kingdom full of replay ability.  Four of the eight game board sections
will be used each game.  Choose the ones you want or pick them randomly.
 Each board section features a unique type of location hex tile and five
types of terrain.  Each type of location hex tile grants a unique ability
and is claimed by playing a settlement adjacent to it.  There are ten
different Kingdom Builder cards. Three of these
Kingdom Builder cards are selected randomly at the start of the game
and will define the scoring mechanics for this particular game session.
 Game play consists of playing a terrain card and placing three
settlements on that type of terrain. These settlements must be place next to
your existing settlements if possible, and should be in a manner that will
allow you to take advantage of the scoring opportunities that are defined by
the 3 Kingdom Builder cards.  If it’s not possible to
place next to existing settlements, then a new area of that type of terrain can
be started.  The player who best manages the variable terrain, the
variable location hex tiles, and the variable scoring mechanics will earn the
most gold and victory.

We have an open copy of Kingdom Builder available in our Store Demo Library for you come in and try out.


~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~

Continue to tune in for the latest in board games.
~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~

Come and visit us at 30 NW 2nd Street in Historic Downtown Gresham. We have a full range of family games, strategy games, Euro-style games, war games, card games, dice games and more. Also for the puzzle enthusiasts we carry quality puzzles from Ravensburger, White Mountain, and Cobble Hill.

We proudly serve Gresham and the greater Portland and Vancouver area.

 

Winter Snow Days with Snow-Themed Board Games

Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet shall keep us from opening the store.  So come and either bring your own game or break out one from our game library and wile away the gray days.  Or, come in and let us give you a tour of the games available on our shelves.  We’ve got everything from family games – – to strategy games – – to war games – – to dice games – – to card games – – to – -you-name-it games.

If you’re in the mood for a snow-themed game we have:






K2 – an exhilarating race to the top of the second highest mountain.



                  

A Few Acres of Snow – a mighty war between Britain and France for the domination of North America.









Come in and see us at Off The Charts Games.  We are located at 30 NW 2nd St. in Historic Downtown Gresham.

Game Profile: Battlestar Galactica

A sci-fi game of politics, betrayal, and survival.




Mechanics Hand Management, Cooperative
Theme Space Fantasy
Publication Fantasy Flight, 2008
Ages 10+
Time 180
Players 3 – 6
Description

In Battlestar Galactica, the
humans must battle for survival against the Cylons. Players band together in
this collaborative game. Each player takes on a character role from the TV
series. Each character has a unique set of abilities including tactics,
leadership, politics, engineering and piloting. Choosing the right mix of
skills at the start of the game is critical to success. The board and the deck
of crisis cards take on the role of the Cylons.


As if the Cylons needed help, the game
can have human spies selected at random to secretly aid their
quest to vanquish the humans.


It will take good planning, adept cooperation and
a little luck with the dice rolls to get through the 3rd space jump necessary
to win. The Cylons need to run the humans out of any one of the following: fuel, food,
morale, or population to win.


We have an open copy of Battlestar Galactica available in our Demo Game Library for you to come in and try.


~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~
Continue to check in for the latest in board games.
~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~


Come and visit us at 30 NW 2nd Street in Historic Downtown Gresham. We have a full range of family games, strategy games, Euro-style games, war games, card games, dice games and more. Also for the puzzle enthusiasts we carry quality puzzles from Ravensburger, White Mountain, and Cobble Hill.

We proudly serve Gresham and the greater Portland and Vancouver area.

Game Profile: 7 Wonders

Publisher: Repos Productions/Asmodee, 2020 (2nd Edition), 2010 (Original Edition)
Players: 2 – 7
Time: 30 minutes
Mechanics Card Drafting, Set Collection, Variable Player Powers
7 Wonders is a game where players must build a strategy around one of the 7 Wonders of the world. Each wonder has a unique set of resources and abilities associated with it. Players
compete through three Ages to accumulate the most victory points through careful selection of cards as the hands are passed from player to player. Each of the three Ages has a unique set of cards. Players must pay careful attention to their opponents at their left and right. Both resources and points can be gained through those opponents. Multiple strategies can lead to victory: specialize in structures, wage war or neglect your military, produce goods in abundance or rely on commerce.
Scoring takes place at the end of the third (final) Age. Each player tallies up their victory points accumulated from point cards, commercial buildings, guilds, and military superiority.
7 Wonders plays well at 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 players.  There is a 2-player mode where you play with a ghost hand.

Awards: 2011 Kennerspiel des Jahres (Game of the Year –  Expert Level)

Watch this video for a game overview of 7 Wonders.
 
We have an open copy of 7 Wonders available in our Demo Games Library for you come in and try.
 
 
 
Available Expansions:
7 Wonders: Leaders
 
7 Wonders Leaders is the 1st game expansion and introduces the notable personality, who offer various advantages.  At the beginning of the game, players create a Leader hand from which they will be able to play a leader at the beginning of every Age, or use them to get money or help build a players’ Wonder. These Leaders allows players to build certain structures at a lesser cost, or possibly for free, or will be worth victory points.
Leaders include the likes of Nero, Cleopatra, Alexander, Aristotle, Nefertiti, Caesar, Pythagoras, and more.

7 Wonders: Cities
 
7 Wonders Cities is the 2nd game expansion and provides a new family of cards that complements Ages already existing in 7 Wonders. Now, mercenaries, thieves, spies and diplomats will give a new scale to your cities.  Reap the benefits by sowing discord among your opponents, play them off each other and push them into debt. This expansion also adds an 8th player and provides optional team rules.
7 Wonders: Wonder Pack
   7 Wonders Wonder Pack is the 3rd game expansion.  This adds 4 new wonder boards: The Great Wall of China, Stonehenge, Abu Simbel, and a new version of Manneken Pis.
~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~
Continue to check in for the latest in board games.
~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~


Come and visit us at 30 NW 2nd Street in Historic Downtown Gresham. We have a full
range of family games, strategy games, Euro-style games, war games, card games,
dice games and more. Also for the puzzle enthusiasts we carry quality puzzles
from Ravensburger, White Mountain, Cobble Hill, and Dowdle.
 
We proudly serve Gresham and the greater Portland and Vancouver area.

Game Profile: A Few Acres of Snow

Name  A Few Acres of Snow
Byline Recreate The Struggle Between Britain And France
For Control Of North America
 Mechanics Card Drafting, Deck Building, Area Control
Theme War Game
Publication Treefrog Games, 2011
Ages 13+
Time 60 – 90
Players 2
Description

A war fought at the edge of two mighty empires.  For over one
hundred and fifty years Britain and France were locked in a struggle for
domination of North America.  Thousands of miles from their homes,
settlers and soldiers were faced with impenetrable forests, unpredictable
American tribes, and formidable distances.  Despite these obstacles they
were able to engage in bitter warfare, with the British ultimately taking the
prize of Quebec.  A Few Acres of
Snow is a two-player game that allows you to recreate this contest.
 You can change the course of history by your decisions.

A Few Acres of Snow takes an innovative approach to the subject, using cards to
represent locations and manpower.  As the game progresses you add to your
selection of cards, increasing the range of action available to you.
 There are many strategies to be explored:  How quickly should you
build up your forces?  Do you employ Native Americans?  What energy
should be expended on your economy?

The game is about more than just fighting, you must successfully
colonize the land to have a chance of victory.  The game features a board
depicting British and French settlements in New England and Eastern Canada.
“The title is taken from a supposed quote by Voltaire (always
good for a snappy line).  It is meant to be his response to the news of
the fall of Quebec, as in ‘Ha, it is only a few acres of snow’.”  . . . . Martin Wallace (game designer)

AWARDS:  2011 Golden Geek
2-Player Board Game Winner and Best Innovative Board Game Winner

Keywords: A Few Acres of Snow, War Game, Game Profile