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Diplomacy
$30.00
Diplomacy is an awesome game, hands down! The game is designed for 7 players and it is playable but not as fun with 5 players and any less makes the game somewhat stale. Up until I bought my own copy of Diplomacy (which is what I am reviewing), my friends and I would play the 1961 version.

I make that last point because there are some serious differences between the two. While the rules remain fundamentally the same, this version comes with (durable) cardboard pieces. Like the 1961 version, squares represent armies and rectangles represent navies. While I like that this version's pieces have both a solid colored side and a graphic side, the army graphic is an artillery unit which I thought was not appropriate to represent an army (how about an Infantryman?); however the navy graphic was fine. I disliked that the pieces in general were cardboard as the '61 version had painted wooden pieces. As my personal opinion, I always thought the wood pieces created a novel depth (conjure here images of pre-digital war boards and maps with commanders pushing blocks around a map). The cardboard pieces are also susceptible to water damage (although both version's boards are too).

Another complaint I have with this version is that there is no container to easily separate nation's pieces by color. Something like that would have been a nice extra, although cannot be expected.

There were I found ample enough minimaps to use. They come on bound by that sticky-rip off stuff, like a paper note pad. While at least a couple dozen come with the game, if frequently played they will run out! I'd suggest either scanning the map and keeping a digital copy, going to staples or an office store and enlarging & laminating a few maps, or both (which I did, the lamination is cool because now I can use dry erase markers to make battle plans, etc).

Although I may have some complaints about the product, this game has given me dozens of excellent, wonderful memories with my friends and although I play with the same group, every game is different. Diplomacy is a wonderful game unto its own, simply to play although difficult to win!

Acquire
$30.00
The object of game is to become the wealthiest player - to build an empire! It is done by forming hotel chains and obtaining free blocks of stock. Players must shrewdly buy the right stock at the right time, merge hotel chains to obtain capital, and add hotels to the chains to increase their value. A classic game that has enthralled several generations of financial strategists.For 2 to 6 players.

Acquire Game
$30.00
We have this same game but it was made in 1967, we just thought the newer version would be more up with the times but we like the old one much better!! This one the tiles are cardboard and the little stand to put your pieces on is also made of very cheap cardboard!! We just gave this game a way and kept our old one!!

The Settlers of Catan
$49.99
Settlers of Catan is a very dynamic board game which offers tons of fun, and is also a good way to teach basic economics.

The board game is made up of 19 hexes arranged roughly in a circle. There are 6 different types of hexes. 5 of them produce resources while the 6th (desert hex) does not.

Each hex has a number token placed on it. Using 2 dice, when the number of a hex is rolled, settlements located on the vertices of that hex will produce resources.

Using the 5 types of resources, players aim to build roads to expand and build more settlements, which in turn can be used to acquire more resources, and later upgrade their settlements to cities. Cities will produce 2 resources for the hex they are situated on.

Each settlement is worth 1 point, and each city is worth 2. The goal is to emerge victorious with 10 Victory Points.

There is another way to acquire resources, and that is through trading. Players can: trade with each other, trade via a port, trade through maritime trade.

Trading with other players benefits those involved but sometimes, they may not have what you need, or simply don't want to trade to you. In this situation, using a port, where a settlement of city is located enables players to trade 2 or 3 of the same resource for the resource desired. Trading through maritime trade is the most costly, because the ratio is 4:1.

In addition to building, players can spend resources to purchase Development Cards. The cards have different effects, which range from earning an additional Victory Point, building 2 roads at no cost, taking all of a specific resource players hold (Monopoly), to using the Knight Card to move the Robber to a different hex and steal a resource from a player whose settlement or city is built upon.

There are two other ways to acquire points. The first is via The Longest Road. The player with The Longest Road earns 2 extra Victory Points. The second is via The Largest Army. This involves purchasing Development Cards, and using the Knight Card more than any other player (minimum of 3 Knights must be played).

While there is no limit to the number of resources players can hold, there is a safe maximum amount to hold on to. The magic number is 7. When a 7 is rolled, (the most frequently rolled number) all players who hold 8 or more cards must discard half, rounded down. The turn player then moves the robber to a hex and take a resource card from a player whose settlement is built on. The robber also prevents that hex from producing any resources. This game mechanic enables lagging players a chance to stifle the lead of others and catch up.

The arrangement of the hexes, number tokens and ports can be changed each time (shuffle face down for randomness) to offer a different board layout so the game is never quite the same. The learning curve isn't that steep, but it takes a keen trader and strategist to come out on top.

In my experience, this game is most enjoyable with 4 players (there is an extension set to allow 2 more players to play). Play time is generally about 1-1.5 hours. It is a great way to interact with friends and family members, alongside snacks, drinks and with a sports event or movie playing in the background.

If you're leaning on the fence, on whether to purchase, check out the tons of images online for Settlers of Catan.

Thanks for reading. I hope you found this review helpful.