Remember this game? Well you should.

Spy Web is a game I’d best describe as Battleship meets Guess Who? in as much as you try to outsmart your opponent via clever placement of your pieces and determining through simple questions how they’ve placed their pieces. Confused yet? I’ll get into the details, just hold on.

Researching Spy Web was a bit of a tricky task since the first thing that pops up in Google for “Spy Web” is naturally anti-spyware software. Also, don’t do a Google image-search for Spy Web, unless you have your preferences set to filter inappropriate content, because you will get a few pages full of very, VERY adult images. Even Wikipedia, my go-to for research, doesn’t list Spy Web as a thing. Dang, is this game really that obscure?

So the premise of Spy Web pits two factions of spies against each other, one with names based off sea creatures such as “Beluga” and “Manta,” and the other with names based off birds such as “Buzzard” and “Osprey.” Each side has nine spies to place in a 3-by-3 board very similar to the way you place ships in Battleship, i.e. hidden from the other player. The first player to accurately determine the other player’s spy arrangement wins the round.

Also, I love the colors here. Doesn't it look spy-like?

The way this is determined is through asking three questions: “Who is [character name] pointing at/looking at/listening to?” You know this because every character tile is either pointing in some direction, looking in some direction, or listening in some direction, sometimes all three at once.

For example, you could ask “Who is Buzzard pointing at?” and you might get an answer like “Buzzard is pointing at Vulture.” You’d then have to use this knowledge to determine where to start placing your enemy’s character tiles. Oh, and in case you were curious, unlike real spy tactics, lying is totally uncalled for here, otherwise the game doesn’t work.

Snazzy characters. Why didn't Guess Who? have spy gadgets in it?

The concept is fairly simple, I admit, but something about it resonated with me as a kid. I became mildly obsessed with creating the perfect, “uncrackable” combination of spies by looking for formations that resulted in a spy not being looked at, pointed to, or listened to by any other characters, or better yet, making it so that no spies connected to any other spies on the board. It’s set up so you can’t really do this, but it ‘s fun to try.

Adding the spy theme to the game really sold me as a kid. It could easily be a sort of board game version of “telephone” whereas the nine characters are just kids set up on the grid, but that would have been sort of lame. Spies are cool, and unlike zombies, they haven’t overstayed their welcome. I highly recommend giving Spy Web a look, though good luck sifting through the other “Spy Webs” in Google. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Apparently spies really don’t like to be found.

Want more about board games? Check these out:

-Apples to Apples, Dust to Dust: An Apples to Apples Retrospective

-Game Cards Do Not Actually Talk: A Guess Who? Retrospective

-Just Don’t Panic: A Retrospective on Catch Phrase

I like to imagine world leaders looking like this man while they play Stretego.

So chess is a classic game of strategy and checkers is a classic game of “I Wish I Were Chess.” I was always good at chess (checkers, not so much), but there was another game I was addicted to beyond those two: Stratego. Have you played Stratego? You really should. Don’t believe me? Oh ye of little faith. Follow me then. It’s time for a history lesson.

A Cultured Past

Stratego as we know it was first a game called “Game of the Fighting Animals (“Dou Shou Qi!”), “Animal Chess,” or simply “Jungle,” and it came from China. The main difference between “Jungle” and “Stratego” was the in “Jungle” the identities of the pieces were known and the initial starting locations of everything were always the same. I haven’t gotten a chance to play “Jungle” for myself, but it sounds like a heck of a game, what with the pieces being animals rather than army personnel (“My Tiger attacks your Hippo for MAXIMUM DAMAGE!”).

Eventually a one Mademoiselle Hermance Edan decides to make the version of Stratego that we all know and love (unless you’re one of “those guys”). She patented her version at the end of the year 1908 with the year 1909 becoming the official first year of Stratego and 1910 being the first year it was sold all around under the name “L’Attaque,” which means, to my knowledge, probably “The Attack.” I don’t know, it’s French. I dropped French after a week and a half of feeling stupid. Oh right, we’re talking about Stratego. Well, that’s the short history. You can probably guess the rest.

Rules Shall Be Rules

Pretty basic yet so much fun.

Now that we’ve got the origins out of the way, let’s discuss the rules, shall we? You know the rules by now, but let’s go over them again in case you just don’t know yet. Stratego is all about deception and clever strategy. The game is played with two players as they set up their inconspicuous board of pieces. Each player gets 40 pieces to set up as they want (just don’t do it wrong) on their side of the 10-by-10 board. There are two lakes placed in the middle of the board, causing a funneling of pieces to make the game more dramatic. One of the pieces each player gets is a flag, the most important piece in the game. If it gets captured then the game is over.

The whole concept of the game revolves around the rank of the individual pieces. The pieces have a rank between 1 and 9, plus a Spy, the flag, and six bombs. The lower the number on the piece (number 1 is called the Marshall), the stronger it is. So if a 9 runs into a 5, the 5 wins and the 9 is removed from the game (he goes to “Number Heaven”). The Spy is a very special piece though as it’s the only one that can kill the Marshall, but only if the Spy is the one that attacks. Also important are the 8’s, called the Miners. They are the only pieces that can defuse bombs. And 9’s, called Scouts, are the only pieces that can move in as many spaces in one direction as they’d like (oh those crazy 9’s).

That’s basically the game there. Players take turns moving pieces, discovering what their opponent’s pieces are, and trying to find the all-important enemy flag. But you’ve got to use strategy. If you don’t, then what’s the point of playing a game called Stratego? Here’s a simply strategy I always use: Place your flag in the corner and surround it by bombs. Then all you’ve got to do is find your enemy’s Miners and it becomes impossible for them to win. Can’t get through bombs if all the Miners are in “Number Heaven.”

Ain't nobody getting to that flag.

Also, don’t give away the location of your Spy. You’ll need that sneaky little bugger for when your opponent is trouncing your troops with their Marshall. Keep your Spy hidden, but in a place that it can quickly rush out and assassinate Mr. Number One. After enough times playing against someone while using my “Flag in the Corner” strategy, I barricade a Scout in the corner and let my opponent kill themselves just to let him out. The classic look on their face when that happens makes it all worth it.

Yeah, you can find some variations of Stratego with all the usual brands, such as Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Transformers, and Marvel Comics (no Twilight version yet, but give it time). For me, it was all about the classic version though. You don’t even need to buy the game if you don’t want to as long as you have the time to make some cardboard pieces yourself. Just remember though that when you finally do get the flag, it’s important that you scream, “That’s Numberwang!” as loud as you can muster. You won’t understand why, but that’s probably because you just don’t appreciate Stratego like I do.

But just because something is great just the way it is doesn’t mean that it can’t be improved!

Connect 4 x 4 is essentially the same game as the original, but with the ability to play with up to four players instead of just two. The object of the game still revolves around trying to get four of your pieces to line up in a row, only now there are more players to stand in your way. The grid is now double-sided, so there are twice as many spaces in which to play in about the same amount of space. There are also special new pieces that allow players to block both sides of the grid.

More Strategy Brings More Fun

The addition of two more players adds both fun and challenge to the original concept. Rather than battling wits with one opponent, you must now pay attention to three. Sure, it’s a little trickier, but it is now much more family-oriented, as everyone can now join in.

And if you want to stick to basics, you can just as easily use one side of the grid to play the original two-player classic.

So whether you like things the way they are or you want a little variety, Connect 4 x 4 is the perfect middle ground. It adds a new level of depth to a great game, but stays true to its original form. Just as the original Connect 4 left a lasting impression, Connect 4 x 4 will undoubtedly be a success and have a spot in any family’s game collection.  The game retails for less than $35 on amazon.

Someday I'm going to run this world while atop a noble steed and then we'll see who's laughing!

I am not very good at Risk. Ever lost Risk in two turns? I have.  I’ve seen friendships nearly break up as a result of Risk games going bad. It’s even worse than Monopoly with the amount of hate you seen thrown about. Regardless, never let your friends dissuade you from utter conquest of Asia or Europe, as you can’t take over the world without them. They’re impossible to hold onto, but still.

Risky Business

Risk was the brainchild of one French film director Albert Lamorisse who created the game in 1957 and called it something in French (or “La Conquête du Monde,” which means, naturally, “The Conquest of the World”). Why would someone decide to make a game that revolves around world domination? If you have to ask that question then you’re probably not a man. Every man hopes to someday rule the world with an iron fist and a glorious hat.

A standard game of Risk begins with a group of friends deciding their friendship has reached its limit. A few tears are shed and players are given their share of armies depending on how many total players there are. For instance, a two-player game has each player start with 40 armies, a three-player game has 35, a four-player game has 30, and so on. Each army is represented by a piece that looks like a solider. Cavalry pieces count as five armies and Artillery pieces are 10 armies.

Get used to seeing this because it's gonna be a long night.

Once everyone has their armies they take turns claiming territories to place an army on, just like in real life. Once the world is divided up, players place their remaining armies on their territories as they see fit to fortify them for the inevitable attacks from their former friends. Thus begins the bloodshed.

Like The History Channel Come Alive

The first player decides where he wishes to attack by looking at where his territory touches another and saying he’d like to attack for possession. It never sounds this formal though as most of the time they just scream, “Prepare for battle!” and toss dice in your face. Each turn you are given at least three additional armies to do what you will with, so when he means to tackle a territory, he’ll have some extra firepower to do so with.

These attacks are conducted as follows: The attacker gets up to three dice depending on how many armies he has in a territory. He can only attack with as many dice as one less than the number of armies that he has. The defender gets a die for however many armies he has, up to two. The once-friends roll their dice and compare the highest dice together. One army is lost when you lose a roll. The same goes for the second highest dice rolled. You can keep attacking as many times as you want even if your army is getting destroyed, but you have to stop when all your men are dead (unless you have necromancer powers or something, but I don’t think that applies to most games of Risk).

The rest of your turn can be spent fortifying your troops, getting Risk cards that can be turned in at the beginning of your next turn should you make a set (they give you more armies), and then apologizing to your friends. The game just keeps going until someone controls every territory in the world or someone thinks of something better to do with their time.

Maybe You Prefer Orcs

One Ring to Rule Them All!

Not everyone likes the idea of world conquest. Some people may prefer conquering a fictitious land, like Middle Earth or the Star Wars galaxies. Luckily there’s an edition for each of you as Risk has a few Lord of the Rings editions, a few Star Wars editions, a Transformers edition, and even a Halo edition. There are just too many worlds out there to be conquered, aren’t there? Better get to it.

Before you depart, let’s talk about what you’ll hear from your friends when you play. Don’t forget, they aren’t your friends anymore. So whatever they say is a dirty rotten lie. When someone says “Are you crazy? You can’t hold Asia,” make the attempt anyway. You’ll get seven additional armies at the beginning of every turn when you hold all of Asia, so you can fortify like nuts and stomp any that oppose you. But yeah, it’s easier to hole up in Australia and build a massive army to unleash during the best Blitzkrieg ever seen this side of WWII. I’ve seen it happen, and it is amazing when it does.

I still plan to live here some day.

I’ve been talking about board games a lot lately but I’ve been too caught up with the serious world of competition to remember some of the most classic and wonderful games of our youth (or in some cases our present if that’s how you roll). Two words for you here: Candy and Land. Put those together and you have Candy Land, a game that requires no skill but demands you enjoy it and when the game revolves around a land made of sugary treats, how can I say no?

A Sweeter Time

The world before 1940 was a dark and gloomy place. Everyone was depressed and there was probably a war going on at some point around there. But this didn’t stop Eleanor Abbott from deciding she needed to make a game wherein players race to save the King of a Candy Land. How did she find time to create this game? She was recovering from polio. Pretty sure this one selfless act brought us out of the Great Depression, (of maybe another war of some kind, I can’t be expected to keep all these facts straight).

By 1949 Milton Bradley bought Candy Land and began distributing it to kids all over the nation, only wanting in return a smile, dedication to candy, and money.

If Candy Land doesn’t seem that big to you anymore, keep in mind that it was the most popular toy during the 1940-1949 decade. That’s pretty big, let me tell you. It defined the decade’s toy purchases. What’s the second biggest toy from then? Don’t know, don’t care, it isn’t Candy Land.

So Simple an Adult Could Play It

Based off visions of sugarplums dancing in heads.

The gameplay is pretty simple here. Players choose a piece and place it at the start of the gameboard, then draw cards from a pile. Each card has one of six colors on it corresponding to a square on the board, of which there are 134. The player moves his piece to the closest square matching the card and the next player draws.

Sound simple? Well yes, unless you’re colorblind. You want to make it tougher and you add a hint of danger to the game, like a timer that signifies the end of Candy Land should no one save the king in time or force kids to read the color on the card with their eyes closed. With a few simple changes, Candy Land can turn into something far more exciting. Also add snakes.

This is how Candy Land was played in my home.

Some Delicious Notes

Keep in mind that there are two sets of rules in play. There are rules from the pre-2004 edition and rules from the post-2004 edition (apparently 2004 was a big turning point for the citizens of Candy Land). Some cards force players to move backward, though players decide before starting whether they’re going to follow this rule or not (as with most games).

Also, the final space used to just be the end and it was implied that you had to draw the same color card as the last square to win the game, though all editions past 2004 have a rainbow space, putting an end to this debate once and for all. I recommend that the player be forced to collect one of each color before winning the game, unless I’m playing and about to win in which case any single color is acceptable.

You won’t find a whole lot of variations of Candy Land out there, though there are a few such as Winnie the Pooh and Dora the Explorer. Actually that’s it for variations on the game. Who needs more though? As long as there is candy and a land in which this candy exists, you’re set.

I’ll leave you with a few random tidbits about the game. First, there used to be a section of the board called “Molasses Swamp” that has since been changed to “Chocolate Swamp,” most likely because children don’t eat molasses anymore. Also, the game is an example of a Markov Chain, a mathematical random process wherein all information about the future is contained in the present. Confused? Well then maybe Candy Land isn’t a child’s game after all.

As classic as they come.

Have you ever played Cluedo? I bet you have, but you might have just called it Clue. Surprised to learn that Clue isn’t originally from the US? Yup, first came from the UK and was called Cluedo, (pronounced like Clu Du). The classic murder mystery game is always a smart and sophisticated option for individuals looking for a game to play as a group. Also, it works wonders to reveal which of your friends are actually idiots.

The Original Murder

Anthony E. Pratt, (a right good Englishman), filed a patent for a murder/mystery board game called “Murder!” This took place in 1944. Pratt and his wife went ahead and had the game purchased and trademarked as “Cluedo” in 1947 but wouldn’t make it to the public until 1949 due to the war and the shortages that came along with said war. Parker Brothers distributed the game as “Clue” in the US and since then people have been investigating the murder of a one Dr. Black (Mr. Boddy for you Yanks), for years to come.

As we know it now, the game involves up to six players assuming the roles of Miss Scarlet, Colonel Mustard, Mrs. White, Mrs. Peacock, Professor Plum, and Reverend Green (or Mr. Green in some editions), and searching a mansion for clues regarding the murder. The original concept for the game involved 10 characters, one of which was the victim of the murder (which probably wouldn’t be a very fun piece to play, really), but the number was cut back to the standard six that we’ve all come to know and love and suspect (it’s always that lying Miss Scarlet though, as if you couldn’t tell by the way she acts). There were also more rooms and more weapons in the concept version but as things stand today we have just enough to be manageable.

I Suspect Everyone

So much mystery, so little time.

The average game consists of first having the evidence cards shuffled and a suspect card, location card, and weapon card placed in the envelope. This combination is the solution that all players are trying to figure out. They do this by keeping track of clues they find or have been given since at the beginning of the game the remaining cards are dealt to the players. You would be wise to write down all this information on your little notepad as it’ll come in handy. This is the first sign that one of your friends is an idiot, assuming they don’t properly keep track of anything.

As the game goes on, players move into a room and then make the claim that “someone did something in this room!” Since there are six characters, six weapons, and nine rooms, there are 324 possible solutions to the murder. Once a claim is made, let’s say I accused Miss Scarlet of murdering Dr. Black in the library with the dagger (because she totally would, that liar). Players would go around the table clockwise to disprove my claim by showing me a card that contains one of the elements I mentioned since if they have the card it can’t possibly be in the envelope. Only one card is shown per accusation, otherwise the game would whip by and everyone would know clues too easily.

Becoming A Master Detective

The trick is to work within the matrix problem of the game. You mark off your three cards and anything you get from anyone else. At a certain point you can start making obvious claims, assuming you’ve been paying attention (the second aspect that points to your friends being idiots).

As with all games, cheating isn’t allowed. But that shouldn’t stop you from cheating. Players must never leave their cards unattended or in a position to be viewed by anyone else. You should constantly be scanning around the table to see if your friends are exposing their status as an idiot by leaving cards exposed. And whenever someone is having his or her suggestion refuted, always make an attempt to see the card as well. You must be sneaky, like that liar Miss Scarlet, otherwise you’ll be beaten by your much smarter friends and learn that you may, in fact, be an idiot.

I think I just love The Simpsons too much.

Cluedo has multiple editions backing it as the years have gone on. It is constantly being updated with facelifts and revisions here and there since it is a classic board game. There are multiple editions based off of some of pop culture’s most noticeable franchises, such as Scooby Doo, The Twilight Zone, Harry Potter, and The Simpsons. The basic gameplay is the same but you get to do it as different characters. Isn’t that exciting?! Of course it is.

Now remember, if you make a deciding claim and open the envelope to discover that you were very much wrong, you are both out of the game and probably an idiot. But never let that stop you from your fun. How do you think I can recognize the symptoms of being an idiot? Sadly, I suffer from the same affliction. Naturally, I blame Miss Scarlet.

Today, board games are as diverse a form of fun and entertainment as you can find.  Word games, strategy, puzzle games and the ever- present classics are among the types you can find on just about any major store’s shelves.

Not only are people still buying board games “over the counter,” but with the advent of the Internet, if you want to play board games on the computer or online, you will find good company.  Collectors are also coming out of the woodwork to get their hands on vintage examples of early board games, and will pay considerable sums of money for rare examples good condition.

Board games and their online versions come in three basic forms:  Dice based, educational and strategy.

Dice-based Board Games

Dice based games, such as Yahtzee, Backgammon, and a newer favorite, Bunco, all rely on using those most ancient of recognizable game tools, six-sided dice.  Roll the dice, make your move or write down your score, rinse and repeat.

Using dice for basic game rules is an amazingly simple, but very effective method, and opens up too many game ideas to imagine – maybe that is why new dice based games pop up constantly. Even complex games, taking (in some cases) years to finish like Dungeons and Dragons, employ dice as their primary element.

Without the invention of the six-sided die, board games and their variations, would not have developed the way the same way in modern culture. D&D is a shining example of how dice games have converted to online and computer play. What was once a pure dice-rolling adventure game, has been turned into several highly successful computer and online based versions.

Dice based games are also seen in many hybrid board games, such as the popular games Monopoly, Candy Land and Shoots and Ladders.  These games combine dice, cards, play money and in some cases, small toys to pack in the action turn after turn.  They are superb entertainment, at the same time teaching math, cooperative play and even basic accounting.

Educational Board Games

The second type of game is what I would call “educational” style board games.  This category has a ton of favorites in it, including Scrabble, Pictionary and Trivial Pursuit.

The focus on these games is not only (sometimes) hilarious fun, but to challenge the mind and to encourage learning.  Since its final conception in 1948, Scrabble has been an important and fabulously fun example of a game offers challenge and enjoyment for people of all ages.

Scrabble also has a large fan base of collector type players who “scramble for scrabble” on vintage boards.  If you can lay your hands on a pristine example from the late 40’s or early 50’s, be prepared to shell out hundreds of dollars, perhaps more.

Trivial Pursuit’s popularity has also passed a more recent test, becoming one of the best selling games of the late 20th century.  It’s focus on answering questions as the path to victory marks it as one of the great learning games.

Strategy Board Games

The last major category is strategy style games.  Chess and Checkers are two that have been played by Emperors, Kings, commoners and witty professional gamers for a very long time.

Strategy games, also including war games such as Risk and Stratego,  teach odds calculation, mathematics, strategic thinking and cooperative play.  They are considered the most challenging board games for many, and are a category where you find people who play both for fun, and as a career.

Chess and Checkers were the first two complex games that appeared on a computer, and helped to develop processing capabilities for the future.  Chess may be the most played board game on the computer, and is certainly one of the most challenging to beat; however it is without question one of the most exciting games in the world.

If you are a true collector of vintage board games, Chess and Checkers are probably the easiest to find of all, and are certainly more common than early versions of games like Monopoly.  Recently, a late 19th century Baseball board game was discovered in the attic of an old home, and sold for a staggering price of $27,000 – take that Chess!