Catalog / Board Games Cheatsheet
Board Games Cheatsheet
A comprehensive cheat sheet covering essential concepts, strategies, and terminology for various board games. From classic strategy to modern hobby games, this guide provides a quick reference for both new and experienced players.
Core Concepts
Game Mechanics
|
Worker Placement: Players place limited ‘workers’ on spaces to perform actions. Example: Agricola, Lords of Waterdeep |
|
Deck Building: Players start with a basic deck and acquire cards to improve it. Example: Dominion, Star Realms |
|
Area Control: Players compete to control territory on the board. Example: Risk, El Grande |
|
Engine Building: Players create a system that generates resources or points more efficiently over time. Example: Terraforming Mars, Splendor |
|
Dice Rolling: Using dice to determine outcomes or actions. Example: Yahtzee, King of Tokyo |
|
Hand Management: Efficiently using and optimizing the cards in your hand. Example: 7 Wonders, Race for the Galaxy |
Game Phases
|
Setup Phase |
Preparing the game components and initial board state. |
|
Action Phase |
Players take turns performing actions according to the game rules. |
|
Resolution Phase |
Resolving the effects of actions taken during the Action Phase. |
|
Cleanup Phase |
Preparing the board for the next round or turn. |
|
End Game |
Conditions that trigger the end of the game and the final scoring. |
Player Interaction
|
Direct Conflict: Players directly attack or hinder each other. Example: War of the Ring |
|
Indirect Conflict: Players compete for limited resources or opportunities. Example: Terra Mystica |
|
Cooperative: Players work together to achieve a common goal. Example: Pandemic |
|
Solo: A single player attempts to achieve the game’s objective. Example: Friday |
Strategy & Tactics
General Strategies
|
Early Game: Focus on establishing a foundation and securing essential resources. |
|
Mid Game: Transition to developing your engine or expanding your influence. |
|
Late Game: Optimize your strategy to maximize points or achieve victory conditions. |
|
Risk Assessment: Evaluate the potential risks and rewards of each action. |
|
Adaptability: Be prepared to adjust your strategy based on the actions of other players and unforeseen events. |
Common Tactics
|
Blocking |
Preventing opponents from accessing key resources or spaces. |
|
Resource Denial |
Depriving opponents of essential resources. |
|
Tempo Control |
Dictating the pace of the game to your advantage. |
|
Information Gathering |
Collecting information about opponents’ strategies and resources. |
|
Diversification |
Spreading your resources and efforts across multiple areas. |
|
Specialization |
Focusing your resources and efforts on a specific area to gain a competitive edge. |
Advanced Strategies
|
Metagaming: Understanding and anticipating common strategies used within a specific game or gaming group. |
|
Bluffing: Deceiving opponents about your intentions or resources. |
|
Synergy: Creating combinations of cards or abilities that amplify their effectiveness. |
|
Kingmaking: Unintentionally or intentionally influencing the outcome of the game by helping another player win. |
Terminology
Common Terms
|
AP (Analysis Paralysis) |
Overthinking a decision, leading to excessive delays. |
|
Alpha Gamer |
A player who dominates decision-making in cooperative games. |
|
BGG (BoardGameGeek) |
A popular online board game community and database. |
|
Eurogame |
A style of board game emphasizing strategy and resource management over direct conflict. |
|
Ameritrash |
A style of board game emphasizing theme, player interaction, and luck over pure strategy. |
|
LGS (Local Game Store) |
A retail store specializing in board games, card games, and related hobby products. |
Card Game Terms
|
Drafting |
Selecting cards from a shared pool. |
|
Mulligan |
Redrawing a hand of cards at the start of the game. |
|
Stacking |
Arranging cards in a specific order to gain an advantage. |
|
Combo |
A sequence of cards played together to achieve a powerful effect. |
|
Discard Pile |
Where the used cards are placed. |
Advanced Terminology
|
Tableau Building: Creating a persistent set of cards or components that provide ongoing benefits. |
|
Push Your Luck: Deciding whether to continue an action with the risk of losing progress. |
|
Set Collection: Gathering specific sets of cards or components to score points. |
|
Legacy Game: A game that changes permanently over multiple play sessions. |
Game Examples
Classic Games
|
Chess: A two-player strategy game involving the manipulation of pieces on a checkered board. |
|
Checkers: A two-player strategy game involving diagonal moves and capturing opponent’s pieces. |
|
Backgammon: A two-player game involving moving pieces around a board based on dice rolls. |
|
Monopoly: A multi-player game focused on real estate acquisition and development. |
Modern Board Games
|
Catan |
A resource management and trading game. |
|
Ticket to Ride |
A train route building game. |
|
Pandemic |
A cooperative game about curing diseases. |
|
Gloomhaven |
A cooperative dungeon-crawling campaign game. |
|
Terraforming Mars |
A game about making Mars habitable. |
Card Games Examples
|
Magic: The Gathering: A collectible trading card game with complex rules and strategies. |
|
Pokémon Trading Card Game: A collectible card game based on the popular Pokémon franchise. |
|
Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game: A collectible card game involving duels with monsters, spells, and traps. |
|
Dominion: A deck-building card game where players build their kingdom. |