Purple Parlay—Co-op Gaming

7 Comments

1. Tiffany Leigh on 21.09.2010 at 08:41

   Glad there was a “take it or leave it” option. I like cooperative games, but do think that depending on the game, and the players, it can be diminishing returns.

   In most cooperative games, you are playing against the game mechanics itself. Like any game, some are stronger gameplay than others. Lord of the Rings, for example, was very thematic and gorgeous to behold, but the game was merely flipping cards and crossing fingers. Less strategy or skill required. It was almost like group solitaire.

   Another huge factor is the “alpha dog” syndrome. I find that especially with games like Pandemic, there is always someone that sees the best strategies for all the players and begins to direct everyone else at the table. When a co-op turns into a group following one leader, it is less interesting to me.

   Of course, if I am with the right group – often “dialing back” my impulse to sometimes steer players to “correct” moves based on my own experiences of the game – they are very fun.

   My new favorite coop has been Castle Ravenloft – since it’s an RPG-hybrid, it lends itself most to a cooperative group even if there is louder opinions among the players. And the mechanics in place to play the game are very very strong, variable, and tense fun.

2. Joseph on 21.09.2010 at 09:42

   Honestly, no; the best use I find for cooperative games is for solo play. (I will say that I love Pandemic for this very reason.)

   I much prefer adversarial games, and (I think I’m probably in the minority on this) I actually like elimination games as well. There’s more incentive to scramble to stay alive.

3. Mike Betzel on 21.09.2010 at 10:53

   I love cooperative gaming! Yeah, there can be a bit of the “alpha dog” syndrome but that’s generally not a problem in my gaming groups. I really like the group puzzle-solving aspect of pure cooperative games, while semi-coops with traitors add a really fun dynamic that you don’t find in more traditional competitive games.

   I’ve also found they can make for great gateway games. People are often intimidated by board games, afraid that they’ll do poorly, get beaten down, etc. New players can find working with more experienced gamers instead of against them can be a much more enjoyable introduction to gaming. It’s a very different experience from what most people imagine when they think of board games.

   I’m actually in the middle of a whole series of write-ups on cooperative games. There’s been a ton of new ones over the past year or two and more on the way. It’s a good time to be a fan of coop games :)

4. Newsguy on 21.09.2010 at 18:13

   Curious to see your write-ups.
   I’m all for the co-ops.

5. Just Some Guy on 22.09.2010 at 13:44

   I love Co-op games. Its a niche that is pretty interesting. I’m adding Vanished Planet to my ‘to-play’ list.

   The issues with Alpha Dogs can happen in a non-cooperative game as well. Usually the player is trying to influence the king maker. Basically, it just comes down to playing with a good group, regardless of game type.

   BSG is pretty awesome, not your typical co-op, since there is a lot of intrigue. Its a good game.

   Looking forward to playing the Pandemic expansion.

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7. Chris Bateman on 02.10.2010 at 06:37

   My wife and I adore co-op games. We’ve played a great deal of Pandemic and an absurd amount of Arkham Horror recently. Always on the lookout for more, so I’ll have to check out this Vanished Planet you mention.

   Cheers!

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