F$@& Different designers and their styles

Vlaada Chvátil

·         2006 Through the Ages: A Story of Civilization

·         2007 Galaxy Trucker

·         2008 Space Alert

·         2009 Dungeon Lords

·         2011 Dungeon Petz, Mage Knight: Board Game

Martin Wallace

·         2001 Liberté

·         2002 Age of Steam

·         2003 Der Herr der Ringe: Die Rückkehr des Königs

·         2003 Princes of the Renaissance

·         2004 Struggle of Empires

·         2005 Byzantium

·         2007 Brass

·         2008 Tinners' Trail

·         2008 After the Flood

·         2008 Steel Driver

·         2009 God's Playground

·         2009 Automobile

·         2009 Rise of Empires

·         2009 Last Train to Wensleydale

·         2009 Steam

·         2010 Age of Industry

·         2010 Moongha Invaders: Mad Scientists and Atomic Monsters Attack the Earth!

·         2010 London

·         2011 A Few Acres of Snow

·         2011 Discworld: Ankh-Morpork

Philippe Keyaerts

·         1999 Vinci

·         2001 Evo

·         2009 Small World

·         2011 Olympos

Vlaada Chvátil is probably my favorite designer right now.  The dude is incredibly creative in figuring out new mechanics.  I haven’t played everything by him of course, and either he has or will release a clunker.  In my admittedly limited experience with his games, I have found a couple of hallmarks.

-          They are quirky and irreverent in tone.  His games are supposed to be fun.  Perhaps some deep strategies exist, but in general, these are more light hearted in nature.

-          Everyone is involved most of the time.  Space Alert and Galaxy Trucker have two distinct phases, in my vernacular the “Planning Phase” and the “Resolution Phase”.  The majority of the game takes place during planning, and in both those games every player goes simultaneously.  In the resolution phase, turns go quickly, in Space Alert because you have planned all your moves already and in Galaxy Trucker because there’s very little to do each turn.

-          This is just personal, but I really enjoy myself even while getting my ass kicked. 

Martin Wallace I like ok.  Brass remains a favorite, and he has lots of other higher ranking games.  I don’t find him terribly innovative, but he does have a knack for making the ‘traditional’ mechanics fit together well. 

-          Martin Wallace games are complicated.  A lot of thought of experience is required just to play them correctly. 

-          Once you get that experience, the games are deep.  There are usually several paths to victory, many mutually exclusive. 

-          The rules will require several reads even after playing a couple times.  They aren’t well phrased or organized and some important nuggets will fall through the cracks.

-           Oh yeah.  Usually an early industrial theme, whether its trains, textiles or car makers.

Philippe Keyaerts is completely hit and miss with me.  My 3 followers will remember that I like Olympos but hate Smallworld.

-          Keyaerts games will have conflict.  That’s all Smallworld is, and it’s a huge part of Olympos.

-          There are mix and match permutations.  In Smallworld tribes are paired up with badges giving X tribes times Y badges possible combinations.  In Olympos the building tree changes from game to game.

-          Keyaerts rules are a joy to read.  The games must be well play tested, because our gaming group has yet to find an exception or conflict not specifically covered and easy to find in the rules.

I  know I am missing, well dozens of designers.  But here’s a good start.