Trashdome - Small World VS Chaos In The Old World

I've played both games, and I really enjoyed both.

Chaos in the Ole World is a pretty great Euro-style design. Truth be told, it's the sort of game that I really love, and I came away quite impressed. My one caveat is the theme, which didn't do a blessed thing for me. I'm not a Warhammer fan, and without love of the license, it just kind of fades into something that's really really dark, and that's not really my bag.

Smallworld is a game that keeps on surprising me. It can be played like a straight Euro, but with the right people you get those kinds of unsanctioned alliances and bash-the-leader (or perceived leader) that you do in Risk. It's an extremely stripped-down multi-player conflict game, and it delivers the goods. I honestly think it gets unfairly maligned on F:AT. Maybe if it had been released by FFG instead of DoW...

Anyhoo, my vote goes to Small World.

I've played Small World twice and Chaos in the Old World once. I too am surprised at the hate-on for Small World. It's got plenty o' conflict, great variable powers and a neat fantasy-esque theme. I haven't quite figured ot the strategy but that can be said of any game. I would play again without a second thought

Chaos has plenty o' sweet dice rollin' conflict, awesome variable powers and although I know little about the Warhammer theme I'm intrigued by it.

I'm giving the edge to Chaos based on theme but they are both two games I enjoy equally.

I honestly think it gets unfairly maligned on F:AT. Maybe if it had been released by FFG instead of DoW...

I don't know about that. I think the game gets a pretty fair shake around here, probably more than most Euros. It's not even doing as badly in this Trashdome as some people predicted. There are a few guys that really don't like it, and their criticisms are pretty accurate. No matter how cutthroat you play it, Small World just isn't one of those games where you'll be talking about a particular session the next week.

Sag's right about the McDonald's cheeseburger thing. That's fine, I like a McDonald's cheeseburger from time to time. I'd rather have that than the McDonald's Triple Bacon Cheese Chicken Chipotle Burger that is CitOW.

I haven't played Small World yet, not that I wouldn't, but I would not go looking for it either.

I loved my one play of Chaos, and I'm a Warhammer nut (the fluff anyways, as I don't really game anymore), so my vote is easy. I loved the different powers, different paths to victory, the spells, the double-guessing of the opponents, seizing opportunities, groaning when Tzeentch would teleport Khorne daemons away from his guys and into mine, etc. Great, fun game.

Vote: Chaos in the Old World

Haven't played CitOW but since (for some stupid reason) it's okay to vote anyway I
VOTE: Small World

Vote: Chaos in the Old World.

CitOW makes me feel like a Chaos God. Small World makes me feel like I'm playing a board game.

Mr. Bistro wrote:

Vote: Chaos in the Old World.

CitOW makes me feel like a Chaos God. Small World makes me feel like I'm playing a board game.

That's a fantastic encapsulation that can probably be extended to explain what differentiates most great games from merely good ones.

That's a fantastic encapsulation that can probably be extended to explain what differentiates most great games from merely good ones.

Sure is. I can't say I share Mr. Bistro's sentiment with regards to CitOW, but before the days of the internet when we learned all this esoteric critical language for board games, that's exactly how we identified the good games. Did it feel like you were actually doing the the things the game was ostensibly having you do?

That is the yardstick I measure most games by. Does it trigger the "imagination zone" of my brain? That is all AT really is anyway -- just imagination and different ways to serve as the portal to the game world. CitOW does that better than Small World. There is a lot about Small World to like, but it is so streamlined, I have trouble ever "feeling" like I am one of the races.

There is a lot about Small World to like, but it is so streamlined, I have trouble ever "feeling" like I am one of the races.

I don't think you're intended to feel like you're one of the races. You cycle through them so quickly, that would be impossible. Rather, I get the impression you're supposed to be some kind of god that's playing a vicarious King of the Hill with a bunch of other gods, which is a concept I think Small World brings accross fairly well.

And I totally disagree with you guys about CitOW. I've said it here several times already, but I just don't feel like I'm creating any chaos when I'm playing the game. Maybe if the inhabitants of the Old World made more of an appearance in the game beyond the occasional token or odd mention on a card, it could have been better, but as it is, the victims of your evil escapades are practically abstracted right out of the game. The game world just feels like a big bucket from which you pull points until its empty.

FFG rox. DOW sux.
Warhammer rox. Disney sux.
Chaos rox. Vinci II sux.
Schweig! post rox. mjl post sux.

Vote: Chaos in the Old World

mjl post sux.

The truth is sometimes painful to hear D&T, especially when the truth is that you're a bunch of closet self-loathing, Euro-sympathizing cube pushers with a penchant for passive-aggresive "interaction" who, in all likelihood, enjoy sexual fantasies involving blue succubi. I wouldn't want to hear that about myself either, but someone has to say it, sir, for your own good.

After everything that I have read about both these games I don't intend to play either one if I can help it. Many of the critisims for both games have already been discussed here. If I had to choose, it would be Small World by a slim margin. There are many other better gaming pastimes out there.

The only thing I felt playing Small World was someone poking me in the ribs to wake me up for my turn.

But to be fair, at Southernman's age, that's all he feels during sex.