Steve Jackson Games Chez Geek: Cards

Usually when we get friends together for parties, we will break out something like Taboo, Pictionary, Cranium, etc. Those games are fun social games, but I wanted something a little more strategic, but something that would still be fun and easily approachable. I couldn't just slap down Settlers of Catan or Dominion and expect my non-gamer friends to dive into those games, but I really couldn't draw any more poodles or try to guess any more words.Enter Chez Geek.This is a "non-collectible card game", meaning everything you need is in one box (actually you will need one six-sided dice, not included).Strategy gamers will like it because at its heart it has a lot of the basic concepts of any strategy card game: you have a form of income with which to buy stuff. You can play cards to "attack" your enemies with, as well as cards that improve your own position, as well as "counter" cards, that counter something another player is trying to do.Non-gamers will like it because it's cloaked in a fun setting and the rules are simple and everyone will have a solid grasp of how to play after one game. Games also don't take very long and there's enough variety to play several games in a row without feeling like you're getting repetitive.For me, I see this as a stepping stone. We played those social party games, now we play Chez Geek. Next step: Dominion. I'm going to have these people playing Settlers of Catan before they know what hit em!

This is a good game for a party, I would recommend 4-6 people. There are a lot of interesting and fun cards, especially if you are 20-35 or so. You can get a game done in less than an hour, and the rules aren't super complicated for new players to understand. Also, unlike a lot of these specialized card games, it appeals to non-nerds (and females) so you don't have to be embarrassed to break it out in mixed company. Be advised that there are cards about sex, drugs, drinking, etc. so it may not be appropriate for kids, but there is no profanity or anything like that. The cards themselves also seem to be good quality, and still look new after a year or so of play.

This game is awesome

When I first laid eyes upon Chez Geek (Pronounced Shay Geek) what I first noted was the wacky and humorous card design with high quality art and funny quotes. However when I opened it up the rules seemed...simplistic. When I played a few games I started to realize how awesome a game this was. It's a completely casual oriented game, with minor tactics, but for the most part it's aimed at being easy to play and funny. Since the deck is shared and boosters aren't part of the game at all (Its not collectable) people can easily join in. Also the collectible aspect is refreshing since every card has a use and there are no "crap" cards. Certain cards are better than others, but not the outrageous degree of most card games. While in theory two people can play, it will be fairly mundane. Games are only worth it with at least 3 people. While the box says 5 people may play the number is closer to 7, and at an absolute max 9. However the two expansion boxes raise that number. Its great for parties since you can learn to play within 5 minutes. Now of course I have emphasized how easy to play it is, the game itself is incredibly fun. As 2-5 (or more) college students living in one apartment you each get one job and try to get as many "Slack Points" as possible. Slack may come from RPGs, hanging out at a Café, nookie, books, friends to invite over, even sleep. What other game gives you points for sleep? As well as many way of gaining slack methods of hindering your opponents are key. For example take "Car Alarm", which makes an opponent's sleep card be discarded. Also "Hungry Girl", a person card, is played on an opponent and `eats' one food card every turn. Even some of the cards that help you can be a double-edged sword. For example buying a user low rider, "Harold the Hoopty Car", lowers your income by 1 point a turn. Income and free time are balancing factors specific to each job. For example as a Slacker you have a high free time value, but very low income. As a corporate drone you have the highest income of any job, but suffer from only one free time per turn.

Some friends of mine and I get together infrequently to play strategy games. Chez Geek is a favorite as either a warmup for a longer, more complex games. It's very funny, easy to learn, and has a pretty broad appeal--I recently played with my wife, her sister, and my mother-in-law. You play housemates with different jobs and different slack goals. You can get slack points for having friends over, drinking, watching tv, getting "nookie," and playing RPG's.My one complaint is that there's no way to buy Chez Geek with both expansion packs (Slack Attack and Block Party) in one bundle. Individually, they're kind of pricey, so it would be nice to have a single discount bundle. This is a pretty minor complaint, though.