Glossary
Welcome to the Glossary, with all the key words that are regularly used at our events, so that you know what we mean, regardless of experience level.
This is an ever updating list, so bear with us if we use a term that you do not understand and is not listed here.
Board Genres
Like Video Games, they are defined based on game mechanics – a game that requires you to push your luck, is in that genre.
They are not mutually exclusive – just because a game requires you to push your luck, does not mean it cannot be a dice game or a card game, they can have several different mechanics, much like how a first person shooter can also be a single player story game, both genres are accurate.
Area Control Game
Based around controlling different areas of the board in order to score points or gather resources. Example: Mycelia, Rebirth
Auction Game
Players bid on or for resources. Example: Sherriff of Nottingham, Medici, Tinners Trail
An outdated term used to describe games made in the USA. Typically, they have more focus on theme, conflict and luck, lots of dice!
Card Game
Any game where cards are the sole or central component of the game. Sub genres of Card Games include: Card Shedding, Collectible Card Games (CCG), Deck Building Game, Living Card Games (LCG), Trick taking, Trading Card Game (TCG).
Card Shedding
When you are trying to lose card from you hand as quickly as possible
Cooperative Games
Sometimes referred to as a Co-op game. Players work together on the same team, trying to beat the built-in artificial intelligence of the game system. Examples: Pandemic, Castle Panic
Drafting
A common mechanic where you select from a series of cards or resources, before passing the choice to the next player and choosing from the previous player’s selection. Examples: Seven Wonders, Kavango, Sushi Go
Deck Building Game
Players will start with a set deck of cards that you will continue to grow by buying them from a shop, in order to build the best possible deck. Your deck will be reshuffled every time you run out of cards to draw from. Examples: Dominion is the founding father, Hardback
Dexterity Game
Any game that requires some level of physical skill, such as placing blocks or flicking objectives Examples: Jenga, Barbecubes, Kittin
Dice Game
A dice game is a game where rolling dice is a primary feature. Examples: Spots, Yahtzee, Liar's Dice
End-game Scoring
Points that are counted at end of the game
An outdated terms used to describe games made in Europe. Typical mechanics include scoring victory points, using meeples/workers and no dice!
Family Game
A game that typically has simple rules, a short playing time. As suggested, is designed to be played with families.
Golf-game
Trying to get the least points possible, like in golf.
In-game Scoring
Points that add up throughout the game
Living Card Games (LCG)
Card games that revolve around set cards, often for long campaigns that require long-term commitment – not the sort of thing that we play at MAB, but it would be brought up in conversation. Example: Arkham Horror Card Game
Meeples
Meeples are any anthropomorphic playing pieces used in games, the origin of which relates back to Carcassonne. Meeples have become a bit of a symbol of board games in the modern day.
Negotiation Game
The trading of resources or favours through dealmaking. Examples: Catan, Sherriff of Nottingham
Orthogonal
Moving up, down, left or right. Like the points of a Compass
Push your luck
Chance based games, where you can do better by taking risks, but they might not always pay off, putting you in a worse situation. Examples: Spots, 6 Nimmit, No Thanks!
Race Game
Players compete in being the first to complete a course or track. Examples: Formula De, Heat
Resource Gathering
A common mechanic that it commonly used in conjunction with worker-placement, you are trying to gather resources to pay for things that cost those resources to progress further. Examples: Catan, Seven Wonders
Roll and Move
When you determine movement by rolling a di or dice
Social Deduction/Hidden Role
Games that have an element of finding out information or bluffing your role to achieve an objective. Examples: Werewolf, Secret Hitler, Chameleon, Masquerade
Tile-Laying Game
When a game is more focused on placing components onto a play surface, as opposed to moving components along the board. Examples: Carcassonne, New York Zoo, Railroad Tiles
Trading/Collectible Card Games (T/CCGs)
Where players purchase starter decks and booster packs to create a more powerful deck of cards to compete with. Examples: Magic: The Gathering, Pokemon, Yu-gi-oh!
Trick taking
When you are trying to win the most collection of cards called “Tricks”. Think any game that can be played with a stand set of playing cards. Example: Whist, Black Maria, Bridge, etc.
Wargame
Any game that makes use of military units in conflict with each other, often carrying out different scenarios and objectives, typically in a player vs player combat. Examples: Warhammer 40k,
Worker Placement
Players, in turn order, place tokens/workers/meeples to select various actions presented on a board, cards, tiles, etc. Once an action is selected, it usually cannot be selected again on that round. Often players may think of this as a supervisor deploying workers on various jobs. Example: Everdell
