Why do you like Munchkin?

[nekrasz]

I am just curious as to the main reason(s) other people out there like (love!) Munchkin. Is it the theme(s)? The gameplay? Something else? Are you insane and don't actually need to play Munchkin in order to survive?

Personally I love Munchkin because it allows me to mess with my friends while playing and thats always something I enjoy in games. Also so many of the cards are hilarious to me since I've been a gamer and a fan of all the genres that Munchkin covers my entire life.

[Nerftw]

I love it because it's simple to learn, yet has enough variation that you're not just going through the motions every time. And there's no killer strategy that always wins, but on the flip side, there's also not so much randomness that you might as well be flipping a coin and whoever calls it wins.

Also, the fact that it's cheap and doesn't require you to buy expansions to keep up. I tried to get back into MagicTG a few years back after having played when it came out, and the game was unrecognizable. Being able to just have the one deck everyone can use is a plus.

[Trsevener]

I love the infinite levels of play available. I have no problem finding some friends in my area to get together and just play a simple game for a couple hours during an evening. I make sure I invite people with a sense of humor, because I think it is important fot the game. The puns and jokes are just too good to pass up. I very much enjoy a friendly game with good people just having fun.

At the same time, I can go to tournaments where the play is a little more serious. Granted, there are players out there with the reputation of playing fast and loose with the rules or bullying the game along for their own benefit. I have played against these types. I find it a challenge to keep them honest and very rewarding when I catch they trying to pull something. I do not accuse them of cheating because I will alway assume it was a mistake. But I will question an action or a call a judge over if I do not understand how something happened. The look on the players face when confronted can be priceless.

[chronojinx]

I agree with Nerf, it's simply to learn, it isn't complicated but has variety enough to it that their is no specific formula to winning. It's a great game for nerds of any type and has great humor through out the expansions.

My wife and I played a tournament at a convention. Players of all types, noobs, teeny cosplayers, nerds, etc. There was a guy that was Munchkin'd out with paraphernalia (totally team up against him) we had such an epic round. My wife (she's not as nerdy as me) went on to the finals. The variation of the game: it's anybody's game.

[Spydr]

.simple rules (makes for some complex strategies and fun rule breaking cards. plus i can get not so nerdy people to play because of it's simplicity.)

.humor (like the text on the 'Ruggoth'. "It just lies there, full of unspeakable evil. It has no special powers. Bad Stuff: Shagged by the shag... In nine months, you will give birth to an abomination. You will name it Abby. Become a Cultist." or the theme breaking makes no since to the set at all 'Cam Shaft' from 'Bites!')

.the ridiculous and/or interactive card rules (like 'Imitate Belle Lugosi', or 'Tommy Gun' giving a better bonus if your name is actually 'Tommy'.)

.themes (i like goth things, and being a monster, so 'Bites!' is fun. and i also like obscure crazy monsters like 'Cthulhu'. and 'Star' is fun because you're in space with high technology (the new magic in fantasy, like giant mechs are the new dragons) and weapons.)

.mixablility (the fact that you can create "new themes" by mixing and matching sets is great!)

.odd bonus items (the non card items that give you a bonus in game. i especially love the idea of another game that when melded into munchkin gives a bonus or effect for play, like the 'Zombie Dice' game.)

.one deck for all (it's hard to find other nerdy people to play a battle card game, and with one deck i don't have to provide them with one, or hope they have one.)

[RevBob]

Originally Posted by Spydr

or the theme breaking makes no since to the set at all 'Cam Shaft' from 'Bites!')

Oh, that one makes sense, and was one of my biggest laughs when I bought the set. Y'see, the official World of Darkness fan club is the Camarilla, often called "the Cam" for short, and one of the earliest criticisms of it was how fan club rank was connected to character power in sanctioned LARP events. Getting defeated because your lack of fan club rank nerfed your character soon became known as "getting the Cam shaft."

And now you know. :)

[Spydr]

Originally Posted by RevBob

And now you know. :)

oh LARPers, you are utterly ridiculous. as you can tell i'm not that nerdy or on that branch of nerd to understand that. thanks for the info.

[Nerftw]

The only time I ever LARPed was with a bunch of people that took it way too seriously, got very upset if you broke character, and was at a camp where I had to have a "really good reason" to use their phone to call for a ride when I decided to leave before the rest of my group. (This was the dark ages just before cell phones)

I've always wanted to do it again with a good group.

[Spydr]

Originally Posted by Nerftw

The only time I ever LARPed was with a bunch of people that took it way too seriously, got very upset if you broke character, and was at a camp where I had to have a "really good reason" to use their phone to call for a ride when I decided to leave before the rest of my group. (This was the dark ages just before cell phones)

I've always wanted to do it again with a good group.

make some new rules next time, an alternate fantasy world (you are already using magic which completely breaks the realism rules) with specific future techs available, like full metal alchemist, escaflone, or steam boy. (it's really sad i can only think of anime's with these themes, and i don't really care for most anime)