Just a couple of weeks ago at our boardgame night, I finally had the chance to play El Grande for the first time.  That got me thinking about all the fantastic games out there that I still haven't been able to actually see and play in person.  Especially since I consider myself a true gamer, I almost feel a twinge of shame in writing this article, but I wanted to maybe open a dialog about the "banner" games we haven't managed to play yet.  Plus, I thought it'd be good to spend a little time pondering what games need to be on my "top priority" list to play.  So, without further ado, my Shameful Top 10 List of Unplayed Games!

Runner Up -
Web of Power

This would definitely have been on the "official" list before this week, but seeing that I finally had a chance to play China just a few days ago, my "need" to play the original implementation of the game is somewhat waned.  The main attraction for this game to me has come through listening to Doug Garrett talk about it so much on his Garrett's Games & Geekiness podcast.  Thankfully, my fellow game-group member Chip has both games so I'll get the chance to play Web of Power sometime soon as well.

Number 10 -  
Go 

This is the one true "classic" that I'm a little ashamed I've never gotten around to playing.   Heck, I even picked up a cheap copy a couple of years ago, but always felt inadequate to understand and especially teach it to someone else (which I'd probably need to do in order to find an opponent).  I guess I need to find some gentle Go expert out there somewhere who will be kind enough to mentor me in this game.   

Number 9 -
Tichu

I grew up in a household where partnership, trick-taking games such as Rook and Canasta were played on a weekly basis, and in fact, still are to this very day.  So to hear of an Asian card game that is perhaps the pinnacle of trick-taking games really excites me.  I had heard so many well-respected gamers rave about the game that I have now taken the first step of going out and buying a deck.  Now I just to need to figure out the game, teach it to 3-5 of my favorite friends, and finally get it crossed off this list.

Number 8 -
Advanced Squad Leader, Combat Commander: Europe

Yes, I know these games are very different that were produced 21 years apart, but they are also perhaps the best examples of squad-based "true" wargames out there, of which I have had no experience in at all.  More and more, I'm finding that modern military history is holding a lot of interest for me, and I've heard so much about how these games really capture the reality of WWII combat.  Of course, finding an interested opponent and the time to play are two huge complications that I may not be able to overcome anytime in the foreseeable future. 

Number 7 -
Axis & Allies, Talisman, Titan

Again, I know that these games are wildly different and don't even share much theme at all.  But to me, these represent some of the "foundation" games that many other boardgamers have in their history.  Instead, my gaming history primarily consists of a wide variety of RPG's along with a few other random games that my brother introduced to me (Battletech, Illuminati, Lost Worlds... stuff like that).  I am a little young for all three as well, because my college years were oriented more towards the blossoming Magic: The Gathering craze rather than all-night sessions of Titan.  I doubt I really care to play A&A now, but maybe the new versions of Talisman and Titan will give me an opportunity to finally have a taste of what they are like.  

Number 6 -
Age of Steam

This is the first of two Martin Wallace games on the list, and is also one of the few games whose reputation somewhat intimidates me.  I'm not crazy about rail/route-completion games, but the fanatical following of this game is hard to ignore.  The complexity and length is the intimidating part, and I just don't know if I have many people who would be willing to play it with me.  I have managed to play Railroad Tycoon, which may be a useful stepping stone to the original game.  Of course, with the new versions/revisions of both games coming out, I'll probably just wait to see the buzz they get before dong much of anything.

Number 5 -
Die Macher

This is the other "intimidating" game on my list.  I know that I really need to play it for all of the historical gaming significance that it holds, but I'm ambivalent about the theme and, once again, the playing time is a little bit of a turn off.  I've watched the Boardgames with Scott episode and listened to Stephen and Dave talk about it on The Spiel, so I have a decent understanding about how it all works.  But I'm still hoping that someone I know will buy it so I don't have to take the initiative to buy, learn, and teach it to everybody else before I get the chance to play.

Number 4 -
Power Grid

This is the highest- rated game on BGG that I've never played.  Something about the idea of power plants and establishing a power grid holds more interest than most other route-completion games for me, and it also has this almost fanatical following surrounding it.  The only reason I've never played it is that I've never been around anyone who owned it and was ready to play.  This is at the top of my wishlist, and hopefully I'll get a chance to play soon. 

Number 3 -
Struggle of Empires

There is no good reason that this, the second Martin Wallace offering on my list, should still be on my list.  I've owned it since January and brought it to several gaming sessions.  But while it doesn't intimidate me, it apparently does intimidate those I seek to play it with.  It's length is also in that difficult range that is just a little too long for an evening session but not quite long enough to plan a whole Saturday for.  Personally, I think it has a fantastic theme, simple rules (which I've read multiple times), and cool mechanics, and I just need to work harder to convince people to give it a shot.
  
Number 2 -
Paths of Glory

This is another game that I've owned for months without playing.  Like I said, I've been getting more and more into modern military history lately, and I am especially fascinated by World War I.  So when I saw on BGG that a WWI war game was ranked in the overall top 20, I ran out and grabbed it up.  I've never played a "true" wargame before, however, and once again the length and relative complexity of play has made it hard to find an opponent.  Right now, I have it set up on a table at home, so once I've played through it solo, maybe I'll feel better prepared to introduce it to some other lucky soul who shows some interest.   

and finally, the
Number 1 Most Shameful Unplayed Game...

(drum roll...)

Diplomacy

There truly is no reason that I've never played this game.  My older brother had a copy, there were other people around my FLGS is college that played it, I've been to conventions where it has been played... really, it's just pitiful that I haven't taken the opportunity before now.  I guess that once again, my previous focus on RPG's are mostly to blame, but this is a game that I've known about, known more-or-less how to play, and has a great interest in actually playing since I was a teenager.  I guess no game ever dropped right into my lap, however, and I just didn't expend the effort to make my own opportunity.  Mostly because of my RPG history, I'm all about some negotiation, so I really hope that we'll be able to set up either a regular session or some kind of extended-play game at Hypermind (my fantastic current FLGS) so that I'll finally be able to cross this off my list as well.

Well, I hope that my exploration into the unknown has been at least of some interest to you.  So... what is on your Shameful Unplayed List?