Stratergy

Being the Game Theoretic guy that I am, I thought I might do a little tribute to some great lesser-known strategic games out there.
Risk, Chess and the classics are obvious choices, but these are some of the more recent or marginalized games.

Bear in mind, this is not necessarilly strategy games, but real games of strategy.

1. Illuminati. Easily Steve Jackson's best game. The rules, while a little tricky at first, are straightforward once underway. Lots of underhanded wheeling and dealing can go on, each different illuminati you can play has different and preferred tactics, and the game can go on for quite a while. You can spend lots of hours on this game, and be amused the whole time, thanks in part to Jackson's tounge-in-cheek game design. A great game all around. I highly recommend picking it up.

2. Settlers of Catan. A relative newcomer, this game is HUGE here at Waterloo. It seemed to be almost singly responsible for most of my residence to give up video games in exchange for board games for a long time. The rules are very starightforward, the game is very efficient and fast paced, and there are countless strategies and permutations of the game. Plus there's always the hilarity that ensues from asking "Got wood for sheep?"

3. Imperialsim. A turn based computer strategy game where you play as a great power, and you have to turn it into the dominant force in the world, whether through conquest or diplomacy. The trick is in managing your resources and securing trade routes. Unlike many nation-competing strategy games out there, this is one where it is possible(though difficult) to win without firingt a single shot. If you are so far ahead of the rest of the world in technology, economy and infrastructure, then the AI tends to leave you alone. This game is incredibly addicitive. Hard to find, though.

4. Fluxx. The game with the ever changing rules. This is a card game where you don't so much act until you fulfill the requirements to win, you change around the requirements until you win. A very different kind of strategy paradigm. The best moves are those where you change the rules during your turn to put you far ahead, then change them at the end of your turn to make things horrible for your opponents.

Any other lesser know great strategy games out there? I'm always on the lookout.