Welcome to the inaugural post for a new series, The Question of the Month. When I started this blog, one of the ideas that I had was to search out ideas and opinions about games and gaming. Not only my own but those of other gamers. And I’ve done a pretty good job so far. I love doing interviews and bring those gems to you. But an interview is limited to me and the guest(s). I want to open that format up to everyone.
So I’m starting The Question of The Month. I’ll post a question each month and open it up to anyone who wants to comment. At the end of the month I’ll compile the answers into a new post.
I’m getting started a bit late, as it’s the fifth, but here we go.
Worker placement, auctions, action selection, and roll & move are just a few of the mechanisms that drive games and drive us mad. They can make or break a game.
What is your favorite game mechanism and WHY?
Let me know and I’ll include your comment in the end of the month post. Leave a comment below. Email me at goforthandgame AT gmail DOT com. Or tweet me @gofothandgame.
Go Forth And Game 
Comments
2 responses to “Question of the Month”
Geezaloo; that’s hard!
It could also be a little up in the air to define what exactly is a mechanic. But since it’s listed as a mechanic in the “Advanced Search” on BGG, I’m going to go with…
Cooperative Play!
The single element or mechanic that I like best in games is when players have to work together. Whether in a fully-cooperative game like Pandemic (my favorite game) or as part of a team working against one or more others (like in Letters from Whitechapel), I just love it when a game brings the players together and forces them to work towards a common goal.
My favorite mechanism is the auction. I like it because it allows the players to set the value of the pieces in the game. Auctions are ripe ground for head games with opponents, bluffing, and even negotiation. They highlight the risk/reward balance present in games and (for me, at least) automatically invest a game with tension.