The Ripper's Ratings

After my review on Warband; a game that fell far short of expectations, I realized that my rating for the game was all over the place. I rated the game based on a random number scale and had no true system in place in which to judge. After some hours of smoking my pipe in my reading chair, I decided that the Board Game Ripper needs a rating system in order to better facilitate my feelings on the numerous games that come across my table. I need a sense of structure that can be applied to all my reviews; standards if you will.  Now I didn't just want to give an single score, I wanted to judge a game by all it's merits. For this reason I decided to do a small number of sub scores to judge a game based on some important measures. I decided to rate each game in the following categories:

Theme

Complexity

Gameplay

Components

Fun Factor

Now I will assume that my readers know what I mean by each term and I will rate each sub category for each game. I decided to rate these categories on a scale of 1-3 since 3 is a divine number and is one of my favorite numbers. These categories are small parts that make up the whole so I feel that I do not need a large number to portray my point. The scale is a follows:

3: High. A strong contender for it's category. The game is excellent in this rating.

2: Medium. A average game, the category is applied to the game but it doesn’t really do anything overly impressive.

1: Low. A game lacking in a category. The category is pasted on to the game.

0: Joke. Lacking the category entirely. A bloody embarrassment.

After rating each game on the aforementioned sub categories, I will than give my final score which will represent the game as a whole. I wanted to stay away from a 1-10 scale or a 100 scale as I felt there was too much wiggle room and it was far to easy to say an game was average. Instead I decided to stay on my favorite number theme and choose a scale ranging from 1 to 7, The scale will be as follows:

7:  Awesome. A perfect game for the Ripper. One of the best games I have ever played and one that will be placed upon a pedestal in my collection. I will never turn down a game with this rating unless I literally don't have the time to play. A game that will never leave the collection and one that I will showcase to all I see.

6: Great. A game that has some minor issues that keep it from entering the hall of fame. A game that I will always play when suggested but there may be moments when I am not in the mood. A game that will stay in my collection and I will recommend to others.

5: Good. A game that I enjoy playing although there are some things that I have a problem with such as length or just a mechanic in general. I will probably play this game when it is suggested although there is a chance that I might veto the game for something else. This is a game that I will add to my collection but it could leave with the passing of some time.

4: Average. A game that I could take or leave. This is the type of game that I will not suggest to play but will not turn down either. Such a game has an major issue that keeps it from entering my collection. I will usually only add a game of this ranking if I have a very specific audience in mind such as saving a game for my children when they get old enough to join family game night. 

3: Dislike. A game that has an issue that forces me to dislike the game. I will never offer the game and will play if I am outnumbered by the group or it is someone's favorite games. I would prefer not to play the game again and it has no chance of ever entering my collection.

2: Hate. A game that the Ripper cannot stand to play. I will not play this game unless I am tied to a chair and am drugged. This is a game that irritates me to no end and the first play will most likely be the last play. However, I can understand why some may like this game.

1. Loath. A game that doesn’t fit the definition of a game. A game so bad that I will seek vengeance upon the game by destroying it in the hell fire it deserves. I will not even watch a group play this game and will leave the room if it is brought out to the table. The Ripper cannot fathom why someone would play this game and will voice such opinion.

0: Joke. This is not even a game. There is no need to compare it even to monopoly. All copies should be destroyed to spare the poor designer the shame he has brought to his family.

And so my readers, you now have the Board Game Ripper's rating system. I will use this system in all my further reviews. Thanks for reading my humble blog.

sincerely ,

The Board Game Ripper