[iainmerrick]

Zendo is terrific: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zendo_(game) One player thinks of a secret rule, and the others have to guess the rule by building little sculptures.

It's best played with a set of Icehouse pieces, which pack pretty small and can be used for a whole bunch of other games too. You don't need Icehouse pieces, though, you can also play Zendo with coins, matchsticks, etc.

[Marazan]

I think Zendo is better with a set of basic lego blocks (1x1, 2x1, 2x2) in 3 colours. It's easier to construct and build things.

But fundamentally it is an incredible game in whatever form you play.

[iainmerrick]

Do you require your Lego structures to be fully connected? Seems like that limits the possibilities a bit, but it would mean you can safely pick them up and move them around, which is always fiddly in normal Zendo.

[Marazan]

We don't require it but inevitably people build fully connected structures due to the ease of pickup and move around.

[iainmerrick]

Wow, Lego blocks! That's a great idea, I'll have to try it.

[Marazan]

They key thing when using Lego is not to go crazy with variety you need a large number of a small variety of blocks.

[iainmerrick]

Makes sense. The one meta-rule I always emphasize when introducing people to Zendo is "make the rule really simple, it'll be much harder to guess than you expect."

[splawn]

This is one of my favorite games. I love how while it has a "spiritual" theme, the mechanics feel like pure deduction/scientific method.