You guys REALLY need to try better board games.
Axis & Allies? This game takes too long, downtimes are rampant and the game is basically if Russia survives or dies.
Risk? Again, LONG ASS GAME. I have the Risk 2210 which can take FOUR HOURS. Another problem is the runaway leader, which means that once a player is ahead, he tends to stay there. Also, player elimination makes it no fun for someone to do nothing but watch you finish.
13 Dead End Drive is old man. I have it, but there's better mystery games.
Chess is a strategic game. However, it's not really a game I could invite someone to play and have lunch over. Usually, the game is intense, but a slight mistake, such as losing a knight can be a huge blunder.
Scrabble? Yea, fun in the 90s, but again, there's better games.
Checkers? When I have nothing to do.
Stratego? Haven't tried that one.
Alright you guys should check out this site:
BoardGameGeek | Gaming Unplugged Since 2000
Yea, I know this sounds overwhelming, but I am one of you. I play Blizzard games like mad. There's board games that are so much better than the Wal-mart brand games you guys are talking about.
Bastardsword, I recommend you try out this game called Nexus Ops:
Despite its theme, it's like Axis & Allies. You create units that have different strengths, you build them and you fight other players. The great part is that the game board changes each game and the game only takes an hour, not FOUR as Axis does. If you can, pick it up. I think you'll even like it too Pan. Imagine Risk with terrain that changes each game, units that have different strengths and lots of strategy... all within a reasonable amount of time. This is it.
Winter's eve, if you like mystery games, try Mr. Jack:
It's only a 2 player game, but it's highly rated. The game is very interesting: one player is the detective, trying to figure out which of the 8 suspects is jack. The other player IS jack and he's trying to escape. The thing is that you BOTH control the suspects. It's a great and intense game.
Tacitblade... er... I'll pray for you.
Batta, I like chess too, but good luck finding opponents, well actually you can always play online chess. I find it really confrontational with regular friends though. But since you like strategy:
I've never played it, but it's one of the highest abstract strategy games there. The highest is Go, but maybe you've heard of that. Perhaps you too, JocelynTC will like it too.
As for myself, I'm still infatuated with Magic the Gathering, though it's really a card game. I do have games that many people I know like as well, but this post is pretty long already...