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[WrathOfGlod]

I'm going home to see my family in a couple of weeks and I have to keep up my reputation as the uncle who brings cool board games.
So I'd like suggestions which fit the following criterion
1. Reasonably Quick to play
2. Possible to teach to kids. (The main players of the games are my 11 and 9 year old nephews).
3. It would be a bonus if younger kids would have fun even if they are on an adult's team
4. Have strategic depth.
5. Possible to play with less than 4 players

The past times I have visited I taught settlers and dominion both of which were reasonably successful

Games I am considering:
Race For the Galaxy,
Rattus,
Ticket to Ride,
Citadels.

[Ozle]

Incan Gold!
A simple fun quick game!

There is tactics in it on when to run away, and if you get them to share out the treasures it will help thier maths skills!

PLUS you get little tents and its cheap

[theory]

Haven't played Rattus.  I think you can rule RftG right out. 

Between TTR and Citadels, I'd go with Ticket to Ride because Citadels doesn't play well with less than 4.

What's the maximum number?  Have you considered:

* Kingdom Builder
* Saboteur
* Cash & Guns
* Wits & Wagers
* The Resistance (for 5-8 if you need that many)

[DG]

Rftg has too many complicated symbols. San Juan is simpler but doesn't have the space theme. Rattus would probably be ok but nothing makes it stand out for me.  Carcassone always springs to mind, as does Ticket to Ride. Forbidden island is a light co-operative game vaguely like Pandemic.

[WrathOfGlod]

Thanks theory.

Saboteur looks interesting (and is cheap
For "The Resistance" how much do the Plot Cards add?

I thought of Citadels needing 4+ players but the benefit is that I can imagine a 5-6 year old really liking being on a grownup's team even if they aren't actually doing anything

How much replayability does Kingdom Builder have?
Also it feels like Kingdom Builder and Carcasonne occupy similar parts of the game spectrum, which is better?

[Axxle]

Citadels is actually pretty fun with 3 players with 3 player variant (I think it comes with the expansion, and I think the expansion now comes with the base game).  You pass the roles around a second time and each player gets two roles.  It prevents the Assassin from getting too ugly and preventing an entire player's turn, which kids might not like.

[rod-]

For "The Resistance" how much do the Plot Cards add?

The plot cards add an entire additional level of logical thinking to the game, effectively making it harder for spies to perform.  If you enjoy the logic puzzle aspect of the game more than the social engineering aspect, you'll probably enjoy the plot cards.

If you enjoy the "acting" portion of the game more, you might not like them very much.  It's nearly impossible to make up an effective lie in a half second when you're trying to explain how it is that you're not a spy when person A to your left looked at your card and said you were a spy and person B to his left  looked at person A's card and said he was not a spy, and person A+B+C succeeded on Mission 2 but person D+E failed mission 1 in a game with 2 spies.

The cards are good, but if they're used carefully and come up randomly lucky, they can just end the game.

[Kirian]

Eminent Domain has less symbols then RftG but still has the space theme (and cute plastic spaceships too!)
Ticket to Ride is a definite.

[WrathOfGlod]

Decided on Carcasonne over Kingdom Builder/Ticket to Ride

Ticket to Ride/Kingdom Builde are damn expensive

[ftl]

Citadels is actually pretty fun with 3 players with 3 player variant (I think it comes with the expansion, and I think the expansion now comes with the base game).  You pass the roles around a second time and each player gets two roles.  It prevents the Assassin from getting too ugly and preventing an entire player's turn, which kids might not like.

I don't like Citadels with 3 players, actually. With the way the 3-player variant works, if the a player picks Assassin, Thief, or Witch on their first pick, they are guaranteed to be able to hit someone, because they can pick to attack one of the roles that goes missing between their first pick and their second. Takes away a fair bit of the risk from those cards. Especially nasty with Witch, when there ends up being no good reason not to pick Witch as first player. 2-player citadels works reasonably, IMO.

Carcassonne is definitely a good choice, though.

[brokoli]

- Tobago
- Saboteur
- Forbidden Island (cooperative)
- Mr Jack Pocket (2 players only)

Race for the galaxy is too complex.