I recently saw this episode of Tabletop and got excited about Small World!
It looks excatly like a game I've been seeking; fairly easy to learn, doesn't take too much time and every game is unique due to race / skill combos being different every time.
Any comments on the game? How has it been for you? And specifically, what's the average playing time?
It's a good game. It has a good flow and is easy to teach. It does get a little old after a while, but if you only pull it out sometimes, it makes a good addition to a game library.
There is also an iPad app version that plays decently passing the tablet back and forth. Good for killing time in the airport with someone else, or similar situations.
It's a fun game that is good for a mixture of players. You build races, have them expand, then watch them go into decline. There are a number of stories you could make about each one, or not, if that is your interest.
The storytelling aspect balances nicely with the competitive one. That is, you may have a group who's less fond of Risk, but who likes Small World because by nature it's more story-based, and it's difficult to get upset over were-priestesses tromping through marshes. Someone who enjoys more Risk-style games may enjoy it because there's still that competititive element, just with a Prachett-like twist.