Episodes
In Episode 192 we each discuss our top 5 board games that use the worker placement mechanism in a very unique or interesting way.
We also discuss a poll on what to do with components after you upgrade them.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:24 Poll Time: If you upgrade components for a board game, what do you do with the replaced components?
10:16 Top 5 Unique Worker Placement Games
11:57 Lost Ruins of Arnak
16:25 Raiders of the North Sea
19:47 Bus and Dominant Species
23:32 Come...
Published 04/15/24
In Episode 191 we provide our hot take review of Maracaibo covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.
We discuss a poll on investigating card decks before playing games and then we discuss some board games on our table including Starship Captains, Sagnir, and Djinn.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:25 Question: When introduced to a board game that contains cards, at what point do you look through the deck to see distribution?
08:15 Maracaibo...
Published 04/08/24
In Episode 190 Connie Vogelmann (designer of Apiary and Wyrmspan) joins us as our guest host as we each discuss our top 5 Desert Island Board Games.
We also discuss a poll on how less games might impact our play habits.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
03:08 Poll: If you only had 5 board games (of your choice) available forever do you think you'd still play board games as frequently as you do?
09:33 Top 5 Desert Island Games
12:40 Azul
15:08 Cribbage
16:27 Ark Nova
19:15 Dune:...
Published 04/01/24
In episode 189, we take a deep dive into Board Game Arena and discuss games that we think are best on that online platform and games that are way better on a physical table.
We also discuss a listener poll about how frequently you take turns on online board game platforms and give a huge shoutout to our BGA Community.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
04:00 Poll: How frequently do you take turns on async games on BGA (or other online platforms)?
09:48 Board Game Arena (Top 3 we prefer on...
Published 03/25/24
In Episode 188 we each discuss our top 5 favorite player boards in board games.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
02:44 Baseball Highlight 2045
05:00 Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy
10:00 Lacrimosa (Red Cathedral, White Castle)
14:48 Hegemony: Lead Your Class to Victory
17:10 Distilled
21:02 Marrakesh (Orleans, Paladins of the West Kingdom, Russian Railroads)
25:45 Planet Unknown
27:49 Cthulhu: Death May Die
35:21 La Granja
39:57 My Father's Work
43:22 Carnegie
47:40...
Published 03/18/24
In episode 187, we answer more listener questions in a second mailbag episode.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:13 What are some common complaints about board games that you see as a positive?
08:16 What changed that made art and theme less important to you? What is part of board gaming that you feel a certain way about but suspect you're wrong? Could you take Klemens Franz in single combat?
16:01 How did each of you get into board games? Which do you prefer - Nerd or Geek? Do you keep...
Published 03/11/24
In Episode 186 we provide our hot take review of Clockwork Wars covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.
We discuss a poll on the loss of entire board game collections and then we discuss some board games on our table including Trickerion: Legends of Illusion, Lucky Numbers, and Knarr.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:47 Question: If you lost your entire board game collection, what percentage would you re-acquire?
06:15 Clockwork Wars...
Published 03/04/24
In Episode 185 we each discuss our biggest mistakes, at least regarding our first impressions on board games.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:37 Poll: How often does your first impression of a game hold up after more plays?
7:55 El Grande
10:53 Heat: Pedal to the Metal
13:46 Endless Winter: Paleoamericans
16:19 Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar and Teotihuacan: City of Gods
19:00 Sol: Last Days of a Star
23:14 Red Rising
25:59 Heat: Pedal to the Metal
28:10 Anachrony
32:22 Star...
Published 02/26/24
In Episode 184 we provide our hot take review of Thunder Road: Vendetta covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.
We discuss a question on games that were frustrating to punch and sort and then we discuss some board games on our table including Glory to Rome, Concordia, and Newton.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:28 Question: Which game led to the most frustrating or painful experience you've had punching and sorting a board game?
08:50 Thunder...
Published 02/19/24
In Episode 183 we each discuss our top 5 game boards as well as discussing a listener poll about what makes a great game board.
We conclude the conversation discussing a couple of game boards that have some very confounding choices in their design.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:50 Poll: What makes a great game board?
12:19 Nunami and Raas: A Dance of Love
16:39 Barcelona
20:22 Pax Pamir 2nd Edition
21:42 Pan Am
25:05 Godspeed
27:31 Smartphone, Inc.
28:50 The Great Wall
32:00...
Published 02/12/24
In Episode 182 we provide our hot take review of Architects of the West Kingdom covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.
We discuss a poll on cancellations on game night and then we discuss some board games on our table including *Distilled: Africa & Middle East Expansion, *Distilled: Cask Strength Expansion, and Guards of Atlantis II.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:30 Poll: What do you do when everyone cancels on game night at the last...
Published 02/05/24
In Episode 181 we look back at the games we played in 2023 and talk about our biggest hits, and biggest misses in 2023. This includes games that were published in 2023 but also games that were new to us in 2023. We also talk about our Board Game Revelations - the things that changed gaming for us over the last year.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:28 2023 Awards
01:56 Biggest Surprises in 2023 - Yokohama, Age of Innovation, Frosthaven, Cyclades: Legendary Edition, Vagrantsong,...
Published 01/29/24
In Episode 180 we provide our hot take review of Wyrmspan* covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We also provide some detailed comparisons with Wingspan, both the difference in mechanisms and the difference in our opinions on them
We discuss a poll on fantastical vs. real-world themes in board games and then we discuss some board games on our table including Sol: Last Days of a Star, Mind MGMT, and Turing Machine.
Timestamps:
00:00...
Published 01/22/24
In Episode 179 we provide our hot take review of Turing Machine covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.
We discuss a poll on fun in board games and then we discuss some board games on our table including Ceres, Clank! Legacy, and Tichu.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:17 Poll: Is 'Fun' an important aspect of a board for you when you purchase it or consider playing it?
10:23 Turing Machine Description
13:04 Gameplay and Mechanisms
26:10...
Published 01/15/24
In episode 178, we discuss some hobby specific terms and how our definitions may vary from their original meaning. We also give examples of board games where those definitions are relevant (and also some examples where they aren't).
We kick the conversation off by discussing a listener poll related to board game terminology.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:44 Poll Time: Do you use terminology when teaching or discussing board games that you don't ever use in other areas of your...
Published 01/08/24
In Episode 177 we provide our hot take review of Apiary covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.
We also discuss some games that have been on our table including Clank! Legacy, Fractal: Beyond the Void, and Sleeping Gods: Distant Skies.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:34 Apiary Description
1:54 Gameplay and Mechanisms
22:15 Production and Theme
27:51 Final Thoughts
33:09 Clank! Legacy: Acquisitions Incorporated
39:07 Fractal: Beyond the...
Published 01/02/24
In Episode 176 we each discuss our top 5 board games that we only played once in 2023.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:34 Robot Quest Arena
04:04 Egizia: Shifting Sands
07:57 Darwin's Journey
12:12 Revive
13:56 Evacuation
15:32 Ticket To Ride: San Francisco
19:52 Battle for Rokugan
21:48 Boast or Nothing
25:46 The Quacks of Quedlinburg
28:02 Mosaic: A Story of Civilization
29:29 Pulsar 2849
30:55 Cat in the Box
33:25 Hegemony: Lead Your Class To Victory
37:48 Cyclades:...
Published 12/25/23
In Episode 175 we discuss the top 5 games we want to play in 2024. We also review last years' lists and look back on the games we got played.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
Last Year
1:02 #5 Adam Last Year - Paperback Adventures
2:45 #5 Tim Last Year - Welcome to the Moon
3:41 #5 Chris Last Year - Twilight Imperium 4th Edition
4:35 #4 Adam Last Year - Forbidden Stars
5:05 #4 Tim Last Year - Scout
5:40 #4 Chris Last Year - Mariposa
6:24 #3 Adam Last Year - Imperial 2030
7:26 #3...
Published 12/18/23
In Episode 174 we provide our hot take review of Dune: Imperium - Uprising covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.
We discuss a poll on the quantity of published board games and then we discuss some board games on our table including Clank! Legacy Acquisitions Incorporated, Inis, Exit Advent Calendar: The Mystery of the Ice Cave, and The Quest for El Dorado.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:24 Poll: What do you think about the amount of hobby board...
Published 12/11/23
In episode 173, we answer listeners questions in our first ever mailbag episode.
Then we discuss some games that have been on our table including Ark Nova: Marine Worlds, Planet Unknown, Azul, and Agricola.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:52 What games or mechanisms have we switched our opinion on?
08:16 What are our thoughts on updated versions or sequels to games?
21:09 What are some of our other hobbies and do they tie back to board games?
26:21 If we could retheme a game, what...
Published 12/04/23
In Episode 172 Tim discusses his 5 days spent at BGG Con 2023 including tips about attending a con, con experiences and many games played.
We also discuss a poll about favorite gaming experiences.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:54 Poll Question: If you've ever attended a board game convention, what was your favorite part?
20:04 Sea Salt & Paper
21:22 Matryoshka
23:42 Evacuation
32:00 Voidfall
39:54 Nucleum
44:04 Dune: Imperium w/ Rise of Ix and Immortality
45:51 Fun...
Published 11/27/23
In Episode 171 we conclude our series about how board games can use the same structure as a story and give you a similar arc. In this fourth part we talk about games that have a great conclusion.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:25 Board Games as Stories - conclusion
04:20 Lacrimosa
06:40 Keyflower
10:29 Star Wars: Rebellion
14: 30 Paperback Adventures
18:49 Charterstone
24:36 Dune
28:42 Everdell
30:35 Scythe
32:15 Cascadia
36:58 Through the Ages: A New Story of...
Published 11/20/23
In Episode 170 we provide our hot take review of Age of Innovation covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.
We discuss a poll on gaming with your partner/spouse and then we discuss some board games on our table including Trekking Through History, Marvel Champions, and Heat: Pedal to the Metal.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:26 Poll: Is your partner/spouse part of your regular gaming group
09:30 Age of Innovation Description
10:44 Gameplay and...
Published 11/13/23
In Episode 169 we continue our series about how board games can use the same structure as a story and give you a similar arc. In this third part we talk about games that have a great climax.
Timestamps:00:00 Introduction03:08 Board Games as Stories - Climax08:15 Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar11:55 Baseball Highlights 204515:38 Blood Rage18:10 Rising Sun21:10 Wonderland's War23:53 Can't Stop25:40 My Father's Work29:59 Sol: Last Days of a Star32:33 Clank!36:46 Heat: Petal to the Metal,...
Published 11/06/23