Brendan talks a bit about which expansions he considers “essential,” whatever that means. Join us, won’t you?Altiplano: The TravelerBarenpark: The Bad News BearsArk Nova: Marine WorldsStar Wars: Rebellion – Rise of the EmpireObsession: Upstairs, Downstairs Honorable Mentions:Lords of Waterdeep: Scoundrels of SkullportWingspan: Oceania ExpansionWhat expansions did I miss? Which ones do you consider essential? Head over to boardgamegeek guild 3269 and share your thoughts!

Brendan shares the games he played last month. Join us, won’t you? April 2024 Top of the Stack listNEW GAME – Porta NigraNOVELTY CHOICE – Raise the Titanic!SOLO – Hunted: Wode RidgeTRYING AGAIN CHOICE – Alien Artifacts✓Shelf of OpportunityMay 2024 Top of the Stack listNEW GAME – RyuNOVELTY CHOICE – Columbo Detective GameSOLO – Hadrian’s WallTRYING AGAIN CHOICE – Porta NigraWhat games did you play in May? Share your gaming over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

Brendan reflects on the ideas of determinism and randomness in games, in response to a recent The Secret Cabal episode. Join us, won’t you?TSC 295: Aquatica and Randomness vs DeterminismDefinitions: Input Randomness, Output RandomnessInput RandomnessMottainaiInnovationOutput RandomnessStrikeQuacks of QuedlinburgIncan GoldLast Night on EarthA Touch of EvilDeterministic GamesSmall WorldStrife: Legacy of EternalsOnitamaCairnThat Time You Killed MeWhat game do you think falls right in the middle...

Brendan shares his first impressions of three games he tried for the first time recently and one he revisited. Join us, won’t you? TitanicAeon’s Enddudemore dudeBastionWhat games have you tried recently? Share your thoughts over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

Brendan shares his favorite games from 2013. Join us, won’t you?Eliminated from Consideration:A Study in EmeraldEuphoria: Build a Better DystopiaTop 5 Games:ConcordiaCastle DiceSushi Go!Kings of Air and SteamTash Kalar: The Arena of LegendsHonorable MentionsGlass RoadRussian RailroadsForbidden DesertGravwellS.O.S. TitanicSuperlative AwardsBest Satire: Ladies & GentlemenBest Push-Your-Luck Game: Welcome to the DungeonBest Should’ve Enjoyed it More: RococoBest Cool Little Game: The...

Brendan talks about six movies he watched in February of this year, and games to go with them. Join us, won’t you? OppenheimerManhattan ProjectThe Manhattan Project: Energy EmpireThe Vast of NightVisitor in Blackwood GroveBeyond the Infinite Two MinutesThat Time You Killed MeThe Lost KingTobagoThe Lost CityThe Adventurers: The Temple of ChacBlackBerrySmartphone IncWhat movies did you watch in February? What games would you pair with them? Share your thoughts over on Boardgamgegeek #3269.

Brendan shares his first impressions of FOUR games he tried for the first time recently. Join us, won’t you? WyrmspanWingspanApiaryCharty PartyApples to ApplesHerd MentalityGreen Team WinsSMARTishWits & WagersWhat games have you tried recently? Share your experiences over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

Brendan suggests some games that have themes related to taxes, and some films that go with them. Join us, won’t you?Games that have taxes in themMonopolyOrléansPower Grid: TaxesHegemony: Lead Your Class to VictoryFilm suggestion: The AccountantPoverty in GamesLondon (Second Edition)Film suggestion: The CommitmentsThe Economics of ChildrenAgricolaStone AgeFilm suggestion: The VVitchCollaborative Effort to surviveBrian Boru: High King of IrelandAuZtraliaFilm suggestion: Night of the Living...

Brendan gives a deep-dive review of Lord of Waterdeep. Join us, won’t you?Lords of WaterdeepPrevious mentions of Lords of Waterdeep on this podcastScoundrels of SkullportLimited WorkersLost Ruins of ArnakEverdellContract FulfillmentKings of Air and SteamVia NebulaObsessionPushmi-PullyuNanty NarkingArk NovaSecret ObjectivesSagradaTicket to RideWhat do you think about Lords of Waterdeep? Share your thoughts over on Boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

Brendan shares his first impressions of three games he tried recently, and revisits an older game. Join us, won’t you?Dream HomeMedieval AcademyForest ShufflePotion Explosion (revisited)Potion Explosion on PU&D previouslyWhat games have you tried lately? Share your plays over in our guild on boardgamegeek, #3269.

Brendan talks about his favorite house rules and what he thinks about them.Episode inspired by Cardboard Philosophy episode 10: Are House Rules Good?Ark NovaGloomhavenMonopolyShipyardObsessionWhat house rules do you use? Share your tweaks over on boardgame geek in guild #3269.

Brendan shares his first impressions of three games he tried recently. Join us, won’t you? – Magic Rabbit– Dawn of Peacemakers – Evacuation– Weather Machine (1 Year, 2 Months, 26 Days dusty)Previous discussion of Weather MachineWhat games have you tried recently? Join the conversation over on Boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

Brendan looks back at episode 202, and reflects on his history of doing 10×10 lists. Join us, won’t you?Pick Up & Deliver 202: Twenty by Five– 2018 “Top of the Stack” list– 2019 “Top of the Stack” List– 2020 “Top of the Stack” List– 2021 “Top of the Stack” List– 2022 “Top of the Stack” List– 2023 “Top of the Stack” ListWhat do you do to track your 10×10 plays? Head over to boardgamegeek guild #3269 to share.

Brendan shares the games he played last month. Join us, won’t you?March Top of the Stack listNEW GAME – Forum Trajanum XCO-OP CHOICE – Bastion ✓SOLO – Hunted: Wode Ridge XONE MORE CHOICE – Medieval Academy ✓Shelf of OpportunityApril Top of the Stack listNEW GAME – Porta NigraNOVELTY CHOICE – Raise the Titanic!SOLO – Hunted: Wode RidgeTRYING AGAIN CHOICE – Alien ArtifactsWhat games did you play this month? Join the conversation over on Boardgame Geek in our guild, #3269.

Brendan shares his first impressions of three games he played for the first time recently. Join us, won’t you?Project L (BGG)Freelancers: A Crossroads Game (BGG)Forgotten Waters (BGG)Kingdom Rush: A Rift in Time (BGG) (dusted off)Flipout (BGG)What new games have you played recently? Share your news over on Boardgamegeek in guild #3269. This episode brings us to the end of season 6. Thanks for joining us! Season 7 will begin in April.

Brendan “dives deep” into several small games he’s played a lot. Join us, won’t you?Previous Message from the Deep episodesPrevious Duel episodesAnomia (BGG)So Clover! (BGG)Friday (BGG)Dead Man’s Draw (BGG)Incan Gold (BGG)What small games would you include on a must-play list?

Brendan shares his thoughts on teaching games (again). Join us, won’t you?SVWAG #302: RULES EXPLANATIONSPrevious episodes on teaching games:Pick Up & Deliver 011: Learning GamesPick Up & Deliver 310: Teaching Complex GamesPick Up & Deliver 406: Preparing Your First PlayOther good teaching guide:Shut Up and Sit Down: HOW TO TEACH BOARD GAMES LIKE A PROGames mentioned:EvacuationCoimbraBrassNucleumWhat are your tips for teaching games? Share them over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

Brendan talks about three games he tried for the first time recently. Join us, won’t you?Something Wild! Marvel: Holiday Baby GrootVagrantsongNucleumAllow Me to MansplainHave you played these games? What did you think of them? What other new games have you tried recently? Share your games over on Boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

Brendan shares his film viewing in December and January of 2023 and 2024. Join us, won’t you?SpotlightShe SaidThe ReportOfficial SecretsShattered GlassMargin CallBank of DaveGenieThe Hunt for Red OctoberBlood QuantumWhat did you watch in December and January? Share your viewing over in our guild on Boardgamegeek, #3269.

Brendan returns to the conversation about math and stats and the BG Stats app. Join us, won’t you?The Board Game Stats appPick Up & Deliver 592: Games I am Best At … maybe?Arkham Horror: The Card Game – The Feast of Hemlock ValeWhat other stats do you enjoy tracking? Share over on Boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

Brendan shares his month’s play stats and feelings about them from February 2024. Join us, won’t you?Top of the Stack, Feb 2024NEW GAME – Evacuation✓SHAMEFUL CHOICE – Alien: Fate of the NostromoXSOLO – Hunted: Wode RidgeXONE MORE CHOICE – Brian Boru✓Shelf of OpportunityTop of the Stack, Mar 2024NEW GAME – Forum TrajanumCO-OP CHOICE – BastionSOLO – Hunted: Wode RidgeONE MORE CHOICE – Medieval AcademyWhat did you play this month? Share your stats over on Boardgamegeek in guild #3269. Join us,...

In this Board Game Espresso episode, Brendan shares his first impressions of three games he’s tried recently, and one game he dusted off. Join us, won’t you?Dungeons and Dragons: Dungeon Scrawlers – Heroes of UndermountainCosmoctopusStar Wars: The Deck Building GameCity of Horror (revisited)Have you played these games? What do you think of them? Share your thoughts over on Boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

Brendan meditates on which games he’s best at … and what he thinks is a good way to measure that. Join us, won’t you?The Five Games I thought would be at the top of my list:Cartographers 58%Barenpark 73%Anachrony 62%Wingspan 54%Lost Ruins of Arnak 52%A few more games that would be in the running:Century: Golem Edition 54%Terra Mystica 52%Between Two Cities 75%The Isle of Cats 72%My best ISO ratings on Board Game Arena:Through the Ages 106Res Arcana 202Welcome To 244That Time You Killed Me...

Brendan shares a “flight” of tasty game samples. Even shorter than his usual first-exposure game reviews. Enjoy!TrophiesSmug OwlsPretenseShut the BoxThat’s a Question!TappleWhat are some light, simple games you enjoy? Share them over in our boardgamegeek guild, #3269.