Board Game Barrage

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#80: Gen Con 2019 Day Two Aug 03, 2019

Show notes

Day two is over, but we're just getting started, because it's all about those Gen Con nights. We're up way too late, yet again, to give you the scoops from the floor. We talk about Finger Guns at High Noon, In Front of the Elevators, Realm of Sand, City of the Big Shoulders, and Medium.

#79: Gen Con 2019 Day One Aug 02, 2019

Show notes

Gen Con! It's time yet again for freezer pants, gourmet coffee and going between the sheets. Join us for our quick day one impressions from the floor, and I mean that quite literally. We talk about Gravity Superstar, Wakanda Forever, Mechanica, Mister Face, Nine Tiles Panic, Visitor in Blackwood Grove, and Letter Jam.

#78: You Gotta Get a Gimmick Jul 25, 2019

Show notes

Gimmicks are elements of a game that are the fundamental selling point, the core attention grabbing mechanic or experience that the game is built around. This episode, we're breaking down gimmicks in board games, figuring out if they're good or bad for the hobby, and talking about some of the most notable. Before we cave to flashy marketing, we also talk about Are You A Robot?, Jaws, and FUSE. 01:17 - Bärenpark 03:12 - Keyforge: Age of Ascension 05:25 - Are You A Robot? 09:46 - Wingspan 10:37 - Jaws 13:55 - FUSE 18:34 - I don't even know 20:23 - Games with Gimmicks 22:27 - The Adventurers 23:22 - Niagara 24:31 - Shogun 24:31 - Wallenstein 24:59 - Amerigo 25:41 - Mord im Arosa 28:14 - Camel Up 29:18 - Sheriff of Nottingham 30:34 - Via Appia 31:33 - Dice Forge 32:39 - Alchemists 33:13 - Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar 34:38 - Council of 4 35:11 - Mouse Trap 36:13 - Star Trek: The Next Generation - Interactive VCR Board Game - A Klingon Challenge 38:23 - The VCR Quarterback Game 42:01 - Hanabi 42:39 - Planet

#77: What You Don't Know Can't Hurt You Jul 18, 2019

Show notes

This week we're talking about hidden trackable information. That is, information about the game state that could be remembered or recorded, but the game design (usually) assumes that players haven't. Is it okay to memorize or divulge this information? Before we take notes, we also talk about Papà Paolo, Oceanos, and Pax Pamir (Second Edition). 02:10 - Papà Paolo 07:25 - Oceanos 13:32 - Pax Pamir (Second Edition) 26:06 - Bonus episode! 26:30 - Hidden Trackable Information 42:13 - The Resistance 43:59 - Tigris & Euphrates 47:38 - El Grande 48:11 - I'm The Boss! 50:01 - Through the Ages 54:44 - Guards of Atlantis 56:20 - Survive: Escape from Atlantis!

#76: Gen Con 2019 Preview Jul 11, 2019

Show notes

Gen Con 2019 is mere weeks away, and I bet you don't even know what games are going to be there. Fear not, we've got you covered! We're counting down our most anticipated games of the show, having meticulously studied BGG's preview list, and looked at all the pretty pictures. Before we plan our trip, we talk about Cryptid, Two Rooms and a Boom, and Planet. 03:25 - Cryptid 09:05 - Tobago 10:04 - Psychiatrist 11:59 - Two Rooms and a Boom 16:50 - Planet 24:35 - Gen Con 2019 Preview 26:46 - Watergate 28:27 - Welcome to Dino World 30:01 - Conflicting Legends 31:11 - Time Chase 31:53 - Eternal: Chronicles of the Throne 33:14 - Tonari 34:52 - Barrage 36:25 - In the Hall of the Mountain King 38:05 - SHŌBU 39:30 - Pipeline 40:35 - Sanctum 41:31 - Seasons of Inis 43:10 - City of the Big Shoulders 43:56 - MegaCity: Oceania 45:59 - Black Angel

#75: Failing Forward Jul 04, 2019

Show notes

So, you're coming in last. You could sigh, lean back, mutter to yourself about all the things you should've done better ... or you could get back in there, soldier! Back on your feet! This week on the show, we discuss what's worth fighting for in a board game, when you're clearly not going to win. Before we lose with dignity, we talk about Murder on the Cosmic Express, TAMSK, and Diplomacy. 02:52 - Patreon! 10:33 - Murder on the Cosmic Express 18:22 - TAMSK 23:09 - Diplomacy 40:04 - What to do when you're losing 41:22 - El Grande 49:54 - Archipelago

#74: Story Time with Paula Deming Jun 27, 2019

Show notes

Special guest Paula Deming joins us this week to tell board game stories! We think back to especially funny times we had playing a board game, that were only made possible by the game itself. Before we spin yarns, we talk about Evolution: Climate, Terrible Monster, Sweet Nose,and Dice Throne: Season One.

00:15 - Paula Deming, the Orchid Tank! 07:35 - Claustrophobia 1643 09:10 - Evolution: Climate 13:38 - Terrible Monster 17:21 - Sweet Nose 22:21 - Dice Throne: Season One 29:10 - Paula's Story 29:22 - Modern Art 36:01 - Mark's Story 37:05 - One Night Ultimate Werewolf 41:15 - Kellen's Story 41:40 - Lifeboat 46:44 - Neilan's Story 46:57 - Dark Moon

#73: Dictionary Attack Jun 20, 2019

Show notes

You don't need no education, but you're getting one anyway. This week we're going to be explaining the meaning of some common but unclear board game words, for we are nothing if not your humble servants. Before we define our terms, we talk about The Shipwreck Arcana, Kingdom Death: Monster, and Vinhos Deluxe Edition.

01:29 - The Shipwreck Arcana 09:05 - Kingdom Death: Monster 19:28 - Vinhos Deluxe Edition 28:13 - Board Game Terminology 28:44 - "Crunchy" 34:40 - "Fiddly" 36:38 - Agricola 37:24 - "Degenerate" vs "Broken" 38:41 - Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar 39:05 - Archipelago 40:13 - The Thing: Infection at Outpost 31 40:46 - Dune 41:56 - Glorantha: The Gods War 43:35 - "Eurogame" vs "Ameritrash" 46:15 - El Grande 48:35 - Scythe 54:07 - Warhammer Underworlds: Shadespire

#72: The Long and the Short of It Jun 13, 2019

Show notes

Time is a precious resource, so let's not waste any; we're talking about game length. How long should a game be? Is it worse if a game is too long or too short? We wrestle with the fourth dimension in our search for answers. Before we watch the clock, we talk about Dice Forge, Gulo Gulo, and Millennium Blades.

01:28 - Dice Forge 06:53 - Gulo Gulo 10:53 - Millennium Blades 19:41 - Game Length 23:42 - Dominant Species 25:53 - New Angeles 27:05 - Formula D 27:37 - Robo Rally 28:35 - King of Tokyo 29:05 - Citadels 30:21 - Five Tribes 32:07 - Agricola 34:30 - Indian Summer 35:10 - The Voyages of Marco Polo 35:52 - Above and Below 36:53 - Archipelago 38:09 - Food Chain Magnate

#71: A Hate-Love Relationship Jun 06, 2019

Show notes

There's nothing sweeter than the softening of a heart, that precious feeling when all of the things you thought you'd dislike, suddenly become endearing. We're counting down our favourite games that we thought we were going to hate, but ended up loving. Before we go full tsundere, we talk about Indian Summer, Richard the Lionheart, and X nimmt! 01:55 - Indian Summer 09:26 - Richard the Lionheart 15:53 - X nimmt! 23:37 - Games we thought we'd hate 24:55 - Shadow Hunters 27:12 - Walnut Grove 28:52 - Survive: Escape from Atlantis! 31:34 - Great Western Trail 32:35 - Blood Rage 33:47 - Formula D 35:32 - Zendo 36:48 - Hansa Teutonica 38:18 - In the Year of the Dragon 39:47 - Majesty: For the Realm 41:21 - Mansions of Madness: Second Edition 42:25 - Chicken Caesar 44:27 - Yokohama 46:18 - Caylus 49:54 - Blue Lagoon

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