Rolling Dice & Taking Names Gaming Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Episode 362: Tianxia, Aeterna, White Castle Duel, Wroth, Neuroshima Hex Battle Oct 07, 2025

Show notes

00:01:40 Intro
00:06:45 Dream Theater: Music Video
00:13:22 Arkham Horror: The Nightmare Quest of April May
00:16:00 MegaMoose Con
00:17:00 SWU Intro Battle Hoth – Starter Box
00:25:30 Taste Buds
00:32:30 Game Toppers LLC
00:34:00 Neuroshima Hex: Battle
00:40:00 Tianxia
01:00:00 Portal Games
01:01:30 White Castle Duel
01:09:30 Aeterna
01:28:45 Miniature Market
01:29:45 Wroth
01:37:15 Toy Hall of Fame

As the days grow shorter and the air turns crisp, fall arrives with its pumpkin spice, lawn maintenance, and Halloween decorations. The season invites cozy gatherings, a time when board games find their way to kitchen tables and living rooms, bringing people together in shared strategy and laughter. It’s the perfect backdrop for diving into rich, immersive games that stretch the imagination and challenge the mind.

This fall, three standout titles offer distinct flavors of strategic depth. Aeterna spans eras, asking players to draft cards and manage resources across shifting historical landscapes, testing tactical foresight. Tianxia, set in China’s Warring States period, blends politics, trade, and tower defense as players vie for prestige while fending off nomadic invaders. It’s a Euro-style game with layered mechanics and historical nuance. Meanwhile, Wroth provides the challenge of area control and alliances that can suddenly turn cold just like the air outside. Together, these games reflect the season’s introspective mood, where complexity and strategy take center stage.

This year’s National Toy Hall of Fame finalists celebrate both nostalgia and innovation for us. From timeless tabletop classics like Catan, Battleship, and Trivial Pursuit. Or for those toys that make us scratch our head and say really — thus soft balls of Snow. Iconic toys like Furby and Tickle Me Elmo bring a wave of 90s tech nostalgia for your kids, while Spirograph and Connect Four remind us of our childhoods.

Thanks for listening and be sure to head over to our Discord channel and discuss not board games, but who do you think should be in the Toy Hall of Fame.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 361: Lord of the Rings: Fate of the Fellowship, Builders of Baldur's Gate, Leaders, Wondrous Museum Sep 23, 2025

Show notes

00:01:40 Intro
00:06:00 Sport Ball Stuff
00:12:30 El Grande with the family
00:15:00 Lawn Care
00:18:00 Game Toppers LLC
00:20:00 LOTR: Fate of the Fellowship
00:52:00 The Wondrous Museum
00:59:45 Miniature Market
01:00:45 Builders of Baldur’s Gate
01:30:45 Portal Games
01:32:00 Leaders
01:38:00 Outro

A quick search of the word Pandemic as it relates to the board game mentions on this site, you will find a bunch of them. However, back in Episode 5 is when we do this first mention and where our mission on the podcast was to bring awareness to board games beyond those found at big box stores. That was on February 12, 2013.

Time marches on and we find ourselves with a new entry using the Pandemic system with the LOTR: Fate of the Fellowship. Mr. Leacock has done an incredible job with this one. In my opinion, this brings the base goodness of the Pandemic series to the LOTR world and then ramps it up a few notches. To be honest, it might be a little too hard at times. But who cares, play it again and think of the feeling you will have when you destroy the ring.

We also have some slight dissension in the ranks at RDTN where one does like a game as much as someone else and we have a solid discussion on why. This doesn’t mean that the game isn’t good, just that there is a difference of opinion on what some people like versus what others like.

The Wondrous Museum is an engine builder that plays very fast and has solid decision making for which cards to play and how to use the runes that activate the cards. Leaders if a two person duel game that shrinks down the board to where players are using special moves by their champions to allow them to capture the other person leaders. Your champions are never removed from the board, so it is all about positioning while maintaining a solid defense for your leader.

Thanks for listening and be sure to visit the Discord site to tell us about what type of grass is in your area.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 360: Yokohama Duel, Rival Cities, Twinkle Twinkle, Up or Down, Uninvited Guests at a Wedding Sep 09, 2025

Show notes

00:00:40 Intro
00:05:30 Foot Update
00:09:30 Arkham Horror RPG – Terra Antarctic
00:14:30 Perfect Mismatch
00:19:30 Monster Pit
00:24:00 On the horizon
00:27:00 Miniature Market
00:28:00 Yokohama Duel
00:37:30 Up or Down
00:43:00 Portal Games
00:44:30 Rival Cities
00:54:30 Twinkle Twinkle
00:59:00 Game Toppers LLC
01:01:00 Uninvited Guests at a Wedding
01:08:30 Gwent
01:15:00 Outro

Yokohama Duel is a two-player strategy game set in Meiji-era Japan, where players compete as merchants navigating trade routes and foreign relations. It condenses the original Yokohama into a tighter format, emphasizing tactical movement, resource collection, and contract fulfillment. With modular setup and multiple scoring paths, it offers deep replayability in a compact package that many still trying to find the best way to victory.

Rival Cities pits two players against each other in a historical rivalry between Hamburg and Altona. Through lawsuits, trade, and political maneuvering, players vie for dominance in a tug-of-war of influence and prestige. The game can be quick playing and therefore making each decision impactful and every turn a strategic duel.

Up or Down is a fast-paced card game focused on building ascending or descending sequences, ideal for quick, engaging play. Meanwhile, Twinkle Twinkle offers a peaceful tile-laying experience where players draft transparent tiles to complete star charts and connect constellations. Both games are accessible yet clever, appealing to casual and puzzle-loving players alike.

Don’t forget to enter our contest over in the Discord channel for your chance to win a copy of Uninvited Guests at a Wedding

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 359: Battle of Hoth, Lightning Train, 12 Rivers, General Orders: Sengoku Jidai Aug 26, 2025

Show notes

00:00:00 In Memoriam
00:07:45 Pickle Ball
00:12:30 Plantar Fasciitis
00:20:00 Game Toppers
00:22:10 Battle of Hoth
00:33:15 12 Rivers
00:41:00 Miniature Market
00:42:15 Lightning Train
01:00:00 Portal Games
01:01:00 General Orders: Sengoku Jidai
01:08:00 Outro

Set during one of the most iconic confrontations in the Star Wars universe, Battle of Hoth is a fast-paced miniatures strategy game that plunges players into the icy terrain of Hoth. We are fans of Memoir ’44, so we hoped things hadn’t changed that much in this reimplement. There are 17 scenarios and multi-stage campaigns, so plenty of replayability.

From the designer of Clank! and Dune: Imperium, Lightning Train is a bag-building economic game that reimagines classic train games with a modern twist. This game is definitely one that will be in our annual Squirrely Awards show. It does a lot right, but there are some elements that don’t cause the train to go off the tracks, but do need a little help. I think this is one of those games that will require you to help each other out from time to time in order to achieve your own objectives.

12 Rivers is a family weight worker placement game that involves a mechanic which centers around releasing marbles (pearls) down the board, creating a dynamic and tactile experience as players race to gather the most valuable bounties. With alpacas as transport and fairies offering special actions, the game balances whimsy with some light strategic depth.

Thanks for listening as always, we really do appreciate it.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 358: Portal Games 2025 with Ignacy Aug 19, 2025

Show notes

In this episode we catch up with Ignacy from Portal Games. We talk about the latest and upcoming releases including Age of Galaxy and Bohemians. We get a tease of what's coming in 2026

And we finish off the episode with Rank Em!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 357: Gen Con 2025 Aug 12, 2025

Show notes

00:01:00 Day One
00:01:35 Setting up the Portal Booth
00:03:00 Spill on aisle 2200
00:05:15 Level 99 Kickstarter
00:09:00 Asmodee Press Releases
00:14:15 All Play Releases
00:15:30 Hatchett Releases – Tag Team
00:19:00 Osprey – General Orders Sengoku Jidai
00:24:00 Miniature Market
00:25:15 Day Two
00:27:45 Restoration Games
00:29:45 Thunderworks Games
00:30:15 Asmodee – Did you know this…
00:31:15 Lucky Duck Games
00:33:00 Hatchette Games
00:34:30 UVS Card Games
00:37:30 North Star Games – Nature
00:40:50 Taste Buds – Lime Coke Zero from East Europe
00:44:30 Strike Tournament Results
00:51:00 Portal Games
00:53:20 Day 3
01:00:30 Chip Theory Games
01:02:30 Around the Stump
01:06:30 Dead Alive Games
01:10:30 CGE Meeting
01:16:00 Ares Games
01:23:00 Rift Bound
01:27:00 Capstone – Up or Down
01:28:30 Uninvited Guests at a Wedding
01:31:30 Day 4
01:33:15 Slam Throne – OMG!
01:36:45 Bezier Games
01:41:00 Brotherwise Games
01:41:30 Pandasaurus Games
01:45:15 Devir Games
01:46:30 Luma Imports
01:49:30 Game Toppers LLC
01:51:00 Taste Buds – Jerky

Another Gen Con in the books. The crowds were as thick as ever, but the overall energy felt a bit more subdued this year. Still, there were plenty of solid games to discover and enjoy—even if nothing sparked a mad dash to grab the latest release. We spent much of our time connecting with publishers, hoping to gather insights and highlights to help our listeners spend wisely. And of course, Gen Con wouldn’t be complete without a few surprises—Slam Throne and Battle for Hoth definitely caught our attention in the hall.

Huge thanks to everyone who helped, donated, and participated in this year’s annual Strike Tournament. Whether you rolled dice, cheered from the sidelines, or chipped in behind the scenes, your energy and generosity made it all possible. The success of this event isn’t about the two old guys running it—it’s about the incredible community that shows up year after year. We’re grateful for every one of you who helped make it another memorable tournament.

If you were at Gen Con, love to hear your thoughts over in our Discord channel.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 356: Ofrenda, Horrified: Dungeons & Dragons, Celestia Jul 29, 2025

Show notes

00:02:00 Introduction
00:04:30 Superman Thoughts
00:11:30 Summer Movie Results
00:15:00 Horrified D&D
00:18:30 Middle Ages
00:21:30 Agricola
Herd Mentality/ MonsDRAWsity
00:29:00 Portal Games
00:30:30 Celestia
00:36:00 Ofrenda
00:45:30 Miniature Market
00:51:30 Game Toppers LLC
00:53:30 Outro

Ofrenda and Celestia are on the table for this episode. Each game offers distinct thematic journeys, yet all challenge players to make clever decisions under pressure. Ofrenda is a vibrant card-placement game inspired by Día de los Muertos, where players build altars to honor deceased relatives. The goal is to fulfill each spirit’s wishes by arranging portraits, offerings, candles, and marigolds in just the right configuration—while avoiding family drama from beyond the grave.

Celestia shifts gears into a whimsical airborne adventure. Players board a fantastical aircraft and journey through sky cities, collecting treasures while facing hazards like pirates and lightning storms. Each round, a new captain rolls dice to determine challenges, and passengers must decide whether to trust the captain or jump ship to claim their loot. It’s a push-your-luck game with bluffing and risk assessment at its core, wrapped in dreamy artwork and accessible rules.

Thanks for listening and hope to see you at Gen Con. And a big thanks to everyone coming to the strike tournament.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 355: Barony, Emberleaf, Citizens of the Spark, Positano Jul 15, 2025

Show notes

00:02:00 Introduction
00:08:30 Vanessa Returns
00:13:30 Blackmail Tapes
00:15:00 Return of the 80s
00:16:30 Emberleaf
00:31:00 Portal Games
00:33:00 Barony: Royal Addition
00:50:30 Game Toppers
00:51:30 Positano
00:59:00 Miniature Market
01:00:00 Citizens of the Spark
01:11:30 Star Wars Unlimited

Welcome back, fellow board gaming aficionados. Today, we’re diving into titles that embody wildly different flavors of adventure: the dudes on the map chaos of Barony, the whimsical card drafting of Citizens of the Spark and Emberleaf, and the sun-soaked “look what I built” serenity of Positano. All three of these games involve a good bit of strategy, with a good helping of inter-activeness against your fellow players. Well, almost all of them.

But most of all, you can tell that we never really get out of second gear in the episode, so you are blessed to have Vanessa back on the mic to help us get moving.

Enjoy as always, leave comments on the discord server, and thanks for listening

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 354 - Fliptoon, DC Forever, Wizards & Co., Mythical Dice, Tacta Jul 01, 2025

Show notes

00:02:00 Introduction
00:16:30 Taste Buds
00:24:00 Portal Games
00:26:00 FlipToons
00:32:00 DC Forever
00:43:00 Game Toppers
00:45:00 Wizards & Co.
00:49:30 Mythical Dice
00:54:00 Miniature Market
00:55:00 Tacta
00:59:30 Movie Reviews with Vanessa

Tony is on vacation, so Vanessa joins more for the classic RDTN intro banter. Plus in the outro, they talk about their favorite movies from the first half of 2025.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 353: Rumble Nation, Huang, Butterfly Garden, Timber Town, Slide Jun 17, 2025

Show notes

00:02:00 Introduction
00:06:00 Banana Ball
00:16:00 CMON New
00:19:00 Taste Buds
00:23:00 Portal Games
00:25:00 Slide
00:30:00 Rumble Nation
00:43:00 Game Toppers
00:45:30 Butterfly Garden
00:51:00 Huang
01:06:00 Miniature Market
01:07:00 Timber Town
01:13:00 Switch 2 Release

In this episode we cover two fun but very different area control games. Plus Marty goes to a Banana Ball game and gets a Switch 2

Discord
Support the Show

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Rolling Dice & Taking Names Gaming Podcast

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected