The Covenant Cast

Latest Episodes:

The Perfect Lap Sep 28, 2026

Show notes

The Sorcery TCG Dust launch illustrates a number of lessons in the pursuit of perfection and the reality of the world. Join us as we wrestle with them.

Balance is Overrated Sep 24, 2026

Show notes

People often optimize for efficiency and fairness, which is often times counter to optimizing for fun. Alpha Clash has pivoted to maximizing fun at their tournaments and now Sorcery with their Avatar prizes. Zach is hot off rebuilding his Earthborne Rangers decks to make them harder to play and Steven has a long history of making weak characters in D&D for greater roleplaying opportunity. With players, to some extent, seemingly going down this road themselves, we ask how companies can support fun over fairness.

Just Find One Person Sep 01, 2026

Show notes

The best and hardest part of tabletop games is that they require other people to play. It's what leads to such amazing communities, but also a lot of frustration for those who just want to play their favorite games. Today, we talk about the lessons we've learned from over a decade of bringing people together.

00:06:37 Earthborne Games News
00:16:58 Sorcery TCG News
00:17:56 Flesh and Blood TCG News
00:23:27 Alpha Clash TCG News
00:23:41 Warlord TCG News
00:28:02 Covenant News
00:31:53 Main Topic: How to Start a Community

Say Less Aug 28, 2026

Show notes

00:09:03 "Let's Cover the News"
00:09:35 Earthborne Games News
00:18:39 Sorcery TCG News
00:40:40 Warlord TCG News
00:41:45 Covenant News
00:50:49 Main Topic: Say Less

Playing Outside the LGS Aug 18, 2026

Show notes

A great game can happen anywhere two people want to gather. With breweries, libraries, and community centers opening their doors to tabletop, what can an LGS do to become that preferred third space?

Is a Great Game Enough? Aug 13, 2026

Show notes

We ask ourselves if, in our current moment, it is enough to make the best game possible, or if there is now an even more competitive meta game that designers need to understand to ensure success.

00:11:21 Flesh and Blood TCG News
00:11:53 Warlord TCG News
00:15:17 Arkham Horror LCG and Marvel Champions LCG News
00:19:27 Alpha Clash TCG News
00:39:46 Sorcery TCG News
00:57:46 Can Sorcery be Successful as Simply a Great Game?
01:00:22 Earthborne Games News
01:06:50 Covenant News
01:07:14 Social Segment
01:25:28 Main Topic: Is a Great Game Good Enough?

There and Back Again - New Zealand & Vegas Jul 31, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, we share highlights from our recent travels to the Flesh and Blood TCG Pro Tour in Las Vegas and to the Erik's Curiosa offices in New Zealand (Sorcery TCG). The filming and conversations at each were enlightening.

00:06:12 Here Be Monsters TCG News
00:08:57 Hubworld: Aidalon News
00:25:26 Alpha Clash TCG News
00:32:07 Flesh and Blood TCG News
00:37:35 Warlord TCG News
00:42:07 Marvel Champions LCG and Arkham Horror LCG News
00:45:46 Main Topic: There and Back Again - New Zealand & Vegas

The TCG Fatigue Is Real Jul 17, 2026

Show notes

We can all feel it. So many new TCGs on the market, so many new products from the old games, digital repacks, exclusives, stretch goals, and a seemingly endless supply of gimmicks. Perhaps we've lost our way. Perhaps it's time to return to the fundamentals.

00:02:36 Here Be Monsters TCG News
00:09:05 Alpha Clash TCG News
00:20:48 TCGs in the Internet Age
00:22:03 FAB TCG News
00:25:37 Sorcery TCG News
00:43:53 Ashes Ascendancy News
00:44:19 Warlord TCG News
00:44:27 Earthborne Games News
00:47:39 Arkham Horror and Marvel Champions News
00:48:14 Covenant News
00:51:34 Social Segment
01:13:59 Main Topic: The TCG Fatigue Is Real

Is This the Perfect Indie TCG? Jul 03, 2026

Show notes

This week, Here Be Monsters TCG launched their Kickstarter campaign with a game-changing business model. Are they the first to solve the problem of TCGs without jettisoning all the upsides? We think that just might be the case!