The Covenant Cast

Following from last week's podcast, games that have a higher barrier to entry often have a more fulfilling payoff. Is this true, and if so, what makes it the case? And should it be encouraged? Find all previous casts, as well as learning content and products on our website: https://teamcovenant.com

With a livestream of Star Wars CCG on the horizon, we talk about why the game has such a tremendous level of adoration - even now - and question whether there are lessons to be learned from Decipher's classic system. With Skytear and Flesh and Blood on our minds, we can't help but wonder if these games are capturing some of this old game design magic. Find all previous casts, as well as learning c...

We're joined by Jamey Stegmaier, founder of Stonemaier Games, to get a publisher's perspective on direct sales, allocation, and product certainty - particularly in light of the recent Wrecking Crew supply issues. Find all previous casts, as well as learning content and products on our website: https://teamcovenant.com

A sudden supply shortage cascades across retail and, for the first time, impacts Marvel Champions subscribers. Why did it happen? What does it mean? And how does retail operate without certainty? Let's find out. Find all previous casts, as well as learning content and products on our website: https://teamcovenant.com

Former Head of Studio for Fantasy Flight Games, Andrew Navaro, joins us for a chat about his growth at FFG, how creative output can dissipate with advancement, and the future of the industry and his place within it. Disclaimer: We have no interest in pressing Andrew to dish on the current state of FFG, and this interview is not that. Find all previous casts, as well as learning content and product...

After many years of a frustrating "two steps forward, one step back" approach, Fantasy Flight Games announced the end of Star Wars: Destiny. We discuss what that might mean for us, for FFG, and for the future of the expandable format. Find all previous casts, as well as learning content and products on our website: https://teamcovenant.com

Unofficial sources have confirmed that Fantasy Flight Games experienced significant layoffs this week, mainly affecting the RPG, Digital, and Board Games teams. We discuss the potential reasons for this move, and what it might mean for the future. Find all previous casts, as well as learning content and products on our website: https://teamcovenant.com

Godtear utilizes excellent starter products, pre-assembled models, and a streamlined rulebook to get players to the table almost instantly - and what awaits them, perhaps unexpectedly, is a heavy strategy game. Is that a problem? Using Arena Rex, Crisis Protocol, and X-Wing as examples, we do our best to find the answer. Find all previous casts, as well as learning content and products on our webs...

Hot off the heels of a third Marvel Champions release date change, we discuss the uncertainty present in the tabletop gaming industry, how it happens from a retailer perspective, and why it matters. Find all previous casts, as well as learning content and products on our website: https://teamcovenant.com

Right from Covenant Tulsa, where Michael Boggs is attending our Marvel Champions Celebration Weekend event, we take a moment to chat about his journey from South Korea, to Netrunner, to being on the design team of arguably the biggest title of the year - the Marvel Champions LCG. Find all previous casts, as well as learning content and products on our website: https://teamcovenant.com

Marvel Champions, Crisis Protocol, and KeyForge point to an underlying evolution in product development and distribution. Champions shows a new way for LCGs, Crisis Protocol breaks out of complexity and faction-specificity, and KeyForge shows a long tail on unique games. Find all previous casts, as well as learning content and products on our website: https://teamcovenant.com

KeyForge sees its third set, Worlds Collide, this weekend, and we reflect on the journey from Call of the Archons, through Age of Ascension, to Worlds Collide - in the context of KeyForge occupying a very special place in the hobby. With FFG providing a solid foundation for design and OP, and continuing to build it in an intentional way, KeyForge has a bright future ahead. Find all previous casts,...

Today is the official release date for the Marvel Champions Living Card Game, and we take a moment to soak it all up, discussing the strategy guide, unexpected favorite decks, Cosmic Tokens, and Champions Weekend. Find all previous casts, as well as learning content and products on our website: https://teamcovenant.com

We're so ready for the upcoming Marvel games. Things kick off with Crisis Protocol a week after the Move Set videos, continue into the Champions chaos with early and non-existent release dates, and conclude with a recap of Zach's experience at Star Wars Worlds. Find all previous casts, as well as learning content and products on our website: https://teamcovenant.com

Fresh off of an 8 hour live play of the Marvel: Crisis Protocol miniatures game, we give our first impressions of the game - including both its relevance to the industry and an evaluation of the system itself. We expect these views to evolve and develop over time as we gain experience with Crisis Protocol, and look forward to sharing more as we go along! Find all previous casts, as well as Crisis...

With Zach fresh off of a Destiny Prime Championship, the evolving discussion about tournaments, prizes, winning, and self realization re-emerges. This time, an unexpected depth is explored - one that deals more with human psychology than tabletop gaming tournaments. Find all previous casts, as well as learning content and products on our website: https://teamcovenant.com

KeyForge has recently done a tremendous job of playing to its strengths, and in light of those discussions, we take a look at how publishers and local retail can best play to theirs. If you could simply wipe the slate clean, how would the FLGS handle community building through events? Visit us on the web: https://teamcovenant.com    

The Vaultwarrior tournament series brings a $200,000 tournament circuit to KeyForge. Cash prizes have both failed and succeeded in the past, so is this the right approach for KeyForge? We bring a lot of historical skepticism to this topic, but the discussion turned out to be a surprising one. Visit us on the web: https://teamcovenant.com

With Stonemaier's latest in-demand game, the same conversations and disappointments have erupted from every part of the publisher-distributor-retailer chain. Tapestry continues where Wingspan left off, and both reveal systemic problems - but shouldn't that be expected when the systems were never built to accommodate these kinds of titles? There is value in direct sales, distribution, and local ret...

The tabletop game store environment continues to shift, with new and veteran retailers asking how best to capitalize on their space. Some say play space is the way forward. Others find success stocking a diversity of products and focusing on traditional retail. After a trip to New York City and witnessing a few stores with the latter model, Zach re-ignites the debate about the future of tabletop r...

Zach is in New York City celebrating his wedding anniversary! We'll be back next week for an installation of our Marvel Mondays live stream at 2PM CST and a new episode of the Covenant Cast on Friday. 

An oft-cited critique of tabletop games, particularly board games, is that tracking all of the necessary variables is an unneeded burden. As a response, various digital integrations and simplified rulesets are pitched as removing this element from the experience and liberating players from the clunky and fiddly moments that "get in the way" of the actual game. But what if these moments were unders...

Marvel: Crisis Protocol embraces the fundamental divider of a hobby miniatures game - highly detailed models that must be fully assembled and painted. We discuss whether or not the game has a shot at breaking through the "industry" bubble and reaching a level of ubiquity previously unattained by the likes of Warhammer: 40k. Visit our website at https://teamcovenant.com  and keep in touch via Faceb...

Marvel Champions does a lot of things right, but its most important features may well be found in the nuts and bolts of packaging and distribution. We dive into that, using examples from past LCGs, and also spend a bit of time discussing the surprising number of design and deck building levers hidden in the system - because we can't help it.   Visit our website: https://teamcovenant.com

After an extremely busy weekend in Indianapolis, we're back with a full assessment of Gen Con 2019 - including Unmatched, Defiance, Marvel Champions, and Crisis Protocol - as well as Teburu and Stonemaier stealing thunder with Tapestry! Visit our website: https://teamcovenant.com