Game Store Prophets

Today marks a special day for this podcast, our ministry, and myself personally. 14 years ago TODAY (July 22nd), The Oliphant in the Room hit the airways and introduced us as a voice in the space of where God and gaming culture collide. This year also marks 10 years since InnRoads Ministries first received our 501c3 status. We celebrated this double anniversary by gathering up a number of our frie...

Both of your hosts have had moments playing a certain game with our kids recently. The game in question is My Little Scythe — the kids version of the well loved and respected strategy epic. In this episode, we break down what makes a good “kids version” of a game, the value of sharing games like this with our kids, and how playing My Little Scythe has proven to be a microcosm for...

Did you miss us? We’re back! Daniel and Mike sit down to talk about the conventions we got to while we weren’t on here making content for you all. We talk about what it’s like give up ourselves for other folks at the gaming table, about how much value can be seen and felt in even the smallest acts of encouragement, and how when we truly trust the in the sovereignty of God —...

A cairn is pile of stones placed at a location sometimes as a way to mark a trail being traveled, or most often to identify a particular landmark or memorial. So what happens when we start tying the games on our shelves to specific moments or specific people? In their own way, they become cairns themselves — a collection of bits and pieces that serve as reminders of things and people that ar...

A family emergency delayed this one getting out at the right time, but we didn’t want to lose this gold. Sometimes it really is about the question. It’s about the freedom and space to ask questions about how things happened, why it works that way, or whether or not the way we see things are valid. In this episode we talk about Ierusalem: Anno Domini and the D&D movie Honor Among Th...

A lot of decisions and practices by the parent companies behind Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons and Dragons are causing some of us who have been around since the earliest of days to question whether they have taken a step too far for us to keep backing their products. But whether or not we move forward with those games in our collection or not is just one of the reasons one might want to conside...

We’re back from Easter celebrations with a Gary Con XV after action report. Daniel and the team had a great trip out to Lake Geneva, where they got to embody the core of what we do at InnRoads — play games, connect with people, and share in their stories. We also double back to a topic inspired by our Warhammer focused episode to talk about the value and challenges of 3D printing in th...

While Daniel has been away at Gary Con XV leading our team at the board game library, we called up our friend Ryan from City on a Hill Gaming to talk about world building for a decidedly Christian gaming experience that goes beyond just saying that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is the only true God or that throwing in an order of paladins who serve Jesus. We then broaden the scope to talk a...

Perhaps it was inevitable that we’d get here. After all — in the grim dark future there is only war. So let’s talk about Warhammer 40k. In this episode the guys talk about how we can find God in everything — even in the grim dark future of the 40k universe. They discuss the way Ork magic works as a picture of faith — and how that picture is often exactly how we mess w...

We love our games. Part of what we love about our games is the tactile nature of them. Moving miniatures around the board. The feel of good, quality materials in our hands. The way everything looks when it comes together on the table. Naturally we want to take care of them for a number of reasons — but what happens when we become so concerned about keeping our games in their perfect conditio...

Three years ago, the COVID pandemic was the proverbial nail in the coffin of our recording ability. While we were unable to jump over all the hurtles that came down the path, we always knew that we’d be back eventually to once again take up the mantle of a podcast known for talking games, God, and how the relationships that build us are forged there. That day is today. After three years of s...

Recording got delayed on this one due to a guest appearance , a holiday here in America, and some incredibly bad sinus pressure – but we’re here now, and we have an interesting show for you. In this episode, we continue to talk about trying to figure out how to get games played in the midst of lockdown – but actually don’t get to our usual coffee and contemplation segment b...

You’d think after an episode dedicated to ways you can game with your friends around virtual tables during quarantine we’d have more stories about games we’ve been playing – but that doesn’t go so well. So instead we want to talk about the myth of certainty, that place of comfort and security where we know a thing is going to happen a certain way because it just has t...

We’ve been living that quarantine life like everyone else lately, and we’re starting to get a bit stir-crazy. Among all our usual topics of discussion, your hosts – both of who are normally proponents of face-to-face gaming over the digital counterpart – discuss the many ways digital gaming is saving our sanity and forging connections with our friends and family. Games ment...

In this episode, Mike & Daniel are back to discuss how perspectives and expectations can shape the choices that we make in life and gaming. Jumping off of the point mentioned in our previous episode regarding different editions of Dungeons and Dragons – specifically how Daniel enjoys older editions while 5th edition is everything Mike has hoped the game could be – many of the diffe...

Daniel and Mike are back on the air with a new look for Game Store Prophets. In this episode, they introduce new segments that will help us avoid the pressure to dig into limited gaming ability for topics – as it can sometimes be hard to get to the table as adults, let alone adults with toddlers in the house. They’ll also be talking ABOUT those toddlers as they talk about the concepts...

InnRoads at GenCon Daniel and T.R. welcome InnRoads Regulars Jeff Jackson and Michael Riddle to the show as they bring together their experiences at GenCon 2019. In the end, we hear how connecting with others is the best thing about these conventions! Music and Sound by Syrinscape. https://store.syrinscape.com/what-is-syrinscape/?att 10 ‘Epic games need Epic game sound’ And Music by Kevin MacLeod,...

Reset and Relaxation Daniel and Jeff bring an update on the GSP as we head into a season of prayer and rest and upgrade. We announce our first Sabbatical where we seek some recuperation, time to reflect on how we can improve the GSP show and spend some extra time with family as life tosses some changes the team’s way. Good things are afoot. And we’re looking forward to what the future...

Remakes, Retakes and that Old Game-lovin’ Feeling Daniel and Jeff start things off with a trip down memory lane as we celebrate a spoiler-free love-fest for Stranger Things 3. Along the way they uncover the need to capture the old feelings of wonder and simple pleasures in our favorite hobbies.  Sometimes the views of our child-like selves can help the outlooks of our adult eyes. Archive Div...

Technical Difficulties!! Hi Gang! Unfortunately there have been gremlins loosed within the confines of the Edit Bay 9000 and we’ve been forced to postpone release of Episode 206 until next cycle. But, we do have a treat for you as compensation! Cast your ears upon the Actual Play action over at InnRoads Plays, our sister podcast where we’re launching episode 1 of a new trilogy –...

Adding Ambiance to your Game Nights! Daniel, T.R. and Jeff sometimes go overboard when it comes to game nights. Music and effects, food, smells, even environment can all be used to raise the bar in your games. Playing King of Tokyo, why not have the Godzilla soundtrack and monster smashes in the background? Jumping behind the wheel of Gaslands? Maybe the smells of oil and metal in the air? Or hold...

Running, Driving, Sailing…Just Finish the Race! T.R. and Jeff burn rubber and set the sails to discuss the various ways racing has become a part of gaming culture. And how has racing impacted us as a culture, influencing the pace at which we live. P.S. Stick around for the end. Archive Dive Mille Bornes On the Horizon Gaslands: Refueled Godzilla: King of Monsters The Role Player’s Guid...

Conundrums and Forking It Warning!! | Spoilers for Avengers: Endgame!! .. ..   Daniel, T.R. and Jeff get swept along the time stream as they discuss the impacts of one of the most powerful macguffins in science fiction. We talk Avengers, Spider-Man, Fluxx, Dr Who and the concept that God stands outside of time as the ultimate Watcher. Archive Dive Batman Fluxx On the Horizon Love Letter (2019...

Sparking Joy or Outrage? Daniel, Mike and Jeff get carried away with segments but eventually discuss what it means to decide what’s important in one’s gaming collection. Will this help our listeners with methods to “tidy up” their collections? Or will it spawn an unending stream of hate mail? We have a chance to chat up the new InnRoads Plays podcast feed (now featuring the...

Resurrection Changes a Person T.R. and Jeff discuss the importance of Holy Week, from Palm Sunday to Resurrection Sunday, and why the concept of Resurrection resonates through our media. On the Horizon Avengers: Endgame (no spoilers) Era: Medieval Age by Matt Leacock Archive Dive Betrayal: Legacy Scripture Reference(s) Matthew 20:25‭-‬28 Romans 6:5-7 Music and Sound by Syrinscape. https://store.sy...