Lay It On The Table

Join us as we explore the latest in board games, local game stores, and community events, with insights into game design, industry trends, and personal stories from the gaming world.

Join us as we explore the latest trends in the tabletop gaming industry, including distribution strategies, virtual tabletop platforms, and game design insights. Perfect for enthusiasts and industry insiders alike.

Joe Mahaffey and James Engelhardt return with a warm, funny, and wide-ranging conversation that moves from board games and hobby collecting to house construction, permit headaches, and the joys of finding the right game for the right table.

Join Joe Mahaffey and James Engelhardt as they discuss recent trends in Dungeons & Dragons, the evolution of board game rule books, and their latest gaming experiences, including new game releases and gameplay insights.

In this episode of Lay It On The Table, hosts Joe Mahaffey and James Engelhardt discuss their recent gaming experiences, including the completion of the '12 Games of Christmas' challenge. They highlight upcoming events like Mythicon West and Gen Con, and explore new games such as Flamecraft Duels and Arboria. The conversation also delves into the mechanics of popular games like Wingspan Americas a...

Summary In this episode of Lay It On The Table, hosts Joe Mahaffey and James Engelhardt discuss their recent gaming experiences, including weather-related challenges, upcoming events like Mythicon and Gen Con, and their successful completion of the 12 Games of Christmas challenge. They highlight various games played, such as Santa's Workshop, Wingspan, and new titles like Flamecraft and Arboria. T...

Summary In this episode, Joe Mahaffey and James Engelhardt sit down with Richard Fortuna, one of the masterminds behind Mythicon West, a community-driven tabletop gaming convention. They discuss the legacy of Mace, the challenges of running a convention, the importance of community support, and the vibrant indie gaming scene. Richard shares insights on the venue, the unique vibe of Asheville compa...

In this episode, Joe and James reflect on the holiday season, discuss the evolving landscape of the board game industry, and share insights on economic trends affecting gaming. They explore the concept of themed board games, share their recent gaming experiences, and discuss upcoming titles they are excited about. The conversation wraps up with thoughts on the future of gaming and holiday wishes f...

In this episode, we dive into the creative journey of John Bailey, the founder of HumbleBard Games. John shares his transition from a music background to board game design, discussing the inspiration behind his company and the development of games like 'Spirits of Christmas.' We explore the challenges and triumphs of self-publishing, the importance of theme in game design, and the collaborative pr...

In this episode of "Lay It On The Table," hosts Joe Mahaffey and James Engelhardt dive into the world of board games, discussing the latest releases and their experiences at Spiel Essen, the world's largest game event. They explore a variety of games, from light deck builders like "Bohemians" to heavier worker placement games such as "Covenant." The conversation also touches on the intricacies of...

In this episode, hosts Joe Mahaffey and James Engelhardt discuss their return to the podcast after a hiatus, share updates on upcoming episodes, and highlight the Mythicon convention in Charlotte, North Carolina. They delve into industry news, including Gamma's global expansion, the strike by Kickstarter employees, and financial challenges faced by CMON and Elf Creek Games. The hosts also review t...

Summary In this episode, Joe Mahaffey and James Engelhardt discuss various topics related to the board game industry, including the bankruptcy of Seamon, the impact of tariffs on game production, updates on Kickstarter projects, and the introduction of Game Toppers 5.0. They also share insights from their experiences at May X, focusing on student engagement with deck-building games and the learnin...

Summary In this episode of Lay It On The Table, Joe Mahaffey and James Engelhardt discuss recent travels, updates on board game tariffs, and insights from their experiences with Kickstarter projects. They delve into the world of deck-building games, particularly focusing on how students engage with these mechanics and their preferences in gaming. The conversation highlights the importance of under...

In this episode of the Southern board game podcast, hosts Joe Mahaffey and James Engelhardt discuss personal challenges, the impact of tariffs on the board game community, and their recent game acquisitions. They share highlights from their game nights, including experiences with new games and the excitement surrounding upcoming events. The conversation emphasizes the importance of community and t...

In this episode, hosts Joe Mahaffey and James Engelhardt discuss a range of topics from personal loss to the latest in board games. They reflect on the recent passing of Joe's mother and how it impacted their podcast schedule. The conversation shifts to the news of Hasbro scrapping Project Sigil, a virtual tabletop initiative, and the implications for the gaming community. They delve into game rev...

In this episode of the Southern board game podcast, the hosts discuss various topics including the weather, recent changes in the board game industry, and reviews of new games like Castle Combo and Rock Hard 1977. They also touch on the importance of teaching games to students and share updates on expansions and new arrivals in their collections.

# Season 4, Episode 2 # Welcome [A New Hope  | Geek & Southern | Lay It On The Table, Episode 38](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUtNixjP2nk&t=708s) Shout out from Dirty Rascal Games… # Board Game News The BoardGameGeek Hall of Fame honors games that have made meaningful contributions to the board game hobby in the areas of innovation, artistry, and impact. [Announcing The BoardGameGeek H...

Welcome Description of the new format and plans for season 4 and beyond The World of Wingspan just got a lot bigger with the addition of Finspan! Elizabeth Hargrave helped designers David Gordon and Michael O’Connell develop this game into something that is familiar-yet-different from Wingspan, delving deep into the fish theme. You are a marine researcher seeking to find and observe an array of aq...

You may have noticed that we have been dark since June of 2024. Here is our previously unreleased Season 3 Finale. James and I will be back this month with Season 4 with a revised format.

As James updates listeners on how MayX is going at Furman, Joe recounts his experience in taking board games on his recent trip to Mexico and the encounter with a very nice customs agent.

James and Joe talk about James' plans for his May Experience class at Furman University. For show notes, head over to ⁠https://layitonthetable.show

Joe and James spend time talking about games and gaming with a particular focus on AEG's Let's Go to Japan. For show notes, head over to https://layitonthetable.show

James and Joe discuss their favorite games of the last two weeks!

James and Joe talk Wyrmspan and other amazing board games.

Joe and James launch Season 3 of Lay It On the Table. The Southern Boardgame Podcast, with the accent on Southern