Pick Up and Deliver

Brendan gives his first thoughts on The Prodigal’s Club, a new-to-him game he played for the first time recently. What do you do if you’re a young man in Victorian England who already has everything? Try to get rid of it, obviously. Games mentioned: The Prodigal’s Club Last Will Moxy Fruvous “The Lowest Highest Point” is from Live Noise What’s your experience with this game? Do you like complex ga...

On this, the birthday of the United States, Brendan reflects on some relevant themes for the fourth of July and some games that relate to them. Join us! Games mentioned: A Few Acres of Snow Small World Monopoly Diplomacy Axis and Allies Freedom: The Underground Railroad Legendary: Marvel Love Letter Wok on Fire Hanabi Episode music: “Stars and Stripes Forever” by John Phillip Sousa, recorded by th...

Brendan shares the games he’s been playing this month. He updates us on his 10×10, his Top of the Stack, his Shelf of Opportunity, and his Out of the Dust plays. Lots to track! Lists: My Top of the Stack entry My Shelf of Opportunity Out of the Dust list Games mentioned: Robinson Crusoe Unreal Estate Crazy Karts Roll for the Galaxy Terra Mystica Inoka Through the Ages: a New Story of Civilization...

Pick Up and Deliver podcast 063: Art vs. Audience Brendan asks what flexibility a game designer should maintain in order to maximize audience fun or exposure.  Show notes: Work In Progress thread for Something Wakes in the Forest Discussion thread regarding demon question Have thoughts on this topic? Drop by our BoardGameGeek guild, #3269.

Brendan discusses some of our thinking about which components to include in a game and how the components, box size, and ideas about how the production of a game shapes how we understand it. Games discussed during the podcast: The Grimm Forest Cromlech In The Loop (no BGG page yet) Elder Sign Century: Spice Road What games have you played that have a disconnect between what they look like and how...

Brendan discusses his history as a Kickstarter backer and the games he's enjoyed therein. Games mentioned, etc: Brendan's Kickstarter profile (with a list of all project backed) Miskatonic School for Girls Castle Dice Goonies: The Adventure Card Game A Study in Emerald The Agents Gloomhaven What is the best Kickstarter you've backed? The Worst? What do you use it for? Let us know in the guild, #32...

Brendan reflects on his recent first play of Panamax in the regular segment, "Shootin' from the Hip." Game mentioned: Panamax Have thoughts about Panamax or other stock market games? Join the conversation over at our Board Game Geek guild, #3269.

Brendan wraps up his mini-series on what Kickstarter is for with an episode covering a variety of small things Kickstarter does or about how it works. Games Brendan mentioned: Burgle Bros Paperback HATE Teramyyd: Earthsphere Have thoughts on the episode? Join our conversation in our Boardgamegeek guild, #3269.

Brendan discusses how some artists return to attractive ideas or techniques over and over, trying to find the edges and contours of those creative elements. Join us! Games discussed: Prowler’s passage World’s Fair 1893 Sentient Which designers do you find returning to the same ideas to explore them anew? Which designers are always blazing new trails? Let us know on our guild, #3269.

Brendan continues his discussion of Kickstarter, this time exploring the idea that the popular crowdfunding platform is for pre-orders from established companies. Show notes: Previous Kickstarter episode (54) Batman Chronicles HATE Arcadia Quest (was the game I was trying to think of from CMON) Companies mentioned: Stonemeier games, Monolith games, Mythic games, Mantic Games, CMON What do you thin...

Brendan gives the update on his May experience with his Top of the Stack and 10 for 10. Want a spoiler, check out the list here: https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/235177/my-2018-top-stack-list Let us know how your May went — join the conversation in our guild over on BoardGameGeek, guild 3269.

Brendan starts a series of podcasts about Kickstarter — what it’s for, why we use it, why it works, etc. This time, he explores the original mythology of Kickstarter, namely that Kickstarter is for dreamers. Have something to say? Join the conversation over at Boardgame Geek in our guild, #3269.

In this episode, Brendan offers up his opinions on ten games from his current Top 50 games. Games discussed: 10. Last Will 9. A Touch of Evil: The Supernatural Game 8. Anachrony 7. Arkham Horror: The Card Game 6. Brass: Lancashire 5. Star Wars: Rebellion 4. Dungeon Petz 3. Pandemic Legacy: Season 1 2. A Study in Emerald 1. Android: Netrunner Want to spoil the whole thing for yourself? Check out th...

In this episode, Brendan offers up his opinions on ten games from his current Top 50 games. Games discussed: 11. A Feast for Odin 12. Mottainai 13. Trickerion: Legends of Illusion 14. Elysium 15. Orléans 16. Terraforming Mars 17. SeaFall 18. Dungeon Lords 19. Legacy: Gears of Time 20. The Arrival Want to spoil the whole thing for yourself? Check out the whole list. Have something to say? Join the...

In this episode, Brendan offers up his opinions on ten games from his current Top 50 games. Games discussed: 30. Via Nebula 29. Galaxy Trucker 28. Arctic Scavengers 27. Castles of Mad King Ludwig 26. Euphoria: Build a Better Dystopia 25. AquaSphere 24. Vampire: The Eternal Struggle 23. Agricola 22. Last Night on Earth: The Zombie Game 21. The Networks Want to spoil the whole thing for yourself? Ch...

In this episode, Brendan offers up his opinions on ten games from his current Top 50 games. Games discussed: 40 – Loop, Inc art by (Kwanchai Moriya) 39 – Shakespeare 38 – Onward to Venus 37 – 7 Wonders 36 – Five Tribes 35 – Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective 34 – Betrayal at House on the Hill 33 – Lemuria 32 – Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle 31 – Olympus Want to spoil the whole thing for yourself...

In this episode, Brendan offers up his opinions on ten games from his current Top 50 games. Want to spoil the whole thing for yourself? Check out the whole list. https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/233763/my-top-50 Have something to say? Join the conversation over at Boardgame Geek in our guild, #3269.

Brendan talks about the way that games do, or don't, make it clear to the player what you need to do to win. Games mentioned: Munchkin Star Wars: Rebellion Agricola Tzolk'in, the Mayan Calendar Anachrony Have something to say? Join the conversation over at Boardgame Geek in our guild, #3269.

Brendan discusses his process for culling his collection and the reasons one might cut a game out of the collection. Join us for the conversation! Games discussed: Warhammer 40k Legends of Andor Twilight Imperium, 3rd Edition Cards Against Humanity Arkham Horror Cthulhu’s Vault Castle Panic Pandemic: Legacy, season 1 Mythos Tales Have something to say? Join the conversation over at Boardgame Geek...

Brendan asks whether, and how, a games-maker can tackle difficult historical ages in which terrible things happened. In this case, how can you make a game out of colonizing North America and still have respect for the people who lived there first? Show notes: Endeavor Freedom: The Underground Railroad Have something to say? Join the conversation over at Boardgame Geek in our guild, #3269.

Brendan returns to the “Shootin’ from the Hip'” format to discuss a new game he played, Pulsar 2849. It’s a thinky brain-burner! Tune in to learn more about the game. Find show notes at http://rattleboxgames.com/category/podcast/pick-up-and-deliver/

Brendan introduces a new segment: “Message from the Deep,” a response to a game I’ve played many times focused on aspects or elements of the game I find particularly interesting. This week, it’s Star Wars: Rebellion. Star Wars: Rebellion Twilight Imperium 4 Note: Star Wars: Rebellion is my number 5 game as of the end of 2017. Have thoughts on this Message from the Deep? Drop us a line at our guild...

In this episode, Brendan discusses how different aspects of our modern world have been "gamified" and what affect that has on our behavior, how we might understand the benefits and drawbacks of those changes, and what that says about game design.  Have thoughts on the episode? Post a comment in our BGG guild ( https://boardgamegeek.com/guild/3269) .

Brendan discusses games that are "punishing," either by setting up mean situations, a tight economy, or a brutal cooperative situation.  Join us to discuss the game on BoardGameGeek guild 3269.

Brendan dives head first into the current conversation about the paintings of Jakub Rozalski, the artist for Scythe. Does the history of copyright and the changing nature of creativity complicate the accusations that Rozalski has traced portions of his work? BoardgameGeek thread  https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/1990146/truth-behind-art-jakub-rozalski The reddit thread:  https://www.reddit.com/r/b...