Tabletop Game Talk

This week Chris and Kitty recap their TGT Con 2 and then (eventually) talk about how gamifying real life can backfire.  This conversation is based on the Rule Breaker Investing podcast and a conversation with a philosophy professor C. Thi Nguyen.  If you want to listen to that podcast you can find it here: https://www.fool.com/podcasts/rule-breaker-investing/2023-02-15-from-twister-to-twitter-game...

TGT Con is this weekend!  There is still time to sign up: https://tabletop.events/conventions/tgt-con-2 This week Chris rants about games with too much stuff to make them playable.  You know the kind, simple games with big boxes and tons of components that all need to be token out and setup only to be put back in their proper places after the game.  Miniatures, cards, table space, miniatures, dice...

This week Chris is making us talk about Marvel United.  People seem to like it, but is that just because it's Marvel?  Maybe it's over hyped? Or is there more there then appears from the outside.  And this episode contains a significant first for someone... TGT Con 2: https://tabletop.events/conventions/tgt-con-2  Join our discord, just click (or copy/paste) here: https://discord.gg/ypK2dEQXPH Our...

This week we're talking about how random setups in games can have unexpected consequences along with adding replay-ability and variability to our games.  And how this varies with competitive and co-op games. TGT Con 2: https://tabletop.events/conventions/tgt-con-2 Join our discord, just click (or copy/paste) here: https://discord.gg/ypK2dEQXPH Our BGA group can be found here: https://boardgamearen...

This week Kitty is back, with some heavy news and a lighter topic.  Don't worry it's all good stuff.  We're talking about filler games!  And why they tend to be dismissed within the hobby as something you don't build a game night around.  But maybe we should give them a chance at the spotlight?  Or not. For when it matters, Kitty won and she liked it.  It'll make sense at the end. TGT Con 2: https...

Fletcher is back this week!  Bit Kitty is missing.  In any case Chris and Fletcher talk about all the drama happening round Wizards of the Coast and thier DnD Open Gaming License.  Is DnD dead?   TGT Con 2: https://tabletop.events/conventions/tgt-con-2   Join our discord, just click (or copy/paste) here: https://discord.gg/ypK2dEQXPH Our BGA group can be found here: https://boardgamearena.com/grou...

Some people love it, some hate it, we talk about it.  What are the different ways games can using wagering (betting) in games and how does it change the focus of the game.  Could adding wagering to more games level the playing field between player levels by shifting the victory condition include more of knowing who is going to win and not just winning yourself? Join our discord, just click (or cop...

We're back from the holidays and we talk all about our break.  And we talk about Great Western Trail.  And we talk about TGT Con 2.  And despite all that, it still seems like an off-topic episode.  A fun, off-topic, episode. Join our discord, just click (or copy/paste) here: https://discord.gg/ypK2dEQXPH Our BGA group can be found here: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=5729425 Listen to our liv...

Last week we looked back at 2022, this week we look forward to 2023.  What games are we most looking forward to?  In Chris's case, what Kickstarter is he most looking forward to backing?  And even though this was recorded moments after our last episode, we somehow find some banter about something that happened between episodes. Reminder our next tournament that starts on Dec 27th, so go to the Dis...

This week we look back at the games we played in 2022.  What did we play the most?  Why?  Do games on BGA count?  (Of course they do!) And why, after 316 episodes, do we still flub the beginning of the show.  And more importantly, why after 316 episodes does Chris not fix our flubs in editing!? Reminder our next tournament that starts on Dec 27th, so go to the Discord to find the signup link. Join...

This week we talk about our, often unreasonable, expectations of publishers.  From organized play to game inserts, we cover what we all think publishers should do, and why they probably don't. We also announced our next tournament that starts on Dec 27th, so go to the Discord to find the signup link. Join our discord, just click (or copy/paste) here: https://discord.gg/ypK2dEQXPH Our BGA group can...

This week Chris and Fletcher talk about Hadrian's Wall, a game known as the most complicated Roll and Write ever.  And about them brining it to BGA.  We also talk about a lot of other stuff at the beginning. Join our discord, just click (or copy/paste) here: https://discord.gg/ypK2dEQXPH Our BGA group can be found here: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=5729425 Listen to our live recording Monda...

This week we find out what happens if we never go on topic.  That something is that we're all over the place.  Cast-iron cooking. Family gaming. Advent Calendars. TGT Con 2.  And a bit of a bunch of other stuff as well.  In other words, we're just talking to talk like any other episode :) Join our discord, just click (or copy/paste) here: https://discord.gg/ypK2dEQXPH Our BGA group can be found he...

This week we try and crack the code on how to be casual with your competitive games.  It's a tricky one because nobody likes losing all the time in head to head match ups.  But are there ways to keep it fun even when you're not on top? Join our discord, just click (or copy/paste) here: https://discord.gg/ypK2dEQXPH Our BGA group can be found here: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=5729425 Listen...

This week Kitty has lost her voice, so Chris and Fletcher talk about the new craze that is Marvel Snap.  Yes, it's an app, but it's very tabletop adjacent.  Is this just another Wordle fad, or is there some real meat in this game. Join our discord, just click (or copy/paste) here: https://discord.gg/ypK2dEQXPH Our BGA group can be found here: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=5729425 Listen to o...

This week talk playing games competitively, like tournaments and such, vs causally where you still want to win but you may not want to compete.  This is a tough topic to nail down, so we're not likely to enter a podcast tournament anytime soon, but if we did... we'd probably come in somewhere in the middle. Join our discord, just click (or copy/paste) here: https://discord.gg/ypK2dEQXPH Our BGA gr...

This week talk about going through phases.  Eventually we even talk about phases in gaming.  Not the phase you take during a turn.  The phases of what games we like and then stop liking and maybe start liking again.  You know, phases. Join our discord, just click (or copy/paste) here: https://discord.gg/ypK2dEQXPH Our BGA group can be found here: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=5729425 Listen...

This week Fletcher is back but now Kitty is out.  So Chris and Fletcher talk money.  Specifically money spent on hobbies.  More specifically money spent on games.  Is this another intervention for Chris?  Maybe, kind of one he's doing for himself... Join our discord, just click (or copy/paste) here: https://discord.gg/ypK2dEQXPH Our BGA group can be found here: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=...

This week Fletcher forgets he does a weekly podcast and Kitty and Chris talk about how you may, or may not, cut your collection down to a fixed number of games.  Successful?  Maybe, maybe not, but Chris does seem to come away ready to make some hard cuts to his collection. Join our discord, just click (or copy/paste) here: https://discord.gg/ypK2dEQXPH Our BGA group can be found here: https://boar...

This week Sydnie joins Chris and Fletcher to talk about KeyForge, again again.  Some big news was dropped over the weekend, so they just haaaad, to talk about it.  No really, in the world of KeyForge this is like a 2nd edition of the game level news. Join our discord, just click (or copy/paste) here: https://discord.gg/ypK2dEQXPH Our BGA group can be found here: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id...

This week Chris makes us talk about game theory stuff again.  We look at what the game loop is, the different levels you find them, and why they matter.  Also we had a special guest show up for a minute. Join our discord, just click (or copy/paste) here: https://discord.gg/ypK2dEQXPH Our BGA group can be found here: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=5729425 Listen to our live recording Monday's...

This week we try and figure out why so many games seem like they weren't play tested enough?  Why is it so hard to play test games and work out the bugs before they get published.  Also Kitty is salty that Chris broke Wingspan. Join our discord, just click (or copy/paste) here: https://discord.gg/ypK2dEQXPH Our BGA group can be found here: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=5729425 Listen to our...

This week Fletcher bails on us again so we bring Sydnie in and talk about the history and future of KeyForge.  We found it interesting, so maybe you will too.  It's an interesting game, honest! Join our discord, just click (or copy/paste) here: https://discord.gg/ypK2dEQXPH Our BGA group can be found here: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=5729425 Listen to our live recording Monday's at 8:30pm...

This week Spencer joins us to fill in for Fletcher while we talk about Fantasy Football.  What is it?  How does it work? Why do people play it? And is it really just like a board game? Even if you have no interest in football at all, we think you'll still enjoy this one. Oh and there's a bonus song at the end of the episode.  To see the video (and you should) click here: https://www.youtube.com/wa...

We're looking at the future of our industry, or more specifically we're looking at concerns people have with the future of our industry and try to make sense of what's worth being concerned about and what isn't. Join our discord, just click (or copy/paste) here: https://discord.gg/ypK2dEQXPH Our BGA group can be found here: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=5729425 Listen to our live recording M...