The Dice Tower

Tom, Julie, and Eric discuss the results of the Origins Awards, and share the nominees for The Dice Tower Awards' Game of the Year. Julie tells us about her trip to Origins (and Tom pines for ice cream), and we ponder the dos and don'ts of upgrading your boardgame pieces. Then, we finish the show with our Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops. 00:17 - Gen Con Plans (Booth 331) 02:29 - Origins Awards and D...

Tom and Eric congratulate Julie on her successful move, which leads to a discussion on keeping your collection to a reasonable size (so you don't have to move as much). We run through the nominees for the Spiel des Jahres (Germany's Game of the Year awards), answer some questions from the mailbag, and share our recent Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops. 00:53 - School Schedules 02:17 - Con Schedules -...

This time, Tom recounts his trip to BGG Spring, and Eric reviews the Dungeons and Dragons show in New York City. We act out a new Tale of Boardgaming Horror, attempt to help answer a listener question, and close the show with our Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops. 00:47 - Summer Events 05:26 - Dice Tower District 06:09 - Tom at BGG Spring 13:22 - Eric at Dungeons and Dragons: The Twenty-Sided Tavern 1...

Tom, Julie and Eric run through some of their plans for Dice Tower East and Gen Con later this summer before taking a look at the year that was 2004, which was inexplicably 20 years ago. We share a new Tale of Boardgaming Horror, answer a question from the mailbag, and round up our Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops. 00:48 - Events at Dice Tower East 03:04 - Gen Con Plans 05:36 - Looking back at 2004 -...

Tom and Eric quiz Julie about her recent trip to the Tokyo Game Market, including some of the games she brought home, before moving on to a Tale of Boardgaming Horror and our Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops. 00:49 - Dice Tower East and Large Dexterity Games 02:27 - The World Series of Boardgaming 03:49 - The Universe Explained with a Cookie 04:42 - Julie at the Tokyo Game Market 30:48 - Acorns 32:38...

Tom, Julie and Eric begin by recapping their recent travels, including Julie's trip to The Gathering of Friends and Eric's family trip to Washington DC and Philadelphia. Tom recalls the recent 36-hour marathon on the video chanel, which leads us into tips for playing several games in a row. We have a pretty darn horrific Tale of Boardgaming Horror, and finish the show with our Roses, Thorns, and H...

This time, Tom, Julie, and Eric discuss the pitfalls of April Fools gags before highlighting the highs and lows of bargain hunting. We confront a listener-submitted dilemma from the mailbag, and we share some Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops. 00:45 - Cruise Hype and an Unexpected Musical Rant 02:21 - April Fools Annoyance 12:12 - Bargain Hunting 29:25 - Question: Avoid the Game or the Person? 36:05 -...

Tom, Julie, and Eric revisit last episode's question about auction games by looking at their favorite auction mechanisms, and look forward to Julie's and Eric's events at Dice Tower East. We share a new Tale of Boardgaming Horror, and run through our Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops. 01:23 - Staying Up Late and Dice Tower West 03:29 - Looking Forward to Dice Tower East 07:00 - 36-Hour Marathon 08:07...

This time, we are LIVE at Dice Tower West 2024 in Las Vegas in front of a convention audience to discuss our Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops, pit three games in a Vegas-themed Showdown, share a Tale of Boardgaming Horror, and take questions from the audience. 01:04 - News for Dice Tower West 2025 03:17 - Games Tom Taught 04:26 - Eric Plays Wyrmspan 05:52 - What's Julie Been Doing? 07:33 - Way Too Ma...

Tom, Julie, and Eric share their excitement for Dice Tower West. Tom and Eric have been playing Collectable Card Games with their kids, while Julie played games in a castle. We share some industry news about the former designers at Prospero Hall, as well as a Tale of Horror that leads to a discussion about Math Trades. And we close the show with our Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops. 00:45 - Dice Towe...

This time, Tom, Julie, and Eric remember their gaming habits in college. Also, we look at the motivation for a publisher to "rescue" a failed crowdfunding campaign. Eric gets worked up with a Tale of Boardgaming Horror, and we share some Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops. 01:33 - Dice Tower West and Live At The Table (Saturday 3/9 at 1pm) 04:33 - "Rescuing" a Crowdfunding Campaign 27:01 - Our Gaming i...

This time, Tom, Julie, and Eric look back at the work of the Prospero Hall design studio, as well as answering a question about travel games, and presenting a new Tale of Boardgaming Horror. Plus, those Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops. 01:31 - Popular Games on the Dice Tower Cruise 03:31 - Waiting to Get New Games 06:35 - The Work of Prospero Hall 27:05 - Tale of Boardgaming Horror 32:08 - Question:...

Recorded in the main dining hall on the Oasis of the Seas, Tom, Julie, and Eric discuss games they played in the pre-cruise event and first few hours of sailing, and also share advice on giving feedback to game designers after playing their prototype. 00:41 - Recording in Person?!? 02:07 - The Vale of Eternity 03:40 - Pre-Cruise Gaming and Taking Over Public Spaces 04:58 - Vaalbara 07:58 - Cheers...

For our first show of 2024, we revisit our earlier discussion about box sizes for games, but not before we check in on everybody's adventures over the holidays. Tom visits a game club in Tampa, and we share some Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops. 00:45 - Public Domain IPs in 2024 03:50 - Dice Tower West and the Dice Tower Kickstarter 04:29 - Holiday Wrap-Up 13:19 - Box Sizes 40:24 - Tampa Gaming Guild...

In our final episode of 2023, Tom, Julie, and Eric discuss their highs and lows of the year, including our biggest surprises, rosiest roses, thorniest thorns, and hula-iest hula hoops. 02:57 - 2023 as a Whole 14:45 - Best Game to Play at a Convention - Chicken 16:09 - Fiction 17:01 - The Same Game 19:45 - Best Theme - First in Flight 20:53 - Jekyll vs. Hyde Card Game 21:51 - Freelancers 22:53 - Mo...

This time, Eric and Julie recap their adventures at PAX Unplugged, and Tom has some questions from the mailbag about Theme, House Rules, and that player in your group who always seems to win. Then, we close the show with some Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops. 05:38 - PAX Unplugged Recap 26:36 - Mailbag: House Rules 29:13 - Mailbag: The Player who Always Wins 34:17 - Mailbag: Theme vs. Setting 42:03 -...

Tom, Julie, and Eric discuss how to deal with game players who get in the way of enjoying games. Also, some holiday shopping tips for those going to PAX Unplugged (and those that aren't as well), a new Tale of Boardgaming Horror, and some Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops. 02:23 - PAX Unplugged Plans 04:38 - People Who Ruin Games 22:42 - Holiday Shopping at PAX and Elsewhere 36:21 - Tale of Boardgamin...

Tom and Julie talk Eric out of getting the Doctor Who Magic the Gathering set, which leads to a discussion of out-of-universe items showing up in games. We prepare for some family gaming over the holidays, share a new Tale of Boardgaming Horror, and run through some Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops. 05:21 - Doctor Who Magic and other Gaming Anachronisms 25:18 - Gaming at Family Gatherings Without Sca...

In this episode, Tom, Julie, and Eric discuss the finer points of the suggested ages you see on game boxes, and when it matters to pay attention. Also, how a board game can make you scared, a new Tale of Boardgaming Horror, and some Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops. 07:33 - Suggested Ages 20:05 - Games That Scare You 41:47 - Tale of Boardgaming Horror 46:19 - Mother of Frankenstein 50:27 - The Shinin...

Tom and Julie have been traveling, and we want to hear about where they've been. We have recaps of the World Series of Boardgaming in Las Vegas and Spiel in Essen, before sharing some Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops. 01:32 - World Series of Boardgaming 20:35 - Spiel 48:20 - Nekojima 50:37 - Path of Civilization 53:24 - Rankster 56:22 - Cat Horror Festival 59:53 - Hygge 1:03:30 - Eila and Something S...

Tom, Julie, and Eric discuss Essen Spiel 2023, including some general information on the layout, food, and happenings at the fair, as well as some of their most anticipated games. Then they close the show with reviews of Ticket To Ride Legacy, Fit to Print, and Deckscape: Tokyo Blackout. 01:27 - Food 04:26 - Layout Changes 17:32 - Booth Schedule (Dice Tower 3W103, Van Ryder Games 2C102) 19:55 - Pr...

This Time, Tom, Julie, and Eric recount their adventures at the Dice Tower Retreat and the Alliance Trade Show, try to get to the bottom of marketing strategies for Boardgame "families", present a new Tale of Boardgaming Horror, and share some Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops. 00:58 - Dice Tower Retreat Recap 07:53 - Alliance Trade Show Recap 13:12 - Hasbro Women Innovators of Play 17:00 - Lawn Games...

In this episode, Tom, Julie, and Eric discuss the logic behind MSRP at your local game store, put a trio of games up against each other in an arena Showdown, present a classic Tale of Boardgaming Horror, and share some Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops. 02:56 - The News: MSRP 13:54 - Showdown: Freelancers vs Wander: The Cult of Barnacle Bay vs Near and Far 28:07 - Tale of Boardgaming Horror (classic)...

In this episode, we kick off our new format with a new co-host, and a discussion of the sights and games of Gen Con 2023. 01:40 - Re-Introductions 04:26 - Current Events: Lorcana at Gen Con 16:15 - Gen Con Wrap-Up 29:48 - Rose, Thorn, Hula Hoop 31:30 - Lorcana 33:29 - Waffle Time 34:33 - Hogs of War 36:00 - Four Humors 38:48 - Fika 41:26 - Wild Tiled West 43:13 - Sea Salt & Paper 46:12 - Agree to...

This week Tom & Eric bring Julie Ahern to the table! 2:36 - Getting To Know You  44:55 - One and One