Russian Railroads (ft. Jonny Pac)
Today we discuss our Russian Railroads in celebration of it’s recent reprint announcement. We sit down with acclaimed designer Jonny Pac (e.g. Coloma, Lions of Lydia, Fistful of Meeples, Merchants Cove) to figure out what exactly fuels this powerful locomotive.
Dwellings of Eldervale (ft. Quackalope Writing Team)
Today we discuss Dwellings of Eldervale designed by Luke Laurie and published by Breaking Games featuring The Quackalope Writing Team! Dwellings of Eldervale Dwellings of Eldervale is hybrid worker placement game set in a once lost magical world.
Cartographers and Popular Roll & Writes (ft. Jay Cormier)
Today we discuss bevy of Roll & Writes with Jay Cormier founder of Off The Page Games and designer of games like Akotiri, In the Hall of the Mountain King, Junk Art and many more! In the episode we talk about all things surrounding Roll & Writes, but we focus specifically on That’s So Clever, Patchwork Doodle, Cartographers, Welcome To and Rajas of the Ganges: The Dice Charmers. We cap the episode off by breaking down the history of the genre and what innovations influenced its modern day implementation.
Merv (ft. Board Games In A Minute)
Today we discuss Merv: The Heart of the Silk Road designed by Fabio Lopiano and published by Osprey Games featuring Sarah Shaw from Board Games In a Minute! Merv: The Heart of the Silk Road is a tense economic game charting the rise and fall of the greatest city in the world. In Merv, players are vying to amass power and wealth in the prosperous heart of the Silk Road. Through careful court intrigue, timely donations to the grand mosque, and favorable trade deals, players attempt to redirect as much of that prosperity as possible into their own pockets. Meanwhile, beyond the city walls Mongol hordes approach. If you help construct the city walls, you give up on precious opportunities to build up your own stature, but leave it unprotected and you will burn with the city. The player with the most victory points by the third year wins! (Description provided by the publisher.)
Great Western Trail (ft. Before You Play)
Today we discuss Great Western Trail designed by Alexander Pfister and published by eggertspiele featuring Monique and Naveen from Before You Play. In GWT you are rival cattlemen in 19th century America, herding cattle from Texas to Kansas city in a circular trail. Through a combination of rondel movement, hand management and tableau building you’ll move your cattleman down the trail. Along the way you will hire new staff, construct buildings and purchase new cattle before reaching your destination, all while avoiding hazards and taxes. Once in Kansas your cattle are then shipped by train, earning you money, opportunities to evolve your player board and victory points. The winner is the player who manages their herd best and exhibits the best timing within the trail.
Obsession (ft. BoardGameCo & Board Games In A Minute)
Today we discuss Obsession by Dan Hallagan with BoardGameCo and Board Games In A Minute. In the game you are the head of a respected but troubled family estate in mid-19th century Victorian England, in which your goal is to improve your estate. During play, will build a deck of Victorian gentry, renovate their estate by acquiring building tiles from a centralized builders' market, and manipulate an extensive service staff through a unique worker placement mechanic. The player who best meets the expectations of the rich, while accumulating victory points and courting the hand of the wealthy will win the game.
Tang Garden (ft. Natanel Apfel)
Today we discuss Tang Garden by ThunderGryph Games, a tile laying, set collection and vista building game. The Tang dynasty was considered the first golden age of the classical and now iconic Chinese gardens. You will act as an Imperial Garden Designer challenged to build the most incredible garden while balancing the elements of Nature. On your turn you’ll decide to continue expanding the communal garden or add stunning decorations to further enhance the landscape. As you do, you’ll gain familiarity with the elements, allowing you to commune with nature inspiring noblemen to visit your section of the growing garden. At the end of the game, the player with the most prestige wins.
Smartphone Inc.
Ever wondered what it would feel like to be Steve Jobs? Well, here’s your chance! Today we bring you Smartphone Inc. by Cosmodrome and Arcane Wonders. You are a group of starry-eyed tech entrepreneurs ready to take the world by storm with your innovative new phones! Each round players will secretly program their actions through an elegant tile laying mechanic. Each tile contains a different set of icons that will be used in specific phases. Once revealed, your selections are locked and it’s up to you on how you spread and sell your goods. The entrepreneur who sold the most phones by the end of round 5 is the winner! Do you have what it takes to become the next Apple?