Rolling Dice and Taking Names is a podcast where two seasoned tabletop gamers have discussions about board games, RPGs, and miniatures that are entertaining and informative to casual gamers and experienced hobbyists alike. The level of conversation would be similar to friends sitting around the kitchen table playing the latest game, discussing their likes and dislikes of a style of game, or just trying to make sense of the latest gaming news. In addition, special guests add their gaming knowledge to help the hosts sound more credible. Family friendly, informative and always striving to be entertaining.
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00:00:30Â Intro00:04:45Â Recent RDTN Poll00:14:00Â LOTR: Fellowship of the Ring Trick Taking Game00:17:00Â Quick Hits00:17:30Â Sandcastles00:19:45Â Gruntz00:22:11Â Computer Junkyard00:27:45Â Enemies of Gotham City00:32:15Â Six Sided Seas00:36:15Â Miniature Market00:39:00Â Abroad00:53:30Â Bunny Kingdom Town00:59:30Â Game Toppers LLC01:01:00Â All Mine01:10:00Â Outro
Some game nights feel like a whirlwind tour through every corner of the hobby, and this weekâs lineup delivered exactly that. Sand Castles and Grunts are two wildly different flavors of competitionâone a charming, tactical puzzle of building and defending fragile seaside creations, the other a scrappy, tongueâinâcheek skirmish game where your squad of blocky little soldiers bumbles bravely toward victory. Both games share that delightful âeasy to teach, surprisingly cleverâ vibe that keep things fresh in the hobby at times.
Then we have world of Computer Junkyard and the comicâbook chaos of Enemies of Gotham City. Computer Junkyard scratches that nostalgic itch, letting players sift through piles of retro tech to assemble the best contraptionsâhalf strategy, half puzzler. Enemies of Gotham City flips the script into full superhero mayhem, where iconic villains clash, plot, and posture in a fastâmoving battle of wits and wickedness.
Then there is a trio of games that each bring their own distinct charm. Six Sided Seas turns diceâdriven piracy into a pirate battle across unpredictable waters, while Abroad offers a gentle, globeâtrotting experience built around exploration and cultural discovery. Bunny Kingdom Town offers a bright, two player, familyâfriendly strategyâone about expanding adorable rabbit realms, with enough takeâthat spice to keep it from being a solitaire style game. All Mine is a gamerâs trick taking game where the play is fast, but the planning is what wants you coming back for more. This is one of those games that stays in the game bag to be pulled out to end the evening or get things started.
And speaking of big swings, this is the perfect moment to remind listeners to sign up for notifications on Game Toppersâ upcoming Kickstarter. We rave about their mats for a reasonâthe quality is topâtier, the artwork is stunning, and this next series looks like one people will be proud to show off on game night. Weâve already got our eyes on the Lord of the Rings designs, and that purple plain mat is calling our name. Honestly, who doesnât need another game mat.
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Episode 384: Greylune, Gunsen: The Battle for Toshi Ranbo, Mythologies
Tuesday, August 25, 2026 ⢠Duration 01:21:53
00:00:30Â Intro00:01:15Â Sleeved and Confused00:07:15Â AI in TCG Deck Creation00:13:30Â Backflow failed inspection00:16:30Â Quick Hits00:17:30Â Tag Team:Â Arthurâs Legacy00:20:45Â Warp 9900:25:30Â Tug of Roar00:31:50Â Miniature Market00:33:30Â Greylune00:44:15Â Mythologies00:50:15Â Gunsen: The Battle for Toshi Ranbo01:07:00Â Comic Books Resurgence01:15:00Â Outro
Man, listening back at the episode, didnât realize just how much we covered. And what we cover âTag Team: Arthurâs Legacy, Warp 99, Tug of Roar, Greylune, Mythologies, and Gunsen: The Battle for Toshi Ranbo â is a very broad spectrum of board game mechanics. But what is interesting with these games, there are cross over mechanics that exist that making learning the next one simpler because we already understand what is expected.
Tag Team: Arthurâs Legacy is a follow up to the initial Tag Team game. However, this time we have Arthurian heroes teaming up, chaining abilities, and pulling off last minute heroics to pull out a win. Itâs the kind of game tension builds each round. Warp 99 is a fastâpaced card game where players race to shed their hands, aiming for massive point bursts driven by the tableau they build. The twist is in the scoring, every card you manage to keep in your tableau gets squared, turning even a modest spread of cards into a surprisingly explosive payoff.
Then comes Tug of Roar, a clever lane battler that thrives on tension and brinkmanship. Itâs quick, tight, and surprisingly dramatic for such a streamlined design. And the card drafting mechanic really adds to the strategy of this game. Greylune offers a fresh twist on the classic Spyrium formula. Games in this genre can sometimes slip into feeling like pure resource spreadsheetsâconvert this into that, chase efficiency, tally points. Greylune pushes back against that monotony by layering in a quest system that lets players build small narrative arcs as they play. Those stories arenât just flavor; they can provide meaningful advantages that shape your path to victory, giving the game a welcome sense of accomplishment alongside its familiar economic core. Mythologies is a card drafting game that offers a twist on the style of drafting that is refreshing in a very crowded field of these types of games. We really appreciated this change and welcome the twist that this game provided.
Finally, Gunsen: The Battle for Toshi Ranbo delivers a crisp, tactical showdown rooted in samurai warfare. Itâs all about positioning, timing, and reading your opponent. For an area control style game, is not about a big push but more about reading the boardâs subtle signals. Victory can be quick for someone if the others are caught napping, so you always should be on your toes. However, this may also create an unsatisfying finish for some.
Thanks for listening
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Episode 383: Hunt for Blackbeard, Star Wars Unlimited Galactic Championship, Southern Fried Gaming Expo
Tuesday, August 11, 2026 ⢠Duration 01:05:45
00:01:00Â Intro00:02:00Â SWU Vegas00:15:00Â SFGE00:20:00Â 1775: Rebellion00:25:00Â Las Vegas00:27:30Â Ashes Ascendency: Natural Magic Expansion00:29:30Â New Twin Suns Decks00:32:00Â Miniature Market00:33:00Â Hunt for Blackbeard00:49:30Â Gen Con Thoughts00:56:00Â Outro
We kicked things off at the Star Wars Unlimited Galactic Championship in Las Vegas, not as competitors in the main event but as fans soaking in the convention atmosphere and jumping into SWU games with some of the best players in the world during their breaks. The vibe at every table was incredibleâfull of camaraderie, excitement, and a shared love for a truly outstanding trading card game. No matter your skill level, players were patient, welcoming, and happy to walk you through plays in the side events. Now, the main event, that was all business. One more thing worth noting: the crowd spanned all ages, including families, which was great to see. Next yearâs event is heading to Disneyland, so if youâre thinking about going, start planning now!
While we were in Vegas, we also tried a new game from Fort Circle Games:Â Hunt for Blackbeard. Itâs a twoâplayer hiddenâmovement game that really picks up speed once you understand the action flow, and the tension spikes beautifully in the final two rounds. The rules take a bit to settle in, but by the second playthrough we had it down. And if Blackbeardâs history isnât familiar to you, keep reading below.
Blackbeard, born Edward Teach around 1680 in Bristol, England, became one of the most feared and legendary pirates of the Golden Age of Piracy, terrorizing the Caribbean and the Atlantic coast between 1716 and 1718. Known for his dramatic appearanceâmost famously his long black beard and the smoldering fuses he tied into it to intimidate enemiesâhe commanded the formidable Queen Anneâs Revenge, a 40âgun warship crewed by hundreds of men. Blackbeardâs exploits included blockading Charleston, capturing merchant vessels, and cultivating a fearsome reputation that often allowed him to win without violence. He also operated with a small fleet that included the Adventure, a sloop commanded by his lieutenant Israel Hands, as well as smaller vessels such as the Margaret and the Sea Captain. His pirating career was short-lived, ending in November 1718 when he was killed in a fierce battle at Ocracoke Island, NC by Lieutenant Robert Maynardâs forces, cementing his place as one of historyâs most iconic pirates.
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Designer Series: David Thompson - Rebels Against Rebellion
Tuesday, August 4, 2026 ⢠Duration 01:00:02
We are excited to kick off our designer series with one of our favorite designers, David Thompson. Undaunted is one of our all time favorite series along with War Chest.
He has a catalog of great historical games and is adding a new one designed along beside Trevor Benjamin called Rebels Against Rebellion. In this episode we talk about the historical significances of this Civil War era game. But look at the design and development process.
For more information, check out the Kickstarter and the publisher, Flying Pig Games.
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Episode 382: Container, Dogfight: 1917, Moonrollers, Southeast Game Exchange
Tuesday, July 28, 2026 ⢠Duration 01:22:11
00:01:00Â Intro00:06:45Â Southeast Game Exchange00:14:45Â Quick Hits00:16:00Â Guerre Eclair00:19:00Â Tap 400:25:00Â Crits & Tricks00:32:00Â Traveluencer00:36:00Â Taste Buds00:41:30Â Portal Games00:43:15Â Dogfight: 191700:43:30Â Container01:09:30Â Miniature Market01:11:00Â Moonrollers01:17:00Â Outro
Welcome back to the podcast blog, tabletop fans! Today, weâre diving into a lineup that spans high-flying dogfights, historical blitzkriegs, and economic struggles. If you love razor-thin margins and tactical positioning, youâll want to look at Dogfight 1917 and Guerre Ăclair. Dogfight 1917 drops you straight into the skies over the Western Front, where every maneuver card forces you to anticipate your rivalâs path to line up that perfect shot. Meanwhile, Yasushi Nakaguroâs Guerre Ăclair condenses the 1940 Fall of France into a tense, card-driven duel of deception and momentum. The German player pushes armored breakthroughs with hidden operational plans while the Allies scramble to hold fragile defenses, delivering deep strategic tension in a crisp 45 minutes.
For players who prefer fighting over profit margins, Container delivers incredible table presence. Container remains the undisputed king of closed-economy board games, where players produce goods, set dockside prices, and operate shipping vessels. Because every price, purchase, and subsidy is entirely player-driven, a single miscalculated shipment can trigger a hilarious, full-blown economic recession at your table. On the lighter side when just need to roll dice, Moonrollers brings the sleek sci-fi universe of Moonrakers into a fast-paced push-your-luck dice chucker. Captains roll dice to fulfill crew contracts, juggling hazardous bonus points against the very real danger of busting and walking away with nothing. This game provides the necessary dice manipulation that we expect in our push-your-luck games.
Thanks for listening, we really do appreciate the support.
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Episode 381: Realm of Reckoning and Devious
Tuesday, July 14, 2026 ⢠Duration 01:00:48
00:01:00Â Intro00:04:00Â SWU in Vegas00:06:00Â New Game Store00:08:15Â Which is better?00:11:15Â The Vale of Eternity00:14:00Â Pagan00:15:00Â July 4th Gaming00:23:30Â Portal Games00:24:30Â Realm of Reckoning00:24:00Â IV Studio â Tend00:45:30Â Devious00:51:45Â Miniature Market00:52:30Â Summer Movie Thoughts
Realm of Reckoning sharpens its identity as an areaâcontrol showdown built on tight timing and escalating tension. The simultaneous card play is the engine that keeps everyone leaning forwardâevery reveal forces you to decide whether youâre shoring up your economy or muscling into position before a Reckoning reshapes the board. That pushâandâpull between longâterm planning and immediate tactical pressure gives the game its pulse. Factions rise, collide, and retreat in a rhythm that feels both dramatic and cleanly mechanical, creating turns where a single decision can swing the entire map. You wrap a session already replaying key moments in your head, plotting what youâll try on your next run through its volatile world.
Devious looks disarmingly simple at first, but thatâs part of the trick. As players draw, flip, and react, the hidden layers of bluffing and timing begin to reveal themselves. Set collection becomes a delicious gambleâyou want just enough cards to score well, but every additional draw risks a bust, especially since the pile youâre pulling from was set by your opponents. That tension turns every flip into a moment of doubt and secondâguessing: is this really the best card available, or did someone bury something better to lure me into overreaching? The result is a fast, mischievous game where the tableâs collective psychology matters just as much as the cards in your hand.
Thanks for listening and be sure to join our Discord server to keep the conversation going
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Episode 380: Obsession, Bomb Busters, Lincoln, El Grande and Top 3 Lord of the Rings Games
Tuesday, June 30, 2026 ⢠Duration 01:08:33
00:01:00Â Intro00:04:00Â Moving the Kids00:10:15Â AI in Board Games00:16:30Â Obsession00:20:15Â Bomb Busters00:23:30Â El Grande00:25:00Â Neuroshima Hex00:28:30Â Miniature Market00:30:00Â Our Top 3 LOTR Games00:30:00Â Lincoln00:53:30Â Portal Games00:55:00Â Guild Wars 301:03:30Â Outro
Even though our regular game night has been on pause for a few weeks, we still managed to squeeze in some great plays with family and friends. Marty kicked things off with Bomb Busters, a title getting a lot of wellâdeserved praise. The way he described it reminded me a bit of Hanabiâthat same feeling of relying on your teammates to guide you toward the right moves. Thereâs something deeply satisfying about working together toward a shared victory, especially when the puzzle finally clicks.
He also finally got Obsession to the table, a game thatâs been floating around one his radar for a while. Iâll admit itâs one I wasnât familiar with, but thatâs hardly surprising given how many games slip past me. Marty had some thoughtful pros and cons, but even with those caveats, it still sounds like something Iâd love to try on a future game night, thereâs a charm to that Victorian engineâbuilding vibe thatâs hard to resist.
And of course, El Grande continues to shine as a perfect introduction to area control, teaching new players the tension and timing that make the genre sing. Every cube, every power cardâit all matters. Lincoln, on the other hand, offers a lean, cardâdriven take on the American Civil War, capturing momentum, attrition, and asymmetry in a way that feels brisk yet thoughtful. If it werenât for a few rulebook hiccups, this wouldâve been one of those plays that makes you wonder why it took so long to get it to the table in the first place.
Thanks for listening and until next time, keep rolling dice and taking names.
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Episode 379: Zombie Princess, Changâan, Comic Book Boom w/Chaz Marler
Tuesday, June 16, 2026 ⢠Duration 01:38:40
00:01:15Â Intro
00:06:30Â Chaz is back!
00:09:45Â â Fun collaborationâ
00:12:00Â How has gaming changed over the years
00:40:00Â â Miniature Marketâ
00:41:00Â New Review System
00:47:00Â â Changâan
â 00:58:00Â â Zombie Princessâ
01:05:00Â â Portal Gamesâ
01:06:00Â â Comic Book Boomâ
01:17:30Â Outro with Chaz
In this episode, Marty is joined by Chaz Marler from â Game Night Picksâ . They talk about all the different ways the table top industry has changed over the past 10 years from content creation, to games, to the community.
Marty and Tony review some new games using their new format. Shorter, more concise and with a numerical rating. Let us know your thoughts on the new format over on our â Discord â Channel
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Episode 378: Castelnuovo 1539, Rebuilding Chicago, Toy Battle
Tuesday, June 2, 2026 ⢠Duration 01:14:21
00:01:15Â Intro00:06:30Â Gencon 2026 Update00:10:30Â Quartermaster General: WWII00:15:00Â Moon Colony: Bloodbath00:20:15Â Star Wars Unlimited Update00:21:45Â Portal Games00:23:30Â Rebuilding Chicago00:41:30Â Castelnuovo 153900:55:30Â Miniature Market00:56:30Â Toy Battle01:01:30Â Pragmata01:04:30Â R-Type Dimensions III01:09:00Â Sektori01:10:00Â Outro
For history fans who enjoy thoughtful, asymmetric challenges, Castelnuovo 1539 offers a compelling take on the âlast standâ style of wargame. Blending classic conflict simulation with Euroâstyle area control, this twoâplayer design places you with the Spanish defenders doing everything they can to slow an advancing Ottoman siege. The Spanish side isnât trying to win outright so much as hold firm and make every step costly, creating a tense, measured experience where each decision carries real weight. With custom card decks and hidden wooden blocks shaping the flow of play, the game builds a steady, immersive pressure without ever feeling overwhelming.
Shifting to a much lighter tone, Rebuilding Chicago and Toy Battle trade battlefield grit for creativity and quick, satisfying play. As the standalone followâup to Rebuilding Seattle, Rebuilding Chicago invites up to five players to reshape neighborhoods and guide a growing population after the Great Fire of 1871. Itâs a warm, engaging tileâlaying puzzle with plenty of room for clever planning. And if youâre looking for something breezy to wrap up a game night, Paolo Moriâs Toy Battle delivers a delightful 15âminute burst of abstract strategy. With charming toyâthemed troops and whimsical doubleâsided maps like the Volcanic Jungle or City of Clouds, it pairs simple rules with just enough tactical bite to leave everyone smiling.
Weâre truly disappointed that we wonât be able to host the Strike tournament at Gen Con this year. Itâs always a highlight for us, and weâll miss the energy, laughter, and chaos that only Gladiators in an Arena, I mean, a bowl of dice can create.
Thanks for listening and a special guest joins us for our next episode, assuming he is on his best behavior.
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Episode 377: Diplomacy - The Golden Blade, Luz, Fruit Island, Altay - Seafarers, Brave & Bold
Tuesday, May 19, 2026 ⢠Duration 01:28:22
00:01:15Â Intro00:05:45Â Motherâs Day Games00:11:30Â Skyjo, Skyjo, Skyjo00:12:30Â Wits & Wagers Challenges00:16:30Â Summer Movie Update00:20:15Â Portal Games00:21:00Â Diplomacy: The Golden Blade00:35:00Â Fruit Island00:38:15Â Brave & Bold00:51:30Â Miniature Market00:52:35Â Altay: Seafarers01:06:45Â Luz01:12:15Â Ewin Desk01:17:15Â The Floor
If your gaming group thrives on trick-taking but wants something that completely flips the genre on its head, Luz maybe it. This clever card game from IELLO forces you to play with a reverse handâmeaning everyone else at the table can see your cards, but you are left entirely in the dark about your own exact values. And even with a blind hind, you must predict exactly how many tricks you will win or take a safe bet to limit your points won.
For those who believe true friendship is only forged in the fires of mutual betrayal, Renegade Game Studiosâ Diplomacy: The Golden Blade delivers the ultimate test. This iteration strips away the classic board and map, transforming the legendary grand strategy experience into a fast-paced card game. What it gains in speed, it may not bring home the tension that you feel when playing the original. But be honest, if you love Diplomacy, but donât have five hours, then this might be one to consider.
Fruit Island is a casual strategy game by the legendary designer Reiner Knizia that balances accessible mechanics for all ages. Set on a quiet jungle island, players step into the fast-moving shoes of monkeys racing to harvest as much exotic fruit while avoiding a gorilla that wants what you have worked so hard for.
If you are enjoying those games where you are going against some in a straight up slugfest, then DC: Brave & Bold by Resurrection Games may be something to check out. Instead of a dice pool with random likes like games before, this is a bag builder with chits and the only thing stopping you from pulling them out is your determination. This one is coming out later this year, but if going to Gen Con, be sure to schedule some time for a demo.
Altay: Seafarers expands the horizon of civilization-building, taking the core deck-building and area-control mechanics of Ares Gamesâ Altay: Dawn of Civilization and casting them out into deep, uncharted waters. This expansion introduces a brand-new âForgotten Seaâ board, rules for shipbuilding, and naval combat that injects mobility to the map. It introduces the Waterfolk faction, a magical, ocean-dwelling faction that can manipulate actions and navigate the waves without needing ships at all. If you enjoyed Altay and find it on the table often, be sure to check out this expansion.
Thanks for listening
LuzDiplomacy: The Golden BladeFruit IslandBrave & BoldAltay: Seafarers
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