Shelf Stable: A Board Gaming Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

I give this episode a 7 out of 10, or was that a 5 out of 10? Can't remember. Regardless, this definitely ranks in the top 800 episodes of Shelf Stable ever created. In this episode: Tom forgets to hit record. Enjoy a well rehearsed edition of "people yell at boxes".

Games we played:

3:04 - Everdell (2018, James A. Wilson, Starling Games)

6:03 - Eclipse: New Dawn of the Galaxy (2011, Touko Tahkokallio, Lautapelit)

10:01 - Play Nine (2004, Ceil Anderson & Kathy Assell, Double A)

12:56 - Android: Netrunner (2012 og1996, Richard Garfield & Lukas Litzsinger, Fantasy Flight)

100 games before you die:

24:29 - Rhino Hero (2011, Scott Frisco & Steven Strumpf, HABA)

Topic:

27:32 - The Arbitrary Rankings of BGG

BGG Wiki:

https://boardgamegeek.com/wiki/page/ratings#:~:text=All%20recorded%20User%20Ratings%20are,for%20the%20game%20is%20used.

Wise Guy History:

https://youtu.be/_eRoQBmWsWA?feature=shared

Song: ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning

We got one HUNDRED games for you, hot off the griddle ready to eat. Pop them in the microwave for 3-5 minutes. If they each cost a dollar and you had a $100 dollar bill, you'd be able to purchase every one of these games and try them out. But they don't cost a dollar, so I guess good luck?

Games we played:

01:50 - Dominion (2016 og2008, Donald Vaccarino, Rio Grande)

06:24 - Yokohama (2016, Hisashi Hayashi, Tasty Minstrel)

13:00 - El Grande (1995, Wolfgang Kramer, Hans im Gluck)

17:25 - Oh Really? (2019, MC Marquis, Randolph)

20:35 Topic: 100 Tabletop Games to Play Before Turning 100

THE 100 LIST IS HERE, CHECK IT OUT

https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/321471/100-tabletop-games-to-play-before-turning-100

Song: ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning

A little birdie told me that in Canada, games come in bags. Here in USA, we're all about those boxes. Boxes, boxes, and more boxes. Join us as we think a bit outside of the... um.. realm of what we usually think of, and come up with some interesting insights about game display and packaging.

Games we played:

01:30 - Ca$h n’ Guns (2014 og2005, Ludovic Maublanc, Repos)

06:39 - Century: Spice Road (2017, Emerson Matsuuchi, Plan B)

10:40 - Brass: Lancashire (2018 og2007, Martin Wallace, Roxley)

17:21 - Roll for the Galaxy (2014, Wei-Hwa Huang & Thomas Lehmann, Rio Grande)

23:55 Topic: Box Art and Box Presentation

Actualol spirals https://youtu.be/86wRhlUlT1M?feature=shared

Song: ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning

Blublublub, quick! HELP. Kenny is podcasting underwater and he needs your help to get back on land. Prep your ears for the devastating misclick that is selecting the Occulus Rift mic a full 5 feet away instead of the microphone on Kenny's head. WIP folks, we'll have it fixed for next week. Thanks for bearing with things as we learn to be just a little bit better, and thanks for listening.

Games we played:

01:28 - Hansa Teutonica (2019 og2009, Andreas Steding, Dennis Lohausen, Pegasus Spiel)

05:56 - Skull (2011, Herve Marly, Rose Kipik & Thomas Vuarchex, Space Cowboys)

08:42 - Res Arcana (2019, Tom Lehmann, Julien Delval, Sand Castle Games)

11:45 - Brass: Lancashire (2018 og2007, Martin Wallace, Gavan Brown & Lina Cossette & David Forest & Damien Mammoliti, Roxley)

Original Brass: Birmingham cover - https://boardgamegeek.com/image/8367730/kensiebensie

19:09 Topic: So Bad It's Good

Song: ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning

You could argue that this is the first time we’re doing this, but Tom and I have been blabbering to each other about games for nearly a decade… we just forgot to hit record. A lot of pushing luck in this one, a lot of piggies going Oink, and a lot of hot / incorrect takes. Thanks for listening and looking forward to the future!

01:46 Why is it called Shelf Stable

Games we played:

03:17 - Chicago Express (2008 og2007, John Borer, Michael Menzel, Queen)

07:22 - Can't Stop (2011 og1980, Sid Sackson, Gabriel Laulunen II, Eagle-Gryphon)

12:30 - Race for the Galaxy (2007, Tom Lehmann, Martin Hoffman & Claus Stephen, Rio Grande)

15:26 - Welcome to the Dungeon (2013, Masato Uesugi, Paul Mafayon, Iello)

18:44 - SCOUT (2022 og2019, Kei Kajino, Jun Sasaki, Oink)

26:06 Topic: What Makes You Enthusiastic About Board Games?

Song: ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning

I give up. Tom is better at games, and he has a better podcasting voice, AND he's got sexier abs. What even is the point? This week we talk about those moments when it's just not worth it and you'd be better off hitting the gym than trying to collect enough lemonade to satiate the carnal desires of these fast food consumers.

Games we played:

1:34 - Food Chain Magnate (2015, Jeroen Doumen & Joris Wiersinga, Splotter)

9:32 - Yokohama Duel (2018, Hisashi Hayashi, Tasty Minstrel)

13:05 - Sidereal Confluence (2020 og2017, TauCeti Deichmann, WizKids)

18:02 - Catan 3D (2021 og1995, Klaus Teuber, Catan Studio)

100 games before you die:

21:25 - Just One (2018, Ludovic Roudy & Bruno Sautter, Repos)

Topic:

24:59 - When to Concede

Songs:

100 Games to Play Before You Die by Michael, Tyler, Devon, and Josh of The Boise RainBeaus

ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning

Well I would have won if it wasn't for having pizza grease all over my hands while checking my phone and not listening to the rules for the game. It's really simple actually, allow me to walk you through all the ways in which I am a better gamer than you despite losing.

Games we played:

2:19 -Take 5! aka 6 Nimmt! (1994, Wolfgang Kramer, Amigo)

5:22 - Deep Sea Adventure (2014, Jun Sasaki, Oink)

7:35 - Railroad Ink: Blazing Red (2018, Hjalmar Hach & Lorenzo Silva, CMON)

12:06 - Brass: Birmingham (2018, Gavan Brown & Matt Tolman & Martin Wallace, Roxley)

100 games before you die:

19:39 - Telestrations (2009, uncredited, The Op)

Topic:

22:30 - Pet Peeves

Songs:

100 Games to Play Before You Die by Michael, Tyler, Devon, and Josh of The Boise RainBeaus

ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning

And the award for best board game podcast of 2024 goes to... Lady Gaga? Umm... Lady Gaga come up and receive your award I guess. This week, two sleepy boys are reminded of what it's like to wake up early on the weekend to record a podcast.

Games we played:

1:07 - Ra (1999, Reiner Knizia, 25th Century)

4:53 - For Sale (1997, Stefan Dorra, Eagle-Gryphon)

7:43 - Pax Pamir 2nd Edition (2019 og2015, Cole Wehrle, Wehrlegig)

17:03 - Red7 (2014, Carl Chudyk & Chris Cieslik, Asmadi)

100 games before you die:

21:41 - Say Anything (2008, Dominic Crapuchettes & Satish Pillalamarr, North Star)

Topic:

26:03 - The Spiel des Jahres

Songs:

100 Games to Play Before You Die by Michael, Tyler, Devon, and Josh of The Boise RainBeaus

ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning

How does my box look? Fabulous! How about my cultural representation? Questionable! This week we dive into the more icky parts of the hobby and how some folks are making an effort to update that ickiness for a modern audience.

Games we played:

2:06 - Puerto Rico (2002, Andreas Seyfarth, Alea)

4:25 - It's a Wonderful World (2019,  Frederic Guerard, La Boite de Jeu and OriGames)

7:42 - Circus Flohcati (2023 og1998, Reiner Knizia, Playte & Popcorn Games)

11:10 - Nine Tiles Panic (2019, Jens Merkl and Jean-Claude Pellin, Oink Games)

100 games before you die:

15:34 - Monikers (2015, Alex Hague & Justin Vickers, CMYK)

Topic:

19:02 - Pet Peeves

Jason Perez and Shelf Stories - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iArLXVNbgzc

Sue Ann Harkey interview - http://blog.killgold.fish/2015/04/an-interview-with-sue-ann-harkey-magics.html

The Privilege of Play - https://nyupress.org/9781479818433/the-privilege-of-play/

Songs:

100 Games to Play Before You Die by Michael, Tyler, Devon, and Josh of The Boise RainBeaus

ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning

The code word is "Sexy Spiderman in Magic." If you say it three times quickly, any game store employee is legally required to give you a copy of Finspan below retail AND a giant Galactus figure at a discount of $900.

1:09 - Intro Jacob Kinney of Phoenix Fire Games

https://www.phoenixfiregames.com

Games we played:

4:43 - Mottainai (2015, Carl Chudyk, Asmadi)

12:42 - Sidereal Confluence (2017, TauCeti Deichmann, WizKids)

Accessibility kits https://64-ounce-games.myshopify.com/

20:33 - Nidavellir (2020, Serge Laget, GRRRE)

100 games before you die:

27:02 - Santorini (2016, Gord!, Roxley)

https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/321471/100-tabletop-games-to-play-before-turning-100

Topic:

34:31 - Game Store Secrets

Join us:

SaltCON Spring, Feb 27 - Mar 2 https://saltcon.com/spring

Podfort, Mar 28 at 3pm https://treefortmusicfest.com/podfort-2025/

Songs:

100 Games to Play Before You Die by Michael, Tyler, Devon, and Josh of The Boise RainBeaus

ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning

All our socials https://linktr.ee/shelfstablecast