Solosaurus – Details, episodes & analysis

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Thank you for checking out the latest Solosaurus episode! In this one, host Michael Eckenfels chooses the wild west life by delving into the world of The Drifter, a solo Old West book-style RPG filled with dangers, adventure, exploration, secrets, and of course, good ol'-fashioned gunslinging. Listen in to check out how the game plays, and stick around for final thoughts!

Time Stamps:

• 00:00 Introduction
• 00:42 Narrative
• 01:59 General Information/How to Play
• 07:18 Character Creatin'
• 15:11 Let's Get This Show On The Dusty Trail
• 16:12 Taking Turns
• 21:38 First Encounter
• 24:35 The Good, The Balm, and The Ugly
• 25:34 Checking Out a Town
• 26:24 'Scuse Me While I Whip Out This Map
• 27:36 I Love The Nightlife; I Love to Rustle
• 32:12 First Skill Test (I Have a Hunch...)
• 36:59 All Farm Things Must Come to an End
• 38:45 Accounting for Poor Behavior
• 41:32 Out On The Town (Again)
• 42:38 Capitalism: Old West Style
• 46:18 Time For Some Bandit Whompin'
• 57:39 Whew, That Was Lucky...Doggone Near Lost (Not Really)
• 58:51 A Hideout? The End? Overall Thoughts

Links

• The Drifter on BGG
• The Drifter on DriveThruRPG
• The Drifter Series on Facebook

Other Links

• Dwarfstar Games - where you can download PnP titles of some really good old-school adventure games and wargames. Click on the image of the game you'd like to check out, on this page.
• Munnygrubbers Plastic Polyhedral 7 Dice Set (comes in a six-gun style cylinder); wonderfully thematic for Old West style games!

 

In Episode 97, Michael talks about a great new football game with a robust solo mode - Breakaway Football! How does it work? How good is it? Check out the episode to learn more!

Check out your EXCLUSIVE 10% Solosaurus discount at The Game Kastle, our sponsor! Use code SOLOSAURUS10 at check out for your 10% discount!

Time Stamps:

• 00:00 - Where It Begins
• 01:47 - A Little News
• 07:49 - Review Begins
• 10:30 - Components/Options
• 18:35 - Gameplay
• 50:43 - Stomp of Approval(?)
• 52:38 - That Part At The End

Helpful Links:

• Breakaway Football on The Game Crafter
• Breakaway Football for PnP Aficionados and Tabletop Simulator Folks
• Uplink Underground Games Homepage
• Breakaway Football Solo Rules (requires BGG account to access)
• BGG Article on Solo Sports Gaming

To see more from Solosaurus, like us on Facebook at (facebook.com/solosaurus), follow us on Instagram (@solosauruspodcast), or shoot as an email at solosauruspodcast@gmail.com. 

To read more of our favorite solo news page, head over to https://www.solitairetimes.net/, or visit them on BGG at https://boardgamegeek.com/blog/9349/solitaire-times-solo-board-games-news.    You can also find our work shared on the Armchair Dragoons website, where all kinds of games are discussed, even solo games!

Welcome to Solosaurus, a podcast about one player board and card games. In this episode, Michael dives into solo wargaming, talking about a LOT of different games. Plus, he discusses what makes a solo game solitaire, as well as what makes a wargame, a wargame. Plus, he goes down various gaming rabbit holes as a bonus.

• Intro and Exposition (0:00)
• Solo2 News (from Solitaire Times) (3:44)
• What Is Solo Gaming? (11:18)
• What Is a Wargame? (18:20)
• New Solo Wargaming Player Recommendations (22:16)
• Classic Solo Wargames and More (46:53)
• Outro/Wrap Up (1:01:48)

To see more from Solosaurus, like us on Facebook at (facebook.com/solosaurus), follow us on Instagram (@solosauruspodcast), or shoot as an email at solosauruspodcast@gmail.com.    To read more of our favorite solo news page, head over to https://www.solitairetimes.net/, or visit them on BGG at https://boardgamegeek.com/blog/9349/solitaire-times-solo-board-games-news.    You can also find our work shared on the Armchair Dragoons website, where all kinds of games are discussed, even solo games!   Games mentioned in this episode:   In Solo News:

• Creature Caravan
• Bone Wars
• Sirens
• Defrag
• Forage
• Orchard
• Grove

Recommendations:

• Pavlov's House
• Castle Itter: The Strangest Battle of World War II
• Soldiers in Postmen's Uniforms
• Lanzerath Ridge
• Pacific Tide
• Interceptor Ace
• Interceptor Ace Volume 2
• Nightfighter Ace
• B-17 Queen of the Skies (mentioned because of Greg Smith's design, Amerika Bomber: Evil Queen of the Skies, which I failed to follow through with - sorry!)
• Aurelian: Restorer of the World
• Charlemagne, Master of Europe
• Escape from Hades
• Endurance
• NATO Air Commander
• That Others May Live: Combat Search and Rescue, Vietnam
• The Hunters
• The Hunted
• Beneath the Med
• Skies Above the Reich
• Storm Above the Reich
• Skies Above Britain
• Fire in the Lake
• Pendragon
• All Bridges Burning
• Colonial Twilight
• Enemy Coast Ahead: Operation Chastise – The Dambuster Raid
• Enemy Coast Ahead: The Doolittle Raid
• Fields of Fire
• Fields of Fire 2
• Combat!
• Ambush!
• Battle Hymn
• Mosby's Raiders
• RAF: The Battle of Britain, 1940 (Decision Games edition)
• D-Day at Omaha Beach
• D-Day at Tarawa
• In Magnificent Style
• Crowbar! The Rangers at Pointe Du Hoc
• Dawn of the Zeds

 

Welcome to Solosaurus, a podcast about one player board and card games. In this episode, Michael returns to Solosaurus to talk about a whole lot of things. Again.

• Intro and Exposition (0:00)
• Solo News (from Solitaire Times) (10:04)
• What Have I Been Playing/Buying? (20:15)
• What Else Is Going On? (30:54)
• What's in Store for Solosaurus? (36:55)
• Outro (39:15)

To see more from Solosaurus, like us on Facebook at (facebook.com/solosaurus), follow us on Instagram (@solosauruspodcast), or shoot as an email at solosauruspodcast@gmail.com.    To read more of our favorite solo news page, head over to https://www.solitairetimes.net/, or visit them on BGG at https://boardgamegeek.com/blog/9349/solitaire-times-solo-board-games-news.    You can also find our work shared on the Armchair Dragoons website, where all kinds of games are discussed, even solo games!   Games mentioned in this episode:

• Snap Ships Tactics
• Fortune and Glory
• Shadows of Brimstone
• Sherman Leader
• Warfighter Shadow War
• Iron Maiden Figure Pack 1
• Star Trek Adventures Captain's Log Role Playing Game
• Pursuit of Happiness
• Hostage Negotiator (including Crime Wave and Career)
• The Hunters: German U-Boats at War, 1939-1943
• The Hunted: Twilight of the U-Boats, 1943-1945
• In Dreams

 

Welcome to Solosaurus, a podcast about one player board and card games. In this episode, Martin and Michael return to Solosaurus to talk about a whole lot of things.

• Intro and Exposition (0:00)
• Solo News (from Solitaire Times) (14:56)
• What We've Been Playing (28:56)
• Purchases (1:10:24)
• What's in Store for Solosaurus (1:30:56)
• Outro (1:38:14)

To see more from Solosaurus, like us on Facebook at (facebook.com/solosaurus), follow us on Instagram (@solosauruspodcast), or shoot as an email at solosauruspodcast@gmail.com.    To read more of our favorite solo news page, head over to https://www.solitairetimes.net/, or visit them on BGG at https://boardgamegeek.com/blog/9349/solitaire-times-solo-board-games-news.    You can also find our work shared on the Armchair Dragoons website, where all kinds of games are discussed, even solo games!

Welcome to Solosaurus, a podcast about one player board and card games. In this episode, Martin and Michael interview one of the most prolific and legendary solo mode game designers out there, David Turczi!

• Intro and Exposition (0:00)
• What Have You Played, Lately? (2:48)
• Interview Kinda Begins (27:13)
• Outro and Ending (1:08:24)

You can find great solo games (and a community to talk about them with like-minded folks) at the best online gaming store for solo gamers: Stone Valley Games (www.stonevalleygames.com). Check them out, and tell them we sent you!   To see more from Solosaurus, like us on Facebook at (facebook.com/solosaurus), follow us on Instagram (@solosauruspodcast), or shoot as an email at solosauruspodcast@gmail.com.    To read more of our favorite solo news page, head over to www.tableforone.me, or visit them on BGG at https://boardgamegeek.com/blog/9292.    You can also find our work shared on the Armchair Dragoons website, where all kinds of games are discussed, even solo games!

You can find a full list of David's work here!

Welcome to Solosaurus, a podcast about one player board and card games. In this episode, Martin and Michael spend time plotting to overthrow the Communist leadership of Hungary, circa 1956, in the board game Days of Ire: Budapest 1956.    Michael also took a look at an expansion, Days & Nights: Red Army Pack.

• Intro and Exposition (0:00)
• Solo Gaming News (2:03)
  • Purple Haze (on Gamefound as of this recording)
  • Final Girl Season 2 (already funded on Kickstarter as of this recording)
  • Solar 175 (launching on Kickstarter on March 1, 2022, as of this recording)
• What Have You Played, Lately? (19:01)
• Game Review: Overview (37:51)
• Components (41:33)
• Rules (49:07)
• Gameplay (53:49)
• The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly (1:003:14)
• Stomp Discussion (1:03:11)
• Outro and Ending (1:03:59)

You can find great solo games (and a community to talk about them with like-minded folks) at the best online gaming store for solo gamers: Stone Valley Games (www.stonevalleygames.com). Check them out, and tell them we sent you!   To see more from Solosaurus, like us on Facebook at (facebook.com/solosaurus), follow us on Instagram (@solosauruspodcast), or shoot as an email at solosauruspodcast@gmail.com.    To read more of our favorite solo news page, head over to www.tableforone.me, or visit them on BGG at https://boardgamegeek.com/blog/9292.    You can also find our work shared on the Armchair Dragoons website, where all kinds of games are discussed, even solo games!   The games mentioned (at least, all the ones Michael could catch!) are listed here:   Martin's Play List:

• It's a Wonderful World
• Cascadia
• Rise to Nobility

Michael's Play List:

• Coffee Roaster
• HeroQuest
• Mini Rogue
• Hunted: Mining Colony 415
• Absolute War! The Russian Front, 1941-45

Other Games Mentioned:

• Operations Olympic & Coronet
• Gato Leader
• Nights of Fire

Welcome to Solosaurus, a podcast about one player board and card games. In this episode, Martin and Michael pine about games and fjords and such...no particular game is the focus here, but there's lots of discussion!

• Intro and Exposition (0:00)
• Nothing About Marvel Movies (00:35)
• Nothing About Show Outlines and Old PC Games (02:48)
• Nothing About Finally Starting This Episode (05:51)
• Nothing About How Michael Needs a Board Game Intervention (or, His First Purchases from Stone Valley Games) (08:47)
• Nothing About Martin Selling Games (21:10)
• Nothing About Solo Gaming News (24:14)
• Nothing About What Have We Been Playing Lately (37:46)
• Nothing About an Outro and Ending (1:17:54)

You can find great solo games (and a community to talk about them with like-minded folks) at the best online gaming store for solo gamers: Stone Valley Games (www.stonevalleygames.com). Check them out, and tell them we sent you!   To see more from Solosaurus, like us on Facebook at (facebook.com/solosaurus), follow us on Instagram (@solosauruspodcast), or shoot as an email at solosauruspodcast@gmail.com.    To read more of our favorite solo news page, head over to www.tableforone.me, or visit them on BGG at https://boardgamegeek.com/blog/9292.    You can also find our work shared on the Armchair Dragoons website, where all kinds of games are discussed, even solo games!   The games mentioned (at least, all the ones Michael could catch!) are listed here:   PC Games (of the old kind)

• Sid Meier's Colonization
• Covert Action
• Pirates! Gold

 Actual Board Games

• NATO: The Cold War Goes Hot (Designer's Signature Edition)
• NATO: The Next War in Europe
• Deep Space D-6 Armada
• Hunted: Mining Colony 415
• Hadrian's Wall
• Merchant's Cove
• Rush M.D.
• Baseball Highlights 2045
• Tapestry
• The Artemis Project
• Lost Ruins of Arnak
• Shadows of Brimstone (this is a link to a search result on BGG for "Shadows of Brimstone" to show you how deep the rabbit hole goes...)
• Wild Space
• Aliens RPG (not really a board game per se, but it's included here anyway)
• Furnace
• Little Town
• Plus many more Michael no doubt missed

 

Welcome to Solosaurus, a podcast about one player board and card games. In this episode, Martin and Michael spend time discussing how not to get stabbed in the back like Caesar, and succeed just as well as he, in Donning the Purple, from Tompet Games!

• Intro and Exposition (0:00)
• Special Announcement (5:58) - go check out Stone Valley Games' front page for a new FREE GAME giveaway (actually, TWO games!), good through November 12th, 2021!
• What Have You Played, Lately? (7:09)
• Solo Gaming News (25:42)
• Review Begins; Initial Thoughts (35:38)
• Components (41:34)
• Rules (49:09)
• Gameplay (54:00)
• What Does This Do Differently/Who Is This For? (59:30)
• The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly (1:03:53)
• Stomp Discussion (1:08:52)
• Outro and Ending (1:11:47)

You can find great solo games (and a community to talk about them with like-minded folks) at the best online gaming store for solo gamers: Stone Valley Games (www.stonevalleygames.com). Check them out, and tell them we sent you!   To see more from Solosaurus, like us on Facebook at (facebook.com/solosaurus), follow us on Instagram (@solosauruspodcast), or shoot as an email at solosauruspodcast@gmail.com.    To read more of our favorite solo news page, head over to www.tableforone.me, or visit them on BGG at https://boardgamegeek.com/blog/9292.    You can also find our work shared on the Armchair Dragoons website, where all kinds of games are discussed, even solo games!   The games mentioned (at least, all the ones Michael could catch!) are listed here:

• Lost Ruins of Arnak Expansion
• Endless Winter Paeloamericans
• Baseball Highlights 2045
• London's Burning
• Brass Age (PnP)
• Holding On: The Troubled Life of Billy Kerr
• Street Masters
• Senjutsu: Battle for Japan
• Voidfall

Welcome to Solosaurus, a podcast about one player board and card games. In this episode, Martin and Michael have game designer Joe Slack on, of Relics of Rajavihara fame! We discuss his game as well as his upcoming expansion, Montalo's Revenge (which juuuuuust finished on Kickstarter, but you can still late pledge and support - just click that link!).

• Intro and Exposition (0:00)
• What Have You Played, Lately? (5:27)
• Solo Gaming News (16:08)
• Relics of Rajavihara Discussion (28:50)
• Joe Slack Q&A (42:30)
• Outro and Ending (1:10:22)

You can find great solo games (and a community to talk about them with like-minded folks) at the best online gaming store for solo gamers: Stone Valley Games (www.stonevalleygames.com). Check them out, and tell them we sent you!   To see more from Solosaurus, like us on Facebook at (facebook.com/solosaurus), follow us on Instagram (@solosauruspodcast), or shoot as an email at solosauruspodcast@gmail.com.    To read more of our favorite solo news page, head over to www.tableforone.me, or visit them on BGG at https://boardgamegeek.com/blog/9292.    You can also find our work shared on the Armchair Dragoons website, where all kinds of games are discussed, even solo games!   The games mentioned go well north of 20, so there's lots of discussion here! But that's every episode, pretty much.