Explore every episode of the podcast Tabletop Games Blog - board game reviews and discussions with a personal touch
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pattern Matching Pleasure - from Carcassonne to Looot (Topic Discussion) | 08 Oct 2024 | 00:08:06 | |
There are certain categories of games that I absolutely love. You will have heard about my recent escapades in the world of 18xx games and the excitement these types of games create for me. They offer me a good dose of brain training, while also being thematically enjoyable. Yet, there is another genre of games that I love: tile-laying games. So, in this article, I want to talk about these games a bit more and explain what I like about them so much. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/10/08/pattern-matching-pleasure-from-carcassonne-to-looot-topic-discussion/ Useful Links
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| Ultramassive (Saturday Review) | 05 Oct 2024 | 00:07:48 | |
A black hole is a region of spacetime where gravity is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape. Black holes are enormous and entirely ungovernable. They form when massive stars collapse on themselves at the end of their life. They grow by absorbing mass from their surroundings and if they absorb other stars or merge with other black holes, they become supermassive, millions of solar masses in size. Yet, some black holes are even more gigantic and powerful. They are Ultramassive by Alex Greenberg and Jacob Phillips from Studio Unknown. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/10/05/ultramassive-saturday-review/ Useful Links
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| In Between Games - quick games while you wait (Topic Discussion) | 20 Aug 2024 | 00:06:44 | |
I think many of us like games that take an hour or two to play, maybe even longer. I guess that's at least true when you've got a game group you play regularly with. I love longer games, but I also love those quick games that take less than half an hour to learn and play. They're ideal to play before, after or even in between other games. They're also perfect for game groups, because you can play them while you wait for others to arrive, after some people have left or in between other games, while some of you freshen themselves up. So in this article, I want to look at these "in-between" games. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/08/20/in-between-games-quick-games-while-you-wait-topic-discussion/ Useful Links
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| Speed Boost - overlapping turns in board games (Topic Discussion) | 05 Sep 2023 | 00:08:20 | |
Now don't get me wrong. I don't mind long games. I happily play the same game for two to three hours, as long as it keeps me captivated. Even when a game requires a lot of focus and concentration, I usually have no problem sticking with it for a few hours. One of the ways in which a game can keep players invested is by reducing the amount of downtime, that is the time it takes for a turn to come back round to you. Something that helps in this respect is overlapping turns, which I want to look at more closely in this article. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/09/05/speed-boost-overlapping-turns-in-board-games-topic-discussion/ Useful Links
Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Music: https://www.purple-planet.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/ (Photo by Ray Harrington on Unsplash) | |||
| My Shelfie (Saturday Review) | 02 Sep 2023 | 00:07:49 | |
The living room floor was a mess, sort of anyway. Everything was neatly arranged in a grid pattern, but there was no order to it whatsoever. Books were next to plants, which were next to games, which were next to frames all while some of our cats were tiptoeing around everything. All of it was only temporary though. I just wanted to get everything lined up, before returning it all to My Shelfie by Matthew Dunstan and Phil Walker-Harding from Lucky Duck Games. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/09/02/my-shelfie-saturday-review/ Useful Links
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Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/ | |||
| Reviews Kant Be Paid - a look at paid "reviews" (Topic Discussion) | 29 Aug 2023 | 00:11:13 | |
The discussion about whether board game reviews should be paid for comes up regularly. Arguments can centre on the moral angle, come from a legal viewpoint or be purely personal opinions. More often than not, what is being debated is not well defined and the discourse starts to drift into different, seemingly opposing, directions. In this article, I want to try and untangle the topic and focus on maybe one or two specific areas. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/08/29/reviews-kant-be-paid-a-look-at-paid-reviews-topic-discussion/ Useful Links
Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin MacLeod Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/ (Photo by Kenny Eliason on Unsplash) | |||
| Mycelia (Saturday Review) | 26 Aug 2023 | 00:10:43 | |
Fungi have long been misclassified as plants. In reality, they are a whole kingdom of their own. What we call a mushroom is just a fungus's fruit that appears above ground, but a mushroom is just a tiny part of a fungus. It's their underground root system composed of dense masses of fine, thread-like filaments, called hyphae, that makes up the majority of a fungus. Yet, mushrooms are crucial in a fungus's propagation. Mushrooms send out spores, which are carried through the air to new locations. When they eventually germinate they create new Mycelia by J. J. Neville from Split Stone Games. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/08/26/mycelia-saturday-review/ Useful Links
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Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/ | |||
| Green, Greener, Greenest - sustainability and board games (Topic Discussion) | 22 Aug 2023 | 00:09:09 | |
After talking to Gaiagames at Berlin Brettspiel Con this year, I was impressed by how much they focus on sustainability for their games, not just when it comes to the product itself, but also the gameplay experience. It spurned me on to write about the topic of our hobby's impact on the environment and how that manifests itself in so many different, faceted ways. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/08/22/green-greener-greenest-sustainability-and-board-games-topic-discussion/ Useful Links
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| River Wild (Saturday Review) | 19 Aug 2023 | 00:07:50 | |
The first snow of winter had fallen. Underneath the cosy blanket of snow, new life was stirring. The land was coming alive with creatures trying to carve out a life. It wasn't long until the warm sun melted the snow atop the giant mountain overlooking this realm. A slow trickle soon turned into a stream, which grew and grew and threatened to flood the animals with a giant River Wild by Steven Aramini from Button Shy. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/08/19/river-wild-saturday-review/ Useful Links
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Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/ | |||
| Opening Gambit - where to begin in the modern hobby (Topic Discussion) | 15 Aug 2023 | 00:07:47 | |
Starting out in any hobby can be daunting. There is so much to learn and understand. The modern board game hobby is no different. There is terminology that will be unfamiliar to people who have not played much other than Monopoly or The Game of Life. Even the idea that you do anything other than roll and move can be alien and lead to analysis paralysis. So in this article, I want to look at how you can introduce people to our hobby. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/08/15/opening-gambit-where-to-begin-in-the-modern-hobby-topic-discussion/ Useful Links
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| ¡Adiós Calavera! (Saturday Review) | 12 Aug 2023 | 00:08:20 | |
It was time for our annual harvest and for the Day of the Dead. We are all looking forward to seeing the souls of our dead loved ones again. There would be dancing, singing, drinking, eating and general merriment. It was going to be our chance to speak with our long-deceased family members again. This year it was going to be different though. We would make a bet with the dead. It would be a race. Whoever made it back to their world again first would control what happened in the other realm for a whole year. We were ready to say ¡Adiós Calavera! by Martin Schlegel from Mücke Spiele. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/08/12/adios-calavera-saturday-review/ Useful Links
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Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/ | |||
| Chess Appeal - the history of an ancient game (Topic Discussion) | 08 Aug 2023 | 00:12:25 | |
The following article was written by Dennis Wesley. Chess is one of our oldest games and as with most long-lasting entities, the game has undergone many changes over the years, influenced even by such factors as societal progress and politics. Chess has passed through different societies and cultures and the game has been played and perceived differently in different settings. Today, chess is one of very few board games accorded the status of sport in addition to also being promoted as a hobby that improves players' acuity. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/08/08/chess-appeal-the-history-of-an-ancient-game-topic-discussion/ Useful Links
Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Relaxing Chill instrumental meditative | Arnor by Alex-Productions is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/ (Photo by Le Vu on Unsplash) | |||
| Crumbs!: The Sandwich Filler Game (Saturday Review) | 05 Aug 2023 | 00:07:11 | |
It's lunchtime and the queue outside your cafe is rather long. Everyone wants you to hurry up and make them their favourite sandwich from your hugely popular menu. The pressure is on to line up slices of bread and pile them high with lettuce, tomatoes, eggs, tuna or ham. Some want theirs even toasted. Well... Crumbs!: The Sandwich Filler Game by J. Antscherl from Minerva Tabletop Games. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/08/05/crumbs-the-sandwich-filler-game-saturday-review/ Useful Links
Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Sound Effects: bbc.co.uk – © copyright 2023 BBC Main Music: Lo-Fi Chill Hip Hop | Chilling by Alex-Productions is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:
Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/ | |||
| Prey Another Day (Saturday Review) | 17 Aug 2024 | 00:06:45 | |
The forest is dark and eerie. A cold wind whistles through the branches and makes them creak and groan. The rustling of the leaves goes some way to hiding the noise of your prowling through the undergrowth. You have your prey in sight, but suddenly, at the same time as you break cover, other hunters reveal themselves. There is a moment of confusion which our shared victim uses to their advantage to escape to safety. It looks like we are all going hungry today and we all have to accept that we will have to Prey Another Day by Matthew Dunstan and Brett J. Gilbert from Pegasus Spiele. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/08/17/prey-another-day-saturday-review/ Useful Links
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| Home from Home - a con visit with a difference (Topic Discussion) | 01 Aug 2023 | 00:08:40 | |
I always love going to board game conventions, shows, conferences or whatever you want to call them. Just walking into the halls and seeing lots of excited people who share the same hobby is invigorating. The prospect of catching up with friends whom I might not otherwise see is wonderful. Finally meeting the people I only know from social media face-to-face is fabulous. Board game events are always very much like a home from home. Yet, my visit to Berlin Brettspiel Con 2023 and the Spiel des Jahres awards a few weeks ago took this to another level. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/08/01/home-from-home-a-con-visit-with-a-difference-topic-discussion/ Useful Links
Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Music by AShamaluevMusic. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/ | |||
| Lakshadweep (Saturday Review) | 29 Jul 2023 | 00:07:14 | |
Of the over 30 atolls and coral reefs in the Laccadive Sea, off the coast of Kerala, India, only 10 are inhabited. Of those, only a few are open to tourists. To visit the islands you need permission from the nearest customs office in Kochi, which is over 300 miles away. It helps strike the right balance between creating a good income stream for the islands, while also supporting sustainable tourism and preserving the fragile ecosystem of Lakshadweep by Sidhant Chand from Luma World. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/07/29/lakshadweep-saturday-review/ Useful Links
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Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/ | |||
| Context Switching - when games are hard work (Topic Discussion) | 25 Jul 2023 | 00:07:42 | |
Recently at work, we discussed how constantly going from one task to the next or changing from one tool to another is rather draining. This so-called context switching has been shown to reduce productivity. That's when it struck me that some board games suffer from exactly this problem. So in this article, I want to look at how research into the problems of context switching could potentially be applied to board game design. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/07/25/context-switching-when-games-are-hard-work-topic-discussion/ Useful Links
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| Berlin Brettspiel Con 2023 (Saturday Review) | 22 Jul 2023 | 00:09:34 | |
It is rare that you can combine going to your hometown with attending a board game convention. So when it does happen, you jump at the opportunity. If you're also expecting to see a lot of people you normally only see maybe once a year at another show, as well as people you have so far only "met" on social media, then you know you're onto a winner. Being able to get demos of new and upcoming games is the cherry on top. Berlin Brettspiel Con 2023 was promising to fulfil all of these hopes, which set the bar very high. The question is whether it delivered. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/07/22/berlin-brettspiel-con-2023-saturday-review/ Useful Links
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Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/ | |||
| Healthy Gaming Mentality - mental health and board games (Topic Discussion) | 18 Jul 2023 | 00:09:17 | |
In today's fast-paced and digitally saturated world, finding ways to recharge and repair our mental health is often quite hard. There are so many distractions that draw us into a bubble that seems comforting at first. Modern life is all about speed and work, while our own health and life are often seen as secondary. However, among the hustle and bustle, there is one activity that can really help with mental health: board games. In this article, I want to look at how board games can foster connection, promote cognitive skills and provide a much-needed respite from the stresses of everyday life. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/07/18/healthy-gaming-mentality-mental-health-and-board-games-topic-discussion/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) The following music was used for this media project: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/ (Photo by Austin Neill on Unsplash) | |||
| Fast & Furious: Highway Heist (Saturday Review) | 15 Jul 2023 | 00:14:05 | |
Hello! My name is Gavin Jones and this week I'm going to be standing in for the wonderful Oliver with a guest review. Buckle up and adjust your rearview mirror - things are about to get wild. First gear. Screams of tortured rubber and plumes of acrid smoke fill the air as we barrel over the brow of the hill, rapidly advancing on our target. The tank is an incongruous sight, squat and menacing in the middle of the highway, two shiny black beetles flanking each side: SUVs filled with seemingly infinite numbers of violent goons, like clown cars of criminality. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/07/15/fast-furious-highway-heist-saturday-review/ Useful Links
Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Music by AShamaluevMusic. If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:
Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/ (Photo by Sara-Jayne Jones, keep-up-with-the-jones-family.com) | |||
| Increased Cooperation - the popularity of cooperative games (Topic Discussion) | 11 Jul 2023 | 00:07:48 | |
I always used to be very much a competitive player. Pitting my wit against other people was my thing. I would usually lose games and still do, but it was always a lot of fun. Cooperative games really only came into my life when our daughter was young enough to play games with us that weren't just roll-and-move. I remember our first game of Forbidden Island, which we all really enjoyed and played many times since. So in this article, I want to explore why cooperative games have become so popular in recent years. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/07/11/increased-cooperation-the-popularity-of-cooperative-games-topic-discussion/ Useful Links
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| Sea Salt & Paper (Saturday Review) | 08 Jul 2023 | 00:08:56 | |
The sea was calm and the sun was shining. The sandy beach stretched for miles, strewn with shells, some occupied by hermit crabs. In the distance, I could see a few small boats. Underneath the long abandoned lighthouse, there was a small colony of penguins. As I closed my eyes and dozed off, I dreamt of fish and merpeople. My mind was thinking about Sea Salt & Paper by Bruno Cathala and Théo Rivière from Bombyx. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/07/08/sea-salt-paper-saturday-review/ Useful Links
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| Bad Fun - how bad game experiences can be fun (Topic Discussion) | 04 Jul 2023 | 00:07:37 | |
If you're a very competitive player, then winning is all that counts. Depending on how ruthless you are, you will push for victory at all cost, as long as it is within the rules. Even if you're less cruel, you will do what you can to win. Either way, ending a game in first place feels good. It not only proves that you played well, but that you're a better player than the other people around the table. Yet, I often find that not winning or even doing badly in a game can be fun and here is why. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/07/04/bad-fun-how-bad-game-experiences-can-be-fun-topic-discussion/ Useful Links
Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) The following music was used for this media project: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/ (Photo by Steve Johnson on Unsplash) | |||
| Berlin Brettspiel Con 2023 (Preview) | 01 Jul 2023 | 00:07:02 | |
Tucked away near Gleisdreieck in Berlin's Kreuzberg district is STATION-Berlin, home to the German capital's main board game convention Berlin Brettspiel Con. For three days in July, hordes of tabletop hobby enthusiasts converge to play games, speak to the dozens of exhibitors and generally have a great time. For the first time, I'll be among them and I can't wait. I'll be attending as a member of the press and have made a short list of whom I want to talk to. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/07/01/berlin-brettspiel-con-2023-preview/ Useful Links
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Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/ (Photo courtesy of Berlin Brettspiel Con) | |||
| Pixies (Saturday Review) | 10 Aug 2024 | 00:07:46 | |
As we were walking through the forest on a mild, damp spring morning, with the mist still rising and the trees and other plants slowly waking up as the sun was peeking over the horizon, we saw, to our great surprise, little creatures emerging from flowers and the hollows of the trees. Some wore cupule hats, while others had slung oak leaf ponchos over their bodies. We even spotted some with little string instruments made from walnut halves. They were magical to behold as they walked along the forest floor and formed little groupings, three side-by-side and three deep. These were clearly Pixies by Johannes Goupy from Bombyx. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/08/10/pixies-saturday-review/ Useful Links
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| Translation Challenges - good translations are important (Topic Discussion) | 27 Jun 2023 | 00:07:51 | |
We take language so much for granted, whether it's written down, spoken out loud or conveyed via signs. Yet, when we communicate with others, we sometimes notice how words can be misinterpreted. We can see how a message can come across differently from how it was intended. That is when we realize how important words actually are. Choosing one word over another can make a huge difference. It's already hard enough to get your point across in your native language, but it reaches a completely new level of difficulty when you use a foreign tongue. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/06/27/translation-challenges-good-translations-are-important-topic-discussion/ Useful Links
Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) The following music was used for this media project: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/ (Photo by Etienne Girardet on Unsplash) | |||
| Outback Crossing (Saturday Review) | 24 Jun 2023 | 00:07:07 | |
The bitumen road had given way to a well-maintained dirt track. My monster road train was stubbornly ploughing on, throwing up red dust behind it in giant plumes. From time to time I could see kangaroos, wombats, spiny anteaters, platypuses and dingos. I even caught a rare glimpse of a Tasmanian devil. It was very busy in this arid landscape. In fact, it was so busy that it felt like there was an Outback Crossing by Bruce Whitehill from Mücke Spiele. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/06/24/outback-crossing-saturday-review/ Useful Links
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Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/ (Photo courtesy of Mücke Spiele) | |||
| Spiel des Jahres - hobby games for non-hobbyists (Topic Discussion) | 20 Jun 2023 | 00:07:57 | |
I recently had the honour to be tasked with donating most of the 2023 Spiel des Jahres, Kinderspiel des Jahres and Kennerspiel des Jahres nominations and longlist titles to good causes on behalf of Spiel des Jahres. Being curious about the association and their selections, I decided to play some of the games myself. As a result, I wanted to share with you more about the Spiel des Jahres association and how I think its goals are reflected in the games they select. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/06/20/spiel-des-jahres-hobby-games-for-non-hobbyists-topic-discussion/ Useful Links
Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) The following music was used for this media project: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/ (Photo courtesy of Spiel des Jahres e.V.) | |||
| Next Station: London (Saturday Review) | 17 Jun 2023 | 00:08:17 | |
London's ageing underground network is creaking and groaning. It can no longer keep up with the exponentially increasing demand of daily commuters and rising tourist numbers to the UK's capital. It's time to scrap it all and start anew and Transport for London has hired you to redesign everything. It won't be easy to optimize the interchanges for a better flow, provide stops to as many tourist sites as possible and take advantage of the tunnels passing underneath the Thames. The first station has been built and now it's up to you to create the Next Station: London by Matthew Dunstan from Blue Orange Games. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/06/17/next-station-london-saturday-review/ Useful Links
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| Demo vs Teach - different types of presenting games (Topic Discussion) | 13 Jun 2023 | 00:08:09 | |
Fresh off the back of demoing games for Asmodee at UK Games Expo 2023, I wanted to share my experiences with introducing people to a new game. I think demoing and teaching games are two similar, but also different approaches. In this article, I want to look at them more closely. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/06/13/demo-vs-teach-different-types-of-presenting-games-topic-discussion/ Useful Links
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| UK Games Expo 2023 (Saturday Review) | 10 Jun 2023 | 00:10:54 | |
I visited the show last year as a member of the press. I spoke to a lot of exhibitors and spent time in the evenings catching up with friends and playing a few games. However, this year was different. For the first time, I came up to demo games on behalf of Asmodee. That meant my travel, food and accommodation were all paid for and I even got a bit of an hourly wage. At the same time, it also meant I only had an hour's lunch break to wander around the halls. It really changed my experience of the UK Games Expo 2023. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/06/10/uk-games-expo-2023-saturday-review/ Useful Links
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| Trick Taking - a modern card mechanism (Topic Discussion) | 06 Jun 2023 | 00:08:46 | |
Most of the earliest card games were trick-taking games played in the 800s in China. These will have felt quite different to our modern eyes. They didn't have the concept of trump cards or trump suits. There was also no bidding. Trumps were added to European card games in the 1400s, followed by bidding in the 1600s. It took another 100-200 years for familiar trick-taking games like Whist and Skat to appear. A few hundred years after that, the mechanism has now found a new lease of life in modern hobby games. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/06/06/trick-taking-a-modern-card-mechanism-topic-discussion/ Useful Links
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| Qwirkle (Saturday Review) | 03 Jun 2023 | 00:05:46 | |
Gosh! The tiles were almost like dominoes, but square instead of rectangular. They came in a combination of six shapes and six colours. Every time you laid out tiles with the same colour, but different shapes or the same shape, but different colours, you had to connect them to what was already there, but without doubling up on colours or shapes. It quickly became confusing. It was a right Qwirkle by Susan McKinley Ross from MindWare. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/06/03/qwirkle-saturday-review/ Useful Links
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| Round the Outside - tracking scores in board games (Topic Discussion) | 30 May 2023 | 00:07:49 | |
Pretty much every hobby game contains some sort of score which measures who is in the lead and decides who wins the game. That's undoubtedly true for competitive games, but sometimes also for cooperative ones. The score can be in the form of victory points, glory points, reputation, money or something else or even a mix of different things. Some games keep track of players' scores throughout the game, others count everything up at the end and there are also games that have a mix of in-game scoring and end-of-game points. In this article, I want to look at these different ways of score keeping and how it affects gameplay experience. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/05/30/round-the-outside-tracking-scores-in-board-games-topic-discussion/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) The following music was used for this media project: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog | |||
| Raiders of the North Sea (Digital Eyes) | 27 May 2023 | 00:07:58 | |
We were a band of feared Viking warriors of Borg on the Lofoten islands. Our chieftain had tasked us with assembling a cunning and mighty crew, collecting provisions and journeying north to plunder gold, iron and livestock from foreign lands. We would find glory in battle and the Valkyrie would lead the fallen to Odin's Valhalla. We were the Raiders of the North Sea by Shem Phillips from Renegade Games Studios. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/05/27/raiders-of-the-north-sea-digital-eyes/ Useful Links
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Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/ (Photo courtesy of Garphill Games) | |||
| Not for the Win - games aren't necessarily about winning (Topic Discussion) | 06 Aug 2024 | 00:08:35 | |
If you're a competitive person, you want to win. If you're a really competitive person, winning is your absolute goal. Competitive games will probably be your favourite, but even when you play cooperative games, you probably still try to do everything in your power to beat the game and take the win for the team. However, I don't think playing games is necessarily about winning. There are many other benefits of enjoying a board game together that I want to talk about in this article. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/08/06/not-for-the-win-games-arent-necessarily-about-winning-topic-discussion/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Voyager by Blue Dot Sessions If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below:
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| Deck Building - a modern card mechanism (Topic Discussion) | 23 May 2023 | 00:09:28 | |
Card games date back to the 1400s with Karniffel, or Thuringian Karnöffel, often listed as the oldest one, at least the oldest in Europe that we know of. As a popular trick-taking game in Germany for centuries, it clearly started a trend. Many trick-taking games are still popular in Germany today and I certainly grew up with a fair few. However, card games have come a long way since then. In this article, I want to look at deck-building games specifically and how this mechanism has been applied in many different ways since Dominion made it popular. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/05/23/deck-building-a-modern-card-mechanism-topic-discussion/ Useful Links
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| Forests of Pangaia (Saturday Review) | 20 May 2023 | 00:08:32 | |
Before the dawn of time, Gaia, our Mother Earth, gave birth to the first trees. With their strong trunks and majestic crowns, they quickly converted the fallow land into fertile soil. They cherished the everlasting rituals of Gaia that sent a ferocious force through their veins, bringing life to the highest branches and deepest roots. It did not take long for them to cover the whole continent and create the vast Forests of Pangaia by Thomas Franken from Pangaia Games. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/05/20/forests-of-pangaia-saturday-review/ Correction The publisher pointed out that the backside of the box shows two FSC certificates, one for the paper and cardboard and the other for the wooden components. All wooden components are sourced from 100% FSC-certified beech and all paper and cardboard components are FSC-certified as well, with the exception of the German black core cards, which were not available in FSC quality. That's great to hear and I am sorry that I missed that in my review. Useful Links
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| Review Pressures - fun versus review (Topic Discussion) | 16 May 2023 | 00:09:28 | |
When you publish a review every week, there is a certain amount of pressure to frequently play games that are new to you. Even if you bear in mind that I sometimes re-review a game and that once a year I list my top 5 games as well as look back at the past 12 months, that still leaves around 50 games that I need to get to the table and play a few times. That's a fair amount and risks taking the fun out of it. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/05/16/review-pressures-fun-versus-review-topic-discussion/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) The following music was used for this media project: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog | |||
| Bagh Chal (Saturday Review) | 13 May 2023 | 00:05:57 | |
The tigers were stealthily making their way onto the meadow, where the goats were grazing. Watching their calm and coordinated approach made you believe there was going to be only one outcome - and it wasn't going to be in favour of the goats. However, the sheer number of grazing animals didn't make it easy for the hunters. It didn't take long for one animal to sense the danger. Suddenly, the whole flock was alert and bunched together, making it virtually impossible for the large cats to attack. It was now their turn to make the next move in this Bagh Chal from Lemery Games. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/05/13/bagh-chal-saturday-review/ Useful Links
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Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/ (Photo courtesy of Lemery Games) | |||
| Board Game Beginnings - how we learn board games (Topic Discussion) | 09 May 2023 | 00:08:03 | |
If you are a veteran board game hobbyist, you will have learned a lot of terminology and mechanisms. You will instinctively know what a draw deck is and that you usually shuffle a discard pile into a new draw deck, if it runs out. The concepts of action points and turn order are going to be obvious to you. It will be second-nature to you that resources can be converted not only into each other, but also into victory points, which is another concept that you will understand. However, many of these terms will mean very little to someone who is new to our hobby. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/05/09/board-game-beginnings-how-we-learn-board-games-topic-discussion/ Useful Links Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) The following music was used for this media project: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog | |||
| Castle Panic (Saturday Review) | 06 May 2023 | 00:08:50 | |
"Troll!" came the shout from the battlements. "Where?!" we shouted back. "Southeast!" was the reply. Darn it. We didn't have any archers defending our fortress in that direction. It was fortunate that we still had time before we had to deal with the next wave of attackers. We were already in over our heads fending off orcs and goblins at the northern end of the bastion. Things were slowly becoming too chaotic. It was a real Castle Panic by Justin De Witt from Fireside Games. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/05/06/castle-panic-saturday-review/ Useful Links
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| Right Time, Right Place - board games and socialising (Topic Discussion) | 02 May 2023 | 00:07:37 | |
Apart from being a great way to meet new people and make new friends, just like any other hobby, for many of us in the hobby, playing board games is a social activity. We enjoy spending time with friends or family and catching up over a game or two. We have snacks and drinks and chat away in between turns. However, not everyone shares that view and there are good reasons for this. So in this article, I want to investigate why games can be a great conduit for socialising while also potentially being a hindrance. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/05/02/right-time-right-place-board-games-and-socialising-topic-discussion/ Useful Links
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| Tides (Saturday Review) | 29 Apr 2023 | 00:06:19 | |
The two of us were strolling along the beach. We could feel the damp sand underneath our feet. We stopped for a moment to dig our toes in and take a look around. There were plenty of beautiful objects just waiting to be found: driftwood for sculptures, sea glass for earrings and many other things. So we followed the Tides by Mike Berg from Button Shy. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/04/29/tides-saturday-review/ Useful Links
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| 5th Anniversary - looking back to the beginning (Topic Discussion) | 25 Apr 2023 | 00:13:11 | |
Yes, my dear friends, Tabletop Games Blog is 5 years today. When I posted my first article, I didn't know where I was going with this and had no idea about the journey the site would take me on. Since then, I published 550 articles, releasing them also in audio format since December 2018, which means there are over 430 podcast episodes available as well. I played hundreds of games, attended many exhibitions, was a guest on a number of podcasts, met lots of people and made many good friends. So let me tell you about the journey so far to celebrate this anniversary with you. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/04/25/5th-anniversary-looking-back-to-the-beginning-topic-discussion/ Useful Links
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| Diamant (Saturday Review) | 22 Apr 2023 | 00:09:14 | |
It was dark in damp. Of course, that was not unusual for the Tacora Cave, a giant underground system which was strewn with precious jewels and priceless artefacts. Those were the reason why we were here in the first place. Armed with our torches, we explored one tunnel after another, always mindful of traps. Sooner or later, one of us would get scared and make their way back to the entrance with their share of the treasures we had found so far. The rest of us continued, praying we would not fall foul of another trap and lose everything. After all, we wanted to get rich and find the most Diamant by Bruno Faidutti and Alan R. Moon from Iello. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/04/22/diamant-saturday-review/ Useful Links
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| Hidden Agendas (Saturday Review) | 03 Aug 2024 | 00:07:10 | |
We all had our different plans. Getting the right bills through the Senate was never easy. There would always be compromises and endless debates. We all wanted to further our own goals. The odd promise of a bribe, digging up dirt on the other parties' representatives and some last-minute voting changes all helped to get what your party wanted. At the end of the day, we all had our own Hidden Agendas by Josh Rossman from Big Boom Games. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2024/08/03/hidden-agendas-saturday-review/ Useful Links
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Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/ | |||
| Board Game Library - books and board games (Topic Discussion) | 18 Apr 2023 | 00:07:19 | |
The other day I noticed how similar books and board games are. The thought was triggered when I held a board game box in my hand and then plonked it on the table. The sound it made was very much like that of a tome being placed down. It also felt as heavy as a thick hardback book. I soon realized that there were many more commonalities. So let me investigate the spiritual twins that are books and board games. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/04/18/board-game-library-books-and-board-games-topic-discussion/ Useful Links
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| Tinners' Trail (Deluxe Edition) (Saturday Review) | 15 Apr 2023 | 00:11:47 | |
Cornwall, the early 19th century. Tin and copper mines are popping up everywhere. These metals are so important for the Empire. Tin is used in many alloys and copper to clad the ships of the Royal Navy. Both industries attract more and more people and lead to new developments and inventions. The growing demand for efficient water pumps leads to the development of the steam engine, which in turn allows the building of the first steam trains. However, it is the people who are at the heart of all of this activity and their daily walk from their homes to the mines becomes known as the Tinners' Trail by Martin Wallace from Alley Cat Games. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/04/15/tinners-trail-deluxe-edition-saturday-review/ Useful Links
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| Representation and Diversity - why it matters (Topic Discussion) | 11 Apr 2023 | 00:09:57 | |
Board and other hobby games are a form of entertainment for the people who play them. It doesn't matter whether these are solo games, family games, heavy games or party games for larger groups of people. There should be a game for anyone and everyone. However, as we know, our large hobby still struggles with who is represented in the games themselves, let alone with what groups of people our community make feel truly comfortable and welcome. In this article, I want to explore why representation and diversity in our hobby matter and what we all can do to promote greater inclusivity in the board game community. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/04/11/representation-and-diversity-why-it-matters-topic-discussion/ Useful Links
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