Board Game Hot Takes

In Episode 294 we invite board game designer, Andy Schwarz, on to discuss his experience with self-publishing a game and he shares lessons learns, tips and tricks, and some real financial numbers.You can read Andy's blog post covering some of the discussed topics here: https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/3215750/an-analysis-of-what-it-costs-to-self-publish-a-gamIf you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakesFollow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.socialJoin our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205Join our Discord server at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd⁠

In Episode 293 we each cover 5 board games that integrate animals themes.We also discuss a poll on packing board games when travelling on a plane.00:00 Introduction03:50 Poll Time: How do you pack board games when travelling via airplane11:40 15 Great Animal Themed GamesIf you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakesFollow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.socialJoin our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205Join our Discord server at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd⁠

In Episode 292 we give our hot take review on two board game expansions - Viticulture: Bordeaux and Revive: Call of the AbyssTimestamps:00:00 Introduction0:35 Viticulture: Bordeaux0:51 Gameplay and Mechanisms19:36 Production and Theme21:29 Final Thoughts28:03 Revive: Call of the Abyss28:51 Gameplay and Mechanisms39:04 Production and Theme40:33 Final Thoughts45:29 News and Listener ShoutoutIf you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakesFollow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.socialJoin our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205Join our Discord server at:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd⁠⁠

In Episode 291 we look back at some hidden gems from 2020-2024. We each name at least one game that doesn't get discussed much anymore from each of these years and talk about why they deserve more attention.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction00:49 Top 5 Overlooked Board Games (2020-2024)05:00 2020 - Whistle Mountain (Rajas of the Ganges: The Dice Charmers, The Castles of Tuscany, Star Wars Unlock, Mariposas)10:22 2020 - Godspeed11:23 2020 - New York Zoo15:20 2021 - Viking See-Saw (Boon Lake, Mille Fiori, Messina 1347)21:26 2021 - Dune: A Game of Conquest and Diplomacy25:42 2021 - The Emerald Flame27:33 2021 - That Time You Killed Me33:18 2022 - Vagrantsong (Sea Salt & Paper, Woodcraft, Creature Comforts, Paperback Adventures) 39:49 2022 - Mosaic: A Story of Civilization41:47 2022 - Age of Galaxy42:37 2022 - Aeon Trespass Odyssey44:29 2022 - Three Sisters48:45 2023 - Imperial Miners (Pirates of Maracaibo, Rats of Wistar, Surfasaurus Max)53:56 2023 - Fractal, Robot Quest Arena56:35 2023 - Europa Universalis: The Price of Power59:28 2023 - Sea Dragons1:03:33 2024 - Lone Wolves (Let's Go To Japan, Fromage, Rebirth, Windmill Valley, Flip 7, Captain Flip, Invincible: The Hero Building Game, Stamp Swap, Spring Cleaning)1:08:50 2024 - Frozen Frontier, Biohack1:10:08 2024 - Reforest, LoootIf you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakesFollow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.socialJoin our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205Join our Discord server at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd

In Episode 290 we discuss board game strategy, how we approach it, and why we care about strategy when we're playing board games. We also discuss a poll about discussing strategy after a play.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction00:25 Poll Time: Do you discuss the strategy of your play after finishing a game?12:05 Board Game Strategy12:38 How do you approach strategy on a first play of a board game?17:15 What's your approach for getting better at board game strategy after your first play?24:57 Is getting better at strategy important to you?32:35 Are there any games you feel you're the best you'll ever be?37:29 Are there any games you aren't good at and don't know how to get better?46:08 If you aren't getting better at strategy in a game does that game become less fun for you?52:54 Have you every looked for strategy tips online for a game?If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakesFollow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.socialJoin our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205Join our Discord server at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd

In Episode 289 we give our hot take review on Dewan covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.We also discuss some games that have been on our tables including Speakeasy, Saltfjord, and Ape Town.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction00:41 Dewan Description02:18 Gameplay and Mechanisms18:40 Production and Theme23:55 Final Thoughts28:25 Speakeasy37:25 Saltfjord45:06 GameCon at House on the Hill (Portland Metro Area)47:53 Ape Town57:53 Listener ShoutoutIf you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakesFollow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.socialJoin our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205Join our Discord server at:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd⁠⁠⁠

In Episode 288 we dive into the mailbag in search of our listener's best board game related questions.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction2:14 Theme that doesn't exist that you'd like to see in a game?12:28 What are your once a year games?20:02 What is the best deal you've ever scored on the secondary market and what is your most regrettable board game purchase?29:53 Thoughts on ordering a game outside of the U.S.A?34:35 Most promising board game designers to look out for?41:47 What does a typical productions schedule for an episode look like?50:07 Do you feel like your preference for playing complex board games is affected by the mental load you have in life?54:30 Do you manage to pull 4 Azul tiles out of the bag every single time?55:40 Do we pay too little for board games?1:00:18 Does your family life suffer as a result of your board game hobby?1:07:58 How old are we?1:10:25 Listener ShoutoutIf you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakesFollow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.socialJoin our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205Join our Discord server at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd

In Episode 287 we give our hot take review on Forest Shuffle and Reforest and cover the gameplay and production of both and then discuss which we preferred.We also discuss a poll on separating resource components when setting up a game and then discuss some recent plays of Fibbage and Super Motherload.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction00:22 Poll Time: Separating Resources8:27 Forest Shuffle Description9:52 Gameplay and Mechanisms22:14 Production and Theme28:11 Reforest Description29:48 Gameplay and Mechanisms41:32 Production and Theme46:24 Final Thoughts - Forest Shuffle and Reforest58:56 Hot Streak, Fibbage, and Flip 71:01:10 Super Motherload1:07:15 Listener ShoutoutIf you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakesFollow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.socialJoin our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205Join our Discord server at:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd⁠⁠

In Episode 286 we cover 5 board game expansions each that are (almost) mandatory.00:00 Introduction01:45 Board game expansions we won't play without03:31 Look back at Top 5 Board Game Expansions from Episode 4710:17 Roll Player - Monsters and Minions15:02 Agricola - Belgium, France, Gamer's Deck, etc.19:43 Radlands - Cult of Chrome22:05 Thunder Road: Vendetta - Choppe Shoppe24:36 Blood Rage - Kickstarter Exclusive Monsters29:04 Stockpile - Continuing Corruption31:04 The Castles of Burgundy - Trade Routes34:51 Obsession - Upstairs, Downstairs38:36 Chaosmos - The Temple42:16 Downforce - Danger Circuit, Wild Ride46:07 Tapestry - Plans and Ploys50:20 Gaia Project - The Lost Fleet53:13 Fantastic Factories - Manufactions55:12 Dune: Imperium - Rise of Ix59:33 March of the Ants: Evolved Editions - Predators and PreyIf you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakesFollow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.socialJoin our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205Join our Discord server at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd⁠

In Episode 285 we give our hot take review on The Old King's Crown covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.We talk about the BGG Hall of Fame inductee, For Sale, and then discuss some games that have been on our tables including Reforest, Biblios, and Subjective.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction00:21 BGG Hall of Fame: For Sale05:40 The Old King's Crown Description08:18 Gameplay and Mechanisms33:50 Production and Theme38:52 Final Thoughts46:20 Echoes of Time48:22 Reforest53:06 Dead Cells54:25 Biblios58:53 Subjective1:04:25 Listener ShoutoutIf you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakesFollow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.socialJoin our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205Join our Discord server at:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd⁠⁠