Board Game Hot Takes

In Episode 115 we provide our hot take review of Agricola covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We also discuss a poll about re-acquiring games, and then we discuss some games on our table including Gang of Dice, Fantastic Factories, and Bitoku and give our future take on Frozen Frontier. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 03:24 Poll: Have you ever re-acquired a board game? 10:12 Agricola Gameplay Description 11:17 Gameplay and Mechanisms 21:08 Production and Theme 32:43 Final Thoughts 41:52 Gang of Dice 47:06 Fantastic Factories 48:55 Bitoku 55:30 Future Take: Frozen Frontier 59:20 Listener Shoutout

In Episode 114 we provide our hot take review of Lorenzo il Magnifico covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We also discuss a poll about scorepads vs. score trackers, and then we discuss some games on our table including Fantastic Factories, Cafe, and Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization... and Chris goes on a rant about subtitles on board games. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:53 Poll: Do you prefer Scorepads or Score Trackers? 09:10 Lorenzo il Magnifico Gameplay Description 10:34 Gameplay and Mechanisms 25:21 Production and Theme 31:24 Final Thoughts 35:59 Themed Cocktail of the Week 40:00 Fantastic Factories 48:32 Board game subtitles 51:14 Cafe 57:18 Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization 1:04:11 Listener Shoutout

In Episode 113 we revisit Eric Lang's troops-on-a-map trilogy with our Double Take reviews of Blood Rage, Rising Sun, and Ankh: Gods of Egypt and then we rank the trilogy. We also discuss a poll about intro version of popular heavy games, and then we discuss some games on our table including John Company, Beyond the Sun, and Caverna: The Cave Farmers. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:21 Poll: Do you want to see more intro versions of popular heavier games? 12:15 Eric Lang Trilogy Double Take 13:31 Blood Rage 23:20 Rising Sun 33:05 Ankh: Gods of Egypt 45:10 Trilogy Ranking 54:05 John Company 58:27 Beyond the Sun 1:00:45 Caverna: The Cave Farmers

In Episode 112 we discuss the top 5 incoming crowdfunded board games that each of us are excited to receive.  We take a look back at last year's list to see what's been delivered and how they hit for us as well. We also discuss a poll on Kickstarter vs. Gamefound. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:26 News 01:51 Poll: Kickstarter vs. Gamefound 08:27 Look back at 2020 Crowdfund episode 09:04 Dawn of Madness 11:25 Hyperspace and Cthulu Wars: Daemon Sultan 11:43 Sweet Mess 12:17 Frosthaven 14:17 2021 Crowdfund Episode Scorecard 14:35 Artisans of Splendent Vale 16:01 CoraQuest 17:12 Star Realms: Deluxe Nova Collection 21:21 Hyperspace 22:23 One Deck Galaxy 23:30 Age of Galaxy 23:21 They Live: Assault on Cable 54 24:39 Canvas 25:22 Paperback Adventures 25:56 Chaosmos: The Temple 28:02 Distilled 28:46 Now or Never 29:59 Shasn Azadi 31:56 Robot Quest Arena 33:05 Everdell: Newleaf and Mistwood 35:36 Fractal: Beyond the Void 37:55 Great Wall 40:21 Top 5 Incoming Crowdfund Games 2022 42:33 Ra 44:06 John Company 2nd Edition 44:53 Red Dust Rebellion 47:57 Distilled 50:03 Wayfarers of the South Tigris 51: 20 Legacy of Yu 52:01 One Deck Galaxy 53:56 Voidfall 58:47 Star Realms: Rise of Empires 1:03:55 Sleeping Gods: Distant Skies 1:06:17 Arcs 1:10:25 Lords of Ragnarok 1:13:48 La Granja Deluxe Master Set 1:15:54 Skyrise 1:18:00 Batman: Gotham City Chronicles Season 3 1:26:35 Final Thoughts - Motor City, Castles of Burgundy Special Edition, Age of Galaxy 1:31:50 Listener Shoutout

In Episode 111 we discuss all 18 games that we played at BGHT LongCon over 5 days.  We also discuss a poll on win percentages in your group and discuss why Tim can't seem to win a game at BGHT conventions. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:47 News 01:35 Poll: How much do you win compared to the people you play against 18:44 Dune: Imperium (w/ Rise of Ix) 22:39 Radlands 26:25 Champions of Midgard (w/ Dark Mountains and Valhalla) 32:38 Ghosts of Christmas 36:37 Star Wars: Outer Rim 39:12 Ark Nova 44:49 Barrage (w/ Leeghwater Project) 50:15 Eric Lang Trilogy Preview (Blood Rage, Rising Sun, Ankh: Gods of Egypt) 52:30 Shamans 56:42 Tapestry (w/ Plans and Ploys and Arts and Architecture) 1:03:16 Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy 1:14:34 Terraforming Mars (w/ Prelude) 1:19:25 Age of Galaxy 1:27:50 Star Realms 1:30:27 Lorenzo Il Magnifico 1:36:25 Lost Ruins of Arnak 1:40:14 Final Thoughts 1:45:24 Listener Shoutout

In Episode 110 we provide our hot take review of The Fox Experiment covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We also discuss a poll about buying expansions, and then we discuss some games on our table including Arkham Horror: The Card Game (and the experience of buying expansions for it), Boonlake, and Barrage, a future take on They Live: Assault on Cable 54 and then discuss Petersen Games' disappointing crowdfunding campaigns for Cthulhu Wars: Daemon Sultan and Hyperspace. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:36 Poll: If you like a game are you likely to buy expansions for it? 12:32 The Fox Experiment Gameplay Description 14:19 Gameplay and Mechanisms 28:44 Production and Theme 36:35 Final Thoughts 40:12 Arkham Horror: The Card Game (Expansion Follow-up) 47:42 Barrage 51:31 Boonlake 1:03:24 Future Take: They Live: Assault on Cable 54 1:06:37 Walk of Shame: Petersen Games - Cthulhu Wars: Daemon Sultan and Hyperspace 1:11:17 Listener Shoutout

In Episode 109 we provide our hot take review of Clans of Caledonia covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We also discuss a poll about games that surprised you in a good way, and then we discuss some games on our table including Blood Rage,  Arkham Horror LCG, and Cafe and discuss some future takes including The Fox Experiment, Astra, and Star Realms: Deluxe Nova Collection. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:30 Poll: Have you ever ending up loving a game that you though you would hate? 09:02 Clans of Caledonia Gameplay Description 11:15 Gameplay and Mechanisms 26:44 Production and Theme 31:00 Final Thoughts 35:49 Themed Cocktail of the Week 39:20 Blood Rage 41:36 Arkham Horror: The Card Game 39:55 Cafe 53:08 Future Take - The Fox Experiment 55:07 Future Take - Astra 56:27 Future Take - Star Realms: Deluxe Nova Collection

In Episode 108 we discuss our top ten board games that we would love to see turned into movies. We also discuss a poll on whether food and drinks should be included at your game table. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:43 Poll: Food and Drinks at the Board Game Table 10:49 Board Games that Should Be Movies 14:50 Chris #10 - Godspeed 16:28 Adam #10 - Terraforming Mars 17:40 Tim #10 - Spirit Island 19:36 Chris #9 - This War of Mine 21:33 Adam #9 - Wingspan 22:20 Tim #9 - Root 24:20 Chris #8 - Coyote and Crow 27:32 Adam #8 - Barrage 28:49 Tim #8 - Underwater Cities 30:25 Chris #7 - Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon 32:11 Adam #7 - Azul 34:03 Tim #7 - Near and Far 34:54 Chris #6 - Nightmare Cathedral 38:33 Adam #6 - Xenon Profiteer 41:13 Tim #6 - Outlive 44:11 Chris #5 - The Isle of Cats 47:01 Adam #5 - Xia: Legends of a Drift System 48:57 Tim #5 - Vindication 51:29 Chris #4 - Cthulhu: Death May Die 53:51 Adam #4 - La Granja 55:36 Tim #4 - Arkham Horror: The Card Game 57:35 Chris #3 - The Quiet Year 1:01:18 Adam #3 - T.I.M.E. Stories 1:02:28 Tim #3 - Anachrony 1:04:35 Chris #2 - Sleeping Gods 1:05:02 Adam #2 - Ankh: Gods of Egypt 1:06:33 Tim #2 - Golem 1:07:44 Chris #1 - AuZtralia 1:11:59 Adam #1 - Radlands 1:13:56 Tim #1 - Scythe

In Episode 107 we discuss 30 games that haven't gotten much attention from us on the podcast over the last 2 years but that we thought were worth mentioning briefly, good or bad. We also discuss a poll on diverse representation in board game artwork. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:38 Poll: Does diverse representation in board game art drive purchases? 07:18 Forgotten Games 8:25 Hadara 10:16 Canvas 13:35 Carson City 15:52 Afternova 18:35 Doughnut Drive-thru 20:50 Century: Spice Road / Century: Golem Edition 24:09 Jet Set 27:19 Space Base 29:59 Champions of Midgard 33:15 Seal Team Flix 35:18 Hero Realms 39:59 Chronicles of Crime 42:50 1841: Railways in Northern Italy 48:08 Imhotep 51:36 Deep Space D-6 53:14 Hellenica: Story of Greece 56:40 Babylonia 59:11 Euphoria: Build a Better Dystopia 1:02:00 Sentient 1:04:46 Lords of Hellas 1:08:08 Funkoverse Strategy Game 1:10:34 The Field of the Cloth of Gold 1:12:39 Zombie Kidz Evolution 1:14:32 Hyperborea 1:16:42 Antike II 1:18:47 Cthulhu Realms 1:22:13 Paper Dungeons: A Dungeon Scrawler Game 1:23:56 Patchwork 1:27:42 Shakespeare 1:31:15 Roll Player

In Episode 106 we provide our hot take review of Age of Galaxy covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We also discuss a poll about bad feelings created by huge wins, and then we discuss some games on our table including Planted, Tapestry, Watergate, Expedition to Newdale, and the new expansion for Parks: Wildlife. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:25 Poll: Has winning created bad feelings? 14:16 Age of Galaxy Gameplay Description 16:13 Gameplay and Mechanisms 42:30 Production and Theme 57:04 Final Thoughts 1:02:32 Planted 1:07:47 Tapestry 1:09:50 Watergate 1:11:30 Expedition to Newdale 1:21:53 Parks: Wildlife