Board Game Hot Takes

In this discussion, the hosts dive into the mechanics and theme of Arcs. They explore the impact of hype on board games, with differing opinions on its significance. Highlights include a clever initiative-steal mechanic, dynamic objectives, and strategic auction systems. They also critique the game's art, production quality, and unique hold mechanic. Additionally, there's a quick overview of Biblios and a critique of the solo mode in Now or Never. The conversation wraps with final thoughts on whether Arcs is worth backing.

In Episode 94 we provide our hot take review of Nemesis covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We discuss a poll about sleeving cards in games and Chris provides his themed cocktail of the week.  Then we discuss some games on our table including Planet Unknown and Ghosts of Christmas. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:40 Poll: Sleeving Cards in Board Games 12:40 Nemesis Gameplay Description 16:29 Gameplay and Mechanisms 47:42 Production and Theme 54:20 Final Thoughts 1:02:30 Themed Cocktail of the Week 1:05:30 Planet Unknown 1:14:26 Ghosts of Christmas

In Episode 93 we provide our hot take review of Golem covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We discuss a poll about best time of day to play board games and Chris provides his themed cocktail of the week.  Then we discuss some games on our table including Tetris: The Card Game, Tinner's Trail, Carcassonne, and Crusaders: Thy Will be Done. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:25 Poll: Favorite time of day to play games 06:02 Golem Gameplay Description 07:55 Gameplay and Mechanisms 27:28 Production and Theme 38:07 Final Thoughts 47:00 Themed Cocktail of the Week 50:39 Tetris: The Card Game 54:09 Tinner's Trail 58:37 Carcassonne 1:01:40 Crusaders: Thy Will be Done 1:10:00 Listener Shoutouts

In Episode 92 we take a look back at the games we've played together over the last several years and discuss the ones where we think our opinions were unanimous and consider the common elements that may make games work (or not work) for all of us.  We also discuss a poll on whether the size of a board game's box may influence your decision to acquire it. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:55 Poll: Box Sizes 07:15 Unanimous Takes 08:18 Marvel United 09:49 Windward 12:39 Whistle Mountain 14:35 Samurai 16:50 Vindication 18:05 Origin of Species 20:43 Capital Lux II 21:32 Merchants of the Dark Road 23:33 Wonderland's War 25:20 Shamans 27:54 Anachrony 29:20 Voidfall 32:27 Smarphone, Inc. 34:50 Gaia Project 36:54 Blood Rage 38:25 Dune: Imperium 41:22 La Granja, Welcome To..., Azul, Cascadia 42:49 Root 44:39 Wrap Up 50:53 Listener Shoutout

In Episode 91 we discuss all 14 games that we played at BGHT PDXCon over 4 days.  We also discuss a poll on selling games that you blinged out. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:51 Poll: Selling games that you upgraded 07:34 Viscounts of the West Kingdom 14:16 Tapestry (w/ Plans and Ploys and Arts and Architecture) 21:00 Return to Dark Tower 34:28 Keyflower 36:22 Wonderland's War 41:22 The Great Wall 55:37 Tzolk'in (w/ Tribes and Prophecies) 1:00:25 Clank! In! Space! 1:03:32 Nemesis 1:22:15 Lost Ruins of Arnak (w/ Expedition Leaders) 1:25:09 Azul: Queen's Garden 1:32:14 Blood Rage 1:36:00 Final Thoughts

In Episode 90 we provide our hot take review of Great Western Trail covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We discuss a poll about frequency of scheduled game nights.  Then we discuss some games on our table including Fallout Shelter and we give our future takes on Viticulture World. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:49 Poll: Game night frequency 06:33 Great Western Trail Gameplay Description 08:05 Gameplay and Mechanisms 24:36 Production and Theme 27:23 Final Thoughts 31:54 Fallout Shelter 39:24 Viticulture World

In Episode 89 we provide our hot take review of Wonderland's War covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We discuss a poll about backing games on Kickstarter when you know it will be available in retail and Chris provides his themed cocktail of the week.  Then we discuss some games on our table including Diplomacy and Viscounts of the West Kingdom and Tim gives his ranking on the entire West Kingdom trilogy and we give our future takes on Maglev Metro and its new expansion and on Septima. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:28 Poll: Backing Kickstarters that will go to retail 09:22 Wonderland's War Gameplay Description 11:13 Gameplay and Mechanisms 29:38 Production and Theme 38:13 Final Thoughts 45:53 Themed Cocktail of the Week 49:38 Diplomacy 54:38 Viscounts of the West Kingdom 1:06:52 West Kingdom Trilogy Ranking 1:09:35 Maglev Metro and Maps expansion 1:12:58 Septima

In Episode 88 we discuss our top 3 controversial mechanisms in board games.  These are mechanisms that seem to be well loved, sometimes even by our co-hosts, or heavily used but we don't like them at all.  We share some specific games that use those mechanisms and talk about why they don't (or sometimes do) work for us. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 02:50 Poll: Controversial Mechanisms 08:26 #3 Tim - Negotiation (Chinatown, Catan, Inis, Eclipse: 2nd Dawn for the Galaxy) 15:03 #3 Chris - Trick Taking (Brian Boru, Libertalia, Shamans, Spades, Hearts, The Crew, Oh Hell) 23:35 #3 Adam - Deck Milling (Terraforming Mars, Ark Nova, Everdell, Wingspan) 30:08 #2 Tim - Set Collection (Ethnos, Ticket to Ride, Wayfarers of the South Tigris, Champions of Midgard, 7 Wonders, Ra, Sushi Go) 37:12 #2 Chris - Pickup and Deliver (Merchants of the Dark Road, My Little Scythe, Clank!, Now or Never, Wasteland Delivery Service) 42:20 #2 Adam - Lose if you spend the most (Q.E., High Society) 44:35 #1 Tim - Player Determined Endgame (Ark Nova, Terraforming Mars, Scythe, Dune: Imperium, Anachrony, Beyond the Sun) 53:15 #1 Chris - Social Deduction / Hidden Traitor (One Night Ultimate Werewolf, Shamans, Battlestar Galactica, Love Letter, Coup) 1:01:38 #1 Adam - Dice Placement / Dice Mitigation (Wayfarers of the South Tigris, Euphoria, Castles of Burgundy) 1:05:49 Listener Shoutout

In Episode 87 we provide our hot take review of El Grande covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We discuss a poll about in-game vs. endgame scoring and Chris provides his themed cocktail of the week.  Then we discuss some games on our table including Magic Maze and Gizmos and give our future take on Nightmare Cathedral. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:37 Poll: In-game vs. Endgame Scoring 09:42 El Grande Gameplay Description 12:57 Gameplay and Mechanisms 31:00 Production and Theme 31:55 Final Thoughts 35:03 Blood Rage Tangent 38:21 Themed Cocktail of the Week 42:13 Magic Maze 48:57 Gizmos 54:55 Nightmare Cathedral

In Episode 86 we provide our hot take review of Wayfarers of the South Tigris covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We discuss a poll about unnecessary game boards and Chris provides his themed cocktail of the week.  Then we discuss some games on our table including Under Falling Skies, Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization, and Return to Dark Tower. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:30 Poll: Unnecessary Game Boards 06:08 Wayfarers of the South Tigris Gameplay Description 09:59 Gameplay and Mechanisms 28:53 Production and Theme 32:52 Final Thoughts 41:37 Themed Cocktail of the Week 46:04 Under Falling Skies 55:10 Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization 1:00:28 Return to Dark Tower