Episode 78: Inspiration from Board Games

In Power Grid, players compete to supply electricity to cities. Players bid for power plants and then purchase resources (coal, oil, garbage, and uranium) to power them. Each plant can power a specific number of cities. Players expand their network by building connections between cities, and at the end of each round, they receive income based on the number of cities they power. The game ends when a player can power a predetermined number of cities, and the player who can power the most cities wins.

The Lord of the Rings, written by J.R. R. Tolkien, is an epic high fantasy novel set in Middle-earth. The story follows Frodo Baggins, a hobbit who inherits the One Ring from his uncle Bilbo. The Ring, forged by Sauron, holds the power to control all other Rings of Power and must be destroyed in the fires of Mount Doom to prevent Sauron's return. Frodo is joined by a fellowship of other characters, including Gandalf the Grey, Samwise Gamgee, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and Boromir, as they embark on a dangerous quest across Middle-earth. The novel explores themes of good vs. evil, the corrupting influence of power, and the struggle between fate and free will.

Small World est un roman psychologique et social qui explore la vie de Konrad Lang, un homme dans la soixantaine atteint de la maladie d'Alzheimer. La perte de mémoire de Konrad le ramène à son passé et à la villa de sa famille d'adoption, les Kochs. Le roman dépeint à la fois la perte de la mémoire et les efforts pour la reconstituer, tout en révélant des secrets sombres de la grande bourgeoisie suisse et du petit peuple. C'est à la fois un roman social, une étude de cas médical et un roman policier à suspense.

In this book, Henry Kissinger provides a sweeping history of diplomacy, focusing on the 20th century and the Western World. He discusses the concepts of balance of power, Realpolitik, and the differences in national styles of diplomacy. Kissinger draws from his own experiences as a key figure in U.S. foreign policy, including his negotiations with leaders such as de Gaulle, Nixon, Chou En-lai, Mao Tse-tung, Reagan, and Gorbachev. The book critiques various diplomatic approaches, including collective security and self-determination, and argues for a return to European-style realpolitik in U.S. foreign policy after the Cold War.

Puerto Rico is a board game. Players take on the roles of governors, developing their islands by building settlements and producing goods. The game features a blend of strategy and economic management, with players competing for resources and influence. Puerto Rico's unique worker placement mechanic and its blend of strategy and economic management have made it a popular choice among board game enthusiasts. The game's replayability is high, with different strategic options and combinations.