The Board Boys Podcast

Come gather round now children and listen to a tale of camaraderie, revelry, and perhaps a little bad weather travel to a wonderous gathering called Gamicon. Gamicon is a convention located in Cedar Rapids, IA that happens every year in the February time frame. This is an episode that we recorded earlier in the year and wanted to release it closer to the next show so perhaps folks can't plan on checking it out in 2020 - because you know hindsight! Also in this episode, we talk about speedrunning blind video games and Board Boy Rob shows up midway to give us weather and traffic updates. We hope you like Gamicon...and Board Games! Check out the 2020 Gamicon February 28th thru March 1st all the specifics can be found at www.gamicon.org

Travel to historic Yokohama, where players become merchants navigating the bustling market of 1868 Japan. Dive into thrilling discussions about gameplay strategies in board games like 'Mansions of Madness' and 'Terraforming Mars.' Enjoy humorous banter during an advertising trivia showdown, guessing old slogans and commercials. Reflect on personal gaming experiences, including a recent road trip to BGG Con, and explore movie rating shifts that spark nostalgic anecdotes. Experience the camaraderie and competitiveness that makes board gaming such a joy!

The boys fought for their lives (in space) this week in Nemesis from Awaken Realms. This semi-cooperative horror, survival, exploration game could easily be described as "Alien the board game" but there is so much more to it than that. Relationships were tested, friends became enemies, enemies became friends, and Rob threw a Molotov at Campbell. Also this episode: Josh is back and talks a bit about his Cardboard Caucus experience, Ben and Rob play more games and Campbell has a Molotov thrown at him.

Well we did it ... another season of TBBP is in the books. We close out this chapter on Season Four with a play of Architects of the West Kingdom from Renegade Game Studios/Garphill Games. There is a lot to love in this quick thinker stinker, and no short supply of workers, but is there enough to love? Also this episode: Ben talks about the worst kind of holes, Campbell and Josh hype up some upcoming Midwest board game cons and Rob has an encounter with the game that got away. See ya later Season Four!

Things get spooky this week as the boys worked together to defeat ancient Lovecraftian beasts in Eldritch Horror. Travel Scrabble Ben was stuck in time and space this week so the boys asked The Dealt Hand to join their adventure as they battled cultists and solved mysteries around the world. Also this episode: Joe shares all the details on Iowa's hottest board game popup, Josh gets critical of Medium, Campbell plays a floppy hat game he doesn't love and Rob takes an extended trip to Beau's corner.

Within the charming valley of Everdell, a civilization of forest critters is thriving and expanding. Also, frog ambassadors from the land of Pearlbrook are hella dope. This week we ventured outside the BGG Top 100 for a stroll through the forest in Everdell. Tableaus were built, resources were collected and critters were acquired in this worker placement/resource management/set collection (kinda) eurogame. Also this episode: Ben shares the best nickname, Josh intros and Rob and Cam played a Feld (shocker!).

What do you get when you mix animal mating, a feeding mechanism, pale ones and a million Agricola references? Obviously you get Caverna: The Cave Farmers by Uwe Rosenburg. This week your favorite boys (minus Ben), and guest Cody Lenhart, break down Uwe's highest rated game on the BGG Top 100 list. Also this episode: Rob shares his secret algorithm for hidden movement games; Josh learns review wars are a thing; Campbell does Campbell things; and Cody shares all the details you need for Cardboard Caucus!

Welp, it finally happened. It only took four seasons, but we're finally doing a feature episode on a game NOT currently on the BGG Top 100. We generally take this qualifier seriously, but Black Angel from Pearl Games had our full attention at Gen Con. It may currently be 4,269, but it's number one in our hearts. Also this episode: the boys answer the ultimate gaming question - which original Monopoly piece is best? Ben's board game collection continues to expand and the boys introduce a new contest!