Talk Cardboard

A mix of board game reviews on Spectral, Through the Desert with Bazaar expansion, and Leviathan Wilds based on video game Shadows of the Colossus. Delving into deduction games, strategic depth, and expansion modules. Praise for Reiner Knizia's classic design and Ryan Courtney's unique approach. Different gameplay mechanics discussed along with environmental themes and rewilding in Leviathan Wilds. Comparison between board game adaptations and the success of translating video game elements.

Dive into the world of two-player board games as the hosts chat about the unique joys and tensions that come with them. They discuss the clever hidden movement mechanics of Run, where strategy and secrecy intertwine. Haggis offers a nostalgic card-playing experience filled with strategic betting and competitive spirit. The exploration of Harrow County reveals how comics adapt into engaging gameplay, blending horror with decision-making. Personal anecdotes and humor add charm, making the episode a delightful listen for gamers!

Dear listeners, it’s never been clearer to us that board games have entered into a new era - the era of the size race. Each month publishers are competing to release a bigger campaign game than the one before and in terms of scope, Agemonia is definitely in the running for the lead. In terms of box size it’s no slouch either, looking eerily similar to that 32 pound Frosthaven box. To provide some contrast and levity, the second game on this episode is Terra Nova, a sleeker, slimmer, smaller and shorter version of its big sibling - Terra Mystica. If you’d like to check out our bonus episodes - become a patreon supporter on https://patreon.com/nopunincluded On to the timestamps: 0:00 Cold Open 1:46 Agemonia 41:34 Agemonia content warning start 45:49 Agemonia content warning end 48:22 Audience Correspondence - Salton Sea 55:52 Terra Nova

Discover the contrasting first impressions of board games 'Arcs' and 'Salton Sea'. Explore the importance of board game accessibility and the strategic gameplay mechanics in a lithium extraction game. Delve into the complexities of 'Arcs' and its unique space opera narrative experience.

This episode we only cover two games, but we had so much to say it ended up being a full length episode anyway. Which isn’t a surprise really when you end up with two follow ups for two massively succesful games. It’s the follow-up episode! And if you strain your thinking really hard, you could even argue that this very episode is a follow up to previous episodes, and thus thematically represents the games themselves. It’s nice when things like that line up perfectly. Please enjoy our chatter on 7th Citadel (sequel to 7th Continent) and Wyrmspan (sequel to Wingspan). If you’d like to check out our bonus episodes - become a patreon supporter on https://patreon.com/nopunincluded 0:00 Cold Open 0:38 Intro 2:44 7th Citadel 34:15 Wyrmspan

The podcast features three good board games, including a co-op boss battler, a solo deck-builder, and a very good EUORGAME. Hosts discuss gameplay strategies, comic characters, and a post-apocalyptic survival game.

A remake, a new take and an expansion walk into a bar. The barman says, “what’ll it be?” They all reply “something fresh.” Was that too mean? I think that was too mean, especially since at least (and also at most) two of the games discussed in this episode are pretty great. And one of them is okay. We revisit the classic Terra Mystica in it’s new more thematically demure incarnation, we explore how Raising Robots riffs on Wingspan and Efka finally gets to play the expansion to his favourite game of all time - Sidereal Confluence. Let me tell you folks - it’s been bifurcated. If you’d like to check out our bonus episodes - become a patreon supporter on https://patreon.com/nopunincluded 0:00 Cold Open 2:48 Intro 3:43 Age of Innovation: A Terra Mystica Game 33:22 Raising Robots 53:23 Sidereal Confluence: Bifurcation

Board games with eco themes are becoming popular, such as Daybreak and Dune: War for Arrakis. The hosts also discuss Ticket to Ride Legacy: Legends of the West and the importance of second-hand market for board games. They explore the concept of minimizing waste and making informed purchasing decisions. The gameplay and objectives of Dune: War for Arrakis are explained, and they delve into the game dynamics of the Dune board game. Daybreak is a cooperative game focused on stopping global warming. The hosts share their experience playing Ticket to Ride Legacy: Legends of the West and express their dislike for the game. They discuss bonus episodes, Patreon, and tease upcoming discussions on Divinity: Original Sin and Mystic Vale.

Celebrating a year of Talk Cardboard, the hosts revisit the most anticipated games for 2023 and share their picks for 2024. They discuss Dune: Imperium - Uprising, Efka's game of the year, and explore its interconnected mechanisms. They also reflect on their favorite games of the year and tease a special surprise at the end of the episode.

The podcast covers various interesting topics, including board games that lacked warmth, challenges of non-verbal communication in a game, frustrations of playing hard video games, bizarre themes in the Trolls and Princesses board game, incorporation of folk tales into games, and the setting and gameplay of 'Evacuation'