Board Game Hot Takes

In Episode 160 we provide our hot take review of Spirit Island covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We also celebrate our 3 year anniversary of the podcast by sharing some of our listener's favorite episodes. Then we discuss some board games on our table including Lancaster and Lords of Ragnarok. Timestamps:00:00 Introduction00:23 3 year anniversary! Listener's favorite episodes08:18 Expeditions Description17:10 Gameplay and Mechanisms34:27 Production and Theme40:00 Final Thoughts47:36 Lancaster53:39 Lords of Ragnarok56:31 Listener Shout-out

In Episode 159 we provide our hot take review of Expeditions covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We also discuss a poll about whether games set in the same universe as other games you like will get you excited. Then we discuss some board games on our table including Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy, Pax Pamir: Second Edition, and Castles of Burgundy: Special Edition. Timestamps:00:00 Introduction00:27 Poll: How do you feel about games set in the same universe as a previous game that you liked by that publisher or designer?08:18 Expeditions Description11:41 Gameplay and Mechanisms32:51 Production and Theme41:45 Final Thoughts50:03 Amun-Re50:29 Pax Pamir (2nd Edition)52:38 Castles of Burgundy Deluxe Edition

In Episode 158 we provide our hot take review of Hegemony: Lead Your Class To Victory covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We also discuss a poll about watching new releases around conventions. Then we discuss some board games on our table including Welcome to the Moon, Robot Quest Arena, and Patchwork Doodle. Timestamps:00:00 Introduction00:24 Poll: Do you pay attention to board games that are announced or released at GenCon?07:13 Hegemony: Lead Your Class To Victory Description10:39 Gameplay and Mechanisms32:47 Production and Theme38:39 Final Thoughts43:41 Welcome To The Moon52:08 Robot Quest Arena57:21 Patchwork Doodle

In Episode 157 we each discuss our top 5 favorite board games including asymmetric player powers. Timestamps:00:00 Introduction00:58 Discussion on Asymmetric Player Powers09:49 Top 5 games with asymmetric player powers.09:56 The Expanse Board Game12:28 Champions of Midgard and Dune: Imperium14:47 Circadians: Chaos Order18:09 Ankh: Gods of Egypt20:35 Dwellings of Eldervale and Revive23:05 Robot Quest Arena26:35 Dune32:00 Frosthaven / Gloomhaven and Cthulhu: Death May Die34:57 Barrage37:54 Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy40:52 Everdell and Lost Ruins of Arnak43:41 Gaia Project46:13 Spirit Island49:29 Ark Nova and Planet Unknown52:01 The Voyages of Marco Polo55:11 Honorable (or other) Mentions: Wonderland's War, Scythe, Star Wars: The Deckbuilding Game, Star Wars: Rebellion

In Episode 156 we provide our hot take review of The Voyages of Marco Polo covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We also discuss a poll about large box editions of games. Then we discuss some board games on our table including Trellis and Marrakesh and some first looks at games that just arrived including Expeditions and Robot Quest Arena. Timestamps:00:00 Introduction00:26 Poll: How do you feel about large box versions of your favorite games?09:59 The Voyages of Marco Polo Description11:09 Gameplay and Mechanisms30:42 Production and Theme38:58 Final Thoughts47:02 Trellis49:52 First Look: Expeditions and Robot Quest Arena54:51 Marrakesh

In Episode 155 we provide our hot take review of Cyclades: Legendary Edition covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We also discuss a poll about storing board games horizontally or vertically. Then we discuss some board games on our table Arkham Horror, Yokai Septet, The Voyages of Marco Polo, and Marco Polo II: In the Service of the Khan. Timestamps:00:00 Introduction00:27 Poll: Do you store your board games horizontal or vertical?05:14 Cyclades: Legendary Edition Description07:27 Gameplay and Mechanisms22:28 Production and Theme28:16 Final Thoughts37:40 Arkham Horror: The Board Game44:25 Yokai Septet48:35 The Voyages of Marco Polo vs. Marco Polo II: In the Service of the Khan

In Episode 154 we provide our hot take review of Wolves covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We also discuss a poll about thinking about designing board games. Then we discuss some board games on our table including Patchwork Doodle, Ticket to Ride: San Francisco, Ankh: Gods of Egypt, Draftosaurus, and Cat in the Box. Timestamps:00:00 Introduction00:32 Poll: Have you ever thought about designing a board game?07:24 Wolves Description09:55 Gameplay and Mechanisms26:35 Production and Theme41:30 Final Thoughts52:11 Patchwork Doodle and Ticket to Ride: San Francisco57:22 Ankh: Gods of Egypt59:48 Draftosaurus1:03:46 Cat in the Box

In Episode 153 Tim and Adam's partners, Danielle and Sarah, join the show to discuss their top 5 games. Please excuse the lower quality audio and some background noise due to the unique recording space we were in for this episode. We also discuss a poll on Twitter and our Facebook group about the longest board game you've played. Timestamps:00:00 Introduction00:42 Poll: What's the longest single play you've had in a board game?06:17 Danielle and Sarah's Top 5 Games06:45 Danielle #5 - Welcome To...08:55 Sarah #5 - Dune: Imperium11:45 Danielle #4 - The Quacks of Quedlinburg15:30 Sarah #4 - Abducktion20:54 Danielle #3 - Clank! Catacombs24:52 Sarah #3 - Trekking the World29:00 Danielle #2 - Sea Salt & Paper and Fantastic Factories32:40 Sarah #2 - Smartphone, Inc.36:15 Danielle #1 - The Castles of Burgundy41:32 Sarah #1 - SCOUT44:50 Honorable Mentions: Everdell, The Lost Ruins of Arnak, Cafe, Azul, Ankh: Gods of Egypt, Wonderland's War, Planted, Radlands, Othello

In Episode 152 we finish the countdown of our top 40 Board Games of all time with choices 1-10. Timestamps:00:00 Introduction00:42 Top Games of All Time03:21 Tim #10 The Castles of Burgundy05:26 Adam #10 Blood Rage07:20 Chris #10 Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar10:55 Tim #9 Agricola: Revised Edition13:06 Adam #9 Barrage15:50 Chris #9 Terraforming Mars19:02 Tim #8 Ark Nova21:14 Adam #8 Rising Sun24:47 Chris #8 Ark Nova27:45 Tim #7 Wonderland's War31:23 Adam #7 Star Wars Rebellion33:53 Chris #7 Teotihuacan: City of Gods36:26 Tim #6 Terraforming Mars38:43 Adam #6 Ankh: Gods of Egypt41:57 Chris #6 Eclipse: 2nd Dawn for the Galaxy44:02 Tim #5 Tapestry47:36 Adam #5 Baseball Highlights 204550:09 Chris #5 Barrage51:56 Tim #4 Dune: Imperium53:09 Adam #4 Smartphone, Inc.54:59 Chris #4 Blood Rage56:05 Tim #3 Blood Rage57:41 Adam #3 Wonderland's War48:47 Chris #3 Tapestry1:01:50 Tim #2 Gaia Project1:04:25 Adam #2 Dune: Imperium1:05:23 Chris #2 Gaia Project1:06:23 Tim #1 Everdell1:10:41 Adam #1 Eclipse: 2nd Dawn for the Galaxy1:12:44 Chris #1 Wonderland's War

In Episode 151 we continue the countdown of our top 40 Board Games of all time with choices 11-20. We also discuss a poll on how important balance is in board games. Timestamps:00:00 Introduction00:47 Poll: How important is balance to you in a board game?08:09 Top Games of All Time08:22 Adam #20 Capital Lux 2: Generations10:06 Chris #20 Viticulture Essential Edition13:12 Tim #20 Beyond the Sun15:42 Adam #19 Abducktion18:39 Chris #19 Agricola21:16 Tim #19 La Granja23:13 Adam #18 Shamans25:21 Chris #18 Obsession28:14 Tim #18 Distilled30:11 Adam #17 Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization32:37 Chris #17 Lacrimosa35:00 Tim #17 Barrage39:00 Adam #16 Beyond the Sun40:16 Chris #16 Revive42:49 Tim #16 Revive45:47 Adam #15 Gaia Project47:57 Chris #15 Nemesis51:43 Tim #15 Paperback Adventures56:01 Adam #14 The Expanse Board Game59:25 Chris #14 Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization1:00:08 Tim #14 Clank! Catacombs1:02:53 Adam #13 Pax Pamir: 2nd Edition1:05:36 Chris #13 La Granja1:07:16 Tim #13 Lost Ruins of Arnak1:08:46 Adam #12 Inis1:11:06 Chris #12 Distilled1:13:01 Tim #12 Underwater Cities1:15:28 Adam #11 Azul1:18:50 Chris #11 Dune: Imperium1:22:18 Tim #11 Scythe