Eat Lunch and Board Game

Just a routine reading of Board Game Geek put me onto the release of today’s focus game, King of Tokyo: Duel. There was a banner ad on the homepage. From there, a quick click over to my local game shop webpage allowed me to preorder the game. I did not need any more information. It was King of Tokyo. It was designed by Richard Garfield. It was two-player.

Upon further inspection, it appeared to be a tug of war style game. It ha...

My family loves this game. My sister has not yet played it because it's a little over her skill level. But my mom, dad and I love this game. We have played this game dozens of times. When it comes to the expansion (which I will talk about later), we have only played it a few times.

In Chili Mafia, you are a mob boss building gangs of various chili peppers. You can either build a gang of different peppers, or one of similar...

In this episode, I’m joined by Brian Reynolds, one of the founders of The Bridge Teachers. We dive into his secret weapon for Two Truths and a Lie, the art of playing Monopoly by the rules, and the challenge of teaching Bridge to a 6-year-old, and that’s just the beginning.

Brian also shares an online comic recommendation and a book that’s now on my list to read. Plus, his wife makes a few surprise appearances, she could h...

In a past episode, our guest Camilla Zamboni mentioned The Tabletop Revolution, a fascinating book by fellow professor Marco Arnaudo. In it, Prof. Arnaudo explores the dramatic evolution of board games—how mechanics have transformed from simple numbered cards to dynamic, multi-functional game elements. We dive into this revolution, celebrating classics like Acquire—a game so essential that Prof. Arnaudo calls it "foundational....

Last year at Geekway to the West, the local gaming convention here in St. Louis that you have heard me talk about a lot, fellow game designer and past guest on this show, Phill Wamser and I sat down and played this one evening after a long day in the booth. We were surprised by the feel of the cards, but other than that, we played two or three games back to back without really realizing it. As soon as we realized it, we decided we ...

In this episode, I am joined by author Steve Dee. His book The Book of Carcassonne was an early bedtime read for Edward. His other books are equally as entertaining. Steve and I talk about playing at lunch and feeling that you are misbehaving a little. In a good way...

We also reminisce about Tabletop with Wil Wheaton and the great games that he introduced us to. Steve also mentions having a "home game" because h...

I came across an article while reading a different article that I came across while reading another article that was referenced in a book I was reading about board games. I enjoyed the story and the experience that author talked about. So, I reached out to the writer, Morgan Ebbs.

Morgan joins me to talk about her entry into the gaming hobby, answer the standard questions, and how she has a $60 limit on games. We talked a...

Another great game from designer Steve Jackson. I love this game. In zombie dice you are a zombie trying to eat brains. My family takes this game of trips to play before bed. My sister wanted to play “The brain game”, we had no idea what she was talking about so we asked her to go get it. Then she brought in this game. It is based on a push your luck mechanic, and this game is simple enough a 5 year old can play it, but adults can ...

Facebook strikes again! A group that I follow had a post by a fellow member that her book was finally published. Of course, I had to read it. Professor Camilla Zamboni's book, Roll for Learning: 51 Micro Tabletop Role-Playing Games to Use in the Classroom, is a collection of TTRPGS with a lot of other information to help implement them. She graciaously joined me in this episode to talk about gaming in the classroom, gaming onl...

Facebook got me again! I am an easy target for ads about board games. I had heard of this one, but when the ad hit, and I clicked over, and it was only $50, I had to order Farms Race. It is the debut game from Medium Brow Games. (What a great name, by the way) This publisher was founded by one of the creators of Cards Against Humanity, Daniel Dranove. The other designer credited is Tom Weiner. This is his first game.

So, w...

Edward and I are always up for a good racing game. We have mentioned this in the past. We have a lot of different types of racing. When watching videos on YouTube of great racing games, 1500M came up. It is a racing game that came out in 2018 where you are a track runner in a, well, 1500M foot race. I instantly reached out to the creator, Eduardo Crespo, and his company Lucky Loser Games. Edward is a cross country and track runner....

In this episode, I am joined by father and son designers Cory and Gavin Neslon. They are the duo behind The Naughty Jester. Their debut game, Chivalry is Dead: Race for the Crown, is currently up on Kickstarter. It is a fantasy themed racing game. I can't wait for it. We talk about Kickstarter, racing games, inspiration, and ha lot of other fun things. Thanks for listening.

Chivalry is Dead: Race for the Crown

Directin...

I preordered Horrified: Greek Monster Edition against my better judgment. Once I was not overly impressed with the American Monsters Edition, I do not know what possessed me to preorder this newest edition. Anyway, I did, from Target. It was scheduled for delivery on October 9. Oddly, I received a notification from Target that it was out for delivery on September 29. When I clicked for more details, the UPS website said it was out ...

I came across De'Von Truvel's board game while trying to find a book for the kids about the Greenwood Massacre, as we were planning a trip to Tulsa. I found a book on Amazon, Black History Adventures of Rose and Rodney: Greenwood and Tulsa's Black Wall Street. The book said it was from the creators of Play Black Wall Street the Board Game. So, I bought both.

De'Von talk about the game, the event, and mu...

Dad found Kuddly Kymera at a gaming convention. It was designed and published by Mythica Gaming. They are the same team behind one of our other favorite games, Dueling Dice! Kuddly Kymera is a game about creating the cutest animal possible. Players take turns playing down cards from their hand onto themselves or other players. My dad, sister, and I had a blast playing it so we introduced it to my grandparents on vacation, and they ...

I first came across CJ Connor's debut cozy novel Board to Death my usual way. I simply searched "board game" in the library online catalog. I recognized that I had not read it, so I checked it out. After about two chapters, I just decided to buy it. Edward read it before I had the chance. Anyway, we both loved it, and I reached out to CJ to be on the show. CJ and I talk the usual and when the next book is due out. Al...

Edward and I took a trip down to Paducah, Kentucky, to visit some friends we made at a convention. We taught kids our game, Fences, and I interviewed one of the owners of The Play Portal. Shannon mentions some great games, that Edward and played off the shelf. She also mentioned a game after we wrapped recording, Brutality. It looks and sounds like a great team, and more brutal, version of King of Tokyo. We obtained a copy off ebay...

I won’t beat a dead horse, but I will say it one more time: I love a good roll and write. Of course, there are variations on this mechanic, like the flip and write. So, when I first heard of Inside Up Games’s Draft & Write Records, I was immediately curious.

In Draft & Write Records, designed by Bruno Maciel, you are trying to build a band, take it on tour, release tracks and albums, and do press, trying to be bett...

As you know, I have been playing a lot of Long Shot and Long Shot: The Dice Game. I have been waiting for the next release, WIN, to finally hit the stores. Well, last week, I received the email that my preorder was in! So, I drove out to the FLGS to pick up my copy of Chris Handy’s seventeenth game in the Perplext Pack-O-Games series, WIN: A Long Shot Game.

Once again, in WIN, you and your opponents are betting on the hors...