Meeple Nation Board Game Podcast

This week we talk about Raiders of the North Sea along with the Hall of Heroes and Fields of Fame expansions. These games are now published in the US and are designed by Shem Phillips with art by Mihajlo Dimitrievski.

The many games played at SaltCON end of summer including Hail Hydra, Battleline, Reef and many more.

This week we talk through five games we've been playing. We start with Majesty: For the Realm, Ryan continues with Terraforming Mars: Prelude, Nathan talks Mountains of Madness, I bring up Fast Forward Fortress and we end with more Decrypto.

When you picnic or camp do you game, or just enjoy the outdoors? Do you beat up your cards, watch over them carefully, or choose tile based or pencil games? We discuss all manor of games from our past and suggestions from you, Meeple Nation.

It is again time for news. We talk Power Rangers, Unique Games, Keyforge and Discover, the exit of Christian Peterson from Asmodee North America, and the merger of Stronghold Games and Indie Boards and Cards. We discuss Root, Everdell, Monster Crunch, Flotsam Fight, and many more games. Join us in the guild or at Meeple Nation Off Air on Facebook.

This week we are again joined by Matt and Barb of the Players Wanted Podcast. We discuss their recent trip to GenCon including Oink Games, Pikoko, Ice Cool 2, and Matt's GenCon Hat, which is not a game. We cover all that and over a dozen other titles, including Keyforge, Welcome To..., Reef, and more.

We've been deep in the hobby for 20 years now and we are surprised when some games remain for sale continually, or in other words, become evergreen games, and why some don't. What makes Ticket to Ride, Catan, Pandemic, and many others stand out and sell thousands of times more copies than the average hobby game. We have some ideas. Let us know what you think.

This episode Ryan, Brent and Nathan each choose five games from the massive list of 615 titles previewed on boardgamegeek.com. This list is found at https://www.boardgamegeek.com/geekpreview/7/gen-con-2018-preview We talk Robotech, Alien, Aliens, Towers, and many more.

We are joined this week by friend of the podcast, Thomas Roybal, a university professor that has used games and gaming concepts for years in his classrooms. He gives us examples of games he was occasionally able to play with the kids when he taught high school, and his more subtle way of using games at the university.

Brent, Nathan and Ryan are joined again by Barb and Matt for a lot of fun and a little chaos. We talk Kickstarters, Games ending, games beginning, and for some reason, real news about Big Trouble in Little China

Sam Aho joins Nathan and Ryan while they discuss their favorite games, including Ryan being on a quest.

What do you play when you have seven or more players and splitting into two or more groups isn't an option? We discuss games we enjoy plus ideas from you, the listeners. Let us know what we missed by contacting us in the BGG guild or on the Meeple Nation Off Air Facebook group!

This week we sit down and talk about the fantastic cooperative game from Greater than Games. Nathan likes it. Brent likes it. What does Ryan think? Does the theme resonate, do the mechanics and theme come together to provide a nice narrative? Yes.

This episode we introduce and review two games, starting with Space Base from John D Clair and AEG and The Thing: Infection at Outpost 31 from Mondo games and Joe Van Wetering. Could Ryan and Nathan like them both?

Nathan finally plays Starfarers of Catan, he raves about his Game Toppers Tables, we talk Kickstarter, more Asmodee acquisitions and Asmodee's possible desire to be acquired, and more June news.

We talk a bit about the nine Spiel des Jahres Nominees. Brent has played them all and Nathan and Ryan talk Ganz Shon Clever, The Mind and Azul. Ryan sneaks in some Terraforming Mars jabs. Kinderspiel des Jahres Nominees: Shaky Manor Emojito Dragon's Breath Kennerspiel des Jahres Nominees: Heaven & Ale Ganz Shon Clever Die Quacksalber von Quedlenburg Spiel des Jahres Nominees: Luxor The Mind Azul

Ryan and Nathan are joined by Daniel Hadlock. Brent and Sam are conspicuously absent. Daniel is president of Tasty Minstrel Games and caries out a variety of tasks in order to get games out to market. Sit back and listen while Daniel answers Nathan and Ryan's quetions.

We discuss a number of games we have been playing including 7th Continent, Muse, Illusion, Mystic Vale: Conclave and the Estrella Drive expansion for Time Stories Be sure to support our sponsors: The TMG Podcast and Game Toppers!

This week we talk about what we are playing including a non-spoiler wrap-up of Charterstone, Roll Player, Eldritch Horror, Arkham Horror: TCG, and despite an attempt to move this off 6 months, even more Cthulhu Mythos games. Pardon some Audio Glitches that caused occasional loss of audio. Make sure you support our sponsors, the TMG Podcast, and GameToppersLLC.com

Nathan is now interested in Thanos Rising: Infinity War. We talk about games we are playing (or watching) including Clank! The Mummy's Curse, The Quest for El Dorado, Welcome To Your Dream Home, Space Cadet: Dice Duel. Meatball Nation is now available through Google Home or Amazon Echo. On the Play say: Play Meeple Nation Board Game Podcast. On the Echo say: Enable Meatball Nation then Play Meatball Nation. Yeah, that's right. X-Wing is getting a second edition, Robotech is getting two new games from a new publisher (despite the issues with the previous licensee), we banter minis vs standees, then talk Kickstarters, Hellboy, a return of Thunderstone Quest, Homesteaders, and The City of Kings. Remember to support our sponsors, the TMG podcast and Game Toppers! Let them know that Meatball Nation sent you.

A dozen years ago many of us talked about how to grow the gaming community. Now, the chatter has changed. Now, the question is more about when or if this golden age will end, and many of us wonder when we will get to play the games we already own, or possibly have on order. What do all these games mean to the industry, to gamers, and to me? Why won't anybody play my game?

We often hear people ask what makes a game a game. We've formed our own opinions and parroted others. Well after some reflection, and with excited and odd new games entering the market, we have come to a different conclusion. So what exactly comprises our hobby? Many many different types of games. Listen for more.

We talk about the creative process and puzzle hunts, including those created at BGG.Con and those for SaltCON Please consider supporting our sponsors, The Tasty Minstrel Games Podcast and Game Toppers LLC.

We discuss two new games this episode. The Mind is a cooperative game of non-communication. What level can you reach? Thunderstone Quest is the newest iteration of Thunderstone and while it is yet another improvement, how much has it approved?

We are again joined by Matt and Barb while we discuss gaming news including an almost update on Big Trouble in Little China, World War Hulk Legendary, Thanos Rising: Avengers Infinity War We are excited to announce that Game Toppers is our new sponsor, check them out at http://gametoppersllc.com We also discuss Kickstarters past and present including Fire in the Library, AuZtralia, Dragon Keepers, and many more.

We review the games that won the Golden Geek Awards for 2017 from Boardgamegeek.com and we talk a bit about the Stonemaier Games and Steve Jackson Games Stakeholder Reports. https://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/1955324/12th-annual-golden-geek-awards-winners-2017 https://stonemaiergames.com/2017-behind-the-scenes-stakeholder-report-for-stonemaier-games/ http://www.sjgames.com/general/stakeholders/

This week we discuss Gloomhaven, the monstrous game by Isaac Childres. Ryan, Brent, and Nathan are joined by Dennis Holliday for this podcast.

We talk about more games played at SaltCON including Fast Forward: Flee, Fast Forward: Fear, Verflucht!, Dominion: Nocturne. We discuss Con Games feedback, and have a few more interviews from attendees.

We have just returned from SaltCON 2018 and we have reports on the events we ran for the convention inlcuding a Game Show, Werewolf, and a Puzzle Hunt. We also (mainly Nathan) played large group games of Deception Murder In Hong Kong and Salem 1692. We also talk about other convention events, games, dealers, and other SaltCON stuff. And is that Brent and Sam on the same episode? This episode might explode in 60 seconds.

Ryan, Brent, Nathan and Matt sit down and discuss current news and Kickstarters. They start by talking about convention expectations, meander into prototypes, then jump into what is new!

We sit down with Tim Fowers of Fowers Games creator of Wok Star, Burgle Bros, Hardback, Paperback, Now Boarding and Fugitive. We talk his company and distribution philosophy and what is going on at his company. Then we talk pacing in games, strong finishes, and alternate win conditions.

This week we are joined by Shane Larsen as we talk about complexity in games including talks about Puerto Rico, Through the Ages, Lorenzo Il Magnifco, and many more. Are complex games better, or just longer?

This week we take a half dozen of your questions and answer them. Why do people play cooperative games? How do you make sure that hype doesn't affect you when you are evaluating a game? What do you do when you are mathematically eliminated from the game?

Welcome to episode 201 of the Meeple Nation podcast. This week our opener is our origin story. Then we get into the meat of the podcast where we discuss advice for new people entering our hobby, and a reminder that we need to be aware of others as we game. Be nice, Brent!

We have reached 200 episodes and gather to talk news. We discuss Kickstarters from Brian's Got Game, CMoN Unlimited, TMG, and more. Also news from Plan B, and more.

We take time this episode to discuss four games we have been playing. In addition to Nathan's update on Imperial Assault, we discuss Azul, from Michael Kiesling and Plan B Games, Exodus Fleet from TMG, and Tichu, published in English by Rio Grande Games.

Charterstone has begun, and while we say little about it, Ryan riffs on people trying to make permanence temporary in Legacy games. We also discuss some games we have played recently, including Crosstalk, Nmbr9, Timebomb: Evolution, and Terraforming Mars: Venus Next.

2017 is in the books! We discuss our highlights and report on how we failed (or did we?) at our gaming goals. Bring on the new year, and Nathan's ambitious, 15x10 challenge.

We love deckbuilding games. We each discuss our top three games, explain what deckbuilders are and talk about our recent experience playing Hero Realms The Ruins of Thandar Campaign and Tyrants of the Underdark.

This week Nathan and Ryan and joined by Sam Aho and Matt and Barb Allen to discuss Kickstarters and other news in the board game industry.

This holiday seasons people make lists and people play games. Some even make lists of games they would play. Do you prefer Nathan's Twelve (mostly short games) that he wants to play 1-12 times in the next few weeks? What do you think about Brent's list of games that have the number of the day in them? Even better, Ryan has ideas for mini goals to do while playing games. Whatever you celebrate this month, we hope you are surrounded by friends and family and board games.

Brent returns, barely, from BGG.Con and we discuss many of the events he enjoyed and games he played including Nusfjord, Majesty: For the Realm, Reworld, Otys, Roll Player, the Puzzle Hunt, and more. Brent also conducts and interview with a Ravensburger North America representative about their upcoming games!

In November, Meeple Nation helped put on a 24 hour board game event, which collected donations for Extra Life and the Children's Miracle Network. We review and recap the event, which turned out great. Some of the awesome games that we got to the table were Infected, The Quest for El Dorado, Terraforming Mars, Iron Dragon, Crossfire, and Dead of Winter: Warring Colonies. We'd like to thank Tab Bank for hosting, and Tasty Minstrel Games, Mayday Games, Tim Fowers Games, and Red Raven Games for sponsoring.

Our Gift Guide: Family Games Ticket to Ride The Quest for El Dorado Kingdomino Fast Forward: FLEE Transamerica Century: Spice Road Delve Splendor NMBR 9 Can't Stop Express Clank! In! Space! Harry Potter Hogwarts Battle Children Games Ice Cool Rhino Hero Flick 'Em Up Bang: The Dice Games Coconuts Happy Salmon Group Games Fuse Deception: Murder in Hong Kong Magic Maze Stocking Stuffers (Small Games) Pack O Games Mint Works Insider Timeline Pirate 21 Don't Mess with Cthulhu Magic Packs

Ryan, Nathan, and Brent sit down and discuss Kickstarters, new games, what we are playing, and board game art and presentation. Join us on Facebook at Meeple Nation Off Air.

This week, Ryan, Nathan and Dennis sit down and talk about the monstrosity that is Massive Darkness. How does it stand up? Is it better as a stand-alone game or in story mode? Listen to their review.

After a few weeks of discussion we sit down and record this episode on Board Game collections. Brent asserts that a person is a collector if, 1. They identify themselves as a collector and have at least two games, and/or 2. They have more games than they could reasonably play. Ryan uses a sports analogy to explain how he would select games to buy if Nathan, Brent and his other friends didn't keep him supplied in games, and Nathan waffles on whether he is A True Collector. This episode is filled with quotations from our tribe. Join us on Facebook at Meeple Nation Off Air or on our BGG guild, 1943.

Join us this week while we discuss three games we have recently played. Ryan explains Pirate 21, a quick game from Indie Boards and Cards. Nathan follows with his explanation of Delve from the same company, and finally, Brent leads off discussion about Codenames Duet, a cooperative version of Codenames.

This week we have a shorter episode than normal due to lost audio. We are joined by Matt. He talks Lisboa, and we talk Downfall, Kahoots, Too Many Bones, and the Kickstarter only model of some massive games such as Batman: The Board Game.

Ryan, Nathan, and Brent meet with Matt Allen to discuss October news, including some Kickstarters we are looking forward to and recently fulfilled Kickstarters we have played, including Massive Darkness, 7th Continent, Table Toppers, and more. We finally put to bed Seafall, and yet again talk Terraforming Mars.