Tabletop Games Blog - board game reviews and discussions with a personal touch

The house smelled of cinnamon, golden syrup and ginger. It was no surprise, because our oven was full of gingerbread rectangles on two trays. It wasn't long until they were done and needed to come out of the oven to cool down. We had small bowls full of sweets and a piping bag ready to decorate them. Suddenly, I had an idea. Rather than building a traditional house, we could instead make Gingerbread Towers by Jessica Metheringham from Dissent Games. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/11/11/gingerbread-towers-saturday-review/ Useful Links Gingerbread Towers: https://dissentgames.com/xmas23/ Kickstarter page: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/dissentgames/a-game-on-a-card-christmas-2023 Dissent Games: https://dissentgames.com/ BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/401980/gingerbread-towers Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) Sound Effects: bbc.co.uk – © copyright 2023 BBC Music I Use: Bensound.com/royalty-free-musicLicense code: OYMRKT3QNAKFPEZS Music I Use: https://www.bensound.com/free-music-for-videosLicense code: IVZ5VKBI1DMXGVRV If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tabletopgamesblog.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The genre of worker placement games is quite large and has evolved a lot over the years. Traditionally, worker placement was all about certain actions being unavailable to other players as soon as someone placed their worker there. At some point, games introduced shared worker place spots. Some games allowed players to kick workers out, returning them to another player who would effectively get another go. In this article, I want to look at the genre and pick out different implementations and variations on the theme. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/11/07/working-hard-a-look-at-worker-placement-mechanisms-topic-discussion/ Useful Links Lords of Waterdeep: https://dnd.wizards.com/products/lords-waterdeep-board-game Agricola: https://www.asmodee.co.uk/collections/agricola Raiders of the North Sea review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/05/27/raiders-of-the-north-sea-digital-eyes/ Viticulture review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2020/08/15/viticulture-essential-edition-saturday-review/ Genotype review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2021/06/26/genotype-a-mendelian-genetics-game-saturday-review/ I C E: https://thiswayeditions.com/ice/ Hegemony: https://hegemonygame.com/ Pingyao: First Chinese Banks review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/01/21/pingyao-first-banks-of-china-saturday-review/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) Music: BensoundLicense code: 4Z99RQPZCN8LR59B Music by Bensound.comLicense code: EUUQE9AJCKFYWYYA Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tabletopgamesblog.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Using chopsticks isn't easy. A lot of people are uncomfortable with or have no experience using them. However, like so many things in life, it's all a matter of practice. So rather than embarrassing yourself in front of a restaurant full of people who seemingly have no problem picking up their food with two wooden sticks and transporting it to their mouths, you could just learn how to use them in the comfort of your own home with family or friends who might also want to master them. To answer the challenge and make it a fun experience, here is Chop Stacks by Dax Gazaway from Red Flag Game Studio. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/11/04/chop-stacks-saturday-review/ Useful Links Chop Stacks: https://www.redflaggames.com/games/chop-stacks Kickstarter page: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/daxgaz/1497726927/ Rulebook: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ERWCExTY8sYqSlGnCoRay2sjL8ohtYdy/view Red Flag Game Studio: https://www.redflaggames.com/home BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/403799/chop-stacks Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) Music: bensound.comLicense code: OWQUYIMY3KHKT3KE Music: bensound.comLicense code: IHTSJO2J48CR4I4U If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tabletopgamesblog.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Time as a concept, is something we are very familiar with in our daily lives. Sometimes time goes quickly, at other times it seems to almost stand still. Time is also a concept that appears in board games. There is the play time, of course, but some games also use time directly as a mechanism. I want to look at how board games represent time and how they use the concept in different ways. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/10/31/about-time-time-as-a-mechanism-in-board-games-topic-discussion/ Useful Links Nine Tiles Panic: https://oinkgames.com/en/games/analog/nine-tiles-panic/ Keeping time – how time limits can speed up games article: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2022/11/22/keeping-time-how-time-limits-can-speed-up-games-topic-discussion/ Bremerhaven review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2019/01/26/bremerhaven/ Brass: Birmingham review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/04/01/brass-birmingham-deluxe-saturday-review/ Tapestry review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2019/11/09/tapestry-saturday-review/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) Music: Breaking News 6 by Sascha EndeFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10180-breaking-news-6Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tabletopgamesblog.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Photo by Nordgreen on Unsplash)

Siberia: a vast area of over 13 million square kilometres, which consists of taiga, tundra and even temperate forests. From the north of this region, where temperatures regularly drop below -25°C, come reports of a massive meteor having crashed. Not only that, the team who went to investigate the impact crater lost contact and never returned. Rumours are spreading of a strange parasite that possesses all living things in the region. After a team sent to rescue the first group also fails to return, heroes from the now long-forgotten war in Europa decide to explore for themselves. They borrow mechs and head to base camp. From there, they start their Expeditions by Jamey Stegmaier from Stonemaier Games. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/10/28/expeditions-saturday-review/ Useful Links Expeditions: https://stonemaiergames.com/games/expeditions/ Rulebook: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/f2tekc23yvb27w3/AACnyTCcjoiT6s-N1hgFx4DNa/Expeditions?dl=0&subfolder_nav_tracking=1 Stonemaier Games: https://stonemaiergames.com/ BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/379078/expeditions Scythe review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2019/01/19/scythe/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) Title Music: Aeterna (No Choir) by Two Steps From Hell (https://soundcloud.com/user8585647/aeterna-no-choir) Music: The Rythym Of Creation by Tim KuligFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/8749-the-rythym-of-creationLicensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tabletopgamesblog.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Hi, it’s Joe Slack here. Oliver was kind enough to let me write another guest blog and was excited to hear my thoughts as a game designer and indie publisher on why table presence matters for board games. So, let’s get into it. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/10/24/why-table-presence-matters-for-board-games-topic-discussion/ Useful Links Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/ Essen Spiel: https://www.spiel-essen.de/en/ Gen Con: https://www.gencon.com/ Origins Game Fair: https://www.originsgamefair.com/ Fireball Island: The Curse of Vul-Kar: https://restorationgames.com/fireball-island/ Everdell: https://www.tabletoptycoon.com/products/everdell-collectors-edition-3rd-edition Board Game Geek: https://boardgamegeek.com/ Mousetrap: https://products.hasbro.com/en-gb/product/mouse-trap-game/7EA54149-5056-9047-F5A2-33F4578345CC The Climbers: https://capstone-games.com/the-climbers Dark Tower: https://restorationgames.com/return-to-dark-tower/ Relics of Rajavihara: https://www.crazylikeabox.com/relics-of-rajavihara/ Mayan Curse crowdfunding page: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/crazylikeabox/mayan-curse Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) Music: "Chill Hip Hop" by AShamaluevMusic.Website: https://www.ashamaluevmusic.com Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tabletopgamesblog.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Photo by Alex Haney on Unsplash)

It was inevitable. After decades of exploiting our home, Earth has finally run out of resources. It is time for Plan B. We have to leave and settle on a new planet. Potential targets have been selected and planeteers will be sent to develop them. Each of these adventurous heroes will be tasked with preserving the future of humanity and preparing one Planet Unknown by Ryan Lambert and Adam Rehberg from Adam's Apple Games. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/10/21/planet-unknown-saturday-review/ Useful Links Planet Unknown: https://adamsapplegames.com/planetunknown/ Rulebook: https://boardgamegeek.com/filepage/236957/planet-unknown-official-rulebook Adam's Apple Games: https://adamsapplegames.com/ BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/258779/planet-unknown Wikipedia entry for Tetris: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetris Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) Music: "Mission", "Destination" and "Inspiration" by AShamaluevMusic.Website: https://www.ashamaluevmusic.com If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tabletopgamesblog.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Jamey Stegmaier's blog post "Is There a Future for Written Reviews?" inspired Adam Richards of Punchboard to write a little post on his Substack to discuss the visibility of the written word compared to video or audio content. That, in turn, inspired me to share my thoughts on the topic and as always, I invite your thoughts in the comments at the bottom of this article. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/10/17/swords-vs-words-the-popularity-of-blogs-versus-other-media-topic-discussion/ Useful Links Jamey Stegmaier's post: https://stonemaiergames.com/is-there-a-future-for-written-reviews/ Punchboard: https://punchboard.co.uk/ Adam Richard's Substack post: https://punchboard.substack.com/p/the-invisible-word BGG thread that inspired Jamey Stegmaier: https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/3163949/great-see-so-many-reviews-so-soon-post-embargo Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) Music by AShamaluevMusic.Website: https://www.ashamaluevmusic.com Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tabletopgamesblog.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Photo by Jaime Spaniol on Unsplash)

Off the coast of Queensland, Australia, in warm tropical waters, you can find the amazingly colourful Great Barrier Reef. It is home to over 40 different types of sea anemones, which are home to a lot of different kinds of sea life. Clownfish use sea anemones as shelter, taking advantage of their toxin-filled stingers as protection. Yet, while these two are friends, if you touch one as a human, the resulting painful stings can make them feel more like Enemy Anemone by Daniel Newman from New Mill Industries. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/10/14/enemy-anemone-saturday-review/ Useful Links Enemy Anemone: https://www.newmillindustries.com/games/enemy-anemone New Mill Industries: https://www.newmillindustries.com/ BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/391985/enemy-anemone Rob Turpin: https://linktr.ee/thisnorthernboy The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2020/12/05/the-crew-the-quest-for-planet-nine-saturday-review/ Brian Boru: High King of Ireland review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2022/04/16/brian-boru-high-king-of-ireland-saturday-review/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) Music by AShamaluevMusic.Website: https://www.ashamaluevmusic.com If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tabletopgamesblog.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Based on another suggestion from the wonderful Bez from Stuff by Bez, in this article, I want to look at the rise of so-called AI art. I want to describe what I mean when I talk about AI art, explain what I think it is not, despite people claiming otherwise and the creative potential of this new technology. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/10/10/ai-art-what-it-is-what-it-is-not-and-what-it-could-be-topic-discussion/ Useful Links Stuff by Bez: http://www.stuffbybez.com/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) Music I use: Bensound.comLicense code: D2CPD5TCTV6JTT7Y Music: Bensound.com/free-music-for-videosLicense code: GMBBQL4WYLL8BJKC Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tabletopgamesblog.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Photo by Possessed Photography on Unsplash)

"I got candy!" comes the shout. Taken aback, you look across the counter and see the eager and very happy face of the youngster staring up at you. Another sugar-loving customer has come to your amazing sweet shop to pick and mix their favourite delights. Below the face, on outstretched arms, cradled in cupped hands are 16 Candies by Dickie Chapin from Envy Born Games. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/10/07/16-candies-saturday-review/ Useful Links 16 Candies: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/854354559/sirens-defrag-and-16-candies-a-tiny-game-series Envy Born Games: https://envyborngames.com/ BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/376932/16-candies Defrag review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/09/23/defrag-saturday-review/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) Music: bensound.comLicense code: DKC9LBMO7DQBYAP6 Music by: https://www.bensound.com/free-music-for-videosLicense code: SJUUXFF3USZQHLEB If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tabletopgamesblog.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Based on a suggestion from the wonderful Bez from Stuff by Bez, I want to look at how designers can sometimes be known for specific styles of board games. That can be useful for people looking for certain types of games, but it also means that the designers can end up being pigeonholed, which can have a negative impact on their professional future in our hobby. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/10/03/designed-styles-pigeonholing-board-game-designers-topic-discussion/ Useful Links Stuff by Bez: http://www.stuffbybez.com/ Red Raven Games: https://www.redravengames.com/ Matthew Dunstan: https://www.postmarkgames.com/about-3 Rory Muldoon: https://www.postmarkgames.com/about-3 Daniel Newman: https://www.newmillindustries.com/about Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) Music I use: BensoundLicense code: 3XQRVHFZYGG6KHGN Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tabletopgamesblog.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Photo by Michael Aleo on Unsplash)

To create the best apple brandy, you have to freeze fermented cider and remove the ice. It's quite simple and very effective in increasing the alcohol content of an already delicious drink. It's really easy to apply this to cider made after the autumn harvest. Just leave the casks in the winter cold and when enough ice has formed, pour the remaining liquid into another cask. Repeat the process as often as you please to concentrate the remaining liquid to levels of anywhere between 25% and 40% alcohol. It's what we call "jacking" and it will come as no surprise that the resulting drink is called Applejack by Uwe Rosenberg from The Game Builders. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/09/30/applejack-saturday-review/ Useful Links Applejack: https://gamebuilders.de/spiele/applejack/ Rulebook: https://gamebuilders.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Applejack_rules_english.pdf The Game Builders: https://gamebuilders.de/ BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/367662/applejack Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) Sound Effects: bbc.co.uk – © copyright 2023 BBC Main Music: You Are My Rainbow by Unicorn (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tabletopgamesblog.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

I have attended quite a few different board game events in my time. I've been visiting conventions in Germany and the United Kingdom as a paying visitor, a member of the press as well as part of a demo team. From the more sedate and gaming-focussed AireCon to the crazily busy more business-focussed Essen Spiel and various exhibitions, shows, conventions or whatever you want to call them somewhere in between. So if you're planning to attend a board game event yourself and want to make the most of your experience, here are some tips that come from my own experience and that I hope you will find useful. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/09/26/conventional-tips-advice-for-attending-board-game-events-topic-discussion/ Useful Links Tabletop Together Tool: https://tabletoptogether.com/tool/ Board Game Geek: https://boardgamegeek.com/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) Mario Bava Sleeps In a Little Later Than He Expected To by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://chriszabriskie.com/vendaface/ Artist: http://chriszabriskie.com/ Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tabletopgamesblog.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The system was slowing down. It was becoming noticeable. Booting up, opening applications and opening files was taking a lot longer. Even the memory swap was clearly not as fast as it used to be. The reason was simple: the file blocks were all over the place. The solution was just as simple: it was time to Defrag by Brandon McCool from Envy Born Games. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/09/23/defrag-saturday-review/ Useful Links Defrag: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/854354559/sirens-defrag-and-16-candies-a-tiny-game-series Envy Born Games: https://envyborngames.com/ BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/376284/defrag Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) This review uses these sounds from freesound:"hard disk drive IBM (1999)" by user "viertelnachvier" (https://freesound.org/people/viertelnachvier/sounds/321502/) licensed under CCBYNC 4.0 8-Bit March by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Artist: http://www.twinmusicom.org/ If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tabletopgamesblog.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Inspired by an essay that Bez from Stuff by Bez published a few days ago on Board Game Geek, I thought I might also write about what board games mean to me. Unlike her, I'm not a designer. I'm a consumer of board games, often with a critical eye because I'm also a reviewer. So I'm coming at this from a different angle and of course, my experiences with and expectations of board games will be different to Bez's. Anyway, I hope you find it interesting and as always, it would be great to hear your thoughts on the topic. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/09/19/board-game-feelings-what-board-games-mean-to-me-topic-discussion/ Useful Links Bez's essay: https://boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/152156/essay-about-what-boardgames-mean-me Stuff by Bez: http://www.stuffbybez.com/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) Music: The Long Travel To Terra Two by KALAKFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/11641-the-long-travel-to-terra-twoLicensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tabletopgamesblog.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We were going to leave our Scandinavian homelands to search for fortunes in new shores far beyond the horizon. However, before we could set off, we had to load our boat with provisions, equipment and a daring crew. The problem was, that it was a rough, windy day and our longships were dangerously swaying on the swell. Getting everything safely stowed on board was going to be tricky. It was almost like we were on a Viking See-Saw by Reiner Knizia from Itten Games. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/09/16/viking-see-saw-saturday-review/ Useful Links Viking See-Saw: https://www.itten-games.com/games/fb-vs/ Itten Games: https://www.itten-games.com/en/ BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/351810/viking-see-saw Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) Sound Effects: bbc.co.uk – © copyright 2023 BBC Music: Mjolnir by Alexander NakaradaFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/6213-mjolnirLicensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: The Vikings by Alexander NakaradaFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/5106-the-vikingsLicensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tabletopgamesblog.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

I reckon most of us have heard about toxic behaviour in our hobby. Some of us will have experienced it directly. Many of us can probably name at least one bad actor who is still present in our community. There are also publishers who still work with these people, despite there having been public outrage about the person's behaviour or actions and the person not showing any remorse or accepting any responsibility. As a reviewer, my initial reaction is not to review games from those publishers, let alone if a toxic person has worked on them in any capacity. However, as I want to discuss in this article, things aren't always that black and white. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/09/12/reviews-bad-actors-and-consequentialism-reviewing-games-from-controversial-publishers-topic-discussion/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) Music by AShamaluevMusic.Website: https://www.ashamaluevmusic.com Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tabletopgamesblog.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Photo by Kenny Eliason on Unsplash)

It was the 5th century BCE and we, the Athenians, had been victorious over the Persians. The Delian League was now under our military control and the income generated by federation fees had made us prosperous. It was time for an ambitious building programme and the most talented architects in ancient Greece were ready. We were going to build housing, temples, markets, gardens and barracks. Our planning rules were going to create a harmonious community, enhanced by plazas. We would create new quarries to provide the stone to stretch our city towards the sky. We were going to build our high city, our Akropolis by Jules Messaud from Gigamic. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/09/09/akropolis-saturday-review/ Useful Links Akropolis: https://export.gigamic.com/akropolis-game/ Rulebook: https://export.gigamic.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/GIGAMIC_AKROPOLIS_RULES_EN_23-12.pdf Gigamic: https://export.gigamic.com/ BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/357563/akropolis Carcassonne: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/822/carcassonne Smallworld review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2021/04/10/smallworld-saturday-review/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) Music by AShamaluevMusic.Website: https://www.ashamaluevmusic.com If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tabletopgamesblog.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Now don't get me wrong. I don't mind long games. I happily play the same game for two to three hours, as long as it keeps me captivated. Even when a game requires a lot of focus and concentration, I usually have no problem sticking with it for a few hours. One of the ways in which a game can keep players invested is by reducing the amount of downtime, that is the time it takes for a turn to come back round to you. Something that helps in this respect is overlapping turns, which I want to look at more closely in this article. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/09/05/speed-boost-overlapping-turns-in-board-games-topic-discussion/ Useful Links Tapestry review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2019/11/09/tapestry-saturday-review/ Scythe review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2019/01/19/scythe/ Karuba review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/04/08/karuba-saturday-review/ Quacks of Quedlinburg review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2020/06/06/the-quacks-of-quedlinburg-saturday-review/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) Music: https://www.purple-planet.com Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tabletopgamesblog.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Photo by Ray Harrington on Unsplash)

The living room floor was a mess, sort of anyway. Everything was neatly arranged in a grid pattern, but there was no order to it whatsoever. Books were next to plants, which were next to games, which were next to frames all while some of our cats were tiptoeing around everything. All of it was only temporary though. I just wanted to get everything lined up, before returning it all to My Shelfie by Matthew Dunstan and Phil Walker-Harding from Lucky Duck Games. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/09/02/my-shelfie-saturday-review/ Useful Links My Shelfie: https://luckyduckgames.com/games/340-my-shelfie Rulebook: https://boardgamegeek.com/filepage/243983/my-shelfie-rules-eng Lucky Duck Games: https://luckyduckgames.com/ BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/366456/my-shelfie Village Rails review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/03/11/village-rails-saturday-review/ Connect Four: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2719/connect-four Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) Sound Effects: bbc.co.uk – © copyright 2023 BBC Music I use: BensoundLicense code: TZCU6NUICWCIME5P If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tabletopgamesblog.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The discussion about whether board game reviews should be paid for comes up regularly. Arguments can centre on the moral angle, come from a legal viewpoint or be purely personal opinions. More often than not, what is being debated is not well defined and the discourse starts to drift into different, seemingly opposing, directions. In this article, I want to try and untangle the topic and focus on maybe one or two specific areas. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/08/29/reviews-kant-be-paid-a-look-at-paid-reviews-topic-discussion/ Useful Links Kantian Ethics Wikipedia entry: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kantian_ethics Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin MacLeodFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/5025-beauty-flowLicensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tabletopgamesblog.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Photo by Kenny Eliason on Unsplash)

Fungi have long been misclassified as plants. In reality, they are a whole kingdom of their own. What we call a mushroom is just a fungus's fruit that appears above ground, but a mushroom is just a tiny part of a fungus. It's their underground root system composed of dense masses of fine, thread-like filaments, called hyphae, that makes up the majority of a fungus. Yet, mushrooms are crucial in a fungus's propagation. Mushrooms send out spores, which are carried through the air to new locations. When they eventually germinate they create new Mycelia by J. J. Neville from Split Stone Games. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/08/26/mycelia-saturday-review/ Useful Links Mycelia: https://splitstonegames.com/ Split Stone Games: https://splitstonegames.com/ BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/378476/mycelia Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) Music: Respect Ambient Relaxed by EdiKey20Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/8407-respect-ambient-relaxedLicensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tabletopgamesblog.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

After talking to Gaiagames at Berlin Brettspiel Con this year, I was impressed by how much they focus on sustainability for their games, not just when it comes to the product itself, but also the gameplay experience. It spurned me on to write about the topic of our hobby's impact on the environment and how that manifests itself in so many different, faceted ways. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/08/22/green-greener-greenest-sustainability-and-board-games-topic-discussion/ Useful Links Gaiagames: https://gaiagames.de/ Berlin Brettspiel Con: https://berlin-con.de/ "Plastic fantastic" article: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2019/09/03/plastic-fantastic/ "Less is more" article: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2020/07/07/less-is-more-topic-discussion/ "Carbon-neutral games" article: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2021/11/02/carbon-neutral-games-topic-discussion/ Forest Stewardship Council (FSC): https://fsc.org/en Forests of Pangaia review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/05/20/forests-of-pangaia-saturday-review/ Pangaia Games: https://www.pangaia.games/ Postmark Games: https://www.postmarkgames.com/ Atikin Games: https://atikingames.com/ Daybreak: https://www.daybreakgame.org/ re-wood: https://czechgames.com/en/home/news-23-07-27-introducing-re-wood/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) Music I Use: https://www.bensound.com/free-music-for-videosLicense code: AHLJTQHZUS5VJXHE Music I Use: https://www.bensound.com/free-music-for-videosLicense code: I3FTO6AJASEF1EJI Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tabletopgamesblog.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Photo by kiki Wang on Unsplash)

The first snow of winter had fallen. Underneath the cosy blanket of snow, new life was stirring. The land was coming alive with creatures trying to carve out a life. It wasn't long until the warm sun melted the snow atop the giant mountain overlooking this realm. A slow trickle soon turned into a stream, which grew and grew and threatened to flood the animals with a giant River Wild by Steven Aramini from Button Shy. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/08/19/river-wild-saturday-review/ Useful Links River Wild: https://buttonshygames.com/products/river-wild Rulebook: https://boardgamegeek.com/filepage/259138/official-rules-button-shy Button Shy: https://buttonshygames.com/ BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/352593/river-wild Crumbs! review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/08/05/crumbs-the-sandwich-filler-game-saturday-review/ Patience: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/10400/patience Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) Main Music: Purple Planet Music (https://www.purple-planet.com) If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tabletopgamesblog.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Starting out in any hobby can be daunting. There is so much to learn and understand. The modern board game hobby is no different. There is terminology that will be unfamiliar to people who have not played much other than Monopoly or The Game of Life. Even the idea that you do anything other than roll and move can be alien and lead to analysis paralysis. So in this article, I want to look at how you can introduce people to our hobby. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/08/15/opening-gambit-where-to-begin-in-the-modern-hobby-topic-discussion/ Useful Links Monopoly: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/1406/monopoly The Game of Life: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2921/game-of-life "How to get into board games in 2023" article from Adam at Punchboard: https://punchboard.co.uk/how-to-get-into-board-games-in-2023/ "Introduction to Modern Board Games" article from Ian at The Giant Brain: https://giantbrain.co.uk/2023/08/03/introduction-to-modern-board-games/ Board Game Geek (BGG): https://boardgamegeek.com/ Star Trek Fluxx: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/246531/star-trek-fluxx Ticket to Ride: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/9209/ticket-ride Clans of Caledonia review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2019/03/02/clans-of-caledonia/ Brian Boru review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2022/04/16/brian-boru-high-king-of-ireland-saturday-review/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Music by https://www.bensound.comLicense code: DNV4WCCXUNGWC0R6 Music by: https://www.bensound.comLicense code: S8DBGWYWALTOZRFQ Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tabletopgamesblog.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

It was time for our annual harvest and for the Day of the Dead. We are all looking forward to seeing the souls of our dead loved ones again. There would be dancing, singing, drinking, eating and general merriment. It was going to be our chance to speak with our long-deceased family members again. This year it was going to be different though. We would make a bet with the dead. It would be a race. Whoever made it back to their world again first would control what happened in the other realm for a whole year. We were ready to say ¡Adiós Calavera! by Martin Schlegel from Mücke Spiele. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/08/12/adios-calavera-saturday-review/ Useful Links ¡Adiós Calavera!: https://verlag.muecke-spiele.de/en/muecke-spiele-adios-calavera-2/ Rulebook: https://boardgamegeek.com/filepage/150188/multilingual-rule-book Mücke Spiele: https://verlag.muecke-spiele.de/en/ BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/230898/adios-calavera Chinese Checkers: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2386/chinese-checkers Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) Sound Effects: bbc.co.uk – © copyright 2023 BBC Main Music: Hine Ma Tov by E's Jammy Jams from YouTube's audio library If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tabletopgamesblog.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The following article was written by Dennis Wesley. Chess is one of our oldest games and as with most long-lasting entities, the game has undergone many changes over the years, influenced even by such factors as societal progress and politics. Chess has passed through different societies and cultures and the game has been played and perceived differently in different settings. Today, chess is one of very few board games accorded the status of sport in addition to also being promoted as a hobby that improves players' acuity. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/08/08/chess-appeal-the-history-of-an-ancient-game-topic-discussion/ Useful Links Science and Arts Education blog: https://stemeduconnect.wordpress.com/ Chaturanga: https://www.chessvariants.com/historic.dir/chaturanga.html World Chess Federation: https://www.chesshistory.com/winter/extra/fidehistory.html Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) Relaxing Chill instrumental meditative | Arnor by Alex-Productions is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tabletopgamesblog.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Photo by Le Vu on Unsplash)

It's lunchtime and the queue outside your cafe is rather long. Everyone wants you to hurry up and make them their favourite sandwich from your hugely popular menu. The pressure is on to line up slices of bread and pile them high with lettuce, tomatoes, eggs, tuna or ham. Some want theirs even toasted. Well... Crumbs!: The Sandwich Filler Game by J. Antscherl from Minerva Tabletop Games. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/08/05/crumbs-the-sandwich-filler-game-saturday-review/ Useful Links Crumbs!: The Sandwich Filler Game: https://www.minervatabletop.co.uk/crumbs Minerva Tabletop Games: https://www.minervatabletop.co.uk/ Rory Muldoon interview: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2020/10/14/rory-muldoon-let-me-illustrate/ Skora review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2022/05/14/skora-saturday-review/ Tinderblox review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2020/12/19/tinderblox-saturday-review/ BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/376583/crumbs-sandwich-filler-game Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) Sound Effects: bbc.co.uk – © copyright 2023 BBC Main Music: Lo-Fi Chill Hip Hop | Chilling by Alex-Productions is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tabletopgamesblog.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

I always love going to board game conventions, shows, conferences or whatever you want to call them. Just walking into the halls and seeing lots of excited people who share the same hobby is invigorating. The prospect of catching up with friends whom I might not otherwise see is wonderful. Finally meeting the people I only know from social media face-to-face is fabulous. Board game events are always very much like a home from home. Yet, my visit to Berlin Brettspiel Con 2023 and the Spiel des Jahres awards a few weeks ago took this to another level. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/08/01/home-from-home-a-con-visit-with-a-difference-topic-discussion/ Useful Links Berlin Brettspiel Con 2023 review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/07/22/berlin-brettspiel-con-2023-saturday-review/ Spiel des Jahres: https://www.spiel-des-jahres.de/ Five Games For Doomsday: https://fivegamesfordoomsday.com/ Spielworxx: https://www.spielworxx.de/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) Music by AShamaluevMusic.Website: https://www.ashamaluevmusic.com Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tabletopgamesblog.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Of the over 30 atolls and coral reefs in the Laccadive Sea, off the coast of Kerala, India, only 10 are inhabited. Of those, only a few are open to tourists. To visit the islands you need permission from the nearest customs office in Kochi, which is over 300 miles away. It helps strike the right balance between creating a good income stream for the islands, while also supporting sustainable tourism and preserving the fragile ecosystem of ⁠Lakshadweep⁠ by Sidhant Chand from ⁠Luma World⁠. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/07/29/lakshadweep-saturday-review/ Useful Links Lakshadweep: https://lumaworld.in/collections/educational-toys-for-kids/products/lakshadweep Rulebook: https://boardgamegeek.com/filepage/256506/lakshadweep-rulebook Luma World: https://lumaworld.in/ BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/373877/lakshadweep Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) The following music was used for this media project:Music: Australia by MusicParadiseFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/5056-australiaLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: http://www.music-paradise.de If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tabletopgamesblog.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Recently at work, we discussed how constantly going from one task to the next or changing from one tool to another is rather draining. This so-called context switching has been shown to reduce productivity. That's when it struck me that some board games suffer from exactly this problem. So in this article, I want to look at how research into the problems of context switching could potentially be applied to board game design. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/07/25/context-switching-when-games-are-hard-work-topic-discussion/ Useful Links Brass: Birmingham review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/04/01/brass-birmingham-deluxe-saturday-review/ Tapestry review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2019/11/09/tapestry-saturday-review/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) The following music was used for this media project:Music: Chill Lofi by RamolFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/6788-chill-lofiLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tabletopgamesblog.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Photo by Leonel Fernandez on Unsplash)

It is rare that you can combine going to your hometown with attending a board game convention. So when it does happen, you jump at the opportunity. If you're also expecting to see a lot of people you normally only see maybe once a year at another show, as well as people you have so far only "met" on social media, then you know you're onto a winner. Being able to get demos of new and upcoming games is the cherry on top. Berlin Brettspiel Con 2023 was promising to fulfil all of these hopes, which set the bar very high. The question is whether it delivered. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/07/22/berlin-brettspiel-con-2023-saturday-review/ Useful Links Berlin Brettspiel Con 2023: https://berlin-con.de/ BVG - Berlin's public transport provider: https://www.bvg.de/en Spielworxx: https://www.spielworxx.de/ Naylor Games: https://naylorgames.com/ Leder Games: https://ledergames.com/ The Game Builders: https://gamebuilders.de/ Gaia Games: https://gaiagames.de/ Ecogon: https://gaiagames.de/produkt/ecogon-english/ Lirius Games: https://www.liriusgames.com/ Journey Through Italy: https://www.liriusgames.com/journey-through-italy/ Irongames: https://www.irongames.de/wordpress/ Discordia: https://www.irongames.de/wordpress/index.php/meine-spiele/discordia-2022/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) Music by AShamaluevMusic.Website: ⁠https://www.ashamaluevmusic.com⁠ If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tabletopgamesblog.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In today's fast-paced and digitally saturated world, finding ways to recharge and repair our mental health is often quite hard. There are so many distractions that draw us into a bubble that seems comforting at first. Modern life is all about speed and work, while our own health and life are often seen as secondary. However, among the hustle and bustle, there is one activity that can really help with mental health: board games. In this article, I want to look at how board games can foster connection, promote cognitive skills and provide a much-needed respite from the stresses of everyday life. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/07/18/healthy-gaming-mentality-mental-health-and-board-games-topic-discussion/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) The following music was used for this media project:Music: Afternoon by DreamHeavenFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/6242-afternoonLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: https://www.patreon.com/dreamheaven Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tabletopgamesblog.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Photo by Austin Neill on Unsplash)

Hello! My name is Gavin Jones and this week I'm going to be standing in for the wonderful Oliver with a guest review. Buckle up and adjust your rearview mirror - things are about to get wild. First gear. Screams of tortured rubber and plumes of acrid smoke fill the air as we barrel over the brow of the hill, rapidly advancing on our target. The tank is an incongruous sight, squat and menacing in the middle of the highway, two shiny black beetles flanking each side: SUVs filled with seemingly infinite numbers of violent goons, like clown cars of criminality. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/07/15/fast-furious-highway-heist-saturday-review/ Useful Links Fast & Furious: Highway Heist: https://funkogames.com/games/fast-and-furious-highway-heist/ Rulebook: https://funkogames1.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/FFHH_Instructions_printathome-1.pdf Funko Games: https://funkogames.com BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/332015/fast-furious-highway-heist Prospero Hall: https://www.prosperohall.com/ Jaws review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2020/10/10/jaws-saturday-review/ Gavin Jones: https://linktr.ee/jonesfamilygamesnight Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) Music by AShamaluevMusic.Website: https://www.ashamaluevmusic.com If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tabletopgamesblog.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Photo by Sara-Jayne Jones, keep-up-with-the-jones-family.com)

I always used to be very much a competitive player. Pitting my wit against other people was my thing. I would usually lose games and still do, but it was always a lot of fun. Cooperative games really only came into my life when our daughter was young enough to play games with us that weren't just roll-and-move. I remember our first game of Forbidden Island, which we all really enjoyed and played many times since. So in this article, I want to explore why cooperative games have become so popular in recent years. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/07/11/increased-cooperation-the-popularity-of-cooperative-games-topic-discussion/ Useful Links Forbidden Island review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2020/05/02/forbidden-island-saturday-review/ Pandemic review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2020/01/18/pandemic-saturday-review/ Castle Panic review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/05/06/castle-panic-saturday-review/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) Main Music:Out of the Skies, Under the Earth by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Source: http://chriszabriskie.com/reappear/Artist: http://chriszabriskie.com/ Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tabletopgamesblog.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Photo by Michał Parzuchowski on Unsplash)

The sea was calm and the sun was shining. The sandy beach stretched for miles, strewn with shells, some occupied by hermit crabs. In the distance, I could see a few small boats. Underneath the long abandoned lighthouse, there was a small colony of penguins. As I closed my eyes and dozed off, I dreamt of fish and merpeople. My mind was thinking about Sea Salt & Paper by Bruno Cathala and Théo Rivière from Bombyx. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/07/08/sea-salt-paper-saturday-review/ Useful Links Sea Salt & Paper: https://studiobombyx.com/en/jeu/sea-salt-paper/ Rulebook: https://studiobombyx.com/assets/SSAP_rulebook_EN-3.pdf Bombyx: https://studiobombyx.com/en/ BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/367220/sea-salt-paper Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) Sound Effects: bbc.co.uk – © copyright 2023 BBC The following music was used for this media project:Music: Ailien Lullaby by Mikael HellmanFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/5721-ailien-lullabyLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tabletopgamesblog.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

If you're a very competitive player, then winning is all that counts. Depending on how ruthless you are, you will push for victory at all cost, as long as it is within the rules. Even if you're less cruel, you will do what you can to win. Either way, ending a game in first place feels good. It not only proves that you played well, but that you're a better player than the other people around the table. Yet, I often find that not winning or even doing badly in a game can be fun and here is why. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/07/04/bad-fun-how-bad-game-experiences-can-be-fun-topic-discussion/ Useful Links Tapestry review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2019/11/09/tapestry-saturday-review/ Mint Tin Mini Skulduggery review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2019/03/09/mint-tin-mini-skulduggery/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) The following music was used for this media project:Music: Buzzkiller by Alexander NakaradaFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/5820-buzzkillerLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com/ Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tabletopgamesblog.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Photo by Steve Johnson on Unsplash)

Tucked away near Gleisdreieck in Berlin's Kreuzberg district is STATION-Berlin, home to the German capital's main board game convention Berlin Brettspiel Con. For three days in July, hordes of tabletop hobby enthusiasts converge to play games, speak to the dozens of exhibitors and generally have a great time. For the first time, I'll be among them and I can't wait. I'll be attending as a member of the press and have made a short list of whom I want to talk to. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/07/01/berlin-brettspiel-con-2023-preview/ Useful Links Berlin Brettspiel Con 2023: https://berlin-con.de/ Spielworxx: https://www.spielworxx.de/ Die Macher: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/1/die-macher The Cost: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2020/12/12/the-cost-digital-eyes/ Oink Games: https://oinkgames.com/en/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) Music by AShamaluevMusic.Website: https://www.ashamaluevmusic.com If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tabletopgamesblog.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Photo courtesy of Berlin Brettspiel Con)

We take language so much for granted, whether it's written down, spoken out loud or conveyed via signs. Yet, when we communicate with others, we sometimes notice how words can be misinterpreted. We can see how a message can come across differently from how it was intended. That is when we realize how important words actually are. Choosing one word over another can make a huge difference. It's already hard enough to get your point across in your native language, but it reaches a completely new level of difficulty when you use a foreign tongue. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/06/27/translation-challenges-good-translations-are-important-topic-discussion/ Useful Links Make My Game Travel: https://makemygametravel.com/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) The following music was used for this media project:Music: Mystic Tranquility by MusicLFilesFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/11031-mystic-tranquilityLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tabletopgamesblog.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Photo by Etienne Girardet on Unsplash)

The bitumen road had given way to a well-maintained dirt track. My monster road train was stubbornly ploughing on, throwing up red dust behind it in giant plumes. From time to time I could see kangaroos, wombats, spiny anteaters, platypuses and dingos. I even caught a rare glimpse of a Tasmanian devil. It was very busy in this arid landscape. In fact, it was so busy that it felt like there was an Outback Crossing by Bruce Whitehill from Mücke Spiele. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/06/24/outback-crossing-saturday-review/ Useful Links Outback Crossing: https://verlag.muecke-spiele.de/en/novelty-muecke-spiele-outback-crossing/ Rulebook: https://verlag.muecke-spiele.de/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Rules.pdf Mücke Spiele: https://verlag.muecke-spiele.de/ BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/276219/outback-crossing Spielmaterial: https://www.spielematerial.de/ ¡Adiós Calavera!: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/230898/adios-calavera Namibia: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/55842/namibia Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) Sound Effects: bbc.co.uk – © copyright 2023 BBC The following music was used for this media project:Music: Australia by MusicParadiseFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/5056-australiaLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: http://www.music-paradise.de If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tabletopgamesblog.com/⁠⁠⁠ (Photo courtesy of Mücke Spiele)

I recently had the honour to be tasked with donating most of the 2023 Spiel des Jahres, Kinderspiel des Jahres and Kennerspiel des Jahres nominations and longlist titles to good causes on behalf of Spiel des Jahres. Being curious about the association and their selections, I decided to play some of the games myself. As a result, I wanted to share with you more about the Spiel des Jahres association and how I think its goals are reflected in the games they select. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/06/20/spiel-des-jahres-hobby-games-for-non-hobbyists-topic-discussion/ Useful Links Spiel des Jahres: https://www.spiel-des-jahres.de/en/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) The following music was used for this media project:Music: A Very Brady Special by Kevin MacLeodFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/5760-a-very-brady-specialLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tabletopgamesblog.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Photo courtesy of Spiel des Jahres e.V.)

London's ageing underground network is creaking and groaning. It can no longer keep up with the exponentially increasing demand of daily commuters and rising tourist numbers to the UK's capital. It's time to scrap it all and start anew and Transport for London has hired you to redesign everything. It won't be easy to optimize the interchanges for a better flow, provide stops to as many tourist sites as possible and take advantage of the tunnels passing underneath the Thames. The first station has been built and now it's up to you to create the Next Station: London by Matthew Dunstan from Blue Orange Games. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/06/17/next-station-london-saturday-review/ Useful Links Next Station: London: https://blueorangegames.eu/en/games/next-station-london/ Rulebook: https://blueorangegames.eu/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/NextStationLondon-Rules-EN.pdf Blue Orange Games: https://blueorangegames.eu/en/ BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/353545/next-station-london Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) Sound Effects: bbc.co.uk – © copyright 2023 BBC The following music was used for this media project:Music: Objects In Motion by Otis GallowayFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9518-objects-in-motionLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: https://linktr.ee/ogallowaymakesmusic If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tabletopgamesblog.com/⁠⁠⁠

Fresh off the back of demoing games for Asmodee at UK Games Expo 2023, I wanted to share my experiences with introducing people to a new game. I think demoing and teaching games are two similar, but also different approaches. In this article, I want to look at them more closely. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/06/13/demo-vs-teach-different-types-of-presenting-games-topic-discussion/ Useful Links Asmodee: https://www.asmodee.co.uk/ UK Games Expo 2023 review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/06/10/uk-games-expo-2023-saturday-review/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) The following music was used for this media project:Music: Afternoon by DreamHeavenFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/6242-afternoonLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: https://www.patreon.com/dreamheaven Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tabletopgamesblog.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

I visited the show last year as a member of the press. I spoke to a lot of exhibitors and spent time in the evenings catching up with friends and playing a few games. However, this year was different. For the first time, I came up to demo games on behalf of Asmodee. That meant my travel, food and accommodation were all paid for and I even got a bit of an hourly wage. At the same time, it also meant I only had an hour's lunch break to wander around the halls. It really changed my experience of the UK Games Expo 2023. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/06/10/uk-games-expo-2023-saturday-review/ Useful Links UK Games Expo: https://www.ukgamesexpo.co.uk/ UK Games Expo 2022 review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2022/06/11/uk-games-expo-2022-saturday-review/ Asmodee: https://www.asmodee.co.uk/ Naylor Games: https://naylorgames.com/ 21x: https://naylorgames.com/pages/21x Gavin Jones: https://linktr.ee/jonesfamilygamesnight Ravensburger: https://www.ravensburger.co.uk/en-GB Atikin Games: https://atikingames.com/ Malum Hortus: https://atikingames.com/malumhortus/ Playtest UK: http://www.playtest.co.uk/ First Take Some Dice: https://firsttakesomedice.blogspot.com/ Actualol: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO-hn9MJOu7pOUdGSabKGvA More Games Please: https://www.moregamesplease.com/ North Star Games: https://www.northstargames.com/ For Chits & Giggles: https://www.youtube.com/@ForChitsGiggles 7 Wonders Duel: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/173346/7-wonders-duel Punchboard: https://punchboard.co.uk/ Ablagestapel: http://ablagestapel.blogspot.com/ Stuff by Bez: http://www.stuffbybez.com/ Spiel des Jahres: https://www.spiel-des-jahres.de/ Martina Fuchs: https://www.spiel-des-jahres.de/en/the-jury/martina-fuchs/ Minerva Tabletop: https://www.minervatabletop.co.uk/ Crumbs!: https://www.minervatabletop.co.uk/post/announcing-crumbs-the-sandwich-filler-game Dissent Games: https://dissentgames.com/ Library Labyrinth review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2022/02/26/library-labyrinth-saturday-review/ Gamealot: https://www.game-a-lot.fun/en/ The Board Game Workshop: https://theboardgameworkshop.com/ Daniel Newman: New Mill Industries: https://www.newmillindustries.com/ Roland MacDonald: https://rolandsrevenge.com/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) The following music was used for this media project:Music: Del Sol by MusicParadiseFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/5063-del-solLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: http://www.music-paradise.de The following music was used for this media project:Music: Cool Morning by MusicParadiseFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/5060-cool-morningLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: http://www.music-paradise.de If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tabletopgamesblog.com/⁠⁠⁠

Most of the earliest card games were trick-taking games played in the 800s in China. These will have felt quite different to our modern eyes. They didn't have the concept of trump cards or trump suits. There was also no bidding. Trumps were added to European card games in the 1400s, followed by bidding in the 1600s. It took another 100-200 years for familiar trick-taking games like Whist and Skat to appear. A few hundred years after that, the mechanism has now found a new lease of life in modern hobby games. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/06/06/trick-taking-a-modern-card-mechanism-topic-discussion/ Useful Links Trick-taking: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trick-taking_game Skull King review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2020/01/04/skull-king-saturday-review/ The Fox in the Forest: Duet review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2022/04/30/the-fox-in-the-forest-duet-saturday-review/ The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2020/12/05/the-crew-the-quest-for-planet-nine-saturday-review/ Cat in the Box: https://beziergames.com/products/cat-in-the-box-deluxe-edition Brian Boru: High King of Ireland review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2022/04/16/brian-boru-high-king-of-ireland-saturday-review/ Mori: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/boardgametables/pies-mori-lunar-bacon Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) The following music was used for this media project:Music: Corporate Uplifting Chill by MusicLFilesFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/6298-corporate-uplifting-chillLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: https://cemmusicproject.wixsite.com/musiclibraryfiles The following music was used for this media project:Music: Lo-Fi Hip-Hop 03 by WinnieTheMoogFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7848-lo-fi-hip-hop-03License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: https://linktr.ee/taigasoundprod The following music was used for this media project:Music: Mermaids by Rafael KruxFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/6403-mermaidsLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: https://www.orchestralis.net/ Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tabletopgamesblog.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash)

Gosh! The tiles were almost like dominoes, but square instead of rectangular. They came in a combination of six shapes and six colours. Every time you laid out tiles with the same colour, but different shapes or the same shape, but different colours, you had to connect them to what was already there, but without doubling up on colours or shapes. It quickly became confusing. It was a right Qwirkle by Susan McKinley Ross from MindWare. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/06/03/qwirkle-saturday-review/ Useful Links Qwirkle: https://www.mindware.orientaltrading.com/qwirkle-a2-32016.fltr MindWare: https://www.mindware.orientaltrading.com/ BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/25669/qwirkle Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) The following music was used for this media project:Music: Chill by MusicParadiseFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/5058-chillLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: http://www.music-paradise.de If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tabletopgamesblog.com/⁠⁠⁠

Pretty much every hobby game contains some sort of score which measures who is in the lead and decides who wins the game. That's undoubtedly true for competitive games, but sometimes also for cooperative ones. The score can be in the form of victory points, glory points, reputation, money or something else or even a mix of different things. Some games keep track of players' scores throughout the game, others count everything up at the end and there are also games that have a mix of in-game scoring and end-of-game points. In this article, I want to look at these different ways of score keeping and how it affects gameplay experience. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/05/30/round-the-outside-tracking-scores-in-board-games-topic-discussion/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) The following music was used for this media project:Music: Relaxing Piano Improvisation by Alexander NakaradaFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/5978-relaxing-piano-improvisationLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com/ Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tabletopgamesblog.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We were a band of feared Viking warriors of Borg on the Lofoten islands. Our chieftain had tasked us with assembling a cunning and mighty crew, collecting provisions and journeying north to plunder gold, iron and livestock from foreign lands. We would find glory in battle and the Valkyrie would lead the fallen to Odin's Valhalla. We were the Raiders of the North Sea by Shem Phillips from Renegade Games Studios. Read the full review here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/05/27/raiders-of-the-north-sea-digital-eyes/ Useful Links Raiders of the North Sea: https://renegadegamestudios.com/raiders-of-the-north-sea/ Rulebook: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LwZ0ve3I6el9dRCIfPeKvFzmtfArqD4S/view?usp=sharing Renegade Games Studios: https://renegadegamestudios.com/ BGG listing: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/170042/raiders-north-sea Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) The following music was used for this media project:Music: Frost by Alexander NakaradaFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10542-frostLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license The following music was used for this media project:Music: Stöðvar by Alexander NakaradaFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/4753-stodvarLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license If you want to support this podcast financially, please check out the links below: Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tabletopgamesblog.com/⁠⁠⁠ (Photo courtesy of Garphill Games)

Card games date back to the 1400s with Karniffel, or Thuringian Karnöffel, often listed as the oldest one, at least the oldest in Europe that we know of. As a popular trick-taking game in Germany for centuries, it clearly started a trend. Many trick-taking games are still popular in Germany today and I certainly grew up with a fair few. However, card games have come a long way since then. In this article, I want to look at deck-building games specifically and how this mechanism has been applied in many different ways since Dominion made it popular. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/05/23/deck-building-a-modern-card-mechanism-topic-discussion/ Useful Links Karniffel: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karniffel Dominion: https://riograndegames.wpengine.com/games/dominion/ Shards of Infinity: https://stoneblade.com/ Mystic Vale review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2018/12/08/mystic-vale/ Undaunted: Normandy review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2022/07/23/undaunted-normandy-saturday-review/ Fort review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2021/04/03/fort-saturday-review/ Imperium: Classics: https://ospreypublishing.com/uk/imperium-classics-9781472844743/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) The following music was used for this media project:Music: Bugbears Be Approaching by Tim KuligFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/8518-bugbears-be-approachingLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: https://timkulig.com/albums Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tabletopgamesblog.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Photo courtesy of Big Potato Games)