When did you start listening to podcasts? Do you remember your first ones? For me it was the first one ever about boardgames and the first about movies. That was Geekspeak and Reel Reviews. Even though I'm not so into wine, Grape Radio was another super early one for me. The medium was new, the tech was unfamiliar, and I loved the chance to listen to interesting audio on my commute, about unique subjects. Although those earliest shows seemed to use a lot of fancy, expensive equipment, I wondered if a more basic podcast could be produced with simple gear. On March 3, 2005, I threw my hat in the ring with Boardgames To Go, a new audio version of my blog of the same name. The response was quick & positive, so I kept at it. Two decades later, I'm still here. Twenty years is an important milestone for me. I never really saw myself doing the podcast this long. I've averaged about 18 episodes per year over that time, including some early bursts of productivity and a few longer gaps. After the pandemic I renewed my commitment to the podcast and have stuck with a first-of-the-month schedule ever since, plus some bonus episodes along the way. My audience grew, then plateaued, then settled into a longstanding core of listeners. It's no exaggeration to say that you folks are the reason I've kept at it. I appreciate [your appreciation & encouragement, and I've enjoyed meeting some of you in-person. This month you'll have to indulge me talking podcast history, motivation, and a little future planning. I can't help it. Longtime friend Dave Arnott talks through it with me, and we may not refer to a single game title! Don't worry--there will be more game titles than you can shake a stick at soon (hint: Mark Madness).
One of the only photos I have of me recording the podcast. This was from way back in 2006, when Dave & I recorded an episode about Vinci. We were at SoCal Games Day at the time, upstairs at the Burbank Moose Lodge. You may be able to see that I just have my laptop nearby, with a "Y-cable" audio splitter allowing us both to have headset mics piped into it. That's as fancy as I ever was for this podcast.
Board games are getting more expensive! Don, Chris, and Jamie get together to talk about the value of the hobby they've chosen. The group talks about gauging perceived value, the psychology of board game pricing, luxury and upgraded board games, crowdfunding, the fear of missing out, and what really matters to get the most out of your dollar.
Brace yourself for more nonsense, some anecdotes of JP's late grandad, Kerley's late to our recordings due to being on the VR and we've coined a new name for Taverns of Tiefenthal.
Clef and Tim talk some recent plays including Bus, Locomotive Werks, Saltfjord, Power Grid, and another surprise game! We also discuss how to turn down a game that you don't want to play, but we do a bad job at it. Also, can you tell if you like a game just from reading the rules?
Sign up for PPCon at punchboardparadise.com and join the discord at discord.gg/s8hYtWkMS3
Sign up for the Great Plains Game Festival at https://greatplainsgamingproject.com/great-plains-game-festival/
While we hate to confirm your most reductive of preconceived notions, snow removal in Canadian cities is no joke. The fleet of vehicles required to allow for daily life in even a small Canadian city after major snowfall is impressive. The balletic dance of some of their formations while in operation calls to mind the precise of mid-air refuelling.
01:03 AYURIS: Ra (Reiner Knizia, alea, 1999)
Games Played Last Week:
04:07 -Mistborn (John D. Clair, Brotherwise Games, 2024)
09:17 -Cerebria: The Inside World (Richard Amann, Viktor Peter, István Pócsi, Frigyes Schőberl, Nick Shaw, & Dávid Turczi, Mindclash Games, 2018)
It’s time for our 10th Annual Squirrelly awards! We look at our top games of 2024. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, this year is a little different.
Let us know what your favorite games are over in our Discord Channel
This week, Conor and Lauren are joined by Peter C Hayward, designer of podcast darling Things in Rings. Peter sports his blue beard talking about his approach to design, his plethora of upcoming releases, and his affinity for Pixar easter eggs. Then, Lauren shares her recent Button Shy escapades. Conor tells us about some prototypes from former podcast host Sarah which includes a disdain for onions and affinity for spirits.
There is no Question of the Pod this week due to scheduling changes, but we’ll return to our QotP segment in our next release. Outside that, there’s still the usual chatter about what has been hitting our tables, and what has us fired up!
PATREON
Hey there, BBQ fans! Guess what? We’ve got a Patreon! By joining, you’ll unlock exclusive content, gain access to a members-only section of our Discord where you can help shape the show, and so much more. Plus, your support will help us grow and bring some awesome new projects to life in 2024.
At the Board Game BBQ Podcast, we’re passionate about what we do and promise to keep the fun and shenanigans rolling. We’re so grateful for your support! Joining our Patreon is totally optional, and we ask that you don’t contribute if it’ll cause financial stress. But if you’d like to chip in from just USD$5 a month, click the link to check out our Patreon page.
Thanks a million for being amazing! We’re committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive community, and you all make it special. See you at the BBQ!! https://www.patreon.com/BoardGameBBQ
Reviews of Eternal Decks, Butterfly Garden, Orleans: Invasion, One Piece Luffy’s Bento Panic Deep dive of Dead Cells on BGA. Game discussion starts at {00:26:36}.
Thank you to our sponsors: Queen Games, and Grand Gamers Guild.
On this powerfully allied episode of the Shut Up & Sit Down Podcast, Tom and Matt are negotiating poorly in Tonga Bonga, getting all sandy (again!) in Dune Imperium: Bloodlines, and meandering through a bucolic farm or two in Black Forest.
Thanks for listening everyone! Have a great weekend!
Ambie and Crystal discuss a couple games they played recently, including Time Division and Ticket to Ride Legacy: Legends of the West. Then, we talk about our favorite board game mechanics and why we like them.
Okay, pay attention, this is gonna be different! We're looking at the rest of 2025, deciding what we think the most well received games of the year are going to be - but then we're going to be bidding on them, auction style. Whoever's slate ends up performing best in their categories at the end of the year gets all the glory ... and if you vote on who you think is going to win, you could get $50! Before we're going, going, gone, we talk about Nyakuza, Hooky, and Altay: Dawn of Civilization.
03:26 - Nyakuza 10:26 - Hooky 16:15 - Altay: Dawn of Civilization 27:16 - Anticipation Auction 2025 32:52 - Arydia: The Paths We Dare Tread 38:12 - Puerto Rico 1897: Special Edition 41:10 - Molly House 45:03 - Nemesis: Retaliation 47:09 - Finspan 49:59 - Luthier 51:24 - The Elder Scrolls: Betrayal of the Second Era 55:23 - Transgalactica 59:18 - The Witcher: Path Of Destiny 1:01:56 - The Old King's Crown 1:04:07 - Star Trek: Captain's Chair 1:06:32 - Dune: Imperium – Bloodlines 1:08:38 - Zenith 1:10:26 - Galactic Cruise 1:12:10 - Speakeasy
Hey now Cabalists! Today the game kicks off the show by moaning and complaining about all their problems but get right into the gaming with Ostia Pirates Expansion, Forest Shuffle, Ticket to Ride, Fled, Rebirth, and a feature review of Freedom Five A Sentinels Comics Board Game. Then Stevie S takes over for Tony T to give you all of the most important news from around the tabletop community. Then the Founders finish off the show with a discussion about mastering board games. Ostia Pirates Expansion: 00:04:15, Forest Shuffle: 00:10:51, Ticket to Ride: 00:19:49, Fled: 00:26:47, Rebirth: 00:32:23, Freedom Five: 00:42:10, News with Stevie S: 01:16:32, Mastering A Game Discussion: 02:11:50, Check out our sponsors Restoration Games at https://restorationgames.com/. Game Toppers at https://www.gametoppersllc.com/. And CGE at https://czechgames.com/ and don't forget to use the promo code SECRETSETI at checkout.