Meeple Nation Board Game Podcast

Sit back while we talk about some of the games we have played but haven't taken the time to talk about.

We start with Freedom: The Underground Railroad, then proceed down the list:

Legendary Encounters: Firefly

Duel of Ages II

Timebomb II

Secret Hitler

Legendary: Big Trouble in Little China

Bloodborne: The Card Game

Holmes: Sherlock & Mycroft

London Dread

Venom Assault 

Tyrants of the Underdark

Nerdy Inventions

Direct download: MN_0144_We_Review_Too_Many_Games.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 1:37am MDT

Ryan Bruns joins the regular hosts to finish out the first Arkham Horror campaign and talk about the newest expandable card game from Fantasy Flight Games.

One core set allows 1-2 players to explore the dismal buildings and forests of Arkham Massachusetts. Add a second core set to allow a third or fourth investigator.

We recommend this game for the storytelling, discovery, and cooperative gameplay.

Direct download: MN_0143_Arkham_Horror_the_Card_Game.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 12:38am MDT

This week Sam Aho joins Nathan and Ryan, while Brent is AWOL. He brings his Kickstarter version of Themachy, a game that combines poker, ancient gods, and resource management.

What do we think about this game? Listen and find out. And make sure you catch Sam on his Video Channel, Sam Says

Direct download: MN0142_Theomachy.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

Classic Games

  • Ticket to Ride
  • Pandemic
  • Catan
  • Splendor

Family Games

  • Fabled Fruit
  • Dixit
  • Potion Explotion
  • Mysterium
  • Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle

Party Games

  • Codenames
  • Bang! The Dice Game
  • Wits and Wagers

Gamers Games

  • Star Wars: Destiny
  • Clank!
  • Quadropolis

Stocking Stuffers

  • Fuji Flush
  • Deep Sea Adventure
  • Rage!
  • Love Letter
  • Bohnanza
  • Star Realms
  • Sushi Go! or Sushi Go! Party

We hope for

  • Arkham Horror: The Card Game Expansion
  • Someone who will play Star Wars: Rebellion with Nathan
  • Tyrants of the Underdark
  • Magic Cards

 

Direct download: MN_0141_Holiday_Gift_Guide.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

This week we sit down with Matt and Barbara Allen to discuss the industry news which mainly comes out of BGG.Con 2016. We start by talking about Matt's favorite game of the con, Lorenzo Il Magnifico, then talk Star Wars Destiny, Tiny Epic Quest, and Clank! We visit Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle, and Fate of Akalon: Tribes.

Ryan then questions why we would travel to a convention, and we talk a bit more about the why, as if we needed a reason.

We then get back to talking games, starting with The Daedalus Sentence, a cooperative game in a massive box. Ryan brings up Cottage Garden and cats, and we wander from there over to A Feast for Odin. Power Grid the Card Game is explained, and we talk about not playing Great Western Trail. Ryan then moves us to talk about Roll Player, another game we haven't yet played.

Kingdom Death Monster 1.5 is newly on Kickstarter and getting plenty of press. Some predict it will become the most successful Kickstarter project ever.

Finally, Ryan starts a conversation about culling our collections, the subject of the first few articles in the most recent edition of Counter Magazine, issue 74. You can find the most recent issue (and previous issues) at boardgamegeekstore.com

Direct download: MN_0140_Hot_Games_and_News_from_BGGcon_2016.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

Brent has just returned from BGGcon 2016 and sits down with Ryan and Nathan to talk about some of his experiences. What follows is a larger discussion about friendships and different ways to enjoy conventions.

Brent speaks of Haggle with Rikki Tahta, Werewolf with longtime friends, BGGfit, Poker, Puzzle Hunt, and creative use of an elevator.

There is also a couple of interviews with USAOpoly and Victory Point Games along with a short shoutout from Brent's friend, Nick.

What events happen at your ideal convention? Let us know!

Direct download: MN_0139_BGGCON_2016_Outside_the_Box.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

Nathan, Brent and Ryan sit down and discuss Hero Realms after their first play. This game is based on the highly successful deckbuilder, Star Realms but already has additional play options such as cooperative play, solo play, and character packs that provide unique starting hands.

How will these Star Realm loving hosts like this game? Listen to find out.

Direct download: MN_0138_Hero_Realms.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

This week Nathan and Brent sit down and talk with Bubba Washington about Organized Play options and how they benefit both the game companies and the game stores. We talk CCGs, including Magic the Gathering, and about the Asmoplay program from Asmodee. 

We also discuss Stronghold Games' release of Terraforming Mars!

Direct download: MN_0137_Organized_Play.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

In Terraforming Mars each player takes the role of a corporation that works across generations in order to turn Mars into a habitable planet. Work to raise the temperature, create oceans, and create flora that will release oxygen into the atmosphere, all while doing this more efficiently than you competition. Will there be puppies on earth grass when you are done? Let's hope so.

What do we think about this game? Will Nathan play the rules correctly? Can Ryan unsee the uneven artwork? Listen to find out.

Direct download: MN_0136_Terraforming_Mars.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

On the heels of Essen, Nathan, Ryan, and Brent sit down with Matt and Barbara to discuss the latest news in the board game industry. We discuss Terraforming Mars and Cottage Garden, Kickstarters for C.O.G., Cobras, and Steal This Game, and more digital content for Star Realms and Descent: Road to Legend.

Matt and Barbara will be at BGG.Con, at the Mayday and TMG booths respectively, so make sure you stop by and tell them Hi!

Direct download: MN_0135_October_PostCon_News.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

We first fire off a few mini reviews. The first game discussed is Vast: The Crystal Caverns, then we discuss Nathan's sadness over missing out on Captain Sonar.

Then we discuss the dirty little secrets of playing with house rules. Is your favorite space on the Monopoly board Free Parking? Do you enforce certain variable rules when you play a game, in the rulebook or not? Two Captains in Firefly? Is this madness? Listen to find out.

 

Direct download: MN_0134_Mini_Reviews_of_Vast_and_Captain_Sonar_then_House_Rules.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

We blitz through a new set of games we've played in the last few months. Games discussed:
  • Quadropolis
  • Ravenous River
  • Legendary: Big Trouble in Little China
  • Thief's Market
  • Mottainai
  • Codenames: Pictures
  • Cry Havoc
Listen to our 5 minutes reviews of some fantastic games.
Direct download: MN_0133_Seven_Games_Reviewed_in_30_Minutes_-_Quadralegthimotcovok.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

It's the cold war and you are a 20 year-old mastermind spy, controlling your network of the three spies you have across Europe. Gather your spy camera, tracking device, lock picks, and other gear, position your spies correctly, use your dice wisely, and complete missions.

Covert is a game for 2-4 that will take a few hours as you compete to be the coldest war spy in the world.

Direct download: MN_0132_Covert.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

Mystic Vale uses an innovative card crafting system designed by John D. Clair. Druid clans attempt to cleanse the curse upon the land...and competing to do it better than the other clans by gaining the most VP? Meeple Nation takes the system for a spin with mixed results. Does the theme matter? Does Ryan need to put a dollar in the swear jar for invoking the term Multiplayer Solitaire? Listen to find out.

Direct download: MN_0131_Mystic_Vale.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

Fantasy Flight and Games Workshop broke up. What will happen with their kids? We discuss this, get stuck talking about theme again, cover three different awards, introduce our favorite Kickstarters, and tell you what we liked most about issue 73 of Counter Magazine.

Direct download: MN_0130_Breakups_Themes_and_Awards.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

MN 0129 504

Friedemann Friese delivers not just 1 new game, but 504 new games in a single, but heavy, box. 504 is a bundle of mechanisms and bits that you combine together using a flip book to discover the ruleset of the selected world. Each world uses three of nine possibilities, configured in a specific order to designate how to gain money, gain points and win the game. Different worlds use different components from the box. It is a brilliant design that will appeal to a specific type of player. Brent might just play it another 491 times. 

Direct download: MN_0129_504.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

We sit down with game designer Tim Fowers to talk about four different social games. We first talk about Cockroach Poker, then Grifters, followed by Don't Mess With Cthulhu, and finally Coup: Rebellion G54.

Tim also leads us in contrasting Cockroach Poker and Coup and we talked about this design space and why we like these types of games.

We now have shirts available through Amazon! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01L2WOF2I

Direct download: MN_0128_Short_Social_Games.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

Your hosts talk about the use of rating systems to evaluate board games including the flawed rating system on the popular Board Game Geek website. We discuss 1-10, thumbs up, stars, among others. Nathan prefers the 3-7 rating system within a 1-10 shell. Brent and Ryan are still trying to figure it out. Give us a listen, and maybe you can help us find a review system for our humble podcast.

Direct download: MN_0127_Ratings.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

We've all had that experience. Yes, that one, where a perfectly fine game was ruined by other players. Perhaps last time it was their attitude, or Kingmaking, or someone who refuses to put down their phone. What to do, what to do. We talk about these isssues as we remind ourselves not to be "that guy."

Direct download: MN_0126_Gaming_Ettiquite_or_Just_be_Nice.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

Barbigra
 
Time to celebrate! Barbara is back from GenCon 2016 just in time for our news episode, brand new games in hand. We discuss our plays of Unusual Suspects, Codenames: Pictures, and Ta-Da!. We also talk about all the spanky new games released or announced at GenCon. Our Highlights include Mansions of Madness 2ed., Arkham Horror: The Card Game, Star Wars: Destiny, and 
Cry Havoc. We also discuss Thunderstone having a 3rd edition and the potential frustration of loyal Thunderstone players at having their copies become outdated. Nathan has a long list, and Ryan and Brent engage in a bizarre definition dance.
Direct download: MN_0125_Barbiegra_and_GenCon_News.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 12:44am MDT

The old Jarl has died. Fearsome trolls, draugrs and a smattering of monsters are attacking from all sides. The Vikings need a champion to repel the surmounting threats and lead the people to glorious victory. Are you that champion?

 
Champions of Midgard is a Viking era worker placement game with dice combat. Your workers collect viking dice, gold, wood, and food, prepare boats for launch, and prepare the way to fight the monsters. You roll your Viking dice to fight the monsters, and the Viking leader with the most glory after 8 rounds is declared the new Jarl.
 
Good times. Ryan is down with the theme, but can the mechanics hold up to Brent's scrutiny. Find out in this week's podcast.
Direct download: MN_0124_Champions_of_Midgard.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

Ragnarök has arrived. We're all going to die, but we're going to die in a blaze of glory and celebrate our victories in Valhalla. Oh, and my clan is going to die better than your clan. Blood Rage is a strategic area control game with card drafting designed by Eric Lang. Blood Rage comes with some truly fantastic minis (viking and monsters) and slick, easy to teach rules. Friend of the podcast, Sam Aho, joins Ryan and Nathan to discuss the carnage, monsters, and strategy, including the Kickstarter exclusives and the rad insert by The Broken Token.

Direct download: MN_0123_Blood_Rage.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

It is a dark time after the last Great War in 1920's Europa where large mech war machines are all that remain from the the capitalistic city-state known simply as “The Factory". When the Factory goes dark and shuts it's doors, the leaders of the surrounding countries set out to make their claim upon the region, hoping to control the secrets and win over the people.

 
In this amazing "4x" game, players will gather resources, claim territory, and battle with massive mechs. The paths to victory are varied as the starting player positions as each player attempts to maximize their actions to gain popularity, power, and money. Join the dudes as they discuss Scythe by Jamey Stegmaier and Stonemaier Games.
Direct download: MN_0122_Scythe.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

We speak with Craig Nybo, author, musician, and designer of various board games. Quirky Engine Entertainment publishes under a few different games including 3 Headed Giant, Gangrene Games, and GameARama. Games include Eyeball Boxing, Trash War, and Hoagie.

We also speak with Mike from Epic Puzzles and Games, a nice store that supports the board game community in the greater Salt Lake City area.

Direct download: MN_0121_SaltCon_Quirky_Engine_and_Epic_Puzzles_and_Games.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

Ryan, Nathan, and Brent sit down to discuss the News and current Kickstarters including:

  • Bluffing in Sheriff of Nottingham
  • Mystic Vale
  • Guildhall: Fantasy
  • AEG does Deckbuilding a little wrong
  • Clout will again be released from Crash Games
  • A new Buffy the Vampire Game
  • Magic's Next Release, not called Eldritch Horror
  • Counter Magazine, issue 72 with 120 Pages of Articles and Reviews

We continue our coverage of the fantastic two player games available right now. Star Realms: Colony War was a sure hit with us, but Brent and Ryan discover even more difference in their play styles even in a game they both enjoy. Does Colony Wars stack up to vanilla Star Realms? Find out as we discus the game from drastically different angles. We also cover Onitama, Hive, Tides of Time, and Pinata (formerly Balloon Cup). 

Direct download: MN0119_2-Player_Games_Part_3.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

We have four interviews from Game Industry professionals!

1:00-7:30 Joshua Githens of CGE Games

7:31-19:22 John Binkley of Bink Inc, Makers of Trekking the National Parks

19:23-36:29 Michael Coe of Gamelyn Games

36:30-46:55 Luke of Sea Pig Games

Direct download: MN_0118_More_Interviews.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 8:43am MDT

Two player games are the perfect pastime to spend with your significant other, your soulmate or a random guy at the park. We love our two player games so much, we devoted several new podcasts to the topic, gushing about some of our new favorite games. We discuss 7 Wonders: Duel, Patchwork, Star Wars Risk, ...and then we held hands, and Horrible Hexes in this episode. Hold hands with someone close by awkwardly and with no regrets as you listen.

Direct download: MN_0117_Even_More_2_Player_Games.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

Brent and Ryan finally get around to editing more interviews from SaltCON 2016. Here are five great interviews recorded back in March. Enjoy!

0:00-1:11 - Introduction

1:12-14:38 Kris McClanahan from Deeply Dapper talks about his geeky products for sale at his Etsy store or at www.deeplydapper.com

14:38-24:57 Chris Urinko of Daft Concepts talks about his current projects on sale at Etsy and www.daftconcepts.com

24:58-32:42 Dale Tolley, designer of Cheesonomics, from Eagle-Gryphon, talks to us about game design and his future plans

32:43-38:19 Matt Saunders, designer of Mow Money, published by Mayday Games, talks about his game. Follow him on Twitter @Matt_Saunders

38:20-47:28 Shaea and Alex Bernard of the Saint George Board Game Convention talk about their inaugural year and what they plan for their 2016 convention. Find out more at www.stgcon.org 


Bang! Loses its lawsuit against a copycat game, We talk many Kickstarters, Cthulhu Realms Eats My Batteries is not an expansion, Brent Rants about CMoN, Kickstarter Exclusives, and the Boardgame Bubble  

Direct download: MN_0115_News_and_Rant.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 9:09am MDT

At SaltCON 2016 we sat down with Greg Spence and talked about inserts, how he started the company, and many of his offerings, including his impressive convention schedule. You can find them at their website http://thebrokentoken.com or at Origins, GenCon, BGG.con, or many of the other conventions they have scheduled.

Direct download: MN_0114_The_BrokenToken.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 11:32pm MDT

Kennerspiel des Jahres

T.I.M.E Stories 0-7:03

Pandemic Legacy: Season One 7:03-9:56

Isle of Skye: From Chieftain to King 9:57-11:45

We announce our winner of the Kennerspiel des Jahres 11:46-15:02

Kinderspiel des Jahres

Leo 15:03-21:41

Mmm! 21:42-25:18

My First Stone Age 25:19-27:50

Brent's opinion of which should win 27:51-29:29

Spiel des Jahres

Karuba 29:30-36:27

Imhotep 36:28-42:52

Codenames 42:53-47:56

Ryan tells us which game will win 47:57-48:59

Direct download: MN0113_SdJ.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

The fantastic Dan Wells, author and avid gamer, joins the Nation! Dan Wells is a fantasy, YA, post-apocalyptic author known for the Partials series and his new book, Bluescreen a futuristic science-fiction cyber-thriller. He also writes the John Cleaver series. The first one, I am not a Serial Killer, has been made into a movie starring Christopher Lloyd, Laura Fraser, and Max Records. He is a co-host of the Writing Excuses podcast.

 
Dan is also a long-time boardgamer. We discuss his favorite board games, his love of storytelling in games, and what he thinks makes a game great. We reminisce about ancient role playing games, Decipher CCGs, and the new Pathfinder Adventures app. We also talk a little Kickstarter. 
Direct download: MN_0112_Dan_Wells_-_Author_and_Board_Game_Enthusiast.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 12:23am MDT

This bonus episode was recorded by Brent while he attended BGG.Spring in Dallas on May 29, 2016. He sits down with three of the Spiel des Jahres judges and discusses game eligibility, judging criteria, the selection process, and the differences between the three awards.

We then review the nine nominated SdJ games for 2016.

Direct download: MN_0111_Spiel_des_Jahres_Judges_at_BGGSpring_2016.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 5:25am MDT

Matt and Barbara join us for another News episode. We talk of Hero Realms, Pathfinder App, Cthulhu Realms App, Descent: Road to Legend App, Campaign Manager, Game Bags, SpielSoap, two versions of Caravan.

We also report the newly announced Spiel des Jahres nominees including Codenames, Imhotep, and Karuba.

Direct download: MN0110_News_and_SdJ_Announcements.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

You're in the trenches in the first World War, trying to stay alive long enough to return home with your grizzled old friends. The threat are bullets, combat, toxic gas, night, winter, and rain. The only way to survive is a little planning, teamwork, and a whole lot of luck. The Grizzled is a cooperative game for two to five players from Fabien Riffaud and Juan Rodriguez.

 
We've had mixed experience with the difficulty of this game, but most of the buzz is that it is hard to win, especially with five players. The great thing is that this little game is fun, even you lose.
Direct download: MN_0109_The_Grizzled.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

In March, at SaltCON 2016, we sat down and talked with Seth Hiatt of Mayday Games. We talk about a number of their products including Twist of Fate, a microgame that is finishing up on Kickstarter at the time this podcast is released.

Seth talks about manufacturing, shipping, and the benefit of being Euro Friendly.

Direct download: The_Business_Side_of_Boardgames_with_Seth_Hyatt_of_Mayday_Games.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

This week's podcast come to you from Skye, the largest and most northerly major island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland, with soft sand beaches, gently sloping hills and impressive mountain. We're not there, unfortunately. Isle of Skye: From Chieftain to King is an economic, territory building game from Mayfair Games. For 2-5 players and for 60 minutes, Isle of Skye will task you to create the best kingdom in your effort to lead y our clan well enough to become King.

 
This is a tile laying game, but the real game involves a unique scoring system and mastering a shifting economy. This game seems like it will be a hit for your intrepid hosts, but you're going to have to listen to the podcast to find out for sure.  
Direct download: MN_0107_Isle_of_Skye.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

We interview the awesome dudes, Seth Jaffee, Michael Mindes, and Andy Van Zandt, from Tasty Minstrel Games (www.playmtg.com) at SaltCON 2016. We've got the insights from a game designer, an owner and a developer.

 
Seth caught us up on his game designs, his work on the Eminent Domain series, and his future releases. Michael talks about the latest releases of TMG and what we can expect in the near future. Andy talks about what it means to be a game developer, his latest projects, and how he likes living in Utah.  Don't miss a second of this insider episode.

We’ve hit another 5th episode so it is time for Industry News! Don’t forget to enter our contest on Meeple Nation Off Air on Facebook.

 

0:00 - 0:47 Introduction

0:48 - 3:07 Mombasa, World 192 of 504 and Ryan hates Stocks

3:08 - 4:59 Contest for Gold West from Tasty Minstrel Games - Ends May 1, 2016

5:00 - 5:53 The Grizzled: At Your Orders

5:54 - 7:51 Star Trek Frontiers

7:52 - 10:12 Descent: Journeys in the Dark 2nd Edition - Road to Legends Companion App

10:13 - 13:30 Charterstone

13:31 - 16:50 Santorini Kickstarter ends April 27, 2016

16:51 - 18:15 Legendary Encounters: Alien Expansion

18:16 - 19:23 Codenames Pictures

19:24 - 20:39 Legend of the Five Rings LCG coming in 2017 from Fantasy Flight Games

20:40 - 22:24 Mistborn: House War

22:25 - 23:16 Galaxy Quest

23:17 - 24:17 Munchking CCG

24:18 - 24:58 Political Kickstarters are bad

24:59 - 26:06 C.O.G. (The Cabinet of Gadgetry)

26:07 - 28:07 Star Trek: Ascendancy

28:08 - 29:21 Star Trek Panic

29:22 - 31:29 Ave Roma on Kickstarter until May 4, 2016

31:30 - 32:31 Daft Concepts Kickstarter for Yakitori ends April 22, 2016

32:32 - 34:58 Xibalba, currently on Kickstarter through May 8, 2016

34:59 - 35:42 Ghostbusters: The Boardgame II on Kickstarter through May 9, 2016

35:43 - 36:48 Dark Moon: Shadow Corporation

36:48 - 37:20 En Route on Kickstarter through May 12, 2016

37:30 - 40:09 Shadows over Innistrad

40:10 - 45:17 Counter Magazine, January 2016

45:18 - 45:59 Contest reminder and Outro

Direct download: MN_0105_Industry_News_April_2016_and_Contest.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

One thing we know for sure: Saucermen are jerks. Except that Brent, for some reason, likes the Saucermen. Something is wrong with Brent. Might be that alien tech sticking out the back of his neck. Rocket Patrol unite. We have to rescue Brent!

 
Space Cadet: Away Mission is a 1-6 player cooperative adventure game with Retro spacemen fighting aliens, slugs, and space bugs on a modular board. The aliens, including Saucermen, Leaders and a Brain-in-a-jar, act in specific, rule-driven patterns. The game is scenario based with random setups and random encounters, which allows for great replay value.
Direct download: MN_0104_Space_Cadets_Away_Mission.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 11:29pm MDT

Months worth of work goes into running a board game convention. We sit with the Organizers of SaltCON and discuss the past, present and future.

Join us in our newly formed Facebook Group, Meeple Nation Off Air, at https://www.facebook.com/groups/MeepleNationOffAir

Direct download: MN_0103_Behind_the_Scenes_at_SaltCON_2016.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

This week we interview the members of HUGG, Herriman Utah Gamer Girls, a board game club of women. I use the word interview loosely, as HUGG takes over the Nation, explaining their love of heavy board game, strict competition, and the importance of integrity of the game. The worst insult within their group is that someone "isn't a real gamer." We found out quickly that they are all real gamers. Find out how the group was formed, their favorite games, and a little trash talk about who is the most competitive.

Direct download: MN_0102_HUGG.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

Join Meeple Nation as we host a live podcast as a panel at SaltCON, a board game convention in SLC, Utah. We talk to several guests about how they approach attending conventions, including the big one--the long CON, whether that is GenCon or BGGCon or another convention. We grilled two professionals, Ryan Bruns from Mayday Games and Ben Hillyard from Daedalus Productions about attending conventions as a dealer. We also interview Claudine Finlay and Julie Balazs from HUGG about why they love gaming at CONs. Also, we interview Brent Mair. He's kind of a big deal.

Direct download: MN_0101_The_Long_Con.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

Meeple Nation celebrates episode 100! We talk with Barb and Matt about reaching this milestone, talk SaltCON, our local board game convention, and discuss board game news of the day, including new or newly announced games, Kickstarters, and some related events. Games discussed include Goonies, a possible new fantasy version of Star Realms, Pack O Games 2, and expansions to Mysterium, Dominion, Imperial Assault and Dead of Winter. Join the Nation as we look forward to the next 100 episodes. 

 Pack O Games 2 Kickstarter ends April 2, 2016 

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/713947418/pack-o-game-set-2-wee-strategy-games-for-on-the-go

The Manhattan Project Energy Empire ends April 7, 2016 

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/miniongames/the-manhattan-project-energy-empire-board-game

Darklight Memento Mori ends March 28, 2016

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/53406598/darklight-memento-mori-miniatures-dungeon-crawler

The Lazy Gamer ends March 31, 2016

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/878938288/the-lazy-gamer

 

Direct download: MN_0100_Episode_100_Celebration_and_Industry_News.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

Warhammer Quest: The Adventure Card Game, is a cooperative game for 1-4 players based on the Warhammer property from Games Workshop. This Fantasy Flight game is played mostly with cards, with a few supporting items such as custom dice, and health and exploration tokens.

Each player takes the role of one of the four heroes in the box and uses unique Fight, Explore, Aid, and Rest cards to survive the dungeon and kill the evil nemesis.

Our games took 30-120 minutes to complete. Ages 14 and up.

Direct download: MN_0099_Warhammer_Quest_The_Adventure_Card_Game.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 8:51am MDT

In October of 2015 we noticed a number of threads complaining about games that get used up or cannot be replayed for other reasons. We sit down and talk about these games

Direct download: MN_0098_Consumable_Games.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

Everyone likes expansions, right? Especially good ones? This episode we talk expansions for games we have already reviewed.

Roll for the Galaxy: Ambition, is the first expansion for this popular dice game. It adds a slightly accelerated start with new black leader dice, and new starting planet and factions. We first discussed Roll for the Galaxy in Episode 37.

Firefly has a number of expansions, including the big box Kalidasa. If you want more Firefly reach back into our archives and listen to Episodes 9 and 12.

Star Wars Imperial Assault now has a smaller box expansion, Twin Shadows, and a bigger expansions, Return to Hoth. We discussed the base game in Episode 61.


It has been six months since we last discussed Kickstarter, and Jeff Siadek joins us to explain why publishers use Kickstarter. Jeff's project, Battlestations Second Edition! Tabletop Starship Simulator, is currently on Kickstarter, with an end date of March 3, 2016.

This is Jeff's tenth kickstarter, with a relaunch of his flagship game, Battlestations. His company, Gorilla Games, has been around for twelve years, and Jeff has been in the industry even longer than that.

Join us as we discuss Battlestations, and how Kickstarter is allowing Jeff to make this game even better.


No one likes a lying cheaterface when playing board games, but what about all of the games that have made lying, cheating, and bluffing core mechanics of game play. This week on Meeple Nation, the primes discuss games with these mechanics such as Sheriff of Nottingham, Coup, Werewolf, Cockroach Poker, Intrige, Lifeboats and Illuminati. We all hate cheating as a mechanic, but find out our take on Bluffing and Lying as core mechanics and hear a few stories of cheaty-cheaterfaces in our past games. Nate owns up, and Ryan finally agrees to let it go. Brent just shakes his head in judgment at us both.

Direct download: MN_0095_Cheat_Lie_Bluff.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

This week we review the game, Deception: Murder in Hong Kong

Direct download: MN_00094_Deception_Murder_in_Hong_Kong.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

This week, we discuss all things Pandemic, including spoiler free talk of Pandemic Legacy. Luckily, we have Barb and Matt back to keep things from getting too hostile. Everyone seems to like this game, except for Ryan. What's wrong with Ryan? Join us to find out.

We cover Pandemic (2008) by Matt Leacock, including the expansions In the Lab (2013) and On the Brink (2009). We also discuss Pandemic: The Cure (2014) and Pandemic: Contagion (2014). And finally a bit about Pandemic Legacy: Season 1 (2015). Again no Spoilers.
Direct download: MN_0093_Pandemic_Everything.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

Your caravan arrives in the fabled Sultanate of Naqala. The sultan is dead. Do you have what it takes to maneuver the five tribes, invoke the old Djinns, and gain enough influence to fulfill the prophesy and become the new sultan?
 

Five Tribes is a clever, meeple-heavy work placement game where the workers are already in place on the table and you use a Mancala-like movement on your turn to maneuver the five tribe and gain points. Designed by Bruno Cathala and released in 2014 by Days of Wonder, Five Tribes is a game played best with player of the same experience level and low analysis paralysis. 

Direct download: MN_0092_Five_Tribes.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

We finally review Mysterium! For this seance, we all put on our Medium caps and find meaning in our dreams, conveniently provided by the ghost player in the form of full art cards. Mysterium was designed by Oleksandr Nevskiy and Oleg Sidorenko. The English version was released in 2015 by Asmodee.

 
The Meeple Nation Primes are joined by Barbara and Matthew Allen as we gush about this outstanding and unique gaming experience. Saying Mysterium is like Clue meets Dixit just doesn't do enough to convey the awesomeness of this game. 

 

Direct download: MN_0091_Mysterium.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 12:17am MDT

In this episode we talk about our gaming year, including a review of what goals we completed from those we set back in Episode 33. What were our gaming highlights? Can Brent's highlight be Ryan's lowlight? What are our plans for 2016?

Join us while we enter the new year. Let us know what you are wishing for!

Direct download: MN_0090_Goals_and_Highlights_of_2015.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 12:36am MDT

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