Meeple Nation Board Game Podcast

This week we discuss Marvel Champions, the new game from Fantasy Flight. This is a 1-4 player, fully cooperative game where players take on the role of one of the five heroes in the core box, Spider-man, She-Hulk, Captain Marvel, Black Panther, and Iron Man. The heroes face off against one of the three super villains, Rhino, Ultron, or Klaw.

Tune in to hear our thoughts and to see if it is a game the Ryan will like. (ed. note: why does Nathan keeps wondering if Ryan will like games?)

Direct download: MN_0299_Marvel_Champions_edit.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

Last month, Brent and Nathan got to spend the week in Dallas Texas to attend Board Game Geek Con 2019. We talk about the experience of the con, the people of the con, and of course the games we played. Nathan adjusts his game list mid cast. Learn what game Nathan missed playing.

There's an app for that, Nathan.

Direct download: MN_0298_2019_BGG_edited.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

We continue our discussion of fully cooperative games by focusing on one games each. We discuss three very different games that appeal to us and highlight the mechanic.

Spirit Island, City of Kings, and Chronicles of Crime.

 

Direct download: MN_0297_Three_Fully_Co-op_games.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

We talk about a bunch of cooperative games, not team, or semi-cooperative games. We are only talking fully cooperative games. Marvel Legendary, you don't count. No one winner, secret winner, secret goals, or extra score steps.

We discuss Hanabi, Arkham Horror the card game, The Mind, Magic Maze, Mysterium, One key, Just one, and we mention many more.

 

Direct download: MN_0296_Fully_Co-Op_Games.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

Christmas shopping got you geared up to buy more board games? We feel the same. We put our stocking caps on and came up with a bunch of awesome suggestions to get the gamer in your life or to gift to a home that could use a little more gaming action.

Direct download: MN_295_2019_Holiday_gift_guide.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

In this episode we discuss Elizabeth Hargrave's widely popular game Wingspan. You play birds, place eggs, gather food, and create engines for fame and glory of the birding world.

If that doesn't sound awesome, you still need to play this game. Wingspan contains just enough player interaction to keep Ryan invested, and lives up to the hype.

 

Direct download: MN0294_Wingspan.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

This week we discuss Hako Onna which is a creepy deduction game that has a pick up and delivery element to it.

This has a US release through WizKids and plays 3-5 players.

There are a lot of great elements about this game, and Ryan feels its theme.

Does he like a new game?

Tune in and find out.

We'll see you at the game table.

Direct download: MN_0293_Hako_Onna.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

Logan talks about the mild touch of Pick Up and Deliver in Nemesis. Is there more than the aliens picking up larva and delivering it into players chests?

Ryan gushes over crayon rail games again and focuses on Martian Rails. They take the core mechanic and build a wonderful mess of a map. Simplicity and a little magic make these games fabulous.

Train game and pick up and delivery mechanics make a lot of sense.

Nathan brings up Pirates Cove. Ryan likes it but is not a fan of combat system which punishes the losers dramatically through a whole lot of random.

Give us a listen.

Direct download: MN_0292_Three_Pick_up_and_Delivery_games.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

We discuss Pick Up and Delivery games, a mechanic that seems to be lacking in our game group, but we have still played some very fun games.

Ryan chats up crayon rail games like Empire Builder, and Nathan tries to understand how Ryan can like a game with so little theme.

We bring up Firefly (of course) and games like Star Wars: Outer Rim, Deep Sea Adventure, and Pandemic. Still hoping for a Pandemic Legacy: Season 3.

Come join us at the game table.

Direct download: MN_0291_Pick_up_and_Delivery_games.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

Nathan and Ryan talk Arkham Horror: the card game. Meeple Nation will represent at SaltCon! Our highlight is the Meeple Nation hosted game show.

New games coming out:

  • Wingspan European expansion
  • Gloomhaven: Subtitle
    • Will it have new content or a retread of the old stuff and who is the target of this game new players, existing players?

Nathan brings up Pandemic Legacy: Season 2. He and his wife have only one game left. David compares Gloomhaven to Agricola.

  • Codenames: the Simpsons
  • Caroline and the Other Mother from Wizkids.
  • Azul: Summer Pavilion
    • Do we need more Azul games?

KickStarters:

  • Oathswon
    • Minis vs Standees
  • Hard West 
  • Rome and Roll
  • Hey Cutie? Really Ryan??
    • What happens to a kickstarter when it doesn’t fund
  • Tiny Epic Dinosaurs
Direct download: MN_0290_October_2019_news.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

This week we talk about some great ideas for spooky games for the Halloween season.

We discuss Mysterium, Fury of Dracula, Nycophobia, Horrified, and Fearsome Floors.

We also mention Hako Onna, Arkham Horror, and a host of other games.

Join us for some spooky fun that even Ryan can have.

Direct download: MN_0289_spooky_games.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

In this episode we discuss different ways that apps have become a part of the board gaming hobby.

We discuss gaming websites like Brettspiewelt.de, BoardGameArena.com, and Yucata.de. We talk gaming apps for the phone like Dominion, San Juan, and Suburbia app, and Ryan brings up Star Realms for some reason.

We also discuss board games that have app integration.

Direct download: MN0288_Theres_an_app_for_that.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

We talk Pathfinder Adventure Card Game, Arkham Horror TCG, Agricola, Terraforming Mars, Marvel Legendary and Lord of the Rings the Living Card Game, Star Wars: Outer Rim, Chronicles of Crime and The Reckoners.

And then Ryan had to bring up Firefly.

 

Direct download: MN0287_Going_Solo.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

We discuss the art of playing games alone, games designed to be played with only one player. Games discussed:

Proving Grounds, Onirim, Hostage Negotiator, and Ambush!

We don't play games alone that much, but we tried a few out for this episode and were not disappointed.

Direct download: MN0286_One_Player_Games.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

Some great games coming down the pipe to report about this month.

Clank! In! Space! Cyber Station 11 - We love this game and want more always.

Fox in the Forest Duet

Hako Onna - It's out and we have it in our grasp.

Marvel: Crisis Protocol

Wingspan in Digital

Alien: Covenant expansion for Legendary Encounters: An Alien Deck Building Game. - We love this one too, so this is a great excuse for this one to hit the table again.

Fired Up - A game where you are the spectators. Hmm. Maybe they pull it off.

Moonrakers

Solar Storm

Rare Roses

and more.

Direct download: MN0285_September_2019_News.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

We finally review Star Wars Outer Rim. Is this the Firefly killer? Can the rebels and empire dethrone the browncoats in the Verse?

Even though the games are similar and we like both, Outer Rim doesn't blow the ship out of the trenches.

Still, it's fantastic. Check out our podcast review now!

Direct download: MN0284_Star_Wars_Outer_Rim.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

Game of Thrones: Oathbreaker

 

  • Kevin Spak
  • Dire Wolf Digital
  • 5-8 players
  • 30-45 minutes

 

This is social deduction at it's socialist, to the point that one player's job is to watch people to determine if they are helping or not. Nathan and Logan loved it.

Find out what Ryan thought inside.

Inside your ears. When you listen.

Direct download: MN0283_Game_of_Thrones_Oathbreaker.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

Join your hosts as we discuss some great games. Nathan loves him some hidden roles, and these four games highlight a great use of the mechanic. Games discussed:

Don't Mess with Cthulhu

Bang! and Bang! The Dice Game

Salem

and

Sheriff of Nottingham

We're not sure if that last one is hidden roles or not, but Dave is special, so we didn't tell him to take his sweet voice and go home.

Direct download: MN0282_Four_Hidden_Role_Games.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

We talk all things hidden roles. What does Nathan find so appealing about seeking out the traitor or becoming one to turn the tables on the heroes?

We discuss: 

  • Dead of Winter
  • Don’t Mess with Cthulhu
  • Battlestar Galactica
  • Shadows over Camelot
  • One night anything
  • Werewolf
  • Betrayal at House on the Hill
  • Resistance
  • Secret Hitler
  • Spyfall
  • Dark Moon
  • Betrayal Legacy
  • The Thing: infection at Outpost 31
  • Werewords
  • TimeBomb Evolution
  • Deception: murder in Hong Kong
Direct download: MN0281_Hidden_Role_Games.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

So much news coming out of GenCon. Join your GenCan'ter hosts as we discuss all of the hot new game announcements.

Direct download: MN0280_August_2019_News.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

The Lord of the Rings - Journeys in Middle-earth is an app-driven exploration game in the world of Middle-earth by Fantasy Flight.

This is a spiritual successor to the app-driving plugged into their Imperial Assault and Decent properties, but this game was designed that was from the ground up.

If you love Middle-earth, you will enjoy this game. If you don't mind a phone giving you all of the game's details, this will work.

Ryan is unconvinced.

Direct download: MN0279_The_Lord_of_the_Rings_Journeys_in_Middle_Earth.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

Dinosaur Island by Pandasaurus Games utilizes Action Points, Dice Rolling, Set Collection, Tile Placement, and Worker Placement all to replicate the great documentary Jurrassic Park.

We only lose a few patron in the process. Well, every turn. It's okay. They keep coming anyway.

Direct download: MN0278_Dinosaur_Island.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 9:49am MDT

Your hosts each pick a tile placement game that make great use of the mechanic and talks about why we like it. Our game choices are:

Nathan - Number 9

Logan - Escape

Ryan - Between Two Cities

Direct download: MN0277_Three_Tile_Placement_Games.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

Tile placement is awesome. We love it, and we discuss for a half hour our favorite games that use tile placement well. Games we talk about are, in no particular order:

  • Carcassonne
  • Azul
  • Galaxy Trucker
  • Suburbia
  • Takenoko
  • Patchwork
  • Castles of Mad King Ludwig
  • Dinosaur Island
  • Kingdomino
  • Tsuro
  • Scrabble
  • Vikings
  • Viceroy
  • Magic Maze

We definitely don't mention Attica again. 

Direct download: MN0276_Tile_Placement_Games.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:29am MDT

 

Join your hosts as we discuss some great new games coming out soon. We talk:

  • Clank! Expeditions: Temple of the Ape Lords
  • Magic Maze: On Mars
  • Robin Von Locksley
  • Aftermath
  • Star Wars: Outer Rim
  • Proving Grounds
  • 3 Laws of Robotics
  • Monster Slaughter
  • Deep Blue
  • Tasty Humans
  • The Isle of Cats

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Direct download: MN0275_July_2019_News.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

We discuss three games or two players or best with two players:

 

  • Reckoners
    • Designers: Brett Sobol, Seth Van Orden
    • Publisher Nauvoo Games
  • One Deck Dungeon
    • Designer: Chris Cieslik
    • Publisher: Asmadi Games
  • Battle Line
    • Reiner Knizia
    • GMT Games
Direct download: MN0273_Top_Games_for_Two_Players.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

Nathan finally gets to review Star Wars: Legion by Fantasy Flight and talk about his expanding troops and terrain. SW: Legion is a 2 player game where players pit the rebellion against the might of the Empire.

Assemble your point based squad, heroes, villains and vehicles and try to destroy your opponent. Fun times. Just watch out for Darth Vader.

Direct download: MN0274_Star_Wars_Legion.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:20am MDT

Join your hosts as we talk about playing awesome games two player. We hit games designed specifically for two people, co-op games, and games of variable player counts, but shine with two players. Also Nathan talks about raising his girls to love games too.

Some games we discuss include:

 

  • Star Wars Rebellion
  • Not Attika
  • Star Wars X-wing
  • Lost Cities
  • Ballon Cup
  • Patchwork
  • Catan Card Game
  • Starship Catan
  • Star Realms
  • Tally Ho
  • 7 Wonders: Duel
  • Splendor
  • Chronicles of Crime
  • Codenames: Duet
Direct download: MN0272_Two_Player_Gaming_Too.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

Dave joins us again as we talk gaming goals and SaltCON Summer. We discuss: 

  • Chronicles of Crime
  • The Reckoners
  • Big Trouble in Little China
  • Ultimate Werewolf
  • Magic Maze
  • Robo Rally
  • Shadows over Camelot
  • Deception: Murder in Hong Kong
  • Don’t Mess with Cthulhu

And others.

 

 

Direct download: MN0271_SaltCON_Spring_Recap_and_Gaming_Goal_Catch_Up.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

Spiel des Jarhes nominees.

Catan: Starfarers, Asmodee

Ecos: First Continent, John D. Clair and AEG

Dead Reckoning, John D. Clair and AEG

Pandemic: Rapid Response and Z-man

Raccoon Tycoon: The Fat Cat Expansion

Fickle: A Fairy Board Game, BARD Games

Tiny Towns: Peter McPherson and AEG

Direct download: MN0270_May_2019_News.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

The exciting journey into the world of Aeon's End, Legacy style. Nathan loves legacy games already and Ryan even said that he likes the game at one point! Friend Dave joins us again as we talk about this fun new deck builder!

Direct download: MN0269_Aeons_End_Legacy.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

In this episode, we discuss all things Legendary, including Marvel, Alien, Buffy, and the rest. We talk The Quest for El Dorado, which mixes deck building with a spacial race across platters full of different terrain types. We end on Clank! In! Space!, which is a glorious ride through science fiction pop culture with deck building while stealing artifacts from a space ship. It's beautiful. 

Direct download: MN0268_Deck_Building_in_Three_Flavors.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

Deck/bag/dice builders are games where your starting deck or pool changes throughout the game as you buy more cards or cull cards. We love this mechanic and talk through the game that started it all: Dominion. Other games we discuss are:

Thunderstone (all varieties)

Clank!

Mystic Vale

Arkham Horror TCG

Star Realms (Hero Realms)

Tyrants of the Underdark

Direct download: MN0267_Deck_Builders.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

The City of Kings is a co-operative tactical role-playing board game for 1 - 4 players. Your unique hero ventures out from the City of Kings to explore tiles, gather resources and vanquish monsters.

Designed by Frank West and Published by The City of Games 

Direct download: MN0266_The_City_of_Kings.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

Meeple Nation talks April 2019 News. We cover

Abomination: The Heir of Frankenstein!

Space Base: Command Station

Game of Thrones: Oathbreaker

Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Core Set

Kingdom Rush: Rift in Time

Venom Assault: Villains and Valour

Takendo Giant: Chibis

and

Terraforming Mars : Turmoil

 

 

 

Direct download: MN0265_April_2019_News.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

Call to Adventure challenges 2-4 players to create the hero with the greatest destiny by acquiring traits, facing challenges, and overcoming adversaries.

Designed by Johnny O'Neal and Christopher O'Neal

Published by Brotherwise Games

 

 

Direct download: MN0264_Call_To_Adventure.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

Tableau Building is a fantastic family of games. In this episode, your hosts select a game each and detail how their chosen game utilizes tableau building for fun and profit. 

Innovation by Carl Chudyk and Asmadi Games

Charterstone by Jamey Stegmaier and Stonemaier games.

Near and Far by Ryan Laukat and Red Raven Games

Direct download: MN0263_Three_Tableau_Building_Games.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

Your hosts, Nathan, Ryan and Logan discuss Tableau building games and what makes them great.

From Race for the Galaxy and 7 Wonders to Citadels and Terraforming Mars, tableau builders give players an array or components (cards, tiles, player boards, etc.) to buy, build, manipulate and combine for victory points.

You hopefully create an engine for fun and profit.

Direct download: MN0262_Tableau_Building_Games.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

Meeple Nation was at SaltCON 2019 and ran a bunch of games. Listen to get our highlights of the con. We hosted Brent Mair's Puzzlehunt, the Game Show, a bunch of Werewolf and a dozen other social deduction games. We had a blast.

Direct download: MN0261_SaltCON_2019.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

The hosts of Meeple Nation deliver your March 2019 News with special guest Ashlee Howard. We discuss a bunch of forthcoming games including:

Star Wars: Outer Rim from Fantasy Flight

Terraforming Mars: Turmoil from Stronghold

Ravnica Inquisition from Wizkids

Time Breaker from Looney Labs

Talisman: Kingdom Hearts from USAopoly

Hako Onna from Ejin and Wizkids

and Kickstarters:

Creature Feature by our friend Kristopher McClanahan of Deeply Dapper Games

Throw Throw Burrito from Exploading Kittens

High Rise from Formal Ferret Games

 

The Silver River from Robert Burke Games

Direct download: MN0260_March_2019_News.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

Join the Nation as we gush about the board game Nemesis by Awaken Realms, designed by Adam Kwapiński. This epic board game is loosely based on the Alien franchise.

You start the game waking from hibernation to find a crew member with a hole in their chest and blood everywhere. Each player has hidden objectives they need to complete in order to win, but you first have to survive.

Mechanics:

  • Campaign / Battle Card Driven
  • Cooperative Play
  • Dice Rolling
  • Modular Board
  • Partnerships
  • Player Elimination
  • Variable Player Powers

The theme is spot on, the components excellent, and the play experience tense and exciting.

 

Direct download: MN0259_Nemesis.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

Nathan has been itching to bring Star Wars Rebellion from Fantasy Flight to the podcast. Nathan is a sucker for all thing Star Wars, and he's pretty lucky because Fantasy Flight always delivers a quality play experience. Logan has Nathan's back.

Ryan just doesn't seem to like games.

Listen as we discuss the flavor and mechanics of Star Wars Rebellion.

Direct download: MN0238_Star_Wars_Rebellion.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

Join Meeple Nation as your hosts discuss three of their favorite area control games. We each chose a game that uses the mechanic in different ways, and different than Risk.

The chosen games are:

Carolvs Magnvs (2000) by Leo Colovini

Carcassonne (2000) by Klaus-Jürgen Wrede

A Game of Thrones: The Board Game (Second Edition) (2011) by Christian T. Petersen

All of these are older games. We think they show great and unique ways that area control can be used in board games. Plus, they are fun and a little cutthroat.

Direct download: MN0257_Three_Area_Control_Games.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

Area Control games like Risk tend to have a bad rap in our playgroup, but does that make the mechanic problematic? Many players love area control and seek out games like Heroes of Land, Sea, and Air, Twilight Struggle and Scythe. Join Meeple Nation as we discuss those games as well as Area Control games like El Grande.

Other games discussed:

  • Spirit Island
  • Terra Mystica
  • Carolus Magnus
  • Attika
  • Carcassonne
  • Tyrants of the Underdark
  • Bunny Kingdom
Direct download: MN0256_Area_Control_and_Area_Influence.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

Join the Meeple Nation with your hosts Nathan and Ryan as they discuss the board game news for February 2019. Will every property release a roll & write version? Will Nathan buy all the kickstarters? Only one way to find out...

We discuss:

 

  • The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-earth
  • Chronicles of Crime: Noir/Welcome to Redview
  • Gloomhaven: Forgotten Circles
  • Tuki from Next Move Games
  • Imperial Settlers: Roll & Write
  • Dracula’s Feast: New Blood
  • Aftershock
  • Valor and Villainy

 

 

Direct download: MN0255_February_News_2019.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

Join Meeple Nation with your hosts Ryan, Nathan, and guest host Logan as we discuss Big Trouble in Little China The Board Game. Big Trouble is Nathan's all time favorite movie, so the game has a lot to live up to. Will Nathan ever choose a different character than Jack Burton? Will he stop quoting the movie long enough to take his turn?  Only one way to find out? I'm a reasonable guy. But, I've just experienced some very unreasonable things.

Direct download: MN0254_Big_Trouble_in_Little_China.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

This week we continue our discussion of press-your-luck in games as we talk card flips in Dead Man's Draw, gear dice selection and dice rolling in Formula D, and progressing deeper and pushing clank in the game Clank!

Direct download: MN_0253_Pressing_Luck_with_Dead_Mans_Draw_Formula_D_and_Clank.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

This week we review the press-your-luck game, winner of the 2018 Kennerspiel des Jahres, Quacks of Quedlinburg

Direct download: MN_0252_Quacks_of_Quedlinburg.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

Just flip one more card or roll the dice on more time, right? This week we are talking press your luck games such as Quacks of Quedlingburg, Dead Man's Draw, Incan Gold, or Deep Sea Adventure.

Direct download: MN0251_Press_Your_Luck_Games.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:07pm MDT

Join us as we talk about gaming goals, what we accomplished and what we didn't. We celebrate Nathan's fantastic gaming year.

We also talk news including

  • New Frontiers
  • The City
  • Suburbia Collectors Edition
  • Clank Legacy: Acquisitions Incorportated
  • Proving Grounds
  • ...More
Direct download: MN0250_Gaming_News_and_Gaming_Goals.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 10:03pm MDT

We dip into the mailbag and answer a few questions from listeners, starting with the question of Time Travel in board games.

Direct download: MN_0249_Time_Travel_In_Games_and_More_Questions_Answered.mp3
Category:BoardGame -- posted at: 2:00am MDT

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