Episode 589: Player Elimination Games

Episode release date is July 30, 2025

Show Notes

This week we are discussing Player Elimination Games. This is not a mechanic we all love, but we have a surprising amount of player elimination games.

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• Zombicide: White Death

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• Nathan

• Mythicals

The Player Elimination mechanic is one where one or more players are removed from the game before it officially ends. This can happen with two players or 16. When a player is eliminated, they typically can no longer take actions, score points, or influence the outcome, and must simply observe the rest of the game unfold.

This mechanic can create tension and urgency, as players try to avoid being eliminated and race to stay in the game. However, it can also lead to long periods of downtime for eliminated players. So lets turn to the game table and see who gets eliminated.

Player Elimination Games

• Gloomhaven Jaws of the Lion

• Clank!: A Deck-Building Adventure Game

• Clank! In! Space!: A Deck-Building Adventure

• Clank! Catacombs

• Clank! Legacy: Acquisitions Incorporated

• Nemesis

• Nemesis: Lockdown

• Shadows over Camelot

• Battlestar Galactica

• Arkham Horror: The Card Game 

• Magic: The Gathering

• Star Wars: Customizable Card Game

• Star Trek: Customizable Card Game

• Overpower

• Star Wars: X-Wing Miniatures Game

• Star Wars: X-Wing (Second Edition)

• Star Wars: Miniatures

• Memoir ‘44

• Twilight Imperium: Third Edition

• Mythic Battles: Pantheon  

• The Castles of Burgandy

• Merchants of the Dark Road

• Cyclades: Legendary Edition

• Lords of Waterdeep

• Legendary Encounters: An Alien Deck Building Game

• Tiny Towns

• Ankh: Gods of Egypt

• Skull

• Feed the Kraken

• Risk Legacy

• Betrayal Legacy

• Betrayal At House on a Hill

Episode 588: Pick-up and Delivery Games

Episode release date is July 23, 2025

Show Notes

This week we complete our discussion of Pick up and Delivery games. So, we are going to line up a bunch of games and choose some to discuss.

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• Web Page

• Links to Episodes

• SaltPOD: A SaltCON Podcast

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• Email us at MeepleNation@gmail.com

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Meeple Nation Gaming Highlights (Highlight-Thirty)

• Nathan

• Gonza index

• Solar 175

• Douglas

• Marvel Zombies (X-Men)

• Andy

• Architects of the West Kingdom

Top Pickup and Delivery Games on BGG

• Clank! Legacy: Acquisitions Incorporated

• Pandemic Legacy: Season 2

• Darwin’s Journey

• Final Girl 

• Age of Steam

• Istanbul

• Xia: Legends of a Drift System

• Star Wars: Outer Rim 

• Railways of the World

• Horrified

• Western Legends 

• Steam

• The Witcher: Old World

• Istanbul: Big Box

• Indonesia

• Merchants and Marauders

• Firefly: The Game

• Flash Point Fire Rescue

• Bus

• Macao

• Black Orchestra

• Forbidden Desert

• Mansions of Madness

• Freedom: The Underground Railroad

• In the Hall of the Mountain King

• Broom Service

• Roads and Boats

• High Frontier 4 All

• The Oracle of Delphi

• Railways of Europe

• Coal Baron

• Leaving Earth

• Century: Golem Edition - Eastern Mountains

• Stationfall

• My Little Scythe

• Deep Sea Adventure

• Vast: The Crystal Caverns

• Evacuation

• Panamax

• Clinic: Deluxe Edition

• Imperial Steam

• Lords of Xidit

• Forbidden Island

• Container

• Akrotiri

• Horrified: American Monsters

• Genoa

• Merchants of the Dark Road

• Wasteland Express Delivery Service

• Flick ‘em Up!

• Container: 10th Anniversary Jumbo Edition

• Empires of the Void II

• Explores of the Empires of the Void II | Board Game | BoardGameGeekNorth Sea

• Wiz War

• Black Fleet

• Ghost Fightin’ Treasure Hunters

• Islebound

• Cafe

• Via Nebula

• Merchant of Venus (Second Edition)

• Zombie Teenz Evolution

• Fortune and Glory: The Cliffhanger Game

• Dead Men Tell no Tales

• Tiny Epic Zombies

• Maglev Metro

• Maximum Apocalypse

• Hansa

• Whistle Stop

• Santiago de Cuba

• Ahoy

• Yukon Airways

• Thunderbirds

• Merchant of Venus

• Aftermath

• Fire and Axe: A Viking Saga

• Fireball Island: The Curse of Vul-Kar

• Merkator

• Solenia

• Curious Cargo

• Ride the Rails

• Empire Builder

• Alien: Fate of the Nostromo

• Pirates Cove

• Giants

• Himalaya

• Nuns on the Run

Episode 586: Pickup and Delivery Games

Episode release date is July 9, 2025

Show Notes

This week we kick off our discussion of pickup and deliver games. So, we are going to line up a bunch of games and choose some to discuss.

Intro of Meeple Nation The World's Most Okayest Podcast

• Web Page

  • Become a Chanameeple

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• SaltPOD: A SaltCON Podcast

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• Email us at MeepleNation@gmail.com

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Meeple Nation Gaming Highlights (Highlight-Thirty)

• Nathan

Sequoia

• Sequoia is a quick, light dice-rolling and area majority game where players compete to grow the tallest trees in 11 different "forests."

• Objective: Have the tallest tree (most tree tokens) in as many forests as possible to score victory points.

• Over 10 turns, all players simultaneously roll five dice. They then secretly form two pairs from four of those dice (leaving one die unused). The sum of each pair determines which "forest" (numbered 2-12) they can place a tree token in.

• Strategy: You have to decide whether to focus on a few forests to dominate them, or spread your efforts to secure second-place consolation prizes.

• After 10 turns, the player with the most trees in a forest gets the first-place points, and the second-place player gets a smaller consolation prize. Ties are resolved with special tie-breaker rounds.

• Quick and Portable: Sequoia is known for its fast gameplay (around 10-15 minutes) and small box size, making it easy to bring to game nights.

Switchback

• Switchback is a quick and engaging tile-laying board game where players are trying to create the longest continuous paths of numbers (representing hiking trails up a mountain).

• Score the most points by having your "hikers" on tiles that form continuous numerical sequences of four or more tiles.

• Players take turns placing a tile from their hand onto the board. After placing a tile, they either place one of their hikers on that tile, or "buddy up" two of their hikers for a future double move.

• You'll constantly be making choices like:

• Where to place your tile to extend your own paths or block opponents.

• When to place a hiker versus buddying them up for a better placement later.

• Whether to join an opponent's path to share points or create your own.

• At the end of the game (when all tiles are placed), only hikers on paths of four or more consecutive numbers score points.

• Simple rules but tough decisions, all with a quick playtime (10-20 minutes).

• Douglas

• Tiny Epic Cthulhu

This week we are kicking off our discussion of pickup and delivery games. The "Pick-up and Delivery" (P&D) mechanic in board games is a core gameplay loop where players acquire specific items or units from one location on the game board and then transport them to another designated location to complete an objective or earn points. It's a fundamental concept that simulates logistics, trade, and transportation challenges within a game's theme.

Here's a breakdown of its characteristics and how it's used:

Core Characteristics of Pick-up and Delivery:

1. Goods/Passengers/Resources: There's always something to be picked up.

2. Pick-up Locations (Sources): Designated spots on the board where the goods originate. These can be:

   • Fixed locations: Factories, farms, cities, ports.

   • Player-controlled locations: A player's own production buildings.

   • Dynamically generated: Cards drawn that specify a pick-up point.

3. Delivery Locations (Destinations): Designated spots where the goods need to be dropped off. 

4. Movement/Transportation: Players use their game pieces (vehicles, ships, trains, pawns representing workers) to move from the pick-up location to the delivery location. This often involves:

   • Movement costs: Spending actions, money, or specific movement points.

   • Route planning: Deciding the most efficient or strategic path.

   • Obstacles/Competition: Other players, terrain, or events that impede movement or make certain routes less desirable.

5. Capacity Limits: Players usually have a limited capacity for how many items they can carry at once, forcing strategic decisions about what to pick up and when.

6. Reward/Completion: Successfully delivering an item typically grants:

   • Victory points: The most common form of reward.

   • Money or resources: To fund further actions.

   • Unlocking new abilities: Access to new routes or upgrades.

   • Advancing on a track: Progressing towards an endgame condition.

The P&D mechanic is incredibly versatile and appears in many genres:

1. Logistics and Trade Games:

   • Theme: Often about managing a transportation network or economy.

2. Economic Games:

   • Theme: Focus on resource management, production, and supply chains.

3. Adventure and Quest Games:

   • Theme: Characters embarking on journeys, completing tasks, or rescuing individuals.

4. Worker Placement Games (often integrated):

   • Theme: Players assigning workers to perform actions.

Overall, the Pick-up and Delivery mechanic adds a layer of logistical challenge and strategic depth to board games, forcing players to think about movement, resource management, and timing to achieve their objectives.

Pickup and Delivery Games

• Dead Men Tell No Tales

• Space Dealer

• Century: Golem Edition - Eastern Mountains

• Escape Zombie City

• Forbidden Desert

• Maglev Metro

• The Witcher: Old World

• Pirates Cove

• Waste Knights: Second Edition

• Evacuation

• Pandemic Legacy Season 2

Episode 585: Meeple Nation July 2025 News 

Show Notes 

Episode release date is July 2, 2025

It is time again for our news episode. We will be talking about some gaming highlights, new games, new game announcements, and we may even manage to get to some crowdfunding games too. 

Come join us at the game table.

Sponsorship

• Game Toppers 

• SaltCON

Intro of Meeple Nation The World’s Okayest Podcast.

• Web Page

• Links to Episodes

• SaltPOD: A SaltCON Podcast

• Bios

• Email us at MeepleNation@gmail.com

• Patreon

• Instagram @meeplenation

• Facebook Meeple Nation

• Facebook Group Meeple Nation Off Air

• X Meeple Nation

• Discord Meeple Nation

• Come watch us on YouTube

•  

Meeple Nation Gaming Highlights

• Nathan

• Games with Dianne

• Azul

• Lucky Numbers

• Tsuro

• Douglas

• Azul Duel

• Dorfromantik

• Dorfromantik Duel

• Res Arcana Duo 

This episode as with all of our news episodes is broken into three sections. New Game releases: games that can now be found in the wild, new game acquisitions, and games we are eager to try. Game announcements: This is a list of games that are fulfilling maybe and have not yet reached the store shelves, unless it is a CMON game then it is on the game shelf and backers are waiting disgruntled. New game announcements also include games that are in late production and will be released at a future time. Crowdfunding is games that have piqued our interest and maybe have even been backed by us. So with that, let's turn to the table and see what games we are talking about today.

New Game Releases

• Wondrous Creatures

• DC Forever

• The Anarchy

• Marvel Champions: Falcon

• Marvel Champions: Winter Soldier

•  https://arkhamdb.com/

• https://marvelcdb.com/

• https://ringsdb.com/ 

New Game Announcements

• Clank!: Catacombs - Underworld

• Point Galaxy

• Fortunes of Scoundrel Bay

• Gwent: The Legendary Card Game

• Azure

• Wispwood

• Wroth

• Recall

Crowdfunding Games

• Kickstarter

• Endeavor Deep Sea: Uncharted Waters

• Gamefound

• Lord of the Rings: The Confrontation

SaltPOD 0006, Summer 2025
Release date: June 30, 2025

Welcome gamers! If you are a board gamer, a social gamer, or someone who loves RPGs, SaltCON is a place for you.

Welcome back to SaltPOD, your dedicated deep dive into the vibrant world of SaltCon and the incredible community that makes it tick! If you're new here, SaltPOD is your backstage pass, your insider scoop, your direct line to all things SaltCON. SaltCON – the biggest and best tabletop gaming convention in the Mountain West! We're here to explore the amazing games, the fantastic people, and the unforgettable experiences that make SaltCon a must-attend event year after year. Get ready to level up your excitement!"

This episode we are reviewing all the great things that happened at SaltCON Summer which happened June 6th through the 8th at the Davis Conference Center, in Layton City.

The first Summer event is the smallest of the events that happen at the Davis Conference Center, but that does not mean there is a shortage of events and fun to be had. This was still three days that were packed full of RPG events, Board Game events, Social gaming events, and even a tournament or two to be played in. So sit back and let’s dig in. We have a lot to talk about.

Vendor Hall
Some very cool stuff for gaming drinks, games, and gaming accessories.

• https://www.facebook.com/diethuludimension/

• https://www.etsy.com/shop/DiceChaos/

• https://wyvernwarfare.com/

• https://www.facebook.com/Fictionmobile/

• https://binarycocoa.com/

• https://aalazersquirrel.com/

• https://www.4xpgaming.com/

Hot Games:

• Andromeda’s Edge

• Cat Blues: The Big Gig

• Creature Caravan

• Critter Kitchen

• Finspan

• House of Fado

• SETI: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

• Slay the Spire: The Board Game

Play to Win Games 

• I played a handful of games from this game on the shelves, there were around 30 games that were there to try out and to get a chance to win them. Even if you just wanted to review the rules and enter to win the game that is an option, but this is a great way to try a game and see if you want to have a chance to win them.

• https://saltcon.com/summer-play-to-win/

Gaming library

• A huge game library with over 2500 games to check out and play.

• Classic games, and new games alike.

There were 278 different events the attendees could sign up for. 
178 Total RPG events.

• 85 RPG events

• 26 Pathfinder events

• 67 Dungeons and Dragons Adventurers League events

  • Pathfinder Society: Salt of the Ocean Multi Table Event

    • In the Eye of Abendego, the storm has receded just enough to reveal two particularly interesting new sites: one is a wrecked Pathfinder ship and the other an ancient island associated with prophesiers and demons. With some help from an old pirate friend, the Pathfinders are kitted up in order to investigate these two new occurrences, however it seems like she wasn't the only pirate with her eyes on these strange new prizes. The Society will have to face the dangers of sea and storm as they sail to their goal, hoping to beat their rivals to the hidden secrets!

• This event was played with multiple tables running simultaneously, at multiple level tiers. The Pathfinder Society came out victorious!

• D&D Adventurers League: Hold Back the Dead Multi Table Event

• The Adventurer's League had some close calls, and not everyone made it out alive this time... but the dead have been vanquished. For now. 

• Hold Back the Dead is a multi-table Dungeons & Dragons adventure where heroes must defend a stronghold under siege by an overwhelming undead force. As the tide of the dead rises, players work together across tables to uncover the source of the invasion and prevent an ancient evil from breaking through. Designed for epic coordination and tense decisions, it blends horror, heroism, and high-stakes combat in a dynamic battlefield setting.

• Playtests for new RPG systems were available at SaltCON Summer with the highlights being 

• Untold RPG and 

• Nephilim the Forsaken, brought in by local game designers. 

• SaltCON End of Summer will have a stronger focus on prototype RPG systems and welcomes game developers to join the SaltCON GameMasters Guild on Discord or Facebook to learn more about bringing their systems to the convention.

• Total sessions run: 175

• Other popular games included Cyberpunk Red, Shadowdark, Call of Cthulhu, Shadowrun, Vampire the Masquerade, The Electric State, BESM, Nimble 2, Dragonbane, DC20, and many more!

Game Swap

Flea Market
Saturday for 2-hours

Tournaments

• Sabacc

Events
Broadway Murder Mystery - Groomed for Murder!

• • This was a big hit and will return for End of Summer with rumor of a second game being added. Grilled to Death

• Nebula: A 4X inspired Big Group Game

• Tichu around with Danny

  • We had about half of the attendees learning Tichu for the first time, it was really cool to see them pick up strategies after each hand! There were many surprising outcomes, including many successful and unsuccessful Tichu calls, hands that looked certain, than turned upside down, and many laughs. Everyone that I spoke to that was learning for the first time was excited to get the game, and play some more!

• Blood on the Clock Tower

  • Nine different event and one how to play event

• Mini Painting Seminar

  • Saturday 1:30

64 total board game events

Board Game Events

• 30 Board Game Events

Meeple Nation events

• 34 Meeple Nation Board Game Events

What a way to start the Summer of Gaming.

So what is next?

• SaltCON End of Summer

  • August 29-31

  • 1000 badges

  • Game library

  • RPG area

    • Tons of RPG events

  • Hot Games

  • No-Ship Math Trade

  • Game swap

    • Open all three days

  • Flea Market

    • Saturday 9-10AM

  • Figure Painting 

    • Saturday 12:30 -3:30PM

  • Vendors

  • Reserved tables

    • Four left

Next Year SaltCON is adding a Sixth Event. One that will have many people very excited. 

SaltCON Cruise August 7-14

Leaving Seattle and cruising up to Alaska and then back to Seattle.

Limited to 100 spots

Gaming Library

Room Block

If you have any questions feel free to email us at MeepleNation@gmail.com. We are always excited to hear about new games and exciting events and great times. And with that we have completed another deep dive into the salty goodness of SaltCon! We hope you're as excited as we are for all the fun and games. Remember, SaltPOD is your ongoing connection to these amazing events. But the board gaming adventure doesn't stop here! If you love in-depth discussions, diverse perspectives, and talking about all things board games, be sure to check out our regular podcast, Meeple Nation! There we have episodes serving up fantastic content week after week. Until next time, keep rolling those dice, and we'll see you at SaltCon!"Thanks for listening.