This week we discuss board games with a horror theme that would make for an excellent time at your next Halloween party. The games discussed range from King Of Tokyo and Betrayal at House on the Hill to Gloom and Mansions of Madness to Midnight Party and Ghosts!.

Ryan details his dream Halloween Party including plans to play Mysterium in costume, with atmospheric candles, playing up the seance. Apparently, Brent and Nathan aren't getting an invite.

These are the games we discussed. Let us know your favorite Halloween Game!

Tile Placement games are a little too prolific to cover in a single cast, so we limited the games we cover to tile placement games where you are connecting lines from tile to tile. The games discussed include Street Car, Metro, Tongiaki, Fresh Fish, Tsuro and Tsuro of the Seas. 

Ninja Ghosts and Killer Plants of Cthulhu don't measure up to the Alien Shapeshifters who took home the prize. We discuss Smash Up by Paul Peterson. In Smash Up, you combine two factions into one deck and compete for the majority at several locations that offer victory points for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in power when the total power reached the locations breaking point. This game, and the rulebook, offer plenty of humor, great art, and a sense of discovery as you learn how your two factions interact, create synergy and win points. In addition to the base game, we cover the expansions Awesome Level 9000, The Obligatory Cthulhu set, and Science Fiction Double Feature. 

We discuss Specter Ops by Emerson Matsuuchi and Plaid Hat Games. In this deduction game, you play as Hunters guarding a secret base or as the Agent sent in to discover the secrets. The Agent tracks her moves in secret and the other players try to locate and kill the agent using unique player powers and a cool car. This is similar the Scotland Yard in game play, but in a nifty scifi universe. 

This week we talk Party Games. First we speculate on what defines a party game. Honestly, who knows? Should it play more than 6? Should it involve teams? Should it be 'light'? Then we talk about our favorite party games, why they count, and why we find them outstanding. We talk Codenames, Spyfall, Times Up!, Ca$h 'n Guns, Wits & Wagers, Liar's Dice, Game of Things, and Two Rooms and a Boom!

We talk with Avonelle Wing from Double Exposure about the services they provide for Game Companies, Stores, Conventions, volunteers, and gamers. We encountered the Envoy heralds at SaltCon where they taught players new games at the con, including games in the Play-to-win program.

This week we talk about Viceroy, which is designed by Yuri Zhuravlev and produced by Mayday Games and Hobby World. Viceroy is a board game of bidding and resource management set in the world ofBerserk, a Russian collectible card game.

This week we revisit the Pathfinder Adventure Card Game. We are joined by our friend, Dennis Holliday, and we talk about the second and third base games, Skull and Shackles & Wrath of the Righteous.

Pathfinder Adventure Card Game is a cooperative game

Ages: 13 and up

Players: 1-4 (up to 6 with expansion)

Time: 60-90 minutes

Publisher: Paizo Publishing

Designers: Chad Brown, Mike Selinker, Tanis O'Connor, Paul Peterson, Liz Spain, Gabby Weidling

We previously reviewed the base set in 2014 on our fourth podcast, http://meeplenation.com/podcast/mn-podcast-0004-pathfinder-adventure-card-game-rise-of-the-runelords/

This episode we review:

Betrayal at House on the Hill

Publisher: Avalon Hill

Year Published: 2004

Edition: 2nd

Designer: Bruce Glassco

Ages: 12+

Time: 60 minutes

Player Count: 3-6

In this episode we talk about games we have already reviewed and the expansions we hope to see soon. We also talk about new games we anticipate. We cover

• Star Wars: Imperial Assault and the Twin Shadows expansion
• Pathfinder Adventure Card Game
• Dark Moon
• Firefly and the new ships and new expansion, Kalidasa
• Ghostbusters
• Seafall
• Dark Moon

This week we review Castles of Mad King Luwdig.

Designer: Ted Alspach

Publisher: Bezier Games

Time: 30-90 minutes

Ages: 13+

Colt Express is a program movement game for 2-6 players that plays in 40 minutes, ages 10 and up. It is played on a three dimensional train, as players take the roles of competing bandits, trying to get the best haul without encountering the sheriff.

This week we talk about the game Werewolf, originally designed as Mafia as part of a psychology experiment. We focus our talks on Ultimate Werewolf, a set of cards from Bezier Games.

This episode we review Star Wars: Imperial Assault, a game based on Fantasy Flight's Descent series of games.

Released in 2014

Players: 2-5

Time: 60-150 minutes

Ages: 14 and up

This game can be played as a two player head to head skirmish or with one player controlling the imperial side while 1-4 players control 2-4 heroes as they try to complete objectives and level up their characters.

What is theme? What is narration? Do they compete with each other? We discuss Theme and Narration and a few games as we explore this topic.

Games include:

Dominion

Dixit

Mysterium

Duel of Ages

Legendary Encounters

Upper Deck

Ages 17 and up

Around 60 minutes

1-5 players

Ben Hillyard of Daedalus speaks with us at SaltCON 2015

Daedalus makes inserts designed to quickly start games. These inserts store the game in the original box but can be pulled out and opened to set up the game. http://daedalusproductionsinc.com

Some of the games they have built these inserts for are

• Merchants of Venus
• Dead of Winter
• Eclipse
• Small World
• Marvel/DC/Dungeons and Dragons, etc Dicemasters
• Robinson Crusoe
• Cosmic Encounters
• Caverna
• Le Havre

You can use their Design It tab to request inserts for your favorite games.

We discuss

• Meteor
• Get Bit!
• Garbage Day
• Chopsticks Megadexterity 3000
• Click Clack Lumberjack
• Mayday Sleeves 
• Mayday Sleeve Bundles

Visit www.maydaygames.com

In this episode we speak with new designer and game company owner, John Ogilvie, about his games Bejinx and Skwozen. Bejinx is a game add-on that enhances most any game, adding a little bit more chaos and another level of game.

Skwozen is a card set which takes a traditional set of playing cards and adds eight symbols to each of the square cards. Rules exist for many popular public domain games.

On May the 4th we sat down and recorded this Star Wars specific podcast, reminisced about the movies, the good the bad, the Gungans, and then talked about Gaming in the Star Wars Universe. We talk about the following games:

• Star Wars Trivial Pursuit
• Decipher's Star Trek CCG
• Star Wars LCG
• Queen's Gambit
• Star Wars: Epic Duels
• West End Games' Star Wars Role Playing Game
• Star Wars: X-Wing
• Star Wars: Imperial Assault

This episode we speak with Blake and Curtis, designers of the block stacking game, Kubeni.

This game can be played with 2-8 players. Each set contains 20 blocks a custom die, a timer, and a set of cards. Playtime is 10 minutes or less per player.

www.kubeni.com

Deus was designed by Sébastien Dujardin. It looks like it scales well from 2-4 players in 45-60 minutes. Ages 14 and up. Some direct interaction as players compete to expand across a hex based map.

Seth Jaffee is a game designer and developer best known for the game Eminent Domain. In this episode he discusses the game and the upcoming Exotica expansion. Eminent Domain is for 2-4 players (up to five with the Escalation expansion) in 45-60 minutes.

You can find Seth at http://sedjtroll.blogspot.com

Star Realms is a game for 2 player. It plays in 20 minutes. Ages 12 and up.

Designed by Rob Dougherty and Darwin Kastle.

In this episode we discuss Gamer Snobbery, terms such as Eurogame and Ameritrash, and why Brent doesn't like the term Filler.

We also do a third of the way review of our 2015 gaming goals. How are you doing with yours?

Michael Coe of Gamelyn Games talks about his three Tiny Epic Games:

• Tiny Epic Kingdoms
• Tiny Epic Defenders
• Tiny Epic Galaxies

Machi Koro is a card and dice game from IDW and Pandasaurus Games for 2-4 players in 30 minutes. Ages 8 and up.

The Harbor expansion adds a 5th player but can extend the game past an hour.

SaltCON 2015 took place in Layton Utah on March 12-14, 2015.

Next year the convention will be March 3-5, 2016 at the same location. 

Visit their website at http://saltcon.com

In our first episode from SaltCON 2015 we talk with Rick and Joanne Soued about their history, creation of Funagain Games, aquisition of Eagle Games, and creation of Gryphon Games.

Rick spends much of the interview telling us about many of the current games available through their company including Tumblin-Dice, Through the Ages, Baseball Highlights 2045, and many  more.

We greatly enjoyed the time we spent with Rick and Joanne and hope to spend more time playing Eagle-Gryphon Games.

In this episode we introduce the SaltCON interviews which we plan to release across the next six or seven weeks. Some weeks we will release two episodes.

We are saddened to report that the podcast recorded live during the Saturday panel was lost.

We discuss the games we played at SaltCON including Deus, Colt Express, Witness,  Baseball Highlights 2045, Ultimate Werewolf, and Two Rooms and a Boom.

We talk about future releases Orphan Black Card Game, Abyss Expansion - Black Pearl, Legendary Encounters: Predator, Seafall, and Pandemic Legacy.

Finally we report our contest results. Thanks to Mayday Games for their support of Meeple Nation!

This week we review the 2009 release Thunderstone, and what is considered by many to be its improvement, the 2012 released Thunderstone Advance. This game is for 2-5 players ages 12 and up, in about 60 minutes, which might include setup. There are solo rules in some of the rulebooks.

We focus a bit on the Thunderstone Advance: Numanera set, which is based in the Numanera world created by Monte Cook.

Let us know what you think!

Beowulf the Legend was released in 2005 for 2-5 players (the more the better). It plays in an hours and was designed by Reiner Knizia.

Join Beowulf as he embarks on his epic journey to defeat Grendel, the Sea Hag and the Dragon. Work to aquire the most fame so that you can become Beowulf's successor.

This episode we talk about seven pirate games (in addition to bringing up Corsari again). 

We start out with a short mention of Ghostbusters the Board Game and Cuao. Then we dive into these seven pirate games:

• Meuterer
• Pirate Flux
• Get Bit!
• Walk the Plank
• Hold Your Breath
• Dead Man's Draw
• Loot

Finally, a contest from our friends at Mayday Games. Visit our Facebook Page or listen to the podcast for more details.

This week we are releasing a second episode, an interview with Chris Urinko of Daft Concepts, makers of board game accessories. We talk about kickstarter, their current project, Custom Miniatures and Tokens for your RPG and Tabletop Games.

Chris also talks about his experience with the Board Game Designer Guild of Utah and gives advice to new Board Game Designers. He codesigned the game, Hold Your Breath.

Kickstarter Project: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/732415737/laser-etched-miniatures-for-table-top-games-and-rp

Website: http://daftconcepts.com

Email: info@daftconcepts.com

Twitter: @battlejack, @daftconcepts

During this month of love (February 2015) we turn our hearts to two-player games. We discuss

• Battle Line
• Balloon Cup (now Pinata)
• Lost Cities
• Medici vs Strozzi
• GIPF
• TAMSK
• Tally Ho

Nathan also laments his inability to keep up with Living Card Games and figure based games such as X-Wings.

We also discuss three games that at least one of us (Ryan) considers best with 2, even if they play more. 

• Attika
• Scrabble
• Carcassonne

Kingsport Festival is steeped in art and lore from the Cthulhu Mythos. In the game you summon one or more of the Outer Gods or their minions in order to increase in Evil, Death or Destruction. The game is similar to Kingsburg but offers unique play.

The game is for 2-5 players in about 60-75 minutes. Ages 13 and up.

An interview with Michael Mindes of Tasty Minstrel Games.

In this episode we discuss the Roll for the Galaxy game, for 2-5 players in 45 minutes or less.

Fun for all!

This week we hear a report from Brent on BryceCon 2015, gaming convention with family, and food. We briefly discuss Castles of Mad King Ludwig, Timeline, Dead Man's Draw, Coconuts and Roll for the Galaxy.

After this report Brent talks with Rob Hicks of Midnight Campaign. Then he interviews Gail and Gary Tanner, founders of BryceCon.

In this episode we have a bit of feedback, discuss Splendor again for a few minutes (they fixed the colorblind issue), and then dive into the six racing games we discuss this episode: Hare and Tortoise, Roborally, Fearsome Floors, Cartagena, Formula De, and Snow Tails.

This is a hot release from late 2014 where 2-5 players work together to complete a common goal and each player works on an individual goal. But is one of you a Betrayer?

Recommended by all three hosts.

In this episode we review Brent's 2014 gaming goals:

1. Play 40 games 10 times

2. Play Twilight Imperium with Brian

3. Play Monopoly

4. Play More Games with my Kids

We then discuss the benefits of playing a game multiple times.

Then we dive into our 2015 gaming goals

Brent

1. Play Dominion at least 43 times.

2. Play Games at least 25 times with my kids.

3. Attend 3 game conventions/trade shows.

4. Make 12 videos - likely games played at least 10 times.

5. Play 10 games 10 times.

6. Significantly organize at least five games with better inserts and getting started sheets.

Nathan

1. Play Starfarers of Catan at least once.

2. Play at least 40 games with my kids.

3. Play 10 new games with my family.

4. Play 10 games 10 times.

5. Play 20 new games this year.

6. Play 20 games within my collection that I haven't played for at least a year.

Ryan

1. Play Hanabi and get a perfect score.

2. Find Accessible Games I can play with my blind daughter and my other kids.

3. Thrift 10 gems (games I want to add to my collection).

4. Travel 10 times this year to my friends house to play games.

At the request of a listener we play and review Shogun by Dirk Henn. This game is for 3-5 players and will take 2-3 hours to play. It is a game of conflict in order to determine who will gain the title of Shogun.

Space Alert by Vlaada Chavatl. Fun for 1-5 players, 12 and up, in about 30 minutes.

Highly recommended.

There is no ! in the title.

We discuss over twenty-five games as we review our Feeback and contest entries, then we randomly pick our two contest winners.

Games we discuss: Star Realms, Pathfinder Adventure Card Game, Dominion, Colt Express, Twilight Imperium, Agricola, Caverna and many more! 

We used the wrong cable on our microphone so audio suffers a bit this episode. We apologize. The next episodes will not have this problem.

We talk about close to a dozen games that you should consider if you are planning to give a boardgame as a gift this season.

Here is the list in the order we present them:

• Lords of Waterdeep
• King of New York or King of Tokyo
• Forbidden Island or Forbidden Desert or Pandemic: The Cure
• Survive!
• Transamerica
• Times Up! Title Recall
• Wits & Wagers
• Incan Gold
• Love Letter in its many forms
• Hanabi

This episode we talk about many dexterity games and launch a contest where you can win one of two copies of Toc Toc Woodman. Listen to the podcast for details!

This week we review Abyss, a 2-4 player game by Bruno Cathala and Charles Chevallier. Ages 14 and up, 45-60 minutes. The artwork, by Xavier Collette, is simply stunning. Highly recommended by two of the three reviewers.

This week we are speaking with 15 different gamers (and game company representatives) at the International Games Day held at Weber State University on 8 November 2014. We recorded the interviews amongst the gamers so there is a bit of background noise. 

This week we discuss Expansions, both what we love and their darker sides. We explore Carcassonne expansions from our past as an example.

We then each list 7 boardgame expansions or sequels that we are anticipating.

Bring Out Yer Dead plays in 40 minutes for 2-5 players, ages 12 and up, the first game from Ginger Ale Games. We review the game and talk about the game industry with Max.

The Kickstarter runs through November 26, 2014 at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/808648996/bring-out-yer-dead

Guildhall and Guildhall: Job Fair by AEG and numerous other language publishers.

2-4 players, 45 minutes, ages 10 and up

2-6 players, 30-45 minutes, ages 8 and up.

Like us on Facebook at http://facebook.com/meeplenation

We review five games, each in about five minutes. The first two are card games with only sixteen cards. Love Letter by Seiji Kanai and Lost Legacy: The Starship by Seiji Kanai and Hayato Kisaragi.

The last three games are push your luck. Zombie Dice by Steve Jackson and Martian Dice by Scott Almes. Lastly, the best game of them all, Can't Stop by Sid Sackson.

This week we respond to listener feedback and discuss our favorite worker placement games.

One question we responded to was "Who are the significant female board game designers?" Here are a few geeklists from boardgamegeek.com

http://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/56208/women-game-designers

http://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/33115/good-games-designed-women

Don't forget to like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/meeplenation

Fleet, released in 2014

2-4 players ages 10 and up, 1-4 with the expansion, and 1-6 with additional promo cards. Plays in 30-45 minutes.

This week we discuss the new dice game, King's Forge, for 2-4 players in about an hour. 13+ on the player's age due to the need to read a decent amount of text.

This week we discuss the collectible dice game, Marvel Dice Masters: Avengers vs. X-Men released by Wiz-Kids for 2 players.

This game involves many different heros and villains from the Marvel Universe including the Avengers from the movie and many well known, X-Men.

We answer listener feedback and talk about our favorite mechanics. We spend a large amount of time loving and hating on Battlestar Galactica.  

This week we discuss Madi's six favorite games.

3-7 players out of the box, 2-8 with the expansions.  45-60 minutes, ages 10 and up.

Our second Firefly episode.  This one about the expansions and promos.

This week we discuss Splendor, the 2014 Spiel des Jahres nominee by Marc Andre and Space Cowboys.  For 2-4 players in 30 minutes.  It is a great board game enjoyed by all three hosts.

Ryan, Nathan and Brent answer two listener questions, talk about recently played games, Fleet, Splendor, and Monopoly.  The we discuss our four favorite designers, and their board games.

Firefly the Game by Gale Force 9.  Playable out of the box by 1-4 players but expandable up to 7.  Approximately 120 minutes with around 15 setup.

In this episode we discuss Carolus Magnus designed by Leo Colovini and published by Venice Connection and Rio Grande Games.  This board game plays in less than an hour for 2-4 players.  Each player count plays differently but all are enjoyable.  This game is for more intense gamers.

We refer to the region tiles as city tiles, regions, and territories. These are all the same.

We talk about the card games Mamma Mia!, Sole Mio!, Coloretto, Bohnanza, Corsari, Guillotine, and Rage!

Visit us on FB at http://facebook.com/meeplenation

Twitter: @meeplenation

Website: http://meeplenation.com

We discuss Galaxy Trucker Anniversary Edition, a game for 2-5 players by Vlaada Chvatil and published by Czech Games Edition

Today we discuss the games that brought us together. It all started with the Star Wars Collectable Card Game by Decipher but didn't stop there. We talk of Magic the Gathering, Scrabble, Settlers of Catan, Attika, Solarquest, Mastermind, and Chess, among other board games.

Brent, Nathan, and Ryan discuss the Pathfinder Adventure Card Game including theme, gameplay, and fun.

Nathan, Ryan and Brent discuss Shadows Over Camelot, a game by Serge Laget and Bruno Cathala and published by Days of Wonder.

Ryan, Brent and Nathan discuss Legendary: A Marvel Deck Building Game.  Theme, gameplay and art are all discussed.

Ryan, Brent and Nathan discuss Coup by Rikki Tahta and published by Indie Boards & Cards.  We discuss game play and theme and give you information that should help you determine if this meets your boardgame tastes.