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As Robert Burns reminds us, "the best laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men gang aft agley." This week, Chris and Laura discuss how Ravensburger's "Labyrinth" provides low cost opportunities to learn this bit of wisdom as shifting walls in a labyrinth upset players' plans to recover treasure. Whether talking about developing emotional regulation, adapting to changing circumstances, or showing how to make simple rule amendments that will keep gaming in the fun zone, they show you how to go over, under, around or through the obstacles that come your way.
Games Mentioned:
Labyrinth - Published by Ravensburger, this treasure hunt game with shifting tiles challenges players to adapt their plans as the way to their goals shifts.
Enchanted Forest - Another excellent Ravensburger game, players' memories are challenged to find fairy tell objects hidden beneath the trees of an enchanted forest.
(As mentioned, there is also the Wood Labyrinth and Jim Henson's Labyrinth: The Board Game, as well as Magic Labyrinth, but none are the subject of this week’s episode)
Did you know we have a YouTube Page? Find it here.
Can't see the links? Podcatcher turning my painstaking labor into plaintext? Come visit the podcast page at https://played.podbean.com/ and get the full experience, complete with all the links in perfect functioning order.
Intro and Outro Music:
"Crunk Knight" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Other Music:
Music from https://filmmusic.io "One-eyed Maestro" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
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Tempura or Maki? Will you grab the Nigiri and hope you can get some Wasabi? Are the chopsticks too hard to use correctly? All good questions when playing Gamewright's pick-and-pass card game, "Sushi Go!". This week Chris and Laura discuss how uncertainty helps develop a sense of probability and strategic thinking, what extra challenges arise in it's expanded version "Sushi Go Party!", and how utterly adorable the various sushi bar treats are.
Games Mentioned:
Sushi Go! and Sushi Go Party! – Fast paced and easy to learn, it's exactly what Gamewright says it is, a pick and pass card game that helps develop strategy and probability skills.
Settlers of Catan – A classic game of building and trading.
Civilization - Avalon Hill's game balancing regional conquest with technological development and trade.
Did you know we have a YouTube Page? Find it here.
Can't see the links? Podcatcher turning my painstaking labor into plaintext? Come visit the podcast page at https://played.podbean.com/ and get the full experience, complete with all the links in perfect functioning order.
Intro and Outro Music:
"Crunk Knight" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Other Music:
Music from https://filmmusic.io "One-eyed Maestro" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
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Some games can easily be placed into the "educational" box. But can a fun, silly game inspired by 1950s B movies have anything to teach? Of course! This week, Laura and Chris discuss "The Awful Green Things From Outer Space." From reconnecting with your own inner child's love of silliness to developing resourcefulness and a willingness to experiment, they show how even the most lighthearted of games offer opportunities for learning.
Games Mentioned:
The Awful Green Things From Outer Space – From it's first appearance in Dragon Magazine, this two-player game pits green, blob-like aliens against a resourceful but dwindling spaceship crew that must use all materials on hand in an attempt to escape.
Books and Movies Mentioned:
The Blob
Star Trek: "The Trouble With Tribbles"
The Day the Earth Stood Still
Apollo 13
Can't see the links? Podcatcher turning my painstaking labor into plaintext? Come visit the podcast page at https://played.podbean.com/ and get the full experience, complete with all the links in perfect functioning order.
Intro and Outro Music:
"Crunk Knight" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Other Music:
Music from https://filmmusic.io "Hall of the Mountain King" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Music from https://filmmusic.io "One-eyed Maestro" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
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This week, the PlayEd Podcast triumphantly returns! We discuss “Fire and Axe: A Viking Saga” by IDW Games, a raiding and trading game where players traverse Europe as Northmen, winning victory points through sacking cities or sitting on sacks (of trade goods). Finding the right balance is part of the fun, but all is subject to chance and the way the wind is blowing.
Games Mentioned:
Fire and Axe: A Viking Saga - By IDW games. A fun 30 to 90 minute game for players 12+
Beowulf - Someday we'll actually play this. Currently out of print but can be found on the secondary market at reasonable prices.
Books Mentioned:
Beowulf - This link goes to the Seamus Heaney translation of the epic poem. It's one of our favorites.
Can't see the links? Podcatcher turning my painstaking labor into plaintext? Come visit the podcast page at https://played.podbean.com/ and get the full experience, complete with all the links in perfect functioning order.
Intro and Outro Music:
"Crunk Knight" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Other Music:
Music from https://filmmusic.io "One-eyed Maestro" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
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Going fast and turning left: racing hasn't changed much in the last 2000 years. But that doesn't mean racing is boring. In this episode, Chris and Laura explore the chaotic fun inherent in the chariot racing game, "Circus Maximus" from Avalon Hill. They discuss ancient Roman life, how games build an intuitive grasp of statistics and probability, and have some book and movie recommendations as well.
Games Mentioned:
Circus Maximus & Gladiator - Both currently out of print, these companion games from Avalon Hill simulate the excitement and chaos of Roman sporting events.
Diplomacy - A game of negotiation and backstabbing as players act the parts of countries prior to World War I.
Sleeping Queens - A strategy card game where players need a little luck and some fast thinking to wake the queens placed under a sleeping spell.
Sushi Go - A pick and pass card game where players accumulate points as they collect sushi dinners.
Outfoxed - A fun, cooperative game that can be played with nearly everyone. Here's a good playthrough video, though there is a small difference in how the Thief Card is presented. It looks like the earlier game used red and green dots, rather than green dots or blank spaces. This is probably an alteration to make the game less confusing for those with red-green color blindness. If you buy a used copy, that may be an issue.
Dragonwood - A card and dice based adventure game, Dragonwood is a fun introduction into the elements of roleplaying and card combat games.
Books and Movies Mentioned:
Ben Hur - The classic epic with its iconic chariot race; also our favorite movie to watch at Easter.
The Roman Mysteries - Flavia Gemina is a young sleuth with devoted friends and penchant for getting into trouble in ancient Rome. "The Charioteer of Delphi" is a great companion novel to read when playing Circus Maximus.
Can't see the links? Podcatcher turning my painstaking labor into plaintext? Come visit the podcast page at https://played.podbean.com/ and get the full experience, complete with all the links in perfect functioning order.
Intro and Outro Music:
"Crunk Knight" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Other Music:
Music from https://filmmusic.io"Super Circus" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Music from https://filmmusic.io"One-eyed Maestro" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
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What game do you play when you've exhausted the possibilities of mystery games like "Clue"? The answer, dear listeners, is elementary. This week, Chris and Laura wrap up their Month of Mystery with "221 B Baker Street", a Sherlock Holmes inspired investigation game which expands on the deductive reasoning genre of games. What adaptations did we do to make it accessible to our younger children? What kind of advanced skills in deduction and inference can be gained? Why is the replayability so high? Join us in the fog of Victorian London and find out!
Games Mentioned:
221B Baker Street - Today's featured game. Link goes to the Deluxe Edition, which offers the most replayability.
Mastermind - A codecracking game that exercises skills of logic and deduction.
Mystery of the Abbey - This whodunnit game set in a medieval monastery blends elements of Clue with card driven events that limit play time and increase strategic challenge. The game page at the Days of Wonder site includes PDFs of the Suspect Sheets and Rules Pages.
Outfoxed - A fun, cooperative game that can be played with nearly everyone. Here's a good playthrough video, though there is a small difference in how the Thief Card is presented. It looks like the earlier game used red and green dots, rather than green dots or blank spaces. This is probably an alteration to make the game less confusing for those with red-green color blindness. If you buy a used copy, that may be an issue.
Clue - This is the current version of the game. Mostly similar to the original, but a magnifying glass option allows players to gain hints.
Books and Movies Mentioned:
Sherlock Holmes - There are many, many Sherlock Holmes stories. Follow the link for a complete collection. I also recommend checking to see if your local library has the Annotated Sherlock Holmes. It's a treasure trove of Easter Eggs and delightful bits of minutia.
Sherlock Holmes: The Complete Granada Television Series - Others may have their favorites, but Jeremy Brett's turn as the Great Detective is still my favorite, and the series is well produced.
Can't see the links? Podcatcher turning my painstaking labor into plaintext? Come visit the podcast page at https://played.podbean.com/ and get the full experience, complete with all the links in perfect functioning order.
Intro and Outro Music:
"Crunk Knight" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Other Music:
Music from https://filmmusic.io"One-eyed Maestro" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
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Brother Adelmo has been found lifeless at the foot of the cliffs of the Templars' Abbey. Did he slip, or was he pushed? And if so, by whom? It's your job, as monks brought in from outside, to investigate the crime while continuing to participate in the regular life of the Abbey.
This week, Laura and Chris continue their Month of Mystery with "Mystery of the Abbey", a medieval whodunnit published by Days of Wonder. Combining the investigation and questioning elements of Clue, while adding in card play that increase the variety of ways in which suspects may be known and players thwarted, this game offers replayability with an engaging medieval set-dressing. But as Chris and Laura discover, the key to discovery lies in how to ask the right questions. Join them as they get distracted by the minutia of monastic life and offer hints on how to increase the fun.
Games Mentioned:
Mystery of the Abbey - This whodunnit game set in a medieval monastery blends elements of Clue with card driven events that limit play time and increase strategic challenge. The game page at the Days of Wonder site includes PDFs of the Suspect Sheets and Rules Pages.
Outfoxed - A fun, cooperative game that can be played with nearly everyone. Here's a good playthrough video, though there is a small difference in how the Thief Card is presented. It looks like the earlier game used red and green dots, rather than green dots or blank spaces. This is probably an alteration to make the game less confusing for those with red-green color blindness. If you buy a used copy, that may be an issue.
Clue - This is the current version of the game. Mostly similar to the original, but a magnifying glass option allows players to gain hints.
Books and Movies Mentioned:
The Chronicles of Brother Cadfael - Ellis Peters' series of mysteries set in a monastery in Shrewsbury, England is one of our favorites.
Cadfael - The televisation of the novels starring Derek Jacobi, these aired on PBS's Mystery! years ago but remain evergreen.
The Door in the Wall - This Newberry Award winning book by Marguerite de Angeli is as engaging today as was when first published in 1949. An excellent tale about 14th century Medieval life with a captivating adventure.
The Name of the Rose - Written by Italian author and literary critic Umberto Eco, this 1980 mystery novel, set in a 14th century Italian monastery is the aesthetic inspiration for the game, and a fascinatingly intellectual mystery in its own right.
Can't see the links? Podcatcher turning my painstaking labor into plaintext? Come visit the podcast page at https://played.podbean.com/ and get the full experience, complete with all the links in perfect functioning order.
Intro and Outro Music:
"Crunk Knight" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Other Music:
Music from https://filmmusic.io"Hall of the Mountain King" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Music from https://filmmusic.io"One-eyed Maestro" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
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A sneaky fox has taken Mrs. Plumpert's prize pot pie. Four chickens must join forces and uncover the clues to identify which fox or vixen made away with the pleasing pastry become the fox returns to its hole.
This week, Laura and Chris continue their Month of Mystery with "Outfoxed", a cooperative whoodnnit game from Gamewright. They discuss the distinctions between spectacles and pince nez, the value of figuring out clues as a team, and why this game really is fun for the whole family. Special guest, Alexander, aged 5, joins us to explain the rules.
Games Mentioned:
Outfoxed - A fun, cooperative game that can be played with nearly everyone. Here's a good playthrough video, though there is a small difference in how the Thief Card is presented. It looks like the earlier game used red and green dots, rather than green dots or blank spaces. This is probably an alteration to make the game less confusing for those with red-green color blindness. If you buy a used copy, that may be an issue.
King of Tokyo - Monsters, robots, and aliens fight to be the King of Tokyo.
Monster Trap - This cute cooperative game has a similar premise, stop the monster before it can get to the farm to steal a sheep, but in this game the players must construct traps to slow the monster on its way to the farm.
Clue - This is the current version of the game. Mostly similar to the original, but a magnifying glass option allows players to gain hints.
Can't see the links? Podcatcher turning my painstaking labor into plaintext? Come visit the podcast page at https://played.podbean.com/ and get the full experience, complete with all the links in perfect functioning order.
Intro and Outro Music:
"Crunk Knight" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Other Music:
Music from https://filmmusic.io"One-eyed Maestro" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
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October is here. Time for falling leaves, pumpkin spice everything, and curling up with a good mystery book. Or better yet, pulling out a mystery game and spending time with family as the days (eventually) become crisp. And what better game to start off this Month of Mystery than the classic board game "Clue"? Chris and Laura discuss the game's history, how deductive reasoning lies at the heart of the game, and provide some suggestions for speeding up the game when it's dragging without damaging the mechanics.
Games Mentioned:
Clue (Retro 1986 Edition) - If you grew up in the 80s or 90s, this is probably the version you played.
Clue Master Dectective - More suspects, more weapons, more rooms. This expanded version of the game increases complexity, but also allows for more players as well. Great for large families or bigger groups.
Clue - This is the current version of the game. Mostly similar to the original, but a magnifying glass option allows players to gain hints.
Clue (2013 Edition with Additional Boardwalk Setting) - This curious version of the game trades out billiard rooms and conservatories for much more pedestrian rooms and a disconcerting arrangement of rectangular tiles off-set on a diagonal. It may be a more modern way to lay flooring, but it make for a dizzying game board. To keep up variety, the board has a second side with an alternate location, a boardwalk, and an extra set of location cards to trade in if you use that setting.
Ancient Civilizations of the Inner Sea VASSAL module - As mentioned a few weeks back, the Vassal module for ACIS is now live.
Magic: The Gathering - link to the new Throne of Eldraine expansion mentioned at the top of the show. Look through the pretty new cards for some fantastic nods to classic fairy tales.
Additional Material:
Clue: The Movie - Tim Curry at his finest. Rated PG. As mentioned in the show, there are oblique references to a number of adult themes, but most are of the sort that will not be caught by children.
Can't see the links? Podcatcher turning my painstaking labor into plaintext? Come visit the podcast page at https://played.podbean.com/ and get the full experience, complete with all the links in perfect functioning order.
Intro and Outro Music:
"Crunk Knight" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Other Music:
Music from https://filmmusic.io"Hall of the Mountain King" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Music from https://filmmusic.io"One-eyed Maestro" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
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This week, Laura and Chris dive into "Outmatched", a fast paced card game designed to help memorize history facts. After a brief overview of the game, we interview Nathan King with the Institute for Excellence in Writing and talk with him about the history and development of the game, it's designer, Dr. James Webster, and what it takes to make memory work not feel like work.
Games Mentioned:
Outmatched Ancient History
Outmatched Medieval History
Be sure to check out the Outmatched Landing Page which includes a video walk through of the game and other helps for playing the game.
Educational Merit and Frantic Fun - an article on Outmatched including an interview with Dr. Webster
Additional Material:
As a special bonus for our listeners, IEW has provided links to the two talks mentioned in the podcast: Nurturing Competent Communicators and Teaching Boys and Other Children Who Would Rather be Making Forts All Day.
What is Classical Conversations?
Linguistic Development Through Poetry Memorization - one of the first courses we got from IEW, and still one of the best.
Ancient History Based Writing Lessons - Another course from IEW. This one builds on their foundational Structure and Style Method and allows students to reinforce facets of history while practicing composition techniques.
History of Ancient Egypt - Wait until it's on sale (The Great Courses rotates which courses they sell at a discount.) This video lecture series on Ancient Egypt was fascinating.
Can't see the links? Podcatcher turning my painstaking labor into plaintext? Come visit the podcast page at https://played.podbean.com/ and get the full experience, complete with all the links in perfect functioning order.
Intro and Outro Music:
"Crunk Knight" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
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This week, we continue our exploration of "Ancient Civilizations of the Inner Sea" with part 2 of our interview with the game designers Christopher Vorder Bruegge and Mark McLaughlin and game developer Fred Schachter. Tales from the convention table and wisdom won from years of game play help bring home the genius of this game: play can be as competitive or friendly as you wish it to be. In the end, it's not about winning or losing; it's about fun with the people playing at the table.
Games Mentioned:
Ancient Civilizations of the Inner Sea
Princess Ryan's Space Marines
Recommended Reading:
The Aeneid
For children's adaptations of the Aeneid, check out the show notes on Episode 15.
Can't see the links? Podcatcher turning my painstaking labor into plaintext? Come visit the podcast page at https://played.podbean.com/ and get the full experience, complete with all the links in perfect functioning order.
Intro and Outro Music:
"Crunk Knight" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
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This week, we continue our exploration of "Ancient Civilizations of the Inner Sea" with part 1 of our interview with the game designers Christopher Vorder Bruegge and Mark McLaughlin and game developer Fred Schachter. Join us for a wide-ranging, laughter filled conversation with tales of game play, and loads of history.
This is probably the most games or books ever mentioned in an episode we've done to date.
Games Mentioned:
Ancient Civilizations of the Inner Sea
Civilization
Sid Meier's Civilization
The Napoleonic Wars
Wellington
Rebel Raiders on the High Seas
Hitler's Reich
Civil War Game 1863
Tactics II
Britannia
History of the World
East Wind Rain
Waterloo
War and Peace
Pericles
Diplomacy
Junta
Emperor of China
Recommended Reading:
Carroll Quiqley - Link leads to the Wikipedia page for the influential Georgetown professor, and includes his bibliography.
Patterns of Culture
The War That Killed Achilles
1177 B.C.: The Year Civilization Collapsed
In Search of the Trojan War
In the Footsteps of Alexander The Great
Can't see the links? Podcatcher turning my painstaking labor into plaintext? Come visit the podcast page at https://played.podbean.com/ and get the full experience, complete with all the links in perfect functioning order.
Intro and Outro Music:
"Crunk Knight" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
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This week begins a three part series on "Ancient Civilization of the Inner Sea", recently published from GMT Games. Join Chris and Laura as they gush over the gorgeous artwork and clearly written rules (seriously, we cannot emphasize enough how important those are), talk about a game mechanic inspired by an epic poem, and discuss how resilience and negotiation skills can be developed though the unpredictable game play.
Be sure to listen through to the end. We have a brief sneak peak at our interview with game designers Christopher Vorder Bruegge and Mark McLaughlin and game developer Fred Schachter which we will be airing in the coming weeks.
Recommended Games:
Ancient Civilizations of the Inner Sea - This recently published game from GMT is a board game which abstracts the growth and competition of great civiilizations around the Mediterranean Sea during antiquity. Along with a link to purchase, GMT's game page contains tons of supplemental materials including players' aids, a living rule book, and numerous articles well worth reading.
Civilization - The classic Avalon Hill game. Copies are most easily found on eBay.
Sid Meier's Civilization - This video game series continues to grow and gain a following, proving that a fascination with the growth of civilizations is perennial.
Recommended Viewing:
How to Play Ancient Civilizations of the Inner Sea - This YouTube video is a must watch for new players. Game designer Mark McLaughlin walks viewers through a sample of game play, explaining the various phases of a turn and showing how tiles are placed, cards are played, competition is resolved, and victory points are tallied.
Recommended Reading:
The Aeneid for Boys and Girls - Alfred Church's retelling of the Aeneid simplifies the epic poem for younger readers.
In Search of a Homeland - Gorgeous illustrations and moving prose help retelling the moving story of Aeneas as he undergoes trials and searches for a new home in the wake of the Trojan War.
Can't see the links? Podcatcher turning my painstaking labor into plaintext? Come visit the podcast page at https://played.podbean.com/ and get the full experience, complete with all the links in perfect functioning order.
Intro and Outro Music:
"Crunk Knight" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
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Ancient doesn't have to mean dry and dusty. This week, Chris and Laura unearthed By Jove from Aristoplay while searching for missing game pieces. The result? We discuss a fun, accessible, and beautifully illustrated Monopoly-style board game that helps bring Greco-Roman myths to life.
Recommended Games:
By Jove - Originally published by Aristoplay, "By Jove" is currently out of print but copies can be found easily on eBay.
Circus Maximus - A chariot racing game from Avalon Hill, this is also out of print but copies can be found on eBay. Be sure to check that it is the Avalon Hill game as there are similarly titled games from other game companies.
Recommended Reading:
A Wonder Book for Boys and Girls and Tanglewood Tales - These retellings of Greek and Roman Mythology by Nathaniel Hawthorne (Yes, that Nathaniel Hawthorne) are some of the best we've read. The frame narrative, a college student entertaining his younger cousins with embellished versions of the stories he's studied at school, provides another layer of delight.
The Children's Homer - Padraic Colum retells the Iliad and Odyssey in a single volume. This is a favorite of our children who play the audio book non-stop.
Greek Myths and The Trojan War - Olivia Coolidge has several books appropriate for read alouds when studying Greek and Roman culture and history.
D'Aulaire's Book of Greek Myths - Lushly illustrated, this book is considered one of the best for introducing children to the stories of the ancient Greeks.
The Aeneid for Boys and Girls - Alfred Church's retelling of the Aeneid simplifies the epic poem for younger readers.
In Search of a Homeland - Gorgeous illustrations and moving prose help retelling the moving story of Aeneas as he undergoes trials and searches for a new home in the wake of the Trojan War.
Can't see the links? Podcatcher turning my painstaking labor into plaintext? Come visit the podcast page at https://played.podbean.com/ and get the full experience, complete with all the links in perfect functioning order.
Intro and Outro Music:
"Crunk Knight" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
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"No plan survives first contact intact." A useful aphorism, but how do you internalize the lesson and learn to deal with plans that go awry from the get-go?
"It ain't over 'til it's over." How do you teach the value of perseverance and the reality that the tide can turn at any moment?
"You have to play the hand you're dealt." Decisions are rarely made with perfect information, and even more rarely are problems solved with the ideal set of resources. How do you help kids learn to avoid "analysis paralysis" and work with the information and materials on hand?
This week begins our series of deep dives into games we're playing to enrich our study of Roman History and equip our kids for living. "Commands and Colors: Ancients", a tabletop board wargame, not only makes historical battles come to life in a tangible way, but offers a starting point for learning valuable lessons in managing expectations and dealing with limited knowledge. Laura and Chris discuss game play, the value of studying battles within a wider history curriculum, why Commands and Colors' "fog of war" simulation is uniquely suited to helping develop decision making skills using imperfect information, and how to get the most out of a game session.
Recommended Games:
Commands & Colors Ancients – This ancient battle simulation is reasonably simple and fast playing, with many scenarios being playable within an hour once the rules are understood. The base game contains battles from the Punic Wars.
Expansion #1: Greece vs. The Eastern Kingdoms - This expansion works well with studies of Greek and Hellenic history, but includes scenarios for conflicts between Greece and Rome.
Expansions #2 & #3: Rome vs. The Barbarians and The Roman Civil Wars - These expansions cover Romes campaigns in Northern Europe and the critical period in the late Roman Republic that sets the stage for the development of the Roman Empire.
Expansion #4: Imperial Rome - What it says on the tin. This expansion includes scenarios for the most significant battles during the imperial age. The focus shifts from Rome's expansion to the defense of the territory it has gained.
Expansion #5: Epic Ancients II - This expansion is currently out of stock and currently in pre-order for a second print run. GMT Games P500 program gauges interest in future games and reprint runs through a pre-order program. Games that reach 500 pre-orders get slated for print run, and those who pre-ordered get the game at the P500 price, which is discounted from the retail price. As of the date of publication for this episode, Epic Ancients is approximately 100 pre-orders away from a second printing. If you're interested in playing this with a larger group, consider a P500 pre-order.
Expansion #6: Spartan Army - This expansion is another one best suited for studies in Ancient Greek History. The focus is on the Spartan army between 669 and 338 BC, and includes the conflicts between Sparta and Argos, the Persian and Peloponnesian wars, and the decline of Sparta as Macedon grew in power.
Vassal Module: Commands and Colors Ancients - If you're looking for a way to learn gameplay, the Vassal Engine provides a computer desktop display of the gameboard and opportunities to play with others online and by email.
YouTube Tutorials - Along with simply searching the game title and particular scenarios (there are videos of nearly every scenario now), look here and here for excellent tutorials from Charlotte Area Historical Gaming.
Can't see the links? Podcatcher turning my painstaking labor into plaintext? Come visit the podcast page at https://played.podbean.com/ and get the full experience, complete with all the links in perfect functioning order.
Intro and Outro Music:
"Crunk Knight" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
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Have you been wondering if you can integrate games into a formal school curriculum? Do you want to enrich a potentially dry subject area with something fun? How do find games that intrigue students and light the fire of interest? More importantly, how do you make the time?
This week, Laura and Chris pull back the curtain and show how they plan for games during the school year that enliven studies and reinforce concepts. Join us as we talk about games for Ancient Roman History.
This episode serves as a preview for several of the games that we will be covering in depth in the coming weeks. Be sure to stay tuned as we will be going further up and further in.
Recommended Games:
Circus Maximus – This fun simulation of chariot racing, published by Avalon Hill, is now a collectible. Replacement boards and pieces, along with chariot minis, can be purchased though Camelot Games.
Gladiator – Not entirely historically accurate, this Avalon Hill game is more like a Hollywood version of gladiator fighting, but it makes a great conversation starter for discussions of Roman culture. Camelot Games is, again, your best source for replacement pieces.
Ancient Civilizations of the Inner Sea – This recently published board game from GMT Games looks to be a worthy successor to other broad scale strategy games like Civilization. If you’re trying to learn Mediterranean geography and the civilizations that exist in competition with Rome, especially with older students, this looks like it’s going to be a great addition.
Pax Romana – Another GMT game, focusing on the various competing empires in the Mediterranean between 300 BC and 100 AD.
Imperium Romanum II – This West End Games simulation of the Roman Empire is currently out-of-print, but searching the collector's market is well worth the effort.
Republic of Rome – This classic Avalon Hill game is a simulation of Roman politics during the Roman Republic.
Falling Sky & Ariovistus – A Counterinsurgency simulation from GMT games, Falling Sky goes deep into the Gallic Wars. If you're reading through Julius Caesar's account in either the original or translation, this would be an excellent complement and help bring the text to life.
Command & Colors Ancients – This ancient battle simulation is reasonably simple and fast playing, with many scenarios being playable within an hour once the rules are understood. The base game contains battles from the Punic Wars. Several expansions are available which cover a large number of the most important military engagements in the ancient world.
Outmatched – We love IEW for their writing curricula, but their foray into games has been just as satisfying. This quick-playing card game helps drill history facts in a highly rewarding manner.
Palatinus – If you want to dig into the earliest foundations of the city, this tile and card game from Mayfair Games will help with learning the populations vying for control of the Palatine hill and the village that would rule the world.
By Jove – A "monopoly" style game from Aristoplay, this now collectible game is a fun way to learn about Roman Mythology.
Roman Dice Games – This set includes reproduction pigs' knuckles, as well as 6 standard wooden dice, and a collection of rules for early dice games.
Child Sized Masterpieces – This is a Montessori-style approach to art appreciation, using postcard sized art cards and a series of matching games to help build familiarity with artists and schools of art. The book includes directions for creating your own expansions, and we'll be putting together sets for Roman sculpture, mosaics, and architecture for our household.
Recommended Reading:
Candyland Was Invented for Polio Wards – This article in the Atlantic covers the fascinating story behind the beloved childhood game.
Can't see the links? Podcatcher turning my painstaking labor into plaintext? Come visit the podcast page at https://played.podbean.com/ and get the full experience, complete with all the links in perfect functioning order.
Intro and Outro Music:
"Crunk Knight" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
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Looking for a portable, fast-playing game that develops story-telling, arithmetic skills, and strategic thinking? Then "Gloom" is the answer. This week, Chris and Laura discuss this tabletop card game from Atlas Games and dive into game play, skills development, and common pitfalls in game play to be aware of. If you or your children love Victorian fiction, Edward Gorey, or A Series of Unfortunate Events, this might be up your alley.
Recommended Games:
Gloom - The core game. This is all you need to get started.
Gloom Expansion Decks - If you love the core game, you can buy these individually or look for one of the bundled sets on Amazon. Expansions include Unhappy Homes, Unwelcome Guests, Unquiet Dead, and Unfortunate Expeditions.
Cthulu Gloom - Based on H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulu Mythos, this game uses the core rules but alternate characters and events inspired by the classic tales of horror. Probably best to reserve for older high-schoolers. There is also an expansion deck, Unpleasant Dreams.
Fairytale Gloom - This would be an excellent entry point for younger children. Fairytales can be dark. Perhaps Rapunzel Cried Wolf One Time Too Many. Will your characters live Unhappily Ever After?
Munchkin Gloom - Based on the Munchkin series of card games from Steve Jackson games, this version uses a whimsical cartoon illustrations set in the pseudo-medieval world ubiquitous to fantasy roleplaying games.
Rory's Story Cubes - A dice-based story telling game from Zygomatic. There are also numerous variant sets.
Lord of the Rings Board Game - This is the version from 2000 from Fantasy Flight Games. Fun, cooperative, and fast paced. Also, unfortunately, out of print, but you can find copies on Amazon or Ebay in the used market.
Recommended Reading:
A Series of Unfortunate Events - Lemony Snicket's wildly popular saga of the Baudelaire children and their wicked uncle, Count Olaf, appropriately in 13 parts.
Tales of Edgar Allen Poe - Atmospheric, gloomy, relentless. Both his poetry and tales of horror rely on a sense of growing dread and the reality that the worst things to be feared are found in the human heart. Or possibly in a raven that won't shut up.
The Works of Edward Gorey - Especially his illustrations for Hillaire Belloc's Cautionary Tales for Children, but also his delightful story The Lavender Leotard, produced for the New York City Ballet.
Karen Elizabeth Gordon - I mean, they're books for building vocabulary, improving grammatical usage, or punctuating with precision. And yet they're also decadent dives into Victorian excess, populated by gargoyles, mastodons, and murderous debutantes. I highly recommend The Deluxe Transitive Vampire, The New Well-Tempered Sentence, The Disheveled Dictionary, Out of the Loud Hound of Darkness, and Torn Wings and Faux Pas.
The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place - (Link goes to the Kindle bundle of all 6 books.)The classic 19th century trope: a young, orphaned governess is brought to a mysterious manor to tutor the young wards of a nobleman; then the mysteries begin. Were the children raised by wolves? Is the family of the nobleman cursed? What really happened to the governess' own family? And why does her mentor insist she dye her hair dull black? Amidst useful aphorisms and classic poetry, these delightful tales will introduce children to 19th century literature and poetry and are a perfect complement to Gloom's themes.
Can't see the links? Podcatcher turning my painstaking labor into plaintext? Come visit the podcast page at https://played.podbean.com/ and get the full experience, complete with all the links in perfect functioning order.
Intro and Outro Music:
"Crunk Knight" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
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This week, Chris and Laura dive deep into the classic board game, "Civilization", originally published in the US in 1981 by Avalon Hill. We discuss the elements of play, recommend ideas for both learning and teaching the game, suggest where it might fit within a curriculum, and cover both what it teaches and how to avoid likely pitfalls in play. This strategy game is remembered fondly for good reason and suitable for play for middle grades and older.
Recommended Games:
Civilization - This links to the current print run from Gibsons Games. It is an overseas title so shipping will be a bit higher. If you prefer to look for the older Avalon Hill printing, search for "Avalon Hill Civilization" and "Avalon Hill Advanced Civilization" (for the expansion game) on Ebay. It is a collector's item so be aware of that. Also, because most games are Used, there is the risk of missing pieces. You can ameliorate that by buying replacement parts through Camelot Games. If you want to learn to play through email, look at (CIV). YouTube also has tutorials; the best and most thorough are from BoardGameGeek here and here, and from HistoryGamerDotCom here and here.
(A note before buying. Do not confuse this game with either the Sid Meier's computer game series, nor with the board game "Sid Meier's Civilization" published by Fantasy Flight Games. Check carefully that you have the correct product.)
Diplomacy - If you're looking for more negotiation, that's pretty much what this game is. Yes, we are definitely devoting an episode to it.
Risk - Would you rather focus on world domination? This might be more the right speed.
(Are you wondering what on earth we're talking about in the cold open? A tangential outtake, we ended up spending nearly 5 minutes discussing archaeology and just how far back wine labels go. It's a hazard when discussing games set in the Ancient Mediterranean.)
Can't see the links? Podcatcher turning my painstaking labor into plaintext? Come visit the podcast page at https://played.podbean.com/ and get the full experience, complete with all the links in perfect functioning order.
Intro and Outro Music:
"Crunk Knight" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
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This week, Chris and Laura talk about games that work well on the go. Whether you're spending your summer at the pool, on the beach, or camping in the mountains, we have suggestions for ways to keep cabin fever at bay.
Recommended Games:
Magic: the Gathering - If you've never played before, starter decks and the most recent rules are easily acquired. If you played 20 years ago, and aren't interested in tournament play, Ebay is your friend and you can easily acquire large numbers of older cards from whatever era you preferred to play in.
Pente - With a roll up board, Pente needs very little storage space and has simple rules that can be taught quickly.
Scopa - You're looking for a standard, 40-card deck like this one. You can find rules for Scopa and other traditional Italian card games here, or buy a book to refer to. Also, here's an free app to play the game on your phone (a good way to learn the basics of the game.)
Suggested Resources for Learning Games:
Games to Play at the Pool - Can't remember the rules to Sharks and Minnows? No problem. This article reviews several popular pool games which you can teach your kids in a few minutes.
Card Games - This is one of the most comprehensive collections of card game rules I have found. A standard poker deck is the beginning point for most of these, easily found at any drugstore or grocery. Rummy, War, Twenty-one, Go Fish, and Old Maid are all excellent games to start with.
Can't see the links? Podcatcher turning my painstaking labor into plaintext? Come visit the podcast page at https://played.podbean.com/ and get the full experience, complete with all the links in perfect functioning order.
Intro and Outro Music:
"Crunk Knight" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
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This week, Chris and Laura discuss fatigue, failure, and spectacular tantrums thrown by adults who didn't realize that it's hard to play a new boardgame when you're exhausted. If you're looking for ideas to play games successfully when you're overscheduled and underslept, or just want to hear some tales of games gone horribly, laughably wrong, listen in.
Recommended Games:
Civilization - This game by Avalon Hill is out of print, but it, and its companion game Advanced Civilization, is findable on Ebay. It is a collector's item though, so consider finding a friend with a copy to test play before purchasing your own.
Dominant Species - Fun but complex, this strategy game is one that requires time to learn.
Mancala - A deceptively simple game using stones and a wooden playing board.
Monster Trap - This cooperative game is suitable for all ages, well balanced, and loads of fun.
Othello - A strategy game that takes "seconds to learn; a lifetime to master".
Pente - I have watched young children play this for hours.
Pericles - This war game from GMT games is probably best for adults or older high school students. Consider it if you are both willing to devote the time to learning and want to dig into a detailed simulation of the opening years of the Peloponnesian War.
Settlers of Catan - Well on it's way to being a classic, this strategy game has multiple expansions and is a great entry point into strategy game play.
Suggested Resources for Learning Games:
The Player's Aid - This blog and YouTube channel provides reviews for boardgames. If you have an interest in strategy or war games, there's a good chance that they've covered it.
Vassal - This open-source software allows for play of board and card games live on the internet or by email. If you are looking for a way to play through with other to learn the game before leading a game of your own, this is invaluable.
Watch It Played - This YouTube channel films game playthroughs. When reading the rules is leaving you confused, this is the next logical step.
Also, consider searching for your target board game with the keywords "walkthrough" or "instructional video". There's a good chance that someone has recorded a "how to" even if these resources haven't tackled it.
Can't see the links? Podcatcher turning my painstaking labor into plaintext? Come visit the podcast page at https://played.podbean.com/ and get the full experience, complete with all the links in perfect functioning order.
Intro and Outro Music:
"Crunk Knight" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
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