Episodes
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In Episode 193 we provide our hot take review of Orleans covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.
We discuss a poll on favorite board games based on French cities and then we discuss some board games on our table including Galactic Renaissance, The Vale of Eternity, and Wolves.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:06 Question: Which board game based on a French city is your favorite?
04:57 Orleans Description
07:01 Gameplay and Mechanisms
30:19 Production and Theme
34:24 Final Thoughts
38:36 Galactic Renaissance
46:00 The Vale of Eternity
52:18 Wolves
55:05 Listener Shoutout
If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes
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In Episode 192 we each discuss our top 5 board games that use the worker placement mechanism in a very unique or interesting way.
We also discuss a poll on what to do with components after you upgrade them.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:24 Poll Time: If you upgrade components for a board game, what do you do with the replaced components?
10:16 Top 5 Unique Worker Placement Games
11:57 Lost Ruins of Arnak
16:25 Raiders of the North Sea
19:47 Bus and Dominant Species
23:32 Come Together (Great Wall)
27:52 Lorenzo Il Magnifico
32:10 Anachrony
35:03 Terracotta Army
38:16 The Godfather: Corleone's Empire
42:47 Architects of the West Kingdom
45:40 Chimera Station (Godspeed, Darwin's Journey)
50:32 Euphoria: Build a Better Dystopia
56:50 Star Wars: Rebellion
1:00:06 Pendulum
1:06:34 Underwater Cities
1:09:21 Ceres
1:14:28 Runners Up (Argent: The Consortium, Cryo, Dwellings of Eldervale, Whistle Mountain)
1:15:55 Listener Shoutout
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Missing episodes?
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In Episode 191 we provide our hot take review of Maracaibo covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.
We discuss a poll on investigating card decks before playing games and then we discuss some board games on our table including Starship Captains, Sagnir, and Djinn.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:25 Question: When introduced to a board game that contains cards, at what point do you look through the deck to see distribution?
08:15 Maracaibo Description
10:07 Gameplay and Mechanisms
22:02 Production and Theme
26:22 Final Thoughts
35:35 Starship Captains
42:47 Sagnir
47:03 Djinn
If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes
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In Episode 190 Connie Vogelmann (designer of Apiary and Wyrmspan) joins us as our guest host as we each discuss our top 5 Desert Island Board Games.
We also discuss a poll on how less games might impact our play habits.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
03:08 Poll: If you only had 5 board games (of your choice) available forever do you think you'd still play board games as frequently as you do?
09:33 Top 5 Desert Island Games
12:40 Azul
15:08 Cribbage
16:27 Ark Nova
19:15 Dune: Imperium
22:00 The Resistance: Avalon
26:33 Sea Salt & Paper
28:30 Fractal: Beyond the Void
32:07 Gloomhaven
35:23 Clank! Catacombs
39:47 Hegemony: Lead Your Class to Victory
43:32 Stationfall
44:48 A Feast for Odin
47:10 Welcome to the Moon
49:15 Twilight Imperium: 4th Edition
51:28 Blood Bowl
55:16 Age of Innovation
1:01:10 Runner Ups (Capital Lux 2, Xia: Legends of a Drift System, Decrypto, Werewords, Codenames, Voyages of Marco Polo, Grand Austria Hotel, Skull, Just One, Fun Facts)
1:04:50 Listener Shoutout
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In episode 189, we take a deep dive into Board Game Arena and discuss games that we think are best on that online platform and games that are way better on a physical table.
We also discuss a listener poll about how frequently you take turns on online board game platforms and give a huge shoutout to our BGA Community.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
04:00 Poll: How frequently do you take turns on async games on BGA (or other online platforms)?
09:48 Board Game Arena (Top 3 we prefer on BGA and Top 3 We prefer in person)
13:26 Ark Nova
19:00 Keyflower
22:48 7 Wonders
25:42 Heat: Pedal to the Metal
32:05 Tapestry
39:03 Terraforming Mars, Agricola
43:50 Blood Rage
46:02 Tichu, Haggis, 6 Nimmt, Libertalia
49:16 La Granja
52:19 Blood Rage
53:28 Cerebria: The Inside World
55:44 Wonderland's War
57:42 Woodcraft
59:21 Lords of Ragnarok, Lords of Hellas, The Great Wall, Nemesis
1:03:20 BGHT BGA Community Shoutout
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In Episode 188 we each discuss our top 5 favorite player boards in board games.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
02:44 Baseball Highlight 2045
05:00 Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy
10:00 Lacrimosa (Red Cathedral, White Castle)
14:48 Hegemony: Lead Your Class to Victory
17:10 Distilled
21:02 Marrakesh (Orleans, Paladins of the West Kingdom, Russian Railroads)
25:45 Planet Unknown
27:49 Cthulhu: Death May Die
35:21 La Granja
39:57 My Father's Work
43:22 Carnegie
47:40 Voidfall
51:57 Mechanica
58:34 Scythe
1:04:05 Terraforming Mars, Calico, Fractal: Beyond the Void, Nucleum
1:09:00 Listener Shoutout
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In episode 187, we answer more listener questions in a second mailbag episode.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:13 What are some common complaints about board games that you see as a positive?
08:16 What changed that made art and theme less important to you? What is part of board gaming that you feel a certain way about but suspect you're wrong? Could you take Klemens Franz in single combat?
16:01 How did each of you get into board games? Which do you prefer - Nerd or Geek? Do you keep track of your plays, how and why?
21:30 How do you cope with FOMO?
26:28 What's the ideal way to tell someone you didn't enjoy gaming with them and don't want to anymore?
36:58 Listener Shoutout
39:25 What was your favorite game to play with a young kid?
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In Episode 186 we provide our hot take review of Clockwork Wars covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.
We discuss a poll on the loss of entire board game collections and then we discuss some board games on our table including Trickerion: Legends of Illusion, Lucky Numbers, and Knarr.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:47 Question: If you lost your entire board game collection, what percentage would you re-acquire?
06:15 Clockwork Wars Description
07:27 Gameplay and Mechanisms
31:02 Production and Theme
35:16 Final Thoughts
40:33 Trickerion: Legends of Illusion
51:23 Lucky Numbers
54:30 Knarr
1:00:52 Listener Shoutout
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In Episode 185 we each discuss our biggest mistakes, at least regarding our first impressions on board games.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:37 Poll: How often does your first impression of a game hold up after more plays?
7:55 El Grande
10:53 Heat: Pedal to the Metal
13:46 Endless Winter: Paleoamericans
16:19 Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar and Teotihuacan: City of Gods
19:00 Sol: Last Days of a Star
23:14 Red Rising
25:59 Heat: Pedal to the Metal
28:10 Anachrony
32:22 Star Wars: Outer Rim
34:15 Dungeon Petz
36:54 Quacks of Quedlinburg
39:26 Dominion
42:27 Gaia Project
47:08 Ethnos
51:10 Runner Ups
54:35 Listener Shoutout
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In Episode 184 we provide our hot take review of Thunder Road: Vendetta covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.
We discuss a question on games that were frustrating to punch and sort and then we discuss some board games on our table including Glory to Rome, Concordia, and Newton.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:28 Question: Which game led to the most frustrating or painful experience you've had punching and sorting a board game?
08:50 Thunder Road: Vendetta Description
11:00 Gameplay and Mechanisms
20:31 Production and Theme
29:46 Final Thoughts
33:14 Glory to Rome
41:49 Concordia
44:08 Newton
47:45 Listener Shoutout
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In Episode 183 we each discuss our top 5 game boards as well as discussing a listener poll about what makes a great game board.
We conclude the conversation discussing a couple of game boards that have some very confounding choices in their design.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:50 Poll: What makes a great game board?
12:19 Nunami and Raas: A Dance of Love
16:39 Barcelona
20:22 Pax Pamir 2nd Edition
21:42 Pan Am
25:05 Godspeed
27:31 Smartphone, Inc.
28:50 The Great Wall
32:00 Viscounts of the West Kingdom
36:11 Scythe
37:55 Merchants of the Dark Road
40:58 Evacuation
45:27 Tzolk'in the Mayan Calendar
48:18 Trickerion: Legends of Illusion
51:33 Empires of the Void II
54:22 Windward
56:31 Underwater Cities
57:55 Beyond the Sun
1:00:42 Listener Shoutout
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In Episode 182 we provide our hot take review of Architects of the West Kingdom covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.
We discuss a poll on cancellations on game night and then we discuss some board games on our table including *Distilled: Africa & Middle East Expansion, *Distilled: Cask Strength Expansion, and Guards of Atlantis II.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:30 Poll: What do you do when everyone cancels on game night at the last moment?
07:45 Architects of the West Kingdom Description
08:38 Gameplay and Mechanisms
22:21 Production and Theme
30:04 Final Thoughts
34:26 Distilled: Africa & Middle East Expansion and Distilled: Cask Strength Expansion
44:51 Guards of Atlantis II
*These expansions were provided as review copies by the publisher
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In Episode 181 we look back at the games we played in 2023 and talk about our biggest hits, and biggest misses in 2023. This includes games that were published in 2023 but also games that were new to us in 2023. We also talk about our Board Game Revelations - the things that changed gaming for us over the last year.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:28 2023 Awards
01:56 Biggest Surprises in 2023 - Yokohama, Age of Innovation, Frosthaven, Cyclades: Legendary Edition, Vagrantsong, Tichu, Hegemony: Lead Your Class to Victory, Fractal: Beyond the Void, Turing Machine, Apiary, Heat: Pedal to the Metal, Star Wars: The Deckbuilding Game, Motor City
15:06 Biggest Disappointments in 2023 - Lords of Ragnarok, Expeditions, Voidfall
22:14 Best New To Us in 2023 - Distilled, The Battle for Rokugan, Cat in the Box, Downforce, Revive
27:42 Best Productions Published in 2023 - Steam Up: A Feast of Dim Sum, The Castles of Burgundy: Special Edition, Robot Quest Arena, Apiary, Expeditions, Lords of Ragnarok
34:32 Look Back at Best Game Published in 2022 - Wonderland's War
37:08 Best Games Published in 2023 - Robot Quest Arena, Nucleum, Sea Salt & Paper, Dune: Imperium Uprising, Hegemony: Lead Your Class to Victory
47:42 Most Played Games of 2023 - Azul, Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization, Tapestry, Obsession, Ark Nova, Azul, Can't Stop, Sea Salt & Paper, Star Realms, Beyond the Sun, Barrage, Star Realms
55:19 Board Game Revelations in 2023
1:02:00 2023 Board Game BGG Ranking Speculations - Nucleum, Apiary, Distilled, Hegemony: Lead Your Class to Victory, Darwin's Journey, Earth, Age of Innovation, Star Wars: The Deckbuilding Game, Frosthaven, The White Castle, Sky Team, The Witcher: The Old World, Forest Shuffle, Thunder Road: Vendetta, Kutna Hora, Stationfall, Evacuation, Dune: Imperium Uprising, Bloodstones, Envelopes of Cash
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In Episode 180 we provide our hot take review of Wyrmspan* covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We also provide some detailed comparisons with Wingspan, both the difference in mechanisms and the difference in our opinions on them
We discuss a poll on fantastical vs. real-world themes in board games and then we discuss some board games on our table including Sol: Last Days of a Star, Mind MGMT, and Turing Machine.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:34 Poll: In general, do you prefer board games to have a real-world theme or a fantastical theme?
07:33 Wyrmspan Description
08:48 Gameplay and Mechanisms
28:57 Production and Theme
39:54 Final Thoughts
48:17 Sol: Last Days of a Star
55:23 Mind MGMT
62:37 Turing Machine
66:11 Listener Shout-out
* Review copy provided by publisher
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In Episode 179 we provide our hot take review of Turing Machine covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.
We discuss a poll on fun in board games and then we discuss some board games on our table including Ceres, Clank! Legacy, and Tichu.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:17 Poll: Is 'Fun' an important aspect of a board for you when you purchase it or consider playing it?
10:23 Turing Machine Description
13:04 Gameplay and Mechanisms
26:10 Production and Theme
31:09 Final Thoughts
37:01 Ceres
44:30 Clank! Legacy
50:45 Tichu
58:30 Listener Shout-out
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In episode 178, we discuss some hobby specific terms and how our definitions may vary from their original meaning. We also give examples of board games where those definitions are relevant (and also some examples where they aren't).
We kick the conversation off by discussing a listener poll related to board game terminology.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:44 Poll Time: Do you use terminology when teaching or discussing board games that you don't ever use in other areas of your life?
04:42 Worker Placement (A Feast for Odin, Anachrony, Barrage, Orleans, Agricola, Apiary, Architects of the West Kingdom)
17:08 4X (Scythe, Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy, Space Empires 4X, Twilight Imperium, Fractal: Beyond the Void, Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization)
30:28 Area Control (Blood Rage, Rising Sun, Ankh: Gods of Egypt, Scythe, Wonderland's War, El Grande)
37:49 Engine Building (It's a Wonderful World, Terraforming Mars, Anachrony, Fractal: Beyond the Void, Scythe, Space Base)
44:06 Euro (Trajan, Gaia Project, Viticulture, Catan, A Feast for Odin)
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In Episode 177 we provide our hot take review of Apiary covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.
We also discuss some games that have been on our table including Clank! Legacy, Fractal: Beyond the Void, and Sleeping Gods: Distant Skies.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:34 Apiary Description
1:54 Gameplay and Mechanisms
22:15 Production and Theme
27:51 Final Thoughts
33:09 Clank! Legacy: Acquisitions Incorporated
39:07 Fractal: Beyond the Void
48:50 Sleeping Gods: Distant Skies
58:38 Listener Shout-out
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In Episode 176 we each discuss our top 5 board games that we only played once in 2023.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:34 Robot Quest Arena
04:04 Egizia: Shifting Sands
07:57 Darwin's Journey
12:12 Revive
13:56 Evacuation
15:32 Ticket To Ride: San Francisco
19:52 Battle for Rokugan
21:48 Boast or Nothing
25:46 The Quacks of Quedlinburg
28:02 Mosaic: A Story of Civilization
29:29 Pulsar 2849
30:55 Cat in the Box
33:25 Hegemony: Lead Your Class To Victory
37:48 Cyclades: Legendary Edition
40:19 Challengers!
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In Episode 175 we discuss the top 5 games we want to play in 2024. We also review last years' lists and look back on the games we got played.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
Last Year
1:02 #5 Adam Last Year - Paperback Adventures
2:45 #5 Tim Last Year - Welcome to the Moon
3:41 #5 Chris Last Year - Twilight Imperium 4th Edition
4:35 #4 Adam Last Year - Forbidden Stars
5:05 #4 Tim Last Year - Scout
5:40 #4 Chris Last Year - Mariposa
6:24 #3 Adam Last Year - Imperial 2030
7:26 #3 Tawantinsuyu: The Inca Empire
7:59 #3 Chris Last Year - Anunnaki: Dawn of the Gods
9:38 #2 Adam - Battle for Rokugan
10:46 #2 Tim Last Year - Revive
12:09 #2 Chris Last Year - Chaos in the Old World
13:45 #1 Adam Last Year - Pessoa
14:21 #1 Tim Last Year - Marrakesh
15:31 #1 Chris Last Year - My Father's Work
This Year
18:40 #5 Tim - Millennium Blades
22:01 #5 Chris - Orleans
24:39 #5 Adam - Turing Machine
28:02 #4 Tim - Trickerion: Legends of Illusion
30:23 #4 Chris - Splendor
32:31 #4 Adam - Fractal: Beyond the Void
35:19 #3 Tim - Creature Comforts
37:01 #3 Chris - Kanban EV
41:44 #3 Adam - Clockwork Wars
44:04 #2 Tim - Oathsworn: Into the Deepwood
46:22 #2 Chris - Cosmic Frog
50:46 #2 Adam - Shogun
52:33 #1 Tim - Apiary
54:37 #1 - Chris - Bonfire/Merlin
58:26 #1 - Adam - John Company 2nd Edition
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In Episode 174 we provide our hot take review of Dune: Imperium - Uprising covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game.
We discuss a poll on the quantity of published board games and then we discuss some board games on our table including Clank! Legacy Acquisitions Incorporated, Inis, Exit Advent Calendar: The Mystery of the Ice Cave, and The Quest for El Dorado.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:24 Poll: What do you think about the amount of hobby board games that are being published each year?
13:28 Dune: Imperium - Uprising
14:21 Gameplay and Mechanisms
33:05 Production and Theme
40:06 Final Thoughts
45:25 Clank! Legacy Acquisitions Incorporated
47:21 Inis
53:03 Exit The Game Advent Calendar: The Mystery of the Ice Cave
57:59 The Quest for El Dorado
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