Ancient Robot Games

Dougal and Gelb delve into the niche world of asymmetrical games. One game with different playstyles and mechanics for certain players - or in some cases for every player! 

Talking about asymmetrical classics like Root, Nemesis, Terrorscape, and more - the guys discuss what makes a good game with asymmetry and how much you can truly balance an unbalanced game.


If you have any burning game questions, or special events coming up and need some advice for what game to bring - email us at [email protected] and we’ll endeavour to answer in an upcoming episode!

Ancient Robot Games - https://ancientrobotgames.co.uk
Midnight Trading Co - https://midnighttradingco.com
Podcast Producer Ryan Scott - https://www.ryanscottmedia.com/

Making or want to make tabletop games in Edinburgh? A new community and coworking space opens May 2025 in Edinburgh! https://ancientrobotworkshop.co.uk

Music: Coffee Break by Sensho

The Ancient Robot Games Podcast is now 1 year old! And what better way to celebrate than bringing back our first ever guest, Judson Cowan, to talk about what he's been up to in the last year. 

Judson talks about the process of designing his first ever expansion and how funding/publishing can differ from that of a game, and also his upcoming release Personal Demons - a new game themed around mental health, demons, and overcoming obstacles. 

See more of Judsons work and check out Personal Demons at https://tettixgames.com/


If you have any burning game questions, or special events coming up and need some advice for what game to bring - email us at [email protected] and we’ll endeavour to answer in an upcoming episode!

Ancient Robot Games - https://ancientrobotgames.co.uk
Midnight Trading Co - https://midnighttradingco.com
Podcast Producer Ryan Scott - https://www.ryanscottmedia.com/

Making or want to make tabletop games in Edinburgh? A new community and coworking space opens May 2025 in Edinburgh! https://ancientrobotworkshop.co.uk

Music: Coffee Break by Sensho

Dougal and Gelb talk about abstract games and their long history in influencing the industry and culture of tabletop gaming.

Covering games from the Vikings’ ultimate strategy game, reimagining classics like chess, and contemporary designs like Aster from Midnight Trading Co.


If you have any burning game questions, or special events coming up and need some advice for what game to bring - email us at [email protected] and we’ll endeavour to answer in an upcoming episode!

Ancient Robot Games - https://ancientrobotgames.co.uk
Midnight Trading Co - https://midnighttradingco.com
Podcast Producer Ryan Scott - https://www.ryanscottmedia.com/

Making or want to make tabletop games in Edinburgh? A new community and coworking space opens May 2025 in Edinburgh! https://ancientrobotworkshop.co.uk

Music: Coffee Break by Sensho

Dougal and Gelb talk some of the best BIG games out now, and how they can offer some of the most fun and exciting experiences in board gaming.


If you have any burning game questions, or special events coming up and need some advice for what game to bring - email us at [email protected] and we’ll endeavour to answer in an upcoming episode!

Ancient Robot Games - https://ancientrobotgames.co.uk
Midnight Trading Co - https://midnighttradingco.com
Podcast Producer Ryan Scott - https://www.ryanscottmedia.com/

Making or want to make tabletop games in Edinburgh? A new community and coworking space opens May 2025 in Edinburgh! https://ancientrobotworkshop.co.uk

Music: Coffee Break by Sensho

In this episode, we’re joined by Ronan Jennings of Secret Solstice Games - another board game cafe in Leith - and creator of escape rooms and immersive experiences through Case Closed Escape Rooms. Listen in for chats on creating immersive narrative experiences, and Ronans unique approach to escape room design.

See more of Ronan at:
https://www.secretsolsticegames.co.uk/
https://www.caseclosededinburgh.co.uk/


If you have any burning game questions, or special events coming up and need some advice for what game to bring - email us at [email protected] and we’ll endeavour to answer in an upcoming episode!

Ancient Robot Games - https://ancientrobotgames.co.uk
Midnight Trading Co - https://midnighttradingco.com
Podcast Producer Ryan Scott - https://www.ryanscottmedia.com/

Making or want to make tabletop games in Edinburgh? A new community and coworking space opens May 2025 in Edinburgh! https://ancientrobotworkshop.co.uk

Music: Coffee Break by Sensho

Have you ever found yourself amongst a group of people who you don’t know very well and it falls to you to break the ice with a game? What do you pick for a room full of people you don’t know? Well Dougal and Gelb answer these question in the next episode - discussing the best party games for a group of people you don’t know, everything from word games, card games, and social deduction games that anyone can get involved in!


If you have any burning game questions, or special events coming up and need some advice for what game to bring - email us at [email protected] and we’ll endeavour to answer in an upcoming episode!

Ancient Robot Games - https://ancientrobotgames.co.uk
Midnight Trading Co - https://midnighttradingco.com
Podcast Producer Ryan Scott - https://www.ryanscottmedia.com/

Making or want to make tabletop games in Edinburgh? A new community and coworking space opens May 2025 in Edinburgh! https://ancientrobotworkshop.co.uk

Music: Coffee Break by Sensho

In this episode we are joined by Andrew Stoddart and Pavel Shepan, organisers of Edinburgh Board Gamers - a club focused on bringing together fans of games into a social and welcoming atmosphere - discussing the growth of their group, their impact on the community of gamers in Edinburgh, and some of their own opinions on the games they play.

See more of Edinburgh Board Gamers on their Facebook page or MeetUp page - meetup.com/edinburgh-gamers


If you have any burning game questions, or special events coming up and need some advice for what game to bring - email us at [email protected] and we’ll endeavour to answer in an upcoming episode!

Ancient Robot Games - https://ancientrobotgames.co.uk
Midnight Trading Co - https://midnighttradingco.com
Podcast Producer Ryan Scott - https://www.ryanscottmedia.com/

Making or want to make tabletop games in Edinburgh? A new community and coworking space opens May 2025 in Edinburgh! https://ancientrobotworkshop.co.uk

Music: Coffee Break by Sensho

In this episode, we’re joined by Paul Scott Canavan - Art Director, Illustrator, and Artist - to discuss working as an artists in the games industry and developing your own Tabletop Roleplaying Game. Paul has worked with a range of clients from independent studios and designers, to larger companies such as Wizards of the Coast and Games Workshop, and is currently developing his TTRPG, Pale Tides - a game of folk horror and witchcraft, blending the themes of abstract horror and empowerment.

See more of Paul at his website - https://paulscottcanavan.squarespace.com/


If you have any burning game questions, or special events coming up and need some advice for what game to bring - email us at [email protected] and we’ll endeavour to answer in an upcoming episode!

Ancient Robot Games - https://ancientrobotgames.co.uk
Midnight Trading Co - https://midnighttradingco.com
Podcast Producer Ryan Scott - https://www.ryanscottmedia.com/

Making or want to make tabletop games in Edinburgh? A new community and coworking space opens May 2025 in Edinburgh! https://ancientrobotworkshop.co.uk

Music: Coffee Break by Sensho

Dougal and Gelb are joined by Tanya Floaker - award-winning game designer of ‘Lo! Thy Dread Empire’, ‘Be Seeing You’ and ‘Mum Chums’ - to discuss her process of designing games with a focus on the players emotional response, how she approaches publishing new games, and her upcoming release, 'The Thunder Perfect Mind' - a game that delves into toxic nostalgia with breakneck action and occult thrills.

Find Tanya at floaker.carrd.co
Also see the Kickstarter page for ‘The Thunder Perfect Mind’ at www.kickstarter.com/projects/floaker/the-thunder-perfect-mind


If you have any burning game questions, or special events coming up and need some advice for what game to bring - email us at [email protected] and we’ll endeavour to answer in an upcoming episode!

Ancient Robot Games - https://ancientrobotgames.co.uk
Midnight Trading Co - https://midnighttradingco.com
Podcast Producer Ryan Scott - https://www.ryanscottmedia.com/

Making or want to make tabletop games in Edinburgh? A new community and coworking space opens May 2025 in Edinburgh! https://ancientrobotworkshop.co.uk

Music: Coffee Break by Sensho

Kicking off the New Year with Morgan Edmonds, creator of Minion - the TTRPG in which you are the faithful Minion to a Dark Lord and must do their bidding or protect their treasure from the “brave heroes”

Morgan and the guys talk everything from writing your own RPG systems, getting games published, and some new and exciting TTRPGs that are trying out new mechanics - like jenga or cards instead of dice. A great episode for anyone looking to mix up their game nights with exciting twists to your usual RPGs! 

Follow Morgan on Itch.io if you want to check out Minion (or come by the shop on Leith Walk for a copy) and keep up to date with new projects - https://thealmightyjawa.itch.io/


If you have any burning game questions, or special events coming up and need some advice for what game to bring - email us at [email protected] and we’ll endeavour to answer in an upcoming episode!

Ancient Robot Games - https://ancientrobotgames.co.uk
Midnight Trading Co - https://midnighttradingco.com
Podcast Producer Ryan Scott - https://www.ryanscottmedia.com/

Making or want to make tabletop games in Edinburgh? A new community and coworking space opens May 2025 in Edinburgh! https://ancientrobotworkshop.co.uk

Music: Coffee Break by Sensho