Board Game Times

Andrew Nerger (top left), co-owner of R2i games, publisher of Don't Go In There and George Jaros (bottom right) of GJJ Games and organizer of the Extra Life Charity Auction.

It's the 13th episode of the Board Game Times podcast and we've got a packed double-feature for you. First, Clark speaks with George Jaros, organizer of the 2021 Extra Life Charity Auction running from November 5 to November 12th. Find out how you can participate and donate to this worthy cause and get the details on George's 24-hour gaming livestream that kicks off the event!

Next up we've got Andrew Nerger, co-owner and game designer -- along with fellow designer and co-owner Jeff Chin -- of R2i Games in Chicago. Their latest Kickstarter for new game Don't Go In There -- featuring a dice tower integrated into the box! -- is live for a few more days!

Andrew talks with Clark about R2i's success in designing and self-publishing multiple games on Kickstarter. From their first game Road To Infamy to their latest critical and commercial success Canvas, you'll hear what each project has taught them and what it's like to get a new game company off the ground. You'll also find out why Andrew isn't the biggest fan of pirate or survival games!

Episode Times

3:32 George Jaros on the Extra Life Charity Auction

16:09 Andrew Nerger of R2i Games

58:45 The Minigame with Andrew Nerger

Episode Links

2021 Extra Life Charity Auction: https://CharityAuction.bid/2021ExtraLife-G JJGames

GJJ Games Extra Life Fundraiser: https://www.extra-life.org/participant/GJJGames

GJJ Games: http://GeorgeJaros.com/GJJGames or http://facebook.com/GJJGames

R2i Games: https://r2igames.com/

The Don't Go In There Kickstarter page: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/roadtoinfamy/dont-go-in-there

Send your feedback, questions and suggestions to Clark at: [email protected]

Visit the Board Game Times site at https://www.boardgametimes.com and like our Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/boardgametimes

Game Designer Ben Rosset and some of the games he has created with co-designer Matthew O'Malley

On the 12th episode of the Board Game Times podcast, Clark speaks to board game designer Ben Rosset, the designer of many games including The Search for Planet X, Between Two Cities, Between Two Castles of Mad King Ludwig and Homebrewers, among others!

You'll hear how Ben's family brought him to gaming from the very beginning, where he got the inspiration for some of his best known games, how having a good cry on a plane led to full-time work in the game industry, and how he's managed to play over 1,200 games of Seven Wonders Duel!

Ben also talks about his long-time game co-creator Matthew O'Malley, why he prefers to design games with another person and how Matthew's background in particular was a boon to the development of The Search For Planet X. You'll also hear about his "other" professional life in gaming as the Director of Training and HR for Panda Game Manufacturing. As always, Ben answers the questions to the Board Game Times Minigame questionnaire!

Interview times

12:30 Getting into game design

16:30 Changing careers and focusing on gaming

18:25 Working with Matthew O'Malley and having a co-designer

24:50 Between Two Cities

27:25 Between Two Cities of Mad King Ludwig

29:15 Beer Crafters and Homebrewers

32:17 The Search For Planet X

37:50 Growing as a designer

42:00 Upcoming games

45:55 Working at Panda and challenges in the board game business

51:00 The Minigame!!

Ben's designer page on BoardGameGeek.com: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamedesigner/60749/ben-rosset

Panda Game Manufacturing: https://pandagm.com/

Send your feedback, questions and suggestions to Clark at: [email protected]

Visit the Board Game Times site at https://www.boardgametimes.com and like our Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/boardgametimes

Justin Bell, board game reviewer and writer for Meeple Mountain

On the 11th episode of the podcast Clark talks to Justin Bell, a writer and reviewer for the MeepleMountain.com website. Clark asks Justin about his formative years in gaming and how the pandemic opened a window into writing and reviewing for him..

Justin shares his thoughts on the review process, playing games at different player counts, how many times he thinks you need to play a game to review it, and why he likes to make his in-game decisions quickly. You'll also hear about his recent trip to GenCon 2021 and his (controversial? you decide...) take on the Friendly Local Gaming Store and why he plans to buy online from now on.

Clark also asks Justin to put on his professional hat as a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion trainer and talk about diversity in tabletop gaming and the importance of seeing oneself in the games on the shelf. And there's always that pesky Minigame questionnaire...

Interview times

16:22 Getting into reviewing and the review process

33:00 Thoughts on local game stores

38:26 GenCon 2021

48:00 Diversity in gaming

56:38 The Minigame!

Justin's page on Meeple Mountain:https://www.meeplemountain.com/authors/justin-bell/

Justin's GenCon 2021 recap:https://www.meeplemountain.com/articles/justin-goes-to-gen-con-2021-a-roundup/

Justin's take on local game stores:https://www.meeplemountain.com/articles/board-game-soapbox-goodbye-flgs/

Send your feedback, questions and suggestions to Clark at: [email protected]

Visit the Board Game Times site at https://www.boardgametimes.com and like our Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/boardgametimes

Board game designer Andrew Stiles; Curbside game prototype (Steven Ungaro) ; Designers Valerie and Nick Schrag

On the 10th episode of Board Game Times, Clark goes to Protospiel Chicago and talks with four board game designers about their hopes for the game playtesting event.

Valerie and Nick Schrag have been to multiple Protospiel events. They talk about designing and developing board games as a married couple and testing their game Capacity which uses area control and worker placement mechanisms to deliver on environmental themes.

Andrew Stiles is attending Protospiel for the first time. He's a long-time player but first-time board game designer and attendee looking to tune his designs for pitching to publisher. He talks about testing multiple game designs, including the fishing-themed Intersecting Anglers and Wine Cellar'd, a set collection and card ordering game.

And Steven Ungaro has played his games Curbside (co-designed with Danielle Reynolds) and Assassin 8, a trick taking game with a twist, multiple times on digital platforms. He talks about the experience of playing his games for the first time in physical form for the Protospiel audience.

And of course, no episode would be complete without the minigame questionnaire: this episode it's super-sized!

Interview Times

4:35 Nick and Valerie Shrag - Day One

12:33 Steven Ungaro - Day One

17:31 Andrew Stiles - Day One

22:16 Nick and Valerie Shrag - Day Two

25:19 Steven Ungaro - Day Two

28:42 Andrew Stiles - Day Two

31:41 Board Game Times Minigame Questionnaire

Reach out to Nick and Valerie Schrag on Twitter at https://twitter.com/nick_schrag and https://twitter.com/v_vschrag

Follow Steven Ungaro on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/scubasteve921) or Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/plurpee/)

Andrew Stiles is on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/andrew.stiles) and Discord (Andrew Stiles #6272)

Send your feedback, questions and suggestions to Clark at: [email protected]

Visit the Board Game Times site at https://www.boardgametimes.com and like our Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/boardgametimes

Randy and Maxine Ekl, game designers and organizers of Protospiel Chicago

On the 9th episode of the podcast, Clark speaks to Maxine and Randy Ekl, the co-organizers of Protospiel Chicago this September 10th-12th. Protospiel is a tabletop game designer meetup and playtesting event held in a number of cities and now in its 5th year in the Chicago area. You'll hear why you might want to consider attending, get tips for those planning to come and hear why you absolutely must play Chi-Bingo if you do!

In addition, you'll hear Maxine and Randy's thoughts on game design, how they created some of their first games, their early efforts at self-publishing, and Maxine's first efforts at getting a game licensed by a game publisher. In the Board Game Times minigame Maxine tells us how she doesn't always keep her cool when playing and amazes us with her non-existent gaming "Wall of Shame!" Randy is another story, however...

Protospiel Chicago starts September 10th, 2021. Find out more and get registered at the Protospiel Chicago event site.

Find out more about Maxine and Randy's Clever Playing Cards game system on their official site or at their BoardGameGeek publisher page.

Learn more about Maxine's game Stripes (or buy a copy!) at the Breaking Games site. Or check out the Stripes page on BoardGameGeek.

Send your feedback, questions and suggestions to Clark at: [email protected]

Visit the Board Game Times site at https://www.boardgametimes.com and like our Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/boardgametimes

Rich Kurtin, Manager at Games Plus in Mt. Prospect

This episode Clark speaks to Rich Kurtin, manager of the Games Plus gaming store in Mt. Prospect, Illinois. Games Plus has been in operation since 1982 and Rich has worked at the store for nearly all that time! SPECIAL TIMELINESS ALERT! In this episode Rich talks about their upcoming auction beginning August 18, 2021. But don't despair if you missed it! They hold the auction twice a year so there's still plenty of useful information if you have to wait for the next one. Rich will also share some of what he's learned in nearly 40 years working in gaming retail including how he's seen the store change over the years; the challenges of running a store in the Internet (and pandemic!) eras; his love for all things miniature; any why you are better off not taking things too seriously if you want to play a game with him.

Check out the Games Plus website or their Facebook page.

Send your feedback, questions and suggestions to Clark at: [email protected]

Visit the Board Game Times site at https://www.boardgametimes.com and like our Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/boardgametimes

Lexx Dunning, co-owner of Chicagoland Games The Dice Dojo

This episode Clark speaks to Lexx Dunning, the co-owner -- along with J.P. Nery -- of Chicagoland Games: The Dice Dojo. Lexx talks about growing up with a gaming dad, just missing the Seattle gaming explosion, why working at a gaming store may not help you finish your dissertation, and how he came to open an FLGS (Friendly Local Game Store) at the height of the 2008 recession. You'll also hear what he thinks it takes to run a successful game store, why he's not afraid of online retailers, and how The Dice Dojo weathered the COVID-19 pandemic. And, of course, you'll also hear how Lexx answers our regular Board Game Times minigame questionnaire questions!

Check out the Chicagoland Games: The Dice Dojo website or their Facebook page.

See the page for Lexx's father's game World Conquest on BoardGameGeek.com!

Send your feedback, questions and suggestions to Clark at: [email protected]

Visit the Board Game Times site at https://www.boardgametimes.com and like our Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/boardgametimes

Role-playing game designer Ken Hite and his Night's Black Agents rulebook from Pelgrane Press

It's part 2 of our interview with freelance writer and role-playing game designer Ken Hite. In this episode Clark asks Ken to reflect on the changes he's seen in the RPG industry, where he thinks RPG's are going, and he shares some fantastic game recommendations when he plays the BGT minigame! Hear who's faces are carved into his Mount Rushmore of RPG design, why he thinks Chicago SHOULD be the future of streaming media for tabletop RPG's, and why you are more likely to lure him to the table with a wargame than a collectible card game.

Some of the folks mentioned by Ken in this episode: Dave Arneson; Vincent Baker; Emily Care Boss; Paul Czege; Tanya DePass; Ron Edwards; Sandy Petersen; Mike Pondsmith; and Greg Stafford.

A few of the games of note mentioned by Ken: Root, For the People, No Peace Without Spain, Blowback by Elizabeth Sampat, Pendragon, Over the Edge, and Fiasco.

If you missed it, listen to the first part of our interview with Ken Hite here.

Listen to Ken’s podcast with his buddy Robin D. Laws (450+ episodes strong!) at: http://www.kenandrobintalkaboutstuff.com/

Read Ken's online journal at: https://princeofcairo.livejournal.com/

Trail of Cthulhu designed by Ken: https://site.pelgranepress.com/index.php/trail-of-cthulhu/

Night’s Black Agents designed by Ken: https://site.pelgranepress.com/index.php/nights-black-agents/

Send your feedback, questions and suggestions to Clark at: [email protected]

Visit the Board Game Times site at https://www.boardgametimes.com and like our Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/boardgametimes

Role-playing game designer Ken Hite and his Trail of Cthulhu rulebook

This episode Clark talks to Ken Hite, freelance writer and role-playing game designer. Hear about how he discovered RPGs and grew from player to dungeon master. You'll also hear how his discovery of the classic RPG Call of Cthulhu changed how he looked at role-playing and eventually turned into years of campaigns and a job working in the industry. Ken talks about how his approach to RPGs has changed over the years, why the Lovecraft mythos is perfect for role-playing, his LOVE of research, and what goes into his process when he's asked to design and contribute to games like Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition and his own Trail of Cthulhu and Nights Black Agents.

Listen to Ken's podcast with his buddy Robin D. Laws (450+ episodes strong!) at: http://www.kenandrobintalkaboutstuff.com/

Read his online journal at: https://princeofcairo.livejournal.com/

Trail of Cthulhu designed by Ken: https://site.pelgranepress.com/index.php/trail-of-cthulhu/

Night's Black Agents designed by Ken: https://site.pelgranepress.com/index.php/nights-black-agents/

Send your feedback, questions and suggestions to Clark at: [email protected]

Visit the Board Game Times site at https://www.boardgametimes.com and like our Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/boardgametimes

Beth Heile of the BoardGameGeek Store

This episode Clark talks to Beth Heile, Product Manager for the BoardGameGeek Store. Hear how Beth turned a lifetime of board game fandom into a job at BoardGameGeek through hard work and commitment to her hobby! You'll find out how Beth's past work as an in-school speech therapist gave her added appreciation for the power of gaming, what it's like to work a board game convention, building a game library during the board game boom of the past 20 years, and the decision-making going on behind the scenes at the Board Game Geek Store. Most important of all: find out how to get involved in her regular board game meetups (restarting soon!).

Beth's Chicago meetup group: https://www.meetup.com/ChicagoEuroBoardgames/

Check out Beth's workplace at The BoardGameGeek Store: https://boardgamegeekstore.com/

See Beth's recent store updates on BoardGameGeek.com: https://boardgamegeek.com/threads/user/249403?parenttype=region&parentid=1&sort=recent

Send your feedback, questions and suggestions to Clark at: [email protected]

Visit the Board Game Times site at https://www.boardgametimes.com and like our Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/boardgametimes