Released: June 29th, 2010
Show Description:
In this episode I discuss not my Top 50 but I examine the Top 50 games at BGG as of June 2010. I give you a short summary of the games’ themes and mechanics and my rating and personal opinion of each game. I start the episode by musing a bit about the pros and cons of the categorization of games and the differences between thematic, strategy and abstract games. I hope you enjoy it.

Episode D – Overviews and Opinions of the Top 50 Games

Welcome to the home of the How to Play Podcast; A Podcast about learning and teaching games. We all know that the best way to learn a game is to have it taught to you by someone who knows the game well. That is what The How to Play Podcast is all about. Its like you are hearing an explanation of how to play a game from your wittiest, best looking and most charming friend. You don’t have a friend like that? Thank goodness, that guy would set the bar for me far too high, and in that case I’m sure that you will think these game explanations are fantastic. How to Play is a tool for learning, and learning to teach, games. Each explanation is carefully handcrafted for your listening pleasure. As an added bonus you might get a bit of strategy, some musings on various board game topics and assorted special lettered episodes all for the low, low price of free. Check it out.

Games & Hobbies

Video Games

Other Games

Hobbies

Automotive

Aviation

Trade on the Tigris Teaching Guide
Trade on the Tigris Teaching Guide B&W
Released: August 15th, 2018

In this episode I teach you to play the game I co-designed with Geoff Engelstein on the Ludology Podcast, Trade on the Tigris.  This game started its life called “Trading in the Mediterranean,” and six years later has finally grown up to be a real life game.  This will likely be the final How to Play Podcast, I hope you enjoy it.  As a special bonus I have created a video for the Hook and the Meat of this episode.  For extra intro and hamster content check out the audio version of the episode.  Thank you so much for listening everyone.

Episode 46 – Trade on the Tigris

Released: February 18th, 2014

 
 
In this episode you get to listen in on Ryan’s explanation of Merchant and Marauders, whose tutorial was won as an item for the Jack Vasel Memorial Fund.  Though not truly an official episode, hopefully it might sate some of your longing for new HTP episodes.

Episode 45 – Merchants and Marauders

Clash of Cultures Teaching Guide
Clash of Cultures Teaching Guide BW
Released: June 29th, 2013

 
 


 
 Show Notes:
I present to you Clash of Cultures.  Which is a wonderful civilization game.  This epic meaty strategy game could not be denied an episode of How to Play.  It is highly recommended for fans of the theme and weight of a game this chunky.  Plus as a special treat I am joined by the game’s designer, Christian Marcussen, to help me introduce the game and give you some basic strategy.
Component Pictures on BGG

Episode 44 – Clash of Cultures

In this episode I pull together several of my dice tower reviews for your listening pleasure while I am taking a bit of a break from producing How to Play.
Reviews included are;

Glory to Rome: Black Box Edition
1989
High Frontier
Urban Sprawl
Runewars
The Settlers of Catan: Traders and Barbarians

Enjoy!

Episode L – Ryan’s Reviews

Merchant of Venus Teaching Guide
 Merchant of Venus Teaching Guide BW
Released: January 1st, 2013

 
 
 
 
Game Description:
Merchant of Venus.  A wonderful blending of the excitement of an exploration game with the strategy of an economic game.  It is a fabulous adventure through space.  With the recent rerelease of this classic you can now play this game without having to cut out 437 circles and affix them the wooden discs.  Fantasy Flight Games’ new release of Merchant of Venus allows you to play the classic version from 1988 or try out their updated version of the game.  I focus my explanation of the classic game but discuss both versions of the game at length.  Plus, I could not do this episode without asking one of my friends to come along for the ride.  I hope you enjoy the episode.
Component Pictures on BGG

Episode D – Overviews and Opinions of the Top 50 Games

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