In this week's episode, Zach immediately zones out as Jeff and Adrian discuss Civ 6 and snowboarding, two things he couldn't care less about. He is awakened when the off topic discussion shifts to Red Dead Redemption following the release of the new trailer. Eventually the 3 hosts manage to end up discussing boardgames as they recap the last week of gaming before launching headlong into news and kickstarter discussions. Building on the already solid foundation laid up until this point, the three of them take to reviewing the city building game Quadropolis before working their way into a discussion of pacing in boardgames. The show wraps up as Zach and Adrian recount meeting a fan and then Jeff's true identity is revealed in an email. As always, thanks for listening and ENJOY!!! 00:00:20 Bantering Banter 00:21:31 News and Kickstarter Roundabout Roundup   00:21:35 Bears Vs Babies   00:23:39 Mansions of Madness expansion - Beyond the Threshold   00:27:21 Matt Leacock's Chariot Race   00:28:52 Deep Madness   00:30:51 Medici the Card Game 00:32:50  MHGG Review: Quadroplis   00:33:16 Rules Overview   00:34:25 Initial Thoughts   00:38:38 Components   00:40:04 Rules   00:41:00 Gameplay   00:44:36 Final Thoughts 00:45:36 Discussion of the Day: Pacing in Boardgames

Terraforming Mars and the Kickstarter Effect

Opening up the episode, our hosts mention a couple of newly played and finished games, Joking Hazard and Pandemic Legacy Season 1, and Jeff shows his excitement for his upcoming Blood Bowl season. Some interesting news from Essen is talked about, including Pandemic and Ludicreation’s Steal this Game!. Jeff starts our Terraforming Mars review with a rule overview and then they dive into the components, gameplay, and “required” variants.The hosts then move onto our discussion topic, Kickstarter. When did we start using it? Do we still use it? Is it good for the industry? What about kickstarter exclusives? These questions and more lurk within. Finally, we announce the winner of our Giveaway! As always thanks for listening and enjoy!!

00:00:20 - Banter Begin! 00:12:50 - News and Kickstarters!   

• 00:13:51 Pandemic: Legacy Season 2
• 00:18:33 Feast for Odin
• 00:19:21 Pandemic: Iberia
• 00:21:31 Steal This Game Kickstarter

00:23:43 MHGG Review: Terraforming Mars!

• 00:24:37 Rules Overview
• 00:25:57 Initial Thoughts  
• 00:35:04 Component Review
• 00:38:39 Rules and Rulebook Review
• 00:41:55 Gameplay Review
• 00:52:48 Final Thoughts

00:58:28 Discussion of the Day: Kickstarter! 01:32:36 Contest Results!!

   The hosts unload a vast treasure of new played games into the opening banter, including Terraforming Mars, Quadropolis, and Twilight Struggle. Then, instead of a regular news and Kickstarter, they discuss Essen Spiel 2016 and some of the games they are looking forward to the most, lack of info be damned. In the review section, they discuss another Essen release, The Networks, and how great it is the run your own TV Network. The discussion of the day is Luck vs Skill. What is better? Can games be fun without a combination of both? Which is more important? These questions and more are answered to the best of our (limited) ability.The episode closes out with a reminder of our first ever Giveaway.

00:00:20 Banter!   Handegg! Weekend gaming! Lots and lots of games! Networks, Quadropolis, Terraforming Mars, Imperial Settlers, Twilight Struggle, The Others: 7 Sins, and Pandemic: Legacy 00:25:58 Essen Preview!

•   00:27:03 - Zach's picks: Raise Your Goblets and Dreams
•   00:31:46 - Jeff's picks: RONE: Races of New Era, Great Western Trail, and Power Grid: The Card Game
•   00:34:31 - Adrian's picks: Cottage Garden and A Feast for Odin

00:39:06 MHGG Review: The Networks 

• 00:39:27 Rules Overview
• 00:40:57 Initial Thoughts
• 00:42:59 Components
• 00:46:16 Rules and Rulebook
• 00:49:17 Gameplay
• 00:54:20 Final Thoughts

00:56:56 Discussion of the Day: Skill vs Randomness 01:16:50 Contest Reminder and contact stuff!  

Scythe and the Beauty of Great Components

The hosts open the episode with the newly patented Banter section where they recap some newly played and acquired games. The News and Kickstarter section this week features a new Eldritch Horror expansion and a 2nd version of Dominion along with a couple interesting kickstarters; Pathogenesis and Druids. Zach then gives you another Rule Breakdown for this week’s Game Review: Scythe. As we Move from rules to game discussion, we each Produce our initial feelings of Scythe, we Trade some insights into different player counts, before Bolstering our Final Thoughts, which includes Jeff’s opinion on the solo version. The discussion topic today is all about components, including art, graphic design, and game pieces/minis. Lastly the guys announce our first ever Giveaway! As always, thanks for listening and ENJOY!!!

00:00:00 Banter! Featuring Oregon Trail the Board Game, More Captain Sonar, Oceanos, and Red Dragon Inn. 00:14:58 News and Kickstarters!   00:15:02 New Eldritch Horror: Dreamlands   00:18:05 Seafall Tracking Update   00:20:16 Dominion 2nd Edition   00:27:52 Scythe Expansion   00:29:57 Pathogenesis Kickstarter   00:32:13 Druids Kickstarter 00:35:51 MHGG Review: Scythe   00:36:37 Rules/Gameplay Overview   00:37:53 Initial Thoughts   00:39:47 Components   00:43:07 Rules and Rulebook   00:44:45 Gameplay   00:52:45 Final Thoughts   00:58:08 Solo Play 01:04:01 Discussion of the Day: Component and Art Quality in Boardgames 01:30:54 1000 Total Downloads Celebratory Contest!!! 01:xx:xx That's a wrap!!

 The Jury is Still out on Editions

Our Hosts, trying out the new “established” format, execute the prescribed Off-Topic Intro Banter, before entertaining themselves with some recently played games. They bring a couple news items to light, like Scythe’s Return policy, as well as mention a few Kickstarters that could be interesting. Moving into the Game of the Week, Zach gives us a Rules Breakdown of Mansions of Madness 2nd edition and then the group follows up with many, many opinions, including comparisons to first edition and the price point . The review smoothly transitions into our topic of the week, Game editions. Whether it's a rule shake-up, component upgrade, or money grab, we discuss what we look for in new editions. A listener email closes out the show. Enjoy!

00:01:00 - 00:21:39  Banter! Featuring beer, Jeff not knowing famous people, Captain Sonar, Scythe, Risk and Pandemic Legacy, Pillars of Eternity, Le Havre, and soap operas! Hooray!

00:21:15 News! Massive Darkness pledge manager goes live, Hanjin has stranded boats and people can't get games, Jamey Stegmaier discussed his 100% money back guarantee, Jeff creeped on the aforementioned Mr. Stegmaier. 00:27:39 Kickstarters! Mars 4:45, Heroes of Normandie Tactical Card Game 00:31:04 MHGG Reviews: Mansions of Madness 2nd Edition!   00:32:48 Rules and Game Overview   00:35:01 Components review   00:37:31 App discussion   00:49:50 Comparing 1st Edition vs 2nd Edition     00:56:30 Cost Analysis   01:01:03 Final Thoughts 01:02:25 Discussion of the Day: Reprints, Re-releases and New Editions!  01:29:20 Emails!   01:33:17 Episode Wrap!

  As the episode numbers climb further into double digits the guys decide to change up the show format one more time. Back is a looser banter section where they talk about what fun things they've been up to and briefly chat about a few games they've played recently. From there your intrepid hosts set out on a new quest: To provide a more specific game review section!

  The target of this weeks quest is the team vs team game of submarine warfare: Captain Sonar! To start this new section, Zach runs through a loose description of the rules, then all 3 hosts chat about their experiences playing the game, and finally they all give their final verdict!

  Following the shiny new review section comes a welcome bit of familiarity with a Kickstarter Round-Up and Industry News section featuring Thornwatch and Mechs vs Minions.

  And last, but in no way least, is the discussion of the day where the hosts follow up on last weeks episode about gamenights by discussing what they look for in a "gamenight game"

  Thanks for listening and enjoy!

Banter

• 00:42 New Equipment
• 01:23 Show Notes! These ones!
• 02:29 Football! The Hand-egg version!
  •   03:25 Adrian was @ Broncos vs Colts!
• 04:11 Adrian learns Le Havre
• 05:46 Games that have sat on our shelves for a while
• 07:50 Jeff hasn't played anything lately
• 08:34 What is ISK?
• 09:23 Zach has played: Stockpile, Race for the Galaxy
• 10:06 Jeff has been reading rulebooks
• 11:23 Adrian got a new copy of Risk: Legacy
• 13:39 Our new plan to play more games
• 14:10 Zach unleashes one of his greatest weapons
• 14:23 Discussing new episode format

Weekly Review: Captain Sonar

• 15:32 Intro
• 16:16 How to play
• 22:57 Our experiences
• 31:58 Final thoughts 

Kickstarter Round-up and Industry News

• 37:50 One Night Ultimate Alien - Less than 1 week to back!
• 39:19 Jeff's missing Kickstarter
• 40:45 Thornwatch
• 47:09 Mechs Vs Minions
• 52:32 Robinson Crusoe (Last time, probably, maybe, hopefully)

Discussion of the Day: Gamenight Games, a follow up

• 54:42 Intro
• 55:06 Zach's Criteria with examples
• 58:16 Jeff's Criteria and examples
• 01:00:26 Adrian's Criteria examples
• 01:02:33 Zach shares a good idea from Tom Vassel
• 01:08:00 Zach reiterates a plan to play more games

Episode Wrap-up 01:09:16

   Fresh off a post-Top 10 high, the hosts catch back up on what they've been able to get to the table. Jeff starts by leading an expedition into Caverna then taking a toss at Roll for the Galaxy. Zach tries to steal the show with Thieves Market but is soon distracted when Adrian lights the room with Lanterns.

  With pleasantries out of the way, it's time for Jeff to mourn the split between Games Workshop- Fantasy Flight only to be comforted with news of a revamped version of Robinson Crusoe. New Kickstarter game Endangereds Orphans leads to a revelation for Jeff while Adrian and Zach double up on backing Unfair. Jeff and Zach also throw money at the Expansion for Tiny Epic Galaxies along with the entire known world.

  Actual fan mail leads perfectly into this week's discussion topic where Jeff and Zach help Adrian share what little knowledge he has about organizing a large-scale gaming group in order to help you Organize a Game Night!

Thanks for listening and enjoy!

Banter and Recently Played

• 02:15 - Jeff leads us deep into Caverna
• 11:37 - Jeff gives Roll for the Galaxy a roll
• 12:06 - Zach sells us on Thieves Market
• 17:24 - Adrian lights up Lanterns
• 19:31 - Adrian and Zach beat Jeff to Scythe

Gaming News and Kickstarter Round-up

• 21:49 - Games Workshop splits from Fantasy Flight
• 31:04 - Robinson Crusoe gets a new edition
• 33:32 - Endangered Orphans of Condyle Cove KS launched and funded
• 35:30 - Unfair KS Funded and  1 day left!!
• 36:18 - Tiny Epic Galaxies: Beyond the Black KS launched and funded

Discusion of the Day: Organizing a Game Night Meetup

• 39:58 - Topic Intro
• 40:05 - Relevant Fan Mail
• 43:09 - Review of our Gamenight Group
• 47:46 - Determine Why you want to start a gamenight
• 49:32 - Figure out Where you want to meet
• 54:04 - Find When works best for your new group
• 56:10 - Make sure you know Who is coming to your gamenight
• 58:53 - Do What you can to keep people aware of your events
• 01:00:09 - Time to HOST!
  • 01:00:58 - Make sure people coming have a way to find YOU
  • 01:06:19 - Have games available
  • 01:07:38 - Be sociable, be a good host, get people involved
• 01:09:24 - Following up your first event
• 01:09:59 - Problems can/will arise over time - Deal with them (literally)
  • 01:10:23 Inter-personal problems
  • 01:11:36 Organization problems
• 01:13:43 All the hard work pays off
• 01:15:09 Q&A from the earlier fan mail
  • 01:15:39 Q1) Does the group trend towards Regulars or New Attendees?
  • 01:17:39 Q2) Do people come in knowing about hobby boardgames?
  • 01:19:18 Q3) Do you end up playing a lot of easier, lighter games or do you get to try out new stuff on a regular basis?
  • 01:21:01 Q4) Do you guys have a place where you post your Wednesday Meetup locations?

Episode Wrap-Up

• 01:22:43 Another Email!  

This episode is chock full of spoilers for the first 6 months Pandemic Legacy, as such we won't be doing time stamps/ a detailed episode description. We highly recommend listening only if you have completed Pandemic Legacy through June or if you don't particularly care about spoilers for this game.

  If you listen just be fully aware of spoilers throughout the episode and enjoy!

  So for Episode 10, not our 10th episode, we decided to do something just a little different. For this episode we are leaving behind our normal format and dedicating an entire episode to our favorite games. Each of us took the time to develop our own criteria for what makes a game fir our top ten, then we applied that criteria to all the games we've played and this episode is the result! Thanks for listening and we hope you enjoy this special episode, we'll be back to our normal format next week with Episode 11.

 Sincerely,

- The Mile High Game Guys

Criteria for our lists.

02:14 Zach's Criteria 03:06 Jeff's Criteria 03:39 Adrian's Criteria Number 10 05:06 Adrian's #10 07:00 Zach's #10 07:51 Jeff's #10 Number 9 09:49 Zach's #9 11:16 Adrian's #9 13:58 Jeff's #9 Number 8 15:55 Jeff's #8 17:52 Zach's #8 19:21 Adrian's #8 Number 7 21:13 Zach's #7 23:22 Jeff's #7 25:00 Adrian's #7 Number 6 27:05 Adrian's #6 28:54 Jeff's #6 30:48 Zach's #6 Number 5 32:00 Zach's #5 33:33 Jeff's #5 35:11 Adrian's #5 Number 4 38:35 Adrian's #4 41:01 Jeff's #4 44:13 Zach's #4 Number 3 45:10 Zach's #3 48:30 Jeff's #3 51:43 Adrian's #3 Number 2 52:58 Jeff's #2 54:15 Adrian's #2 56:04 Zach's #2 Number 1 57:03 Zach's #1 58:16 Jeff's #1 01:02:04 Adrian's #1 Games that didn't make the list 01:06:10 Jeff 01:07:41 Adrian 01:10:57 Zach Games that are close to the list 01:12:22 Adrian 01:14:22 Jeff

This week the guys decide to introduce you to one of the other players from Jeff's Pandemic Legacy game: Wesley! After a quick discussion of his gaming cred they move on to this weeks recently played discussion featuring Fuse, Roll for the Galaxy, Total Rick-all, and Carcassone. This is followed by an overview of some recently announced games such as Welcome Back to the Dungeon, an expansion for Bang! The Dice Game, Spyfall 2, and Pandemic: Ibitha as well as some local gaming news featuring the grand opening of Boardgame Republic and the announcement of Denver B-Con. A short round up of a few kickstarters that are ending soon and one that just started gives way to the discussion of the day: Player Counts and their effect on games. Concluding the episode is a short reading of Jeff's 2nd email! Listen and enjoy! Chit-Chat 00:26 Wesley intro 02:24 Zach admits to cheating!!!!! 03:12 Wesley's Least and Most Favorite Game (least- Munchkin, most- Citadels) 04:01 New Citadals info 05:24 Brief Player Count Preview 08:27 Hate the Players, not the Game What we've been playing 08:50 Zach defuses Fuse 12:10 Adrian rolls around with Roll for the Galaxy 19:44 Jeff recalls Total Rick-all, works on Patchwork and welcomes a friend to Welcome to the Dungeon 24:37 Wesley goes expansion heavy in Carcassone News 27:23 Jeff ruins the transition to our news segment 27:31 Welcome BACK to the Dungeon  -28:28 New Monsters  -30:29 New Classes 33:12 Spyfall 2 35:10 Bang the Dice Gang: Old Saloon 38:19 Boardgame Republic Grand Opening 39:20 Pandemic: Ibitha 41:15 Denver B-Con Oct 22-23 Kickstarter Roundup 45:10 One Night Ultimate Alien 48:27 Polyhero Dice: The Wizards Set 52:01 Fantasy Coin and Electrum Campaign Coins Discussion of the Day 52:47 Player Counts in Gaming 1:08:36 A Second Email! 1:11:16 Episode Wrap up and Contact Info