Of Dice And Men

Chad, Ryan and Adam try to figure out if board games can truly be "spoooooky", or at least which ones come closest. We then break down some recommendations for the upcoming Halloween season, including a few gateway game recommendations and a few for the more seasoned gamer.

Our feature game for this episode is Psycho Raiders - Ryan was betrayed by a mechanic and Chad lit someone on fire with a blow torch. Ryan turns some tricks in the forest, Chad one up's The Martian by growing plants without using his own by-product, and Adam is warmed by the glow of the others' recent gaming experiences.

Of Dice and Men is broadcasted live on 91.3 FM CJTR, Regina Community Radio - our next broadcast will be October 22nd at 8 PM CST.

Ryan, Chad and Adam welcome our first-ever guest host, Roxanne Stankievech from SaskGames as we talk about both running and attending public gaming events, and how public gaming helps society at large! (or at least we think so).

Shortly following, Roxanne blasts us through Galaxy Trucker as our feature game, Ryan wonders why no one cheats at NMBR 9, Chad takes little solace in a recent Game of Thrones "win", and Roxanne highlights her experiences with Unlock!

Of Dice and Men is broadcasted live on 91.3 FM CJTR, Regina Community Radio - our next broadcast will be October 8th at 8 PM CST.

Adam, Ryan and Chad discuss the dichotomy of Strategy and Tactics within the hobby of board gaming, where certain games may fit on the strategy-tactic spectrum, and why players may prefer one over the other. War of the Ring is our featured game for this episode, Chad gushes over getting lost in The 7th Continent, Ryan gets tired biking uphill in Flamme Rouge, and Chad & Ryan reflect on Ryan's near victory in Blood Rage.

Of Dice and Men is broadcasted live on 91.3 FM CJTR, Regina Community Radio - our next broadcast will be September 24th at 8 PM CST.

Chad, Adam, and Ryan discuss the pros and cons of randomness in board games - where it intersects with player choice, how dice are the ultimate simulation engine, and why drawing a card can be tense. Adam also celebrates his recent playing of games by setting a new record for saying Fascist the most on public radio, Ryan stomps on grapes in Italy, and Chad robs the train from Back to the Future 3.

Oh, also Dominion is our featured game. Forgot about that one.

Ryan and Adam take a stroll down memory lane, recounting their favourite board game stories and bathing in a large pool of nostalgia. Speaking of which, the two take on Dracula in Fury of Dracula, and Adam reflects on recent announcements to bring back Twilight Imperium and Necromunda.

Adam, Chad and Ryan peel back the layers of board game complexity in this episode, discussing component, strategic, rule, and social complexity in gaming. We then get lost in the randomness of Betrayal at House on Haunted Hill, Ryan gets into a fight in Yomi, and Chad plays some space checkers in Battle Beyond Space

Adam, Chad and Ryan highlight some of their favourite licensed games (games based on existing TV, Movie, Book, or Video Game franchises) and highlight the pros and cons of piggybacking on an existing IP. Speaking of which, we talk about Gears of War, Chad does his best to defend Xia: Legends of a Drift System from Ryan and loses, and then Chad hunts down Adam in Escape from the Aliens in Outer Space

What's the best rulebook you've ever read? Chad, Adam, and Ryan discuss the best and worst examples of board game rulebooks in the industry, and then battle each other for control of the Great Meadow in their review of March of the Ants. Also mentioned: Canada's Birthday (with our favourite games designed/illustrated by a Canadian), Ryan's first experience with Dread RPG, Adam's over-optimization of Boss Monster, and Chad's unfair experience with, well, Unfair.

Ryan, Chad and Adam discuss the pros and cons of Kickstarter and how it has shaped our boardgaming hobby in the last 5 years. We then lock Adam in a metaphorical room as Chad and Ryan discuss the recent Exit: The Game and Unlock! boardgames modeled after escape rooms and talk about our recent plays.

Hold our hand as Adam, Ryan and Chad escourt you thought the last few epochs from boardgaming history; Pre-Catan (before 1995), the European Invasion (1995 - 2005), and the Thematic Renessance (2005 - 2012). Chad also practices some real-life pandemic while trying describe Ethnos and Adam celebrates his recent playing of Between Two Cities