In this episode of Positively Board Gaming, Jamey and Mitchell discuss positive player interactions and how they can make games more enjoyable; they also take some time to talk about what they look for in board game reviews and what's helpful to them.

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Board game house rules, player experience, and positive community etiquette—Jamey and Mitchell share smart, real-table examples from Zombicide, Lords of Waterdeep, and Red Rising, plus listener interaction, Essen/Spiel shout-outs, and a joy-filled “treats of the day” segment.

Chapters

00:00 – Cold open, numbering debate and welcome

01:31 – “Treat of the day” setup

01:38 – Mitchell: LEGO Nintendo Game Boy nostalgia and build with his son

04:37 – Jamey: The Cup (St. Louis) and a mission about meaningful moments

07:32 – Essen/Spiel shout-outs and behind-the-scenes setup videos

10:51 – What’s arriving: Tend (Ivy Studios), Dice Throne: Outcasts, Malia: Land of Legends

14:38 – How the show flows (treats, “before we start,” surprise topics)

17:22 – Defining house rules: fixes vs. preference tweaks

19:29 – Examples: Zombicide deck order; removing certain cards in group play

23:26 – Designer lens: “fun first,” rules have reasons, test before you tell

26:07 – Sharing tweaks kindly so people can actually hear you

31:18 – Call for listener house rules + ways to comment

32:11 – Wrap-up and sign-off

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Board games with unusual themes, Magic: The Gathering drafting, and why “positive” doesn’t mean sugar-coated reviews—this episode explores unique design hooks (Viticulture, Sagrada, The Bloody Inn, Root, Last Will, So You’ve Been Eaten), CCG temptations (including TMNT for MTG), and the joy of hobby rituals.

Enjoy this one? Share your favorite unusually themed game or clever mechanic in the comments, and tell us how you keep CCGs fun without overspending.

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Stonemaier Games Design Day, playtesting insights, and why stepping outside your comfort zone can rekindle your love of tabletop games. Mitchell and Jamey swap stories about gaming tables, Space Base strategies, and the joy of trying new approaches.

Like, comment, and subscribe to support thoughtful conversations about tabletop design and play. Tell us in the comments: when did you last try a totally different strategy or genre, and what did it teach you?

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Episode 30 celebrates joyful life updates, Stonemaier’s community-driven Design Day, and a rapid back-and-forth on “old vs. new” tabletop standouts—from hidden-role and drafting classics to fresh co-op poker and a superhero trick-taking design.

Mitchell and Jamey kick off with personal milestones and why sharing “the good stuff” matters. They touch on weekly-release TV culture (Survivor, Tulsa King) before a practical audio tip: even in-studio, headphones help you hear what the audience hears—isolated, accurate monitoring that guides mic technique and levels.

The show’s core is a playful volley between Jamey’s oldest modern games that still earn table time and Mitchell’s recent plays. Jamie spotlights Avalon (The Resistance)—a fast, social deduction staple for large groups—then Hanabi’s limited-communication puzzle where you can’t see your own hand, and the pocket-size, original Sushi Go for approachable drafting and set collection.

Mitchell counters with three “new to him” hits: The Gang, an unexpectedly addictive cooperative poker experience where honest signaling and tempo replace bluffing; Lord of the Rings: Duel for Middle-earth, a smooth, two-player reimagining with multiple win paths and escalating engine building; and Origin Story, a small-box hero/villain trick-taking game with tableau powers and stamina tokens that make each round’s choice meaningful and replayable.

Along the way, Jamey discusses culling shelves ahead of Stonemaier’s Design Day to keep the library fresh and community-ready, while Mitchell underscores why elegant rules that scale table talk—and create post-game stories—are what make games stick.

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Hosting your first game night can be simple and fun. In this episode, we share practical tips for hosting your first game night, plus a lively chat about partnership games.

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On this Episode of Positively Board Gaming, Mitchell and Jamey talk about the latest Stonemaier Games release, Origin Story, and how to bring new gamers into the hobby by matching game themes to the things they already love.

If you enjoyed this chat, like the video and drop a comment with the card or tableau games you use to hook new players; and don't forget to subscribe for more positive board-gaming conversations!

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Episode 27 of Positively Board Gaming dives into hobbies, sports, and what brings us joy outside of the board game hobby. Mitchell Whitfield and Jamey Stegmaier swap stories about retro gaming, RC crawlers, YouTube creators, and even sumo wrestling, before talking sports, fandom, and the excitement of hockey’s return.

Enjoying the show? Subscribe to Positively Board Gaming on YouTube and your favorite podcast platform. Drop a comment with your favorite hobby or team—we’d love to hear from you!

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A 34-person game retreat, a human-sized round of Codenames, and a marble “Kentucky Derby” set the stage for a conversation about games that surprise us—in the best ways. Jamey recaps three creative big-group “room party” games, while Mitchell shares five titles that defied expectations:Shifting Stones, Number Drop, QE, Fantasy Realms, and One Deck Dungeon. Plus: light banter, a concert detour, family game night picks, and a handy Just One table tip.

00:00 Cold open, smiles you can “hear”

00:xx Show format & quick banter (concert, high-school fame)

00:xx Family game night picks & Just One tip

00:xx Room-party #1: Stardew fishing → communal punch

00:xx Room-party #2: Human Codenames

00:xx Room-party #3: Marble “Derby” racing

00:xx Mitchell’s list: 5 games that surprised him

00:xx Design chat: why QE and Fantasy Realms feel “magical”

00:xx One Deck Dungeon → design inspiration

00:xx Listener questions & wrap

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How do you curate or cull a board game collection? Jamey Stegmaier and Mitchell Whitfield share positive, practical strategies for culling shelves, setting limits, and deciding what truly earns a place—plus thoughts on campaign games, “worlds on your shelf,” and Stonemaier reveals.

Enjoyed this conversation? Subscribe, leave a rating, and tell us how you curate your collection. Which criteria matter most to you—and which titles are untouchable?

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