Table Talk

By CovenantLeisure Games Hobbies

Table Talk episodes

October 18, 2019 113: Marvel Crisis Protocol First Impressions
Fresh off of an 8 hour live play of the Marvel: Crisis Protocol miniatures game, we give our first impressions of the game - including both its relevance to the industry and an evaluation of the system itself. We expect these views to evolve and develop over time as we gain experience with Crisis Protocol, and look forward to sharing more as we go along!

Find all previous casts, as well as Crisis Protocol products and subscriptions on our website: https://teamcovenant.com
1 hr 19 min
October 11, 2019 112: Winning and Losing
With Zach fresh off of a Destiny Prime Championship, the evolving discussion about tournaments, prizes, winning, and self realization re-emerges. This time, an unexpected depth is explored - one that deals more with human psychology than tabletop gaming tournaments. Find all previous casts, as well as learning content and products on our website: https://teamcovenant.com
1 hr 13 min
October 04, 2019 111: Playing to Your Strengths
KeyForge has recently done a tremendous job of playing to its strengths, and in light of those discussions, we take a look at how publishers and local retail can best play to theirs. If you could simply wipe the slate clean, how would the FLGS handle community building through events? Visit us on the web: https://teamcovenant.com

1 hr 9 min
September 27, 2019 110: Cash and KeyForge
The Vaultwarrior tournament series brings a $200,000 tournament circuit to KeyForge. Cash prizes have both failed and succeeded in the past, so is this the right approach for KeyForge? We bring a lot of historical skepticism to this topic, but the discussion turned out to be a surprising one. Visit us on the web: https://teamcovenant.com
1 hr 8 min
September 20, 2019 109: Tapestry and Evergreen Retail
With Stonemaier's latest in-demand game, the same conversations and disappointments have erupted from every part of the publisher-distributor-retailer chain. Tapestry continues where Wingspan left off, and both reveal systemic problems - but shouldn't that be expected when the systems were never built to accommodate these kinds of titles? There is value in direct sales, distribution, and local retail, but a realignment must occur if the goal is to maximize each. Visit our website for more: https://teamcovenant.com
1 hr 10 min
September 13, 2019 108: Products or Play Space?
The tabletop game store environment continues to shift, with new and veteran retailers asking how best to capitalize on their space. Some say play space is the way forward. Others find success stocking a diversity of products and focusing on traditional retail. After a trip to New York City and witnessing a few stores with the latter model, Zach re-ignites the debate about the future of tabletop retail. Visit our website for more: https://teamcovenant.com
1 hr 17 min
September 06, 2019 No Cast This Week
Zach is in New York City celebrating his wedding anniversary! We'll be back next week for an installation of our Marvel Mondays live stream at 2PM CST and a new episode of the Covenant Cast on Friday.
1 min
August 30, 2019 107: When "Clunky" is Correct
An oft-cited critique of tabletop games, particularly board games, is that tracking all of the necessary variables is an unneeded burden. As a response, various digital integrations and simplified rulesets are pitched as removing this element from the experience and liberating players from the clunky and fiddly moments that "get in the way" of the actual game. But what if these moments were understood to be not only incredible opportunities for engagement but also a necessary component of the "tabletop game" category? This one goes deep. Visit our website for more: https://teamcovenant.com
1 hr 4 min
August 23, 2019 106: Can Crisis Protocol Break Into the Mainstream?
Marvel: Crisis Protocol embraces the fundamental divider of a hobby miniatures game - highly detailed models that must be fully assembled and painted. We discuss whether or not the game has a shot at breaking through the "industry" bubble and reaching a level of ubiquity previously unattained by the likes of Warhammer: 40k.

Visit our website at https://teamcovenant.com and keep in touch via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
1 hr 13 min
August 16, 2019 105: Marvel Champions - The Perfect LCG?
Marvel Champions does a lot of things right, but its most important features may well be found in the nuts and bolts of packaging and distribution. We dive into that, using examples from past LCGs, and also spend a bit of time discussing the surprising number of design and deck building levers hidden in the system - because we can't help it.

Visit our website: https://teamcovenant.com
1 hr 17 min

About Table Talk

From the publisher's feed

A weekly discussion about the evolution of the tabletop gaming industry, from the perspective of Steven and Zach—two long-time friends who started playing games together as kids in the '90s and then founded Covenant in 2007. They provide a uniquely well-informed, candid, and holistic perspective shaped by decades of industry experience.