In this show, Tom talks about his travels to Khan Kon in China, we review Circle the Wagons, Master of Respect, T.I.M.E. Stories, Pandemic: Rapid Response, Palaces of Carrara, and  Paris Paris.  We also answer a pile of questions and talk about our favorite top ten abstract strategy games.

TDT # 613 -  Abstract Strategy Games

Tom Vasel and Eric Summerer take a look at board games, card games, and the people who design, publish, and play them.

Top ten lists, Q&A, tales of horror, and more await you!

Games

Leisure

This time, Tom, Julie, and Eric discuss the pitfalls of April Fools gags before highlighting the highs and lows of bargain hunting. We confront a listener-submitted dilemma from the mailbag, and we share some Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops. 00:45 - Cruise Hype and an Unexpected Musical Rant 02:21 - April Fools Annoyance 12:12 - Bargain Hunting 29:25 - Question: Avoid the Game or the Person? 36:05 - Spark Riders 3000 42:36 - Primal: The Awakening 45:56 - Blueprints 48:30 - Cryptid Cafe 50:49 - Eppi 57:36 - Flashback: Zombie Kids

At The Table with The Dice Tower - Bargain Basement

Tom, Julie, and Eric revisit last episode's question about auction games by looking at their favorite auction mechanisms, and look forward to Julie's and Eric's events at Dice Tower East. We share a new Tale of Boardgaming Horror, and run through our Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops. 01:23 - Staying Up Late and Dice Tower West 03:29 - Looking Forward to Dice Tower East 07:00 - 36-Hour Marathon 08:07 - Auction Mechanisms 33:32 - Tale of Boardgaming Horror 37:52 - Xylotar 41:17 - The 7th Citadel 49:39 - Cleocatra 53:40 - Expressions 57:25 - Hissy Fit 59:53 - My Parents Might Be Martians

At The Table with The Dice Tower - This Is Seventeen

This time, we are LIVE at Dice Tower West 2024 in Las Vegas in front of a convention audience to discuss our Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops, pit three games in a Vegas-themed Showdown, share a Tale of Boardgaming Horror, and take questions from the audience. 01:04 - News for Dice Tower West 2025 03:17 - Games Tom Taught 04:26 - Eric Plays Wyrmspan 05:52 - What's Julie Been Doing? 07:33 - Way Too Many Cats 11:38 - Shipwrights of the North Sea: Redux 13:45 - Paris: La Cité de la Lumière 17:27 - Mr. Jack 19:54 - Challengers: Beach Cup 22:47 - Video Game Champion 29:36 - Showdown Intro 30:27 - Vegas Showdown 31:19 - Lords of Vegas 33:52 - Vabanque 36:22 - Tale of Boardgaming Horror 41:12 - What is our favorite Stonemaier Game? 41:58 - Where does Tom keep his hats? 42:39 - What are our favorite Auction Games? 44:23 - What was our favorite non-gaming Vegas experience? 47:41 - What game surprised us after having low expectations? 50:24 - Do we implement house rules/post-release fixes? 54:54 - What is a good travel-sized deck-building game? 57:28 - What are our spouses' favorite games?

At The Table with The Dice Tower - Vegas Baby!

Tom, Julie, and Eric share their excitement for Dice Tower West. Tom and Eric have been playing Collectable Card Games with their kids, while Julie played games in a castle. We share some industry news about the former designers at Prospero Hall, as well as a Tale of Horror that leads to a discussion about Math Trades. And we close the show with our Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops. 00:45 - Dice Tower West and our Live Show 04:34 - Hot Games at DTW 09:51 - Tempest Workshop 13:19 - Playing CCGs with Our Kids 22:44 - Hoop and Stick at Ravenwood Castle 32:20 - Tale of Boardgaming Horror - Math Trades 43:18 - Hecken Good Dogs 50:51 - Wyrmspan 55:34 - Unlock: Legendary Adventures 59:46 - Mythic Mischief 1:02:47 - Spectral 1:05:04 - Penny Dreadfuls of Victorian London

At The Table with The Dice Tower - Storming the Castle

This time, Tom, Julie, and Eric remember their gaming habits in college. Also, we look at the motivation for a publisher to "rescue" a failed crowdfunding campaign. Eric gets worked up with a Tale of Boardgaming Horror, and we share some Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops. 01:33 - Dice Tower West and Live At The Table (Saturday 3/9 at 1pm) 04:33 - "Rescuing" a Crowdfunding Campaign 27:01 - Our Gaming in College 40:25 - Tale of Boardgaming Horror 45:26 - Wordcraft 49:21 - Expressions 52:54 - Maps of Misterra 56:27 - Doctor Who Magic the Gathering 1:03:37 - ...and then we held hands 1:05:20 - Sky Team

TDT # 613 - Abstract Strategy Games

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