There’s a lot that comes to mind when someones says “game balance” in reference to board games, and we’re here to talk about all of them. Jack and Eric discuss what they want from game balance, games that are good examples of it, and answer some questions from commenters about the topic.

0:00 - Introductions and What We’ve Played This Week

13:29 - Our Topic This Week: Game Balance

01:05:31 - Listener Comment #1

01:08:19 - Listener Comment #2

01:16:13 - Listener Comment #3

01:23:54 - Listener Comment #4

01:29:25 - Outro

Realm of Reckoning launches on kickstarter on June 24th, 2025 here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ivstudios/realm-of-reckoning

00:00 - Intro

01:36 - From animation to the tabletop

07:40 - Starting with theme or mechanics?

10:40 - Difficulty with commitment to bespoke components

14:30 - Honing the craft of making games

18:15 - Moving industry to a smaller pond

23:06 - Beginnings of Reckoning

27:28 - Upcoming cooperative deck builder

31:20 - When to start internal and external playtesting

36:06 - Navigating Tariffs

39:51 - Why not solo?

43:05 - Feeling challenged by other publishers?

47:51 - Admiration for small design

50:39 - Original themes and world buidling

56:20 - Coming down the pike?

Links:

Our Site - https://www.cardboardherald.com

Our Video Channel - https://www.youtube.com/TheCardboardHerald

Our Twitter - https://twitter.com/CardboardHerald

Our Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/user?u=9669551

Following our discussion a few weeks ago about IP-Based games, we’re talking about different ways games can exude theme, and the levers they can pull

0:00 - A Demonstration of Technical Difficulties

0:47- The Real Introductions and What We’ve Played This Week

20:00 - Topic: How Board Games Exude Theme

1:28:22- Listener Comments and Examples

01:39:25 - Outro!

You can find out more about the book here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmlZSX1YmTI

Links:

Our Site - https://www.cardboardherald.com

Our Video Channel - https://www.youtube.com/TheCardboardHerald

Our Twitter - https://twitter.com/CardboardHerald

Our Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/user?u=9669551

These games stay Based (on other intellectual properties). This week, Eric and Jack talk about board games based on non-board game Intellectual properties, and what we want to see out of them.

0:00 - Introductions and What We’ve Played This Week

10:43 - Topic: IP-Based Board Games

45:15- Listener Question: Why Are There So Many Lord Of The Ring Games?

53:27 - Outro!

Nick Murray of Bitewing Games chats with Eric about his kickstarter for Gingham and Gazebo, his thoughts on the tariffs and what it’s like being named Nick.

0:00 - Introductions and What We’ve Played This Week

13:38 - Publishing Gazebo and Gingham on Kickstarter

27:40 - Bitewing’s Relationship with Reiner Knizia

32:20 - What Work Goes into Setting a Kickstarter Up for Success

39:30 - Nick’s Thoughts on His Post About Tariffs

48:45 - What Is the Board Game Industry Going to Look Like a Year from Now?

55:28 - Stonemaier Games’ Lawsuit

01:02:48 - Bombastic Direct-to-Retail Release

01:11:25 - Listener Question - What’s It Like Being Named Nick?

01:41:13 - Outro!

Do we want more? Do we want less? What do we want when we play a new expansion to a board game? We give our thoughts on what makes a great board game expansions with some examples of our favorites and our least favorites on this week’s edition of The Cardboard Herald Podcast

0:00 - Introductions and What We’ve Played This Week

11:08 - Our Topic This Week: What Makes a Great Board Game Expansions

31:15 - Eric’s Number 5: 7 Wonders Duel: Pantheon

34:48 - Jack’s Number 5: Architects of the West Kingdom: Works of Wonder

38:24 - Eric’s Number 4: Spirit Island: Jagged Earth

40:37 - Jack’s Number 4: Spirit Island: Jagged Earth

43:33 - Eric’s Number 3: Dune Imperium: Rise of Ix

52:38 - Jack’s Number 3: Viticulture Tuscany Essential Edition

1:00:54 - Eric’s Number 2: Arcs: Blighted Reach Campaign

1:09:01 - Jack’s Number 2: Undaunted: Reinforcements

1:16:02 - Eric’s Number 1: Wingspan Oceania

1:22:06 - Jack’s Number 1:Terraforming Mars Prelude

1:27:11 - What Do We Want An Expansion of Harmonies to Look Like? 

1:32:34 - Listener Comments!

01:41:13 - Outro!

Stonks! On this week of The Cardboard Herald Podcast, Jack and Eric talk about the nebulous topic that is how to value games.

0:00 - Introductions and What Games We’ve Played!

34:22 - The Lore Corner

1:16:37 - What is Our Most Valuable Game?

1:17:03 - Return to The Lore Corner

1:21:52 - Outroduction

This week, we wanted to give a somewhat thorough overview of how the board game industry is reacting to the announced tariffs and what it means for us, as consumers in this hobby.

Here are some of the links we reference in the video:

https://stonemaiergames.com/the-darkest-timeline/

https://boardgamegeek.com/blog/1/blogpost/172826/publishers-talk-more-about-us-tariffs

https://solisgamestudio.com/blog/the-growing-bay-area-industry-that-tariffs-may-kill

0:00 - Introductions

00:47 - Topic Introduction: How Do Tariffs Affect the Board Game Industry 

07:35 - What Are Tariffs?

19:13 - What Are People in the Industry Saying?

54:42 - What Are Things We Can Do To Help Out?

01:09:20 - Outro!

You’re stranded on an abandoned island with only you, five board games, four friends and one million dollars from a disheveled content creator. What five games do you bring?

0:00 - Introductions and What Games Have We Played This Week!

10:00 - Topic: Games We Would Bring to a Desert Island

17:07 - Parameters of What Games We’re Bringing

21:25 - Eric and Jack Game #1

25:35 - Jack Game #2 

28:00 - Eric Game #2

30:27 - Jack Game #3

34:37 - Eric Game #3

39:05 - Jack Game #4

48:52 - Eric Game #4

52:54 - Jack Game #5

57:09 - Eric Game #5

1:02:04 - Eric’s Villain Monologue 

01:05:05 - Listener Lists

01:14:41 - Outro!