The Cardboard Mechanics

By Aaron Wilson and John Prather

Aaron Wilson and John Prather take a look under the hood of board games and talk about the mechanisms and narratives that drive board game design.... more

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FAQs about The Cardboard Mechanics:

How many episodes does The Cardboard Mechanics have?

The podcast currently has 12 episodes available.

The Cardboard Mechanics episodes:

April 29, 2023 Episode 12 - First of Season 2 - More like Fun-building. Amirite?
Episode 12 - First of Season 2 - More like Fun-building. Amirite?

In this 12th episode (and first for 2023) John and Aaron talk about Deckbuilding and John's obsession with Dominion.

Games we mention:
Dominion
Starcraft The Board Game 2007
Ascension
Star Realms
Eternal
Clank: In Space
Quest for Eldorado/Salmon Run
Heat
Flamme Rouge
Few Acres of Snow
Undaunted: Normandy
Tyrants of The Underdark
Summer Camp
Nightfall
Fort / SPQF
Glory to Rome
Eminent Domain
Ruins of Arnak
Dune Imperium
Great Western Trail
Dice Masters
Quarriors
Orleans
Automobiles
Quacks Of Quedlinburg
RuneStones
Abandon All Artichokes
Xenon Profiteer
Pasaraya: Supermarket Manager
Briefcase
Slay The Spire
Monster Train
Across The Obelisk
Waterworks
Valley Of The Kings
Tanto Cuore
Trains

Intro/outro music by Sickabod
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...more
1h 2min
December 24, 2022 Episode 11 - Season 1 Wrap - Tip of the Iceberg
In this 11th and final episode of Season 1, John and Aaron touch on the things covered in 2022 and what lies ahead for Season 2 in 2023.
Intro/outro music by Sickabod
Follow us on the Twitter! (And now Hive also)
@Cardboard_Mechs @internetsmagic @anygrytetris
...more
38min
October 15, 2022 Episode 10 - Just Flat Out Tiles
In this epic 10th episode John and Aaron welcome Shawn Stankewich of Flatout Games, to talk about tile the placement mechanism and Flatout's upcoming real-time tile placement game, Fit To Print by Peter McPherson.

Games we mention:
Cascadia
Carcassonne
Orx
My City
Terraforming Mars
Ark Nova
Tsuro
Karuba
Whistle stop
Azul
Go
Vegas Showdown
Patchwork
A Feast for Odin
Cottage Garden
Fields of Arle
Glen More
Barenpark
Nova Luna
Indian Summer
Spring Meadow
Twilight Imperium 4
Catan
Alhambra
Kingdomino
Queendomino
Blockus
Takenoko
Sprawlopolis
Carpe Diem
Teotihuacan: City of Gods
Among the Stars
Fields of Green
Circle the Wagons
Naturopolis
Galaxy Trucker
Fit to Print
Lanterns
18xx
Vast: the Crystal Caverns
Isle of Sky
Pipeline
Curious Cargo
Trailblazers
Santiago
Castles of Mad King Ludwing
Suburbia
Castles of Burgundy
Isle of Cats
Calico

Intro/outro music by Sickabod
Follow us on the Twitter!
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...more
1h 12min
July 31, 2022 Episode 9 - My Father's Worker Placement
In this 9th episode John and Aaron welcome TC Petty the 3rd to talk about his new game My Father's Work, among many other games that successfully utilize a worker placement mechanism.

Games we mention:
My Father's Work
Twilight Imperium 4th edition
Russian Railroads
Agricola
Lords Of Waterdeep
The River
Mint Works
Anachrony
Viva Java
Energy Empire: Manhattan Project
Tzolkin
Chimera Station
Stone Age
Bus
The Gallerist
Caylus
Le Havre
Harbor
Watch
Kanban
Vinos
Coldwater Crown
Raiders Of The North Sea
Caverna
Feast For Odin
Fields Of Arle
Ruins Of Arnak
Dune Emperium
Keyflower
Bruxelles 1893
Spyrium
Maquis
Xanadu

Intro/outro music by Sickabod
Follow us on the Twitter!
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...more
1h
June 17, 2022 Episode 8 - Take Stock!
In this 8th episode John and Aaron talk about stock holding games with guest, Ryan Courtney.

Games we talk about:
Bear Raid
Stockpile
Vegas Showdown
Please Fix the Teleporter
18XX - 1830/22/46/ches
Cube Rails - Chicago Express/Irish Gauge/German Railways/Union Station
Stocks and Bonds (1964)
LCR
Acquire
504/Power Grid
Startups
Mystic Market
Mars Needs Mechanics
Jaipur
Reef Encounter
Mombasa
Panamax
Arkwright
Airlines Europe
Wildlife Safari/Botswanna/Loco
The Gallerist
Arkwright the card game
Mini Rails
Prospectus
For-ex

Intro/outro music by Sickabod
Follow us on the Twitter!
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...more
1h 12min
May 13, 2022 Episode 7 - Should I stay or should I go?
In this 7th episode John and Aaron talk about Push/Press your Luck games with guest, Tony Miller.
Games we talk about:
Blackjack
The Split
Can't Stop
Deep Sea Adventure
Clank!
Incan Gold
Quacks of Quedlinburg
Yatzee
Escape: the curse of the temple
The Grizzled
Arkham Horror the card game
No Thanks!
Coloretto
Abyss
Cardcassone
Biblios
Fire in the Library
Captain Carcass
Megaland
Welcome to the Dungeon
Circus Flohcati
Blood Bowl
Black Orchestra

Intro/outro music by Sickabod
Follow us on the Twitter!
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...more
1h 21min
April 07, 2022 Episode 6 - So much More to talk about
In this 6th episode John and Aaron take a deep dive into Glen More and talk about its main mechanic of going around in a square.
Intro/outro music by Sickabod
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@Cardboard_Mechs @internetsmagic @anygrytetris
Learn MORE about Glen More and Glen More 2 by Matthias Cramer on Board Game Geek
...more
39min
March 26, 2022 Episode 5 - The Mechanic that Gets Better with Age
In this 5th episode John and Aaron talk about the world of time tracks
Intro/outro music by Sickabod
Follow us on the Twitter!
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The games we mention:
Seeland (2010)
Rocky Road à la Mode (2017)
Kraftwagen (2015)
Glen More (2010)
Circle the Wagons (2017)
Tokaido (2012)
PARKS (2019)
Patchwork (2014)
World of Warcraft Miniatures Game (2008)
The Networks (2016)
Battle Merchants (2014)
High Rise (2020)
Nova Luna (2019)
Aqua Garden (2021)
The Search for Planet X (2020)
Francis Drake (2013)
Raids (2018)
...more
44min
February 13, 2022 Episode 4 - The Ouroboros of Board Games
In this 4th episode John and Aaron talk about the world of rondels
Intro/outro music by Sickabod
Follow us on the Twitter!
@Cardboard_Mechs @internetsmagic @anygrytetris

The games we mention:
Teotihuacan: City of Gods (2018)
Viscounts of the West Kingdom (2020)
Mystery of the Temples (2017)
Round House (2016)
Antike II (2014)
Watch (2021)
Sovereign Skies (2020)
The Networks (2016)
Crusaders: Thy Will Be Done (2018)
Seeland (2010)
Glen More (2010)
Patchwork (2014)
Heaven & Ale (2017)
Chess (1475)
PARKS (2019)
Great Western Trail (2016)
Raids (2018)
Province (2014)
Circle the Wagons (2017)
Rocky Road à la Mode (2017)
Trajan (2011)
Gold West (2015)
Beta Colony (2018)
Merlin (2017)
The Red Cathedral (2020)
Shipyard (2009)
Captains of the Gulf (2018)
Three Sisters (2022)
Great Western Trail (Second Edition) (2021)
Hot Diggity Dog (2022)
Agility (2016)
...more
53min
January 24, 2022 Episode 3 - Sovereign Skies deep dive
In this 3rd episode John and Aaron talk about the mechanics of Sovereign Skies.

Learn more about Sovereign Skies:
https://youtu.be/CA-KBl4KWyc
https://www.deepwatergaming.com/products/sovereign-skies

Intro/outro music by Sickabod

Follow us on the Twitter!
@Cardboard_Mechs @internetsmagic @anygrytetris
...more
1h 1min

FAQs about The Cardboard Mechanics:

How many episodes does The Cardboard Mechanics have?

The podcast currently has 12 episodes available.