The Dice Men Cometh

And I think to myself, what a Wonderland’s War…

Tonight the Dice Men are taking a trip through the looking glass and exploring Wonderland’s War, provided very kindly to us by Good Games Australia. This must be one of the hottest and prettiest games at the moment so surely we have something just as beautiful for our second review…

Well our second game is all about redesigning a town in Ohio, yes Ohio, in Squaring Circleville. This game has a very interesting theme and is actually really quite good, especially if you like squares and circles!! This copy was provided to us by our friends at Behold Games.

Oh…and we announce our BorderCon winner so stay tuned. As always, thanks again to our great supporters, LFG Games.

In this episode, it’s the Mark and Garth extravaganza as Leon is away doing things only he can do!

We start the show by discussing the Spiel Des Jahres nominations for 2022 and again (yes again) discuss the weight of the games that are up for the biggest of prizes.

It’s then time for the review-train to get started as we leave the station and head for our first stop….Beyond the Sun! A game that is as pretty as a….well, as pretty as a….you’ll have to listen in to hear how pretty this game is. But is it any good?!?!

Mark then brings this review-train to a halt by trying to explain Parks; a game all about hiking the National Parks of the good ol’ US of A. Now this game IS as pretty as a picture! Remember to leave only footprints, and take only photos when hiking.

So that’s your show for this week, but don’t fret as the Dice Men will be back shortly for your next gaming installment. Thanks again go out to our incredible sponsor, LFG!

Garth wins … again!

Outer space? More like white space.

Parkerita’s anyone?

Sure has some pretty pieces

This week the Dice Men attempt a feat so brave, so rare and so unusual…yes, that’s talking about three different things in one little show!

We start off with our thoughts on the recently announced Golden Geek Awards (no, we didn’t win best podcast AGAIN…).

That is followed by a visit to a steampunk world occupied by a nameless but ever-present foe; that world being the Spielworxx game Tharos (kindly provided by Behold Games).

And we finish off with a chat about the best tabletop implementation of Where’s Wally, in talking about the MicroMacro: Crime City games.

And don’t forget, there isn’t much time to get your BorderCon entries in as our competition closes on 31 March. Thanks to the wonderful team at LFG for their ongoing support.

Tharos Components

Spellcheck anyone?

MicroMacro: Crime Cityphoto by ExpeditionSpielreich (BGG)

Welcome one and all to the never-ending carnival that is the Dice Men Cometh and tonight we’re talking about one small game, one bigger game and one even BIGGER competition!

So let’s get straight to the point…we have 2 tickets to the hottest show in town, Bordercon, to give away and listening to this episode is your path to victory!

We then move onto a little horse game that is currently leading the field around the last bend towards Game of the Year according to Leon!

But what’s this? Another game is fast catching up and has the wind in it’s sails as Anno 1800, by the one and only Martin Wallace, is running at top speed towards the finish line! Who will win? What do Mark and Garth think of these two games and did we mention that we have 2 tickets to Bordercon to give away?!?!?!?

So please listen in and listen well, because we also have another little secret that some listeners have already heard about….Thanks to the wonderful team at LFG and thanks to all our wonderful listeners!

The sport of Kings?

Anno 1800 components,

image by @Eicoon on BGG

Ann0 1800 Box shot

Today is not a drill! Yes, it’s a thrill, and you don’t have to sit still! It’s a publisher special, and they are SchilMil!!

The Dice Men are covering three games produced by our publisher friend from across the ditch – so let’s call it our Tazmania, Manifest and Komodo spectacular!

It’s so great to discuss a game that is based on some Old Ones visiting our little island, before sailing the high seas in the 1920’s and finishing with a kid-friendly romp trying to save animals from potential asteroid destruction!

So thanks to Schilmil for sending us these games, and of course to our sponsor, LFG for their amazing support.

Amanda Milne from SchilMIl shows off the Map of Tazmania

Tazmania Box Art

Manifest

Leon runs away from pirates – again!

This week it’s the Mark and Garth show as Leon takes a secret break for secret reasons.

So why not dust off a game that has done something no other legacy game has done…keep the Dice Men interested all the way to the end. Yes, it’s our review, discussion and chit chat about a game that burst onto the gaming scene like an unexpected fireworks show on a dark and stormy night…The King’s Dilemma.

And if that’s not all, Mark tells us about a game he first heard about in the dark ages, but finally owns, plays and possibly even recommends…Do you dare to Sluff Off??

So that’s the show this week, but remember to listen all the way to the end as we announce the winners to our first “Friends of the Dice Men” game giveaway! (hint, if you want the chance to win, you should check out our Patreon page).

As always, we want to say thanks to the team at LFG for their amazing support.Check out the burning video here

King’s Dilemma Box(c/o Dr Meeple on BGG)

Detail of the Tracks(c/o Dr Meeple on BGG)

Burn Baby Burn

Still recognisable!

Sluff Off

An Ark? An Ark for Mark? An Ark for Mark, so he can bark (all the rules clarifications at us)?

Tonight we present the hottest of hotness, our discussion on Ark Nova, the game of rival zoo-making for fun and profit (well, appeal and conservation points anyway). This game takes up nearly the whole show as it’s one big beast and deserves both our and your attention. Is it king of the jungle? Is it a lame duck? Should you spend your dollarydoos on this mammoth game?!?! Listen in and find out.

We sneak in some news on upcoming shows and generally rant and rave just like the baboons we are.

And please, look no further than our wonderful sponsor LFG for all your Ark Nova and other gaming needs.

What a game …

Animals everywhere

The Conservation projects

Building a Zoo

With Garth stuck in isolation, Leon and Mark get to do things their way for once, starting with a review of Tiny Epic Mechs by Gamelyn Games.

Mark then introduces a hot new word game called So Clover, which is harder to describe than it is to play. Square donuts anyone?

Finally, there’s some back and forth on the new Awaken Realms stand-alone expansion, Nemesis: Lockdown.

A full show, bursting at the seams with tiny, party and alien goodness. All brought to you with the support of LFG.

Daddy, that looks scary.

Daddy!!!! STOP SCARING ME!

Now THAT is a shelfie.

Every episode of the Dice Men Cometh is an adventure, and tonight we’re off to a mysterious island searching for the Lost Ruins of Arnak!

Leon leads us through every facet of (possibly) the best rulebook in the world, in an extended review of a game that is already clawing it’s way to the top off the BGG rankings.

With a little breather at the end, we have to mention the sensation that is Wordle… and yes, there is a board game version…sort of.

Then to cap it all off, Charles from LFG sits down with Mark for a brief chat on the future of LFG Sydney, and some BorderCon news if you’re lucky. Thanks to LFG for their support as always. Please make sure to check out their online store for all your board gaming needs.

Exploring the Lost Ruins of Arnak is thirsty work (lucky Mark had plenty of homebrew on hand).

Episode 323 roars into life like an ornithopter taking off from Arrakeen!Tonight, Mark and Garth have thrown Leon to Shai-Hulud and are delving head first into a Dune vs Dune…Imperium shootout for the ages.Which game captures the essence of Dune? Which transports players to the sandy crags of a Fremen Sietch? Which makes you want to learn and sing the Sardaukar chant at every karaoke night?!?!The voice commands you to listen to this episode to find out all you could ever need to know.Thanks to LFG for their ongoing spice and support.Please make sure to check out their online store for all your gaming needs.

Harkonnen goodness

The battle for Tuek’s Sietch

Emperor Garth and Joelgar concentrate

Art imitates Life – Duncan is dead!