Two Wood for a Wheat

Well, this somehow became the climate change episode, which now seems inevitable.

We review After Us, a post-apocalyptic deck builder with monkeys! Then, we discuss the evolution of apocalyptic themes in board games and how they serve to exorcise our anxieties about the present and near-future.

Join us in the conversation on discord: https://tinyurl.com/2wood4wheat

Ask us a question at [email protected]

Leave us a review on Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/two-wood-for-a-wheat/id1447901771

Read Tony's blog: https://boardgamegeek.com/user/maxlongstreet/blogs

Thanks to God Street Wine for our intro and outro music: https://www.facebook.com/GodStreetWine/

00:05:44 Daybreak
00:09:22 City of Heroes
00:10:06 Guild Wars, Guild Wars 2, World of Warcraft
00:11:53 Catan Junior, CATAN
00:14:05 War of the Ring: The Card Game
00:16:19 Calico, Creature Comforts
00:27:33 Ticket to Ride, Splendor: Duel
00:18:55 FEATURE REVIEW After Us
00:21:16 Furnace, Tainted Grail
00:32:52 FEATURE DISCUSSION Apocalyptic Games and the Exorcism of Anxieties
00:36:02 Revive
00:37:00 Exodus Fleet
00:39:30 Daybreak, Pandemic
00:41:00 Cloudage, Radlands, Resurgence, Fallout
00:41:51 Ryan Laukat
00:42:46 Anachrony
00:43:19 Hit Z Road
00:43:34 Barrage
00:45:37 Bitoku, Arborea
00:46:01 Gloomhaven, Spirit Island

Shake Box. Shakey Boy Box. Randomness Plunger. Infinite Input Randomness Generator. What the hell do we call this thing?

Today we're reviewing Shake that City, the new city building game published by AEG with a box like no other. Nearly without fail, it produces a three-by-three grid of colored cubes to lay onto your city board. Does this box make a game? Come find out.

Along those lines, we discuss different design elements that engender input randomness.

Join us in the conversation on discord: https://tinyurl.com/2wood4wheat

Ask us a question at [email protected]

Leave us a review on Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/two-wood-for-a-wheat/id1447901771

Read Tony's blog: https://boardgamegeek.com/user/maxlongstreet/blogs

Thanks to God Street Wine for our intro and outro music: https://www.facebook.com/GodStreetWine/

00:04:26 Frosthaven
00:05:29 War of the Ring: The Card Game
00:07:46 Just One
00:08:19 Concept
00:09:36 FEATURE REVIEW Shake that City
00:15:04 Tiny Towns
00:27:33 Calico
00:23:19 Tiny Towns
00:24:24 Planet Unknown
00:26:39 FEATURE DISCUSSION Design Elements that Engender Input Randomness
00:30:09 Amerigo
00:30:50 Race for the Galaxy
00:31:14 7 Wonders, It's a Wonderful World
00:33:28 War of the Ring: The Card Game
00:35:34 Underwater Cities, Woodcraft
00:36:15 Agricola
00:40:59 Tyrants of the Underdark, Dominion
00:41:16 Shakespeare
00:42:52 Lorenzo il Magnifico
00:43:37 Race for the Galaxy, Ark Nova
00:44:49 Terraforming Mars
00:46:00 Quacks of Quedlinberg, Orleans, Wonderland's War
00:47:51 7 Wonders: Duel
00:51:21 Argent the Consortium, It's a Wonderful Kingdom, Acquire

Today we answer the question, can a euro be too euro-y?
Also, we're discussing games that could have been an email AKA heavies that could have been mediums.

Looser edit today, folks. Pat's running on 8 total hours of sleep over two days and is aiming for a a base level functioning.

Join us in the conversation on discord: https://tinyurl.com/2wood4wheat

Ask us a question at [email protected]

Leave us a review on Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/two-wood-for-a-wheat/id1447901771

Read Tony's blog: https://boardgamegeek.com/user/maxlongstreet/blogs

Thanks to God Street Wine for our intro and outro music: https://www.facebook.com/GodStreetWine/

00:02:39 Just One
00:02:47 Shake that City
00:04:22 War of the Ring: The Card Game
00:04:47 Quartermaster General (Dyslexia's a pain)
00:07:21 Bridge
00:09:42 It's a Wonderful World, Bunny Kingdom, A Feast for Odin
00:12:33 Ark Nova, Race for the Galaxy
00:13:29 Woodcraft
00:13:53 Kites
00:14:20 Frosthaven (new character spoilers)
00:16:35 FEATURE REVIEW Sabika
00:30:12 Grand Austria Hotel
00:30:15 Lorenzo il Magnico
00:37:05 Perseverance
00:43:20 FEATURE DISCUSSION Heavy games that could have been medium games
00:43:48 Perseverance: The Castaway Chronicles
00:44:31 Vital Lacerda
00:46:13 Woodcraft, Tekhenu
00:48:39 Woodcraft
00:50:12 Golem
00:51:27 Barrage
00:52:22 A Feast for Odin
00:52:58 Horseless Carriage
00:55:03 Ready Set Bet
00:57:13 Shake that City

The Rococo period, which emerged in the early 18th century in Europe, was a highly ornamental and elegant artistic and architectural style that replaced the grandeur and formality of the Baroque era. Characterized by delicate and asymmetrical designs, pastel colors, and a focus on frivolity and pleasure, Rococo art sought to create a sense of lightness and enchantment. It celebrated the aristocratic lifestyle, depicting scenes of leisure, love, and nature, often incorporating elements of fantasy and mythology. The period's intricate decoration was seen in lavish interiors, furniture, sculpture, and painting, reflecting the tastes of the ruling elite. However, Rococo's emphasis on opulence and superficiality also drew criticism for its lack of substance and excessive indulgence, leading to its eventual decline in favor of more restrained Neoclassical styles.

Unlike this description, the game of Rococo is no more superficial and is incredibly full of substance. It is, however, an absolutely excessive indulgence, especially the overtly lavish deluxe edition.

Listen to our love letter to Rococo.

00:04:29 Bunny Kingdom
00:04:52 Carnival of Monsters
00:05:04 King of Tokyo
00:06:41 Kites
00:12:08 Project L
00:12:56 FEATURE REVIEW Rococo
00:27:33 Lancaster, Glen More II
00:33:48 Sabika, Bitoku

Join us in the conversation on discord: https://tinyurl.com/2wood4wheat

Ask us a question at [email protected]

Leave us a review on Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/two-wood-for-a-wheat/id1447901771

Read Tony's blog: https://boardgamegeek.com/user/maxlongstreet/blogs

Thanks to God Street Wine for our intro and outro music: https://www.facebook.com/GodStreetWine/

"Welcome, dear listeners, to another riveting episode of Two Wood for a Wheat! Today, we delve into the mysterious realms of the new game sensation, Legacy of Yu, where strategy meets sorcery and dice rolls hold the fate of empires. Join us as we bravely navigate the treacherous waters of punishing board game mechanics, where victory is hard-won and defeat leaves you craving redemption. Grab your dice, sharpen your wits, and prepare for a wild ride through the lands of chance and strategy!"

At least that's what ChatGPT thought I should say when I got lazy and wanted it to write a summary for me. But the robots have not done their research.

Legacy of Yu is actually a solo deck building legacy game brought to you by Shem Phillips and illustrated by his brother Sam Phillips. One of us thinks it's one of the best solo games of the year while the other thinks something... else.

Well, then we're punishing ourselves with the elements of punishing games.

00:07:50 Bunny Kingdom
00:11:12 Ark Nova
00:13:22 Applejack, Earth, It's a Wonderful World
00:14:40 Frosthaven
00:16:24 FEATURE REVIEW Legacy of Yu
00:16:32 Raiders of the North Sea, ... of the West Kingdom, ... of the South Tigris
00:27:33 Pandemic
00:44:55 FEATURE DISCUSSION The Elements of Punishing Games
00:46:00 Agricola
00:46:15 Ark Nova
00:49:39 Barrage
00:51:58 Cosmic Frog
00:53:41 Blood Rage
00:55:13 Resurgence
00:57:42 Pandemic, Pavlov's House
01:00:10 Terra Mystica
01:04:21 Heaven and Ale
01:05:42 Food Chain Magnate
01:09:41 Argent the Consortium

Join us in the conversation on discord: https://tinyurl.com/2wood4wheat

Ask us a question at [email protected]

Leave us a review on Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/two-wood-for-a-wheat/id1447901771

Read Tony's blog: https://boardgamegeek.com/user/maxlongstreet/blogs

Thanks to God Street Wine for our intro and outro music: https://www.facebook.com/GodStreetWine/

Reseal... research... reseat... reseau...? resect... reseda... ... reserve... RESET aha! That took a while -- who put so many words in this language? Now let's find Revive.

Today we are at it again with the Hotness. We're reviewing Revive, the new combo-chaining quasi-deck building game. Then we're discussing 'reset turns' in board games and how they toggle the pace of the game and the abilities of the player.

00:03:23 Applejack, It's a Wonderful World, A Feast for Odin, A Feast for Odin: The Norwegians
00:04:44 Underwater Cities: New Discoveries
00:05:09 Tyrants of the Underdark
00:05:34 Dune: Imperium, Great Western Trail
00:09:11 Goblin Vaults, Roll Player, Calico
00:13:23 FEATURE REVIEW Revive
00:27:33 The Magnificent, Santa Maria, Trails of Tucana, Automania
00:34:53 Endless Winter
00:40:22 FEATURE DISCUSSION Reset
00:40:51 Eclipse
00:41:31 Clans of Caledonia, Terra Mystica
00:41:58 Scythe
00:46:36 Anno: 1800
00:47:34 Space Station Phoenix
00:48:23 Everdell
00:49:58 Architects of the West Kingdom
00:50:59 Gloomhaven, Frosthaven
00:54:19 Sabika, Legacy of Yu

Join us in the conversation on discord: https://tinyurl.com/2wood4wheat

Ask us a question at [email protected]

Leave us a review on Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/two-wood-for-a-wheat/id1447901771

Read Tony's blog: https://boardgamegeek.com/user/maxlongstreet/blogs

Thanks to God Street Wine for our intro and outro music: https://www.facebook.com/GodStreetWine/

Two Wood for a Wheat's B-sides are going on a hiatus. Come back next week on the A-side when we review Revive.

Happy Earth Day! In case it wasn't obvious, we're reviewing Earth, the new enormous-deck tableau building game. Then, we're discussing the benefits & pitfalls of big decks in board games.

00:01:06 Darwin's Journey
00:01:26 Maracaibo, Barrage
00:07:04 Splendor, Azul
00:08:44 Legacy of Yu
00:14:34 Calico
00:15:15 Revive
00:27:33 Tenpenny Parks
00:19:58 Gloomhaven: Jaws of hte Lion, Magic: The Gathering, Frosthaven
00:22:01 FEATURE REVIEW Earth
00:22:30 Terraforming Mars, Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition, Ark Nova, Race for the Galaxy
00:53:38 FEATURE DISCUSSION Big Decks
00:53:48 Earth, Ark Nova, Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition, Race for the Galaxy, It's a Wonderful World
00:54:58 Keystone, Magic: The Gathering
00:59:11 Race for the Galaxy: Expansion & Brinksmanship
00:59:43 Wingspan
01:01:34 Ark Nova
01:02:25 7 Wonders, Blood Rage, Underwater Cities
01:03:38 Lorenzo il Magnifico
01:04:17 Maracaibo
01:10:14 Sabika

Join us in the conversation on discord: https://tinyurl.com/2wood4wheat

Ask us a question at [email protected]

Leave us a review on Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/two-wood-for-a-wheat/id1447901771

Read Tony's blog: https://boardgamegeek.com/user/maxlongstreet/blogs

Thanks to God Street Wine for our intro and outro music: https://www.facebook.com/GodStreetWine/

Mitch and Tony discuss the Klaus Teuber classic Catan.

Join our Discord:
https://tinyurl.com/2wood4wheat

Ask us a question at [email protected]

Leave us a review on Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/two-wood-for-a-wheat/id1447901771

Read Tony's blog: https://boardgamegeek.com/user/maxlongstreet/blogs

Thanks to God Street Wine for our intro and outro music: https://www.facebook.com/GodStreetWine/

Today we review Alexander Pfister's reimplimentation of Mombassa, Skymines.

00:03:35 Gloomhaven: Digital
00:04:51 Tussie Mussie
00:07:04 Naturopolis, Sprawlopolis, Agropolis, Ultimopolis
00:09:06 Ark Nova
00:10:32 Earth
00:11:39 Splendor: Duel
00:27:33 Legacy of Yu, Revive
00:15:14 FEATURE REVIEW Skymines
00:15:15 Mombassa, Gaia Project
00:25:42 Resurgence
00:34:41 Mandala

Join us in the conversation on discord: https://tinyurl.com/2wood4wheat

Ask us a question at [email protected]

Leave us a review on Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/two-wood-for-a-wheat/id1447901771

Read Tony's blog: https://boardgamegeek.com/user/maxlongstreet/blogs

Thanks to God Street Wine for our intro and outro music: https://www.facebook.com/GodStreetWine/