Vox Republica: Podcast of The Cardboard Republic

Episode 125: The Impact Of Large Scale Media

Length: 1:51:00

Show Links: RSS | iTunes | Stitcher | Download Episode

Welcome back to Vox Republica, the Cardboard Republic Podcast!

We post new episodes every other Thursday, with each episode being about 45 minutes long.

Vox Republica is proudly supported by our Patreon. Consider contributing today!

DESCRIPTION: This week we turn the lens inward on gaming media itself. After discussing the philosophy behind how often someone should play a game before judging (or reviewing) it, Erin and Ryan then invite on veteran reviewers Michael Fox (Little Metal Dog Show) and Jonathan Wolf (islaythedragon) to chat about the 800 pound Kotaku in the room. As gaming continues to grow, it's attracting attention from non-traditional hobby gaming sites to cover games. With scopes of coverage dwarfing even that of The Dice Tower, we examine the positives - and negatives - that such newcomers have on gaming media and the hobby on the whole.

GUESTS: Michael Fox & Jonathan Wolf

RECENTLY PLAYED GAMES - (01:36):

• Vast: The Crystal Caverns by Leder Games
• Agility by Two Lanterns Games
• Potion Explosion by Cool Mini Or Not
• Mystic Vale by Alderac Entertainment Group
• Mansions of Madness: Second Edition by Fantasy Flight Games

QUICK TOPICS - (38:23):

• How many times do you have to play a game before being able to render a verdict on it? Erin and Ryan discuss what they feel their ideal number is, both for gamers and for reviewers.
• Ryan also floats his idea for a new vlog.

FEATURED TOPIC - (54:39):

• As the gaming hobby continues to expand, it seems that some entities with sizable readership have decided to get in on the fun. To figure out what that means for the hobby and hobby media, we decided to round up a couple and chat about it. Together with Michael Fox of Little Metal Dog Show and editor Jonathan Wolf of islaythedragon, we dive into how it affects those of us on the content creation side. Topics include:
  • Why are larger entities taking more of an interest in gaming lately?
  • Was this a natural progression due to growth of the hobby?
  • What the positive implications that their involvement can have on the hobby itself
  • How their presence impacts 'hobbyist media' and how entities should adjust/cope with that impact
  • Are there any serious detriments to this increased interest from large outlets?

PLUGS - (1:51:00):

• We reviewed Quadropolis!
• We're also raffling off a copy of August Indie Spotlight game Vast!
• We're also also raffling off a copy of Avalanche at Yeti Mountain to a lucky Patreon backer. Consider donating today!
• As always, Cardboard Republic YouTube videos, Instagram pictures, and the BGG Guild are still ongoing. Subscribe to either - or both if you really love us. You do really love us, right?

We'd love to hear from you! You can send questions or feedback via email at [email protected]. You can also reach us social media, including Twitter, Facebook, and BoardGameGeek.

Audio Credits: Intro music track is "Swing!" by Bargo!, used under Creative Commons license.

Episode 124: Gen Con 2016

Length: 1:51:44

Show Links: RSS | iTunes | Stitcher | Download Episode

Welcome back to Vox Republica, the Cardboard Republic Podcast!

We post new episodes every other Thursday, with each episode being about 45 minutes long.

Vox Republica is proudly supported by our Patreon. Consider contributing today!

DESCRIPTION: Erin and Ryan, between bouts of fatigue, talk all about the mega gaming convention known as Gen Con 2016, including all the highlights and a few disappointments.

GUEST: None

FEATURED TOPIC - (1:54):

• It's Gen Con! With tons to see and do on each of the four days, we recap games of note that we saw, those we played, events we participated in, and all the excellent people we interacted with. It's roughly broken down by day:
  • Thursday - (03:17)
  • Friday - (37:49)
  • Saturday - (58:04)
  • Sunday - (1:19:58)
  • Favorite Parts of Gen Con 2016 - (1:31:54)
  • Least Favorite Parts of Gen Con 2016 - (1:40:36)

We'd love to hear from you! You can send questions or feedback via email at [email protected]. You can also reach us social media, including Twitter, Facebook, and BoardGameGeek.

Audio Credits: Intro music track is "Swing!" by Bargo!, used under Creative Commons license.

Episode 123: The Undead Viking Goes Pro

Length: 1:29:57

Show Links: RSS | iTunes | Stitcher | Download Episode

Welcome back to Vox Republica, the Cardboard Republic Podcast!

We post new episodes every other Thursday, with each episode being about 45 minutes long.

Vox Republica is proudly supported by our Patreon. Consider contributing today!

DESCRIPTION: Erin and Ryan talk about the recent Asmodee acquisition announcement, the new Mansions of Madness news, and Gen Con. They're then joined by Lance Myxter, the Undead Viking himself, for an in-depth conversation about the evolution of board game media.

GUEST: Lance Myxter

RECENTLY PLAYED GAMES - (01:11):

• Dark Dealings by Nevermore Games
• Total Rickall by Cryptozoic Entertainment
• Scythe by Stonemaier Games

QUICK TOPICS - (17:22):

• Asmodee is at it again, announcing they are planning to acquire F2Z Entertainment (including Z-Man Games, Plaid Hat Games, and Pretzel Games). We tackle what that does - and doesn't - mean for the industry.
• Fantasy Flight announced they will be doing a 2nd Edition of Mansions of Madness, replacing the GM-styled Keeper player with an AI-driven app instead. We give our reactions to that change.

FEATURED TOPIC - (26:35):

• Lance Myxter (more commonly known as Undead Viking) has been a presence in the gaming hobby for nearly a decade. From his being an early adopter of video reviews to his new employment as a member of publisher Tasty Minstrel Games, he has worn many (hopefully viking-themed) hats. He's also been around to watch the hobby change and explode in recent years. We sit down to hear his thoughts on how gaming and gaming media has changed in his time. Areas of discussion include:
  • How he got into reviews and how he became Undead Viking
  • His thoughts on the explosion of new gamers to the hobby
  • Reflections of forays of incorporating technology into games
  • The difficulties of having standout games nowadays and the challenge of finding them in today's era
  • Negative reviews
  • The transition from reviewer to also an employee of Tasty Minstrel Games
  • Also plenty of tangents, such as:
    • Good v Evil alignments in MMOs
    • D&D Go
    • How we as hobby gamers overestimate the reach of BGG
    • Why he largely switched form published to pre-published game reviews

PLUGS - (1:27:20):

• We'll be at Gen Con very soon. Let us know if you'll be there too!
• Also, if you are going to Gen Con, be sure to check out www.indiecavalcade.com and follow #IndieCavalcade to see where the indie games will be found during those four days.
• Did we mention the site's new Instagram already? Pretty sure we haven't.
• As always, Cardboard Republic YouTube videos and the BGG Guild are still ongoing. Subscribe to either - or both if you really love us. You do really love us, right?

We'd love to hear from you! You can send questions or feedback via email at [email protected]. You can also reach us social media, including Twitter, Facebook, and BoardGameGeek.

Audio Credits: Intro music track is "Swing!" by Bargo!, used under Creative Commons license.

Episode 122: Roll For Self-Care

Length: 1:00:12

Show Links: RSS | iTunes | Stitcher | Download Episode

Welcome back to Vox Republica, the Cardboard Republic Podcast!

We post new episodes every other Thursday, with each episode being about 45 minutes long.

Vox Republica is proudly supported by our Patreon. Consider contributing today!

DESCRIPTION: It's been an eventful few weeks, both within - and especially outside of - the gaming world. And that has an impact. So, in this episode the Vox is all about self-care. We ponder the question "What games do you play to make yourself feel better when the world gets you down?" We then round out the week on a more upbeat tone by talking about The Castle, a new gaming cafe in our region and then review the crazy and chaotic dice fight for the West known as Boomtown Bandits.

GUEST: None

RECENTLY PLAYED GAMES - (01:15):

• Arkwright by Capstone Games / Spielworkxx
• Avalanche at Yeti Mountain by Green Couch Games
• Escape the Room: Mystery at the Stargazer's Manor by ThinkFun
• Kodama: The Tree Spirits by Action Phase Games
• Sushi Go Party by Gamewright

QUICK TOPICS - (25:50):

• It's no huge secret that the real world has been hard for many of us lately, and it's important to take time to breathe. This isn't to say that you should disengage or bury your head in the sand, but self-care is important. We address how games factor into that process.
• Ryan ventured to The Castle in Beverly, MA, a new gaming cafe in the region. We touch briefly on his reaction to the latest gaming cafe in our area.

REVIEW - (40:54):

• Boomtown Bandits is a 2015/2016 release from Breaking Games for 2-5 players of chaotic dice-chucking entertainment. In this 30 minute game, players have stumbled into a boom town in the Old West, and everyone is trying to ransack the town for the most loot. Through a series of short rounds, each player allocates their three gunslingers to different town locations, and then each of those places is resolved via real-time dice rolling. You want to be the first to land a successful hit result - and the the first to call it out loud - in order to secure that location's card. These cards both grant one-time effects as well as count as your money for the end of the game. It's quick, energetic, and though it certainly functions best at higher numbers, the game works well for 3-5. Today we strap on our six-shooters and visit the dusty town to see why that is. We investigate which aspects make this rowdy casual game so enticing, and which could use a little polish.

(Note: if you don't see pictures below, you can view them via the RSS feed or clicking this link.)

A Boomtown setup for four players After all shooters have been placed, they are revealed. Here, Blue and Green each have one gunslinger. Red has two. Red and Green rolled dice until Green called out a hit. They may remove either Red token, and then another shootout occurs Light strategy or abuse of power? Either way, the Train is off limits this round Boomtown Bandit cards, both with an single-use ability and a dollar value Some of Boomtown Bandit's sturdy components

PLUGS - (59:19):

• We reviewed Millennium Blades, the CCG simulator in a box.
• We're continuing the Gen Con Indie Cavalcade effort - a list of all the indie games available at Gen Con. Check it out, and share it around!
• As always, Cardboard Republic YouTube videos and the BGG Guild are still ongoing. Subscribe to either - or both if you really love us. You do really love us, right?

We'd love to hear from you! You can send questions or feedback via email at [email protected]. You can also reach us social media, including Twitter and BoardGameGeek.

Audio Credits: Intro music track is "Swing!" by Bargo!, used under Creative Commons license.

Episode 121: Meeples (And Humans) Included

Length: 1:17:26

Show Links: RSS | iTunes | Stitcher | Download Episode

Welcome back to Vox Republica, the Cardboard Republic Podcast!

We post new episodes every other Thursday, with each episode being about 45 minutes long.

Vox Republica is proudly supported by our Patreon. Consider contributing today!

DESCRIPTION: Diversity and Inclusion in the gaming hobby has been a common topic of late, both on the design side and on the content creator side. This week, after traveling through time and becoming CCG masters, Erin and Ryan the issues of female representation on box cover art and then have on Marguerite Cottrell (aka Maggibot), creator of the new inclusivity-minded Meeples Included gaming content site.

GUEST: Marguerite Cottrell

RECENTLY PLAYED GAMES - (01:35):

• Millennium Blades by Level 99 Games
• Signorie by What's Your Game?
• T.I.M.E. Stories: The Marcy Case by Space Cowboys / Asmodee Edition

QUICK TOPICS - (15:10):

• This week Erin has written up an article on the gender diversity of box cover art among BGG's top ranked board games - or lack thereof.

FEATURED TOPIC - (18:57):

• Marguerite Cottrell (more commonly known as Maggibot) has been a figure in the board gaming for some time, both as a big fan of the hobby as well a content creator in various forms. Recently she launched Meeples Included, a new gaming content site with a mission statement of including more diversity focus in gaming. We look into how that came about and what she hopes to get out of it. Areas of discussion include:
  • The inception of Meeples Included overall
  • How she got into gaming in the first place
  • The organic nature of the MI contributors
  • The challenges of bringing diversity into the hobby
    • Has that changed from a few years ago?
    • Different obstacles that arise because of those attempts
    • And what it was like to reinvent his own game
  • What drives them to keep moving forward even with the invisible barriers that may exist
  • What lies next for the MI group

PLUGS - (1:15:47):

• We have a newsletter now! If you sign up before the end of June, you have chance to win Isle of Skye. Don't delay!
• Did we mention the site's new Instagram already? Pretty sure we haven't.
• As always, Cardboard Republic YouTube videos and the BGG Guild are still ongoing. Subscribe to either - or both if you really love us. You do really love us, right?

We'd love to hear from you! You can send questions or feedback via email at [email protected]. You can also reach us social media, including Twitter, Facebook, and BoardGameGeek.

Audio Credits: Intro music track is "Swing!" by Bargo!, used under Creative Commons license.

Episode 120: The Art Of The Con Game

Length: 34:01

Show Links: RSS | iTunes | Stitcher | Download Episode

Welcome back to Vox Republica, the Cardboard Republic Podcast!

We post new episodes every other Thursday, with each episode being about 45 minutes long.

Vox Republica is proudly supported by our Patreon. Consider contributing today!

DESCRIPTION: It seems that summer convention season has begun, which is always a chaotic and exciting time. Of the many things you can do to prepare for that experience, one of them is deciding which games get thrown into your bag. This week, Ryan and Erin go over their (albeit paltry) short list of games they've been playing and then dive into some of their particular favorites to bring on the road. We also share what some of our remaining 2016 con schedule looks like.

GUEST: None

RECENTLY PLAYED GAMES - (01:19):

• Rise to Power by APE Games
• Imhotep by KOSMOS

QUICK TOPICS - (8:12):

• Ryan briefly talks about our latest Kickstarter preview for Tim Fowler's newest game, Fugitive.
• We briefly go over which conventions the CR will guaranteed to be making an appearance at in the latter half of the year.

FEATURED TOPIC - (16:51):

• Most of the time game conventions are associated with bringing new games home with you. Ask most regular con goers, however, and you'll quickly find that most have a shortlist of games that are often squirreled away that they bring to them, whether it's because of their portability, accessibility, or something else entirely. We share some of our particular favorites, including interesting tidbits such as:
  • What our most common travel games are
  • Why we usually have at least one two-player game
  • Why we often don't bring social bluffing games like Werewolf or Coup
  • The common traits of a good travel game
  • How often we actually pull these games out to use on any given trip

PLUGS - (33:14):

• Did we mention the site's new Instagram already? Pretty sure we haven't.
• As always, Cardboard Republic YouTube videos and the BGG Guild are still ongoing. Subscribe to either - or both if you really love us. You do really love us, right?

We'd love to hear from you! You can send questions or feedback via email at [email protected]. You can also reach us social media, including Twitter, Facebook, and BoardGameGeek.

Audio Credits: Intro music track is "Swing!" by Bargo!, used under Creative Commons license.

Episode 119: The Evolution Of A Pandemic

Length: 1:06:22

Show Links: RSS | iTunes | Stitcher | Download Episode

Welcome back to Vox Republica, the Cardboard Republic Podcast!

We post new episodes every other Thursday, with each episode being about 45 minutes long.

Vox Republica is proudly supported by our Patreon. Consider contributing today!

DESCRIPTION: This week Erin and Ryan ponder over the Spiel des Jahres nominee choices and then settle in to to talk all about the history of disease with Patient Zero - Matt Leacock, designer of Forbidden Island and the Pandemic game series.

GUEST: Matt Leacock

RECENTLY PLAYED GAMES - (01:27):

• T.I.M.E Stories by Asmodee Editions
• Onitama by Arcane Wonders
• World's Fair 1893 by Foxtrot Games
• Mice & Mystics by Plaid Hat Games

QUICK TOPICS - (20:05):

• We didn't have time for a full preview, so instead we briefly chat about Trick of the Rails, now on Kickstarter.
• We've officially launched our Cardboard Republic Instagram account and monthly site newsletter!
• We look over the three Spiel and Kennerspiel nominees for 2016 and give our thoughts. Tell us who you think will win!

FEATURED TOPIC - (32:42):

• We've traced Pandemic to the source by isolating designer Matt Leacock. We know that his name is synonymous with one of the most successful game franchises to date, but to understand how we got here, we dive into the patient's history to see what it took to make it to this point. These include areas of discussion such as:
  • How he got into the design process in the first place
  • The inspiration behind the creation of Pandemic
    • And what it was like to reinvent his own game
  • His thoughts on the success of the Pandemic line overall
  • The valuation of quality design
  • Why he has a fondness for designing cooperative games
  • What white boards has to do with his latest game, Knit Wit

PLUGS - (1:05:12):

• Did we mention the site's new Instagram already? Pretty sure we haven't.
• As always, Cardboard Republic YouTube videos and the BGG Guild are still ongoing. Subscribe to either - or both if you really love us. You do really love us, right?

We'd love to hear from you! You can send questions or feedback via email at [email protected]. You can also reach us social media, including Twitter, Facebook, and BoardGameGeek.

Audio Credits: Intro music track is "Swing!" by Bargo!, used under Creative Commons license.

Episode 118: A Quarriors Qretrospective

Length: 1:02:54

Show Links: RSS | iTunes | Stitcher | Download Episode

Welcome back to Vox Republica, the Cardboard Republic Podcast!

We post new episodes every other Thursday, with each episode being about 45 minutes long.

Vox Republica is proudly supported by our Patreon. Consider contributing today!

DESCRIPTION: Fresh off attending a new local game convention, Erin and Ryan talk about the excitement that surrounds the foundation of a new con. Then, after talking about a few of the many games played lately, they move from the present to the past by doing a retrospective review on the innovative dice drafting game Quarriors. Is it still good now? Was it good then? Let's find out!

GUEST: None

RECENTLY PLAYED GAMES - (01:15):

• Scoville Labs by Tasty Minstrel Games
• Dr. Eureka by Blue Orange Games
• Powerpuff Girls: Saving The World Before Bedtime by Hasbro
• Lords of Waterdeep by Wizards of the Coast
• Anachrony by Mindclash Games

QUICK TOPICS - (20:27):

• We attended the inaugural launch of the first Granite Game Summit, a new New England-based gaming convention!

REVIEW - (27:13):

• Quarriors is a 2011 release from WizKids for 2-4 players that focuses on the idea of 'dice drafting'. Set in a fantasy world, you play as warriors who must ready spells and summon creatures to fight for you on the field of battle. You do this Each turn by drawing six dice from your bag and rolling them. From there you spend your rolled resources assigning on assigning monsters and buying new recruits. It's essentially a deck-building game in dice form, so you spend a lot of the game attempting to get more dice to improve your rolls. Innovative when it first came out, we take a look back and see if it holds up today - and whether it ever did in the first place.

(Note: if you don't see pictures below, you can view them via the RSS feed or clicking this link.)

All the Quarriors snugged in tightly A Quarrior Qreature Qard A typical Quarriors setup This player can spend 3 of their 4 Quiddity to ready both of their monster dice The player only has enough resources to either summon their Wizard or buy a new Ghost Having survived the round, this Goblin scores 2 Glory (VP) The Quarriors Qlan family photo

PLUGS - (1:02:07):

• We previewed Anachrony, the time-traveling worker placement game, currently on Kickstarter
• We reviewed Apotheca, the light set-matching tile game.
• As always, Cardboard Republic YouTube videos and the BGG Guild are still ongoing. Subscribe to either - or both if you really love us. You do really love us, right?

We'd love to hear from you! You can send questions or feedback via email at [email protected]. You can also reach us social media, including Twitter and BoardGameGeek.

Audio Credits: Intro music track is "Swing!" by Bargo!, used under Creative Commons license.

Episode 117: Gil Hova Needs Sleep

Length: 56:48

Show Links: RSS | iTunes | Stitcher | Download Episode

Welcome back to Vox Republica, the Cardboard Republic Podcast!

We post new episodes every other Thursday, with each episode being about 45 minutes long.

Vox Republica is proudly supported by our Patreon. Consider contributing today!

DESCRIPTION: Fresh off of TableTop Day (also known as Saturday), and back from PAX East, Erin and Ryan settle in talk to designer and publisher Gil Hova of Formal Ferret Games about the ups and downs of running your own game company.

GUEST: Gil Hova

RECENTLY PLAYED GAMES - (01:23):

• Colt Express by Asmodee Editions
• Blood Rage by Cool Mini Or Not
• Above And Below by Red Raven Games
• Nippon by What's Your Game? / Asmodee Editions
• Ninja Camp by Action Phase Games

QUICK TOPICS - (23:41):

• We recently attended PAX East and briefly touch upon a few of the major aspects of the convention. For a more comprehensive look at PAX East 2016, check out our convention recap.

FEATURED TOPIC - (25:47):

• Today we feature designer, publisher, and podcaster Gil Hova of Formal Ferret Games. We take a wide angle view at what it takes to make your own games and the process of attempting to turn game publishing into an occupation. These include areas of discussion such as:
  • How he got into designing board games in the first place
  • The experiences of revisiting his first published game, Prolix
  • The unique difficulties of game design versus development versus publishing
  • How game design resources have changed since he first started doing it
  • The inspiration behind the launch of his podcast Breaking Into Games, which looks at the challenges of starting in the board game world today
• We also touch briefly upon his newest title, Bad Medicine: Second Opinion, an expansion for pitch game Bad Medicine, which just launched on Kickstarter, as well as what his next game idea on the horizon may be

PLUGS - (58:02):

• As always, Cardboard Republic YouTube videos and the BGG Guild are still ongoing. Subscribe to either - or both if you really love us. You do really love us, right?

We'd love to hear from you! You can send questions or feedback via email at [email protected]. You can also reach us social media, including Twitter, Facebook, and BoardGameGeek.

Audio Credits: Intro music track is "Swing!" by Bargo!, used under Creative Commons license.

Episode 116: North Wind (Is Totally Not A Pirate Game)

Length: 1:18:17

Show Links: RSS | iTunes | Stitcher | Download Episode

Welcome back to Vox Republica, the Cardboard Republic Podcast!

We post new episodes every other Thursday, with each episode being about 45 minutes long.

Vox Republica is proudly supported by our Patreon. Consider contributing today!

DESCRIPTION: This week, Erin and Ryan review the game North Wind - which is absolutely not a pirate game. They also dive into the cesspool that is sexism in gaming, but then shine some positive light on the hobby with a discussion of a recent gaming charity event!

GUEST: None

RECENTLY PLAYED GAMES - (01:03):

• Apotheca by Knapsack Games & Renegade Game Studios
• Odin's Ravens by Osprey Games
• Mottainai by Asmadi Games
• ETI: Estimated Time to Invasion by Eye-Level Entertainment
• The Grizzled by Cool Mini Or Not

QUICK TOPICS - (24:45):

• We address the recent ongoing issues regarding harassment in gaming. Hold on to your hats.
• But to make up for it, we recap our time at the Home Away Boston gaming charity day. There is hope!
• Plus we mention our next convention appearances.

REVIEW - (43:25):

• This week we wade right in to the lightweight but super visually-appealing sailing game North Wind by Z-Man Games. In this 2-4 player game, each person is the admiral of a ship - who are totally not pirates - looking to help a trio of pirate-ransacked islands get back on their feet. Each island comes with its own set of needs, from money and wine, to basic foods, to the capturing of the very pirates responsible for their plight. Your goal is to be the first ship to successfully complete 8 or 10 tasks, depending on player size. To do this, you take turns sailing around the waters of these different islands (each represented by a stack of randomly assigned tiles). Each tile allows you to buy and sell the game's five basic resources or purchase equipment to upgrade your 3-D ship with more crew, faster sails, and more cannons - all of which fit right on the ship itself. Of course, you can also run into the pirates themselves, which results in a battle of a few success/fail dice roll. With excellent component quality, striking table presence, straightforward rules, and copious replayability, we dive into why North Wind is such a successful hour of casual gaming entertainment.

One possible tile assortment for the Fort Haven stack This tile allows you to buy or sell up to 2 grain resources for 3 gold each This Lookout spies island tiles and adventure! Red is heading into port well stocked with two crew, four commodities, and a captured pirate captain White is the winner, having placed all 10 of their task cubes first. I'm selling two...pineapples...and broccoli?

PLUGS - (1:17:23):

• As always, Cardboard Republic YouTube videos and the BGG Guild are still ongoing. Subscribe to either - or both if you really love us. You do really love us, right?

We’d love to hear from you! You can send questions or feedback via email at [email protected]. You can also reach us social media, including Twitter and BoardGameGeek.

Audio Credits: Intro music track is "Swing!" by Bargo!, used under Creative Commons license.