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In Becky's last episode of her run she and the gang do a deeper dive on games and mechanisms which have changed the hobby forever. 

FIRST PLAYER: Becky
OTHER PLAYERS: Adrian & Tambo

In this episode you'll learn:
- all about the latest T game Tianxia from Board & Dice from Adrian with his recent experiences
- whether Nemesis: Retaliation is the best version of the game after Tambo has been un-aliving aliens whilst staying frosty in Awaken Realms latest iteration of the game
- that Becky has finally got her copy of Power Vacuum to the table by Keen Bean Studio
- about an exploration of games and mechanisms which have fundamentally changed the hobby space

LINKS REFERENCED IN THE SHOW
N/A

EPISODE CHAPTERS
0:00 - TURN 1 - Player Count

2:09 - TURN 2 - Let's Talk About Hex

2:20 - Adrian - Tianxia

11:36 - Tambo - Nemesis: Retaliation

22:46 - Becky - Power Vacuum

29:49 - TURN 3 - Main Event: Games that Changed the Hobby

39:31 - Games that brought in mechanics which were never seen

46:52 - The importance of engine & tableau building in games

49:58 - The surge of worker placement games

52:54 - How have story driven & narrative games evolved?

1:00:20 - The impact of Zombicide on the industry within crowdfunding

1:04:56 - Stepping into the modern age with accessibility and asthetics

1:16:45 - Raising the bar in party games to influence wider games

1:22:31 - TURN 4 - Connect Four

1:25:08 - TURN 5 - Penultimate Turn: What's Coming Up?

1:28:42 - TURN 6 - The Final Turn

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One episode isn't enough to cover the biggest board game show in the world so JP, Davey and our special guest Mark from NinjaGeekGames returns to cover Friday, Saturday and Sunday's highlights.  So get ready to jump back in, there's a LOT of games covered.

OUR PLAYERS - JP & Davey
SPECIAL GUEST - Mark Monk (NinjaGeekGames)

LINKS REFERENCED IN THE SHOW
Gaming Rules Pre-Essen Stream featuring JP - https://www.youtube.com/live/xYcKA9NcANI?si=NgUK6VQfiHViP3Kc

Essen Diaries - Missed our vlogs during the event, you can catch them on our YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJMkOlbitmc&list=PLKzfzaHJK9iEgvZ1MGW1-d2Lhuu6ZqpHi

EPISODE CHAPTERS

0:00 - TURN 1 - Player Count

0:35 - DAY 2: FRIDAY

46:03 - DAY 3: SATURDAY

1:18:02 - DAY 4: SUNDAY

2:03:08 - TURN 2 - The Final Turn

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The delicious schnitzel's are calling us over to Germany again for another round of Essen Spiel 2025 and as always we've got you covered with games, experiences and bringing to life the convention.  In this first part we cover the journey over including an encounter with "Double Bake Brenda" on Tuesday, Wednesday including the press event and Thursday.  Stay tuned for the next part which includes Friday - Sundays shenanigans.

OUR PLAYERS - JP & Davey
SPECIAL GUEST - Mark Monk (NinjaGeekGames)

LINKS REFERENCED IN THE SHOW
Gaming Rules Pre-Essen Stream featuring JP - https://www.youtube.com/live/xYcKA9NcANI?si=NgUK6VQfiHViP3Kc

Essen Diaries - Missed our vlogs during the event, you can catch them on our YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJMkOlbitmc&list=PLKzfzaHJK9iEgvZ1MGW1-d2Lhuu6ZqpHi

EPISODE CHAPTERS

0:00 - TURN 1 - Player Count

3:08 - TURN 2 - Welcome to Essen SPIEL 2025

16:27 - DAY 0: WEDNESDAY

49:18 - DAY 1: THURSDAY

1:31:58 - TURN 3 - The Final Turn

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Becky takes us back in time when we had our first experiences of tabletop gaming and what our "gateway games" were that brought us in.  Has those games defined our tastes, how did we step stone through to games we play today and do we still go back to them.

FIRST PLAYER: Becky
OTHER PLAYERS: JP, Rob & Dan

In this episode you'll learn:
- more about a Scout like card game called Odin by Helvetiq as Becky explains all
- how JP has been trying to stop children from freezing in Frostpunk by Glass Cannon Unplugged and failing miserably
- Rob has ventured deeper into the Lacerdaverse with his first impressions of The Weather Machine by Eagle-Gryphon Games
- Dan has busted out Nucleum: Australia for the first time and his thoughts
- about our gateway games and how they have influenced our journey through the hobby

LINKS REFERENCED IN THE SHOW
UpgradeMyGame Etsy Store as mentioned by Rob -  https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/UpgradeMyGame

EPISODE CHAPTERS

0:00 - TURN 1 - Player Count

3:58 - TURN 2 - Let's Talk About Hex

4:10 - Rob - The Weather Machine

11:31 - Dan - Nucleum Australia

15:07 - JP - Frostpunk

24:01 - Becky - Odin

28:04 - TURN 3 - Main Event: The red carpet roll-out

35:15 - Did our gateway games shape our gaming tastes for today?

44:08 - Have we ever gone back to gateway games after delving into the heavy stuff

48:04 - Can playing gateway games still be rewarding?

1:01:40 - Do we still play our first gateway games?

1:12:13 - TURN 4 - Connect Four

1:16:56 - TURN 5 - Penultimate Turn: What's Coming Up?

1:24:35 - TURN 6 - The Final Turn

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Light up the fire, throw a blanket over yourself as it's time to get cozy with non other the queen of cozy, Rozie Pocket from Cozyboardgames.  

GUEST PLAYER: Rozie Pocket
PLAYERS: JP & Becky

In this episode you'll learn:
- how Rozie started her Cozyboardgames channels on TikTok and Instagram
- what are Rozie's favourite cozy games of all time
- more about "Murder She Wrote" style D&D sessions...yes this is a thing people
- that Rozie really loves frogs, yep frogs
- how Rozie's content promotes inclusivity in the hobby and how her journey has led her to working for Cardboard Alchemy.

LINKS REFERENCED IN THE SHOW
TikTok Channel - https://www.tiktok.com/@cozyboardgames
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cozyboardgames/

EPISODE CHAPTERS
0:00 - TURN 1 - Player Count

1:01 - TURN 2 - Introducing Rozie

1:46 - How did Rozie get into the hobby?

5:35 - What has been the biggest changes to UKGE over the years?

11:10 - What is Rozie's favourite board game?

15:32 - What games have hit Rozie's table?

21:54 - TURN 3 - Cozyboardgames - How did you get started?

32:55 - What is Rozie's definition of cozy?

39:35 - Discussion around bad teaches impacting likeability

47:03 - If you could give your cozy treatment to any intense games, which ones would they be?

54:07 - If Rozie was a board game character what would her special ability be?

57:24 - TURN 4 - What's coming up for Rozie

1:05:28 - TURN 5 - The Final Turn

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Becky's back with a bang as an age old topic rears it's head after her turmoil of will we, won't we on the latest Ark Nova 3Dition crowdfunding campaign.

FIRST PLAYER: Becky
OTHER PLAYERS: JP, Kerley & Adrian

In this episode you'll learn:
- that JP finally managed to preview Terraria thanks to Paperfort Games and gives his first impressions
- that Kerley likes it oldschool in Chinatown by ZMan Games
- Adrian finally managed to get his first of the City Collection series of Hamburg by Queen Games
- that Becky has found a dudes on a map game she enjoys in Wroth by Chip Theory Games
- about the positives and negatives of expansion / upgrade content for board games and our thoughts on this.

LINKS REFERENCED IN THE SHOW
N/A

EPISODE CHAPTERS

0:00 - TURN 1 - Player Count

2:08 - TURN 2 - Let's Talk About Hex

2:26 - JP - Terraria

11:53 - Kerley - Chinatown

17:10 - Adrian - Hamburg

27:37 - Becky - Wroth

33:32 - TURN 3 - Main Event: Add-Ons and Let-Downs

35:42 - Is it morally right for games to be released knowing expansions are already planned?

40:56 - What games have been ruined by expansions?

52:25  - Expansion that make the base game better

57:08 - Which games do we think would be incomplete without it's expansion?

1:01:43 - What's the most extravagant blinging we've done for our games?

1:07:02 - If you had to ban expansions for content or upgrades which would it be?

1:11:35 - TURN 4 - Connect Four

1:15:27 - TURN 5 - Penultimate Turn: What's Coming Up?

1:20:08 - TURN 6 - The Final Turn

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Guess who's back...back again.   Ok it's Chris Priscott from Unfringed who we interviewed back in 2022 when talking about Zuuli.  It's been great to catch-up with Chris' successes in the board game industry and how he has been developing more games including the upcoming crowdfunding campaign of Fetching Feathers & D.O.T.

GUEST PLAYER: Chris Priscott
PLAYERS: Becky & JP

In this episode you'll learn:
- how Zuuli (aka Moving Wild) ended up joining forces with Oink Games for it's international release
- more about Chris' new games Fetching Feathers & D.O.T. 
- about insights from Chris' perspective designing games in the industry
- about a tease for his next new game

LINKS REFERENCED IN THE SHOW
Unfringed Games website - https://unfringed.co/
Fetching Feathers & D.O.T. Kickstarter Page - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/unfringed/fetching-feathers

EPISODE CHAPTERS

0:00 - TURN 1 - Player Count

0:50 - TURN 2 - Introducing Chris...again & Oink Games collaboration

4:03 - Where there any lessons learned from Zuuli for your newer games

6:46 - TURN 3 - Fetching Feathers

11:40 - Discussing Chris' creative processes

17:55 - How do you interact with the board game community and players in the design process?

20:58 - Discussing the visuals of Fetching Feathers

27:36 - Adding more layers of strategy and depth

30:54 - TURN 4 - D.O.T.

39:29 - Do you feel the pressure on keeping up with the success of past designs?

43:32 - What are your predictions on future designs and themes coming up?

46:02 - The importance of lack of downtime in the designs

51:45 - TURN 5 - Future Teasing & Board Game Chat

59:32 - Thanking Chris

1:00:32 - TURN 6 - The Final Turn

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Adrian takes us into the world of variation in board games.  We discuss the various ways and mechanisms that game design does this and whether we personally like them or not and why.

FIRST PLAYER: Adrian
OTHER PLAYERS: JP & Rob

In this episode you'll learn:
- that we have a new Discord so come and Join us on Discord and say hi
- that Adrian has can to Warp 9 in Star Trek Ascendency by Gale Force Nine Games
- that the Lacerdaverse is extended to Rob as he plays Lisboa by Eagle-Gryphon Games
- JP gets a full playthrough of The Old Kings Crown by Eerie Idol Games

LINKS REFERENCED IN THE SHOW
Upcoming Live Show on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3GGJObgufw

EPISODE CHAPTERS

0:00 - TURN 1 - Player Count

2:37 - Join our Discord

5:00 - We're going LIVE!!!!!

7:40 - TURN 2 - Let's Talk About Hex

8:46 - JP - The Old Kings Crown

19:07 - Adrian - Star Trek Ascendency

31:39 - Rob - Lisboa

37:11 - TURN 3 - Main Event: Variable Variabilities

40:35 - Asymmetry

48:13 - Narrative, Scenarios & Chance Cubes

52:31 - Public & Private Goals

57:49 - Plug & Play Modules

1:04:26 - Deck Construction

1:10:45 - Character Builds

1:16:04 - TURN 4 - Connect Four

1:22:34 - TURN 5 - Penultimate Turn: What's Coming Up?

1:34:44 - TURN 6 - The Final Turn

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We've just rolled a load of bones in our back-up plan and about to level up because JP get's some time with Josh Weilgus "Ghillie" and Andrew Santoro from Chip Theory Games to talk through all things CTG.

GUEST PLAYER: Josh Weilgus & Andrew Santoro
PLAYERS: JP

In this episode you'll learn:
- what games got Josh & Andrew into the hobby
- How CTG started from it's humble beginnings and how it turned into one of the largest board game publishers in the industry
- more about the upcoming Elder Scrolls campaign and what to expect...there's a lot more content people
- about the upcoming line-up and campaigns

LINKS REFERENCED IN THE SHOW
Chip Theory Games website - https://chiptheorygames.com/
Allies or Enemies YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@ChipTheoryGames
Elder Scrolls Campaign Gamefound Page - https://gamefound.com/en/projects/chip-theory-games/the-elder-scrolls-heroes-of-tamriel?refcode=daRnQOEIJEehhJ4Oa5O9oA&syclid=d2mutd9v22ic73c7qp30

EPISODE CHAPTERS
0:00 - TURN 1 - Player Count

0:34 - TURN 2 - CTG's Turn

2:07 - How did you get into the hobby?

6:47 - What's Josh's & Andrew's favourite games?

11:20 - TURN 3 - CTG Culture

21:49 - How do you balance innovation and keep it realistic

28:14 - A resurgenace of Cloudspire

31:44 - How do you earn the honour of getting your Gearloc names?

37:21 - CTG World Building vs Gameplay

41:37 - TURN 4 - What's Coming Up

41:49 - Elder Scrolls Campaign

50:53 - Tanglewoods & Dragons of Etchinstone

54:57 - Wroth, Cloudspire: Harbinger & Fight 5

57:59 - More CTG Goodies in 2026

1:02:14 - Thanking Josh & Andrew

1:04:52 - TURN 5 - The Final Turn

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After hearing on social media about how to get new board gamers to play Lacerdas in quick progression Adrian conducts a light hearted thought experiment on how this "could" be achieved through different genres and styles of board games.

FIRST PLAYER: Adrian
OTHER PLAYERS: Becky & Tambo

In this episode you'll learn:
- that JP has sneaked onto Let's Talk About Hex to chat about his recent play of Andromeda's Edge: Genesis expansion by Cardboard Alchemy 
- about war and what is it good for by Adrian in Quartermaster General by Griggling Games
- whether Becky has lost all hope destroying the one virus (ahem) ring in Lord of the Rings: Fate of the Fellowship by Zman Games
- that Tambo has gone back to the 90's in Console Wars: The Card Game by Booth Babe Games
- all about Adrian's thought experiment about progression through light to heavy board games

LINKS REFERENCED IN THE SHOW
Andromeda's Edge: Genesis Gamefound - https://gamefound.com/en/projects/cardboard-alchemy/andromedas-edge-genesis
NinjaGeekGames overview of Andromeda's Edge: Genesis - https://youtu.be/l8aqHuCGD1w?si=Yhmy9iHfHS4tiQLs

EPISODE CHAPTERS
0:00 - TURN 1 - Player Count

2:35 - TURN 2 - Let's Talk About Hex

3:29 - JP - Andromeda's Edge: Genesis

12:10 - Tambo - Console Wars

17:57 - Becky - Lord of the Rings: Fate of the Fellowship

22:49 - Adrian - Quartermaster General

30:17 - TURN 3 - Main Event: Levelling Up

32:31 - CO-OP GAMES - Marvel United > Pandemic > Spirit Island

44:23 - NATURE - Barenpark > Wingspan > Ark Nova

56:53 - WORKER PLACEMENT - Lords of Waterdeep > Caverna > Anachrony

1:04:13 - A ROAD TO LACERDA - Splendor > Viticulture > Kanban EV

1:11:15 - ANOTHER WORKER PLACEMENT - Lords of Water Deep > Lost Ruins of Arnak > Septima

1:15:48 - DUNGEON CRAWLER - HeroQuest > Mansions of Madness > Gloomhaven

1:21:23 - TURN 4 - Connect Four

1:26:21 - TURN 5 - Penultimate Turn: What's Coming Up?

1:31:20 - TURN 6 - The Final Turn

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