Game Brain: A Board Game Podcast With Matthew Robinson And His Gaming Group

Matt, Tom, Ben and Dmitry discuss the 2022 release "Skymines" (aka Moon-basa) as well as preview their most anticipated games of Essen 2022 and give four Essen games a brief "rulebook review". 

Tom, Trey, Paul, and Ben discuss the 2019 release "Western Empires" as well as "On Mars," "Ticket to Ride," "Viticulture," and "Food Chain Magnate."

Ben and Matt revisit Grand Austria Hotel with the Let's Waltz expansion before doing a deep dive with their initial impressions of the 2022 release John Company, Second Edition by Cole Wehrle.  Afterwards, they discuss the expectations they carry — perhaps unfairly — into a game night.

Now that we've finally notched some in-person plays The Transcontinental and Carnegie, we share our thoughts about what's changed in person versus online.  Plus, we talk about the modular game boards that pique our interest and recent plays of Tzolkin, Fresh Fish, and Ethnos.

00:00:00 Introduction: A discussion of Cossacks and the Steppe00:04:30 Avalon Poll results and discussionTom calls our listeners "trolls" and compares them to the "Silent Majority."00:08:20 Game NightHighly abbreviated Avalon discussion00:09:30 WormholesTrajanMore highly abbreviated Avalon talk wiithout talking about the actual game.Underwater CitiesBen does a Paul impression. Tom does a Mike impressionThe first of many discussions about minks, ermines, sables, stoats, and ferrets00:24:25 Great Western Trail: Argentina18Chesapeake00:43:00 Lacrimosa00:47:45 DaybreakPandemic: Rising Tide00:58:30 Vegas ShowdownLords of VegasJames Ernest / Cheapass Games / Crab Fragment LabsBlock and Key01:13:30 Review: Stroganov - designed by Andreas Steadingapologies to Andreas Steading for calling him Andreas SteadlingDarwin's JourneyThe Transcontinental01:58:40 Outro

Ben, Candice, and Paul review "1848: Australia" and then discuss how to demystify the 18xx genre.0:00;00 - Introduction: Welcome Ben, Omnigamer Candice and Gamebreaker Paul: Railways of Australia, 1848, 18xx, Avalon, Tank Duel, TI4, Die Macher, Tribune0:09:07 - This Week’s Game Night: Eclipse; Eclipse: Second Dawn; (TI) Tzolk’in (Tribes expansion) Pax Pamir 2nd ed, The Climbers, (Santiago) Railways of the World Async on BGA (Eastern America Map) Pictomania, 2nd ed, (Through the Ages, Pictionary) Telestrations after Dark, Top Ten, Destinies, (Sagrada, Clank, Clank: Legacy) 18 Ireland, 1817,0:41:41 - Game News: Village Big Box, Stonewall Uprising,(Twilight Struggle)0:46:37 - Games on the Brain: Hegemony, Stonewall Uprising, 1979: The Iranian Revolution, Free at Last, 1941: The Race to Moscow,  Black Orchestra, Labyrinth: The War on Terror, Wings for the Baron, Wonderland Tour (Quacks of Quedlinburg Heaven and Ale) 1;07:42 - Review of 1848 Australia:  1822 PNW, 1846, 1830, 1889, 1817, 18 Chesapeake2:02

Ben and Paul make up for episodes of neglected game sommelier segments with this mega roundup of questions we're overdue to answer.0:00:00 - Introduction: Welcome Ben and Paul 0:04;39 - This Week’s Game Night: 1848, Dice Realms, Taverns of Tiefenthal, (Russian Railroads) 18Ireland 0:23:11 - Board Game Sommelier0:24:10: Games for an Adult Community: Scrabble, Catan, Wavelength, Tichu, Telestrations, Ticket to Ride, 6 Nimmt, A Fake Artist Goes to New York, Just One, Concordia, Mahjong0:32:10 - Games for Newish Players who value Player Interaction:  Fresh Fish, Innovation, Concordia, Crisis, Gunkimono, Voluspa, Santorini, Twilight Struggle0:44:20 - Games/Designers that Suggest a Player who likes them  is a good or bad fit for the group: Sagrada, Catan, Arkwright, 18xx, Brass, Twilight Imperium, Foundations of Rome, Cards Against Humanity, Werewolf, Mafia, Avalon, Secret Hitler, Code Names, Decrypto, Ticket to Ride, 18Chesapeake, Age of Steam, Otello, Exploding Kittens1:03:05 - Economic Games with Player-Dri

0:00:00 - Introduction: Welcome Tom, Candice and Mike0:09:57 - This Week’s Game Night: Carnegie Deluxe (Gingkopolis, Carson City, Troyes,) Time of Crisis, (Railways of the World) Battle for Rokogon, Dale of Merchants, (El Grande, Babylonia, Wiz War)0:30:00-  Game News: BGG Con 2022, (Ark Nova, Messina) Cat in the Box, Undaunted: Stalingrad, Undaunted: Reinforcements, (Undaunted: Normandy, Undaunted: Africa) San Francisco, War of the Ring: The Card Game (Hunt for the Ring, Successors)0:49:34 - Time of Crisis Review: Age of Iron and Rust Expansion, Twilight Imperium1:35:45 - The Joys of Hand Management: Dominion, Dune Imperium, Terraforming Mars, Ark Nova, Race for the Galaxy, Twilight Struggle, Undaunted Normandy; Everdell, Scout, Bohnanza, Glory to Rome, Hand in the Sea, Arboretum, (Art Decko, Modern Art) Time of Crisis, Mumbasa/Sky Mine, Friedrich, Maria, Terraforming Mars: Prelude, Dual Powers (Labyrinth, Twilight Struggle,) Pax Porfiriana, Twilight Struggle, (Agricola, Gloomhaven) Star Wars: the Card Game,

Trey is joined by Tom and RPG designer jim pinto to review Root and explore asymmetry in games.0:00:00 Message about audio quality0:01:08 Introductionjim pinto at Post World GamesA Good Book for Bad GMsDogs in the Vinyard0:20:50 Game Night Clank: A Deck-Building AdventureThe HungerRicochet RobotsThe Resistance: AvalonShadows over CamelotGlass RoadTime of Crisis: The Roman Empire in Turmoil0:30:00 Game NewsTerra NovaTerraforming Mars: Dice GamePraxis / ProtocolAtiwaBGG on Great Western Trail: ArgentinaTigris and Euphrates in beta on BGACentury Spice Road and Copenhagen on BGA 0:44:19 Games on the BrainHistory of the WorldHegemony: Lead Your Class to VictoryBlood on the ClocktowerNo Rolls Barred plays youtube link0:57:08 Game Review: Root1:27:34 Member Segment: Beyond AsymmetryTwilight StruggleAndroid: NetrunnerHistory of the WorldDuneThe Great ZimbabweHere I StandWatergateStar Wars: RebellionCrescent MoonOathVastTime Agent-  Find Etamar at kirbooloni.com-  Game Brain Facebook Group-  Twitter-  Instagram

Ben, Dmitry, and Paul discuss the 2012 game "Ginkgopolis" as well as its expansion "Ginkgopolis: The Experts."  Plus, what makes us want to give a game a second chance.0:00:00 - Introduction: Welcome Ben, Philosophical Gamer Dmitry, and Game Breaker Paul.0:04:29 - This Week’s Game Nights: Avalon, Lowlands, Ark Nova, Time of Crisis, (Food Chain Magnate) Caesar!, (Blitzkrieg!) K2, Healthy Heart Hospital (Jaws, Top Gun) (Dice Hospital, Clinic) 18 Ireland, 1848, Scout, Mafia, (Bohnanza) Carnegie (Teotihuacan) (Black Angel) Agricola, Lorenzo, (Werewolf) Blood on the Clocktower1:11:11 - News: Spiel de Jarre nominations: Cascadia, Scout, Top Ten (Wavelength); Seven Wonders: Architects, Echoes: Thr Dancer, Magic Rabbit, My Goldmine, So Clover, Track 12 Hamilayas, Kennerspiel: Cryptid, Dune Imperium, Living Forest; Ark Nova, Cora: Rise of the Empire; Witchstone; Bureau of Investigation (Sherlock Holmes, Consulting Detective) Decorum, Wavelength1:21:40 - No Games on the Brain1:22:23 - Review of Ging

0:00:00 - Introduction: Welcome Game Enthusiast Matt #1, Game BreakerPaul and Game Designer Trey.0:03:45 - This Week’s Game Night: Perseverance, Crescent Moon (Root, Oath, Pax games) Agricola0:13:03 - This Week’s Game News: Azul, Master Chocolatier; Origins reinstates mask requirements; Awaken Realms Castles of Burgundy (Castles of Mad King Ludwig); Evergreen (Photosynthesis)0:28:50 - Games on the Brain: Reacting to the Past (Argent); Burn Cycle (Cloud Spire, Too Many Bones)0:37:21 - Review of Perseverance Chronicles Episodes One and Two: Trickerion, Cerebrea, Anachrony, Brass, Brass Lancashire, Age of Steam, Coimbra, Twilight Struggle, Troyes, El Grande, CO2, Archipelago, The Great Wall, Le Havre1:18:57 - Complexity1:39:42 - Board Game Sommelier: Panamax, 1:49:17 - Sign Off; kirbooloni.com, gamebrainpod.com

0:00 INTRO10:33 GAME NIGHTPerseveranceAvalonCrescent MoonCrisisScapegoatLetter JamFoundations of RomeNemesis: Lockdown56:00 GAME NEWSCardboard CreationsTrailblazerThe ThingDragonlance1:10:00 REVIEW: CRISIS1:42:48 MEMBER SEGMENT: THE SEMI-COOP GAME2:09: 30 WRAP-UP

Just a quick note that this week's episode will drop on Wednesday instead of the usual Monday. Thanks for your patience!

Trey is joined by Tom and Dmitry to review Libertalia:Winds of Galecrest and discuss Simultaneous Action Selection.0:00:00 Introduction0:05:02 Game Night AvalonCrisisLignum (Teotihuacan, Caylus)0:29:10 Game NewsTerraforming Mars FREEDesperation (Fiasco, Durance, Winterhorn) Orenberger Canal (Ora et Labora, Le Havre)RaSleeping Gods,: Distant SkiesMCDM Monster BookAutobahnAge of Steam Deluxe Expansion Maps Catherine: The Cities of TzarinaStranger Things: Attack of the Mind Flayer0:49:20 Games on the BrainCrisis (Crystal Palace), NY Times Magazine April 15 AI and Language article (The Gallerist, Panamax, Kanban, Tank Duel)1:03:10 - Game Review - Libertalia: Winds of Galecrest1:24:52 Member Segment Simultaneous Action SelectionYomi; Lorenzo, Risk, Diplomacy, Agricola, Twilight Struggle, Die Macher, Fresh Fish, Wallenstein, Shogun, Dune, Cash and Guns, Last Stand, Maharajah, Race for the Galaxy, Robo Rally, Captain Sonar-  Find Etamar at kirbooloni.com-  Game Brain Facebook Group-  Twitter-  Instagram

Ben, Paul, and Candice review "Railways of the World" and then discuss what makes a game "fun-forward."00:00:00 - Intro00:03:02 - Game Night—00:05:21 - Lorenzo il magnfico—00:09:15 - Avalon—00:09:58 - Crisis—00:15:57 - Forged in Steel—00:18:49 - Survive: Escape from Atlantis—00:20:58 - Tapestry—00:21:43 - 18Ireland00:23:47 - Game News—00:24:00 - Oranienburger Kanal—00:26:35 - Anunnaki: Dawn of the Gods—00:28:00 - Skymines00:33:12 - Games on the Brain—00:35:23 - No Retreat—00:44:44 - Autobahn—00:50:50 - Feudem (& Arkwright)00:55:49 - Review:  Railways of the World —01:36:49 - Age of Steam01:54:09 - Discussion: Fun Forward Games—02:04:32 - Catan—02:05:24 - Twilight Imperium—02:07:06 - Santiago—02:09:43 - Jaws—02:12:29 - Automobiles—02:16:28 - Carson City—02:20:12 - Quartermaster General—02:24:13 - Smartphone Inc.—02:26:52 - Tank Duel!!—02:30:27 - Citadels!!!—02:33:47 - Castles of Mad King Ludwig—02:35:07 - Dead of Winter

0:00:00 - Introduction: Welcome Your Host Tom,  Matt, the Game Enthusiast, and Dmitry, the Philosophical Gamer: Agricola, Avalon 0:10:10 - This Week’s Game News: Golden Geek Best Podcast Nomination, Thinker Themer and Viniculture, Autobahn (Kanban, Hanse Teutonica, Calimali, Newton, Darwin’s Journey) Arcs (Oath, John Company, Pax Pamir, El Grande, Taj Mahal, Conduttier) Septima (Brian Boru, Libertalia, Wallenstein, Shogun, Perseverance, Anachrony, Trickerion) Monopoly0:37:33 - This Week’s Game Night: Winds of Gale Crest, Hanse Teutonica: Brittania Map, Ark Nova, Railways of the World (Age of Steam, Steam) Anno 1800, So Clover!0:53:30 - Review of Messina 1347: Yokohama, Agricola, Lorenzo, Marco Polo, Troyes, Western Empires, Advanced Civilization, Santiago, El Grande, Food Chain Magnate, Praga Kaput Regni, Underwater Cities, Shipyard1:27:40 - Backsies: Diplomacy, Die Macher

Ben, Paul, and Elder give their first impressions of the upcoming release, "Hegemony."0:00:00 - Intro: Welcome Ben, Paul, and Elder: Perseverance, Anachrony, Cerebrea, Trickerion, Iberian Gauge, Crisis,Brick and Mortar, City of the Big Shoulders, New Amsterdam, Dinogenics, Dino Island, 0:21:53 - Early Impressions of Hegemony1:54:20 - Sign Off: kirbooloni.comHegemony late pledges

Trey and Matt welcome Lumin Sperling and look at the numbers that drive competitive Agricola play.Agricola Revised EditionLumin_S on TwitchAgricola on BoardGameArenaplay-agricola.comAgricola 15Stats on BGA-  Find Etamar at kirbooloni.com-  Game Brain Facebook Group-  Twitter-  Instagram

Ben, Trey, and Paul review "Arkwright: The Card Game" and then discuss what they look for and want from "card games."0:00:00 - Introduction: Welcome Trey, the Game Designer, and Paul, the Game Breaker0:02:51 - This Week's Game Night: Agricola, Panamax, Hegemony, Le Havre, Evil Stepmother Playtest, Ark Nova, DC's Labyrinth Games FLGS, Roads and Boats, Secret Hitler, Forged in Steel, Messina 1347Agricola Tutorial0:15:23 - This Week's Game News: Oak, Stroganoff, Hanse Teutonica, Gugon, Scythe, Tigris and Euphrates, Dune Imperium, Concordia, Panamax, Barrage; Hamlet, Oak, Small City Deluxe on Tabletopia, Kickstarter and blockchain0:28:38 - Games on the Brain: Reacting to the Past: Athens Besieged, Rage against the Machine; Impact Earth; Our School of Avalon; 18USA (1817); 18 Chesapeake Off the Rails (After Dark); London Necropolis Railway (Diluvia Project, Tribune, Brutii);0:42:12 - Review of Arkwright: The Card Game: La Granja, Smartphone, Imperial, Age of Steam1:46:50 - Card G