Pick Up And Deliver

Brendan shares his thoughts about games with scripted openings and their effect on gameplay. Join us, won’t you?Concordia (2013)Which games have the most heavily-scripted openings?Chess (1475)Puerto Rico 1897 (2022)Barrage (2019)Food Chain Magnate (2015)Brass: Birmingham (2018)7 Wonders (2010)What experience have you had with scripted openings? Share your thoughts over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

Brendan talks about the books he read in Jan, Feb, and March of 2025. Join us, won’t you?The Murder of Roger AckroydThe Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered PlanetThe Labyrinth IndexFuturistic Violence and Fancy SuitsPrisoner’s BaseFritz Leiber’s Fafhrd and the Gray MouserThe Field Guide to Dumb Birds of North AmericaKing of the VagabondsHorror MovieSong of SusannahThe SearcherTwelve OwlsThe HunterYouth GroupTourist SeasonThe Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and ReligionThe Eyes Are the Best PartWhat did you read in the first part of this year? Share your reads over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

Brendan shares his gameplay stats from May. Join us, won’t you?May 2025 Top of the StackNEW GAME – Sorcerer City XSHELF CLEARER – Badass Zombie Killers XNEW GAME 2 – Fallen Angel XTop 50 Choice – Pulsar 2849 ✓Shelf of OpportunityMy Top 50Expand yourShelfJune 2025 Top of the StackNEW GAME – AeroplanesSHELF CLEARER – In The Year of the DragonNEW GAME 2 – Xenoshyft: DreadmireTop 50 Choice – Ghost StoriesWhat did you play in May? Share your plays over on boardgamegeek in Guild #3269.

Brendan shares his first impressions of 3 games he tried for the first time recently. Join us, won’t you?EthnosPaolo MoriRed RisingFantasy Realms (2017)Pulsar 2849 (revisited – 1 Year, 11 Months, 15 Days dusty)Vladimír Suchý51st State: Master SetImperial Settlers (2014)Have you tried these games? If so, what do you think of them? Share your thoughts over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

Brendan shares thoughts about Stories being adapted into board games, and what makes them work. Join us, won’t you?Capture the feeling of the sourceJaws (2019)The Goonies: Never Say Die (2021)Back to the Future: An Adventure Through Time (2016)Adapting but with a generic storyLast Friday (2016)InBetween (2017)Use the setting without imitating the plotRed Rising (2021)The Expanse Board Game (2017)A Game of Thrones: The Board Game (Second Edition) (2011)Similar but uniqueA Touch of Evil: The Supernatural Game (2008)Obsession (2018)Which games do you think do a good job translating story into game experience?PU&D742: Stories Adapted into Board GamesTranscript: PDF and TXT

Brendan shares his thoughts and experiences about asymmetric games. Join us, won’t you?Free Radicals (2022)Emergent AsymmetryOrléans (2014)Everdell (2018)Minor Asymmetry – competitiveObsession (2018)7 Wonders (2010)Minor Asymmetry – cooperativePandemic (2008)Horrified (2019)Flash Point: Fire Rescue (2011)Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle (2016)Major Asymmetry – competitiveAndroid: Netrunner (2012)Root (2018)Vast: The Crystal Caverns (2016)A Gest of Robin Hood (2024)Sidereal Confluence (2017)XCOM: The Board Game (2015)Captain Sonar (2016)Spirit Island (2017)How do you feel about asymmetric games? Share your thoughts over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

Brendan shares his first impressions of three games he tried recently. Join us, won’t you?Ponzi Scheme (2015)Isle of Skye: From Chieftain to King (2015)Free Radicals (2022)Lords of Waterdeep (2012)Moon Colony Bloodbath (2025)Dominion (2008)Have you played any of these games? Share your thoughts over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.Transcript: TXT or PDF

Brendan shares his experience with Frosthaven’s campaign storytelling, reflecting on how it works and where it comes up short. Join us, won’t you?Frosthaven (2022)Gloomhaven (2017)Dungeons & Dragons (5th Edition)Dead of Winter: A Crossroads Game (2014)What do you think of Frosthaven‘s storytelling style? Share your experiences over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

Brendan shares his thinking about asynchronous learning and online learning. Join us, won’t you?How To Teach Board Games Like a ProGames mentioned in the discussionRevive (2022)Underwater Cities (2018)Gaia Project (2017)Age of Innovation (2023)What’s your thinking about how best to teach and learn games, particularly for asynchronous play?

Brendan talks about the games he dusted off in January and February of 2025 but didn’t get a chance to talk about again. Join us, won’t you?JANUARY Dusty Games– Android: Netrunner (6 Years, 10 Months, 14 Days)– QE (5 Years, 2 Months, 16 Days)– New York Slice (1 Year, 4 Months, 5 Days dusty)– Unspeakable Words (3 Years, 1 Month, 7 Days dusty)– BIGFOOT: Roll & Smash (1 year, 2 Months, 15 Days)– Automobiles (3 Years, 4 Months, 6 Days)– Hues and Cues (2 Years, 1 Month, 6 Days)February Dusty Games– Bloom (1 Year, 7 Months, 12 Days dusty)– Fast Forward: FLEE (3 Years, 7 Months, 16 Days dusty)– Friday (5 Years, 10 Months, 1 Day dusty)– Five Tribes (1 Year, 11 Months, 23 Days dusty)– Calico (2 Years, 6 Months, 3 Days dusty)What games did you dust off in January and February? Share your plays over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

Brendan shares his thoughts on several films he watched in February. Join us, won't you? Saturday Night (2024)Roll Camera!: The Filmmaking Board Game (2021)Paddington 2 (2017)...and then, we held hands. (2015)Watchmen (2009)Heroes Wanted (2014)Love Hurts (2025)Vengeance (2018)The Menu (2022)Dread (2006)The Imitation Game (2014)Turing Machine (2022) What movies did you see in February 2025? Share your thoughts over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

Brendan shares news of his game plays in April 2025. Join us, won’t youTop of the Stack, April 2025NEW GAME – Hollywood 1947 XSHELF CLEARER – Space Freaks XNEW GAME 2 – Ponzi Scheme ✓Top 50 Choice – Glory to Rome XShelf of OpportunityExpansion listTop of the Stack, May 2025NEW GAME – Sorcerer CitySHELF CLEARER – Badass Zombie KillersNEW GAME 2 – Fallen AngelTop 50 Choice – Pulsar 2849What games did you play this month? Share your escapades over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

Brendan talks about what games Taurus gamers might like or be good at. Join us, won’t you?Previous Astrology Files episodesAllure.com’s “12 Zodiac Signs: Dates and Personality Traits”Serene and Bucolic EnvironmentsOra et Labora (2011)Dorfromantik: The Board Game (2022)Tipperary (2023)LuxuryRococo: Deluxe Edition (2020)Last Will (2011)Ladies & Gentlemen (2013)Stubborn-nessA Game of Thrones: The Board Game (Second Edition) (2011)Gloomhaven (2017)Arkham Horror: The Card Game (2016)VenusConcordia Venus (2018)Terraforming Mars: Venus Next (2017)Onward to Venus (2014)What games do you think Taurus Gamers would enjoy? Share your thoughts over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

Brendan talks about three games he tried for the first time recently. Join us, won’t you?Knarr (2023)Civolution (2024)Blood on the Clocktower (2022)Last Will (2011) (revisited)Episodes tagged ‘Last Will‘What do you think of these three games? Share your thoughts over on Boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

Brendan shares a bit about his history with storytelling games and role-playing games. Join us, won’t you?Role-playing GamesDungeons & DragonsContinuum: Roleplaying in the YetGumshoeAmberStorytelling Board GamesOnce Upon a Time: The Storytelling Card Game (1993)Machine of Death: The Game of Creative Assassination (2014)Alice is MissingFiascoThe Quiet YearMicroscopeWhich of these games have you played? What did you think of them? Share your storytelling play over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269!

Brendan shares the list of games he’s offering up in the Chicagoland No Ship Math Trade. Join us, won’t you?Link to the Math TradeStart of Brendan’s listings on the 2025 Chicagoland No-ship Math TradeWhat games are on your trade pile? How do you get games out of your collection? Share your thoughts over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269. Join us, won’t you?

Brendan talks about what he likes about Res Arcana. Join us, won’t you?Pick Up & Deliver 439: Res Arcana vs. Mottainai (DUEL)Pick Up & Deliver 194: Roam and Res Arcana (Shootin’ from the Hip)Episodes tagged with ‘Res Arcana’Res Arcana (2019)Other games mentioned:Race for the Galaxy (2007)The City (2011)What do you enjoy about Res Arcana? Share your thoughts over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

Brendan talks about three games he tried for the first time recently. Join us, won’t you?Tribond (1989)BUILDZI (2020)Rolemodels: The Battle for Vyk’ Tornaahl (2013)Thunderbirds (2015) (revisited)The Gang (2024)Have you played any of these games? Share your thoughts on them over on boardgamegeek in our guild, #3269.

Brendan talks about games where experience and depth of knowledge gives players a dramatic advantage in play. Join us, won’t you?Fantasy Realms (2017)Knowing the DeckRace for the Galaxy (2007)Everdell (2018)Res Arcana (2019)Villagers (2019)Mastering Complex SystemsThrough the Ages: A New Story of Civilization (2015)Underwater Cities (2018)Ark Nova (2021)Terraforming Mars (2016)The Nature of EfficiencyAgricola (2007)Trickerion: Legends of Illusion (2015)Century: Golem Edition (2017)What games do you think offer extreme home field advantage? Share your thoughts over on boardgame geek in guild #3269.Transcript: Txt or PDF

Brendan talks about three games he played recently for the first time, and one he dusted off. Join us, won’t you?Android: Infiltration (2012)Clank!: A Deck-Building Adventure (2016)The Adventurers: The Pyramid of Horus (2011)Minotaur Lords (2004)Battle Line (2000)Scarab Lords (2002)Sidereal Confluence (2017)Sherlock Holmes: Baker Street Irregulars (2020)What games have you tried lately? Share your plays over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.Transcript: Txt or Pdf