Pick Up And Deliver

Brendan is preparing for an academic conference and thinking about what games he’ll bring to game night. What games would you bring for a group of academics who may or may not have played any hobby board games?

Brendan tries a new format we’re calling “Shootin’ from the Hip” in which he discusses a game in depth after having only played it one time. This episode’s game is Twilight Imperium – Rex: The Final Days of an Empire.

Brendan discusses the different kinds of reasoning games demand of us, and spends a bit of time thinking about the concept of deductive and inductive reasoning.

Brendan continues his "Top Designers in My Collection" series, exploring Martin Wallace.

Brendan has volunteered to serve as a guide for some newbies coming into the hobby. He reflects on the upcoming task.

Brendan offers some insights from this weekend of playing the deck-building game Harry Potter Hogwarts Battle.

In this episode, Brendan explores the notion of value as we hold it in regards to games we own, houses we own, and in-game items we own.

Springing from a conversation on Board Game Geek about how to get your partner to play more games, Brendan talks about gaming with your partner, whether they want to game or not.

Brendan discusses the nature of collecting board games, why one might enjoy assembling a collection, and what it's like to be a collector... or rather, a curator.

Brendan talks about games where you build a deck before you play -- deck "construction."

Brendan talks about the delight (or agony) of being surprised when a game isn't what you expected it would be.

In this episode, Brendan talks about his Shelf of Opportunity -- those games he owns but hasn't played yet -- and considers how a game ends up on that shelf. Join us!

Brendan discusses the basic economics of board game kickstarter projects and the two kinds of approaches most of these games fall into, as well as some observations about the landscape now.

In this episode, Brendan talks about the vagaries of teaching and learning board games. How do you like to learn games?

Brendan discusses what Vlaada Chvátil games he owns and enjoys, and why he likes them.

After a long weekend helping to officiate a swim meet, Brendan ponders how the vagaries of a swim meet has parallels to board games. Join us!

In this episode, Brendan talks about the role of dice in games he enjoys, and how his attitudes toward those games have changed.

In this episode, "On Being a Carebear," Brendan explores the nuance and emotions of being a carebear player.

On this episode, Brendan discusses the recent snowfall in Chicagoland and games that make you deal with a deluge of problems or resources.

Brendan discusses the way that permanent decisions in games like Pandemic: Legacy affect the narrative experience of gameplay.Games discussed: Gloomhaven, Pandemic: Legacy, Dead of Winter, T.I.M.E. Stories