Pick Up And Deliver

Brendan shares his thoughts about what makes deck-building games fun or interesting. Join us, won’t you?Previous episodes:Pick Up & Deliver 015: Deck ConstructionPick Up & Deliver 239: Duel – Valley of the Kings vs Arctic ScavengersPick Up & Deliver 246: My top games for the 10 additional mechanisms Kris Hickman suggested (part 3)Pick Up & Deliver 267: Gentle Conflict Mechanisms, part 2Pick Up & Deliver 407: CombosDeck construction vs deck building1. Variety in setup or variety in player choiceStatic market setupDominionArctic ScavengersAeon’s EndRiver market setupHarry Potter: Hogwarts BattleAscensionStar Wars: The Deckbuilding Game2. Gimmicks / InnovationsBrawl: Arctic ScavengersShared reserve: The Big Book of MadnessDeck de-construction: Valley of the Kings, Dale of MerchantsBoard manipulation: A Few Acres of Snow, Clank!with Worker Placement: Lost Ruins of Arnak, Dune: ImperiumDon’t shuffle: Aeon’s EndEvolving Static Market: The Quest for El Dorado3. Varying Amounts of Randomness and C

Brendan shares some thoughts about new/old games he’s played recently. Join us, won’t you?Cairn (2019)Onitama (2014)Hadrian’s Wall (2021)Fleet: The Dice Game (Second Edition) (2020)Three Sisters (2022)A Handful of Stars (2017) (revisited)Pick Up & Deliver 626: Negotiation … and Betrayal!Pick Up & Deliver 125: Shootin’ from the Hip – February 2019Mythic Mischief (2022)IV StudiosAudie HarrisonHave you played any of these games? What did you think of them? Share your thoughts over on boardgamegeek in guild 3269.

Brendan looks back at 2012 and examines the games he’s played that were published in that year. Join us, won’t you?Top 5 Games from 20125. Legacy: Gears of Time4. Las Vegas3. The Resistance: Avalon2. Escape! Curse of the Temple1. Lords of WaterdeepDisqualified from consideration: Android: Netrunner; Terra Mystica; Merchant of VenusHonorable mentions: City of Horror, Coup, QwixxOther superlatives from 2012Most plays: Love LetterLove/Hate award: T’zolkin: the Mayan CalendarWant to Love but can’t: Robinson Crusoe: Adventures on the Cursed IslandCutest Game: Mice and MysticsPotential for Growth: SeasonsLike in the Abstract: GinkgopolisBest Deduction Game: P.I.Area Control Extravaganza: Rex: Final Days of an EmpireBest Duel: TargiWhat games from 2012 do you love? Head over to boardgamegeek guild #3269 and share your thoughts!

Brendan shares his views on negotiation games, articulating 3 different kinds of them and what he likes and dislikes about each. Join us, won’t you?Economic Negotiation GamesCATAN (1995)Sidereal Confluence (2017)Monopoly (1935)Organized Negotiation and AlliancesRex: Final Days of an Empire (2012)Dune (1979); Dune (2019)Political / Area Control Negotiation GamesDiplomacy (1959)A Game of Thrones: The Board Game (Second Edition) (2011)A Handful of Stars (2017)What are your favorite negotiation (and betrayal) games? Share your thoughts over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

Brendan looks back 4 years to see what was happening four years ago at this time. Join us, won’t you?Pick Up & Deliver 224: Paper Tales, The Isle of Cats, Everdell: Pearlbrook (Shootin’ from the Hip)Paper Tales7 WondersSushi GoIt’s a Wonderful WorldThe Isle of CatsExtra boardsKittens & BeastsExplore and DrawEverdell: PearlbrookEverdellBellfaire expansionSpirecrest expansionNewleaf expansionEverdell Big BoxWhat games were you playing 4 years ago? Share and commiserate over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

Brendan talks about the books he’s read since the last time he did one of these book review episodes. Join us, won’t you?The Rhesus Chart (Laundry Files #5) by Charles StrossA Study in EmeraldCthulhu: Death May DieBubble by Jordan Morris and Sarah MorganMickey 7 by Edward AshtonParanoiaWhere Black Stars Rise by Nadia Shammus and Marie EngerThe King in Yellow by Robert ChambersArkham Horror: The Card GameA Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le GuinThe Big Book of MadnessSuburban Hell by Maureen KilmerZombie 15′What books did you read between January and March of this year? Share your list over on Boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

Brendan shares his recent plays from May of 2024, and talks about what he’s gonna play in June. Join us, won’t you?Top of the Stack, May 2024NEW GAME – RYŪ✓NOVELTY CHOICE – Columbo Detective Game✓SOLO – Hadrian’s WallXTRYING AGAIN CHOICE – Porta Nigra✓Shelf of OpportunityThe Gardens, with the Monuments variantTop of the Stack, June 2024NEW GAME – Mythic MischiefNOVELTY CHOICE – The Office Downsizing GameONE PLAY – Scooby Doo and the Haunted MansionTRYING AGAIN CHOICE – Forum TrajanumWhat games did you play in May? What are you playing in June? Share your plays over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

Brendan explores the Boardgamegeek Forums and responds to the thread titles as if they were questions for him. Join us, won’t you?Previous episodes of “The ‘geek Asks”Top 5 Game Night AccessoriesAnyone an early riser? Want to play a game?1960 The Making of the President v Watergate1960: The Making of the President (2007)Watergate (2019)Twilight Struggle (2005)How do you decide when you should not try to publish a game?Can Someone Help Me Find this Game? (thread deleted)Too Many Bones Teacher? (thread deleted)Too Many Bones (2017)Question for those who have stored games on painted shelves!wonder what the freebies were[Sold Out] GameNerdz DotD (Thu 23-May-2024): Great Western Trail 2nd Edition: Rails to the North Expansion $24.97Great Western Trail: Second Edition (2021)Great Western Trail: Second Edition – Rails To The North (2022)Lunch-hour gaming: San Juan ✔️ RftG ✔️Jump Drive ✔️ what next?Res Arcana (2019)Oh My Goods! (2015)Bohnanza (1997)Mottainai (2015)Database into Libib?How would you answer these questi

Brendan shares his first thoughts about three games he tried recently, and one he dusted off. Join us, won’t you?Porta NigraFarawayDro PolterPhotosynthesis (revisited)What games have you tried recently? Have you played any of these? Share your thoughts over on Boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

Surrounded by Cicadas, Brendan talks about games themed around bugs. Join us, won’t you?5. Kabuto Sumo4. Beez3. Mariposas2. Honey Buzz1. Nexus OpsHonorable mentions:Gloomhaven / FrosthavenHIVEGames with High PEI (Potential Edibility Index)Honey BuzzAzulAzul Master ChocolatierChocolate FactoryEverdellMint WorksThrough the DesertOther bug-themed gamesCockroach PokerCockroach SaladBeeeees!Waggle DanceMarch of the AntsXenoshyftWhat bug games do you enjoy? Which ones should I have added to this list? Share your thoughts over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

Brendan talks about six movies he watched in March of this year, and games to go with them. Join us, won’t you?Saw XUnlockThe Wedding SingerFog of LoveDuneDuneDune ImperiumThe Cheap DetectiveAwkward GuestsThe Mystery of the 13th GuestMysteriumThe HoldoversMiskatonic School for GirlsDumb MoneyPonzi SchemeWhat games would you watch with these movies? What movies did you watch in March? Join the conversation on boardgamegeek in guild 3269.

Brendan shares his thoughts about three new games he played for the first time recently. Join us, won’t you?Really Loud LibrariansThat’s Not a HatStrike (revisited)Wild: SerengetiHave you played any of these games? What do you think of them? Share your thoughts over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

Brendan talks about games that have cool, weird scoring conditions. Join us, won’t you?Moxy Früvous, “Lowest Highest Point”Blog Post – “You Gotta Spend Money to Make Money”Just One LoserCockroach PokerThat’s Not a HatMake Your Own Win ConditionShipyard (variant)ArboretumCoimbraBottom Loser / Top WinnerHigh SocietyQEA Study in EmeraldIndividual / Secret Win ConditionROOTNanty NarkingLowest Highest PointTigris & EuphratesLords of XiditWhat games do you like that have weird scoring conditions? Share the ones I missed over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

Brendan talks about some games he’s played by prominent designers Wolfgang Kramer and Michael Kiesling. Join us, won’t you?Jointly-designed GamesThe Princes of Florence (2000)Torres (1999)The Palaces of Carrara (2012)Porta Nigra (2015)The Mask Trilogy: Tikal, Java, MexicaWolfgang KramerEl Grande (1995)Downforce (2017)Vampire Queen (2016)Michael KieslingAzul (2017)Azul: Summer Pavilion (2019)Heaven & Ale (2017)Azul: Stained Glass of Sintra (2018)Azul: Queen’s Garden (2021)Riverboat (2017)What are your favorite games by these designers? Share your opinions over on Boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

Brendan talks a bit about three games he tried for the first time recently. Join us, won’t you?HabitatsTed Lasso Party GameAlien ArtifactsCall of the Wild (revisited)What games have you been playing recently? Head over to Boardgamegeek guild #3269 and share!

Brendan talks a bit about which expansions he considers “essential,” whatever that means. Join us, won’t you?Altiplano: The TravelerBarenpark: The Bad News BearsArk Nova: Marine WorldsStar Wars: Rebellion – Rise of the EmpireObsession: Upstairs, DownstairsHonorable Mentions:Lords of Waterdeep: Scoundrels of SkullportWingspan: Oceania ExpansionWhat expansions did I miss? Which ones do you consider essential? Head over to boardgamegeek guild 3269 and share your thoughts!

Brendan shares the games he played last month. Join us, won’t you?April 2024 Top of the Stack listNEW GAME – Porta NigraNOVELTY CHOICE – Raise the Titanic!SOLO – Hunted: Wode RidgeTRYING AGAIN CHOICE – Alien Artifacts✓Shelf of OpportunityMay 2024 Top of the Stack listNEW GAME – RyuNOVELTY CHOICE – Columbo Detective GameSOLO – Hadrian’s WallTRYING AGAIN CHOICE – Porta NigraWhat games did you play in May? Share your gaming over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

Brendan reflects on the ideas of determinism and randomness in games, in response to a recent The Secret Cabal episode. Join us, won’t you?TSC 295: Aquatica and Randomness vs DeterminismDefinitions: Input Randomness, Output RandomnessInput RandomnessMottainaiInnovationOutput RandomnessStrikeQuacks of QuedlinburgIncan GoldLast Night on EarthA Touch of EvilDeterministic GamesSmall WorldStrife: Legacy of EternalsOnitamaCairnThat Time You Killed MeWhat game do you think falls right in the middle of Determinism vs. Randomness? Share your thoughts over on Boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

Brendan shares his first impressions of three games he tried for the first time recently and one he revisited. Join us, won’t you?TitanicAeon’s Enddudemore dudeBastionWhat games have you tried recently? Share your thoughts over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

Brendan shares his favorite games from 2013. Join us, won’t you?Eliminated from Consideration:A Study in EmeraldEuphoria: Build a Better DystopiaTop 5 Games:ConcordiaCastle DiceSushi Go!Kings of Air and SteamTash Kalar: The Arena of LegendsHonorable MentionsGlass RoadRussian RailroadsForbidden DesertGravwellS.O.S. TitanicSuperlative AwardsBest Satire: Ladies & GentlemenBest Push-Your-Luck Game: Welcome to the DungeonBest Should’ve Enjoyed it More: RococoBest Cool Little Game: The AgentsBest Storytelling Game: The Quiet YearBest Party Game: Two Rooms and a BoomGames I should playBora BoraFreedom: The Underground RailroadWhat 2013 games are your favorite? Head over to boardgamegeek guild #3269 and let us know!