Garrett's Games And Geekiness

This week Shelley and I attempt to enlist gods to increase our scores in  Rauha by Johannes Goupy andThéo Rivière from GRRRE Games and then we pack our moving van in Stack 'n Stuff by Uwe Rosenberg and Marianne Waage from Lookout Games Remember you can sponsor the podcast at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames or check out our list of games for sale here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

This week Shelley and I discuss two games that, for different reasons, didn't really work for us. First up - Orichalcum by Bruno Cathala and Johannes Goupy from Catch Up Games and Pandasaurus Games then we tackle the MONSTER game Mosaic: A Story of Civilization by Glenn Drover from Forbidden Games Remember to sponsor the podcast at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames or check out our games for sale page here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

Shelley and I check out two solid titles this week. The first, a game that once again has Darwin as its theme (though much lighter than Darwin's Journey that we discussed previously) In The Footsteps of Darwin by Gregory Grard and Matthieu Verdier from Sorry We Are French and Hachette Boardgames then we head to the Iberian Peninsula and work to modernize one of our favorite cities in Barcelona by Dani Garcia from Board&Dice and CMON Global Limited Remember you can sponsor the podcast at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR get some great games for good prices from your extensive list of games for sale: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

Shelley and I grow our forest glades and populate the trees with animals in Forest Shuffle by Kosch from Lookout Games then we travel the galaxy picking up resources and fulfilling contracts in a game that reminds us for Parks (and it's by the same designer!) Space Park by Henry Audubon from Keymaster Games Remember that you can sponsor the podcast by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames or check out the list of games we have for sale, which also works to support us here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

Shelley and I tackle the REST of Darwin's Journey, exploring all of the expansion and discussing their incorporation into the base game. Then we try out a smaller-box game with some nasty 'take-that' elements. Darwin's Journey and Expansions by Simone Luciani and Nestor Mangone from ThunderGryph Games, CMON Global Limited and Korea Boardgames Patios by Jesus Torres Castro from ATOMO GAMES

Shelley and I decorate our spaces with various flora in Planted by Phil Walker-Harding from Buffalo Games then take on one of the BIG games that's been on the shelf for a few months Darwin's Journey by Simone Luciani and Nestore Mangone from CMON Global Limited, ThunderGryph Games and Korea Boardgames Sponsor the podcast at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames or buy some games just in time for the holidays! https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

After playing the original  Voyages of Marco Polo by Simone Luciani and Daniele Tascini (2015) at Meeplefest, Shelley and I wanted to reflect on why we made a choice back in the day to only keep Marco Polo II: In The Service of the Khan (2019) We hope you enjoy our reflections on these two titles once again.

Shelley and I talk about some of the "big player count" games that we enjoy, especially during late-night plays at conventions: Viva Pamplona! by Wolfgang Kramer from FX Schmid (released in 1992) Le Paresseux by Dominique Tellier from Eurogames (released in 1990) Hues and Cues by Scott Brady from CMON (released in 2020) Here's the link to our games for sale: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

Shelley and I reflect on another chance to play  Alea Iacta Est by Jeff Allers and Bernd Eisnenstein from Alea (released again in 2016 as Order of the Guilded Compass from Greg Fox Games) and then we check out  Comic Hunters by Robert Coehlo by Bucaneiros Jogos  with its cool Marvel-covers theme

Shelley and I check out a game from 2019 that passed us by, and then check out a much newer little card game from last year: It's A Wonderful World by Frederic Guerard from La Boite de Jeu and MEBO Games and Pick-A-Pepper (or Sauscharf) by Wolfgang Kramer and Christian Stohr from Amigo

Essen Spiel happens THIS WEEK, so Shelley and I sat down to discuss possible titles to peruse and buy. Though we're not headed to Germany this year, we can't wait to play the best of the new releases. AND - WE HAVE HIT 900 EPISODES! Help us celebrate by sponsoring the podcast at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames or puchasing some games from the list below: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing The games mentioned (or added after we recorded), Alphabetically by Publisherf - a total of 110: FTW?! Cascadia Landmarks Fit to Print Pollen The Academy Cabanga! Schrödingers Katzen Z3bra Pampero House of Cats Revive: Call of the Abyss Tucana Builders Gap Neotopia World of Wonders Ceres Blueprints of Mad King Ludwig Welcome to...Edition Collector Moon River Next Station: Tokyo Barcelona Books of Time Nucleum SideQuest: 7th Sea Kick Off: Coach From the Moon Sea Salt and Paper: Extra Salt Carnival Karakum Footprints Anunnaki: Dawn of the Gods Rats of Wistar + Ex

Our final Meeplefest Episode for 2023 finds Ric, Sam, Joe, Simon, Tom, Jody, Scott, Bryan, and Nolan around the table chatting about Online vs. Face to Face Gaming Designing, playtesting, and publishing during Covid Some RPG Chatter Why a game (or an aspect of gaming) is our favorite The "AHA" Moment of playing games with non-gamers Some of the Games Discussed/Mentioned: Tichu Age of Exploration London Settlers of Catan Power Grid Condordia Tzolkin Acquire Pandemic Legacy Terra Mystica Can't Stop Race for the Galaxy 6 Nimmt Illusion Hero Realms Edge of Darkness Ticket to Ride

Night 2 of Meeplefest finds the gang discussing a lot of new, fun games we got a chance to play, as well as some discussion of using games in the classroom and a brief diversion into RPGs and online gaming. Games Discussed: Animated Catan Comic Hunters Diplomacy The Fashion Game Flamme Rouge Formula D(e) Heat Horseless Carriage King of Frontier Little Town My Trolley Town Nemesis Skylands Snowtails Splendor Station Fall Wonderland's War  

This week Shelley and I check out two games that found their way across the Pacific to our game table. First, we build towns with rail connections and set up production buildings in My Trolley Town by Shun and Aya Taguchi from Studio GG and then compete as fashion designers, creating outfits for particular occasions in The Fashion Game, self-published by Yabuchi Ryoko

This week Shelley and I check out a cute little card game, as well as delving into an older title we hadn't played in awhile. Sea, Salt, and Paper by Bruno Cathala and Theo Riviere from Bombyx, Cranio Creations, and Pandasaurus Games Pillars of the Earth by Michael Rieneck, Stefan Stadler from Kosmos, Devir and Mayfair

Part 2 of Night 1 of Meeplefest 2023 finds the group (Joe, Ric, Shelley, Kris, Simon, and Greg) sitting around the mics discussing gaming groups, collections - what stays and what goes - games for specific situations, and game length among other topics. Viva Pamplona Le Paresseux 1846 Castles of Burgundy Blokus Die Macher Heat Pedal to the Metal Thunder Road John Carter: Warlord of Mars  

This week starts our annual Meeplefest roundtable discussions! After introductions we spent Part 1 talking about  Games played, including  Green Favur In The Year of the Dragon Hollyoak Alea Iacta Est Marrakesh Clank in Space Cascadia Viva Pamplona Then talk about design and translation frustrations and the ways that they can get in the way of enjoyment and understanding, referencing Railway Boom Magic (Alpha) Puerto Rico Sienna Frostpunk Finishing this part of the evening with a conversation about rampant deluxification of games with call backs to  Catan Ticket to Ride Marrakesh and others

This week we enjoy a light card game, as well as a much heavier train game Five Three Five by Kenichi Kabuki from Game Nowa and Portland Game Collective Railway Boom by Hisashi Hayashi from Okazu Brand Remember you can support the podcast by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames or click on the link below to check out all of the great games we have for sale at good prices: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

This week Shelley and I check out the mammoth new Stefan Feld game Marrakesh from Queen Games then check out a game that brings back fond memories Essen: The Game - Spiel '13 by Fabrice Beghin, Frederic Delporte, and Etienne Espreman from Geek Attitude Games Support the podcast by becoming a sponsor at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames or check out our games for sale at the link below: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

Shelley and I compete to build clay warriors of various types in  Terracotta Army by Przemyslaw Fornal and Adam Kwapinski from Board & Dice as well as sailing the seas and hoping to retain our ship's crew in Bon Voyage by Yusuke Soraji from Colon Arc You can sponsor the podcast by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames or check out our extensive list of games for sale here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing