Garrett's Games And Geekiness

This week Shelley and I report for the first of a number of episodes from LieriaCon in Portugal - a fantastic gaming convention that we attended in March. We will have some interviews with organizers and designers in the coming weeks, but this week it's two of the games we had a chance to play: My Shelfie by Phil Walker-Harding and Matthew Dunstan from Cranio Creations and Mille Fiori by Dr. Reiner Knizia from Schmidt Spiele and Devir Remember that you can support the podcast by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames or check out our list of games that deserve to be on your shelf (for excellent prices!): https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

Shelley and I head to Medici-run central Italy and attempt to gain favor with those in power in  Florence by Dean Morris from Braincrack Games, as well as Giant Roc and Maldito Games then we head into deep space where our competing ships attempt to settle a new planet and make use of Alien Tech in Alien Frontiers Edition X by Tory Niemann from Starling Games Remember you can sponsor the podcast at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames or you can help us find new shelves for some games that no longer fit on our own by purchasing a few from our extensive list: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

I had a week off in February, so while Shelley was at work one day, I spent part of my day on a Google Meet call with the wonderful Tony Boydell - designer of such games as Snowdonia, Lux Aeterna, Alubari: A Nice Cup of Tea, Race the Rails, and - of course - Scandaroon! We discuss his past designs, creating a brand new Museum of Board Games, and some of the games he's playing currently. It's a wide-ranging discussion - we had a great time, and hope you enjoy it!  And if you're able to sponsor the podcast, you can do that in two ways: either on Patreon: www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR by purchasing games from our list of games that need to find new homes: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing

Shelley and I decorate our home with plants, working our green thumbs in Verdant by Molly Johnson, Robert Melvin, Aaron Mesburne, Kevin Russ, and Shawn Stankewich from AEG and Flatout Games then we head to Ghana to learn about the forest ecosystem and fruit bats' important contribution in Atiwa by Uwe Rosenberg from Lookout Games Remember that you can sponsor the podcast by becoming a patron at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames or help us clear out our shelves and get some games headed your way by purchasing some from this Google Sheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

Shelley and  I get historical in two different games this week, checking out the EXCELLENT middle-weight dice placement game Moesteiro by Rola and Costa from PYTHAGORAS then draft cards and create our journeys through time in Trekking through History by Charlie Bink from Underdog Games Remember that you can help out the podcast by supporting us at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR you can head over to our Google Sheet and find some games to buy that deserve a good home: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

This week Shelley and I head to The Desert Planet Arrakis to get in some plays of  Dune: Imperium by Paul Dennen from Direwolf and Legendary with its expansion Rise of Ix and Immortality then we check out another design from two designers we talked about last week The Guild of Merchant Explorers by Matthew Dunstan and Brett J. Gilbert from AEG Support the podcast at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames and check out the games we have available for purchase at https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

Shelley and I once again get a small box and big box to the table this week, but both of these were pretty hefty brainpower-wise. We start with by laying train track cards into a 3x4 grid to complete lines and score points from trip cards in Village Rails by Matthew Dunstand and Brett J. Gilbert from Osprey Games then we explore Mozart's life and final Requiem, helping to tell his story and finish his final piece in  Lacrimosa by Gerard Ascensi and Ferran Renalias from Devir Remember you can support the podcast by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames or purchase a game or two from us from this list: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

This week Shelley and I go through some of our disappointments in gaming from 2022, organizing those comments into categories. Remember you can sponsor the podcast by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames or check out our list of games available for purchase at reasonable prices here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharin Games I Kickstarted that were disappointing when we played them. (Doug) Stroganov Petrichor This is beautiful...why isn't it fun? (Shelley) Petrichor Games that were more fiddly or difficult to learn than they should have been... (Doug) Carnegie Corrosion Origins: First Builders This is too fiddly to have any fun (Shelley) Findorff Well...this is OK, but I'd rather play something else by these designers (Doug) Golem Boonlake Brilliant designer...but what was he thinking? (Shelley) Boonlake What am I supposed to do again??? (Shelley) Golem This is a lot more boring than I thought it would be.... (Doug) Three Sisters I loved the o

Shelley and I peruse our list of played games in 2022 and separately choose which ones belong in our personal Top 10 Lists for 2022. We did NOT peek before we sat down to record! Doug's Honorable Mentions: Bitoku Yokohama Roll & Write by Hisashi Hayashi from Okazu Brand Dandelions by Takashi Sakaue from BoardgameTables Exhaust by Hisashi Hayashi from Okazu Brand Maui by Frank Crittin, Gregoire Largey and Sebastien Pauchon from Next Move/Plan B Dog Park by Lottie & Jack Hazell from Birdwood Games Shelley's Honorable Mentions: Maui by Frank Crittin, Gregoire Largey and Sebastien Pauchon from Next Move/Plan B Isle of Cats Explore and Draw by Frank West from City of Games Pastiche: Birth of a Masterpiece by Rikkati from Twins Lion Do Ark Nova by Mathias Wigge from Feuerland Spiele Doug's Top Ten: 10) My Lil' Everdell by James A and Clarissa A Wilson from Starling Games 9) Akropolis by Jules Messaud from Gigamic 8) Pastiche: Birth of a Masterpiece by Rikkati from Twins Lion Do 7) Dinner in Paris by The Tro

Shelley and I get two more fantastic games to the table this week, beginning our discussion with how the Contractors expansion affects the solid small-box game Red Cathedral by Israel Cendrero and Sheila Santos from Devir then the box gets bigger, and the dice manipulation gets even more interesting in Tiletum by Simone Luciani and Daniele Tascini from Board&Dice Thanks again this week to our sponsor LEIRIACON - taking place March 23-26 in Portugal. Shelley and I look forward to seeing any listeners who make the trip! https://www.spielportugal.org/leiriacon/leiriacon-2023 Remember you can also sponsor the podcast at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames or buy a couple of games from us, helping solid games find a new home (new games added all the time): https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing    

Shelley and I check out a game that's right in our wheelhouse (straightforward, medium-weight, Schachtian) in Catherine: The Cities of the Tsarina by Johannes Schmidauer-König from Capstone Games and dlp Games then find ourselves moving into a "try before buy" phase with 2F Spiele Games as we just did not like the fiddly Findorff by Friedemann Friese from 2F Spiele and Rio Grande Games Remember to check out LeiriaCon's website and sign up to join us in Portugal March 23-26! https://www.spielportugal.org/leiriacon/leiriacon-2023 You can also help out this long-running little podcast by sponsoring us directly at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames or by purchasing some games that need new homes from our personal collection: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

Shelley and I tackle both ends of the gaming weight spectrum this week with a small-box, 2-player-only younger brother to a modern classic Splendor Duel by Marc André and Bruno Cathala from Space Cowboys then we dive into the deep end for the latest heavy title from a designer known for making out brains work Woodcraft by Vladimir Suchy and Ross Arnold from Delicious Games Thanks to our main sponsor this week - LeiriaCon! Taking place March 23-26 on the west coast of Portugal, this conventionhas been on Shelley and my bucket list and we're so glad we can attend this year. Join us! https://www.spielportugal.org/leiriacon/leiriacon-2023 Also, you can sponsor the podcast yourself at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR buy a game or two from us - check out this extensive list of games that need find a new home: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

Shelley and I tackle a couple of smaller-box, medium weight games that we loved. First we create groves of apple trees in Applejack by Uwe Rosenberg from The Game Builders then we head to the beach in Hawaii and claim the best spots with our multi-colored towels in Maui by Frank Crittin, Gregoire Largey, and Sebastien Pauchon from Next Move Games Thanks to our sponsor this week - LEIRIACON! Taking place form March 23 - 26, join us on the west coast of Portugal for four days of gaming goodness. Here's the link to the website for all of the information: https://www.spielportugal.org/leiriacon/leiriacon-2023 Also, you can support the podcast directly at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames Finally, if you're looking for a game or two to check out, why not support the podcast by buying something from us? Here's the link to our Google Sheet with a list of games we have for sale. Make us an offer! https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

Shelley and I tackle two ends of the complexity spectrum in this week's episode, loving every minute of both experiences. On the less complicated, family-friendly end of the spectrum, we try out Everdell's little sibling My Lil' Everdell by James A. and Clarissa A. Wilson then we get much more complex, but in wonderful ways, as we make champagne in Dom Pierre by Rola and Costa from R&R Games and Pile Up Games  Remember that you can support the podcast by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames or checking out our games for sale on this document:  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit#gid=0  

Shelley and I check out the GORGEOUS Collector's Edition of  Everdell by James A Wilson from Starling Games in preparation for our review of the brand new My Lil Everdell next week. But before that we fix our erroneous ways by doing a re-review of  Dandelions by Takashi Sakaue from BoardgameTables.com (which is now Allplay)

Shelley and I compete as rival dog walkers, trying to increase our reputation and walk the best breeds of dog in Dog Park by Lottie and Jack Hazell from Birdwood Games then we head up to the Sierras and into one of the most beautiful places on the planet to get great photos in Yosemite by Tim Blank from WizKids

Shelley and I research amazing women throughout history in HerStory by Nick Bentley, Danielle Reynolds, and Emerson Matsuuchi from Underdog Games and then get abstract as we fulfill tasks and race to get rid of our markers first in Framework by Uwe Rosenberg from Edition Spielwiese and Pegasus Spiele

This week Shelley and I become restauranteurs in Paris, competing for space for our tables on the square in  Dinner in Paris by The Trolls from Funnyfox (via Lautapelit.fl) then we head to Greece to rebuild our own cities in Akropolis by Jules Messaud from Gigamic  You can sponsor the podcast at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames or even help us AND you by purchasing a game from us that no longer fits on the shelves. Here's the link to the list: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing

Shelley and I take a trip up the peninsula to "The City By The Bay" for two different San Francisco titles: Ticket to Ride San Francisco by Alan Moon from Days of Wonder as well as San Francisco by Reiner Knizia from Rebel Studio You can sponsor the podcast at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames or even help us AND you by purchasing a game from us that no longer fits on the shelves. Here's the link to the list: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

Shelley and I check out the co-op expansion for Stonemaier Game's Viticulture and Tuscany - one of our favorite titles - called  Viticulture World by Mihir Shah and Francesco Testini, with original designers Jamey Stegmaier and Alan Stone then we get into the wayback machine an enjoy getting  Showmanager by Dirk Henn from Queen Games back to the table - the original which has been re-released as Atlantic Star and then again as Show Manager Remember that you can help support the podcast by going onto Patreon and becoming a patron - www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR  buy a game from our extensive 'these no longer fit on the shelf' list: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing