Episode 45 - The JVMF Special! Getting into Roleplaying and Speculation

 It's our Jack Vasel Memorial Fund Special! We are proud to be joined by our auction winner for a discussion of Tabletop Roleplaying games and we review his choice game, Speculation!

Episode 44 - Playin the Oldies and Dead of Winter

In this episode, we're talking about the value of older games and reviewing a new hotness, Dead of Winter!

Episode 43 - What We Learned At Camp

In this episode, we're back from BGG.con and looking to talk about our experience. The people we met, the games we played, the exhaustion, it's all here.

 

Episode 42 - Tony's Tops and Galaxy Trucker

Tony's Top Thirteen games of all time and a review of Galaxy Trucker! What's not to love?

Episode 41 - Time Keeps on Slippin' and Takenoko

In this episode, we celebrate our one year anniversary by questioning our existence. We also review Takenoko, a game about pandas!

Episode 40 - How to Explain and Cash n Guns 2nd Edition

In this episode, we talk about explaining the hobby to those that know nothing about it. How do we get past "Oh, you mean like Monopoly?" Then, we review the reprinting of a much-lauded party game, Cash n Guns!

Episode 39 - The Gamers Among Us and Cheaty Mages

In this episode, we talk about our recent discovery of a new possible subset of gamers. Should we be recruiting potential gamers from sports bars? 

Episode 38 - Some Thoughts on Buying and Marvel Dice Masters

In this episode, we're answering a few listener questions about the method behind our purchases before reviewing the super-hot (and somewhat controversial) Marvel Dice Masters!

Episode 37 - Gaming Solo and Level 7 Omega Protocol

In this super-fiddly edition of the Start Space Podcast, we're talking solo gaming! Then, a review of the Privateer Press sci-fi dungeon-crawl, Level 7: Omega Protocol.

Episode 36 - The Magic Circle and Abstractapalooza

What's a party game? Why should you play abstract games? Magic Circle? We answer all of these questions and more in a brand-new episode of the Start Space Podcast!


Stick around to the end of the show when I remember that there is more than one Level 7 game and that I may or may not have mentioned the wrong one at the start.

Episode 35 - Gaming Awards and Rampage (Terror in Meeple City)

Lots of stuff happening in this episode!

1) Find out how to enter our newest contest!
2) We give a breakdown of the recent gaming awards and our opinions on awards as a whole.
3) A review of Rampage (Terror in Meeple City) from Asmodee games!

Episode 34 - Exploring Games and Neuroshima Hex

In this episode, we talk about the push and pull between the desire to fully explore a single game and the drive to play more and more new games. Gamer Lingo makes an appearance and we review the game Neuroshima Hex!

Episode 33 - Collectability and War of the Ring 2nd Edition

In this episode, we make an important announcement about the future of the podcast, talk about collecting in the tabletop hobby, and review War of the Ring 2nd Edition! It's pretty special.

The game at setup. Lots of plastic and cards.

A close-up of some of the Free People's troops. 

Episode 32 - Genre Spotlight: Worker Placement and Splendor

In this episode, we talk about the ever-expanding world of Worker Placement games before reviewing the hot new family game, Splendor! 



Pictures incoming!

Episode 31 - Gaming on the Go and Duel of Ages 2

In this episode, we're talking about the gaming we did on vacation. From games in the car to introducing relatives to the hobby, we cover it all before reviewing the absurd team-combat game, Duel of Ages 2!

Duel of Ages 2 is a team-based combat game which features such diverse characters as Geronimo and a Unicorn.

The are some of the "platters" that will make up the game board.

The game relies heavily on cards for items, adventures, and the resolution of tests.

The game at setup. Notice that the platters are locked together with "keys" which represent the team bases and various labyrinths around the map.

Some of the other tokens that come with the base game. You will not often need all of these tokens, as many are scenario specific.

Episode 30 - Introducing Our Buddy and Game of Thrones: The Card Game

In this episode, we talk to our friend and gaming partner, Wes, who will be doing some review work for us over on the BGG guild. Following introductions, we review the Fantasy Flight LCG, Game of Thrones: The Card Game!

Game of Thrones: The Card Game uses stunning, original artwork that really evokes the fantasy theme.

Examples of Plot (left) and regular cards. Note the red symbol on the character. That icon show that the character can participate in Military Challenges.

A player's setup. Simple and elegant. 

Power and Gold tokens. (Altoid tins not included)

This board and the accompanying miniatures are only used in the multiplayer version of the game.

You can really tell that Fantasy Flight meant for this game to be played with more than two players. Why else would they put so much work into these otherwise useless pieces?

Episode 29 - Online Vs. Local and Robinson Crusoe

In this episode, we tackle the hotbutton issue of Online vs. Local retailers. Then, we review the co-op hotness, Robinson Crusoe!

Robinson Crusoe is a game for 1-4 players, by Z-Man Games.

Here is the game, setup in all its glory. There are quite a few tokens and decks of cards to contend with, but setup really shouldn't take too long once you become familiar with the game.

The game comes with a number of scenarios to play through. We focused on this intro scenario, which requires the players to build a large fire.

Event cards have an immediate effect (top half), and then move to the threat track where players can place a pawn on the card to take the bottom action. If players don't react in time, the penalty at the very bottom of the card is activated.

An example of some of the invention cards that you will see when playing the intro scenario.

Close-up on the starting camp. Our survivors have washed up on this beach which will provide us with one wood resource and one perishable food resource per turn. We will be exploring out from here.

An example of the action dice. Spreading out your pawns will force you to rely on these dice to complete your actions. It can be just as frustrating as it sounds.

Episode 28 - Labelling Games and Lost Cities

In this short episode, we talk about the labels that are given to so many games. Do we really need categorizations anymore? We give you all the answers to that in about 10 minutes! Then, we review the Knizia game, Lost Cites!

Would you just look at that majestic cover...

In Lost Cities, you will attempt to complete expeditions by putting numbers in order. Wait, what? The artwork on the game cards is fantastic, even if the theme is completely unnecessary.

Setup of the game is extremely simple and quick.

Episode 27 - Game Bling and Steam Park

In this episode, we talk about pimping out games. What have we done to take our games to the next level? Then, we review Steam Park and decide the winner of our listener poll! 

Steam Park is a game for 2-4 players from Iello Games.

The humble beginnings of your park. 

Bonus cards will give you points for fulfilling specific goals.

The game, setup for two players. 

And these are the rides. These 3-d pieces really add to the "Wow" factor of the game. 

Your park will grow into a unique amalgamation of rides and stands that looks more and more interesting as the game goes on.

And this is dirt, the bane of your existence.

Episode 26 - Mainstream Replacements and Disc Duelers

In this episode, we sound a little better (hopefully)! We're talking about Mainstream games. Monopoly, Sorry, Risk. What do we like and dislike about them? What are some good games to replace these classics for your friends? After answering this question, we move on to a review of Disc Duelers! 

Disc Duelers features cutesy versions of the characters found in other Level 99 games like Devastation of Indines.

Some of the character and item cards that you might see in the game.

The main components of the game. Character discs will be flicked around the board, while item crates can be broken open to obtain new item cards.

Episode 25 - Our Preferences and Seasons

In this episode of the podcast, we take some time to introduce our gaming preferences. What mechanisms do we particularly like or dislike? Why do we play games? All of this, and our review of Seasons by Asmodee!

Seasons is a die-rolling, card-playing game for 2-4 players.

The game features some truly outstanding artwork. These are some of the cards that you will be summoning for effects and points.

The game, setup for two players.

A player board. This little piece of cardboard keeps track of your energy, summoning level, and special power usage.

A close-up of the main board. The black cube will move around the outside of the circular calendar to show what season the game is currently in.

Episode 24 - Tabletop Day Wrapup and For Sale

A conversation about our experience on Tabletop Day becomes a minor discussion on the role of Tabletop in the hobby. Then, we manage to pull ourselves together long enough to review the card game, For Sale! Be sure to follow us on Twitter @StartSpaceCast.

For Sale is a light-weight game for 3-6 players that comes in a box which is much too large for its contents.

The entire contents of the box. See? That's what I'm talking about.

The Property Deck. You can see an example of some of the cartoony artwork on the cards which makes this a really inviting game for families.

The Check Deck. Not to be confused with the Czech Deck, a popular late-eighties, Eastern-European pop band. Is anyone even reading these?

Episode 23 - Pet Peeves and Dungeon Fighter

Hello everybody! In this episode, we're revealing some of the things that annoy us in board games. We then move on to a game which is decidedly un-annoying. Dungeon Fighter! Bonus points to anyone who gets the reference in the show's opening tag-line.

Dungeon Fighter is a cooperative, dexterity game which, as you can probably tell, features some really goofy artwork.

The board. Which is a target. Which you throw dice at. Interested yet?

Each player uses a character with three special abilities. The four characters above are just a sample of the characters included in the base game.

An example of one dungeon floor. In the bottom right is a Healing Spring. If the players decide to go the short route, they will have to go through a room that requires you to throw the die under your leg.

A full dungeon. The players are represented by the red token at the bottom and attempt to make it to the facedown boss monster at the top.

The game at setup. 

Ah, the card tower. Completely unnecessary, but cool nonetheless. 

Examples of some of the monsters and items you might encounter. Again, the artwork and names on these cards will keep you entertained for quite a while.