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The Cardboard Mechanics

The Cardboard Mechanics

By Aaron Wilson and John Prather

Aaron Wilson and John Prather take a look under the hood of board games and talk about the mechanisms and narratives that drive board game design.
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Episode 12 - First of Season 2 - More like Fun-building. Amirite?

The Cardboard MechanicsApr 29, 2023

00:00
01:01:12
Episode 12 - First of Season 2 - More like Fun-building. Amirite?

Episode 12 - First of Season 2 - More like Fun-building. Amirite?

Episode 12 - First of Season 2 - More like Fun-building. Amirite?


In this 12th episode (and first for 2023) John and Aaron talk about Deckbuilding and John's obsession with Dominion.


Games we mention:

Dominion

Starcraft The Board Game 2007

Ascension

Star Realms

Eternal

Clank: In Space

Quest for Eldorado/Salmon Run

Heat

Flamme Rouge

Few Acres of Snow

Undaunted: Normandy

Tyrants of The Underdark

Summer Camp

Nightfall

Fort / SPQF

Glory to Rome

Eminent Domain

Ruins of Arnak

Dune Imperium

Great Western Trail

Dice Masters

Quarriors

Orleans

Automobiles

Quacks Of Quedlinburg

RuneStones

Abandon All Artichokes

Xenon Profiteer

Pasaraya: Supermarket Manager

Briefcase

Slay The Spire

Monster Train

Across The Obelisk

Waterworks

Valley Of The Kings

Tanto Cuore

Trains


Intro/outro music by Sickabod

Follow us on the Twitter!

@Cardboard_Mechs @internetsmagic @anygrytetris

Apr 29, 202301:01:12
Episode 11 - Season 1 Wrap - Tip of the Iceberg

Episode 11 - Season 1 Wrap - Tip of the Iceberg

In this 11th and final episode of Season 1, John and Aaron touch on the things covered in 2022 and what lies ahead for Season 2 in 2023.

Intro/outro music by Sickabod

Follow us on the Twitter! (And now Hive also)

@Cardboard_Mechs @internetsmagic @anygrytetris

Dec 24, 202237:36
Episode 10 - Just Flat Out Tiles

Episode 10 - Just Flat Out Tiles

In this epic 10th episode John and Aaron welcome Shawn Stankewich of Flatout Games, to talk about tile the placement mechanism and Flatout's upcoming real-time tile placement game, Fit To Print by Peter McPherson.


Games we mention:

Cascadia 

Carcassonne

Orx

My City

Terraforming Mars

Ark Nova

Tsuro

Karuba

Whistle stop

Azul

Go

Vegas Showdown

Patchwork

A Feast for Odin

Cottage Garden

Fields of Arle

Glen More

Barenpark

Nova Luna

Indian Summer

Spring Meadow

Twilight Imperium 4

Catan

Alhambra

Kingdomino

Queendomino

Blockus

Takenoko

Sprawlopolis

Carpe Diem

Teotihuacan: City of Gods

Among the Stars

Fields of Green

Circle the Wagons

Naturopolis

Galaxy Trucker

Fit to Print

Lanterns

18xx

Vast: the Crystal Caverns

Isle of Sky

Pipeline

Curious Cargo

Trailblazers

Santiago

Castles of Mad King Ludwing

Suburbia

Castles of Burgundy

Isle of Cats

Calico


Intro/outro music by Sickabod

Follow us on the Twitter!

@Cardboard_Mechs @internetsmagic @anygrytetris @flatoutgames

Oct 15, 202201:11:25
Episode 9 - My Father's Worker Placement
Jul 31, 202259:44
Episode 8 - Take Stock!
Jun 17, 202201:11:39
Episode 7 - Should I stay or should I go?
May 13, 202201:20:18
Episode 6 - So much More to talk about
Apr 07, 202238:53
Episode 5 - The Mechanic that Gets Better with Age

Episode 5 - The Mechanic that Gets Better with Age

In this 5th episode John and Aaron talk about the world of time tracks

Intro/outro music by Sickabod

Follow us on the Twitter!

@Cardboard_Mechs @internetsmagic @anygrytetris

The games we mention:

Seeland (2010)

Rocky Road à la Mode (2017)

Kraftwagen (2015)

Glen More (2010)

Circle the Wagons (2017)

Tokaido (2012)

PARKS (2019)

Patchwork (2014)

World of Warcraft Miniatures Game (2008)

The Networks (2016)

Battle Merchants (2014)

High Rise (2020)

Nova Luna (2019)

Aqua Garden (2021)

The Search for Planet X (2020)

Francis Drake (2013)

Raids (2018)

Mar 26, 202243:39
Episode 4 - The Ouroboros of Board Games

Episode 4 - The Ouroboros of Board Games

In this 4th episode John and Aaron talk about the world of rondels

Intro/outro music by Sickabod

Follow us on the Twitter!

@Cardboard_Mechs @internetsmagic @anygrytetris


The games we mention:

Teotihuacan: City of Gods (2018)

Viscounts of the West Kingdom (2020)

Mystery of the Temples (2017)

Round House (2016)

Antike II (2014)

Watch (2021)

Sovereign Skies (2020)

The Networks (2016)

Crusaders: Thy Will Be Done (2018)

Seeland (2010)

Glen More (2010)

Patchwork (2014)

Heaven & Ale (2017)

Chess (1475)

PARKS (2019)

Great Western Trail (2016)

Raids (2018)

Province (2014)

Circle the Wagons (2017)

Rocky Road à la Mode (2017)

Trajan (2011)

Gold West (2015)

Beta Colony (2018)

Merlin (2017)

The Red Cathedral (2020)

Shipyard (2009)

Captains of the Gulf (2018)

Three Sisters (2022)

Great Western Trail (Second Edition) (2021)

Hot Diggity Dog (2022)

Agility (2016)

Feb 13, 202252:45
Episode 3 - Sovereign Skies deep dive
Jan 24, 202201:00:45
Episode 2 - John thinks 3x9=18

Episode 2 - John thinks 3x9=18

In this 2nd episode John and Aaron go through some the mechanics they enjoy, some they dislike and why sometimes math is hard.

Jan 09, 202252:26
Episode 1 - Intros

Episode 1 - Intros

In this very special first episode John and Aaron talk about who they are and what got each of them into board games and board game design.

Dec 30, 202144:33