Cards and Cubes
By Pod Cauldron
We are Hristo and Trevor - two friends who love to play and talk about board games.
Cards and CubesJul 27, 2020
Season 2, Episode 7: Top 5 Heavy Games
In Season 2, Episode 7 of Cards and Cubes, we talk about our Top 5 Heavy Games.
Games mentioned include Teotihuacan: City of Gods, Alchemists, Lisboa, Dominant Species, Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar, Trismegistus: The Ultimate Formula, On Mars, Lisboa, Brass: Birmingham and Lancashire, Terra Mystica and Gaia Project.
We talk about some games on the horizon including Die Macher, Weather Machine, Pax Transhumanity, Pax Renaissance, Perseverance: Castaway Chronicles – Episodes 1 & 2, Arkwright: The Card Game, and Imperial Steam.
Season 2, Episode 6: Card Games: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Season 2, Episode 6 of Cards and Cubes is about Card Games: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Well, not so much about the Ugly, but we have plenty to say about all kinds of different card mechanics and game examples which feature them.
Games mentioned include Port Royal, Ark Nova, Race for the Galaxy, Boonlake, TEN, Alma Mater, Eschaton, Terramara, Firenze, Tekhenu: Obelisk of the Sun, Arboretum, Fort, Mombasa, Blackout: Hong Kong, Mottainai, Glory to Rome, Gloomhaven, 51st State: Master Set, La Granja, Cryo, Lewis & Clark: The Expedition, Nyet!, Belote, Tichu, Brian Boru: High King of Ireland, Ginkgopolis, Nidavellir.
We then focus only on Ark Nova, with a more detailed discussion, having played it several times now.
Season 2, Episode 5: Meta-Gaming
In Season 2, Episode 5, we begin with some trivia about the Top 10 most viewed games on BGG.
Then, we talk about our experiences playing Azul: Queen's Garden and Boonlake.
Our topic this time is Meta-Gaming. We talk about our understanding of meta-gaming and go into a discussion of times when we have experienced meta-rules in various games including partnership card games, Root, drafting games, Puerto Rico, and others.
Season 2, Episode 4: Top 5 Catan Killers
Season 2, Episode 4 is all about our Top 5 Catan Killers.
While Catan is an old favorite, we talk about games which are a step up including Machi Koro, Machi Koro 2, Machi Koro Legacy, Isle of Skye: From Chieftain to King, Bad Company, Solenia, Valeria: Card Kingdoms, Ginkgopolis, Call to Adventure, Via Nebula, Space Base, and Ragusa.
We also have some honorable mentions including My Farm Shop, Catan: Seafarers, Catan: Cities & Knights, Dice Forge, Lords of Vegas, Irish Gauge, and Flotilla.
Season 2, Episode 3: SaltCON Spring 2022
In Season 2, Episode 3, we share our experiences at SaltCON Spring 2022.
We talk about pretty much all the games we played, including Great Western Trail (Second Edition), Witchstone, MicroMacro: Crime City – Full House, Cape May, Ark Nova, Bitoku, So Clover!, Mystic Paths, Cascadia, Legacies, Founders of Teotihuacan, Brian Boru, Paris: l'Étoile, Milestones, Zapotec, Meeple Party, The Hunger, El Grande Big Box, Khôra: Rise of an Empire, Deep Blue, Red Outpost, The Manhattan Project 2: Minutes to Midnight, and Tabannusi: Builders of Ur.
Season 2, Episode 2: Serial Games
In Season 2, Episode 2 of Cards and Cubes, we start with a challenging trivia about the bottom 10 games with logged plays on BGG for January 2022.
We continue with a discussion about Serial Games - game series which have mechanical or otherwise closely related "sequels." We give some examples of "serialization" including mechanical, thematic, designer-related.
In particular, we focus on the "Century" and "Azul" series in depth, including our favorites and what we like or dislike about them.
Season 2, Episode 1: Top 5 Games and Disappointments of 2021
In Season 2, Episode 1 of Cards and Cubes, we talk about our Top 5 Games and Top 5 Disappointments of 2021.
Games mentioned include Codex Naturalis, Embarcadero, Bloodborne: The Board Game, Furnace, The Crew: Mission Deep Sea, Venice, Steampunk Rally Fusion, Cubitos, Oath, Beyond the Sun, Anno 1800, Excavation Earth, Origins: First Builders, Red Rising, Mercado de Lisboa, Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition, 7 Wonders: Architects, Merchants Cove, Shamans, Genotype: A Mendelian Genetics Game.
Season 1, Episode 55: Burnout
Season 1, Episode 54: Board Game Expansions
Our topic today is "Board Game Expansions" and we also have a short discussion about deluxe versions of games.
Our games on the horizon this week are Tsukuyumi: Full Moon Down, Gaia Project, Spirit Island, Terra Mystica, Underwater Cities, Weather Machine, Excavation Earth: It Belongs in a Museum, and Yedo.
Season 1, Episode 53: SaltCON End of Summer 2021
Season 1, Episode 52: Top 3 Games We Haven't Played from the SaltCON Library
We have a combined run through our Top 3 Games We Haven't Played from the SaltCON Library and related topics with fellow podcasters from The Innkeeper's Table.
Games mentioned include Myrmes, Echidna Shuffle, Uwe Rosenberg's Tile Laying Trilogy (Indian Summer, Cottage Garden, Spring Meadow), Bora Bora, Aquasphere, Hacienda, After The Empire, Paleo, MicroMacro: Crime City, the Unlock series, The Search for Planet X, and the Tiny Epic series.
Season 1, Episode 51: 3 Kinds of Games to Play at a Game Convention
We go on to games played, which this week include Alchemists, Massive Darkness, Horizon Zero Dawn: The Board Game, and Space Gate Odyssey.
Our topic this week is "3 Kinds of Games to Play at a Game Convention" inspired by the upcoming SaltCON End of Summer 2021.
Games on the Horizon include Alchemists: The King's Golem, On Mars: Alien Invasion, Dune: Imperium - Rise of Ix, Forests of Pangaia, and Overstocked.
If you're coming to SaltCON End of Summer 2021, come to our Live Recording on Friday at 8PM in Twilight 4!
Season 1, Episode 50: Hidden Information in Tabletop Games
Season 1, Episode 49: Fragility in Tabletop Games
We go into Games Played including CloudAge, The Search for Planet X, Between Two Castles of Mad King Ludwig, Gentes, and Hallertau.
Our topic for this episode is Fragility in Tabletop Games. We discuss games which we consider or call "fragile" or even "broken" in some way as opposed to some which are more "stable" but perhaps with some downsides.
Our Games on the Horizon highlights for this week are Lords of Ragnarok, Circadians: Chaos Order, Cubitos, and ADELE.
Season 1, Episode 48: TrevCON 2021
Season 1, Episode 47: Tabletop Game Awards
We follow with our games played section which includes Chinatown, Genoa, Eschaton, Oriflamme, CuBirds, Codex Naturalis, Jekyll vs. Hyde, and Tybor the Builder.
Our combined topic and news item for the day is Tabletop Game Awards, and in particular the recent announcements for the Spiel des Jahres and Golden Geek Awards nominees. Some games which caught our eye include The Adventures of Robin Hood, MicroMacro: Crime City, Fantasy Realms, Paleo, Beyond the Sun, Forgotten Waters, The Search for Planet X, Super-Skill Pinball: 4-Cade.
Games on the Horizon include Conspiracy: Abyss Universe, My Father's Work, Mandala Stones, and The Witcher: Old World.
Season 1, Episode 46: 3 Good Cooperative Games
Games played in this episode include a lengthy discussion about the Maracaibo campaign we recently finished, Sluff Off!, Venice, and Star Wars: Unlock! .
We then present our lists of 3 Good Cooperative Games.
Games on the Horizon include Nidavellir, Comanauts, Expedition to Newdale, Paris: l'Etoile, Tabannusi: Builders of Ur.
Season 1, Episode 45: Digital Implementations of Tabletop Games
Our topic this week is "Digital Implementations of Tabletop Games" where we discuss different ways in which games can be implemented in digital format or assisted by a digital application, and our preferences and impressions from the ones we've experienced.
Games on the Horizon include Oath: Chronicles of Empire and Exile, Equinox, Anno 1800, Florence.
Season 1, Episode 44: Teaching Board Games
Our topic today is "Teaching Board Games" where we examine our personal early experiences, learnings, recommendations, and differing teaching styles when explaining board games.
Games on the Horizon this week are: Zing! or Sluff Off!, Dealt!, Scout!, Black Angel, Cryo, and Magna Roma.
Season 1, Episode 43: What's in a Game
Our discussion today is what's in a game - in other words, what we feel qualifies as a game, and we go into a recent case which prompted the discussion.
Games on the horizon include Caper: Europe, V-Commandos, Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood of Venice, Hippocrates, John Company: Second Edition, and Ginkgopolis.
Season 1, Episode 42: Keep or Cull
Our topic today is "Keep or Cull" - a discussion about our decisions and habits involved in acquiring, collecting, and ultimately getting rid of board games.
Games on the horizon this week include Tiny Turbo Cards, Fjords, Royal Visit, L.L.A.M.A., Everdell: Newleaf, Mistwood, and The Complete Collection, and Venice.
Season 1, Episode 41: What We Look For in a Game Store
Our topic of discussion this week is "What We Look For in a Game Store."
Games on the horizon include Castles of Mad King Ludwig: Collector's Edition, Clinic: Deluxe Edition – 2nd, 3rd Extension, Steampunk Rally Fusion, and Whistle Mountain.
Season 1, Episode 40: Board Game Streamlining
Then we have a discussion about board game streamlining prompted by Pingyao: First Chinese Banks, mentioning a variety of Vital Lacerda games, CGE games, and others. Highlights include simplicity vs streamlining, thematic integration, flow, smaller versions of larger games, and some examples of arguably insufficient rulebooks.
Games on the horizon for us this week include Stroganov, Paladins of the West Kingdom: City of Crowns, Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition, and Funfair.
Season 1, Episode 39: The Evolution of Deck Building in Board Games
Then, we have an extensive discussion about the evolution of deck building in board games - from first experiences like Dominion, Magic: The Gathering, Pokemon, through developments involving games like Tyrants of the Underdark, Clank!: A Deck-Building Adventure, Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle, Arctic Scavengers, Great Western Trail, Blackout: Hong Kong, Mombasa, Super Motherload, Famiglia, Grifters, Viscounts of the West Kingdom, Concordia, Transatlantic, Gloomhaven, Bloodborne: The Card Game, Cry Havoc, Shards of Infinity, Rune Stones, and The Taverns of Tiefenthal. We finish the discussion with kind of a back-and-forth discussion between Lost Ruins of Arnak and Dune: Imperium.
Our ending discussion of games on the horizon includes Radlands, Carnegie, Root: "Militants" Expansion, and Oath: Chronicles of Empire and Exile.
Season 1, Episode 38: Poorly Described Games
Then we mention some upcoming games, a couple of which we have already partially previewed - Darwin's Journey, CloudAge, and Kanban EV.
We then go onto a particularly difficult section of poorly described games - or were the clues really not that bad, and we just all had a bad memory day?
Top 10 Games of 2020
Season 1, Episode 37: Top 3 Exciting Games
Season 1, Episode 36: Top 3 Relaxing Games
Season 1, Episode 35: Top 3 Games in Which Theme Comes Through
Season 1, Episode 34: Top 3 Games to Play in a Post-Apocalyptic Scenario
Season 1, Episode 33: Halloween Special
Season 1, Episode 32: Trick Taking Games
Season 1, Episode 31: Cooperative Games
Season 1, Episode 30
Season 1, Episode 29: Stefan Feld
Season 1, Episode 28: Designer Interview with Max Holliday
Season 1, Episode 27: Top 3 Games That We Should Like, but Don't
In this episode of Cards and Cubes we do another round of poorly described games. We also discuss Top 3 Games That We Should Like, but Don't.
Season 1, Episode 26: Top 3 Games We Shouldn't Like, but Do
In this episode we have another round of Poorly Described Board Games. We also discuss our Top 3 Games We Shouldn't Like, but Do.
Season 1, Episode 25: Top 3 Expansions
In this episode we try a new segment. In "Poorly Described Board Games" we take turns giving brief and slightly confusing descriptions of board games which the others try to guess. We also discuss our Top 3 Expansions.
Season 1, Episode 24: 2-Player Games, Top 3 Family-weight Games
In this episode we discuss 2-player games. When do we enjoy 2-player games? What makes a game suited to a player count of 2? Are there any advantages to playing with just 2 players? We also go over our Top 3 Family-weight Games.
Season 1, Episode 23: BGG and Other Online Board Game Resources, Top 3 Party Games
In this episode we talk about some of the online resources we use to help us with our board game collecting and playing. We also talk about our Top 3 Party Games.
Season 1, Episode 22: Top 3 Story-Driven Games
In this episode we discuss games that we have been playing as well as our Top 3 Story-Driven Games.
Season 1, Episode 21: Czech Games Edition (CGE), Top 3 Games with Few Components
In this episode we discuss the game publisher Czech Games Edition (CGE). We also give our top 3 games with few components.
Season 1, Episode 20: Top 3 Gimmick Games That Actually Work
In our 20th episode we discuss some games played and games we're looking forward to. We finish by presenting our Top 3 Gimmick Games That Actually Work.
Season 1, Episode 19: Motivations for Playing Board Games, Top 3 Filler Games
In this episode we talk about our motivations for playing board games. It is for social reasons, or for competition? We also present our Top 3 Filler Games.
Season 1, Episode 18: Vital Lacerda, Top 3 5-Player Games
In our 18th episode we are figuring out how to record a podcast while heeding social isolation etiquette. We do a deep dive into Vital Lacerda, the designer of board game hits such as Lisboa and On Mars. We also talk about our favorite games to play when our board game group has the dreaded 5 player count.
Season 1, Episode 17: Board Game vs Video Game Design
In this episode we talk about a few games that we have played over the last few weeks. We also discuss board game vs video game design.
Season 1, Bonus Episode: SaltCON Spring 2020
We were lucky enough to have the chance to record at our local board game convention, SaltCON, this year. We talk about games that we played, how we choose games to play at a convention, and take some questions from the audience.
Season 1, Episode 16: Board Game Meetups, Top 3 2-Player Games
In this episode of Cards and Cubes we discuss board game meetups. How do you find people to play with? How do meetups happen? We also present our Top 3 2-Player Games.
Season 1, Episode 15: Randomness, Top 3 Random Games
In this episode of Cards and Cubes we talk about randomness. What makes randomness enjoyable in games? What are our Top 3 Random Games?