Dancing with the Bards

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Dancing with the Bards hosts Ian ,Chris, and Brooke review tabletop games with the help of rotating guests.

dancingwiththebards


    • May 2, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 55m AVG DURATION
    • 42 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Dancing with the Bards

    Scout and Barbecubes: Tech Decks and Annabelle ASMR

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2025 58:20


    This month we cover two party games, one you may have heard of, and one you may not.  Ian, Larry, Will and Brooke are joined by our guest this week, Annabelle, as we dive into Scout by Oink Games, and Barbecubes by Alley Cat Games.  By total coincidence, our second time reviewing games from these publishers at once!

    asmr oink games tech decks
    BANG! - The Immortal Tequila Joe

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2025 53:05


    Howdy folks!  This month, Ian, Will, Brooke and Larry cover the 2002 party game known as BANG! with returning guest Rishi from our Candy Land episode!  Towards the end is also some silly gameplay! Enjoy!

    Ark Nova - Haunting Prairie Dogs and Ian's Firetower

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2025 58:08


    On this episode of Dancing with the Bards, Brooke, Larry and a begrudging Ian are joined by Stephen as we delve into this Zoo Management Boardgame published by Feuerland Spiele and designed by Mathias Wigge.

    Trial by Trolley - One Trolley, Two Roads

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2025 54:10


    We played Trial by Trolley at the Two Roads Brewery with Tristan and Max.  Well, Ian and Brooke did, bringing it around full circle with the original members.  We covered Trial by Trolley (accidentally) on the eve of Cyanide and Happiness' 20th anniversary of their web-comic.  

    Trash Talk - The Adventures of Little Fella

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2024 39:30


    Join us for our last episode of the year with guests Max and Bobby, where we cover Trash Talk, a party game published by Friendly Skeleton and designed by Matt Fantastic and Andrea Pincumbe.  Also, check out Elm City Games if your ever in New Haven, CT.  38/42

    adventures new haven trash talk fella matt fantastic elm city games
    Azul - Too Much Caffeine and Travelers on Tree Stumps

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 2024 67:45


    This month, Larry, Will, Brooke and Ian delve into the tile placement boardgame known as Azul.  Designed by Michael Kiesling and published by Next Move Games, this boardgame is based on the Portuguese art of tile placement, and has players forming patterns on their boards to win points.  Can the bards finish the episode before their insides are melted by Celsius and Pre Workout?

    Apiary - Not the Space Bees!

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2024 60:42


    Welcome to another Halloween episode with Dancing with the Bards!  This month Will, Larry, and Brooke are joined by Stephen to cover the worker placement game Apiary, by Stonemaier Games.

    Fire Tower - Clash of Kingmakers

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2024 61:35


    Ian, Brooke, Will and Larry cover the trending game of Fire Tower.  We do a deep dive into this beautiful board game by Goliath Games, looking at it's strengths, and it's weaker areas.  

    Tinderblox and DropPolter - Camping Party Pack

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2024 63:07


    This month we are covering two party games, with returning guest Lawrence, to kick off Camping with the Bards!  DroPolter by Oink Games, and Tinderblox by Alley Cat Games!  

    Scythe - Larry Seizes the Means of Podcast Production

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2024 50:09


    This month we are covering Scythe, a worker placement boardgame by Stonemaier games. Nelson joins Will, Brooke and the host for this month's episode, Larry to dive into the game we've been talking about all year.  

    Carcassonne - Road to Ruining Derby

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2024 67:50


    Will, Ian, Brooke and Larry cover Carcassonne, a boardgame designed by Klaus-Jürgen Wrede.  We had a lot of fun with this classic tile placement strategy game!  

    Stardew Valley Boardgame - Consult the Farmer's Wiki!

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2024 68:30


    On this episode, Brooke, Ian, Will, and returning guest Max take a look at the 2021 Stardew Valley Boardgame, designed by Eric Barrone. We apologize for the poor audio quality on this one!  The audio demons struck again!  

    Eclipse:SDftG - The Economy is in Brambles!

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2024 63:18


    This month we cover the 4X board game Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy, published by Lautapelit.fi, with Larry as our guest host!

    Once Upon A Time -Evil Birds and Seafaring Lumberjacks

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2024 48:51


    Ian, Brooke, and Will are joined by Chris as we cover Once Upon a Time, a party game published by Atlas Games!  

    Unfathomable - Something Smells Fishy

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2024 83:56


    Welcome to this digital, radio podcast episode of Dancing with the Bards!  This month we cover Fantasy Flight's Unfathomable.  We are lucky to be joined by the NullPuppet themsleves, Ace!  Check out their Youtube channel for fun content @NullPuppet

    We're Not Really Strangers and Boop - Feelings and Felines

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2023 65:17


    It's our December double feature!  This month we are covering Koreen Odiney's We're Not Really Strangers, and Boop, a game by Smirk and Dagger. It's a Bards only episode this time around, as we go over these two games that would be great for any holiday gathering you might be going to this year.  Happy Holidays everyone, and we'll see you next year. 

    Wrong Party - The Real Fake December Episode

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2023 48:45


    Join Ian, Will and Brooke, along with returning guest Max, for Wrong Party!  This card-based party game is the latest release from Unstable Games.  For such an quick game there is a lot to unpack.  

    Monster of the Week - A Spooktacular Second Anniversary

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2023 59:00


    Happy Halloween everyone!  This episode marks the 2nd anniversary for Dancing With the Bards, and we have a great game for you!  Brooke, Ian and Will are joined by our frequent guest Larry as we cover Monster of the Week, a game published by Evil Hat Publishing. This open-ended TTRPG has been featured on actual plays like Adventure Zone.  A group of three to five players must find and eliminate a monster before all Hell breaks loose, in a style similar to Supernatural or Buffy the Vampire Slayer. 

    One Night Ultimate Werewolf - Inside This Game are Three Werewolves

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2023 66:49


    This month for Dancing with the Bards, we are covering One Night Ultimate Werewolf!  Brooke, Ian, Chris and our guest Stephen break out our party game rubric for the first time as we cover this adaptation of Mafia.  

    Escape Triassic Park - A Dino-Mite Micro-RPG

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 2, 2023 93:38


    This month we are covering the Micro-TTRPG known as Escape Triassic Park, a game where players try to escape a Jurassic Park parody as genetically engineered dinosaurs.  Our guests this week are Tristan and Nicole, and we were able to get an interview with the game's creators Mel and Tevus.  Enjoy!

    Smash Up- Ian Goes Full Curmudgeon

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2023 47:06


    Welcome to Dancing with the Bards!  This month, Ian, Brooke and Will are joined by our friend Kyra as we cover the popular board game known as Smash Up.  We reminisce about old gaming stores, discuss the do's and don'ts of the game, and make suggestion to increase enjoyment.  If you haven't already, follow us on Twitch to get notified for our Summer Camp events, or follow us on our Discord!  

    Wingspan -Will Learns About Engine Builders

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 8, 2023 34:42


    This episode is all about birds.  Larry joins us once again as we cover the engine builder known as Wingspan.  Designed by Elizabeth Hargrave and published by Stonemaier, this board game has become extremely popular over the last few years, and for good reason.    If you have difficulty with bad audio for sensory reasons, this episode may not be for you. We had to re-record the episode because our audio equipment died on us so the volume is all over the place here. 

    Elfinfolk - An Elf Named Bearemy

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2023 75:40


    This month's episode is all about Elfinfolk, an indie TTRPG designed by Adam Baffoni. Ian, Will, and Brooke are joined by returning bard Chris as we explore this 40-page roleplaying game where our tiny characters try to survive living in and around humans. As a bonus, Ian was able to record an interview with the game's creator as we were doing research for this episode. We hope you enjoy!  

    Candy Land - The Glitter of Boardgames

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2023 39:32


    Welcome once again to the end of another month.  This go around we're covering Candy Land with our friend Rishi.  Candy Land is probably one of the most recognizable boardgames in America, with a long and surprisingly fascinating history. We cover all that and more as we take a close look at what might be some people's first ever boardgame. 

    Cosmic Encounter - A Cosmic Crab Bucket

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2023 53:02


    Join us for and our guest this week, Ace, as we go over Ian's favorite board game, Cosmic Encounter.  This strategy troop placement game is all about conquering worlds to be the first aliens to have 5 colonies.  We discuss how the game's social elements might appeal to certain types of people, the strengths and weaknesses of the game's materials, and more.  Join us as we give this a grade between 0-42.    Sorry in advance for some of the audio quality, we were dealing with a very pesky echo.

    Blood Bowl: 2016 Edition - Fistfights and 4-D Checkers

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2023 64:20


    This special episode is being run by Will, as we bring you Games Workshop's Blood Bowl: 2016 Edition. Larry, TJ, and Oliver join Larry after having run our first ever Blood Bowl Tournament, where TJ (the Binp) managed to intercept the ball in the last second, and stole victory from Larry (the Rat Smacker). We go over our criticisms with the game as a whole, and the positive and negative views from New and Old players.    *Editors Note: In the intro Ian said this is the latest edition of Blood Bowl. Blood Bowl: Second Season Editon is actually the most recent version, published in 2020

    Tsuro - The Jer Show Edition

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2023 48:47


    This month we're playing Tsuro, a tile placement boardgame by Calliope Games. But that's not all!  Our show has been taken over by our guest for this month, Jeremy!  Come join us as we go over this easy to play boardgame!

    tsuro calliope games
    Apples to Apples and Munchkin - The Good, The Bad, and The Dated

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 26, 2022 74:27


    Happy Holidays!  This month we are covering two popular card based games. Apples to Apples, and Munchkin. Brooke, Will, and Ian are joined by returning guest Max, as we look at how these games compare over 20 years after first hitting the market. Have they aged like wine, or milk?  Are they still as fun as we remember?  Join us as we keep to our holiday traditions on this Bards double feature. 

    Red Dragon Inn - Drink Me Under the Table Please

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2022 50:21


    In this episode, Will, Chris, and Brooke are joined by our guest this week as we cover one of the better known boardgames of all time. Our Bards take on the roles of Adventurers at a tavern where drinking, gambling, and all sorts of shenanigans ensue. 

    Betrayal at House on the Hill- A Truly Haunted 13 Episode

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2022 56:30


    Listen along as Ian, Chris, and will; Joined by guests Larry and Stephen explore this fun and spooky game. Also enjoy our audio that's been possessed by a 1930's radio show.  

    Ep. 12 - Fisco - Improv: The Tabletop Game

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 21, 2022 54:43


    This month, Will, Ian, Brooke and Chris are joined by our friend Nick as we discuss the roleplaying game Fiasco.  This game for 3-5 players relies heavily on a players ability to be creative and improvise.  Its a roleplay heavy games where what happens is decided on the spot, by the group as a whole.  Also, can you believe it's been a year?  Here we are at episode 12!  Thank you everyone who has been listening.  Here is to hoping our next year will be even better!

    Ep. 11 - Anime Campaign System - Keeping a Promise

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2022 61:18


    We are finally covering the Amine Campaign System, a promise we've been making since episode one.  We are joined by Nelson this month as we go over the system created by JelloApocalypse for his series Epithet Erased.  

    Ep. 10 - Upwind - The Metal Skyhawk and Friends

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 22, 2022 47:01


    This game was a lot of fun, possibly our favorite game we've covered so far.  Join Ian, Brooke, Chris, Will, and our guest this week, Courtney, as we discuss this gem of a game we were upset we hadn't heard of before.  Upwind is a steampunk-themed roleplaying tabletop game created by  a team of developers including Jeff Barber and John Hay, published by Biohazard Games.  The most interesting part?  It uses playing cards instead of dice!  

    Ep. 9 - Tea Dragon Society - Feeling a Little Chai

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 19, 2022 38:44


    Joined by our friend Ace, we go over the card game Tea Dragon society, a card game by Renegade Studios, based on a graphic novel by Kay O'Neil.  The game is fun for a wide range of ages!  

    society dragon chai renegade studios
    Dancing With the Bards Ep. 8 - Edge of the Empire - A Star Wars Day Special

    Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2022 50:29


    May the Fourth be with you!  Join Ian, Will, and our guests this week Stephen and Larry, as we talk about Edge of the Empire, a Star Wars roleplaying game published by Fantasy Flight games.  This episode will be using our new grading rubric!

    Ep. 7 - Strawberry Sunset - Tabletop Gardening

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 20, 2022 41:30


    This month we're covering Strawberry Sunset, a card game designed by Stellar Factory.  Together with our friend Jeremy, we take a look at this very pretty card game that is slightly reminiscent of Carcassonne.  Each player must tend their own garden and have the most strawberries or most garden structures by Sunset to win!  We had a lot of fun with this, and can't wait to share our thoughts with you!

    Ep. 6 - Stuffed Fables - Are Apples Purple?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2022 44:41


    This month we cover Stuffed Fables, by Jerry Hawthorne, with Stephen, a teacher who supervises the game club at his school.  Join us as we discuss this roleplaying game/boardgame hybrid.  

    Ep.5 Arcane Academy - Rule Snafu

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2022 30:30


    The bards review Arcane Academy by Eric M. Lang and Kevin Wilson. Listen as we go in depth into game mechanics while ribbing each other on personal game play. All while trying to get comfortable in our new bardic set up.

    E4- Kids on Bikes -Well Bards Looks Like we Have a Mystery on our Hands

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2022 47:21


    Zoinks! Join us as we take a look Kids on Bikes ,by Doug Levandowski and Jonathan Gilmour , a TTRPG system that allows you to play out your mystery solving childhood dreams.Featuring our returning bards Ian, Chris, and Brooke as well as special guest minstrel Nelson on this special remote episode.

    E3- Machi Koro and Spy Fall -A Holiday Double Feature

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 30, 2021 57:24


    Happy belated holidays! Join the bards as we review Machi Koro by Masao Suganuma as well as Spy fall by Alexandr Ushan in a double feature bonanza. Two games that are an amazing choice when trying to suck your family/friends into some obligatory seasonal bounding time.

    E2-The Excellents- Princesses out of con-troll

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2021 50:35


    The excellents by Adriel Wilson and Chris O'Niell allows you to be a kick ass princess with a sword. this got a rating of 35.75 overall. To see the game play head over to twitch or our youtube channel.

    E1-TenCandles -Waxy dice, Pyromania and the Apocalypse

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2021 27:42


    Fiery fun for friends fifteen to fifty. Dancing with the Bards reviews Ten Candles, A tragedy horror by Stephen Dewy CAVALRY GAMES. This indie ttrpg scored 34/42.   https://cavalrygames.com/shop/ten-candles

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