Punchboard Cathedral

Where do games come from? Most are direct descendants of other games. We're joined by designer Heather Dixon (Apistocracy) to discuss the games that motivated us to do some design work of our own, from house rules to interface tweaks to brand new bouncing baby game designs. Kenan examines the origin story of a popular classic, and Alba helps us break the ice. Then we discuss the games that irked and inspired us in ways we couldn't let go, including Werewolf, Wingspan, un/appealing themes, the ultimate pick-up-and-deliver game, One Night Ultimate What-Have-You, art that inspires fan art, what constitutes game design, Arraial, Tetris, action points vs. counters, Patchwork, retro art, art that looks like art, usability and readability, learning to teach, what constitutes a game designer, Akrotiri, Splendor, layering theme onto games as you play, Splendor vs. Splendor Duel, the unassailability of our early faves, and how to accelerate toward an endgame. Then we hear from our beloved Rabble about the games they house-rule, including Wingspan, Catan, Tidal Blades, Targi, Everdell, Santa Monica, and Scarface 1920. We close with a discussion of implied house rules and why we do or don't edit the the media/art/games we consume. Check out Heather and her game Apistocracy at https://www.apistocracy.com/ Music by Alba and the Might Lions and Kenan. Thanks to Zach Lapidus for an invaluable editing assist. Break the rules. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the afterparty. We're gaming 'till we drop. Which might be pretty soon tbh because it turns out we're not as young as we once were. Alba articulates why we're still up gaming when all sensible souls have retired for the evening. Kenan's in charge of the quiz show this week which proves to be as bad an idea as it was last time. We explore the etymology of "meta" and Kenan recaps recent travels. Then we discuss games that keep us up when we're powering down, including Friday, Paleo, Hadrian's Wall, Lost Expedition, Eila and Something Shiny, Aqua, Cascadia, Meadow, Calico, Beacon Patrol, 8-bit difficulty, the Dylan of game design, modeling food chains, fast set-up, tactility, escalating challenges, and the limits of one's appetite for complexity. You tell us which games traipse across your tabletops in the wee hours, including Codenames Duet, The Seventh Citadel, Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion, Black Sonata, Akropolis, Nemesis: Lockdown, Next Station London, Unlock, Board Game Arena, and whatever Marvel Snap is. Finally, we congratulate ourselves for solving all the problems and challenge our listeners to be cool like us. Music by Alba and the Mighty Lions and Kenan. Sleep tight. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sometimes a game knows us better than we know ourselves. Rolling Reggie joins us to discuss games that subverted our expectations. Kenan tries to recreate one of his game-changing gaming experiences for friends and strangers alike. Alba greets our guest with a superfly icebreaker. Kenan takes accountability for his tile-based crimes. Then we consider some games that managed to surprise us when we thought we'd seen it all while Alba does her victory dance. Finally, we hear about what sorts of base diversions surprise the Rabble. Discussed: Spirit Island, Coffee Rush, Akropolis, Kingdomino, Memoir '44, Votes for Women, Captain Sonar, Battleship, Vale of Eternity, Winners' Circle, Pandemic, Just One, Bang the Dice Game, Kodama, Halls of Hegra, Maquis, Catan, Too Many Bones, Sky Team, Next Station London, innovations that become commonplace, balance, exploiting the strategy less traveled by, board game baristas, boardless games, variable turn order, knowable quantities, simple games that allow for expertise, private metas, the relativity of game weight, the appeal of aggressive games, playing the bad guy, meeting your friends' board game dads, self-discovery through gaming, being too cool, novelty deflation, childish games, floppers, accidental cheating, simultaneous turns, player interaction, asymmetry in coops, war themes in Euros, acclimating to heavy games, the value of lavish productions, productions that punch above their weight, and how to talk to Kayden about the Punchboard Cathedral podcast. Music by Alba and the Mighty Lions and Kenan. Wonder aloud. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can you have fun when you don't have a prayer? Kenan draws a line in the sand. Alba proselytizes for the rock gods. Kenan name-drops his Dice Tower West buddies. Then we discuss some games we enjoy even when we're losing. Well, one game we're fine losing and one we hate losing. Alba doesn't love constraints. Topics include Apistocracy, Dominion, Magic the Gathering, Go, Scythe, Tapestry, deckbuilding, deck construction, metas and determinism, variable setup, thematic integration, and recreating the uncanny after it becomes commonplace. Then we learn what games our listeners have been losing gracefully. Music by Alba and the Mighty Lions and Kenan. Losers unite. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Did you ever feel like a game was made just for you? Alba's gaming life has been a Tapestry of rich and royal hue. Kenan isn't allowed to run the icebreakers anymore. Our brainy guest Dr. Dana tells us about her puzzly Obsession, and we tell her about ports and pyramids. Needless to say, we all get stumped. Also discussed: juggling obligations in games and life, hype fatigue, why no one wants Charles, games that are sexy-ugly, the best way to learn new games, Kenan's overconfidence, rich jerks who try to rename your favorite hangs, Le Havre, Uwes for all seasons, mechanical expression of theme, mathematical humor, urban growth, Materialism, playing games on repeat, Oltréé, Sagani and spatial puzzles, well-researched games, Tzolk'in, Gimmicks, miracles, feeling thematically "seen," Eurogames vs. Ameritrsh, and what makes a game an "earworm." As always, we consult our beloved rabble/chusma to learn what games call your names. With music by Alba and the Mighty Lions and Kenan. Now let's all go out there and balance those competing objectives. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What's the use in feeling bad? Kenan attempts to explain the shelf of shame to non-gamers. Alba attempts to salvage the vibes by dangling some tantalizing theoretical IP adaptations. We correct the record, discuss our ongoing flame war with our northern rivals, and recap holiday gaming (we recorded this one a while ago), discussing Jamaica, Werewolf, Pyramido, Akropolis, verticality, and downtime mitigation. Then we chat about Taverns of Tiefenthal, overly thematic language, deck-gentrification, Quacks, Kanban EV, workplace backstabbery, cool games with unappealing themes, beastly games with appealing themes, the value of aspirational games, the questionable necessity of the My City Roll n' Write, why no one ever told Alba about Beacon Patrol, Blitzkrieg!, the appeal of games/girls that don't even try, and the thematic ubiquity of WWII. We find out what games are buckling your shelves of shame and savagely critique your moral failings. JK we would never. We're obsessed with you. Featuring soulful jams by Alba and the Might Lions and bedroom guitar by Kenan. Carry that Weight. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We all look forward to game night, but the best game nights are the ones you look back on. Kenan tells us about a game he only played once but has been thinking about for nearly three decades. Alba breaks the ice with our guest Eli of Black Market Press (@blackmarketpress on IG), and then the trio discuss Nemesis, Alice's Garden, games-as-destinations, different types of enjoyment, and the challenges of accessibility in game design and production. Not content only to trash talk the luminaries of board game illustration, Alba fires shots at Claude Monet. There was also a great discussion of Robinson Crusoe that fell victim to technical difficulties so please just imagine Eli waxing rhapsodic about its punishing gameplay and grisly narrative. We get a recap of PAX U 2023 and a preview of Maize Borg, an RPG hack based in Mesoamerican history and myth. Then we hear about your most memorable plays in the Rabble Round. We've got more great intro and interstitial music from Alba and the Mighty Lions and our usual outro jam by Kenan. Let's reminisce. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever bought a game you didn't know much about, or were unlikely to actually play? What's that about? Kenan and Alba discuss Azul, Blood Rage (BLOOOOD RAAAAGE), On the Origin of Species, Unearth, Forgotten Waters, and a great many listener regrets. Plus: fake games, heartfelt apologies, a Spanish vocab lesson, and more. With intro and incidental music by Alba & the Mighty Lions and outro music by Kenan. Ramble on. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can a game persuade people to have fun, even if they're in a lousy mood, even if they're morally opposed to or constitutionally incapable of fun? We welcome your new favorite gamer Sam to the show to discuss Disney Lorcana, Dune Imperium, Just One, Carcassonne, Timeline, Stay Cool, Cascadia, 7 Wonders Architects, and the great many things we've already been wrong about in our show's short run. Then we look at the games that never let you folks down. This episode's intro music is by Alba & the Mighty Lions, and the outro music is by Kenan. That's us! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There are the games we dream about, and the games we actually come home to. What's the difference? In this episode, we discuss top 10 lists, reviews and reviewers, Dune Imperium, Witchstone, Forest Shuffle, Grove, Beacon Patrol, small solo games, The Quest for El Dorado, Kingdom Builder, Splendor + Cities of Splendor, Cribbage, Forgotten Depths, trick-taking, Atiwa, the challenge of getting your faves to the table, solo modes, and more. Alba proposes some compelling titles for nonexistent games. Then we learn what games have been hitting your tables lately and opine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sometimes you make up your mind about a game before you've even played it. What's that about? Discussed: GenX, hipsters, Brass v. Gloomhaven, corporate IP's, hateration, Disney Lorcana, Wingspan, Lost Ruins of Arnak v. Dune Imperium, minimalism v. maximalism, Unmatched, Tapestry's slow burn, Concordia, learning games on BGA, Trudvang Legends, Massive Darkness 2, buying games v. investing in systems, Magic: the Gathering, hype aversion, snap judgements, eating crow, taking board games "seriously," and pulling people in. Then we look at the games that exceeded your expectations and try to figure out why we're all so judgey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What is the allure of the new game? In this episode we discuss escapism, hype, pirate games, Endless Palace, Roll Player, Kingdomino, Dragomino, Ice Cool, Flamecraft, Glow, Spirit Island, Everdell, and more. Then we discuss the games that disappointed you folks, as well as those that lived up to your expectations. Outro music: Alba and the Mighty Lions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.