Table Topics Podcast

Follow Table Topics Podcast
Share on
Copy link to clipboard

Best friends Thomas Liles and Justen Brown discuss the news and culture surrounding board games with criticism of games both new and old. New episodes every Wednesday.

Thomas Liles & Justen Brown


    • Sep 19, 2018 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 1h 10m AVG DURATION
    • 10 EPISODES


    Search for episodes from Table Topics Podcast with a specific topic:

    Latest episodes from Table Topics Podcast

    Democracy Doesn't Work - Table Topics #5

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2018 53:00


    Justen and Tom emerge from their weather bunkers and manage to talk about games, games, and more games.01:00 Eggerspiele reprints Camel (C)up and Justen embarrassingly gets nearly every detail wrong02:59 Rummikub05:20 Dragonmaster08:00 Battle Line13:15 Lifeboats22:35 Lowenherz32:00 Root40:00 Twilight Imperium 4th Edition49:49 Some brief non-spoilery Gloomhaven chat

    Democracy Doesn't Work - Table Topics #5

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2018 53:00


    Justen and Tom emerge from their weather bunkers and manage to talk about games, games, and more games.01:00 Eggerspiele reprints Camel (C)up and Justen embarrassingly gets nearly every detail wrong02:59 Rummikub05:20 Dragonmaster08:00 Battle Line13:15 Lifeboats22:35 Lowenherz32:00 Root40:00 Twilight Imperium 4th Edition49:49 Some brief non-spoilery Gloomhaven chat

    If I Can't Have Fun, No One Will - Table Topics #4

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2018 71:02


    It's Labor Day weekend in the USA. While most people celebrate the efforts of unions and labor parties in the truest American fashion -- getting drunk and eating grilled food -- Tom and Justen celebrate by playing a 14-point 6-player game of Twilight Imperium that nearly results in blood being shed. Tom tilts at windmills, Justen rails on Phil Eklund despite owning the vast majority of his catalog, and Stefan Feld's Macao gets a dressing down.01:45 - Sierra Madre sells out05:03 - Dragonmaster and a discussion on the value of packaging15:54 - Macao21:40 - FUSE26:40 - Twilight Imperium 4th Edition42:20 - Tiltin' Out (bad attitudes ruining friendships and games)

    If I Can't Have Fun, No One Will - Table Topics #4

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2018 71:02


    It's Labor Day weekend in the USA. While most people celebrate the efforts of unions and labor parties in the truest American fashion -- getting drunk and eating grilled food -- Tom and Justen celebrate by playing a 14-point 6-player game of Twilight Imperium that nearly results in blood being shed. Tom tilts at windmills, Justen rails on Phil Eklund despite owning the vast majority of his catalog, and Stefan Feld's Macao gets a dressing down.01:45 - Sierra Madre sells out05:03 - Dragonmaster and a discussion on the value of packaging15:54 - Macao21:40 - FUSE26:40 - Twilight Imperium 4th Edition42:20 - Tiltin' Out (bad attitudes ruining friendships and games)

    Red in Tooth and Paw - Table Topics #3

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2018 79:03


    This is a games filled bash as Justen and Tom return from Congress of Gamers. In usual fashion we discuss out of print games that you should drop $100 to buy, savage an Avalon Hill classic, cautiously approach the latest hotness Root, and then argue the strategic importance of whining like a baby in Twilight Imperium. Music from Tooth and Tail composed by Austin Wintory https://austinwintory.bandcamp.com/album/tooth-and-tail-200:40 Stockpile app and Cheapass Games bought out!05:40 Kingdomino and Spiel des Jahres chat10:00 Santiago is sadly out of print but we are ecstatic about this underrated auction Euro16:22 The Networks manages to disappoint Justen then immediately redeem itself in the course of five minutes. Includes hating on Terraforming Mars.22:20 Pandemic: Reign of Cthulhu actually brings something new to the tired co-op genre25:05 Justen and Tom savage Britannia, a game that is best left to time34:25 Thebes is a solid push-your-luck game where you engage in the European pastime of stealing from other cultures36:00 Root is a game Justen is cautiously optimistic while Tom is hesitant, plus a discussion on asymmetry and why it's so difficult to design53:00 "Player Regulated" games and why "balance" is less important in massive conflict games than providing players with the tools necessary to encourage meaningful interaction

    Red in Tooth and Paw - Table Topics #3

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2018 79:03


    This is a games filled bash as Justen and Tom return from Congress of Gamers. In usual fashion we discuss out of print games that you should drop $100 to buy, savage an Avalon Hill classic, cautiously approach the latest hotness Root, and then argue the strategic importance of whining like a baby in Twilight Imperium. Music from Tooth and Tail composed by Austin Wintory https://austinwintory.bandcamp.com/album/tooth-and-tail-200:40 Stockpile app and Cheapass Games bought out!05:40 Kingdomino and Spiel des Jahres chat10:00 Santiago is sadly out of print but we are ecstatic about this underrated auction Euro16:22 The Networks manages to disappoint Justen then immediately redeem itself in the course of five minutes. Includes hating on Terraforming Mars.22:20 Pandemic: Reign of Cthulhu actually brings something new to the tired co-op genre25:05 Justen and Tom savage Britannia, a game that is best left to time34:25 Thebes is a solid push-your-luck game where you engage in the European pastime of stealing from other cultures36:00 Root is a game Justen is cautiously optimistic while Tom is hesitant, plus a discussion on asymmetry and why it's so difficult to design53:00 "Player Regulated" games and why "balance" is less important in massive conflict games than providing players with the tools necessary to encourage meaningful interaction

    The Forbidden Joke - Table Topics #2

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2018 50:59


    Like a spurned lover to an ex, Justen and Tom crawl back to the game that got them into the hobby: Catan. Following is a rambling discussion on "prestige editions" of board games; products like Catan 3D and War of the Ring Anniversary Edition where people spend a month's rent on a pile of plastic and cardboard. Where is my deluxe Cockroach Poker with real insects, I ask you??

    The Forbidden Joke - Table Topics #2

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2018 50:59


    Like a spurned lover to an ex, Justen and Tom crawl back to the game that got them into the hobby: Catan. Following is a rambling discussion on "prestige editions" of board games; products like Catan 3D and War of the Ring Anniversary Edition where people spend a month's rent on a pile of plastic and cardboard. Where is my deluxe Cockroach Poker with real insects, I ask you??

    One Thousand References - Table Topics #1

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2018 96:15


    In the inaugural episode of Table Topics, Tom and Justen discuss Gen Con news and hype up long out of print games. In the main point of discussion they analyze Millennium Blades and its referential humor and briefly talk about games that maybe try too many things at once.

    One Thousand References - Table Topics #1

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2018 96:15


    In the inaugural episode of Table Topics, Tom and Justen discuss Gen Con news and hype up long out of print games. In the main point of discussion they analyze Millennium Blades and its referential humor and briefly talk about games that maybe try too many things at once.

    Claim Table Topics Podcast

    In order to claim this podcast we'll send an email to with a verification link. Simply click the link and you will be able to edit tags, request a refresh, and other features to take control of your podcast page!

    Claim Cancel