The Discussion Phase

Welcome back to another episode of The Discussion Phase! On today's episode, Matthew and Brady catch up on some recent plays, discuss a recent card game tournament, and talk about the business of Board Game Cafes!Questions or thoughts? Join in on the discussion on our discord! https://discord.gg/nbwabZprGU

Welcome back to another episode of The Discussion Phase! On today's episode, Matthew and John discuss what makes a great Cozy game! So grab your coffee, snuggle up with a nice blanket, and enjoy!Join in on the discussion on our Discord: https://discord.gg/nbwabZprGU

Welcome back to another episode of The Discussion Phase! Today, Brady and Matthew discuss two popular trilogies and give some pros and cons of what we like in each! We also catch up on some recent plays.Join in on the Discussion on our discord: https://discord.gg/nbwabZprGU

Welcome back to The Discussion Phase! On today's episode, we are talking about games that have gone from Console to Cardboard. We share our thoughts on board game implementations of Video Games. We also catch up on some recent plays, and Matthew leads us in a new game to test our rulebook knowledge.Join in on the Discussion on our Discord: https://discord.gg/YHcUcabd

Welcome back to another episode of The Discussion Phase! On today's episode, we're addressing the Narrative. Don't worry, there's no controversy here, we're just talking about some of our favorite implementations of story in non-campaign/narrative focused games!We also catch up on some recent plays of Age of Steam, The Witcher: Path of Destiny, Nunatak, and more!Join in on the Discussion on our discord: https://discord.gg/nbwabZprGU

Welcome back to another episode of The Discussion Phase! On today's episode, Matthew and Brady talk about their favorite Duel games. We also catch up on some recent plays!Join in on the discussion on our Discord: https://discord.gg/nbwabZprGU

Welcome to another episode of The Discussion Phase! On today's episode, we try one of the latest trends on social media, the Blind top 5 ranking! We also catch up on some recent plays, and share some BIG purchases we've made!Join in on the Discussion on our discord: https://discord.gg/nbwabZprGU

Welcome back to another episode of The Discussion Phase! On today's episode, Brady recaps his recent trip to GAMA. We also discuss some recent plays of Guards of Atlantis II, Great Western Trail: El Paso, and NYC Medical Mysteries!Join in on the Discussion on our Discord:

Welcome back to the Discussion Phase! On today's episode, Matthew and Brady discuss the recent Top 100 Series from the Dice Tower and highlight some games that caught our eye! We also catch up on some recent plays of Marvel Crisis Protocol and RIVALS. Join in on the Discussion on our Discord! https://discord.gg/nbwabZprGU

Welcome back to The Discussion Phase! On today's episode, John shares an exposé on variance in games and how Miniatures games and TCGs use it differently. We hope you enjoy the more "Game Theory" based topic and discussion! We also catch up on some recent plays of After the Empire, Flip 7, and Marvel Crisis Protocol! Join in on the Discussion on our Discord: https://discord.gg/nbwabZprGU

Welcome back to another episode of The Discussion Phase! On today's episode, we discuss some recent plays and draft our favorite unique action mechanisms in games! Join in on the Discussion on our Discord: https://discord.gg/nbwabZprGU Questions or feedback? Email us TheDiscussionPhase@Gmail.com

Welcome back to The Discussion Phase! On today's episode, we discuss the latest hotness in the board game world, Arcs. The community seems to be a bit divided on this game, and unfortunately, so are we. Join us as we talk about what we liked and disliked about this game, and what our ultimate decision on it is. We also talk about some recent plays and the games that we're most looking forward to in the new year! Join in on the Discussion on our discord: https://discord.gg/nbwabZprGU Questions or feedback? Email us: TheDiscussionPhase@Gmail.com

Welcome back the The Discussion Phase! On Today's episode, Andrew and Brady recap their trip to Pax Unplugged, the pros and cons of working at a convention, and make our mouths water with stories of all the food they've eaten! We also catch up on some recent plays, and discuss some games that we've had good luck playing with our families over the holidays. We're now on Youtube! Check out our Pax Recap here: https://youtu.be/wLV2AwnYoZw?si=2c3WJWc4TjErvAGJ⁠ Join in on the Discussion on our Discord: https://discord.gg/nbwabZprGU

Do you remember the glory days of Black Friday discounts galore? Nowadays, the sales don't seem as exciting as they used to. On today's episode we talk about what deals we were able to find, and where we were left wanting. We also catch up on some recent plays of Andromeda's Edge, A Game of Thrones: The Card Game, and Altered! Join in on the discussion on our discord: https://discord.gg/nbwabZprGU Questions or feedback? Email us at: TheDiscussionPhase@Gmail.com

Welcome back to The Discussion Phase! In today's episode John, Brady, and Matthew provide a top 10 list of games in their own personal collections, but with a twist! Instead of just picking our 10 favorite games, picks will be separated out by buckets of weight that reflect our collections average. We also discuss some recent plays of The War of the Ring: The Card Game, The Gang, and Point City! Join in on the discussion on our Discord: https://discord.gg/nbwabZprGU Have questions or feedback? Email us at TheDiscussionPhase@Gmail.com Thanks for listening!

The Boys are Back! Matthew, Brady, and John are back and excited to be back on the mics discussing what we've been up to the past 6 months! Join us as we catch up on our recent Cabin-Con, our dive into TCGs, and other recent plays. Join in on the Discussion on our discord: https://discord.gg/nbwabZprGU

We've finally made it to our top 20 games of all time. This one is full of surprises, as even were shocked at some of the games that made the top our collective list. Make sure to join us on Discord and get in on the discussion with us! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/WKZkT2DDNs⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Geek Group App: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://geekgroup.app/groups/yvhedwg8/collection⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Make sure to add your BGG profile to the Discussion Phase group!

We're closing in on our final games as we continue our Top 100 Games of All time, this week focusing on 30-21. We also review recents plays of Mythic Battles: Ragnarock and White Castle. Make sure to join us on Discord and get in on the discussion with us! ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/WKZkT2DDNs⁠⁠⁠⁠ Geek Group App: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://geekgroup.app/groups/yvhedwg8/collection⁠⁠⁠⁠ Make sure to add your BGG profile to the Discussion Phase group!

Join us as we continue our Top 100 Games! In this episode, we review our 40-31, as well as discuss a recent play of The Fox Experiment, My City, and TCGs Make sure to join us on Discord and get in on the discussion with us! ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/WKZkT2DDNs⁠⁠⁠⁠ Geek Group App: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://geekgroup.app/groups/yvhedwg8/collection⁠⁠⁠⁠ Make sure to add your BGG profile to the Discussion Phase group!

Join us as we continue our Top 100 Games! In this episode, we review our 50-41, as well as discuss a recent play of Too Many Bones! Make sure to join us on Discord and get in on the discussion with us! ⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/WKZkT2DDNs⁠⁠⁠ Geek Group App: ⁠⁠⁠https://geekgroup.app/groups/yvhedwg8/collection⁠⁠⁠ Make sure to add your BGG profile to the Discussion Phase group!

We're only getting started as we continue our Top 100 Games of All time with numbers 75-51 this week. We also highlight some of our favorite family games played over Christmas, as well as share our initial thoughts on the recently announced sequel to Wingspan, Wyrmspan. Make sure to join us on Discord and get in on the discussion with us! ⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/WKZkT2DDNs⁠⁠⁠ Geek Group App: ⁠⁠⁠https://geekgroup.app/groups/yvhedwg8/collection⁠⁠⁠ Make sure to add your BGG profile to the Discussion Phase group!

We've finally made it to the end of another year and that means it's time for the Discussion Phase's Top 100 Games of All Time. This week we look at games from 100-75. We also highlight Pax Unplugged '23, as well as review Stonemaier's latest release, Apiary. Make sure to join us on Discord and get in on the discussion with us! ⁠⁠https://discord.gg/WKZkT2DDNs⁠⁠ Geek Group App: ⁠⁠https://geekgroup.app/groups/yvhedwg8/collection⁠⁠ Make sure to add your BGG profile to the Discussion Phase group!

The year is wrapping up and we're preparing for another trip to Pax Unplugged 2023. We also review some games played over the Thanksgiving Holiday. Make sure to join us on Discord and get in on the discussion with us! ⁠⁠https://discord.gg/WKZkT2DDNs⁠⁠ Geek Group App: ⁠⁠https://geekgroup.app/groups/yvhedwg8/collection⁠⁠ Make sure to add your BGG profile to the Discussion Phase group!

A great philosopher once said, "If you ain't first, you're last!" This week we review the latest racing game that has already found itself in the top 100 games of all time on BGG, Heat: Pedal to the Metal. We also highlight recent plays of Septima, Beast, Airlines: Europe, and Sky Team. Make sure to join us on Discord and get in on the discussion with us! ⁠https://discord.gg/WKZkT2DDNs⁠ Geek Group App: ⁠https://geekgroup.app/groups/yvhedwg8/collection⁠ Make sure to add your BGG profile to the Discussion Phase group!

For many of us, we're constantly on a quest to find "the one." The one worker-placement game that's better the rest, or the one space themed game that replaces all the others; the one game to rule them all. This week we review a game that may have checked 2 of our boxes, a definitive Lord of The Rings experience and a best in class card battling system with Magic The Gathering's release of Lord of The Rings: Tales of Middle earth. We also review recent plays of Jaipur, Splendor: Duel, and Imperium: The Contention; as well as discuss the arrival of several long awaited Kickstarter games. Make sure to join us on Discord and get in on the discussion with us! ⁠https://discord.gg/WKZkT2DDNs⁠ Geek Group App: ⁠https://geekgroup.app/groups/yvhedwg8/collection⁠ Make sure to add your BGG profile to the Discussion Phase group!

Most people would say they enjoy board games as a way of escaping mundane daily routine, or at least to have a fun experience. So how would a game that requires you to be concerned about taxes, unemployment, minimum wage, and politics every be appealing. This week the Discussion Phase puts on our political analyst hats as we review Hegemony: Lead Your Class to Victory. We also review recent plays including MindBug, as well as recap our journey to US Nationals for ASOIAF. Make sure to join us on Discord and get in on the discussion with us! https://discord.gg/WKZkT2DDNs Geek Group App: https://geekgroup.app/groups/yvhedwg8/collection Make sure to add your BGG profile to the Discussion Phase group!

No game seems to be safe these days with "new editions" being released, enticing you to replace their predecessors. Up next on the chopping block is Terra Mystica, with the newest title in the series: Age of Innovation. We share our review of the game and see if it is as innovative as it claims. We also review recent plays including Duelosaur Island, and discuss how we can help improve each other's proficiency in gaming as we prepare for A Song of Ice and Fire: US Nationals. Make sure to join us on Discord and get in on the discussion with us! https://discord.gg/WKZkT2DDNs Geek Group App: https://geekgroup.app/groups/yvhedwg8/collection Make sure to add your BGG profile to the Discussion Phase group!

Grab your lasso and mount your horses because it's time to herd some sheep through the beautiful country of New Zealand. The third installment of Alexander Pfister's reimagined trilogy for Great Western Trail has finally arrived. Will this game close out the trilogy like Return of the King, or will it have us questioning all of our life choices like Rise of Skywalker? We also review the epic deduction game in Battlestar Galactica, as well as the newest 2 player title from PSC Games in Dogfight! Make sure to join us on Discord and get in on the discussion with us! https://discord.gg/WKZkT2DDNs Geek Group App: https://geekgroup.app/groups/yvhedwg8/collection Make sure to add your BGG profile to the Discussion Phase group!

The time has come, Ragnarok is finally upon us! After nearly 2 years of waiting, the much anticipated Lords of Hellas has finally arrived. We share our initial thoughts on the game and whether or not it falls into obscurity as yet another viking game, or stands out on its own. We also review recent plays of Twilight Inscription and the newest edition of Castles of Burgundy. We finish our alphabet draft of the letters Y, Z, and #. Make sure to join us on Discord and get in on the discussion with us! https://discord.gg/WKZkT2DDNs Geek Group App: https://geekgroup.app/groups/yvhedwg8/collection Make sure to add your BGG profile to the Discussion Phase group!

Convention season is finally upon us and we are looking forward to all the new releases. This week on the Discussion Phase we highlight some of our most anticipated new titles from GenCon. We also review plays of Twilight Inscription, Search for Planet X, and LOTR Risk. Make sure to join us on Discord and get in on the discussion with us! https://discord.gg/WKZkT2DDNs Geek Group App: https://geekgroup.app/groups/yvhedwg8/collection Make sure to add your BGG profile to the Discussion Phase group!

The time has finally come, the "Good Doctor" is here. This week's designer diaries has long been in the works, and we are excited to highlight one of, if not the, most prolific board game designers in the industry with over 600 titles to his name. We also review recent plays of Tikal and Imperium: The Contention. Make sure to join us on Discord and get in on the discussion with us! https://discord.gg/WKZkT2DDNs Geek Group App: https://geekgroup.app/groups/yvhedwg8/collection Make sure to add your BGG profile to the Discussion Phase group!

It's not always about how you start, it's about how you finish. How a game ends can make or break your experience. This week on the Discussion Phase we examine a recent play of Kemet: Blood and Sand and discuss what makes a great end game state; which games do it well and which ones don't. We review recent plays of Lands of Galzyr, Mombasa, and Critters At War 2v2. We also continue our alphabet draft with the letters U through X. Make sure to join us on Discord and get in on the discussion with us! https://discord.gg/WKZkT2DDNs Geek Group App: https://geekgroup.app/groups/yvhedwg8/collection Make sure to add your BGG profile to the Discussion Phase group!

The tournament scene has been heating up lately as several of us had a chance to compete for a spot at the national tournament for A Song of Ice and Fire Miniatures game. Did we make it? We look at other traditional board games that we would be excited to see have an official tournament for them. We review the latest deck-building dueling game in For Glory, as well as review a classic in Samurai. We also continue our alphabet draft with the letters Q through T. Make sure to join us on Discord and get in on the discussion with us! https://discord.gg/WKZkT2DDNs Geek Group App: https://geekgroup.app/groups/yvhedwg8/collection Make sure to add your BGG profile to the Discussion Phase group!

Ladies and gentlemen it's finally time to toss a coin to your Witcher. It's been years in the waiting, and the much anticipated adventure RPG game set in the world of the Witcher has finally arrived. Will it live up to the hype? In recent news, our corporate overlords have recently opened the doors to AI with ChatGPT, so we decided to figure out just how much it knows about board games and tried to make our own AI generated board games. We also continue our alphabet draft with the letters M through P. Make sure to join us on Discord and get in on the discussion with us! https://discord.gg/WKZkT2DDNs Geek Group App: https://geekgroup.app/groups/yvhedwg8/collection Make sure to add your BGG profile to the Discussion Phase group!

We're back this week with another Designer Diaries with yours truly, Simone Luciani. Luciani was our most represented designer from our previous Top 50 Games list, so thought it would be fitting to highlight him this week. We finally got one of most anticipated games from our self-of-shame played, Perseverance: Castaway Chronicles, but did it live up to the hype? Make sure to join us on Discord and get in on the discussion with us! https://discord.gg/WKZkT2DDNs Geek Group App: https://geekgroup.app/groups/yvhedwg8/collection Make sure to add your BGG profile to the Discussion Phase group!

Part of growing up is realizing that you won't be able to do everything in life. Likewise we have to come to the realization that with our ever growing pile of unplayed board games, that probably not all of them are going to be played. This week on The Discussion Phase we tackle a board gamer's hardest question, which of our unplayed games need to stay and which ones need to go. We also review recent plays of GOA II, Eternal, Wingspan: Asia, and some Bullet Heart. Make sure to join us on Discord and get in on the discussion with us! https://discord.gg/WKZkT2DDNs Geek Group App: https://geekgroup.app/groups/yvhedwg8/collection Make sure to add your BGG profile to the Discussion Phase group!

Sometimes someone comes into your life and changes things forever. Just like a sappy Hallmark card, Guards of Atlantis II has come in and left quite the impression. This week on the Discussion Phase we take a deeper look at GOA II with our review of the game. We also breakdown the latest crowdfunding controversy with Mythic Games, as well as review of recent plays of Council of 4 and Dune: Immortality. Make sure to join us on Discord and get in on the discussion with us! https://discord.gg/WKZkT2DDNs Geek Group App: https://geekgroup.app/groups/yvhedwg8/collection Make sure to add your BGG profile to the Discussion Phase group!

This week on the Discussion Phase we are jumping into our Deloreans and visiting our younger selfs to give some games we would have enjoyed and appreciated back then. We also dive into a review of the recently delivered new title from Simone Luciani, Darwin's Journey. Make sure to join us on Discord and get in on the discussion with us! https://discord.gg/WKZkT2DDNs Geek Group App: https://geekgroup.app/groups/yvhedwg8/collection Make sure to add your BGG profile to the Discussion Phase group!

Our fancy pinkies are out and we're ready to spill some tea! This week on The Discussion Phase we are talking about board game etiquette, having fun calling ourselves and each other out. We review recent plays, discuss 40k hype, and highlight a hidden gem in Wink. We continue our alphabet draft of the best games from letters I through L, as well as check in on the status of BGG's March Madness. Make sure to join us on Discord and get in on the discussion with us! https://discord.gg/WKZkT2DDNs Geek Group App: https://geekgroup.app/groups/yvhedwg8/collection Make sure to add your BGG profile to the Discussion Phase group!

Don't worry we're not talking about the classic war game this week. This week on The Discussion Phase we compare the highs and lows of games for both the quality of their gameplay and production on a grid, to find which ones stand out above the rest. We also review recent plays of Revive, Ra, and look to see which games have advanced in BGG's March Madness for board games. We continue our alphabet draft of the best games from letters E through H. Make sure to join us on Discord and get in on the discussion with us! https://discord.gg/WKZkT2DDNs Geek Group App: https://geekgroup.app/groups/yvhedwg8/collection Make sure to add your BGG profile to the Discussion Phase group!

While the rest of the world is tuned in to see who the greatest college basketball team is, we're looking at the heavy weights of board games to see which one will rise to the top. This past month kicked off the 20th Annual Geek Madness Tournament, and we're here to give our picks and thoughts on the results so far. We review recent plays of Ruination and Hansa Teutonica, as well as news of a Lord of the Rings version of MtG. We also begin our alphabet draft, starting with the best games from letters A through D. Make sure to join us on Discord and get in on the discussion with us! https://discord.gg/WKZkT2DDNs Geek Group App: https://geekgroup.app/groups/yvhedwg8/collection Make sure to add your BGG profile to the Discussion Phase group!

We've finally made it, Episode 100 is finally here! In celebration of how far we've made it, we thought it would be fitting to take a look back on where we've come in our gaming journey and how are preferences in games have changed over the years. Frosthaven has finally made it to our game table and we share our thoughts on initial gameplay. Make sure to join us on Discord and get in on the discussion with us! https://discord.gg/WKZkT2DDNs Geek Group App: https://geekgroup.app/groups/yvhedwg8/collection Make sure to add your BGG profile to the Discussion Phase group!

If you had one shot, or one opportunity to seize everything you ever wanted, what unique faction or power are you choosing in your favorite board games? This week on the Discussion Phase we're examining our player identities and what it is about certain asymmetrical abilities in games that always seem to be the ones we gravitate towards. We review recent plays of Dwellings of Eldervale and Empires of the North, as well as discuss just how import reviews are now that Brass: Birmingham is the new #1 game of all time. Make sure to join us on Discord and get in on the discussion with us! https://discord.gg/WKZkT2DDNs Geek Group App: https://geekgroup.app/groups/yvhedwg8/collection Make sure to add your BGG profile to the Discussion Phase group!

All too often we can fall into the trap of thinking more in games means better, more content means quality, and miniatures equals fun. What happens when everything meant to make the game better actually makes it harder to get played? This week on the Discussion Phase we have been impressed by the ability of the recent released game Terra Nova and it's ability to take one of the heaviest games in Terra Mystica and streamline it in a way that makes is easier to teach, lighter in difficulty, but still retains the spirit of the game. We take a look a what other larger than life games may benefit from this same model. We also review recent plays of Dogs of War, Boast or Nothing, and more. Make sure to join us on Discord and get in on the discussion with us! https://discord.gg/WKZkT2DDNs Geek Group App: https://geekgroup.app/groups/yvhedwg8/collection Make sure to add your BGG profile to the Discussion Phase group!

2022 is officially a wrap and we're looking forward to everything 2023 has to offer for board gaming. This week on the Discussion Phase we look back at some of our favorite gaming moments for the year as well as make personal goals for 2023 and look at the games we are most anticipating. We also review recent plays of Orichalcum, The Gallerist, and Vindication. Make sure to join us on Discord and get in on the discussion with us! https://discord.gg/WKZkT2DDNs Geek Group App: https://geekgroup.app/groups/yvhedwg8/collection Make sure to add your BGG profile to the Discussion Phase group!

It's finally here, the moment we've been waiting for all year, the definitive Top 10 Board Games of All Time. There will surprise and disappointment as we find out which games have fallen from the ranks, which games have soared to the top, and which games are standing the test of time. Make sure to join us on Discord and get in on the discussion with us, and let us know what your top 10 games are! https://discord.gg/WKZkT2DDNs Geek Group App: https://geekgroup.app/groups/yvhedwg8/collection Make sure to add your BGG profile to the Discussion Phase group!

We've officially made it through the holidays, which means teaching and playing new games with the family. This week we recap our holiday board game hits and misses. We also make our way through games 20-11 of our Top 50 Games of All Time. Make sure to join us on Discord and get in on the discussion with us! https://discord.gg/WKZkT2DDNs Geek Group App: https://geekgroup.app/groups/yvhedwg8/collection Make sure to add your BGG profile to the Discussion Phase group!

We're officially half way through our Top 50 Games of All Time with games (30-21). The battle report is in on our first A Song of Ice and Fire Miniatures Game tournament, and we share our initial thoughts on a reimplemented classic in War of the Ring: The Card Game. Make sure to join us on Discord and get in on the discussion with us! https://discord.gg/WKZkT2DDNs Geek Group App: https://geekgroup.app/groups/yvhedwg8/collection Make sure to add your BGG profile to the Discussion Phase group!

We're keeping the party alive with the next ten games (40-31) of our Top 50 Games of All Time, and the debates are bigger than ever! We also review our recent plays of First Rat, Cloudspire, and the much anticipated release from Cole Wehrle in John Company: 2nd Edition. Make sure to join us on Discord and get in on the discussion with us! https://discord.gg/WKZkT2DDNs Geek Group App: https://geekgroup.app/groups/yvhedwg8/collection Make sure to add your BGG profile to the Discussion Phase group!

We're excited to bring a you special episode this week; an exclusive interview with the team behind Sol: Last Days of a Star. We had the opportunity to demo this game at Pax: Unplugged and it is now live on Kickstarter for everyone to get a copy. We discuss what makes Sol stand out among modern space games and some unique mechanics that have us wanting to bring back to the table again and again. Make sure to check out the Kickstarter page with the link listed below. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/elephantlaboratories/sol-last-days-of-a-star-insert-and-reprint

It's officially the most wonderful time of the year, full of new games and we're back with the Discussion Phase's Top 50 Games of All Time. We look back at Pax Unplugged '22 and review some new games including The Great Zimbabwe, Imperium: The Contention, My Lil' Everdell, and much more. Make sure to join us on Discord and get in on the discussion with us! https://discord.gg/WKZkT2DDNs Geek Group App: https://geekgroup.app/groups/yvhedwg8/collection Make sure to add your BGG profile to the Discussion Phase group!