• Black Death v1.01 from BTRC reviewed by Erik
• Caveman from MAG Ltd reviewed by Scott, Tammy, and Donald

• His history in the gaming industry
• How to approach a publisher and get a game seriously considered
• Eurogamer or Amerigamer?
• Game events

• Parthenon: Rise of the Aegean
• 300: The Board Game
• Ideology: The War of Ideas (2nd Edition)
• Camelot Legends
• Gremlins: The Game

• Gamer's Companion to Shakespeare

• Mayfair supporting Pulp Gamer
• Mayfair's maximum discount policy
• Do we really need a new edition of Settlers?
• The Phalanx line
• Catan Dice Game

Correspondent Segments

• Games in Education - Giles reveals game uses at school.
• A Guide to the Geek - Ben covers the advanced search feature on Board Game Geek.
  

Reviews 

• Realpolitik from Peccable Productions reviewed by Scott
• HeroScape from Hasbro reviewed by Erik

Round Table
The twelve lowest ranked games on BGG discussed, Donald, Erik, &  Scott

Correspondent Segments

• Games in Education - Giles discusses the ways he has used games in schools.
• A Guide to the Geek - Ben covers the user Ranking system on Board Game Geek

Reviews

• Kingsburg from Mario Truant Verlag,  Edge Entertainment,  Ubik,  Stratelibri,  Ulisses Spiele,  Elfinwerks, reviewed by Scott

• Donald would like to thank Erik for editing the round table, and Scott, Giles, and Ben for all of their contributions
  
• Send questions, comments, or snide remarks, to onboardgames.net@gmail.com in the form of emails or mp3 files
• Join us for further discussions, musings and occasional rants on our forums at the Guild on BGG: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/guild/325
• On Board Games is covered under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

Join the On Board Games Guild - a big thanks goes out to all those fans of On Board Games who have contributed their ideas, opinions and thoughts in the guild, it's been great to read your responses to our roundtable discussions, and to hear your thoughts on the show.

Round Table
The Culture of Game Consumption Scott, Erik, & Donald

Wandering Geek OBG Promo

Correspondent Segments
Games in Education - Giles discusses why games make a good addition to any classroom.

Reviews

• Fire & Axe: A Viking Saga, from Asmodee Editions, reviewed by Erik
• Hollywood Shuffle , from All Things Equal, reviewed by Ben
  
• Container, from Valley Games, reviewed by Scott
• Blink!, from Out of the Box Publishing, reviewed by Giles
• Combo King, from Gamewright Games, reviewed by Donald, Connie, &  Danny 
• Gulo Gulo , from Rio Grande Games, reviewed by Erik and Hope

• Send questions, comments, or snide remarks, to onboardgames.net@gmail.com in the form of emails or mp3 files
  
• Join us for further discussions, musings and occasional rants on our forums at the Guild on BGG: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/guild/325
• On Board Games is covered under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

• BGG Con
• Chitag
• GAMA

• Smuggler review by Scott
• Hit & Run Zeus on the Loose review by Donald
• 1960: The Making of the President  review by Erik
• Rage review by Blott
• Good Question review by Donald
• Felix, the Cat in the Sack review by Scott

• Big Thanks to Erik, Scott, Blott, and Caradoc,
  
• Email us at onboardgames.net@gmail.com, send us your voice via MP3s, or join us on our forums. We don't make any money on this, so we live for feedback!
  
• On Board Games is Covered under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

On Board Games Round Table

Don, Erik, and Scott discuss games with long down time and players who cause a delay of game. Suggestions are given on how to pass the time, or get the game moving.

Stoplight Reviews

• Rattlesnake (Fantasy Flight Games) reviewed by Scott
• Cluzzle (North Star Games) reviewed by Donald
• Engle Matrix Games
  • Sherlock Holmes Case of the Dead Duke reviewed by Erik
  • Jack the Ripper  reviewed by Erik
• Cleopatra and the Society of Architects (Days of Wonder) reviewed by Erik

Discuss this episode in our guild, on Board Game Geek

Don, Erik, and Scott discuss party games.

OBG Special Section

Don interviews North Star Games

Stoplight Reviews

• Cineplexity (Out of the Box Publishing) reviewed by Don
• Snorta (Out of the Box Publishing) reviewed by Ben Lott

And Scott's Drunken Rampage!

Discuss this episode in our guild, on Board Game Geek

On Board Games Round Table

Don, Erik, and Scott discuss manufacturer setting a maximum retail discount on their board games.

Stoplight Reviews

• Agricola (Z-Man Games / Lookout Games)and reviewed by Scott
• Pick & Pack (Z-Man Games) reviewed by Erik

Discuss this episode in our guild, on Board Game Geek

Letters

• Scott gives an impromptu Quelf review
• One fan of the show asks about Scott's weird games.
• Donald is mocked due to the episode's likely delay and fading relevance to Essen
• Return of Return of the Heroes

On Board Games Round Table

Don, Erik, and Scott discuss board game/role-playing game hybrids

Stoplight Reviews

• Battlestations reviewed by Erik
• Galaxy Trucker reviewed by Scott http://cge.czechgames.cz/
• Slamwich reviewed by Erik

Discuss this episode in our guild, on Board Game Geek

Web Site: http://onboardgames.net/ RSS Feed: http://onboardgames.libsyn.com/rss Email us: onboardgames.net@gmail.com On Board Games Guild at Board Game Geek On Board Games MicroBadge at Board Game Geek

On Board Games Round Table

Erik, & Donald discuss playing games with children

Stoplight Reviews

• Print and Play Podcast By FNH1 reviewed by Donald
• Star Wars: The Queen's Gambit from Avalon Hill reviewed by Erik
• Shab-al-Hiri Roach from Bully Pulpit Games reviewed by Scott

Discuss this episode in our guild, on Board Game Geek

Web Site: http://onboardgames.net/ RSS Feed: http://onboardgames.libsyn.com/rss Email us: onboardgames.net@gmail.com On Board Games Guild at Board Game Geek On Board Games MicroBadge at Board Game Geek

On Board Games Round Table

Scott, Erik, & Donald discuss games that promote social interaction

Stoplight Review

Advanced Squad Leader Starter Sets from Multi Man Publishing reviewed by Erik

Airlines & Airlines 2 from Avanch Press reviewed by Erik

Discuss this episode in our guild, on Board Game Geek

On Board Games Round Table

Scott, Erik, & Donald discuss the care and feeding of new gamers

Board Game Podcast Award for Best Gateway Game

The guys

• Give a summary of nominees
• Announce winner
• Discuss why winner is a great gateway game

Stoplight Review

Penguin from Fantasy Flight Games reviewed by Scott

Discuss this episode in our guild, or in the podcast forums on Board Game Geek

On Board Games News -

• On Board Games Guild at Board Game Geek
• On Board Games MicroBadge at Board Game Geek

Erik & Donald rant about poorly designed rules books.

• Discuss games with poorly assembled rules and various formats
  • By the numbers
  • Starter rules
  • Multiple Books
  • Publisher rules supplemental explanation
• Supplemental material on BGG
• Review of Return of the Heroes

Wandering Geek Promo

• Thanks for the hilarious promo!
• Check out the Wandering Geek podcast

Scott & Donald on Gaming in Libraries

• ALA Techsource Symposium
  • Support from
    • Northstar Games - Wits and Wagers,
    • Z-Man Games - No Thanks!, Saboteur
    • Fun Again Games - Incan Gold
    • Knucklebones
• The Role of Gaming in Libraries: Taking the Pulse PDF
• Support games
• Have had game programs
• Circulate games
• Library Game Lab at Syracuse
  • Gaming in Libraries Class at Syracuse University
• Creating a Game Friendly Environment at the Library PowerPoint
  • Mayfair Games Educational Program

Stoplight Reviews

• Dungeoneer (Atlas Games) reviewed by Erik
• Incan Gold and Diamant reviewed by Scott & Donald

Discuss this episode in our guild, or in the podcast forums on Board Game Geek

Some games contain a gimmick. Do these gimmicks make the game better, worse, or neither?

Don, Erik, and Scott discuss these types of games; what works and what doesn't.

Sideboard Discussion

Scott went to Origins and he and Erik discuss it and large conventions in general

Stoplight Reviews

Erik reviews the Z-man Games' B-Movie card games

Scott reviews Coliseum

I'd like to thank Don and Scott for being on the podcast and Philip Jacques for the music this episode.

Since, Don was moving, I got to do the editing. Any problems are my fault.

RSS Feed: http://onboardgames.libsyn.com/rss
Email us: onboardgames.net@gmail.com

The On Board Games Round Table

• Not all games are worth the time it takes to play them, at least not to all people.
• Scott, Erik, and Donald discuss the differences between victory conditions and victory points.

Stoplight Reviews

• Erik reviews Cash and Guns
• Donald reviews Jolly Roger
• Scott and Donald have an in depth discussion about Quest for the Dragon Lords.

Once again I'd like to thank Scott Nicholson and Erik Dewey for joining me in this episode.

Check onboardgames.net for links to the feed and show notes.

Discuss the episode at BoardGameGeek: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/article/1590210#1590210

Web Site: http://onboardgames.net/
RSS Feed: http://onboardgames.libsyn.com/rss
Email us: onboardgames.net@gmail.com

News - Wiz' War

Wiz Kids vs. Wizards of the Coast (Topps vs. Hasbro)

Round Table

Michael asks about getting your gamer group to play your games

• Great Space Race
• Betrayal at the House on the Hill
• ZOMBIES!!!

Donald and Erik propose hosting, and theme nights with a mention of seasonal gaming

Stoplight Reviews

• Winds of Plunder reviewed by Scott & Donald
• Saba Toys Pirateology & Wizardology reviewed by Erik
• Jungle Speed and Expansion reviewed by Eddie the Cranky Monkey
  

Discuss this episode HERE on Board Game Geek

Web Site: http://onboardgames.net/
RSS Feed: http://onboardgames.libsyn.com/rss
Email us: onboardgames.net@gmail.com

Round Table on Starting a Game Group

Finding people, finding space, publicity, game choices.

Resources:

• Boardgamegeek.com
• Warhorn.net
• meetup.com
• Yahoo Groups

Eric has a Moment

• About Dice

Reviews

• Twilight Struggle
• Alibi

Discuss this episode HERE

Web Site: http://onboardgames.net/
RSS Feed: http://onboardgames.libsyn.com/rss
Email us: onboardgames.net@gmail.com

OBG Roundtable

Donald, Scott, and Erik discuss board game reviews and ratings.

• Why Board Games with Scott is not a review
• Knucklebones Review policy
• BGG forum thread on ratings http://www.boardgamegeek.com/article/1386022#1386022

Reviews should take the audience into account

• Families playing games vs. Board Game Geeks
• Children's game ratings kidgameratings.com
• Designers

What elements could have impact on the review?

• How do free games impact bias
• Pre game expectations, possibly due to financial outlay
• Graphics and components
• Adherence to theme
• Play group/play experience

Some things to consider when writing reviews:

• Value for money
• Replayability
• Game vs. game experience
• Consistency
• Avoiding outlandish or untrue statements
• Recognize your bias and try to control for it.

Review Resources

• BoardGameGeek
• RPG.net
• Game Report
• Game Blogs
• Personal Web Sites

• Knucklebones
• Games Magazine
• Games Quarterly Publication of the Games Quarterly Magazine has ceased. See the BGG discussion

Games mentioned in the round table:

• Fluxx
• Rum & Pirates (See a rules explanation on BGWS #37)
• Lost Cities (See a rules explanation on BGWS #7)
• Maul of America
• Tide of Iron (Previously reviewed on OBG 1.1)

Stoplight Reviews

• Rat-a-Tat Cat
• What's it to Ya?
• Democrazy

Sideboard

Scott and Donald discuss what we call games and why it matters.

• Traditional American Board Games
• Ameritrash
• Eurogames
• American Style Board Games
• Designer Board Games
• Modern Board Games

Thanks

To Erik, Scott, and Connie for their contributions and assistance.

On this episode of On Board Games

• Donald, Scott, and Erik discuss the benefits and purposes of expansions on the board game round table.
• In Red, Yellow, Green, Scott reviews War On Terror.
• In the Industry sideboard Erik and Donald discuss creating prototypes and pitching games to publishers.

Round Table

• Erik has a review copy of Formidable Foes to review for Knuckle Bones.
  (He and Scott like to be the dumbest player!)

Scott Played

• Bridge
• Enemy Chocolatier and tried to grab nuts.
• Quest for the Dragon Lords (Like Risk meets Talisman)

Donald Played

• Enemy Chocolatier
• Quest for the Dragon Lords

Erik had previously reviewed Dragon Lords for Undefeated. Dragon Lords has expansions.

The guys discuss expansions:

• Settlers of Catan, 5-6 players, Seafairers.
• 3 different experiences with Cosmic Encounters
• All night Double Talisman. Talisman, Timescape, Dungeon, City, Adventure,
• Heroscape dolls Castle, Ice,
• Squad Leader, ASL, Yanks, Beyond Valor, 30 plano boxes
• Carcassonne, the Big Box of Carcassone, selling empty boxes, Princess & Dragon,

Separating Expansions after integration for play

• Citadels Dark City
• Puerto Rico

Games with new play area expansions

• Robo Rally
• Formula Dé
• Power Grid
• Age of Steam

Expansions for every game

• Start Player
• Shocking Roulette

Expansions that were originally designed as part of the game

• Lord of the Rings
• Settlers, Entdecker and Lowenhertz

Why do companies do expansions?

• New units to sell
• Boost sales of existing game
• Cost effective to make

Why design new games?

• Expansions don't necessarily make better game even though they can fix broken game
• Can make games longer, more fiddley
• Change nature of game so it does not appeal to original fans

Games fixed by expansions

• Game of Thrones
• Twilight Imperium
• Starfarers of Catan

All expansions

• Stratego Legends

Collectible card games

• CCG expansions both fix and break the game.

Erik wants his own "Erik Wins" card, so Scott creates a new expansion product.

Red, Yellow, Green

• The War On Terror by Terrorbull Games
  Game review by Scott Nicholson
• Munchkin?

Industry Sideboard

Prototypes and pitching games to game companies (Erik & Donald)

• What to do, when do do it, and how prepaired do you need to be?
• Ex:Camelot Legends
• Pitching games to Companies like Days of Wonder or Cheapass Games

Once again I'd like to thank Scott Nicholson and Erik Dewey for joining me in this episode.
Check onboardgames.net for links to the feed and show notes.

Recently, Erik played Heroscape, Bootleggers, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Nexus Ops

Scott and Don played, Hammer of the Scots, War on Terror, and Alles Fucht

Turns out, Scott isn't a complete jerk

The roundtable talks about quitting a game in progress

Erik is too nice to bail out

Scott proposes to the table if no one is having fun, one player is really doing well and no one else is having fun, if you screw up the rules so badly you just have to stop, or a game is just broken

Erik realized that when filling the ship in Puerto Rico you don't count the empty plantations

Scott played Marvel Superheroes by playing through a few turns by himself

Scott also played Iliad as a six player partnership game it has a similar mechanic as Beowolf

Buffy is nice because it was a group of players that bond together. It is a roll and move but has nice mechanics. Plays like a faster Doom or Descent.

There is an interview with Niagara Board Gaming Weekend, Mike Cardwell

He discusses when to plan an event, how to choose a hotel, the timeline of the event, marketing, etc.

Scott likes playing long games like Roads and Boats and 1861 at events

Erik likes playing with different people because they tend to use different strategies

Don and Erik went to Conestoga last year and had fun playing Wreckage

There are 4 basic types of events: Demos, tournaments, scheduled games, open gaming

Don had best results with scheduled time slots

Don reviews about Sante Anno

Scott and Don preview Tide of Iron - in Stereo!

Scott enjoys:
The Dicetower podcast
The Boardgames to Go podcast
Scott and Erik used to hang out at the Imagination Network
Scott used to look forward to the Games 100 each year
Scott has been to Essen
He acts silly in his basement
Hungry Hungry Hippos
Louping Louie
Deflexion renamed to Khet which we think was not a positive change
We all have fond memories of Talisman
Chaos Marauders
Dungeon Quest
Curse of the Mummys Tomb
Rogue Trooper
HeroQuest
Cosmic Encounter
Hoity Toity
Saying Ra around Scott makes him yell like he has Tourette's.
He likes Wallenstein's end
He also likes El Grande's end options

Don enjoys:
Chess
Pente
Much to his chargrin, Dicemaster still came out
He and Erik are part of Second Rat Games
Arclight is a space miniatures game from Second Rat and will not be on Boardgames with Scott anytime soon.
He Blackbox played with his brother a lot
Medici
He likes the general timer found in Lowenherz

Erik enjoys:
Kingmaker
Civilization
ASL
Erik has reviews published in - rpg.net, BoardGameGeek, Undefeated, Knucklebones
Erik feels a little insecure about his game collection
Payday
Monopoly
Life
Dark Tower
Chopper Strike
Settlers of Catan
Erik liked Leisure Games in London, he found Pulp Adventures there
Lost Cities
Tikal
Java
Modern Art
Vegas Showdown
If he ever plays it, Erik is taking Die Macher seriously