Episodes

  • Episode 368: Night Soil, Mini Express, Tulip Bubble, Ichor

    Episode 368: Night Soil, Mini Express, Tulip Bubble, Ichor
    Jan 13 2026
    00:00:40 Intro00:05:50 Movie Talk00:08:15 Holiday Games00:12:30 Things in Rings00:15:30 Blood on the Rails00:16:45 Ichor00:19:00 PSA Time00:23:00 Miniature Market00:25:00 Night Soil00:41:00 Tulip Bubble00:57:30 Portal Games00:58:30 Mini Express01:11:00 Outro Every so often, a set of games lands on the table that feels like a curated journey through time and that is what we got in this episode. First up is Night Soil where we are basically poop pushers through the streets of London in the 15th century. This game cleverly challenges players with a worker placement style of game that can fill both rewarding and frustrating at the same time. Then comes Tulip Bubble, which flips the tone entirely. Gone is the damp, stinky sewers—now you’re in the bustling markets of 17th‑century Holland, chasing fortunes in the most famous economic bubble in history. The game thrives on timing, speculation, and reading your opponents as much as the market itself. Prices rise, collapse, and ricochet with emotional volatility, and every round feels like a miniature psychological standoff. It’s fast, sharp, and deliciously stressful in the best way. Rounding out the games are Mini Express and Ichor, two games that couldn’t be more different yet both deliver rich strategic tension. Mini Express is a lean, elegant rail game built on shared incentives: every track you lay and every share you take strengthens someone else as much as you. It’s a puzzle of timing, tempo, and subtle positioning. Ichor, on the other hand, plunges players into a Greek mythology world where asymmetric power challenges players in an Othello style game. Its resource‑driven push‑and‑pull creates a brooding atmosphere, rewarding ambition while constantly reminding you that brillant flashes of strategy can suddenly disappear before your next turn. Together, these four games form a wonderfully varied journey each offering its own flavor of tension and delight. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 21 mins
  • Bonus Episode: Top Movies of 2025 with Marty and Vanessa

    Bonus Episode: Top Movies of 2025 with Marty and Vanessa
    Dec 30 2025
    In this special end of the year episode, Marty and Vanessa talk about their favorite movies of 2025. Plus movies they are looking forward to in 2026. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    37 mins
  • Episode 367: Sanctuary, Operation Barclay, Scope Panzer, Neko Syndicate

    Episode 367: Sanctuary, Operation Barclay, Scope Panzer, Neko Syndicate
    Dec 16 2025
    00:01:40 Happy Anniversary00:06:30 Miniature Market Contest00:11:15 AI makes RDTN better00:12:30 Passing of a Legend00:16:30 Toy Hall of Fame Revisit00:17:45 Family Games00:27:30 Taste Buds00:32:45 Miniature Market00:33:45 Operation Barclay00:40:00 Sanctuary00:58:30 Portal Games00:59:30 Scope Panzer01:05:00 Neko Syndicate01:09:30 Outro This year marks our 13th anniversary in the world of play, as board games continue to cement their place in our lives. Anniversaries often invite reflection, and it’s remarkable to see how games that once felt like simple pastimes have evolved into celebrated traditions like gaming with friends, family members asking “So, what are we playing?”, or a gateway to conversation with people you meet. These moments remind us that board games are more than cardboard and dice—they’re shared memories that endure across generations. Board games themselves have become a bridge between nostalgia and innovation, and their recognition in the National Toy Hall of Fame underscores their cultural significance. Titles like Monopoly, Scrabble, and Clue have already earned their place among the Hall’s inductees, standing alongside toys like the Rubik’s Cube and LEGO. It’s a reminder that the Hall isn’t just about toys—it’s about honoring the timeless rituals of play. Thanks to all that continue to listen to us, we really appreciate it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 21 mins
  • Bonus Episode: The Resurgence of TCGs

    Bonus Episode: The Resurgence of TCGs
    Dec 9 2025
    We got into the tabletop hobby through TCGs (trading card games). For ten years we invested and played many card games. But when the TCG bubble popped, we got out. However, in the past 5 years, there has a resurgence in TCGs with an influx of new cards games. To discuss they reasons of why this happening and where will it end up, we have two special guests. Dan Green of Main Deck Games and the owner of To The Table Game Store, Mike Benson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 11 mins
  • Episode 366: Ayar, Bretwalda, Baseball Card GM, Temple Code

    Episode 366: Ayar, Bretwalda, Baseball Card GM, Temple Code
    Dec 2 2025
    00:01:40 Intro 00:05:30 Cost how much?! 00:10:15 SWU Local Tourny 00:15:15 Codenames Live 00:16:45 Taste Buds 00:20:45 Miniature Market 00:22:40 Ayar: Children of the Sun 00:53:15 Temple Code 00:58:45 Portal Games 00:59:45 Bretwalda 01:15:30 Baseball Card GM 01:23:00 Guild Wars Reforged Balancing everyday responsibilities with hobbies can be tricky, especially when medical appointments come into play. Dermatology visits, for example, often feel like interruptions in a busy schedule, but they’re essential for maintaining long-term health. Whether it’s a routine skin check or addressing a specific concern, these visits provide peace of mind and ensure that small issues don’t become larger ones. But sometimes, as you will hear, we often are confused by the charges we receive during our visits. Don’t get us wrong, these things are needed, but it is surprising just how things are billed. Recently, we played Ayar, a game that has some very enjoyable mechanics, some challenging choices to make, and straight forward gameplay. Then there is Temple Code which scratches a different itch, with its puzzle-like challenges and mind-numbing play that feels almost like deciphering ancient mysteries with friends. Then there’s Bretwalda, a sweeping strategy game set in early medieval Britain. Its blend of area control and historical flavor makes every session feel like a grand contest of wits and could create lively discussions long after the board is packed away. APBA Baseball and Baseball Card GM both capture the thrill of America’s pastime, but they do so in very different ways. APBA Baseball, which grew up playing, is a classic tabletop simulation that has been around for decades, using dice and player cards to recreate the strategy and drama of real games. Where APBA leans into simulation and tradition, Baseball Card GM emphasizes creativity and collection, turning the act of managing a team into a dynamic, customizable experience using real baseball cards. Together, they highlight two different but equally engaging ways to enjoy baseball beyond the ballpark. Thanks for listening and next episode will highlight another year of RDTN Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 34 mins
  • Episode 365: Covenant, D&D Edge of Realms, Enthrone, Beasts, Isle of Cats Duel

    Episode 365: Covenant, D&D Edge of Realms, Enthrone, Beasts, Isle of Cats Duel
    Nov 18 2025
    00:01:30 Intro00:04:00 Home Repair Hints00:09:00 Arkham Horror LCG Spoiler00:13:30 Star Wars Store Event00:15:00 Finding Mr. Christmas00:17:00 Secret Squirrel00:19:30 Just a Deck of Cards00:22:30 The Grinch Flip 700:23:30 Taste Buds00:31:30 Enthrone00:39:00 Portal Games00:40:00 Beasts00:47:30 Covenant01:10:30 Dungeons & Dragons: Edge of the Realms01:15:00 Miniature Market01:16:30 The Isle of Cats Duel01:22:00 Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles We’ve got a fresh lineup of reviews in this episode, plus a few handy home repair tips sprinkled in. While board games are our bread and butter, we love showing off our other skills too—because this podcast is about more than meeples and dice. First up is Covenant, a new strategic euro game from Devir. The premise is straightforward: rebuild the dwarves’ ancestral mountain of Karrak-sur-Kazar. The mechanics are easy to grasp, but the real joy comes from chaining together clever combos that feel deeply satisfying when they click. Beasts shifts gears into cooperative card play. Here, players manipulate a shared three-digit number by playing suits, each move pushing the total higher. The tension spikes when Beast cards appear, blocking suits and forcing quick adaptation. With communication restricted, every rising number adds to the suspense and challenge. Then there’s Enthrone, a two-player abstract deduction game brimming with intrigue. Each player secretly commands one of eight fantasy pawns—King, Priestess, Knight, Assassin, and more—while trying to uncover their opponent’s identity. Victory can come through elimination, political maneuvering, or seizing the throne. At 20–30 minutes, it’s a sharp contest of hidden roles and bold strategies. Finally, Dungeons & Dragons: Edge of the Realms takes us to Faerûn, where players explore magical terrain and landmarks through tile-laying. Everyone plays simultaneously, keeping the pace lively and accessible, though interaction between players remains light. It’s a breezy way to capture the spirit of D&D exploration in board game form. Thanks for tuning in! Don’t forget to drop by our Discord server to share your thoughts on these games—or just to hang out with the community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 36 mins
  • Episode 364: Dust & Dirt, Railroad Tiles, Magical Athlete, Hood

    Episode 364: Dust & Dirt, Railroad Tiles, Magical Athlete, Hood
    Nov 4 2025
    00:01:30 Intro00:04:30 BooBQ Event00:07:00 Snake Charmers00:15:00 Magical Athlete00:22:45 Star Wars Tournament00:28:30 Guests at BoooBQ00:31:30 Taste Buds00:36:30 Portal Games00:38:00 Dirt & Dust00:51:00 Railroad Tiles00:57:00 Miniature Market00:58:30 Hood01:10:00 Umami01:16:30 Outro Another year and another BooBQ is in the books. It was a great time and we had the opportunity to play a bunch of group games, eat a ton of food, and test our Halloween knowledge through Wits and Wagers, what a classic. We even got the chance to do a local constructed deck Star Wars Unlimited tournament that sucked in a bunch of new players. So, in a way, we were like a bunch of vampires and brought them into the fold Magical Athlete is a riotous racing game where fantasy characters with wildly asymmetric powers compete in unpredictable sprints. It’s light, fast, dice rolling game that will have hilarious moments throughout the game—perfect for groups who love a bit of chaos. Dirt & Dust, by contrast, is a deck builder that leans into the solitaire play with players trying to solve their own challenges while not really being impacted by others. Then there’s Railroad Tiles, a spatial puzzle that rewards clever planning and route optimization. It’s a satisfying blend of tactical tile placement and long-term strategy, ideal for fans of games like Carcassonne or Metro. Finally, Umami brings a unique twist to the table: a culinary-themed game that’s all about balancing flavors and crafting harmonious dishes. With elegant mechanics and a soothing aesthetic, it’s a game that feels like a warm bowl of ramen on a rainy day. Together, these four titles form a kind of tasting menu for board gamers—each one distinct, memorable, and worth savoring. Whether you’re in the mood for laughter, clever puzzles, or thematic immersion, this quartet offers a delicious spread of experiences. Just like the buffet table at BooBQ. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 24 mins
  • Bonus Episode: Interview with Arkham Horror Author, Rosemary Jones

    Bonus Episode: Interview with Arkham Horror Author, Rosemary Jones
    Oct 28 2025
    Marty and Vanessa love the Arkham Horror universe. They play boardgames, card games and read the Arkham Horror novels from Aconyte Books. In this bonus episode, they get the chance to interview one of their favorite authors, Rosemary Jones. She discusses how she got into writing Arkham Horror novels, the process and talks about her latest book, The Arcane Gamble of Harvey Walters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr