River of Gold Designer Keith Piggott - TCbH Interviews

00:00 - Releasing a game at GenCon

04:33 - Did River of Gold start as an L5R Game?

09:25 - Working with an imprint of Asmodee

11:34 - Why no solo mode?

14:55 - Developing the linear aspect of the game

18:32 - Commercial pressures for success

21:24 - Motivation to become a designer

25:13 - What makes a good sell sheet & game pitch?

27:18 - Dream universe to adapt into a board game

31:34 - What's next for Keith & River of Gold?

Links:

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From root expansions to rulebooks with Joshua Yearsley of Leder Games - TCbH Interview

00:00 - Intro

03:42 - From editing to design

04:42 - What makes a good rule book?

07:53 - Why big floppy rulebooks?

10:15 - Root 4 a New Hope

11:42 - Big box for all your stuff?

14:57 - What's the pitch room like for Root content?

22:21 - What was the starting point?

25:50 - Clockwork & hirelings support

28:26 - Coolest part of the expansion?

31:06 - Reach and player count for new factions

32:31 - Long public development process

35:05 - Involvement in art direction

38:49 - What still needs development?

44:46 - What's the 3rd element of the expansion?

47:40 - What other games are cookin' at Leder?

Links:

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Luthier and how publishing impacts game design with Dave Beck of Paverson Games - TCbH Interview (Copy)

00:00 - Intro

01:42 - Different approach than with Distilled?

04:21 - Did you always plan on publishing in addition to design work?

07:17 - How do publication concerns impact game design?

09:45 - What sets Luthier apart from other games?

13:19 - Was there hesitation over the complexity level?

17:11 - How much do you design for the catalog?

20:27 - Did the long public exposure impact development?

24:26 - How was working with Vincent Dutrait?

29:27 - How much did you dictate art style and aesthetic?

33:01 - Should luck and randomness be proportional to a game?

35:28 - Is randomness necessary for modern games?

Links:

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Nick Brachmann on being Senior Developer at Leder Games and Ahoy: New Horizons - TCbH Interview

The backer kit campaign for Ahoy: New Horizons launches November 14, 2023 here: https://www.backerkit.com/call_to_action/fd610745-96dd-4289-839e-ac0757c468bd/landing

00:00 - Intro & genesis of the expansion

02:04 - What type of expansion is this

04:09 - New factions, same limitations?

04:46 - Solo considered?

06:09 - Approach to figuring out what to expand

08:15 - Smugglers in a 2 player game?

10:48 - What makes a good game developer?

13:14 - Leder & external designs

16:10 - ARCS internal pitch & development

20:41 - Role of market research & staying up on games

24:13 - Early transparency & impact on creativity

29:36 - Minnesota & Board Games

32:00 - What makes a Leder game?

Links:

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From FFG to Earthborne Rangers with Andrew Navaro - TCbH Interviews

Earthborne Rangers is the exciting new cooperative, open-world adventure game that I highly recommend. You can find our review here: https://youtu.be/uX91cv5H43M?si=m6WW_zI7V3BLKILx

00:00 - Earthborne Rangers background

05:25 - Inspiration for the setting

12:51 - 15 years with Fantasy Flight Games

21:27 - Creative director and leaving FFG

28:23 - Earthborne's commitment to sustainability

36:24 - How to teach and tutorialize games better

46:24 - Challenges designing an open world adventure

54:01 - Now and future Earthborne

Links:

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Donald Shults on Plaid Hat, Crossroad Games & Freelancers

Freelancers is the new crossroads game from Plaid Hat Games. Timestamps are below, pre-order here: https://www.plaidhatgames.com/news/2023/03/30/announcing-freelancers-crossroads-game/

00:00 - Introduction & feelings leading up to release

04:26 - The Plaid Hat Way

06:10 - Starting Board With Life

11:00 - Freedom & flexibility in the design process

13:53 - What defines a crossroads game?

17:49 - Freelancers' art direction

21:32 - Setting

24:32 - Character creation

27:07 - Gameplay, saving & progress

30:08 - Emergent elements?

33:35 - Designing to player count

38:44 - The lost mechanical germ

42:25 - What caused this apocalypse

44:51 - What's on the horizon?

Links:

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Talking Games, Movies & Podcasting with Tim Dolloff of Board Game Hot Takes - TCbH Interview

Prefer audio? Check out this interview on our pod channel. Also, go check out Tim and the rest of the BGHT team at: https://boardgamehottakes.com

00:00 - Intro

03:43 - Getting games played for the podcast

08:21 - Evolution of tastes

14:30 - Vested interest in recruiting gamers

17:58 - Gaming history starting with MTG

24:25 - Converting to board games

30:06 - Goals for the podcast

33:40 - Cost of content creation

41:16 - Other pursuits & passions (and movies!)

51:00 - Importance of theme and presentation

56:42 - Upcoming shows

Links:

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Isaac Childres talks Frosthaven, Gloomhaven RPG, the future & more - TCbH Interview

00:00 - Intro

00:52 - Distribution of Frosthaven vs. Gloomhaven

03:25 - Moving into a managerial role

05:19 - Fatherhood

06:16 - Frosthaven Design & Development

10:54 - Frosthaven a response to Gloomhaven or Jaws?

15:42 - Settling on a hefty MSRP and leftovers on the cutting floor

18:47 - Crimson Scales

21:13 - Gloomhaven RPG

25:45 - Card integration into the RPG

29:45 - Who is the market?

31:25 - World building?

34:08 - Evolution as a designer

37:57 - What's on the horizon?

39:42 - Most exciting part of the RPG

Links:

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David Thompson on historical games, design, and Undaunted Stalingrad - TCbH Interview

00:00 - Intro

01:10 - Making war games more approachable

03:31 - Origins as a designer

06:01 - First pitch, first publish

08:25 - Mistakes as an early designer

10:55 - Developing a partnership with Trevor

14:08 - Did you know how big Undaunted would be?

18:09 - Fetishizing elegance

20:01 - When to work alone vs. co-design

22:42 - No solo in Stalingrad?

27:29 - Origins of Resist!

31:26 - Accuracy vs. sensitivity in historical games

37:14 - Design objectives with Stalingrad

44:54 - What media helps fuel your creativity

50:20 - Did research for a game every change your mind?

Links:

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Our Video Channel - https://www.youtube.com/TheCardboardHerald

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Reviewing all 11 new-to-me games I played at PAX Unplugged 2022 - TCbH

00:00 - Intro

00:48 - Radlands

02:21 - Dice Conquest

04:03 - Voyages

04:52 - Orichalcum

06:15 - Life Siphon

07:53 - Once Upon a Time

08:56 - Star Fighters Rapid Fire

10:47 - Kitchen Rush

12:38 - Twilight Inscription

14:45 - Dinosaur Island Rawr 'N Write

16:57 - Flamecraft

Links:

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Chatting puzzles & new projects with Rita Orlov at PostCurious' first PAX U booth - TCbH Interviews

Find out more at PC's site here: https://www.getpostcurious.com or watch our review of Adrift here: https://youtu.be/bNiYeftscXY

00:00 - First time with a booth

00:57 - A more robust lineup

02:21 - Panneling for puzzles at the con

03:04 - Audience awareness

04:21 - Upcoming projects

Links:

Our Site - https://www.cardboardherald.com

Our Video Channel - https://www.youtube.com/TheCardboardHerald

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A chill chat with designer Henry Audubon on PARKS, Floe, and Defenders of the Wilds - TCbH Interview

Had to guerrilla shoot this at the airbnb, so please excuse the limited camera angle & dim lighting. The audio version of this interview is up on our pod channel.

00:00 - Intro

06:15 - Defenders of the Wild

16:43 - Design & Development in the KS Cylce

21:32 - Defenders of the wild

31:31 - Frustrations with projects?

35:22 - Pitching at PAX U 2022?

37:08 - Signature style

39:27 - Research to hone the design craft

47:06 - More creative sway on the end product?

Links:

Our Site - https://www.cardboardherald.com

Our Video Channel - https://www.youtube.com/TheCardboardHerald

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Undaunted: Normandy is a Modern Masterpiece - TCbH Review

00:00 - Intro

00:22 - What is this game?

02:10 - Card play & management

03:43 - Combat units

05:06 - Attacking

06:55 - Tactics & Strategy

07:22 - Final Thoughts

Links:

Our Site - https://www.cardboardherald.com

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Frosthaven Review - Improving on an Icon

Want to just listen to the review? Check it out on the podcast channel. Also you can check out the Jaws of the Lion Review here: https://youtu.be/0jYwmUwZ6uc

00:00 - Intro & Gloomy Review

01:36 - What is this game?

03:34 - Characters

04:30 - Bannerspear

05:51 - Blinkblade

06:46 - Deathwalker

08:18 - Outpost phase & base building

11:07 - Loot & Crafting

12:48 - Rules presentation

15:21 - Visuals & Narrative

16:23 - Finessing the system

18:41 - Final thoughts

Links:

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Raina of Pandasaurus talks releases, Family + & expansions at PAX Unplugged 2022 - TCbH Interview

00:00 - Response to new releases

02:49 - Development & production of The Fox Experiment

03:49 - Rawr & Write expansion

04:52 - "Family +" and the Pandasaurus Ethos

05:43 - Taking pitches at the con?

06:19 - Brew expansion

Links:

Our Site - https://www.cardboardherald.com

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Nicholas Yu on D&D Onslaught, Godrealm, and making your mark on a legacy - TCbH Interview

00:00 - Response to Onslaught

01:34 - Con hitting different with 2 giant titles?

02:28 - Future of Onslaught

03:16 - Production values

04:11 - What do you want to sneak in?

05:22 - Dream IP to set a game?

06:27 - Godrealm & other projects

Links:

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Cole Wehrle on ARCS, Taking Pitches & PATH at PAX Unplugged 2022 - TCbH Interviews

00:00 - Intro

01:12 - Pitches & Networking

02:57 - Original spark with Ahoy

06:06 - Status of ARCS development

12:27 - Is approachability over fetishized?

16:40 - Organization structure at Leder Games

19:10 - Can you still enjoy a con as a gamer?

21:23 - PATH & other upcoming projects

Links:

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Our Video Channel - https://www.youtube.com/TheCardboardHerald

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The Wolves - Howlin' Good Area Control - TCbH Reviews

00:00 - Intro

00:41 - Game Overview

02:26 - Taking Actions

05:53 - The Calendar & Game End

07:50 - Two Player & Lack of Solo

08:35 - Final Thoughts

Links:

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Is Shake That City more than just a gimmick? - TCbH Review

Coming to Kickstarter November 29th

00:00 - Intro

00:18 - Game overview

02:23 - How you get points

02:23 - what makes it compelling?

03:18 - A gimmick that (kinda) works

05:16 - Final Thoughts

Links:

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Do You Need Dune: Imperium Immortality? - TCbH Expansion Review

00:00 - Intro, concept & scope

02:15 - Research & Teliaxu board

03:10 - Specimens

03:55 - Grafting

04:39 - Family atomics

05:15 - How it effects the game

06:16 - Tactical vs. Strategic

07:40 - Combining it all

08:16 - Final Thoughts

Links:

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Our Video Channel - https://www.youtube.com/TheCardboardHerald

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