Casual Friday - 10 Greatest Cooperative Games of All Time

John is back on the show and we come up with the irrevocably indisputable list of the greatest cooperative games of all time.

00:53 - Why we are doing this list

06:40 - Flashpoint Fire Rescue

07:37 - Journeys in Middle Earth

09:24 - Descent: Road to Legend

10:58 - Pandemic Legacy

12:32 - Magic Maze

14:57 - The Grizzled

18:32 - Mysterium

22:11 - Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion

25:43 - Fan Pick - Marvel Legendary

29:01 - Fan Pick - The Mind

30:12 - Fan Pick - Eldritch Horror

33:21 - Marvel Champions

38:09 - Spirit Island

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Dan Yarrington of Tabletop Tycoon & Starling Games has done it all! (TCbH Interview)

Since the 90s, Dan Yarrington has worked in just about every aspect of this hobby. We dive into his history, how the industry has evolved, the rise of kistarter, Starling Games, and their upcoming release, Flourish.

00:59 - Humble origins in the 90s

06:20 - Dipping toes into publishing in the 00s

13:17 - The impact and evolution of kickstarter

26:48 - The rise of Starling Games

32:02 - The "Flavor-ware" of Everdell

35:25 - Player age & safety clarifications

42:02 - Finding the right theme & non-traditional themes

52:55 - Criticisms of games being overproduced

61:01 - COVID, Social distancing and social responsibility

HOT LINKS:

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

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

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Casual Friday Double Feature Review - Skytear & Gates of Delirium

John comes back and this time we talk through two games we've recently played together, Skytear & Gates of delirium. But more than that, we talk about the nature of games as hobbies, adapting video game genres, integration of theme, and occult angles.

SKYTEAR

00:00 - What is a MOBA?

02:39 - The ambitions of Skytear

06:13 - Gameplay

09:23 - Highlights & Impressions

17:37 - Final thoughts

GATES OF DELIRIUM

23:58 - Overview (The scope of evil)

28:38 - Highlights & Impressions

34:19 - Final thoughts

HOT LINKS:

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TCbH Interview - T Caires of HABA Games

T is one of the coolest people in the industry. Also, don't sleep on Miyabi.

02:02 - Starting at HABA

04:01 - The eye opening experience of toy fairs

07:57 - Comparing US & European markets

16:34 - Balancing for age differences

24:23 - The twists and turns of age ratings

30:17 - Testing impacting US releases

34:27 - Perceptions & Game Night Approved line

38:21 - Cultural bias and "developmentally appropriate" activities

43:53 - HABA's kindergarten

46:22 - Retroactive dismissal

49:35 - Marketing games in a COVID world

57:55 - The serendipitous timing of a new flip & write

HOT LINKS:

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Quarantine Solo Diary # 4 - What I want to see from the future of solo games

As usual I take on a topic and then talk about what I've been playing.

00:01 - More interpretive solo games

03:13 - More combative area control games

04:53 - Better victory conditions

06:10 - Stop gatekeeping components

07:51 - More solo games for kids

New games added to the playlist -

09:41 - Terraforming Mars

11:29 - Sagrada

13:53 - Marvel Champions

15:48 - Catacombs Cubes

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

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

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Interview - Jamey Stegmaier on Tapestry, balance, community and the new expansion Plans & Ploys

Following up our Pendulum conversation released a few days ago, I talk with Jamey about the upcoming expansion to Tapestry.

00:31 - Nature of Plans & Ploys

01:38 - The development cycle

03:58 - Reacting to Tapestry's criticisms

06:51 - Consumer or playtester?

12:04 - New mechanics in Plans & Ploys

13:51 - Civs, Tapestries, Synergy & Balance

21:21 - Partnering with community members

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

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TCbH Interview - Cameron Art on Vowl, kickstarter, and the self-publishing debut

Vowl is on KS right now, find it here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cameronart/vowl-the-game-of-letters-gone-astray

00:44 - Why debut with a word game?

02:35 - Self publishing vs. pitching to publishers

03:35 - Rad scoring system

06:08 - Early ambitions for Cameron Art Games

07:14 - Future design focus

08:31 - What happens if you don't fund?

10:28 - Advice for other new creators who haven't gotten this far

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

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Casual Friday - 10 Greatest Area Control Games of All Time

I sit down with my good friend & Platypus Con manager John Foster to talk through our respective top 5 area control games while we explore what the mechanic even is in the first place. 

Timestamps (SPOILER WARNING) 

04:25 - John's 5 - Diplomacy by Email 

05:36 - Jack's 5 - Kemet 

07:23 - John's 4 - Plague Inc. 

09:11 - Jack's 4 - Blood Rage 

11:44 - John's 3 - Tyrants of the Underpants 

13:47 - Jack's 3 - Ethnos 

17:31 - John's 2 - Battle for Rokugan

22:31 - Jack's 2 - Root 

26:30 - Audience Pick - Chaos in the old world 

28:10 - Audience Pick - Inis 

30:17 - Audience Pick - El Grande 

31:01 - Audience Pick - Cthulhu Wars 

32:01 - John's # 1 - Cthulhu Wars 

35:48 - Jack's # 1 - Game of Thrones 2nd Edition 

You can find Matt Halowell's Cthulhu Wars review and all kinds of other stuff here: https://thematiccircle.wordpress.com. Thank you to everyone who responded on twitter. 
HOT LINKS: 

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

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Bonus Episode - How and why you should get rid of games

You have too many games and we both know it.

00:29 - Content Creator Disclaimer

01:36 - Why get rid of games?

02:05 - Space

02:38 - Emotional fatigue

05:00 - Doing away with a need to consume

06:25 - Appreciation of what you own

08:00 - Getting rid of games

08:42 - Selling

09:51 - Trading

11:48 - Donating

HOT LINKS:

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

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

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Episode 152 - Jamey Stegmaier talks Pendulum, Quarantine & Solo Gaming

I have a chat with returning guest Jamey stegmaier, all about their Fall 2020 real-time strategy game release, Pendulum.

01:24 - Do realtime elements undermine strategy?

04:26 - Overall course of play

08:27 - Diving headfirst into high fantasy

11:05 - How was the game pitched?

13:13 - Evolution throughout development

14:49 - Curbing audience reaction

20:34 - COVID 19 & Stonemaier

26:33 - Cracking the real-time game solo conundrum

29:31 - Personal life affecting game priorities

32:35 - The mythic "Stonemaier Coop Game"

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

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

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Bonus Episode - Quarantine Solo Diary # 3 - Getting Started With Solo Games

Some helpful tips for anyone looking to get started & what i've been playing. 

01:14 - Try Before You Buy 

01:56 - Think about what you like about games 

03:37 - Look at solo focussed reviews 

04:42 - Join a community 

05:15 - Don't give up after 1 

06:08 - What I've been playing 

07:05 - Caverna 

09:46 - Flamme Rouge 

11:24 - Set a Watch 

HOT LINKS:

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

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

Our Twitter - https://twitter.com/CardboardHerald 

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Episode 151 - Oath, Fort, Root, and the subtle arts of design & development with Nick Brachmann of Leder Games

Nick Brachman is a game developer and graphic designer at Leder Games, with his hands in many Leder pies. This interview was originally recorded Jan 30th, 2020 to time with the upcoming press cycle for Fort... Then 2020 kinda did it’s thing. Leder plans on opening pre-orders for Fort on July 21st.

00:30 - What job were you hired for?

03:41 - What is a developer vs a designer?

07:25 - Impact

00:30 - What job were you hired for?

03:41 - What is a developer vs a designer?

07:25 - Impact of graphic design

10:49 - Developing Root: Underworld

15:24 - Graphic design on Root: Underworld

17:47 - How SPQF became Fort

21:50 - What makes Fort compelling?

24:13 - Development on Fort

26:07 - Imposter syndrome

30:27 - Team environment at Leder Games

33:01 - Oath development 35:06 - A day at the office

41:14 - Balancing Oath with so many unique cards

44:44 - Exiles & Partisans

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

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

Our Twitter - https://twitter.com/CardboardHerald

Our Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/user?u=9669551

Bonus Episode - Quarantine Solo Diary # 2 - What makes a good solo game?

Following up with a bit more solo talk for your brain.

01:09 - What makes a good solo game?

01:27 - Type 1 - Multiplayer Solitaire

03:02 - Type 2 - Automated Opponents

04:53 - Type 3 - Cooperative Games

Games I've been playing:

06:38 - Gloomhaven

08:18 - Viticulture

09:58 - Animal Kingdoms

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

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

Our Twitter - https://twitter.com/CardboardHerald

Our Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/user?u=9669551

Episode 150 - Talking Spirit Island: Jagged Earth and For Science! with R. Eric Reuss

*Note, you get images of many spirit boards in the video version on youtube right here - https://youtu.be/AFzxRMMVd-E* We get some nitty gritty on the design and development of the upcoming Spirit Island expansion, and to know how Eric made such a bold leap from that to the 15 minute realtime spacial dexterity puzzle "For Science".

01:00 - What's been going on since the Jagged Earth Kickstarter?

04:07 - Spirits left on the cutting room floor?

07:44 - Iterating spirits during development

16:30 - Are you "spirit cursed"?

18:32 - Design, testing and balance changes

23:03 - Making major powers cinematic

31:00 - Involvement in the digital adaption

36:05 - What is For Science!

39:16 - What makes an "Eric Reuss" joint?

42:23 - Still designing & pitching games?

45:11 - Expectations of being the "Spirit Island" guy

48:44 - What genre of game would you most like to design next?

HOT LINKS:

Jagged Earth KS - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gtgames/spirit-island-jagged-earth

For Science! KS - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/zonedout/for-science

Spirit Island Digital - https://www.handelabra.com/spiritisland

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

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

Our Twitter - https://twitter.com/CardboardHerald

Our Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/user?u=9669551

Episode 149 - Emerald Flame Designer Rita Orlov in The Tale of Ord Spoilercast

Rita’s next project The Emerald Flame will be hitting kickstarter May 27th, so we thought it was a good opportunity to get down and deep into her prior box of madness, The Tale of Ord. There are spoilers abound, so you are warned, but if you haven’t had a chance to play, don’t worry too much as TTOO is likely to never be produced again. Follow the kickstarter here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/postcurious/the-emerald-flame

HOT LINKS:

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

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Bonus Episode - Quarantine Solo Diary # 1 - Why play solo & what I've been rocking

As promised, here's our casual stream of consciousness on solo games # 1 except now in audio form so you can mow your lawn or whatever. 

01:20 - Why should you play solo games?

09:17 - Why I'm playing more solo games

10:28 - Wingspan

11:27 - Root

12:43 - Shadows of Kilforth

13:49 - Everdell Bellfaire & Spirecrest

14:59 - Clans of Caledonia

16:55 - Tiny Towns

17:42 - Spirit Island

20:10 - Solo plans for the future

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

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

Our Twitter - https://twitter.com/CardboardHerald

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Episode 148 - Talking Kalewala: Tale of Sampo with Finnish Designer Tuomas Mansikka

Tuomas and I talk epics, Tolkien, and Kalewala: Tale of Sampo, launching April 13 on Kickstarter.

01:16 - What is the Kalevala?

04:01 - How pervasive is the Kalevala in Finland?

06:16 - What makes this an ideal setting for a game?

08:40 - What is the overall flow of the game?

12:06 - What stage of completion is the game?

13:44 - Experience as a game designer

15:33 - Kalewala vs. Kalevala

17:31 - Unique challenges publishing from Finland?

19:30 - Action items moving forward?

23:05 - Hidden movement and approachability

28:37 - What is the killer moment in this game?

HOT LINKS:

Our Site - www.cardboardherald.com

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

Our Twitter - https://twitter.com/CardboardHerald

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Bonus Episode - The Asmodee Situation Casually Explained

Walking through 13 years in 13 minutes. Lots to unpack here, would love to hear your thoughts.

Link to vid for visual companion: https://youtu.be/86-CyHYv5Sg

00:42 - Foundation of Asmodee

02:32 - The Age of Acquisition

04:56 - Worldwide Distribution & PAI

05:38 - Recent Layoffs

06:34 - Component Replacement

09:25 - Plaid Hat Goes Indie (Again)

10:19 - Price Hike

10:52 - Where Does That Leave Us?

HOT LINKS: Our Site - www.cardboardherald.com Our

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

Our Twitter - https://twitter.com/CardboardHerald

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Episode 147 - Talking Frosthaven & Jaws of the Lion with Isaac Childres

Talking about the hot new entries in the Gloomhaven series, and about the changes from then to now with the founder himself, Isaac Childres.

01:02 - COVID Impacts on Frosthaven

04:21 - The Gloomhaven phenomenon and managing expectations

09:31 - Prepping for Jaws of The Lion Retail Release

12:31 - Unique challenges in JoTL Design & Development

17:20 - Design approach to Frosthaven

24:11 - Could Frosthaven become the new, definitive edition?

29:05 - Unique approaches to characters

31:46 - Legacy elements

35:14 - Changes to campaign structure?

37:48 - Adjusting to “boardgame celebrity” status

41:57 - Open ended city building in Frosthaven

46:24 - How do the seasons & weather affect the game?

48:14 - Fail forward games?

50:20 - Most challenging aspect in designing Frosthaven

53:17 - If you weren’t the “Gloomhaven guy”

56:28 - Expanding the 3 pillars of Gloomhaven

HOT LINKS:

Our Site - www.cardboardherald.com

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

Our Twitter - https://twitter.com/CardboardHerald

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Bonus Episode - Mike Selinker on Game Design (Platypus Con 2020 Panel)

A bonus episode to keep you company during your social distancing. Thank you to Platypus Con for bringing up Mike Selinker. We’ll have a regularly scheduled interview next week.

03:30 Introduction

08:20 - Finding the fun in your games

10:20 - What is elegance?

12:40 - The long process of designing Apocrypha

15:00 - What are my game’s 3 things?

16:40 - Vetting your games

21:30 - What I look for in a designer

22:50 - Q: Once you have an idea, where do you go from there?

34:00 - Q: What about when a game design is cost prohibitive?

38:40 - Q: Do you ever work on video games?

41:15 - Q: How do you reduce setup time on games?

46:45 - Q: Can you tutorialize a board game?

50:10 - Q: Advice for breaking into the industry?

53:40 - Q: How protective are you as a game designer?