Jack and Eric discuss the 10 years of The Cardboard Herald! We go into why the channel started, what we've learned, and what we'd tell people starting out.
Read moreMolly Johnson & Shawn Stankewich of Flatout Games - TCbH Interview
00:00 - Intro
02:40 - The forming of a "board game design collaborative"
07:07 - Are conventions still relevant?
10:48 - Perennial and biting your own apple
17:55 - Discovering theme through mechanics
20:52 - Killing your darlings
23:31 - Origins and aspirations of Whisperstone
HOT LINKS:
Our Site - 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
Alita Robertson embarks on Leder's new era with KART - TCbH Interview
00:00 - Intro
01:14 - Starting as an intern
04:04 - Background in games
06:19 - Earliest pitches
08:03 - Downhill development
12:30 - A career unplanned
13:48 - First project since Kyle & Cole left
18:49 - Aspirational weirdness
21:20 - What makes it special?
24:21 - Hardest design nut to crack?
27:20 - What darlings were killed?
30:02 - Advice for those who come after?
HOT LINKS:
Our Site - 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
Designer Jarratt Gray on the past, present and future of Endeavor: Deep Sea - TCbH Interview
Jarratt Gray is the co-designer along with Carl de Visser of Endeavor, Endeavor: Age of Sail and Endeavor Deep Sea.
00:00 - Intro (taking TCbH by storm)
02:49 - The sense of exploration
06:09 - History of Endeavor
12:27 - An academic bent
16:50 - Designing a balance between coop & competitive
21:31 - Working partnership with Carl
25:56 - Avoiding bad expansions with uncharted waters
34:10 - Endeavor's future
HOT LINKS:
Our Site - 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
Talking about publishing expansions with Jamey Stegmaier of Stonemaier Games - TCbH Expansion Month
Jamey Stegmaier is the cofounder & owner of Stonemaier games, as well as designer of many of their hits like Viticulture, Scythe and Tapestry.
00:00 - Why release 2 new expansions at once?
03:22 - Do you buy expansions for your games?
07:11 - How have your views on expansions changed over time?
12:23 - Do you think about expansion potential when publishing a game?
15:48 - Simultaneous release expansions
20:14 - Why not repackage expansions into Tokaido?
23:03 - What metrics do you consider on if it's worth it?
25:00 - Balancing release schedule?
26:39 - Expansions that could have been?
31:48 - Types of expansions (Jamey's question for Jack)
HOT LINKS:
Our Site - 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
Retailing games & expansions with Pat Race & Aron Suring of Alaska Robotics Gallery - TCbH Interview
Pat Race & Aron Suring are the co-owners / co-founders of Alaska Robotics Gallery among many other businesses and projects in Juneau, Alaska, and are just all around great dudes.
00:00 - Intro "what is this shop?"
01:41 - When did games come along?
03:57 - Selling expansions
06:24 - Encouraging buying local
08:50 - Stale product
11:11 - Are expansions a boon or bane
14:12 - Closing out with favorite games
HOT LINKS:
Our Site - 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
Nick Murray of Bitewing Games talks Gold Country and working with Reiner Knizia - TCbH Interview
Nick Murray, coowner of Bitewing Games and host of "The Bits with Joe and Nick" comes to talk Gold Country and Bitewing's work with Reiner Knizia, spanning hits from Zoo Vadis to Illiad.
00:00 - Intro
01:46 - Gold Country Excitement
07:08 - Did Bitewing set out to work with Knizia?
12:57 - Reiner's self awareness of current resurgence?
19:18 - Is there a Knizia bubble?
26:25 - Challenges with Gold Country
32:24 - Why doesn't Bitewing do expansions?
35:35 - The games that got away?
HOT LINKS:
Our Site - 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
Trevor Benjamin on co-designing Moytura, Azure and collaborative game design - TCbH Interviews
Trevor Benjamin is co-designer of numerous hit games including Undaunted, Warchest, Resist and Mandela, frequently collaborating with David J. Thompson and Brett J. Gilbert.
00:00 - Intro
01:10 - Getting involved with Bitewing
02:26 - Approach to following up Iliad & Ichor
06:29 - Intentionally subverting genre?
07:52 - Late addition of solo & coop
09:47 - Why always codesigning?
14:47 - Approach to Azure
18:11 - State of the hobby trending to more shallow experiences
21:50 - Historical accuracy vs. practical game design
25:09 - Expanded scope of Undaunted
29:01 - How do you know when a game is done?
31:51 - Recent inspirations
37:35 - Next up, For the Gods
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
Conflict in Board Games
It’s time to butt heads and create enemies that will last a lifetime! That’s right, we’re talking about conflict, baby, and the different ways conflicts are represented in board games.
Read moreA Cardboard Herald Yap Fest - TCbH Podcast
Jack and Eric haven’t chatted in a while, so we thought this would be a good time to discuss the channel, where we’re at and what we’re working on now that we’re both back from all of our trips, and what’s coming up for the channel!
Read moreGame Night: Forest Shuffle Dartmoor
Trying something new this week! Our very first TCbH Game Night, Eric shows Jack Forest Shuffle - Dartmoor, and we discuss our thoughts on the game. Let us know your thoughts on the format and any changes you’d like to see! It’s still something we’re fiddling with, so we’d love to hear any suggestions you’d have.
Read moreFrom Keymaster to PickPocket Games: An Interview with Cameron Art
Cameron Art (developer of Harvest, owner of PickPocket Games) comes on the podcast to chat with Eric about his time as a developer for Keymaster and what’s on the horizon for PickPocket Games
Read moreDanielle Reynolds and Steven Ungaro Talk Tricky Kids
Check It Out! We got two tricky kids on to chat about their latest game Tricky Kids, published by Pandasaurus. We talk about their approach to games, what’s it like to co-design a game, and what’s coming next for them
Read moreA Chat with Trey Chambers (Harvest, Empyreal, Argent: The Consortium)
Join us as Eric chats with Trey Chambers, designer of Harvest, Argent: The Consortium and Empyreal: Spells and Steam!
Read moreGen Con Wrap Up
So long Indianapolis, thanks for all the games! Scott, aka Boardgamingbud, and Eric chat about the games we played at Gen Con and the general vibe of the convention.
Read moreCatch-Up Mechanics
Losers always have it the best! They’re chucking out bullet bills and blue shells, while I’m grinding trick jumps in first to keep my lead. This week we talk about catch-up mechanics in board games and what we like about them.
Read moreWhat We Talk About When We Talk About Game Balance
There’s a lot that comes to mind when someones says “game balance” in reference to board games, and we’re here to talk about all of them. Jack and Eric discuss what they want from game balance, games that are good examples of it, and answer some questions from commenters about the topic.
Read moreWhat Makes A Good Two-Player Board Game?
We’re back and more married than ever! With Eric now having a permanent second player, what better time than the present to discuss what we like about two player game.
Read moreFrom Animation to the Tabletop: Zac Dixon & Austin Harrison of IV Studio - TCbH Interviews
Realm of Reckoning launches on kickstarter on June 24th, 2025 here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ivstudios/realm-of-reckoning
00:00 - Intro
01:36 - From animation to the tabletop
07:40 - Starting with theme or mechanics?
10:40 - Difficulty with commitment to bespoke components
14:30 - Honing the craft of making games
18:15 - Moving industry to a smaller pond
23:06 - Beginnings of Reckoning
27:28 - Upcoming cooperative deck builder
31:20 - When to start internal and external playtesting
36:06 - Navigating Tariffs
39:51 - Why not solo?
43:05 - Feeling challenged by other publishers?
47:51 - Admiration for small design
50:39 - Original themes and world buidling
56:20 - Coming down the pike?
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
Read moreThemed Board Games
Following our discussion a few weeks ago about IP-Based games, we’re talking about different ways games can exude theme
Read more