As ever, we do not acknowledge one of the most pernicious false dichotomies in the rulebook space; whether rules should be strictly permissive (you can only do what the rules say you can) or strictly restrictive (you can do anything unless the rules say otherwise). I have never seen a rulebook forbid me from choking an opponent, nor have I see a rulebook give me permission to breathe. I will thus reject both models as being rather too simplistic.

01:28 AYURIS: Galactic Renaissance (Christian Martinez, Matagot, 2024)

Games Played Last Week:

05:09 -The Guest (Arkaitz Caride, Devir, 2025)

10:48 -Cosmic Encounter (Bill Eberle, Jack Kittredge, Bill Norton, Peter Olotka, and Kevin Wilson, Fantasy Flight, 2008)

16:04 -Firefighters on Duty (Konstantinos Kokkinis & Sotirios Tsantilas, Artipia Games, 2025)

22:10 -Deck of Spies (James Newman, Web published, 2021)

24:43 -Fishing (Friedemann Friese, 2F-Spiele, 2024)

29:27 -KINGs: TRICKTAKERs (Hiroken, Joyple Games, 2023)

36:11 -Gaslands: Refuelled (Mike Hutchinson, Osprey Publishing, 2019)

40:08 -Cockroach Poker (Jacques Zeimet, Drei Magier Spiele, 2004)

News (and why it doesn't matter):

43:45 Burned available on Gamecrafter's Crowdsale

44:42 Claustrophobia 3rd edition, 1692, by Devir

46:33 Mystic Curling by Asmadi Games on Kickstarter

46:50 Amigo US is no more; No Thanks joining CMYK's Magenta line along with I'm Out

47:46 Voidfall expansion: Resurgence

48:27 Sidereal Confluence expansion: Proliferation

49:11 Winnie the Pooh: Serious Detective

49:39 Arkhipov Day: Oct. 27th. Celebrate Vasili Arkhipov and his having saved the human race!

50:29 Topic: Rulebooks

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00:01:30 Intro
00:03:30 Sports ball Topics
00:14:00 A Carnivore Did It
00:17:00 This Game is Killer
00:22:00 Why did you play that?
00:26:30 Rules Lawyer Time
00:30:30 Taste Buds
00:39:30 Miniature Market
00:40:30 Bohemians
00:59:00 Punica: Rome vs. Carthage
01:07:30 Portal Games
01:08:30 Fountains
01:15:30 Everdell Duo
01:23:00 Cookie Run Braverse
01:29:00 Outro

Halloween is creeping ever closer, ushering in a surge of spooky décor, costume scheming, and sugar-fueled anticipation. Soon, neighborhoods will flicker with jack-o’-lantern grins and haunted house setups, casting eerie shadows perfect for mischief, mayhem, and board games. And yes—Marty’s legendary BooBQ is just around the corner.

Before the festivities kick off, we squeezed in a few two-player gems that pack a punch without hogging the table. Everdell Duo reimagines the beloved woodland world for two, offering competitive, cooperative, and campaign modes that layer strategy with charm. Cookie Run: Braverse transforms the digital Cookie Run universe into a physical trading card game, introducing a clever twist on health tracking that adds surprise and tension to every skirmish. Punica: Rome vs Carthage throws players into the heat of the Punic Wars, where asymmetric tactics and area control drive a brisk, brainy clash—can you succeed where Hannibal failed and bring Rome to its knees?

We also tried a fresh tile-laying release from OP Games. True to form, the components are stellar, but it’s the rondel-style drafting that stole the spotlight, injecting strategic depth and just enough “take that” to keep things spicy.

Thanks for listening, we really do appreciate it.

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