In this teach and play session, I’m joined by friend of the show James Buckley to dive into Stalingrad Roads, the 2024 hex-and-counter wargame from French publisher Nuts! Publishing. Covering the Soviet counteroffensive that encircled and shattered the Axis forces around Stalingrad, this title offers both classic operational gameplay and fresh twists on momentum, command, and attrition. Whether you're curious about the 'Roads' system or just love a good Eastern Front slugfest, this one’s for you.
In this special strategy stream, I’m joined by a panel of top-ranked players from BoardGameArena to explore the tactics, nuances, and advanced play of A Gest of Robin Hood, the game I designed and released with GMT Games in 2024.
Together, we’ll break down the game’s asymmetry, key decision points, and strategic arcs from the perspective of both the outlaw Robin Hood and the law-and-order Sheriff of Nottingham. Expect deep dives into tempo control, plot synergy, and so much more.
We'll also try to answer the eternal question: which faction is OP?
☕ Support the channel and help keep this kind of independent historical board game content alive: https://ko-fi.com/homoludens1871
Join us for a special SDHistCon Online event as I sit down with acclaimed designer Paolo Mori (Blitzkrieg!, Pandemic: Fall of Rome) to learn and play his self-published system: Battlefields of the Napoleonic Wars.
In this elegant and fast-paced take on Napoleonic warfare, Paolo distills grand battles into sharp tactical showdowns across a series of small, scenario-driven maps. Stripping things down to bold maneuvers, timing, and bluffing, this minimalist system captures the tension and drama of Napoleonic command without the usual overhead. It’s wargaming through Paolo’s signature design lens — clever, streamlined, and full of surprises.
Tireless designer David Thompson (the Undaunted series, War Story, Night Witches, and countless more) is joined by questionable historian Stuart Ellis-Gorman to discuss the historical background to David’s latest (and first ever American Civil War) game: Rebels Against Rebellion, to be published by Flying Pig Games. They will discuss how David came to pick this topic, Southern loyalism in the American Civil War, the challenges in representing nineteenth-century guerilla warfare, and when David is finally going to design that Gettysburg game everyone wants him to do, among other topics.
If you would like to donate to Drive Thru Games, you can use the "Thanks" button under the video, or please check out the Gamefound Pledge Manager - https://tinyurl.com/2p8tbhpu
Intro (00:00);
game overview (01:56);
final thoughts and review (09:51);
Adam Porter is a seasoned board game designer with hundreds of pitches under his belt. He is also a trainer in Communication Skills and Interview Technique. And like most board game designers, he's experienced a LOT of rejections. Here's how to take feedback while remaining professional.
'Adam in Wales: Getting Published' is available worldwide, via Amazon's print on demand service, and as an ebook.
Use the links below, or IF NOT LISTED BELOW, search on your local Amazon for Adam in Wales: Getting Published.
Playtesting is the heart of game design. Ideas flow thick and fast for many designers, but it is only by getting them on the table in front of players that we see what we have created.
Playtesting is the process by which designers turn ideas into experiences.
This book describes:
- The purpose of playtesting
- Types of playtests
- Protecting your idea
- How many playtests are necessary
- Documenting playtests
- Forms of playtester feedback
... and then goes on to describe 100 questions you should ask during the playtesting process, with a detailed rationale for each of them.
About the author
Adam Porter is an award winning game designer from the United Kingdom, known for making accessible games suitable for families, and for his popular YouTube channel Adam in Wales where Adam talks candidly about his experiences pitching and licensing games to publishers. Many new designers have looked to Adam for guidance when taking their first steps in the board game industry. Adam's published games include Pikoko, Doodle Rush, Kompromat, Qwuzzle, Zooligans, Thrown, Big Bazar, Happy Hoppers, Ballot Battle, and Zing-a-Zam.
Adam's previous book 'Adam in Wales: Board Game Designer Journal' is available as a physical book from Amazon worldwide, or as a download from DriveThruRPG.com
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Our board game podcast is called Talk Cardboard which you can find on your podcast devices or our website https://nopunincluded.com
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Our board game podcast is called Talk Cardboard which you can find on your podcast devices or our website https://nopunincluded.com
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Our board game podcast is called Talk Cardboard which you can find on your podcast devices or our website https://nopunincluded.com
#boardgames #review #seti If you'd like to support thoughtful and responsible board game media, consider donating to us on https://patreon.com/nopunincluded
Our board game podcast is called Talk Cardboard which you can find on your podcast devices or our website https://nopunincluded.com
#boardgames #review #kinfire If you'd like to support thoughtful and responsible board game media, consider donating to us on https://patreon.com/nopunincluded
Our board game podcast is called Talk Cardboard which you can find on your podcast devices or our website https://nopunincluded.com
#boardgames #review #leviathanwilds If you'd like to support thoughtful and responsible board game media, consider donating to us on https://patreon.com/nopunincluded
Our board game podcast is called Talk Cardboard which you can find on your podcast devices or our website https://nopunincluded.com
#boardgames #review #slaythespire If you'd like to support thoughtful and responsible board game media, consider donating to us on https://patreon.com/nopunincluded
Our board game podcast is called Talk Cardboard which you can find on your podcast devices or our website https://nopunincluded.com
#boardgames #review #knizia If you'd like to support thoughtful and responsible board game media, consider donating to us on https://patreon.com/nopunincluded
Our board game podcast is called Talk Cardboard which you can find on your podcast devices or our website https://nopunincluded.com