This time, Tom gives us an update on his replay of the Catan expansions before we take a big look at small games. What are the pros and cons of games that can fit in your pocket? Also, we share a new Tale of Horror, as well as our latest batch of Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops.

01:03 - Summer: Origins, Dice Tower East, Dice Tower Cruise, Gen Con

05:03 - Catan Update and Chess

07:10 - Small Games

36:41 - Tale of Boardgaming Horror

40:06 - Hot Streak

44:22 - Rhymes with Duck

47:08 - Lynx

51:11 - Endeavor: Deep Sea

54:51 - Fate of the Fellowship

58:21 - Tower Up

Questions? Tales of Horror? tom@dicetower.com

💾

Tom, Julie, and Eric run through the nominees for the German Game of the Year awards before focusing on the episode's main topic: box covers. How does what you put on the front of the box attract a particular audience? We also have a tale of horror? as well as a question from the mailbag, and of course our usual assortment of Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops.

00:50 - Summer is Here?

03:07 - Spiel des Jahres Nominees - Bomb Busters, Flip 7, Krackel Orakel

10:04 - Kennerspiel des Jahres Nominees - Endeavor: Deep Sea, Faraway, Looot

12:03 - Kinderspiel des Jahres Nominees - Cascadia Junior, Le Clan des Souris, Top die Torte

12:53 - Box Covers

31:32 - Tale of Boardgaming Horror?

39:12 - Question: Message to Past Self?

44:11 - Cretaceous Rails

47:59 - Hexpath: Detour Deluxe

50:32 - Fromage

53:44 - Wondrous Creatures

56:33 - Innovation Ultimate

59:46 - Ziggurat

Questions? Tales of Horror? tom@dicetower.com

💾

This time, Tom gives us an audio tour of the new Dice Tower Studios in Ft. Myers, with tales to tell about the adventurous move. We present a Tale of Amazement and delve into the mailbag, and we close the show with our Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops.

01:09 - Moving to Ft. Myers

04:51 - The New Studio

23:04 - Tale of Amazement

28:55 - Question: What to do with a whiner?

34:16 - Linkx

37:18 - Primates

41:18 - Deep Regrets

46:33 - Cat Crimes

48:49 - The Ministry of Lost Things: Lint Condition

51:39 - Zenith

Questions? Tales of Horror or Amazement? tom@dicetower.com

💾

This time, Tom shares his adventures in Mexico, and Julie has tales to tell from Greece. Then, we kick of our discussion of video games that feel like board games with Eric's obsession with Blue Prince, before moving on to a bunch of other electronic games, including some that have made the leap to boardgames. We open up the mailbag for a question and Tale of Horror, and break down our Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops.

00:57 - Following the Script

01:21 - Announcements: Dice Tower Cruise and East

02:24 - Tom in Mexico

06:27 - Julie in Greece

06:48 - Video Games that Feel Like Board Games

08:05 - Blue Prince

10:42 - Slay the Spire

11:24 - Balatro

16:22 - PS Remote Play

19:26 - Final Fantasy Tactics

21:26 - Citizen Sleeper

22:21 - Sunderfolk

23:35 - Jackbox

24:57 - Telltale Games

26:24 - Making the Jump to Board Games

36:25 - Question/Tale of Boardgaming Horror

44:28 - We Love Cats

46:41 - Ito

49:55 - Donald Duck in Happy Camper

54:51 - The Morrison Game Factory

58:20 - Lynx

59:43 - Camino a Xibabla

Questions? Tales of Horror? tom@dicetower.com

💾

Tom is busy moving the studio, so Julie and Eric invite Robert Geistlinger from Arcane Wonders (and also Julie's husband) to join in a discussion about boardgame production. Where do the materials that go into our games come from? What do you look for in a manufacturer? And why doesn't everybody print their games in Cleveland? And of course, we close the show with some Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops.

00:52 - Where's Tom? and Who Is Robert?

03:08 - Announcements: Dice Tower East and Dice Tower Cruise

03:55 - Game Production: Why We're Not Discussing Tariffs

05:27 - Where Does the Material Come From?

11:41 - Where to Start? Price Point or Wish List of Features?

18:35 - How Long Does It Take For The Back-and-forth?

28:05 - What Else Are You Looking For Beyond Price?

37:31 - Why Not Just Make Everything in the US?

49:44 - Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops (a primer)

51:48 - The Case of the Curiously Correct Blueprints

57:23 - Stool Pigeon

1:01:00 - EXIT: The Hunt Through Amsterdam

1:04:26 - Dead Cells

1:06:48 - Stokerverse

1:12:53 - Saw: The Jigsaw Trials

Questions? Tales of Horror? tom@dicetower.com

💾

Today, we focus on what designers should do when they've built a design on an existing game. How much borrowing is too much borrowing? We also look ahead to some upcoming events, share a new Tale of Boardgaming Horror, and run through our latest batch of Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops.

00:49 - Tom's Apology

01:25 - Dice Tower Cruise and Dice Tower East

01:52 - Tom's Catan Update: Seafarers

02:53 - Upcoming: Studio Move, Origins, Greece, College Visits

03:55 - Building Your Game on an Existing Design

32:41 - Tale of Boardgaming Horror

39:33 - Roaring 20s

43:42 - Mystery of the Abbey

50:30 - CULTivate

54:42 - Faraway

57:42 - Nocturne

1:01:25 - Wroth

Questions? Tales of Horror? tom@dicetower.com

💾

We kick off this episode with some chit-chat regarding the moving of Dice Tower HQ, some upcoming events, Tom's efforts to impress the chef at a Japanese restaurant, and the most played games at Dice Tower West. A listener question leads us to discuss the layout of rulebooks and how best to do so. We share a new Tale of Boardgaming Horror, and close the show with a typical wave of Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops.

00:53 - Moving the Studio

03:14 - Upcoming Events

03:52 - Tom at Dinner

07:26 - Most Played Games at Dice Tower West

12:50 - Dice Tower East and Dice Tower Cruise

13:23 - Rulebook Layout

36:55 - Tale of Boardgaming Horror

45:57 - Catan 6th Edition

52:32 - Bad Apples

58:00 - Sentient

1:01:18 - Monkey Labs

1:03:02 - Ostia

1:05:58 - My Favorite Things

Questions? Tales of Horror? tom@dicetower.com

💾

This time, we are recording in person at Dice Tower West (with some new mics!). We talk specifics about our new-ish venue for DTW, and then get more general with a chat about our convention strategies and planning. The Tale of Boardgaming Horror is one for the ages, and we close the show with some Roses, Thorns, Hula Hoops, and Crossovers.

00:47 - Dice Tower West: Back at the Westgate

04:20 - Julie's Drive West

08:35 - Eric at APAC

09:41 - Tom at GAMA Expo and The Grand Canyon

13:09 - Hot Games

14:16 - Convention Strategy

33:47 - Tale of Boardgaming Horror

39:26 - Critter Kitchen

44:29 - Spooktacular

49:03 - Moon Colony Bloodbath

51:42 - Galaxy Children Explorers

56:09 - Lata

Questions? Tales of Horror? tom@dicetower.com

💾

This time, we're talking sports, and how game designers can best emulate them. Plus, Horror, Hula Hoops, Roses, and Thorns.

00:59 - Announcements: Dice Tower West and East

02:04 - Sports Boardgames

20:10 - Tale of Boardgaming Horror

25:48 - Charcuterie

30:24 - 1 A.M. Jailbreak

33:07 - Helionox Chronicles

37:47 - Elder Scrolls: Betrayal of the Second Era

40:38 - Ostia

42:33 - Kingdom Legacy: Feudal Kingdom

Questions? Tales of Horror? tom@dicetower.com

💾

This time, Eric gives an update on his Middle School Game Night before the gang launches into a discussion of how playing games for tangible prizes changes the vibe at the table. Then, we move on to a Tale of Boardgaming Horror, check the mailbag, and share some Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops.

00:48 - Announcements: Gamefound, Dice Tower West

02:33 - Update on Eric's Middle School Game Night

03:54 - Raising the Stakes

25:08 - Tale of Boardgaming Horror

31:54 - Question: Boardgaming's Golden Age?

36:24 - Question: Collecting from a Single Franchise?

38:30 - Endeavor Deep Sea

41:45 - Portmanteau

45:21 - Lord of the Rings Adventure Book Game

48:58 - The Fellowship of the Ring Trick-Taking Game

51:19 - Jekyll & Hyde vs. Scotland Yard

54:54 - Stomp the Plank

---

Questions? Tales of Horror? tom@dicetower.com

💾

Tom complains about the cold before we all discuss forms of Table Talk. What just bends the rules, and what breaks the game? We share a new Tale of Boardgaming Horror, a couple of questions from the mailbag, and some new Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops.

00:40 - It's cold in Florida

01:41 - Gamefound - SupportDicetower.com

02:11 - Dice Tower East and West

03:00 - Table Talk

25:07 - Tale of Boardgaming Horror

31:31 - Question: Social Deduction Games (Where Am I, Blood on the Clocktower)

38:38 - Question: Screen Printed Meeples

44:49 - Little Alchemists

46:50 - Star Realms Academy

48:34 - Azul Duel

50:50 - Dr Jeckyl & Mr Hyde vs. Scotland Yard

53:28 - Rajas of the Ganges: Cards and Karma

56:47 - Unstoppable

1:00:07 - Catch the Moon

💾

On board the Dice Tower Cruise 2025, Tom, Julie, and Eric run through their holiday gaming opportunities. Julie asks how we prefer to to vacation, and we end the show with a bunch of Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops that we encountered on the ship.

00:44 - We're on a Ship

01:32 - Holiday Happenings

02:18 - Star Realms Rise of Empire

07:59 - Ito, Jackbox Games

09:28 - Hues and Cues

11:48 - Command of Nature

14:10 - Only Murders in the Building

17:55 - How Do You Vacation?

29:31 - My Father's Work

35:00 - Adventureland

39:38 - Cryptic Nature

41:09 - Beats and Cats

43:41 - Lure

46:20 - Bomb Busters

💾

Julie and Eric spend some time recapping PAX Unplugged before all of us take a look at the year that was 2024. What was the easiest game to teach? The game that you'd best set aside a day to play? The Hoopiest Hula Hoop? All will be revealed, dear listener!

01:00 - PAX Unplugged Recap

14:03 - The Quiet House

16:49 - Star Trek TNG VCR Game

20:41 - 2024 as a Whole

29:25 - Best to Play at a Convention: Ito, Rock Hard 1977, Duck & Cover

31:40 - Best Theme: Rock Hard 1977, Mistwind, Kelp: Shark vs. Octopus

34:43 - Most Likely to be Gifted: Muppets Clue, Wicked

38:00 - Best Traveling Game: Seaside, Smug Owl, Ito

40:25 - Best Set Aside a Day For It Game: Tidal Blades 2, El Burro, Wandering Galaxy

45:13 - Easiest Teach/Learn: Cat Horror Costumes, Pixies, Ito

46:50 - Bonus Heavy Euro: Civolution

47:16 - Wanted to Play but Didn't: Power Grid Outpost, Quacks of Quedlinburg: The Duel, Paella Park, Pagan: Fate of Roanoke, Daitoshi

50:18 - Hoopiest Hula Hoop: Ziggurat, Slay the Spire, Panda Panda

53:51 - Sharpest Thorn: I Am Done, Clash of Galiformes, Unlock Kids

57:31 - Rosiest Rose: Star Wars Unlimited, Wyrmspan, The 7th Continent

59:22 - Anticipated for 2025 - Raas, Azul Duel, All My Books, The Elder Scrolls, Galactic Cruise

Next Episode: January 14th, 2025

Tales of Horror? Questions? tom@dicetower.com

💾

This time, Eric is looking for advice from Julie and Tom about running a game night at his son's Middle School. How deep a hole has he dug for himself? Plus, a new Tale of Boardgaming Horror, a question from the Listener Mailbag, and a bouquet of Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops.

01:47 - Dice Tower Winter Spectacular

02:24 - Tom's Anniversary Cruise, Audiobooks, and Subtitles

03:52 - 2025 Gamefound Campaign

04:27 - Eric's Middle School Game Night

23:58 - Tale of Boardgaming Horror

28:28 - Listener Question: Our Changing Review Perspectives

31:11 - I Am Done (Quick Mention)

37:56 - Point of View

41:05 - The Smurfs Hidden Village

45:17 - Cottage Garden

47:19 - Distilled: Africa and Middle East

50:32 - Penguin Party

Questions? Tales of Horror? Send to Tom at tom@dicetower.com.

💾

Tom, Julie, and Eric share some Thanksgiving recipes before launching into a discussion of how designers tackle the theme of cooking in games. We have a new Tale of Boardgaming Horror that pushes our Angry Button, and we close the show with a Thorn-heavy set of games played.

00:57 - Announcements: Dice Tower East, West, and Cruise 2026

02:22 - Thanksgiving Recipes

05:17 - Cooking Games

07:41 - Cooking: Press Your Luck (Quacks of Quedlinburg, Vegetable Stock)

09:55 - Cooking: Spatial Games (License to Grill)

12:52 - Cooking: Dexterity (A La Carte, Piazza Rabazza)

16:28 - Cooking: Real Time (Wok Star, Kitchen Rush)

19:05 - Cooking: Set Collection (Burger Up, Morels)

21:33 - Cooking: More from Tom (Mamma Mia, Yummy Yummy Monster Tummy, Hibachi, Comsumption: Food and Choices, Sweet Mess, Wok and Roll, Wild Gardens)

27:38 - Cooking: Favorite Mechanisms

29:14 - Tale of Boardgaming Horror

34:44 - Witchdom

38:15 - Witchcraft

41:28 - Worms: The Board Game

44:32 - Crossbows & Catapults: Fortress War

47:12 - Refuge

49:09 - Civolution

💾

Tom, Julie, and Eric discuss some Thanksgiving plans before reacting to some recent manufacturing trends in the boardgame industry, from environmentally friendly choices, to the insistance that every game have a custom insert. Our Tale of Boardgaming Horror is a case of mistaken identity, and we close the show with some Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops.

01:02 - Shipping in the Game Box

01:45 - Thanksgiving

03:22 - PAX Unplugged and Christmas Videos

04:03 - All the Kickstarters are Delivering At Once

05:53 - Production Trends: Giant Rulebooks

07:33 - Self-Assembled Multi-Layered Boards

11:08 - Puzzle vs. Folded Boards and Other Board Trends

13:23 - Environmentally Friendly Choices: Stickers

15:13 - Bands and Paper Wrap Around Cards

17:18 - Paperboard Inserts

21:09 - Rewood

23:56 - Kallax as a Measure of Size

25:48 - Plastic Inserts

33:56 - Plastic Wrap on Punchboards

35:26 - Tale of Boardgaming Horror

41:00 - Lords of Vegas

45:59 - EXIT Advent: The Missing Hollywood Star

48:32 - The Coldest Night

52:26 - Arbolito

55:04 - SETI

58:14 - Kronologic Paris 1920

💾

This time, Tom looks forward to the CMON Expo, while Eric and Julie talk about their plans for PAX Unplugged. We discuss best practices for publishers when they know an expansion is coming. We share a new Tale of Boardgaming Horror, and close the show with a Spooky set of Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops.

00:58 - Announcements: Dice Tower West, PAX Unplugged

02:55 - Tom at CMON Expo

03:52 - Planning for Expansions

32:00 - Tale of Boardgaming Horror

40:28 - Flashback: Lucy

44:08 - Ghosts Can't Draw

48:26 - Cat Horror Costumes

53:27 - Vampire Nights

58:06 - The Thing

1:02:58 - 8-Legged Peacock

💾

Tom and Julie are back from Germany with stories to tell. We talk about the crowds, events, snacks, and games of Spiel before shuffling through a new Tale of Boardgaming Horror. And we close the show with some of our latest Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops.

01:02 - Back-to-Back WSBG and Spiel

06:10 - Crowds at Spiel

11:23 - Tom and Julie Together (Briefly)

13:33 - New Management Changes

17:28 - First Look Area

21:34 - Games at the Fair

25:24 - Dice and Mystics Meetup

27:07 - Punching Games

27:34 - Hottest Designer and Hot Games

28:47 - Small Games

30:09 - Accessories and Art

31:20 - Snack Draft and Food

33:27 - Joy in Interaction

34:54 - Tale of Boardgaming Horror

38:03 - 1 A.M. Jailbreak

41:29 - Aerodome: Rising Horizons

45:39 - Ito

51:14 - Conservas

55:32 - Lord of the Rings: Duel for Middle Earth

58:55 - Betakkuma's Fart & Furious

💾

It's our Essen Preview show for 2024! This time, we look at the various games we're most excited to check out at Spiel in Essen. And when we're done with that, we dash through our Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops.

00:49 - Asking to Bring Something Back

02:16 - Tabletop Together and BGG's Preview List

03:16 - Priorities

08:58 - Where Will We Be?

12:09 - 7 Empires

12:50 - 365 Adventures

14:01 - Ada's Library

14:50 - Apiary: Expanding the Hive

15:26 - Backstories: Alone Under the Ice

16:23 - Bone Wars

18:16 - Cat Horror Costume

19:11 - Chants for the Old Ones

20:00 - Civolution

21:03 - Conservas

22:32 - Dead Cells

23:38 - Flatiron

25:22 - Galileo Galilei

26:20 - Lord of the Rings: Duel for Middle Earth

27:26 - Minos

28:04 - Paella Park

29:58 - Power Grid: Outpost

31:19 - SETI

32:52 - Similo: Jurrassic World, 10th Anniversary, and Games Decks

34:18 - Temple of Horrors

35:50 - Unconscious Mind

37:00 - Vampire Nights

38:01 - Witchcraft: Midnights Expansion

39:19 - Dice Tower Essentials: Floresta, Vegetable Stock, Video Game Champion, Ito

41:58 - Food in Essen

45:25 - Pixies

47:56 - Robo Rally Transformers

51:01 - Mind MGMT

55:37 - Cat and the Tower

59:22 - Dadada

1:01:51 - Stickers

--

Tabletop Together: tabletoptogether.com/tool/

BGG's Essen Preview: boardgamegeek.com/geekpreview/68/spiel-essen-24-preview

💾

This time, Tom, Julie, and Eric tackle the world of print boardgame journalism by listing their favorite gaming magazines, past and present. Our new Tale of Horror only tells half of the story, and we close the show with some Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops.

01:10 - Announcements: World Series of Boardgaming and Spiel

02:39 - What Was Our First Podcast?

04:39 - Boardgame Magazines: Still a Thing?

06:24 - Is Print Superior?

09:53 - Early Titles: Wargaming, White Dwarf, The General

12:35 - GAMES Magazine

13:04 - Spielbox

13:26 - Game Trade Magazine

16:25 - Knucklebones

17:10 - Promos in Magazines

19:49 - Trade Magazines

20:12 - Casual Game Insider

21:30 - Trades and "Review Ads"

25:32 - Sumo and Counter

26:32 - Senet

28:09 - Snowbright Studios

30:02 - Tale of Boardgaming Horror

34:57 - Milkman

40:39 - Wondrous Creatures

43:26 - Parsely: Dangertown Beatdown

47:52 - Xylotar

51:00 - You Gotta Be Kitten Me!

54:32 - Coyote

---

BGG's Magazine Wiki: boardgamegeek.com/wiki/page/Game_Magazines

💾