The Board Boys Podcast

Come gather round now children and listen to a tale of camaraderie, revelry, and perhaps a little bad weather travel to a wonderous gathering called Gamicon. This is an episode that we recorded earlier in the year and wanted to release it closer to the next show so perhaps folks can't plan on checking it out in 2020 - because you know hindsight!  Also in this episode, we talk about speedrunning blind video games and Board Boy Rob shows up midway to give us weather and traffic updates.

This week your favorite boys traveled overseas to visit the bustling port city of Yokohama - who knew 1868 Japan could be so much fun? In Yokohama, each player is a merchant broadening their sales channels, investing in technology and completing contracts. Only one player comes out on top and (spoiler) ... it wasn't Campbell! Also this episode: Rob and Josh road-tripped to BGG Con and didn't kill each other (we think), Disney+ is a thing and Chris from Meeple Overboard is here to help with a new segment!

The boys fought for their lives (in space) this week in Nemesis from Awaken Realms. This semi-cooperative horror, survival, exploration game could easily be described as "Alien the board game" but there is so much more to it than that. Relationships were tested, friends became enemies, enemies became friends, and Rob threw a Molotov at Campbell. Also this episode: Josh is back and talks a bit about his Cardboard Caucus experience, Ben and Rob play more games and Campbell has a Molotov thrown at him.

Season Five, Episode Two - Lorenzo il Magnifico

Season Five, Episode One - Fury of Dracula (Third Ed.)

Well we did it ... another season of TBBP is in the books. We close out this chapter on Season Four with a play of Architects of the West Kingdom from Renegade Game Studios/Garphill Games. There is a lot to love in this quick thinker stinker, and no short supply of workers, but is there enough to love? Also this episode: Ben talks about the worst kind of holes, Campbell and Josh hype up some upcoming Midwest board game cons and Rob has an encounter with the game that got away. See ya later Season Four!

Things get spooky this week as the boys worked together to defeat ancient Lovecraftian beasts in Eldritch Horror. Travel Scrabble Ben was stuck in time and space this week so the boys asked The Dealt Hand to join their adventure as they battled cultists and solved mysteries around the world. Also this episode: Joe shares all the details on Iowa's hottest board game popup, Josh gets critical of Medium, Campbell plays a floppy hat game he doesn't love and Rob takes an extended trip to Beau's corner.

Within the charming valley of Everdell, a civilization of forest critters is thriving and expanding. Also, frog ambassadors from the land of Pearlbrook are hella dope. This week we ventured outside the BGG Top 100 for a stroll through the forest in Everdell. Tableaus were built, resources were collected and critters were acquired in this worker placement/resource management/set collection (kinda) eurogame. Also this episode: Ben shares the best nickname, Josh intros and Rob and Cam played a Feld (shocker!).

What do you get when you mix animal mating, a feeding mechanism, pale ones and a million Agricola references? Obviously you get Caverna: The Cave Farmers by Uwe Rosenburg. This week your favorite boys (minus Ben), and guest Cody Lenhart, break down Uwe's highest rated game on the BGG Top 100 list. Also this episode: Rob shares his secret algorithm for hidden movement games; Josh learns review wars are a thing; Campbell does Campbell things; and Cody shares all the details you need for Cardboard Caucus!

Welp, it finally happened. It only took four seasons, but we're finally doing a feature episode on a game NOT currently on the BGG Top 100. We generally take this qualifier seriously, but Black Angel from Pearl Games had our full attention at Gen Con. It may currently be 4,269, but it's number one in our hearts. Also this episode: the boys answer the ultimate gaming question - which original Monopoly piece is best? Ben's board game collection continues to expand and the boys introduce a new contest!

Still recovering from Gen Con 2019? Don't worry we are too. This year Rob, Campbell and Josh made the annual trek to Indianapolis, Indiana for the best four days in gaming. Hanging alongside 70k attendees, the boys bought, played and learned about so many great games hitting the market later this year. In this BONUS episode, the boys recap their day by day experiences at the con LIVE from their room (419) at the Westin hotel. We hope you like boardgames.

Josh was on vacation this week at San Diego Comic Con and specifically requested we play a game he'd hate. So, this week we ventured overseas to visit the Grand Austria Hotel. Rob, Campbell and Ben pushed the game to its limits in one of the closest finishes we've ever recorded! Also this episode: Rob breaks down some of the titles he is most looking forward to at Gen Con 2019, Campbell questions his role on the podcast and Ben takes a crack at the moderator's chair. Josh is probably boning out somewhere.

(Cue scrolling text) It's a tale as old as time - the big bad Empire is vying for control of the galaxy and it's up to the Rebel Alliance to stop them. This week your favorite boys put their force to the test in Star Wars: Rebellion. Lightsaber battles, a Yoda encounter, Ewok adventures and a Kessel Run (or two) ensued in our play of 'Star Wars in a box.' Also this episode: Ben shares insight on his favorite childhood games, Mr. Pearson goes to Washington, Josh hits puberty and Campbell talks Mario Maker.

Welp, it finally happened, The Board Boys finally played Campbell's favorite game ... The Castles of Burgundy. There is a lot to love in this classic point salad, thinker stinker, but is it enough to offset the massive lack of theme? Luckily the boys were joined by Rob's best half, his wife Amy, to help breakdown one of Stefan Feld's most popular titles. Also this game, Campbell fills us in on his recent trip to Croatia, Amy and Rob highlight their favorite party game in Cool Game Corner and Josh bones out.

This week your favorite boys grabbed their hair nets and aprons to run a fast food empire in Food Chain Magnate. Splotter games has always been known for their intricate mechanisms ... did this game live up to that reputation? Did Ben's price gouging strategy work? Was Campbell's variety of burgers and pizza enough to draw the crowds? Also this episode: we all played some really, really dope games that we're also going to talk about. Some of them were more dope than others. We hope you like board games.