The Covenant Cast

Games from all genres thrive when they provide players a point of connection when not playing with others - whether through solo play, deck-building, painting, or even collecting. These elements might be more important than any of us fully realize, especially as COVID has forced us to appreciate them. Find all previous casts, as well as learning content and products, on our website: https://teamcovenant.com

Following in the footsteps of Origins and others, Gen Con has officially canceled their in-person convention, replacing it with an online variant. What could these kinds of disruptions mean for businesses and players who viewed Gen Con as a "no-brainer" every year? Forced reflection and introspection abounds in the age of COVID. Find all previous casts, as well as learning content and products, on our website: https://teamcovenant.com

Theme and mechanics should always strive for harmony, but what happens when a wild wrestling match turns into an analytical challenge full of unexpected complexities? For some, the greatest game ever made. For others, confusion. Find all previous casts, as well as learning content and products, on our website: https://teamcovenant.com

Continuing a series of reflections spurred by our revisit to a number of classic CCGs, we try to pin down the mechanical style that makes certain games exhausting. It's a lot more than the number of decisions being made. Find all previous casts, as well as learning content and products, on our website: https://teamcovenant.com

When we say a game is "complex", that really doesn't tell us much. Simple decision trees with complex mechanics can lead to beautifully thematic experiences. Complex decision trees with simple mechanics can lead to incredibly satisfying gameplay. We look at the Middle Earth CCG, Legend of the Five Rings LCG, and Skytear - among others - to dig deeper into the different ways that complexity can help, or hurt, a game.

Having now streamed over 100 hours from a diverse catalog of games in the past month, we crack open the eternal topic - why do some games stand the test of time while others fall away? Great design is a mixture of mechanics and expectations, and there is no better framing device for this discussion than the recently played classic, Star Wars: Epic Duels. Find all previous casts, as well as learning content and products, on our website: https://teamcovenant.com

Just as we finalized a months-long effort to bring clarity to the online component of Covenant, the perfect candidate for our new mission arrived on our doorstep. Join us for a discussion about Skytear, a tremendous game that ushers in a new way for us to help publishers, players, and local stores. Find all previous casts, as well as learning content and products, on our website: https://teamcovenant.com

After nearly a week of daily streaming for The Forgotten Age, Arkham is top of mind. Join us for a discussion about the merits of a game that you really do have to "earn". Find all previous casts, as well as learning content and products, on our website: https://teamcovenant.com

Nothing could be more disruptive or important to address than the COVID-19 pandemic - it's impact on people, games, and the world. As tabletop retail stores close their doors and mass unemployment looms heavily on the horizon, we're certain that things will never be the same. Find all previous casts, as well as learning content and products, on our website: https://teamcovenant.com

Data and privacy issues continue to impact customers and businesses, especially as Facebook and Google receive greater scrutiny. But do you really need to collect all of this data to succeed as a business? Do you owe it to your customers to protect their privacy? And do you actually make better decisions when you throw it all away? Join us as we discuss our recent decision to do the latter, using real examples from the Covenant website.

Following from last week's podcast, games that have a higher barrier to entry often have a more fulfilling payoff. Is this true, and if so, what makes it the case? And should it be encouraged? Find all previous casts, as well as learning content and products on our website: https://teamcovenant.com

With a livestream of Star Wars CCG on the horizon, we talk about why the game has such a tremendous level of adoration - even now - and question whether there are lessons to be learned from Decipher's classic system. With Skytear and Flesh and Blood on our minds, we can't help but wonder if these games are capturing some of this old game design magic. Find all previous casts, as well as learning content and products on our website: https://teamcovenant.com

We're joined by Jamey Stegmaier, founder of Stonemaier Games, to get a publisher's perspective on direct sales, allocation, and product certainty - particularly in light of the recent Wrecking Crew supply issues. Find all previous casts, as well as learning content and products on our website: https://teamcovenant.com

A sudden supply shortage cascades across retail and, for the first time, impacts Marvel Champions subscribers. Why did it happen? What does it mean? And how does retail operate without certainty? Let's find out. Find all previous casts, as well as learning content and products on our website: https://teamcovenant.com

Former Head of Studio for Fantasy Flight Games, Andrew Navaro, joins us for a chat about his growth at FFG, how creative output can dissipate with advancement, and the future of the industry and his place within it. Disclaimer: We have no interest in pressing Andrew to dish on the current state of FFG, and this interview is not that. Find all previous casts, as well as learning content and products on our website: https://teamcovenant.com