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  Trade on the Tigris Teaching Guide Trade on the Tigris Teaching Guide B&W Released: August 15th, 2018 In this episode I teach you to play the game I co-designed with Geoff Engelstein on the Ludology Podcast, Trade on the Tigris.  This game started its life called “Trading in the Mediterranean,” and six years later has finally grown up to be a real life game.  This will likely be the final How to Play Podcast, I hope you enjoy it.  As a special bonus I have created a video for the Hook and the Meat of this episode.  For extra intro and hamster content check out the audio version of the episode.  Thank you so much for listening everyone.                

Released: February 18th, 2014     In this episode you get to listen in on Ryan’s explanation of Merchant and Marauders, whose tutorial was won as an item for the Jack Vasel Memorial Fund.  Though not truly an official episode, hopefully it might sate some of your longing for new HTP episodes.

  Clash of Cultures Teaching Guide Clash of Cultures Teaching Guide BW Released: June 29th, 2013        Show Notes: I present to you Clash of Cultures.  Which is a wonderful civilization game.  This epic meaty strategy game could not be denied an episode of How to Play.  It is highly recommended for fans of the theme and weight of a game this chunky.  Plus as a special treat I am joined by the game’s designer, Christian Marcussen, to help me introduce the game and give you some basic strategy. Component Pictures on BGG

In this episode I pull together several of my dice tower reviews for your listening pleasure while I am taking a bit of a break from producing How to Play. Reviews included are; Glory to Rome: Black Box Edition 1989 High Frontier Urban Sprawl Runewars The Settlers of Catan: Traders and Barbarians Enjoy!

Merchant of Venus Teaching Guide Merchant of Venus Teaching Guide BW Released: January 1st, 2013         Game Description: Merchant of Venus.  A wonderful blending of the excitement of an exploration game with the strategy of an economic game.  It is a fabulous adventure through space.  With the recent rerelease of this classic you can now play this game without having to cut out 437 circles and affix them the wooden discs.  Fantasy Flight Games’ new release of Merchant of Venus allows you to play the classic version from 1988 or try out their updated version of the game.  I focus my explanation of the classic game but discuss both versions of the game at length.  Plus, I could not do this episode without asking one of my friends to come along for the ride.  I hope you enjoy the episode. Component Pictures on BGG

Ora & Labora Teaching Guide Ora & Labora Teaching Guide BW Released: November 17th, 2012        Show Notes: Its time to cover Uwe Rosenberg’s third great resource management game, Ora et Labora.  This game enhances his previously developed ideas by adding a geographical element to the game.  If you like his previous works of Agricola and Le Havre, you pretty much guaranteed to enjoy this one as well. Component Pictures on BGG

Mage Knight Teaching Guide Mage Knight Teaching Guide B&W Released: October 27th, 2012  Show Notes: So you say you want a great solo game experience to get your geek on when nobody’s around? Mage Knight is your game.  Its a wonderful thematic fantasy adventure game with a strong puzzle element which makes it particularly well suited to play on your own. Or enjoy Mage Knight with a friend or two.  This game feels like Magic Realm for this generation, the same great experience with about 70 less pages of rules.  Enjoy! Component Pictures on BGG

Goa Teaching Guide Goa Teaching Guide BW Released: September 30th, 2012   Show Notes: Today I cover one of the greats of the “eurogame” genre.  This game has a wonderful auction system and delicious decisions.  Even better it has just been rereleased in an even improved version of an excellent game just recently in August of 2012.  I invite you to enjoy Goa: A New Expedition Component Pictures on BGG

Eclipse Teaching Guide Eclipse Teaching Guide BW   Released: August 8th, 2012   Show Notes: Today I cover Eclipse which was the overwhelming favorite as the next game to be covered by How to Play as chosen by the supporters.  Eclipse is an amazingly fun 4x game.  What is a 4x game?  Well you can be a fancy gamer like me and use cool terms like “4x” after listening to this episode.  Learn the hottest game of the last few years and one of the most fun with this episode. Component Pictures on BGG

  Rex Teaching Guide   Rex Teaching Guide (B&W)   Released: July 11th, 2012   Show Notes: You want a great theme with strong mechanics, Rex fits the bill.  The six colorful races of Rex fight it out for control of the universe, six races who were begging and pleading me to appear on the show as silly voices.  Developing characters for this episode was easy because the characters within the game are so interesting and is probably the thing I enjoy most about this game.  This game truly has characters as well as a nice setting, and a plot that develops throughout each turn.  This game feels like an interactive story, which I enjoy very much.  Dune, Shmune.  The owners of the Dune property were foolish to let this wonderful game design be separated from their brand, but good for Fantasy Flight for losing none of the magic by utilizing their own unique characters to tell the story offered by this game yet retaining the brilliance of a classic game design. Component Pictures on BGG

In this episode I compile my Dice Tower segment Series, ” I Don’t Like _______”  which aired on episodes between February 2011 and February 2012.  This compilation is annotated with some thoughts in between each segment as I take a listen back to each segment.  This episode is also a final push to complete our Summer Fundraising efforts for the show, help HTP meet its goal to be fully funded for the rest of the year by donating today, see this link for more info. Segments Included: Part 1 – Pillars of the Earth Part 2 – Power Grid Part 3 – Quidditich Part 4 – Deal or no Deal Part 5 – El Grande Part 6 – Hobbit Cards

Top 50 For this episode I do something very different.  I count down my Top 50 Green Circle Games.  I love complex games, but I also love great simple games.  Here is a list of my top 50 simple games.  This episode also kicks off my summer fundraiser, please donate today! Here is a reference of the list. (Spoilers!, if you want to be surprised don’t look yet HTP Top 50 Green Circles

Carson City Teaching Guide Carson City Teaching Guide B&W Released: May 6th, 2012       Game Description:  It’s Caylus … but with guns!  That’s right, if you don’t like that your neighbor placed his cowboy in that box, well then just put your man in there and cock your pistol hum the good, the bad and the ugly theme song.  Give this Wild West Worker Placement game a shot, I think you will have a rootin’ tootin’ good time.    

In this episode I dig into the universe of Catan and the works of Klaus Teuber.  This episode will give a basic overview of the expansions, variants, scenarios, spinoffs and other assorted Klaus Teuber games.

  Teaching Guide for Settlers Teaching Guide for Settlers BW Released: April 15th, 2012 Original Show Notes: Settlers of Catan is my favorite game strictly for fun player interaction.  Each game involves negotiation, diplomacy and lots of laughs.  This game is responsible for my rediscovery and current addiction and indirectly for entirety of the existence of The How to Play Podcast.  It deserves its own episode and here it is.  Everyone needs to know this game. I will take this opportunity to show off my daughter Gwen utilizing her negotiation skills… Component Pictures on BGG