Meeple Nation Board Game Podcast

This week we announce our contest winners from episode 300. We sprinkle in some news and all this before the computer runs out of power.

This week we talk about the board game The Menace Among Us by Jeff Gum, published by Smirk and Dagger Games. Hidden roles, space theme, and asymmetrical setup. 

This week we talk about all things Legendary, from Marvel to James Bond. Legendary was one the first game to use the semi-cooperative mechanic. We even suggest some new properties for Upper Deck. Who knows what is coming down the road?

This week we share our thoughts Semi-Cooperative games. We're a little loose on the definition of this mechanic a bit. Okay, maybe more than a bit. 

This week we talk recap and review the year 2019 as far as the board game hobby. None of that other stuff. We talk about our game of the year. We talk about some of our greatest game memories.  Oh, and Nathan plays way too many game and has some way crazy game goals. Like a lot of goals. Think of a lot of games played. Nathan came close to that mark, or maybe blew it away. Find out inside.

This week we discuss the changes we have seen in the board gaming hobby over the last 5 and a half years, since our first episode.  Also there are some free games to win. Not two or three contests, but four contest where you can win a free game.

This week we discuss Marvel Champions, the new game from Fantasy Flight. This is a 1-4 player, fully cooperative game where players take on the role of one of the five heroes in the core box, Spider-man, She-Hulk, Captain Marvel, Black Panther, and Iron Man. The heroes face off against one of the three super villains, Rhino, Ultron, or Klaw. Tune in to hear our thoughts and to see if it is a game the Ryan will like. (ed. note: why does Nathan keeps wondering if Ryan will like games?)

Last month, Brent and Nathan got to spend the week in Dallas Texas to attend Board Game Geek Con 2019. We talk about the experience of the con, the people of the con, and of course the games we played. Nathan adjusts his game list mid cast. Learn what game Nathan missed playing. There's an app for that, Nathan.

We continue our discussion of fully cooperative games by focusing on one games each. We discuss three very different games that appeal to us and highlight the mechanic. Spirit Island, City of Kings, and Chronicles of Crime.

We talk about a bunch of cooperative games, not team, or semi-cooperative games. We are only talking fully cooperative games. Marvel Legendary, you don't count. No one winner, secret winner, secret goals, or extra score steps. We discuss Hanabi, Arkham Horror the card game, The Mind, Magic Maze, Mysterium, One key, Just one, and we mention many more.

Christmas shopping got you geared up to buy more board games? We feel the same. We put our stocking caps on and came up with a bunch of awesome suggestions to get the gamer in your life or to gift to a home that could use a little more gaming action.

In this episode we discuss Elizabeth Hargrave's widely popular game Wingspan. You play birds, place eggs, gather food, and create engines for fame and glory of the birding world. If that doesn't sound awesome, you still need to play this game. Wingspan contains just enough player interaction to keep Ryan invested, and lives up to the hype.

This week we discuss Hako Onna which is a creepy deduction game that has a pick up and delivery element to it. This has a US release through WizKids and plays 3-5 players. There are a lot of great elements about this game, and Ryan feels its theme. Does he like a new game? Tune in and find out. We'll see you at the game table.

Logan talks about the mild touch of Pick Up and Deliver in Nemesis. Is there more than the aliens picking up larva and delivering it into players chests? Ryan gushes over crayon rail games again and focuses on Martian Rails. They take the core mechanic and build a wonderful mess of a map. Nathan brings up Pirates Cove. Ryan likes it but is not a fan of combat system which punishes the losers dramatically through a whole lot of random. Give us a listen.

We discuss Pick Up and Delivery games, a mechanic that seems to be lacking in our game group, but we have still played some very fun games. Ryan chats up crayon rail games like Empire Builder, and Nathan tries to understand how Ryan can like a game with so little theme. We bring up Firefly (of course) and games like Star Wars: Outer Rim, Deep Sea Adventure, and Pandemic. Still hoping for a Pandemic Legacy: Season 3. Come join us at the game table.