Four Corners Of The Board Podcast

Dean and Graeme have a look at Game Length this week. Do we have a time limit to games? Are there game lengths we just won't play? Does it detract from the game or are some games better longer? Or does it all come down to game length vs. fun? We then do our top 5 games that are the perfect length.

We start off with looking at some games we have played recently: Civilization : A new Dawn (all 4 of us) Kepler 3042 Okanagan Valley of the Lakes We then move on to the main topic of discussion : Pulsar 2849. We look at the (lack) of theme, components, and the different mechanisms in the game. We also have a look at the randomness and replayability of the game. We then give our final thoughts - and we have a rare occurrence for the group, but you'll have to listen to find out what is was! And don't forget to check out some other great board gaming podcasts on http://www.dicetower.com/dice-tower-network

The math guy in the group got messed up counting to 3, so this one is a bit late. But as usual we start with some games we've played Sid Meyers Civilization Grimm Forest Cytosis Trajan Photosynthesis Coffee Roaster We then move on to the main topic - Rajas of the Ganges. R&R Games usually does one euro a year and Graeme always gets them. Rajas is this years, so does it stack up? Is it a simple race game? Are there multiple paths to victory? Did everybody enjoy it (if you know the group, you should already know the answer to that last one!)

Dean and Graeme have a look at kickstarter. How many games have we backed, and would we do it again? What are our feelings on large companies using kickstarter? What about delays - does that lessen the game for us? We then do our Top 5 Games I Wish I Had Kickstarted (and Graeme's #1 is a cop out).

Phew! 2017 was a great year, and the 4 corners look at all the 2017 games that Graeme owns and that we have played and give a quick run down on each (around 50 games in total - yes it is a long episode!). We finish the episode off with each of us picking their top 3 games from 2017.

Dean and Graeme have a look back at 2017. How did we find the year in gaming? Did our spending change? What about kickstarter? We then look at : Our Top Gaming Experience Top Expansion to make us get the game back to the table Top Let down (disappointment) of 2017 Top Older game we got (back) to the table Top Game Surprise First game we want to get to the table in 2018!

So it's getting close to the end of the year, and we start to think about giving gifts to our friends and relatives. So we decided to do a game gift giving guide. First though, we talk about some recent plays: Iron Dragon Vinhos Fallout Custom Heroes We then get into our gift suggestions in 4 categories : Stocking Stuffers, Party Games to play at family gatherings, Casual Games, and Gamer Games. Each corner provides a few games in each category so hopefully there will be some suggestions if you are looking to give a gift (or want to add them to your wish list)!

We spent a week up at a resort - perfect time to play lots of games! We start off by talking about some games we played while away : Magic Maze Viral Nina & Pinta Nomads We then get into the main topic of discussion : Perditions Mouth : Abyssal Rift. An Ameritrash+Euro game - this is a game that takes a dungeon crawl and combines it with a rondel. So how does the group think it works - do the euro players like the dungeon crawl, and do the dungeon crawl fans like the euro mechanisms?

This week Dean and Graeme have a look at the rating of 7. Is it just a catch all for ratings? How do we rate games, on on our scales, what is a 7 rated game? We then do a top 5 (yes, should have been a top 7) of our best 7 rated games - these are the games that just missed being in that "excellent" category.

In a slightly shorter episode we look at Roll Player. First we look at some games we've played : Railroad Revolution Letters from Whitechapel Gold Raiders Fox in the Forest We then move on to Roll Player. We've got 2 RPGers in the group, so does the theme sway them? For the other 2 who are not roll players, is there enough in the game to keep them interested? Can an aspect of the game, which is not the games fault, affect the score? Sure it can, listen to find out!  

This week Dean and Graeme have a look at the upcoming Essen Game Fair. As reviewers, do we feel this is something we have to go to? Are we missing out? We then count down our top 10 (yes 10 this time) most anticipated games that are coming out at Essen 2017.

For our Halloween episode this year, we start off by doing a very quick recap of ProtoTO con that B and Graeme attended. Then we talk about some games we've played : Roll Player Beneath Nexus Ragers : Champions of the Arena Fate of the Elder Gods Zombicide Black Plague We then get into the main topic of discussion. Warning : We are looking at a game intended for ages 14+ with some more mature themes this week. We are talking about Lobotomy from Titan Forge Games. We spend some time on the theme and the implications, then get into the game play, mechanisms, and play length. And we end, as usual, with our final thoughts.

In this episode Graeme and Dean have a look at the BoardGameGeek ranking system. Do we use it? Is it helpful for new comers? Do we ever buy (or not buy) based on a games rankings? We end the discussion with our Top 5 games that we like (or love) but are ranked poorly on BoardGameGeek

This episode Dean and Graeme look at transition games. We've been asked how to get people into the general board game hobby if they enjoy Magic, or RPG, or Miniature games. Is just picking a game close to their other hobby a good choice? We then finish with our top 5 games that made us want to try different subgenres of the hobby (war games, 18xx, minis, RPGs, etc.)

After a slight delay because of Graeme being in GrandCon last week, we have another podcast. We did experience some technical difficulties with the computer that were not noticed until editing, but hopefully they will be unobtrusive. We start out by looking at some games we've played : Sherlock : Holmes and Mycroft Of Dreams and Shadows Noxford Castles of Burgundy Dice Game Ulm Railroad Revolution We then get into the main topic of discussion - Unfair. This is a CMoN game, with no minis? We talk theme and components, before we delve into the meat of the discussion - is this a take-that game or a game where bad things happen to you? How do you feel about that? Is there a different between PvP attacks and when the game attacks you?

This week Dean and Graeme look at Theme. What does theme mean for us? How important is it to buy and playing games? Are there themes we stay away from, or are instant buys? We then give our top 5 Games from our favourite themes!

In this episode Graeme and Dean look at winning. Does it alter how we feel about a game? Do we feel we have to win every game? Are there times when we hold back or put extra effort? What about winning at any cost and what happens when you play against somebody who wants to win at any cost? We finish up the episode with the top 5 games we love, but generally lose at!

We start of the podcast as normal with some games we've played : Exit the Game Deathbot Derby Flatline Honshu Dice Forge Age of Thieves Rhein River Trader Kingdomino Deception Murder in Hong Kong (although in the banter on this game I got the number of cards wrong, we did play it correctly - 8 not 6 cards per person) We then get into the main game of discussion - Lorenzo Il Magnifico. This is another game that has split the group, try and guess who likes it and who doesn't - it might surprise you!

The inaugural episode of Across the Board. Since the Four Corners of the Board has gone to every three weeks, I thought a "filler" podcast might tide you over till our next regular show. I teamed up with Dean Ligget from the Board Game Buffet podcast, and we will be having a 30 minutes podcast every two weeks. We will take one topic and discuss, then finish the podcast off with a top 5 list. This week is Con Fever, and our top 5 list is top 5 games we loved at a Con, but we didn't love as much when we got them home.

Before we get into the main reviews of 2 small publisher games, we have a look at some games we have played recently : Automobiles Purrrlock Einstein Haspelknecht Lobotomy Nina and Pinta We then get into the main games of the episode - Heir to the Throne and Affliction Salem 1692. Now one of these games one of the corners really, well, dislikes - and it maybe not who you think. We talk about the theme and components, mechanisms, and various other aspects of the games.