1 Player Podcast

Be polarized with our discussion of A Touch of Evil: Dark Gothic.  This is a deck-building game set in the Touch of Evil Universe by Flying Frog Productions.  Some folks love the stylized cosplay photography on the cards and some just can't stand it.  Other than that, this is a pretty standard deck-builder with a satisfying theme. 

• A Touch of Evil: Dark Gothic (BGG, Flying Frog)

This week Julius and I revisit the tiny little 13 card micro-game Elevenses for One. In this solitaire game you play as an English maid tasked with getting tea for two ready in 15 minutes.  It's a daunting task considering that the tea pantry is in complete disarray.  This is a rather simple game of lining up 10 cards in the correct order but as you play each card, it may impact the subsequent cards.

This week I interview Elli Amir, designer of the game Worldbreakers: Advent of the Khanate.  This is a two player card game with a solo campaign mode which will be coming to Kickstarter in March.  I really enjoyed this conversation with Elli, not only did they talk about the game and the solo mode for the game but they told me a bit about the process of commissioning art for a game.  I really enjoy hearing the backstory for games and game design.  This was a really good conversation and I look forward to seeing more of the game, which can be tried for free on Tabletopia!

• Worldbreakers: Advent of the Khanate (BGG, website, Tabletopia)
• How to play video (YouTube)
• Solo playthrough (YouTube)
• Mailing List (website)

This week Julius and I discuss the no longer latest campaign for the Arkham Horror card game.  I am writing of Innsmouth Conspiracy.  In this campaign, you get to explore Innsmouth and environs and have all sorts of interesting adventures.  This is part 1 of 2 episodes.  In this part, we cover the first four campaigns.  Just a note, but part 2 will not be the next.. give it a bit of time :)

Come listen.. we are labelling this a spoiler episode as it will give away some of the story and a small bit of strategy.  However, it's a very small bit of strategy.  Based on what I learned from Julius, I doubt I will have more success the next time I play.

• Arkham Horror: LCG (BGG, FFG)
• Innsmouth Conspiracy (BGG, FGG)
• In To Deep (BGG, FFG)
• Devil Reef (BGG, FFG)
• LotR: Murder at the Prancing Pony (BGG, FGG)

This week Julius and I talk to Jason Tagmire of Button Shy games.  We talk about small games, design contests and the upcoming game ROVE.  It's going to be released on the Button Shy website on Black Friday.  Check it out, it's a neat little spatial puzzle of a game.

• ROVE (BGG, Button Shy)
• Button Shy Games (website, Discord, Patreon)
• The Button Shop (website)

This week Julius tells us about the game Red Rising, published by Stonemaier Games.  This game is based on the novel series by the same name by Pierce Brown and let's you play the role of house attempting to rise in power.  This is a pretty abstract card game that is really a rummy game at heart.  Enjoy!

• Red Rising game (BGG, Stonemaier Games)
• Red Rising series (Pierce Brown)

It's back to the table with Friday!  I hadn't played this game in six years.  Julius and I took the time to re-visit this solo classic.

Wow another episode in the same year!  We are on a role.  This time around, Albert interviews Lee Broderick, designer of Dwarf, now on Kickstarter.  We have a fun chat about Uwe Rosenberg games and get into a lot of the details about dwarfs (or dwarves).  We get into dwarven details. :)

• Dwarf (BGG, KS)

Do you like Arkham Horror the card game? Do you continue to purchase the new expansions as they come out? Well, Julius does. Albert doesn't, so we are leaving him behind as Julius and guest co-host Tyler Moore review over the entire Path to Carcosa cycle for Arkham Horror the card game. Join us for a full review of each scenario across the cycle.

Welcome, guests. Come in, come in, for an exciting tale about our rustic inn. Be not concerned by the red flecks on the couch; those are merely some minor rust stains. I guarantee, the quality of this podcast of beyond compare. Now, as I was saying, listen to a tale woven of Arkham Horror the card game, while Julius interviews the lead designer Matt Newman. Afterwards, Albert and Julius review the Bloody Inn, with absolutely no comparison to this fine establishment.

Show notes:

• 00:01 - Catch up banter
  • 00:01 - Subterra and Tabletopia
  • 00:04 - Recording plays and Feast for Odin scores
  • 00:06 - Arkham Horror card game updates
• 00:08 - Interview with Matt Newman, lead designer of Arkham Horror the card game
• 00:49 - Review of the Bloody Inn
• 01:22 - What's It Missing: Cleaning vs Animated Tokens

The year is coming to a close with a final episode for 2016, of more moderate length. Julius and Albert dispute whether the Grizzled can be considered a wargame (which it cannot), in addition to chatting about some other games they've played. Plus, Julius steals a segment from Chris and review a print-and-play game, Haze Island.

Show notes:

• Favorite game of the year - 00:01
• Mini-review of Ascended: Become Chosen (BGG) - 00:06
• Print-and-Play Review: Haze Islands (BGG) - 00:16
• Review of the Grizzled - 00:30
• What's It Missing - 01:05

(Our apologies for Albert's recording quality.)

In Episode 112 Albert & guest host Chris discuss the recently wrapped up Solo Print & Play design contest.  We look at the top winners and a few honorable mentions.  We also have a brief KS segment in which we show off just how good Julius really is at Kickstarter stuff.

Like two hobbits with the same birthday, Albert & Julius celebrate the eleventy-first episode by covering two games.  First we look at the Lord of the Rings Adventure Card Game then we look at the Networks.  There is off course the usual KS segment and a quick chat on what we've been playing.  Oh, and don't forget, we fix one of these games by adding in the missing piece.

Episode 109 is here!  This time Albert describes Shadowun: Crossfire.  This is a deck buidling game set in classic cyperpunk Shadowrun universe.  Also Julius interviews B.J. Galley and Brad Lawrence on their upcoming re-Kickstarter game, Victoriana.  Plus most of the usual stuff.