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Episode 51: Take Me Out To Olympus
| 51: Take Me Out To Olympus Release Date: March 31, 2008 Running Time: 108 min. Listen Now: Download: Enhanced Version - MP3 Version Subscribe via iTunes: Enhanced - MP3 See sidebar for other subscription options |  |
Play ball! But forget the steroids; we've got Divine Intervention. Just in time for Spring Training, we play Pizza Box Baseball, a light card-driven simulation. Then we ascend to the heavens to protect four mythical races in Age of Gods.
News & Notes: Ticket to Ride Card Game, Kaleidos, Web Site issues
The List: Age of Gods, Pizza Box Baseball
Name That Game: Win Mosquito Expansion or Hive from John Yianni, the designer
Backshelf Spotlight: Mexica, The American Dream Game
Truckloads of Goober: Descent
Game Sommelier: Five games with themes that keep people from trying them
Mail Bag: Geekway to the West, Northeast Wars, Felix errata
Complete Show Notes continue after the break.
Game News & Notes
Web Site Issues
Thespiel.net has had some serious issues over the past week and a half. It's a good kind of problem to have since it is being cause by more and more people wanting to use the site. The site is collapsing because my current web host enforces a strict limit on the number of hourly queries to the database that runs the site. More traffic meaens more queries but it also means the site keeps imploding. I have a new web hosting account in the works and we'll be moving the site over within the next week. I'll also be upgrading the content management system to a newer version, so that should make the site less flaky.
Ticket To Ride on XBox Link
Microsoft plans to publish Ticket to Ride for their XBOX Live online service. No word on release dat yet.
Ticket To Ride: The Card Game Link | BGG Entry
Players collect sets of illustrated Train cards which are then used to complete Destination Tickets - routes between two cities depicted on each ticket. But before their Train cards can be used, players must face the risk of "train-robbing", where another player may force them to lose their hard-earned cards.
Kaleidos Re-Released Late 2008 Link
Picture based party gaem Kaleidos is getting a makeover. New illustrated boards form the basis for the game. Players write down as many items and people from these wacky illustrations that begin with a letter chosen at random. You'll score points for finding items that no one else does.
The List
Age of Gods BGG | Official Site
An epic struggle between divine powers to protect mythic races and ensure their survival to the end of the game. Problem is, you don't know which races to protect until the game is well under way! A surprising game of bluffing, clever card play and strategy.
Pizza Box Baseball BGG | Official Site
A must-have for any avid baseball fan. The card-driven mechanic does a great job of simulating the ebb and flow of the sport. Bring your own hot dogs and beer and you're set!
Backshelf Spotlight
Mystery Connection Contest
Can you find a connection between these two games? We find a mystery connection each episode and challenge you, the listener, to hunt for it! Post your guesses to the Forum . Find the connection and you could win a pair of coveted custom Spiel Dice!
Congratulations to Auction God our winner for episode 50!
Mexica Official Site | BGG Entry
Third in a trilogy of games that include Tikal and Java, Mexica plots the development of the city of the same name on an island in lake Texcoco. Players attempt to partition it into districts, place buildings and construct canals. Districts are formed by completely surrounding areas of the island with water and then placing a District marker.
The American Dream Game BGG Entry
Invest in stocks of actual Fortune 500 corporations, buy franchises, collect royalties on inventions and copywrights and be the first to earn a million! A game for the budding Capitalist Pig in all of us.
Truckloads of Goober
Descent: Journeys in the Dark BGG Entry | Official Site
In Descent: Journeys in the Dark, heroes explore the corridors, chambers, and caverns that exist below the surface of the world, gathering equipment and treasure, battling monsters, and working together as a team to complete their quest. Over 60 miniatures, dungeon tiles, doors, treasures, and hundreds of counters. Book of scenarios and multiple expansions insure hundreds of hours of fun.
Game Sommelier
The Challenge: Five good games with themes so weird/boring/stupid that many people avoid playing.
Stephen's List | Dave's Vote |
| Relationship Tightrope | Thumbs Up |
| Queen's Necklace | Thumbs Up |
| Power Grid | Thumbs Up |
| Vino | Thumbs Up |
| Lunch Money | Thumbs Up |
| Bohnanza | Gimme |
Next Challenge: Five Diplomacy alternatives (negotiation & backstabbing) that can be played in 2 hours.
Mail Bag
Thanks to donors Joe "El Grande" Cochran and Hugo "Consulting Detective" Caprichoso
Carlos Hernandez wanted people to know about Geekway to the West , June 6-8 in St. Louis, MO.
Brennan Martin reminds us about Northeat Wars 8 , April 4-5 in Burlington, VT.
Several listeners wrot in to correct a rules mistake during my rundown of Felix: The Cat in the Sack. ANY two dogs in a lot to be auctions scare each other off and have no effect.
I also mis-credited the game's artwork to Freidemann Friese. Maura Kalusky is the artist. Sorry Maura! Here's a link to her web site
Errata
The American Dream game was published by Milton Bradley, not Parker Brothers.I'm sure there are some goofs in there somewhere. Let us know if (when?) you find one!
With the addition of the campaign rules, I think I lean more toward Descent. With either game what I am looking for is a story I can tell after the game. The adventure went like this... and each time you play you can get a different story. Both games have scenarios or expansions which allowyou to play through different narratives. But with Runebound, the order in which the encounter cards come up can sometimes break the story line in ways that make it feel more gamey and less like an adventure. With Descent you also have a huge toolkit with which to create your own adventures.
The one possible downside to Descent is that it takes appreciably longer to play than Runebound. I realize this could be just as easily seen as an asset!
Hard to argue with fluffy bunnies... Hare & Hedgehog is a great pick.
I thought I might stir the hornets nest a little by picking Power Grid. :) I'll admit it's glowing reputation may be able to overcome a gamer's initial objections, but I think based on its theme alone, it can be a tough sell to many, especially casual players. As gamers, we're already a group that gravitates toward the odd or unusual and by and large aren't afraid to try something a little left of center. I'll make a case for Power Grid because I think there are a lot of people who aren't necessarily big time gamers who would also enjoy it but because the theme seems to be so bizarre/dry/boring, they're more likely to play something else.
That's great inside information on Lunch Money! I think the juxtaposition of art and theme works as they intended it to, but that choice also keeps a lot of people from giving it a fair shake which is a shame since it is a lot of fun.