Vox Republica: Podcast Of The Cardboard Republic

Episode 085: Going Inside L5R Card Design The Legend of the Five Rings CCG has long been known for including player input in its game development, tying its community together in a unique way. This week we go behind the scenes to see what that design process entails. Length: 42:50 Show Links: RSS | iTunes | Download Episode   Welcome back to Vox Republica, the Cardboard Republic Podcast! We post new episodes every Thursday, with each episode being about 20 - 30 minutes long. DESCRIPTION: Ryan and Erin talk briefly about Erin's experience with a 'mega game' and other recent games before Ryan and Dave sit down with L5R player-turned-designer Chris Medico to chat about what goes into designing a card game with a 20-year history. GUEST: Chris Medico and Dave Gordon RECENTLY PLAYED GAMES: Watch The Skies Sentinels of the Multiverse Cash N' Guns Inkognito Cthulhu Gloom QUICK TOPICS: What is a 'mega game'? LENGTHY TOPIC: Designing cards for Legend of the Five Rings CCG Chris's history with L5R as a player befo

Episode 084: Terra Nova Games There are so many small gaming publishers in existence that it can be difficult keeping track of them all. Luckily, in this week's episode, we're only focusing on one - Terra Nova Games. Coincidentally, they just happen to be the folks publishing Ophir, our May Indie Spotlight game! Length: 29:33 Show Links: RSS | iTunes | Download Episode   Welcome back to Vox Republica, the Cardboard Republic Podcast! We post new episodes every Thursday, with each episode being about 20 - 30 minutes long. DESCRIPTION: Ryan and Erin talk briefly about bringing our legacy-style review of Tuscany online and more about Ophir, then they launch into an in-depth chat about the past, present, and future of Terra Nova Games with co-founder Justin Schaffer.  GUEST: Justin Schaffer RECENTLY PLAYED GAMES: Ophir Tuscany Witness Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective Mysterium QUICK TOPICS: What is a legacy-style review? Ophir Giveaway Contest! LENGTHY TOPIC: Learning all about Terra Nova Games Justin's

Episode 083: Gaming Outdoors Now that we're no longer buried under six feet of snow and remember what the color green looks like, it's once again safe to go outdoors. But what if we want to bring a game or two outside with us? Which kinds of games lend well to not being at the kitchen table? Length: 39:54 Show Links: RSS | iTunes | Download Episode   Welcome back to Vox Republica, the Cardboard Republic Podcast! We post new episodes every Thursday, with each episode being about 20 - 30 minutes long. DESCRIPTION: Ryan and Erin discuss playing games outside. Now that it's spring and the weather's so nice, it seems like a good time to move your game day to the back yard. They also talk about Cards Against Humanity and the a number of games they've been playing lately. GUEST: None RECENTLY PLAYED GAMES: Versailles Ophir The Siblings Trouble Sentinels of the Multiverse Android: Infiltration QUICK TOPICS: Cards Against Humanity was a topic of conversation again We Reviewed King's Forge Ryan was a recent guest on

Episode 082: Things We Hate About Games We Love Regardless of how endearing or entertaining a game is to us, it's sometimes hard to ignore a thematic element or rule that doesn't quite make sense. Yes, it's almost a guarantee that even our favorite games still have something that keeps it just shy of perfection for one reason or another, and this week we share a few our ours. Length: 38:28 Show Links: RSS | iTunes | Download Episode   Welcome back to Vox Republica, the Cardboard Republic Podcast! We post new episodes every Thursday, with each episode being about 20 - 30 minutes long. DESCRIPTION: Ryan and Erin are joined by Sean McNamara from our playtest group to discuss what they hate about the games they love. Gaming pet peeves aren't uncommon, but what aspect of your favorite game just irks you? We dig into a few of ours. GUEST: Sean McNamara RECENTLY PLAYED GAMES: Viticulture & Tuscany QUICK TOPICS: A legacy-style review? Ophir by Terra Nova Games is May's Indie Spotlight Game LENGTHY TOPIC: No

Episode 081: Games Ain't What They Used to Be For many of us, the appreciation of today's games result from the games of our past. Many of those games pale by today's standards, and yet we often have fond memories of them. We look at what effect, if any, that nostalgia has on gamers and the hobby in general. Length: 41:49 Show Links: RSS | iTunes | Download Episode   Welcome back to Vox Republica, the Cardboard Republic Podcast! We post new episodes every Thursday, with each episode being about 20 - 30 minutes long. DESCRIPTION: Ryan and Erin explore games of the present before diving into their past. This week is all about nostalgia in games. Plus, we also dive into the Origin and Dice Tower Award nominations. GUEST: None RECENTLY PLAYED GAMES: Samurai Spirit Viticulture Abyss Hyperborea Camel Up Disaster Looms! QUICK TOPICS: Origins & Dice Tower award nominations LENGTHY TOPIC: How nostalgia applies to gaming overall and how nostalgia has different effects Nostalgia for our youth Pixel art and 8-b

Episode 080: The Instabuy Effect What makes a game an automatic purchase? Curious what factors go into making something a Number One grab for people? Then this episode is an instalisten for you! Length: 42:36 Show Links: RSS | iTunes | Download Episode   Welcome back to Vox Republica, the Cardboard Republic Podcast! We post new episodes every Thursday, with each episode being about 20 - 30 minutes long. DESCRIPTION: Erin and Ryan talk about what makes a game an "instabuy", or the type of game you grab off the shelf no matter what. They also discuss what they’ve been playing lately and go into their views on invitation only conventions. GUEST: None RECENTLY PLAYED GAMES: Penny Press by Asmadi Games Champions of Hara Hyperborea Alchemy QUICK TOPICS: Invitation-Only Conventions Penny Press Contest LENGTHY TOPIC: What exactly makes a game an auto-buy? Known designers or publishers? Themes? Specific Mechanics? Player count? Price? Popularity?   We’d love to hear from you! You can send questions or feedbac

Episode 079: Lord of the Games Erin and Ryan are back! Having just returned from the picturesque shooting location of Middle-Earth known as New Zealand, they've decided to celebrate that fact by talking all about Lord of the Rings games. Length: 34:12 Show Links: RSS | iTunes | Download Episode   Welcome back to Vox Republica, the Cardboard Republic Podcast! We post new episodes every Thursday, with each episode being about 20 - 30 minutes long. DESCRIPTION: Tolkien's Middle-Earth setting has lent itself to dozens upon dozens of games over the last few decades. With myriad games embodying the tales of Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit (or simply borrowing the theme), Erin and Ryan look at the good and the bad of Tokien-based games over the last 40ish years.  GUEST: None RECENTLY PLAYED GAMES: Does trying not to go crazy after being on planes for 20 hours count as a game? QUICK TOPICS: Penny Press Contest LENGTHY TOPIC: Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit games have been around since at least 1970 Common the

Note: Podcast hosts Erin and Ryan are currently enjoying a holiday away. They offer their episode from last season's recorded episode for Couch2Con, originally posted on 8/12/14. Episode Couch2Con: How To Pitch Your Game [Repost] In Erin and Ryan's Couch2Con episode, they talk to Cory Jones, Jason Tagmire, and Makenzie Cameron about pitching games at conventions. Length: 31:50 Show Links: RSS | iTunes | Download Episode   Welcome back to Vox Republica, the Cardboard Republic Podcast! We post new episodes every Thursday, with each episode being about 20 - 30 minutes long. DESCRIPTION: This special episode was recorded for the Couch2Con project, used as a means to get people into walking practice for convention season. Erin and Ryan talk to a number of industry folk about pitching games at conventions. GUEST: Cory Jones of Cryptozoic Entertainment, and game designers Jason Tagmire, and Makenzie Cameron. RECENTLY PLAYED GAMES: N/A QUICK TOPICS: Couch2Con LENGTHY TOPIC: Being a designer looking to pitch at a

Note: Podcast hosts Erin and Ryan are currently enjoying a holiday away. They offer one of their more popular episodes from the Vox Vaults, originally posted on 7/10/14. Episode 048: Video Games For Board Gamers [Repost] Erin and guest Sean McNamara have drummed up lists of five video games every board gamer should try for one reason or another. Length: 33:12 Show Links: RSS | iTunes | Download Episode   Welcome back to Vox Republica, the Cardboard Republic Podcast! We post new episodes every Thursday, with each episode being about 20 - 30 minutes long. DESCRIPTION: Sometimes the best ways to learn about the influence of board games is to approach it from the outside. After coming back from the Fourth of July break, Erin and Sean dive in to chat about ten different video games every analog gamer should try. GUEST: Sean McNamara RECENTLY PLAYED GAMES: See below QUICK TOPICS: Potato Salad LENGTHY TOPIC: The nature of what video games can teach board gamers and why. Sean's Five Video Game Suggestions: Fin

Episode 078: Have Games, Will Travel Erin and Ryan talk about the criteria and logic of choosing games to travel with, the recent HABA Games announcement, and the unfortunate news of the shuttering of 5th Street Games. Length: 26:29 Show Links: RSS | iTunes | Download Episode   Welcome back to Vox Republica, the Cardboard Republic Podcast! We post new episodes every Thursday, with each episode being about 20 - 30 minutes long. DESCRIPTION: Games have a wonderful knack of being capable of being played anywhere, whether it's at home, on the go, or even in line waiting for something else. Since they're about to do some traveling of their own, Erin and Ryan talk the pros - and cons - of traveling with games. GUEST: None RECENTLY PLAYED GAMES: None. No, really. Not a one. We are quite ashamed. QUICK TOPICS: HABA Games gets a widespread US distributor. The demise of 5th Street Games. LENGTHY TOPIC: Gaming on the Go: bringing games with you on a trip. Are there down sides to bringing them with you? Does the ty

Episode 077: Indie Game Funding Kickstarter is the current go-to location of many small and independent game publishers, but as rewarding as it has been for the hobby, Kickstarter isn't the only option for getting your new game published. Contrary to popular thought, you do have options... Length: 38:40 Show Links: RSS | iTunes | Download Episode   Welcome back to Vox Republica, the Cardboard Republic Podcast! We post new episodes every Thursday, with each episode being about 20 - 30 minutes long. DESCRIPTION: Glenn Given of Games By Play Date joins Erin and Ryan to chat about the release of their new game that addresses a delicate issue before diving into the topic of crowdfunding options for small publishers and independent designers. We look into some other models you could consider besides just assuming Kickstarter is your only recourse. GUEST: Glenn Given RECENTLY PLAYED GAMES: Patchwork by Mayfair Games Loot and Recruit by Swarm of Dice Thornwatch by Penny Arcade QUICK TOPICS: Games by Play Date rele

Episode 076: The Giant PAX East 2015 Recap Pax East has come and gone, bringing with it a whirlwind of games and emotions. We parse through our collective experiences over the three-day expo to see what was a hit - and what wasn't. Length: 1:00:38 Show Links: RSS | iTunes | Download Episode   Welcome back to Vox Republica, the Cardboard Republic Podcast! We post new episodes every Thursday, with each episode being about 20 - 30 minutes long. DESCRIPTION: The entirety of the CR crew descended on Boston recently to attend PAX East 2015, the largest gaming convention in the Northeast. Like many, we went on this yearly gaming pilgrimage and found host of things to experience upon getting there. We share the ups and downs - and games - of that trip, as Ryan, Erin, and Dave recap PAX East.  GUEST: David Gordon RECENTLY PLAYED GAMES: Adorable Pandaring by Asmadi Games Bad Medicine by Formal Ferret Games Bottom of the 9th by Dice Hate Me Games Burgle Bros. by Tim Fowers Cards: The Attackening by Wanton Walrus Produc

Episode 075: Con Salvation Pax East looms large before us, and it brings up a good point: larger conventions can be maze of events, scheduling, logistics, and sensory overload. We share some of the things we do - or try to do - when staring down so many possibilities on how to spend our time. Length: 32:57 Show Links: RSS | iTunes | Download Episode   Welcome back to Vox Republica, the Cardboard Republic Podcast! We post new episodes every Thursday, with each episode being about 20 - 30 minutes long. DESCRIPTION: Erin and Ryan discuss how to get the most out of your friendly local gaming convention, including tips for making it through the day and figuring out what to see. They also talk Pax East and what they’ve been playing lately. GUEST: None RECENTLY PLAYED GAMES: Vault Wars by Floodgate Games Five Fingered Severance by Minion Games Vanished Planet by Vanished Planet Games QUICK TOPICS: We head to PAX East! LENGTHY TOPIC: How to get the most from a convention Going to cons is a huge part of gaming f

Episode 074: The Small Con Games are a great way to bring people together, and conventions are a great way to play games. So, what do game conventions help offer audiences, and how do the smaller ones differ than large ones? Length: 30:47 Show Links: RSS | iTunes | Download Episode   Welcome back to Vox Republica, the Cardboard Republic Podcast! We post new episodes every Thursday, with each episode being about 20 - 30 minutes long. DESCRIPTION: Erin and Ryan discuss the value of little, local conventions. We also go over what we’ve been playing on all these snowy days, the Catan movie announcement, and TotalCon. GUEST: None RECENTLY PLAYED GAMES: Splendor by Space Cowboys Ascension by StoneBlade Entertainment Hyperborea by Asmodee Imperial Harvest by Broomstick Monkey Games The Great Heartland Hauling Co by Dice Hate Me Games Mysterium by Portal Games QUICK TOPICS: Catan Goes To Hollywood: The Catan movie TotalCon XXIX LENGTHY TOPIC: The value of small gaming cons What do small conventions offer compar

Episode 073: How Not To Be A Board Game Evangelist Gaming is a pretty awesome thing. It can be challenging, social, and entertaining all at the same time. It's natural we want to share that experience with others. But where do you draw the line between being enthusiastic and pushing it on someone? Length: 36:07 Show Links: RSS | iTunes | Download Episode   Welcome back to Vox Republica, the Cardboard Republic Podcast! We post new episodes every Thursday, with each episode being about 20 - 30 minutes long. DESCRIPTION: Rhiannon Ochs joins Erin and Ryan to discuss whether or not you should encourage non-gamers to join the table. We also talk Ghostbusters and Spooning Meeples. GUEST: Rhiannon Ochs RECENTLY PLAYED GAMES: Progress: Evolution of Technology by NSKN Games Friday by Rio Grande Games Royals by ABACUSSPIELE QUICK TOPICS: Changes come to Spooning Meeples The Ghostbusters Kickstarter LENGTHY TOPIC: Should you evangelize games? What are some good - and not so good - ways of reaching new potential gam

Episode 072: Going Negative Is it good to be bad? Are negative reviews worthwhile for the hobby, and if so, who benefits? That's the question on the table this week. Length: 37:03 Show Links: RSS | iTunes | Download Episode   Welcome back to Vox Republica, the Cardboard Republic Podcast! We post new episodes every Thursday, with each episode being about 20 - 30 minutes long. DESCRIPTION: Erin and Ryan talk about the value - or lack thereof - of negative reviews. There aren't a lot of them out there. We chat about why that is and whether that's a good thing or not. They also discuss the immortal popularity of Fury of Dracula and the success of UnPub. GUEST: None RECENTLY PLAYED GAMES: Trickerion QUICK TOPICS: Why is Fury of Dracula so sought after? The usefulness of UnPub LENGTHY TOPIC: The value of negative reviews Recent observation is that people don't like negative reviews and don't generally want them. Is this true? Is there worth in a hate read? What other form of design / criticism / creation shie

Episode 071: Cardboard Devotion How long is long is long for you to commit to a game? Two hours? Six? Day-long Risk battles? How about playing in a D&D setting that's been around for a decade, or playing a CCG for even longer... Length: 29:30 Show Links: RSS | iTunes | Download Episode   Welcome back to Vox Republica, the Cardboard Republic Podcast! We post new episodes every Thursday, with each episode being about 20 - 30 minutes long. DESCRIPTION: Erin and Ryan discuss the wonders (and pitfalls) of long-term gaming. Ryan’s been playing Magic with roughly the same group for over 12 years. How does he stay focused? How does the group keep interest? They also discuss the differences between long-term CCGs and long-term RPGs. Also on the docket are a couple of recently-played games! GUEST: None RECENTLY PLAYED GAMES: Fallen by Watchtower Games The Great Heartland Hauling Co by Dice Hate Me Games Trickerion Magic: the Gathering - Fate Reforged QUICK TOPICS: There's Now A Transgender Magic Character Ryan's

Episode 070: Change Is Good They say that change can do you good. Well, the Vox Republica is taking that idea to heart, undergoing some long-awaited changes to its layout, both inside and out. Length: 29:07 Show Links: RSS | iTunes | Download Episode   Welcome back to Vox Republica, the Cardboard Republic Podcast! We post new episodes every Thursday, with each episode being about 20 - 30 minutes long.  DESCRIPTION: Erin talks about some changes to Vox, then she and Ryan dive into the latest gaming headlines, including the Cones of Dunshire Kickstarter campaign and the latest Dominion expansion. Plus, they delve into the anticipated fallout of Asmodee’s recent acquisitions. GUEST: None RECENTLY PLAYED GAMES: Scoville by TMG Resistor_ by Cardboard Fortress The Kingswood by Alan Wong Mice & Mystics by Plaid Hat Games QUICK TOPICS: Scoville is our January game of the month, and we’re still running a contest (but not for much longer!) Spate of semi-serious "Swag Games" on Kickstarter Deluxe Cones of Dunshi

Episode 069: Researching Gamers with Jason Tocci Gaming may be a niche topic, but that doesn't mean it isn't being studied. Join us where we chat with bonafide gaming researcher Jason Tocci to look at the academic side of gaming. Length: 29:11 Show Links: RSS | iTunes | Download Episode   Welcome back to Vox Republica, the Cardboard Republic Podcast! We post new episodes every Thursday, and each episode will be about 20 - 30 minutes long. Geek, Nerd, or Gamer? Which do you identify yourself with? Does it even matter? What does it take to research gaming? We have on gaming researcher and former professor Jason Tocci who spent several years looking into these subgenres we love so much. From video games to Larping, he's come across it all, and he was gracious enough to share some of his insight with us this week. We can at least promise you won't be quizzed on it. For additional research into these topics some of the suggested reading from the episode includes: Jason's own site Adrienne Shaw's research on gamer

Episode 068: Spicy Talk With Ed Marriott As part of our January Spotlight on Scoville, we welcome designer Ed Marriott back to chat about this hot new product. Length: 23:09 Show Links: RSS | iTunes | Download Episode   Welcome back to Vox Republica, the Cardboard Republic Podcast! We post new episodes every Thursday, and each episode will be about 20 - 30 minutes long. You know what's hot? Scoville. That's what. This game about growing and breeding peppers was our choice for the January Indie Spotlight, and interest in it is burning up! So we thought it'd be fun to have back the master planter himself. When we last spoke with designer Ed Marriott, the game was about to launch on Kickstarter. This week, he returns to chat with Ryan about his game, lessons learned from running a crowdfunding campaign, and some of his design philosophies. For more interest in Scoville, stay tuned for its review later this month! To hear more of Ed's thoughts on gaming and design, you can find him on his site, Boards and Barley.