The Long View

In this special episode of The Long View, I'm thrilled to be joined by none other than Ryan Sturm as we discuss the classic game, Age of Steam. Why does Ryan love this game so much? Is the best of the Steam, Age of Steam, and Railroad Tycoon family? What separates it from the pack, and why has it inspired so many expansions and spin offs? Find out the answer to these questions and more in this episode of The Long View. As a bonus, Tom Vasel stops by to tell us his thoughts about Age of Steam in a musical tribute, and I review the new Stronghold Games title of Core Worlds: Revolution. What does this expansion have to offer for fans of the Core Worlds universe? Is is a vital addition, or just bloat? Find out in the review which can be found at the 1:35:00 mark of the episode. I also review the new title from NSKN games, Progress: Evolution of Technology. Is this a civ light game for everyone, or a near miss? Find out in the review which can be found at the 1:57:00 mark of the episode. Thanks, as always, to T

In this episode of The Long View, I'm pleased to be joined by first time guest Peter Bemis as we discuss the landmark game of Space Alert from noted designer Vlaada Chv�til. Is this the ultimate cooperative game? What has been this game's effect on later designs? Is it a trailblazer worthy of your attention, or should you leave it lost in space? Find out for yourself as we discuss this fascinating game along with the expansion Space Alert: The New Frontier, and designer Vlaada Chv�til in general. Thanks to Peter for being on the show! As a bonus, I also review two games. First up is the new Stronghold release of Among the Stars: The Ambassadors. Is this a worthy addition to the Among the Stars base game? What does it offer that makes it worthy of purchase in the post Essen flood? Listen and find out! The review can be found at the 1:26:30 mark of the episode. I also review the Game Salute title of Sunrise City. Is this a city building game made for you or a thinly veiled abstract? Is it challenging and fun?

In this special episode of The Long View, I'm very happy to be joined once again by Joel Eddy, as we discuss how designers present difficult themes in board games. Which games deal with sensitive subjects well? Which miss the mark? Which, maybe, should not have been attempted? Are there any noticeable trends? All this and more is discussed in this episode of The Long View. As a bonus, I give a review of the new thematic game, The Battle of Five Armies. How is this different from War of the Ring (second edition)? What does it share in common? Is there room for both in your collection? Listen and find out! The review can be found at the 1:33:30 mark of the episode. Thanks, of course, to my sponsor www.gamesurplus.com for their continued support of the show, thanks to The Dice Tower and the DTN! Go and check out all of the other great podcasts in the Network! There's something for everyone! Thanks, of course, to YOU for listening!

In this episode of The Long View, I'm very pleased to be joined, all the way from Poland, by Adam Ceti as we discuss the old Avalon Hill classic, The Republic of Rome. Join us as we discuss why this title is so memorable, and why you should consider giving it a look. From the intense negotiations of the Senate phase, to the back room dealings and backstabbing, to the desperate struggle to win the battles and wars that always seem to be around the corner, this game is one that offers many unique experiences. Along the way we briefly compare this title to other classic negotiation games such as Diplomacy and Tammany Hall, and discuss the solo game options along with some of Adam's favorite optional rules. Is this old title a game for you? Listen and see for yourself! As a bonus, I also offer a review of two titles. First up is Fire in the Lake from GMT games at the 1:32:10 mark of the episode, and then a review of the recent hotness Splendor at the 2:07:13 mark of the episode. Is Fire in the Lake the best of t

In this special episode of The Long View, I'm pleased to be joined by designers Phil Eklund and Philipp Klarmann as we discuss game design, and the upcoming game of Greenland. In the episode we discuss what makes Mr. Eklund's earlier designs and this new title so unique, the value of collaboration, the difference between a game and a simulation, and the role of education in game design. Along the way, "the Phils" tease us with some glimpses of even more new designs! As a bonus, I also review two new titles. The first is an outrageously fun new game from Eagle Gryphon titled Lords and Ladies, and then I discuss the fascinating mash-up of Chess and Deckbuilding found in For the Crown (Second edition) from Victory Point Games. The Lords and Ladies review can be found at the 1:45:00 mark of the episode, and the For the Crown review can be found at the 2:01:06 mark of the episode. As a note, we discuss the game of Greenland quite a bit, but never dive into the game itself in great detail, the focus is squarely o

In this special episode of The Long View, I'm pleased to offer my report from two August Conventions, The World Boardgaming Championships, or WBC from Lancaster Pennsylvania, and GenCon from Indianapolis. In this episode, I share my experiences and impressions of these conventions, and offer reviews of games I played, or demoed, or viewed during my time at these great events. For those who may want to skip my convention musings, the following time index should prove helpful! Thanks for listening! WBC Report � Background and Introduction 5:47 Port Royal - VERY brief overview! 10:52 Florenza the Card Game 11:30 Compounded 14:45 Credit Mobilier 17:30 King of Tokyo and Dungeon Dice 21:43 1846 24:03 Diamonds 31:09 Final Thoughts are Reflections about the WBC Move 34:57 Gen Con 41:36 � 52:57 Overview and Impressions Panamax 52:57 Among the Stars 1:01:17 Die Fighter 1:10:31 Equinox 1:14:30 Red 1:22:24 King of New York 1:29:43 Spurs � A Tale in the Old West 1:34:32 Imperial Settlers 1:38:00 The Duk

In this special episode of The Long View, I'm pleased to be joined by returning guestLloyd Keller as we take a long, hard look at the classic game of Carcassonne. Along the way we discuss the strategies and layers of the base game, ideal player count, nearly all of the expansions, and the Carcassonne spin off games of Carcassonne: Hunters and Gatherers, Carcassonne: The City, Carcassonne: The Discovery, Carcassonne: The Castle, New World: A Carcassonne Game and much, much more. As a bonus I also review the new GMT game of Thunder Alley, and the new Victory Point game, Villainous Vikings. News is also given of a special kickstarter that may be of interest to fans of Dominion. The Thunder Alley review can be found at the 2:25:00 mark of the episode, and the Villainous Vikings review can be found at the 2:51:00 mark of the episode. The Long View is a proud member of The Dice Tower Network of podcasts. Go to www.dicetower.com to see what they have to offer you! Great podcasts, reviews, top ten lists and more!

In this episode of The Long View, I'm pleased to be joined by Jason Obermeyer as we discuss the 4x space game of Eclipse. Is this the game that truly replaces Twilight Imperium (Third Edition)? Does it deliver a thematic punch, or is it just eurofied? How do the expansions add to the game? Find out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of The Long View. As a bonus, Jason and I review the new hotness Marvel Dice Masters: Avengers vs. X-Men. Is it Quarriors! 2.0, or just more of the same? How does the theme hold up, and what does the future hold for this new collectible dice game. The review can be found at the 1:11:00 mark of the episode. Finally, I review Cuba: The Splendid Little War from Victory Point Games. Is it a perfect entry level wargame? Does it accurately reflect the period? Is it fun? Find out the answer to these questions and more in the review! It can be found at the 1:33:30 mark of the episode. Thanks to my sponsor, www.gamesurplus.com for their continued support, and thank

In this episode of The Long View, I'm pleased to be joined by returning guest Jim Shaw as we discuss the groundbreaking game of Dominion. What makes this such a popular game? Is it a gateway game, or a gamer's game? How does it stack up to the classics? What are the basic strategies of the game? What ripples have been made by this boulder thrown in the pond? Find out the answer to these questions and more in this episode of The Long View. Be sure to check out the new web page at www.thelongviewpodcast.com As a bonus, I review the new deckbuilding game of Galactic Strike Force from Greater Than Games, LLC and Dungeon Dice from Potluck Games. Is Galactic Strike Force the heir apparent to the great Sentinels of the Multiverse? Is Dungeon Dice the best of the Dungeon Crawl Dice games? Should either be in your collection? Listen and find out! The Galactic Strike Force review can be found at the 1:41:00 mark of the episode, and the Dungeon Dice review can be found at the 1:59:30 mark of the episode. The Long Vi

In this episode of The Long View, I'm pleased to be joined by Joel Eddy of Drive Thru Reviews as we discuss the Victory Point Games title, Nemo's War. What makes this solo game a unique experience? What does it offer that other solo games do not? How does this classic story's theme come through in this game? What does the future hold for this title's upcoming second edition? Find the answer to all of these questions and more in this episode. As a bonus, Joel and I review he new deck building game, Star Realms. See what might make this little game a fit for your collection. The review begins at time index 1:18:25. In addition, I review the new title from R�diger Dorn, Istanbul. Is it worthy of it's Kennerspiel nomination? Listen and find out! The review begins at time index 1:45:00 As a final bonus, I'm joined by Alan Emrich, president of Victory Point Games as he gives us news about the new edition of Nemo's War, and a history of the growth of Victory Point. Find our how "The little game company that could

In this episode of The Long View, I'm pleased to be joined by Jason Albert as we discuss the Chad Jensen classic game of Combat Commander: Europe. Along the way, we discuss what makes this game so unique, and the many expansions it has spawned since it was first released. Is this a wargame for you? Listen and find out! As a bonus, I review Rogue Agent and Fleet: Arctic Bounty at the end of the show. Is Rogue Agent your ticket to Blade Runner inspired fun, or is it a bust? What does Arctic Bounty add to the base game of Fleet? Is it worth picking up, or just expansion bloat? Tune in and find out! As an episode note, I have to warn that there was a slight Skype problem during the first segment of the show that creates a backgound hiss. Filtering did not work for this particular case, but I felt it was slight enough to not hold back the segment. Thanks for your patience! The Long View is a proud member of The Dice Tower Network. Check them out for a huge array of boardgame resources and podcasts! I also would

In this special episode of The Long View, I'm thrilled to be joined by noted designer, Thomas Lehmann. In this episode, we review and discuss his history as a designer, his methods and techniques, as well as his thoughts about the future of his designs. Along the way we discuss such games as Suzerain, Time Agent, 2038: Tycoons of the Asteroid Belt, To Court the King, Pizarro and Co., Race for the Galaxy, Pandemic: On the Brink, Pandemic: In the Lab, the upcoming Roll for the Galaxy and much, much more! Join Mr. Lehmann and myself as we take this amazing trip through the history of this fantastic designer! As a bonus at the end of the show, I review the games I Say, Holmes! (Second Edition) and Sail to India. Thanks, as always, to www.gamesurplus.com for their continued support of The Long View, thanks to The Dice Tower for allowing me to be part of the great network of podcasts, and thanks, as always, to YOU for listening!

In this episode of The Long View, I'm pleased to be joined by Damian as we discuss the game Legendary: A Marvel Deck Building Game. Along the way, we discuss what makes this title unique, what the expansions add to the system, and a brief comparison to the other superhero games of DC Comics Deck-Building Game, and Sentinels of the Multiverse. Which is best? What does each bring to the table? Listen to find out! At then end of the show, I give a quick look review of Agent Hunter from Alderac Entertainment Group, and the new Martin Wallace game, A Study in Emerald.How do these titles hold up? Find out on this episode of The Long View. If you enjoy the show, please consider joining The Long View Guild for news of upcoming episodes and discussion threads. Thanks for listening! The Long View is a proud member of The Dice Tower Network, home of great reviews, podcasts, news and commentary. Special thanks also goes out to my sponsor www.gamsurplus.com. Check them out for the latest, greatest titles, fantastic pri

In this special episode of The Long View, I'm very pleased to be joined by Mark Johnson of the fantastic podcast Boardgames To Go as we talk about his favorite game Entdecker. What make this such a compelling game for Mark? How is it different from Entdecker: Exploring New Horizons. Which does he prefer and why? Why are exploration games so compelling anyway? All of this and more is discussed in this episode of The Long View! After the main episode, I also review two newer titles including a new release from Victory Point Games, Hapsburg Eclipse (Time index of 1:35:30 of the episode), and the game of Arctic Scavengers (Time index of 1:51:00). Check out these games and see if they could be a good fit for you! If you enjoy the show, please consider joining The Long View guild here on BGG for news of upcoming episodes, or follow us on Twitter! The Long View is a proud member of The Dice Tower Network! Check out the Dice Tower for news, reviews, and more great podcasts! The Long view is also generously sponso

In this special episode of The Long View, I'm happy to present my annual State of the Podcast episode in which I review the last year of the podcast, and where I hope to take the podcast in the future. In addition to possible changes in the show, I also discuss the importance of my sponsor, my listeners, the contributors and much more. Thanks for listening!

In this episode of The Long View, I'm pleased to be joined once again by Eric Brosius as we discuss the classic game of Power Grid. Discover the funken roots of this game, and why the design has endured for so long. Along the way we discuss strategy tips and ideal player counts. As a special bonus, Eric gives his review of the newest 18xx title, 1862: Railway Mania in the Eastern Counties. Is this the 18xx for everyone? Tune in to Eric's review to find out! The episode can be found here in the BGG database, through iTunes by subscription, or at the following address: http://feeds.feedburner.com/TheLongViewPodcast Thanks, as always to my sponsor www.gamesurplus.com Gamesurplus is your first and best choice for online boardgame purchases. Thanks as well to The Dice Tower. The Long View is a proud member of The Dice Tower Network. Check them out to find the latest news and reviews and a host of other fascinating podcasts! If you enjoy the episode, please consider joining The Long View Guild for news of new

In this episode of The Long View, I'm pleased to be joined by Gordon J as we discuss the game Circus Train (Second edition). We try to decide what makes this game so thematic, compelling and unique, and why people may need to give this and other titles from Victory Point Games a second look. Have an urge to run a circus during the Prohibition Era? Want to manage resources and talent? Grab some Canadian Club in Montreal? Want to steal elephants and tigers? Watch a human cannonball fly over a cohort of clowns? Looking for a different game? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, take a listen and find out why Circus Train (Second edition) may be a perfect fit for you! The Long View is a proud member of The Dice Tower Network. Go check out all that The Dice Tower has to offer! Thanks to my sponsor www.gamesurplus.com, your premier online retailer for price AND customer service, and thanks, of course as always, to YOU for listening! In this episode, I also announce the winner of The Long View T-Shirt f

In this episode of The Long View, I'm very happy to be joined by friends of the show Elhannan Lloyd Keller, Stephen Buonocore, and Chad Mekash as we sit down and discuss the epic game of The War of the Ring (second edition). What makes this such a thematic and compelling game? What aspects of the design are noteworthy? What, if anything, can pry the Collector's Edition of this game from Buonocore's Kung Fu death grip? Listen to this episode, and find out! As a bonus, I also review the upcoming title from Carl Chudyk, Impulse. Can you really have a 4x style game with nothing but some cards and plastic ships? Can you have a satisfying 4x game in 30 - 40 minutes or less? Is this the next great game from the mind that brought us Innovation and Glory to Rome? Listen and find out! Thanks, as always, to my sponsor www.gamesurplus.com and to The Dice Tower and thanks, as always, to YOU for listening!

In this episode of The Long View, I'm pleased to be joined once again by Joe Huber as we discus the classic game of Thebes. Along the way we discuss differences between versions, and why this game is so amazingly thematic. As a bonus, we also discuss the year 1992 in gaming, and, at the end of the episode, Joe and Eric review the new board game Russian Railroads. The Long View is a proud member of The Dice Tower Network, home to great news, reviews and podcasts a plenty! The Long View is also generously sponsored by www.gamesuprlus.com, Your first, best choice for online boardgame purchases. If you enjoy the episode, consider following the show on Twitter or Facebook. For the month of February, I am running a Twitter and Facebook follower drive along with a request for iTunes podcast reviews. All who follow or write a review until the end of February will be in the running to receive a free Long View T-Shirt, shipped anywhere in the world! I am also asking for donations to the show to help with equipment

In this episode of The Long View, I'm pleased to be joined by long time listener Jeroen van der Valk as we examine his favorite game, Through the Ages: A Story of Civilization. Along the way we discuss the things that make this such an innovative design, the barriers to learning the game, and the effectiveness of this design as an epic, civilization experience. Is it the best? How does it compare to games like Nations, or the original Advanced Civilization? Tune in to this episode and find out! As a bonus, Jeroen and I take a look back at the year 1993 in boardgaming, and a look forward to the recent release Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Rise of the Runelords - Base Set. Is this finally THE game for old time RPG'ers? Tune in and find out! The Long View Twitter and Facebook drive is still in full force until the end of February, as is the fundraising drive for the show. Check out the details in the beginning of the show, or back in the last episode, The Long View of '12 in '14. Find the facebook page by se