Garrett's Games and Geekiness

Yes, it's Meeplefest time once again, and the roundtable of luminaries is topped off with three designers: Matt Leacock, fresh from his KedJ win for Daybreak/eMission where he went up against HIMSELF with Ticket to Ride Legacy: Legends of the West and known for such titles as Pandemic and Forbidden Island Tom Lehmann, known for the classic Race for the Galaxy, and with new titles such as Winter Court and Chu Han and Joe Huber, lover of trick takers and designer of such titles as Caravan, Blue Skies, and Burger Joint. We spend some time talking about Matt's win, as well as design choices & the creative spark. And here's that Auden quote which Tom sent to me after the podcast: In his preface to The Collected Poetry of W. H. Auden (1945) he wrote: In the eyes of every author, I fancy, his past work falls into four classes. First, the pure rubbish which he regrets ever having conceived; second–for him the most painful– the good ideas which his incompetence or impatience prevented from coming to much (The Orators seems to me such a case of the fair notion fatally injured); third, the pieces he had nothing against except their lack of importance; these must inevitably form the bulk of any collection since, were he to limit it to the fourth class alone, to those poems for which he is honestly grateful, his volume would be too depressingly slim.

This week Shelley and I enlist companions in the dicefest Glow by Cedrick Chaboussit from Bombyx (a 2021 release) and then check out one of the KedJ Recommended titles Botanicus by Samuele Tabellini Ferrari and Vieri Masseini from Hans im Gluck Thanks as always to our sponsor Bezier Games and their latest GenCon releases: Seers Catalog and Rebel Princess Deluxe Edition Support the podcast directly at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames or check our our extensive list of games that no longer fit on OUR shelves, but belong on your table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing

Shelley and I check out a great card game Cabanga! by Michael Modler from Amigo then plan a trip to Japan in Let's Go! to Japan by Josh Wood from AEG and Lucky Duck Games Thanks as always to Bezier Games for their support! Check out their new releases Xylotar, Sandbag, Seers Catalog, and Rebel Princess Deluxe Edition! You can also support the podcast directly at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR check out our extensive list of games that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on your table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing

This week Shelley and I enjoy a deduction and memory game that's great with non-gamers Trio (also known as NaNa) by Kaya Miyano from Cocktail Games Then we help design a city in India in Chandigarh by Toni Lopez from Ludonova Thanks as always to our sponsor Bezier Games You can also sponsor the podcast by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR check out our extensive list of games that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on your table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing

Shelley and I tackle a HUGE box of train goodness in the Kennerspiel des Jahres nominated Ticket to Ride Legacy: Legends of the West by Rob Daviau, Matt Leacock, and Alan R. Moon from Days of Wonder and then we check out the second roll & write version of the SdJ winner Cascadia Cadcadia: Rolling Hills by Randy Flynn from Flatout Games and AEG Thanks as always to our sponsor Bezier Games You can support the podcast directly by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR check out our extensive list of games for sale - ones that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on your table! https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing

Shelley and I tackle a roll & write version of the SdJ winner Cascadia Cascadia: Rolling Rivers by Randy Flynn from Flatout Games and AEG then we journey to a new world as the old one dies in Evacuation by Vladimir Suchy from Delicious Games and Rio Grande Games Thanks as always to our sponsor Bezier Games You can support the podcast directly by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR check out our extensive list of games to buy - ones that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on your table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing

This week Shelley and I play to beautiful games, one of which is a Kennerspiel nominee! The first has us collecting umbrellas and decorating our cities in Agueda: City of Umbrellas by Dustin Dobson and Milan Zivkovic from 25th Century Games Then we attempt to work together to halt climate change in Daybreak (also known a e-Mission) by Matt Leacock and Matteo Menapace from CMYK and Schmidt Spiele Thanks as always to Bezier Games for their sponsorship of the podcast. You can support us directly at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR check out our extensive list of games for sale that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on your table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing

Shelley and I compete as rival hotel operators in Snow Planner by Akashi from Soragame Studio then we try valiantly (and sometimes successfully) to land a plane together in Sky Team by Luc Rémond from Scorpion Masqué Thanks as always to Bezier Games for their support - check out their "Year of the Card Game" titles at www.beziergames.com. Remember that you can support the podcast directly at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames or check out our extensive list of games that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on your table here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing

This week Shelley and I check out one of the Spiel des Jahres nominees Captain Flip by Paolo Mori and Remo Conzadori from PlayPunk and then check out a heavier title Sand by Ariel Di Costanzo and Javier Pelizzari from Devir Thanks as always to Bezier Games for their sponsorship You can also sponsor the podcast directly by becoming a Patron at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR check out our extensive list of games that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on your table here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing

This week Shelley and gather performers together and compete in 3 Ring Circus by Remo Conzadori and Fabio Lopiano from Devir then we enjoy a couple of classic 2-player titles: Balloon Cup (also published as Pinata) from Stephen Glenn from Rio Grande and KOSMOS and Die Pyramiden des Jaguar by Gunter Burkhardt from KOSMOS Thanks to Bezier Games for their support, and you can support the podcast directly by heading over to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames or checking out our list of games that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on your table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing

This week Shelley and I have fun sketching the Blueprints of Mad King Ludwig by Ted Alspach from Bezier Games then check out the another map expansion for Mini Express by Mark Gerrits from Moaideas Game Design the Taiwan 1908 map by Jay Bernardo Thanks to our sponsors Bezier Games and YOU, the listener, who can support the podcast directly at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames and possibly purchase a few games from us after perusing our extensive list of games that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on your table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing

Thanks to our sponsors www.beziergames.com Remember that you can support the podcast directly by becoming a patron at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames or check out our extensive list of games for sale - games that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on your table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing This week Shelley and I discuss the latest nominations for the Games of the Year coming out of Germany, then have a great time interviewing YouTube gamer and Bezier Marketing guru Jay Bernardo! Jay's YouTube Channel (Cardboard East): https://www.youtube.com/@CardboardEast And the names and BGG links to all of the SdJ, KdJ and Kinder nominees and recommended titles: Spiel des Jahres Nominees: Captain Flip by Paolo Mori and Remo Conzadori from PlayPunk In The Footsteps of Darwin by Gregory Grard and Matthieu Verdier from Sorry We Are French Sky Team by Luc Remond from Scorpion Masque and KOSMOS SdJ Recommended Titles: Harmonies Passt nicht! Phantom Ink Schatz it if you can Trekking Through History Trio Kennerspiel des Jahres Nominees: Daybreak (or e-Mission) by Matt Leacock and Matteo Menapace from CMYK and Schmidt Spiele Guild of Merchant Explorers by Matthew Dunstan and Brett J Gilbert from AEG and Skellig Games Ticket to Ride Legacy: Legends of the West by Matt Leacock, Alan R. Moon, and Rob Daviau from Days of Wonder KdJ Recommended Titles: Bier Pioniere Botanicus Forest Shuffle Ritual Kinderspiel des Jahres Nominees: Große kleine Edelsteine by Wolfgang Warsch from Schmidt Spiele Die magischen Schlussel by Markus Slawitscheck and Arno Steinwender from Happy Baobab and Game Factory Taco Kitten Pizza by Dave Campbell and Thierry Denoual from Blue Orange Kinder Recommended: Fluffy Valley Lecker Lava Die Nadel im Heuhaufen

Shelley and I get a wonderful new SMALL card game to the table Aqua: Set Collection Game of Art by Ta-Te Wu from Sunrise Tornado then check out our first of FOUR new map expansions for Mini Express by Mark Gerrits from Moaideas Game Design: United Kingdom 1918 by Tony Boydell

Shelley and I compete as ultrasmart rat clans in Rats of Wistar by Simone Luciani and Danilo Sabia from Cranio Creations and Capstone Games then we look once again (prepping to look at expansion maps) at Mini Express by Mark Gerrits from Moaideas Game Design This week's podcast is sponsored by Bezier Games, makers of modern classics like Castles of Mad King Ludwig Suburbia as well as the draw and write sequel Blueprints of Mad King Ludwig and the new trick-taking card games Xylotar and Sandbag

This week Shelley and I join the ancient Roman medical society and try to treat patients and impress Galen in Galenus by Harry-Pekka Kuusela from ION Game Design and then we try out a new version of an older title Pollen by Dr. Reiner Knizia from Allplay a solid retheming of the 2009 Samurai The Card Game Remember you can support the podcast at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR check out our extensive list of games for sale (with more coming over the next couple of weeks!): https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing

Shelley and I get in some games with the guys, checking out Ecos: First Continent by John D. Clair from AEG and Garden Guests by Stephen Glenn from Van Ryder Games Sponsor the podcast at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR check out our extensive list of games that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on your table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing

Shelley and I check out a couple of trick takers originally from Japan First we discuss Gossip Trip Trix by Maeda Jay from Mashika then we try to avoid paradoxes in Cat in the Box Deluxe Edition by Muneyuki Yokouchi from Bezier Games Remember you can sponsor the podcast at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR Check out our extensive list of games for sale and get a cool game that no longer fits on our shelves, but belongs on your table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing

Shelley and I check out the new dogs and New Tricks available in the expansion to Dog Park by Lottie and Jack Hazell from Birdwood Games then we try a small-box 2-player card game Air, Land, and Sea by Jon Perry from Arcane Wonders Sponsor the podcast at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR check out our extensive list of games that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on your table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing

This week it's all about small box games. The first, quick title for 1-2 players is Autumn by Maria and Enrique Blasco from Devir then we try one of those small games that play like their bigger brothers in 1923 Cotton Club by Pau Carles from Looping Games Make sure to sponsor the podcast at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR help us make room for new games by supporting the podcast and getting some great titles for your own table here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing

As promised, Shelley and I get one of last week's big games back to the table with it's recent expansion for a discussion of what that adds in Revive + The Call of the Abyss Expansion by Helge Meissner, Kristian Amundsen Ostby, Eilif Svensson and Anna Wermlund from Aporta Games then we got a great and beautiful mancala-based game on the table with Amritsar by David Heras Pino from Ludonova