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In episode 67, we’ve finally done it: we played Dune Imperium - Uprising with 6 players. We provide an overview of the changes and dive into our experience playing with the 6 player rules. But, first! We chat about what is bringing us joy: Paul Dennen Naishi Lacuna Episode 22 Joy Games Falling Dune Imperium - Uprising’s 6 player rules change the game to three v. three, introducing commanders which lead each team. The play of the game is very familiar with a couple of major changes: the commanders and restricting the use of the Swordmaster to once per game. There are some additional changes to the gameplay to incorporate how the commanders play into the overall flow of the game. Reed has been championing this game for so long, did it live up to the hype? Check out these related episodes: Episode 22: Dune: Imperium & Dune: Imperium - Uprising Episode 45: An Interview with Paul Dennen Get to know us @ https://lnk.bio/BoardGameHomies

In Episode 66, we chat about what’s on the table with a focus on mostly small box games. This episode has a mix of smaller and lighter games that we are unlikely to review on the pod; it’s basically an extended joy game episode! 00:55 Wingspan Pocket 08:36 Somnia left off at 13:22 (trick-taker) 14:30 Haunted Mouse (trick-taker) 20:01 Origin Story (trick-taker) 27:36 Bottle Imp @ 6 Players (trick-taker) 31:51 Bacon (trick-taker) 37:14 Magical Athlete 43:06 The White Castle Duel Yes, that is Clans of Caledonia driving a 968 Ferrari 330 GTS with Becky as a passenger. Get to know us @ https://lnk.bio/BoardGameHomies *Ferrari photo by MrWalkr (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:MrWalkr) and has been remixed. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.

In Episode 65, we review Clans of Caledonia and its recent and only expansion, Clans of Caledonia: Industria. But, first! We chat about what is bringing us joy: Cascadia: Alpine Lakes, ASHES: Blackout Protocol, and The White Castle: Bōeki.  Clans of Caledonia, published by Karma Games, is perhaps a perfect game. A mid-to-heavy game with a variable economic market, thematic mechanics and gameplay (including distilling whiskey!), and delightful thinking space. Over the course of five rounds, players take turns and pass once they have run out of money and options. All players produce basic resources and have the opportunity to refine their goods using any bakeries, distilleries, or cheese dairies they have built. Players then receive victory points based on the scoring tile of the current round, and then the cycle begins again.  Clans of Caledonia: Industria adds more of what we already love (contracts, clans, shipping tiles, round goals, and map tiles), thoughtful mini expansions (market dice, farmer’s markets, additional end game scoring tiles, and contract refill board), and the largest module of them all: the train map with delivery bonuses to explore throughout the game and milestones to strive for and achieve before your opponents.  Did we mention this game is perfect? It is. (Just maybe don’t ask Reed… 👀)  Get to know us @ https://lnk.bio/BoardGameHomies

In Episode 64, we review Container published by Allplay. But, first! We chat about what is bringing us joy…and anti-joy: Haggis, Marrakesh, Trajan, and Sausage Sizzle! Container is a closed economy game for 3-5 players: build factories to produce and store containers while building warehouses to store and sell containers. The catch? You can’t sell your own containers, and everyone sets their own prices. A fairly simple game with complexity created by the individuals sitting around the table. How cheap are your friends? Can you find a way to capitalize on Reed’s big payout? Will you let Angela play and win using the same strategy from the last game? How many loans are you willing to take??? Do we like making our own market? The group may be divided, but they all agree on primarily only purchasing from Becky’s warehouses. 💅 Get to know us @ https://lnk.bio/BoardGameHomies

In Episode 63, we review Recall published by Pegasus Spiele. But, first! We chat about what is bringing us joy: Hanami, Tiny Mountain Goats, playing games at Reed’s house, and Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring - Trick-taking Game. Recall is a deep strategy and action selection game for 1-4 players that plays over 13 rounds. Coming from the designers of and one of the artists of Revive, Recall is heavily influenced by Revive’s mechanics, look, and feel. We didn’t go into this episode planning on comparing Recall to Revive, but it was difficult to talk about Recall without recalling its predecessor. 👀 Recall, Revive, both? We’ve got varying opinions on this one. Get to know us @ https://lnk.bio/BoardGameHomies

FINALLY! We discuss our individual top 10 games of all time (part 2) in Episode 62! Angela has been resisting this episode since the beginning of Board Game Homies–but we’ve finally convinced her we’ve played enough games to warrant this episode. For our top 10's, we go around the table and each of us share our game for that number. Then, we have some shock and awe, talk a bit about the games, and definitely get judgy. In this episode, we cover #5-#1! What’s your list? Who are you most aligned with? Opposite of?? Who are you inviting to Monday Lunch games? Let us know @ https://lnk.bio/BoardGameHomies 02:12 - Intro with a tiny Recap 05:06 - #5 15:41 - #4 25:56 - #3 37:44 - #2 50:06 - #1

FINALLY! We discuss our individual top 10 games of all time (part 1) in Episode 61! Angela has been resisting this episode since the beginning of Board Game Homies–but we’ve finally convinced her we’ve played enough games to create our lists and record this episode. For our top 10's, we go around the table and each of us share our game for that number. Then, we have some shock and awe, talk a bit about the games, and definitely get judgy. We’ve split this episode into two parts, so we’ll be back for 5-1! 00:25 - Introduction, Sassing, and How We Approached Our Lists 08:42 - #10 12:59 - #9 19:07 - #8 27:15 - #7 35:48 - #6 Someone at the table cheats immediately, and it’s definitely not Reed. (eyes) Get to know us @ https://lnk.bio/BoardGameHomies

In Episode 60, we review Carnegie designed by Xavier Georges and published by Quined Games. But, first! We chat about what is bringing us joy: Let’s Go! To France, Dragonarium, Zombie Princess x2, Hanami, The Old King’s Crown, and Senet Magazine. Carnegie is inspired by the writings of Andrew Carnegie, an industrialist and philanthropist. Xavier Georges, the designer, acknowledges the complicated and controversial realities of Carnegie’s life and work and has been clear this game focuses on the positive aspects of Carnegie’s life. Evoking this, players work to build up their businesses in order to donate their fortunes to invest in projects connected to education, human rights, welfare, and health. In this game, money is necessary to hire additional employees, produce goods, invest in transport technology, and build transport chains across the United States, but it is critical to continually make donations throughout the game as opportunities are limited and it is the primary way to gain victory points. Although this game is very thematic, the mechanics and related decision spaces draw you in for a very enjoyable play. Get to know us @ https://lnk.bio/BoardGameHomies

In Episode 59, we talk about a number of games we have played recently or are excited about! This episode has a mix of smaller and lighter games that we are unlikely to review on the pod; it’s basically an extended joy game episode. Buckle up, we’ve been busy! Stars are added to the games we’re excited about but haven’t played yet: 02:06 Moon Colony Bloodbath 09:36 Three Sisters 14:42 Becky’s long story about Tend* 17:05 Duel for Cardia 21:20 Tag Team* 22:19 Hot Streak* 22:44 A Wild Venture 25:08 Toy Battle 28:11 Vantage (Some spoilers–sorry!) 35:47 Chasing Shadows 40:21 VIVO 43:58 Slambo! 48:13 Yokai Septet 49:38 Ra: Traders 53:40 Dune: Imperium - Uprising 56:50 Becky’s long setup story about her cousin & grandma to finally get to: 58:57 Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza That one time Angela didn’t know Becky’s grandma was dead @ link in bio or wherever you listen to podcasts! Get to know us @ https://lnk.bio/BoardGameHomies

In Episode 58, we review Feya’s Swamp published by Grail Games and designed by Helge Ostertag and Anselm Ostertag. But, first, we chat about what is bringing us joy: Carcassonne, Gillean learning new games every weekend, Sweetlands, and a deck of cards. Feya’s Swamp is a worker placement game for 2-4 players who each lead a clan of swamp dwellers vying to be the most prosperous in the area. Through building settlements, adventuring in nearby abandoned temples, and stocking up and trading fish, players make this swamp a home for future generations. Most importantly though, who will be the most present in the songs of their descendants? Overall, most of the homies enjoyed this game, and folks are happy it is on Gillean’s shelf. Becky again wonders if most medium weight games are mid. Get to know us @ https://lnk.bio/BoardGameHomies

In Episode 57, we review Luthier published by Paverson Games and designed by Dave Beck and Abe Burson. But, first, we chat about what is bringing us joy: Becky’s new year’s resolution update, Zenith, Angela’s new year’s resolution update (including Unmatched Adventures: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), and Root.  Luthier takes place in the height of classical music in Western Europe with 1-4 families of artisans eager to pursue prestige by satisfying patron’s requests for instruments, performances, and instrument repairs. By keeping your patrons happy through building instruments, performing different styles of music, and repairing instruments, they reward you with gifts, but if you take too long to complete their requests, they will abandon you and speak poorly of your family, decreasing your prestige. The player who gains the most prestige points wins the game. The homies are captivated by this game, but there’s still something about it that may see it out of Gillean’s collection sooner than later. Get to know us @ https://lnk.bio/BoardGameHomies

In Episode 56, we take a break from reviewing games and instead bring in the silliness and the sass with some board game trivia. Play along with us and bonus points to you for catching any of the wrong answers our host boldly asserts. XD Categories include: Name the Game from this Weird Description, Name All the Games in the Series, Old School Games, Components and Rules, Crunchy Factor, Year of Release, and Top 100 on BGG. But, don’t worry! We still chat about what is bringing us joy: Knarr, The Clank! Master Thief Edition!, Ra: Traders, and Recall. We’re a goofing and a gabbing, and we hope you have fun too! Connect with us @ https://lnk.bio/BoardGameHomies

In Episode 55, we review Speakeasy by Vital Lacerda! But, first, we chat about what is bringing us joy: 3 Chapters, The Hobbit: There and Back Again, Skull King, and Lisboa. Speakeasy is a game for 1-4 mobsters vying for control across the many districts of Manhattan implemented by Lucky Luciano. Accumulate the most money as you build up your speakeasy empire to maximize payouts from Lucky Luciano, avoid cops and other mobsters, and, of course, cook the books every chance you get.    Like all of Lacerda’s games, Speakeasy is rich with thematic rules and gameplay and is further enhanced by Ian O’Toole’s stunning art and graphic design. We admit we’re a bit obsessed with Lacerda games, but this game does vary in each of our rankings of the Lacerda games we’ve played.  Get to know us @ https://lnk.bio/BoardGameHomies

In Episode 54, we review Shackleton Base: A Journey to the Moon published by Pandasaurus! But, first, we chat about what is bringing us joy: New Brass tins, Brass: Pittsburgh, Dune Imperium - Uprising 6 player, and Ahoy. Shackleton Base is a worker placement game for 1-4 players. Players each lead a space agency that is contributing to building a base in the Shackleton crater of the Moon. Build structures, collect resources, and sell your science soul to the three major corporations sponsoring the mission. It’s the right amount of thinky. All four homies are over the moon about this game! Get to know us @ https://lnk.bio/BoardGameHomies

Episode 53 is Part 2 of our annual board game weekend vacation! We discuss our planning, the things we ate, and all of the games we played (and didn’t play.) We recommend starting with Episode 52: The Homies Go to the Beach. 22 games with 33 plays over the course of 5 days-PART 2! Games in this episode: Sea Salt & Paper Railroad Tiles The Vale of Eternity The Hobbit: There and Back Again Revive Bus Barenpark Acquire Daybreak Capital Lux 2 The Magic Shop Tenby Clank!: Catacombs Botswana Skull King Get to know us @ https://lnk.bio/BoardGameHomies