PlayEd Podcast

As Robert Burns reminds us, "the best laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men gang aft agley." This week, Chris and Laura discuss how Ravensburger's "Labyrinth" provides low cost opportunities to learn this bit of wisdom as shifting walls in a labyrinth upset players' plans to recover treasure. Whether talking about developing emotional regulation, adapting to changing circumstances, or showing how to make simple rule amendments that will keep gaming in the fun zone, they show you how to go over, under, around or through the obstacles that come your way. Games Mentioned: Labyrinth - Published by Ravensburger, this treasure hunt game with shifting tiles challenges players to adapt their plans as the way to their goals shifts. Enchanted Forest - Another excellent Ravensburger game, players' memories are challenged to find fairy tell objects hidden beneath the trees of an enchanted forest. (As mentioned, there is also the Wood Labyrinth and Jim Henson's Labyrinth: The Board Game, as well as Magic Labyrinth, but none are the subject of this week’s episode) Did you know we have a YouTube Page? Find it here. Can't see the links? Podcatcher turning my painstaking labor into plaintext? Come visit the podcast page at https://played.podbean.com/ and get the full experience, complete with all the links in perfect functioning order. Intro and Outro Music: "Crunk Knight" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Other Music: Music from https://filmmusic.io "One-eyed Maestro" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Some games can easily be placed into the "educational" box. But can a fun, silly game inspired by 1950s B movies have anything to teach? Of course! This week, Laura and Chris discuss "The Awful Green Things From Outer Space." From reconnecting with your own inner child's love of silliness to developing resourcefulness and a willingness to experiment, they show how even the most lighthearted of games offer opportunities for learning. Games Mentioned: The Awful Green Things From Outer Space – From it's first appearance in Dragon Magazine, this two-player game pits green, blob-like aliens against a resourceful but dwindling spaceship crew that must use all materials on hand in an attempt to escape. Books and Movies Mentioned: The Blob Star Trek: "The Trouble With Tribbles" The Day the Earth Stood Still Apollo 13 Can't see the links? Podcatcher turning my painstaking labor into plaintext? Come visit the podcast page at https://played.podbean.com/ and get the full experience, complete with all the links in perfect functioning order. Intro and Outro Music: "Crunk Knight" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Other Music: Music from https://filmmusic.io "Hall of the Mountain King" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Music from https://filmmusic.io "One-eyed Maestro" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Going fast and turning left: racing hasn't changed much in the last 2000 years. But that doesn't mean racing is boring. In this episode, Chris and Laura explore the chaotic fun inherent in the chariot racing game, "Circus Maximus" from Avalon Hill. They discuss ancient Roman life, how games build an intuitive grasp of statistics and probability, and have some book and movie recommendations as well. Games Mentioned: Circus Maximus & Gladiator - Both currently out of print, these companion games from Avalon Hill simulate the excitement and chaos of Roman sporting events. Diplomacy - A game of negotiation and backstabbing as players act the parts of countries prior to World War I. Sleeping Queens - A strategy card game where players need a little luck and some fast thinking to wake the queens placed under a sleeping spell. Sushi Go - A pick and pass card game where players accumulate points as they collect sushi dinners. Outfoxed - A fun, cooperative game that can be played with nearly everyone. Here's a good playthrough video, though there is a small difference in how the Thief Card is presented. It looks like the earlier game used red and green dots, rather than green dots or blank spaces. This is probably an alteration to make the game less confusing for those with red-green color blindness. If you buy a used copy, that may be an issue. Dragonwood - A card and dice based adventure game, Dragonwood is a fun introduction into the elements of roleplaying and card combat games. Books and Movies Mentioned: Ben Hur - The classic epic with its iconic chariot race; also our favorite movie to watch at Easter. The Roman Mysteries - Flavia Gemina is a young sleuth with devoted friends and penchant for getting into trouble in ancient Rome. "The Charioteer of Delphi" is a great companion novel to read when playing Circus Maximus. Can't see the links? Podcatcher turning my painstaking labor into plaintext? Come visit the podcast page at https://played.podbean.com/ and get the full experience, complete with all the links in perfect functioning order. Intro and Outro Music: "Crunk Knight" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Other Music: Music from https://filmmusic.io"Super Circus" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Music from https://filmmusic.io"One-eyed Maestro" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Brother Adelmo has been found lifeless at the foot of the cliffs of the Templars' Abbey. Did he slip, or was he pushed? And if so, by whom? It's your job, as monks brought in from outside, to investigate the crime while continuing to participate in the regular life of the Abbey. This week, Laura and Chris continue their Month of Mystery with "Mystery of the Abbey", a medieval whodunnit published by Days of Wonder. Combining the investigation and questioning elements of Clue, while adding in card play that increase the variety of ways in which suspects may be known and players thwarted, this game offers replayability with an engaging medieval set-dressing. But as Chris and Laura discover, the key to discovery lies in how to ask the right questions. Join them as they get distracted by the minutia of monastic life and offer hints on how to increase the fun. Games Mentioned: Mystery of the Abbey - This whodunnit game set in a medieval monastery blends elements of Clue with card driven events that limit play time and increase strategic challenge. The game page at the Days of Wonder site includes PDFs of the Suspect Sheets and Rules Pages. Outfoxed - A fun, cooperative game that can be played with nearly everyone. Here's a good playthrough video, though there is a small difference in how the Thief Card is presented. It looks like the earlier game used red and green dots, rather than green dots or blank spaces. This is probably an alteration to make the game less confusing for those with red-green color blindness. If you buy a used copy, that may be an issue. Clue - This is the current version of the game. Mostly similar to the original, but a magnifying glass option allows players to gain hints. Books and Movies Mentioned: The Chronicles of Brother Cadfael - Ellis Peters' series of mysteries set in a monastery in Shrewsbury, England is one of our favorites. Cadfael - The televisation of the novels starring Derek Jacobi, these aired on PBS's Mystery! years ago but remain evergreen. The Door in the Wall - This Newberry Award winning book by Marguerite de Angeli is as engaging today as was when first published in 1949. An excellent tale about 14th century Medieval life with a captivating adventure. The Name of the Rose - Written by Italian author and literary critic Umberto Eco, this 1980 mystery novel, set in a 14th century Italian monastery is the aesthetic inspiration for the game, and a fascinatingly intellectual mystery in its own right. Can't see the links? Podcatcher turning my painstaking labor into plaintext? Come visit the podcast page at https://played.podbean.com/ and get the full experience, complete with all the links in perfect functioning order. Intro and Outro Music: "Crunk Knight" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Other Music: Music from https://filmmusic.io"Hall of the Mountain King" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Music from https://filmmusic.io"One-eyed Maestro" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

October is here. Time for falling leaves, pumpkin spice everything, and curling up with a good mystery book. Or better yet, pulling out a mystery game and spending time with family as the days (eventually) become crisp. And what better game to start off this Month of Mystery than the classic board game "Clue"? Chris and Laura discuss the game's history, how deductive reasoning lies at the heart of the game, and provide some suggestions for speeding up the game when it's dragging without damaging the mechanics. Games Mentioned: Clue (Retro 1986 Edition) - If you grew up in the 80s or 90s, this is probably the version you played. Clue Master Dectective - More suspects, more weapons, more rooms. This expanded version of the game increases complexity, but also allows for more players as well. Great for large families or bigger groups. Clue - This is the current version of the game. Mostly similar to the original, but a magnifying glass option allows players to gain hints. Clue (2013 Edition with Additional Boardwalk Setting) - This curious version of the game trades out billiard rooms and conservatories for much more pedestrian rooms and a disconcerting arrangement of rectangular tiles off-set on a diagonal. It may be a more modern way to lay flooring, but it make for a dizzying game board. To keep up variety, the board has a second side with an alternate location, a boardwalk, and an extra set of location cards to trade in if you use that setting. Ancient Civilizations of the Inner Sea VASSAL module - As mentioned a few weeks back, the Vassal module for ACIS is now live. Magic: The Gathering - link to the new Throne of Eldraine expansion mentioned at the top of the show. Look through the pretty new cards for some fantastic nods to classic fairy tales. Additional Material: Clue: The Movie - Tim Curry at his finest. Rated PG. As mentioned in the show, there are oblique references to a number of adult themes, but most are of the sort that will not be caught by children. Can't see the links? Podcatcher turning my painstaking labor into plaintext? Come visit the podcast page at https://played.podbean.com/ and get the full experience, complete with all the links in perfect functioning order. Intro and Outro Music: "Crunk Knight" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Other Music: Music from https://filmmusic.io"Hall of the Mountain King" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Music from https://filmmusic.io"One-eyed Maestro" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

This week, we continue our exploration of "Ancient Civilizations of the Inner Sea" with part 2 of our interview with the game designers Christopher Vorder Bruegge and Mark McLaughlin and game developer Fred Schachter. Tales from the convention table and wisdom won from years of game play help bring home the genius of this game: play can be as competitive or friendly as you wish it to be. In the end, it's not about winning or losing; it's about fun with the people playing at the table. Games Mentioned: Ancient Civilizations of the Inner Sea Princess Ryan's Space Marines Recommended Reading: The Aeneid For children's adaptations of the Aeneid, check out the show notes on Episode 15. Can't see the links? Podcatcher turning my painstaking labor into plaintext? Come visit the podcast page at https://played.podbean.com/ and get the full experience, complete with all the links in perfect functioning order. Intro and Outro Music: "Crunk Knight" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

This week begins a three part series on "Ancient Civilization of the Inner Sea", recently published from GMT Games. Join Chris and Laura as they gush over the gorgeous artwork and clearly written rules (seriously, we cannot emphasize enough how important those are), talk about a game mechanic inspired by an epic poem, and discuss how resilience and negotiation skills can be developed though the unpredictable game play. Be sure to listen through to the end. We have a brief sneak peak at our interview with game designers Christopher Vorder Bruegge and Mark McLaughlin and game developer Fred Schachter which we will be airing in the coming weeks. Recommended Games: Ancient Civilizations of the Inner Sea - This recently published game from GMT is a board game which abstracts the growth and competition of great civiilizations around the Mediterranean Sea during antiquity. Along with a link to purchase, GMT's game page contains tons of supplemental materials including players' aids, a living rule book, and numerous articles well worth reading. Civilization - The classic Avalon Hill game. Copies are most easily found on eBay. Sid Meier's Civilization - This video game series continues to grow and gain a following, proving that a fascination with the growth of civilizations is perennial. Recommended Viewing: How to Play Ancient Civilizations of the Inner Sea - This YouTube video is a must watch for new players. Game designer Mark McLaughlin walks viewers through a sample of game play, explaining the various phases of a turn and showing how tiles are placed, cards are played, competition is resolved, and victory points are tallied. Recommended Reading: The Aeneid for Boys and Girls - Alfred Church's retelling of the Aeneid simplifies the epic poem for younger readers. In Search of a Homeland - Gorgeous illustrations and moving prose help retelling the moving story of Aeneas as he undergoes trials and searches for a new home in the wake of the Trojan War. Can't see the links? Podcatcher turning my painstaking labor into plaintext? Come visit the podcast page at https://played.podbean.com/ and get the full experience, complete with all the links in perfect functioning order. Intro and Outro Music: "Crunk Knight" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

"No plan survives first contact intact." A useful aphorism, but how do you internalize the lesson and learn to deal with plans that go awry from the get-go? "It ain't over 'til it's over." How do you teach the value of perseverance and the reality that the tide can turn at any moment? "You have to play the hand you're dealt." Decisions are rarely made with perfect information, and even more rarely are problems solved with the ideal set of resources. How do you help kids learn to avoid "analysis paralysis" and work with the information and materials on hand? This week begins our series of deep dives into games we're playing to enrich our study of Roman History and equip our kids for living. "Commands and Colors: Ancients", a tabletop board wargame, not only makes historical battles come to life in a tangible way, but offers a starting point for learning valuable lessons in managing expectations and dealing with limited knowledge. Laura and Chris discuss game play, the value of studying battles within a wider history curriculum, why Commands and Colors' "fog of war" simulation is uniquely suited to helping develop decision making skills using imperfect information, and how to get the most out of a game session. Recommended Games: Commands & Colors Ancients – This ancient battle simulation is reasonably simple and fast playing, with many scenarios being playable within an hour once the rules are understood. The base game contains battles from the Punic Wars. Expansion #1: Greece vs. The Eastern Kingdoms - This expansion works well with studies of Greek and Hellenic history, but includes scenarios for conflicts between Greece and Rome. Expansions #2 & #3: Rome vs. The Barbarians and The Roman Civil Wars - These expansions cover Romes campaigns in Northern Europe and the critical period in the late Roman Republic that sets the stage for the development of the Roman Empire. Expansion #4: Imperial Rome - What it says on the tin. This expansion includes scenarios for the most significant battles during the imperial age. The focus shifts from Rome's expansion to the defense of the territory it has gained. Expansion #5: Epic Ancients II - This expansion is currently out of stock and currently in pre-order for a second print run. GMT Games P500 program gauges interest in future games and reprint runs through a pre-order program. Games that reach 500 pre-orders get slated for print run, and those who pre-ordered get the game at the P500 price, which is discounted from the retail price. As of the date of publication for this episode, Epic Ancients is approximately 100 pre-orders away from a second printing. If you're interested in playing this with a larger group, consider a P500 pre-order. Expansion #6: Spartan Army - This expansion is another one best suited for studies in Ancient Greek History. The focus is on the Spartan army between 669 and 338 BC, and includes the conflicts between Sparta and Argos, the Persian and Peloponnesian wars, and the decline of Sparta as Macedon grew in power. Vassal Module: Commands and Colors Ancients - If you're looking for a way to learn gameplay, the Vassal Engine provides a computer desktop display of the gameboard and opportunities to play with others online and by email. YouTube Tutorials - Along with simply searching the game title and particular scenarios (there are videos of nearly every scenario now), look here and here for excellent tutorials from Charlotte Area Historical Gaming. Can't see the links? Podcatcher turning my painstaking labor into plaintext? Come visit the podcast page at https://played.podbean.com/ and get the full experience, complete with all the links in perfect functioning order. Intro and Outro Music: "Crunk Knight" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Looking for a portable, fast-playing game that develops story-telling, arithmetic skills, and strategic thinking? Then "Gloom" is the answer. This week, Chris and Laura discuss this tabletop card game from Atlas Games and dive into game play, skills development, and common pitfalls in game play to be aware of. If you or your children love Victorian fiction, Edward Gorey, or A Series of Unfortunate Events, this might be up your alley. Recommended Games: Gloom - The core game. This is all you need to get started. Gloom Expansion Decks - If you love the core game, you can buy these individually or look for one of the bundled sets on Amazon. Expansions include Unhappy Homes, Unwelcome Guests, Unquiet Dead, and Unfortunate Expeditions. Cthulu Gloom - Based on H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulu Mythos, this game uses the core rules but alternate characters and events inspired by the classic tales of horror. Probably best to reserve for older high-schoolers. There is also an expansion deck, Unpleasant Dreams. Fairytale Gloom - This would be an excellent entry point for younger children. Fairytales can be dark. Perhaps Rapunzel Cried Wolf One Time Too Many. Will your characters live Unhappily Ever After? Munchkin Gloom - Based on the Munchkin series of card games from Steve Jackson games, this version uses a whimsical cartoon illustrations set in the pseudo-medieval world ubiquitous to fantasy roleplaying games. Rory's Story Cubes - A dice-based story telling game from Zygomatic. There are also numerous variant sets. Lord of the Rings Board Game - This is the version from 2000 from Fantasy Flight Games. Fun, cooperative, and fast paced. Also, unfortunately, out of print, but you can find copies on Amazon or Ebay in the used market. Recommended Reading: A Series of Unfortunate Events - Lemony Snicket's wildly popular saga of the Baudelaire children and their wicked uncle, Count Olaf, appropriately in 13 parts. Tales of Edgar Allen Poe - Atmospheric, gloomy, relentless. Both his poetry and tales of horror rely on a sense of growing dread and the reality that the worst things to be feared are found in the human heart. Or possibly in a raven that won't shut up. The Works of Edward Gorey - Especially his illustrations for Hillaire Belloc's Cautionary Tales for Children, but also his delightful story The Lavender Leotard, produced for the New York City Ballet. Karen Elizabeth Gordon - I mean, they're books for building vocabulary, improving grammatical usage, or punctuating with precision. And yet they're also decadent dives into Victorian excess, populated by gargoyles, mastodons, and murderous debutantes. I highly recommend The Deluxe Transitive Vampire, The New Well-Tempered Sentence, The Disheveled Dictionary, Out of the Loud Hound of Darkness, and Torn Wings and Faux Pas. The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place - (Link goes to the Kindle bundle of all 6 books.)The classic 19th century trope: a young, orphaned governess is brought to a mysterious manor to tutor the young wards of a nobleman; then the mysteries begin. Were the children raised by wolves? Is the family of the nobleman cursed? What really happened to the governess' own family? And why does her mentor insist she dye her hair dull black? Amidst useful aphorisms and classic poetry, these delightful tales will introduce children to 19th century literature and poetry and are a perfect complement to Gloom's themes. Can't see the links? Podcatcher turning my painstaking labor into plaintext? Come visit the podcast page at https://played.podbean.com/ and get the full experience, complete with all the links in perfect functioning order. Intro and Outro Music: "Crunk Knight" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

This week, Chris and Laura talk about games that work well on the go. Whether you're spending your summer at the pool, on the beach, or camping in the mountains, we have suggestions for ways to keep cabin fever at bay. Recommended Games: Magic: the Gathering - If you've never played before, starter decks and the most recent rules are easily acquired. If you played 20 years ago, and aren't interested in tournament play, Ebay is your friend and you can easily acquire large numbers of older cards from whatever era you preferred to play in. Pente - With a roll up board, Pente needs very little storage space and has simple rules that can be taught quickly. Scopa - You're looking for a standard, 40-card deck like this one. You can find rules for Scopa and other traditional Italian card games here, or buy a book to refer to. Also, here's an free app to play the game on your phone (a good way to learn the basics of the game.) Suggested Resources for Learning Games: Games to Play at the Pool - Can't remember the rules to Sharks and Minnows? No problem. This article reviews several popular pool games which you can teach your kids in a few minutes. Card Games - This is one of the most comprehensive collections of card game rules I have found. A standard poker deck is the beginning point for most of these, easily found at any drugstore or grocery. Rummy, War, Twenty-one, Go Fish, and Old Maid are all excellent games to start with. Can't see the links? Podcatcher turning my painstaking labor into plaintext? Come visit the podcast page at https://played.podbean.com/ and get the full experience, complete with all the links in perfect functioning order. Intro and Outro Music: "Crunk Knight" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

This week, Chris and Laura continue the conversation about adapting roleplaying games for younger children. We give concrete suggestions for choosing game systems and settings, ways to make the game fun and accessible, and, as usual, tell lots of stories. Recommended Games: Cavemaster - This stone age roleplaying game can easily be adapted for younger players, and will work whether their interest is paleontology or the Ice Age movies. Descent: Journeys in the Dark Dungeon! Dungeons & Dragons - This is the fantasy roleplaying game we play the most. We primarily use Basic and Expert rules, with occasional homebrew additions from the first edition of Advanced Dungeons and Dragons. Hard copies of the rule books, as well as tons of adventure modules, can be found on eBay or used books sites. Show notes for Part 2 will include links to modern "retro clones" which use similar rule sets. We prefer the "sandbox" style play of the earlier editions of the game because they are more flexible for open-ended play. Flashing Blades - Looking for something more like The Three Musketeers? Love Errol Flynn and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. movies? This is the game to try. Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game- Title says it all. This is an anniversary edition of the original game. Fantasy Flight Games now publishes several others taking place in different eras of the Galaxy Far Far Away as well, but we are partial to the earlier edition for sentimental reasons. Can't see the links? Podcatcher turning my painstaking labor into plaintext? Come visit the podcast page at https://played.podbean.com/ and get the full experience, complete with all the links in perfect functioning order. Intro and Outro Music: "Crunk Knight" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

This week, Chris and Laura discuss what to look for when choosing a game for children who are not yet strong readers and realize that most of their favorites are made by Ravensburger. If you have small children and want to find a game that's a little more engaging and replayable than Candyland, this is the show for you. Recommended Games: Carcassone Carcassone (Star Wars Edition) Castle Panic Catan Junior Kids of Catan (Link is to Amazon. You might want to check Ebay as well. Pricey now that it's an out-of-print collectible.) Enchanted Forest Labyrinth Rivers, Roads, & Rails Can't see the links? Podcatcher turning my painstaking labor into plaintext? Come visit the podcast page at https://played.podbean.com/ and get the full experience, complete with all the links in perfect functioning order. Intro and Outro Music: "Crunk Knight" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

In this week's episode Chris and Laura discuss cooperation and competition in games, the value each can bring to the learning experience, how to help younger players deal with loss, and why all games can be cooperative from a certain point of view. Recommended Games: Castle Panic Chess Diplomacy Dominant Species Dungeons & Dragons* Forbidden Island Risk *Dungeons & Dragons, and particularly the adaptations we make for younger players, will require it's own episode. For now, feel free to write us for our recommendations. Can't see the links? Podcatcher turning my painstaking labor into plaintext? Come visit the podcast page at https://played.podbean.com/ and get the full experience, complete with all the links in perfect functioning order. Intro and Outro Music: "Crunk Knight" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/