Rolling Dice & Taking Names Gaming Podcast

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Starcraft The Board Game and Forbidden Stars are still two of our favorite games. But both are long out of print and have no more support. We are excited to hear the systems the we loved in those games are back with Old Ones: Origins. We talk about length with the designer, Samuel Bailey, about the process of bringing a version of Forbidden Stars back to the market, the process to do so, the changes to theme and the gameplay. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

00:00:30 Intro00:04:45 Recent RDTN Poll00:14:00 LOTR: Fellowship of the Ring Trick Taking Game00:17:00 Quick Hits00:17:30 Sandcastles00:19:45 Gruntz00:22:11 Computer Junkyard00:27:45 Enemies of Gotham City00:32:15 Six Sided Seas00:36:15 Miniature Market00:39:00 Abroad00:53:30 Bunny Kingdom Town00:59:30 Game Toppers LLC01:01:00 All Mine01:10:00 Outro Some game nights feel like a whirlwind tour through every corner of the hobby, and this week’s lineup delivered exactly that. Sand Castles and Grunts are two wildly different flavors of competition—one a charming, tactical puzzle of building and defending fragile seaside creations, the other a scrappy, tongue‑in‑cheek skirmish game where your squad of blocky little soldiers bumbles bravely toward victory. Both games share that delightful “easy to teach, surprisingly clever” vibe that keep things fresh in the hobby at times. Then we have world of Computer Junkyard and the comic‑book chaos of Enemies of Gotham City. Computer Junkyard scratches that nostalgic itch, letting players sift through piles of retro tech to assemble the best contraptions—half strategy, half puzzler. Enemies of Gotham City flips the script into full superhero mayhem, where iconic villains clash, plot, and posture in a fast‑moving battle of wits and wickedness. Then there is a trio of games that each bring their own distinct charm. Six Sided Seas turns dice‑driven piracy into a pirate battle across unpredictable waters, while Abroad offers a gentle, globe‑trotting experience built around exploration and cultural discovery. Bunny Kingdom Town offers a bright, two player, family‑friendly strategy—one about expanding adorable rabbit realms, with enough take‑that spice to keep it from being a solitaire style game. All Mine is a gamer’s trick taking game where the play is fast, but the planning is what wants you coming back for more. This is one of those games that stays in the game bag to be pulled out to end the evening or get things started. And speaking of big swings, this is the perfect moment to remind listeners to sign up for notifications on Game Toppers’ upcoming Kickstarter. We rave about their mats for a reason—the quality is top‑tier, the artwork is stunning, and this next series looks like one people will be proud to show off on game night. We’ve already got our eyes on the Lord of the Rings designs, and that purple plain mat is calling our name. Honestly, who doesn’t need another game mat. Thanks for listening Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

00:01:00 Intro00:02:00 SWU Vegas00:15:00 SFGE00:20:00 1775: Rebellion00:25:00 Las Vegas00:27:30 Ashes Ascendency: Natural Magic Expansion00:29:30 New Twin Suns Decks00:32:00 Miniature Market00:33:00 Hunt for Blackbeard00:49:30 Gen Con Thoughts00:56:00 Outro We kicked things off at the Star Wars Unlimited Galactic Championship in Las Vegas, not as competitors in the main event but as fans soaking in the convention atmosphere and jumping into SWU games with some of the best players in the world during their breaks. The vibe at every table was incredible—full of camaraderie, excitement, and a shared love for a truly outstanding trading card game. No matter your skill level, players were patient, welcoming, and happy to walk you through plays in the side events. Now, the main event, that was all business. One more thing worth noting: the crowd spanned all ages, including families, which was great to see. Next year’s event is heading to Disneyland, so if you’re thinking about going, start planning now! While we were in Vegas, we also tried a new game from Fort Circle Games: Hunt for Blackbeard. It’s a two‑player hidden‑movement game that really picks up speed once you understand the action flow, and the tension spikes beautifully in the final two rounds. The rules take a bit to settle in, but by the second playthrough we had it down. And if Blackbeard’s history isn’t familiar to you, keep reading below. Blackbeard, born Edward Teach around 1680 in Bristol, England, became one of the most feared and legendary pirates of the Golden Age of Piracy, terrorizing the Caribbean and the Atlantic coast between 1716 and 1718. Known for his dramatic appearance—most famously his long black beard and the smoldering fuses he tied into it to intimidate enemies—he commanded the formidable Queen Anne’s Revenge, a 40‑gun warship crewed by hundreds of men. Blackbeard’s exploits included blockading Charleston, capturing merchant vessels, and cultivating a fearsome reputation that often allowed him to win without violence. He also operated with a small fleet that included the Adventure, a sloop commanded by his lieutenant Israel Hands, as well as smaller vessels such as the Margaret and the Sea Captain. His pirating career was short-lived, ending in November 1718 when he was killed in a fierce battle at Ocracoke Island, NC by Lieutenant Robert Maynard’s forces, cementing his place as one of history’s most iconic pirates. Thanks for listening Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

00:01:00 Intro00:06:45 Southeast Game Exchange00:14:45 Quick Hits00:16:00 Guerre Eclair00:19:00 Tap 400:25:00 Crits & Tricks00:32:00 Traveluencer00:36:00 Taste Buds00:41:30 Portal Games00:43:15 Dogfight: 191700:43:30 Container01:09:30 Miniature Market01:11:00 Moonrollers01:17:00 Outro Welcome back to the podcast blog, tabletop fans! Today, we’re diving into a lineup that spans high-flying dogfights, historical blitzkriegs, and economic struggles. If you love razor-thin margins and tactical positioning, you’ll want to look at Dogfight 1917 and Guerre Éclair. Dogfight 1917 drops you straight into the skies over the Western Front, where every maneuver card forces you to anticipate your rival’s path to line up that perfect shot. Meanwhile, Yasushi Nakaguro’s Guerre Éclair condenses the 1940 Fall of France into a tense, card-driven duel of deception and momentum. The German player pushes armored breakthroughs with hidden operational plans while the Allies scramble to hold fragile defenses, delivering deep strategic tension in a crisp 45 minutes. For players who prefer fighting over profit margins, Container delivers incredible table presence. Container remains the undisputed king of closed-economy board games, where players produce goods, set dockside prices, and operate shipping vessels. Because every price, purchase, and subsidy is entirely player-driven, a single miscalculated shipment can trigger a hilarious, full-blown economic recession at your table. On the lighter side when just need to roll dice, Moonrollers brings the sleek sci-fi universe of Moonrakers into a fast-paced push-your-luck dice chucker. Captains roll dice to fulfill crew contracts, juggling hazardous bonus points against the very real danger of busting and walking away with nothing. This game provides the necessary dice manipulation that we expect in our push-your-luck games. Thanks for listening, we really do appreciate the support. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

00:00:40 Intro00:15:30 Portal Games00:17:00 Cthulhu: Dark Providence00:38:30 Campy Creatures00:44:15 The Gilded Realms01:13::00 Miniature Market01:14:00 Fantasy Realms: Greek Legends01:20:00 Outro A long time ago, we got to play the game A Study in Emerald, so we were very interested in the reimplementation. Cthulhu Dark Providence plunges players into a tense, investigative struggle against cosmic dread, blending noir‑style mystery with the creeping inevitability of Lovecraftian horror. The game uses the combination of tight resource decisions, escalating threats, and growing insanity that make every choice feel like a step deeper into the abyss. But is it better than what we remember, take a listen to find out. Campy Creatures and Fantasy Realms: Greek Legends offer a wildly different moods, each with its own charm. Campy Creatures is a fast, clever bluffing game where you command classic movie monsters to outwit rival mad scientists. Fantasy Realms: Greek Legends adds mythic flair to the beloved combo‑building formula, letting players craft powerful hands inspired by gods, heroes, and legendary artifacts. Together, these games form a vibrant spectrum—from spooky pulp fun to grand fantasy world‑building—each scratching a different strategic itch. The Gilded Realms blends city‑building with a clever, almost puzzle‑like tableau system that evolves every round. Cards you place steadily march downward through your tableau, and when they reach the bottom, they convert into precious resources—fuel for expanding your kingdom, unlocking card abilities, or mustering an army before the looming invasion arrives. That slow, predictable cadence creates a satisfying rhythm: every placement is an investment, every advancement a small payoff, and every turn a chance to set up something bigger. Interaction is light, with only the occasional skirmish to break the solitude, so most of the tension comes from managing your own tight economy. Resources never feel abundant, and the game constantly nudges you toward tough, meaningful decisions about what to prioritize and what to sacrifice. If you enjoy kingdom builders that reward planning, efficiency, and a touch of long‑term foresight, The Gilded Realms is absolutely worth exploring. Thanks for listening, we really do appreciate it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices