1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:05,200 Hey guys, and welcome to episode 156 of Meeple to Meeple. 2 00:00:05,240 --> 00:00:09,160 It is a new year and man, there is so much to talk about. 3 00:00:09,160 --> 00:00:11,520 First of all, I hope you've been enjoying the content creator 4 00:00:11,520 --> 00:00:14,640 series, which just ended with Jerry last week. 5 00:00:14,840 --> 00:00:18,560 So it's 12 episodes, but don't worry, I think that that's what 6 00:00:18,560 --> 00:00:19,800 the podcast is going to look like. 7 00:00:19,800 --> 00:00:22,280 You're going to see more of it. It just won't be a series. 8 00:00:22,360 --> 00:00:26,440 So you keep watching. So today a couple things I want 9 00:00:26,440 --> 00:00:29,600 to let you know we're in the second week of January. 10 00:00:29,800 --> 00:00:32,960 It's 2026. You could see who my guest 11 00:00:32,960 --> 00:00:38,320 sitting next to me here. I'm hoping I am hoping to put 12 00:00:38,320 --> 00:00:42,720 you in a better mood as we look back at 2025. 13 00:00:42,880 --> 00:00:45,320 With that in mind, there's something I'd like to tell all 14 00:00:45,320 --> 00:00:49,240 of you on November 23rd. So for those of you in the US, 15 00:00:49,240 --> 00:00:52,440 you know, this was Thanksgiving week for everyone outside of the 16 00:00:52,680 --> 00:00:55,080 US. It's when we in US spent 17 00:00:55,080 --> 00:00:57,400 celebrate Thanksgiving. I had to go to the emergency 18 00:00:57,400 --> 00:01:01,520 room and I spent two weeks in the hospital, had two surgeries, 19 00:01:01,600 --> 00:01:03,560 and so I've been recovering through Christmas. 20 00:01:03,560 --> 00:01:06,640 What that means is that this entire content creator series 21 00:01:06,640 --> 00:01:10,240 that you've been watching and enjoying, I recorded all of them 22 00:01:10,240 --> 00:01:13,880 back in October. And thank God I did because I 23 00:01:13,880 --> 00:01:17,800 didn't know I was going to be sick for as long as I was, but 24 00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:19,760 I'm OK. Those of you who know, thank you 25 00:01:19,760 --> 00:01:24,840 for well wishes, cards, comments on Instagram, even I'm going to 26 00:01:24,840 --> 00:01:27,880 give a shout out to Jerry. He sent me a package with three 27 00:01:27,880 --> 00:01:30,800 games because he knew I was recovering at home just so that 28 00:01:30,800 --> 00:01:34,680 my wife and I had something to do so I wasn't lying in bed all 29 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:36,520 the time. I don't recommend it. 30 00:01:36,720 --> 00:01:40,040 But today we're going to look back at 2025 and I brought Dana 31 00:01:40,240 --> 00:01:44,400 from Better Mood Board Games to put me and all of you in a 32 00:01:44,400 --> 00:01:46,080 better mood. Dana, how are you? 33 00:01:46,080 --> 00:01:50,720 Oh my gosh, I'm so good. I'm so honored to be here. 34 00:01:50,720 --> 00:01:53,520 Thank you so much because this is the first time ever on a 35 00:01:53,520 --> 00:01:56,760 podcast and it's like, what better way to start with someone 36 00:01:56,760 --> 00:02:00,600 that I feel like is my brother? Dana was so excited. 37 00:02:00,800 --> 00:02:02,440 She's wants to put us in a better mood. 38 00:02:02,440 --> 00:02:05,520 She had to like, blank out her camera because she's just 39 00:02:05,560 --> 00:02:09,400 thrilled to be here. I blacked out, checked out 40 00:02:09,440 --> 00:02:12,040 because I was so excited. And I love it and thank you. 41 00:02:12,120 --> 00:02:15,280 Thank you for joining me. You're so welcome, thank you for 42 00:02:15,280 --> 00:02:17,400 having me. You and I have been chatting for 43 00:02:17,400 --> 00:02:19,320 a while and you've been really encouraging to me. 44 00:02:19,320 --> 00:02:21,040 I was getting rather discouraged. 45 00:02:21,040 --> 00:02:24,640 And yeah, and so you were like, well, let's just let's start the 46 00:02:24,640 --> 00:02:27,240 new year, right? Put everybody in a better mood. 47 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:28,720 Absolutely. Right. 48 00:02:29,320 --> 00:02:32,720 The truth is, we all go through so many things. 49 00:02:32,960 --> 00:02:35,480 So many things. I mean, I'm so grateful to know 50 00:02:35,480 --> 00:02:37,560 you're doing OK. I'm so grateful to see your 51 00:02:37,560 --> 00:02:39,680 smiling face right across from me. 52 00:02:39,800 --> 00:02:43,960 And like for the viewer or for the listeners, PJ just made the 53 00:02:43,960 --> 00:02:46,160 best smiling face ever, which made me laugh. 54 00:02:46,200 --> 00:02:49,160 But ultimately, we need each other. 55 00:02:49,160 --> 00:02:54,120 And you've helped me many a time come out of some some ruts. 56 00:02:54,120 --> 00:02:57,880 So this is a friendship and the blessings of this community. 57 00:02:57,880 --> 00:03:01,960 I mean, we get to be what what it's called a community for each 58 00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:02,800 other. So thank you. 59 00:03:03,000 --> 00:03:05,160 Yeah. Thank you so much. 60 00:03:05,640 --> 00:03:06,160 Cheers. Can we? 61 00:03:06,160 --> 00:03:07,560 Cheers. We should. 62 00:03:07,560 --> 00:03:08,760 Cheers. Let's cheers. 63 00:03:08,760 --> 00:03:10,480 There we go. There we go. 64 00:03:10,480 --> 00:03:12,200 All right, It's just coffee, guys. 65 00:03:12,280 --> 00:03:15,440 Can we do like a slurp? I mean, that's a good one. 66 00:03:15,520 --> 00:03:19,360 That was good. Oh yeah, that that's a recap of 67 00:03:19,360 --> 00:03:20,920 2025. Thanks for listening. 68 00:03:21,760 --> 00:03:24,000 Yeah, to be fair, 2025 just kind of ended. 69 00:03:24,520 --> 00:03:27,000 That's more like how it ended. The year was good. 70 00:03:27,040 --> 00:03:32,920 And as a result, there were a ton, a ton of new games that 71 00:03:32,920 --> 00:03:37,960 came out in 2025. And Dana was kind enough to join 72 00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:40,320 me. And we we've picked 10. 73 00:03:40,520 --> 00:03:42,560 How about that? A top 10? 74 00:03:42,760 --> 00:03:44,360 PJS 5. Yeah. 75 00:03:45,400 --> 00:03:46,560 It's going to be great. It's going. 76 00:03:46,560 --> 00:03:47,560 To be juicy. Juicy. 77 00:03:47,560 --> 00:03:49,280 I don't know. I don't know how juicy. 78 00:03:50,640 --> 00:03:53,840 Like I cannot wait to listen about what you have to say about 79 00:03:53,840 --> 00:03:55,400 each one. Well, I'm excited to hear about 80 00:03:55,400 --> 00:03:57,840 yours. You've got, you've got, you have 81 00:03:57,840 --> 00:03:58,760 two of them. What? 82 00:03:58,760 --> 00:04:00,280 You have one I've never heard of. 83 00:04:00,440 --> 00:04:04,200 You have two of them that I've not yet gotten a copy or played, 84 00:04:04,960 --> 00:04:07,120 and then there's one on your list that was on mine, but I 85 00:04:07,120 --> 00:04:10,840 kicked it off my list, so. So we have no crossovers for all 86 00:04:11,520 --> 00:04:13,640 all who are here. Which is pretty amazing. 87 00:04:13,840 --> 00:04:17,519 Which is pretty amazing. I would point my listeners back 88 00:04:17,519 --> 00:04:21,320 to I should have wrote it down. I don't remember the episode 89 00:04:21,320 --> 00:04:23,880 Adam from Tabletop Vibes and I, we did. 90 00:04:23,920 --> 00:04:27,040 We did a 2 episodes. We did a look back at 24 and 91 00:04:27,040 --> 00:04:31,280 then we did a look ahead to 25. You all should listen to that 92 00:04:31,280 --> 00:04:35,560 one and see if my picks coincide with what I was looking forward 93 00:04:35,560 --> 00:04:37,640 to. Now that the year's over, did 94 00:04:37,760 --> 00:04:40,120 what I choose make it or not? Yes. 95 00:04:40,520 --> 00:04:43,200 That's who knows that. Would be a good lesson and shout 96 00:04:43,240 --> 00:04:45,480 out to Adam. Yes, Adam. 97 00:04:45,480 --> 00:04:49,920 Love you, Adam. Yeah, now I know some of you 98 00:04:49,920 --> 00:04:51,400 were probably like, well, Oh my God. 99 00:04:51,400 --> 00:04:54,520 But Dana's on for the first time and we love Dana, and you'd 100 00:04:54,520 --> 00:04:58,240 probably love me to do the interview that I've been doing 101 00:04:58,240 --> 00:05:00,000 with everyone else for the last 12 weeks. 102 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:03,400 But the reality is, is that Dana's one who you're someone 103 00:05:03,600 --> 00:05:06,040 you don't even need. Everyone knows you, everyone 104 00:05:06,040 --> 00:05:08,480 loves you. You got a shout out like almost 105 00:05:08,480 --> 00:05:12,400 in every single episode of my content creator series. 106 00:05:13,480 --> 00:05:15,080 Almost. Almost. 107 00:05:15,080 --> 00:05:17,040 Will We know that Reggie. Reggie shot. 108 00:05:17,040 --> 00:05:19,120 Yeah. Timely. 109 00:05:20,080 --> 00:05:22,680 And then Sarah from Sarah always loses. 110 00:05:23,000 --> 00:05:26,760 I love Sarah. I'm trying to think who else 111 00:05:26,760 --> 00:05:28,520 because we talked, a lot of people brought. 112 00:05:28,560 --> 00:05:30,600 You up. I felt so loved. 113 00:05:30,720 --> 00:05:35,320 And one thing that Sarah said that really moved me was that 114 00:05:35,320 --> 00:05:37,800 she was like, Dana doesn't gatekeep. 115 00:05:37,960 --> 00:05:41,400 Like she'll help you. And I do want to tell everyone 116 00:05:41,400 --> 00:05:45,120 listening absolutely if you have any questions about anything I 117 00:05:45,120 --> 00:05:46,320 do. Which I'm not. 118 00:05:46,320 --> 00:05:50,360 Like, I know, I know that she said the Queen of Reals or 119 00:05:50,360 --> 00:05:54,400 somebody said that. No, no, we're not there yet, but 120 00:05:54,480 --> 00:05:59,240 thank you too, Crown achieved. But I'm always willing to help 121 00:05:59,440 --> 00:06:02,680 and I would love to like I love talking shop, one of my favorite 122 00:06:02,680 --> 00:06:03,400 things. Yep. 123 00:06:03,640 --> 00:06:06,880 Well, I think you are the queen of reels. 124 00:06:06,880 --> 00:06:11,360 Your work is amazing and as I said, my conversation with 125 00:06:11,360 --> 00:06:12,960 Reggie, you do it all with your iPhone. 126 00:06:13,840 --> 00:06:14,920 Yeah. You know you don't have a big, 127 00:06:14,920 --> 00:06:18,560 you have a big fancy setup. I know, I know, I'm obsessing 128 00:06:18,560 --> 00:06:21,640 over updating my studio for the new year. 129 00:06:21,720 --> 00:06:25,000 I know that some of our friends in the content creator community 130 00:06:25,160 --> 00:06:28,360 got, you know, they got fancy equipment for Christmas. 131 00:06:28,360 --> 00:06:31,040 Definitely. I get it, but you do it. 132 00:06:31,040 --> 00:06:33,680 Without it, you're like Nope. On my iPhone now. 133 00:06:34,000 --> 00:06:37,600 I love so you you also you find a corner of your house where 134 00:06:37,600 --> 00:06:39,440 there's sunlight coming through a lot, right? 135 00:06:39,440 --> 00:06:41,240 Because you use a lot of. Right next to. 136 00:06:41,240 --> 00:06:42,800 Yep, right next to the window right now. 137 00:06:43,400 --> 00:06:46,560 And I would point everyone back to the very first episode in the 138 00:06:46,560 --> 00:06:49,160 content creator series, and that was with Bandzinator. 139 00:06:50,840 --> 00:06:54,040 So she's in the Southern California area. 140 00:06:54,040 --> 00:06:56,800 And I think she talked about really briefly, she does a lot 141 00:06:56,800 --> 00:07:00,560 of content like outside, she goes out into the desert and 142 00:07:00,560 --> 00:07:02,960 like sets up a table or something and does something for 143 00:07:02,960 --> 00:07:04,720 all that natural sunlight. Man, I don't want natural 144 00:07:04,720 --> 00:07:07,120 sunlight. Well, except for recently, 145 00:07:07,280 --> 00:07:09,120 Southern California's had a lot of rain. 146 00:07:09,280 --> 00:07:13,000 So to all of our friends, some of whom were on the show, Grant 147 00:07:13,000 --> 00:07:16,760 Lyons, Amanda Panda, Lincoln, Hop Vanzenator, you're all in 148 00:07:16,760 --> 00:07:19,840 the Southern California region. Our thoughts are with you as you 149 00:07:19,840 --> 00:07:21,400 endure all the rain and flooding. 150 00:07:21,560 --> 00:07:25,320 Hope there's no mud slides. And of course, you know, we, we 151 00:07:25,320 --> 00:07:27,920 just, you know, love you guys. I did. 152 00:07:28,040 --> 00:07:31,880 You had such an amazing lineup this past year. 153 00:07:32,000 --> 00:07:35,400 I mean, I know we're doing like top ten games, but can we just? 154 00:07:35,440 --> 00:07:40,200 Say like we're looking back. 2025 was an amazing year of all 155 00:07:40,200 --> 00:07:44,240 these amazing gamers and content creators. 156 00:07:44,240 --> 00:07:46,720 It was awesome. It was awesome to listen and 157 00:07:46,720 --> 00:07:48,560 watch. It was great. 158 00:07:48,800 --> 00:07:52,520 I got, I got. I'm still, it's still floors me 159 00:07:52,520 --> 00:07:58,360 that I got Pete Fenlan, the CEO of Catan Studios on my show. 160 00:07:58,520 --> 00:08:01,240 Like that was crazy. And then when I went into the 161 00:08:01,240 --> 00:08:05,000 meeting at Gen. Con and talked to the COO and 162 00:08:05,000 --> 00:08:09,360 the CE, the COO and the CFI don't know important people in 163 00:08:09,360 --> 00:08:11,320 Catan. Like they they knew about my 164 00:08:11,320 --> 00:08:13,400 little podcast. I'm like, what? 165 00:08:13,440 --> 00:08:15,920 Jackie Fox came on to talk about rock. 166 00:08:15,960 --> 00:08:17,880 I saw that. I saw that. 167 00:08:18,080 --> 00:08:19,920 Or Jackie. Kidding me? 168 00:08:19,920 --> 00:08:22,640 That was incredible. Incredible. 169 00:08:22,640 --> 00:08:24,680 What a joy. Absolutely. 170 00:08:24,680 --> 00:08:26,440 That just I was, I was really impressed. 171 00:08:26,440 --> 00:08:29,120 And there's some other designers who have reached out to me, 172 00:08:29,240 --> 00:08:31,480 other publishers who have reached out to me and said we 173 00:08:31,480 --> 00:08:34,159 want to work with you. So I'm like, OK, I'm doing 174 00:08:34,159 --> 00:08:37,600 something right. Yes, absolutely, PJ, honor that, 175 00:08:38,280 --> 00:08:40,919 they clap. That Yeah, yes. 176 00:08:40,960 --> 00:08:45,880 So yeah, like it says right above me, game on, game on. 177 00:08:46,480 --> 00:08:51,760 It's all about that. So tell me your first game of 178 00:08:51,760 --> 00:08:54,720 2025 that you acquired and enjoy. 179 00:08:54,960 --> 00:08:57,560 That I acquired and enjoyed or in my top five. 180 00:08:57,680 --> 00:09:00,560 Well, in that your top five, I assume you own them and play 181 00:09:00,600 --> 00:09:03,360 them. Well I when you said acquired, I 182 00:09:03,360 --> 00:09:05,960 was like, wait, what was my first game I acquired in 20? 183 00:09:06,160 --> 00:09:12,160 No, I met on your list. OK, well I am here PJ fully 184 00:09:12,160 --> 00:09:13,200 present. Let's go. 185 00:09:13,520 --> 00:09:17,000 Number 5 was actually one that you mentioned that you never 186 00:09:17,000 --> 00:09:19,240 heard of, which I'm shocked, but I'm going to show it to you. 187 00:09:19,680 --> 00:09:22,880 It is Hot Streak. That is quite a long. 188 00:09:22,880 --> 00:09:27,520 OK, let me show you this game. This game is from CMYK. 189 00:09:27,840 --> 00:09:31,480 They're the ones that brought you the reskin of quacks. 190 00:09:31,760 --> 00:09:33,440 They're the ones that brought you spots. 191 00:09:33,560 --> 00:09:37,800 If you're familiar with Fuzzies, they just make the colorful 192 00:09:37,800 --> 00:09:43,400 poppin eye candy of a game. But they made this party game of 193 00:09:43,440 --> 00:09:48,160 it's just stupid fun. It's mascots racing each other 194 00:09:48,640 --> 00:09:51,720 and you're placing bets on who's going to win, but it's super 195 00:09:51,720 --> 00:09:54,200 chaotic. It's really hilarious. 196 00:09:54,240 --> 00:09:57,760 But the coolest thing about this is they have this on. 197 00:09:57,800 --> 00:09:58,800 You're probably going to hear it. 198 00:09:59,040 --> 00:10:02,880 Hopefully my mic will pick it up this vinyl board. 199 00:10:03,240 --> 00:10:06,520 Wow. Holes out and that is like 200 00:10:06,520 --> 00:10:10,280 something spectacular. It's like, I feel like every 201 00:10:10,280 --> 00:10:12,920 year games just get more and more. 202 00:10:13,680 --> 00:10:14,960 Yes. Do you feel that way? 203 00:10:15,120 --> 00:10:17,560 Oh, no, absolutely, absolutely. I'm going to. 204 00:10:17,640 --> 00:10:20,520 I'm going to tell you a story when we get to my honorable 205 00:10:20,520 --> 00:10:21,960 mention. I can't wait. 206 00:10:22,240 --> 00:10:25,720 That is directly about that. Look at this moving the style. 207 00:10:25,720 --> 00:10:29,320 You can bring the vinyl play mat all the way up. 208 00:10:29,520 --> 00:10:32,960 It's super fun. The mascots are like these large 209 00:10:32,960 --> 00:10:35,600 minis. There's real paper money. 210 00:10:35,720 --> 00:10:40,200 Can I put that so guys who guys who are on Spotify and you're 211 00:10:40,200 --> 00:10:45,280 just listening and you can't see so the box has a retractable 212 00:10:45,280 --> 00:10:49,160 vinyl banner. Yep, like you would see in a on 213 00:10:49,160 --> 00:10:52,440 a display, but instead of it going vertical, it's horizontal. 214 00:10:52,640 --> 00:10:55,880 And that's the play mat and the sound you we were hearing is the 215 00:10:55,880 --> 00:10:59,080 dial rolling it back up into the box. 216 00:10:59,240 --> 00:11:03,440 Like yeah, we had a game that OK, it's not on my list. 217 00:11:03,480 --> 00:11:05,560 I'll do a quick mention. It's not an honorable mention. 218 00:11:05,720 --> 00:11:11,640 So Legend Academy by El Dorado Games, they it's a campaign game 219 00:11:11,640 --> 00:11:14,560 where you're playing a character from literature, Alice in 220 00:11:14,560 --> 00:11:17,760 Wonderland, etcetera, a Paul Bunyan, things of that nature 221 00:11:17,760 --> 00:11:21,120 and you're in training to be calm that character. 222 00:11:21,360 --> 00:11:25,400 The box folds out and the board that you play on is attached to 223 00:11:25,400 --> 00:11:27,240 the box and. I love that. 224 00:11:27,560 --> 00:11:29,880 I love when you're doing that because otherwise you have like 225 00:11:29,880 --> 00:11:32,160 this box lid that's got to go over there. 226 00:11:32,160 --> 00:11:34,240 And totally. You know, that's really. 227 00:11:34,240 --> 00:11:36,840 Cool, amazing. And it was just really fun. 228 00:11:36,840 --> 00:11:40,000 I got to play it with my nephew who is like 6. 229 00:11:40,160 --> 00:11:44,040 I don't even think the age range is 4 that young, but he 230 00:11:44,040 --> 00:11:47,640 understood it, picked it up like that and it was just it was so 231 00:11:47,640 --> 00:11:51,440 funny and ridiculous. I mean some cards like make the 232 00:11:51,440 --> 00:11:54,840 mascots fall over, trample on each other. 233 00:11:54,840 --> 00:11:57,480 I mean, it's just like chaotic stupid fun. 234 00:11:57,760 --> 00:11:59,680 I love it. I love that. 235 00:11:59,680 --> 00:12:04,160 That is fantastic. So you said it's a party game. 236 00:12:04,160 --> 00:12:06,200 What's the player count on that? You know what, let me look it 237 00:12:06,200 --> 00:12:07,920 up. Guess I should. 238 00:12:08,440 --> 00:12:10,520 I should. Thinking it's 6, but maybe it's 239 00:12:10,520 --> 00:12:13,080 more you never you never can tell. 240 00:12:13,080 --> 00:12:16,720 Let's look these oh. You are so good, PJ. 241 00:12:17,360 --> 00:12:19,920 Is it small? Is it 62 to 6:00? 242 00:12:19,960 --> 00:12:23,200 2:00 to 9:00. 2 to 9. Whoa. 243 00:12:23,480 --> 00:12:28,200 Yeah, and it comes with the four painted mascot minis. 244 00:12:28,240 --> 00:12:32,240 But you know, one person can play as the one who moves all 245 00:12:32,240 --> 00:12:34,920 the mascots. Another person can play as the 246 00:12:35,240 --> 00:12:37,360 bookie with all the money and stuff. 247 00:12:37,360 --> 00:12:41,320 So everyone's involved. Even with nine people I did not 248 00:12:41,320 --> 00:12:43,280 play it. The nine player count, the 249 00:12:43,280 --> 00:12:45,640 highest I've ever played I think was 4 so. 250 00:12:45,880 --> 00:12:48,400 But it's a good time. That sounds fun. 251 00:12:48,440 --> 00:12:50,800 That actually sounds fun. I'm thinking about my family 252 00:12:50,800 --> 00:12:53,240 when we get together my my niece and nephew. 253 00:12:53,240 --> 00:12:55,120 That would be that would be kind of exciting. 254 00:12:55,240 --> 00:12:57,920 Now did you you're you're 5. Are they ranked like this? 255 00:12:57,920 --> 00:13:00,520 Is your number 5 or you know what are they in? 256 00:13:00,520 --> 00:13:02,440 No. Are they in no order or are they 257 00:13:02,440 --> 00:13:04,440 in? They they are in order. 258 00:13:04,480 --> 00:13:09,360 I I spent making this list and just like trying to, I had to 259 00:13:09,360 --> 00:13:13,040 take out some because they were almost a little too similar and 260 00:13:13,600 --> 00:13:16,600 I was like, I should probably have some unique ones in the top 261 00:13:16,600 --> 00:13:18,400 five and so. This is my. 262 00:13:18,400 --> 00:13:22,960 Only party style game that I think is deemed worthy of 263 00:13:22,960 --> 00:13:25,120 everyone checking out. It is so much fun. 264 00:13:25,560 --> 00:13:27,520 Okay, well I'm going to bring it to you. 265 00:13:28,120 --> 00:13:31,000 I grew this list up in about 5 minutes. 266 00:13:32,400 --> 00:13:36,480 I am not ranked them at all. There's there's no order. 267 00:13:36,520 --> 00:13:39,400 I'm not a big fan of game rankings. 268 00:13:39,560 --> 00:13:42,560 I don't normally do top 10s. Everyone else does it, some 269 00:13:42,560 --> 00:13:46,280 better than others. I just, I, I don't think it's 270 00:13:46,280 --> 00:13:49,720 fair to the games. Like I have a clear emotional 271 00:13:49,720 --> 00:13:52,320 connection. Yeah, I have a clear. 272 00:13:52,320 --> 00:13:54,880 I have a clear favorite. We all know my favorite. 273 00:13:55,000 --> 00:13:57,440 I mention it in every single episode. 274 00:13:57,440 --> 00:13:58,920 I'm going to mention it right now. 275 00:13:58,920 --> 00:14:01,520 Dan Halligan, we love you. Obsession. 276 00:14:01,960 --> 00:14:03,040 Absolutely. I mean my favorite. 277 00:14:03,040 --> 00:14:04,400 Game. It's not like you have a tattoo 278 00:14:04,440 --> 00:14:06,640 of it or anything. I mean, I yeah, right. 279 00:14:06,680 --> 00:14:09,680 So yeah. So that is clearly my favorite. 280 00:14:09,680 --> 00:14:12,480 Nemesis is right behind it by Awakened Realms. 281 00:14:12,520 --> 00:14:16,240 Again, these are older games, but with that in mind, I will. 282 00:14:16,280 --> 00:14:23,280 My first of my 5 in 2025 was Nemesis Retaliation, which is 283 00:14:23,280 --> 00:14:26,480 the third installment in the Nemesis trilogy by Awakened 284 00:14:26,480 --> 00:14:33,080 Realms. Holy wow, this game blew us 285 00:14:33,080 --> 00:14:35,080 away. First of all, we pride 286 00:14:35,080 --> 00:14:38,200 ourselves, OK? My wife Katie prides herself. 287 00:14:38,200 --> 00:14:42,840 She prides herself on painting all minis before we ever first 288 00:14:42,920 --> 00:14:44,000 play it. Right. 289 00:14:44,160 --> 00:14:47,040 Major respect. Yeah, she's like when the 290 00:14:47,040 --> 00:14:49,800 friends come over to play. Those minis need to be painted 291 00:14:50,040 --> 00:14:51,440 well. Amazing. 292 00:14:51,640 --> 00:14:55,280 Nemesis Retaliation, if you're familiar with Nemesis at all, 293 00:14:55,280 --> 00:14:59,120 it's it's it's, it's kind of like Alien or the Alien movies, 294 00:14:59,880 --> 00:15:02,440 but there's no it's, it doesn't have the IP. 295 00:15:02,440 --> 00:15:07,440 So it's close, but not exact. So the original Nemesis, you're 296 00:15:07,440 --> 00:15:10,320 on the ship Starship Nemesis, you wake up. 297 00:15:10,440 --> 00:15:13,280 My God, they're aliens. We got to deal with all that and 298 00:15:13,280 --> 00:15:15,240 get home. Nemesis lockdown was the second 299 00:15:15,240 --> 00:15:18,680 one where there at least one person is a survivor from 300 00:15:18,680 --> 00:15:21,600 Nemesis. But you're on Mars, I believe 301 00:15:21,600 --> 00:15:24,680 you're on a base on a planet. Oh my God, they're aliens. 302 00:15:24,840 --> 00:15:28,600 We deal with that. Well, now we are an intrepid 303 00:15:28,600 --> 00:15:33,120 band of Space Marines, fully armed and weaponized to go and 304 00:15:33,120 --> 00:15:36,680 hunt those nasty aliens on this base. 305 00:15:36,960 --> 00:15:40,480 Yeah, and that's enhanced retaliation, and it is so cool. 306 00:15:40,600 --> 00:15:45,440 The gameplay is fantastic. The number of aliens, however, 307 00:15:46,440 --> 00:15:54,240 has grown exponentially, which means we've played it twice and 308 00:15:54,240 --> 00:15:58,000 I've never painted them because so many. 309 00:16:00,240 --> 00:16:01,800 But. It's great. 310 00:16:02,000 --> 00:16:06,840 I think what I really enjoy about this, this installment is 311 00:16:06,920 --> 00:16:10,920 in the previous installments you would explore from one room to 312 00:16:10,920 --> 00:16:14,000 the next in the form of a hex. And so you'd flip the hex over 313 00:16:14,000 --> 00:16:17,040 and be like, oh, you're now in the control room or the fire 314 00:16:17,040 --> 00:16:19,560 suppression room or the engine room, whatever. 315 00:16:19,560 --> 00:16:22,200 And you know, you'd find out how many items are in that room that 316 00:16:22,200 --> 00:16:26,560 you can search well in, in Nemesis Retaliation, you the 317 00:16:26,560 --> 00:16:31,960 hexes are connected with corridors between them and you 318 00:16:31,960 --> 00:16:37,240 can take an action to kind of like reinforce the corridor, 319 00:16:37,240 --> 00:16:41,320 which will prevent aliens from just kind of like showing up. 320 00:16:41,520 --> 00:16:45,160 So the corridors are just as important as the rooms 321 00:16:45,160 --> 00:16:48,080 themselves. And I'm like, this is really 322 00:16:48,080 --> 00:16:51,640 cool. And it is well, mostly 323 00:16:51,640 --> 00:16:55,040 cooperative, right. The the thing about all three 324 00:16:55,040 --> 00:16:57,840 games is that they are, we call them semi Co-op. 325 00:16:57,960 --> 00:17:01,840 They're cooperative games that you have a hidden objective and 326 00:17:01,840 --> 00:17:05,200 that objective may or may not work against the team. 327 00:17:07,760 --> 00:17:09,359 I don't think it's a real trader mechanic. 328 00:17:09,800 --> 00:17:12,680 My listeners and regulars, you all know, I don't play trader 329 00:17:12,680 --> 00:17:15,200 mechanics. I have a lot of issues with 330 00:17:15,200 --> 00:17:21,079 deception and let's call it what it is, lying to my friends who I 331 00:17:21,079 --> 00:17:23,599 say I love. If you love social deduction and 332 00:17:23,599 --> 00:17:25,960 deception gains, I'm not judging you. 333 00:17:26,280 --> 00:17:30,880 This is an issue with PJ. But this is not a true traitor 334 00:17:30,880 --> 00:17:36,320 mechanic because you still have to work with the group and then 335 00:17:36,320 --> 00:17:40,240 achieve your private objective and sometimes your object. 336 00:17:40,240 --> 00:17:42,480 Your objective is not ruin everyone. 337 00:17:42,480 --> 00:17:48,640 It's ruined, Dana, you know. Yeah, I haven't played the game 338 00:17:48,760 --> 00:17:53,040 I have heard so much about. All of it, yeah. 339 00:17:53,280 --> 00:17:56,640 Table Knots I think was the first ever Max over there, was 340 00:17:56,640 --> 00:18:01,080 the first ever one to talk about Nemesis in a way that intrigued 341 00:18:01,080 --> 00:18:04,240 me, but enough to where I knew, yeah, I'm not going to buy this 342 00:18:04,280 --> 00:18:04,920 game. Sure. 343 00:18:05,920 --> 00:18:08,600 I don't want to play it. I want to play it, but I'm not 344 00:18:08,600 --> 00:18:12,000 going to buy it because I know my friend group and yeah, it's 345 00:18:12,120 --> 00:18:15,000 yeah, it's not going to apply. Yeah, yeah. 346 00:18:15,200 --> 00:18:20,600 So yeah, that's, that's, that is our, I guess we'd call it #9 in 347 00:18:20,600 --> 00:18:23,920 our top 10 of 2025 Nemesis retaliation. 348 00:18:24,160 --> 00:18:25,720 That's good. Check that out. 349 00:18:26,040 --> 00:18:30,840 Definitely your number 8 in our top 10 is was on my list as 350 00:18:30,840 --> 00:18:32,320 well. So I'm really interested to hear 351 00:18:32,320 --> 00:18:34,280 what you think about it. You obviously enjoyed it. 352 00:18:34,280 --> 00:18:35,760 It was good. It's a good game, guys. 353 00:18:36,000 --> 00:18:37,560 Oh, it was. It was such a delight. 354 00:18:37,560 --> 00:18:39,360 You ready to hear? I am. 355 00:18:40,280 --> 00:18:43,960 Trinket Trove. So. 356 00:18:43,960 --> 00:18:46,720 Loud, this little game. Yep. 357 00:18:46,800 --> 00:18:49,400 So this was actually Speaking of 2025. 358 00:18:49,400 --> 00:18:53,760 I mean, this was a new publisher House of 2025 game head. 359 00:18:53,960 --> 00:18:58,160 Yep, Paul Solomon, one of my favorite people. 360 00:18:58,800 --> 00:19:03,280 Obviously Rocco designed the game as well and then had the 361 00:19:03,280 --> 00:19:07,800 artwork from I think we can all say is a fave in the board game 362 00:19:07,800 --> 00:19:12,800 community from Sandara Tang, the one that does Critter Kitchen 363 00:19:12,800 --> 00:19:16,440 and the illustrations for Flame Craft and. 364 00:19:16,560 --> 00:19:18,560 She did the. Illustrations for a trinket 365 00:19:18,560 --> 00:19:21,960 trove and Oh my gosh. Yes, yes. 366 00:19:21,960 --> 00:19:23,480 Playing in this little storybook. 367 00:19:23,480 --> 00:19:27,640 But let me tell you about it. It's a very delightful filler of 368 00:19:27,640 --> 00:19:30,720 a game, you know, can take anywhere around 30 minutes. 369 00:19:31,240 --> 00:19:34,440 It's two to six players and but it's like it's a bidding game, 370 00:19:34,440 --> 00:19:38,200 but also a set collection game. And I gotta say, I'm not really, 371 00:19:38,360 --> 00:19:43,400 I'm not like a huge bidding mechanic fan, but this one was 372 00:19:43,400 --> 00:19:45,680 delightful. And I was shocked that even at 373 00:19:45,680 --> 00:19:48,520 two player you play with a third little mouse. 374 00:19:48,520 --> 00:19:51,840 But it's not a it's not a pesty mouse. 375 00:19:51,840 --> 00:19:55,880 It's not a pesty AI. Or is pesty the right word? 376 00:19:56,000 --> 00:20:00,720 Pest is pesty. I meant pesky, sure. 377 00:20:01,080 --> 00:20:05,320 Mice are pests. It is a pesky pest of an AI. 378 00:20:05,320 --> 00:20:06,720 No, it's not. It's not. 379 00:20:07,040 --> 00:20:09,080 That's that's the beauty. Really not. 380 00:20:09,080 --> 00:20:12,200 It's so fun. And so you're like bidding for 381 00:20:12,200 --> 00:20:14,720 these little trinkets. And the story goes that you're 382 00:20:14,720 --> 00:20:18,920 like these mice and like these underneath these wooden floors, 383 00:20:18,920 --> 00:20:22,320 finding all these trinkets like, you know, little bells and 384 00:20:22,320 --> 00:20:24,800 marbles and. Just the cutest. 385 00:20:24,800 --> 00:20:27,680 Little trinkets and you're trying to set collect. 386 00:20:27,680 --> 00:20:30,400 And if you get more, of course, you get more points. 387 00:20:30,400 --> 00:20:35,640 Well, set unless, yeah, unless there. 388 00:20:35,640 --> 00:20:37,320 And this is where the trick of the mechanic. 389 00:20:37,320 --> 00:20:40,480 Goes. Is that there's some that will 390 00:20:40,480 --> 00:20:44,320 get lower as you go, but it's a risk, right? 391 00:20:44,320 --> 00:20:47,040 Because it's like, OK, you got three of these cards and it's 392 00:20:47,040 --> 00:20:50,960 worth maybe 5 points. And if you keep going, it may be 393 00:20:50,960 --> 00:20:55,200 still only worth 5 points. But if you keep, keep going and 394 00:20:55,200 --> 00:21:00,720 get like, say 7 of it, you could get like 80 or 100 something 395 00:21:00,720 --> 00:21:02,680 points. And it's like, do you take the 396 00:21:02,680 --> 00:21:07,320 risk of collecting knowing that you may only get like the three 397 00:21:07,320 --> 00:21:09,440 or four or five that give you those low points? 398 00:21:09,600 --> 00:21:12,560 Or do you take the risk and go for it So that it's super fun. 399 00:21:12,560 --> 00:21:16,760 It was such a delight. I, I am so, so proud of game 400 00:21:16,760 --> 00:21:18,520 head putting out these small filler games. 401 00:21:18,520 --> 00:21:20,920 They did a great job. Absolutely no, totally agree. 402 00:21:20,920 --> 00:21:24,320 I think there's one set where if you have if you have one it's 403 00:21:24,320 --> 00:21:27,360 worth 5, if you have two it's worth 10, then if you have three 404 00:21:27,360 --> 00:21:30,000 it's worth like 0. Right, right, right, right. 405 00:21:31,000 --> 00:21:34,560 Somewheres in the middle of the set collection, the price the 406 00:21:34,560 --> 00:21:39,040 the price yes, the price drops don't I wish the points the 407 00:21:39,040 --> 00:21:44,320 points drop and then they go up it's it's really cool because 408 00:21:44,320 --> 00:21:44,920 it's. Brilliant. 409 00:21:45,200 --> 00:21:49,240 Yeah, like that that I'm not a big auction bidding right. 410 00:21:49,680 --> 00:21:53,080 It's not for me as either. But this one really sings. 411 00:21:53,080 --> 00:21:56,120 And sometimes it's better to go last. 412 00:21:56,840 --> 00:22:00,040 There are true, especially when you're when you're at the six 413 00:22:00,040 --> 00:22:02,200 player count, sometimes you want to go last. 414 00:22:02,720 --> 00:22:04,640 Yeah. Because you're bidding, we 415 00:22:04,640 --> 00:22:08,040 should mention you're bidding the cards that are in your hand, 416 00:22:08,040 --> 00:22:10,720 which are the sets you're trying to collect, so. 417 00:22:10,800 --> 00:22:13,280 Why didn't I even mention that mechanic That's. 418 00:22:13,360 --> 00:22:17,280 Because there's so many cool things about this small box 419 00:22:17,280 --> 00:22:21,880 game, like, oh man, Paul Solomon knocked it out of the park. 420 00:22:22,680 --> 00:22:25,760 OK, I got to say Paul, I just want to give a shout out. 421 00:22:26,000 --> 00:22:30,680 This guy has been my go to friend for all things 422 00:22:30,680 --> 00:22:34,040 inspirational. So we'll send real little 423 00:22:34,040 --> 00:22:36,200 secret. We'll send reels to each other 424 00:22:36,200 --> 00:22:40,560 of like artists and like these really funky paintings. 425 00:22:40,560 --> 00:22:43,320 And we've just grew in this friendship. 426 00:22:43,400 --> 00:22:47,200 I just appreciate Paul so much for not only his game design but 427 00:22:47,200 --> 00:22:49,840 just his friendship. He's just a great guy so shout 428 00:22:49,840 --> 00:22:52,120 out to him. Yes, absolutely. 429 00:22:52,120 --> 00:22:56,120 Thank you so much, Paul. You are amazing. 430 00:22:56,120 --> 00:22:59,320 I had the luxury of meeting him at Origins. 431 00:22:59,960 --> 00:23:02,040 Awesome. We got to sit down and talk 432 00:23:02,040 --> 00:23:05,840 where he showed me all of the games that game Head came out 433 00:23:05,920 --> 00:23:08,920 this year. There was 6 in total, same box 434 00:23:08,920 --> 00:23:12,000 size, Trinketrove among them. And if you're interested, go 435 00:23:12,000 --> 00:23:17,080 back to Episode 130 and you can hear all about Trinketrove and 436 00:23:17,080 --> 00:23:19,920 the other five games in the game Head Line. 437 00:23:20,000 --> 00:23:22,200 Where? Yeah, Paul, Paul was, I had Paul 438 00:23:22,200 --> 00:23:26,840 on and yeah, we, we got to chat all things game head and the the 439 00:23:26,840 --> 00:23:30,320 journey, his journey, the journey of game head coming from 440 00:23:30,520 --> 00:23:33,560 was it they were like they just did player mats and then they 441 00:23:33,560 --> 00:23:36,920 got into gaming. It's it's it's a great story. 442 00:23:36,920 --> 00:23:39,280 That's a great game. That's a lot of fun. 443 00:23:39,280 --> 00:23:41,120 It hit the table quite a bit for us. 444 00:23:41,600 --> 00:23:44,760 Same toward the end of the year, like, yeah. 445 00:23:44,760 --> 00:23:47,600 And then Paul's just such a great and genuine individual. 446 00:23:48,040 --> 00:23:50,720 Yeah. Who knows everyone? 447 00:23:51,480 --> 00:23:53,320 Like, and he's kind of close to you. 448 00:23:53,320 --> 00:23:55,840 He's in Saint Louis. He is in Saint Louis. 449 00:23:55,840 --> 00:23:58,760 Absolutely. That the time frame that I lived 450 00:23:58,760 --> 00:24:00,960 in Missouri, I did not meet him face to face. 451 00:24:00,960 --> 00:24:03,280 It's just nuts. But it is nuts. 452 00:24:03,600 --> 00:24:05,440 That is nuts, I agree. Good. 453 00:24:07,000 --> 00:24:07,840 Man. Oh, right. 454 00:24:07,840 --> 00:24:09,800 Forget it. I never forget that pesky. 455 00:24:09,800 --> 00:24:13,720 Pesky, pesky. Pesky, pesky, pesky, pesky, 456 00:24:14,200 --> 00:24:18,280 pesky pesky. Let's go to #7, shall we? 457 00:24:18,280 --> 00:24:22,240 Do it, we shall. So #7 should not be a surprise 458 00:24:22,240 --> 00:24:24,440 to many of you. It was one I was looking forward 459 00:24:24,440 --> 00:24:28,360 to and yes, it made the cut. And that is Luthier. 460 00:24:28,520 --> 00:24:32,600 Luthier by Patterson Games so good. 461 00:24:32,800 --> 00:24:38,080 This game does not disappoint. Like its predecessor, Distilled 462 00:24:38,080 --> 00:24:43,680 Luthier is a perfect marriage of theme and game mechanics, right? 463 00:24:43,680 --> 00:24:48,040 Wonderful. You are a luthier, luthier 464 00:24:48,160 --> 00:24:51,160 designing and creating musical instruments, right? 465 00:24:51,160 --> 00:24:53,520 It's just, it's so, it's so good. 466 00:24:53,760 --> 00:24:59,320 It's so informed by 19th century orchestras. 467 00:24:59,400 --> 00:25:03,560 We did not go full deluxe, but we did go deluxe enough. 468 00:25:03,560 --> 00:25:05,800 It's, it has quite a table presence. 469 00:25:05,800 --> 00:25:07,280 It is just a beautiful game, though. 470 00:25:07,560 --> 00:25:09,400 I don't know if you could call it auction. 471 00:25:09,400 --> 00:25:13,280 So it's kind of like you have these discs and each disk is an 472 00:25:13,280 --> 00:25:16,200 action you want to take. And so you place your disk on 473 00:25:16,200 --> 00:25:19,480 the action on the main board. And if you're the first one 474 00:25:19,480 --> 00:25:22,320 there, then you'll be able, you'll be the first one to take 475 00:25:22,480 --> 00:25:25,080 that action. It's, it's been a little while 476 00:25:25,080 --> 00:25:27,160 and I was in the hospital, so I had brain fog. 477 00:25:27,160 --> 00:25:29,880 So I'm trying to remember the details because PJ doesn't 478 00:25:29,880 --> 00:25:34,640 prepare for any of these, right? I just, I just go, yeah, yeah, 479 00:25:34,640 --> 00:25:37,080 you know, well, I knew with you're so good, and I'm really 480 00:25:37,080 --> 00:25:39,200 looking forward to hit hitting the table. 481 00:25:39,200 --> 00:25:42,120 It was trumped by another game on my list that we're going to 482 00:25:42,120 --> 00:25:45,280 talk about in a minute in terms of, you know, hitting the table 483 00:25:45,280 --> 00:25:50,800 in the first days of January. It hasn't yet, but it will soon 484 00:25:50,800 --> 00:25:52,080 enough. It's a big box. 485 00:25:52,200 --> 00:25:56,080 It's you know, so it's, it's not the same box size, unlike 486 00:25:56,080 --> 00:25:59,040 Trinketrove, where it's the same box size as every other game 487 00:25:59,040 --> 00:26:02,600 designed by the company. Luthier's a much larger box than 488 00:26:02,600 --> 00:26:05,440 distilled. So if you you know, Patterson's 489 00:26:05,640 --> 00:26:09,200 not being uniform and there's nothing wrong with that, but 490 00:26:09,320 --> 00:26:12,120 it's just they managed to find a way to marriage that theme in 491 00:26:12,120 --> 00:26:15,560 that mechanics like everything is informed exactly because you 492 00:26:15,560 --> 00:26:18,000 need a musical instrument before you can write. 493 00:26:18,040 --> 00:26:21,200 You can write music, but before you can perform it, you need to 494 00:26:21,200 --> 00:26:26,280 write music or have or have a musical piece that's been 495 00:26:26,280 --> 00:26:29,360 written that you've either purchased or either you could 496 00:26:29,360 --> 00:26:30,800 write it or you could purchase it. 497 00:26:30,960 --> 00:26:33,360 Those are the 2. But you need an instrument and 498 00:26:33,360 --> 00:26:36,760 then you need a venue. So that's another action is to 499 00:26:36,760 --> 00:26:39,880 go to a venue and and pay the price. 500 00:26:40,000 --> 00:26:42,520 And I guess it'd be the entry. I don't know, whatever the fees 501 00:26:42,520 --> 00:26:44,360 are that the orchestra house, right? 502 00:26:44,360 --> 00:26:47,600 So it's really cool. The actions you're taking are so 503 00:26:47,600 --> 00:26:52,560 informed by all the things you need to do to perform your 504 00:26:52,560 --> 00:26:56,280 masterpiece, you know. So check it out. 505 00:26:56,280 --> 00:26:59,240 It's worthy. Yeah, I've heard only good 506 00:26:59,240 --> 00:27:01,280 things about it. I haven't tried it yet. 507 00:27:01,280 --> 00:27:03,880 I definitely have it on my want to playlist. 508 00:27:04,400 --> 00:27:07,440 All right. And I will say that thematically 509 00:27:07,520 --> 00:27:10,360 they nail it. I mean, I, I did play distilled 510 00:27:10,360 --> 00:27:14,240 many of times and they, I mean they know what they're doing 511 00:27:14,240 --> 00:27:17,040 over there for sure. Yep, I totally agree. 512 00:27:17,080 --> 00:27:21,040 And they're not far from you. Like really Paterson's Paterson? 513 00:27:21,040 --> 00:27:24,280 Are they in, I believe they're they're in Minneapolis. 514 00:27:24,400 --> 00:27:25,520 Are they in Minneapolis? I'll go. 515 00:27:25,760 --> 00:27:27,720 I'll go and drive to Minneapolis. 516 00:27:27,720 --> 00:27:31,600 I think they're in Minneapolis. If not, they're in Wisconsin. 517 00:27:31,600 --> 00:27:34,120 So I think they're in Minneapolis, Saint Paul. 518 00:27:34,400 --> 00:27:35,320 I think that's where they're based. 519 00:27:35,320 --> 00:27:35,760 I'll. Look it. 520 00:27:35,760 --> 00:27:38,920 I'll look it up for sure. Yeah, but yeah guys, luthier 521 00:27:38,920 --> 00:27:42,880 number 72025 release. It didn't disappoint. 522 00:27:43,120 --> 00:27:46,840 How about #6? Well, number six is another 523 00:27:46,840 --> 00:27:51,200 small box game and I am so thrilled it came before the year 524 00:27:51,200 --> 00:27:55,240 was over. It is called Flame Craft Duels. 525 00:27:56,200 --> 00:28:00,680 I. Love and it came probably maybe 526 00:28:00,800 --> 00:28:04,120 4 weeks ago. So for it to make my list, I 527 00:28:04,120 --> 00:28:07,120 promise you it's not because it's just fresh, it is because 528 00:28:07,120 --> 00:28:10,520 it's that good. It is everything that you want 529 00:28:10,600 --> 00:28:14,480 in a two player game. That is everything you want in a 530 00:28:14,480 --> 00:28:18,760 travel size game and I personally backed this game. 531 00:28:19,000 --> 00:28:20,920 It's like the last game I backed. 532 00:28:20,920 --> 00:28:24,040 I mean, obviously we know the situation with tariffs, but this 533 00:28:24,040 --> 00:28:27,440 was worth every single penny. I strongly suggest everyone to 534 00:28:27,440 --> 00:28:28,840 play it. Let me tell you about it. 535 00:28:28,840 --> 00:28:32,520 So I got the deluxe edition. Retail is a bit different. 536 00:28:32,560 --> 00:28:36,080 I think the deluxe is great because you can open up this 537 00:28:36,080 --> 00:28:39,520 class. Now there's a class on the box, 538 00:28:39,640 --> 00:28:41,880 so it's not like your normal top cover. 539 00:28:42,240 --> 00:28:45,400 You open it up and here's what we were talking about earlier. 540 00:28:45,400 --> 00:28:49,480 PJ Yes, the game board is the box. 541 00:28:49,520 --> 00:28:52,800 Yes to. See it I would love to see it 542 00:28:53,120 --> 00:28:57,960 and then you open it up and inside you have all of your 543 00:28:57,960 --> 00:29:03,280 cards right and they come come with a card holder, a wooden 544 00:29:03,280 --> 00:29:08,240 card holders, metal coins, a dragon miniature right and then 545 00:29:08,240 --> 00:29:11,840 on the other side is this lovely felt velvet. 546 00:29:11,960 --> 00:29:16,000 I don't know what it is velvet bag with chunky tiles. 547 00:29:16,080 --> 00:29:18,120 And that is where we get to the gameplay. 548 00:29:18,480 --> 00:29:21,600 You are pulling out a tile out of this bag, your placing, 549 00:29:21,680 --> 00:29:25,240 pressing it out on the board. And in Flame Craft, if you're 550 00:29:25,240 --> 00:29:29,120 familiar with the original Dragon's Flame, like they fire 551 00:29:29,120 --> 00:29:31,760 up and it's their ability, their special abilities. 552 00:29:31,760 --> 00:29:35,480 So each colored tile has its own unique abilities and these 553 00:29:35,480 --> 00:29:38,320 abilities move pieces on the board and you're trying to 554 00:29:38,320 --> 00:29:42,600 strategize in a way where you're trying to complete cards and 555 00:29:42,680 --> 00:29:46,920 card objectives, which is like 3 purple or three purple tiles in 556 00:29:46,920 --> 00:29:49,640 a row or like in a specific shape. 557 00:29:49,760 --> 00:29:53,960 And it's so it's very like a little bit abstract, a little 558 00:29:53,960 --> 00:29:58,200 bit of like fulfilling goals. And they have like 3 different 559 00:29:58,200 --> 00:30:01,720 versions in here too. So it's going to keep me busy 560 00:30:01,720 --> 00:30:06,160 for the rest of 2026, even though it came out in 2025. 561 00:30:06,160 --> 00:30:09,320 I'm so pleased. I should mention this is also 562 00:30:09,320 --> 00:30:14,360 another game from Miss Tang where she's just pulling out so 563 00:30:14,360 --> 00:30:17,480 much great illustration slim craft duels and then this comes 564 00:30:17,480 --> 00:30:21,400 from cardboard alchemy. I I would love to collab with 565 00:30:21,400 --> 00:30:22,720 them. They are. 566 00:30:22,720 --> 00:30:26,800 I've never collab, but they are so amazing. 567 00:30:26,800 --> 00:30:30,280 I love Rosie Pocket that she works over there now. 568 00:30:30,360 --> 00:30:34,080 They're just wonderful people. And they just, yeah, they make 569 00:30:34,080 --> 00:30:38,000 solid, engaging, immersive. Games so Rosie, if you're 570 00:30:38,000 --> 00:30:40,400 watching probably aren't you don't know who I am, so you 571 00:30:40,400 --> 00:30:42,400 probably Rosie. You don't know about my podcast, 572 00:30:42,400 --> 00:30:44,840 but I hope that you do listen you in Cardboard alchemy. 573 00:30:44,840 --> 00:30:50,200 You guys need to collab with the mistress, the queen, the maestro 574 00:30:50,720 --> 00:30:53,120 of reels. She's going to do some beautiful 575 00:30:53,120 --> 00:30:58,240 work for you, because y'all know the work that Dana does her 576 00:30:58,240 --> 00:31:01,560 reels her videos. All of her content is guaranteed 577 00:31:01,560 --> 00:31:03,960 to put your customers in a better mood. 578 00:31:03,960 --> 00:31:06,040 I'm just saying. I'm just saying cheeks. 579 00:31:06,440 --> 00:31:08,600 Are hurting from smiling. Oh, and by the way, if you want 580 00:31:08,600 --> 00:31:11,360 to come on the show, I'd love to talk to you about your your 581 00:31:11,360 --> 00:31:13,320 journey. Come on, that's what I do. 582 00:31:14,200 --> 00:31:18,160 Absolutely, Absolutely. Tiny plug for me, big plug for 583 00:31:18,160 --> 00:31:19,160 Dana. That's how this works. 584 00:31:19,720 --> 00:31:21,760 That's how this works. This is how we each other. 585 00:31:22,200 --> 00:31:24,720 This is how I build community. I pump you guys up. 586 00:31:24,760 --> 00:31:27,600 You know, I'm not necessarily good at putting in a better 587 00:31:27,600 --> 00:31:31,280 mood, but I am good at talking you up to a crowd I'll get. 588 00:31:31,520 --> 00:31:33,080 PJ. Yeah, yeah, yeah. 589 00:31:33,440 --> 00:31:34,440 Do it. That's great. 590 00:31:34,600 --> 00:31:36,640 So did you back? I have two things. 591 00:31:36,640 --> 00:31:41,120 Did you back like the full on flame craft duels with the 592 00:31:41,120 --> 00:31:42,680 plushies and all that or? Did. 593 00:31:42,680 --> 00:31:44,360 You know, OK, good. Nope. 594 00:31:45,240 --> 00:31:48,160 Good. As much as I respect a good 595 00:31:48,160 --> 00:31:51,160 plushie, I knew it did not matter to me. 596 00:31:51,160 --> 00:31:53,320 I wanted that game. I needed that game. 597 00:31:53,480 --> 00:31:59,040 I will say that the base game you will lose out and I'm I, I'm 598 00:31:59,040 --> 00:32:00,400 going to just be vulnerable here. 599 00:32:00,440 --> 00:32:04,520 You will lose out on the affection of what I feel with 600 00:32:04,520 --> 00:32:06,640 the deluxe because the board is separate. 601 00:32:06,920 --> 00:32:11,160 It's not part of the game box. And so I think there's something 602 00:32:11,160 --> 00:32:14,720 so special about the fact that it's all together perfect. 603 00:32:14,720 --> 00:32:17,200 Little experience, hardly any setup. 604 00:32:17,200 --> 00:32:18,440 Boom. Yeah. 605 00:32:19,280 --> 00:32:22,160 And I think that's The thing is like that doesn't need to be 606 00:32:22,160 --> 00:32:26,760 what I would like for publishers and designers to do going 607 00:32:26,760 --> 00:32:28,600 forward. And I realize there's a 608 00:32:28,600 --> 00:32:31,800 financial, there's a, there's a financial component to this and 609 00:32:31,840 --> 00:32:34,480 I'm not aware of that, but I would like to see more of that. 610 00:32:34,520 --> 00:32:38,880 I think you would probably get increased sales if your box, 611 00:32:38,960 --> 00:32:43,600 everything like the box itself is usable and then your box 612 00:32:43,600 --> 00:32:46,840 wouldn't end up hanging on my shelf on my wall behind me, 613 00:32:46,840 --> 00:32:47,680 right? That's where. 614 00:32:47,680 --> 00:32:49,160 Expansions. Go right. 615 00:32:49,400 --> 00:32:50,240 Yeah. That's true. 616 00:32:50,240 --> 00:32:53,000 They're. Going to go on the wall as wall 617 00:32:53,000 --> 00:32:55,120 art. So unless you want that, if 618 00:32:55,120 --> 00:32:58,000 that's what you want, then, you know, keep keep doing business 619 00:32:58,000 --> 00:32:59,000 as usual. I respect it. 620 00:32:59,040 --> 00:33:01,560 So I'm going to talk about what is this number six? 621 00:33:01,560 --> 00:33:02,680 Yeah. I think so, yeah. 622 00:33:02,680 --> 00:33:04,880 This number six I've already lost track. 623 00:33:04,880 --> 00:33:05,960 Let. Me see. 624 00:33:07,000 --> 00:33:12,640 Yes, this would be number. This would be #6 this is #6 so 625 00:33:12,640 --> 00:33:16,360 mine is, and this is the reason why Luthier hasn't been hitting 626 00:33:16,360 --> 00:33:19,680 the table, because this game has been hitting the table. 627 00:33:19,880 --> 00:33:25,280 And it is the latest game by the dynamic duo, the powerhouse 628 00:33:25,280 --> 00:33:29,680 themselves, Vital Lacerta and Ian O'Toole, just the best 629 00:33:29,680 --> 00:33:33,440 designer artist combo. You can see a Lacerta game. 630 00:33:33,440 --> 00:33:37,280 You know it's a Lacerta game. In fact, if Ian O'Toole doesn't 631 00:33:37,280 --> 00:33:40,440 partner with Lacerta and he does another game which he has, 632 00:33:40,640 --> 00:33:43,960 people think it's a Lacerta game because Ian O'Toole is such a 633 00:33:44,200 --> 00:33:47,640 magical artist. And that is, of course, speak 634 00:33:47,640 --> 00:33:52,480 easy. Yeah, yeah, guys, man, this game 635 00:33:52,480 --> 00:33:55,360 is incredible. It is so good. 636 00:33:55,480 --> 00:33:59,120 Like all Laserdas, it's a one to four player game. 637 00:33:59,120 --> 00:34:02,640 I wish it were 5 because there's five in our gaming group and we 638 00:34:02,640 --> 00:34:04,800 would love to introduce it to all of them. 639 00:34:05,400 --> 00:34:09,600 But you're, you know, you're in Manhattan in the 1920s and 640 00:34:09,600 --> 00:34:11,920 you're a little startup gangster. 641 00:34:11,920 --> 00:34:14,560 You've got a Speakeasy and you want to get bigger. 642 00:34:14,560 --> 00:34:17,960 But you got like the mob to contend with and the police. 643 00:34:18,360 --> 00:34:21,120 That's always fun too. But you've got, and then there's 644 00:34:21,120 --> 00:34:25,159 the docks where you can get the wooden barrels for all your your 645 00:34:25,520 --> 00:34:28,440 spirits because it's during the Prohibition era. 646 00:34:29,080 --> 00:34:33,320 It's really an amazing game. I've had several victories 647 00:34:33,320 --> 00:34:37,400 against my wife and I never know how I did it because it's 648 00:34:37,960 --> 00:34:41,560 Lacerta is really good at. You want to do this thing, but 649 00:34:41,560 --> 00:34:44,960 in order to do it, there are these four actions you have to 650 00:34:44,960 --> 00:34:50,760 take first, and you don't have enough workers or enough time or 651 00:34:50,760 --> 00:34:52,840 enough money. You're always missing something. 652 00:34:52,840 --> 00:34:54,199 So you come up a little bit short. 653 00:34:54,400 --> 00:34:55,600 Now here's the interesting thing. 654 00:34:55,600 --> 00:35:02,280 You play over 4 rounds, ideally 4 years, 1924 to 1928. 655 00:35:02,320 --> 00:35:07,000 You have 4 capos. I don't know what a capo is 656 00:35:07,360 --> 00:35:12,000 having no experience personally with organized crime, but you 657 00:35:12,000 --> 00:35:14,080 know, it's kind of like the Godfather. 658 00:35:14,080 --> 00:35:15,480 But why would you have four of them, right? 659 00:35:15,680 --> 00:35:17,680 So these are like you're these are like, I guess you're 660 00:35:17,680 --> 00:35:21,600 lieutenants in the in the city. You have four of them and 661 00:35:21,600 --> 00:35:25,000 there's on the top of the board are the number of actions. 662 00:35:25,240 --> 00:35:28,240 So you place them, take the action or actions. 663 00:35:28,240 --> 00:35:30,000 There's usually a primary and secondary. 664 00:35:30,200 --> 00:35:32,840 There are always executive actions in all of those service 665 00:35:32,840 --> 00:35:35,400 games that are like free. If you have the necessary 666 00:35:35,400 --> 00:35:38,280 resources, you can take them. So you take that action and then 667 00:35:38,280 --> 00:35:42,360 move or build or whatever. You can take over the mobs 668 00:35:42,360 --> 00:35:46,960 speakeasies, which is kind of cool too, but they might come 669 00:35:46,960 --> 00:35:48,840 back and bite you so just be careful. 670 00:35:48,960 --> 00:35:52,560 So that's in round one, but in rounds 2 and three you only have 671 00:35:52,560 --> 00:35:56,080 3 capos. And now here's the kicker. 672 00:35:56,080 --> 00:36:01,040 In round 4, the final round of one capo, which means you have 673 00:36:01,040 --> 00:36:06,640 one action to take and it better be the the yeah, it's you have 674 00:36:06,640 --> 00:36:09,960 to manage your actions and your workers. 675 00:36:09,960 --> 00:36:13,880 My God, it is just a real tight game. 676 00:36:13,960 --> 00:36:17,440 White Castle, right? Like you only get so many turns. 677 00:36:17,760 --> 00:36:22,360 So many, it's just so and they get fewer because you go from 4, 678 00:36:22,400 --> 00:36:23,920 then three and three and then one. 679 00:36:23,960 --> 00:36:26,080 We're not even jumping at two straight to 1. 680 00:36:26,080 --> 00:36:30,360 So that last round is like key. And, and what's interesting is 681 00:36:30,360 --> 00:36:33,800 you have, you have, you have money sitting out in front of 682 00:36:33,800 --> 00:36:37,040 you, but you also have money hiding behind a little screen. 683 00:36:37,160 --> 00:36:39,600 And the screen looks like a safe, right? 684 00:36:40,800 --> 00:36:43,240 And, and so your money at the end of the game, money is 685 00:36:43,240 --> 00:36:45,720 victory points. Well, I can see, Dana, I see you 686 00:36:45,720 --> 00:36:48,560 have like $12.00 right now. And you can see that I have like 687 00:36:48,640 --> 00:36:49,800 8. I'm like, but I don't know 688 00:36:49,800 --> 00:36:52,640 what's in your safe and you don't know what's in mine. 689 00:36:52,640 --> 00:36:56,360 And I'm just hoping, hoping for the best there is. 690 00:36:56,360 --> 00:36:59,200 And secondary action. There's like little assistance 691 00:36:59,480 --> 00:37:02,680 cards that you can draw and then they'll give you some little 692 00:37:02,680 --> 00:37:06,200 bonus on your on a future turn. You can't play them the turn you 693 00:37:06,200 --> 00:37:08,960 pick them up. And when you do play them, you 694 00:37:08,960 --> 00:37:11,600 immediately take you get the bonus and then they have like a 695 00:37:11,600 --> 00:37:14,760 printed like a whiskey bottle on it. 696 00:37:14,960 --> 00:37:16,480 You So there's a little set collection. 697 00:37:16,480 --> 00:37:19,360 You're trying to get different colored bottles. 698 00:37:19,360 --> 00:37:22,000 So at the end of the game, you'll count up your money and 699 00:37:22,000 --> 00:37:24,400 then you'll look at and depending upon your set, that'll 700 00:37:24,400 --> 00:37:25,880 determine how much more money you you get. 701 00:37:26,080 --> 00:37:28,320 So you go add that to your final score. 702 00:37:28,320 --> 00:37:31,200 So it's a little little bit of set collection if you like that. 703 00:37:31,960 --> 00:37:34,640 I love set collection. It's cool. 704 00:37:34,760 --> 00:37:36,840 The game is beautiful. I mean it's. 705 00:37:36,960 --> 00:37:40,600 Gorgeous. It is a map of Manhattan from 706 00:37:40,600 --> 00:37:42,760 Battery Park all the way to Central Park. 707 00:37:42,880 --> 00:37:45,240 Very cool. It's really cool, beautiful 708 00:37:45,240 --> 00:37:46,360 pieces. Yeah. 709 00:37:46,840 --> 00:37:50,680 Speakeasy. So many, so many photos of this 710 00:37:50,720 --> 00:37:52,800 game. I mean, board game photographers 711 00:37:52,800 --> 00:37:56,080 are just gushing over Speakeasy. They are. 712 00:37:56,080 --> 00:37:59,000 They love taking photos of that game. 713 00:37:59,080 --> 00:38:02,240 You know, I've just seen so many gorgeous posts about that game 714 00:38:02,240 --> 00:38:04,840 and I'm definitely interested in trying it, especially with all 715 00:38:04,840 --> 00:38:07,240 the mechanics. I had no idea it has that many 716 00:38:07,240 --> 00:38:08,040 mechanics. Yes. 717 00:38:08,040 --> 00:38:12,000 So what I'm hearing, so that is so, so far, when you come to 718 00:38:12,000 --> 00:38:14,840 visit me for the weekend, that's three games we have to play. 719 00:38:14,840 --> 00:38:16,560 We have to play Nemesis, one of them. 720 00:38:16,560 --> 00:38:18,040 Absolutely. And then we have to play 721 00:38:18,040 --> 00:38:20,280 Speakeasy and then we have to play luthier. 722 00:38:20,360 --> 00:38:24,280 And of course, you know, the there's the obligatory you have 723 00:38:24,280 --> 00:38:27,480 to play a game of obsession with the king of obsession. 724 00:38:27,840 --> 00:38:31,680 So. I'll bring the coffee. 725 00:38:31,960 --> 00:38:34,080 That's all you have to. You don't even have to do that. 726 00:38:34,080 --> 00:38:36,360 Just you just bring yourself. That's it. 727 00:38:36,600 --> 00:38:39,640 You'll be fine. Awesome PJ, thank you for that 728 00:38:39,640 --> 00:38:40,960 invite. Can't wait. 729 00:38:42,400 --> 00:38:46,960 So talk to me about #5. OK, so this was the literal 730 00:38:46,960 --> 00:38:50,760 biggest surprise, and I say literal because this game is 731 00:38:51,000 --> 00:38:58,280 massive and it's the heaviest game I own called Tent 10 from 732 00:38:58,280 --> 00:39:01,560 Ivy Studios. This game is an extra right 733 00:39:01,560 --> 00:39:04,560 game. I am thoroughly surprised by. 734 00:39:05,120 --> 00:39:06,960 I actually did not think I was going to like it. 735 00:39:07,040 --> 00:39:09,400 I love rolling rights, I love X and rights. 736 00:39:09,600 --> 00:39:12,200 But when I was watching some of the videos, I was like, I'm not 737 00:39:12,200 --> 00:39:15,400 sure if I'll get into this. There's a lot going on here. 738 00:39:15,400 --> 00:39:18,720 It may feel very overwhelming, but I ended up playing it 739 00:39:18,720 --> 00:39:22,320 throughout the month of December and Oh my gosh, I couldn't stop. 740 00:39:22,360 --> 00:39:24,680 I was just like, and I'm I've only played solo. 741 00:39:24,680 --> 00:39:27,360 I got to put that out there for everyone to listen. 742 00:39:27,560 --> 00:39:31,280 I've only played solo. I imagine it's pretty much like 743 00:39:31,280 --> 00:39:33,160 you're playing solo even with other players. 744 00:39:33,440 --> 00:39:36,280 If you do multiplayer, it is what it is. 745 00:39:36,280 --> 00:39:43,040 But this game is is like kind of like, you know what people love 746 00:39:43,040 --> 00:39:45,400 about Nintendo Switch and video games? 747 00:39:45,400 --> 00:39:49,280 You're the cozy farming and you're tending and you're like 748 00:39:49,480 --> 00:39:51,800 doing all of these. You're going fishing, you're 749 00:39:51,800 --> 00:39:56,160 doing all these fun things. But what's interesting about 750 00:39:56,160 --> 00:39:58,640 this little storyline is that you're doing it for a 751 00:39:58,640 --> 00:40:01,760 corporation called Zenith, and you're kind of wondering if 752 00:40:01,760 --> 00:40:05,000 you're like, am I doing something like for some weird? 753 00:40:05,120 --> 00:40:06,000 Company. I don't know. 754 00:40:06,160 --> 00:40:08,600 I don't know if you've ever seen the movie well or not. 755 00:40:08,600 --> 00:40:11,040 Movie TV show Severance. Yes. 756 00:40:11,040 --> 00:40:13,840 It kind of, it's kind of like am I doing something? 757 00:40:13,840 --> 00:40:15,720 You know, whatever, but it's just silly. 758 00:40:15,720 --> 00:40:19,520 Let's be fair, it's Ivy Studios, so leave it to them to take 759 00:40:19,520 --> 00:40:22,520 something cute, cozy, everything you said, but there must be 760 00:40:22,520 --> 00:40:25,520 something sinister in the background because all of their 761 00:40:25,520 --> 00:40:28,120 games kind of have that feel which I which. 762 00:40:28,160 --> 00:40:30,160 Is great. You know, that's real. 763 00:40:30,280 --> 00:40:32,880 Let's talk about real quick, because I think this is the 764 00:40:33,000 --> 00:40:36,360 thing that makes 10 special. You said X and right, so 765 00:40:36,360 --> 00:40:39,560 typically we, you say, you know, there's either the roll and 766 00:40:39,560 --> 00:40:41,080 right or the flip in the right or whatever. 767 00:40:41,560 --> 00:40:45,080 So tend is like like it's X ^3 and right, right. 768 00:40:45,080 --> 00:40:46,400 Because it's it's all the things. 769 00:40:46,400 --> 00:40:50,360 So yeah, it's, it's, you got, you're flipping cards on every 770 00:40:50,360 --> 00:40:53,760 round. You are rolling the dice. 771 00:40:53,800 --> 00:40:57,720 You roll for, you know, geodes and fish. 772 00:40:57,720 --> 00:41:01,200 You go fishing by rolling dice. But of course, just like your 773 00:41:01,200 --> 00:41:03,440 typical X and right game or what? 774 00:41:03,440 --> 00:41:06,600 Fill in the blank and write rolling right, flipping right. 775 00:41:06,720 --> 00:41:10,240 There's always going to be combos and you're always like, 776 00:41:10,280 --> 00:41:13,160 oh, I get this and I can use it for this and then it'll unlock 777 00:41:13,200 --> 00:41:15,000 this. And it's just this fascinating 778 00:41:15,000 --> 00:41:18,600 little like explosion that happens every single time you 779 00:41:18,600 --> 00:41:21,600 play. I will say this is the least 780 00:41:21,680 --> 00:41:25,520 sustainable game I own. I mean, look at all, I mean, I 781 00:41:25,520 --> 00:41:27,760 know why they do it. They give it to you, all these 782 00:41:27,760 --> 00:41:31,320 paper pads because they give it to you because they don't want 783 00:41:31,320 --> 00:41:36,360 you to ever run out. But my gosh, so many pads of 784 00:41:36,360 --> 00:41:38,760 paper. And then you have this new 785 00:41:38,760 --> 00:41:42,200 fascinating talk about innovation of 2025 gaming. 786 00:41:42,200 --> 00:41:45,920 Have scratch off pads. Scratch off. 787 00:41:46,120 --> 00:41:48,960 I mean, like, it's so fun. You have no idea what you're 788 00:41:48,960 --> 00:41:51,320 about to get When you scratch off with a metal coin. 789 00:41:51,320 --> 00:41:55,680 It's so much fun. But yeah, there's like 100 790 00:41:55,960 --> 00:41:58,560 scratch off cards in this and then I have another 100. 791 00:41:58,680 --> 00:42:00,640 So I mean, least sustainable game. 792 00:42:00,840 --> 00:42:03,800 I will put it out there. It is not sustainable. 793 00:42:03,800 --> 00:42:07,960 If you if you appreciate sustainability, maybe wait to 794 00:42:07,960 --> 00:42:12,800 play with someone else or maybe they'll have you know it online. 795 00:42:13,080 --> 00:42:15,240 But, and I do want to say one more thing about it. 796 00:42:15,480 --> 00:42:18,640 They do have an app. They have an app on here that 797 00:42:18,640 --> 00:42:21,720 helps you kind of streamline your gameplay. 798 00:42:22,160 --> 00:42:26,080 So it's a less setting up all the cards that you would flip in 799 00:42:26,080 --> 00:42:29,320 the game are all like online. You just hit next round, it'll 800 00:42:29,320 --> 00:42:31,720 flip it for you. And it's by far. 801 00:42:31,760 --> 00:42:35,520 I use it every time I play. So shout out to Ivy Studio for 802 00:42:35,520 --> 00:42:37,240 that because I did really appreciate. 803 00:42:37,680 --> 00:42:40,520 So a recap. It is a flippin, right? 804 00:42:40,920 --> 00:42:44,320 It is a rolling right. It is a scratch and right it's. 805 00:42:44,920 --> 00:42:47,640 A scratching. Right is it, is it a, is it a 806 00:42:47,640 --> 00:42:49,920 peel? Is there, is there a peel? 807 00:42:49,920 --> 00:42:52,320 And right is there do you peel stickers at all? 808 00:42:52,520 --> 00:42:54,560 At some point I'm thinking of a different game. 809 00:42:54,840 --> 00:42:56,400 OK, Yep, you're thinking of a different one. 810 00:42:56,400 --> 00:42:58,720 So it's just three, OK, so it's just three X's. 811 00:42:58,720 --> 00:43:00,760 So it's X ^3 and right. OK. 812 00:43:01,040 --> 00:43:06,000 Yeah, yeah. I I enjoy it and yeah, they have 813 00:43:06,000 --> 00:43:10,560 like these markers that are shaped out like cut out type 814 00:43:10,560 --> 00:43:12,240 things. I can't even express it and 815 00:43:12,240 --> 00:43:15,360 visually would show you but basically like this marker. 816 00:43:15,440 --> 00:43:18,720 Shows a little fish symbol. And you mark it with a marker 817 00:43:18,720 --> 00:43:22,480 and it's like, I don't know, it is so fun, so unique. 818 00:43:22,720 --> 00:43:25,120 Nothing like I like. I don't have anything like this 819 00:43:25,120 --> 00:43:27,080 game in my collection. I'm very happy to have it. 820 00:43:27,080 --> 00:43:28,800 And so, yes, that was a big surprise for. 821 00:43:28,800 --> 00:43:30,040 Me this year. Wow. 822 00:43:30,160 --> 00:43:32,720 Tend by Ivy studios. There you go, guys. 823 00:43:32,720 --> 00:43:37,360 I mean that's that's a lot combo mechanics innovation. 824 00:43:37,360 --> 00:43:41,760 Yeah, 2025 really is the year of innovation in game design. 825 00:43:41,800 --> 00:43:45,880 I love it. So I guess we're at #3 I think I 826 00:43:45,880 --> 00:43:49,880 said 5, that was #410 was #4 we're yeah, I'm terrible. 827 00:43:50,120 --> 00:43:52,120 We're there. This is why PJ doesn't script. 828 00:43:52,120 --> 00:43:53,640 He just makes a mess. Who cares? 829 00:43:53,640 --> 00:43:56,640 So the next one I'm kind of excited to tell you about. 830 00:43:56,800 --> 00:44:01,200 It's less about the game than the story of how the game came 831 00:44:01,200 --> 00:44:05,600 to be. So it is the March of the Ants. 832 00:44:07,000 --> 00:44:10,800 Yes, this game is fantastic. It is. 833 00:44:10,800 --> 00:44:13,280 It just blew me away and I had no idea. 834 00:44:13,360 --> 00:44:20,000 So how here's the real story. OK, so I'm at Gencom and my wife 835 00:44:20,120 --> 00:44:23,600 and her sister, so my sister-in-law, they peeled off 836 00:44:23,680 --> 00:44:27,680 and they're walking the vendor hall and they find this the 837 00:44:27,680 --> 00:44:29,600 booth. And so they're talking to the 838 00:44:29,600 --> 00:44:31,840 designer. They don't know they're walking 839 00:44:31,840 --> 00:44:35,480 to the designer, but they are. And he's talking about March of 840 00:44:35,480 --> 00:44:38,240 the ants and they just think it's so cute and the wooden 841 00:44:38,240 --> 00:44:41,040 components of all the ants and beautiful and everything. 842 00:44:41,120 --> 00:44:44,400 So they come and find me because I was talking to someone. 843 00:44:44,400 --> 00:44:48,040 I had like AI had agreed to go meet someone at a I don't know 844 00:44:48,040 --> 00:44:50,680 what I was doing. I should know, but right, I was 845 00:44:50,680 --> 00:44:53,360 setting up guests for my show. She's like, you need to come 846 00:44:53,360 --> 00:44:55,520 check this out. Like, OK, but it's my 847 00:44:55,520 --> 00:44:57,560 sister-in-law who's like, you need to come check this out. 848 00:44:57,560 --> 00:45:02,040 Like she's not a big gamer, so I probably need to check this game 849 00:45:02,040 --> 00:45:04,280 out. And so we go, and there's Tom 850 00:45:04,280 --> 00:45:07,320 Eiser, the designer, and he's talking about the. 851 00:45:07,440 --> 00:45:09,920 Game yeah he's. Awesome, Tim's supposed to be on 852 00:45:09,920 --> 00:45:12,520 the show in 25, couldn't make. It wonderful guy. 853 00:45:12,720 --> 00:45:15,440 He's coming on next year. Awesome. 854 00:45:16,080 --> 00:45:19,560 Let's talk about sustainability. I know, right? 855 00:45:19,560 --> 00:45:22,040 We go from one to another. I was just thinking. 856 00:45:22,040 --> 00:45:25,840 That this this game and incidentally, I think every game 857 00:45:25,840 --> 00:45:28,800 in their line is the complete opposite of what you just. 858 00:45:28,800 --> 00:45:32,680 Lead opposite. So I order March for March of 859 00:45:32,680 --> 00:45:35,640 the Ants and we loved it so much we went ahead and we purchased 860 00:45:35,720 --> 00:45:37,520 Leaf another game by. Him. 861 00:45:37,520 --> 00:45:39,200 I love that game. I own that game. 862 00:45:39,400 --> 00:45:42,560 To be here, both games are consistent with the description 863 00:45:42,560 --> 00:45:46,120 I'm about to convey to you about March of the Ants. 864 00:45:46,160 --> 00:45:49,520 So I get the game. It is not shrink wrapped. 865 00:45:49,640 --> 00:45:57,360 It is wrapped in recycled paper with the logo of the game 866 00:45:57,480 --> 00:46:01,880 printed on it, and there's not a lot of ink being used. 867 00:46:01,920 --> 00:46:05,400 And so you unwrap it like you would our friends in England if 868 00:46:05,400 --> 00:46:06,840 you were ordering fish and chips. 869 00:46:07,040 --> 00:46:10,760 It's very similar to the paper they wrap the fish and chips in. 870 00:46:11,080 --> 00:46:14,680 So you open it up and then you open the box and there's the 871 00:46:14,680 --> 00:46:16,560 board and everything, or the tiles. 872 00:46:16,640 --> 00:46:22,920 Everything's in their own talk box made of a recycled material. 873 00:46:22,920 --> 00:46:25,480 It's not quite cardboard, but it's not quite paper. 874 00:46:25,720 --> 00:46:30,040 It's kind of a thickness of the tuck boxes is between paper and 875 00:46:30,040 --> 00:46:33,440 cardboard, but it's all recycled and the components are made of 876 00:46:33,440 --> 00:46:36,200 wood and they're painted, not silk printed. 877 00:46:36,360 --> 00:46:38,400 And they're gorgeous. Yeah. 878 00:46:39,400 --> 00:46:44,800 I these guys are like, there's no plastic bags, There's no, I 879 00:46:44,800 --> 00:46:47,560 know, there's almost no cardboard to punch. 880 00:46:47,600 --> 00:46:50,520 Everything is. And I love talk boxes 'cause it 881 00:46:50,520 --> 00:46:53,680 makes organic 'cause then I can just be like, OK, Dana, you're 882 00:46:53,680 --> 00:46:56,120 playing blue here. You here's your tuck box with 883 00:46:56,120 --> 00:46:58,440 all your ants and whatnot. For sure. 884 00:46:58,600 --> 00:47:01,760 And so and then there's the cardboard hexes because you're 885 00:47:01,760 --> 00:47:03,760 there is some tile laying and exploration. 886 00:47:03,760 --> 00:47:06,040 Tiling is my favorite mechanic. I love it. 887 00:47:06,280 --> 00:47:10,520 I love to explore the map, but I love it when the map is just 888 00:47:10,520 --> 00:47:13,880 like 1 tile and we all share it and then we go exploring. 889 00:47:14,080 --> 00:47:18,600 That's the thing about tiling. I like a la Arcasone or March of 890 00:47:18,600 --> 00:47:20,800 the Ants. I recently got to play Twilight 891 00:47:20,800 --> 00:47:22,920 Imperium for the first time ever. 892 00:47:23,040 --> 00:47:26,280 I enjoyed it, but the exploration was not what I 893 00:47:26,280 --> 00:47:27,680 thought. I'd never played it before. 894 00:47:27,880 --> 00:47:30,680 When you start, all the tiles are out face up and I'm like 895 00:47:31,400 --> 00:47:34,400 it's less fun because I like to lay the tiles out and. 896 00:47:34,400 --> 00:47:36,880 See What's the best part of tiling? 897 00:47:36,960 --> 00:47:40,080 So as your aunt, you know, on each of the hexes, there's like 898 00:47:40,080 --> 00:47:42,040 an, there's a place for you to put your aunt. 899 00:47:42,040 --> 00:47:45,240 And then at the end of the round when you get like the income 900 00:47:45,240 --> 00:47:47,800 phase, which I think it's called the queen vase of the queen 901 00:47:47,880 --> 00:47:50,080 aunt, you get whatever's printed. 902 00:47:50,320 --> 00:47:53,960 You look at all your aunts on the board and get the food or 903 00:47:53,960 --> 00:47:57,200 the car cards or more larvae, etcetera, etcetera, right. 904 00:47:57,520 --> 00:48:00,200 Got a player board in front of you where you can put your ants 905 00:48:00,200 --> 00:48:02,600 to indicate larvae. There's several actions. 906 00:48:02,720 --> 00:48:06,600 Other thing I like about this game is I take I take this 907 00:48:06,600 --> 00:48:10,120 action there's like I forgot what they call it, but there's 908 00:48:10,120 --> 00:48:13,040 an action that all your players take. 909 00:48:13,040 --> 00:48:16,920 So if I take the March action, you get like I'm and the March 910 00:48:16,920 --> 00:48:18,360 loves. That. 911 00:48:18,600 --> 00:48:21,280 You get 1 right? Everyone gets one. 912 00:48:21,680 --> 00:48:23,800 Yep. In the center of the board is 913 00:48:23,800 --> 00:48:26,960 like the great cave. I can't remember exactly what 914 00:48:26,960 --> 00:48:29,160 it's called right now because it's not in front of me, but 915 00:48:29,680 --> 00:48:33,560 when we fight the centipede or whatever, we all fight it 916 00:48:33,560 --> 00:48:36,520 together in two player. The only way to play this game 917 00:48:36,520 --> 00:48:39,840 is fully cooperative. OK, It doesn't play well at 918 00:48:39,960 --> 00:48:42,360 2:00. OK, good to know because I'm a 919 00:48:42,360 --> 00:48:45,680 two player household, yes. Because for sure when you're 920 00:48:45,680 --> 00:48:48,960 doing it, you're going to go explore over here and I'm going 921 00:48:48,960 --> 00:48:51,880 to go explore over here and we're going to collect resources 922 00:48:52,040 --> 00:48:54,520 and there's going to be almost no interaction. 923 00:48:54,720 --> 00:48:56,920 And then it's like you're going to get 12 points and I'm going 924 00:48:56,920 --> 00:48:58,800 to have 13. And it's a really close game, 925 00:48:59,240 --> 00:49:02,840 but you know, it's not. Yeah, it just doesn't, it 926 00:49:02,840 --> 00:49:05,240 doesn't do it. Cooperative is where it's at 927 00:49:05,240 --> 00:49:07,280 because you have like these centipedes and these big, 928 00:49:07,280 --> 00:49:09,240 beautiful wooden centipedes. Yeah. 929 00:49:09,400 --> 00:49:11,080 Cool. It's not like an AI. 930 00:49:11,080 --> 00:49:13,960 It's like your opponent and he pops out and you got to fight 931 00:49:13,960 --> 00:49:16,440 him, right? And we collectively fight in the 932 00:49:16,440 --> 00:49:18,680 center. Now, when you go three to five 933 00:49:18,680 --> 00:49:21,640 players, fully, fully competitive, right? 934 00:49:21,720 --> 00:49:25,640 It's fantastic because then you've got to compete for all 935 00:49:25,640 --> 00:49:29,360 those resources I just told you about that were on the hexes. 936 00:49:29,360 --> 00:49:33,760 So yeah, it's, it's a beautiful game, It's a sustainable game, 937 00:49:34,320 --> 00:49:37,360 it's a well designed game. It is a lot of fun. 938 00:49:37,360 --> 00:49:39,720 It has hit our table quite a lot since Gen. 939 00:49:39,720 --> 00:49:42,120 Con. And incidentally Leaf which 940 00:49:42,360 --> 00:49:45,760 arrived later, same thing. Yeah, we love Leaf. 941 00:49:46,120 --> 00:49:49,080 I would say the same thing about Leaf that I say about March of 942 00:49:49,080 --> 00:49:52,480 the Ants in terms of gameplay and an admiration for the 943 00:49:52,480 --> 00:49:54,360 sustainability. Absolutely. 944 00:49:54,640 --> 00:49:57,240 I mean just. Yeah, I've actually worked with 945 00:49:57,240 --> 00:49:59,280 Tim. He was one of my very first 946 00:49:59,520 --> 00:50:03,480 publishers that was willing to support my little TD Instagram 947 00:50:03,480 --> 00:50:06,440 account when it was like, I don't know, 500 followers. 948 00:50:06,440 --> 00:50:09,520 He's a wonderful guy. But one thing that I've always 949 00:50:09,520 --> 00:50:15,040 loved, and I wish, I truly do wish this more publishers would 950 00:50:15,040 --> 00:50:16,840 consider sustainability, because it is. 951 00:50:17,160 --> 00:50:20,200 It's not. You're not losing out on quality 952 00:50:20,200 --> 00:50:24,160 at all because man do they really weird City Games. 953 00:50:24,160 --> 00:50:26,360 Really knocks it out of the park even with that. 954 00:50:26,440 --> 00:50:27,800 So good. So good. 955 00:50:28,000 --> 00:50:29,600 Great pick. That's a great. 956 00:50:29,640 --> 00:50:32,200 Pick yes. That game is just incredible. 957 00:50:32,200 --> 00:50:36,120 I'd also like to point out, just for the moment, Tim helped you 958 00:50:36,120 --> 00:50:38,320 out when you had 500 followers, guys. 959 00:50:38,320 --> 00:50:42,520 I think so, yeah. This is why Dana is the queen, 960 00:50:42,680 --> 00:50:46,000 the mistress, the magnificent maestro of Reels. 961 00:50:46,360 --> 00:50:51,000 Do you all know she's at 5955 followers on Instagram? 962 00:50:51,040 --> 00:50:54,240 She's almost at six and. And how long? 963 00:50:54,280 --> 00:50:55,640 How long have you been doing this? 964 00:50:56,520 --> 00:51:00,240 Longer than than I thought. I I think I've been doing this 965 00:51:00,240 --> 00:51:03,000 for three years now. Three years, yeah. 966 00:51:03,880 --> 00:51:05,640 Beautiful. Let's see, it's. 967 00:51:05,640 --> 00:51:10,240 Hey, it's a marathon. It's a slow process of growth, 968 00:51:10,240 --> 00:51:12,880 but man, I'm learning myself through it all. 969 00:51:12,880 --> 00:51:15,320 So that's been awesome. That's the testimony of it all. 970 00:51:15,480 --> 00:51:19,280 Yes, yes. So keep pushing forward, keep 971 00:51:19,280 --> 00:51:24,200 pushing forward. Let's go with #2 this is your 972 00:51:24,200 --> 00:51:25,040 left. Oh my goodness. 973 00:51:25,040 --> 00:51:28,200 This is your final choice. This is my final wow. 974 00:51:28,920 --> 00:51:36,040 I loved this game and love it. It is The Hobbit there and back 975 00:51:36,040 --> 00:51:38,840 again. My goodness. 976 00:51:38,840 --> 00:51:41,120 OK. I have to say this First off, 977 00:51:41,360 --> 00:51:44,960 Doctor Reiner Canitsia, he's I mean, how many games can we even 978 00:51:44,960 --> 00:51:46,800 like? We could probably have a trivia 979 00:51:46,800 --> 00:51:50,240 game solely based on him. Like how many games has he 980 00:51:50,240 --> 00:51:52,440 designed? Like so many. 981 00:51:52,600 --> 00:51:55,520 But this comes from office dog games and Middle Earth 982 00:51:55,520 --> 00:51:58,400 Enterprises. I've I got to be honest, I've 983 00:51:58,400 --> 00:52:02,680 never seen The Hobbit. So you do not need to see the 984 00:52:02,680 --> 00:52:07,640 movie series to enjoy this cozy, rolling right game. 985 00:52:07,840 --> 00:52:10,080 Here's what's unique about this Have you played this one? 986 00:52:10,120 --> 00:52:13,280 No, this has been a game that I, I want to get. 987 00:52:14,520 --> 00:52:18,080 I'm looking forward to it and. You're going to love it. 988 00:52:18,080 --> 00:52:21,960 So I will confess you said you'd never seen The Hobbit. 989 00:52:22,840 --> 00:52:27,560 I do not like or The Hobbit. Don't like the books, don't like 990 00:52:27,560 --> 00:52:29,960 the movies. Not a big token fan. 991 00:52:30,680 --> 00:52:32,360 At all. Yeah, hopefully you don't get 992 00:52:32,360 --> 00:52:34,000 cancelled. No, I'm just kidding. 993 00:52:34,000 --> 00:52:35,800 There are so many dedicated though. 994 00:52:35,800 --> 00:52:40,040 There's so many dedicated Lord of the Rings fans. 995 00:52:40,400 --> 00:52:45,080 Honestly, I've I've actually not picked games because of that IP, 996 00:52:45,120 --> 00:52:47,160 because I've never seen it. So it's like, why would I? 997 00:52:47,800 --> 00:52:51,720 But this is this is something that I just felt like the art 998 00:52:51,720 --> 00:52:55,000 alone wrote down. I think the artist here is, Oh 999 00:52:55,000 --> 00:52:58,800 yeah, Lorenzo Cullen colon Jelly, and I hope I pronounced 1000 00:52:58,800 --> 00:53:01,920 that correct. He did a great job with bringing 1001 00:53:01,920 --> 00:53:04,920 me into this. I do admire art. 1002 00:53:05,000 --> 00:53:09,280 I as an artist, I went to art school, graduated with. 1003 00:53:09,400 --> 00:53:11,160 This is actually a little fun fact for you. 1004 00:53:11,440 --> 00:53:15,160 I have a degree in biomedical illustrating, so I love 1005 00:53:15,160 --> 00:53:17,560 illustrations. Oh my gosh, I'm so obsessed. 1006 00:53:17,800 --> 00:53:21,920 So this one didn't feel like that dark Lord of the Rings kind 1007 00:53:21,920 --> 00:53:24,440 of vibe, which is fine too, but this is just cozy. 1008 00:53:24,440 --> 00:53:27,200 Look how cute. For the for anyone who is 1009 00:53:27,200 --> 00:53:29,680 watching is just the cutest of the game. 1010 00:53:29,920 --> 00:53:34,240 But the best part is that it's kind of like a campaign. 1011 00:53:34,480 --> 00:53:37,760 I mean it is, but it is. But also, it's like way more 1012 00:53:37,760 --> 00:53:41,200 replayable than most campaigns where you're going through 1013 00:53:41,200 --> 00:53:45,960 chapters that legit the characters in the movies and did 1014 00:53:45,960 --> 00:53:50,240 they went through all of these scenes and challenges through 1015 00:53:50,240 --> 00:53:52,640 the movies. And that is what the game is 1016 00:53:52,640 --> 00:53:55,320 about. But what's cool is like you're 1017 00:53:55,320 --> 00:53:59,600 trying to get from point A to point B by certain roles, by 1018 00:53:59,600 --> 00:54:03,640 collecting resources like bread and swords and things like that 1019 00:54:03,640 --> 00:54:06,440 to fight your way through it and, you know, get the strength 1020 00:54:06,440 --> 00:54:08,760 you need to go through all these challenges. 1021 00:54:09,360 --> 00:54:13,800 There's each one has a unique storyline, a unique gameplay. 1022 00:54:14,160 --> 00:54:17,760 So just when you think you know how to play, you go to Chapter 2 1023 00:54:17,760 --> 00:54:20,760 and you're like, oh, there's another mechanic here, you know. 1024 00:54:20,760 --> 00:54:21,920 And so it just. Keeps. 1025 00:54:21,920 --> 00:54:24,880 It so exciting and so fun. It was. 1026 00:54:25,040 --> 00:54:27,320 It was. I mean, obviously it's my #1 of 1027 00:54:27,320 --> 00:54:30,040 2025. I absolutely adore this game. 1028 00:54:30,160 --> 00:54:33,640 That's great and everyone has said nothing but good things 1029 00:54:33,640 --> 00:54:35,760 about it so. Yeah, it's so cozy. 1030 00:54:35,760 --> 00:54:37,880 It's so delightful. Oh, and the solo, I have to put 1031 00:54:37,880 --> 00:54:41,600 this out there. The solo play is so good. 1032 00:54:41,600 --> 00:54:43,880 There's nothing you have to do. Nothing. 1033 00:54:44,000 --> 00:54:48,480 It's the same exact gameplay, except you're removing 2 dice or 1034 00:54:48,560 --> 00:54:51,520 one dice or something like that. It's very, very good. 1035 00:54:51,760 --> 00:54:53,440 That is good to know. Yeah. 1036 00:54:53,600 --> 00:54:54,960 Excellent. Thank you. 1037 00:54:55,360 --> 00:54:57,280 I love it. So here's our last one. 1038 00:54:57,320 --> 00:55:03,440 It is my two player game of choice coming out of 2025 that 1039 00:55:03,440 --> 00:55:07,160 is Modcala Wonderland's War Two player game. 1040 00:55:07,800 --> 00:55:10,280 Yes. Now I want to be clear, this is 1041 00:55:10,280 --> 00:55:14,880 not the same thing as Wonderland's War Duel, which has 1042 00:55:14,880 --> 00:55:19,560 not yet come out. Let me just say that this might 1043 00:55:19,760 --> 00:55:25,000 be my favorite two player. Game. 1044 00:55:25,960 --> 00:55:29,640 This is this is tough. OK, so until origins, which was 1045 00:55:29,640 --> 00:55:33,560 in June of 25, my absolute favorite was 7 wonders duel. 1046 00:55:33,760 --> 00:55:37,920 Hands down best two player game. Absolutely origins came along 1047 00:55:37,960 --> 00:55:42,640 and it was last last stop God, last Starship final Starship 1048 00:55:42,640 --> 00:55:45,400 shoot. I did a whole episode about this 1049 00:55:45,600 --> 00:55:49,080 which was a two player duel dueling game which was a lot of 1050 00:55:49,080 --> 00:55:54,040 fun and was kind of like my favorite but Mad collar is 1051 00:55:55,120 --> 00:55:56,840 awesome. That's awesome. 1052 00:55:57,000 --> 00:56:02,320 You've got the you're at the Mad Hatter's table and the Round 1053 00:56:02,320 --> 00:56:05,400 table, and you can choose one of the characters who are all in 1054 00:56:05,400 --> 00:56:09,160 Wonderland's War and they play asymmetrically, which I love a 1055 00:56:09,240 --> 00:56:10,720 love that love. A Me too. 1056 00:56:11,400 --> 00:56:15,400 So you have a different ability and power in the game and you 1057 00:56:15,400 --> 00:56:19,360 have the gems which are the madness tokens in Wonderland's 1058 00:56:19,360 --> 00:56:23,760 War and you're, you move them. So what I love is you pick up 1059 00:56:23,760 --> 00:56:28,760 all of the gems from one plate and then you drop them one at 1060 00:56:29,200 --> 00:56:32,400 time. So if you have 3 gems, you would 1061 00:56:32,920 --> 00:56:35,960 take the action, the final action, the final gem, that's 1062 00:56:35,960 --> 00:56:38,000 the action you take, take, right? 1063 00:56:38,280 --> 00:56:41,840 But when you go around the table, if I stop on a plate 1064 00:56:41,840 --> 00:56:45,920 that's on your side of the table, I don't get to take that 1065 00:56:45,920 --> 00:56:49,720 action. Fascinating. 1066 00:56:49,800 --> 00:56:53,440 I need to get my gems over here but I'm trying to get your gems 1067 00:56:53,440 --> 00:56:55,040 on my side of the table for sure. 1068 00:56:55,160 --> 00:56:58,240 But you I love getting more it is so cool. 1069 00:56:58,240 --> 00:57:01,600 There's a cards you can draw that are like assistants that 1070 00:57:01,640 --> 00:57:05,080 help you to enhance your powers to move your tokens. 1071 00:57:05,080 --> 00:57:08,480 You have one gem that's larger than the rest that allows you to 1072 00:57:08,480 --> 00:57:11,800 take double the action. I love stuff like this. 1073 00:57:11,800 --> 00:57:17,200 Yeah, it's so, so cool. It's just it is flawless in 1074 00:57:17,280 --> 00:57:21,320 almost every single way, and because there are 6 characters, 1075 00:57:21,520 --> 00:57:27,440 there's enough replayability between the two of you that you 1076 00:57:27,440 --> 00:57:29,840 can't go wrong. I love that. 1077 00:57:29,880 --> 00:57:32,080 I want to try that. I actually never played 1078 00:57:32,080 --> 00:57:35,080 Wonderland's War, all right, And I know that that was so popular. 1079 00:57:35,320 --> 00:57:36,760 I have that game too, so let's. Put. 1080 00:57:36,760 --> 00:57:38,560 Let's put that on the list. OK, PJ. 1081 00:57:38,560 --> 00:57:40,520 OK, yeah, man. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. 1082 00:57:40,680 --> 00:57:42,440 All you got to do is come here for the weekend. 1083 00:57:42,440 --> 00:57:43,920 We'll get all these games played. 1084 00:57:43,920 --> 00:57:48,040 Hands down, it seems like it's going to be a weekend to have to 1085 00:57:48,040 --> 00:57:50,880 play through all those games. My listeners have heard me say 1086 00:57:50,880 --> 00:57:52,920 this before. I say it all the time. 1087 00:57:52,920 --> 00:57:56,520 I make this invitation. All you have to do is come here. 1088 00:57:56,720 --> 00:57:59,680 I will play games with you and I will feed you. 1089 00:58:00,960 --> 00:58:02,760 Boom, that's. It we love PJ. 1090 00:58:02,760 --> 00:58:04,240 You just got to do you're so great. 1091 00:58:04,320 --> 00:58:05,560 Thanks. Thank you. 1092 00:58:05,760 --> 00:58:08,160 Thank you. That was a good number one. 1093 00:58:08,160 --> 00:58:10,600 I want to I want to like that was juicy. 1094 00:58:10,640 --> 00:58:13,200 I feel like I would love that style of. 1095 00:58:13,280 --> 00:58:18,040 Gaming, yeah, definitely do it. And that was a Kickstarter that 1096 00:58:18,040 --> 00:58:21,840 we had backed 2423. I don't remember when it was, 1097 00:58:21,840 --> 00:58:24,800 but it arrived. It came out in this last year, 1098 00:58:25,200 --> 00:58:29,000 this year, last year, 20 fives. So that's our ten. 1099 00:58:29,160 --> 00:58:31,480 That is our 10 games. That was Hot Streak. 1100 00:58:32,080 --> 00:58:34,400 What was that? That was Hot Streak and then 1101 00:58:34,600 --> 00:58:40,360 Nemesis, Retaliation, Franketrove, Luthier, Flame 1102 00:58:40,360 --> 00:58:46,400 Crafts Duels, March of the Speakeasy, Tend March of the 1103 00:58:46,400 --> 00:58:50,480 Ants, Hobbit there and Back Again, and Mod Kala a 1104 00:58:50,480 --> 00:58:52,520 Wonderland. War wow, two players. 1105 00:58:52,520 --> 00:58:57,520 I feel like we just we covered a lot of like different style of 1106 00:58:57,520 --> 00:58:59,680 games. You know, like that's one thing 1107 00:58:59,680 --> 00:59:01,400 I love. I know you mentioned earlier you 1108 00:59:01,400 --> 00:59:03,600 don't like the top list, but that's one thing I love about 1109 00:59:03,600 --> 00:59:06,040 top list when it comes with people. 1110 00:59:06,040 --> 00:59:08,320 It's not just one person talking about their top. 1111 00:59:08,320 --> 00:59:12,680 It's two different people with two different styles and things 1112 00:59:12,680 --> 00:59:16,960 that they like about games collab together like this PJ we 1113 00:59:17,360 --> 00:59:21,200 we like I mean, you went from aliens for me to go to cozy 1114 00:59:21,200 --> 00:59:22,320 little mice. You know what? 1115 00:59:23,320 --> 00:59:27,960 Yes, yes, absolutely it. To be fair, other games that 1116 00:59:27,960 --> 00:59:33,720 came out this year that didn't make it also include cozy, you 1117 00:59:33,720 --> 00:59:38,960 know, cozy creatures and kittens and all kind of fun stuff. 1118 00:59:38,960 --> 00:59:42,640 I do have one honorable mention. I want to hear it. 1119 00:59:42,920 --> 00:59:47,040 Came out this year, 20 or next last year 2025. 1120 00:59:47,080 --> 00:59:48,800 I'm a mess y'all, give me a break. 1121 00:59:48,960 --> 00:59:51,480 So I want to talk about really briefly, I don't have to say a 1122 00:59:51,480 --> 00:59:53,760 lot about it, and that is apistocracy. 1123 00:59:55,160 --> 00:59:58,040 I can't wait for mine to arrive. I still don't have it. 1124 00:59:58,480 --> 01:00:01,440 Yeah, I still don't have it, but I made a video of that. 1125 01:00:01,440 --> 01:00:03,520 Love that game. Great game. 1126 01:00:03,520 --> 01:00:09,440 So Apistocracy is beautiful and I would prefer you and all the 1127 01:00:09,440 --> 01:00:14,240 listeners to episode 76 where I had Heather Dixon on. 1128 01:00:14,360 --> 01:00:15,080 So let me. Tell you so. 1129 01:00:15,280 --> 01:00:20,360 Let me tell you about Heather. Heather came to the UK in 2024 1130 01:00:20,640 --> 01:00:24,960 at the same time that Katie and I did, and she attended Cajun 1131 01:00:24,960 --> 01:00:27,400 Con in Southampton, England. Amazing. 1132 01:00:27,520 --> 01:00:30,320 Her and her husband. So it was like, you know, like, 1133 01:00:30,600 --> 01:00:32,920 yeah, wow. Yeah, that's really cool. 1134 01:00:33,120 --> 01:00:38,640 Right, and Apostocracy is part of a trilogy of games that I 1135 01:00:38,640 --> 01:00:41,120 have yet to. We haven't done it yet. 1136 01:00:41,280 --> 01:00:44,160 Hopefully 2026 will do it in a single day. 1137 01:00:44,520 --> 01:00:49,880 I want to play Apostocracy because 1851 I believe it is. 1138 01:00:49,880 --> 01:00:52,560 You go through, you go through the taun and at the end of the 1139 01:00:52,560 --> 01:00:54,920 game you've done well and you've married. 1140 01:00:55,160 --> 01:00:57,960 Then we play Obsession, my favorite game, where you're 1141 01:00:57,960 --> 01:01:00,440 establishing your estate in Derbyshire. 1142 01:01:00,640 --> 01:01:02,840 After that, once you've established your estate and 1143 01:01:02,840 --> 01:01:06,960 Obsession is over, you play botany where you are traveling 1144 01:01:06,960 --> 01:01:12,120 around the globe collecting flowers and trees. 1145 01:01:12,200 --> 01:01:13,720 I know those two are just amazing. 1146 01:01:13,840 --> 01:01:16,320 Oh my gosh. And then you could, you could if 1147 01:01:16,320 --> 01:01:18,840 you wanted to, depending upon the gaming group, you could 1148 01:01:18,840 --> 01:01:22,120 finish it off with a game of deadly dowagers where you were 1149 01:01:22,120 --> 01:01:25,880 trying to marry off and kill your husband's in order to keep 1150 01:01:25,880 --> 01:01:30,400 the money so that you can marry the Prince and win the win 1151 01:01:30,400 --> 01:01:32,720 England. Now that's my kind of weekend. 1152 01:01:33,040 --> 01:01:35,400 I am jumping on that. Yep, 100. 1153 01:01:36,040 --> 01:01:39,760 Yeah, I've got the top hat and the tuxedo ready to go. 1154 01:01:39,880 --> 01:01:42,640 Let's go, teen. Compets. 1155 01:01:42,680 --> 01:01:44,800 That's right. Yep, I can't do a British 1156 01:01:44,800 --> 01:01:46,200 accent. No, neither can I. 1157 01:01:46,200 --> 01:01:49,000 I'm so sorry. I humiliated myself there trying 1158 01:01:49,000 --> 01:01:50,240 to do it. No, PJ, No. 1159 01:01:50,280 --> 01:01:51,520 You mentioned honorable mentions. 1160 01:01:51,520 --> 01:01:53,920 Do you have any others? Because I have one I want to 1161 01:01:53,920 --> 01:01:56,920 kind of talk about. You do, and I think you should 1162 01:01:56,920 --> 01:01:58,080 talk about it. I think this. 1163 01:01:58,080 --> 01:02:00,040 Is OK, so I mentioned the PJ earlier. 1164 01:02:00,040 --> 01:02:02,920 I'm so sorry, but I have this game that didn't come out in 1165 01:02:02,920 --> 01:02:05,400 2025. But I have to say that it was my 1166 01:02:05,400 --> 01:02:08,120 favorite game played and I just got to talk about it. 1167 01:02:08,400 --> 01:02:13,800 And this one's also very heavy. It is Kinfire Chronicles 1168 01:02:13,800 --> 01:02:17,880 Nightfall. OK, so I want to, I want to hear 1169 01:02:17,880 --> 01:02:20,040 about this. OK, Katie and I have been 1170 01:02:20,040 --> 01:02:22,800 talking about Kinfire for a long time. 1171 01:02:22,880 --> 01:02:24,760 Yeah, it is. Curious. 1172 01:02:26,160 --> 01:02:29,160 It's incredible. So I said incredible and it's 1173 01:02:29,320 --> 01:02:33,720 guess who published it? Incredible Dream Studios. 1174 01:02:33,720 --> 01:02:36,160 That's right. So yeah, they released this in 1175 01:02:36,160 --> 01:02:40,400 2023 and it was by far my favorite gaming experience of 1176 01:02:40,400 --> 01:02:43,840 the year, even beyond the ones I just listed. 1177 01:02:43,840 --> 01:02:46,920 I mean these top five are great and cozy and feel good and fun, 1178 01:02:47,000 --> 01:02:51,680 but there is something to say when a designer and a team of 1179 01:02:51,680 --> 01:02:57,320 people come together and spend 2 years writing and designing one 1180 01:02:57,400 --> 01:03:00,760 game. I mean that is crazy to me. 1181 01:03:00,760 --> 01:03:04,880 Kevin Wilson, I feel like he must be a genius because he has 1182 01:03:04,880 --> 01:03:07,720 directed this team of people. I think they even has like 5 or 1183 01:03:07,720 --> 01:03:13,800 6 illustrators on this game and it is a campaign game where you 1184 01:03:13,800 --> 01:03:17,440 are on a quest and you're learning your story as you go. 1185 01:03:17,440 --> 01:03:21,320 You kind of even learn about your character as you go and you 1186 01:03:21,320 --> 01:03:26,320 fight these baddies all to try to save this city, OK, from 1187 01:03:26,320 --> 01:03:29,040 darkness. It's very powerful story. 1188 01:03:29,240 --> 01:03:33,520 You have can fire light within you that keeps you alive, that 1189 01:03:33,600 --> 01:03:35,760 you're trying to keep the city alive. 1190 01:03:36,120 --> 01:03:40,080 And the storyline is incredible. But what is awesome, I'm playing 1191 01:03:40,080 --> 01:03:42,280 with a friend, his name's Austin. 1192 01:03:42,480 --> 01:03:44,800 He comes over. We play like maybe once a month. 1193 01:03:45,000 --> 01:03:48,440 So we're only on like quest 7 or maybe 8, right? 1194 01:03:48,440 --> 01:03:50,720 There's like 21 or something in here. 1195 01:03:50,800 --> 01:03:55,280 But there's times where we get to a part of the story and 1196 01:03:55,360 --> 01:03:59,800 unlock something and we are both going, Oh my gosh, we're like 1197 01:03:59,800 --> 01:04:02,840 freaking out. There's been times where I've 1198 01:04:02,840 --> 01:04:04,320 teared up. Like. 1199 01:04:04,560 --> 01:04:07,800 At part of the writing, the writing, and this is incredible. 1200 01:04:07,840 --> 01:04:11,120 I mean, you're talking about battling darkness versus light. 1201 01:04:11,120 --> 01:04:13,520 I mean, it's like that. That storyline in general is 1202 01:04:13,520 --> 01:04:20,640 very relatable to so many of us, but it's just really the most 1203 01:04:20,640 --> 01:04:25,000 immersive gameplay. You, you literally, it's like 1204 01:04:25,040 --> 01:04:28,800 everything fades away around you and you're just so in it, you're 1205 01:04:28,800 --> 01:04:32,200 so engaged until it's over, until your quest is done. 1206 01:04:32,200 --> 01:04:36,760 And it's just like the perfect amount to each quest is about 55 1207 01:04:36,760 --> 01:04:39,640 minutes to an hour. And so you know, it takes some 1208 01:04:39,640 --> 01:04:41,800 time to learn it in the beginning, but then once you get 1209 01:04:41,800 --> 01:04:46,120 it, it's just smooth. And every quest, it's just this 1210 01:04:46,200 --> 01:04:48,560 sense of accomplishment. And so. 1211 01:04:48,560 --> 01:04:52,520 And even if you lose to a baddie, there's still it veers 1212 01:04:52,520 --> 01:04:54,800 you to the storyline. Very, very good. 1213 01:04:54,800 --> 01:04:56,840 So yeah, we love this. Game Wow. 1214 01:04:57,000 --> 01:05:00,360 So Katie and I have been thinking about Kinfire Delve 1215 01:05:00,560 --> 01:05:02,280 which is the 2. Such a great game too. 1216 01:05:02,280 --> 01:05:05,560 You play your version and you're talking about the big bad box. 1217 01:05:05,560 --> 01:05:10,360 I'm talking about the big box. What made you choose Kinfire 1218 01:05:10,360 --> 01:05:13,480 Council versus the two player Delve? 1219 01:05:13,640 --> 01:05:15,840 Well, this is actually Kinfire Chronicles. 1220 01:05:15,840 --> 01:05:18,880 Kinfire Council, I do think came out in 2025. 1221 01:05:19,040 --> 01:05:23,200 I have yet to dive into that because I'm so into this 1222 01:05:23,200 --> 01:05:27,640 Chronicles that I don't even want to dive into Council just 1223 01:05:27,640 --> 01:05:30,560 fully, even though that is very cool too, because it's like 1224 01:05:30,560 --> 01:05:33,560 worker placement. That's like a whole other vibe. 1225 01:05:33,800 --> 01:05:36,320 They have so many in this universe, right? 1226 01:05:36,680 --> 01:05:41,720 So Kinfire Delve is a fantastic two player also solo solo two 1227 01:05:41,720 --> 01:05:45,840 player game that will get you used to the mechanics and that 1228 01:05:45,840 --> 01:05:50,760 is by using these cards to fight the Batty that is in front of 1229 01:05:50,760 --> 01:05:54,320 you. But it does not involve the 1230 01:05:54,320 --> 01:05:57,560 storyline, the choose your own adventure. 1231 01:05:57,760 --> 01:06:01,960 It does still have unique player powers, but if you want to know 1232 01:06:01,960 --> 01:06:04,840 the story of Kimfire, go to Kimfire Chronicles. 1233 01:06:04,920 --> 01:06:08,320 Okay, okay, there it is. Kimfire Chronicles, folks. 1234 01:06:08,840 --> 01:06:11,120 Love you guys over there. Incredible Dream studio. 1235 01:06:11,120 --> 01:06:13,160 Wow. Amazing. 1236 01:06:13,400 --> 01:06:16,800 And so for you, OK, so to be clear, that's like your absolute 1237 01:06:16,800 --> 01:06:21,280 favorite tabletop board game experience of 2025. 1238 01:06:21,600 --> 01:06:22,920 Hands down. Playing that. 1239 01:06:23,360 --> 01:06:27,520 That's incredible. Is it safe to say that when you 1240 01:06:27,520 --> 01:06:30,840 play Kinfire Chronicles it puts you in a better mood? 1241 01:06:30,880 --> 01:06:35,200 It gets the better mood stamp of approval hands down. 1242 01:06:35,800 --> 01:06:37,600 There it is. Absolutely. 1243 01:06:37,760 --> 01:06:41,480 I actually want a stamp that somehow says like better mood 1244 01:06:41,600 --> 01:06:44,600 approved or something like that and just stamp some stuff 1245 01:06:44,800 --> 01:06:49,160 because there are so many that really do boost the mood meter. 1246 01:06:49,320 --> 01:06:50,560 You could do that. That's one of them. 1247 01:06:51,440 --> 01:06:54,120 The other thing you could do is you could do a collaboration 1248 01:06:54,120 --> 01:06:57,480 with your local game store. You can make stickers Gemini 1249 01:06:57,640 --> 01:07:00,360 through sticker mule or Vistaprint if you prefer. 1250 01:07:00,400 --> 01:07:02,520 That's, say, better mood approved. 1251 01:07:02,520 --> 01:07:05,200 Absolutely. And, you know, just slap it on 1252 01:07:05,200 --> 01:07:08,400 the yeah, that way people who know absolutely, you know, 1253 01:07:08,400 --> 01:07:12,560 you're the maestro of the reels. Bam, I'm telling. 1254 01:07:12,560 --> 01:07:14,400 You, you, you've boosted my mood. 1255 01:07:14,400 --> 01:07:16,960 PJ, Thank you so much for having me on here. 1256 01:07:17,040 --> 01:07:19,000 That's what you do. What I bring to the table is 1257 01:07:19,000 --> 01:07:20,920 like me. That's all I bring. 1258 01:07:21,760 --> 01:07:23,640 If you look at my content, it's rubbish. 1259 01:07:25,120 --> 01:07:27,920 Stop. No, I I take pictures, OK, 1260 01:07:28,120 --> 01:07:30,880 that's the lighting I have whatever I have, that's it. 1261 01:07:31,040 --> 01:07:33,760 I tried. I buy like the people will say, 1262 01:07:33,760 --> 01:07:36,240 oh, you need this, this pit, this light again, equipment, 1263 01:07:36,240 --> 01:07:38,360 right? And I'm like, OK, yeah, let's 1264 01:07:38,360 --> 01:07:40,400 let's do it. And it looks garbage. 1265 01:07:40,400 --> 01:07:42,320 It looks like a 5 year old took pictures. 1266 01:07:42,560 --> 01:07:45,240 Stop. But you know what I can do? 1267 01:07:45,240 --> 01:07:46,480 I could talk to you. I can. 1268 01:07:46,480 --> 01:07:49,480 Love you. I can, yes. 100. 1269 01:07:49,720 --> 01:07:52,000 Percent try to build the community and support you in any 1270 01:07:52,000 --> 01:07:55,000 way I can, so yeah. Can you do it well? 1271 01:07:55,000 --> 01:07:57,360 Well, thanks, I mean, I try thank you. 1272 01:07:57,400 --> 01:08:00,560 That is that is so kind. Couple other things to talk 1273 01:08:00,560 --> 01:08:04,080 about 2025. While this was not the primary 1274 01:08:04,080 --> 01:08:06,960 goal that you and I were talking about, but I so let's talk about 1275 01:08:06,960 --> 01:08:09,880 some of the games. You could call these my top 1276 01:08:09,880 --> 01:08:15,160 played games of 2025 S Flip 7 was. 1277 01:08:15,160 --> 01:08:18,040 What a what a time. Yeah, it was played the most, 1278 01:08:18,640 --> 01:08:20,920 took over the world, took over Christmas with the Grinch 1279 01:08:20,920 --> 01:08:22,439 version, which I could. Not very much so. 1280 01:08:22,680 --> 01:08:26,120 Could not find a copy of that. Hey, I had a giveaway, wish you 1281 01:08:26,120 --> 01:08:28,520 put your name in there. Yeah, well, I don't win 1282 01:08:28,520 --> 01:08:33,240 giveaways, so, you know, And then Sky Team was close behind 1283 01:08:33,240 --> 01:08:34,800 it. Katie and I play that a lot, 1284 01:08:35,000 --> 01:08:36,720 obviously. Yeah, great game. 1285 01:08:36,960 --> 01:08:41,359 We played it like 3 or 4 times. On New Year's Eve we finally 1286 01:08:41,359 --> 01:08:44,040 landed in Oslo, Norway. It just took Wow. 1287 01:08:44,560 --> 01:08:47,000 I bet. And then there's stool pigeon. 1288 01:08:48,359 --> 01:08:50,359 Never played. Yes, you need to play Stool 1289 01:08:50,359 --> 01:08:52,200 Pigeon. That is a fun game. 1290 01:08:52,359 --> 01:08:54,640 It was our top played game of 24. 1291 01:08:54,640 --> 01:08:57,319 It is our top three-game because it's so accessible. 1292 01:08:57,319 --> 01:09:00,600 It's so quick these card games, right, You could just get and 1293 01:09:00,600 --> 01:09:04,760 then castle combo. Another solid game. 1294 01:09:04,760 --> 01:09:09,479 Yeah, Castle Combo took over UKGE in 2024. 1295 01:09:09,720 --> 01:09:12,960 And so one of the things I love about having so many friends in 1296 01:09:12,960 --> 01:09:16,960 England, they go to UKGE, which is like at the end of May, early 1297 01:09:16,960 --> 01:09:19,240 June. So it's right before our 1298 01:09:19,240 --> 01:09:21,319 convention season. Origins, Gen. 1299 01:09:21,319 --> 01:09:24,960 Con, Dallas Tower W the packs unplugged, right? 1300 01:09:25,120 --> 01:09:29,520 So it's kind of like a preview. So it's like there's this game 1301 01:09:29,520 --> 01:09:32,439 castle combo, all right, So I know to lookout for that when I 1302 01:09:32,439 --> 01:09:34,000 get to order. Yeah. 1303 01:09:34,000 --> 01:09:35,520 And then The Lost Ruins of Our Neck. 1304 01:09:35,640 --> 01:09:39,560 I got a copy of the big box with the Missing Expeditions. 1305 01:09:39,560 --> 01:09:42,160 I wasn't going to back it. It was on Kickstarter. 1306 01:09:42,160 --> 01:09:44,279 I was like, I don't need that, it's fine, whatever. 1307 01:09:44,560 --> 01:09:47,359 Got it at Miniature Market and Saint Louis on their debt. 1308 01:09:47,359 --> 01:09:49,880 Love that place. Yeah, the Denton Ding wall where 1309 01:09:49,880 --> 01:09:52,319 you get a massive discount, like, let's just get it. 1310 01:09:52,600 --> 01:09:54,120 And then we went through the campaign. 1311 01:09:54,120 --> 01:09:57,200 I'm missing expeditions. That was just incredible. 1312 01:09:57,200 --> 01:10:02,200 Great game in its own right. But yeah, so 2025, finally, a 1313 01:10:02,200 --> 01:10:06,000 little bit of sad news. Yeah, most people, most people 1314 01:10:06,000 --> 01:10:09,440 are aware if you're not. And you know, is our dear friend 1315 01:10:09,440 --> 01:10:12,320 Goja, A wingspan girl on Instagram. 1316 01:10:12,480 --> 01:10:15,160 She sadly passed away on December 20th. 1317 01:10:15,240 --> 01:10:17,160 That was a really heart wrenching. 1318 01:10:17,160 --> 01:10:21,320 She was probably the most supportive, constantly in 1319 01:10:21,320 --> 01:10:25,040 communication and just supporting all of us. 1320 01:10:25,240 --> 01:10:27,920 I know that she would. So she was reaching out to me 1321 01:10:28,120 --> 01:10:31,000 once she found out I was in the hospital, she would message me 1322 01:10:31,000 --> 01:10:34,080 every day throughout the first few weeks of December while I 1323 01:10:34,080 --> 01:10:35,760 was in covering every single day. 1324 01:10:35,760 --> 01:10:37,600 I got a message, how are you today? 1325 01:10:37,600 --> 01:10:39,400 Are you OK? Are you feeling well? 1326 01:10:39,480 --> 01:10:43,440 And then to get this message from her sister Magdalena, who's 1327 01:10:43,440 --> 01:10:47,040 lucky meeple on in on Instagram and that she had passed. 1328 01:10:47,720 --> 01:10:50,760 As far as I know, it was through complications due to pneumonia 1329 01:10:51,480 --> 01:10:54,480 and her funeral was on Monday, January 5th. 1330 01:10:55,480 --> 01:10:59,240 And so I just want to take a moment of silence to remember 1331 01:10:59,240 --> 01:11:03,200 Goja, all of you who were touched by her. 1332 01:11:03,240 --> 01:11:06,280 So in the spirit of Goja, we're going to try to play Wingspan in 1333 01:11:06,280 --> 01:11:08,440 2026. We're going to support each 1334 01:11:08,440 --> 01:11:11,120 other more. We're going to promote 1335 01:11:11,120 --> 01:11:14,480 positivity, not negativity. We are not going to gatekeep. 1336 01:11:14,480 --> 01:11:15,840 There's no room for that anymore. 1337 01:11:15,840 --> 01:11:19,360 It's 2026, no gatekeeping. We're just going to love and 1338 01:11:19,360 --> 01:11:24,040 support and be positive and dedicate all of our games this 1339 01:11:24,040 --> 01:11:27,360 year to Goja, yeah. Absolutely, yeah. 1340 01:11:27,360 --> 01:11:31,800 When I got the news, obviously was devastated and I told 1341 01:11:31,800 --> 01:11:37,440 Kristen what happened and I was just man, a mess. 1342 01:11:37,480 --> 01:11:40,880 I was a mess cuz just like for you, she would always check in 1343 01:11:40,880 --> 01:11:43,560 on me. She was the checking in like 1344 01:11:43,560 --> 01:11:48,040 that was her like everyone has their part in this community. 1345 01:11:48,040 --> 01:11:51,640 She was the one that was so selfless that would give her 1346 01:11:51,640 --> 01:11:54,160 time and checking in on how everyone was doing. 1347 01:11:54,280 --> 01:11:57,080 I love her for that. And so, you know, later that 1348 01:11:57,080 --> 01:12:00,040 day, Kristen said to me, you know, honey, why don't we go 1349 01:12:00,040 --> 01:12:04,120 ahead and just stay home and play games and just play games 1350 01:12:04,200 --> 01:12:06,560 and like do it for do it for her. 1351 01:12:06,560 --> 01:12:09,240 And I was just like, that is so like, that's how she would want 1352 01:12:09,240 --> 01:12:11,120 it, right? All of us just sitting at the 1353 01:12:11,120 --> 01:12:14,720 table spending time with each other, taking it slow. 1354 01:12:14,760 --> 01:12:18,000 That was awesome. So yeah, we honor her. 1355 01:12:18,000 --> 01:12:22,520 And you know, Magdalena, we, the whole family, we love you guys 1356 01:12:22,520 --> 01:12:24,240 so much. We're here for you. 1357 01:12:24,640 --> 01:12:26,120 Absolutely. That is right. 1358 01:12:26,280 --> 01:12:29,720 Do you remember the first time you she reached out to you? 1359 01:12:29,720 --> 01:12:31,640 You reached out to? Do you remember that first 1360 01:12:31,640 --> 01:12:34,640 connection with Goja? Actually a lot of people may or 1361 01:12:34,920 --> 01:12:38,560 like probably don't know this, but Grisha was my first follower 1362 01:12:38,840 --> 01:12:42,080 that was outside of the USI think she was my 10th, like 1363 01:12:42,080 --> 01:12:45,640 within the 1st 10 followers. I mean, she was the first one to 1364 01:12:45,640 --> 01:12:48,080 welcome me to this community that wasn't like my friends. 1365 01:12:48,080 --> 01:12:50,120 Like I was like, hey friends, I'm doing this like. 1366 01:12:50,280 --> 01:12:51,840 Weird board game Instagram thing. 1367 01:12:51,840 --> 01:12:53,200 I don't know what it's going to be, but. 1368 01:12:53,560 --> 01:12:55,600 And then she found me. Yeah. 1369 01:12:55,600 --> 01:13:00,080 And it was her and Craig from from Get Into Games. 1370 01:13:00,080 --> 01:13:03,160 And those two were the first ones to welcome me in. 1371 01:13:03,160 --> 01:13:06,160 And yeah, so she will always be a monumental person for me in 1372 01:13:06,160 --> 01:13:09,520 this community. And yeah, Wingspan will be 1373 01:13:09,520 --> 01:13:11,280 played. For her, absolutely. 1374 01:13:11,320 --> 01:13:14,520 I want to share my first interaction with Gojo. 1375 01:13:15,640 --> 01:13:20,840 This might have been 20/21/22. I mean, I've known Gojo a long 1376 01:13:20,840 --> 01:13:22,000 time. Of course, I've been in this 1377 01:13:22,000 --> 01:13:24,880 community for so long, probably longer than people realize. 1378 01:13:25,280 --> 01:13:29,720 Yes. We she had did a post of 1379 01:13:29,720 --> 01:13:32,760 Sagrada, which Daryl Andrews just recently posted that 1380 01:13:32,760 --> 01:13:34,040 there's a new version coming out. 1381 01:13:34,040 --> 01:13:37,720 So wow, congratulations there. She so she posted a picture of 1382 01:13:37,720 --> 01:13:40,520 Sagrada, but she put like it was a cross. 1383 01:13:40,520 --> 01:13:43,240 She designed the yellow dice in the shape of a cross. 1384 01:13:43,480 --> 01:13:46,360 I think it might have been Easter to note, I am Roman 1385 01:13:46,360 --> 01:13:49,920 Catholic and she is as well. And so I made a comment about, 1386 01:13:49,960 --> 01:13:52,520 oh, you can't you know, you broke the rules and Sagrada, you 1387 01:13:52,520 --> 01:13:56,080 can't do that. And then we connected both in 1388 01:13:56,080 --> 01:14:00,840 our shared faith as Catholics and our shared community and 1389 01:14:00,840 --> 01:14:03,800 hobby through board games. That's kind of how we just 1390 01:14:03,800 --> 01:14:06,080 connected. And it was really funny because 1391 01:14:06,080 --> 01:14:08,400 she would send me messages and then I wouldn't reply because 1392 01:14:08,400 --> 01:14:11,200 I'm at work. And so we figured out that we 1393 01:14:11,200 --> 01:14:16,720 are 7 hours apart in distance. So so she figured it out first 1394 01:14:16,720 --> 01:14:20,040 and she would time her messages with the time that I would get 1395 01:14:20,040 --> 01:14:21,560 off work. That's so sweet. 1396 01:14:22,320 --> 01:14:24,560 I would get home and there'd be a message from Instagram, from 1397 01:14:24,560 --> 01:14:26,520 Goja and like so our. Conversation. 1398 01:14:26,960 --> 01:14:29,680 Yeah, right. I mean, just the most beautiful 1399 01:14:29,680 --> 01:14:31,640 spirit. And I know we say that about a 1400 01:14:31,640 --> 01:14:33,560 lot of people. No, she does. 1401 01:14:34,120 --> 01:14:38,160 Goja's just fantastic. Yeah, we're lucky to have had 1402 01:14:38,160 --> 01:14:42,600 her for as long as we did and, you know, continue to pray for 1403 01:14:42,600 --> 01:14:46,120 the repose of her soul and just, you know, wish the best for her 1404 01:14:46,120 --> 01:14:48,520 family. We got we got to know her 1405 01:14:48,520 --> 01:14:51,200 youngest son, Anthony, who is now 14. 1406 01:14:51,480 --> 01:14:54,360 My wife and I both bonded with him because we're cat owners and 1407 01:14:54,360 --> 01:14:56,040 lovers. He's a cat lover. 1408 01:14:56,040 --> 01:14:58,920 He wanted a cat. He just kind of. 1409 01:14:59,040 --> 01:15:04,160 We would send mail to him from our now deceased cat, Shrimp, 1410 01:15:04,400 --> 01:15:07,200 who I did an entire memorial episode of. 1411 01:15:07,360 --> 01:15:09,240 Wow. Yeah, years ago. 1412 01:15:09,240 --> 01:15:13,680 And then now we have of Lersa and Baitor, our two cats who 1413 01:15:13,880 --> 01:15:16,480 have been in this room with me but have not jumped on the 1414 01:15:16,480 --> 01:15:18,400 table, which is crazy. Yeah. 1415 01:15:18,400 --> 01:15:21,480 Just a beautiful family getting to know Magdalena all these 1416 01:15:21,480 --> 01:15:25,360 years as well. So we we continue to grieve with 1417 01:15:25,360 --> 01:15:29,560 them through it all. So yeah, now I don't want to end 1418 01:15:29,560 --> 01:15:31,440 it on a completely terrible note. 1419 01:15:31,560 --> 01:15:36,080 Is there anything else in 2025 that's been in your better mood 1420 01:15:36,080 --> 01:15:38,480 world that you've done that we haven't talked about? 1421 01:15:38,640 --> 01:15:43,840 You know, I think the best part about 2025, it was actually a 1422 01:15:43,840 --> 01:15:48,320 very difficult year. I mean, we got our first puppy, 1423 01:15:48,440 --> 01:15:53,280 her name's Remy, but we actually adopted her and she has tons of 1424 01:15:53,280 --> 01:15:57,760 behavioral issues. And we went through that one, 1425 01:15:57,840 --> 01:16:02,440 not 2, but three trainers. And I want to say this all 1426 01:16:02,440 --> 01:16:06,440 because it was a really challenging experience. 1427 01:16:06,480 --> 01:16:09,480 I mean, for a first trainer to say, I don't know what to do 1428 01:16:09,480 --> 01:16:11,120 with this. And we didn't want to just give 1429 01:16:11,120 --> 01:16:14,560 her up, right? And give her to a family who may 1430 01:16:14,560 --> 01:16:17,920 say we can't, you know, I don't want her to be passed on to 1431 01:16:17,920 --> 01:16:20,800 family, to family, right? But it was very difficult time 1432 01:16:21,200 --> 01:16:25,680 and the trainers are expensive and come to the time where we 1433 01:16:25,680 --> 01:16:29,680 actually had a terrible experience where a trainer kind 1434 01:16:29,680 --> 01:16:32,600 of bailed on us, took our money, bailed on us and didn't hear 1435 01:16:32,600 --> 01:16:34,480 from them for like a whole month. 1436 01:16:34,480 --> 01:16:37,560 And it was just a really scary time because we lost money and 1437 01:16:37,560 --> 01:16:42,040 we ended up starting a GoFundMe. And I could not believe the 1438 01:16:42,040 --> 01:16:48,280 board game community showed up. They paid for basically half of, 1439 01:16:48,400 --> 01:16:51,520 well, they paid for all of what we lost and then they paid for 1440 01:16:51,520 --> 01:16:55,600 half of what was to come. And I just, I just can't thank 1441 01:16:55,720 --> 01:16:59,320 the my friends that I've made, even strangers that I really 1442 01:16:59,320 --> 01:17:01,360 didn't know that just jumped on it. 1443 01:17:01,560 --> 01:17:05,000 I can't thank everyone enough for really supporting me in this 1444 01:17:05,000 --> 01:17:07,400 past year because that was a challenging time. 1445 01:17:07,400 --> 01:17:10,760 And it was this community that helped me out to keep me going. 1446 01:17:10,760 --> 01:17:12,600 So thank you so much, everybody. Yeah. 1447 01:17:12,880 --> 01:17:15,160 Thank you, guys. Keep being positive, keep 1448 01:17:15,160 --> 01:17:21,600 supportive, you know, and like I say, let's be kind to each other 1449 01:17:22,520 --> 01:17:24,360 and play more games. Thanks for watching. 1450 01:17:25,000 --> 01:17:26,920 Thanks for watching everybody. Thank you.