The Analog Gamer's Podcast: Recent Episodes
The Analog Gamers
A 30 minute podcast to spread the love of gaming to casual gamers and keep that love pumping in hobby gamers.
Lindsey and Frank, along with special guest Jerry, talk about playing party games produced by Jackbox (the makers of You Don't Know Jack) on Zoom.
This is actually the second half of the previous episodes recording. The recording was too long for one episode, and was split to two.
Brent, Lindsay, Daniel and Frank discuss playing digital versions of games online. This includes different sites, games, and apps.
Brent, Lindsey, Daniel and Frank talk about games that can be played during the stay-at-home orders
Shane, Brent and Frank talk about campaign games, what makes them different, comparing them to RPGs, and our experiences with them.
Brent, Shane and Frank are joined by Lindsey, Brent's wife. Together, they discuss the boardgame Villanous.
This time we are joined by Lindsey, and we talk about good Halloween games, including this year's release: Horrified.
All three of us are here, and we all get into what makes a mechanism and the composition of simple games.
Shane gives us an update on his push to play every Spiel des Jahres game in a year.
Note that we were actually setting up for recording another episode. We did do that, but decided to break it off as separate. Otherwise, it would have been too long.
Brent and Frank talk about when it's time to call the game early, as well as what upcoming gaming opportunities for us will look like.
We get started late, but we are started. Welcome to Season 7 - the beginning of the third year of our podcast!
We close out the season, talking about the worst of all board game fouls, and Shane has an announcement.
We talk about people who can't seem to get into the spirit of the game, and how we have seen this take shape.
"I think we may class the lawyer in the natural history of monsters." Author: Keats Quotes Tonight we talk about the worst of all monsters, the rules lawyer.
Frank and his son Daniel discuss the difficulties in finding a gaming group at the University of Notre Dame, as well as the opportunity to help the university Wellness Center with a special project!
No, not werewolves. We are talking about those who must get there way, or who cry "Foul!" too easily.
House Baratheon retains the Iron Throne as we review Game of Thrones 2nd Edition with those that played this past Game Day.
Is it right to help someone else win? Punish someone else? We discuss if and when it is okay to advance another's cause.
How do you handle slow players? After introducint the season, we talked about things we have tried, what has worked, and what hasn't.
This episode, we talk about how to choose a game to play during game group sessions: what we have tried, what has worked, and what doesn't.
Today we talk about how to handle people who aren't around for the whole gaming session.
Frank and Brent talk a bit about RPG rules they have been exploring, playing with kids, and finding time.
A few episodes ago, Shane talked about the fact that he didn't have many expansions. Let's find out! Join us!
Shane, Brent and Frank, along with our guest Mary Ann, give our impression of Ethnos (by CMON Games) immediately after playing it. Included is toddler commentary by Lexi.
We are setting up a new type of episode with this one. Enjoy a rewind session this week!
We talk about the when and why of getting rid of a game, keeping games and expansions together or not, and ramble on a bit before circling back.
In this episode we talk about our gaming lives over Christmas, the joy and maybe intimidation of unboxing a game, and what our thoughts are towards this seasons episode topics.
In this episode, we talk about all of the "other" things that make your game session go more easily. These all make great gift ideas!
Shane and Frank talk about finding some free time, picking a game and a friend, and having some fun. Specific games include 7 Wonders: Duel and War of the Ring.
What is the right size group? What determines it? When can you expand? This week we consider how the size of your game group, the games to play, and how they interact.
Shane and Frank talk about ideas we have had in designing games, what our obstacles are to actually doing it, and how we might go about it.
In the same vein as two hosts talking about two player games, Frank takes on solo games by himself.
Brent and Frank talk about two players games, including mechanisms that don't work. We also talk about games that work well as multi-player games, and those that do not.
In this episode we talk about how Season 4 will be (un)structured, but mostly talk about our gaming experiences over the weeks we have been on break.
So now that we have covered a season of selecting, buying and teaching games, let's pull it all together for your game night!
Teaching games is more than reading the rules to the other players (that's a huge no-no). Teaching games requires an attempt to master the rules.
Welcome to our first review! Requested by a friend, we look at Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle and how it stands up as a deck building game, a cooperative game, and a gateway game!
This Episode focuses on organizing your game within the box to make your gaming experience run more smoothly, as well as player aids that made play more enjoyable.
We talk about the struggles we had playing Dune on our last game day, reflecting on how important it is to play a game when it fits the time frame and number of players available. It can go so wrong when you force a game when the situation isn't right.
We discuss how we find games we want to buy, including the use of Amazon and Kickstarter.
In this episode, we talk about the possibilities and pitfalls of asking your friends to play games with you.
In this episode, we talk about the benefits and difficulties in playing at home with your own group, vs playing with strangers in your local game store.
What is it that brings us to the table? Do we have a need to win? A need for the social aspects? A mental challenge. What is our approach to gaming?
Shane, Frank and our guest Erik Dewey discuss the life cycle of a game collection. Afterwards, we discuss our five "must-have" games.
We talk about what the plans are for Season 3, including how to grow a collection and finding people to play with.
This an abbreviated episode, as Frank created "Technical Difficulties", and deleted the episode. We recorded a summary to replace it, and here is the result. Games mentioned include
Lords of Waterdeep
Alien Frontiers
This episode discusses games where players have slightly different abilities, which often lead to different strategy and tactics. Think David vs Goliath. Often these games are not only trying to be immersive, but also tell a story. Games mentioned include:
Forbidden Island
Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battles
Dune
Pandemic
Star Trek: Fleet Captains
War of the Ring
Coup
Love Letter
This episode is about train routes, electrical networks, and a healthy digression in making sure games stay fun for everyone.
Games mentioned include:
Ticket to Ride
Catan
Power Grid
Through the Desert
Tsuro
This discussion is about the types of auctions we have found in games. We also discuss games where the auction is the main mechanic, versus those where auctions are just a portion. Games discussed include:
Modern Art
Fabrik der Traume (Dream Factory)
Power Grid
Dune
Metropolys
Today we talk about a mechcanism that isn't: negotiation. It isn't recognized officially in a lot of games, but it sure does happen. Some of the games discussed include:
- Catan
- Clash of Cultures
- Sheriff of Nottingham
Controlling the board space for benefits and victory points is the topic de jour. Games mentioned include:
- Mission Red Planet
- Risk
- Alien Frontiers
- Star Wars: Rebellion
And more!
We talk about how movement in games has changed, including hex and counter wargames, the Command & Colors series, Star Wars: Rebellion, and War of the Ring.
Action points allow for more options for the player, including performing an action more than once. While making the player more options, it also means there is more to think about and more to teach.
Games mentioned are (in no particular order):
Clash of Clans
Eminent Domain
Dune
King's Abbey
7 Wonders
Merchants & Marauders
Race for the Galaxy
This week's episode covers modular boards and tile laying and a bare knuckled fight over the boundary between the two.
Games mentioned are:
Catan
Hey! That's My Fish
Betrayal at House on the Hill
Tsuro
Scrabble
We explore modular boards and tile laying games, and where the boundaries between the two types are. Some of the games mentioned include:
Sushi Go
Dominion
San Juan
Scripts and Scribes (aka Biblios)
First, let me apologize for getting this posted late. It was unavoidable, even though it was regrettable.
This episode covers the various uses of dice in games. Everyone is familiar with the old roll-n-move, some have used dice for combat in Risk, but there are other uses too!
In this episode, we talk about the games we received over the holidays, and gaming experiences we've recently had. Most importantly, we introduce our topics for this season.
With a great movie franchise, comes a game franchise. Are the games good? Here are a few tips to know!
In this episode, we talk about all kinds of games to play at the holidays, what to give in several cases, and maybe a few ideas for your Christmas list!
This time we talk about collectible card games, their pros and cons, how expensive they can be, and how to play them without the expense.
Here we talk about wargames, those which simulate historical battles, whole wars, and even galactic struggles. The real conclusion is that we need to play them more.
In this episode, we talk about the characteristics of Role Playing Games (RPGs) and a few board games that approximate the feel of an RPG.
This week we talk about games that are played as a team of players, including a short discussion about our favorites in which Shane cheats.
We look at abstract games this week - games with perfect information, and often very little theme. Several great game suggestions in this episode!
We explore those games that are the gateways into the hobby. Those games that are the step past the mass market games, even though hey are starting to be available at the big box stores.
Many of us have fond memories of family gatherings and card games. It might be our first, best introduction to card gaming...
Good for those times when there's just a little bit of time available, or when there are new gamers at the table, these games are way to go!
This week we examine what makes a party game, when they work well, when we like them (or not)!
In this episode, we talk about why we are starting the podcast, what listeners should expect, and the format of the podcast.