Cardboard Philosophy

Episode 046 - Do Games Require Player "Buy-In"?

We’ve talked in the past about the communal focus the whole table can get when playing a board game. But is that communal focus a requirement to play a game? Can designers help nudge us toward that state of “buy in” or is it just something magical that happens once in a while?
This week on the show, Steve, Rob and Evan attempt to find out!
Want to ask a question or give us your two cents about the state of euros? Hit us up at cardboardphilosophypod@gmail.com!
Want to play some of Robert’s games? Grab them here! - https://www.allplay.com/board-games/partner/bitewing/
Cites and Sources
Age of Comics - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/349963/age-of-comics-the-golden-years
Barrel Dice - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/148531/barrel-dice
Brass: Lancashire - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/28720/brass-lancashire
Bohnanza - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/11/bohnanza
Comic Hunters - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/322616/comic-hunters
Cosmic Encounter - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/39463/cosmic-encounter
Cubitos - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/298069/cubitos
Don’t LAMA Dice - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/325853dont-llama-dice
Escape (Rapido) - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/357/excape
Gang of Dice - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/366129/gang-of-dice
Kanban EV - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/284378/kanban-ev
Libertalia - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/125618/libertalia
Lisboa - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/161533/lisboa
Modern Art - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/118/modern-art
Revive - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/332772/revive
Quacks of Quedlinburg - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/244521/the-quacks-of-quedlinburg
Terraforming Mars - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/167791/terraforming-mars
Thunder Road: Vendetta - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/342070/thunder-road-vendetta
Worms The Board Game - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/397788/worms-the-board-game
Zoo Vadis - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/368061/zoo-vadis

Episode 045 - Buying Hope

We buy games for a lot of reasons. To have fun with friends, to discover a new designer or enjoy a mechanic we don’t currently have represented in our collection. But could there be… another reason? One that goes down to the very root of human nature? Are we maybe buying promise more than just the hot new cardboard offering at our FLGS?
This week on the show, Steve, Rob and Evan attempt to find out!
Want to ask a question or give us your two cents about the state of euros? Hit us up at cardboardphilosophypod@gmail.com!
Want to play some of Robert’s games? Grab them here! - https://www.allplay.com/board-games/partner/bitewing/
Cites and Sources
3 Ring Circus - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/371947/3-ring-circus
7th Citadel - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/286063/the-7th-citadel
Agricola - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/31260/agricola
Arydia: The Paths We Dare Tread - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/219650/arydia-the-paths-we-dare-tread
Batman: The Animated Series Adventures – Shadow of the Bat - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/299566/batman-the-animated-series-adventures-shadow-of-th
Botswana - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/398/wildlife-safari
Caesar!: Seize Rome In 20 Minutes - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/338957/caesar-seize-rome-in-20-minutes
Cat Blues: The Big Gig - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/414351/cat-blues-the-big-gig
Dark Souls: The Board Game - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/197831/dark-souls-the-board-game
Elden Ring: Realm of the Grafted King - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/373107/elden-ring-realm-of-the-grafted-king
Frosthaven - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/295770/frosthaven
Gloomhaven - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/174430/gloomhaven
Horizon Zero Dawn: The Board Game - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/260410/horizon-zero-dawn-the-board-game
Merchants of Andromeda - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/436516/merchants-of-andromeda
Merchants of Amsterdam - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/531/merchants-of-amsterdam
Oathswarn - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/251661/oathsworn-into-the-deepwood
Ra - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/12/ra
Root - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/237182/root
Slay The Spire: The Board Game - https://boardgamegeek.om/boardgame/338960/slay-the-spire-the-board-game
Tainted Grail - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/264220/tainted-grail-the-fall-of-avalon
Unconscious Mind - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/329500/unconscious-mind
Veiled Fate - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/315695/veiled-fate
Yucatan - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/330510/yucatan

Episode 044 - End Game Points

Some would say that points make the board gaming world go round! A lot of our favorite games all come down to a contest of having the most points… but what do those points tell us about the game? More to the point… what to they tell us about the players and the session? Are more points really always better?
This week on the show, Steve, Rob and Evan attempt to find out!
Want to ask a question or give us your two cents about the state of euros? Hit us up at cardboardphilosophypod@gmail.com!
Want to play some of Robert’s games? Grab them here! - https://www.allplay.com/board-games/partner/bitewing/
Cites and Sources
American Bookshop - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/292811/american-bookshop
Brian Boru - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/337765/brian-boru-high-king-of-ireland
Bus - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/552/bus
Castles of Burgundy - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/84876/the-castles-of-burgundy
Cat Ass Trophy - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/651/zero-down
Chess - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/171/chess
Discordia - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/360206/discordia
Five Three Five - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/311031/oh-meow-bow
Great Western Trail - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/193738/great-western-trail
Heaven & Ale - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/227789/heaven-and-ale
Iwari - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/270109/iwari
L.A.M.A - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/266083/llama
Last Will - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/97842/last-will
Lisboa - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/161533/lisboa
Medici - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/46/medici
Parade - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/56692/parade
Penguin Party - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/56933/penguin-party
Pipeline - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/256730/pipeline
Poison - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/17025/poison
REX: Final Days of an Empire
Tatari - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/368554/tatari
Tinner’s Trail - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/321277/tinners-trail
Wavelength - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/262543/wavelength

Bonus Episode! - Cardboard Con 2024 Recap Special

We did a mini-con! It was invite only, and only 3 invites were sent out. We had guest travel over 5000 k/m to join in the fun… so what better way to commemorate this than a bonus pod!
Please enjoy this recap of our time together for Cardboard Con 2024. And thanks for being a listener of Cardboard Philosophy. It’s been a great year, can’t wait to continue this into 2025!!
Want to ask a question or give us your two cents about the state of euros? Hit us up at cardboardphilosophypod@gmail.com!
Cites and Sources
Friday:
Neuland – https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/12681/neuland
Scharfe Schotten - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/153480/scharfe-schoten
Galactic Renaissance (2X) - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/365526/galactic-renaissance
Surfosaurus MAX - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/394887/surfosaurus-max
Byzantium - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/19348/byzantium
Penguin Party - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/56933/penguin-party
Trendy - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/1412/trendy
Saturday:
Age of Steam - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/4098/age-of-steam
Power Grid - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2651/power-grid
Fast Sloths - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/277597/fast-sloths
Rebel Princess - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/381249/rebel-princess
Bridges of Shangri-La - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/8190/the-bridges-of-shangri-la
Tatari - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/368554/tatari
Marco Polo Expeditions - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/9139/marco-polo-expedition
Sunday:
Mexica - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2955/mexica
Comic Hunters - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/322616/comic-hunters
Mini Express - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/300751/mini-express
Mombasa - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/172386/mombasa
Medici TCG - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/202288/medici-the-card-game
Galactic Renaissance - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/365526/galactic-renaissance
Voodoo Prince - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/234248/voodoo-prince

Episode 043 - What Is Play? (Featuring The Dice Tower's Chris Yi)

We say the word “play” a lot in board gaming. “Wanna play a game” usually initiates the game nights that got us into the hobby in the first place… but what is play?
That’s a big question. So big we’ve enlisted the help of The Dice Tower’s Chris Yi to make sure we cover all the ins and outs of play… and the Treaty of Versailles!
Want to ask a question or give us your two cents about the state of euros? Hit us up at cardboardphilosophypod@gmail.com!
Want more of Chris in your life?
https://www.dicetower.com/team-members/chris-yi
https://x.com/dicetowerchris
Cites and Sources
Arcs - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/359871/arcs
Botswana (Wildlife Safari) - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/398/wildlife-safari
Chinatown - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/47/chinatown
Concept - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/147151/concept
Hansa Teutonica - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/43015/hansa-teutonica
Imperium: Horizons - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/367518/imperium-horizons
Ito - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/327778/ito
Men-Nefer - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/404431/men-nefer
Mexica - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2955/mexica
Monikers - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/156546/monikers
SETI: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/418059/seti-search-for-extraterrestrial-intelligence
That’s Not A Hat - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/375651/thats-not-a-hat
Zoo Vadis - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/368061/zoo-vadis

Episode 042 - Theme Vs Setting

Theme and setting are both terms that get thrown around a lot in board game discussions – often as synonyms. But are they actually the same thing? If not… what makes them different?
This week on the show Evan, Robert and Steve are all diving into the weird and wonderful world of Theme VS Setting!
Want to ask a question or give us your two cents about the state of euros? Hit us up at cardboardphilosophypod@gmail.com!
Cites and Sources
An Infamous Traffic - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/206490/an-infamous-traffic
Beowulf: The Movie Board Game - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/29308/beowulf-the-movie-board-game
Chess - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/171/chess
Chinatown - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/47/chinatown
Cosmolancer - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/119/cosmolancer
Decrypto - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/225694/decrypto
Galactic Renaissance - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/365526/galactic-renaissance
Great Plains - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/330036/great-plains
Halls of Hegra - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/336131/halls-of-hegra
Heaven & Ale - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/227789/heaven-and-ale
Imperium: Horizons - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/367518/imperium-horizons
John Company Second Edition - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/332686/john-company-second-edition
Lisboa - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/161533/lisboa
Modern Art - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/118/modern-art
Mombasa - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/172386/mombasa
Municipium - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/29410/municipium
On Mars - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/184267/on-mars
Pax Pamir - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/256960/pax-pamir-second-edition
Root - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/237182/root
Samurai - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/3/samurai
SILOS - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/429765/silos
Skymines - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/359438/skymines
Star Trek: Captain’s Chair - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/422541/star-trek-captains-chair
Tatari - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/368554/tatari
The Defence of Procyon III - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/267244/the-defence-of-procyon-iii
Through The Desert - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/503/through-the-desert
Trendy - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/1412/trendy
Veiled Fate - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/315695/veiled-fate
Waterfall Park - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/396618/waterfall-park
 

Episode 041 - Are Any Topics Too Far For Board Games?

How far is too far in board gaming? No, I don’t mean collection size… and no, I don’t mean how far would you travel to play one… I mean subject matter!
How far is too far? Is there a too far? Is there anything fully off limits for publishers or players?
This week on the show, Evan, Robert and Steve try to find out!
Want to ask a question or give us your two cents about the state of euros? Hit us up at cardboardphilosophypod@gmail.com!
Cites and Sources
Alice Is Missing - https://rpggeek.com/rpgitem/311654/alice-is-missing
An Infamous Traffic - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/206490/an-infamous-traffic
The Cost - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/292894/the-cost
Heading Forward - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/363538/heading-forward
Hegemony: Lead Your Class To Victory - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/321608/hegemony-lead-your-class-to-victory
I Guess This Is It - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/346911/i-guess-this-is-it
Mombasa - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/172386/mombasa
Pax Pamir: Second Edition - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/256960/pax-pamir-second-edition
Secret Hitler - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/188834/secret-hitler
Skymines - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/359438/skymines
Tinner’s Trail - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/35570/tinners-trail

Episode 040 - What Makes A Game Immersive?

In a rare continuation on the previous week’s topic – this week we’re talking immersion!
But what is immersion in a game? Is it a Scrooge McDuck style dive into a swimming pool of board games? Or is it something more design based? More player based? I’m sure curious to know what Robert, Evan and Steve dredge up from the depths of philosophy on this one!
Want to ask a question or give us your two cents about the state of euros? Hit us up at cardboardphilosophypod@gmail.com!
Cites and Sources
Blood On The Clocktower - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/240980/blood-on-the-clocktower
Captain Sonar - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/171131/captain-sonar
Checkers - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2083/checkers
Decrypto - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/225694/decrypto
Gussy Gorillas - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/335864/gussy-gorillas
High Society - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/220/high-society
Just One - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/254640/just-one
Monikers - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/156546/monikers
Ra - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/12/ra
Shuffle & Swing - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/414350/shuffle-and-swing
Sky Team - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/373106/sky-team
That’s Not A Hat - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/375651/thats-not-a-hat
Twilight Imperium - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/233078/twilight-imperium-fourth-edition
Wavelength - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/262543/wavelength
Werewolf - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/925/werewolf
Wilmot’s Warehouse - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/424975/wilmot-s-warehouse

Episode 039 - What Makes Board Games Unique?

Books, movies, TV shows, slam poetry, art – there are a lot of artistic mediums out there; but what makes board games unique among the lot?
Are they better geared to a specific type of storytelling? Or are they bad for story telling full stop?
This week on the show, the dynamic trio of Steven, Robert and Evan endeavor to find out!
Want to ask a question or give us your two cents about the state of euros? Hit us up at cardboardphilosophypod@gmail.com!
Cites and Sources
Age of Steam - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/4098/age-of-steam
A Gest of Robin Hood - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/338376/a-gest-of-robin-hood
Botswana - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/398/wildlife-safari
Brass: Lancashire - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/355093/woodcraft
Byzantium - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/19348/byzantium
Cards Against Humanity - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/50381/cards-against-humanity
Checkers - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2083/checkers
John Company: Second Edition - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/332686/john-company-second-edition
Kanban EV - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/284378/kanban-ev
Modern Art - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/118/modern-art
Power Grid - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2651/power-grid
Secret Hitler - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/188834/secret-hitler
Sekigahara: The Unification of Japan - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/25021/sekigahara-the-unification-of-japan
The Cost - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/292894/the-cost
Tinner’s Trail - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/321277/tinners-trail
Woodcraft - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/355093/woodcraft

Episode 038 - King Making (And Is It Good?)

“I just can’t wait to be king!” We all know that catchy musical number from the hit 1994 musical “The Lion King.” But Simba wasn’t able to become king on his own. It took a bit of king making from his evil uncle Scar.
Just like the Disney animated classic; board games have king making too (just usually less inspired by Hamlet). How do designers leverage king making? Is it a feature of a design or more of a bug?
This week on the show, the dynamic trio of Steven, Robert and Evan endeavor to find out!
Want to ask a question or give us your two cents about the state of euros? Hit us up at cardboardphilosophypod@gmail.com!
Cites and Sources
Bohnanza - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/11/bohnanza
Botswana - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/398/wildlife-safari
Chess - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/171/chess
Cole Wehrle: In Defense of King Making - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UraJElx1ebg
Cosmic Encounter - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/39463/cosmic-encounter
Inis - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/155821/inis
Oath - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/291572/oath
Root - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/237182/root
Secret Hitler - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/188834/secret-hitler
Terra Mystica - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/120677/terra-mystica
Twilight Imperium: 4th Edition - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/12333/twilight-struggle
Zoo Vadis - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/368061/zoo-vadis