Cardboard Philosophy

Episode 028 - Ending The Game

It’s been said that “all good things must come to an end.” And it's true! If it wasn’t I would still be in college. But how those good things come to an end can vary wildly - especially in board games!
So how do designers pick a way to end the game? How do those decision change the game feel as a player? Should all games end the same way? Evan, Steve & Robert plan to find out on this week’s show!
Want to ask a question or give us your two cents? Hit us up at cardboardphilosophypod@gmail.com!
Cites and Sources
7 Wonders Duel - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/173346/7-wonders-duel
Agricola - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/31260/agricola
Byzantium - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/19348/byzantium
Captain Sonar - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/171131/captain-sonar
Cat Blues - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/414351/cat-blues-big-gig
Dune Imperium - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/316554/dune-imperium
Ethnos - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/206718/ethnos
Food Chain Magnate - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/175914/food-chain-magnate
Hegemony - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/321608/hegemony-lead-your-class-victory
High Society - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/220/high-society
Imperium: Horizons - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/367518/imperium-horizons
Inis - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/155821/inis
Just One - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/254640/just-one
Kanban - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/284378/kanban-ev
Moonrollers - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/405923/moonrollers
Nucleum - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/396790/nucleum
Oath: Chronicles of Empire & Exile - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/291572/oath-chronicles-empire-exile
Palaces of Carrara - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/129948/palaces-carrara
Pax Pamir 2e - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/256960/pax-pamir-second-edition
Pax Penning - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/381591/pax-penning
Pipeline - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/256730/pipeline
Ra - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/12/ra
Shuffle & Swing - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/414350/shuffle-and-swing
Splendor Duel - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/364073/splendor-duel
Turncoats - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/352238/turncoats
 

Episode 027 - Implicit Rules In Games

Games are full of aids, references and prompts for how to play, but how can a game imply things without being in your face about it?
Forget the player aid, this week Steven, Robert & Evan talk about the implicit rules of the games we love!
(Thanks to Peter McPherson for the question!)
Want to ask a question or give us your two cents? Hit us up at cardboardphilosophypod@gmail.com!
Cites and Sources
504 - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/175878/504
Barrage - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/251247/barrage
Bitoku - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/323612/bitoku
Concordia - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/124361/concordia
Ethnos - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/206718/ethnos
For Northwood! - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/334590/northwood-solo-trick-taking-game
Kanban - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/284378/kanban-ev
MLEM: Space Agency - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/387378/mlem-space-agency
Money! - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/125/money
Pax Penning - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/381591/pax-pennin
Pipeline - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/256730/pipeline
Rapido/Excape - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/357/excape
Serenissima - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/232/serenissima
Shuffle & Swing - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/414350/shuffle-and-swing
Terra Mystica - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/120677/terra-mystica
Through the Desert - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/503/through-desert
Turncoats - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/352238/turncoats
Viking Seesaw - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/351810/viking-see-saw
Zoo Vadis - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/368061/zoo-vadis

Episode 026 - First Impressions In Gaming (Featuring Nick Murray From Bitewing Games)

A mysterious stranger walks up to you. You are nervous. They present you with a bouquet of roses.
Are you still nervous? Intrigued? Terrified? Romanced?
First impressions can be everything! With board games they can even be the difference between a second play and an unfinished first play… but what makes a first impression impress?
This week on the show, Robert, Evan & Steve along with special guest Nick Murray from Bitewing Games endeavor to find out!
Find more about Bitewing Games! - https://bitewinggames.com/
Follow Bitewing/Robert’s new Jazz Collection on Kickstarter! - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/bitewinggamesnick/bebop-shuffle-and-swing-and-cat-blues-the-big-gig
Want to ask a question or give us your two cents? Hit us up at cardboardphilosophypod@gmail.com!
Cites and Sources
Aqua: Biodiversity In The Oceans - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/403468/aqua-biodiversity-oceans
Aurum - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/383459/aurum
Barrel Dice - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/148531/barrel-dice
Bebop - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/414349/bebop
Blood Rage - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/170216/blood-rage
Botswana - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/398/wildlife-safari
Brass: Birmingham - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/224517/brass-birmingham
Camel Up - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/260605/camel-second-edition
Cascadia - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/295947/cascadia
Cascadero - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/401216/cascadero
Cascadito - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/401217/cascadito
Cards Against Humanity - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/50381/cards-against-humanity
Cat Blues - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/414351/cat-blues-big-gig
El Grande - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/93/el-grande
Everdell - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/199792/everdell
Food Chain Magnate - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/175914/food-chain-magnate
Gang of Dice - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/366129/gang-dice
Gussy Gorillas - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/335864/gussy-gorillas
Hansa Teutonica - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/43015/hansa-teutonica
Havalandi - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/396543/havalandi
Inis - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/155821/inis
King of Tokyo - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/70323/king-tokyo
MLEM: Space Agency - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/387378/mlem-space-agency
Oath: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/291572/oath-chronicles-empire-exile
Orongo - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/165556/orongo
Pipeline - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/256730/pipeline
Root - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/237182/root
Scout - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/291453/scout
Shuffle & Swing - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/414350/shuffle-and-swing
Spectral - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/388476/spectral
The Palaces of Carrara - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/129948/palaces-carrara
Through the Desert - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/503/through-desert
Thurn & Taxis - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/21790/thurn-and-taxis
Trailblazers - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/352454/trailblazers
Wingspan - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/266192/wingspan
Zoo Vadis - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/368061/zoo-vadis

Episode 025 - What Makes A Game Elegant?

Elegance is a fancy word for fancy people, but does that translate to board games? We’ve heard reviewers use it, we’ve seen the backs of boxes use it and heck, we’ve maybe even used it to describe a favorite game… but what does it actually mean? Better yet… what actually makes that game “elegant?”
Steve, Robert & Evan aim to answer just that on this weeks episode!
Want to ask a question or give us your two cents? Hit us up at cardboardphilosophypod@gmail.com!
Cites and Sources
Bus - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/552/bus
Carnegie - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/310873/carnegie
Cat Blues - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/414351/cat-blues-big-gig
Dead Reckoning - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/276182/dead-reckoning
DroPolter - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/405537/dropolter
Etherfields - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/280794/etherfields
Federation - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/345868/federation
High Society - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/220/high-society
Medici - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/46/medici
Mysterium - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/181304/mysterium
Mysterium Park - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/301767/mysterium-park
Sankore: The Pride of Mansa Musa – https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/382518/sankore-pride-mansa-musa
Terra Mystica - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/120677/terra-mystica
Wildlife Safari (Botswana) - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/398/wildlife-safari
Zoo Tycoon: The Board Game - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/370757/zoo-tycoon-board-game
 

Episode 024 - What Makes A Game Replayable?

It’s game night. Your friends are all gathered around and you stare in wonder and excitement at your shelf of games. What are you going to play? An old favorite or the new and shiny hotness?
Come to think of it, you’ve played your old favorite 20 times but you still want to play it more. Why? What makes that game repayable? Good question (or at least we thought so)!
This week on the show Evan, Robert and Steve talk all things reliability. What makes the games we love hit the table again and again and why are some just a two or three hit wonder?
Want to ask a question or give us your two cents? Hit us up at cardboardphilosophypod@gmail.com!
Cites and Sources
Bus - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/552/bus
Chess - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/171/chess
Dice Throne - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/268201/dice-throne
Dune: Imperium - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/316554/dune-imperium
Everdell - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/199792/everdell
Great Western Trail - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/341169/great-western-trail-second-edition
Heaven & Ale - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/227789/heaven-ale
High Score - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/341416/high-score
Just One - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/254640/just-one
Monikers - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/156546/monikers
Nucleum - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/396790/nucleum
Rapido (Escape) - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/357/excape
Renature - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/300001/renature
Root - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/237182/root
Sea Salt & Paper - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/367220/sea-salt-paper
Terra Mystica - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/120677/terra-mystica
Terra Nova - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/364186/terra-nova
That’s Not A Hat - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/375651/s-not-hat
Tic-Tac-Toe - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/11901/tic-tac-toe
Turing Machine - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/356123/turing-machine
Twilight Imperium - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/233078/twilight-imperium-fourth-edition
Twilight Imperium: Prophecy Of Kings - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgameexpansion/315895/twilight-imperium-fourth-edition-prophecy-kings
Unmatched - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/274637/unmatched-battle-legends-volume-one
Wavelength - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/262543/wavelength
Wingspan - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/266192/wingspan
Zoo Vadis - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/368061/zoo-vadis
 
 

Episode 023 - Toy Factor In Games (Featuring Zac Dixon from IV Studios!)

Some call it the “X factor,” some call it the “it factor” and others call it the “toy factor!”
But where do we draw the line between practical, cool and just a plain ol’ toy?
Join Robert, Steve, Evan and special guest host Zac Dixon from IV Studios (Moonrakers, Veiled Fate, Fractured Sky) as they look at the toys that make up our favorite toys – board games!
Want to ask a question or give us your two cents? Hit us up at cardboardphilosophypod@gmail.com!
Get more from Zac and IV Studios - https://www.instagram.com/iv___games/?hl=en
Cites and Sources
Blob Party - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/382828/blob-party
Botswana (Japanese 2022 edition) - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgameversion/644366/japanese-edition-2022
Crokinole - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/521/crokinole
The Fox Experiment - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/368432/fox-experiment
Fractured Sky - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/370581/fractured-sky
Guards of Atlantis II - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/267609/guards-atlantis-ii
Heaven & Ale - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/227789/heaven-ale
The LOOP - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/316412/loop
Marvel United: X-Men – Days of Future Past - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/339133/marvel-united-x-men-days-
Medici - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/46/medici
Modern Art - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/118/modern-art
Moonrakers - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/270239/moonrakers
Pax Pamir 2e - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/256960/pax-pamir-second-edition
Return to Dark Tower - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/256680/return-dark-tower
Strike - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/123570/strike
Twilight Imperium - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/233078/twilight-imperium-fourth-edition
Yucatan - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/330510/yucatan

Episode 22 - Why Do Our Tastes Change?

Tastes change! Old favorites just feel old and shiny new games can feel… well shiny and new, but what causes those shifts? What makes that old staple fall out of favor?
Join Robert, Steve and Evan as they look at our ever-evolving tastes and the reason for these shifts are front and center on this week show!
Want to ask a question or give us your two cents? Hit us up at cardboardphilosophypod@gmail.com!
Cites and Sources
Art Robbery - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/341935/art-robbery
Axis & Allies - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/98/axis-allies
Doodle Dash - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/334379/doodle-dash
Cards Against Humanity - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/50381/cards-against-humanity
Food Chain Magnate - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/175914/food-chain-magnate
Game of Thrones 2ed - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/103343/game-thrones-board-game-second-edition
Great Western Trail - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/193738/great-western-trail
Heaven & Ale - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/227789/heaven-ale
High Society - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/220/high-society
Jaipur - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/54043/jaipur
Mastermind - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2392/mastermind
Nucleum - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/396790/nucleum
On Mars - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/184267/mars
Power Grid - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2651/power-grid
Rising Sun - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/205896/rising-sun
Santorini - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/194655/santorini
Sekigahara: The Unification of Japan –
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/25021/sekigahara-unification-japan
Sushi Go - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/133473/sushi-go
Twilight Imperium - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/233078/twilight-imperium-fourth-edition

Episode 021 - The Perception Of Luck

“No luck gameplay,” “strategic decisions,” and “no luck!” are all common phrases on both Kickstarter and BGG store pages for some of our favorite games!
But why is that? Why is there a stigma around luck in games? Should there be? Is luck a boon in game design or a bust?
Join Robert, Steve and Evan as they roll the dice on how we perceive luck in games!
Want to ask a question or give us your two cents? Hit us up at cardboardphilosophypod@gmail.com!
 
Cites and Sources
Acquire - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/5/acquire
Ark Nova - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/342942/ark-nova
Blood on the Clocktower - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/240980/blood-clocktower
Brass: Birmingham - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/224517/brass-birmingham
Brass: Lancashire - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/28720/brass-lancashire
Catan - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/13/catan
Cosmic Encounter - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/39463/cosmic-encounter
The Crew: Mission Deep Sea - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/324856/crew-mission-deep-sea
Dune - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/121/dune
El Grande - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/93/el-grande
For Northwood! - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/334590/northwood-solo-trick-taking-game
Heat: Pedal to the Metal - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/366013/heat-pedal-metal
High Society - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/220/high-society
John Company - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/332686/john-company-second-edition
Medici - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/46/medici
Nana/Trio - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/352515/trio
Oath: Chronicles of Empire & Exile –
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/291572/oath-chronicles-empire-exile
Orongo - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/165556/orongo
Ra - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/12/ra
Rheinländer - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/111/rheinlander
Terraforming Mars - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/167791/terraforming-mars
Thunder Road: Vendetta - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/342070/thunder-road-vendetta
Tigris & Euphrates - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/42/tigris-euphrates
Twilight Struggle - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/12333/twilight-struggle
Wingspan - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/266192/wingspan
Xia: Legends of a Drift System –
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/82222/xia-legends-drift-system

Episode 020 - Mechanism vs Genre

Does a mechanic a board game genre make? We talk about how a game is a “deck builder” but does that actually answer the question of what genre the game is? Or is it merely one of the mechanics that makes up the game?
This is certainly sounds like a weird philosophical question the Cardboard Philosophy boys would tackle… 
Join Steve, Robert and Evan as they discover that classifying games by genre is sometimes easier said than done!
Want to ask a question or give us your two cents? Hit us up at cardboardphilosophypod@gmail.com!
Cites and Sources
Age of Steam - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/4098/age-steam
Blood Rage - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/170216/blood-rage
Botswana - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/398/wildlife-safari
Byzantium - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/19348/byzantium
Dominion - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/36218/dominion
Dune: Imperium - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/316554/dune-imperium
Great Western Trail - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/193738/great-western-trail
Irish Gauge - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/161882/irish-gauge
Just One - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/254640/just-one
Lost Ruins of Arnak - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/312484/lost-ruins-arnak
Lunar Rails - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/6663/lunar-rails
(but the game Steve was trying to remember was actually 21Moon https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/308305/21moon)
Marvel United - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/298047/marvel-united
On Mars - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/184267/mars
Pipeline - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/256730/pipeline
Power Grid - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2651/power-grid
Ra - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/12/ra
Taverns of Tiefenthal - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/269207/taverns-tiefenthal
Terraforming Mars - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/167791/terraforming-mars
Through the Desert - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/503/through-desert
Skull - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/92415/skull
Stephenson’s Rocket - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/204/stephensons-rocket
Warhammer - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2162/warhammer-40000-third-edition
Wavelength - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/262543/wavelength

Episode 019 - Video Games In Board Gaming

Board games are basically just paper video games… right? RIGHT?
While I don’t think anyone will agree with that, I think we can all agree that there sure are a lot of board game adaptations of video games floating around these days!
Why? And more importantly, what makes them work? What separates video games from board games? Evan, Robert and Steve aim to find out!
Want to ask a question or give us your two cents? Hit us up at cardboardphilosophypod@gmail.com!
Cites and Sources
Adrenaline - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/202408/adrenaline
Anno 1800 - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/311193/anno-1800-board-game
Brass - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/28720/brass-lancashire
Bullet - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/307305/bullet
Descent: Journeys in the Dark -
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/104162/descent-journeys-dark-second-edition
Etherfields - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/280794/etherfields
Fit to Print - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/352574/fit-print
Frosthaven - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/295770/frosthaven
Galaxy Trucker - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/31481/galaxy-trucker
Gloomhaven - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/174430/gloomhaven
Guards of Atlantis –
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/267609/guards-atlantis-ii
PitchCar - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/150/pitchcar
Project: ELITE - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/171726/project-elite
Rallyman GT - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/256589/rallyman-gt
Return to Dark Tower - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/256680/return-dark-tower
Root - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/237182/root
Sniper Elite: The Board Game - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/295262/sniper-elite-board-game
Super Motherload - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/162286/super-motherload
Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/264220/tainted-grail-fall-avalon
Terraria: The Board Game - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/391286/terraria-board-game
This War of Mine: The Board Game - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/188920/war-mine-board-game
Tigres & Euphrates - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/42/tigris-euphrates
Worms: The Board Game - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/397788/worms-board-game
Yellow & Yangtze - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/244114/yellow-yangtze