Cardboard Philosophy

Episode 018 - How Arbitrary Are Board Game Rules?

Board game rules are all made up! It’s true! I read about that in a rule book once.
But how arbitrary are those made up rules? Are some rules more inherently intuitive and less arbitrarily than others? What makes those other rules feel arbitrary?
This is certainly sounds like a weird philosophical question the CP boys would tackle… and would you believe it? This week they do!
Join Robert, Steve and Evan as we get into the nitty gritty of what feel arbitrary in rules!
Want to ask a question or give us your two cents? Hit us up by email or join our BGG guild!
Cites and Sources
Botswana - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/398/wildlife-safari
Byzantium - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/19348/byzantium
Darkest dungeon - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/317321/darkest-dungeon-board-game
Dark souls - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/197831/dark-souls-board-game
Dead Reckoning - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/276182/dead-reckoning
Food Chain Magnate - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/175914/food-chain-magnate
GoldenEye BOOK –
The Great Zimbabwe - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/111341/great-zimbabwe
Horizon zero dawn - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/260410/horizon-zero-dawn-board-game
Joraku - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/180901/joraku
Kanban - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/284378/kanban-ev
Long Shot - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/40237/long-shot
Long Shot: The Dice Game - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/295374/long-shot-dice-game
On Mars - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/184267/mars
Pax Pamir - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/256960/pax-pamir-second-edition
Rheinlander - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/111/rheinlander
Samurai - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/3/samurai
Sea Salt & Paper - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/367220/sea-salt-paper
Taj Mahal - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/475/taj-mahal
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
Tigres & Euphrates - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/42/tigris-euphrates
Yellow & Yangtze - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/244114/yellow-yangtze
 

Episode 017 - How Does Art Effect The Way We Approach A Game? (Featuring Peter McPherson!)

Art is everywhere! From the screen on your phone to the paintings in a museum. It’s also all over the board games we know and love! It’s also more than just something pretty to look at… but how far can art in board games take us? How much does it effect our enjoyment of the game? Can there be too much of it?
This is a big subject, so who better to pull onto the show than our friend Peter McPherson (Fit to Print, Tiny Towns)?
Join Robert, Steve, Evan and Pete as we dive into all things art 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
Agricola - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/31260/agricola
Ark Nova - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/342942/ark-nova
Bitoku - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/323612/bitoku
Bohnanza - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/11/bohnanza
Boon Lake - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/343905/boonlake
Botswana/Wildlife Safari - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/398/wildlife-safari
Brass - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/28720/brass-lancashire
Castles of Burgundy - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/84876/castles-burgundy
Castles of Tuscany - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/300327/castles-tuscany
Catan - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/13/catan
Cat Ass Trophy/Zero Down - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/651/zero-down
Cockroach Poker - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/11971/cockroach-poker
Comic Hunters - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/322616/comic-hunters
The Cost - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/292894/cost
Detective City of Angels - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/218074/detective-city-angels
Dominion - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/36218/dominion
Earth - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/350184/earth
Fit to Print - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/352574/fit-print
Food Chain Magnate - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/175914/food-chain-magnate
For Sale - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/172/sale
The Gallerist - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/125153/gallerist
High Society - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/220/high-society
Isle of sky - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/176494/isle-skye-chieftain-king
Kanban EV - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/284378/kanban-ev
Lacuna - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/386937/lacuna
Modern Art - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/118/modern-art
Mysterium - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/181304/mysterium
Ra - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/12/ra
Root - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/237182/root
Spirit Island - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/162886/spirit-island
Terraforming Mars - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/167791/terraforming-mars
Terra Mystica - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/120677/terra-mystica
Tiny Towns - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/265736/tiny-towns
Trendy/Zuuupa - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/1412/trendy
Via Nebula - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/191231/nebula
Wingspan - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/266192/wingspan
Zoo Vadis - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/368061/zoo-vadis
 

Episode 016 - Why Do People Care So Much About Winning?

From the “winner take all” to the “second place is the first loser” people really like to win! But why is winning so important? Is winning actually a key ingredient for enjoying a game?
This week on the show the boys dive into the highs and lows of winning!
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 on the Clocktower - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/240980/blood-clocktower
Boonlake - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/343905/boonlake
Brian Boru - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/337765/brian-boru-high-king-ireland
Bus - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/552/bus
Flesh & Blood - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/293348/flesh-and-blood
Great Western Trail - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/193738/great-western-trail
Just One - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/254640/just-one
Monopoly - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/1406/monopoly
On Mars - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/184267/mars
Rapido (Escape) - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/357/excape
Root - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/237182/root
Super Motherload - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/162286/super-motherload
The Well Played Game - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17242390-the-well-played-game
I’d Eat That - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/319424/id-eat
 
 
 

Episode 015 - What Makes A Game ”Too Long?”

We’ve all been there. Everyone sitting down to dive into a board game, excited at the prospects before us. After 3.5 hours the dreaded sentence is uttered “this game is too long.” But what makes something too long? What makes it too short?
This week on the show, Steven, Evan and Robert 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
Aquashpere - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/289223/aquasphere
Bullet - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/307305/bullet
Castles of Burgundy - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/84876/castles-burgundy
Just One - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/254640/just-one
Kanban: EV - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/284378/kanban-ev
Gloomhaven - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/174430/gloomhaven
Great Western Trail - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/193738/great-western-trail
Magic: the Gathering - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/463/magic-gathering
My City - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/295486/my-city
Mysterium Park - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/301767/mysterium-park
Pipeline - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/256730/pipeline
Project Elite - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/171726/project-elite
Rapido - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/357/excape
Twilight Imperium 4th Edition - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/233078/twilight-imperium-fourth-edition
Vinhos - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/42052/vinhos
 

Episode 014 - Creating Randomness In Games

From the flip of a card to the roll of a die, there is a lot of randomness in games! But is all randomness created equally? Why do some things feel more random than others? Is one form of random number generation better than another?
This week on the show: Steve, Robert and Evan are getting random and diving deep into all the nitty gritty of what makes generating random numbers tick! And, most importantly, what makes them fun!
Want to ask a question or give us your two cents? Hit us up at cardboardphilosophypod@gmail.com!
Cites and Sources
Amsterdam - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/314582/amsterdam
Arkham Horror: The Card Game - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/205637/arkham-horror-card-game
Baldur's Gate 3 - https://baldursgate3.game/
Bora Bora - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/127060/bora-bora
Castles of Burgundy - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/84876/castles-burgundy
Catan: Event Cards - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgameexpansion/20038/catan-event-cards/images
Dice Realms - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/288080/dice-realms
Dungeons & Dragons (5th edition) - https://rpggeek.com/rpg/17181/dungeons-dragons-5th-edition
Gloomhaven - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/174430/gloomhaven
Lone Wolf - https://rpggeek.com/rpgfamily/4192/lone-wolf
Oathsworn: Into the Deepwood - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/251661/oathsworn-deepwood
Orongo - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/165556/orongo
Quacks of Quedlinburg - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/244521/quacks-quedlinburg
Ra - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/12/ra-
Rapido - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/357/excape
Roll for the Galaxy - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/132531/roll-galaxy
The Game of Life - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2921/game-of-life
Thunder Road: Vendetta - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/342070/thunder-road-vendetta
Wavelength - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/262543/wavelength
Xia: Legends of a Drift System - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/82222/xia-legends-drift-system

Episode 013 - Boxed In

At some point in all of our lives here at Cardboard Philosophy - we’ve been called squares. So today, we lean into it by talking about the squarest part of our hobby – box sizes!
What is the perfect box size? Why so much empty space and are boxes really the optimal way to store games? All of that and so much more 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
Avocado Smash - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/261831/avocado-smash
Banagrams - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/27225/bananagrams
Bitewing - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamepublisher/48453/bitewing-games
Brass: Lancashire - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/28720/brass-lancashire
Buttonshy - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamepublisher/26991/button-shy
Chicken! - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/371535/chicken
Concordia - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/124361/concordia
Eagle-Gryphon Games - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamepublisher/597/eagle-gryphon-games
Foundations of Rome - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/284189/foundations-rome
Gussy Gorillas - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/335864/gussy-gorillas
Hot Lead - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/339924/hot-lead
Jordan Draper - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamedesigner/89147/jordan-draper
Kallax - https://www.ikea.com/us/en/cat/kallax-series-27534/
Kanban - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/109276/kanban-drivers-edition
Pax Pamir: Second Edition - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/256960/pax-pamir-second-edition
Pumafiosi - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/338364/pumafiosi
Rapido - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/357/excape
Root - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/237182/root
Soda Smugglers - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/338353/soda-smugglers
The Great Zimbabwe - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/111341/great-zimbabwe
Ticket to Ride - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/9209/ticket-ride
Twilight Imperium: 4th Edition - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/233078/twilight-imperium-fourth-edition
Tokyo Metro - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/235344/tokyo-metro
Tokyo Tsukiji Market - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/257198/tokyo-tsukiji-market
Zombie Dice - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/62871/zombie-dice
Zoo Vadis - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/368061/zoo-vadis

Episode 012 - What Makes A Game Heavy?

Game weight has been a discussion in board gaming for as long as Board Game Geek has been on the internet! Today, this topic is usually based on how much the latest Kickstarter box will weigh during shipping, but in yesteryear it was all about that difficulty. Crunch. Brain chew.
This week on the show Steve, Robert and Evan flex their brains to talk about why we like brain flexing in games. We'll cover everything from what makes games heavy to how that impacts the player experience.
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
Agricola - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/31260/agricola
Barrage - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/251247/barrage
Game of Thrones: The Board Game - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/103343/game-thrones-board-game-second-edition
Go - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/188/go
High Society - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/220/high-society
Imperial Steam - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/338760/imperial-steam
Kanban - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/284378/kanban-ev
Lisboa - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/161533/lisboa
Pax Pamir: Second Edition - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/256960/pax-pamir-second-edition
On Mars - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/184267/mars
Orango - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/165556/orongo
Rex: Final Days of an Empire - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/104363/rex-final-days-empire
Space Empires 4X - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/84419/space-empires-4x
Spirit Island - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/162886/spirit-island
Trismegistus: The Ultimate Formula - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/281442/trismegistus-ultimate-formula
Twilight Imperium: Fourth Edition - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/233078/twilight-imperium-fourth-edition
Vinhos - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/42052/vinhos
Warhammer 40,000 - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2162/warhammer-40000-third-edition
Wonderlands War - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/227935/wonderlands-war
Yellow & Yangtze - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/244114/yellow-yangtze

Episode 011 - Should We Listen To Reviewers?

This week on the show we review our thoughts on reviewers… or more specifically… should we really care what they say? Or shouldn’t we? Does length of time in the hobby matter? And who are these people anyway?
I don’t know, I just write these episode synopsizes. I leave the philosophizing to Evan, Robert and Steve!
Want to ask a question or give us your two cents? Hit us up at cardboardphilosophypod@gmail.com!
Cites and Sources
Ankh: Gods of Egypt - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/285967/ankh-gods-egypt
Brass: Birmingham - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/224517/brass-birmingham
Castles of Burgundy - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/84876/castles-burgundy
Cards Against Humanity - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/50381/cards-against-humanity
Concordia - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/124361/concordia
Cubitos - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/298069/cubitos
Everdell - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/199792/everdell
Furnace - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/318084/furnace
Guillotine - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/116/guillotine
High Society - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/220/high-society
Hot Lead - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/339924/hot-lead
Magic: The Gathering - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/463/magic-gathering
Meeples & Monsters - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/336851/meeples-monsters
Medici - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/46/medici
Monikers - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/156546/monikers
Orongo - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/165556/orongo
Pipeline - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/256730/pipeline
Rex: Final Days of an Empire - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/104363/rex-final-days-empire
Root - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/237182/root
Spirit Island - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/162886/spirit-island
Stephenson’s Rocket - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/204/stephensons-rocket
Wingspan - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/266192/wingspan
Yellow & Yangtze - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/244114/yellow-yangtze
————————————————————————
Before you Play - https://www.youtube.com/@BeforeYouPlay
Board Gems - https://www.youtube.com/@BoardGems
SpaceBiff - https://spacebiff.com/

Episode 010 - Are House Rules Good? (Feat Austin Harrison from IV Studios!)

House rules are everywhere from the tables of aspiring game designers to the most casual of hobbiests.
But why? Are they a way to give a game more of the player’s personality? To fix broken mechanics? And when does that fun little rules twist change the game enough to become something more than what is printed on the box?
This week Steve, Robert and Evan dive into the topic of house rules with special guest Austin Harrison from IV Studios (Moonrakers, Veiled Fate, Fractured Sky).
Want to ask a question or give us your two cents? Hit us up at cardboardphilosophypod@gmail.com!
 
Cites and Sources
 Blood on the Clocktower - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/240980/blood-clocktower
Botswana/Wildlife Safari - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/398/wildlife-safari
Bridge - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2181/bridge
Bristol 1350 - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/308989/bristol-1350
Crazy 8s - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/11017/crazy-eights
Euchre - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/6901/euchre
Go Fish - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/7682/go-fish
Hearts - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/6887/hearts
Hollywood 1947 - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/370621/hollywood-1947
Game of Thrones Board: The Board Game - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/103343/game-thrones-board-game-second-edition
Inis - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/155821/inis
…I should have known that! https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/277779/i-should-have-known
Just One - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/254640/just-one
Monopoly - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/1406/monopoly
Moonrakers - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/270239/moonrakers
Nick Bentley tweet https://twitter.com/Nick__Bentley/status/1632859582581075968?s=20
Ra - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/12/ra
Salem 1692 - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/175549/salem-1692
Schotten Totten - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/372/schotten-totten
Space Base - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/242302/space-base
Tortuga 1667 - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/218530/tortuga-1667
Twilight imperium (4th ed) - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/233078/twilight-imperium-fourth-edition
Uno - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2223/uno
 

Episode 009 - What Is Player Interaction?

Interaction! All games are built on a foundation of interaction… well, most games.
With multiplayer solitaire style games becoming more and more popular, how do you define interaction? At what point does something make the jump from solitaire to interactive? What makes interaction anyway?
Evan, Robert and Steve dive into this and more 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
Age of Steam - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/4098/age-steam
Barrage - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/251247/barrage
Brass - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/224517/brass-birmingham or https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/28720/brass-lancashire
Codenames - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/178900/codenames
Decrypto - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/225694/decrypto
Inis - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/155821/inis
Just One - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/254640/just-one
Moonrakers - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/270239/
Mysterium - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/181304/mysterium
Pictionary - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2281/pictionary
Rising Sun - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/205896/rising-sun
Taj Mahal - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/475/taj-mahal
Terra Mystica - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/120677/terra-mystica
The Great Zimbabwe - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/111341/great-zimbabwe
Through the Desert - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/503/through-desert
Thunder Road: Vendetta - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/342070/thunder-road-vendetta
Twilight Imperium - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/233078/twilight-imperium-fourth-edition
Veiled Fate - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/315695/veiled-fate
Wingspan - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/266192/wingspan