House Rules

House Rules 35: Interview with the Creator of Road to Enlightenment

GeekInsight — Wed, 23 May 2012 07:01:46 +0000

This week, we had the wonderful opportunity to interview designer Dirk Knemeyer, the creator of Road to Enlightenment. RtE is a civilization building game that focuses on “Luminaries”. The Luminaries are individuals of historical importance such as Isaac Newton or Rembrandt. Using them, up to seven players vie to create the most culture in Europe.

Take a listen and see if RtE is for you.

House Rules 34: Talking Thunderstone with AEG’s Jeff Quick

GeekInsight — Wed, 09 May 2012 07:01:43 +0000

This week, we get to talk to Jeff Quick, the project lead for Thunderstone Advance. He lets us know some of the design process, the modularity of Thunderstone, new expansions, and some of the variants that have been created.

In fact, he introduces us to the idea of modules soon to be available on the Thunderstone website at www.alderac.com/thunderstone. The first, Bhoidwood Blaze, will be out shortly.

House Rules 33 – Interview with Richard Launius

GeekInsight — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 07:01:09 +0000

Richard Launius is well known for his designs in boardgaming. They include Defenders of the Realm, Arkham Horror, and Elder Sign among many others. Well, Eagle and Gryphon Games have announced the production of Richard’s newest game, Defenders of the Realm: Battlefields.

We sit down and talk Battlefields as well as touch on some of Richard’s other designs including Elder Sign, Arkham Horror, and the new Sentinels of the Multiverse expansion.

HR 32 – Special Edition: Interview on the Newest Sentinels Expansion

GeekInsight — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 07:01:58 +0000

We take a break from our usual bi-weekly schedule to bring you this special report. Sentinels of the Multiverse is again on Kickstarter, this time bringing not only an expansion, but also a fully upgraded base game.

Listen in as we talk about the new heroes, get some hints at their mechanics, discuss collaboration with Richard Launius, and learn about two core set heroes which are getting Nemeses in Infernal Relics.

House Rules 31: A discussion of game mechanics, Part One

GeekInsight — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 07:30:07 +0000

This week, we take a look at some of the favored mechanics in my regular gaming group. Hidden Loyalties and Worker Placement are beloved, while the more interesting use of dice in games like Troyes and Macao are starting to find favor as well.

This particular installment is Part One of a Two Part discussion.

House Rules 30: Die Macher, Die!

GeekInsight — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 07:01:06 +0000

Several weeks ago, I was able to play Die Macher. Die Macher is a classic game from the 80s (ah, the 80s) about German provincial political elections. It’s a grand-daddy euro and predates Settlers of Catan by nearly a decade. It has always had a high ranking on BGG and has an excellent reputation on the geek. But is it worth playing?

Check out this episode of House Rules and I’ll tell you just what I think about that question.

House Rules 29: Interviewing Nathan McNair, Designer of Roller Coaster Rush

GeekInsight — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 07:30:11 +0000

This week, I had the wonderful privilege to interview Nathan McNair, the founder of Pandasaurus Games and the designer of Roller Coaster Rush. RCR will be going up on Kickstarter on April 1. Find out if this is one that you’ll want to back.

House Rules 28: Interviewing Ben and Matt, Designers of Fleet

GeekInsight — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 08:30:44 +0000

We’re back! After the hiatus from podcasting that occurred due to the new addition to my family, it’s time to get back on track and talk about games. This week, we sit down with the designers of Fleet, the new Kickstarter project launching March 1.

Fleet promises strong strategic play with cards that have multiple uses. Take a listen and see if it’s something that might tickle your fancy.

House Rules 27: Interview with Gunship Creator

GeekInsight — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 08:30:20 +0000

This week, we are delighted to interview Steve Wood, the owner of the up-and-coming Escape Pod Games. EPG will be launching its very first title—Gunship: First Strike—via Kickstarter next month. Give a listen and see what Gunship is all about and how it’s been rattling in Steve’s mind for the better part of 20 years.

Hear tales of space combat, settings to come, and a two-player game that is worth looking in to.

You can see the Gunship artwork that we discuss at escapepodgames.com.

House Rules 26: Creating and Joining Gaming Groups

GeekInsight — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 03:08:02 +0000

Hectarion and I join forces on this week’s podcast to discuss gaming groups. Learn how Hectarion started his own, and how I molded one and joined on to another. Getting your game on is only as easy as finding players to play with. But in this week’s podcast, we talk about the best way to find those players.

Plus, we both spend some time hating on Killer Bunnies.

House Rules 25: Play-By-Forum Werewolf

GeekInsight — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 08:30:08 +0000

This 25th podcast features a discussion of play-by-forum werewolf. While most people know werewolf as a social game of bluffing and body language, others play the same game completely online. How does that work? Is it even possible? Yes, yes it is.

And who better to discuss that with us than Bluelise, host of the Werewolf Podcast that focuses solely on play-by-forum werewolf. Listen as we discuss some of the great opportunities the online format makes available, and the new skills involved.

You can find the Werewolf Podcast at http://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/661277/werewolf-podcast-episode-twenty-four-11132011

You can find play-by-forum Werewolf at http://www.boardgamegeek.com/forum/58/boardgamegeek/werewolf

House Rules 24: Interview with Belfort Creators Jay and Sen

GeekInsight — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 08:30:53 +0000

In this week’s podcast, we continue to get fantastic interviews from game designers. Jay Cormier and Sen-Foong Lim agreed to sit down with me and talk about their newest creation, Belfort. Take a listen as we go over its humble beginnings and on to its great success. We also talk about Train of Thought, and the potentially published Akrotiri.

House Rules 23: Interview with Christopher Badell, Co-Creator of Sentinels

GeekInsight — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 07:30:48 +0000

Oh man, do we have an epic podcast this week! Christopher Badell, the Design Director for Greater than Games and co-creator of Sentinels of the Multiverse agreed to sit down with us and talk a little bit about Sentinels. We talk about Sentinels, how it came to be, and we even get some fantastic spoilers for the first expansion, Rook City.

Rook City is up on Kickstarter. Go fund it. Now, while you listen to the podcast. Although Rook City quickly met its funding goal, overfunding goodies will be available.

Spoilers include: (1) fuller back-stories for the new characters and villains (especially, Spite); (2) some specific cards for Expatriette; (3) the new Wraith card (debuting in today’s News post); and (4) the mysterious Project Tungsten.

Check it out!

House Rules 22: Quarriors Discussion and Why Dice Are Awesome

GeekInsight — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 07:30:51 +0000

This week, we have the full GFBR boardgame crew as Hectarion joins us to discuss Quarriors! The game that’s been described as “Dominion Dice” is on the chopping block. We hit its strengths, its weaknesses, and whether it would be a good game for you.

Then, we start discussing dice in board games. And why the randomness they create also leads to some of the most memorable moments in gaming.

House Rules 21: Operation GamerWife Tackles Nuns on the Run

GeekInsight — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 07:30:22 +0000

This week, we take another look into the progress of Operation GamerWife. And, I’m pleased to say, substantial progress is being made on all fronts. We take a look at Nuns on the Run, Mr. Jack, and Saint Petersburg. In our discussion, theme remains of paramount importance, leading to an enjoyable Nuns on the Run session.

Check it out, and learn more about converting your own significant other to the gamer collective.

House Rules 20: A Chat About Elder Sign with Co-Designer Kevin Wilson

GeekInsight — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 07:30:26 +0000

While at Gateway 2011, part of the Strategicon convention series, I was able to meet up with Kevin Wilson, co-designer of Elder Sign—my favorite new game played at the con. We discuss the design process, what distinguishes it from Arkham Horror, and whether or not you should get it.

Hint: you should get it.

House Rules 19: Introducing Games to Non-Gamers; or Learn From My Fail

GeekInsight — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 07:30:09 +0000

We talk a lot about getting more people into the hobby. And, of course, like most pyramid schemes, we begin by converting friends and family. In this week, I talk about my general level of success in finding games that my extended family enjoys. But also one brutal setback which I knew better than to attempt, and yet I foolishly plunged ahead anyway. Give us a listen and learn from my fail.

House Rules 18: Storytelling Meets Strategy with Force of Fiction

GeekInsight — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 07:30:06 +0000

This week, I had the opportunity to sit down with Trevor Cram who will soon be using Kickstarter to publish Force of Fiction. FoF combines storytelling with euro-style strategy. By the end of the interview, I was quite eager to get my hands on the as-yet-unpublished game.

Take a listen and then visit his Facebook page at facebook.com/pentology to view the card artwork.

House Rules 17: Meditations On Theme

GeekInsight — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 02:02:01 +0000

Previously, I’ve said that theme is unimportant. What really matters is the mechanics, the gameplay, and the fun of the game. A great theme isn’t going to save a bad game.

But, I’ve reflected on that some and I think maybe I’m selling theme short. Maybe it is a little more important than I realized at first. Join me as I meander around theme, about the appropriateness or inappropriateness of themes, and how even “pasted on” themes can contribute to a game.

House Rules 16: Can a Game Be Too Long?

GeekInsight — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 07:30:51 +0000

“How long is it?” That’s the question I get the most when I try to introduce a new game to non-gamers. Non-gamers are justifiably skittish about being roped in to a boring game based on past experience with (non-fun) excursions like Risk and Monopoly.

But, does that same rule apply to we gamers and me in particular? Listen in as I contemplate board game length in general.