If you’ve been around the internet for a while; you’ve probably seen a debate around whether something is art or not. Are video games art? Is modern art, art? Is Taylor Swift’s music art? But what about board games? Are they art? Better yet; who is the artist? The player the artist or the designer? Evan, Robert and Steve endeavor to find out together on this week’s show! Want to ask a question or give us your two cents? Hit us up at [email protected]! Cites and Sources Age of Steam - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/4098/age-of-steam Agricola - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/31260/agricola Blood On The Clocktower - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/240980/blood-on-the-clocktower Bus - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/552/bus Cyclades - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/54998/cyclades Food Chain Magnate - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/175914/food-chain-magnate Imperial Steam - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/338760/imperial-steam John Company - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/332686/john-company-second-edition MLEM: Space Agency - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/387378/mlem-space-agency Pax Pamir: Second Edition - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/256960/pax-pamir-second-edition The Cost - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/292894/the-cost

At the center of gaming is… well, gaming. It’s kinda in the name. But around the sweet, gooey center that is gaming a whole world of external factors exist! How do those factors effect our experience with games? Can a good game get ruined by bad factors and vise versa? This week on the show, we plan to find out! Want to ask a question or give us your two cents? Hit us up at [email protected]! Cites and Sources Amun-Re - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/5404/amun-re Art Robbery - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/341935/art-robbery Barrel Dice - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/148531/barrel-dice Batman: the Animated Series: Shadow of the Bat – https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/299566/batman-the-animated-series-adventures-shadow-of-th Bebop - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/414349/bebop Blood on the Clocktower - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/240980/blood-on-the-clocktower Cat Blues: The Big Gig - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/414351/cat-blues-the-big-gig Cthulu Wars - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/139976/cthulhu-wars Dobro - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/357991/dobro High Society - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/220/high-society Hot Lead - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/339924/hot-lead Libertalia - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/125618/libertalia Nana - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/352515/trio Passt nicht! - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/393888/passt-nicht Quacks of Quedlinburg - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/244521/the-quacks-of-quedlinburg Ra - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/12/ra Rapido (Excape) - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/357/excape Secret Hitler - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/188834/secret-hitler Shuffle & Swing - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/414350/shuffle-and-swing Terra Mystica - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/120677/terra-mystica That’s Not a Hat - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/375651/thats-not-a-hat The Quest for El Dorado - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/217372/the-quest-for-el-dorado

You may have noticed this, but we like Reiner Knizia. Like a lot! He’s Robert’s favorite and second favorite designer after all! This week on the show, in celebration of all things Knizia, we break the rules and go off script to talk about the genius of Knizia’s auction trilogy. What makes Modern Art, Ra & Medici so special? So different? Should these three games be his “auction trilogy?” Robert, Steve & Evan endeavor to find out!   Want to ask a question or give us your two cents? Hit us up at [email protected]! Support Robert's new games on Kickstarter! - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/bitewinggamesnick/bebop-shuffle-and-swing-and-cat-blues-the-big-gig?ref=user_menu (We weren't paid to do this, we just like the games, publisher and even sometimes Robert) Cites and Sources Botswana (Wildlife Society) - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/398/wildlife-safari High Society - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/220/high-society Medici - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/46/medici Modern Art - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/118/modern-art Money - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/125/money Orongo - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/165556/orongo Ra - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/12/ra

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 [email protected]! 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

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 [email protected]! 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

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 [email protected]! 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

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 [email protected]! 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

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 [email protected]! 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

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 [email protected]! 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

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 [email protected]! 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