The Game Mechanic
The Game Mechanic
Mike
A podcast about tabletop games, their design mechanics, interactions, and flaws, and my recommendations to fix and fine tune them to peak enjoyment performance. My name is Mike, and I'm your friendly local Game Mechanic. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thegamemechanic/support
Season 1, Episode 7 - Arkham Noir Case #1 The Witch Cult Murders (2019 Ludonova)
When does a solitaire game go from challenging to hopelessly frustrating? Suggestions? Feel free to contact Mike at [email protected]. Thanks for listening! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thegamemechanic/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thegamemechanic/support
Oct 2, 2020
17 min
Season 1, Episode 6 - Gloomhaven (2017 Cephalofair Games)
Is it really the best expression of modern “Legacy” style games? Suggestions? Feel free to contact Mike at [email protected]. Thanks for listening! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thegamemechanic/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thegamemechanic/support
Sep 25, 2020
20 min
Season 1, Episode 5 - The Reckoners (2018 Nauvoo Games)
What does this dice-roller do right, and what does it do wrong? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thegamemechanic/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thegamemechanic/support
Sep 18, 2020
38 min
Season 1, Update 1 - Not The Reckoners Episode & A Marvel Champions Update
Mike wanted to let you know he's been a slacker this past week, will release The Reckoners episode next week, and his thoughts on the latest big box expansion for Marvel Champions. It's not a full episode, just a quick update. Have a great week! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thegamemechanic/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thegamemechanic/support
Sep 11, 2020
5 min
Season 1, Episode 4 - Abomination: The Heir of Frankenstein (2019 Plaid Hat Games)
How much patience is really required to build a monster? It's the first episode of a new month! Mike will thank all of his supporters to date in the first episode of the month going forward. Suggestions? Feel free to contact Mike at [email protected]. Thanks for listening! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thegamemechanic/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thegamemechanic/support
Sep 4, 2020
31 min
Season 1, Episode 3 - Marvel Champions (2019 Fantasy Flight Games)
What does this Living Card Game do right, and what does it do wrong? Shoutout to Chelsea L for being my very first Supporter! Thanks Chelsea! Suggestions? Feel free to contact Mike at [email protected]. Thanks for listening! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thegamemechanic/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thegamemechanic/support
Aug 28, 2020
41 min
Season 1, Episode 2 - Star Wars: Outer Rim (2019 Fantasy Flight Games)
Does this amazing concept deliver its promised cargo or float away with the rest of the garbage? Sadly, this description box does not allow enough characters to list all the fixes for this game. If there's a demand for it, Mike will compile them into a PDF or text file and put it up on a shareable site for free download. Suggestions? Feel free to contact Mike at [email protected]. Thanks for listening! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thegamemechanic/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thegamemechanic/support
Aug 21, 2020
52 min
Season 1, Episode 1 - Arkham Horror Final Hour (2019 Fantasy Flight Games): Why Did I Purposely Crash the Game on Turn Two?
Welcome to Season 1! This is the episode where Mike goes into detail about his Negative Play Experience at Gen Con 2019 and how it spawned the idea for this podcast. How to Fix the Randomization Mechanic for a More Cooperative Starting Hand: When performing Step 9 of setup, "Deal Priority Cards", follow the instructions as written. After placing the Priority deck near the game board, all players look at their four Priority cards and choose one to keep by putting it facedown in front of them. Depending on the total number of players, each player will then pass a number of cards from their remaining three cards accordingly: Four players: Each player takes their lowest valued card and places it facedown in front of the player to their left, then places the next lowest valued card facedown in front of the player to their right, and the last card is placed facedown in front of the player across from them. All players then pick up the facedown cards in front of them and continue as normal. Three players: As with four players, but skip the final pass across. All players will keep their last card instead. Two players: Players A and B each choose one card from their hand to put facedown in front of the other player, leaving two cards in hand. Player A then lets Player B randomly choose a card from the remaining two cards in A’s hand to put facedown in front of A, and Player B lets Player A do the same. Player A puts their one remaining card facedown in front of Player B, and Player B puts their one remaining card facedown in front of Player A. Both players then pick up the facedown cards in front of them and continue as normal. Trading Options: Option 1: At the end of the Action Phase, any Investigators in the same location can trade Priority cards on a one-for-one basis. The Investigators first agree to a set number of cards to trade and with whom, up to a maximum of four. They then choose that many cards from their hand and make the exchange. Investigators cannot trade Priority cards more than once per Action Phase. Option 2: At the end of the Action Phase of Round 4, any Investigators can trade Priority cards on a one-for-one basis as in Option 1, regardless of their location. The Investigators cannot trade Priority cards at any other time. Option 3: At the end of the Action Phase of Round 4, all Investigators repeat the same Priority card exchange that they used during setup, if they used The Game Mechanic's recommended fix to the randomization mechanic for a more cooperative Starting Hand, described above. Item Trading Options: Option 1: At the end of the Action Phase, any Investigator can give any number of their Item cards to another Investigator while they are in the same location. Each Item card can only be given to another Investigator once per Action Phase. Option 2: At the end of the Action Phase of Round 4, any Investigator can give any number of their Item cards to another Investigator, regardless of their location. Each Item card can only be given to another Investigator once only, and Item cards cannot be given to another Investigator at any other time. Suggestions? Feel free to contact Mike at [email protected]. Thanks for listening! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thegamemechanic/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thegamemechanic/support
Aug 14, 2020
1 hr 2 min
Season 0, Episode 7 - Organizers and Upgraded Parts: Do box inserts and components really matter at all?
Mike goes a bit off-topic from what the podcast is focused around to talk about the bits, bobs, chits, boxes, inserts, organizers, and how it all adds up not only for game enjoyment, but also for the price of a game. Mike also says a swear a few times, and this is the longest episode of Season Zero. I mean, he's talking for like 20 minutes here. Come on. Nobody likes hearing a guy talk their ear off for 20 minutes, do they? Especially if it's off-topic... hm? What do you mean fired? I'm the description, you can't fire me! I quit! See you in Season One everybody! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thegamemechanic/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thegamemechanic/support
Aug 14, 2020
21 min
Season 0, Episode 6 - House Rules: Why do so many players use after-market fixes and modifications?
Mike talks about the terms and conditions of using house rules... I think. Look, it's short. Why are you looking at me? You could listen to the episode in the time it would take me to describe it to you, so go ahead already! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thegamemechanic/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thegamemechanic/support
Aug 14, 2020
10 min
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