The Dice Tower

Tom and Eric quiz Julie about her recent trip to the Tokyo Game Market, including some of the games she brought home, before moving on to a Tale of Boardgaming Horror and our Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops.

00:49 - Dice Tower East and Large Dexterity Games

02:27 - The World Series of Boardgaming

03:49 - The Universe Explained with a Cookie

04:42 - Julie at the Tokyo Game Market

30:48 - Acorns

32:38 - Shiki no Tabi

34:06 - Space Mach...

Tom, Julie and Eric begin by recapping their recent travels, including Julie's trip to The Gathering of Friends and Eric's family trip to Washington DC and Philadelphia. Tom recalls the recent 36-hour marathon on the video chanel, which leads us into tips for playing several games in a row. We have a pretty darn horrific Tale of Boardgaming Horror, and finish the show with our Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops.

00:43 - Playing Games Al...

This time, Tom, Julie, and Eric discuss the pitfalls of April Fools gags before highlighting the highs and lows of bargain hunting. We confront a listener-submitted dilemma from the mailbag, and we share some Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops.

00:45 - Cruise Hype and an Unexpected Musical Rant

02:21 - April Fools Annoyance

12:12 - Bargain Hunting

29:25 - Question: Avoid the Game or the Person?

36:05 - Spark Riders 3000

42:36 - Primal: ...

Tom, Julie, and Eric revisit last episode's question about auction games by looking at their favorite auction mechanisms, and look forward to Julie's and Eric's events at Dice Tower East. We share a new Tale of Boardgaming Horror, and run through our Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops.

01:23 - Staying Up Late and Dice Tower West

03:29 - Looking Forward to Dice Tower East

07:00 - 36-Hour Marathon

08:07 - Auction Mechanisms

33:32 - Tale o...

This time, we are LIVE at Dice Tower West 2024 in Las Vegas in front of a convention audience to discuss our Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops, pit three games in a Vegas-themed Showdown, share a Tale of Boardgaming Horror, and take questions from the audience.

01:04 - News for Dice Tower West 2025

03:17 - Games Tom Taught

04:26 - Eric Plays Wyrmspan

05:52 - What's Julie Been Doing?

07:33 - Way Too Many Cats

11:38 - Shipwrights of the ...

Tom, Julie, and Eric share their excitement for Dice Tower West. Tom and Eric have been playing Collectable Card Games with their kids, while Julie played games in a castle. We share some industry news about the former designers at Prospero Hall, as well as a Tale of Horror that leads to a discussion about Math Trades. And we close the show with our Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops.

00:45 - Dice Tower West and our Live Show

04:34 - Ho...

This time, Tom, Julie, and Eric remember their gaming habits in college. Also, we look at the motivation for a publisher to "rescue" a failed crowdfunding campaign. Eric gets worked up with a Tale of Boardgaming Horror, and we share some Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops.

01:33 - Dice Tower West and Live At The Table (Saturday 3/9 at 1pm)

04:33 - "Rescuing" a Crowdfunding Campaign

27:01 - Our Gaming in College

40:25 - Tale of Boardgami...

This time, Tom, Julie, and Eric look back at the work of the Prospero Hall design studio, as well as answering a question about travel games, and presenting a new Tale of Boardgaming Horror. Plus, those Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops.

01:31 - Popular Games on the Dice Tower Cruise

03:31 - Waiting to Get New Games

06:35 - The Work of Prospero Hall

27:05 - Tale of Boardgaming Horror

32:08 - Question: Travel Games

39:20 - Dominion (app...

Recorded in the main dining hall on the Oasis of the Seas, Tom, Julie, and Eric discuss games they played in the pre-cruise event and first few hours of sailing, and also share advice on giving feedback to game designers after playing their prototype.

00:41 - Recording in Person?!?

02:07 - The Vale of Eternity

03:40 - Pre-Cruise Gaming and Taking Over Public Spaces

04:58 - Vaalbara

07:58 - Cheers to the Governor

13:55 - Diced Veggi...

For our first show of 2024, we revisit our earlier discussion about box sizes for games, but not before we check in on everybody's adventures over the holidays. Tom visits a game club in Tampa, and we share some Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops.

00:45 - Public Domain IPs in 2024

03:50 - Dice Tower West and the Dice Tower Kickstarter

04:29 - Holiday Wrap-Up

13:19 - Box Sizes

40:24 - Tampa Gaming Guild

43:08 - Lil' Guys

45:30 - Lights O...

In our final episode of 2023, Tom, Julie, and Eric discuss their highs and lows of the year, including our biggest surprises, rosiest roses, thorniest thorns, and hula-iest hula hoops.

02:57 - 2023 as a Whole

14:45 - Best Game to Play at a Convention - Chicken

16:09 - Fiction

17:01 - The Same Game

19:45 - Best Theme - First in Flight

20:53 - Jekyll vs. Hyde Card Game

21:51 - Freelancers

22:53 - Most Likely to Be Gifted By A Well-In...

This time, Eric and Julie recap their adventures at PAX Unplugged, and Tom has some questions from the mailbag about Theme, House Rules, and that player in your group who always seems to win. Then, we close the show with some Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops.

05:38 - PAX Unplugged Recap

26:36 - Mailbag: House Rules

29:13 - Mailbag: The Player who Always Wins

34:17 - Mailbag: Theme vs. Setting

42:03 - Surfasaurus Rex

45:49 - Finish Lin...

Tom, Julie, and Eric discuss how to deal with game players who get in the way of enjoying games. Also, some holiday shopping tips for those going to PAX Unplugged (and those that aren't as well), a new Tale of Boardgaming Horror, and some Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops.

02:23 - PAX Unplugged Plans

04:38 - People Who Ruin Games

22:42 - Holiday Shopping at PAX and Elsewhere

36:21 - Tale of Boardgaming Horror

42:18 - FlipTown

45:21 - T...

Tom and Julie talk Eric out of getting the Doctor Who Magic the Gathering set, which leads to a discussion of out-of-universe items showing up in games. We prepare for some family gaming over the holidays, share a new Tale of Boardgaming Horror, and run through some Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops.

05:21 - Doctor Who Magic and other Gaming Anachronisms

25:18 - Gaming at Family Gatherings Without Scaring the Mother-in-Law

37:47 - Tale...

In this episode, Tom, Julie, and Eric discuss the finer points of the suggested ages you see on game boxes, and when it matters to pay attention. Also, how a board game can make you scared, a new Tale of Boardgaming Horror, and some Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops.

07:33 - Suggested Ages

20:05 - Games That Scare You

41:47 - Tale of Boardgaming Horror

46:19 - Mother of Frankenstein

50:27 - The Shining

54:26 - Horrified: Greek Monsters

Tom, Julie, and Eric discuss Essen Spiel 2023, including some general information on the layout, food, and happenings at the fair, as well as some of their most anticipated games. Then they close the show with reviews of Ticket To Ride Legacy, Fit to Print, and Deckscape: Tokyo Blackout.

01:27 - Food

04:26 - Layout Changes

17:32 - Booth Schedule (Dice Tower 3W103, Van Ryder Games 2C102)

19:55 - Press Pre-Show

20:49 - Tips

27:07 - A...

This Time, Tom, Julie, and Eric recount their adventures at the Dice Tower Retreat and the Alliance Trade Show, try to get to the bottom of marketing strategies for Boardgame "families", present a new Tale of Boardgaming Horror, and share some Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops.

00:58 - Dice Tower Retreat Recap

07:53 - Alliance Trade Show Recap

13:12 - Hasbro Women Innovators of Play

17:00 - Lawn Games

21:00 - Boardgame Families

35:41 -...

In this episode, Tom, Julie, and Eric discuss the logic behind MSRP at your local game store, put a trio of games up against each other in an arena Showdown, present a classic Tale of Boardgaming Horror, and share some Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops.

02:56 - The News: MSRP

13:54 - Showdown: Freelancers vs Wander: The Cult of Barnacle Bay vs Near and Far

28:07 - Tale of Boardgaming Horror (classic)

36:34 - Rose, Thorn, Hula Hoop

37:1...