The Dice Tower
Tom Vasel and Eric Summerer take a look at board games, card games, and the people who design, publish, and play them. Top ten lists, Q&A, tales of horror, and more await you!
Episodes
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 and Julie have been traveling, and we want to hear about where they've been. We have recaps of the World Series of Boardgaming in Las Vegas and Spiel in Essen, before sharing some Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops.
01:32 - World Series of Boardgaming
20:35 - Spiel
48:20 - Nekojima
50:37 - Path of Civilization
53:24 - Rankster
56:22 - Cat Horror Festival
59:53 - Hygge
1:03:30 - Eila and Something Shiny
1:07:22 - Robo Rally
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...
In this episode, we kick off our new format with a new co-host, and a discussion of the sights and games of Gen Con 2023.
01:40 - Re-Introductions
04:26 - Current Events: Lorcana at Gen Con
16:15 - Gen Con Wrap-Up
29:48 - Rose, Thorn, Hula Hoop
31:30 - Lorcana
33:29 - Waffle Time
34:33 - Hogs of War
36:00 - Four Humors
38:48 - Fika
41:26 - Wild Tiled West
43:13 - Sea Salt & Paper
46:12 - Agree to Disagree
48:40 - I Feel Attacked
53...
This week Tom & Eric bring Julie Ahern to the table!
2:36 - Getting To Know You
44:55 - One and One
This week Tom & Eric bring Curt Covert to the table!
2:52 - Getting To Know You
10:56 - The Big Question
4:30 - One and One
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