Punching Cardboard

We made it. 2017 is heading out the door. We're battered and beaten and bruised and bewitched and bespoke and bee-stung and help me off this ride. Phew!

But before we go, here's a bunch of stuff we dug in 2017. We're talkin' games and whiskey and whisky and tunes and food and beer and a whole lot of other things in this episode. We take a swipe at a few things, but we mostly go for the good stuff as we sneak off to 2018, hoping that if it doesn't hear us we can find a little more peace and joy in that neck of the woods. Anyway, please enjoy our year-end extravaganza. We'll see you on the other side.

IN THE BOOTH:

00:08:28 -- Card Tray Giveaway
00:16:09 -- Games (10 down to 6)
00:51:41 -- Top 5 Train Games (Joe)
00:54:03 -- Top 5 Reasons to Hate Sports (Jim, an audible)
01:00:05 -- Best Music of 2017
01:23:22 -- Top 5 IPAs (Joe)
01:27:47 -- Top 5 Foods (Jim)
01:35:44 -- Whisky Tasting Results
01:41:32 -- Games (5 down to 1)
02:17:45 -- Disappointments and Other Odds & Ends

Direct download: PCP_122_final.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 5:15pm PDT

Here we are in the heart of the holiday season, starting to work off all that late November food while trying to navigate the December gifting maze. So, of course, let's talk about some games.

We kick things off with an inconclusive discussion of An Infamous Traffic before moving forward to counteract the hustle of the season with session reports that further explore some of the games that have already graced this show. Add in a little bourbon and music and this cocktail might just be the cocktail you were looking for. 

INGREDIENTS:

00:02:03 -- Here Be Dragons
00:11:35 -- The Baseball Association?
00:15:43 -- Who Wants Card Holders?
00:26:40 -- An Infamous Traffic (Incongruous Thoughts)
00:53:45 -- Weller's Special Reserve Bourbon
01:00:30 -- (Gaming Sessions)
01:02:48 -- Calimala
01:09:43 -- Mini Rails
01:15:10 -- Lignum
01:23:52 -- Game of Thrones (1st Edition (9 Players))
01:34:57 -- Arkwright
01:37:42 -- The Lego Robotics Tournament
01:43:12 -- Music (The Euge Organ Trio, John Murry, Joe Henry, Do Make Say Think, Broken Social Scene)

Direct download: PCP_121_final.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 5:24pm PDT

It's a long way from Portland to Dallas, but Jim makes the journey and Punching Cardboard represents at 2017's edition of BGG CON. The people, the games, the whisky, the food, the triumphs, the mishaps: It's all here for your listening pleasure. 

SCHEDULE:

00:13:08 -- In 'n' Out Burger, huh, What is it Good For?
00:15:29 -- BGG CON Overview Begins
00:34:10 -- It's Not Rocket Science, Jim.
00:53:45 -- Meetup Oblivion
01:03:44 -- Ratchet Soul
01:15:30 -- Joe's Non-Con Begins
01:15:50 -- Clans of Caledonia (Joe's Take)
01:29:20 -- Calimala (In-Depth)

Direct download: PCP_120_final.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 7:34pm PDT

If you like to convert resources into goods and then use those goods to build structures and make technological advances while saving your money for conversion to other currencies (phew!), then you have come to the right place.

Here in Episode 119 we look at shipping coal, goods conversions, and making money through buying money from other countries. Econ 101? Probably not, but at least as much fun.

EXCHANGE RATES: 

00:01:52 -- Shirts, Finally
00:15:33 -- For Ex (Session Report)
00:45:27 -- Oh My Goods! (Quick Take)
01:00:40 -- Clynelish 14yo
01:08:44 -- Music (Ben Allison, Louis Sclavis, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, And So I Watch You From Afar)
01:28:58 -- The Ruhr: A Story of Coal Trade (In-Depth)

Direct download: PCP_119_final.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 4:28pm PDT

They say time flies when you're having fun, so I can certainly say we had fun while recording this one. Our bad. But for those of you who enjoy long, rambling discussions peppered with brilliant insights, you just might find this one to your liking. Enjoy.

THE PATH AHEAD:

00:05:12 -- 2017 T-Shirts
00:12:40 -- Gaming on Ye Olde Ranch
00:21:18 -- The Ruhr (First Take)
00:27:15 -- Card City XL (First Take)
00:30:50 -- Mini Rails (First Take)
00:33:27 -- Clans of Caledonia (First Take)
00:42:33 -- Chicago Express
00:53:16 -- Redbreast 15yo & Children at Play
01:04:50 -- Viewer Mail
01:38:25 -- Music Roundup (Ben Allison, Kamasi Washington, Mike Stern, Queens of the Stone Age, Destroyer)
01:55:22 -- Lignum (In-depth)

Direct download: PCP_118_final.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 5:30pm PDT

Never say never. Be prepared for anything. The show must go on. Choose your cliche and join us for episode 117 of the unbroken Punching Cardboard podcast.

In this episode we bid farewell to Eric, a difficult thing to do as he has been crucial to this show's success. But for us, this is Rock 'n' Roll, or the closest thing we can manage. Band albums, solo albums, a rotating cast of musicians, and someone always wants to keep playin'. So welcome new Punching Cardboard co-host Joe to the stage as we intend to rock on. Of course we have some new material in the form of some Time of Crisis riffs and Gentes melodies.

Meet the new show, same as the old show.

TUNES:

00:00:43 -- A Farewell to Eric
00:05:37 -- Oh, Hello Joe
00:17:52 -- Subwoofer Goes Poof!
00:28:45 -- Time of Crisis (First Take)
01:02:25 -- Gentes

Direct download: PCP_117_final.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 3:29pm PDT

Welcome to our annual get-together with the fine folks over at Heavy Cardboard. It takes us a while to get into the meat of the episode as our planned 15 minute intro turned into an easygoing conversation with some unexpected insights into the thoughts and feelings behind these endeavors.

So, this is an epic show, a way-too-many-games discussed show, and some might argue a way-too-long show. But when you're having a good time, time flies, and we thoroughly enjoyed this session. We hope you concur.

EXHIBITS:

00:02:11 -- Games Played and Feelings Felt
01:05:57 -- 2016 Lists in Review
01:26:39 -- Ten
01:35:18 -- Nine
01:45:13 -- Eight
02:05:30 -- Seven
02:10:50 -- Six
02:22:03 -- Five
02:32:49 -- Four
02:42:51 -- Three
02:55:32 -- Two
03:12:15 -- One
03:23:12 -- The Ones That Missed The Cut

Direct download: PCP_116_final.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 12:00pm PDT

Okay kids, I think this is a good one. A little giddiness, a little edginess. Three game session reports that press our buttons and invite some good critical analysis. Add in two albums that we've been waiting to sink our teeth into and it's easy for us to raise this discussion to 11. Enjoy the show.

DECIBELS:

00:14:15 -- Sidereal Confluence (First Take - Session Report)
00:54:12 -- The Godfather (First Take)
01:10:30 -- Teeling Single Grain Irish Whiskey
01:13:15 -- Music (Steven Wilson - To The Bone; The War on Drugs -- A Deeper Understanding)
01:47:39 -- Mythotopia (The Showdown)

Direct download: PCP_115_final.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 4:31pm PDT

Jules Verne published Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea in 1870. Dan Quisenberry lead the American League in Saves five times. Nemo, the main character in Verne's novel, was the captain of the Nautilus, a submarine. The Nautilus exercise equipment company was founded in 1986. Quisenberry, a submarine style relief pitcher, won a World Series in 1985, and may have used a Nautilus machine for strength training later in his career. Somehow, neither Verne or Quisenberry are with us today.

Coincidence?

Well, we can't be sure, but we do know that this episode covers board games based on material from both men's careers. Maybe you can solve the mystery, or at least enjoy the episode.

EVENTS:

00:08:25 -- Nemo's War (in depth)
00:48:48 -- Baseball Roundup
00:52:20 -- Baseball Highlights 2045
00:59:55 -- Clutch Baseball
01:16:45 -- Strat-O-Matic Baseball
01:34:48 -- Out of the Park Baseball

Direct download: PCP_114_final.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 4:20pm PDT

It's a hot August night, and a cloud of smoke has descending into the Willamette Valley as wildfires rage throughout the region. We may not be able to breath freely for a few more days, and cool air is just a dream at the moment, but we decided to brave the elements to bring you tales from the rebuilding of Lisbon after a devastating earthquake in 1755. We have made a good many attempts at reconstruction, and we hope you enjoy these tales as we discuss the merits of Vital Lacerda's Lisboa.  Stay cool and breathe free.

BLUEPRINTS:

06:33 -- Poll Wars
13:47 -- Peter Perrett, The Only Ones, Manchester Orchestra
24:45 -- Lisboa

Direct download: PCP_113_final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:45am PDT

It's time for Punching Cardboard, The Musical! Well, not really, but we are going to have a long outro discussing a good many recently released albums. But before that extended jam hits we'll chat about some recent boardgame expansions and German Whisky. We'll even toss in a story about mirrors in Detroit to round out a full episode. We hope you enjoy.

REFLECTIONS:

00:11:03 -- Another Amazing Travel Story
00:23:58 -- Barony: Sorcery
00:32:28 -- Automobiles: Racing Season
00:43:15 -- Haspelknecht: The Ruhr Valley Expansion
01:05:30 -- 1844 (Short Session)
01:09:48 -- Call to Post, Coming Soon-ish
01:16:57 -- The Music: New albums by Jason Isbell, The Mountain Goats, Slowdive, Ride, Big Thief and many more.

Direct download: PCP_112_final.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 5:40pm PDT

Time passes quickly, leaving in its wake a trail of unanswered questions. 

What was Heavy Con really like? Are the people of  Denver as fragile as the Wicked Witch of the West? Are auteurs better at making games? Has Unfair received fair treatment? Can Whiskey be made in a castle. Why do we continue to enjoy Splotter games?

Well, have no fear about the unknown. We're here to try and sort this mess out. Feel free to play along at home.

QUANDARIES:

00:04:46 -- Heavy Con
00:19:15 -- A Very Opulent Palace
00:20:28 -- Colorado Rain
00:25:58 -- Knappogue Castle 12yo Irish Single Malt
00:36:44 -- Unfair (first take & rant)
01:07:14 -- Q&A #1: HiFi
01:14:22 -- Q&A #2: The Auteur vs. the Committee
01:35:16 -- Splotter Games, an Overview

Direct download: PCP_111_final.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 4:44pm PDT

After four years of gaming together we decided to finally offer up our top ten game lists. Due to the weight of the chaos of our worlds, this is a measured affair, with a more carefully considered discussion of the games listed. We promise to return to our fisticuffs next time around.

THE TIMES:

07:25 -- Gaming Frustrations and Public Spaces (Viewer Mail Cont.)
37:35 -- Doin' the Work
40:12 -- The Bestest Games Ever
59:39 -- The Not Top Ten

----------- SPOILERS ----------
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1:06:39 -- Food Chain Magnate
1:09:10 -- 18XX (1854 at the moment)
1:11:36 -- Strat-o-Matic Baseball
1:18:05 -- Nippon
1:22:54 -- Three Kingdoms Redux
1:26:40 -- Yedo
1:31:02 -- Magic, The Gathering
1:35:58 -- Tash-Kalar
1:38:49 -- Trickerion
1:42:04 -- Galaxy Trucker
1:48:46 -- Sekigahara
1:51:48 -- Kanban
1:59:29 -- ZhanGuo
2:11:04 -- Keyflower
2:17:18 -- 1714: The Case of the Catalans
2:21:06 -- The Great Zimbabwe
2:25:02 -- Arkwright
2:30:03 -- Through the Ages
2:33:03 -- Terra Mystica

Direct download: Punching_Cardboard_-_PCP_110.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 4:18pm PDT

How about a short introduction. Episode 109. Anachrony. Viewer mail. 'nuff said.

Enjoy.

ANOMALIES:

04:30 -- Viewer Mail
30:00 -- Anachrony (in-depth)

Direct download: Punching_Cardboard_-_PCP_109.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 12:51pm PDT

Eric returns from his travels for a classic PCP episode and we get down to doing what we do best. We have Tramways in-depth. We have rants. We have disagreements. We have things that went bad.

Add in some raves, some whisky and a meaty trick-taking card game and I believe all the boxes have been ticked. Much fun was had. No animals were hurt. It's a win-win. Enjoy.

SCHEDULE:

02:20 -- Business & Scheduling
13:12 -- Trick of the Rails
32:18 -- New Pornographers, Deep Purple, Chuck Prophet, Vagabond, Hurray for the Riff Raff. Jesca Hoop
43:52 -- The Father John Misty Throwdown
59:00 -- The Quiet Man 8 Year Old Single Malt
63:15 -- Things Went Bad (Tramways Edition)
70:50 -- Tramways (in-depth)
113:05 -- Unbelievable (or is it?)

Direct download: PCP_108_final.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 1:15pm PDT

It's finally here. Our first 18XX extravaganza. After 40-plus hours of 18XX gaming, and with the help of guest hosts Joe Sturgis and Tony KR, plus cold medicine, tea and lozenges, the PCP finally goes deep on this train crazy phenomenon. Run those routes and split those stocks!

Coming at this from a new player's perspective, we take you on a ride from the casual ease of 1846 to the intense pressure of 1854. And by "casual ease" we mean pretty damn hard, but with a friendlier learning curve. Anyway, it's pretty much all 18XX this time around, and the main drama is whether Jim's voice will hold out for the entire episode. Enjoy.

STATIONS:

06:47 -- To 18XX or not to 18XX
16:43 -- 1846
54:38 -- 1854

Direct download: PCP_107_final.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 6:12pm PDT

Welcome to an episode filled with old games and some special guests. Edward and Amanda from Heavy Cardboard join in as we discuss how to get old games back to the table. And after a day of gaming here at Punching Cardboard headquarters, we unleash a session report covering the three underrated titles that ended up on our table. To be honest, we weren't even planning to play these games.

In this episode we leave the cult of the new outside in the rain and rediscover (or discover) some titles that should be getting a little more love. We hope you have as much fun listening to it as we did making it.

SESSIONS:

15:40 -- The Wayback Machine
16:54 -- Baseball Highlights:2045, Super Motherload, Argent
27:19 -- Getting Games Back to the Table (Part 1)
32:17 -- Dominant Species, Wir Sind Das Volk, In the Year of the Dragon, Metropolys, Florenza
40:29 -- Getting Games Back to the Table (Part 2)
53:21 -- The Music Segment
61:33 -- Edward as Navigator, a True Adventure.
62:55 -- The Manhattan Project: Energy Empire (Session Report)
75:51 -- Shogun (Session Report)
94:13 -- Thunder Alley (Session Report)
109:37 -- Captains of the Gulf: A Friend gets his due.

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Direct download: PCP_106_final.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 11:34pm PDT

It's three in the morning and I'm trying to raise the spirit of a Chicago radio host not nearly forgotten. We'll see if it works as I'm on my own in this one. This show about conversation. This show of lively banter. And here, today, this episode, conjuring past techniques, offering up monologue. 

Well, monologue and music. A solo diatribe exploring the ins and outs of two recent Kickstarter deliveries, Anachrony and Gloomhaven. And a little indugence in the creative side with a couple of homemade tracks, an experiment, and a reward for those who've been paying attention and diggin' the surprise musical endings.

We'll see who are friends are now.

TIMELINE:

02:00 -- The Jay Andres Effect
06:14 -- Thanks for the Nomination
08:52 -- Anachrony (first take)
32:24 -- Old 97's, Graveyard Whistling
47:33 -- Until Dawn
53:52 -- Gloomhaven (in-depth)
90:45 -- Punching Cardboard, the Full Track

Direct download: PCP_105_final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:19am PDT

In this episode we try to honor February, that month in which we unsuccessfully try to play games already played and on our shelves. After opening with an in-depth look at all Arkwright still has to offer, we dust off Bruxelles 1893, a 2013 title that has just been reprinted and can be found once again sitting on store shelves, beckoning all newcomers.

In-between we also discuss 1846, Fields of Despair and Jump Drive, all of which have been getting some serious play here in the land of punched cardboard.

We pepper all this game talk with a little whiskey and music because, well, whiskey and music. Art, architecture, trench warfare, railroads, stock markets, distilled grains, space, fuzzy guitars, Catalonian TV: Where else are you gonna get such disparate elements in one show? Have at it folks, and play nice.

ORDERS:

03:06 -- Arkwright (revisited, with additions)
43:10 -- Jameson Caskmates Stout Edition Irish Whiskey
46:01 -- Whiskey 101-1 -- Types and Grains
53:02 -- 1846:The Race for the Midwest (First Take)
58:20 -- Fields of Despair: France 1914-1918 (First Take)
68:10 -- Jump Drive (First Take)
74:15 -- Merli
76:36 -- Japandroids, Near to the Wild Heart of Life
84:05 -- Bruxelles 1893 (revisited, in-depth)

Direct download: PCP_104_final.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 3:01pm PDT

Your mission should you choose . . . wait. Umm, in a Galaxy far, far . . . no, not that (please, not that). Space, the final . . . uh-uh. Can anyone hear you scream in space? Who is Zarathustra, and why did he Also sprach? I think I'm running out of references here.

Anyway, here be episode 103 replete with an in-depth conversation about Spielworxx's latest, Solarius Mission. We also get into what the future holds for our gaming lives, answer viewer mail, discuss what hit our tables during Portland's snowpocalypse and drink some Bruichladdich classic whisky. Get your steak knives out.

CAPTAIN'S LOG:

06:20 -- Recently on Eric's Table (The Colonists, Ora et Labora, Days of Ire, First Class)
21:45 -- Recently on Jim's Table (Bios: Genesis, Wing Leader, Age of Thieves)
30:15 -- Viewer Mail
53:12 -- Bruichladdich Scottish Barley, The Classic Laddie
63:21 -- The Year Ahead: Questioning the Gaming Hobby.

Direct download: PCP_103_final.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 3:24pm PDT

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