Chaos. Uncertainty. Disloyalty. Keywords of the day. But we can handle it. We can fling Loyalty challenges across the table with the best of them. We can arrange a Renaissance marriages and take over religions and funnel coins from one bank to the next like it's water flowing through pipes. Oh, yes we can. And then we can turn it all up to 11 and list the Euros that should remain on our shelves.

Yep, that's all happening here in episode 128.

DECREES:

00:14:18 -- It Was a Time (some recent plays)
00:21:36 -- Pax Renaissance (the Eklund Experience)
00:46:57 -- Sekigahara (Session Report)
01:07:55 -- Yellow Stone Ltd. Ed. 2015
01:16:55 -- A Little Light Music (Superchunk & Will Johnson Redux)
01:27:08 -- 11 Euros that cans stay on each of our shelves.

No one's going to accuse us of following the cult of the new in this one. We talk about a couple older games that have hit the tables around here while shaming ourselves about a good number of titles collecting dust on our shelves. Our whiskey's been nicely aged as well (Unfortunately, the fine salted caramel stout decided to collide with some rusted trains).

So, tip your servers and enjoy the session, and please, please, please, don't spill your beer.

RELICS:

00:04:38 -- The Best Damn Guild on BGG.
00:08:45 -- The Punching Cardboard Baseball Association
00:15:04 -- Our Shelves of Shame
00:37:48 -- On Gaming Clubs for Middle/High Schoolers
00:56:24 -- And the Winner Is . . . (Gamesurplus.com Agra Giveaway)
01:04:56 -- Willett Pot Still Reserve
01:10:20 -- Bruxelles 1893 (Revisited)
01:29:27 -- Story vs. Form in Film
01:46:05 -- 1862: Railway Mania in the Eastern Counties (In-depth)

As the supernova known as February fades we are able to conquer the light years and arrive on a fairly sane planet. It is here where we attempt to answer your questions and guide you through the Gaia Project.

Then, after our usual efforts, we wade into uncharted territory with a serious discussion on a very serious topic. Passengers will be warned and given a chance to depart beforehand, but we do recommend taking the entire journey.

Will we succeed, or will a horde of alien races destroy our babbling civilization? 

MISSIONS:

00:12:27 -- Joe visits Board Game Blitz Con
00:23:09 -- The Q&A Begins
00:26:14 -- Maintaining Interest in Medium Weight Euros (Steampunk Rally embed part I)
00:44:42 -- If We Only Had a Normal Deck of Cards
00:56:33 -- If We Were Olympians
01:03:10 -- Top 5 Older Games
01:12:37 -- Some Game Mechanics That We Don't Dig (Steampunk Rally embed part II)
01:25:12 -- Getting Jim in Trouble (USA Womens' Hockey vs. USA Mens' Hockey)
01:35:05 -- The Agra Giveaway
01:38:40 -- The Q&A Ends
01:38:53 -- The Ardmore Legacy
01:43:53 -- Gaia Project (in-depth)
02:25:50 -- #NeverAgain (This Needs to be Said)

Here be episode a buck and a quarter. We're doin' the usual. You're doin' the usual. It's like we all get along or something. Enjoy.

ITEMS:

00:21:50 -- Iberian Rails (in-depth)
00:51:53 -- Westland American Oak Single Malt
01:02:49 -- Albums by Jeff Rosenstock and Will Johnson
01:28:11 -- Wildcatters (in-depth)

On Episode 124 of As the Cardboard Turns: Joe continues to show off his quick thinking with his ability to jab and dance and commentate. In addition, we a treated to a stellar performance of the word turmeric. Meanwhile, right in front of your ears, Jim loses his battle to a nasty cold.

Will the headhunters come calling to offer Joe a better gig on a more prestigious show? Will Jim’s battle against the evil Mucus be for naught? Will the dog notice that Timmy has fallen into the well? Well, we’ll just have to wait for the next episode for those answers. Until then, enjoy this week’s descent into board game madness.

PROGRAMS:

00:05:55 — Helping a Brother Out
00:16:05 — Rajas of the Ganges and other Tomfoolery (Short Take)
00:34:29 — A Mini Rails flaw?
00:38:01 — 18CZ: The Railway Comes to Czech Lands (Session Report)
01:28:15 — 57 Channels and Something On (Featuring The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel)
01:43:50 — Agra (In-Depth)

Welcome to the first show of 2018. It's a good show. It's a fun show. It's a show containing discussions of games new and old. And it's it's chock full of the stuff that makes Punching Cardboard great.

(Wait, Punching Cardboard is great??? (Sure is, just roll with it before someone notices.))

So kick back, pour a wee dram, and enjoy the lively banter and thoughtful analysis.

RESOLUTIONS:

00:07:14 -- The Christmas Joy and Space Truckin'
00:15:13 -- Joe's First Airport Rant
00:25:13 -- Brackets! This about Brackets?
00:27:04 -- Help a Brother Out, aka Another Dinger's Thingers Giveaway
00:30:32 -- Warriors of Jogu: Feint (Quick Take)
00:48:33 -- 1960: The Making of the President (In-depth)
01:19:03 -- Transatlantic (First Take)
01:30:34 -- Laphroaig Triple Wood
01:34:49 -- Keyper (In-depth)

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

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)

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)

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)