Punching Cardboard

As Summer settles in we look to take it a little easy. Some shelves are dusted off, and a couple titles come back to the table after resting a few years. Also, a rare abstract finds it's way into our rotation. 

We also recount a few sessions and some trips to some gigs. Easy Breezy, as Joe might say.

PARTICLES:

00:11:13 -- Bruges & The City on the Zwin
00:17:23 -- Innovation & Echoes
00:28:52 -- Automobile
00:35:03 -- Portland 18XX Con
00:40:57 -- What is it With 18XX?
00:46:55 -- Going to the Shows (Starebaby, Robert Plant)
01:15:28 -- Bob Dylan Makes Whiskey
01:29:19 -- Azul (in-depth)

Direct download: PCP_135_final.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 2:49pm PDT

Hey there.

We discuss a sprawling, big Euro game, a compact, tense Euro game and five albums that should be filling your ears. All that and a debate on the state of the hobby in episode 134 of the 'cast.

Please enjoy.

MOMENTS:

00:10:49 -- The John and Company Not Monopoly Contest Results
00:18:40 -- A Trade to Make? (Tash Kalar & Terra Mystica for 18CZ)
00:21:10 -- Joe plays Feudum (multiple sessions)
00:49:42 -- The Burning Question: Sturgeon's Law and Board Games
01:21:35 -- This Week in Spins (Neko Case, The Magic Numbers, The Pineapple Thief and more)
01:42:18 -- Carthago (in-depth)
02:16:33 -- It is all just a Tire Fire, Lusty or Not.

Direct download: PCP_134_final.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 3:31pm PDT

We serve up something a little different in this episode. On tap is a play by play, blow by blow, and drink by drink recap of our trip to Denver for Heavy Con and its impromptu satellite cons. Did we have fun? Did we play enough games? You be the judge.

Welcome aboard the Punching Cardboard World Tour 2018.

ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES:

00:09:12 -- A John Company Pre-Post-Production Contest
00:20:05 -- Day 1: On the Road; Old Men Tempting Altitude; Bison; Comfort Sleep
00:34:10 -- Day 2: 1000 to 1 odds in Dynasty League; Imposters; The Tower of Ginkgopolis
00:54:56 -- Day 3: Ridin' the Rails in 1830; Kings Forged in Steel; John Company negotiations
01:21:29 -- Day 4: Uber Heat; Pax Renaissance Tournament; Wings & Beer; K is for Killed
01:31:42 -- The Whisky Break
01:51:06 -- Day 5: 1714 Works No Matter the Rules; A Pax Ren Finale
02:02:22 -- Day 6: BBQs and Hail Storms
02:04:10 -- Day 7: Denver International Airport Wins Again

Direct download: PCP_133_final.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 1:58pm PDT

When you most expect it, and pretty much the way you like it. Episode 132. A handful of games, a little whiskey and a few good tunes. All of it, wrapped up into a semi-coherent conversation. Enjoy.

COLORS:

00:07:36 -- Heaven & Ale (quick take)
00:14:38 -- The Trouble With Mombasa?(quick take)
00:26:58 -- Isle of Skye: Journeyman Expansion (quick take)
00:38:17 -- Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style Bourbon
00:41:28 -- Music (Dr. Dog, Al Stewart)
00:48:57 -- The Year of the Cat
00:54:16 -- Lost in Vegas, Free Thinker Shoutout
00:56:46 -- Legend of the Five Rings (in-depth)

Direct download: PCP_132_final.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 12:04am PDT

Bruce may be dropping the needle and saying a prayer over at ol' Mary's place, and Frank's ghost sure as hell is still jammin' over at Joe's garage, but there's a cool breeze on a warm evening over here on Jackie's porch.

We've got a little bourbon neat, a few slices of pie and some fancy cards; it's a juxtaposition of thinkiness and relaxation. Come on over and join the band.

SOUNDS:

00:02:07 -- No Con For You!
00:08:16 -- A Burning Question #1: Why Portland?
00:25:38 -- Joe's first Magic experience
00:42:18 -- The Fail Us of Caylus
00:46:17 -- Knob Creek 9 yo Small Batch
00:52:05 --Thinky Music: Dan Weiss' Starebaby, Jonathan Finlayson & Sicilian Defense, Giraffes? Giraffes!
01:08:31 -- The Notness: Conquest of Paradise (in-Depth & Session)

Direct download: PCP_131_final.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 3:08pm PDT

Using our trusty mobile recording device, we gather at a secret location (Joe's) and leave our comfort zone to lay down the riffs that comprise episode 130. Some games covered, some stout imbibed and some stories related. This is a loose episode. The information is fractured. Our thought train, a bit derailed. Still, it all comes out fine in the end. And no gorillas were harmed in the making. Enjoy.

WOODLAND FACTIONS:

00:09:28 -- How to Avoid Gaming
00:22:53 -- A Con Job?
00:30:07 -- Terra Mystica After a while (Special Appearance by The Gaia Project)
00:37:09 -- Root (Initial Impressions & a $400 clutch)
00:49:52 -- The Stumbler Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout.
00:57:20 -- A Sloan Experience
01:08:30 -- The 7th Continent (Special Appearance by Gloomhaven)

Direct download: PCP_130_final.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 5:10pm PDT

Episode 129 is here. We discuss a few chunky, meaty games. We examine a new musical release from a well respected indie duo. And we imbibe a couple of weighty bourbons.

Won't you join us on this magical journey of hope and glory?

SCHEDULE:

00:12:55 -- Will There Ever be a Punching Con?
00:21:15 -- Broken Spirits & Resurrections (Through the Ages & Shogun)
00:48:13 -- Wye Oak, The Louder I Call, the Faster it Runs
01:01:22 -- A Tale of Two Bourbons (Bad Guy vs. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof)
01:14:57 -- Crisis (In-Depth)

Direct download: PCP_129_final.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 4:57pm PDT

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.

Direct download: PCP_128_final.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 4:06pm PDT

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)

Direct download: PCP_127_final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:52pm PDT

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)

Direct download: PCP_126_final.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 6:05pm PDT