Rolling Dice & Taking Names Gaming Podcast

00:01:00 Intro00:04:00 SWU in Vegas00:06:00 New Game Store00:08:15 Which is better?00:11:15 The Vale of Eternity00:14:00 Pagan00:15:00 July 4th Gaming00:23:30 Portal Games00:24:30 Realm of Reckoning00:24:00 IV Studio – Tend00:45:30 Devious00:51:45 Miniature Market00:52:30 Summer Movie Thoughts

Realm of Reckoning sharpens its identity as an area‑control showdown built on tight timing and escalating tension. The simultaneous card play is the engine that keeps everyone leaning forward—every reveal forces you to decide whether you’re shoring up your economy or muscling into position before a Reckoning reshapes the board. That push‑and‑pull between long‑term planning and immediate tactical pressure gives the game its pulse. Factions rise, collide, and retreat in a rhythm that feels both dramatic and cleanly mechanical, creating turns where a single decision can swing the entire map. You wrap a session already replaying key moments in your head, plotting what you’ll try on your next run through its volatile world.

Devious looks disarmingly simple at first, but that’s part of the trick. As players draw, flip, and react, the hidden layers of bluffing and timing begin to reveal themselves. Set collection becomes a delicious gamble—you want just enough cards to score well, but every additional draw risks a bust, especially since the pile you’re pulling from was set by your opponents. That tension turns every flip into a moment of doubt and second‑guessing: is this really the best card available, or did someone bury something better to lure me into overreaching? The result is a fast, mischievous game where the table’s collective psychology matters just as much as the cards in your hand.

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00:01:00 Intro00:04:00 Moving the Kids00:10:15 AI in Board Games00:16:30 Obsession00:20:15 Bomb Busters00:23:30 El Grande00:25:00 Neuroshima Hex00:28:30 Miniature Market00:30:00 Our Top 3 LOTR Games00:30:00 Lincoln00:53:30 Portal Games00:55:00 Guild Wars 301:03:30 Outro

Even though our regular game night has been on pause for a few weeks, we still managed to squeeze in some great plays with family and friends. Marty kicked things off with Bomb Busters, a title getting a lot of well‑deserved praise. The way he described it reminded me a bit of Hanabi—that same feeling of relying on your teammates to guide you toward the right moves. There’s something deeply satisfying about working together toward a shared victory, especially when the puzzle finally clicks.

He also finally got Obsession to the table, a game that’s been floating around one his radar for a while. I’ll admit it’s one I wasn’t familiar with, but that’s hardly surprising given how many games slip past me. Marty had some thoughtful pros and cons, but even with those caveats, it still sounds like something I’d love to try on a future game night, there’s a charm to that Victorian engine‑building vibe that’s hard to resist.

And of course, El Grande continues to shine as a perfect introduction to area control, teaching new players the tension and timing that make the genre sing. Every cube, every power card—it all matters. Lincoln, on the other hand, offers a lean, card‑driven take on the American Civil War, capturing momentum, attrition, and asymmetry in a way that feels brisk yet thoughtful. If it weren’t for a few rulebook hiccups, this would’ve been one of those plays that makes you wonder why it took so long to get it to the table in the first place.

Thanks for listening and until next time, keep rolling dice and taking names.

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00:01:15 Intro
00:06:30 Chaz is back!
00:09:45 Fun collaboration
00:12:00 How has gaming changed over the years
00:40:00 Miniature Market
00:41:00 New Review System
00:47:00 Chang’an
00:58:00 Zombie Princess
01:05:00 Portal Games
01:06:00 Comic Book Boom
01:17:30 Outro with Chaz


In this episode, Marty is joined by Chaz Marler from Game Night Picks. They talk about all the different ways the table top industry has changed over the past 10 years from content creation, to games, to the community.

Marty and Tony review some new games using their new format. Shorter, more concise and with a numerical rating. Let us know your thoughts on the new format over on our Discord Channel

00:01:15 Intro

00:06:30 Chaz is back!

00:09:45 ⁠Fun collaboration⁠

00:12:00 How has gaming changed over the years

00:40:00 ⁠Miniature Market⁠

00:41:00 New Review System

00:47:00 ⁠Chang’an

⁠00:58:00 ⁠Zombie Princess⁠

01:05:00 ⁠Portal Games⁠

01:06:00 ⁠Comic Book Boom⁠

01:17:30 Outro with Chaz

In this episode, Marty is joined by Chaz Marler from ⁠Game Night Picks⁠. They talk about all the different ways the table top industry has changed over the past 10 years from content creation, to games, to the community.

Marty and Tony review some new games using their new format. Shorter, more concise and with a numerical rating. Let us know your thoughts on the new format over on our ⁠Discord ⁠Channel

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

00:01:15 Intro
00:06:30 Gencon 2026 Update
00:10:30 Quartermaster General: WWII
00:15:00 Moon Colony: Bloodbath
00:20:15 Star Wars Unlimited Update
00:21:45 Portal Games
00:23:30 Rebuilding Chicago
00:41:30 Castelnuovo 1539
00:55:30 Miniature Market
00:56:30 Toy Battle
01:01:30 Pragmata
01:04:30 R-Type Dimensions III
01:09:00 Sektori
01:10:00 Outro

For history fans who enjoy thoughtful, asymmetric challenges, Castelnuovo 1539 offers a compelling take on the “last stand” style of wargame. Blending classic conflict simulation with Euro‑style area control, this two‑player design places you with the Spanish defenders doing everything they can to slow an advancing Ottoman siege. The Spanish side isn’t trying to win outright so much as hold firm and make every step costly, creating a tense, measured experience where each decision carries real weight. With custom card decks and hidden wooden blocks shaping the flow of play, the game builds a steady, immersive pressure without ever feeling overwhelming.

Shifting to a much lighter tone, Rebuilding Chicago and Toy Battle trade battlefield grit for creativity and quick, satisfying play. As the standalone follow‑up to Rebuilding Seattle, Rebuilding Chicago invites up to five players to reshape neighborhoods and guide a growing population after the Great Fire of 1871. It’s a warm, engaging tile‑laying puzzle with plenty of room for clever planning. And if you’re looking for something breezy to wrap up a game night, Paolo Mori’s Toy Battle delivers a delightful 15‑minute burst of abstract strategy. With charming toy‑themed troops and whimsical double‑sided maps like the Volcanic Jungle or City of Clouds, it pairs simple rules with just enough tactical bite to leave everyone smiling.

We’re truly disappointed that we won’t be able to host the Strike tournament at Gen Con this year. It’s always a highlight for us, and we’ll miss the energy, laughter, and chaos that only Gladiators in an Arena, I mean, a bowl of dice can create.

Thanks for listening and a special guest joins us for our next episode, assuming he is on his best behavior.