The Cardboard Mechanics

Aaron Wilson and John Prather

Aaron Wilson and John Prather take a look under the hood of board games and talk about the mechanisms and narratives that drive board game design.

12 Episodes

Episode 12 - First of Season 2 - More like Fun-building. Amirite?
4/29/2023
1:01:12
Episode 12 - First of Season 2 - More like Fun-building. Amirite? In this 12th episode (and first for 2023) John and Aaron talk about Deckbuilding and John's obsession with Dominion. Games we mention: Dominion Starcraft The Board Game 2007 Ascension Star Realms Eternal Clank: In Space Quest for Eldorado/Salmon Run Heat Flamme Rouge Few Acres of Snow Undaunted: Normandy Tyrants of The Underdark Summer Camp Nightfall Fort / SPQF Glory to Rome Eminent Domain Ruins of Arnak Dune Imperium Great Western Trail Dice Masters Quarriors Orleans Automobiles Quacks Of Quedlinburg RuneStones Abandon All Artichokes Xenon Profiteer Pasaraya: Supermarket Manager Briefcase Slay The Spire Monster Train Across The Obelisk Waterworks Valley Of The Kings Tanto Cuore Trains Intro/outro music by Sickabod Follow us on the Twitter! @Cardboard_Mechs @internetsmagic @anygrytetris
Episode 11 - Season 1 Wrap - Tip of the Iceberg
12/24/2022
37:36
In this 11th and final episode of Season 1, John and Aaron touch on the things covered in 2022 and what lies ahead for Season 2 in 2023. Intro/outro music by Sickabod Follow us on the Twitter! (And now Hive also) @Cardboard_Mechs @internetsmagic @anygrytetris
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Episode 10 - Just Flat Out Tiles
10/15/2022
1:11:24
In this epic 10th episode John and Aaron welcome Shawn Stankewich of Flatout Games, to talk about tile the placement mechanism and Flatout's upcoming real-time tile placement game, Fit To Print by Peter McPherson. Games we mention: Cascadia Carcassonne Orx My City Terraforming Mars Ark Nova Tsuro Karuba Whistle stop Azul Go Vegas Showdown Patchwork A Feast for Odin Cottage Garden Fields of Arle Glen More Barenpark Nova Luna Indian Summer Spring Meadow Twilight Imperium 4 Catan Alhambra Kingdomino Queendomino Blockus Takenoko Sprawlopolis Carpe Diem Teotihuacan: City of Gods Among the Stars Fields of Green Circle the Wagons Naturopolis Galaxy Trucker Fit to Print Lanterns 18xx Vast: the Crystal Caverns Isle of Sky Pipeline Curious Cargo Trailblazers Santiago Castles of Mad King Ludwing Suburbia Castles of Burgundy Isle of Cats Calico Intro/outro music by Sickabod Follow us on the Twitter! @Cardboard_Mechs @internetsmagic @anygrytetris @flatoutgames
Episode 9 - My Father's Worker Placement
7/31/2022
59:43
In this 9th episode John and Aaron welcome TC Petty the 3rd to talk about his new game My Father's Work, among many other games that successfully utilize a worker placement mechanism. Games we mention: My Father's Work Twilight Imperium 4th edition Russian Railroads Agricola Lords Of Waterdeep The River Mint Works Anachrony Viva Java Energy Empire: Manhattan Project Tzolkin Chimera Station Stone Age Bus The Gallerist Caylus Le Havre Harbor Watch Kanban Vinos Coldwater Crown Raiders Of The North Sea Caverna Feast For Odin Fields Of Arle Ruins Of Arnak Dune Emperium Keyflower Bruxelles 1893 Spyrium Maquis Xanadu Intro/outro music by Sickabod Follow us on the Twitter! @Cardboard_Mechs @internetsmagic @anygrytetris @puppyshogun
Episode 8 - Take Stock!
6/17/2022
1:11:38
In this 8th episode John and Aaron talk about stock holding games with guest, Ryan Courtney. Games we talk about: Bear Raid Stockpile Vegas Showdown Please Fix the Teleporter 18XX - 1830/22/46/ches Cube Rails - Chicago Express/Irish Gauge/German Railways/Union Station Stocks and Bonds (1964) LCR Acquire 504/Power Grid Startups Mystic Market Mars Needs Mechanics Jaipur Reef Encounter Mombasa Panamax Arkwright Airlines Europe Wildlife Safari/Botswanna/Loco The Gallerist Arkwright the card game Mini Rails Prospectus For-ex Intro/outro music by Sickabod Follow us on the Twitter! @Cardboard_Mechs @internetsmagic @anygrytetris @rccgames
Episode 7 - Should I stay or should I go?
5/13/2022
1:20:18
In this 7th episode John and Aaron talk about Push/Press your Luck games with guest, Tony Miller. Games we talk about: Blackjack The Split Can't Stop Deep Sea Adventure Clank! Incan Gold Quacks of Quedlinburg Yatzee Escape: the curse of the temple The Grizzled Arkham Horror the card game No Thanks! Coloretto Abyss Cardcassone Biblios Fire in the Library Captain Carcass Megaland Welcome to the Dungeon Circus Flohcati Blood Bowl Black Orchestra Intro/outro music by Sickabod Follow us on the Twitter! @Cardboard_Mechs @internetsmagic @anygrytetris @beardedrogue
Episode 6 - So much More to talk about
4/7/2022
38:52
In this 6th episode John and Aaron take a deep dive into Glen More and talk about its main mechanic of going around in a square. Intro/outro music by Sickabod Follow us on the Twitter! @Cardboard_Mechs @internetsmagic @anygrytetris Learn MORE about Glen More and Glen More 2 by Matthias Cramer on Board Game Geek
Episode 5 - The Mechanic that Gets Better with Age
3/26/2022
43:38
In this 5th episode John and Aaron talk about the world of time tracks Intro/outro music by Sickabod Follow us on the Twitter! @Cardboard_Mechs @internetsmagic @anygrytetris The games we mention: Seeland (2010) Rocky Road à la Mode (2017) Kraftwagen (2015) Glen More (2010) Circle the Wagons (2017) Tokaido (2012) PARKS (2019) Patchwork (2014) World of Warcraft Miniatures Game (2008) The Networks (2016) Battle Merchants (2014) High Rise (2020) Nova Luna (2019) Aqua Garden (2021) The Search for Planet X (2020) Francis Drake (2013) Raids (2018)
Episode 4 - The Ouroboros of Board Games
2/13/2022
52:45
In this 4th episode John and Aaron talk about the world of rondels Intro/outro music by Sickabod Follow us on the Twitter! @Cardboard_Mechs @internetsmagic @anygrytetris The games we mention: Teotihuacan: City of Gods (2018) Viscounts of the West Kingdom (2020) Mystery of the Temples (2017) Round House (2016) Antike II (2014) Watch (2021) Sovereign Skies (2020) The Networks (2016) Crusaders: Thy Will Be Done (2018) Seeland (2010) Glen More (2010) Patchwork (2014) Heaven & Ale (2017) Chess (1475) PARKS (2019) Great Western Trail (2016) Raids (2018) Province (2014) Circle the Wagons (2017) Rocky Road à la Mode (2017) Trajan (2011) Gold West (2015) Beta Colony (2018) Merlin (2017) The Red Cathedral (2020) Shipyard (2009) Captains of the Gulf (2018) Three Sisters (2022) Great Western Trail (Second Edition) (2021) Hot Diggity Dog (2022) Agility (2016)
Episode 3 - Sovereign Skies deep dive
1/24/2022
1:00:44
In this 3rd episode John and Aaron talk about the mechanics of Sovereign Skies. Learn more about Sovereign Skies: https://youtu.be/CA-KBl4KWyc https://www.deepwatergaming.com/products/sovereign-skies Intro/outro music by Sickabod Follow us on the Twitter! @Cardboard_Mechs @internetsmagic @anygrytetris

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The Cardboard Mechanics

Aaron Wilson and John Prather

12 Episodes

Episode 12 - First of Season 2 - More like Fun-building. Amirite?

Episode 11 - Season 1 Wrap - Tip of the Iceberg

Episode 10 - Just Flat Out Tiles

Episode 9 - My Father's Worker Placement

Episode 8 - Take Stock!

Episode 7 - Should I stay or should I go?

Episode 6 - So much More to talk about

Episode 5 - The Mechanic that Gets Better with Age

Episode 4 - The Ouroboros of Board Games

Episode 3 - Sovereign Skies deep dive