Board Game Gumbo Live!

Southern Board Game Fest's Josh Ballagh and Panda Manufacturing's The Jay Bell hosted PROTOSPIEL LAFAYETTE 2026, the first annual weekend event where designers and play testers could spend quality time testing out brand new board game designs!  We had board game designers from all over Louisiana, and even as far as away as Pensacola, Florida! Plus, we even had an ION Game Design contest winner make its Acadiana debut.  In this episode, BJ interviews:  Josh Ballagh, designer and publisher with SPOONBILL GAMES (Coalition: Councils of the Republic)  The Jay Bell, designer of games like Pip-It! and specialist with PANDA MANUFACTURING (and all around Gumbo Live legend) Chris Stelly, designer of ION Game Design winner for 2026, On The Teche Unfortunately, BJ did not get to record all of the visits he had with other designers like Spencer Black and Justin Millich and Jeremy Monts, but next year, he'll be more prepared and spend more than just an hour or two! So sit back, have a Pop's Fried Shrimp Po-boy and a cold bottle of LA 31 Bière Pâle, and enjoy another Lagniappe edition of Board Game Gumbo Laissez les bon temps rouler!

Hey board gamers, we are back in the Gumbo Pot, but this time, we are chatting with Wonderful World Board Games all the way from Taiwan!  First, we introduce Phil and Lenny from WWBG and find out more about them as a company and as gamers. What is the Taiwan board gaming scene like? What is the big convention there? Which one is better -- GEN CON or SPIEL? We answer the important questions!  Next, Phil and Lenny regale us with their recent plays of Net Runner and Emberheart, while BJ dishes on his first impressions of Junk Wax from 25th Century Games.  Then, we chat about LIONWAKE, the new crowdfunding campaign from WWBG / NUWA set to (re)launch in late October: You can find out more about WWBG Here: https://www.wonderfulworldbg.com/ and sign up for their Discord to be notified when the project goes live on Kickstarter.  Finally, there's some lagniappe, as BJ and Phil and Lenny talk about their current ENVIE games. There are some surprises here!  So sit back with a plate of Xiao Long Bao and glass of Classic Pearl Milk Tea, and enjoy another episode of Lagniappe!  Laissez les bon temps rouler!

Hey board gamers, we are back in the Gumbo Pot, but this time, we are chatting with one of our all time favorite people in the board gaming hobby, Burky from GameToppersLLC!  First, we chat about an important life update on our friends from the Dukes of Dice -- congratulations!  Next, Burky regales us with his recent play of Star Wars: Battle of Hoth. Burky has us juiced up to play this one soon!  Then, we chat about the fantastic new MAT BAZAAR Kickstarter that is going on right now: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/burky/game-toppers-game-mat-bazaar Burky has over 40 mats in 12 different sizes, some with brand new art from your favorite artists!  Finally, there's some lagniappe, as BJ and Burky talk about their current ENVIE games.  So sit back with a plate of pan-fried Walleye and cold glass of The Bootleg, and enjoy another episode of Lagniappe!  Laissez les bon temps rouler!

Hey board gamers, we are back in the Gumbo Pot, but this time, we are chatting with the designer of one of our favorite games of 2025, MAP MASTERS designed by IAN BACH & CEDRICK CAUMONT and published by CAPTAIN GAMES.  MAP MASTERS is a lively little "five card dungeon run" game that has a puzzle aspect, some real time stress, the joy of designing and running a dungeon and a tiny bit of personalization to your own special powers. It's fantastic!  Ian shares us the story of coming up with the design, some of his hobbies, working with the legendary Mike Fitzgerald, and his recent plays of LORD OF THE RINGS: TRICK TAKING GAMES.  Plus, there's some lagniappe, as BJ and Ian talk about a potential digital version of MAP MASTERS and discuss their current ENVIE games.  So sit back with a loaded Chivito sandwich and a nice warm cup of Mate, and enjoy another episode of Lagniappe!  Laissez les bon temps rouler!

Hey board gamers, it's time for another Lagniappe episode of Gumbo Live! This time, our old friend The Jay Bell is back in the Gumbo Pot! We start with a recap of our mutual play of PERENNIAL, coming soon to Kickstarter from Flatout Games, and then chat about Jay's latest projects: PIP IT! -- a push your luck dice flicking game that is ready to be published! TUG OF WORDS -- a fun little party game about guessing words designed by Jay and Danielle Reynolds, soon to be published by Chris Couch Games DECKLARATIONS -- one of Jay's thinkiest designs yet, with a cool new theme LOTR: CIRCLE OF CONFLICT -- a brand new randowriter based in the Lord of the Rings Universe with an interesting mechanical twist! Plus, there's some lagniappe, as BJ and Jay dish on each other's ENVIE games for the week -- some true surprises in their choices! So sit back with an ice cold drink with Sonic ice and a footlong hot dog, and enjoy another episode! Laissez les bon temps rouler!

Hey board gamers, we are back in the Gumbo Pot, but this time, we are chatting with the designer of PLAYGROUND EMPIRES, Sterling Birdwell. Sterling tells the story of the inspiration that he took from his brother Erik's times on the school playgrounds, and Erik's in the show to confirm the stories are true! PLAYGROUND EMPIRES is a brand new area control game soon to be crowdfunded by HUTCHU GAMES. Our thanks to Woody and Adam for their support of Southern Board Game Fest and the GeauxPub section each year! Plus, there's some lagniappe, as BJ teases out the brothers' ENVIE games -- some true surprises in their choices! So sit back with your favorite ice cold Southern Pecan Swamp Pop soda and a Lik-M-Aid Fun Dip from the school cantina and enjoy another episode! Laissez les bon temps rouler!

Hey board gamers, Steve "Dr. O" "The Name Father" O'Rourke is back in the Gumbo Pot, and this time, he's brought friends!  BJ and Steve welcome in Pat W., Cri M, and Jenna A, student researchers from SUNY Westchester Community College and Mercy University for a deep dive into their collective research. During the STEM Ready Summer Research Institute ("SRI"), Steve's krewe of researchers looked at dozens of reviews of the top 20 strategy, family and party games on Board Game Geek to explore a hypo: could one evaluate 'coded' words in the review to predict the game's weight? The results may surprise you! Plus, there's some lagniappe. We get into their backgrounds as gamers, and Steve and BJ duel one more time in the Envie game. So sit back with your favorite Iced House Blend from Zaro's Family Bakery or a cold Mt Dew from the Hudson View Café and a hot G Parm from The Sandwich Spot, and enjoy another episode of Gumbo Live!  Laissez les bon temps rouler!

It’s another “lagniappe” episode of the Gumbo podcast with Mitchell Prudhomme!  First, Mitchell and BJ chat about the Summer of Mitchell (and Connor?). Then, they chat about their recent play of DUEL OF MELOCH (Scythe v Expeditions two player dueling game) from Stonemaier Games designed by Jamey Stegmaier. Does it live up to their expectations?  Then, they the Dice Tower Award Winners and crown a DTA DRAFTING CHAMPION! (Hint: it's not BJ). There's lots of banter about which ones were surprises and which were absolutely chalk picks.  Finally, we throw in our choices for ENVIE game this week!  Mitchell and BJ chat about the games that they really, really, really want to play next. BJ –  Secret Stash Mitchell – Unconscious Mind Finally, Mitchell has a big announcement about Southern Board Game Fest 2027! Go to www.southerngamefest.com for more information about the festival.  Sit back with an ice cold KVAS rye grain drink and a plate of HEARTY AGRIAN BREAD and enjoy another episode of Lagniappe from Board Game Gumbo! Laissez les bon temps rouler!  Get your Board Game Gumbo merch here: https://boardgamegumbo.wordpress.com/gumbo-merch/  Board Game Gumbo plays your games every TUESDAY on TWITCH! twitch.tv/boardgamegumbo @boardgamegumbo on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Twitch, Bluesky, Threads and Instagram www.boardgamegumbo.com ← our written reviews, news, and convention recaps ** Complimentary copies of some of the games discussed were provided by the publishers. **

It’s another “lagniappe” episode of the Gumbo podcast, this time with THE NAMEFATHER!  Steve O'Rourke is back with tales of Chuck Con V with which to enthrall us.  In this episode, we find out what has been keeping Dr Steve busy this past semester, and then we go  straight to the action -- CHUCK CON V! Friends, if you want to know how to start your own Cabin Con, Steve's got all the tips for you to have a successful weekend+.  After giving us some of the high points outside of gaming, like trips to the Creamery and hikes on the coast of Portland, Steve recaps his personal experience playing dozens of games like:  Pip It Finspan Planet Unknown Maori Port Royal Tipperary Guild of Merchant Explorers (new to me) Captain Flip Castle Combo (new to me) Five Tribes (new to me)  Duck and Cover Merlin (new to me) Finally, we throw in our choices for ENVIE game this week! Steve and BJ chat about the games that they really, really, really want to play next.  With a twist!  Sit back with an ice cold Fremont Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout from DeGarde Brewing, and a heaping serving of Tillamook Mudslide, and enjoy another episode of Lagniappe from Board Game Gumbo! Laissez les bon temps rouler!  Get your Board Game Gumbo merch here: https://boardgamegumbo.wordpress.com/gumbo-merch/ Board Game Gumbo plays your games every TUESDAY on TWITCH! twitch.tv/boardgamegumbo @boardgamegumbo on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Twitch, Bluesky, Threads and Instagram www.boardgamegumbo.com ← our written reviews, news, and convention recaps ** Complimentary copies of some of the games discussed were provided by the publishers. ** 

It’s another “lagniappe” episode of the Gumbo podcast with Mitchell Prudhomme, the director of Southern Board Game Fest!  In this episode, we geaux straight to the action -- Dice Tower East 2026! Three members of the Acadiana Board Gamers discord (Mitchell, BJ and Doug) traveled east to Orlando and the Walt Disney World resort to game for six days straight -- well, one of them gamed for six days straight at least. Mitchell and BJ recap all six days at DTCe, with highlights of games played like: Entropy Tea Garden Wingspan Pocket Haunted Mouse Cities USA Dogfight 1917 Unmatched Stars & Stripes Raas: A Dance of Love and more!  Finally, we throw in our choices for ENVIE game this week!  Mitchell and BJ chat about the games that they really, really, really want to play next.  With a twist!  Sit back with a cold Kungaloosh Spiced Excursion Ale or a Fuzzy Tauntaun, or maybe some of Cook's Corn Cakes and a Salty Seas mARRRgarita and enjoy another episode of Lagniappe from Board Game Gumbo! Laissez les bon temps rouler!  Get your Board Game Gumbo merch here: https://boardgamegumbo.wordpress.com/gumbo-merch/ Board Game Gumbo plays your games every TUESDAY on TWITCH! twitch.tv/boardgamegumbo @boardgamegumbo on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Twitch, Bluesky, Threads and Instagram www.boardgamegumbo.com ← our written reviews, news, and convention recaps ** Complimentary copies of some of the games discussed were provided by the publishers. **