Welcome to the Big Leagues!!!

Well, didn't think it would happen this fast, but we are in the big leagues as of today. Rolling Dice & Taking Names is now part of the Dice Tower Network

As part of the Dice Tower Network, we are listed on their website which is a big positive for exposure. Other opportunities include the participation on reader questions or even contribute to the Top Ten Lists on the flagship Dice Tower podcast. As a matter of fact, we have already sent in our first response to a top ten question.

Anyway, this is a great honor to be part of the network and as Crash Davis taught Meat...

• We gotta produce one podcast one day at a time.
• We're just happy to be here. Hope we can help the network.
• We just want to give it our best shot, and the good Lord willing, things will work out.

Thanks Dice Tower for making us part of your network

Oh what a night, great games and strange weather

What a very interesting night tonight in our first. First, we got a short but amazing snow storm in our area with huge flakes. It was the kind of snow I like. One that sticks to the trees and grass, but leaves the roads in good shape. 

But what made it even better, was over at Marty's playing some great games. We started off with a deck building game that we both enjoy and taught it to two other people, Cecil and Ed. Eminent Domain by Tasty Minstrel Games was a big hit with them and what was even better, I pulled off a victory. If you haven't given that game a play, try and find a copy and give it a try. There is suppose to be an expansion this year, can't wait for it to hit, and the way TMG is hinting at a Kickstart next week, one can only hope.

We then broke out Puerto Rico, which I know everyone has played. This was my second time playing and I hate it took me ten years to play it. I know it is in Marty's collection and I don't remember if he got it at Origins when we were there or later. Either way, it was a great addition to his collection. Oh, I also won. :)

Episode 5 - Can't we just all get along (Coop Games)

Episode 5 is out for consumption and it is all about Coop games, one of our favorite style of games.

• In the first 5 minutes, we don't jump into Coop games so don't be confused, we talk about our gaming experience with Twilight Imperium (00:00)
• We then talk about a whole bunch of coop games that we have played or would like to play going from those we consider intro (Forbidden Island, Flash Point) up to the hard core (Arkham Horror) (05:01)

• In Casual Corner, we talk about Pandemic. We love this game and it shows. We mention the new release and below are the images to help you understand the reference. (30:10)

And sometimes we get confused between actors, but it is understandable, see they look the same.

Download

Now you too can be Captain Tightpants

Ok, normally I don't look at a license game to seriously, because well, they usually count on the license to sale the game, but I now that Verse will not let me down and this game will be solid addition: Firefly The Game

We will keep an eye out on this one

Good Timing!

Tony and I just wrapped up Episode 5 which is about coop games. The Dice Tower just released a video discussing their top 10 coop games. They talk about many of the games we discuss and their #1 game is in our Casual Corner. Episode 5 comes out Feb. 12. But in the meantime, see what Tom and his buddies like

What the heck...another Incredible Logo

The logo that Steve did for us was awesome, outstanding and would look great on a shirt. 

However, Marty had a stroke of genius and asked if the shield could be changed out for cards since it is the thing that got us into gaming. So, Steve being the great guy he is, did a quick modification and 

BAM!!!!!!!!!!

We got a new logo and it will really look outstanding on a t-shirt or on dice

Thanks Steve!!!

Twilight Imperium - So this is what they mean by Epic

I was lucky to have my schedule work out this weekend so that I could have the opportunity to play the classic epic game Twilight Imperium - Third Edition. Now, the only other game that I have played that could be considered a 4x game is Starcraft.  So when I was told that this game was also 4x, I thought I had a good idea what to expect and I couldn't have been more wrong. Don't get me wrong, this was a great afternoon and night of gaming, but I didn't realize just how intense this would be. Marty was also with me and we have planned to do a 4x show on the podcast, so I am glad we got to experience this session together. 


Now, not going into how to play the game or anything like that, but just going to reflect on the 8+ hour experience and what I did right to prepare/play the game and what I did wrong. 

What I did right:

• I read the rules, well sort of. I made it half way through the rules because I believed I could get a quick handle on the game while we played. I knew playing the first time, the strategy would not be there, that comes in the second game when you play something this long.
• I allowed enough time to play it. I was counting on six hours but added two more to the schedule and glad I did.
• I had no expectations on this game. I wasn't going in thinking I was going to love it or hate it. I was looking forward to just the experience of playing.
• I brought light snacks and plenty of Diet Coke. Didn't need anything heavy here, my wits were going to be challenged enough.
• I didn't have moments of analysis paralysis during the game. I knew I couldn't overthink this game because I didn't have the background.
• I finished respectfully with 6 Victory Points, I think.

What I did wrong:

• I didn't read the rules completely. I thought I would get the general idea by watching the play progress, but there were a few key rules I wish I had a better handle on before playing.
• I didn't watch any youtube videos before playing. I should have taken the time to view at least the Dice Tower video.
• I thought I understood what a 4x game was since I played Starcraft, yeah right.
• Should have gone out to BoardGameGeek and downloaded some helpful guides. Normally I do this, but the volume scared me away and that should have clued me in that I was in over my head.
• I shouldn't have turtled, should have been more aggressive. I think that is the problem when I play these games, I wait to long before making a move.
• I should have asked more questions about the planets in the game so I could have developed a better strategy when placing them at the start. I didn't realize just how poor my planets were.
• I placed the supernova on my side of the board, what was I thinking, not like we needed to use it to go back in time.

Closing thoughts, it was a great experience and glad the group that we had was very social and understanding of one another as we tackled this complex game. I will say, not sure I could walk away from this game and come back to it and pick up where we left off. This is one I think that if we start it, we finish it.