As we approach the end of the year we get ready for a time of new beginnings, a time of hope for a better year yet to come and a backwards glance at the year almost past.  Spaces on game shelves are being prepared and the belt none-too-subtle hints are being dropped into casual conversations, such as “I’ve heard lots of good things about Tiny Towns, it sounds like the type of game I would probably love…”

In other words, there isn’t a huge amount going on in the world of tabletop gaming news.  A video game studio launches a tabletop division, a foundation for youth education is set up by another well-established publisher and Games Workshop is still worth a lot of money.  It’s all here, the best board game news all cobbled together in this week’s News Collider.

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In the latest episode of Polyhedron Collider we ask all the important questions;

• is Andy’s car waterproof, 
• is Inuit any good, 
• how do you stop quarterbacking in cooperative games, and 
• should Jon back Infinity Defiance?

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It’s come to my attention just how much of an abstract term ‘heavy’ is. It’s weird how we measure a game’s complexity in terms of mass. A simple game that we consider suitable for anyone is deemed as being light, whilst a complex game that involves many layers of rules and deep decision making is considered heavy. I’m reminded of when you drink a nice dark beer and we describe it as ‘chewy’, because if Trismegistus was a beer it would be dark, complex and very very chewy.

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Magnate: The First City is a Polyhedron Collider Kickstarter Highlight.  This means that from what we know of the game, we reckon it’s pretty bloody great, just how pretty, bloody or great is subject to change as games are want to do when they go through the Kickstarter process.

In this new look Polyhedron Collider Kickstarter Highlight, we take a close look at a current campaign, peeking behind the curtain to discuss the design and development of the game with the designer and publisher; James Naylor of Naylor Games, as well as giving you an overview of the game itself too.  

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Venice is a Polyhedron Collider Kickstarter Highlight.  This means that from what we know of the game, we reckon it’s pretty bloody great, just how pretty, bloody or great is subject to change as games are want to do when they go through the Kickstarter process.

In this new look Polyhedron Collider Kickstarter Highlight we take a close look at a current campaign, peeking behind the curtain to discuss the design and development of the game with one of the designers (Dávid Turczi) and the publisher (Lewis Shaw from Braincrack Games) as well as giving you an overview of the game itself too.

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Controversy, sadness, SkyNet Alexa taking over and more bling than even Andy can handle, the world of board game news this week is a mixed bag. 

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I won't lie, I do love me a bit of 4X, so when I heard that a new one was careering its way to Kickstarter like a drunk to a kebab house, I was more than a little interested. Noting that Galactic Era would be on show at the UK Games Expo, I made a beeline for it with my partner and sat down with Channing Jones, designer of Galactic Era, to have a run through of his upcoming game to see how it shapes up.

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Inuit is a lavishly illustrated tableau builder that has players growing their small Inuit village in one of the most inhospitable landscapes on the planet.  You’ll have to scout the tundra, trap seals, hunt polar bears and conduct rites in order to not only survive but to flourish.

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This week’s News Collider is a little heavy on the RPG front as the Critical Role team sign with Amazon for seasons one and two of the animated telling of the adventures of Vox Machina, Dungeons & Dragons Cluedo second edition is announced and the very sad news about RPG publisher Burning Games closing down.

There’s also some board game business news and a new UK convention in the planning, so grab a cuppa and catch up the latest in tabletop gaming news.

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Steve has been sent a mystery package by Board & Dice, so sit back with your favourite tipple as we describe all. We’ll also have our usual round up of the latest tabletop gaming news and in depth chat about the board games we’ve been playing.

This week all four members of the PHC crew have been sunning it in Tungaru, the latest kickstarter from Alley Cat Games and Steve and Andy get alchemy confused with worshipping in Trismegistus: The Ultimate Formula.

Is Rory's mic still working?

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I've mentioned in passing my feelings for Triplock from Chip Theory games a handful of times on the podcast already, so some of you reading this will be doing so with that dangerous glimmer in you eyes that suggests you know what is about to happen.  For others, allow me to summarise my thoughts as: It’s shit.

As much as I am tempted to leave nothing more than that two-word review, it simply isn't enough to tell you that Triplock is shit and that it is by far and away the worst game I have ever had the misfortune to play.  After all, you’ve either come here to read an informed and detailed critique of the game or to watch a good kicking.

With no further ado, may I present my review of Triplock: An Exercise in Futility and Frustration.

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One of my biggest problems in life is my inability to relax. I have one of those minds that needs to be constantly doing something, constantly active. Which is why sitting on a tropical beach is not something that generally appeals to me, it also might be why I’m having a little trouble relating to Tungaru, the latest big board game from Alley Cat Games and designers Louis and Stefan Malz. Because although Tangaru has all the euro game stalwarts of resources, trading and action selection, it's all very gentle.

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This week’s News Collider is a bit of a video game special, which may sound odd since Polyhedron Collider is all about tabletop games but there is a very strong link between the two here.  

We’re talking Dungeons & Dragons, Warcraft, Monopoly, Catan and the most recent winner of the Golden Cube.

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