Polyhedron Collider Episode 156 - Ezra and Nehemiah, Avalon: The Riven Veil, Big Boss

Its time to channel our inner Bob Ross and Duncan Rhodes, as we talk about our anual painting challenge, this time using only the Two Thin Coats starter paints. 

Go check out the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ec37fRNzegc

We also talk about the Arthurian legend board game from the makers of Oathsworn, Avalon: The Rivel Veil, trade stocks and shares in Big Boss from Funko, and rebuild ancient city walls in Ezra and Nehemiah from Garphill Games.

We then answer listener questions on what we like and hate about the games industry and where to get the latest releases in the UK.

Can we paint this awesome dragon using only the Two Thin Coats starter set?

In our latest miniature painting challenge, we had to paint the mighty Vernax from Avalon: The Riven Veil from Shadowbourne Games using only the Two Thin Coats Introduction Set.

Polyhedron Collider Episode 155 - Vrahode, Mutagen, and Timeless Journeys: The Italian Grand Tour

Episode 155 is a bit of a Kickstarter Special as the boys discuss Vrahode, a fantasy adventure game with stunning miniatures and a fancy player console.

Mutagen, a worker placement game where your workers mutate and the meeples gain little rubber gloves to match.

And finally, Sid and Rory embark on a Timeless Journey in a clever hand management and action programming game in Renaissance Italy.

Polyhedron Collider Episode - 154 Spiel Essen Preview, Set A Watch, An Age Contrived, and Nucleum

Join Steve, Andy, Sid and Rory for a jam packed episode of board game reviews, a special Essen Spiel preview and more Ramshackle Nonsense than you’ve come to love and expect.   

“I’m the Branston’s pickle in this ginger bread sandwich” - I mean, where else are you going to find tabletop commentary like that, eh?

The boys make camp on their way to face off against the big bad in a review of Set A Watch: Forsaken Isles.  Build some fancy magnetic monuments in an Age Contrived before jumping on a train  full of radioactive material in Nucleum before spending a good chunk of this episode gushing about all of the lovely games available to (finally) buy and demo and this year’s Essen Spiele.

Polyhedron Collider Episode 153 - Arcs, Draft & Write Records, and Dorfromantik: The Duel

In this episode of the Polyhedron Collider Podcast, Steve, Andy, and Rory break the mould and discuss a game on the bleeding edge of the tabletop gaming zeitgeist: Arcs, from Leder Games.  Andy shares his highlights from Airecon North West boardgame convention, and Steve and Rory go on tour with the band in Draft & Write Records (from Inside Up Games) before building rival romanticised county villages in Dorfromantik: The Duel, from Pegasus Spiele.

They round off the episode with some questions from the mailbag, including: what game mechanic are you rubbish at but utterly love? 

Polyhedron Collider Episode - 152 Castellans, Sky Team, Port Royal: The Dice Game, and Maps Of Misterra

In this jam-packed episode of tabletop gaming chat, we have a few miniature painting brags to get out of the way before we delve into four in-depth board game reviews (sorry if you were hoping for some DIY or BBQ tips in this episode).

The dice-drafting, area control game, Castellans gets the Polyhedron Collider treatment, before Steve and Rory wax lyrical about the two-player cooperative game, the Spiel des Jahres game of the year winner Sky Team. We then explore and map new islands in Maps of Misterra, before sailing the high seas in search of booty in Port Royal: The Dice Game.

Finally, we delve into the mailbag to talk about AI in board games, and our biggest gaming surprise of the year.

Polyhedron Collider Episode 151 - Yonder, Cthulhu: Death May Die, and Achtung! Cthulhu 2D20

No, it’s not a Bisto advert, it’s Rory and Steve’s gushing review of Yonder from Sinister Fish[/company], their latest worker placement boardgame from Villagers and Moon designer Haakon Gaarder  - which is currently live on Kickstarter and absolutely worth your time checking out.

We then get all Lovecraftian with a lively discussion about Cthulhu Death May Die from CMON (and provided by show sponsor Kienda), its similarities to Mansions of Madness and whether both, or either are any good - are you Team Sid, or Team Rory?

We then move to the other end of tabletop gaming as we explore the bonkers, pulpy Achtung! Cthulhu 2D20 Starter Set from Modiphius.

Polyhedron Collider Episode 150 - Terminus, Windmill Valley, Rebirth, and Sand

⭐Show Sponsor: Kienda

When you sign up to an account with Kienda use this link to bag yourself a wee discount and help support the show.  Let's face it, you were going to buy a board game anyway 😉

The boys from the Collider are back and they are still reeling from all the board game goodies they picked-up during the UK Games Expo - which means this is a packed episode full of reviews of the latest tabletop games. In fact there is so much to talk about, there really isn’t time to write a joke in this description.

In this latest podcast episode we build inner city trains in Terminus, grow tulips in Windmill Valley, trade spices in Sand, and re-terraform Scotland in Rebirth.

Polyhedron Collider Episode 149 - The Best of UK Games Expo 2024

UK Games Expo 2024 has come to an end, and we are completely knackered! But that won't stop us talking about the amazing board games, tabletop roleplaying games, and miniatures we saw at the Birmingham NEC. Join us as we make some dubious awards!

Why not buy a board game from our sponsors Kienda: kienda.co.uk/polyhedroncollider

Polyhedron Collider Live at UK Games Expo 2024

Recorded live at UK  Games Expo 2024, the boys talk about the board games that have got their attention from this years show, as well as eclairs, sore losing, and our old mate Ron Dell. 

Find out more about the UK Games Expo at https://www.ukgamesexpo.co.uk/

Polyhedron Collider Episode 148 - The UK Games Expo 2024 Preview

The UK Games Expo will be hitting the Birmingham NEC between Friday 31 May and Sunday 2 Jun 2024 and to say the boy from PHC are excited is an understatement. In this episode we go through the board games and table top roleplaying games that we are most excited to see, think about our annual miniature painting competition, and talk about the food we plan to eat!

Come see us live on Sunday in Piazza 4 - Dice room at 11am. https://www.ukgamesexpo.co.uk/events/1418-polyhedron-collider-uk-games-expo-live-podcast/ 

Check out the full geeklist at https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/328923/most-anticipated-games-of-the-uk-games-expo-2024 

Find out more about the UK Games Expo at https://www.ukgamesexpo.co.uk/

Beast Board Game Review

Beast is a cunning game of escape, survival, and of course, hunting.  No matter which side of the table you are on, you will, at turns feel like everything is well within your control and going according to plan, or, moments later, feel a terrible injustice at how unfair Beast is.

Beast isn’t a fair game.  It isn’t equal and balanced, but that is kind of the whole point of it.  Balance and power in this game shift continually, ebbing and flowing as cunning and guesswork pave the way for knowledge and victory.

Salton Sea Board Game Review

Welcome to the glorious pastel Salton Sea.  On the border of California and Mexico, it is here that we shall revolutionise the energy industry by tapping into all the geothermal energy stored within our planet, extracting gallons of brine, which will be converted into lithium.  In short, we will solve the energy crisis and play a bloody good, if not utterly gruelling, board game all at the same time.

Polyhedron Collider Episode 147 - Carpe Diem, Salton Sean, and Sea, Salt & Paper

The boys from the Collider waste little time in the latest episode of the Collider Cast and get straight to business discussing the clever but hideously ugly Carpe Diem by Stefan Feld on which both Andy and Rory agree upon, for a change. Steve talks us through the deeply satisfying, if not mentally taxing and beautifully pastel Salton Sea from Devir Games. Sid and Rory chime in with their two cents of their experience of that and Sea, Salt and Paper that they'd enjoyed on a work day bunk at the Games Den.

The episode wraps with some burning questions from the bag bag, such as Bacon of Sausage Sarnie.

Why not buy a board game from our sponsors Kienda: kienda.co.uk/polyhedroncollider

The Vale of Eternity Board Game Review

Don’t be fooled by the cutesy artwork.  Yes, that is an adorable griffon on a very lovely powder pink background, but focus, or this game will kick you where it hurts.  The Vale of Eternity is a grandiose name for this little tableau builder, and I don’t think there is a better example of “don’t judge a game by its box cover”...or card art…or components…or name even.

Vale of Eternity is pulling you in a lot of directions, and perhaps it doesn’t know what type of game it wants to be or what audience it is for (yes, I’m suggesting that this game is having an existential crisis), but don’t let that distract or detract: this game is nasty.  I mean, it’s just plain mean.  But it is also rather good.

Polyhedron Collider Episode 146 - BGG Top 100 Challenge, Apiary, and The Vale of Eternity

We are over a quarter of the way through the year, so that means Rory and Steve, are a quarter of the way through their BGG Top 100 challenge, so we look back at the current highlights and lowlights and of course talk about some of the best board games currently playable.

But its not all about looking back as we go into detail about card drafting game Vale of Eternity, a game that’s much deeper than it looks, and Apiary, a Euro-style game themed around bees in space. We then dip into the mailbag for chat about the themes we are fed up of.

Polyhedron Collider Episode 145 - Airecon, Heat, Faraway, and Sidequest: Nemesis

Join the PhC boys for Episode 145 as Andy discovers his lucky totem that allows him to make it to and from Airecon without his car breaking down. Steve accedentally creates what is sure to be the best fabric softener in the history of fabric softners. Sid invents a new word #Begrumble, and Rory awards himself the board game equivalent of the Victoria Cross for playing his least favourite game on the BGG Top 100.

They also discuss the highlights and the further highlights of Airecon, which unsurprisingly consists of food, beer, and board games (in that order), including: a chaotic and hilarious game of Heat from Days of Wonder, the light and delightful "revesres action-programming" Faraway from Catch Up Games/Hachette, and challenging, almost dinner-reservation-missing, Side Quest Nemesis from Board & Dice.

A quick dip into the mail bag reveals thier most hated "popular" game and an announcement that if you are not already following Polyhedron Collider onInstagram, now might be a good time to do so as there is an upcoming competion supported by show sponsor Kienda!

Apiary Board Game Review

Space.  The final frontier.  These are the voyages of the Queen Bee ship. Its continuing mission, to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new sources of pollen and fibre, and to carve honey runes into the side of the vessel.  To find pollen where no bee has before.

So, the themes (plural) are a bit of an odd mix in Apiary…and by odd obviously, I mean utterly bonkers, but once you just settle in and accept it, what lies beneath is an enjoyable, middleweight worker placement game which has a few interesting twists and turns and a pretty short and snappy playtime.

Faraway Board Game Review

This succinct little tableau-building, action programming game does something brilliant in its simplicity and simple in its brilliance. A game of Faraway will not take long, and it will not melt your brain, but each game will leave you feeling like you’ve just scratched a little bit more off it, that you understand the nuances just a fraction more, and that your next game will be that fabled, perfect game.

Kutná Hora Board Game Review

Although Kutná Hora is an economic euro game, the game isn’t about money. It’s about working the market. It’s about reading your opponents, being ready to take advantage of an opportunity, and being clever. The real resources in this game are your actions, your timing, and your opponents. This game is both cleverly clever and subtly clever that at the end of the game will leave you feeling very satisfied with the experience (even if you didn’t win).

Players are trying to develop the renaissance city of Kutná Hora, accomplished by digging mines, purchasing writs, plots of land, and constructing buildings, but most importantly, Kutná Hora is about increasing the prosperity of the city.

Scholars of the South Tigris Board Game Review

Scholars of the South Tigris has a lot going on.  It’s the most complicated game yet published by Garphil Games and in short, it’s bloody brilliant.  

In a nutshell, the game is about translating documents; you are trying to run a path through various translators to end up with an Arabic version of your scroll.  Along the way you’ll hire translators to the library, you’ll add more, and a greater variety of dice to your bag, and you’ll do some action programming as well as doing some colour mixing.

CoraQuest Board Game Review

Not to be grandiose in the introduction to this review, but, can we start by agreeing that the point of board gaming is to have a fun and engaging interaction with others?  Good.  Now, as a parent*, if I can do this with my kids, well that is fantastic.  That is to say, I too can have fun.  And not ‘vicarious fun’ through my children’s enjoyment, but to have an actual fun and engaging interaction with them.  Well, if you are a parent reading this, I think we can agree that is priceless.

Polyhedron Collider Episode 144 - Kutna Hora, Ark Nova and The Blade Runner RPG

The Polyhedron Collider Cast is back with another episode packed with tabletop gaming chatter. 

In this episode, we tread the rain-soaked streets of the Blade Runner RPG, blow up dissident planets in Star Wars Rebellion, and explore the best Dungeons & Dragons adventures. But this is not before we take an in-depth look at the historical economic game Kutná Hora: The City of Silver from CGE and argue about zoo builder Ark Nova (aka Terraforming Zoos).

Ahoy Board Game Review

Roll some dice, place dice in action slots, perform actions and end the round. Repeat until the game’s end is triggered. That’s 80% of this game. It’s simple to teach, to learn and to play.  This makes Ahoy very accessible, even though it is quite heavily asymmetric. 

The other 20% of the game is the reason why Ahoy was shortlisted for the Polyhedron Collider Game of the Year.

Polyhedron Collider Episode 143 - Expeditions, Scythe, and Scholars of the South Tigris

The Polyhedron Collider Cast is back with another episode packed with tabletop gaming chatter. 

In this episode, our hosts, Steve, Andy, Sid, and Rory, bring us breaking news that's set to change the game – literally. We're talking about a new sponsorship deal with Kienda that's as exciting for the listeners as it is for the podcast. With a special QR code discount for board game purchases, it's a win-win for everyone involved.

But that's just the beginning. The episode takes a playful turn with discussions ranging from selling body parts for board games (yes, you read that right) to the possibility of wearing sponsored pyjamas. 

The meat of the episode, however, lies in the thoughtful and in-depth discussions of two board games that have captured the hosts' attention: 'Expeditions' and 'Scholars of the South Tigris.' 

We'll also be answering listener questions, including a trip down memory lane as we attempt to recall the very first games we played with each other. Expect a blend of nostalgia, confusion, and the usual banter as we try to piece together our gaming origins.

Tiwanaku Board Game Review

Tiwanaku may look like a pretty Zen, meditative game.  It’s a game about striking a balance with Mother Earth as you explore the landscape and plant crops.  It has soft, pastel colours, and the simple “topography-line-art” puts me in mind of sand rake art.  Tiwanaku even sounds quiet not itself - but if you were to watch people play it, there would be lots of soft mutterings and long protracted moments of silence as players stare intently at the board.    

In short, Tiwanaku is quite a deep, thinky game.

Hegemony: Lead Your Class to Victory Board Game Review

Hegemony ​is ​a socio-economic euro-style ​game, ​and effectively, ​ ​each ​player ​has ​a ​different ​class of citizens they are attempting to lead to victory.  And by victory, we obviously mean, collect the most points.  One of the most interesting things about Hegemony is the ​dynamic ​between ​these ​four ​completely ​different ​classes and their ​goals; there's ​a ​lot ​of ​symbiosis ​in ​this ​game, ​and ​it's ​really ​clever and as clever as that may be, it’s by far and away not even the best part of this game.

The White Castle Board Game Review

White Castle is an extremely tight euro dice placement game in which you take the role of a clan leader in Japan.  Throughout the game, you are going to send your Courtiers, your Warriors, and your Gardeners out into the land to curry favour with the Emperor so that you can earn your prestige.  The player with the most prestige at the end of the game wins.

The entire game lasts nine turns, so, in case you missed it in the first paragraph.  This game is very tight.

Polyhedron Collider Episode 142 - Peurto Rico, The Gig and Agents of Dune RPG

A relative return to normality at Polyhedron Collider HQ as we discuss the start of Rory and Steve's Top 100 challenge and the games we have played along the way. We then segway to some smooth jazz in rolle and write game The Gig and find spice in the desert in Agents of Dune RPG starter set, before asking questions about rulebooks and board games that use RPG mechanics.

Polyhedron Collider Episode 141 - The Most Anticipated Games of 2024

It’s time to read the tea leaves and consult the horoscope we list the board games and tabletop roleplaying games that we are looking forward to playing in 2024. It is of course an eclectic mix of heavy eurogames, miniature laden dudes on a map and quirky RPGs.

We then discuss our BGG top 100 challenge!

Polyhedron Collider Episode 140 - The Best Games of 2023

2023 has drawn to a close, so the boys from PHC size up their favourite board games and roleplaying games of the year.

In addition to the best of the best, we announce the winner of our painting competition, Andy awards his insert of choice, and we ask you, the listener, to tell us your favourite games of the year.