Punching Cardboard

Whosoever pulleth this sword from this rock shall, um, I don't know, do some stuff, vanquish some folks, and then become king of someplace. Right? 4th Century A.D., 5th? We're talking Pendargon: The Fall of Roman Britain here in episode 138. That, and a bit of list nonsense, and little dram of something nice as well. No pillaging allowed! RAIDS: 00:02:55 -- Scooters From Hell 00:16:36 -- Pendragon: The Fall of Roman Britain (in-depth) 01:23:29 -- Oban 18 yo Ltd. Ed. 01:32:17 -- The Best Games at Each Player Count (from 1-6)

Here ya go kids, all the way from the lands of Antiquity, episdoe 137, take 2. We sewed all the parts together and shocked it into being. Because we care. Sincerely, Dr. Frankenstein PARTS: 00:15:03 -- What We Did on Our Summer Vacation 00:35:11 -- Condottiere 00:41:04 -- Legend of the Five Rings -- Casual Decks Need Not Apply?? 00:44:38 -- Sessions: Lisboa, Shogun, Age of Steam 00:51:17 -- Lost Valley 00:55:22 -- Root 01:06:16 -- The Music of Our Lives 01:32:15 -- A Dram and a Beer (Sexton Irish Single Malt / Saint Archer Mandarina Pale) 01:38:59 -- Emily Post and Gaming 01:54:53 -- Antiquity (in-depth) P.S. -- We still forgot the scooters!!!

It's Summertime! Here's something for a long drive in a rented car or a lazy afternoon at the beach. MILEAGE: 00:09:57 -- Dusting Off The Shelves: Argent: The Consortium (Session) 00:27:47 -- Quartermaster General: 1914 00:33:54 -- Tigres & Euphrates 00:39:47 -- A Midsummer Night's Questions 01:06:27 -- Music: Rolling Blackouts CF, Gaz Coombes, Kamasi Washington 01:39:58 -- GLOW 01:42:21 -- A Little Light Non-fiction: Apollo8, Seabiscuit, Ben Franklin 01:43:57 -- Bios Megafauna, 2nd Edition (in-depth)

As Summer settles in we look to take it a little easy. Some shelves are dusted off, and a couple titles come back to the table after resting a few years. Also, a rare abstract finds it's way into our rotation.  We also recount a few sessions and some trips to some gigs. Easy Breezy, as Joe might say. PARTICLES: 00:11:13 -- Bruges & The City on the Zwin 00:17:23 -- Innovation & Echoes 00:28:52 -- Automobile 00:35:03 -- Portland 18XX Con 00:40:57 -- What is it With 18XX? 00:46:55 -- Going to the Shows (Starebaby, Robert Plant) 01:15:28 -- Bob Dylan Makes Whiskey 01:29:19 -- Azul (in-depth)

Hey there. We discuss a sprawling, big Euro game, a compact, tense Euro game and five albums that should be filling your ears. All that and a debate on the state of the hobby in episode 134 of the 'cast. Please enjoy. MOMENTS: 00:10:49 -- The John and Company Not Monopoly Contest Results 00:18:40 -- A Trade to Make? (Tash Kalar & Terra Mystica for 18CZ) 00:21:10 -- Joe plays Feudum (multiple sessions) 00:49:42 -- The Burning Question: Sturgeon's Law and Board Games 01:21:35 -- This Week in Spins (Neko Case, The Magic Numbers, The Pineapple Thief and more) 01:42:18 -- Carthago (in-depth) 02:16:33 -- It is all just a Tire Fire, Lusty or Not.

We serve up something a little different in this episode. On tap is a play by play, blow by blow, and drink by drink recap of our trip to Denver for Heavy Con and its impromptu satellite cons. Did we have fun? Did we play enough games? You be the judge. Welcome aboard the Punching Cardboard World Tour 2018. ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES: 00:09:12 -- A John Company Pre-Post-Production Contest 00:20:05 -- Day 1: On the Road; Old Men Tempting Altitude; Bison; Comfort Sleep 00:34:10 -- Day 2: 1000 to 1 odds in Dynasty League; Imposters; The Tower of Ginkgopolis 00:54:56 -- Day 3: Ridin' the Rails in 1830; Kings Forged in Steel; John Company negotiations 01:21:29 -- Day 4: Uber Heat; Pax Renaissance Tournament; Wings & Beer; K is for Killed 01:31:42 -- The Whisky Break 01:51:06 -- Day 5: 1714 Works No Matter the Rules; A Pax Ren Finale 02:02:22 -- Day 6: BBQs and Hail Storms 02:04:10 -- Day 7: Denver International Airport Wins Again

When you most expect it, and pretty much the way you like it. Episode 132. A handful of games, a little whiskey and a few good tunes. All of it, wrapped up into a semi-coherent conversation. Enjoy. COLORS: 00:07:36 -- Heaven & Ale (quick take) 00:14:38 -- The Trouble With Mombasa?(quick take) 00:26:58 -- Isle of Skye: Journeyman Expansion (quick take) 00:38:17 -- Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style Bourbon 00:41:28 -- Music (Dr. Dog, Al Stewart) 00:48:57 -- The Year of the Cat 00:54:16 -- Lost in Vegas, Free Thinker Shoutout 00:56:46 -- Legend of the Five Rings (in-depth)

Bruce may be dropping the needle and saying a prayer over at ol' Mary's place, and Frank's ghost sure as hell is still jammin' over at Joe's garage, but there's a cool breeze on a warm evening over here on Jackie's porch. We've got a little bourbon neat, a few slices of pie and some fancy cards; it's a juxtaposition of thinkiness and relaxation. Come on over and join the band. SOUNDS: 00:02:07 -- No Con For You! 00:08:16 -- A Burning Question #1: Why Portland? 00:25:38 -- Joe's first Magic experience 00:42:18 -- The Fail Us of Caylus 00:46:17 -- Knob Creek 9 yo Small Batch 00:52:05 --Thinky Music: Dan Weiss' Starebaby, Jonathan Finlayson & Sicilian Defense, Giraffes? Giraffes! 01:08:31 -- The Notness: Conquest of Paradise (in-Depth & Session)

Using our trusty mobile recording device, we gather at a secret location (Joe's) and leave our comfort zone to lay down the riffs that comprise episode 130. Some games covered, some stout imbibed and some stories related. This is a loose episode. The information is fractured. Our thought train, a bit derailed. Still, it all comes out fine in the end. And no gorillas were harmed in the making. Enjoy. WOODLAND FACTIONS: 00:09:28 -- How to Avoid Gaming 00:22:53 -- A Con Job? 00:30:07 -- Terra Mystica After a while (Special Appearance by The Gaia Project) 00:37:09 -- Root (Initial Impressions & a $400 clutch) 00:49:52 -- The Stumbler Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout. 00:57:20 -- A Sloan Experience 01:08:30 -- The 7th Continent (Special Appearance by Gloomhaven)

Episode 129 is here. We discuss a few chunky, meaty games. We examine a new musical release from a well respected indie duo. And we imbibe a couple of weighty bourbons. Won't you join us on this magical journey of hope and glory? SCHEDULE: 00:12:55 -- Will There Ever be a Punching Con? 00:21:15 -- Broken Spirits & Resurrections (Through the Ages & Shogun) 00:48:13 -- Wye Oak, The Louder I Call, the Faster it Runs 01:01:22 -- A Tale of Two Bourbons (Bad Guy vs. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof) 01:14:57 -- Crisis (In-Depth)

Chaos. Uncertainty. Disloyalty. Keywords of the day. But we can handle it. We can fling Loyalty challenges across the table with the best of them. We can arrange a Renaissance marriages and take over religions and funnel coins from one bank to the next like it's water flowing through pipes. Oh, yes we can. And then we can turn it all up to 11 and list the Euros that should remain on our shelves. Yep, that's all happening here in episode 128. DECREES: 00:14:18 -- It Was a Time (some recent plays) 00:21:36 -- Pax Renaissance (the Eklund Experience) 00:46:57 -- Sekigahara (Session Report) 01:07:55 -- Yellow Stone Ltd. Ed. 2015 01:16:55 -- A Little Light Music (Superchunk & Will Johnson Redux) 01:27:08 -- 11 Euros that cans stay on each of our shelves.

No one's going to accuse us of following the cult of the new in this one. We talk about a couple older games that have hit the tables around here while shaming ourselves about a good number of titles collecting dust on our shelves. Our whiskey's been nicely aged as well (Unfortunately, the fine salted caramel stout decided to collide with some rusted trains). So, tip your servers and enjoy the session, and please, please, please, don't spill your beer. RELICS: 00:04:38 -- The Best Damn Guild on BGG. 00:08:45 -- The Punching Cardboard Baseball Association 00:15:04 -- Our Shelves of Shame 00:37:48 -- On Gaming Clubs for Middle/High Schoolers 00:56:24 -- And the Winner Is . . . (Gamesurplus.com Agra Giveaway) 01:04:56 -- Willett Pot Still Reserve 01:10:20 -- Bruxelles 1893 (Revisited) 01:29:27 -- Story vs. Form in Film 01:46:05 -- 1862: Railway Mania in the Eastern Counties (In-depth)

As the supernova known as February fades we are able to conquer the light years and arrive on a fairly sane planet. It is here where we attempt to answer your questions and guide you through the Gaia Project. Then, after our usual efforts, we wade into uncharted territory with a serious discussion on a very serious topic. Passengers will be warned and given a chance to depart beforehand, but we do recommend taking the entire journey. Will we succeed, or will a horde of alien races destroy our babbling civilization?  MISSIONS: 00:12:27 -- Joe visits Board Game Blitz Con 00:23:09 -- The Q&A Begins 00:26:14 -- Maintaining Interest in Medium Weight Euros (Steampunk Rally embed part I) 00:44:42 -- If We Only Had a Normal Deck of Cards 00:56:33 -- If We Were Olympians 01:03:10 -- Top 5 Older Games 01:12:37 -- Some Game Mechanics That We Don't Dig (Steampunk Rally embed part II) 01:25:12 -- Getting Jim in Trouble (USA Womens' Hockey vs. USA Mens' Hockey) 01:35:05 -- The Agra Giveaway 01:38:40 -- The Q&A End

Here be episode a buck and a quarter. We're doin' the usual. You're doin' the usual. It's like we all get along or something. Enjoy. ITEMS: 00:21:50 -- Iberian Rails (in-depth) 00:51:53 -- Westland American Oak Single Malt 01:02:49 -- Albums by Jeff Rosenstock and Will Johnson 01:28:11 -- Wildcatters (in-depth)

On Episode 124 of As the Cardboard Turns: Joe continues to show off his quick thinking with his ability to jab and dance and commentate. In addition, we a treated to a stellar performance of the word turmeric. Meanwhile, right in front of your ears, Jim loses his battle to a nasty cold. Will the headhunters come calling to offer Joe a better gig on a more prestigious show? Will Jim’s battle against the evil Mucus be for naught? Will the dog notice that Timmy has fallen into the well? Well, we’ll just have to wait for the next episode for those answers. Until then, enjoy this week’s descent into board game madness. PROGRAMS: 00:05:55 — Helping a Brother Out 00:16:05 — Rajas of the Ganges and other Tomfoolery (Short Take) 00:34:29 — A Mini Rails flaw? 00:38:01 — 18CZ: The Railway Comes to Czech Lands (Session Report) 01:28:15 — 57 Channels and Something On (Featuring The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) 01:43:50 — Agra (In-Depth)

Welcome to the first show of 2018. It's a good show. It's a fun show. It's a show containing discussions of games new and old. And it's it's chock full of the stuff that makes Punching Cardboard great. (Wait, Punching Cardboard is great??? (Sure is, just roll with it before someone notices.)) So kick back, pour a wee dram, and enjoy the lively banter and thoughtful analysis. RESOLUTIONS: 00:07:14 -- The Christmas Joy and Space Truckin' 00:15:13 -- Joe's First Airport Rant 00:25:13 -- Brackets! This about Brackets? 00:27:04 -- Help a Brother Out, aka Another Dinger's Thingers Giveaway 00:30:32 -- Warriors of Jogu: Feint (Quick Take) 00:48:33 -- 1960: The Making of the President (In-depth) 01:19:03 -- Transatlantic (First Take) 01:30:34 -- Laphroaig Triple Wood 01:34:49 -- Keyper (In-depth)

We made it. 2017 is heading out the door. We're battered and beaten and bruised and bewitched and bespoke and bee-stung and help me off this ride. Phew! But before we go, here's a bunch of stuff we dug in 2017. We're talkin' games and whiskey and whisky and tunes and food and beer and a whole lot of other things in this episode. We take a swipe at a few things, but we mostly go for the good stuff as we sneak off to 2018, hoping that if it doesn't hear us we can find a little more peace and joy in that neck of the woods. Anyway, please enjoy our year-end extravaganza. We'll see you on the other side. IN THE BOOTH: 00:08:28 -- Card Tray Giveaway 00:16:09 -- Games (10 down to 6) 00:51:41 -- Top 5 Train Games (Joe) 00:54:03 -- Top 5 Reasons to Hate Sports (Jim, an audible) 01:00:05 -- Best Music of 2017 01:23:22 -- Top 5 IPAs (Joe) 01:27:47 -- Top 5 Foods (Jim) 01:35:44 -- Whisky Tasting Results 01:41:32 -- Games (5 down to 1) 02:17:45 -- Disappointments and Other Odds & Ends

Here we are in the heart of the holiday season, starting to work off all that late November food while trying to navigate the December gifting maze. So, of course, let's talk about some games. We kick things off with an inconclusive discussion of An Infamous Traffic before moving forward to counteract the hustle of the season with session reports that further explore some of the games that have already graced this show. Add in a little bourbon and music and this cocktail might just be the cocktail you were looking for.  INGREDIENTS: 00:02:03 -- Here Be Dragons 00:11:35 -- The Baseball Association? 00:15:43 -- Who Wants Card Holders? 00:26:40 -- An Infamous Traffic (Incongruous Thoughts) 00:53:45 -- Weller's Special Reserve Bourbon 01:00:30 -- (Gaming Sessions) 01:02:48 -- Calimala 01:09:43 -- Mini Rails 01:15:10 -- Lignum 01:23:52 -- Game of Thrones (1st Edition (9 Players)) 01:34:57 -- Arkwright 01:37:42 -- The Lego Robotics Tournament 01:43:12 -- Music (The Euge Organ Trio, John Murry, Joe Henry, Do Make Sa

It's a long way from Portland to Dallas, but Jim makes the journey and Punching Cardboard represents at 2017's edition of BGG CON. The people, the games, the whisky, the food, the triumphs, the mishaps: It's all here for your listening pleasure.  SCHEDULE: 00:13:08 -- In 'n' Out Burger, huh, What is it Good For? 00:15:29 -- BGG CON Overview Begins 00:34:10 -- It's Not Rocket Science, Jim. 00:53:45 -- Meetup Oblivion 01:03:44 -- Ratchet Soul 01:15:30 -- Joe's Non-Con Begins 01:15:50 -- Clans of Caledonia (Joe's Take) 01:29:20 -- Calimala (In-Depth)

If you like to convert resources into goods and then use those goods to build structures and make technological advances while saving your money for conversion to other currencies (phew!), then you have come to the right place. Here in Episode 119 we look at shipping coal, goods conversions, and making money through buying money from other countries. Econ 101? Probably not, but at least as much fun. EXCHANGE RATES:  00:01:52 -- Shirts, Finally 00:15:33 -- For Ex (Session Report) 00:45:27 -- Oh My Goods! (Quick Take) 01:00:40 -- Clynelish 14yo 01:08:44 -- Music (Ben Allison, Louis Sclavis, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, And So I Watch You From Afar) 01:28:58 -- The Ruhr: A Story of Coal Trade (In-Depth)