Board Game Hot Takes

In Episode 294 we invite board game designer, Andy Schwarz, on to discuss his experience with self-publishing a game and he shares lessons learns, tips and tricks, and some real financial numbers.
You can read Andy's blog post covering some of the discussed topics here: https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/3215750/an-analysis-of-what-it-costs-to-self-publish-a-gam
If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes
Follow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.social
Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205
Join our Discord server at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd⁠

In Episode 293 we each cover 5 board games that integrate animals themes.
We also discuss a poll on packing board games when travelling on a plane.
00:00 Introduction
03:50 Poll Time: How do you pack board games when travelling via airplane
11:40 15 Great Animal Themed Games
If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes
Follow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.social
Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205
Join our Discord server at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd⁠

In Episode 292 we give our hot take review on two board game expansions - Viticulture: Bordeaux and Revive: Call of the Abyss
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
0:35 Viticulture: Bordeaux
0:51 Gameplay and Mechanisms
19:36 Production and Theme
21:29 Final Thoughts
28:03 Revive: Call of the Abyss
28:51 Gameplay and Mechanisms
39:04 Production and Theme
40:33 Final Thoughts
45:29 News and Listener Shoutout
If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes
Follow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.social
Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205
Join our Discord server at:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd⁠⁠

In Episode 291 we look back at some hidden gems from 2020-2024. We each name at least one game that doesn't get discussed much anymore from each of these years and talk about why they deserve more attention.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:49 Top 5 Overlooked Board Games (2020-2024)
05:00 2020 - Whistle Mountain (Rajas of the Ganges: The Dice Charmers, The Castles of Tuscany, Star Wars Unlock, Mariposas)
10:22 2020 - Godspeed
11:23 2020 - New York Zoo
15:20 2021 - Viking See-Saw (Boon Lake, Mille Fiori, Messina 1347)
21:26 2021 - Dune: A Game of Conquest and Diplomacy
25:42 2021 - The Emerald Flame
27:33 2021 - That Time You Killed Me
33:18 2022 - Vagrantsong (Sea Salt & Paper, Woodcraft, Creature Comforts, Paperback Adventures)
39:49 2022 - Mosaic: A Story of Civilization
41:47 2022 - Age of Galaxy
42:37 2022 - Aeon Trespass Odyssey
44:29 2022 - Three Sisters
48:45 2023 - Imperial Miners (Pirates of Maracaibo, Rats of Wistar, Surfasaurus Max)
53:56 2023 - Fractal, Robot Quest Arena
56:35 2023 - Europa Universalis: The Price of Power
59:28 2023 - Sea Dragons
1:03:33 2024 - Lone Wolves (Let's Go To Japan, Fromage, Rebirth, Windmill Valley, Flip 7, Captain Flip, Invincible: The Hero Building Game, Stamp Swap, Spring Cleaning)
1:08:50 2024 - Frozen Frontier, Biohack
1:10:08 2024 - Reforest, Looot
If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes
Follow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.social
Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205
Join our Discord server at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd

In Episode 290 we discuss board game strategy, how we approach it, and why we care about strategy when we're playing board games.
We also discuss a poll about discussing strategy after a play.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:25 Poll Time: Do you discuss the strategy of your play after finishing a game?
12:05 Board Game Strategy
12:38 How do you approach strategy on a first play of a board game?
17:15 What's your approach for getting better at board game strategy after your first play?
24:57 Is getting better at strategy important to you?
32:35 Are there any games you feel you're the best you'll ever be?
37:29 Are there any games you aren't good at and don't know how to get better?
46:08 If you aren't getting better at strategy in a game does that game become less fun for you?
52:54 Have you every looked for strategy tips online for a game?
If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes
Follow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.social
Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205
Join our Discord server at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/vMtAYQWURd