Games from the Cellar
Games from the Cellar
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Top 10 Games from the Cellar Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Games from the Cellar episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Games from the Cellar for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Games from the Cellar episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
Summoner Wars
Games from the Cellar
04/01/24 • 31 min
This week, John and Stephen go toe-to-toe, slinging magic and summoning hordes of warriors in one of our enduring two-player favorites, Summoner Wars! Designed by Colby Dauch in 2009, Summoner Wars was published by Plaid Hat Games and expanded thoroughly upon through 2016. Summoner Wars (Second Edition) was released in 2021 and is currently supported.
Summoner Wars is a tactical card game that combines strategy, deck-building, and board control. Players take on the roles of summoners, powerful beings who lead armies of fantasy creatures into battle against each other. It is known for its fast-paced gameplay, strategic depth, and asymmetric factions, which provide different playstyles and challenges. It has garnered a dedicated fanbase and has seen several expansions and iterations since its initial release, offering even more content and replay value.
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You can Listen to Us: Spotify || Apple Podcasts || Google Podcasts || YouTube
You can Support Us: Patreon || Ko-fi || Merch: Redbubble || Leave a Rating & a Review wherever you listen. Ratings & Reviews are the easy and free way to show us your support.
You can Follow Us: Twitter || Bluesky || Instagram || Discord
Please consider Supporting the show by donating or becoming a member at Ko-fi or Patreon. With your support, you will:
- Gain access to Bonus shows before they go into the main feed
- Be sent a silly postcard game (designed by us)
- Garner our undying gratitude, and we'll shout you out in a Special Episode
Your financial support will allow us to continually make improvements to the show.
Thank you!
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Heat: Pedal to the Metal
Games from the Cellar
03/20/23 • 39 min
This week, the panel accelerates into a game of Heat: Pedal to the Metal, designed by Asger Harding Granerud and Daniel Skjold Pedersen, and published by Days of Wonder in 2023.
Episode Summary: Heat: Pedal to the Metal is the new racing game from Days of Wonder. In this episode, we briefly outline the rules and basic running gear for Heat: Pedal to the Metal. We go on to discuss the different strategies used during our play and expand on the rules of the game. We take a detour to discuss where we found some shortcomings, but are happy to hear there is a fix underway. Then we end the episode with a discussion on our final thoughts about Heat: Pedal to the Metal.
Visit our website and join the conversation on Discord!
Chapters:
(0:01:02) - Racers, Start Your Engines! (0:06:46) - Lights Out, and Now We’re Racing (0:16:02) - Into the Barriers (0:24:45) - Crossing the Finish Line
Chapter Summaries:
(0:01:02) - Racers, Start Your Engines! (6 Minutes) The panel begins the episode with a conversation about acquiring Heat: Pedal to the Metal, remarkably, how John was able to go into a local retailer and pay cash for a game. We spend a little time remarking on the state of the gaming industry. John goes on to further explain why Heat: Petal to the Metal was an instant buy for him (Hint: It’s a racing game). We further expand on how Heat: Pedal to the Metal works, noting that it is a relatively quick game, there are no dice, and the bulk of the action happens with a deck of cards. The panel notes the ease with which the basics of the game can be learned. We conclude our opening discussion with our excitement to try Heat: Pedal to the Metal.
(0:06:46) - Lights Out, and Now We’re Racing (10 Minutes) The panel recaps the play of Heat: Pedal to the Metal, noting Stephen’s victory and Chris’ abysmal finish. We recap the rules, further clarifying the details outlined in the intro. Stress cards, Heat cards, and Speed cards are all discussed. We go on to discuss our strategies for getting around the track, and we hit on how luck is handled in the game. We discuss the pros and cons of catch-up mechanisms; the Adrenaline mechanic allows players who are in last place to gain a free space and dump a Heat card for free, while the Slipstream mechanism allows players in the back of the pack to stay close to the front. The panel discusses the thematic justification for these mechanics and debates whether or not they add to the gameplay. The panel is split on their usefulness.
(00:16:02) - Into the Barriers (8 Minutes) They also discuss the barrier to entry for learning the game and how more experienced players will be able to complete the game faster. There were some misses on the iconography and consistency throughout, but we were informed that there will be an updated rulebook available soon that should address these issues. We further discuss how some of the icons used can be difficult to parse initially, and how the rulebook seems to include extra, unnecessary steps. We wonder if this is to keep the game “family weight”, but land on that it might end up getting in the way. We finish this conversation by expanding on the state of the gaming industry.
(00:24:45) - Crossing the Finish Line (15 Minutes) The panel closes the discussion with their final thoughts on Heat: Pedal to the Metal. There is a brief tangent where we compare Heat: Pedal to the Metal to other racing games that we’ve played.
Shownotes created with assistance from https://podium.page
Illimat
Games from the Cellar
02/06/23 • 31 min
The panel discusses the very unique card game, Illimat.
Illimat, designed by Keith Baker and Jennifer Ellis, was first published by Twogether Studios and Wyrmwood Gaming in 2017.
Wings of Glory
Games from the Cellar
01/23/23 • 36 min
The panel engages with the classic aero-table combat game, Wings of Glory.
Designed by Andrea Angiolino and Pier Giorgio Paglia, it was first published as Wings of War in 2004 by Fantasy Flight Games & Nexus Games. Wings of War was rebooted as Wings of Glory in 2012 by Ares Games.
Imperial Settlers
Games from the Cellar
02/13/23 • 53 min
The panel settles in to play Imperial Settlers.
Imperial Settlers, designed by Ignacy Trzewiczek, was first published by Portal Games in 2014.
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Deep Rock Galactic: the Board Game
Games from the Cellar
03/25/24 • 46 min
This week, the panel digs into our latest cooperative campaign board game, the analog version of the hit PC game - Deep Rock Galactic: the Board Game! Designed by Ole Steinnis, Deep Rock: Galactic was published by MOOD Publishing after a successful Kickstarter in 2022.
In Deep Rock Galactic: the Board Game, you are a Dwarven Miner, just trying to do your damn job. Unfortunately, that job happens to be in mines that are absolutely swarmed with Glyphids and other nasty surprises. You'll be dropped into a messy situation and must work with your team to complete the scenario's objectives. Teamwork makes the dream work and is the only way you'll survive. No Guts, No Glory! Rock and Stone!, etc.
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You can Listen to Us: Spotify || Apple Podcasts || Google Podcasts || YouTube
You can Support Us: Patreon || Ko-fi || Merch: Redbubble || Leave a Rating & a Review wherever you listen. Ratings & Reviews are the easy and free way to show us your support.
You can Follow Us: Twitter || Bluesky || Instagram || Discord
Please consider Supporting the show by donating or becoming a member at Ko-fi or Patreon. With your support, you will:
- Gain access to Bonus shows before they go into the main feed
- Be sent a silly postcard game (designed by us)
- Garner our undying gratitude, and we'll shout you out in a Special Episode
Your financial support will allow us to continually make improvements to the show.
Thank you!
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Kingsburg
Games from the Cellar
01/16/23 • 56 min
The panel discusses Kingsburg, an old reliable from 2007, designed by Andrea Chiarvesio and Luca Iennaco and published by Fantasy Flight Games.
El Grande
Games from the Cellar
03/06/23 • 45 min
The panel drops in on El Grande, the 1996 Spiel des Jahres Winner. El Grande was designed by Wolfgang Kramer and Richard Ulrich and was first published by Rio Grande Games in the US in 1995.
Episode Summary:
In this episode, we discussed the 1995 board game El Grande, which has been popular for almost 30 years. We discussed our experiences with the game, both online on Board Game Arena and in person, the latter we agreed is vastly superior. We then discussed the appeal of El Grande, noting its simple yet effective game mechanisms. Finally, we discussed the game in-depth and shared our personal experiences and ratings. We noted that it is a good game, and should be played face-to-face and with five players whenever possible.
Visit our website and join the conversation on Discord!
Chapters:
(0:00:00) - Playing El Grande in Person (0:12:27) - The Appeal of El Grande (0:19:38) - Area Control in El Grande (0:31:05) - A Battle of Wits (0:42:40) - Interpreting El Grande
Chapter Summaries:
(0:00:50) - Playing El Grande in Person (12 Minutes) El Grande is a 1995 board game by Wolfgang Kramer and Richard Elrick. It is an area-majority game that requires players to manage their resources and successfully use power cards to get cubes onto the board and gain points. After 9 rounds, the player with the highest points is the winner. The participants discussed their experiences with the game, both on Board Game Arena and in person. They agreed that playing in person was vastly superior, as it allowed for more interpersonal interaction and tactics.
(0:12:27) - The Appeal of El Grande (7 Minutes) El Grande is an example of an early Euro game and has been popular for almost 30 years. The game is a 'cube pusher' with an interesting bidding mechanism. It lacks an engaging theme or narrative, a common trait of early Euro-style games. The game mechanisms are simple but effective and have been difficult to replicate in later games. The game also has an interesting scoring system and the potential for resource manipulation. The conversation also touches on the preferences of different players, with some preferring flashier fare, and some preferring games with dinosaurs and lots of colors.
(0:19:38) - Area Control in El Grande (11 Minutes) El Grande is discussed in depth and is compared to other board games of its era. The conversation focuses on the mechanisms of the game and its strategic depth, with the ability to choose between depth and width when scoring points. It is noted that there is a good amount of downtime in the game and that there is a two-step process to putting pieces on the board, which can be challenging. It is also discussed that there is an interesting decision space in the game, with players having to choose between cards and trying to read their opponents.
(0:31:05) - A Battle of Wits (13 Minutes) In this section of the conversation, we wrap up our thoughts on El Grande, with the panel sharing their personal experiences and ratings. The participants discuss the components of the game, how the game plays, and how it is best played in person rather than online. They also discuss the different decision points and their importance to the game. The participants agree that it is a good game, but that it needs something to bridge the gap between the hard decision points and the waiting for someone else's turn.
Shownotes created with assistance from https://podium.page
Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion
Games from the Cellar
03/18/24 • 65 min
This week, the panel tackles one of the BoardGameGeek behemoths! Join us as we adventure in the world of Goomhaven: Jaws of the Lion to investigate the mystery of its disappearing citizens. Designed by Isaac Childres, Jaws of the Lion was released in 2020 from Cephalofair Games as a pared-down version of Gloomhaven to appeal to a broader gaming audience.
In Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion, you are an adventurer in a party who stumbles upon a mystery and is tasked with investigating. As you progress, you'll improve your character but face tougher and more challenging obstacles. To be successful, you will have to work together with your party, and tactically deal with whatever is thrown at you!
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You can Listen to Us: Spotify || Apple Podcasts || Google Podcasts || YouTube
You can Support Us: Patreon || Ko-fi || Merch: Redbubble || Leave a Rating & a Review wherever you listen. Ratings & Reviews are the easy and free way to show us your support.
You can Follow Us: Twitter || Bluesky || Instagram || Discord
Please consider Supporting the show by donating or becoming a member at Ko-fi or Patreon. With your support, you will:
- Gain access to Bonus shows before they go into the main feed
- Be sent a silly postcard game (designed by us)
- Garner our undying gratitude, and we'll shout you out in a Special Episode
Your financial support will allow us to continually make improvements to the show.
Thank you!
/ / / / /
Thunder Road: Vendetta
Games from the Cellar
04/08/24 • 29 min
This week, the panel engages in vehicular carnage with Thunder Road: Vendetta. Originally designed by Jim Keifer in 1986, Thunder Road was given the Restoration Games treatment by Rob Daviau and crew in 2023.
Thunder Road: Vendetta is set in a post-apocalyptic world where players control gangs of vehicles fighting for survival and dominance in a desolate wasteland. It builds upon the original game's Mad Max-esque vehicular combat theme, offering new mechanics and content while maintaining the intense vehicular combat theme. It provides players with more opportunities for strategic decision-making and replayability, making it an exciting addition for fans of the post-apocalyptic genre and tabletop gaming.
/ / / / /
You can Listen to Us: Spotify || Apple Podcasts || Google Podcasts || YouTube
You can Support Us: Patreon || Ko-fi || Merch: Redbubble || Leave a Rating & a Review wherever you listen. Ratings & Reviews are the easy and free way to show us your support.
You can Follow Us: Twitter || Bluesky || Instagram || Discord
Please consider Supporting the show by donating or becoming a member at Ko-fi or Patreon. With your support, you will:
- Gain access to Bonus shows before they go into the main feed
- Be sent a silly postcard game (designed by us)
- Garner our undying gratitude, and we'll shout you out in a Special Episode
Your financial support will allow us to continually make improvements to the show.
Thank you!
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FAQ
How many episodes does Games from the Cellar have?
Games from the Cellar currently has 56 episodes available.
What topics does Games from the Cellar cover?
The podcast is about Leisure, Hobbies, Game, Games, Board, Podcasts and Board Gaming.
What is the most popular episode on Games from the Cellar?
The episode title 'Thunder Road: Vendetta' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Games from the Cellar?
The average episode length on Games from the Cellar is 40 minutes.
How often are episodes of Games from the Cellar released?
Episodes of Games from the Cellar are typically released every 7 days.
When was the first episode of Games from the Cellar?
The first episode of Games from the Cellar was released on Oct 24, 2022.
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