Here’s a remotely recorded episode from July 2020 (!), where we’re joined in snowmageddon by Walter Scott. He brings a wide variety of games from story telling to quiet contemplation, and along the way we talk about how he grew up in Traverse City, went from Medieval French poetry to ancient Roman exposition to English literature, the impressions a good teacher can make and how games fit into the relationship building we all need right now.

Listen to the episode with Walter Scott here.

Here are the games we talked about:

• Once Upon a Time, 1993, designed by Richard Lambert, Andrew Rilstone, and James Wallis, current 3^rd edition published by Atlas Games.
• Bohnanza, 1997, designed by Uwe Rosenburg and currently published in the US by Rio Grande Games.
• Castles of Burgundy, 2011, designed by Stefan Feld and published in the US by alea/Ravensburger.
• Chess

In this remotely recorded episode, Michael Carter comes to Snowmageddon from Iowa, bringing some heavier, longer economics-oriented games with him. “And why not?” he asks, if you’re going to be stuck for a while? We talk about the origins of his love of math, games and tech; how travel gives context; advice on who to play these types of games with (at least to start); “Samurai battle(s) on a tightrope”; wild rides while playing games with famous game designers; and much more.

Listen to the episode with Michael Carter here.

Here are the games we talked about:

• Through the Ages, 2015, designed by Vlaada Chvatil and published by Czech Games Edition
• 1862: Railway Mania in the Eastern Counties, 2013, designed by Mike Hutton and published by GMT Games
• Le Havre, 2008, designed by Uwe Rosenburg and published by Lookout Games
• Antiquity, 2004, designed by Jeroen Doumen and Joris Wiersinga* and published by Splotter Spellen

Also, Michael mentions a print-and-play 18xx-style game set in a D&D world he and some others developed: Download 18EB – Five Nations here.

*My apologies for butchering pronunciation of Jeroen and Joris’s names in this recording. I’ll do better research next time! – Jim

Corbin Wagner braves the inconsistency of the interwebs to join us in Snowmageddon! Recorded in the depth of stay-at-home, we talk about family gaming, moving to go to school, professional wrestling tryouts, social work and the games old and new that he would like to bring to Snowmageddon, among other things.

Listen to the episode with Corbin Wagner here.

Here are the games we talked about:

• Scattergories, 1988, published by Milton Bradley
• Clue, 1949, designed by Anthony Pratt, currently published by Hasbro
• One Night Ultimate Werewolf, 2014, designed by Ted Alspach and Akihisa Okui, published by Bezier Games
• Dungeons & Dragons, 1974, designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson

Also mentioned in this episode: Achievement Hunter Board as Hell video channel.

Emily Halls comes to snowmageddon from down state in our first remotely recorded episode. We talk about growing into games through family time, the Spartan Marching Band, Orff instruments and elementary music education, sewing as community service and some great games, among other things.

Listen to the episode with Emily Halls here.

Here are the games we talked about:

• Betrayal at House on the Hill, 2004, designed by Bruce Glassco and published by Avalon Hill
• Codenames, 2015, designed by Vlaada Chvatil and published by Czech Games Edition
• Catan, 1995, designed by Klaus Teuber and published by Catan Studios
• Evil Baby Orphanage, 2012, designed by Justin Gibbs and Mack Martin, published by Wyrd Miniatures

Also mentioned in this episode:

• Adventure Zone podcast
• Orff instruments

Bastien Le Guen visits snowmageddon with a global perspective. We talk about growing up in France, becoming and being a master hairstylist, playing (American) football, emigrating to the US, and go deep on the games he’s chosen.

Listen to the episode with Bastien Le Guen here.

Here are the games Bastien chose:

• Trickerion, 2015, designed by Richard Amann and Viktor Peter and published by Mindclash Games
• Clank!, 2016, designed by Paul Dennen and published by Renegade Game Studios
• Treasure Island, 2018, designed by Marc Paquien and published by Matagot
• Detective Club, 2018, designed by Oleksandr Nevskiy and published in the US by Blue Orange Games

Other games that were mentioned:

• Zombicide
• Dixit
• Mysterium

David “Next Time” Noller comes to snowmageddon armed with deep knowledge of his games and some great stories. We talk about becoming a teacher and teaching with games, travelling and chaperoning, making time for reading, playing baritone sax and being in the same ensemble as your kids, and, of course, local beer. Oh, and as a bit of a social distancing special, solo games.

Listen to the episode with David Noller here.

Here are the games we talked about:

• Pathfinder Adventure Card Game, 2013, designed by Mike Selinker and published by Paizo Publishing
• Onitama, 2014, designed by Shimpei Sato and published in the US by Arcane Wonders
• Faza, Kickstarter awaiting fulfillment, designed by Benjamin Farahmand
• Nemo’s War, designed by Chris Taylor, second edition published by Victory Point Games in 2017

Catch more of David on the TechNollerGist podcast (part of the EdTech Loop Podcast Network).

David mentions books from New Directions Publishing.

And a few other games (Some recommended, some not. Listen to find out which is which):

• The Little Flower Shop
• Terraforming Mars
• Scythe
• Kanagawa
• Sagrada
• Seikatsu

Jessica Parent brings a pile of games to snowmageddon, and we talk about some. We also discuss life as a medical social worker, how games can be a healthy hobby, baking, walking and the interesting crowd she generously manages Saturdays at Tabletop Underground.

Listen to the episode with Jessica Parent here.

Here are the games we talked about:

• Keyforge, 2018, designed by Richard Garfield, published by Fantasy Flight Games
• Gloomhaven, 2017, designed by Isaac Childres, published by Cephalofair Games
• Above and Below, 2015, designed by Ryan Laukat, published by Red Raven Games
• Sagrada, 2017, designed by Adrian Adamescu and Daryl Andrews, published by Floodgate Games

In this episode, Abigail Fraass gets caught up in snowmageddon. Don’t let her youthfulness fool you: Abby can keep up with anyone when the most strategic and complex brain-burners come out at game night. And with more joy and humor than some of us old guys. We discuss her moves around the planet and beginnings as a gamer, TV and books she enjoys, game design as school work, and her analysis of the games she chose to bring along.

Listen to the episode with Abby here.

Here are the games Abby chose:

• Terraforming Mars, 2016, designed by Jacob Fryxelius, published in the US by Stronghold Games
• Munchkin, 2001, designed and published by Steve Jackson
• Dixit, 2008, designed by Jean-Louis Roubira, published by Libellud
• Carcassonne, 2000, designed by Klaus-Jürgen Wrede, published by Hans im Glück

Also mentioned were:

• Lords of Waterdeep, 2012, designed by Peter Lee and Rodney Thompson, published by Wizards of the Coast
• Scoville, 2014, designed by Ed Marriott, published by Tasty Minstrel Games

Though she she says she’d have to be kidnapped to go, Kate Homminga joins us in snowmageddon. We talk about her early life in many places, writing, being a master cake baker, and homeschooling her kids (that is, being amazing in lots of ways). In addition to the four games, Kate offers her recommended games to bring should kids be along for the adventure.

Listen to the episode with Kate here.

You really should read Kate’s A Place at the Table blog posts.

Here are the games Kate would bring along:

• Terraforming Mars, 2016, designed by Jacob Fryxelius, published in the US by Stronghold Games
• Dead of Winter, 2014, designed by Jonathan Gilmour and Isaac Vega, published by Plaid Hat Games
• Munchkin, 2001, designed and published by Steve Jackson (Wil Wheaton and the designer, what more could you ask)
• Candyland, 1949, designed by Eleanor Abbot, currently published by Hasbro (just kidding)
• Gloom, 2005, designed by Keith Baker, published by Atlas Games

Here are the games Kate would recommend for younger gamers:

• Ticket to Ride: First Journey, 2016, designed by Alan R. Moon, published by Days of Wonder
• My First Carcassonne, 2009, designed by Marco Teubner, published by Z-Man games
• A cribbage board and deck of cards

Eric Benac joins the discussion in snowmageddon. We discuss his start with tabletop games, hear how a day and a project or two goes for a freelance writer, get some insight on what games mean to several cultures, and do a little traveling and exploring, too.

Listen to the episode with Eric Benac here.

Listen to Eric’s albums here. Some of Eric’s books can be found here.

Here are the games Eric would bring along:

• Caverna: The Cave Farmers, 2013, designed by Uwe Rosenberg, published by Lookout Games
• Terraforming Mars, 2016, designed by Jacob Fryxelius, published by Stronghold Games
• Scythe, 2016, designed by Jamey Stegmaier, published by Stonemaier Games
• Go, >548 BCE, China