In this episode, Benjamin Ludwig joins us in snowmageddon. We discuss the beginnings of his interest in Japanese culture and the time he spent in Japan, teaching religion and mythology and role playing, developing the game Golden Treasure at his company Dreaming Door Studios, and we get a bit philosophical.

Listen to the episode with Benjamin Ludwig here.

Here are the games Ben chose to bring along:

• Chess
• Shogi (a Japanese variant of Chess)
• How to Host a Murder
• Role Playing Games (any)

Kyle Delgado, founder of Traverse City Board Gamers, joins us in snowmageddon. We discuss how he got the tabletop game bug, how he turned it into a social movement, and now how he’s turning it into a business at Tabletop Underground.

Listen to the episode with Kyle Delgado here.

Here are the games Kyle chose to bring along:

• A Feast for Odin, 2016, designed by Uwe Rosenberg, published in the US by Z-Man Games
• Viticulture, 2013, designed by Jamey Stegmaier, published by Stonemaier Games
• Near and Far, 2017, designed by Ryan Laukat, published by Red Raven Games
• Terraforming Mars, 2016, designed by Jacob Fryxelius, published in the US by Stronghold Games

This podcast is about games in the same way that Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is about ghosts: They’re there to frame the plot, but the action is around life and change. In this preview, I discuss games I would take to snowmageddon and practice to get ready for more and better guests!

Listen to this preview here.

Games mentioned in this episode:

• Magic Realm, 1979, designed by Richard Hamblen, published by Avalon Hill.
• Near and Far, 2017, designed by Ryan Laukat, published by Red Raven Games
• Wingspan, 2019, designed by Elizabeth Hargrave, published by Stonemaier Games
• Mexica, 2002, designed by Wolfgang Kramer and Michael Kiesling, published by Iello