#69: Gaming on the Go

Draft Mechanic Episode #69: Gaming on the Go, Island Hopper On Tap, Ponzi Scheme, The Palace of Mad King Ludwig, and Tips for Traveling With or To Beer

Kickstarter:
The Big Score (Kickstarter) (BGG)
Edge of Darkness (Kickstarter) (BGG)
City of Gears (Kickstarter) (BGG)
Tantrum House Season 5 (Kickstarter)

Recent Plays:
Ponzi Scheme
2016, Tasty Minstrel Games
Designer: Jesse Li
Artist: Chih-Fan Chen

The Palace of Mad King Ludwig
2017, Bézier Games
Designer: Ted Alspach
Artists:  Jason Boles, Stephanie Gustafsson  

On Tap:
Island Hopper
2017, Eagle-Gryphon Games
Designer: Scott Almes
Artist: Kwanchai Moriya

    •Shenanigans Brewing Co. "Flight Path"; Enmore, Sydney, Australia
    6% ABV, 25 IBU
    Dunkel lager with American hops and local coffee beans.

    •Propeller Bier "Turbo Prop"; Bad Laasphe, Germany
    6.5% ABV, 35 IBU.
    Imperial Pilsner with late addition Citra hops.

    •101 Cider House "Island Hopper"; Westlake Village, CA, USA
    6.5% ABV.
    Sour cider with guava, passionfruit, and Citra hops .

    •Cairn Brewing "Seaplane IPA"; Kenmore, WA, USA
    6% ABV, 65 IBU
    Northwest style IPA.

    •Thimble Island Brewing Company "Island Hopper"Series; Branford, CT, USA
    "Reel" - IPA, 8% ABV, 62 IBU
    "Money" - IPA, 8% ABV, 79 IBU
    "Cut In Two" - IPA, 8% ABV, 40 IBU

Gaming travel accessories:
Quiver Card Case
Gamefolio Board Game travel cases

Six Pack of Our Favorite Board Game Apps:
Patchwork (iOS) (Google Play)
Race for the Galaxy (iOS) (Google Play)
Lanterns: The Harvest Festival (iOS) (Google Play)
Potion Explosion (iOS) (Google Play)
Jaipur (iOS) (Google Play)
Star Realms (iOS) (Google Play)

Traveling With/To Beer:
Southwest Airlines
Wine Check (Amazon)
Bottle Bubble (1 bottle) (2 bottles)
Beer Advocate: Places
Cash

Section Timestamps:

01:00 Show Intro

03:00 News Bits: Expansions!

10:29 Tantrum House & TantrumCon

12:37 Kickstarter Updates

13:09 Kickstarter: The Big Score

14:29 Kickstarter: Edge of Darkness

20:46 Recent Plays: Ponzi Scheme

33:14 Recent Plays: The Palace of Mad King Ludwig

43:32 Recent Plays: Island Hopper

55:06 On Tap: Island Hopper

58:44 Grey Fox Games Sponsorship Spot

59:42 Gaming on the Go!

70:40 Our Six Favorite Board Game Apps

84:36 Traveling with Beer

91:45 The Final Round: Gaming on the Go

98:24 Outro

#68: Agra

Draft Mechanic Episode #68: High Gravity Review of Agra, 7 Ronin, Flee the Scene, and Beer Primer: Bocks including Maibocks, Doppelbocks, & Eisbocks

Kickstarter:
Fields of Green: Grand Fair (Kickstarter) (BGG)
Page Quest: Season 1 (Kickstarter)

Recent Plays:
7 Ronin
2013, Badger's Nest / 2016, Grey Fox Games
Designer:   Marek Mydel, Piotr Stankiewicz
Artist:   Aleksander Karcz

Flee the Scene
2015, Garphill Games
Designer:  Shem Phillips
Artists:  Krzysztof Maziarz, Shem Phillips 

Beer Primer: Bocks:
Bock to Basics - All About Beer Magazine
Bock, Doppelbock, Maibock, & Eisbock - Vinpair

Bocks:
-New Glarus Brewing Company "Uff-Da" - New Glarus, WI, USA
-Rip Current Brewing "Breakline Bock" - San Marcos, CA, USA

Doppelbocks:
-Auinger Privatbrauerei "Celebrator" - Aying, Germany
-Troegs Independent Brewing "Troegenator" - Hershey, PA, USA
-Paulaner Brauerei GmbH & Co. KG "Salvator" - Munich, Germany

Maibock:
-Rogue Ales & Spirits "Dead Guy Ale" - Newport, OR, USA

Eisbocks:
-Schneider Weisse G. Schneider & Sohn "Aventinus Eisbock" - Kelheim, Bavaria, Germany
-Kuhnhenn Brewing Company "Raspberry Eisbock" - Warren, MI, USA
-If you ever get to watch it in Esquire Network's BrewDogs Season 3 Episode 6 (Grand Rapids) they brew an eisbock with Founders Brewing.

High Gravity Review:
Agra
2017, Quined Games
Designer: Michael Keller (II)
Artist:   Michael Menzel

Section Timestamps:

01:00 Show Intro

02:27 News Bits

07:42 Kickstarter: Updates from Last Episode

08:40 Kickstarter: Fields of Green “Grand Fair” Expansion

12:48 Kickstarter: Page Quest Season 1 / A4 Quest

15:20 Recent Plays: 7 Ronin

28:04 Recent Plays: Flee the Scene

34:24 The Beer Primer: Bocks

49:38 Grey Fox Games Sponsorship Spot

50:47 High Gravity Review: Agra

52:21 Agra: Gameplay Overview

59:45 Agra: Discussion

106:14 Agra: Final Thoughts

108:28 The Final Round: Heavy Games

116:53 Outro

#67: Expandapalooza

Draft Mechanic Episode #67: Scythe: The Wind Gambit, Terraforming Mars: Venus Next, Tash Kalar: Arena of Legends - Nethervoid & Etherweave, Beer Primer: Milk Stouts, & the Final Round: Essential Expansions

Kickstarters:
Endeavor: Age of Sail (Kickstarter) (BGG) 
Herbalism (Kickstarter) (BGG) 
The Art of Tokaido (Kickstarter)

Expansions:
Tash Kalar: Arena of Legends - Nethervoid
2015, Czech Games Edition
Designer: Vlaada Chvátil
Artist: David Cochard, Claire Wendling 

Tash Kalar: Arena of Legends - Etherweave
2017, Czech Games Edition
Designer: Vlaada Chvátil, Dávid Turczi
Artist: David Cochard, Jakub Politzer

Scythe: The Wind Gambit
2017, Stonemaier Games
Designer: Kai Starck, Jamey Stegmaier
Artists:  Jakub Rozalski 

On Tap:

• Clan Albion: Devil's Canyon Brewing Company "Full Boar"; San Carlos, CA, USA
  7.4% ABV, 12 IBU
  Scotch ale.
• Togawa Shogunate: Gypsy Circus Cider Co. "Queen of Swords"; Kingsport, TN, USA
  6.0% ABV.
  Tennessee vintage cider.
• Unibroue "La Resolution"; Chambly, Quebec, Canada
  10% ABV, 22 IBU
   Belgian strong dark ale.
• New Helvetia Brewing Company "Mystery Airship" series; Sacramento, CA, USA
   Next release - February 2018
  Mystery Airship Series - Imperial Chocolate Porter
  8.3% ABV
  Spicy hot chocolate porter.
  (And a special thanks to David Gull, Founder of New Helvetia for his help setting me straight on this series!)

Terraforming Mars: Venus Next
2017, FryxGames/Stronghold Games
Designer: Jacob Fryxelius
Artist: Isaac Fryxelius

On Tap:

• Garage Project "Venusian Pale Ale"; Aro Valley, Wellington, New Zealand
  7.5% ABV, 60 IBU
  Citrus pale ale.
• Final Gravity Brewing Co."Venus Rising"; Richmond, VA, USA
  8.1% ABV.
  Imperial IPA.
• Modern Times Beer "Transit of Venus"; San Diego, CA, USA
  5.4% ABV.
  Grisette.

Beer Primer: Milk Stouts
All About Beer - Milk Stouts
Sweet Stouts: The Creamy Confection Better Known As Milk Stout

Section Timestamps:

00:55 Show Intro

03:13 News Bits

05:07 Upcoming: Clank “The Mummy’s Curse”

08:05 Upcoming: Great Western Trail “Rails to the North”

10:52 Kickstarter: Endeavor, Age of Sail

13:40 Kickstarter: Herbalism (Deep Water Games launch)

15:29 Kickstarter: The Art of Tokaido

17:41 Expandapalooza: Tash Kalar “Nethervoid” and “Etherweave” expansions

31:16 Grey Fox Games Sponsorship spot

32:26 Expandapalooza: Scythe “The Wind Gambit” expansion

45:40 On Tap: Scythe “Invaders from Afar” and “The Wind Gambit”

50:26 Expandapalooza: Terraforming Mars “Venus Next” expansion

62:16 On Tap: Terraforming Mars “Venus Next”

63:56 The Beer Primer: Milk Stouts

69:41 Final Round: Essential Expansions

82:12 Outro

#66: Fog of Love

Draft Mechanic Episode #66: Fog of Love Six Pack Review &On Tap, Favelas, Illimat, Great Western Trail, Low Alcohol Beer, & 2018 Gaming Challenges

Kickstarter:
Dark Flight Tokyo Series 1 (Kickstarter) (BGG Jidohanbaiki) (BGG Metro) (BGG Jutaku)

Recent Plays:
Favelas
2017,  WizKids
Designer:  Chris Bryan
Artist:   Kwanchai Moriya

Great Western Trail
2016, eggertspiele/Stronghold Games
Designer:  Alexander Pfister
Artists: Andreas Resch

Illimat
2017, Twogether Studios
Designer:  Keith Baker
Artist:   Carson Ellis

Six-Pack Review:
Fog of Love
2017, Hush Hush Projects
Designer: Jacob Jaskov
Artist:   Mike Højgaard, Lotte M. Klixbüll Jaskov

On Tap:
Fog of Love
2017, Hush Hush Projects
Designer: Jacob Jaskov
Artist:   Mike Højgaard, Lotte M. Klixbüll Jaskov

    •Midnight Sun Brewing Company "Modern Romance"; Anchorage, AK, USA
    9.3% ABV, 37 IBU
    Spiced strong chocolate ale.

    •Superstition Meadery "Date Night"; Prescott, AZ, USA
    13% ABV.
    Oak barrelled chocolate mead.

    •Dogfish Head Craft Brewery "Romantic Chemistry"; Milton, DE, USA
    7.2% ABV, 40 IBU
    Mango, apricot, & ginger IPA.

    •Martin House Brewing Company "True Love"; Fort Worth, TX, USA
    5.2% ABV, 4 IBU
    Kettle-soured ale with raspberries.

    •Stillwater Artisanal Ales "Of Love & Regret"; Baltimore, MD, USA
    7.2% ABV
    Belgian saison representing the brewers' interpretation of spring.

Section Timestamps:

Intro

01:00 Show Housekeeping

03:13 Upcoming Conventions

04:18 Kickstarter: Tokyo Series, Pat 1

08:59 Recent Plays: Favelas

16:41 Recent Plays: Illimat

23:54 Recent Plays: Great Western Trail

34:50 Grey Fox Games Sponsorship spot

35:42 Six Pack Review: Fog of Love

36:20 Fog of Love: Gameplay Overview

44:53 Fog of Love: Discussion

68:08 Fog of Love: Final Thoughts

70:51 On Tap: Fog of Love

74:11 Low-Alcohol Beer

82:12 Final Round: Your 2018 Gaming Challenges

91:48 Outro

#65: 2017 In Review

Happy New Year! We’re back once again with our first episode of the year and our customary recap of the year that was. We take a look back at the biggest news stories in gaming and beer in 2017, share our favorites in a pile of categories, discuss our six favorite beers of 2017, and of course our top six games of last year as well. We’re tying this episode up with responses from our new DM Slack channel’s “Final Round” topic: What was the biggest surprise in gaming for you in 2017? Enjoy!

2017 Superlatives:
Best Artwork:
Danielle: Near and Far (Red Raven Games)
Jake: Flipships (Renegade Game Studios)

Best Non-mini Components:
Jake: Dice Forge (Libellud)
Danielle: Photosynthesis (Blue Orange Games)

Biggest Disappointment:
Danielle: Photosynthesis (Blue Orange Games)
Jake: Yamatai (Days of Wonder)

Game I Wish I'd Played More from 2017:
Danielle: The 7th Continent (Serious Poulp)
Jake: Dojo Kun (CMON)

Best Older Game I Played for the First Time in 2017:
Danielle: Bora Bora (Ravensburger)
Jake: Rococo (Eagle-Gryphon Games)

Best Party Game:
Vegas Wits & Wagers (North Star Games)

Best Card Game:
Danielle: Herbaceous (Pencil First Games/Dr. Finn Games)
Jake: Matryoshka (White Goblin Games/Terra Nova Games)

Most Innovative Game:
Danielle: The 7th Continent (Serious Poulp)
Jake: Magic Maze (Sit Down!)

Favorite Beers of 2017 Six-Packs:
Jake:

• Burial Beer Co. “Houtenhamer” Double-Barrel Imperial Stout. Asheville, NC. 10% ABV, 60 IBU.
• Perennial Artisan Ales “Maman” Barrel-aged Imperial Stout. St. Louis, MO. 11.5% ABV.
• Side Project Brewing “Saison du Blé” Imperial Stout. St. Louis, MO. 6% ABV.
• Bearded Iris Brewing “Chasing Rainbows Three” New England IPA. Nashville, TN. 5.8% ABV.
• B. Nektar Meadery “#DragonsAreReal” Cherry chipotle mead aged in New Holland Brewing - Dragon's Milk barrels with cacao nibs. Ferndale, MI. 14.0% ABV.
• Burial & Interboro & Run the Jewels “Stay G-O-L-D” IPA. Asheville, NC. 6.0% ABV, 50 IBU.

Danielle:

• Boiler Brewing “Quintuple Dog Dare” Imperial IPA. Lincoln, NE. 18.4% ABV.
• Good Road Cider Works “Avogadro's Trail” Semi-sweet Mead. Charlotte, NC. 7.8% ABV.
• Epic Brewing Company “Big Bad Baptista” Mexican Coffee inspired Imperial Stout. Salt Lake City, UT. 12% ABV, 65 IBU.
• B. Nektar Meadery “#DragonsAreReal” Cherry chipotle mead aged in New Holland Brewing - Dragon's Milk barrels with cacao nibs. Ferndale, MI. 14.0% ABV.
• Edmund's Oast “Kvass” Kvass. Charlotte, NC. 2.6% ABV.
• Founders Brewing “Frootwood” Barrel-aged cherry ale. Grand Rapids, MI. 8.0% ABV.

Favorite Games of 2017 Six-Packs:

Jake's Picks:

Downforce
Restoration Games
Designer:  Rob Daviau, Justin D. Jacobson, Wolfgang Kramer

Matryoshka
Terra Nova Games/White Goblin Games
Designer: Aaron Dill, Sean Sweigart, John Kovaleski

Flipships
Renegade Game Studios
Designer: Kane Klenko

Danielle's Picks:

5-Minute Dungeon
Wiggles 3D
Designer: Connor Reid

Azul
Plan B Games
Designer: Jun Sasaki

Seikatsu
IDW Games
Designer:  Matt Loomis, Isaac Shalev

We Both Picked:

The 7th Continent
Serious Poulp
Designer:  Ludovic Roudy, Bruno Sautter

Sagrada
Floodgate Games
Designer:  Adrian Adamescu, Daryl Andrews

Near and Far
Red Raven Games
Designer:  Ryan Laukat

Section Timestamps:

Intro

01:00 Show Housekeeping

02:32 Announcing the Draft Mechanic Slack Channel!

05:27 Meta Mechanic, 2017 by the numbers

08:27 Preface to the Superlatives

11:43 Biggest News Stories of 2017

25:10 Superlative Categories

55:34 Our Top Six Beers of 2017

71:20 Grey Fox Games sponsorship spot

72:08 Our Top Six Games of 2017

96:48 Final Round: Biggest game surprises

103:41 Outro