Decision Space

Episode 272- The Old King's Crown Pete is joined by Jaffles ( https://www.youtube.com/@Jaffles-gaming ) to do a deep dive of the hottest game from last year: The Old King's Crown.  They also chat about what types of games inspire players to dig deep and get obsessed.   Timestamps 5:00- why we get obsessed with games18:15- intro to Old King's Crown24:00- personal reviews27:30- exploring the decision space47:15- spring decisions56:45- player count considerations1:10:15- summer and autumn decisions1:20:00- faction asymmetry1:39:00- final thoughts   Preplanners We have another decade draft coming up soon!   Music and Sound Credits Thank you to Hembree for our intro and outro music from their song Reach Out. You can listen to the full song on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQuuRPfOyMw&list=TLGGFNH7VEDPgwgyNTA4MjAyMQ&t=3s You can find more information about Hembree at https://www.hembreemusic.com/.  Thank you to Flash Floods for use of their song Palm of Your Hand as a sting from their album Halfway to Anywhere: https://open.spotify.com/album/2fE6LrqzNDKPYWyS5evh3K?si=CCjdAGmeSnOOEui6aV3_nA Intermission Music:music elevator ext part 1/3 by Jay_You -- https://freesound.org/s/467243/ -- License: Attribution 4.0 Bell with Crows by MKzing -- https://freesound.org/s/474266/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 hammer v2.wav by blukotek -- https://freesound.org/s/337815/ -- License: Creative Commons 0   Contact Follow and reach us on social media on Bluesky @decisionspace.bsky.social. If you prefer email, then hit us up at [email protected]. This information is all available along with episodes at our new website decisionspacepodcast.com. Byeee!

Episode 271- Hand Management Pete and Brendan dissect one of the most ubiquitous mechanisms in tabletop games: hand management.  What kinds of puzzles can a hand of cards present to players and what makes it so timelessly satisfying?   Timestamps 3:00- defining hand management18:00- why we love hand management29:00- types of hand management36:15- trick-taking and ladder climbing42:45- hand management as a core mechanism57:30- hand management as a support mechanism   Games Mentioned love letter, dominion, enchanted plumes, concordia, el grande, scout, haggis, fox in the forest, inis, race for the galaxy, arboretum, seer's catalog, hanabi, lost cities, battle line, hanamikoji, fantasy realms, 6nmmt, 7 wonders, twilight struggle, frosted blooms, gloomhaven, modern art, arcs, magic the gathering, keyforge, mind bug     Preplanners Look out for the long awaited deep dive of Old King's Crown!   Music and Sound Credits Thank you to Hembree for our intro and outro music from their song Reach Out. You can listen to the full song on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQuuRPfOyMw&list=TLGGFNH7VEDPgwgyNTA4MjAyMQ&t=3s You can find more information about Hembree at https://www.hembreemusic.com/.  Thank you to Flash Floods for use of their song Palm of Your Hand as a sting from their album Halfway to Anywhere: https://open.spotify.com/album/2fE6LrqzNDKPYWyS5evh3K?si=CCjdAGmeSnOOEui6aV3_nA Intermission Music:music elevator ext part 1/3 by Jay_You -- https://freesound.org/s/467243/ -- License: Attribution 4.0 Bell with Crows by MKzing -- https://freesound.org/s/474266/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 hammer v2.wav by blukotek -- https://freesound.org/s/337815/ -- License: Creative Commons 0   Contact Follow and reach us on social media on Bluesky @decisionspace.bsky.social. If you prefer email, then hit us up at [email protected]. This information is all available along with episodes at our new website decisionspacepodcast.com. Byeee!

Episode 270- Interview with Phil Walker-Harding Paul sits down for a wonderfully insightful discussion with game designer Phil Walker-Harding.  Last week's tier list episode should have you primed to get into this man's head!  They discuss game inspiration and how to design in ways that can heal game related trauma.   Timestamps 1:45- how Phil got into design10:35- design philosophy25:30- balancing games36:30- what Phil likes to play45:00- inspiration from games54:15- design process1:06:00- negative experiences games1:19:30- what's Phil working on?     Preplanners A classic 'what we talk about' on hand management is up next!   Music and Sound Credits Thank you to Hembree for our intro and outro music from their song Reach Out. You can listen to the full song on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQuuRPfOyMw&list=TLGGFNH7VEDPgwgyNTA4MjAyMQ&t=3s You can find more information about Hembree at https://www.hembreemusic.com/.  Thank you to Flash Floods for use of their song Palm of Your Hand as a sting from their album Halfway to Anywhere: https://open.spotify.com/album/2fE6LrqzNDKPYWyS5evh3K?si=CCjdAGmeSnOOEui6aV3_nA Intermission Music:music elevator ext part 1/3 by Jay_You -- https://freesound.org/s/467243/ -- License: Attribution 4.0 Bell with Crows by MKzing -- https://freesound.org/s/474266/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 hammer v2.wav by blukotek -- https://freesound.org/s/337815/ -- License: Creative Commons 0   Contact Follow and reach us on social media on Bluesky @decisionspace.bsky.social. If you prefer email, then hit us up at [email protected]. This information is all available along with episodes at our new website decisionspacepodcast.com. Byeee!

Episode 269- Phil Walker Harding Tier List Paul gets to rate every game in the prolific catalogue of his favorite designer: Phil Walker Harding.  He's joined by Brendan and the Dice Tower's Chris Yi for this monumental task.     Timestamps 8:30- Archaeology the New Expedition12:00- Dungeon Raiders15:15- Pack of Heroes19:00- Sushi Go / Sushi Go Party28:45- Sushi Roll34:15- Cacao41:00- Imhotep / Imhotep the Duel49:15- Barenpark54:15- Gizmos58:15- Gingerbread House1:00:00- Llamaland1:02:30- Silver and Gold1:04:30- Explorers1:06:00- Tetris1:08:15- Monolyth1:11:30- Scribbly Gum1:12:15- Super Mega Lucky Box1:14:00- Snakesss1:15:30- Don't Fall For It1:17:30- Planted1:19:15- Pass the Party Food1:20:15- Dungeons and Dragons Edge of the Realms1:21:15- My Shelfie1:23:15- Tanis1:24:30- Yummy World: Party and Picnic Palace1:25:45- Busy Beaks1:27:30- All In Predictions1:31:15- Tropicalia1:33:45- Museum Suspects1:36:15- Cities / Cities USA1:41:15- Neoville1:43:00- Cloud City1:45:45- Misfit Heroes1:47:30- Spellbook1:50:00- Adventure Games: The Volcanic Island1:53:00- Summer Camp1:55:30- Wombat Poo1:57:30- Wrath of Fire Mountain1:59:30- Oh No, Volcano!     Preplanners Soon we will do a tournament of the best games of the early 2010's!   Music and Sound Credits Thank you to Hembree for our intro and outro music from their song Reach Out. You can listen to the full song on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQuuRPfOyMw&list=TLGGFNH7VEDPgwgyNTA4MjAyMQ&t=3s You can find more information about Hembree at https://www.hembreemusic.com/.  Thank you to Flash Floods for use of their song Palm of Your Hand as a sting from their album Halfway to Anywhere: https://open.spotify.com/album/2fE6LrqzNDKPYWyS5evh3K?si=CCjdAGmeSnOOEui6aV3_nA Intermission Music:music elevator ext part 1/3 by Jay_You -- https://freesound.org/s/467243/ -- License: Attribution 4.0 Bell with Crows by MKzing -- https://freesound.org/s/474266/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 hammer v2.wav by blukotek -- https://freesound.org/s/337815/ -- License: Creative Commons 0   Contact Follow and reach us on social media on Bluesky @decisionspace.bsky.social. If you prefer email, then hit us up at [email protected]. This information is all available along with episodes at our new website decisionspacepodcast.com. Byeee!

Episode 268- Geekway Convention Plays 2026 Jake and Pete recap the best weekend of the year: Geekway to the West!  They discuss their favorite new plays, old favorites, and also give first impressions of some hot new titles.     Timestamps 17:00- Feya's Swamp21:50- Dark Pact28:10- Market Fresh34:40- I'm the Boss38:45- Auf Teufel Komm Raus43:00- Lowenherz51:30- John Company Second Edition59:00- Broom Service1:03:30- Oath1:09:30- Tikal1:15:30- TRICKTAKERs, Skull Queen, Daytime Minutes1:18:00- Indonesia1:19:30- Guards of Atlantis II, El Grande, Big Shot1:22:00- L'Oaf     Preplanners We've got a tier list episode in the works!   Music and Sound Credits Thank you to Hembree for our intro and outro music from their song Reach Out. You can listen to the full song on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQuuRPfOyMw&list=TLGGFNH7VEDPgwgyNTA4MjAyMQ&t=3s You can find more information about Hembree at https://www.hembreemusic.com/.  Thank you to Flash Floods for use of their song Palm of Your Hand as a sting from their album Halfway to Anywhere: https://open.spotify.com/album/2fE6LrqzNDKPYWyS5evh3K?si=CCjdAGmeSnOOEui6aV3_nA Intermission Music:music elevator ext part 1/3 by Jay_You -- https://freesound.org/s/467243/ -- License: Attribution 4.0 Bell with Crows by MKzing -- https://freesound.org/s/474266/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 hammer v2.wav by blukotek -- https://freesound.org/s/337815/ -- License: Creative Commons 0   Contact Follow and reach us on social media on Bluesky @decisionspace.bsky.social. If you prefer email, then hit us up at [email protected]. This information is all available along with episodes at our new website decisionspacepodcast.com. Byeee!