Eat Lunch and Board Game

In this episode, I am joined by Freddie Carlini. He is the mastermind behind Mixtape Massacre, a highly thematic board game where you are the slasher hunting down victims to collect souvinirs. Freddie talks about how Mixtape Massacre is NOT TSA Friendly! It is a hilarious story. We also talk about running over zombies on a motorcycle, chunky dice being cool, and how dice trays save time and dice! All this and more coming up. Thanks for listening!

Get a copy of Mixtape Massacre!

Spencer Mohr joins me on this episode. His company, Dastardly Fun Entertainment, has put out two games a year, and I have played and enjoyed both. Their second game, Dastardly Drivers, was a finalist in the game design competition I sponsored last year. Thanks for listening.

Dastardly Fun Entertainment on The Game Crafter

My grandmother, who I called Mee-Maw, bought Michael Marra’s 13 Dead End Drive for me back in 1993 when it came out. I am not 100% sure why, but I am so glad she did. It is hard to believe that the game is 30 years old! That makes me even older.

Anyway, 13 Dead End Dr got a lot of playing when I was young. My little sister, brother, and I played a lot of Clue, and this gave us a new mystery to solve, a new toy to play with. 13 Dead End Drive feels like Clue and Mouse Trap had a baby.

In 13 Dead End Drive, rich Aunt Agatha has died with no related heirs. So, her 12 closest friends (and her cat) have gathered to claim her considerably large fortune. You and your opponents control a hand of the characters, vying to be rich. During the game, you are trying to knock off other1 characters to be the last one standing. Or, be the one featured above the fireplace when the detective arrives.

Winning Moves

Pied Raven

John J. Wick, the game designer and RPG creator, joins me in this episode. He is the man behind CAT, a great RPG where you play a cat protecting your human from forces they cannot see. John and I talk about the usual stuff, and also his fun RPG's that can be played in a lunch hour. (Links below)

PLAY
CAT

In early 2019, The Son and I were watching a lot of Watch It Played with Rodney Smith. One episode that caught my eye was Horrified, by Ravensberger. Then, for some reason, I forgot about it. It kept coming up on lists of games that are great to play in an hour. While attending a convention, I saw it at the flea market event and snatched it right up. I sat down that night and played it with a fellow game designer. We both enjoyed it.

In Horrified, you and your teammates are working together as characters right out of the Universal Monster movies, to rid the town of the monsters haunting the streets. Two to four monsters, of the seven available, are wandering around the streets terrorizing the villagers. You and your team must collect specific items that are scattered around the town. These items are then used to confront and defeat each different monster in a unique and specific way.

All this must be achieved before the monsters terrorize the locals too much or the Monster deck runs out. Do you think you and your friends have what it takes to stand your ground, defend the town, and save them from Frankenstein’s monster, Wolf Man, Dracula, Creature from the Black Lagoon, Invisible Man, or Mummy? Did the Son and I enjoy it after 3.5 years of waiting? How did it go over at the office? Thanks for listening!

Corey Clark, founder of Blue Falcon Board Gaming, joins me to talk about his organization and what they do. He has one of the most original ways to get into gaming. We try to come up with a term for people that are not board game literate. He also has one of the more obscure hidden gem games that I feel like I must own. All of that an more. Thanks for listening!

Hidden Gem

When you think of the classic games, what comes to mind? Monopoly, Risk, Candyland, Chutes & Ladders, and of course Clue. It is unfortunate that Clue doesn’t get more respect in today’s board gaming community. The playtime is short. The rules are simple. And dammit, it is just plain fun! We had a copy of Clue when I was growing up. I am the oldest of three, and my sister, brother, and I would play Clue for hours. That is the best part about the game. You can just sort the cards out, draw a new set, and start again in about 3 minutes! This episode is long, as I cover a lot of versions and intersting facts about this amazing classic. Thanks for listening!

A month ago, I was quarantined to my bedroom with COVID. One night, I had a bout with insomnia. Then, it occurred to me! I had a few solo print and play games printed in my print and play box (link in the show notes) that were specifically designed for solo play. So, I got up, grabbed my D6’s and played 1472 The Lost Samurai. I did not win, but I was then encouraged to try 1972 The Lost Phantom. Again, I did not win. This time, I was encouraged to reach out to their designer Mike Heiman. He joins me today to talk about his journey in board gaming. He tells about his adventure creating his incredible solo print and play, USS Laffey: The Boat that wouldn’t sink, and his plans for other solo games in the XX72 franchise. All of the XX72 are available for free on Board Game Geek. All this and more are coming your way. Thanks for listening.

Print and Play Box
XX72 Games

As you faithful bridge-building listeners know, I am a huge fan of reading about board games. I then like to try and interview the author. This happened with The Beginner’s Board Game Bible and its author Ben Hoppe. In his fantastic book, (if you haven’t bought it yet, do it) he mentions games to help break people into this great hobby. Many of his game suggestions I had heard of, or already had played. Yet, one game nagged at me that I really wanted try. It was 1995’s Mystery of the Abbey. It was described as a next-level Clue. Clue with a little more. I was extremely interested, but then disappointed to learn that it was out of production. I then went out to look for a used copy. Prices fluctuated from $30-$60. As I was hunting down a copy, I came across one at a board game flea market for $35, and I pounced on it. Sadly, it sat on the Shelf of Shame for over a year. Finally, I got it to table at a library board game event.

In Mystery of the Abbey, you and your fellow players are visiting monks at the serene Abbey. The next morning, the body of Brother Adelmo is discovered at the foot of the cliffs. You group is asked by the Abbot to look into the mysterious death of the Brother, and investigate the Abbey and its inhabitants to discover who killed the beloved Brother Adelmo.

So, does Mystery of the Abbey do enough to separate itself from the classic game Clue? What it worth the hunting and searching for it? Did Ben Hoppe lead me astray? Can it be played in a lunch hour? Let’s find out!