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GM Tips for Running a One-Shot Role Playing Game in Public – Ask The Bellhop

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There is a big difference between running a roleplaying game campaign versus running a one-shot. There is also a big difference in running an RPG for your home group as opposed to running one in public. In this article, I will be talking about running a one-shot in public based on a question I got on Twitter.

Nate Parker Tweeted to ask:
I was hoping I could twist your arm into doing a write-up or podcast episode covering how to run a good RPG session for a gaming event (con/public event/etc.). I feel like it is different from regular sessions you have with known players, and I would love to hear some experienced people talk about it. [ READ MORE ]

Gateway Games – The Next Generation – Episode 54 Tabletop Bellhop Gaming Podcast

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 This is the 54th episode of the Tabletop Bellhop Gaming Podcast, an edited version of our live show recorded on August 14th, 2019. Join us as we stream live every week on Wednesdays at 9:30 Eastern on Twitch. If you like some video with your audio, you can also watch/listen to an unedited version of the show over on YouTube.

Ep 54 - Gateway Games - The Next Generation. The top gateway games of the last three years. Zenteeko review and giveaway. Dead Man’s Cabal and Sorcerer at new player counts. A return to DC Deck-Building for Sean and more! [ READ MORE ]

First plays of Tower Of Madness, more King of the Dice and a return to Lotus – Tabletop Gaming Weekly

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The big game that I got to the table this week was Tower of Madness from Smirk & Dagger Games. This game takes the Kerplunk mechanic and adds a Cthulhu mythos themed game to it.

I broke out Tower of Madness at EZY Mode and during that same event I also played King of the Dice and Lotus. In addition to the games played I also taught a few games and plenty of other games got played that I wasn't involved in. [ READ MORE ]

Zenteeko, a Great Board Game for Gaming Outdoors – Review and Giveaway

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Zenteeko is an abstract strategy that, to me, is a cross between Nine Man Morris and Connect Four, that just happens to be made in a durable water resistant manner that I think makes it a great game for outdoor gaming.

My family likes to spend time outside. We take the kids to the beach, to splash pads, to local parks and we love having a picnic lunch or dinner. Due to this, I'm always really happy when I can find a board game that I can bring along to those outdoor events.  Zenteeko is one of those games. [ READ MORE ]

The Top Gateway Board Games of the Last Three Years – Ask The Bellhop

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When people mention gateway games everyone thinks of Settlers of Catan, Carcassonne, and maybe Ticket To Ride. The thing is, these games are all over 15 years old! Surely there must be some gateway games that are more modern, games that have come out recently that make for great introductions to the world of hobby board games.

This post is inspired by a question by MrUncleAwesome, who contacted me on Twitch, to write:
What is your favorite newish game to play with people just getting into the hobby, after games like catan, and ticket to ride? [ READ MORE ]

Being Picky – How to Pick What Games to Play – Episode 53 Tabletop Bellhop Gaming Podcast

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 This is the 53rd episode of the Tabletop Bellhop Gaming Podcast, an edited version of our live show recorded on August 7th, 2019. Join us as we stream live every week on Wednesdays at 9:30 Eastern on Twitch. If you like some video with your audio, you can also watch/listen to an unedited version of the show over on YouTube.

Ep 53 - Being Picky - How to pick what games to play on game night. Also a review of Raiders of the North Sea and some double date night gaming. [ READ MORE ]

Trying Sorcerer with Four Players and Playing Dead Man’s Cabal with Three – Tabletop Gaming Weekly

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Today I'm returning to two of the hot board games I got at Origins 2019.  First I've got a look at Dead Man's Cabal from Pandasaurus Games. Then I return to the hybrid board game/card game Sorcerer from White Wizard Games.

What I think will be of interest with these new plays of these games is that I tried each of them at new player counts. So read on to check out my evolving thoughts on these hot new games. [ READ MORE ]

How to Pick the Best Board Game To Play? – Ask The Bellhop

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Today I'm going to take some time to talk about how to choose a board game to play. This comes from a question from one of our Tabletop Bellhop Patreon backers.

Joho Rutila writes:
We have an established gaming group of five friends. We get to play about every other month so we want to cherish the time we have found. What would be some of the styles in selecting which games to play? We have now introduced the "Dealer's choice" so the host of the night gets to pick one game. Selecting games has not been a problem for us (except we don't get to play all the game we would want) as everyone is quite happy with the games we play but what kind of ways have you seen? Voting? Dictatorship? Round-robin? [ READ MORE ]

Pain Free Campaigns – Campaign Based Board Games for 2 Players – Episode 52 Tabletop Bellhop Gaming Podcast

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 This is the 52nd episode of the Tabletop Bellhop Gaming Podcast, an edited version of our live show recorded on July 31st, 2019. Join us as we stream live every week on Wednesdays at 9:30 Eastern on Twitch. If you like some video with your audio, you can also watch/listen to an unedited version of the show over on YouTube.

Ep 52 - Pain Free Campaigns - Our thoughts on what makes a campaign game good and 2 player campaign game suggestions. Also first impressions of Chocolatiers and Bastille. [ READ MORE ]

Red 7, The Game, and More for a Double Date Game Night – Tabletop Gaming Weekly

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This past Saturday, Deanna and I had a gaming double date night with Kat and Tori, who some of you will know from our Gloomhaven streams.

Besides some great food and drink the four of us got in quite a few games. Go Cuckoo, The Game, Red 7, The DC Comics Deck-Building Game: Confrontations and a game of Raiders of the North Sea.
In today's weekly re-cap I'm going to talk about all of those games. [ READ MORE ]