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Scaling the Game: How game complexity scales with experience, Tabletop Bellhop Gaming Podcast Episode 102

A discussion on how game complexity scales with experience. Plus detailed reviews of Telestrations Upside Drawn, a team-based version of the classic party game, and The Pip System Corebook, a universal roleplaying system great for new players and for gaming with kids. Also initial thoughts on Roll for Lasers and Breakdancing Meeple, as well as a return to Talisman Batman Super-Villains Edition in our week in review.

Episode 102 of the Tabletop Bellhop Gaming Podcast, recorded August 12th 2020. Join us as we stream live every week on Wednesdays at 9:00 PM Eastern on Twitch. 

If you’d like to watch the (slightly less edited) video version of this recording you can jump to the bottom of the post.

Disclosure: Some links below are affiliate links. Using these links costs you nothing extra and helps us offset the cost of producing this show. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Some games mentioned in this podcast were provided by publishers as review copies.

This episode includes:

—Suggestion Box – Fan Feedback — [00:01:37]

Send feedback to moe@tabletopbellhop.com or sean@tabletopbellhop.com

Gloomhaven Actual Play Videos

Why do people play board games?

Quodd Heroes Review on YouTube

Bastille, A Unique Influence Based Worker Placement Game

Tabletop Bellhop on Instagram

Katana from Tracy Alan

Shadowrun Sixth World Beginner Box Review

Gloomhaven Jaws of the Lion Unboxing

—Announcements—

Newsletter:

Sign up for our newsletter and get weekly updates about everything going on at TabletopBellhop.

100th Episode Giveaway Winners:

Winner: Eric S
Runner up: Jennifer L

2 Year Anniversary Giveaway:

In celebration of our two year anniversary, we’ve teamed up with Grand Gamers Guild to give away a copy of the Kickstarter Edition of Gorinto. (Enter here, ends Aug.26th: Gorinto Giveaway) 

Reviewapalooza:

We are going to try something new the last Wednesday of the month with a special review filled episode replacing our regular AMA.

Depending on how well this goes, we may make this a more regular occurrence.

—Lobby Check-In—

Join us live at 9 pm Eastern every Wednesday at https://www.twitch.tv/tabletopbellhop and take part in The Lobby our chatroom.

Yokohama Added to Board Game Arena
Teotihuacan on Board Game Arena

—Ask The Bellhop— [00:14:40]

Today we have a question from Patron of the show Roger Meloche who asks:

“Hey Moe and Sean, I’ve enjoyed every one of your podcasts and look forward to a new one each week. I have a question regarding Power Creep. Not the kind you find in games, but the power creep experienced by the players.

I always played cards and used to enjoy Risk, many moons ago, but I just recently have started to play “Real” board games. The first modern board game I tried was Jaipur, then later at CG Realm, I was introduced to Carcassonne which really opened my eyes to this new hobby. Somebody then suggested a game called “Great Western Trail”. I had never experienced anything like this, It was all completely new to me. To say I was overwhelmed would be an understatement, I managed to muddle my way through the game, but I could smell a few brain cells, still smouldering when we were done. I remember somebody saying the game was easy, before we played it and I am sure they really thought it was, but I wouldn’t call it a gateway game. Of course, now that I’ve played many different games, I would take a game like Great Western Trail in stride and really enjoy it.

This brings me to my first question; How do you determine if a given player’s skill and experience is a good match for a new game they are about to play, given that a player’s skill level is very subjective at best?

As far as power creep goes; As my skill increases and I look for greater and greater challenges, am I going to lose interest in most of the current games in my collection as I pursue this hobby? Is this a common occurrence?”

Links:
Weighing in on Game Complexity
A Heavy Topic – Podcast Ep 38
Board Game Geek
Weight on BGG
Race for the Galaxy
How to pick what board game to play? 
Being Picky – Podcast Ep 53
Great games for introducing a new player to hobby board games
The Hook – Podcast Ep 28
Looking for games with a similar feel to Catan
Life, the Universe, and more than Catan – Podcast Ep 42
Jones’ Theory

Send questions to questions@tabletopbellhop.com

—The Game Room: Telestrations Upside Drawn— [01:05:59]

A review of Telestrations Upside Drawn, a team-based version of the classic party game.

Telestrations Upside Drawn Full Review
Telestrations Upside Drawn Unboxing
Buy Telestrations Upside Drawn

—The Game Room: The Pip System Corebook— [01:19:41]

A review of the softcover printing of The Pip System Corebook a universal RPG system great for kids and new players.

The Pip System Corebook Full Review
Buy the Pip System Corebook

—The Bellhop’s Tabletop— [01:53:32]

A look at what games hit our tabletops over the last week:

Roll for Lasers on Kickstarter
Breakdancing Meeples
Talisman Batman Super-Villains Edition
Patchwork
Codenames Duet
Telestrations Upside Drawn

—Support our efforts—

If you enjoy the content we are producing please consider tipping The Bellhop at:
https://www.patreon.com/tabletopbellhop

Find us all over the web:
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Picture of Moe Tousignant

Moe Tousignant

Moe Tousignant is a lifelong gamer and active member of the tabletop gaming community. As The Tabletop Bellhop, Moe takes his lifelong love of gaming and channels it into helping others upgrade their game nights. Whether through game night tips, recommendations, or in-depth reviews, his mission is simple: to help you make your game nights better.
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