Love board games? Let’s talk boardgames, lots of board gaming (and a few RPGs). Tabletop Bellhop, your cardboard concierge, is here to answer your gaming and game night questions, helping you make your game nights better with tabletop game reviews and advice.
We share our favourite tabletop games that involve improvisation as part of gameplay. To go with the topic, we review Oh Captain, My Captain from Simon & Schuster. We also review Emerald Skulls from Thunderworks and, of course, talk about the games we’ve been playing lately, including first thoughts on Courtisans and the new edition of Santorini.
Tabletop Bellhop Gaming Podcast Episode 278, was recorded on June 25th, 2025. We’re on break, but starting back up in August when you can join us live on Wednesdays at 8 PM Eastern at https://www.twitch.tv/tabletopbellhop
Find detailed show notes at https://tabletopbellhop.com/podcast/ep278/
Disclosure: Links may be affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Games mentioned may be review copies provided by publishers.
(00:00:00) Checking In
(00:02:14) Announcements
The Summoning has been rescheduled for August 23rd.
We are taking the month of July off from Podcasting. We should be back August 6th with a special Bellhop Birthday episode!
No Cookie Bar event in July, our next is scheduled for August 7th.
(00:04:04) Ask the Bellhop – Our Favourite Improv Games
(00:38:26) The Bellhop’s Tabletop
(01:06:10) The Game Room – Review of Oh Captain, My Captain!
Grab Oh Captain, My Captain on Amazon: https://amzn.to/45Ok1lI
You may also want to check out For The Queen: https://amzn.to/45IcZyV
Check out other RPG stuff from James D’Amato: https://amzn.to/3GoGuvd
And James’ One Shot Podcast Network: https://oneshotpodcast.com/
(01:30:49) The Game Room – Review of Emerald Skulls
Pick up Emerald Skulls on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3TMaapd
Or check out the Swindler’s Chest at Thunderworks: https://thunderworksgames.com/products/swindlers-chest-emerald-skulls-goblin-vaults
We also love Cartographers Heroes from Thunderworks, check out our review: https://tabletopbellhop.com/game-reviews/cartographers-heroes/
(01:49:59) Closing the Doors
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We share our favourite tabletop games that involve improvisation as part of gameplay.
To go with the topic, we review Oh Captain, My Captain from Simon & Schuster. We also review Emerald Skulls from Thunderworks and, of course, talk about the games we’ve been playing lately, including first thoughts on Courtisans and the new edition of Santorini.
Tabletop Bellhop Gaming Podcast Episode 278, was recorded on June 25th, 2025. We’re on a break, but starting back up in August, when you can join us live on Wednesdays at 8 PM Eastern at https://www.twitch.tv/tabletopbellhop.
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 of the games mentioned in this podcast were provided free by publishers, designers, or distributors.
— Announcements —
The Summoning has been rescheduled for August 23rd.
We are taking the month of July off from Podcasting. We should be back August 6th with a special Bellhop Birthday episode!
No Cookie Bar event in July, our next is scheduled for August 7th.
— Ask The Bellhop: Our favourite improv games — [00:04:04]
- Psychobabble
- Smug Owls
- But Wait, There’s More!
- Snake Oil
- Adventure Party
- For the Queen
- Oh Captain My Captain!
- Trapwords
- Codenames
- Dixit
- No Context
- Dubious
- Kiss the Goblin
- Concept
- The Chameleon
Improv heavy board games suggestions from our fans:
Send your questions to questions@tabletopbellhop.com.
— The Bellhop’s Tabletop — [00:38:26]
What we’ve been playing lately:
— Oh Captain, My Captain! Review — [01:06:10]
Disaster has struck, but the captain has a plan. It involves a dangerous journey to attain a mythical prize, and you trust them to set things right. That’s the premise of this Improv RPG inspired by For The Queen
- Grab Oh Captain, My Captain! on Amazon
- You may also want to pick up For The Queen
- Check out other RPG stuff from James D’Amato
- And James’ One Shot Podcast Network
— Emerald Skulls Review — [01:30:49]
Craps for gamers? A mashup of push your luck dice game and real time betting game set in the world of Ulos.
- Pick up Emerald Skulls on Amazon
- Or check out the Swindler’s Chest at Thunderworks
- We also love Cartographers Heroes from Thunderworks, check out our review!
—Support our efforts—
If you enjoy our content
- Join the Bellhop Discord.
- Check out our Patreon.
- Shop Tabletop Bellhop merch.
- Buy us a coffee.
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