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.
This episode we share our favourite games where you level up or power up during the game, but that aren’t campaign games. To go with that we’ve got a spoiler free review of Vantage from Stonemaier Games.
We also review Tea Witches from The Op, share first thoughts on How to Save A World, talk about our first ever Pop Up Board Game Cafe, and more.
Tabletop Bellhop Gaming Podcast Episode 287, was recorded on October 29th, 2025. We usually try to record Wednesdays at 8 PM Eastern at https://www.twitch.tv/tabletopbellhop
Find full detailed show notes at https://tabletopbellhop.com/podcast/ep287/
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
(00:01:53) Ask the Bellhop
(00:35:12) The Bellhop’s Tabletop
(00:53:02) The Game Room – Review of Vantage
Pick up a copy, https://amzn.to/3JFdml7
Pick up the Vantage Playmats, https://amzn.to/4oMTxax
Or the upgraded Skill Tokens, https://amzn.to/4oQ5EDU
Visit Stonemaier Games on Amazon, https://amzn.to/3LlriBc
Our other Stonemaier content: https://tabletopbellhop.com/search/?q=stonemaier
(01:29:24) The Game Room – Review of Tea Witches
Pick up Tea Witches, https://miniature-market.sjv.io/4G4E6M
Pick up the Deluxe Upgrade Kit, https://miniature-market.sjv.io/qzPyrj
Check out our GAMA Expo 2025 Coverage: https://tabletopbellhop.com/podcast/ep267/
We’ve covered a lot of games from The Op: https://tabletopbellhop.com/search/?q=The%20Op
(01:54:08) Closing the Doors
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This episode we share our favourite games where you level up or power up during the game, but that aren’t campaign games. To go with that we’ve got a spoiler free review of Vantage from Stonemaier Games.
We also review Tea Witches from The Op, share first thoughts on How to Save A World, and talk about our first ever Pop Up Board Game Cafe
Games mentioned on Tabletop Bellhop Gaming Podcast Episode 286: Vantage, Tea Witches, How to Save a World, The Fellowship of the Ring Trick Taking Game, and more.
Tabletop Bellhop Gaming Podcast Episode 286 was recorded on October 29th, 2025. You can join us when we record live, usually 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.
— Ask The Bellhop: Non-Campaign Board Games with Character Advancement — [00:01:53]
For talk on campaign games with advancement check out: Tabletop Bellhop Gaming Podcast Episode 193, Dungeon Delving
- Fallout
- Xia: Legends of a Drift System
- Vantage
- Cthulhu Death May Die (our CDMD review)
- Zombicide (our Zombicide Invader review)
- Talisman The Magical Quest Game (our Talisman Batman review)
- Marvel Champions
- Sanctum (our Sanctum review)
- Mage Knight
- Marvel Dice Throne (our Dice Throne review)
- One Deck Dungeon
- Hellbringer (our Hellbringer preview)
- Horizon Zero Dawn (our HZD review)
- Clank: A Deck-Building Adventure
Honourable Mentions:
From our Fans:
Send your questions to questions@tabletopbellhop.com.
— The Bellhop’s Tabletop: What we’ve been playing — [00:35:12]
- Vantage
- Tea Witches
- Guildlands
- Boop (our review)
- Floristry
- Zensu (our review)
- Courtisans
- Hex Effect
- The Fellowship of the Ring Trick Taking Game
- How to Save a World
— Vantage Review — [00:53:02]
Your ship has crashed, you and your fellow crew members step out of your escape pods to find yourselves separated on a strange planet, all you have to go on is the vantage in front of you. What do you do?
- Pick up a copy of Vantage
- Pick up the Vantage Playmats
- Or the upgraded Skill Tokens
- Visit the Stonemaier Games Amazon Storefront
- Check out our other Stonemaier content!
— Tea Witches Review — [01:29:24]
You’ve got a booth at the annual Tea-quinox Festival. Using your Tea-pups visit various Boo-tiques in an effort to build customer loyal-tea and be awarded best in show.
- Pick up Tea Witches
- Pick up the Tea Witches Deluxe Upgrade Kit
- Learn about other cool games we discovered at GAMA Expo 2025
- Check out other great games from The Op that we’ve covered
—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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