Monthly Archives: April 2013

Carnagecast 42: Tzolk’in: The Mayan Calendar

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Carnagecast logo.In episode 42 of Carnagecast, after a teaching session at the Green Mountain Gamers’ spring game day, Rod and Sarah discuss Tzolk’in: The Mayan Calendar, a worker placement game which draws inspiration for its mechanics from none other than the titular Mayan calendar, particularly interlocking wheels that move pieces around the board. In addition to the usual crunch of never enough resource and actions for players to do everything they’d like to, the discussion touches upon how the addition of something so spatially and visually oriented as the wheels affect how players think about the game.

Who do Sarah and Rod think should give Tzolk’in a try? Listen in — and check out the show notes behind the cut. Continue reading →

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 23:22 — 34.4MB)

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Carnagecast 41: Crowdfunding Tabletop Games

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Carnagecast logo.In episode 41 of Carnagecast, Rod and Tyler discuss the boom of crowdfunding, the process whereby individuals contribute money to the creation of an item or event in exchange for backer rewards, and the tabletop game hobby. Before the meat of the conversation, they talk Carnage on the Mountain, the way to reserve rooms at Killington by calling the hotel directly and Green Mountain Gamers’ Spring Meltdown, a full day of tabletop gaming at the Lake Morey Resort, beloved stomping ground of Carnage-goers.

What is crowdfunding? How does it differ from a preorder system like GMT Games’? The role of crowdfunding as a tool for established publishers and a means for new designers to make their mark. Crowdfunding removes barriers to entry, which has positive and negative consequences. Rod expresses concern about whether those dropping barriers allow more sub-par games to make it to the market, as they’re propelled directly by the people to whom they appeal.

Wrapping up, they speculate about the future of crowdfunding. Listen in for astonishing predictions!

Enjoy extensive, comprehensive notes behind the jump! Continue reading →

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:09:10 — 73.1MB)

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Carnagecast 40: Gygax Magazine and Gary Con

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Carnagecast logo.In episode 40 of Carnagecast, James Carpio, games editor of Gygax magazine, joins us to talk about the launch of the periodical, the process of assembling a magazine’s worth of content and finding the balance in the old and new schools of role-playing. He also shares some of his trip this past March to Gary Con, an annual gaming convention held in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin in memory of Gary Gygax, one of the progenitors of role-playing games.

Through all of James’ endeavors — designing games, publishing content, running games at conventions, putting on conventions and more — there runs the common thread of the positive influence games can have on people’s lives as a social outlet. Continue reading →

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 56:46 — 49.3MB)

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