The Dice Tower

Eric has been to a local game convention, and Tom and Julie are back from Essen, and we all have stories to tell. We discuss how to reward game teachers, how Spiel's layout has improved, what games people ran for in Germany, and how much Döner Kabab Tom ate. Plus, we returned with a new batch of Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops.
00:00 - Introduction
00:51 - Jet Lag and Other Ways to be Tired
01:51 - Dice Tower Cruises and Dice Tower West
02:34 - Eric at Tabletop Utopia
04:48 - Railway Porters
06:31 - Rewards for Game Teachers
09:56 - On to Spiel!
13:25 - Press Preview Show
16:56 - The Messe is Full
23:14 - Layout Improvements
27:28 - The Games They Ran For
28:26 - Queen Alice's Line
31:07 - The Spiel Foundation in Hall 4
32:06 - Food Adventures
36:01 - See It in 2 Days and Get Cheap Games
37:14 - Odd Purchases from Julie: Revenge of the Seven Dwarfs, Zombie Days, Sylvans
39:05 - From Tom: Dungeon Cube
40:28 - Closing Thoughts on Spiel
41:42 - Crime Scene Tamperer
46:02 - Dicey Waters
49:36 - Thurn and Taxis
53:28 - Panika
56:00 - Greenwood
59:30 - Queen Alice
1:04:12 - Sign Off
Questions? Tales of Horror? tom@dicetower.com

Today, we look forward to the games being released at Spiel 2026 in Essen, Germany. We'll share insights on the games we've played already, and let you know what's at the top of our wishlists.
00:00 - Introduction
00:52 - Dogs vs. Inflatables
02:00 - Dice Tower Cruises (Plural!), Dice Tower West and East
03:43 - Eric at Tabletop Utopia (and G.I. Joe Deckbuilding Game)
05:39 - Off to Spiel! Dice Tower Booth 3R315, Cephalofair 3R200
08:41 - BGG's Spiel Preview
10:58 - Queen Alice
12:36 - Expansions: Faraway: Beyond the Veil, Lost Ruins of Arnak: Surprise Shipment, Harmonies: Crescendo, The White Castle: Boeki
13:54 - Timespan
15:24 - Sixty Below
17:12 - Endeavor Deep Sea: Uncharted Waters
17:34 - Kingdom Come Deliverance
19:14 - ASHES Blackout Protocol
20:20 - Night at the Zoo
21:43 - Gaudi
23:16 - Entropy
24:12 - Drillers
24:50 - Carl von Linné
26:32 - Harmonies: Pulse
26:50 - Nijar
28:16 - Inferno 1348
29:05 - Wildscape
29:42 - Similo Essen Deck
30:17 - Prague Unseen
31:53 - Diables
32:39 - Chronocritters
33:56 - Greylune
35:03 - Axia: Slayer Combo
35:49 - Inferno: Virgil, Charon, & Lucifer
36:11 - Enchanted Ivy
36:42 - Take Time: Mirage
37:15 - Avalon: The Riven Veil
38:20 - Forest Shuffle: Smokey Mountains
39:16 - Schadenfreude
40:08 - Medico
40:38 - Fishing 2
42:16 - The Glasgow Train Robbery
42:33 - Thessaloniki
44:26 - Greenwood
47:10 - Revenge of the Seven Dwarfs
47:44 - Maleficium: Fall of the Witch Hunters
49:06 - Mechs vs. Minions
49:44 - Carpet Racers
50:24 - Fearsome Floors
50:47 - Class of '89
51:18 - Fragments: Solara
Questions? Tales of Horror? tom@dicetower.com

Tom's been gaming, Julie's been gaming, and Eric will be gaming soon. The topic today is what happens when a game outgrows its original box. What do you do with too much gaming goodness? Plus, we have a double dose of Horror, and a usual quantity of Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops.
00:00 - Introduction
00:54 - End of Summer: Essen, PAX, Cruise, Dice Tower West
02:47 - Tom at Dice Tower Retreat
03:54 - Julie's Retreat
05:07 - Eric at Tabletop Utopia
05:34 - Outgrowing Boxes
29:17 - Tales of Boardgaming Horror
40:03 - Temple Twist
44:27 - Hell of a Deal
49:10 - Planet Unknown
53:49 - Moon
58:20 - Journeys Afar: Ketsuki
1:01:50 - Brave & Bold

Tom kicks off the show by telling the tale of a church potluck that hid a surprise. We then continue our Game Night discussion by widening the scope to a larger community event at a local community center or library. The mailbag wonders what you should do when a small group at game night plays the same game every time, and we close the show with some new Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops.
00:00 - Introduction
00:51 - Dice Tower West Early Bird Ends Soon!
01:22 - A Surprise for Tom
05:46 - Running a Community Event
35:51 - Question: Only Playing One Game?
43:24 - The Secrets of Warden Keene
47:14 - Six-Sided Seas
50:12 - Trinket Trove
53:44 - Avenue
56:15 - Sequence Queens
1:00:33 - Endangered Rescue: Chambered Nautalus
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Questions? Tales of Horror? tom@dicetower.com
Dice Tower West: dicetowerwest.com

This time, we discuss the finer points of hosting a game night. From the guest list, to the planned games, to what to do about the food, we attempt to answer what seems like a simple question from the mailbag. Also, we have a new Tale of Boardgaming Horror, and a healthy dose of Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops.
00:00 - Introduction
00:49 - It's Vegas Time (Dice Tower West)
01:19 - Tom's Birthday and Personal Talk
03:20 - Game Night
30:15 - Tale of Boardgaming Horror
35:40 - Star Wars The Deckbuilding Game: Mandalorian and Empire and Rebels Reinforcements
40:17 - Forbidden Legacy
44:16 - Hercules and the 12 Labors
48:48 - The Pride Pursuit
51:41 - Strange Slot Simulator
56:38 - Tea and Rum
Questions? Tales of Horror? tom@dicetower.com
Dice Tower West Registration dicetowerwest.com