Podcast
Pick Up and Deliver
Hosted by Rattlebox Games- Network Feed · EN
A brief podcast about hobby board games, recorded by English professor Brendan Riley on brief 15 minute walks around town. Join us for a stroll as we discuss mechanisms, gameplay, theory, and topics of the day.
Find show notes at RattleboxGames.com
Find show notes at RattleboxGames.com
35episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
GenCon 2026 Games (BG Espresso Flight)
1w ago00:24:15Tap to summarizeBrendan shares his first impressions of three games he played for the first time at Gencon this year. Join us, won’t you?Trickarus (2024)Hey Hey Relay (2024)In a Nutshell (2025)The Trial of the Forest (2026)Magical Athlete (2025)Got Five! (2026)Cyberpunk Legends (2026)What do you think of these games? Which do you find most interesting to try? Share your thoughts over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.
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GenCon 2026 Wrap up
1w ago00:24:50Tap to summarizeBrendan shares some highlights from GenCon 2026. Join us, won’t you?XYZ Game LabsChecking in with friendsAzkadelia (All Play)Kervin Queliza (For Why Games)Flying Frog ProductionsCall of CthluhuTornado Warning at GenConMeeting designersBen Harkin (Floodgate Games)Dominic (North Star Games)Nick Little (Indie Boards and Cards)Gencon tipsBook a few events, but don’t overschedule yourselfThink about using Lyft or Uber rather than drivingPack a LunchWhat’s your favorite thing to do at a convention? Did you go to Gencon? Speak out over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.
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Top of the Stack, August 2026
1w ago00:19:32Tap to summarizeBrendan shares his game plays from July and his plans for August. Join us, won't you?Top of the Stack, July 2026New Game - LibertéTop 50 game - Dungeon Petz✓I've been meaning to play this - Fit to Print✓One More - The Fox Experiment✓Shelf of OpportunityMy Top 50Top of the Stack, August 2026New Game - Night at the ZooTop 50 game - Messina 1347Another New Game - Wandering TowersOne More - Tekhenu: Obelisk of the SunWhat games did you play in July? What games will you play in August?
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Bury Me in the Rift; The Fox Experiment; Diplomacy: The Golden Blade; Sentinels of the Multiverse (revisited)
2w ago00:27:42Tap to summarizeBrendan shares his first impressions of three games he played recently for the first time. Join us, won’t you?Bury Me in the RiftThe Fox ExperimentRegarding evolution: LysenkoismDiplomacy: The Golden BladeKnow Thy Enemy: Designing for Yomi in GamesSentinels of the MultiverseWhat games have you played for the first time recently? Share your plays over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.
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Teaching About Boardgames, part 2
3w ago00:21:21Tap to summarizeBrendan continues his discussion of his boardgame class. Join us, won’t you?Pick Up & Deliver 847: Teaching About Boardgames, part 1“Fail Faster”Playtesting for game designWhat do you think about this class? What should I add or remove? Join the conversation over on Boardgamegeek in guild #3269.
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Teaching About Boardgames, part 1
3w ago00:27:59Tap to summarizeBrendan talks about his approach to teaching his class about Board Games and Community. (Well, he returns to this topic, really.) Join us, won’t you?Previous episodes about my teaching:Pick Up & Deliver 772: My Board Game Class (400 back)Pick Up & Deliver 366: My Board Game ClassGames we play:Monikers (2015)Beyond Balderdash (1993)Point Salad (2019)7 Wonders (2010)Carcassonne (2000)Dominion (2008)Lasers and FeelingsThe Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine (2019)Unlock! SeriesBurn the Fort (2023)Libertalia: Winds of Galecrest (2022)Games we might play:Yut Nori (500)Kalah (1940)Perudo (1800)Mexican Train (1994)Tablut (1700)What games would you use in a course? Share your thoughts over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.
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Reading Roundup, Q2 2026
4w ago00:24:40Tap to summarizeBrendan shares his thoughts about the books he read in April, May, and June of 2026. Join us, won’t you?ChallengerThe Kingdom of GodsDeath of a Gentle LadyThe Wind Through the KeyholeRapport: Friendship, Solidarity, Communion, EmpathyThe Wizard HuntersSupergirl: Woman of TomorrowSystem CollapsePlatform DecayMr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour BookstoreImpostorThe Hobbit, or There and Back AgainThe Company of OwlsThe Birds That Audubon Missed: Discovery and Desire in the American WildernessThe StandWhat did you read in April, May, or June of 2026? Share your reading over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.
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Haunted Mansion; Nestlings; Velonimo; Camel (C)up (revisited)
Jul 1500:22:47Tap to summarizeBrendan discusses three games he played for the first time recently, and one he dusted off. Join us, won’t you?Disney: The Haunted Mansion – Call of the Spirits Game (2020)Jaws (2019)Nestlings (2024)The Gardens (2022)Camel Up (2014) (6 years, 4 months, 13 days dusty)Ready Set Bet (2022)Hot Streak (2025)Animal Upon Animal (2005)Velonimo (2020)Fuji Flush (2016)What games have you tried lately? Share your thoughts over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.
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Emptying the Dust Bin, Mar-May 2026
Jul 1300:27:44Tap to summarizeBrendan talks about the games he got out of the dust in the last couple months but did talk about in the podcast. Join us, won’t you?March 2026Axis & Allies: Guadalcanal (2 years, 5 months, 25 days dusty)Quest for El Dorado (1 year, 9 months, 11 days dusty)Hues and Cues (1 year, 1 month, 19 days dusty)Point Salad (1 year, 6 months, 19 days dusty)Woodcraft (2 years, 7 months, 16 days dusty)Rhino Hero (5 years, 5 months dusty)Can’t Stop (5 years, 8 months, 9 days dusty)April 2026None un-discussedMay 2026Heat: Pedal to the Metal (1 year, 2 months, 22 days dusty)Last Will (1 year, 1 month, 11 days dusty)Forest Shuffle (1 year, 9 months, 6 days dusty)Lost Ruins of Arnak (1 year, 11 days dusty)Lost Cities: The Board Game (1 year, 3 months, 4 days dusty)What games have you revisited lately? Share your plays over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.
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Adaptations
Jul 800:23:33Tap to summarizeBrendan talks about board games that have been adapted from published sources. Join us, won’t you?Previous episodes about this subject:Established Creative WorldsComic Book IPsGame Play by Paul BoothFlip the TableFeels like the textJaws (2019)Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle (2016)Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Board Game (2016)Game components evoke the gameBack to the Future: Back in Time (2020)Shark Island (2017)Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Game (2000)Game that feel like they take place in the text.The Expanse Board Game (2017)The Godfather: Corleone’s Empire (2017)5 best adaptationsLegendary Encounters: An Alien Deck Building Game (2014)Dune (2019)Battlestar Galactica: The Board Game (2008)The Thing: The Boardgame (2022)Star Wars: Rebellion (2016)What adaptations do you like? Share your thoughts over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.
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