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
22episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Bogencon ’26 – Dune; Struggle of Empires (BG Espresso special)
3w ago00:23:11Tap to summarizeBrendan shares his experience at a home-con he attends yearly, Bogencon. Join us, won’t you?The Board Game ShowRegular games for me:The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – Trick-Taking Game (2025)Dice Miner (2021)Strike (2012)The Gang (2024)Games I dusted off:Chicken! (2023)Skull (2011)Glory to Rome (2005)Games I tried for the first timeDune (1984)Struggle of Empires (2004)What games have you tried lately? What are some of your favorite home-con games? Share your thoughts over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.
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Reading Roundup, Q1 2026
3w ago00:18:29Tap to summarizeBrendan shares his thoughts about the books he read in the first three months of 2026. Join us, won’t you?The Death of the Necromancer (Ile-Rien, #2)The Element of Fire (Ile-Rien #1)The Courage of Birds: And the Often Surprising Ways They Survive WinterSeven Surrenders (Terra Ignota, #2)For We Are Many (Bobiverse, #2)All These Worlds (Bobiverse, #3)Barrayar (Vorkosigan Saga, #7)The Warrior’s Apprentice (Vorkosigan Saga, #2)The Secret of Secrets (Robert Langdon, #6)The Mistress of SpicesThe Decagon House MurdersHowling Dark (The Sun Eater, #2)A Conventional Boy: A Laundry Files Novel (The Laundry Files Series)Escape from Yokai Land (Laundry Files, #6.5)What did you read in Q1 of 2026? Share your reads over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.
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Gemini gamers (Astrology files)
3w ago00:17:48Tap to summarizeBrendan talks a bit about what games people born under the zodiac sign Gemini might like best. Join us, won’t you?Previous Astrology Files episodesAllure.com’s “12 Zodiac Signs: Dates and Personality Traits”Guiding Change and TransformationSeasons (2012)Revive (2022)Ark Nova (2021)Very Talkative and CommunicativeMonikers (2015)The Resistance (2009)Blood on the Clocktower (2022)Sidereal Confluence (2017)Unreliable or ScatteredFlip 7 (2024)Mottainai (2015)Stationfall (2023)TwinsSanctuary (2025)Fantasy Realms (2017)Awkward Guests: The Walton Case (2016)Are you a Gemini? Do these games appeal to you? Do you think these fit Geminis you know? Share your thoughts over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.
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King of the Dice; Level 7 Escape; Gold Ahoy!; Dog Park (revisited)
4w ago00:14:22Tap to summarizeBrendan talks about three games he tried for the first time lately, and one game he dusted off. Join us, won’t you?King of the Dice (2017)Yahtzee (1956)Level 7: Escape (2012)Last Night on Earth: The Zombie Game (2007)Gold Ahoy! (2014)Glasgow (2020)Dog Park (2022)What do you think of these games? What games have you played lately? Share your thoughts over on boardgamegeek in our guild, #3269.
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Top of the Stack, June 2026
4w ago00:22:28Tap to summarizeBrendan shares his gameplay achievements from May 2026, and looks ahead to June. Join us, won’t you?May 2025 Top of the StackNew Game – AhoyXTop 50 game – Lost Ruins of Arnak✓Old Game New to Collection – TeotihuacanXOne More – Level 7 Escape✓Shelf of OpportunityJune 2026 Top of the StackNew Game – Struggle of EmpiresTop 50 game – Glory to RomeI’ve been meaning to play this – Tekhenu: Obelisk of the SunOne More – Bury Me In the RiftWhat did you play in May? Share your plays over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.
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Books (Themestorm)
May 2800:23:49Tap to summarizeBrendan talks about games themed around books. Join us, won’t you?Games about LibrariesEx Libris (2017)The Big Book of Madness (2015)Mythic Mischief (2022)The Great Library (2026)Fire in the Library (2019)Alexandria (2017)Atheneum: Mystic Library (2020)Games about Managing BooksA Place for All My Books (2025)My Shelfie (2022)Games about Words and BooksIlliterati (2023)Paperback (2014)Hardback (2018)Fiction (2023)Games About Book-MakingBiblios (2007)Gutenberg (2021)Other themesBooks of Time (2023)Alma Mater (2020)What games about books do you enjoy? Share them over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.
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The ‘geek Asks 14
May 2000:20:46Tap to summarizeBrendan examines the recent posts on boardgamegeek as though the threads are there as questions for him. Join us, won’t you?Negotiation in GamesSpiel des Jahres NomineesTrying to replace a stock image – need help8 Board Game Re-Themes I Made for FunLooking to get into more complex Euros… what is a good “step up”?New to board/card game design so using simulation to test mechanicsOn Board Games 589: TeachabilityMultiple or singular artists?Hello New ComersHow to choose the best board game ?Requesting 10 GG to start a guild for a local gaming groupWhat do you think of this format? Share your thoughts over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.
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Postcards; Leviathan Wilds; MANTIS; Fugitive (Revisited)
May 1800:19:57Tap to summarizeBrendan talks about three games he played for the first time recently. Join us, won’t you?Postcards (2025)Leviathan Wilds (2024)Episode 027: Shadow of the LeviathanMANTIS (2022)“Why the MANTIS shrimp is my new favorite animal.”Fugitive (2017) (revisited)What games have you tried lately? Share your plays over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.
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The Beginning (of the Game)
May 1500:16:49Tap to summarizeBrendan shares his thoughts about what makes for a great beginning to a game. This follows up on the previous episode about ends of games. Join us, won’t you?Happy Salmon (2016)Bruce Voge IIIPaku Paku (2017)Escape: The Curse of the Temple (2012)dude (2018)Agricola (2007)Res Arcana (2019)3 Chapters (2024)Calico (2020)Las Vegas (2012)A Game of Thrones: The Board Game (Second Edition) (2011)A Handful of Stars (2017)Sidereal Confluence (2017)Pandemic (2008)Honorable Mentions:Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization (2015)The Resistance: Avalon (2012)Which games do you hope think have amazing openings? Share your thoughts with the guild over on boardgamegeek, #3269. See you there!
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The End (of the game)
May 1200:19:08Tap to summarizeBrendan talks about how games end, and recommends five games with compelling endings. Join us, won’t you?Skull King (2013)Arkham Horror: The Card Game (2016)Monikers (2015)Escape! The Curse of the Temple (2012)A Study in Emerald (2013)Honorable MentionsRes Arcana (2019)The Adventurers: The Pyramid of Horus (2011)QE (2019)What games do you think have good endings? Share your thoughts over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.
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