Trade on the Tigris Teaching Guide Trade on the Tigris Teaching Guide B&W Released: August 15th, 2018 In this episode I teach you to play the game I co-designed with Geoff Engelstein on the Ludology Podcast, Trade on the Tigris. This game

Episode 45 – Merchants and Marauders

Feb 18th, 2014 1h 2m

Released: February 18th, 2014 In this episode you get to listen in on Ryan’s explanation of Merchant and Marauders, whose tutorial was won as an item for the Jack Vasel Memorial Fund. Though not truly an official episode, hopefully it mi

Episode 44 – Clash of Cultures

Jun 29th, 2013 1h 41m

Clash of Cultures Teaching Guide Clash of Cultures Teaching Guide BW Released: June 29th, 2013 Show Notes: I present to you Clash of Cultures. Which is a wonderful civilization game. This epic meaty strategy game could not be den

Episode L – Ryan’s Reviews

Mar 19th, 2013 34m 39s

In this episode I pull together several of my dice tower reviews for your listening pleasure while I am taking a bit of a break from producing How to Play. Reviews included are; Glory to Rome: Black Box Edition 1989 High Frontier Urban Sprawl R

Episode 43 – Merchant of Venus

Jan 2nd, 2013 1h 16m

Merchant of Venus Teaching Guide Merchant of Venus Teaching Guide BW Released: January 1st, 2013 Game Description: Merchant of Venus. A wonderful blending of the excitement of an exploration game with the strategy of an economic ga

Episode 42 – Ora et Labora

Nov 18th, 2012 46m 52s

Ora & Labora Teaching Guide Ora & Labora Teaching Guide BW Released: November 17th, 2012 Show Notes: Its time to cover Uwe Rosenberg’s third great resource management game, Ora et Labora. This game enhances his previously developed id

Episode 41 – Mage Knight

Oct 27th, 2012 1h 22m

Mage Knight Teaching Guide Mage Knight Teaching Guide B&W Released: October 27th, 2012 Show Notes: So you say you want a great solo game experience to get your geek on when nobody’s around? Mage Knight is your game. Its a wonderful themati

Episode 40 – Goa

Oct 1st, 2012 1h

Goa Teaching Guide Goa Teaching Guide BW Released: September 30th, 2012 Show Notes: Today I cover one of the greats of the “eurogame” genre. This game has a wonderful auction system and delicious decisions. Even better it has just been r

Episode 39 – Eclipse

Aug 8th, 2012 1h 36m

Eclipse Teaching Guide Eclipse Teaching Guide BW Released: August 8th, 2012 Show Notes: Today I cover Eclipse which was the overwhelming favorite as the next game to be covered by How to Play as chosen by the supporters. Eclipse is an a

Episode 38 – Rex

Jul 11th, 2012 1h 21m

Rex Teaching Guide Rex Teaching Guide (B&W) Released: July 11th, 2012 Show Notes: You want a great theme with strong mechanics, Rex fits the bill. The six colorful races of Rex fight it out for control of the universe, six races wh

Episode K – My Least Favorite Things

Jun 26th, 2012 42m 35s

In this episode I compile my Dice Tower segment Series, ” I Don’t Like _______” which aired on episodes between February 2011 and February 2012. This compilation is annotated with some thoughts in between each segment as I take a listen back

Episode J – How to Play’s Top 50 Green Circle Games

Jun 10th, 2012 1h 28m

Top 50 For this episode I do something very different. I count down my Top 50 Green Circle Games. I love complex games, but I also love great simple games. Here is a list of my top 50 simple games. This episode also kicks off my summer fun

Episode 37 – Carson City

May 6th, 2012 1h 6m

Carson City Teaching Guide Carson City Teaching Guide B&W Released: May 6th, 2012 Game Description: It’s Caylus … but with guns! That’s right, if you don’t like that your neighbor placed his cowboy in that box, well then just put you

Episode 36x – Expansions and Spinoffs in the Catan Series

Apr 15th, 2012 29m 2s

In this episode I dig into the universe of Catan and the works of Klaus Teuber. This episode will give a basic overview of the expansions, variants, scenarios, spinoffs and other assorted Klaus Teuber games.

Episode 36 – The Settlers of Catan

Apr 15th, 2012 31m 21s

Teaching Guide for Settlers Teaching Guide for Settlers BW Released: April 15th, 2012 Original Show Notes: Settlers of Catan is my favorite game strictly for fun player interaction. Each game involves negotiation, diplomacy and lots of la

Episode I – All I Really Need to Know

Apr 10th, 2012 23m 32s

This is a compilation of a 5 part series that originally aired on The Dice Tower Podcast in the Summer and Fall of 2010. In this series I examine some of the deeper life lessons that can be learned from playing board games. The scripts for th

Episode 35 – Twilight Struggle

Mar 25th, 2012 59m 59s

Twilight Struggle Teaching Guide Twilight Struggle Teaching Guide B&W Released: March 25th, 2012 Game Description: USA vs USSR. The struggle to alter the course of human history. Twilight struggle is a two player card driven game with the

Episode 29w – How to Win Through the Ages

Feb 12th, 2012 1h 22m

Date Released: February 12th, 2012 Description: In this third “How to Win” episode I tackle Through the Ages with my good friend and fellow TTA fan, Geoff Englestein.

Episode 34 – Die Burgen von Burgund

Jan 18th, 2012 49m 47s

Die Burgen von Burgund Teaching Guide Die Burgen von Burgund Teaching Guide BW Released: January 17th, 2012 Game Description: A great medium weight game couples game. In this game players are simply choosing tiles and adding them

Episode H – 2011 Review and Top 50 Update

Jan 9th, 2012 55m 49s

In this episode I talk about the games that I played this year, muse on the year in gaming and present an updated list for my Top 50 favorite games of all time. I discuss all games I played many are new and some are older games. Here is the li

Episode 33 – Game of Thrones

Dec 21st, 2011 1h 17m

Game of Thrones Teaching Guide Game of Thrones Teaching Guide BW Release Date: December 20th, 2011 Game Description: Game of Thrones is one of my favorite games because it lets me be a part of one of my favorite stories. It

Episode 32 – Advanced Civilization

Nov 11th, 2011 1h 16m

Advanced Civilization Teaching Guide Advanced Civilization Teaching Guide B&W Released: November 13th, 2011 Game Description: A classic in board games and an amazing boardgame experience. Sure it may take 10-12 hours to play, but thi

The HTP Method for Teaching Games

Nov 6th, 2011 1s

Here is my original article on teaching games that I wrote on March 9th, 2008 with which the methods I used to eventually develop the How to Play Podcast. Feel free to read the article or listen to the audio version, Episode A, by playing the e

Episode 31 – Airlines Europe

Oct 2nd, 2011 48m 54s

Airlines Europe Teaching Guide Airlines Europe Teaching Guide (B&W) Released: October 2nd, 2011 Game Description: Airlines Europe is the twenty year evolution of the original game Airlines. This game involves route building and stoc

Episode 30 – Troyes

Aug 20th, 2011 1s

Troyes Teaching Guide Troyes Teaching Guide B&W Released: August 20th, 2011 Game Description: Troyes is a game about building a medieval French city by exploiting your influence in the three realms of the nobility, the clergy and th