City of the Big Shoulders is a crossover heavy Euro game meets 18XX-lite experience for 2-4 players that plays in just over three hours. Released in the summer of 2019 by designer Raymond Chandler III as the first title under his Parallel Games publishing brand. Join Josh for a deep dive into City of the Big Shoulders and decide if this title is the right fit for you, or if you're better off waiting for the next train to come along.

Power to the Meeple Podcast

Episode 16 - City of the Big Shoulders

Kenny Chapman, designer of Knights of the Hound Table, joins Josh inside the Meepledrome to discuss the game's successful Kickstarter campaign (open until 10/18) and share his personal board gaming origin story. 

Episode 15 - Kenny Chapman

Josh recently attended a trade event for the shop and had the chance to demo a ton of games! Catch up with him as he recaps the games he really enjoyed that will be coming out this fall.

Episode 14 - Play All The Demos!

We have finally hit the end of Josh’s Top 100 games. Join him in this episode to count down from 25 to 1 as we highlight his top games of today. Before the main event, catch up on recent plays of Gloomhaven, Parfum, and Irish Gauge and take a peek ahead at the upcoming releases of Icarus and Parks. To leave your feedback on this or any episode head over to the Guild or comment below. Featured in this episode are: 25. Agricola24. Space Base23. Power Grid22. Chicago Express21. Agricola: All Creatures BIg & Small20. Passing Through Petra19. Royals18. Lords of Vegas17. Barenpark16. Railroad Ink15. Twilight Imperium (4th Edition)14. Railways of the World13. Downforce12. Takenoko11. Endeavor: Age of Sail10. Bunny Kingdom9. EXIT8. Welcome To7. Viticulture (Essential Edition)6. Terraforming Mars5. Scythe4. Dinosaur Island3. Raiders of the North Sea2. Orleans1. Concordia

Episode 13 - Top 100 FInale

Josh is joined by Mackenzie from The Meeple Street to discuss her board gaming origin story and here about her awesome work in board gaming blogging, board games in schools, and the effects of board gaming in mental health. The pair review recent plays, anticipate some coming games, and express a shared love for Stonemaier Games. Find Mackenzie’s work at www.themeeplestreet.com Games Featured: Chronicles of Crime 3:25Space Explorers 7:05Dinosaur Island 10:20Exit: The Catacombs of Horror 15:40 Irish Gauge 19:35Nevada City 22:00 Isofarian Guard 25:45Floor Plan 29:50The Stonebound Saga 44:45 Always Green Gardens 44:45Empty Space 45:35Zombicide 1:02:55Scythe 1:09:10

Episode 12 - Getting to Know The Meeple Street

In this special episode of Power to the Meeple, Josh recaps GenCon 2019. The episode features numerous interviews with GenCon attendees about how they make GenCon their own, reviews Josh’s top ten anticipated GenCon games, and awards the Power to the Meeple Best of Show award to the best games of GenCon 2019.   Interview Time Stamps:   3:34 Alien Thinkers (www.alienthinkers.com) 5:22 Laura Siadak (www.fallenlights.net) 14:51 Raymond Chandler III (www.parallelboardgames.com) 34:56 Ryan Sliwoski (https://swstabcast.podbean.com/) 45:33 Dustin Harvey (www.facebook.com/JaggedBrushStudios) 54:57 Bailey & Eric (https://dicenights.podbean.com/) 1:13:00 Chris Masucci (https://mythicosevents.com)  1:25:45 Randy Wilson   Featured Games Time Stamps:   1:04:00 Gloomhaven 1:06:10 Wingspan 1:07:08 Deckbox Dungeon 1:08:08 Marvel Champions: LCG 1:09:55 Letter Jam 1:10:40 Stephenson’s Rocket 1:20:25 ArchRavelry 1:21:29 Mandala 1:22:48 Mechanica 1:23:40 Powered by the Apocalypse 1:35:15 Mystery House

Episode 11 - GenCon 2019 Recap

Josh wraps up his daily GenCon diaries. 

Episode 10 - GenCon Diary Day 3 & 4

Join Josh once again for an (even later) late night recording session from day two at GenCon. (Sorry, my voice was kinda shot on this one). Games featured: Legendary: James Bond, Mystery House, Marvel Champions LCG, Mandala, Welcome to Dino World

Episode 9 - GenCon Diary Day 2

Join Josh for a late night recording that highlights all the events of Day 1 at GenCon.   Food Trucks ArchRavelry Letter Jam Wingspan Imperial Settlers Roll n' Write NASCRAG

Episode 8 - GenCon Diary Day 1

In this very special episode, Josh helps you prepare for this week’s big event - GenCon 2019 with all the games--and non-games--you don’t want to miss out heading into the biggest four days of gaming on planet Earth.  Head to our BGG Guild with what you’re most looking forward to about GenCon (or react with your thoughts after the big event) for your chance to be featured on our GenCon review episode in two weeks.

Episode 7 - GenCon 2019 Preview

Josh is joined by Tim Virnig, board game ambassador and overall good dude, for some adult beverage talk before discussing recent plays of Gearworks, The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-Earth, Clank!, Splendor, Takenoko, and Passing Through Petra. The pair continue the fun and excitement as they explore upcoming releases of The North Sea Epilogues, Scythe Modular Board, Roll Player: Fiends & Familiars, and Rurik: Dawn of Kiev. In this episode’s featured segment we learn about Tim’s role as a board game ambassador for Thunderworks Games and receive a lesson on demoing from the master himself. Make sure to stay tuned for Tim’s tips on getting involved in demoing games yourself! To leave feedback on this episode, head over to our BGG Guild.

Episode 6 - Teaching & Demoing Games featuring Tim Virnig

Josh reviews recent plays of Star Wars: Outer Rim and Orleans: Invasion before looking ahead to the releases of Sovereign Skies and Space Base: Command Station. In this episode’s featured segment, we continue Josh’s Top 100 Games by featuring games 50-26. To leave feedback on this episode, head to our BGG Guild comment below. Featured in this episode are: Clank 7 Wonders Duel Puerto Rico Echidna Shuffle Codenames Duet Just One Marvel: Legendary GKR: Heavy Hitters The Climbers Imperial Assault Smash Up Tokyo Highway Tiny Epic Galaxies Imhotep Modern Art Wits & Wagers Splendor Can’t Stop Patchwork Imperial Settlers Gizmos The Mind Lords of Waterdeep Arboretum KeyForge 

Episode 5 - Top 100 Games, Part 3

In episode 4, Josh is joined by Kyle Delgado of The Traverse City Board Gamers to discuss Michigan geography, recent plays of Spirit Island, Underwater Cities, The Game, Altiplano, and Raiders of the North Sea: Hall of Heroes. The pair look forward to Imperial Settlers: Roll and Write, Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Core Set, 7th Continent, and Aftermath before diving into Kyle’s role with the Traverse City Board Gamers, their new upcoming podcast, review tips for starting your own local board game club. Kyle shares his board gaming origin story and discuss Dominion and Viticulture before rounding the episode out with listener feedback. Make sure you check out Traverse City Board Gamers at traversecityboardgamers.com. Head over to powertothemeeple.com/guild to leave your feedback on the show.

Power to the Meeple Welcomes Kyle Delgado

In today's episode Josh reviews recent vacation games and the Nintendo Switch title For the King before looking ahead to Terror Below and the Barenpark: Bad News Bears Expansion. In our featured segment Josh continues his Top 100 list with games 75-51. Featured in this episode are: 75 - Charterstone 74 - Hanabi 73 - Rising Sun 72 - Dice City 71 - Castles of Mad King Ludwig 70 - Dutch Blitz 69 - Altiplano 68 - Bombay 67 - Telestrations 66 - Roll Through the Ages: The Bronze Age 65 - Ticket to Ride 64 - Descent (2nd edition) 63 - Tiny Epic Zombies 62 - Dice Masters 61 - Stone Age 60 - Diamonds 59 - Detective 58 - Camel Up 57 - Black Fleet 56 - Star Realms/Hero Realms 55 - 7 Wonders 54 - Everdell 53 - Reykholt 52 - Beyond Balderdash 51 - Dominion  

Episode 3 - Top 100 Game, Part 2

In this episode of Power to the Meeple Josh is joined by Matt Franz of Cardboard Carnage to discuss recent plays of Port Royal, Raiders of the North Sea, Tsuro of the Seas and Evolution. Matt and Josh look forward to Star Wars: Outer Rim, learning to play Dungeons & Dragons 5E and the upcoming con season. Matt tells us all about his role on Cardboard Carnage and breaks the news of his upcoming liveplay podcast of Pathfinder 2nd Edition. Josh learns Matt’s board game origin story and the pair discuss Dominion, one of Matt’s favorite board games before Matt is subjected to the Board Games/Sports Crossover Quiz. To learn more about Matt Franz and Cardboard Carnage head over to www.cardboardcarnage.com. To leave feedback on this episode or these games, join the discussion on our BGG Guild.

Episode 2 - A Big Meeple Welcome to Matt Franz

Power to the Meeple is a podcast about board games and all the beautiful Meeple who play them. What we're playing, what we're looking forward to, interviews with industry insiders and deep dives into our favorite games.

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Power to the Meeple Podcast

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