# Wil Wheaton's new show about boardgames **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [March 20, 2012, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wil-wheatons-new-show-about-boardgames/616324 "2012-03-20T15:27:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2012, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wil-wheatons-new-show-about-boardgames/616324/41 "2012-06-08T20:11:17Z")
> [@That\_Don\_Guy](#): > > I’m pretty sure Smallworld doesn’t have cards. Are you sure you aren’t thinking of another game? > > On the other hand, since Smallworld is a fantasy game with an arbitrary setup, wouldn’t playing it solitaire be like playing chess solitaire - what’s the real point? Yup, sorry. _Munchkin_ and _Ticket to Ride_ have the players holding card hands that are “hidden” from the other players, and you “spring” surprises on them to mess with their plans for gameworld domination. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2012, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wil-wheatons-new-show-about-boardgames/616324/42 "2012-06-08T21:44:33Z")
I watched two episodes, the _Small World_ one and the _Settlers of Catan_ one. I didn’t love the show. For the game I didn’t know how to play (Small World), I didn’t feel like there was enough there to teach me how to play, or let me know how strategic the game was. For the game I did know how to play, there wasn’t enough information about the game they were actually playing for me to follow who was winning. If it went a little further in either direction, I could see myself watching it again. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2012, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wil-wheatons-new-show-about-boardgames/616324/43 "2012-06-16T12:04:46Z")
The new episode with [Castle Panic](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpuTGWFkBYs&feature=player_embedded) is now up. It’s a co-op game that…well, it’s just not my cuppa tea. Most co-op board games I’ve played typically aren’t that friendly without the exact right balance of people. Usually the interpersonal dynamics of those who are confused by what’s going vs those who are bossy tend to get icky. I’m speaking from experience as I tend to get a bit bossy in these games and I just have a hard time watching people make mistakes that could cost the game and feel like I need to give help each time. And that’s not fun for them. (I played Forbidden Island twice before realizing I shouldn’t be playing that.) It was a good episode however and I feel like I really get to know the game mechanics without having to read a rule book. Next episode up is Gloom which is a sweet little card game I just introduced to my co-workers at our weekly board game lunch time. The goal of the game is to make your family as miserable as possible while making opponents’ families happy before killing them off one by one. It’s Tim Burton meets Edward Gorey at Lemony Snickett’s house. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wil-wheatons-new-show-about-boardgames/616324/44 "2012-06-22T01:00:11Z")
> [@mlees](#): > > Heh. I just watched episode 4 (with Ticket to Ride). > > I cracked up when Wil’s wife (Anne?) smacked the table during the end game scoring, causing the pieces to scatter. I thought “she doesn’t accept losing gracefully”. I finally watched it - that was hysterical! ---
**Author:** ![Brainiac4](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brainiac4/32/3534_2.png) [@Brainiac4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brainiac4)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wil-wheatons-new-show-about-boardgames/616324/45 "2012-06-22T23:27:40Z")
Tabletop is very popular at our house. I’m waiting to watch Castle Panic until my daughter gets back to town, because it’s good geek bonding time. 🙂 I’ve enjoyed every episode thus far, and I think they’ve really grown in terms of explaining the game rules - I’ve felt like I understand how to play each of the games after watching the episodes. And also wanting to buy the ones I don’t have. I’m wishing they could do an episode a week - there are a lot of seriously great games out there. I don’t think card games like Dominion or Ascension (or the granddaddy, Magic) would translate well to the Tabletop format, but I think something like it could work. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wil-wheatons-new-show-about-boardgames/616324/46 "2012-08-24T14:27:30Z")
Just a bump about the new [ep featuring Elder Sign.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jh4nSpV2n4k&feature=g-all-u) Great game that’s co-op or solo. I’ve played this one solo a couple times and love the atmosphere and felt a little vindicated that I was playing it right too. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wil-wheatons-new-show-about-boardgames/616324.md?page=2)