In April 2022, I was lucky enough to be invited to the Gathering of Friends, a private gaming convention run by Alan R Moon and held in Niagara Falls, New York. And at the Gathering, I met and became friends with Daryl Andrews, designer of piles of games, including the critically acclaimed Sagrada. At this …

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And sadly it is time for the final installment of my breakfast with Curt Covert, founder of Smirk and Dagger games. Curt is so friendly, and so easy going, and in this section, he spills all about new and exciting coming from Smirk in the next few years. Totally off the books here. So sip …

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Welcome back to part 3 of breakfast with Curt Covert. During GAMA Expo 2022, I connived and pleaded to have Curt, the founder of Smirk and Dagger, and the designer of Cutthroat Caverns, to join me for Eggs Benedict. I did not insist on the Benedict; he made that choice on his own.

And so here it is, the final installment of dinner with Christian T. Petersen during GenCon 2021. I have to admit, I was a bit nervous having a meal with one of the biggest influences on the hobby, the personification of boardgaming buisness. But Christian was affable, charismatic, delightful, and well… downright goofy. I truly …

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Luch continues on a beautiful fall day in Indianapolis. I am eating a burrito with Isaac Childres, designer of Havens, both Gloomy and Frosted. The tortilla wrapped goodness is shedding the last of its delicious innards, and talk turns to success.

Welcome back to our usual booth at Ole’s Waffle Shop. I kept the booth warm for you. I am lucky enough to be chatting with Donald X Vaccarino, designer of Dominion and Kingdom Builder, two time winner of the coveted Spiel des Jahres. And the conversation has turned to Chess. Don’t worry, we are going …

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Welcome back to breakfast with designer Tim Fowers. Tim is an absolute fount of the theory and practice behind games, both video and board, and is the designer behind games such as Paperback, Burgle Bros, and Now Boarding. I am absolutely wired on coffee derived caffeine, so words are spewing forth fast and furious, although …

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And so we have come to the last dribs and drabs of an amazing repast with designer Ryan Laukat. The food has been incredible, the company inspirational, and the atmosphere idyllic. As the coffee drains away, unfortunately it is time to say our goodbyes. But not without some last thoughts on design and originality…

Welcome back to dinner with Shem Phillips, founder of Garphill Games and New Zealand’s preeminent board game designer. Shem is best known for his trilogies of games, the North Sea Trilogy (Shipwrights, Raiders and Explorers) and the West Kingdom Trilogy (Architects, Paladins and Viscounts). Shem and I are just chilling over pies… Mmmm, pies…