Shows
Dancing with the BardsFood Chain Magnate - Capitalism is Kinda ShitThis episode Larry, Brooke, Will and Chris (no, not that one) cover the restaurant-themed strategy game, Food Chain Magnate. Designed by Jeroen Doumen and Joris Wiersinga, published by Splotter Spellen.
2025-07-0154 minDancing with the BardsCanvas - Ninja Turtles and Inspired CurrencyThis month, Brooke abducts Larry, Ian and Will to play a game about art. Canvas, designed by Jeff Chin and Andrew Nerger and published in 2022 by Road to Infamy Games, is a drafting game where you get to design your next Picasso... or was it Rafael? Turns out some of us know more about art than others.
2025-06-021h 07Dancing with the BardsScout and Barbecubes: Tech Decks and Annabelle ASMRThis month we cover two party games, one you may have heard of, and one you may not. Ian, Larry, Will and Brooke are joined by our guest this week, Annabelle, as we dive into Scout by Oink Games, and Barbecubes by Alley Cat Games. By total coincidence, our second time reviewing games from these publishers at once!
2025-05-0258 minDancing with the BardsBANG! - The Immortal Tequila JoeHowdy folks! This month, Ian, Will, Brooke and Larry cover the 2002 party game known as BANG! with returning guest Rishi from our Candy Land episode! Towards the end is also some silly gameplay! Enjoy!
2025-04-0353 minDancing with the BardsArk Nova - Haunting Prairie Dogs and Ian's FiretowerOn this episode of Dancing with the Bards, Brooke, Larry and a begrudging Ian are joined by Stephen as we delve into this Zoo Management Boardgame published by Feuerland Spiele and designed by Mathias Wigge.
2025-02-2858 minDancing with the BardsTrial by Trolley - One Trolley, Two RoadsWe played Trial by Trolley at the Two Roads Brewery with Tristan and Max. Well, Ian and Brooke did, bringing it around full circle with the original members. We covered Trial by Trolley (accidentally) on the eve of Cyanide and Happiness' 20th anniversary of their web-comic.
2025-02-0154 minDancing with the BardsTrash Talk - The Adventures of Little FellaJoin us for our last episode of the year with guests Max and Bobby, where we cover Trash Talk, a party game published by Friendly Skeleton and designed by Matt Fantastic and Andrea Pincumbe. Also, check out Elm City Games if your ever in New Haven, CT. 38/42
2024-12-3139 minDancing with the BardsAzul - Too Much Caffeine and Travelers on Tree StumpsThis month, Larry, Will, Brooke and Ian delve into the tile placement boardgame known as Azul. Designed by Michael Kiesling and published by Next Move Games, this boardgame is based on the Portuguese art of tile placement, and has players forming patterns on their boards to win points. Can the bards finish the episode before their insides are melted by Celsius and Pre Workout?
2024-11-281h 07Dancing with the BardsApiary - Not the Space Bees!Welcome to another Halloween episode with Dancing with the Bards! This month Will, Larry, and Brooke are joined by Stephen to cover the worker placement game Apiary, by Stonemaier Games.
2024-10-311h 00Dancing with the BardsFire Tower - Clash of KingmakersIan, Brooke, Will and Larry cover the trending game of Fire Tower. We do a deep dive into this beautiful board game by Goliath Games, looking at it's strengths, and it's weaker areas.
2024-08-311h 01Dancing with the BardsTinderblox and DropPolter - Camping Party PackThis month we are covering two party games, with returning guest Lawrence, to kick off Camping with the Bards! DroPolter by Oink Games, and Tinderblox by Alley Cat Games!
2024-07-311h 03Dancing with the BardsScythe - Larry Seizes the Means of Podcast ProductionThis month we are covering Scythe, a worker placement boardgame by Stonemaier games. Nelson joins Will, Brooke and the host for this month's episode, Larry to dive into the game we've been talking about all year.
2024-06-3050 minDancing with the BardsCarcassonne - Road to Ruining DerbyWill, Ian, Brooke and Larry cover Carcassonne, a boardgame designed by Klaus-Jürgen Wrede. We had a lot of fun with this classic tile placement strategy game!
2024-05-311h 07Dancing with the BardsStardew Valley Boardgame - Consult the Farmer's Wiki!On this episode, Brooke, Ian, Will, and returning guest Max take a look at the 2021 Stardew Valley Boardgame, designed by Eric Barrone. We apologize for the poor audio quality on this one! The audio demons struck again!
2024-04-301h 08Dancing with the BardsEclipse:SDftG - The Economy is in Brambles!This month we cover the 4X board game Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy, published by Lautapelit.fi, with Larry as our guest host!
2024-03-301h 03Dancing with the BardsOnce Upon A Time -Evil Birds and Seafaring LumberjacksIan, Brooke, and Will are joined by Chris as we cover Once Upon a Time, a party game published by Atlas Games!
2024-02-2548 minDancing with the BardsUnfathomable - Something Smells FishyWelcome to this digital, radio podcast episode of Dancing with the Bards! This month we cover Fantasy Flight's Unfathomable. We are lucky to be joined by the NullPuppet themsleves, Ace! Check out their Youtube channel for fun content @NullPuppet
2024-02-011h 23Dancing with the BardsWe’re Not Really Strangers and Boop - Feelings and FelinesIt's our December double feature! This month we are covering Koreen Odiney's We're Not Really Strangers, and Boop, a game by Smirk and Dagger. It's a Bards only episode this time around, as we go over these two games that would be great for any holiday gathering you might be going to this year. Happy Holidays everyone, and we'll see you next year.
2023-12-201h 05Dancing with the BardsWrong Party - The Real Fake December EpisodeJoin Ian, Will and Brooke, along with returning guest Max, for Wrong Party! This card-based party game is the latest release from Unstable Games. For such an quick game there is a lot to unpack.
2023-12-0348 minDancing with the BardsMonster of the Week - A Spooktacular Second AnniversaryHappy Halloween everyone! This episode marks the 2nd anniversary for Dancing With the Bards, and we have a great game for you! Brooke, Ian and Will are joined by our frequent guest Larry as we cover Monster of the Week, a game published by Evil Hat Publishing. This open-ended TTRPG has been featured on actual plays like Adventure Zone. A group of three to five players must find and eliminate a monster before all Hell breaks loose, in a style similar to Supernatural or Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
2023-10-3159 minDancing with the BardsOne Night Ultimate Werewolf - Inside This Game are Three WerewolvesThis month for Dancing with the Bards, we are covering One Night Ultimate Werewolf! Brooke, Ian, Chris and our guest Stephen break out our party game rubric for the first time as we cover this adaptation of Mafia.
2023-10-031h 06Dancing with the BardsEscape Triassic Park - A Dino-Mite Micro-RPGThis month we are covering the Micro-TTRPG known as Escape Triassic Park, a game where players try to escape a Jurassic Park parody as genetically engineered dinosaurs. Our guests this week are Tristan and Nicole, and we were able to get an interview with the game's creators Mel and Tevus. Enjoy!
2023-09-021h 33Dancing with the BardsSmash Up- Ian Goes Full CurmudgeonWelcome to Dancing with the Bards! This month, Ian, Brooke and Will are joined by our friend Kyra as we cover the popular board game known as Smash Up. We reminisce about old gaming stores, discuss the do's and don'ts of the game, and make suggestion to increase enjoyment. If you haven't already, follow us on Twitch to get notified for our Summer Camp events, or follow us on our Discord!
2023-07-3147 minDancing with the BardsWingspan -Will Learns About Engine BuildersThis episode is all about birds. Larry joins us once again as we cover the engine builder known as Wingspan. Designed by Elizabeth Hargrave and published by Stonemaier, this board game has become extremely popular over the last few years, and for good reason.
If you have difficulty with bad audio for sensory reasons, this episode may not be for you. We had to re-record the episode because our audio equipment died on us so the volume is all over the place here.
2023-07-0834 min
Dancing with the BardsElfinfolk - An Elf Named BearemyThis month's episode is all about Elfinfolk, an indie TTRPG designed by Adam Baffoni. Ian, Will, and Brooke are joined by returning bard Chris as we explore this 40-page roleplaying game where our tiny characters try to survive living in and around humans. As a bonus, Ian was able to record an interview with the game's creator as we were doing research for this episode. We hope you enjoy!
2023-06-011h 15Dancing with the BardsCandy Land - The Glitter of BoardgamesWelcome once again to the end of another month. This go around we're covering Candy Land with our friend Rishi. Candy Land is probably one of the most recognizable boardgames in America, with a long and surprisingly fascinating history. We cover all that and more as we take a close look at what might be some people's first ever boardgame.
2023-05-0139 minDancing with the BardsCosmic Encounter - A Cosmic Crab BucketJoin us for and our guest this week, Ace, as we go over Ian's favorite board game, Cosmic Encounter. This strategy troop placement game is all about conquering worlds to be the first aliens to have 5 colonies. We discuss how the game's social elements might appeal to certain types of people, the strengths and weaknesses of the game's materials, and more. Join us as we give this a grade between 0-42.
Sorry in advance for some of the audio quality, we were dealing with a very pesky echo.
2023-04-0153 minDancing with the BardsBlood Bowl: 2016 Edition - Fistfights and 4-D CheckersThis special episode is being run by Will, as we bring you Games Workshop's Blood Bowl: 2016 Edition. Larry, TJ, and Oliver join Larry after having run our first ever Blood Bowl Tournament, where TJ (the Binp) managed to intercept the ball in the last second, and stole victory from Larry (the Rat Smacker). We go over our criticisms with the game as a whole, and the positive and negative views from New and Old players.
*Editors Note: In the intro Ian said this is the latest edition of Blood Bowl. Blood Bowl: Second Season Editon is...2023-02-281h 04Dancing with the BardsTsuro - The Jer Show EditionThis month we're playing Tsuro, a tile placement boardgame by Calliope Games. But that's not all! Our show has been taken over by our guest for this month, Jeremy! Come join us as we go over this easy to play boardgame!
2023-01-2448 minDancing with the BardsApples to Apples and Munchkin - The Good, The Bad, and The DatedHappy Holidays! This month we are covering two popular card based games. Apples to Apples, and Munchkin. Brooke, Will, and Ian are joined by returning guest Max, as we look at how these games compare over 20 years after first hitting the market. Have they aged like wine, or milk? Are they still as fun as we remember? Join us as we keep to our holiday traditions on this Bards double feature.
2022-12-261h 14Dancing with the BardsRed Dragon Inn - Drink Me Under the Table PleaseIn this episode, Will, Chris, and Brooke are joined by our guest this week as we cover one of the better known boardgames of all time. Our Bards take on the roles of Adventurers at a tavern where drinking, gambling, and all sorts of shenanigans ensue.
2022-12-0950 minDancing with the BardsBetrayal at House on the Hill- A Truly Haunted 13th EpisodeListen along as Ian, Chris, and will; Joined by guests Larry and Stephen explore this fun and spooky game. Also enjoy our audio that's been possessed by a 1930's radio show.
2022-11-0156 minDancing with the BardsFiasco - Improv: The Tabletop GameThis month, Will, Ian, Brooke and Chris are joined by our friend Nick as we discuss the roleplaying game Fiasco. This game for 3-5 players relies heavily on a players ability to be creative and improvise. Its a roleplay heavy games where what happens is decided on the spot, by the group as a whole. Also, can you believe it's been a year? Here we are at episode 12! Thank you everyone who has been listening. Here is to hoping our next year will be even better!
2022-09-2154 minDancing with the BardsAnime Campaign System - Keeping a PromiseWe are finally covering the Amine Campaign System, a promise we've been making since episode one. We are joined by Nelson this month as we go over the system created by JelloApocalypse for his series Epithet Erased.
2022-08-211h 01Dancing with the BardsUpwind - The Metal Skyhawk and FriendsThis game was a lot of fun, possibly our favorite game we've covered so far. Join Ian, Brooke, Chris, Will, and our guest this week, Courtney, as we discuss this gem of a game we were upset we hadn't heard of before. Upwind is a steampunk-themed roleplaying tabletop game created by a team of developers including Jeff Barber and John Hay, published by Biohazard Games. The most interesting part? It uses playing cards instead of dice!
2022-07-2247 minDancing with the BardsTea Dragon Society - Feeling a Little ChaiJoined by our friend Ace, we go over the card game Tea Dragon society, a card game by Renegade Studios, based on a graphic novel by Kay O'Neil. The game is fun for a wide range of ages!
2022-06-1938 minDancing with the BardsEdge of the Empire - A Star Wars Day SpecialMay the Fourth be with you! Join Ian, Will, and our guests this week Stephen and Larry, as we talk about Edge of the Empire, a Star Wars roleplaying game published by Fantasy Flight games. This episode will be using our new grading rubric!
2022-05-0450 minDancing with the BardsStrawberry Sunset - Tabletop GardeningThis month we're covering Strawberry Sunset, a card game designed by Stellar Factory. Together with our friend Jeremy, we take a look at this very pretty card game that is slightly reminiscent of Carcassonne. Each player must tend their own garden and have the most strawberries or most garden structures by Sunset to win! We had a lot of fun with this, and can't wait to share our thoughts with you!
2022-04-2041 minDancing with the BardsStuffed Fables - Are Apples Purple?This month we cover Stuffed Fables, by Jerry Hawthorne, with Stephen, a teacher who supervises the game club at his school. Join us as we discuss this roleplaying game/boardgame hybrid.
2022-04-0144 minDancing with the BardsArcane Academy - Rule SnafuThe bards review Arcane Academy by Eric M. Lang and Kevin Wilson. Listen as we go in depth into game mechanics while ribbing each other on personal game play. All while trying to get comfortable in our new bardic set up.
2022-02-1830 minDancing with the BardsKids on Bikes -Well Bards Looks Like we Have a Mystery on our HandsZoinks! Join us as we take a look Kids on Bikes ,by Doug Levandowski and Jonathan Gilmour , a TTRPG system that allows you to play out your mystery solving childhood dreams.Featuring our returning bards Ian, Chris, and Brooke as well as special guest minstrel Nelson on this special remote episode.
2022-02-0147 minDancing with the BardsMachi Koro and Spy Fall -A Holiday Double FeatureHappy belated holidays! Join the bards as we review Machi Koro by Masao Suganuma as well as Spy fall by Alexandr Ushan in a double feature bonanza. Two games that are an amazing choice when trying to suck your family/friends into some obligatory seasonal bounding time.
2021-12-3057 minDancing with the BardsThe Excellents- Princesses out of con-trollThe excellents by Adriel Wilson and Chris O'Niell allows you to be a kick ass princess with a sword. this got a rating of 35.75 overall. To see the game play head over to twitch or our youtube channel.
2021-11-3050 minDancing with the BardsTen Candles -Waxy dice, Pyromania and the ApocalypseFiery fun for friends fifteen to fifty. Dancing with the Bards reviews Ten Candles, A tragedy horror by Stephen Dewy CAVALRY GAMES. This indie ttrpg scored 34/42.
https://cavalrygames.com/shop/ten-candles
2021-10-3127 min