Shows / Pick Up and Deliver
Pick Up and Deliver
A brief podcast about hobby board games, recorded by English professor Brendan Riley on brief 15 minute walks around town. Join us for a stroll as we discuss mechanisms, gameplay, theory, and topics of the day.
Find show notes at RattleboxGames.com
Episodes
Pick Up and DeliverShelf of Opportunity Review (part 1)
Brendan talks about the games on his shelf of opportunity and why they’re there. Join us, won’t you? Previous SOO episodes Pick Up & Deliver 562: Shelf of…
Pick Up and DeliverThings I Like About Ark Nova
Brendan shares a message from the deep about Ark Nova. Join us, won’t you? Ark Nova (2021) Pick Up & Deliver 614: Essential Expansions Previous episodes in…
Pick Up and DeliverApril / May ’24 Movie Roundup
Brendan shares what movies he watched in April and May of 2024, what he thought of them, and what games would go well with a viewing. Join us, won’t you?…
Pick Up and Deliver4 Things About Deck-building Games
Brendan shares his thoughts about what makes deck-building games fun or interesting. Join us, won’t you? Previous episodes: Pick Up & Deliver 015: Deck…
Pick Up and DeliverCairn, Hadrian’s Wall, Mythic Mischief, A Handful of Stars (revisited)
Brendan shares some thoughts about new/old games he’s played recently. Join us, won’t you? Cairn (2019) Onitama (2014) Hadrian’s Wall (2021) Fleet: The Dice…
Pick Up and DeliverLook Back at 2012
Brendan looks back at 2012 and examines the games he’s played that were published in that year. Join us, won’t you?Top 5 Games from 2012 5. Legacy: Gears of…
Pick Up and DeliverNegotiation … and Betrayal!
Brendan shares his views on negotiation games, articulating 3 different kinds of them and what he likes and dislikes about each. Join us, won’t you? Economic…
Pick Up and DeliverRevisiting ‘Episode 224 – Paper Tales, The Isle of Cats, & Everdell – Pearlbrook’ (400 Back)
Brendan looks back 4 years to see what was happening four years ago at this time. Join us, won’t you? Pick Up & Deliver 224: Paper Tales, The Isle of Cats…
Pick Up and DeliverReading Roundup, Q1 2024
Brendan talks about the books he’s read since the last time he did one of these book review episodes. Join us, won’t you? The Rhesus Chart (Laundry Files #5)…
Pick Up and DeliverTop of the Stack, June 2024
Brendan shares his recent plays from May of 2024, and talks about what he’s gonna play in June. Join us, won’t you? Top of the Stack, May 2024 NEW GAME – RYŪ✓…
Pick Up and DeliverThe 'geek Asks 12
Brendan explores the Boardgamegeek Forums and responds to the thread titles as if they were questions for him. Join us, won’t you? Previous episodes of “The…
Pick Up and DeliverPorta Nigra, Faraway, Dro Polter, Photosynthesis (revisited)
Brendan shares his first thoughts about three games he tried recently, and one he dusted off. Join us, won’t you? Porta Nigra Faraway Dro Polter Photosynthesis…
Pick Up and DeliverBug Games (themestorm)
Surrounded by Cicadas, Brendan talks about games themed around bugs. Join us, won’t you? 5. Kabuto Sumo 4. Beez 3. Mariposas 2. Honey Buzz 1. Nexus Ops…
Pick Up and DeliverMarch '24 Movie Roundup
Brendan talks about six movies he watched in March of this year, and games to go with them. Join us, won’t you? Saw X Unlock The Wedding Singer Fog of Love…
Pick Up and DeliverReally Loud Librarians, That’s Not a Hat, Wild: Serengeti, Strike (revisited)
Brendan shares his thoughts about three new games he played for the first time recently. Join us, won’t you? Really Loud Librarians That’s Not a Hat Strike…
Pick Up and DeliverWeird Scoring Conditions
Brendan talks about games that have cool, weird scoring conditions. Join us, won’t you? Moxy Früvous, “Lowest Highest Point” Blog Post – “You Gotta Spend Money…
Pick Up and DeliverKramer and Kiesling (Great Designers)
Brendan talks about some games he’s played by prominent designers Wolfgang Kramer and Michael Kiesling. Join us, won’t you? Jointly-designed Games The Princes…
Pick Up and DeliverHabitats, Ted Lasso, Alien Artifacts, Call of the Wild (revisited)
Brendan talks a bit about three games he tried for the first time recently. Join us, won’t you? Habitats Ted Lasso Party Game Alien Artifacts Call of the Wild…
Pick Up and DeliverEssential Expansions
Brendan talks a bit about which expansions he considers “essential,” whatever that means. Join us, won’t you? Altiplano: The Traveler Barenpark: The Bad News…
Pick Up and DeliverTop of the Stack, May 2024
Brendan shares the games he played last month. Join us, won’t you? April 2024 Top of the Stack list NEW GAME – Porta Nigra NOVELTY CHOICE – Raise the Titanic!…
Pick Up and DeliverDeterminism vs. Randomness
Brendan reflects on the ideas of determinism and randomness in games, in response to a recent The Secret Cabal episode. Join us, won’t you? TSC 295: Aquatica…
Pick Up and DeliverTitanic, Aeon’s End, Bastion, dude (revisited)
Brendan shares his first impressions of three games he tried for the first time recently and one he revisited. Join us, won’t you? Titanic Aeon’s End dude more…
Pick Up and DeliverLook Back at 2013
Brendan shares his favorite games from 2013. Join us, won’t you?Eliminated from Consideration: A Study in Emerald Euphoria: Build a Better Dystopia Top 5…
Pick Up and DeliverFebruary '24 Movie Roundup
Brendan talks about six movies he watched in February of this year, and games to go with them. Join us, won’t you? Oppenheimer Manhattan Project The Manhattan…
Pick Up and DeliverWyrmspan, Charty Party, Herd Mentality, SMARTish, Century (revisited)
Brendan shares his first impressions of FOUR games he tried for the first time recently. Join us, won’t you? Wyrmspan Wingspan Apiary Charty Party Apples to…
Pick Up and DeliverTax Day Games
Brendan suggests some games that have themes related to taxes, and some films that go with them. Join us, won’t you? Games that have taxes in them Monopoly…
Pick Up and DeliverFour Things about Lords of Waterdeep
Brendan gives a deep-dive review of Lord of Waterdeep. Join us, won’t you? Lords of Waterdeep Previous mentions of Lords of Waterdeep on this podcast…
Pick Up and DeliverDream Home, Medieval Academy, Forest Shuffle, Potion Explosion (revisited)
Brendan shares his first impressions of three games he tried recently, and revisits an older game. Join us, won’t you? Dream Home Medieval Academy Forest…
Pick Up and DeliverHouse Rules
Brendan talks about his favorite house rules and what he thinks about them. Episode inspired by Cardboard Philosophy episode 10: Are House Rules Good? Ark Nova…
Pick Up and DeliverMagic Rabbit, Dawn of Peacemakers, Evacuation, Weather Machine (revisited)
Brendan shares his first impressions of three games he tried recently. Join us, won’t you? – Magic Rabbit – Dawn of Peacemakers – Evacuation – Weather Machine…
Pick Up and Deliver10x10s (400 Back)
Brendan looks back at episode 202, and reflects on his history of doing 10×10 lists. Join us, won’t you? Pick Up & Deliver 202: Twenty by Five – 2018 “Top of…
Pick Up and DeliverTop of the Stack, April 2024 (Season 7 Premiere!)
Brendan shares the games he played last month. Join us, won’t you? March Top of the Stack list NEW GAME – Forum Trajanum X CO-OP CHOICE – Bastion ✓ SOLO –…
Pick Up and DeliverProject L, Freelancers, FlipOut, Kingdom Rush (revisited)
Brendan shares his first impressions of three games he played for the first time recently. Join us, won’t you? Project L (BGG) Freelancers: A Crossroads Game…
Pick Up and DeliverSmall Games Deep Dive
Brendan “dives deep” into several small games he’s played a lot. Join us, won’t you? Previous Message from the Deep episodes Previous Duel episodes Anomia…
Pick Up and DeliverTeaching Games (revisited)
Brendan shares his thoughts on teaching games (again). Join us, won’t you? SVWAG #302: RULES EXPLANATIONS Previous episodes on teaching games: Pick Up &…
Pick Up and DeliverSomething Wild! Marvel: Holiday Baby Groot; Vagrantsong; Nucleum; Allow Me to Mansplain (revisited)
Brendan talks about three games he tried for the first time recently. Join us, won’t you? Something Wild! Marvel: Holiday Baby Groot Vagrantsong Nucleum Allow…
Pick Up and DeliverDec '23 / Jan '24 Movie Roundup
Brendan shares his film viewing in December and January of 2023 and 2024. Join us, won’t you? Spotlight She Said The Report Official Secrets Shattered Glass…
Pick Up and DeliverBG Stats, revisited
Brendan returns to the conversation about math and stats and the BG Stats app. Join us, won’t you? The Board Game Stats app Pick Up & Deliver 592: Games I am…
Pick Up and DeliverTop of the Stack, March 2024
Brendan shares his month’s play stats and feelings about them from February 2024. Join us, won’t you? Top of the Stack, Feb 2024 NEW GAME – Evacuation✓…
Pick Up and DeliverDungeon Scrawlers, Cosmocotopus, Star Wars Deck Building Game, revisiting City of Horror
In this Board Game Espresso episode, Brendan shares his first impressions of three games he’s tried recently, and one game he dusted off. Join us, won’t you?…
Pick Up and DeliverGames I'm Best at... maybe?
Brendan meditates on which games he’s best at … and what he thinks is a good way to measure that. Join us, won’t you?The Five Games I thought would be at the…
Pick Up and DeliverTrophies, Smug Owls, Pretense, Shut the Box, That’s a Question!, Tapple
Brendan shares a “flight” of tasty game samples. Even shorter than his usual first-exposure game reviews. Enjoy! Trophies Smug Owls Pretense Shut the Box…
Pick Up and DeliverReading Roundup, Q4 2023
Brendan summarizes and discusses his recent reading from October, November, and December of 2023. Join us, won’t you? The Waste Lands by Steven King Wizard and…
Pick Up and Deliver2022 Superlative Awards
Brendan shares six games from 2022 that he feels earned a superlative award. Join us, won’t you? Most deluxe game that I’m jealous of but I’m glad I didn’t buy…
Pick Up and DeliverBest Games of 2022
Brendan shares his favorite games from 2022. Join us, won’t you? Frosthaven Revive Mosaic: A Story of Civilization My Father’s Work Libertalia: Winds of…
Pick Up and DeliverWyatt Earp, Thunder Road Vendetta, Brian Boru, Downforce (revisited)
Brendan shares his experience trying out three games for the first time, and one game he dusted off. Join us, won’t you? Wyatt Earp Thunder Road: Vendetta…
Pick Up and DeliverTop 5 Gaming Moments of 2023
Brendan shares his favorite gaming moments that come to mind from 2023. Join us, won’t you? Anomia with the CCC Board Game Society Playing Orléans and Brass…
Pick Up and DeliverTop of the Stack, February 2024
Brendan shares his gaming update from January and his plans for February. Join us, won’t you? Top of the Stack, January 2024 NEW GAME – Vagrantsong✓ SHAMEFUL…
Pick Up and DeliverAmun-Re, Puerto Rico 1897, Pit, The Isle of Cats (revisited)
Brendan shares his thoughts on three games he tried for the first time recently. Join us, won’t you? Amun-Re: 20th Anniversary Edition Puerto Rico 1897 The…
Pick Up and DeliverTop of the Stack, Jan 2024
Brendan shares his gameplay results from December of 2024 and his plans for January. Join us, won’t you? December Top of the Stack List Hadrian’s Wall…
Pick Up and DeliverOct / Nov '23 Movie Roundup
Brendan talks a bit about the films he watched in October and November of 2023. Join us, won’t you? Dune Dune Dune Imperium Dune: A Game of Conquest and…
Pick Up and DeliverChroma Mix, Apiary, Apollo, Fantasy Realms (revisited)
Brendan shares his thoughts on three games he tried for the first time recently. Join us, won’t you? Chroma Mix Apiary Honey Buzz Beez Beeeees! Fantasy Realms…
Pick Up and DeliverGames I Stink At
Brendan shares some thoughts and stats reflecting on which games he isn’t good at, and why. Join us, won’t you? Through the Ages A Few Acres of Snow Agricola…
Pick Up and DeliverIlliterati, Wormholes, Keystone: North America, Orleans (revisited)
Brendan shares a bit about three games he tried for the first time, and one he dusted off. Join us, won’t you? Illiterati Wormholes Keystone: North America…
Pick Up and DeliverReading Roundup, Q3 2023
Brendan shares the books he read in July, August, and September of this year. Join us, won’t you? The Troop by Nick Cutter The Water by David Grann An Elderly…
Pick Up and DeliverTop of the Stack, December 2023
Brendan shares his November gameplay experiences, and his plans for December. Join us, won’t you? November Top of the Stack List NEW GAME – Apollo: A Game…
Pick Up and DeliverGlow, Underlings of Underwing, Acquire (revisited), Septima
Brendan shares his first impressions of three games he tried recently, and returns to an old favorite. Join us, won’t you? GLOW Underlings of Underwing Acquire…
Pick Up and DeliverGiving Thanks for Games
Brendan shares a bit about the selection of games he brought with on his Thanksgiving visit to the in-laws’ house. Join us, won’t you? Wits and Wagers: It’s…
Pick Up and DeliverCat in the Box, Welcome to the Moon, Point City, Santo Domingo (revisited)
Brendan shares his first impression of three games he tried for the first time recently. Join us, won’t you? Cat in the Box Welcome to the Moon Welcome To……
Pick Up and Deliver2014 Look Back
Brendan looks back at his view of the best games of 2014. Join us, won’t you? Orléans (top 50) Dead of Winter (top 50) Five Tribes (top 50) Roll for the Galaxy…