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Chris

@magicandmeeples

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♓️ Board gamer, editor, reader, writer, dreamer
🎲 Rulebook & board game editor
💖 Host of #boardgamewritings🔮

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9 months ago

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3 years ago

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4 years ago

What was on your table this past weekend?

One game that saw several plays for us was Harmonies, including this new Pulse expansion (@libellud, sent to me by @asmodee_usa).

Pulse is the smaller of the two new expansions (Crescendo being the larger one, which I'll also be posting about soon). It comes in packaging similar to a TCG booster pack, and that's kind of what it feels like, too, since its primary purpose is to add new cards to the game (though unlike a true booster pack, the cards in every package are the same).

It adds 10 new cards in total, 2 of each type. What makes these cards special is that their patterns include 3 colors, rather than just 2. And somehow those 10 cards really do add a whole new layer of thinkiness to the game.

In theory, they could be helpful if you've already accidentally created that pattern on your board. But in reality, I've never once coincidentally made the same shape as the ones on the cards. And I find it so hard to plan out how to make a 3-color pattern work with all the other goals happening on my board!

That's not to say I don't love it. I do! I think Pulse gives Harmonies a nice little nudge up in complexity, without changing too much about the game we know and love. And the cards themselves are just beautiful, with lovely new animal art. (My faves are the robins, the pandas, and the axolotl!)

The real beauty of it is that if we don't want to pick those cards for ourselves, we don't have to. But if we do want a bit of extra challenge, they're available whenever they come up from the deck.

We'll definitely include this mini expansion in all our future plays! Have you gotten the chance to try it yet? by @magicandmeeples

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6 hours ago

An alchemist is often portrayed as one who gathers ingredients and crafts magical elixirs, many times trying to turn metal to gold or find a potion for immortality.

What would their favorite animal be? That's what #safarisaturday asks us today, and I have chosen a goat (from Mountain Goats by @allplayhq).

A goat may symbolize ambition and perseverance, which an alchemist must have, as well as ascent to a higher spiritual plane.

In dreams, a white goat may symbolize luck, while a black goat may be a bad omen. In magical traditions, goat's milk may serve as an ingredient for a spell (and likely for an alchemist's potion or two).

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#safarisaturday is run by @short.stuff.boardgames and @nerdygirlgaming

Today's prompt was suggested by @nane_spielt_in_ffm by @magicandmeeples

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2 days ago

Spooky season has arrived, and with it, a new (not-so-spooky) #boardgamefaceoff (hosted by @brettspielgiraffe and @theravenmeeple) for October.

The theme is TACTILITY, suggested by @boardhoardscored, and my partner is the very lovely Ruth of @just2meeples. For round 1, we have gone with games that have very tactile components.

I have chosen Marrakech, a game I love on BGA and have finally scored a copy of. The rugs that you place overlapping on the game board are made of a soft, felt-y material, and it really adds to the gameplay experience! (Swipe to see a pic of them on the gameboard.)

Ruth has gone with Cat Earth, which I've never tried but looks cute!! Check her post to learn more.

Then vote for your fave in my stories! And let me know if you've tried Marrakech before or want a turn-based game together on BGA! by @magicandmeeples

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5 days ago

When Wingspan Pocket was first announced, I kept telling Husband we didn't need it. I didn't see the purpose of it, really. We love Wingspan and all its variations so much, why would I play this smaller, shorter, more streamlined version?

Well, it turns out that's exactly why.

When we got the opportunity to review Wingspan Pocket (thanks, @stonemaiergames), it ended up hitting the table multiple times in a week: after work with Husband, waiting for Chinese food delivery with Dad, during a few solo sessions to take my mind off the week's stress. It was definitely my #gameoftheweek, hosted by @tubbsplaysgames.

It requires barely any setup and the gameplay is super simple. Double-sided cards act as either food or birds. They stay in your reserve (basically an open hand) until you play them into your nest row. Other actions include drawing cards (food or birds) or making the beautiful gold-spattered eggs.

Whenever you take an action, you activate the brown powers of all the cards in your nest from left to right. This means every single turn, you can get benefits like tucking cards, making eggs, drawing cards, and more. But some cards give those benefits to your opponent, too.

Whereas Wingspan tends to limit you, Pocket can feel like you're doing too much too fast, like things are overpowered (and some birds do seem to be) or on hyperspeed. But that's because the game ends as soon as one player plays 6 birds into their nest, which doesn't take a ton of time at all.

The solo mode is equally quick and simple, and it'd the first Stonemaier solo automata I actually really enjoy.

It doesn't come close to replacing Wingspan for me, and I'd choose the full version over Pocket every time I have the time. But the truth is that I don't always have the time. And Pocket manages to give you a taste of that same Wingspan magic in a smaller dose, and it's a lot of fun in its own way.

Plus, of course, the artwork is gorgeous, the eggs are lovely, and I absolutely love the bird facts.

So while Wingspan will be more loved, Pocket will get more plays, and that's why I've come around from my initial impression to feel like both do have a permanent place in my collection. by @magicandmeeples

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8 days ago

This #topictuesday🎲 (hosted by @ataleoftwomeeples) the question is "What's a game that gets harder the more you play?" to tie in today's #boardtober2026 prompt (created by @getintogames): "danger lurked in every corner."

I have gone with Ticket to Ride Legacy (@daysofwonder; sent to me for review by @asmodee_usa).

The game plays out over 12 episodes, and each one adds new pieces of the map board, mechanics and rules, scoring elements, and even dangers. That definitely makes the game harder, but also more exciting. So far we're really loving this legacy campaign.

⚠️ Spoiler ahead ⚠️

Pictured here is the ghost train, which you discover when your railroad company ventures into the Haunted Wastes. It travels along that section of the board, and if it stops near one of your routes, you get cursed! You have to draw a card from the curse deck and apply its effects until you discard 3 train cards at the start of any turn to dispel it. It definitely adds some difficulty but it's also really fun. by @magicandmeeples

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13 days ago

September has gone, and it's time to reflect back on my #bgmomentofthemonth (a fun practice started by the lovely @thatsolomeeple).

I have to honestly say it was getting to try out the prototype of Steam & Cheese (@skelliggames). It's sometimes hard to get Husband to play heavier euro games, but he was really enthused about this one because he loves dice placement. And this game has a super cool dice placement mechanic!

Below is some insight into the game and our experience with it. It's currently crowdfunding now.

𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲
Steam & Cheese involves steampunk mice making cheese, and for a euro-type game, it feels really thematic. You have to collect ingredients for your cheese (milk, rennet, spices) and move them through the cheese-making process to make several different types of cheeses in order to complete delivery orders. Your lil scientist mice also get to explore an airship (because this is a steampunk world, after all) and do some other cool things.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁
Aside from the theme, we loved the unique dice mechanic. Each round, dice get placed to determine the strength of your two actions that turn (the numbers on the dice sides facing those two action tiles) and the type and number of resources you get (the color of the dice and the top number). It felt like such a satisfying puzzle to make those elements work together to process and serve cheese. Plus shared goals added a bit of a race element and even more to strive for.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲'𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗲
I would have preferred if the cubes for milk, rennet, spices, and cheese were actually tokens that matches their symbols elsewhere in the game. And I feel like this is a game where asymmetric powers for different mice factions (and different mice meeples for each) could have been a fun addition.

𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝘁
Anyone who enjoys more complex games with lots of actions and action upgrades, tons of decisions to make, and puzzly gameplay that rewards planning yet still keeps you on your toes with the luck of the dice roll.

Overall, we really enjoyed our time with this one! by @magicandmeeples

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18 days ago

This month, the cardamom lemon loaf from Pirates of the High Teas (@pinkhawkgames) inspired the amazing creations for #boardgamerecipes🔮, started by me. (The inspiration dish was suggested by the lovely @saraalwaysloses.)

I used both cardamom and cinnamon to spice up my loaf. I included lemon juice and zest in the batter, with primarily honey as a sweetener. And I topped it with a vanilla bean glaze and fresh lemon.

Everyone really enjoyed it, including a neighbor couple who came over for brunch the day after I made it. While I don't own the game and haven't tried it myself, this loaf alone definitely makes me want to!

Swipe for a close-up and a collage of the participants. You can find all their account tags in the comments! by @magicandmeeples

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20 days ago

Tomorrow is Monday again, which means it's back to work. And MEEPLES AT WORK is the theme for this month's #meepleontheroad, which is hosted by the wonderful @meeplesontheroad.

I work from home, where I log lots of hours on my laptop (decorated with my fave pink platypus sticker made by @sugarandsloth). To give my eyes a break, I walk out onto our back deck and watch the birds at the feeder in the yard.

So for this photo, I decided to feature the amazing bird meeples from Sky Garden (@uchibacoya). I love them all! Which is your fave? And how do you give yourself a little brain break at work?

Swipe to see all the other great entries this month! by @magicandmeeples

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22 days ago

LANTERN is this week's word for #weeklywordsofplay started by the lovely Michelle of @theliterarymeeple. It refers to a game that brings light to the table in a quiet way.

Recently, for me, that game has been Bordeaux (@r2igames, sent to me for review by @asmodee_usa).

I don't even drink wine, but the vineyard theme feels so cozy and perfect for the cooler fall days that have finally arrived.

In the past two weeks, which have been incredibly busy, this little game has made it to the table consistently, and it has been a joy each time, whether I'm playing with Husband or solo. It's quick, so I can fit in several games in a row, and it's that perfect blend of thinky yet calming that gets me in a zen state.

It's an X-and-write, where the X is either a choice you make or one your opponent makes (or in solo mode, a handy chart that you randomly jab at with your pencil) about which region to grow wine or which resources you can obtain each round (aka year).

I love plotting out where to make wines and which ones to make (the more advamced the wine, the longer your workers spend making it), working around the choices preset on my sheet and those chosen by my opponent.

And each sheet is different, which changes up your choices as well as the bonuses available to you via your vines and trellises (two of the three resources you can get, along with casks). Vines let you make more wines, while trellises let you unlock end-game scoring conditions for extra points.

Overall it's been a warm beacon on our table in the past couple of weeks, and I don't see that changing anytime soon. (And it's pictured here with the amazing LOTR mug that my good friend @jaimejuega gifted me, which I love using for hot tea to amp up the coziness.) by @magicandmeeples

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24 days ago