Show Notes
In episode 40, we review Molly House designed by Jo Kelly and Cole Wehrle and published by Wehrlegig Games. First, we chat about what is bringing us joy: Twinkle Starship, Nokosu Dice, Haggis - Grok Edition, and Apiary.
Molly House is a 2-5 player game all about creating joy in the queer community in early 18th century London; build your reputation and joy by cruising the streets (eyes), throwing festivities, and foiling threats. Though… all will be for naught if the Community’s joy isn’t raised alongside the players’ joy or if the Molly houses are raided and the community is betrayed by informers. This game is rich in queer history and strategically leaves space for interpretation and wondering. Will you stay loyal to the community and prioritize their joy or will your stack of indictments and their threats of death persuade you to collaborate with the Society for the Reformation of Manners?
In this episode, we also discuss the Zenobia Award–a competition and mentoring program–which connected Jo Kelly with Cole Wehrle to create this historical game. We share quotes from and highly recommend “Origin Stories: Molly House – An Interview With Co-Designer Jo Kelly” by Alex of Talking Shelf Space. Get to know us @ https://lnk.bio/BoardGameHomies
More from Board Game Homies
In episode 67, we’ve finally done it: we played Dune Imperium - Uprising with 6 players. We provide an overview of the changes and dive into our experience playing with the 6 player rules. But, first! We chat about what is bringing us joy: Paul Dennen Naishi Lacuna Episode 22 Joy Games Falling
In Episode 66, we chat about what’s on the table with a focus on mostly small box games. This episode has a mix of smaller and lighter games that we are unlikely to review on the pod; it’s basically an extended joy game episode!
In Episode 65, we review Clans of Caledonia and its recent and only expansion, Clans of Caledonia: Industria. But, first! We chat about what is bringing us joy: Cascadia: Alpine Lakes, ASHES: Blackout Protocol, and The White Castle: Bōeki. Clans of Caledonia, published by Karma Games, is perhaps a perfect game. A mid-to-heavy game with a variable economic market, thematic mechanics and gameplay (including distilling whiskey!), and delightful thinking space. Over the course of five rounds, players take turns and pass once they have run out of money and options. All players produce basic resources and have the opportunity to refine their goods using any bakeries, distilleries, or cheese dairies they have built. Players then receive victory points based on the scoring tile of the current round, and then the cycle begins again. Clans of Caledonia: Industria adds more of what we already love (contracts, clans, shipping tiles, round goals, and map tiles), thoughtful mini expansions (market dice, farmer’s markets, additional end game scoring tiles, and contract refill board), and the largest module of them all: the train map with delivery bonuses to explore throughout the game and milestones to strive for and achieve before your opponents.
In Episode 64, we review Container published by Allplay. But, first! We chat about what is bringing us joy…and anti-joy: Haggis, Marrakesh, Trajan, and Sausage Sizzle! Container is a closed economy game for 3-5 players: build factories to produce and store containers while building warehouses to store and sell containers. The catch? You can’t sell your own containers, and everyone sets their own prices. A fairly simple game with complexity created by the individuals sitting around the table. How cheap are your friends? Can you find a way to capitalize on Reed’s big payout? Will you let Angela play and win using the same strategy from the last game? How many loans are you willing to take??? Do we like making our own market? The group may be divided, but they all agree on primarily only purchasing from Becky’s warehouses. 💅
In Episode 63, we review Recall published by Pegasus Spiele. But, first! We chat about what is bringing us joy: Hanami, Tiny Mountain Goats, playing games at Reed’s house, and Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring - Trick-taking Game.