Meeples And Wine - Tabletop Games for Couples Podcast Por Michael & Suzanne Teske arte de portada

Meeples And Wine - Tabletop Games for Couples

Meeples And Wine - Tabletop Games for Couples

De: Michael & Suzanne Teske
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Looking for tabletop game to play with your spouse that’s both fun and won’t wind up with one of you sleeping on the couch? Join Michael and Suzy as they discover new games each week, while tasting a new wine, beer or spirit!Javakat Productions Arte Ciencias Sociales Comida y Vino Relaciones
Episodios
  • Noxford and Clad & Cordon Cab Sauv

    Noxford and Clad & Cordon Cab Sauv
    Mar 9 2026
    We’re Michael and Suzy, your hosts dishing out honest board game reviews for couples, blending wine (or in this case, beer) tastings with gameplay breakdowns. Got feedback? Hit us up at meeplesandwine@gmail.com, or connect on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn. And hey, leave a voicemail at (707) 572-5282 – we love hearing from you! This time around, we’re tasting the Clad & Cordon Cab Sauv from Clad & Cordon Winery (check them out at https://www.cladandcordon.com/). It’s a bold Cabernet Sauvignon hailing from Creal Springs, IL, near Marion and the Shawnee area. Expect flavors like blackcurrant, black cherry, plum, and cassis, with maybe some green bell pepper or mint vibes, plus oak notes of vanilla, cedar, or tobacco. Illinois’ cooler climate gives it brighter acidity and less ripe fruit than your typical California Cab. Fun fact: We tried their Blueberry wine back in the Hive episode—peep that at https://www.meeplesandwine.fun/hive. Now, onto the game: Noxford (2016), a sneaky little title you can scope out on BoardGameGeek at https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/206448/noxford. It’s all about leading a crime syndicate in a steampunk city that’s always building itself up. You place cards to control rich districts using area majority, hand management, and tile placement mechanics. Designed by Henri Kermarrec (known for stuff like Ekö and Penny Papers Adventures—his BGG page is https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamedesigner/10777/henri-kermarrec), with art by Maud Chalmel (she did Take Time too, check https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgameartist/83279/maud-chalmel). Published by Capsicum Games and Quick Simple Fun Games, it plays 2-4 people, rates a 6.1/10 on BGG with low complexity (1.77/5). Setup’s straightforward: Each player gets 10 Syndicate cards (Master at rank 4, Lieutenants at 3, etc.), lay your Master face-up, shuffle and draw 3. Neutral deck has Rich Districts and Barracks. Start with two cards in the center, L-shaped. On your turn, either place a card adjacent to at least two others (corners aligned, no overhangs) or cover a lower-rank Syndicate with a higher one. Masters count double for control, and gear icons let you relocate cards. Game ends when the last Syndicate’s played—Barracks flip touching Syndicates, then score districts based on majority (1 VP per symbol +2 bonus for your fave). Ties? Nobody wins that district. Most VPs takes it, or most districts in a tie. It’s simple, spatial, and a bit cutthroat—perfect for a quick session! No expansions for this one. Playing with two? We both gave it a fun score of 6/10—solid but not mind-blowing. On the relationship wrecker scale (couch score 1-5), Michael says 1 (chill), Suzy says 2 (a tad sneaky). Learning curve? Time sink 1—easy, just one or two games to get it, no need for endless YouTube tutorials. Wrapping up with our Last Call, we spotlight cool Kickstarter games! This episode, it’s Botany: Floral Dragons at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/duxsomnium/botany-floral-dragons. Learn how to play via https://youtu.be/N0uncjp38Dc. Shoutout to artist Kin Wald for those awesome illustrations and linocuts—visit https://www.kintheartist.com/ and https://www.kintheartist.com/character-design. Tiers include: Botany Floral Dragons at $49: Standard Edition + Bountiful Blossoms Mini ExpansionBotany Floral Dragons & Expansions at $85: Standard + Fantastic Festival Exp + Furious Fungus Exp + Bountiful Blossoms MiniBotany Floral Dragons Jewelry Box at $199: Jewelry Box Edition + Bountiful Blossoms Gilded MiniBotany Floral Dragons Devotee at $329: Jewelry Box + Gilded Exps/Mini + Little Botany + PuzzlesBotany Floral Dragons Grand Expedition at $599: All the above + full original Botany ecosystem If you dig the show, share it with a friend! Next up: Print & Play games. Catch you next time on Meeples and Wine—buh-bye!
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    44 m
  • Book of Dungeon and 93 Octane German Chocolate Cake Cream Ale

    Book of Dungeon and 93 Octane German Chocolate Cake Cream Ale
    Feb 21 2026
    Hey folks, it’s Michael here from Meeples & Wine, your go-to podcast for board game reviews for couples, where we dive into fun tabletop adventures with a tasty drink in hand! If you’re into solo board games, fantasy puzzle books, or just chilling with some craft beer pairings, this episode is for you. I’m cracking open a brew and exploring the epic “Book of Dungeon” – think dungeon crawling, monster slaying, and treasure hunting all in one handy book. Perfect for board game enthusiasts looking for easy-to-learn solo games or couple-friendly activities that won’t wreck the vibe. (*BTW, Suzy is out this episode due to health issues, she’ll be back!) We’re Michael and Suzy, your hosts dishing out honest board game reviews for couples, blending wine (or in this case, beer) tastings with gameplay breakdowns. Got feedback? Hit us up at meeplesandwine@gmail.com, or connect on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn. And hey, leave a voicemail at (707) 572-5282 – we love hearing from you! Now, onto the drink of the day: We’re tasting the Clown Car – German Chocolate Cake from 93 Octane Brewery in Elmhurst, IL. This cream ale with a German Chocolate Cake twist brings all the sweetness, creamy mouthfeel, and hints of chocolate and coconut. Shifting to the main event: What game are we playing? It’s “Book of Dungeon,” the puzzle book “spin-off” from the popular “Bag of Dungeon” board game. Rated 8.3/10 on BoardGameGeek, this solo fantasy adventure is all about drawing your path through 100 deadly dungeons. Slay monsters, dodge traps, and hunt for treasure – all you need is a pencil, dice, and some courage! Designed by Russ Law, Tim Sharville, and Paul Sharville, with art by Tim Sharville, and published by Gunpowder Studios. It’s a drawing game with grid movement mechanics, perfect for solo gamers or couples dipping into quick tabletop sessions. How to play? Roll up your character from 11 fantasy types like elves, wizards, dwarves, ogres, fairies, minotaurs, halflings, and more. Assign stats and a special ability from a simple chart, then dive into the dungeons. Roll dice to lay paths, draw them out, face monsters or traps, grab items, and quest for the Ring before battling the Red Dragon at the exit. Every dungeon is a self-contained puzzle – survive, make brave choices, and escape with your life! No expansions listed yet, but this one’s got replayability for days in the solo board game category. We chat about how it plays with two players (spoiler: it’s mainly solo, but we adapt for couples), our fun scores (on a 1-10 scale – mine’s TBD, Suzy’s too), and the couch score for relationship wrecking potential (1-5, low drama here). Learning the rules? It’s a time sink of 1 – no problem after one or two games, no need for endless YouTube tutorials. Wrapping up with the Final Sip: How’s the wine (er, beer) evolved since opening? And our Last Call: We scout Kickstarter and Gamefound for the coolest upcoming games, like “Fighting Fantasy Quest – The Warlock of Firetop Mountain” from Ulisses Spiele. Board game crowdfunding fans, check these out for more fantasy adventure goodness! If you dig our board game reviews for couples, beer tastings, and solo game spotlights, share the show with a friend. See you next time on Meeples & Wine – Buh-Bye! Book of Dungeon on BoardGameGeek: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/458915/book-of-dungeonRuss Law on BoardGameGeek: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamedesigner/122662/russ-lawTim Sharville on BoardGameGeek (Designer): https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamedesigner/110449/tim-sharvillePaul Sharville on BoardGameGeek: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamedesigner/150725/paul-sharvilleGunpowder Studios: https://www.gunpowderstudios.co.ukFighting Fantasy Quest – The Warlock of Firetop Mountain on Gamefound: https://gamefound.com/en/projects/ulisses-spiele/ffq_warlockUlisses Spiele on Gamefound: https://gamefound.com/en/creators/ulisses-spiele
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    30 m
  • Bosworth and Freakshow Chardonnay

    Bosworth and Freakshow Chardonnay
    Jan 25 2026

    Here are the show notes for the episode Bosworth and Freakshow Chardonnay from Meeples & Wine—your podcast of board game reviews for couples, with a drink in hand!

    Hosts: Michael & Suzy

    Wine We’re Tasting Today:
    Freakshow Chardonnay 2024 by Michael David Winery

    • Location: Lodi Appellation
    • Profile: Golden straw color with aromas of apricot, citrus, and herbaceous notes. Flavors of Asian pear, honeydew, and juicy peach pie, finished with a lasting oak-inspired touch.
    • Details: 50% aged in new French oak for 4 months, 50% stainless steel (no oak), 99% malolactic fermentation (softens that tart malic acid into smoother lactic acid).
    • Pairings ideas: Buttery dishes, rich cream pastas, broiled fish with butter, steak with garlic butter, buttered rolls.
    • Winery site: https://michaeldavidwinery.com/

    Game We’re Playing:
    Bosworth (1998)
    A chaotic 2-4 player chess variant where pieces are cards drawn randomly from your personal pile. Same classic chess pieces (pawns, knights, rooks, bishops, queen, king), but with twists: pawns move/capture sideways too, kings can capture their own pieces to escape check, and it’s all about multiplayer mayhem on a 6×6 board with blocked corners and face-down covers. Goal? Checkmate everyone else’s kings—last king standing wins!

    • BGG page: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/645/bosworth
    • Designer: Mark Alan Osterhaus (also Apples to Apples, Shipwrecked)
    • Artist: John Kovalic (Munchkin, Cash ‘n Guns, etc.)
    • Publisher: Out of the Box Publishing (defunct since 2015)
    • Rating: 5.8/10 | Weight: 2.1/5 | Players: 2-4

    Historical nod: Named after the Battle of Bosworth Field — https://www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-Bosworth-Field

    How It Plays with Two Players & Our Takes

    • Super fun with two—keeps the random draws and tension without too much ganging up.
    • Fun Score (1-10): Michael: 8 | Suzy: 7
    • Couch Score (will it wreck the relationship? 1-5): Michael: 3 | Suzy: 2 (mild trash talk potential, but mostly laughs)
    • Time Sink to Learn Rules (1-5): 1 — Pick it up in one or two games, no heavy YouTube needed.

    Expansions? None.

    Final Sip
    How’s the Freakshow Chardonnay evolved since opening? (We chat about it in the episode!)

    Last Call – Kickstarter/Gamefound Spotlight
    Boktor: A Cooperative Dungeon Quest by Fox Troll Games
    Fast-paced dungeon crawler for 1-6 players—explore modular dungeons, evolve your heroes, battle Tyrants, and stop the Vortex. Quick setup, intuitive rules, real strategy, all in ~60 minutes.
    Check it out: https://gamefound.com/en/projects/fox-troll-games/boktor-a-cooperative-dungeon-quest

    Contact Us!

    • Email: meeplesandwine@gmail.com
    • Voicemail: (707) 572-5282
    • Or leave a message via Speakpipe (link in episode)

    If you enjoyed the show, share it with a friend!

    See you next time on Meeples & Wine! Buh-bye! 🍷🎲
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    56 m
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