Buy the Vote! by Coozies Games, a landslide is not achieved readily. This swift to learn game brings the strategy and skullduggery. There is no rulebook; instead, it provides an instructional video. This is a real-time game, and a link to the Buy the Vote timer is provided. Each game is fifteen minutes long. The playing board serves as a quick guide for play. It is campaign time, and you have ten million dollars to start and gain additional money on rounds four through seven. Once the money is allocated, the random states for auction are placed between the players. Time to secretly bid behind your voting screens. Once ready, place your hand on the table to acknowledge you are finished. When all players have their hand on the table, lift the voter screen, and reveal the results. The highest bid wins the state and its electoral votes. If a tie, the state remains in bidding, and another state is placed with it for the next round. The states are Blue and Red, with a few Gold states that are swing states. Once won, they can let you steal state from an opponent. Each state card is worth a different number of electoral votes. At the end of the game, the player who has the most options are named the party nominee, while the player who came in second is their running mate. If their combined electoral votes hit 270, they are also considered to have won the election Our thoughts Buy the Vote is swift to learn, portable, and stressful in a good way. The timer provides the game what it needs to be more than just a filler game. There is a dash of intimidation and strategy during the auction phase. I generally try to bid fast and slam my hand on the table to stress out my opponent. This leads to wasted campaign funds because once they are used, even if you don’t win the bid, they are spent and go back to the bank. After a few games, I did lean towards planning ahead for the higher electoral college states, however, with the time clicking down, we all were frivolous towards the end. We found the high jinx of blind betting and a race to beat the timer delightful. TO GET A COPY- www.buythevotegame.com https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/316113/buy-vote Coozies Games 2-5 Players 15 Minutes Play time We play. We invent. We review. We are an independent, creative pop culture studio that looks beyond what is contemporary. We grew up in pop culture and strive to present a positive and diverse forum on everything nerdy. Nerdz Garage Nerdz Podcast Theme Licensed Music Purple Planet Music Ecstasy

Wingspan Oceania Expansion (2020) Travel to Oceania to discover new birds (and more!) for your wildlife preserve! Gameplay 1-5 Players |Playing Time 40-70Min |Age: 10+ | Play Type Engine Building Designer Elizabeth Hargrave |Artist Ana Maria Martinez Jaramillo, Natalia Rojas, Beth Sobel Publisher: Stonemaier Games Wingspan: Oceania Expansion focuses on birds in Australia and New Zealand. This expansion includes new player mats and a new food type, allowing players to explore different strategies in this new environment. It also has new bonus cards and more end-of-round goals, and a new color of egg. Wingspan Oceania continues to inspire. The vibrant (adorable) bird cards of Australia and it has to be noted, the time and effort put into each card. The illustrations are stunning, and the factual information: what they consume, their habits, Wingspan, and their bonus actions are related to that individual bird. It is strategic without being maddening. There are many roads to build a good engine. I have stressed that the first rounds are vital; however, lately, my luck of the draw has been lacking in the first round, and I had to pivot. It was the third round when my habitats started to produce. Oceania brings a more balanced and more good-natured game. The new expansion has plenty of bird powers to level the playing field by assisting other players like yourself. Wingspan European Expansion added exciting variations of existing mechanisms to the game; however, Wingspan Oceania Expansion successfully boosted the game with clever mechanics and powers. We play. We invent. We review. We are an independent, creative pop culture studio that looks beyond what is contemporary. We grew up in pop culture and strive to present a positive and diverse forum on everything nerdy. Nerdz Garage https://www.nerdzgarage.com/ Nerdz Podcast Theme Licensed Music Purple Planet Music Ecstasy

Raider of Scythia was released this year by Renegade Games Studio and Garphill Games and designed by Shem Phillips and Art by Sam Phillips and Shem Phillips. Set in the Greeks' times, Persian and Assyrian Empires who control vast amounts of land and riches. This time the Raiders come on horseback and skilled with the sword, ax, and bow. They are evolved and have learned plans. They have well-crafted armor and trained eagles for hunting and war. They are more than an allegory- they are Raiders of Scythia. Our Thoughts We have been binging Raiders of the North Sea with expansions and found the theme and maneuvering creative without being weighty. We were over the moon after we got Raiders of Scythia on the table, on account of they took the best game mechanics of Raiders of the North Sea, added a large dose of strategy, and revamped the theme. The worker placement for deck building and resource management are still the mainstay; however, there are plenty of options to gain Victory Points in addition to raiding. The Quest cards give points with zero risks. The new procedure is a Quest Card is turned face up after a raid and is available to all players to purchase. We had a player snatch the majority of those because they are available After the raid, so the player who raided cannot purchase till the next turn. Thus, leaving the Quest open to all other players. There are multiple roads to the highest Victory Points for the win. The Last Word Raiders of Scythia has successfully boosted the predecessor game with refined mechanics and powers. The addition of Horse and Eagle cards that boost the crew members' abilities heightens the strategy and extended replayability. The wound dice cause systemic damage each raid, however, the paths to healing can be swift, dependent on the engine the player has built. For that matter, we did not heal before the next raid by utilizing the Kumis for strength. Nerdz Garage found Raiders of Scythia to be a plundering great time! Raiders of Scythia (2020) Raid and plunder your way through ancient empires on horseback. Gameplay: 1–4 Players Playing Time: 60–80 Min Age: 12+ Designer: Shem Phillips Artist: Sam Phillips, Shem Phillips Publisher: Garphill Games and Renegade Games Studio https://www.renegadegamestudios.com/games We play. We invent. We review. We are an independent, creative pop culture studio that looks beyond what is contemporary. We grew up in pop culture and strive to present a positive and diverse forum on everything nerdy. Nerdz Garage Derek Smith Nerdz Podcast Theme Licensed Music Purple Planet Music Ecstasy

NGM Monday - Dylan and Suzzan Trust Me, I'm a Superhero During these upside-down days, we have had game nights via Zoom. It can be problematic to find a game that encourages banter and entertaining from different locals. We have been seeking out something innovative, and Superhero delivered! Trust Me, I'm a Superhero, is a card game played with friends where you compete to answer the Call for Help with the preposterous powers to solve the problem. Convince everyone that you are best suited to save the day to win. Keep in mind that all the first team Superheroes are occupied, and a band of ragtag heroes has been tasked to clean the city's minor disturbances. A Citizen will send a Call for Help with a problem, and in the break room, these heroes present their case why they are best to solve this dilemma. The hero that convinces that they are best suited to solve the problem wins the card and becomes the next Citizen caller. Gameplay The first Citizen will be the person who last watched a superhero movie, or we roll the dice to see who goes first. All other players draw five Super and five Power cards, then choose favorite super/power and play it face down in front of them, creating their hero for the round. The players pick their powers before they get the Call for Help. This is a smart mechanic that does bring some creative thinking to the hero fit to the problem. The Citizen will then draw three Calls for Help cards and picks one and declares the problem in town. Players take turns flipping their own Superhero over and trying to explain why they are best suited to the job. SUPER TIP: Arguing, heckling, and accusing the others of not being real heroes is encouraged; however, a grand story well-executed gains a win faster at the Nerdz Garage. The player to successfully be chosen to answer the call for help is the winner. Just that simple, however, it is a serious laugh attack. Our Thoughts Sometimes the Nerdz are younger, and we need a suitable smart game, and this game is for all ages. The theme and art are campy and charming. The debates were amusing and absolutely- laugh out loud. The cards Powers and Supers are a perfect launching point for outrageous tales that were spun. Ours progressed to acting out the scenarios with some applause. Even if you are not good at acting out, adding gestures and a character to go with the Superhero makes a ridiculous match to winning round. Plus, for the elder players, libations can boost the demure player into an accomplished character actor! The longer we played, Heroes debates were evolving to performances. All the players were laughing so hard, and the tears were flowing. Last but not Least Trust Me, I'm a Superhero is easy to learn and endlessly entertaining to play. The Nerdz Garage thinks there is plenty of variety and can lead to persistent laughter. *capes not included. We recommend you head to their Kickstarter on October 27th, 2020. Trust Me, I'm a Superhero (2020) A card game of debatable heroism! 3–8 Players Playing Time: 15- 30 Min Age: 8+ Designer: Jack Ford Morgan Artist: Alison Meyers Publisher: Half-Monster Games https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jackfordmorgan/trust-me-im-a-superhero-a-card-game-of-debatable-heroism We are an independent, creative pop culture studio that looks beyond what is contemporary. We grew up in pop culture and strive to present a positive and diverse forum on everything nerdy. We are having conversations about nerd culture, news and our nerd life. Nerdz Garage Derek Smith Nerdz Podcast Theme Licensed Music Purple Planet Music Ecstasy

New Game Monday Podcast with Roy Papp! A lively interview with Roy canvassing subjects from being an independent game designer to the freedom of creating in Game Design Masters. * About half way through the interview (talking about a scary game) the camera moved on its own as if something walked past it. There was nothing evident to cause the movement. Make a Choice from Doors of Three. Reach the End and your are Free. Thirteen Rooms lie Ahead. If One is Scary, you are Dead! Play Today? https://zygobot.itch.io/one-scary-door Roy Papp Course Director Game Design Masters- Full Sail University Founder: Zygobot Studios _________________________________________________________________________________________________ We play. We invent. We review. We are an independent, creative pop culture studio that looks beyond what is contemporary. We grew up in pop culture and strive to present a positive diverse forum on everything nerdy. Nerdz Garage Dylan Smith Nerdz Podcast Theme Licensed Music Purple Planet Music Ecstasy

NewGameMonday Hosts~ Dylan and Suzzan Everything happens for a reason. We had been blissfully playing Sorcerer’s City by Scott Caputo and did not want to tire of it and wondered if there was a game comparable to it? We queried on the social media the response was swift with the suggestions for The One Hundred Torii, a game designed by Eduardo Baraf and Scott Caputo with a Japanese theme. When our boy was about five, his Uncle Jake introduced us to Miyazaki’s “Spirited Away” and snippets of Japan culture. Fast forward oodles of years and our home is filled with Anime, Katana’s, and a legion of miniature Samurais. Seemed like a safe bet. One Hundred Torii is a tile placement, set collecting game based on a journey, not a destination. Reshaping Japanese gardens by stepping through Torii gates to the sacred grounds filled with fountains, flowers, shrines and the chance meetings with vendors, gardeners, Geishas, poets and our favorite, Samurais. Earn the most journey points by visiting landmarks and walking through as many Torii gates as possible to achieve enlightenment- win the game. The One Hundred Torii Year Released: 2020 Designers: Eduardo Baraf and Scott Caputo Artist: Vincent Dutrait Publishers: Pencil First Games Ages: 8+ Players: 1-4 Game Length: 45-60 minutes Category: Abstract Strategy Mechanisms: Set Collection, Tile Placement and Family Country: Japan Crowdfunding: Kickstarter https://shop.pencilfirstgames.com/collections/games/products/the-one-hundred-torii http://www.pencilfirstgames.com/ Nerdz Garage Derek Smith Nerdz Podcast Theme Licensed Music Purple Planet Music

New Game Monday Hosts~ Derek Honeycomb & Suzzan Newsworthy Radioactive Bees! A fun tile stacking game where mutant bees build 3-D radioactive honeycombs! On Kickstarter in October. In this post-apocalyptic tile placement strategy game, mutant bees – one of the few surviving species – must feed on enriched uranium to produce honey. Bees with higher radiation exposure are more productive and valuable to the colony. Use your tiles to build honeycombs, increase your bees’ radioactive levels and maximize the number of points you earn to win the crown. https://radioactivebees.com/ Radioactive Bees (2020) 2–4 Players 30–60 Min Playing Time Age: 8+ DesignerJosé L. Navas Publisher(Self-Published) _________________________________________ We are having conversations about nerd culture, news and our nerd life. Let’s be honest; there is still a bit of drama when we play. Sit Down -Grab a Drink – Join the Game Suzzan Smith https://www.nerdzgarage.com/ Nerdz Podcast Theme Licensed Music Purple Planet Music Ecstasy

NewGameMonday Olympus and Pantheon Crazier Eights Depth and Strategy have been REFINED in the Crazier Eights. Every card has a unique ability, and the first player with zero cards in hand wins. The rules are straightforward, yet the game is brimming with depth and strategy. https://craziereights.com/ Release date: 2020 Publisher: Recoculous Designer: James Wallace Gray Playtime: 10-30minutes Players: 2-4 Age: 13+ Nerdz Garage Nerdz Podcast Theme Licensed Music Purple Planet Music Ecstasy

New Game Monday Hosts~ Derek & Suzzan Thalara: The Last Artifacts In the world of Thalara, the magic is dwindling away. Scattered across the land in temples, Watchmen uses powerful Artifacts to draw magic away from the land. Players are tasked to fight for the last artifacts to preserve the power before it is too late. Players endeavor to combine energy and spells to gain the most Artifacts and restore strength. The first records of card games were noted during the Tang Dynasty, and since then, they have emerged to a multitude of themes and expressions. They embody wild creatures, witchery, and classics as Star Realms. Thalara: The Last Artifact is a fresh, fast-paced, highly interactive, hand-building strategy card game with distinctive mechanics. The game features a unique hand-locking mechanic: Each round, more of your cards get "locked to your hand" to be used in each subsequent round. These cards, Victory Points, however, frequently contain lower strength. Thalara's core is a hand-building game where you do not just select the cards you want; you must outmaneuver to gain them. Mechanics That Worked for Us The action blocking or modifying a conflict with spells was advantageous towards the end of a round. I did not keep the color card requirement for spells in the latter rounds and found it caused such detriment. I then focused on conquering Artifacts that would aid in my spells and not be lasered focused on the higher Victory Point Artifacts. Hand management by holding in reserve higher strength cards towards the end of a round. Our Thoughts The unusual twist of conquered cards mandated to your hand was an adept mechanic. Some characters are easy to learn, and some take a few games. They are exceedingly thought out because, for their diverse abilities, they felt balanced and fair. It is cleverly layered with impressive actions and mechanics on the cards. The story and quotes of the Characters are delightful and added to the entertainment value. Nerdz Garage plays Dungeons and Dragons weekly (three campaigns), and we do fancy a good spell and Thalara: The Last Artifacts is brimming with them!!! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/886510405/thalara-the-last-artifacts?ref=nav_search&result=project&term=thalara Full Review~ https://nerdzboardgaming.com/thalara-the-last-artifacts-casts-artful-adventure/ Let’s be honest; there is still a bit of drama when we play. Sit Down -Grab a Drink – Join the Game Suzzan Smith Nerdz Podcast Theme Licences Music Purple Planet Music Ecstasy