#147: Live from DoaMcoN Jr 2026
James & handful of DoaM friends gathered in the midwest for a small "Cabin Con" - listen in as attendees talk some of their favorite plays and experiences. You'll hear from a host of people about Medina, Blood on the Clocktower, Dune: The Dice Game, Twilight Imperium, 18xx, Indonesia, Puerto Banana, and so much more! Want to join the next get together? Sign up for DoaMcoN VI!
#146: DoaM Madness 2026 Preview
James & Derek bring you all 64 first round matchups from the upcoming DoaM Madness Tournament. See how DoaM's Top 128 games, chosen by the fans, fare against each other in a single elimination tournament with bragging rights and their place in history on the line. Also recent plays of Magna Grecia, Carrom, and Zoo Vadis. Enjoy the show!
#145: Great Convention Games
James is joined by Derek as they jump head first into Board Game Con season by talking about what makes a great con game for them. What are our priorities and must haves at some of our favorite conventions. Also recent plays of Spectaculum/Gold Country, Bested Another Time, The Old Prince 1871, and Pacts. Enjoy the show!
#144: Stellar Ventures & Satisfying Game Arcs
James is joined by Justin & Nahv of Tabletapas Games as they prepare for their Kickstarter launch of the new thematic economic game Stellar Ventures. We'll chat about the origin of their company, their experience in game development, and tie it all together with a discussion about satisfying game arcs. We'll also talk recent plays of Wiz War, Sol: Last Days of a Star, and For All Mankind. Enjoy the show!
#143: All About Auctions
Auctions! James is joined by Chris to explore one of our favorite mechanics in board games. What is it that auctions do that really help to elevate the board game experience for us and what are some of our favorite auctions in games. Also recent plays of Shark, San Marco, Indonesia 3rd Edition, and more!
#142: 2025 End of Year Wrap Up
Wrap up the year with James, Tim, Dylan, and Derek as we take a look back at 2025. Our favorite new-to-us games, our top game of 2025, the 1 play that rose above all the rest, and our gaming resolutions for next year. Also recent plays of Scape Goat, Blood on the Clocktower, Kilauea, and Martian Rails. Enjoy the show, and Happy Holidays from DoaM!
#141: BGG Con 2025
Fresh off their time at BGG Con, RJ & Drew join James on the show to talk about their wild array of dusty, feisty, sometimes wacky and weird plays from their week in Dallas, Texas. Recent plays of Dune the Dice Game, West Riding Revisited, Nur Peanuts, Symbioz, VOC! and so much more. Enjoy the show!
#140: Hurts So Good
All aboard the pain train! James is joined by Tim as they talk about the bad beats, bad vibes, and bad intentions that can lead to some of the best moments in all of gaming. Do you like "mean games?" Also recent plays of The Old Prince 1871, Innovation, Tal der Konige, and more! Enjoy the show!
#139: Fill ‘Er Up
James is joined by Dylan as we discuss the board game filler and it's role in our gaming collection and game days. What makes a good filler and what are some of our favorites for different situations. Also recent plays of Sternenhimmel, March of the Ants, Chicago 68, Verrat, and more! Enjoy the show!
#138: Blood on the Clocktower
Brandon joins James as the guys take a deeper look into the surprise hit of DoaMcoN this past year - Blood on the Clocktower. Including a briefing on what it is, what it isn't, the role of the storyteller, and both hosts' experiences playing the game with their local groups. Also recent plays of Torres, Thunder Road Vendetta, The Great Zimbabwe, and 1841. Enjoy the show!
#137: DoaM Top 20 Episode (2025 Edition)
Another year of Dads on a Map kicks off with our annual Top 20 Episode. James is joined by Derek as they run down their personal current Top 20 as well as the DoaM Community list, with input from over 100 DoaMers. 60 games, 3 list, and a great way to find out what the Dads on a Map community is all about. List show!
#136: Live from DoaMcoN V
We're all home from DoaMcoN V, another successful convention for the Dads on a Map community. Listen in to some live recordings from the event, and James will put a bow on things at the end with his Bottom 3 Plays, Top 3 New To Me Games, and Top 5 Plays of the con. Thanks to everyone who attended and help to continue to make DoaMcoN a rousing success!
#135: DoaMcoN Top 10 Must Plays (The Final Countdown)
It's the final countdown to DoaMcoN V. Kunk joins James on the show to run down our personal Top 10 Must Play Games at the con, and to speedrun through the community's lists as well. We'll also talk recent plays of Sol, Hive, John Company, GIPF, Northern Pacific, and Chicago Express. Enjoy the show!
#134: Burning Out Online
For years DoaM has endorsed playing online to get your fix, but what happens when you go too hard and ruin those online games for your real life experience? Vincent joins James on the show as they discuss this and also recent plays of Napoleon's Triumph, Ark Nova, Ace of Aces, and God's Playground. Enjoy the show!
1:30 DoaMcoN Sold Out!
3:40 Napoleon's Triumph
12:08 Ark Nova
18:30 Ace of Aces
26:23 Riichi Mahjong Tourney Play
35:51 God's Playground
44:50 Main Topic: Burning Out Online
#133: Cardboard Supercard
What if your favorite games went head to head in the larger than life world of pro wrestling? James is joined by Dylan as we assemble our Cardboard Supercard - fantastical matchups of some of our favorite board game titles that can only happen in our dreams. We'll also talk recent plays of Rise & Fall, Wizard, Art Society, and Reef Encounter. Enjoy the show!
#132: Riichi Mahjong
Riichi Mahjong! It's more than the latest DoaM phase, and Trenton joins James on the show to tell you why this lifestyle game is here to stay. Why is it great, how do you play in person and online, just what is happening in this traditional regional game, and how do you get in. We'll also talk recent plays of Votes for Women, Planet Steam, NXS, Big Shot, and Streetcar Suburb. Enjoy the show!
#131: F#!*ing Up
We've all done it before - F#!*ed it all up. Justin joins James to talk about screwing up the teach, screwing up your gameplay, screwing your neighbors, and how we deal with it, bounce back from it, and move on. Also recent plays of Conquest of Paradise, Toy Battle, and Up Too High, and much more! Enjoy the show!
#130: Father’s Day Episode w/ My Boys!
James is joined by his two teenage boys for this special Father's Day episode as we talk board games AND video games. We cover a lot of ground, from the new Nintendo Switch 2 and some of our favorite current videos games, into recent plays of Riichi Mahjong, Cash-a-Catch, Hot Streak, and Dominion. Enjoy the show!
#129: Con Talk - Punchboard Paradise Con 2025
It's Con season! James is back from Punchboard Paradise Con 2025 and joined by PP's own Tim to talk all about the convention and some of their favorites plays. Arcs Campaign, Combat Commander, Lowenherz, Elfenwizards, and Shark are among some of the titles that we got to the table. Enjoy the show!
#128: Surprise Surprise
Surprise! Vincent rejoins the show and talks with James about being surprised in board games. What games keep surprising us & why is this such an important quality in the games we look for and play, and also in our lives? Also recent plays of Riichi Mahjong, Rise & Fall, Mogul, and Giro Galoppo. Enjoy the show!