Which Game First: A Board Game Podcast

Which Game First: A Board Game Podcast


Cutthroat Caverns | Charterstone | Wild Blue Yonder

August 26, 2019

First up, we fight the enemy shoulder to shoulder — but never show each other our backs! — in Cutthroat Caverns.  

Next, we build towns with our own personal flare . . . and it’s for keeps,  no backsies in the legacy game, Charterstone.

And lastly, we make Mary Ellis and the Night Witches proud as off we go in …Wild Blue Yonder!

Cutthroat Caverns

Designed by: Curt CovertPublished by: Smirk & Dagger Games (2007); We played the Anniversary Edition (2019)Players: 3 – 6Ages: 14 & upPlaying time: 40 – 90 min

In Cutthroat Caverns, an artifact of untold power lies in your hands. To claim it, you must escape the caverns alive; but many horrific monsters stand in your way — that, and the greed of your “companions”.

Every combat round, you will set an “attack card”. Will you swing for a whopping 50 points of damage or hold back, awaiting a more opportune time to strike? Remember, only the final blow matters if you are to score the kill! 

Hold back (or sabotage your companions’ plans too much!), and the entire party will die. In combat, you jockey for position, with your life — and your greed! — in the balance.

Charterstone

Designed by: Jamey StegmaierPublished by: Stonemaier Games (2017)Players: 1 – 6 Ages: 14 & upPlaying time: 60 min

Charterstone is a competitive legacy game where you construct buildings and populate a shared village. 

In the prosperous Kingdom of Greengully, the Forever King has decreed that citizens must colonize the vast lands beyond its borders. In an effort to start a new village, the Forever King has selected six citizens for the task, each of whom has a unique set of skills they use to build their charter.

Building stickers are permanently added to the game board and become action spaces for any player to use. Thus, you start off with simple choices and few workers, but soon you have a bustling village with dozens of possible actions.

Your journey through Charterstone’s many secrets will last twelve games, but it doesn’t end there. Your completed village will be a one-of-a-kind worker-placement game with plenty of variability.

Wild Blue Yonder

Designed by: Chris JaniecPublished by: GMT Games (2017)Players: 1 – 8Ages: 12 & upPlaying time: 15 – 180 min

In Wild Blue Yonder, a WWII air combat game, you’ll fly planes into dogfights, modeling the air war over the European Theatre from 1940-1944.

You’ll engage your enemy by trying to maneuver into position by playing cards from your hand.  But your opponent will try to respond to your attacks by playing the correct card to counter your moves!

Your plane’s stats will determine how many cards you can hold in your hand, how many new cards you can draw each turn, and how well you can attack.

WBY contains a dozen campaigns and over 200 aircraft!!  Get ready for the dogfight of your life!