Episodes

  • #98 ft. Ruel Gaviola, The Great Cull
    Jun 23 2026

    Episode 100 is soon! Send us your favorite bits here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdrtQ-to5QSWcLu8khKwNa6UhtpAs-DIelNtvMeKG6g5QhmhQ/viewform?usp=dialog

    June 22nd, abandoned copy of Spirits of the Wild in the alley. Exacto knife to the front of the box. Like someone wanted a keepsake. This hobby is afraid of me. I have seen its true face.

    5:45 - Intro: Ruel Gaviola

    14:21 - We Have to Know!

    Games we played:

    26:14 - Bazaar (1967, Sid Sackson, 3M)

    Topic:

    32:43 - The Great Cull

    Where to find Ruel:

    https://linktr.ee/ruelgaviola

    Good Morning Society https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtzTuYwAIJ8VpXh-hZ2eobekjJx9exs_I

    Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/ruelgaviola.com

    Songs:

    ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning

    Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/ShelfStableCast

    All our socials https://linktr.ee/shelfstablecast

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 2 mins
  • #97 The Making of Brass DEAL
    Jun 16 2026

    Episode 100 is soon! Send us your favorite bits here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdrtQ-to5QSWcLu8khKwNa6UhtpAs-DIelNtvMeKG6g5QhmhQ/viewform?usp=dialog

    Monopoly guy better watch out. There's a new boss in town ready to exploit capital gains. Never has iron and coal been so colorful. It's like it was produced by an industrial unicorn.

    Games we played:

    9:06 - Finca (2009, Wolfgang Sentker & Ralf zur Linde, Hans im Glück)

    10:59 - Monopoly Express (1991, Garrett J Donner & Michael S Steer, Hasbro)

    15:42 - UNO (1971, Merle Robbins, Mattel)

    22:43 - Skyjo (2015, Alexander Bernhardt, Magilano)

    100 games before you die:

    28:57 - Troyes (2010, Sebastien Dujardin & Xavier Georges & Alain Orban, Pearl)

    https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/321471/100-tabletop-games-to-play-before-turning-100

    Topic:

    34:36 - The Making of Brass DEAL

    nanDECK https://nandeck.com

    Card Editor by Matt Singer https://bitbucket.org/mattsinger/card-editor

    Playing Cards io https://playingcards.io

    Songs:

    100 Games to Play Before You Die by Michael, Tyler, Devon, and Josh of The Boise RainBeaus

    ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning

    Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/ShelfStableCast

    All our socials https://linktr.ee/shelfstablecast

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 2 mins
  • #96 Fun v Optimal
    Jun 10 2026

    Episode 100 is soon! Send us your favorite bits here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdrtQ-to5QSWcLu8khKwNa6UhtpAs-DIelNtvMeKG6g5QhmhQ/viewform?usp=dialog

    Sorry for the late episode. We figured it would be better to bring you something that was fun but late instead of optimal but mid. Get ready for Robocop to blow your cop off in "concept purgatory".

    The insanity test https://youtu.be/47GoI680kU0?si=rlsArqc31cQZ60Zh

    Hampster dance history https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hampster_Dance

    Games we played:

    7:21 - Mancala, Kala variant (5870BCE, Uncredited, Public Domain)

    Interestingly, David McCord just did a history of Mancala and it's great https://youtu.be/i9zvDZTMSaA?si=NihOlAz_TDVuGnLT

    12:29 - Underwater Cities (2018, Vladimír Suchý, Rio Grande)

    20:47 - Concept (2013, Gaëtan Beaujannot & Alain Rivollet, Repos)

    25:10 - ZÈRTZ (1999, Kris Burm, HUCH!)

    100 games before you die:

    29:09 - Scythe (2016, Jamey Stegmaier, Stonemaier)

    https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/321471/100-tabletop-games-to-play-before-turning-100

    Topic:

    33:58 - Fun v Optimal

    Songs:

    100 Games to Play Before You Die by Michael, Tyler, Devon, and Josh of The Boise RainBeaus

    ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning

    Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/ShelfStableCast

    All our socials https://linktr.ee/shelfstablecast

    Show More Show Less
    54 mins
  • #95 Drafting the Ideal Gateway List
    Jun 2 2026

    What do you mean Ark Nova is too difficult for grandma? That's neither a game problem nor a curation problem. Grandma just needs to level up, we're in the 2020s here. Oh great, now she's crying while she shuffles the giant deck all wrong. Half the cards are upside down. Just give it to me; this is hard to watch. Your grandma is the worst.

    Psybrid Theory https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgcoT7-W0fP258nmxEy-2pkFJftUKjdRi

    T.I.M.E. https://youtu.be/DsoCe7C4Kmk?si=cRYIIRo_Wy9jU2An

    Games we played:

    9:24 - Sekigahara The Unification of Japan (2011, Matt Calkins, GMT)

    14:04 - Samurai The Card Game (2009, Reiner Knizia, Rio Grande)

    19:00 - 1846 The Race for the Midwest (2005, Thomas Lehmann, GMT)

    25:07 - T.I.M.E. Stories (2015, Peggy Chassenet & Manuel Rozoy, Space Cowboys)

    100 games before you die:

    31:25 - Android Netrunner (2012, Richard Garfield & Lukas Litzsinger, FFG)

    https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/321471/100-tabletop-games-to-play-before-turning-100

    Topic:

    34:28 - Drafting the Ideal Gateway List

    Songs:

    100 Games to Play Before You Die by Michael, Tyler, Devon, and Josh of The Boise RainBeaus

    ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning

    Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/ShelfStableCast

    All our socials https://linktr.ee/shelfstablecast

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 4 mins
  • #94 ft. Marceline Leiman, Games That Hurt
    May 26 2026

    Back in my day, we had to craft our monsters in the Chao Gardens before putting them in our pockets. And the games came in the mail via Del Taco coupons. Ouch, my ol' back.

    4:55 - Intro: Marceline Leiman

    12:46 - We Have to Know!

    Games we played:

    39:34 - Go Stop (1889, Uncredited, Public Domain)

    Topic:

    47:07 - Games That Hurt

    Achievement Relocked https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262043533/achievement-relocked/

    The Art of Failure https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262529952/the-art-of-failure/

    Where to find Marceline:

    https://www.marcelineleiman.com

    Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/marcelineleiman.bsky.social

    Marceline's games https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamedesigner/135996/marceline-leiman

    Songs:

    ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning

    Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/ShelfStableCast

    All our socials https://linktr.ee/shelfstablecast

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 18 mins
  • #93 Cooled Warmed Why
    May 19 2026

    Move over Monopoly DEAL. It's all about that Catan life now. We're Catan-maxing now. Welcome to Catan Stable where we talk about Catans that have stood the test of tan.

    Games we played:

    4:52 - Nokosu Dice (2016, Yusuke Matsumoto, Engames)

    12:51 - Skulk (2019, Prospero Hall, Mixlore)

    16:15 - Root (2018, Cole Wehrle, Leder)

    20:37 - Dinosaur Tea Party (2018, Rob Daviau & JR Honeycutt & Justin D. Jacobson, Restoration)

    100 games before you die:

    27:00 - Diplomacy (1959, Allan B. Calhamer, Avalon Hill)

    https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/321471/100-tabletop-games-to-play-before-turning-100

    Topic:

    31:02 - Cooled Warmed Why

    Songs:

    100 Games to Play Before You Die by Michael, Tyler, Devon, and Josh of The Boise RainBeaus

    ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning

    Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/ShelfStableCast

    All our socials https://linktr.ee/shelfstablecast

    Show More Show Less
    55 mins
  • #92 Board Game Accessories
    May 12 2026

    Every game needs a Yugioh-style dueling contraption for your arm so you can game on the go. Gloomhaven would double as a workout. Just imagine how juicy those biceps would get after losing the first scenario for the 10th time on regular difficulty.

    Games we played:

    5:35 - Friesematenten (2010, Friedemann Friese, Amigo)

    9:51 - Shikoku 1889 (2004, Yasutaka Ikeda, Grand Trunk)

    16:21 - Brian Boru High King of Ireland (2021, Peer Sylvester, Osprey)

    22:36 - DVONN (2001, Kris Burm, HUCH!)

    100 games before you die:

    26:28 - Terraforming Mars (2016, Jacob Fryxelius, Stronghold)

    https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/321471/100-tabletop-games-to-play-before-turning-100

    Topic:

    30:10 - Board Game Accessories

    Songs:

    100 Games to Play Before You Die by Michael, Tyler, Devon, and Josh of The Boise RainBeaus

    ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning

    Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/ShelfStableCast

    All our socials https://linktr.ee/shelfstablecast

    Show More Show Less
    50 mins
  • #91 ft. Tom Brewster, Shelfily Steud
    May 5 2026

    It's a board game edition of Family Feud! Tom shaved his head and grew a caterpillar mustache just so the audio would sound aerodynamic. Listen as our poor host inevitably has to explain the rules multiple times as we blunder through.

    Rusi Papazov's BGG Feud https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/3665080/we-asked-100-boardgamers

    joshzcold implementation https://github.com/joshzcold/Friendly-Feud

    Topic:

    3:26 - The Rules

    6:51 - Question 1

    17:04 - Question 2

    27:42 - Question 3

    39:07 - Question 4

    49:31 - Question 5

    58:30 - Question 6

    1:06:13 - Fast Money

    Where to find Tom:

    https://web-cdn.bsky.app/profile/tombrewster.bsky.social

    https://www.shutupandsitdown.com

    Songs:

    ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning

    Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/ShelfStableCast

    All our socials https://linktr.ee/shelfstablecast

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 19 mins