Amusing Meeples

Chris, Cullen, & Derek

We muse on randomly chosen topics and mechanisms to create board game ideas and inspire others to design their own board games. Prepare to be amused!

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90 episodes
Updated Nov 19, 2025
Explicit

Episodes90

Newest first

Jun 22, 2022 · 55 min
1-10 : Castor Star System & Memory + Negotiation
We take a Star System, mainly known for its ability to twinkle, and come up with a couple games based around memory and negotiation. Like remembering all the juvenile crimes you did as a kid and negotiated with your mom and dad about the punishment. Actually nothing like that. Other talking points: BOOCE.
Jun 15, 2022 · 1 hr 4 min
1-09 : Forge and Chit Wargames
Who can forge the best board game based on a forge. Will it involve foraging? No. Other talking points: the first person who talks about our podcast to their friends, gets a FREE glass of water! It’s in your kitchen.
Jun 8, 2022 · 52 min
1-08 : "Fairy, Feather, Earth" and Cube Pushers
On this week, we take a much loved mechanism by yours truly and mix it with the cover band of Earth, Wind, and Fire. We come up with a couple of more ideas that you all can just run to the bank with. This is liquid audio gold! Fort Knox stashed our last seven episodes near the last true 100 non muggle gold bullion. Yeah. THAT good. Other topics: Brand new joke segment for your laughing time, 1% Truth, Calling my shot (Missed by an INCREDIBLE AMOUNT), bullchit, and using souls as currency.
Jun 1, 2022 · 51 min
1-07 : "Penthouse Mouse" and Trick Taking
We take two COMPLETELY UNKNOWN animal cartoon characters and come up with a couple games based around trick taking. Does the highest card take the trick? Do you WANT to take the trick? If you don't take the trick, do you treat? Is the treat worth not tricking? How far down into the description can I have you read before you realize you've wasted precious minutes that could have been spent making a sandwich? Which might be one of the objectives you need to attain in this week's episode of Amusing Meeples. Other talking points: Work Seniority, Guessing a board game on the table I didn't clean up, JACOBCEPTION
May 25, 2022 · 56 min
1-06 : A good man can be stupid and still be good. But a bad man must have brains" and Area Majority
On this episode, the ol' AM boys talk about that often missed quote, commonly known by the acronym, AGMCBSASBGBABMMHB. We pair that with the mechanism of Area Majority and come up with a couple of distinguished games, for your approval. Other talking points: Teaching your children about Gerrymandering, Teeth falling out during a board game night, and as always, Jacob's hard-line, no-nonsense point of view, on how Star Wars has taken every plot from the Simpsons. Join us! Talk to us! ONE OF US ONE OF US ONE OF US. This message brought to you by thoughts.
May 18, 2022 · 54 min
1-05 : Archaeologists and Dexterity Games
This week we figure out a way to create a game that we have little to NO experience in. Sure we've Jenga'd around the block like the rest of the 'em, but there is a vast amount of games we haven't played that is...dextrous. Bonus game idea: Dextrous Laboratory - A dexterity game based on the cartoon Dexter's Laboratory. You're welcome. Either way, Enjoy the episode! Tell your friends about us! Make a game based on our ideas! It's all open game! Other talking points: Nothing. I didn't listen too hard to this episode.
May 12, 2022 · 49 min
1-04 : “Fit as a Fiddle” and Time Tracks
this episode we talk about time tracks. what are you willing to waste your time on? how can we merge this with a phrase that has exercise and music in it? Did Chris or Jacob do better? who deserves ice cream? other talking points: midi victory songs, how cows drink milk, and where business deals are made.
May 4, 2022 · 47 min
1-03 : Randow River and Social Deduction
What can you say about a river? More importantly, what can you say about a river in a country you've never been to? What if you can't pronounce the names of the people who have lived in the area? What if your co-host requests you try and try to say the names the correct way for INTENSE comedic effect? In this episode, Jacob and I talk about the Randow River, and both concoct stories around that river in order to come up with a game based on Social Deduction. We also talk about dogs. Our dogs; not river...dogs. Social Deduction is a popular mechanism seen in the games of Werewolf, The Resistance, and Secret Hitler. Usually by table talk, you are trying to figure out who the good guys are and who the bad guys are at the table. Thank you for listening, and May the Fourth be with you!
Apr 27, 2022 · 40 min
1-02 : Brave (Nichole Nordeman) and Area Control
Today our inspiration comes from the album Brave, by Christian Singer and Artist, Nichole Nordeman. We mash ideas based on that album and the music industry in general, with the Mechanism of Area Control; a mechanism that is seen in games like Twilight Struggle and Spirit Island. Other topics of interest include: How shoveling snow in the Midwest gets you prepared for the high seas of Deadliest Catch.
Apr 14, 2022 · 42 min
1-01 : Elihu Yale with Pickup and Delivery
This week, we take a scholar of ill repute and a not so flashy mechanism of "pick up and deliver" and mash them into an idea for a board game. That's where our work stops, and if you choose, where yours begins! Keep in mind, we are just trying to have a fun conversation, so don't take anything too seriously. If you listen and enjoy, we would love to hear feedback! Welcome to Amusing Meeples!