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Table Talk

Covenant

A weekly discussion about the evolution of the tabletop gaming industry, from the perspective of Steven and Zach—two long-time friends who started playing games together as kids in the '90s and then founded Covenant in 2007. They provide a uniquely well-informed, candid, and holistic perspective shaped by decades of industry experience.

Formerly called "The Covenant Cast"

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  • 28 episodes
  • Avg 1 hr 49 min
  • English

Episodes 28

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  • October 8 · 1 hr 21 min

    Are Digital Clients Inevitable?

    Advancements in articifical intelligence have made developing web-based "digital clients" for card games progressively easier. Expecting an increasing number of unofficial clients, we discuss the impact they will have on indie tabletop games.

  • October 1 · 1 hr 51 min

    We're overthinking organized play

    In our ongonig discussions about the problems experienced with LCGs (living card games) in the past, we're starting to feel like the overall approach to organized play has become too complicated. Join us to discuss the inherent challenges faced - and possible solutions - when supporting non-collectible, expandable card games like Hubworld: Aidalon and Ashes Reborn.

  • September 28 · 1 hr 33 min

    The Perfect Lap

    The Sorcery TCG Dust launch illustrates a number of lessons in the pursuit of perfection and the reality of the world. Join us as we wrestle with them.

  • September 24 · 1 hr 49 min

    Balance is Overrated

    People often optimize for efficiency and fairness, which is often times counter to optimizing for fun. Alpha Clash has pivoted to maximizing fun at their tournaments and now Sorcery with their Avatar prizes. Zach is hot off rebuilding his Earthborne Rangers decks to make them harder to play and Steven has a long history of making weak characters in D&D for greater roleplaying opportunity. With players, to some extent, seemingly going down this road themselves, we ask how companies can support fun over fairness.

  • September 1 · 1 hr 49 min

    Just Find One Person

    The best and hardest part of tabletop games is that they require other people to play. It's what leads to such amazing communities, but also a lot of frustration for those who just want to play their favorite games. Today, we talk about the lessons we've learned from over a decade of bringing people together. 00:06:37 Earthborne Games News 00:16:58 Sorcery TCG News 00:17:56 Flesh and Blood TCG News 00:23:27 Alpha Clash TCG News 00:23:41 Warlord TCG News 00:28:02 Covenant News 00:31:53 Main Topic: How to Start a Community

  • August 28 · 2 hr 19 min

    Say Less

    00:09:03 "Let's Cover the News" 00:09:35 Earthborne Games News 00:18:39 Sorcery TCG News 00:40:40 Warlord TCG News 00:41:45 Covenant News 00:50:49 Main Topic: Say Less

  • August 18 · 1 hr 51 min

    Playing Outside the LGS

    A great game can happen anywhere two people want to gather. With breweries, libraries, and community centers opening their doors to tabletop, what can an LGS do to become that preferred third space?

  • August 13 · 2 hr 20 min

    Is a Great Game Enough?

    We ask ourselves if, in our current moment, it is enough to make the best game possible, or if there is now an even more competitive meta game that designers need to understand to ensure success. 00:11:21 Flesh and Blood TCG News 00:11:53 Warlord TCG News 00:15:17 Arkham Horror LCG and Marvel Champions LCG News 00:19:27 Alpha Clash TCG News 00:39:46 Sorcery TCG News 00:57:46 Can Sorcery be Successful as Simply a Great Game? 01:00:22 Earthborne Games News 01:06:50 Covenant News 01:07:14 Social Segment 01:25:28 Main Topic: Is a Great Game Good Enough?

  • July 31 · 1 hr 56 min

    There and Back Again - New Zealand & Vegas

    In this episode, we share highlights from our recent travels to the Flesh and Blood TCG Pro Tour in Las Vegas and to the Erik's Curiosa offices in New Zealand (Sorcery TCG). The filming and conversations at each were enlightening. 00:06:12 Here Be Monsters TCG News 00:08:57 Hubworld: Aidalon News 00:25:26 Alpha Clash TCG News 00:32:07 Flesh and Blood TCG News 00:37:35 Warlord TCG News 00:42:07 Marvel Champions LCG and Arkham Horror LCG News 00:45:46 Main Topic: There and Back Again - New Zealand & Vegas

  • July 17 · 2 hr 6 min

    The TCG Fatigue Is Real

    We can all feel it. So many new TCGs on the market, so many new products from the old games, digital repacks, exclusives, stretch goals, and a seemingly endless supply of gimmicks. Perhaps we've lost our way. Perhaps it's time to return to the fundamentals. 00:02:36 Here Be Monsters TCG News 00:09:05 Alpha Clash TCG News 00:20:48 TCGs in the Internet Age 00:22:03 FAB TCG News 00:25:37 Sorcery TCG News 00:43:53 Ashes Ascendancy News 00:44:19 Warlord TCG News 00:44:27 Earthborne Games News 00:47:39 Arkham Horror and Marvel Champions News 00:48:14 Covenant News 00:51:34 Social Segment 01:13:59 Main Topic: The TCG Fatigue Is Real

  • July 3 · 2 hr 4 min

    Is This the Perfect Indie TCG?

    This week, Here Be Monsters TCG launched their Kickstarter campaign with a game-changing business model. Are they the first to solve the problem of TCGs without jettisoning all the upsides? We think that just might be the case! 00:00:00 Intro 00:08:32 Here Be Monsters TCG News 00:12:02 Zattic News 00:13:39 Alpha Clash TCG News 00:14:56 Flesh and Blood TCG News 00:19:07 Sorcery TCG News 00:19:31 Subjective Assessment of Art 00:24:34 Earthborne Games News 00:31:22 Viewer Question 1 00:32:28 Viewer Question 2 00:38:31 Ashes Ascendency News 00:43:13 Covenant News 00:48:35 Canadian News 00:54:16 Lightning Round! 01:04:13 Main Topic: Is Here Be Monsters the Perfect Indie TCG? Get your own demo deck: https://www.teamcovenant.com/games/here-be-monsters-tcg Learn more: http://cov.link/here-be-monsters

  • June 19 · 2 hr 13 min

    Are TCGs Gambling?

    It's time we addressed the perennial question. 00:36:38 Main Topic: Are TCGs Gambling?

  • June 12 · 1 hr 45 min

    Tabletop Isn't Digital

    On a fateful Monday, BradW shared an ad for Rush of Ikorr, the TCG from Upper Deck, coming to their ePack platform. What's the ePack platform, you ask? An abomination. It's not what tabletop is, and it misses the point completely. Digital integration? We don't want it, and it's ruining the hobby. Join us for a direct message to publishers thinking this is the future—it isn't. 40:30 Main Topic

  • June 5 · 2 hr 1 min

    FOMO is Necessary

    Our current crowdfunding and tcg-heavy tabletop gaming era necessitates a question: is there nobility in removing overtly FOMO-creating elements from your campaigns and product design, or are you just losing sales? 00:00:00 Intro 00:04:42 Sorcery TCG News 00:07:23 Warlord TCG News 00:07:44 Alpha Clash TCG News 00:08:03 Arkham Horror The Card Game & Marvel Champions News 00:21:42 FAB TCG News 00:22:04 Covenant News 00:23:24 Main Topic: FOMO

  • May 29 · 2 hr 4 min

    Earthborne Trailblazer First Impressions

    A few weeks ago, the Earthborne team came to our office to share a vertical slice of their new game, Earthborne Trailblazer, with us, our team, and three fans of Rangers. Now, with the launch of the Earthborne Trailblazer Kickstarter, we are excited to share our thoughts with the world! Earthborne Trailblazer Kickstarter: cov.link/earthborne-trailblazer 00:50:49 Main Topic: Earthborne Trailblazer First Impressions

  • May 22 · 1 hr 32 min

    Why Distribution Had to Change

    Traditional distribution serves a critical function for tabletop gaming, but for many publishers it is often a hindrance to success—that's why we launched Covenant Fulfilled earlier this year. With the platform receiving a number of updates this week, including the addition of Earthborne Games, we're diving into exactly how our approach to distribution was a necessary improvement for indie publishers. 27:51 Steven Rafts the Valley 41:07 Main Topic: Why Distribution Had to Change

  • May 8 · 1 hr 47 min

    Artistic Inspiration vs Plagiarism

    All last week we stared at the beautiful Earthborne Trailblazer board, created by Evan Simonet and inspired by Jaro Hess's "The Land of Make Believe". This week we wake up to a fresh controversy involving long time Magic: The Gathering artist Dan Frazier. There is clearly a line somewhere between the kind of artistic inspiration that both grounds and elevates a project and sticking so close to your reference that whatever you create lacks soul. Join us as we dive into the murky but refreshing waters of references, inspiration, and the act of creation in a post-modern world.

  • April 24 · 1 hr 57 min

    The End of Crowdfunding

    In the early days of crowdfunding, we were very hesitant to consider games that used the platform. Crowdfunding was seen as a negative. Somewhere along the way we entered an era where crowdfunding every game, or even every set, is seen as the standard. We wonder aloud how we got here and what the future holds. 00:07:15 Preview Pack 2026 Update 00:08:53 Sorcery TCG News 00:09:55 "What is Fulfilled?" 00:15:46 Covenant News 00:21:59 Earthborne Games News 00:26:18 Main Topic: The End of Crowdfunding

Showing 1–20 of 28 episodes