Board Game Breakfast - VIG

Welcome to the 166th episode of Board Game Breakfast!

SHOW NOTES
0:20 - Intro
2:31 - Board Game News
7:09 - Crowdfunding Round-up with Suzanne
11:52 - Playing the News
14:13 - Dice Tower Productions
15:49 - Head in the Clouds with Chaz Marler
19:04 - Boardgaming with Colleagues
21:14 - Tom Thinks (VIG)
28:24 - Miniature World
30:18 - What's on the Shelf?
32:36 - The Board Game Makeover
35:38 - The Best and the Worst
37:36 - Play Like a Girl
40:00 - Dead Last
41:44 - Snakes and Lattes
44:35 - Closing Thoughts

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[DanieleMazzoni]

Chaz did a wonderful job with his segment, nice discussion and so well presented... I wonder where you find the time!!!! :D

[actualol]

Classic segment Chaz! Is that radical black shirt from your wardrobe? Perhaps a hangover from your Good Charlotte days? :)

[ramonosuke]

Great episode! Thanks to everyone who helps put these together and the contributors

As for "Tom Thinks" I think if people have the disposable income, they can spend it to there hearts content. This coming from a broke gamer myself.

[merchantxix]

"if your deck was a car it'd be a lemon and your trying to turn it into a Ferrari" dammit that's a great theme! carbuilder racing game!

[scaggsa]

Loved the snake and lattes segment. Really missed Dan and Cora!

[clay]

@TheBoardGameMakeOver I love Plano boxes. I love coming up with solutions to game storage. I remember the hesitancy I had over the first time I threw away an insert--for Elder Sign. After that initial uncertainty of "shouldn't I keep everything original to the game???", I found it easier to do in the future, and I actually look forward to "solving" the storage issues to a new game acquisition. My latest, I've combined Dead of Winter and DOW The Long Night, into one box using a plano-esque box, some shirt boxes, and lots of duct tape. I looked at and long debated the purchase of a BrokenToken insert, but, for me, I couldn't justify the purchase when I could buy a different game for the money. The BToken's insert for DOW seems very nice, and I'd love to receive it as I gift, I suppose, but I'm also happy with the insert I fashioned myself which can fit both games into one box.

I'd like to see more "storage solutions" videos on the Dice Tower.

What's in the box, Tom?

What's in the BOX?!!?!

[Arctic_Cat]

Thanks to Tom and crew for great material!

[Arctic_Cat]

Chaz, great skit incorporating the beard into a time line mash up!

[chopperdan]

1st time Gen Con VIG'er this year. One of the main reasons I went with the VIG is the earlier access to hotel space. New VIGs were able to reserve space up to a week ahead of the opening of the Housing Portal. Plus, I attend with a large group of friends, a couple of whom also are VIGs, pretty much guaranteed us hotel space together downtown. That peace of mind in being able to secure housing is a huge factor in why I laid out the extra money for it. The early access to the exhibit hall, the swag, and lounge are also very nice perks. But with the hotel situation in Indianapolis right now and the mad scramble for rooms, guaranteeing a room downtown is well worth the cost, IMO.

[hitithippo]

If people want to pay extra for a better package, why not?
Signed,
Someone who can't afford conventions

[Guitartc]

Hey Tom, I enjoy Dice Tower content weekly and it's all free! In my opinion you don't owe us folk that don't buy VIP passes (or go to conventions in general) anything. Just keep doing what you guys are doing. Really appreciate everything!

[AndyVandercoy]

well the lack of a VIG ticket for me at Gencon provided me an exciting experience of rushing in with everyone hunting down what I thought I needed to have I was within the first 5 in the door
I was upset Seafall wasn't available at 140 and now it's everywhere. this allowed me to appreciate and find other games I might have missed.

I believe if you are in a bubble of exclusivity you miss out on other experiences which is fine either way, but this is how our society works therfore I don't care others can buy there way into things. this effect allows my saving up and going to a convention every 3 years really exciting! I don't take for granted my privilege of more experiences and just enjoy the ones I have.

I can understand the "how unfair" attitudes to a point and feel that way myself especially this year but now I look back and have way more experiences and memories with those around me hoping and wanting something interesting for their experience.

I am not downplaying those who can afford the luxury and more power to them. I just hope the dice tower as they were to me TOM is humble and kind to their fans when we come by and meet you all. Offer panels and keep being kind and thoughtful as you all are. Thank you

[maklen]

I think the topic of VIGs this week dovetails nicely with an earlier Board Game Breakfast episode on FOMO or fear of missing out. Like many hobbies, the board game hobby is one where there is a wide variation in the amount of time and money folks are able to or willing to invest in it. And there is certainly no lack of options for board gamers to consider to spend their resources on - new games, kickstarter campaigns, new miniatures, new CCG packs, promos, conferences are some of the many offerings out there that offer potentially great experiences to gamers and VIG packages are simply another such offering. But as Tom discussed in regards to FOMO, you simply can't do everything - and that includes VIG packages. There will always be someone else that is willing to pour more time and money to the hobby than you - but that shouldn't be the point of the hobby to begin with. The point is to enjoy yourself - at whatever level of involvement and investment that works for you. Nothing is a requirement. So if some folks think it's worth it to get the VIG experience at GenCon - good for them. But it shouldn't have any impact on others enjoyment of GenCon or even board gaming overall. And there's always going to be some form of tiering that will happen - some folks are able to have huge collections of board games whereas others only have a few games. Some folks are able to spend more money on gather cards, including rare ones, for various CCGs - should we do away with those since there's a disparity that naturally arises between participants?? No. It just goes back to people finding at what level they want to participate in the hobby and deriving enjoyment from that. Take myself, I'd love to game every night - but I have other demands on my time - such as a wife and children - compared to others that have more time on their hands. But that fact doesn't impact me or my enjoyment of the hobby - I'm content.

[themaster]

I do not mind there being different tiers of payment for VIG. Lexicon in Lexington KY has something that gives you free food and a lounge to eat. The place is small anyway, so there wouldn't be enough room for everyone and for the more frugal, you can eat outside the convention very easily. I like to go as cheap as I can, so I'm fine without VIG. Friend of mine loved VIG so he can just go there and grab food and be back. However, he's also out of state, so for him, this is one of the only times he gets to play games so the cost is worth it.
I have 0 problem with this model.

[VaultBoy]

Awesome to see Girl's Game Shelf on Dice Tower. The videos on their channel bring a unique combination of "let's play" and review.

[APKlosky]

The news segment regarding Sentinels of the Multiverse isn't accurate.
The Sentinels Comics RPG--currently in beta testing--uses its own system, and the designers are aiming for a Kickstarter later this year. But, that's not what the announcement recently was about.

The joint announcement with Green Ronin was to announce "Sentinels of Earth-Prime"--a game that uses the Sentinels of the Multiverse mechanics, but set within the Freedom City/Earth-Prime setting, which is featured in Mutants and Masterminds.

[michaelnoa]

Chaz had an absolutely amazing segment, and for Chaz that is saying something because all his segments are great! But this one was spectacular. Thanks Chaz!!!

[jdiron]

Matthew Jude, one game that made me shell out my cash without knowing anything about it? Orleans. It's now one of my favorite games. Same with Traders of Osaka! I didn't know why I had to have it, but I HAD TO HAVE IT! And I adore it. It's in my top 5.

[Steve-L]

VIG: Some interesting thoughts Tom. I for one, could never afford going to any conventions outside my area. I am going to a local one this coming weekend.

I do think DT fans would miss out in not spending time with the Dice Tower Crew, but I also recognize that folks paying that premium helps me get more Dice Tower content.

I think there might be a way to reach more people, and that is to have the Dice Tower crew go to more conventions. I would love to meet you (Tom), Sam, or Zee at the Fire & Ice Convention in Manitowoc Wisconsin for example. I think this approach would lend itself for more people who don't have the money to meet you guys.

[Robin-veck]

Yay, Suzanne said 'play all the games' again! I'd missed that! I went back just after closing the video as it sounded like was about to say it just as I did!