RDTN Episode 128 Looks at Codenames: Duet, 7th Continent and Shadespire

Episode 128 brings several different kinds of table experience into one conversation: a word game built for two, a time themed adventure, a large scale exploration game, and a miniature game. The mix gives the episode a useful shape for listeners deciding what to try next, while a guest co-host and a younger player add perspectives beyond the usual review format.

Rich Sommer joins the discussion

Tony is away on vacation, so Rich Sommer joins the host for this episode. Sommer, known from Cardboard!, helps guide the conversation through the featured games and other topics. The show records some of its views on Codenames:Duet and Professor Evil and the Citadel of Time before Tony leaves.

That change in hosting gives the episode a conversational feel: listeners hear the regular host work through the subjects with a guest who brings his own gaming context. The segment list also makes clear that this is not a single game review. It moves between reactions, brief features, and a longer report, so listeners can dip into the topics that interest them or follow the whole hour and fifty minutes.

Two games get focused attention

Codenames: Duet gets two appearances, first in a conversation with Sommer and later in the recurring Five Minute Initiative segment. That repeat attention makes it one of the episode’s central games. The source points listeners to the game but doesn’t spell out the review’s verdict or describe its rules, so the discussion itself is the place to hear what the hosts thought and what details shaped their impressions.

Professor Evil and the Citadel of Time receives its own segment at 31:55. Its title suggests a story driven setting, but the episode listing doesn’t provide a rules summary or a recommendation. The useful promise here is a dedicated conversation: listeners interested in the game can hear the hosts’ views directly rather than relying on a short mention in passing.

A longer look at 7th Continent

The second Scurry Report turns to 7th Continent, described in the episode introduction as a massive adventure game. Its segment begins at 51:55 and runs until the next listed topic at 1:21:00, making it the longest game focused portion of the program. That space gives the hosts room to spend more time with the experience than the shorter review segments allow.

For players weighing an expansive adventure game, a longer discussion can be especially useful. It leaves room for a sense of scale and for the practical impressions that often matter at the table: what kind of commitment the game asks for, how its play feels over time, and who might enjoy taking it on. The episode description doesn’t answer those questions in advance, but it signals that the hosts devote a substantial part of the show to this one.

Shadespire through a younger player’s eyes

The host’s son joins for a segment about Shadespire, a new miniature game from Games Workshop. That makes this portion distinct from the other reviews: it brings in a player’s response from another generation, rather than relying only on the usual host and guest exchange. The source doesn’t give a player count, play time, or rules details, so the segment is best approached as a first reaction and a family gaming perspective.

For miniature players, that perspective can be a useful part of the conversation. A game’s appeal often depends on more than the miniatures themselves: the play experience has to connect with the people around the table. Hearing a younger player’s thoughts offers a small window into that question, even though the episode summary doesn’t reveal the specifics of his take.

More stops along the way

The run of topics extends well beyond the four featured games. Early in the episode, Sommer discusses First Martians, while another segment turns to Joe Manganiello and D&D. The hosts also touch on the Lords of Waterdeep app and Portal Games. These short entries broaden the show’s reach across board games, digital play, and roleplaying, without requiring every subject to carry the weight of a full review.

Later, the episode includes a conversation about The Broken Token, followed by several lighter or more personal segments: GameToppers, parking garage memories, and “Marty Sucks at Teaching Rules.” FunAgain Games and a pointer to where listeners can find more of Sommer round out the schedule. Those stops give the show a relaxed, varied rhythm, though the timestamps show that the main game discussions remain easy to find.

Where to start listening

Listeners looking for the central game coverage can start with Codenames: Duet at 14:10 or 45:42, Professor Evil and the Citadel of Time at 31:55, 7th Continent at 51:55, and Shadespire at 1:21:00. The opening with Rich Sommer begins at 0:40, and his closing segment starts at 1:47:00.

Episode 128’s appeal lies in that range: it pairs focused game conversations with shorter industry and hobby stops, then gives the sprawling 7th Continent enough time to stand apart. For anyone browsing the lineup, the segment markers make it simple to find a particular game; for listeners who enjoy a varied tabletop chat, the full run offers a broader snapshot of what the hosts have been playing and discussing.