RDTN Episode 342: Beyond the Horizon, Arcs, Chu Han and More

RDTN Episode 342 is built around a useful question for players choosing between familiar and new designs: when two games share some mechanics, what makes one feel like a better fit at your table? The episode takes that question to Beyond the Horizon and Beyond the Sun, while also checking in on a recent visit to Dice & Diversions and listing stops for Chu Han, Moving Wild and Arcs.

The strongest personal takeaway is that Beyond the Horizon shouldn’t be treated as a substitute whose merits depend on matching its predecessor. The hosts describe it as a reimplementation that uses similar mechanics to Beyond the Sun, but stands as its own game. Their comparison points to a practical distinction: one player may prefer the map in Beyond the Horizon, while another may be more drawn to the space majority control board in Beyond the Sun. That difference in focus can matter more than the shared mechanical roots.

Two related games, different table preferences

For people who’ve played both, the episode’s advice is refreshingly direct: let your playstyle guide the choice. The host says Beyond the Horizon is more their style, specifically because of its map. That preference gives listeners something concrete to consider without turning one game into a universal recommendation. If a game’s central board and the kind of space it asks you to read are a big part of what you enjoy, those features can shape the whole experience.

That’s a useful way to approach games with shared mechanics. Familiarity can help players understand what to look for, but it doesn’t settle which version will suit them. A map and a space majority control board invite different kinds of attention, and players can weigh those priorities against what they enjoy in a session. The episode’s comparison stays rooted in that personal response: the games have a relationship, yet the choice comes down to which one feels more engaging at your table.

The episode listing places Beyond the Horizon at 28 minutes, following a segment on Chu Han at 24 minutes. Those timestamps offer a quick route for listeners who want to reach the board game discussion, while the opening sections provide the convention context that frames the hosts’ recent play.

A good weekend at Dice & Diversions

The hosts attended Dice & Diversions this month and came away feeling the trip was worthwhile. They call out the location and the care the event team showed its gamers, and recommend that people in the Southeast consider attending next year. Their account also emphasizes the social side: there were plenty of activities for board game and roleplaying fans, and people were regularly looking for others to join them.

That last detail is especially useful for anyone deciding whether an event suits their style. A full schedule matters, but so does the chance to find a table when you arrive without a fixed group. The hosts describe opportunities to join other players throughout the event, making the gathering sound welcoming to attendees who want to play across a range of tables. They don’t give a confirmed date for the 2026 event; hotel contracts are still being worked on, and the expected timing is the first quarter.

More games on the episode’s table

The time guide also points listeners toward Moving Wild at 46 minutes and Arcs at 51 minutes. The listing names both games but doesn’t summarize their mechanics or offer a verdict, so listeners looking for the hosts’ full impressions will need to hear those segments. For an episode guide, that’s still a helpful spread: several named games are gathered in one show, with timestamps that make it easy to jump to a particular discussion.

There are also short breaks and sponsor links in the running order. Dice & Diversions appears at eight minutes, and a Miniature Market segment begins at 22 minutes. The later lineup includes Portal Games at 44 minutes, followed by Game Toppers at 71 minutes and E-Win Chairs at 73 minutes. The show’s intro is listed at two minutes, with the outro at 76 minutes.

For listeners choosing where to start, the Beyond the Horizon comparison is the clearest anchor: it offers a specific preference players can test against their own tastes. The convention recap adds a practical note for regional gamers, while the timestamps make the remaining game discussions easy to find. Keep an eye out for the 2026 Dice & Diversions date once hotel arrangements are settled.

00:02:00 Intro
00:04:00 Dice & Diversions
00:08:00 First Impressions
00:13:00 Wheels on the Bus
00:22:00 Miniature Market
00:24:00 Chu Han
00:28:00 Beyond the Horizon
00:44:00 Portal Games
00:46:00 Moving Wild
00:51:00 Arcs
01:11:00 Game Toppers
01:13:00 E-Win Chairs
01:16:00 Outro

Thanks for listening, and for all the support.