RDTN Episode 168: Journeys in Middle-Earth, Oceans and Castles of Burgundy Dice Game

RDTN Episode 168 ranges from a quick, decision-heavy take on Castles of Burgundy to a lengthy first look at Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-Earth. Along the way, the crew revisits Evolution, tries its new app, and gets a look at Oceans, a related game with its own approach to feeding species. It’s a varied report, with the most substantial discussion saved for a new Middle-earth adventure built around an app and a regular group of players.

A familiar game in roll-and-write form

Castles of Burgundy: The Dice Game gets a strong recommendation as a compact version of the classic game. The format is a roll-and-write: players use the roll to make marks on their sheets, and those choices create the challenge. The crew found that it plays quickly while still presenting meaningful decisions. That combination makes it stand out among the titles discussed here, and the hosts describe it as a keeper for their collection.

For players who enjoy a game that asks them to weigh options without taking up a long session, that’s the practical appeal. The episode doesn’t spell out the sheet’s spaces or the rules in detail, so there’s no need to guess at the finer points. The useful takeaway is the crew’s experience at the table: brisk play, choices that keep their attention, and enough staying power to earn another outing.

The show also includes a segment on Doublesix Dice. It appears after the Castles of Burgundy discussion in the episode’s running order, though the source gives no further description of the dice or the crew’s impressions. The timestamps place this portion at 27:44.

Evolution returns, with Oceans on the horizon

Evolution is a first-time play for Marty, prompted in part by the recently released Evolution app on Steam. The episode brings the original game and its digital adaptation into the same conversation, then adds a tryout of Oceans, North Star Games’ next game in the Evolution series. That makes this stretch of the discussion a useful snapshot of a familiar design being revisited across different formats and a new standalone title.

The hosts describe Oceans as related to Evolution but able to stand on its own. One difference they call out is how species are fed. That’s a concrete change to watch for if you already know Evolution: the new game retains a family resemblance while changing a central part of how species interact with food. The source also singles out a Kraken, without giving more detail about how it works in play.

The episode reports that Oceans had reached its funding goal on Kickstarter at the time of recording. It doesn’t provide a goal amount, pledge levels, or a delivery date, so those details aren’t part of the discussion here. For listeners weighing whether the new game merits a closer look, the crew’s first impression is that it shares enough with Evolution to invite comparison while making changes that give it a distinct identity.

Journeys in Middle-Earth gets the longest look

The extended Scurry Report focuses on Fantasy Flight Games’ Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-Earth. The hosts emphasize a few points for prospective players: the game uses an app, includes mechanics that will feel familiar, and comes with miniatures they regard as especially nice. They compare those miniatures favorably with the ones in Mansions of Madness.

That mix gives the episode’s recommendation a clear shape. Players who enjoy Lord of the Rings may find this worth trying, particularly if they have a steady group that shares the interest. The hosts urge those groups to consider adding it to their collection. They also warn that it will cost a pretty penny, making price a practical part of the decision. The source doesn’t give a specific price or explain the app’s functions, so listeners should treat those as open questions when looking into the game.

For a group deciding what to play together, the strongest advice is to think about who will regularly sit down for it. The episode’s enthusiasm is aimed especially at groups with a shared interest in Tolkien’s world; the app and familiar mechanics round out the pitch, while the cost calls for a little consideration. The report runs from 46:00 to 1:32:28, making it the longest featured game discussion in the episode.

More from the table

Marty starts the episode with a report from Robb Con, where he played Wingspan and Tsukuyumi. The play report also mentions Call to Adventure and crokinole in the episode’s segment list. Outside the board game table, Marty managed to get in some disc golf, a favorite recreational sport for the RDTN crew now that spring has arrived.

There’s also a Play By Forum segment about D&D, a mention of The Broken Token, and a later discussion of Portal Games. The rundown gives listeners a quick map of the full show: it opens with the convention report, moves through recent plays and the roll-and-write, and then turns to Evolution, Oceans and the extended Middle-earth discussion.

For listeners choosing where to start, the Castles of Burgundy segment offers a short recommendation for a fast game with challenging choices. The Evolution discussion connects a first play with a digital version and a related new release. And the Journeys in Middle-Earth report makes its case for groups ready to bring a sizable Lord of the Rings game to the table. Those three stops capture the episode’s range, from a concise dice game to a much longer app-supported adventure.