RDTN Episode 163: Everdell, Stronghold Games and Tantrum Con

What helps a board game stay in players’ conversations after the first rush of attention fades? That question anchors RDTN Episode 163, where Stephen Buonocore joins the show for a long discussion about visibility, lasting appeal and the choices publishers make when a title slips out of the spotlight. The episode also features a look at Everdell, a preview of Tantrum Con with Sarah and Melissa of Tantrum House, and a packed run of shorter conversations.

Keeping games in the conversation

Buonocore takes a close look at what it can take for a game to get noticed in a crowded market and keep drawing interest once the initial buzz has passed. The hosts describe a familiar pattern: players hear about a promising release, then discussion seems to fade within a month. Their questions turn from that short window to the longer view. What gives a game staying power, and what can a publisher do when a title has been set aside by players?

For Stronghold Games, the discussion includes ways to renew interest in games that have received what the hosts call the “Squirrel treatment.” The phrase points to the quick shifts in attention that can happen when players move from one new release to another. The conversation asks whether a title can find another audience or return to the table after its first wave of attention, and what helps that happen.

Buonocore also looks back at Stronghold’s catalog. In hindsight, some games may appear to have been clear successes from the start, but he says that wasn’t always how they looked at the beginning. That perspective gives the discussion room to consider how a publisher assesses a title before its future is obvious. The hosts also press him about upcoming games: a pitch is one thing, but what will keep those titles visible after they arrive?

The episode’s chapter list gives a sense of how wide the interview ranges. The main discussion starts at 24:30, with topics including how games get noticed at 30:05, whether evergreen titles are possible at 37:08, supply at 42:40 and the idea of a two-week shelf life at 45:00. Buonocore’s pitch and upcoming games come later, at 1:00:35 and 1:08:10. Listeners looking for the publishing conversation can use those markers to jump straight in.

Everdell and a different pace for turns

The game segment centers on Everdell, described on the show as a hot game from Gen Con. The hosts call it a worker placement and engine-building game, and single out its turn structure as a distinctive feature. Instead of dividing play into fixed rounds that advance for everyone at once, players don’t all move through the game in lockstep.

That difference shapes the feel of a session. In a game with shared round changes, everyone reaches the next phase together; Everdell gives players a less synchronized path. The hosts present that structure as part of what sets the game apart, alongside its appeal to people who are ready to try a worker placement game. They also describe it as accessible, making it a natural pick for players who want to explore those mechanics without the show framing it as a difficult entry point.

The timing of the discussion connects back to Buonocore’s questions about lasting attention. The team notes that Everdell should still be on players’ radar after its Gen Con buzz. That observation leaves a useful question hanging over the episode: what turns an exciting first impression into a game people continue to talk about and play?

Tantrum Con and the rest of the show

Sarah and Melissa from Tantrum House join Marty and the host to discuss the upcoming Tantrum Con in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The hosts say they’re looking forward to the convention, with one practical reservation: the early morning drive. The conversation expands beyond the event itself, following the show’s chatty style rather than sticking to a convention preview alone.

Listeners can find the Tantrum Con segment at 1:24:25. Before that, the chapter list moves through a range of subjects, including Rob Daviau’s visit to town, Holding On: The Troubled Life of Billy Kerr, rulebook writing, miniature-market shopping and Portal Games. There are also lighter detours into mower preferences, musical tastes, a Charlotte visit to Snakes & Lattes, and a brief discussion of chocolate bombs at Gen Con.

The episode closes with a reminder that the annual Squirrely’s award show is about a month away. The hosts mention the All Y’all Award and say nominations will close soon. The source points listeners to a link to take part, but doesn’t include that destination in the supplied article.

RDTN Episode 163 makes its strongest case through the way these conversations overlap: a publisher’s view of long-term interest, a game whose turn structure stands out, and a convention the hosts are eager to attend. For listeners short on time, the chapter markers make it easy to choose a topic; for the full picture, the extended discussion with Buonocore is the episode’s main draw.