RDTN Episode 160: Blackstone Fortress, Fireball Island and Victorian Masterminds

Six years into Roll Dice Take Names, the show is still finding room for game talk, family stories and listener giveaways. Episode 160 has a relaxed mix: Marty’s account of a mower bagger that didn’t go to plan, a first discussion of Warhammer Quest: Blackstone Fortress, and early plays of Fireball Island and Victorian Masterminds. The game impressions are tentative, but they give listeners a useful sense of what stood out at the table and what might deserve another play.

Three games, three early impressions

Blackstone Fortress is the episode’s newest arrival in the conversation. Marty is joined by his oldest son, Adam, to discuss the new Warhammer Quest game. The host writing about the episode had heard an early account and hoped to get a chance to play it soon. With Marty’s three boys at home over the holidays, there was also an expectation that the game might come up again. That leaves this discussion as a first look rather than a settled verdict: listeners hear enthusiasm and anticipation, with more table time still ahead.

Fireball Island: The Curse of Vul-Kar landed in a different place. The first plays were light, and the marbles drew more cheers than any emerging plan. That response is part of the appeal described here: the group found reasons to laugh and react, even while they were still working out what the game might offer beyond its immediate spectacle. The writer expects repeat plays could reveal choices that were easy to miss at first. A simple first impression doesn’t have to be the last word, especially when a group is still learning how the pieces and decisions fit together.

Victorian Masterminds, CMON’s new game, also came across as light and quick to play. The writer sees room for more than the group picked up during its initial sessions, while offering one clear table recommendation: it needs four players. That makes the player count a practical point for anyone considering a play. A game can feel different when its full group is present, and these first impressions suggest the experience may be easier to assess with four around the table.

The episode doesn’t claim that any of these early reactions are definitive. Instead, it gives each game a distinct starting point: curiosity about Blackstone Fortress, laughter and marble watching in Fireball Island, and a promising but incomplete read on Victorian Masterminds. For listeners, the useful question is what changes with another session. Does Fireball Island start to reward attention to decisions as well as the marbles? Does a four player game of Victorian Masterminds show the depth the host suspects is there? Those are open questions, not promised answers.

A six year milestone with a personal detour

The anniversary gives the episode a reason to look back, but the mood stays informal. The host credits Marty with surviving the task of putting together a leaf bagger for his mower, and Marty shares how that went. It’s an everyday mishap rather than a game review, yet it suits a show built around people swapping stories alongside their hobby. The segment list gives the bagger story its own place, following the anniversary discussion and preceding a section called “Spring has sprung.”

The hosts also mark the milestone by giving things away. They thank listeners for their support over the past year and say planning for 2019 is already underway. Suggestions are welcome by email or through the show’s BoardGameGeek guild, giving listeners a way to contribute ideas as the hosts plan what comes next. The anniversary is both a celebration of the show’s history and a moment to invite its audience into the next year of programming.

Where to find the segments and contests

The episode’s timestamps make it easy to jump to a particular conversation. After the intro at 00:55, “6 Years Ago” begins at 6:27, followed by “How not to install a bagger” at 8:18. “Spring has sprung” starts at 17:35, “Can’t touch that” at 19:20 and “And we return to the show” at 21:40. The Miniature Market segment follows at 22:53, with Victorian Masterminds at 24:05.

Later, Portal Games appears at 47:52, and Warhammer Quest: Blackstone Fortress begins at 49:03. Contest Time starts at 1:22:43, ahead of Fireball Island: The Curse of Vul-Kar at 1:33:1 and a giveaway discussion at 1:39:00. The outro is listed at 1:40:27, with The Broken Token at 1:44:25. The listing gives the Fireball Island timestamp in that form, so listeners may need to use the episode player to find the exact spot.

Listeners can enter through the BGG Guild Member, Facebook Like and Podpledge Backer options listed with the episode. The show also points players toward Miniature Market, Victorian Masterminds, Portal Games, Warhammer Quest: Blackstone Fortress, Fireball Island: The Curse of Vul-Kar and The Broken Token.

There’s also an unrelated link in the source discussion: no.slotzo.com. The writer uses it as a comparison while suggesting that even a light game can have strategy; the central point remains that the Fireball Island group hadn’t explored that side of play yet. The best reason to tune in is the mix of honest first reactions and the possibility of a follow-up: these games have only begun to make their case at the table.