RDTN Episode 145: Way of the Panda, High Society and More

The surprise of RDTN Episode 145 is a warm reception for Way of the Panda. The Scurry Reporters return to weigh in on CMON’s release, and this time the review comes without the group’s usual Grumpy Tony moment. Their main caveat is right there on the cover: pandas might suggest a light, cuddly game, but the table experience is described as a thinking-heavy euro. The animal theme, in the reviewer’s view, could be swapped out without changing the kind of game being played.

That distinction matters for anyone deciding whether the game belongs on their table. The report points listeners toward its strategic character rather than treating the pandas as a promise of a cute, breezy session. The group’s positive response gives the episode a clear recommendation of sorts, though it doesn’t spell out particular mechanisms or player counts. Instead, the useful takeaway is about expectations: approach Way of the Panda as a substantial euro, and judge its theme separately from the work the game asks players to do. The reviewer hopes to bring it back to the table, a practical sign that the first play left the group wanting another look.

A classic bidding game gets a fresh presentation

High Society, from Osprey Games, draws a more divided response. The episode recognizes it as a classic that has been remade, then asks the question that often follows a new edition: does the game need an update? The reviewers don’t settle that question for every listener. They do call out the artwork and production as strong points, and suggest the remake may appeal to people who already enjoy bidding games.

That makes High Society’s presentation the clearest point of comparison in the discussion. A new edition can give a familiar game an appealing physical identity, but that alone won’t make its underlying play a fit for everyone. Here, the group’s differing opinions are part of the recommendation: listeners who value bidding games may find the new presentation persuasive, while players who are unsure about the design can hear the debate before deciding whether to try it. The episode shares enthusiasm for the look and production without pretending those qualities resolve the question of whether a remake was needed.

A wide-ranging episode at the table

The published rundown gives Episode 145 a broader shape than its two featured reviews. After the introduction, song trivia and a remote-location segment, the hosts turn to a convention update and a WKRP on MeTV mention. The game discussion begins at 18:44 with The Mind, followed by Flamme Rouge Redux at 23:52 and Magic Maze at 24:46. High Society arrives at 27:16, and the Scurry Report’s Way of the Panda segment starts at 32:45.

Those timestamps are handy for listeners who want to jump straight to a particular title, but the sequence also gives the episode room to move between different kinds of conversation. The shorter entries on The Mind, Flamme Rouge Redux and Magic Maze sit alongside the more extended treatment of Way of the Panda. Portal Games gets a mention at 31:47, before the Scurry Report begins. Later, the hosts return to Panda at 1:03:22, then discuss Zen Bins at 1:07:31 and The Broken Token at 1:13:06.

The return to Way of the Panda gives the episode’s central review a second point in the running order, while the Zen Bins and Broken Token segments widen the focus to gaming accessories. The rundown doesn’t describe the accessory details, so the timestamps are the best guide to where those conversations fit. Listeners interested in game storage or table gear can head directly to those later sections; those after the reviews can start with High Society or the Scurry Report.

Community thanks and a personal note

The hosts close the written show notes with thanks to listeners for their comments in the BGG guild and for posting reviews. They also congratulate Nate on the arrival of a new little meeple in his life. It’s a brief personal moment after an episode built around game opinions and table talk, and it gives the show notes a friendly sign-off.

For players choosing where to start, the clearest hook is the contrast between the two featured reviews: Way of the Panda earns a positive response despite a theme that may set the wrong first impression, while High Society’s remake prompts a genuine split. The episode offers enough to set expectations and direct listeners to the relevant segments. A return play for Panda is the next thing the reviewer is looking forward to; that should give the group another chance to say what holds up once the first impression has settled.