RDTN Episode 134 Marks Five Years With Pie Town and Fog of Love

Five years of making a board game podcast is a milestone worth celebrating, and RDTN Episode 134 does it with a mix of memories, new games and a fresh logo. The hosts look back on the enjoyable moments and the tougher stretches, while thanking listeners, game publishers and designers, and fellow board game media contributors who helped shape the show. They also recognize support from The Broken Token, Portal Games and Funagain.

The new logo gives the anniversary a visible marker. The hosts plan to offer Mason Jars bearing the design once the items arrive, with more information to follow. That small piece of merchandise fits the episode’s wider mood: a chance to revisit what the podcast has become, while giving longtime listeners something tangible to associate with its next chapter.

Pie Town builds toward its pie-making contest

The episode also turns to Pie Town, a game from Renegade Games. Its worker placement uses dice as workers, giving a familiar framework a distinctive way to represent the actions players can take. The hosts describe the opening as straightforward, with early turns that can feel repetitive. The game’s appeal grows as players establish their engine and the competition over who makes the best pies comes into focus.

That progression is the useful thing to know before sitting down. Pie Town may not demand an agonizing choice on every turn from the start. Instead, its early actions build toward a more engaging struggle once players have their systems running. For groups who enjoy watching a board state develop, the shift from simple setup to a sharper contest over results sounds like the point where the game finds its pace.

The hosts also praise the art and components, while saying they expected a strong production from Renegade. Their comments suggest that the physical presentation supports the game’s theme, but the main question for prospective players is whether the gradual ramp-up suits their table. Anyone looking for constant high-stakes decisions from the first round may find the opening less compelling; players comfortable with building toward a payoff may be more taken with it.

Fog of Love works best with roleplay

For the anniversary play, the hosts brought out Fog of Love to test their compatibility and, in the spirit of the occasion, their continued ability to make the podcast together. They stress that they don’t see it as a game for players who want to focus only on tactics. Its roleplaying is central: each player needs to inhabit the character created at the beginning and make choices from that character’s point of view.

That emphasis on character is both the game’s strongest feature and the clearest guide to whether it will suit a group. The hosts had fun, but found themselves slipping out of character. Their experience points to a practical table tip: take the personalities and circumstances seriously, and let them guide decisions, rather than treating each choice as an abstract puzzle. For players willing to lean into that approach, the roleplaying can shape the experience. For those who prefer to keep their attention on game systems, it may be a harder fit.

Fog of Love is designed for two players, a constraint that makes the shared roleplaying experience especially focused. The hosts note that it can be found at Walmart. They don’t present their session as a verdict for every pair of players; instead, the episode offers a useful account of what happened when they tried to stay in character and where the game’s central idea met their own habits at the table.

Anniversary notes and episode guide

Listeners can find the hosts’ survey and enter the anniversary contest. The request closes on a note of gratitude to the people who have supported RDTN over the years.

The episode’s timestamp guide moves from the opening at 00:37 to “Face to Face again” at 03:30 and a five-year review at 06:49. At 14:05, the hosts discuss an Asmodee article. Later stops include “Love for Food” at 20:15, a call back to BPPP at 24:45, favorite RDTN moments at 25:48, and the new logo and merchandise at 29:40. The anniversary contest begins at 40:45, followed by Fog of Love at 42:02.

The later portion covers The Broken Token at 47:31, Pie Town at 49:16 and Portal Games at 55:00. The outro starts at 56:48, “Funagain Love” follows at 1:02:19, and future plans come up at 1:04:12. Funagain appears again at 1:13:48. Together, those segments make the episode a blend of anniversary reflection and game talk, with Pie Town’s dice workers and Fog of Love’s character play offering two distinct reasons to tune in.