RDTN Episode 130: Ted Alspach on Palace of Mad King Ludwig, Plus New Game Discussions

Episode 130 brings designer Ted Alspach into the conversation for a look at The Palace of Mad King Ludwig, a follow-up to Castles of Mad King Ludwig. The hosts make one distinction clear: these are different games. That makes Alspach’s explanation the useful starting point for listeners deciding whether the new palace belongs on their table when it comes out the following year. The episode’s table talk fills in the rest, moving from games that need more time to reveal their workings to a short filler with a new designer’s first release.

A designer explains the palace

The interview is the episode’s main draw. Rather than treating The Palace of Mad King Ludwig as a simple continuation of Castles, the hosts ask Alspach to explain what sets the two games apart. That distinction matters for players who know the earlier title and want to understand what sort of experience the follow-up offers. The supplied episode description doesn’t spell out the rules or Alspach’s specific answers, so the conversation itself is where listeners can hear the details and decide whether the new game sounds right for them.

The interview also sits within a broader run of discussion about games and their designers. The episode includes a “Rank’em with Ted” segment, giving Alspach another chance to join in beyond the focused conversation about his new design. Later, the hosts introduce Sundae Split, the first release from designer Nate Bivens, whom they describe as up and coming. The description calls it a filler game, though it doesn’t provide player counts, playing time, rules details or a price. Those specifics are left for the episode rather than guessed at here.

Games that need another play

Alien Artifacts gets a candid assessment: it was played, but the hosts say they need another few or ten plays to get down to the nuts and bolts of its engine. That’s a useful signal for players who enjoy working through a game over several sessions. The first plays have introduced the system; the hosts aren’t yet ready to offer a settled account of its moving parts. Their comment also sets expectations: this is an early impression, not a final verdict on how the engine works or how it holds up over repeated games.

By contrast, Richard the Lionheart earns a more immediate reaction. The hosts say it was fun and expect it back at the table. That’s brief, but it gives listeners a clear takeaway: the session left the group interested in playing again. The episode doesn’t supply further detail about its mechanisms or what drove that response, so the discussion is the place to hear what the group noticed during play.

The rundown also includes Master of Orion, Lisboa and Star Cartel. Their appearance in the schedule shows how broad the episode’s game coverage is, but the source description doesn’t summarize those conversations. Listeners looking for impressions of those titles can use the time guide to find each segment.

More than the main interview

Episode 130 begins with a Secret Cabal Halloween Special and makes room for three news breaks, including a contest tied to the show reaching 10,000 Twitter followers. The episode also includes a discussion of Werewolf Legacy, alongside appearances from The Broken Token, Portal Games and Funagain. Near the end, the hosts mention Outbreak RPG and Game Toppers, before a closing rant.

The time guide makes this long episode easier to navigate. Alien Artifacts begins at 4:00, followed by Master of Orion at 10:35. The first news break starts at 13:00; Lisboa follows at 14:20, and the contest discussion begins at 19:45. Star Cartel starts at 22:15, with Richard the Lionheart at 27:15. The Broken Token appears at 32:00, and Alspach’s segment begins at 32:50. Palace of Mad King Ludwig follows at 41:50, Werewolf Legacy at 54:35, and “Rank’em with Ted” at 1:01:30. Portal Games and Sundae Split begin at 1:13:05 and 1:14:00, respectively. The outro starts at 1:18:50, followed by Outbreak RPG, Game Toppers, the rant and Funagain.

For listeners choosing where to start, Alspach’s discussion is the best route into the episode’s central question: what makes The Palace of Mad King Ludwig its own game? The play reports add a contrasting pair of early reactions, with Alien Artifacts still under examination and Richard the Lionheart already earning a return visit. The time guide lets players jump between those threads and the shorter segments without losing the episode’s shape.