The Play Greater Podcast

Greater Than Games
  • 5.0 (8)
  • Games
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Pull up a chair and join the conversation on the Play Greater Podcast! Both bi-monthly and bi-weekly, Paul and Christopher from Greater Than Games explore the stories behind the games, the people who make them, and the passion that drives the tabletop community forward. With our new relaunch, we're bringing you more design insights, more industry talk, more of the games you love, and more nonsense. Don't be shy — come say hi! Send us your questions using this form: https://forms.gle/cC1mfFzUxekzSzVC9

  1. 4d ago

    Play Greater Podcast: Episode #42

    We are back with a completely, totally, unequivocally normal episode of the Play Greater Podcast ! No weird timeline anomalies or unexpected catastrophes, just classic studio banter, crowdfunding updates, global political reports, and some reflection on a particular aspect of our company history . Intro/Banter A Very Normal Episode: We promise, nothing unhinged happened during recording ! Retro Media: Reminiscing about print newspapers, Sunday comic strips, and classic cartoons . Holiday Season Hype: Halloween stretching across two full weekends? Sure, we'll take it ! Plus, some consideration of other upcoming holidays . GTG News & World Report(s) Defenders of the Realm Crowdfunding Ends TODAY: Today is the absolute last chance to back Defenders of the Realm: Definitive Edition on Gamefound ! Files are heading off to the printer very soon ! Europe & Asia: Both massive continents AND legendary rock bands . PAX Unplugged: We'll be set up at Booth #3709 ! An easy number to remember! Playtesting Progress: Active playtesting for Project Transparisteel and Project Gold is spinning back up. Secret Projects: Brand-new, unannounced top-secret projects are currently brewing in the lab ! World Reports: BioWare: Examining recent industry news surrounding BioWare's shutdown . Serbia Elections: Political shifts in Serbia as the student movement drives change . Brazil Elections: Lula da Silva wins and Bolsonaro loses! Huzzah ! Baseball: A global update on the World Series (which has since ended). The Wheel of Topics: GTG Warehouse Lore (Part 1) The Wheel has spoken! We kick off Part 1 of 2 (or maybe 3) detailing the various Greater Than Games warehouses over the years, complete with behind-the-scenes stories, logistics chaos, notable peril, and memories from our ancient history . Banter/Outro Lighting the Future: Cyan lights are officially the future . Magenta lights, too? Heck yeah ! Driving Innovations: Proposing a "going straight" blinker for cars. Please! Got a question, design dilemma, or wheel topic for our upcoming quarterly mailbag? Send it in using our PGP Letter Submission Form !

  2. Oct 15

    Play Greater Podcast: Episode #41

    We are feeling a little loopy today, but we are back with a jam-packed episode featuring outdoor adventures, major studio updates, and the debut of an all-new show segment! Intro/Banter The Great Outdoors: Paul and Christopher are heading out camping together!  Climbing & Concerts: Right after camping, Christopher is taking off for a rock climbing trip. Plus, reflecting on a concert Christopher attended a couple weeks ago. New Segment: We are introducing a brand-new, sometimes-recurring segment later in today's episode!  GTG News & World Report Defenders of the Realm Crowdfunding: Defenders of the Realm: Definitive Edition is still live on Gamefound... and we officially hit our funding goal last week! Thank you to everyone who backed and helped us save Monarch City! Sentinels of the Multiverse Reprints: The next Sentinels of the Multiverse reprint campaign is officially set to launch in Q1 of next year!  PAX Unplugged: Mark your convention maps! We will be at Booth #3709 this year. Super easy to remember number, don't worry. World Report: Baseball: The Brewers, the World Cup, Japan... lots to talk about! EU & UK Shipping: An update on international fulfillment logistics and shipping. New Segment: Game Pitch — Defenders of the Realm We debuted our brand-new Game Pitch segment, putting Defenders of the Realm in the spotlight! We break down the elevator pitch, key mechanics, and what makes this reimagined return to Monarch City so special. With special guests! Banter/Outro Pitching Success: Pitching Defenders of the Realm was a total blast! Was it useful? Did it work? Who can say? We would love your feedback so we can grow and improve! We we look forward to other Game Pitch segments in future episodes.   Back in the Studio: A big shoutout to our interns, Alec and Dario, for hanging out with us in the studio again! See you next time! Thanks for tuning in!   Got a question, design dilemma, or wheel topic for our upcoming quarterly mailbag? Send it in using our PGP Letter Submission Form!

  3. Oct 1

    Play Greater Podcast: Episode #40

    We are back for Episode #40! We attempted to record this episode more than once, which descended into total disaster, so we've wiped the slate clean and gave it another shot . In this episode, we look ahead to upcoming show milestones, layout our fall convention schedule, and spend over half the show discussing the ultimate fantasy literary adaptation . Intro/Banter Road to Episode 50: Milestone Episode 50 is somewhat fast approaching, and we are looking for ideas on how we should celebrate ! Episode 40, Take Two: We originally tried recording this episode last week, but it turned into an absolute recording catastrophe . We regrouped and powered through for attempt number two ! Standard Table Book Club: Over on the Order of the Standard Table discord, we're starting a book club — specifically taking a deep dive into J.R.R. Tolkien's The Silmarillion ! GTG News & World Report Defenders of the Realm is Live on Gamefound! Defenders of the Realm: Definitive Edition is officially live on Gamefound ! This is the absolute best version ever created of this cooperative fantasy classic . While miniatures are expensive to produce, we are hoping to reach the levels to unlock them as optional add-ons ! Order of the Standard Table Perks: The Order continues to grow ! We talk about the Tiers Explanation Page to see how the ranks shake out . Order members receive free domestic shipping — which even applies to our current Defenders of the Realm crowdfunding campaign ! Head to the Order Landing Page or Buy a Standard Writ to join . Convention Updates: PAX Unplugged 2026: We will officially be there ! Essen Spiel 2026: Sadly, we will not be attending Essen Spiel this year . World Report: A geopolitical update on the war in Ukraine, examining Russian government mistakes and the spread of AI-generated military fabrications . The Wheel of Topics We only spun the Wheel once this episode, but that single topic took over more than half the show! The Lord of the Rings (Movies vs. Books): Tons of Praise: Giving credit where credit is due for Peter Jackson's film trilogy and its incredible achievements. Plenty of Nitpicks: Airing out our book-purist grievances, though none of our nitpicks actually ruin the movies. The Ultimate Verdict: We love the films, but they will never replace the books. The books remain vastly superior! Banter/Outro Got a design dilemma, world report topic, or hypothetical scenario for our upcoming quarterly mailbag? Keep the letters coming! Submit Your Letters to the Play Greater Podcast Here!

  4. Sep 17

    Play Greater Podcast: Episode #39 — Mailbag Q3 2026

    Welcome to our very first dedicated, all-letters quarterly mailbag episode! We cleared out the inbox and tackled everything from RPG module reprints and project management bandwidth to retro synth soundtracks, 13-month calendars and hot takes about time, and a Gen Con live sword duel! SCRPG Adventure Module Reprints: Addressing the future physical availability of Sentinel Comics RPG modules and the ongoing demand for a downloadable MP3 of "Matt has left the room." (Does this link work?) Project Capacity & Scope Creep: How many simultaneous projects can a publisher actually manage? Is Paul the one who balances staff bandwidth against the temptation to add new titles? The answer may surprise you! Lazer Ryderz Soundtrack: The status of the synth-heavy Lazer Ryderz soundtrack (and the fan-favorite track "Twist Your Mind") and the rights to that game/IP. Post-Sleepy Hollow Campaign Games: We're drawing blanks when it comes to story-driven, 2- to 3-player campaign game recommendations featuring asymmetrical character progression (plus some reflections on Legend of Sleepy Hollow). The TMBG Venn Diagram: Mapping the overlap between Greater Than Games, The Brothers Chaps, and They Might Be Giants, and pitching what a GTG x TMBG collaboration would look like. (Awesome is what.) The Gen Con Wager Master Clone Test: If Wagermaster split us into identical clones — one working the GTG booth and one free to roam — how would our attendee clones spend their convention? The 13-Month, 28-Day Calendar Debate: Breaking down whether replacing our irregular monthly calendar with thirteen 28-day months (and floating year-end holidays) is better, worse, or about the same. Live Sword Duel Verdicts & Dragon Art: Remembering the Gen Con Live 2026 sword duel. And here are some dragons! Christopher's first attempt: Christopher's second attempt: Totally actually Paul's dragon: (Real credit to Alec, our trusty intern!)   Keep Those Letters Coming!   Our next quarterly mailbag will be here before you know it. Send us your design dilemmas, weird hypotheticals, and wheel topics anytime: Submit Your Letters to the Play Greater Podcast Here!

  5. Sep 3

    Play Greater Podcast: Episode #38

    We're back with Episode #38! From active construction zones and late-night recordings to deep historical dives and lunar events, we cover a ton of ground in this episode. Opening Banter Under Construction: The studio roof is actively under construction, so if you hear ambient hammering, just consider it our new lo-fi backing track. Late Night Recording: We had a long but fantastic recording session for The Letters Page last night. Nostalgia Trip: Taking a moment to reminisce about the olden days. GTG News & World Report Defenders of the Realm Updates: Things are moving full steam ahead, and they're going really well! We're doing a lot of both internal and external playtesting! Order of the Standard Table: The Order has been stepping up and helping out behind the scenes. Creative Writing & Wordsmithing: Writing new material, making up brand-new words, and developing other unannounced games. Sentinels of the Multiverse Reprints: Definitive Edition reprints are officially slated for next year! Sentinel Choices Zine Released: The Sentinel Choices Zine has officially been released! World Report — Theatre at Brickworks: Our performance of Inheritance at Brickworks Theatre went remarkably well! We might just have to do more performances in the future. Celestial Events: Catching the red moon during last night's lunar eclipse. Words of Wisdom: "There's a lot of stuff on the earth." — Paul Bender, 2026. The Wheel of Topics Spin 1: Recommendations! Paradox Interactive Games: Deep tactical strategy love. Star Wars: Zero Company: Very interested to some day play Star Wars: Zero Company. Life Advice: Drink more water! Stay hydrated out there. Spin 2: Highlights & Lowlights of the Roman Empire & Republic Roman history is exceptionally well-documented, and Paul gets INTO IT. Top 5 highlights and hot takes, followed by some lowlights and bummers from Roman history. Outro Banter Festival of Nationsin STL: Always a good time! St. Louis Heatwave: The weather is getting hot again (yuck!), but we're crossing our fingers for cooler temperatures in October. NEXT EPISODE IS THE MAILBAG! Episode #39 is our dedicated Quarterly Mailbag show! Send in your questions using the link below! Got a burning design question or topic for the wheel? Send it in now so we can answer it on air! Submit Your Letters to the Play Greater Podcast Here!

  6. Aug 20

    Play Greater Podcast: Episode #37

    We are officially back from Gen Con! Now that the dust has settled and the convention fog has somewhat cleared, we're recapping the aftermath, sharing studio news, and letting the Wheel of Topics decide our fate. Intro-Slash-Banter Post-Gen Con Recovery: We have safely returned from the convention floor, slightly exhausted but ready to roll. Nocturnal Children: Navigating late-night energy shifts and erratic sleep schedules. Living Dangerously: What happens when you operate with absolutely zero consequences? Don't forget to join The Order of the Standard Table! Head over to the site to secure your writ and standardize your gaming setup. GTG News & World Report Defenders of the Realm (Crowdfunding Deep Dive): Pledge Levels Breakdown: We're revamping the structure to make the game as accessible as possible. All Game Content for Just $60?! You get all of the actual gameplay content in the core box (and an expansion?!) for just $60! Miniatures as Optional Add-Ons: Because miniatures are expensive to produce, we've separated them from the base game. They will be available as extra add-ons (if we hit those levels) for those who want that extra table presence! Project Transparisteel & Project Gold: Progress updates on what's cooking behind the scenes in the design lab. Bigger Gen Con Booth Next Year: Booth #2856 was great, but we are officially expanding our footprint for next year's show! EU and UK shipping for recent orders and pledges will be available soon! We'll let you know as we figure out more. The Wheel of Topics: GOATS! This week, the Wheel lands on caprine companions, leading to a deep dive into an elite roster of goats: Theodore Felice Archibald Quentin Lewis Mari We also get the story behind my Theodore tattoo! Outro-Slash-Banter No Letters Today: There are no letters in this episode, and that's completely okay! Mailbag Episode Coming Soon: We are saving up all your questions for a massive, dedicated Quarterly Mailbag episode in two weeks (Episode #39). Spears for Children?! Should children be armed with spears? Yes, absolutely. Get Your Letters In: Be sure to send in your questions, design quandaries, and wheel topics for our upcoming September Mailbag show! 👉 Submit Your Letters to the Play Greater Podcast Here! See you next time!

  7. Aug 6

    Play Greater Podcast — Gen Con Live 2026

    What an absolute blast! Huge thanks to everyone who came out to join us for our Gen Con 2026 Live Show — it was incredible seeing so many familiar faces and meeting so many new folks in the crowd. If anyone asks — or if you happen to review the official episode transcript — we completely filled Lucas Oil Stadium to maximum capacity.  We talk all things GTG, giving the live crowd the inside scoop on our current pipeline, upcoming projects, and what's brewing behind the curtain. Then, we opened up the floor and tackled a fantastic range of questions from both long-time show veterans and first-time attendees. And it wouldn't be a proper live show without a little chaos. We gave the Wheel of Topics a spin with a whole room of witnesses to hold us accountable! Now that we're moving into our new format with a dedicated Quarterly Mailbag, keep those letters, design dilemmas, and wheel topics flowing in so we have a massive stack ready for the next mailbag episode! Submit Your Letters to the Play Greater Podcast Here! Thank you again to everyone who made the live show so special. Catch you in two weeks!

  8. Jul 23

    Play Greater Podcast: Episode #36

    We are on the brink of Gen Con! In this episode, we tackle everything from grammar in the digital age and 3D-printing self-actualization to convention floor logistics, product reveals, and a definitive ranking of St. Louis pizza joints. Opening Banter Grammar in the Modern Era: Do they even teach grammar in schools anymore, or have we fully surrendered our syntax to the computers? World Cup Finals: Cheering on the pitch! Go Spain! 3D Printing & Self-Actualization: Youths today! Speaking of which... Youth Education: General observations about the education of today's youths. GTG News & Gen Con Extravaganza Booth #2856: Still 2856. Still the easiest number on the convention floor to remember. The Cube Sky Banner: It actually exists! Keep your eyes peeled and look up at Gen Con to spot our legendary elevated skyline marker. Hopefully! Convention Crews & Riggers: A massive shoutout to the unsung heroes who hang banners from stadium rafters and keep the convention running. Riggers rule! The Swag Mountain: We are coming fully stocked. We've got Crime Scene Tamperer (CST), Defenders of the Realm (DD), Sentinel Comics RPG (SCRPG), plus pins, lanyards, napkins, and coasters! Gen Con is officially saved. Twuana at the Booth: Twuana will be joining us in the booth this year... in a wheelchair?! Stop by to say hi in person! MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT: Defenders of the Realm: Definitive Edition is officially coming to Gamefound this September! Format Change Announcement Before we jump into the mailbag, a big structural heads-up! Starting after our upcoming Gen Con Live episode, the podcast format is evolving. We are sunsetting the regular letter reading during each episode in favor of a dedicated Quarterly Mailbag episode once every three months! The Final Regular-Run Letters! The Gen Con 3-2-1 Rule: Our personal, highly modified convention survival takeaway: 3 showers and 2 wardrobe changes minimum. Custom Content Policy: Make custom content for our games! We love that you make it! (Just please understand that for legal/professional reasons, we will not look at it!) Existential Podcast Questions: "What do we actually do here?" and the eternal linguistic struggle between bi-weekly, bi-monthly, semi-monthly, and every-other-weekly. Plagues & Spuds: Historical plagues, Idaho Spuds, and the ongoing struggles of having a poor memory. EVE Online Logistics: A deep dive into spreadsheets, space fleets, player-driven economy, and starships. Media & Adaptations: TV show recommendations. Shakespeare ramblings (featuring Titus Andronicus and a minor note on Romeo & Juliet). The eternal debate: Books vs. Movies & Adaptations. Spooky & Cosmic: Would you be a ghost? Followed by an analysis of planets and their various "flavors." Spin the Wheel: Local STL Eateries! The Wheel landed on local St. Louis dining recommendations this week! If you find yourself in the gateway city, here is where we demand you eat: Paul's Pick: Cafe Natasha Christopher's Picks: Pizza Head, Bud's Pizza & Beer, and La Pizza Honorable Mention: Blackthorn Pizza See You at Gen Con! Our next episode will be recorded LIVE at Gen Con! Get ready for convention floor madness, live audience energy, and more. Got a question for our upcoming quarterly mailbag? Send it in now using our PGP Letter Submission Form !

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Pull up a chair and join the conversation on the Play Greater Podcast! Both bi-monthly and bi-weekly, Paul and Christopher from Greater Than Games explore the stories behind the games, the people who make them, and the passion that drives the tabletop community forward. With our new relaunch, we're bringing you more design insights, more industry talk, more of the games you love, and more nonsense. Don't be shy — come say hi! Send us your questions using this form: https://forms.gle/cC1mfFzUxekzSzVC9

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