Tabletop SportCast

James Cast
  • 5.0 (6)
  • Games

I discuss everything from my tabletop experiences: game reviews, tabletop replays, rules interpretations, and how I plan projects.

  1. 5h ago

    Episode 259: The Summer Show

    Summer has arrived on the tabletop, and episode 259 is all about turning the page from a busy spring into a fresh season of gaming. James recaps his Q2 gaming numbers, including 154 sessions, 37 different games, 23 projects, and a spring table led heavily by baseball. He also looks back at key projects like the 1973 Hall of Fame Starting Pitcher Project, the 1986 MLB Tournament, XSE’s road to Apex, Gridzone AGL Season 5, and several first-time plays. Around the Table includes updates from PLAAY Games, Sideline Strategy Games, Season Ticket Baseball, Powder Blue Sports, 3d6 Gaming, 49 Sports Games, and Sports Sim Magazine. Then James shifts into summer plans, featuring more History Maker Baseball, the 1978 horse racing season with PLAAY at the Races, a 1966 AFL/NFL Season Ticket Football tournament, Gridzone, 1992 NASCAR, Featured Table Fridays, Fury Hardball FLASH, Legends of Boxing, and more.

    51 min

  2. Jun 21

    Episode 258 ... Sitting Down With ... Roy Paeth!

    In this episode of the Tabletop SportCast, James sits down with Roy Paeth for a Father’s Day conversation about games, family, community, and finding time for ourselves. Roy shares his journey from Strat-O-Matic Football and Statis-Pro Baseball to rediscovering tabletop sports games during COVID, eventually finding his way to live gaming conventions and a welcoming community of fellow hobbyists. The conversation also explores fatherhood, gaming with adult children, unplugging from everyday distractions, and Roy’s daily walking and hiking routine as a way to clear his mind and stay active. It’s a reflective episode about the role games can play in our lives — not just as a solo escape, but as a way to connect, reset, and create lasting memories around the table.

    51 min

  3. Jun 14

    Episode 257 ... Sitting Down With ... Ian Brooke from On-Deck Baseball

    This week on the Tabletop SportCast, James sits down with Ian Brooke, designer of On Deck Baseball, for a conversation about creating a baseball game that captures more than just stats on a card. Ian shares the game’s origins, the importance of fictional leagues, player artwork, fatigue, confrontation rolls, and the design choices that help each game tell its own story. Along the way, they discuss how On Deck Baseball balances flow, strategy, realism, and pace while giving players the feeling that baseball is unfolding one pitch, one roll, and one decision at a time. On-Deck Baseball Website: https://www.on-deckbaseballgame.com/#/ On-Deck Baseball on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/On-Deck-Baseball-113393317125269 Email Ian Brooke: on_deckbaseball@yahoo.com

    1h 19m

  4. Jun 8

    Episode 256: Project Tiers: From One-Offs to Obessions

    This episode explores how to categorize tabletop sports projects into five tiers based on size and commitment, helping gamers plan and execute their projects more effectively. The host shares personal insights and frameworks to tailor project scope to individual preferences.

    37 min

  5. May 25

    Episode 255: Managing Baseball on the Tabletop

    On this episode of the Tabletop SportCast, James explores the art of managing baseball teams in tabletop sports games. He discusses the balance between historical accuracy and personal strategy, from replaying seasons with realistic usage patterns to creating your own managerial style within historical guardrails. In Around the Table, he shares updates from around the hobby, and highlights from his ongoing baseball projects. He closes by introducing the idea of “manager cards” as a future enhancement for tabletop baseball gaming.

    40 min

  6. May 20

    Episode 254: Digital to Dice 2026 Recap

    In Episode 254 of the Tabletop SportCast, James Cast recaps his experience at Digital to DiceCon 2026 and explores what happens after the convention ends. From new games and community connections to project ideas and post-convention motivation, this episode focuses on how tabletop gamers can turn convention energy into meaningful action at the home table. James also shares thoughts on avoiding the “convention hangover,” reconnecting with forgotten projects, and finding the one idea worth bringing back to your table.

    34 min

  7. May 4

    Episode 253: Sitting Down With ... S.T. Patrick!

    In this episode, S.T. Patrick shares insights on game design, the hobby's golden age, and the impact of AI on game creation. The host, James Cast, along with S.T., explore the evolution of sports simulation games, the importance of quality over quantity, and the future of the hobby. In this in-depth interview, S.T. shares insights into designing sports simulation games, focusing on basketball and football mechanics, season calibration, and future projects. Discover how he creates realistic gameplay, manages historical seasons, and plans innovative game features.

    1h 46m

  8. Apr 26

    Episode 252: Playtesting with Purpose

    In this episode of the Tabletop SportCast, James takes a closer look at playtesting and why “just play it and tell me what you think” usually is not enough. Using the DMAIC process — Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control — he breaks down how playtesting can serve a different purpose at each stage of game design. The episode focuses on how designers can ask better questions before, during, and after a playtest. In the Define phase, playtesting helps clarify what the game is supposed to be. In the Measure phase, it turns table experience into useful evidence. In the Analyze phase, it helps separate symptoms from root causes. In the Improve phase, it tests whether specific changes actually solve the problem. And in the Control phase, it helps make sure the game remains clear, stable, and repeatable. James also discusses core responsibilities of playtesters and designers. At its heart, this episode is about giving playtesting a purpose — and recognizing that good playtesting does more than find mistakes. It helps a game become what it was meant to be.

    48 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

I discuss everything from my tabletop experiences: game reviews, tabletop replays, rules interpretations, and how I plan projects.

Information

  • Creator
    James Cast
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    265
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © James Cast
  • Show Website
    Tabletop SportCast

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