Expansion Pack: Dan Apsey's Turn (24 Hour Board Game Marathon)

JP  00:26
Welcome to Whose turn is it anyway, podcast all about our gaming group and our ever growing obsession with cardboard. I'm JP

Kerley  00:33
And I'm Kerley 

JP  00:33
And together, we're launching another expansion pack episode to introduce a very special guest, Dan Apsey, who's behind the 24 hour board game marathon event? How you doing Kerley?

Kerley  00:43
Yeah, really well, thanks, mate. Everything's going well in my life. Plenty of gaming done over the last week or two.

JP  00:50
So you've been at it really hard? 

Kerley  00:51
Year I have been at it really hard actually y'know, Yeah. Thankfully, my wife's a gamer as well. So I get away with it quite a lot.

JP  00:57
Yeah, my wife's a midwife. So she's never here. So either way, we both get what we want. 

Kerley  01:01
And that works.

JP  01:03
That sounds really bad. We both get what we want. I do like spending time with my wife. In case she's listening

Kerley  01:08
Gonna say Shell'll definitely listen to this one.

JP  01:11
Shall we get on with the show and get Dan on. 

Kerley  01:13
Yeah.

JP  01:25
So welcome, Dan to the show. It's great to have you here with us. And yeah,

Dan Apsey  01:30
hello. It's good to be here. Thank you for having me on.

JP  01:32
Yeah. Oh, anytime, anytime mate. So for those that don't know who you are Dan, if you want to give everybody and our listeners a brief introduction of who you are, you're all about

Dan Apsey  01:41
I am Dan Apsey. I am the lead organiser and founder of the 24 hour board game marathon UK, which is a 24 hour live streaming event that happens in Somerset, and we raise money for Cots for Tots Bristol by playing board games for 24 solid hours.

JP  02:02
Absolutely. And it's a fantastic event and a fantastic cause and we're dying to get into the nitty gritty with you but I think before we jump into all of those questions we always ask our guests this, Don't we Kerley? so What's your favourite game?

Dan Apsey  02:17
I have many games that I love but my biggest biggest love of then all is Anachrony. I am a slave to anything Mindclash. When I when I see a Mindclash Kickstarter pop up normally... it is the gif that pops up into my head 'take my money' from, from Futurama as they just they have.. they have a drip feed to my wallet. The components I love how heavy their games are. I love it how it's the games don't feel like a pasted on theme. Yes, you're getting a full package with no with any Mineclash game but especially with Anacrony. I love the thing. I love kind of a post apocalyptic world and with a bit of sci fi in there as well. And one of my favourite mechanics is worker placement. So Anacrony is full of it.

JP  03:13
I mean, I'm the same Dan like I'm laughing because my wallet winces every time the Mindclash go 'we've got another new IP there for you'.

Dan Apsey  03:21
It's not just your wallet though. It's there's other parts that also wince every time. My wife, she winces

JP  03:29
My brain because I know I'm gonna have to go through the rigmarole of learning it.

Dan Apsey  03:33
Yeah, some point Yeah, it's not it's not a it's not a one-read through thing. It's three and then maybe maybe a fourth. Yeah, and then you're gonna find a good mate Dave and ask him Dave do us favour read this for me? Would you buddy because he's gone right over my head.

Kerley  03:46
I'm actually really lucky because I actually love Mineclash games, especially Anacrony. So we're on the same page for that one. But I'm really lucky because I got.. I've got a JP it's true. So he funds me on the on my Mindclash addiction. All I have to do I sit there and watch him order it

JP  04:03
 Yeah

Dan Apsey  04:04
I don't have a JP James JC is a good friend of mine who also loves Mindclash games and he lives about five hours away from me but every time we get together at least one if not two, Mineclash games will come out so if its not Anacrony, it'll be Trickerion or even Cerebria

JP  04:22
Yeah, I mean, they're fantastic games. And I think we might be doing a special actually or an episode focused around Mindclash coming up so, I know Davey's quite keen to, to kind of do a bit of an exploration too. And I'm all over that. I'm like 'Yes, sign me up for that one because that's absolutely cool'. Okay, well, other than your favourite game, I know you'd like you said you have many favourites but what what you really enjoying right now game wise what's getting to the table alot

Dan Apsey  04:50
A lot in my house is is Tapestry. I love love tapestry. Big fan of it being a civilization game but not being a game that kind of takes 10 hours to finish. I've played Mega Civ, which is based on the Avalon Hills old civilization game. And that takes about 15 to 18 hours to finish. But at least with Tapestry you can get it done in two hours and everyone sort of walks away from the table going 'Oh you know I've really enjoyed that'. You know, the theme feels a little bit pasted on. But the mechanics are there and it looks beautiful on those three little 3d miniature buildings and fantastic to look at.

JP  05:30
Yeah, that I just kind of for those that don't know they're like, like clay modelled sculpted look, feel, aren't they?

Kerley  05:37
Yeah, almost cartoony. Yeah, element

JP  05:40
caricature versions of buildings and stuff, but they're very, very beautifully done.

Dan Apsey  05:44
It's like it's Charterstone obviously another one of Stonemaier games if they if they had miniature buildings in Charterstone, it would be those. Yes, I find that the art style is very similar.

JP  05:56
Yeah, 100% 100% Cool. And anything else any other games?

Dan Apsey  06:00
Recently gotten the table Yak by Pretzel games. Just a medium kind of lightweight game that features Yak meatballs. Yes, Yak meatballs, and they're pulling carts and you're trying to make a stone monument. And there's these Yaks kind of go around the table. And you've got to try and trade different resources with easy access, they're going round. So we've got that to the table recently. Also, a bit of Mysterium as well I love a bit of Mysterium. I end up always being the ghost because I'm always teaching new players, but it's a great, it's a great game. If you like Dixit, Dixit's quite good for families. But if you want to kind of take it up a notch, then Mysterium is is your bag

JP  06:44
Yeah, I play that with my family a lot. And I finally got to a position where Mysterium where I've managed to teach my daughter how to be the ghost. I can actually be on the other side of the table, which I think I actually enjoy more. Yeah, so yeah, like, trying to deduce what my daughter is thinking of half the time. 

Dan Apsey  07:03
Yeah, like part of the fun I think... I think is trying to work out, especially if you're doing it with family, because you almost think that you're going to know what they're going to do because you know them so well. And then all of a sudden they're throwing a curveball and you completely got it wrong.

JP  07:14
Yeah. And you're like, 'Well, why did you pick that card?' It's like, because there's a line that kind of bends or wiggles like that on what I've gotten. All right. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Thanks, John. Thank you very much. Yeah. Great. Let's get on to the main event then, shall we? Let's talk about your your fantastic 24 hour ball game and marathon. 

Dan Apsey  07:36
So yeah, the 24 hour boardgame marathon is in its fifth year, we took a year out due to COVID. And then before that, we did two physical marathons and a virtual marathon, where we raise money for Cots for tots, Bristol. They help families in need when their children are... kind of a difficult start to life when they've been born. So they end up often getting admitted to St. Michael's Hospital, and just opposite St. Michael's Hospital and Bristol is Cots for Tots house. So if your child was unfortunately admitted to the hospital, they will give you a room in Cots for Tots house, which you can stay in completely free of charge for as long as you absolutely need to. So that you can be right opposite your child when you need to be there, and they want you to be there. But also, they also fund a lot of the neonatal equipment there. So people like myself will raise money, I'll see... and all my team will raise money for Cots for Tots. And they will donate this money to some local hospital to buy the equipment that is needed to keep babies alive. We've raised so far just over £11,000 pounds in the... in the events that we've done already 

JP  07:49
Wowzers

Dan Apsey  08:04
And hopefully still climbing. We love doing it, it's a great event it is great, it's a great fun, it's a great atmosphere, we try and encourage people of of, of any kind of gaming abilities for someone who want to play something like Mindclash and sit there for hours, or someone who's even just happy putting some blocks in Jenga, you know, whatever, whatever it floats your boat, then we'll have it and we'll and we'll do it. And also we've got a dedicated bunch of volunteers who will teach people all day and they'll teach at any level so we've got games that are light, but if you want something a bit more meaty then there's somebody there that will sit there and teach the whole game with... for you. And we do it for 24 hours because we're mental

JP  09:37
Well, I think that gives it a quite a unique thing, doesn't it? Because like, one: it's fantastic. You're you're doing this for charity and the fact that you've raised over £11,000 pounds is just bloody amazing. Absolutely amazing. So you know kudos for, for getting to that but I quite like the fact that you've gone 'You know what we will do as a 24 hour event'. So it's kind of like a challenge as well as like, can you keep away Can you? Can you get through it? I know I could do it, but I don't know what I'd be like on the other end.

Kerley  10:03
I've signed up for the 24 hours. So I'm confident, but I might be just totally...

Dan Apsey  10:08
I will. I will see you at 4 AM and see what you say then.

Kerley  10:15
I'm a shift worker or I used to be so you know, 4 AM is... I'll be knckered.

Dan Apsey  10:20
If I can't see into your soul at 4 AM,  then you've got, you've got more Kahunas than me.

JP  10:28
Do me a favour when it gets to 4 AM, and we'll have the most heaviest game you can find, find Kerley, and then try and teach him and watch him cry.

Dan Apsey  10:38
Kerley You know how to play Cerebria?.

Kerley  10:40
Cerebria I've played, and that's about the conflicting emotions. It reminded me of that cartoon back in the day. Yeah. What was it called again?  Inside out. Oh, yeah, that's what it reminded me of. But no, going back to what you were saying Dan, actually, if you want to break me on the 4 M, What you want to do is just wheel out Pipeline, which I also notice is in your top 10, and that one breaks me I can't play it because it gives me too much AP. Yeah, really, there's just too many close options. So good. If you want to break me, wheel out that one at 4 AM. Inside Out?

Dan Apsey  11:10
I am a big fan of Ian O'Toole. I love his artwork. So anything that Ian O'Toole has designed and and done the artwork on normally catches my attention. Vinhos, the Vital Lacerda game, spice road games also very good that he's done. I don't know why it just it just instantly attracts me. I love it. D'ya know what? JP I got a bone to pick with you. I got a bone to pick with you because it is now your fault. Because I was going to leave this one. I thought no, I'm not going to... I'm not going to buy this game.

JP  11:17
I know it's scary. 

Dan Apsey  11:34
You know, you know where I'm going. And it's your fault that I've now got in my possession upstairs in my collection a copy of Perseverance. It's your fault.

JP  11:56
I mean, you're welcome.

Dan Apsey  12:00
Like you said, I'm a big Mineclash fan, but I stayed away from this one. I thought, oh, it's not going to be for me, I don't think and then you post it... obviously about playing the game... I thought well, maybe I'll just take another look. And then before you know it, I've made the pledge.

JP  12:13
It's dead on. Yeah, yeah, well done. It's it's a beast of a game that that is the one that broke Kerley episode two, isn't it?

Kerley  12:21
Episode two got me a little bit. Yeah, I'm I'm a mid to heavyweight gamer, but I need to watch the videos first. Yeah. And I didn't watch the video for that one. And that is my biggest regret in a long time. It just gave me I was like, Oh

Dan Apsey  12:32
yeah Paul Grogan did the instructional video for both Episode One and two? Yeah.

JP  12:39
They're very good. Yeah. So I that's how I learned and read in the book because I love it.

Dan Apsey  12:44
Also, I can't I find that I find it difficult to learn from other people teaching me. I've much I find it much easier to read the book myself and get my own interpretation of it, and then teach others.

Kerley  12:56
Yeah, I'm with you to an extent but I do also like... there's one particular guy that I really liked his teaching style. So I can cope with that most people don't go on with but I think it's 'John Gets Games'. Yeah, yeah, yeah, his style is really good. Like he plays a couple of rounds and all that kind of stuff. That's right up my alley.

JP  13:14
Cool. Went a little bit of an aside didn't we, but I enjoyed. Yeah, talking about games. It's always fun. Let's get back to your event

Dan Apsey  13:23
24 hours. We start at 9am On Saturday, the 30th of July, and it is in the Edgar Hall, which is in Somerton in Somerset. It's a nice 500 capacity venue where there will be a tonne of things going on for those 24 hours. Normally between the hours of 9am and about midnight, it's absolutely heaving and then you start to see who falls asleep or who goes home because they can't hack it.

JP  13:55
A bit like Squid Game?

Dan Apsey  13:59
we should we should make 

Kerley  14:00
Who falls asleep in the corner.

Dan Apsey  14:01
Yeah, no, no, you start to kind of go down some of the corridors of the, of the hall. And then you start to see people that you saw at the beginning of the day now on a corner with their mouth open and a little bit of drool hanging out and their eyes shut and it's like 'ah, now, I've seen you awake and asleep'. And that happens quite a bit but it's also you would actually be surprised at how many people can actually go through the whole 24 hours and that's also nice to see. It's... I find it very very heartwarming and very, very fulfilling when I come into the hall and I look at the hall and you know a few hours have gone by and I can see that it's absolutely rammed you could hardly hear yourself think unless you're at a table obviously, but just the overall noise and it's very, very fulfilling when you see so many people in there who are giving their time to enjoy the hobby to to gain but also to do it for charity as well. It's really really really, really nice feeling to see everybody doing that. And it's something we hope to carry on for many, many years. If you are coming, then there is open gaming, there is gaming for all day that people will teach you. There is our kitchen who are who are serving up meatball themed foods all day and will keep you hydrated and keep you fed. There is also tournaments in place. So if you if you're a big fan of Class or Hive, then you can come down and play those. There's also a Blood Bowl tournament and the Magic: the Gathering command tournament. And we've got our our infamous live stream, where the hosts will be on there for 24 hours going straight through back to back playing, playing various amounts of games and role playing games as well. And we hope also that Luke Hector of the Broken Meeple will be down as well, who will also be doing a video with us while we're on stream. And also hopefully, we're going to catch up with Paul Grogan via livestream as well.

JP  15:53
So we know Luke, and we know, Paul, so we'll we'll make sure that we tag them in this episode. So we could get them to your event. Yeah. So. So when you say that it's obviously 24 hours? Like, is there like places for people to sleep? Or is it a case of the as you say, the just find a corner, they find a corner, get a 20 minute like rest, and then they get back into the game kind of.. That sounds like a lot of variety going on. Right? 

Dan Apsey  16:16
I mean, this is the venue that we're doing at this year is a new venue, we kind of the event is kind of grown a little bit. So we can, we can kind of go up one space, and we can kind of get more room. In our older venue there was many different kinds of dark alleys within the hallway, you could just literally dip your head for an hour or so and kind of replenish yourself. Personally, though, if I did that, I find that I'd be worse. Yes, I couldn't, I couldn't sleep for an hour and then get back to gaming, I couldn't do it. But there are some there are some kind of quiet areas within the hall that people can go to if they if they feel like oh, I need to take five minutes because gaming for 24 hours or close to 24 hours is a long old time. And it would scramble your brain, especially if you're playing all heavy stuff. But we've got there are sofas and seating areas, kind of by the front part of the hall where people can come down and just have a coffee and chill out. There's also a couple of other side rooms where Paranoia, and D&D are being played, as well as the live stream as well as a live audience part of it. So you can come and take a seat up there, and literally just watch other gaming as well and be part of the audience.

Kerley  17:29
Yeah, definitely. Things as... I actually signed up for the 2020 24 hour gameathon, and that ended up going down the pan along with a lot of other things, unfortunately. So yeah, that's it, that must have been absolutely gutting for you the amount...

Dan Apsey  17:44
It was...you know, as it was for everybody, you know, needs must, and, you know, it's that's how it was meant to be, then then so be it. It almost does feel like we've kind of hit the reset button on planning for this year, as I think people have kind of gotten used to being indoors and they've enjoyed a bit of family time and home life. And and you know, as an as an event organiser, it makes you feel a little bit worried that, you know, you hope that the people that came previously will come again and bring... and bring others with them. But I'm quite, I'm quite comfortable. The numbers that we've got coming as advanced ticket sales, I also know loads of other people who are going to be buying in the next few days when they get paid. Don't forget, buy a ticket. And then hopefully, they'll do that also just just before the event as well. So and also there's less loads of people are going to buy on the door as well. But yes, COVID I think I think COVID has been a real test for event organisers, especially anybody who's going to organise anything that's close up, like playing board games. But I think the most of the of the world and the nation can can move past it and get practice from gaming, and I love gaming with strangers, which some people would probably be like, well, we're not too sure about that. But to game with somebody else who you don't necessarily know is also a fresh challenge. Because you know, you play against your, against your friend who kind of you'd kind of know and anticipate kind of the moves that they're going to make because you've known them for so long. Then playing with a stranger not only means that, you don't anticipate what they're going to do, but you're gonna make another make another friend. And you can you know, and hopefully, I'd like to think that in the previous events that we've done, people have come together who wouldn't necessarily come together play games. And you know what, they've had a chat and they spoken about gaming beyond the marathon's and played on games like Fire Ball game arena.

JP  19:37
Yeah, that's definitely true. I mean, I've gone to some open gaming conventions in the past and I went on my own, which is always quite a bit of a nervy thing. Yeah, I mean, for me, it's not I'm not too worried because I'm quite extroverted and I quite like... just like hanging around with people and making an idiot of myself.

Dan Apsey  19:54
I'm not, I'm an introvert completely. 

JP  19:56
Yeah, sure Dan! 

Dan Apsey  19:56
Yeah.

JP  19:59
But it's Very true. I remember meeting loads of people and and still regularly kind of in touch with those and looking forward to, you know, the next set of conventions and you kind of, you know, you're meeting new friends, you're meeting new people, it's just 'Yes. Great fun'. So, I always think you should always try and game with strangers a bit more. Yeah, you gotta go with your group, like, spread out a little bit. Yeah, yeah. 

Dan Apsey  20:21
We there's some people that wouldn't be very comfortable on that, and that's okay. But it's, that is totally okay. But it also, you know, if you if you can play with others that you wouldn't necessarily know, then that's always, always good way of meeting new people.

JP  20:33
Yeah. Do you put any kind of provisions in for those people who may struggle or maybe thinking I really want to go on my own, but you know,

Dan Apsey  20:42
No touching of the hair or face! But beyond that, you speak to someone who, who is a little bit apprehensive about speaking to somebody else. Is... if you can and you know, someone elseis with you, you kind of go or do you know, what your personality might gel with this other person who I know who is super friendly and would sit there more than happy teaching you something that that will interest you. Um, just just what we kind of do at the boardgame marathon is we have a small bunch of people who will literally just stand there and go, 'want to play a game, you fancy something', you know, or they'll sit there with something open, ready on the table to play and they will kind of... not summon you over. But just you know, give it a wave and say 'Oh do you fancy giving this a try' and try and engage with people that they don't know. But also, in a way that they can build friendships with others as well. And then get other people who don't know these people and get them all together. And just to play a game. Board gaming is kind of like a religion. You kind of you're kind of recruiting especially when you're dealing with... when you're dealing with strangers is you're bringing people in, and you're, you're teaching them this thing you're passionate about. And it's great. I love it.

Kerley  22:00
It's great. Well, we quite often refer to JP as our cult leader. So that's why I made a little face when he said that is exactly what JP is. 

JP  22:08
Yeah, completely

Kerley  22:10
So it's a bit of a weird mix of a introvert and extrovert. I'm an introvert with an extrovert job. I think Becky decided who is my wife. And it's true. Yeah. And I had a couple of questions around like, you know, primarily busyness, like how busy you you mentioned earlier on that it can be quite a good atmosphere, and it's really busy. How busy is it? Because it's not like being so busy that you couldn't sit down that you couldn't get a space at a table?

Dan Apsey  22:35
No, not not at all! It's a good question. We, the last time we did a physical marathon, we had 170 attendees, okay. And that was in a venue of about a capacity of about about 300. Right? So it was a bit of a squeeze, but people could get to tables. And that's, that's totally fine. The venue that this time around, we're in a 500 seat capacity. And like I said was because of COVID, we find that we are hitting the reset button on those numbers. So if we match the numbers that we did last time, I would be absolutely amazed and super, super happy. It'd be great if we do it. I don't think we'll get to those numbers. But you never know. If we did get to that number, it would be totally fine. We would have the capacity to get everyone to tables, and to open game if they want to not join any of the volunteers. As we've got the space for it. My biggest concern is making sure we have enough tables. And I've counted all tables, and I'm thinking it's gonna be okay. Ask me when we're there. If we're not, I know people, we'll sort it out.

JP  23:44
Tables can be provisioned. Yes. So yeah, I mean, obviously with people being awake for that long period of time. Like do you have any kind of like what what's what's your funniest story of people that have kind of gone through that? You must have a few

Dan Apsey  24:00
I... when we did the virtual marathon, we did it via Discord. So we can have all the attendees who are kind of on the live stream on camera so they were in so we have little boxes on the screen and you can see everybody Yeah, and JC if you if you're listening, I'm sorry, this is going to be this is going to be you I'm picking on you, JC. JC I love him to death bless him and he's lovely. But we will play it must have been about 4am I might be a little bit early and I can't remember what we were playing. I think we were either playing Yahtzee, because it was something super quick or we were playing Food Chain Magnate. And he was like, he was sitting there and you could see his head. It was going and his eyes were getting heavy. And he was so sleepy. And then he was gone. He was completely gone. And I'm always going 'Look look look!', and everyone's obviously cracking up laughing because he's they're laughing and then you can imagine what expletives come out of his mouth as soon as you realise that we're all laughing at him, bless 'im. Yeah, there was one... there was one time when it's on the same stream, he went away for a nap because he couldn't hack it any more bless 'im. Then he came back. And then you could tell he was rubbing his eyes and he just got back to sit down. And everyone was just going, 'Are you alright JC?' He wasn't saying anything. Nothing was coming out of his mouth because he'd just woken up. And there was like a dramatic pause what felt like a whole minute. And the only thing that he said was 'Good morning'. That was it. That was it. And that summed up JC's marathon. And he was there for 24 hours, bless him, but he couldn't quite hack it for the full 24. But he did, he did very well bless 'im. In our... in our physical marathon. We have a bar that opens up and in our old venue, the bar was in our livestream room. But the way that the bar people come in, is they come into a side door. Now when we, when we do our live stream, we were quite lucky we're blessed as the as IV crew are able to hire about 60 grands worth of recording equipment. So they get in lots of state of the art cameras, and we basically make a pop up... like a pop up TV studio. So the bar people come in the door. They don't see us because they've got bar shutters down on the bar, they pull the bar shutters up and all they see is this this weird pop up studio with a bunch of people around it playing a board game. Imagine what you'd feel like if you were on the receiving end of that and seeing that and just go 'What on earth are these people doing?' And then having to explain yourself? That was fine.

Kerley  26:39
Excellent. Out of interest is there going to be anywhere to get coffee there because that's gonna be my main... I'm gonna need that intravenously

Dan Apsey  26:45
Coffee will be provided, my good lady wife Victoria, she, she runs the kitchen. All day, there will be tea, coffee, bacon sandwiches, bacon and egg sandwiches. There'll be products... egg related products, though there'll be there'll be like steak bakes, there'll be...

Kerley  27:05
Calm it down Dan, I'm getting too excited.

Dan Apsey  27:07
I know. I know. 

JP  27:08
You're arousing him! 

Dan Apsey  27:10
There'll be a chilli in the evening as well as hopefully a curry as well. And breakfast in the morning. So yes, you'll be well catered for. 

Kerley  27:18
Excellent.

Dan Apsey  27:19
I can let you guys know that if you're... anyone who's after tickets who was listening to this July 30. Head to our website the24hourboardgamemarathon.co.uk that is where you can buy tickets. If you're after a six hour ticket it's £6, 12 hour ticket £12 or a full 24 hour ticket is  £24. But that money goes to Cots for Tots and saves babies lives.

JP  27:42
Yeah, fantastic. And we'll put all this in the show notes as well so that anyone who's listening can get access to that your website link and everything 

Dan Apsey  27:50
Fantastic. Thank you so much

JP  27:51
get tickets and to support the events

Kerley  27:53
More than that I'm going to be persuading people, a few people to come with me. I've bought tickets for me and the wife already so 

Dan Apsey  27:58
Excellent. Thank you so much for that.

JP  28:00
Great. Okay, so let's move on to Dan the gamer and learn a bit more about you and and kind of what you're about

Dan Apsey  28:09
Right, Dan the gamer. Dan, the gamer is the most boringest version of Dan, that you can possibly ever imagine. Well, I'm a I'm a I'm a I'm a thespian You see, I like to be on stage. I'm a singer. And I have an over the top job and that's kind of me but when I'm sat in front of a game I'm boring. I'm boring. Because all I'm doing is sat there I'll teach the game I taught the game then that's done. And I'm thinking about my own game. And I just go into my little shell I'm just I'm in my element I'm 100% Happy, focused, and in whatever game I'm playing and I find I'm very conscious of that I'm the most boring person when I'm like that, I'm not like my normal self but that's because I'm enjoying myself yeah I'm enjoying what's in front of me that's that's Dan the gamer

JP  29:01
You're in your mind palace of Yeah, trying to work out 'Right this is what I'm gonna do I've got to do this and do that' which is actually like for yourself it's very exciting. Yeah, yeah, I suppose it for everyone else watching you they just think you're mad. Yeah,

Kerley  29:14
That's the thing, the games you seem to like Dan do you seem to be big thinkie ones so you know, it's no great big surprise. It's a massive great big puzzle. That's the appeal

Dan Apsey  29:22
That's the beauty of it. Ya know, I like to play I do like to play lighter games as well. And but I, you know, I'd like to play lighter games when I'm trying to introduce new people to the hobby. And you know, because if you also... if you put... I have to confess I have put Vinhos in front of newbies and scared them away. Just just don't, you know, don't do it. But I did and regretted it. But it's... if the theme catches me and I know about the mechanics then then I'm in, and it doesn't it can be light it can be heavy, but I do prefer more games on the heavier sideof it, if I can pay a heavier game I would prefer to.

JP  30:05
Yeah. I mean, so how did you get in the hobby? To start with? Like, what was your introduction into into this glorious church or cult

Dan Apsey  30:16
I've been I've been a video gamer all my life. And video games is a good step to go from video games to go to board games is a good step. And that is the step that I made. So I am a big fan of Sid Meier's Civilization. Also. Yeah, great game. And most also, I still am a big fan of Gears of War. Yeah. And it just so and also at the time, The Walking Dead just come out on on TV. So all those all those years ago, and when that happened, I kind of bought or had bought for me, I can't remember now, but three board games, one was make by Z-Man games, which was, which is The Walking Dead comic book Board Game. The Gears of War board game by FFG. And also the Civilization board game by FFG. Not the latest one, the one before it

JP  31:10
The 2010 one

Dan Apsey  31:11
 The good one.

JP  31:12
Yes, the one you've got Kerley, Yes.

Dan Apsey  31:15
Great, great version, great game. And that kind of started off the foundation. We always liked kind of games when I was a kid growing up, you know, the dreaded Monopoly, you know that that everyone always plays that when they're a kid, right and, and Game of Life. And that was good. But then I kind of took a... grew up, I suppose. And didn't really kind of play any more games until I found these video game games that had board game adaptations. Got them, got friends to the table, and the rest is history. But I've just built up my collection from there and I've been along for the ride ever since.

JP  31:49
Yeah, no, I completely agree. I made the transition into board gaming with XCOM.

Dan Apsey  31:55
Great, that's, that's on the live stream this year. By the way. At 4 AM

JP  32:00
4 AM?!

Kerley  32:02
That's a fast thinkie game for 4 AM, you are punishing Sir!

Dan Apsey  32:05
I am punishing the people who were playing it, I'm not playing it, I'm not playing it!

Kerley  32:10
But you can laugh are the people who are!

JP  32:12
 Yeah, so it's gonna be entertaining. 

Dan Apsey  32:14
Absolutely. That's why I've done it. Yeah.

JP  32:17
'Draw a Crisis card'. 'Do this'.

Dan Apsey  32:19
'I can't function anymore!'. I've done it deliberately. They've gone. I had the conversation last night with my livestream posts last night about the schedule. Finished the schedule off. I said 4 AM XCOM. And they're like 'yeah, ok, yeah sounds great...' 'Do you understand what you're getting in for?' 'No, not really no'. 'You're gonna love it'

JP  32:40
It's gonna be fantastic.

Dan Apsey  32:42
 It's gonna make great viewing. 

JP  32:43
Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. Have you found with with your kinda transition from kind of video gaming to board gaming that I mean, do you still play video games? Now? If you do just find that they don't scratch the same itch as board games do?

Dan Apsey  32:59
Good question. I do play video games a lot still. I find that my video game habits and tastes have changed a lot over the years. But even more in the last couple of years. I recently sold my PlayStation 5 because it doesn't get any use. I actually prefer to sit... I've been a console gamer all my life all through my childhood and all through my young adulthood. Yes, I'm 36 I'm not that old. But I...

JP  33:24
He's a baby! 

Dan Apsey  33:27
Yeah, and I got a PC, sort of in the last couple of years and now I just... I PC game. That's it. And the games that I'm playing on the PC unless it absolutely captures my interest from the get go are mostly games that are in the last generation or even the ones before that.

Kerley  33:44
I might as well be talking to myself! 

JP  33:46
I was gonna say 'this is you isn't it!'

Kerley  33:47
Apart from the PS 5... 

Dan Apsey  33:49
Have we become best friends?! 

Kerley  33:51
I don't know. It's possible. But I'm exactly the same, I was console. I don't think I've turned my console on in six months. I think something like that. 

Dan Apsey  34:03
You got a PS5?

Kerley  34:04
Xbox. The new Xbox series X. Yeah. But I haven't turned it on in six months since it basically came out near enough, and yeah, and my whole time on my PC playing... I must admit and now that I think but I've never really thought about it, but it does bleed into his strategy games primarily. Yeah, yeah, I guess it's a similar sort of... Alright, they're not similar, but maybe mindset wise, I guess. 

Dan Apsey  34:23
Yeah. Yeah.

Kerley  34:24
But you know, you're Civilizations, Heroes of Might and Magic, you know, Red Alerts and Command and Conquer and all these kinds of games. So yeah, it's interesting to hear that you've made... have the same journey as pretty much I have.

Dan Apsey  34:35
Yeah, I mean, I like I like games with strong... with a strong theme when it comes to board games, but also with video games. It has to have a strong theme for it to grip me. I can say quite publicly openly that Death Stranding changed my life. Absolutely phenomenal game. And that is the only game, only video game in a very long time that I've gone 'That was incredible'. There are games out there that are like, okay, they're great. But it's the video game... kind of video game tastes kind of similar to board games where you play, you can play a board game enough and you play a video game enough and you just unfortunately, you get tired of it, or you get bored of it and you move on, unless it's something that grips you tremendously. And unfortunately, with my... I'm very, I'm very much a slave to 'Cult of the new' when it comes to board gaming. And if something is shiny, and is strong on mechanics, and looks great, I'll get it. And if not, if I haven't got enough money to get it, then I'll sell some board games that I know are wilting in the corner. I feel sorry for them, they're crying, but they're gonna go to new homes and get love somewhere else to buy the new shiny one. And thus the cycle continues.

JP  35:43
Absolutely. And I asked the question because I think for me personally, I used to be a massive Xbox gamer, constantly played anything that you know, hours and hours on it. And I've just like literally transferred the electronics, to cardboard now. But I go back every now and and I think oh yeah, let's play this. Let's play that. And then that just sit there and can't be bothered. I just I don't know. It's really weird. I cannot be bothered with this anymore.

Dan Apsey  36:07
Sometimes though, sometimes when you go to video games, and you play an adaptation of a video game, and they've made a board game of it doesn't work. Yeah. Or doesn't work in my opinion. I mean, I'm a massive Resident Evil fan. 

JP  36:19
Yes

Dan Apsey  36:19
I have been since the first game ever came out when I was a child and adults smash through the window, you know, and so iconic, and I just played Resident Evil One remake the GameCube remake on PC and finished it recently. And that games what came out 2002? Still playing it now. But then they made the board game adaptation of Reident Evil 2 and 3, and wasn't a big lover of it. Even... even with the theme of Resident Evil, I'm not a big fan of co-op games. A co-op game has to grip me otherwise I'm not along for the journey. Nemesis is fantastic. It really is a really good strong thematic cooperative game and I can see why everybody loves it. But with co-op, the theme has to be true. In my opinion, the theme has to be really strong. 

JP  37:09
Yeah I agree. 

Dan Apsey  37:10
Otherwise I just can't I can't see it. Like I find that games where you either win altogether or lose altogether. That appeal... and it doesn't, it doesn't have that appeal for me. Unless, unless it's something that's like a almost like a struggle. But it feels so rewarding when you all get there at the end. Yeah, you feel like I can play that again. And Nemesis has won. This War of Mine is also another one. Yeah, yeah, it's a struggle is real. But it's great. It's like this war one is depression in a box. But it's fantastic at the same time. And Frostpunk which obviously is coming out via Kickstarter very very soon which, 

JP  37:52
You've got that?

Kerley  37:53
No

JP  37:53
Oh, I thought you went for that?

Kerley  37:54
No I thought about it, and decided against it because it's not my theming, it seems to be yours Dan?

Dan Apsey  38:00
I love it. I said Yeah, I love it.

Kerley  38:02
I'm gonna say post apocalyptic is not my theme. I like futuristic but I'm more of a Halo sc-fi rather than...

Dan Apsey  38:06
We're no longer friends Kerley. 

Kerley  38:06
Sorry, 

JP  38:06
You just broke up!

Kerley  38:07
Oh No, already?! 

JP  38:07
is the quickest best besties that have ever happened.

Dan Apsey  38:09
I also love sci-fi as well. I'm a big sci-fi fan. And like you said Nemesis, Nemesis is a perfect great sci-fi co-op game. It is really good. I didn't... I haven't played Lock Down yet.

JP  38:31
We did, we got out to the table here the last week was it?

Kerley  38:36
Yeah, it was. That was punishing if you think the normal ones punishing, my life!

JP  38:40
But we were learning the mechanics of the facility base on Mars. And essentially, you know, there's this thing called Power and you need to move it around and sort it out and if you don't kind of get on top of the power or activate the backup generator then, you know things keep going dark and then the little... excuse my French. The little shits come out and really start punishing you which is kind of what we did, and realised that actually we probably should have worked together a little bit more.

Kerley  39:07
I'll be honest Dan, mistakes were made. We had a good... we had a good laugh I will say yeah, but we did get absolutely ruined

JP  39:16
The bit where we all died. I think you got out and you're in the pod you were safe, and then Tambo another one of our players, managed to get to the... literally the exit room before they went into the bunker. And then they got shanked by one of the Night Stalkers in an event and it just killed him. Which in turn I think that meant that you... oh no it went to the contingencies which is this new mechanic of... basically depends on what the corporation is going to do at the end of the round. And yeah, just kill everybody in these pods which he was in

Kerley  39:17
So there was a one in seven chance of me losing, and again the one in seven came up.

Dan Apsey  39:40
Of course

Kerley  39:43
Of course, it's alright. I'd actually.. I'd rather Tambo get killed at the end there in a really funny way than me win, to be honest,

Dan Apsey  40:01
At least, at least you got that satisfaction from it. 

JP  40:03
Its how stories... doesn't it? That's the kind of game... you've always got a story to tell whenever you play 'Ooh is this different?...

Kerley  40:10
How did you get on with mMansions out of interest?

JP  40:12
Mansions? 

Kerley  40:13
Yeah. Mansions, Mansions of Madness. Yeah, because that seems like a really theme-heavy Co-Op game that. Yeah, doesn't seem like the theme would be up your street maybe

Dan Apsey  40:23
I like, I like HP Lovecraft stuff. I liked Mansions of Madness. First Edition. I had a lot of it and played it quite a bit. But it was not very easy to get to the table with my gaming group. Now, I might get... and that was you going back quite a few years when the first one came out. And my gaming group was quite small. My gaming group now is significantly larger. Now a lot of thanks to the events that we do. So you know, there's not, there's not... it's not as difficult now to find gamers to play with, which is great. I reckon. I've not got the second edition. But I would revisit it and I probably would enjoy it. I do like the theme. I'm not sure about the app driven side of it? I'm not, I'm not dead against app driven games at all. Lucky Duck games bring out... have got some fantastic app driven games XCOM from FFG is an app driven game. There's a game that came out years ago called Golem Arcana. That was... I can't remember who was the designer now. But that that was an app driven game where you had a board with fully painted miniatures, and these miniatures had a base with stickers on and these these stickers were readable by a pen. And you would scan these, these miniatures and move and animate and attack each other within this app, which sounds crazy, but it worked and was really, really good. And I'm quite, I'm quite for app driven game board games providing they're done well. I don't mind a mixture of the technology. That's okay,

JP  41:57
Cool. Okay, so let's move on to our kind of niche number one section. So Dan, we did an episode pretty pretty previously, depending on when this is going to be released. So in the magic of podcast release versus actual time is always a mystery. But, but yeah, we did an episode around niche number ones, which is kind of your number one... number one game in really niche circumstances. So what we've got... we thought we'd gamify this a little bit. I've got a very pretty dice from Super-Skill Pinball, which is sat right next to me, which is very kind of pink and blue. And we've got six niche number ones. I'm just gonna roll the dice. I'm going to see what comes up and then we're going to ask you the question. So are you ready? 

Dan Apsey  42:38
Let's do it

JP  42:39
Let's do it, we're gaming! Here we go. First roll is number six. Kerley you want to do the honours?

Kerley  42:44
Yeah, absolutely. So number six... favourite game that you're actually going to get rid of

JP  42:49
Anything new!  Anything new? As in his favourite games to get rid of is to fuel his obsession of

Dan Apsey  42:56
my adiction?

Kerley  42:58
Yeah, it doesn't get to the table enough, or your group doesn't get on with it, or you know, pick your reason really? But yeah, favourite game that you're actually going to get rid of? 

Dan Apsey  43:07
It's very difficult. Do you know what? I 'ummed and ahhed' many times about Trickerion, and people like 'why why?' I love Trickerion

JP  43:18
Brilliant

Dan Apsey  43:19
But I can't get it to the table enough. Because it's so heavy. Have you ever played Trickerion with the Dahlgaard's Academy expansion?

JP  43:27
No we've not done that yet. We did....

Kerley  43:29
We did the... What was it? 

JP  43:31
Dark Alley. Yeah, that's kind of base Trickerion without.... 

Dan Apsey  43:34
Imagine... imagining someone drilling a hole into your temple for four hours. And then after they've done that, they're probably going to pull it out a little bit and then maybe go back in for another hour. That's... That's how Trickerion is like on that level. And I love Trickerion, it's beautiful. Backed the original Kickstarter years ago when it came out, the big box is amazing. I've got a big box available in our in our boardgame, raffle. Seamless plug there. And thank you to Mineclash for that, by the way. And well. Yeah, I can... I can hardly get it to the table, which is a real shame.

JP  44:09
Yeah, we had a good game of it on... last Friday, didn't we? Yes, your kind of first game Kerley? And I played it a couple solo. Because I recently got it with my Perseverance pledge. And yeah, I loved it. To be honest, I was thinking 'Why did I not get this earlier? Yeah, it's a...

Kerley  44:26
It's a nine or 9.5 out of 10. For me, I was incredibly impressed.

Dan Apsey  44:29
It's so... it's so good. I remember when it first came out, I remember people like Tom Vasel at The Dice Tower not enjoying the game very much, because I don't think he got his head around the resource element of it, because he thought that you, would spend the resources rather than accumulate them... have a supply of them. And you can understand the concept I think. I think the game has been a grower for many, many people, and it's now become a modern classic in my opinion. I think it's fantastic and it's so pretty to look at I love the artwork and so it's just great. It's great Cool? Ready for the next one? Let's do it. Number three Kerley.

Kerley  45:05
So number three, your favourite game that needs upgrading

Dan Apsey  45:11
Wingspan 

Kerley  45:12
Okay

JP  45:13
That's an interesting choice. 

Kerley  45:14
Yeah definitely

Dan Apsey  45:15
I love Wingspan but I find that when you've played Wingspan about 20 times, which I easily have, the dice tower looks like the dog's eaten it. 

Kerley  45:28
That's fair 

Dan Apsey  45:29
Come on, you know you put this thing together, you hope that it stays in its original rigidity. You put dice down it and ones ended up down Watford Gap. It don't stay in the right place. You know, I, I think that needs an upgrade for myself to buy upgraded components for there are many different laser cut box dice towers that you can buy for it. There are many different components that you can buy for it to make the resources better. Also, you got the neoprene mats that make it really really nice as well. Jamie put those in his standard you won't because you just won't. But you really should. And it's it's a pretty game but you can make it even prettier and if I was to upgrade one it will be that.

Kerley  46:13
Yeah, well speaking to the converted here to be honest, because we have just upgraded our our Wingspan, not the Dice tower itself, but the actual components Nice.

JP  46:24
Different birds and resourses and all that kind of stuff.

Kerley  46:27
Yeah, so we got birds for the you know, the the things that you take, and we've got your upgraded resources 

Dan Apsey  46:35
Did you buy the speckled eggs?

Kerley  46:38
 No, I, there was a Etsy store that we went to an audit a whole bunch of stuff to be honest.

Dan Apsey  46:44
Nice. I nearly did buy the speckled eggs at the UK games Expo. I was in front of Games Lore Stand,I did buy some things from Games Lore, so if you're listening, don't worry, I spent my money with you. Now I looked, I looked at the speckled eggs on the table. And it felt like the time space continuum stopped for what felt like a whole minute. It didn't it was about five seconds. But it felt like it stopped for a whole minute I looked at the speckled egg, speckled eggs and I went 'What you doing?' They're eggs with dots on them. So you really want to, go and get a marker pen and put some dots on your existing ones you pillock. You could do that. Or you could just leave them alone. So I literally had the bag in my hand and I went 'Nah' and I put it back down again. And I left. Do I regret not buying them? No. Will I buy them. No. Do I like them? Yeah.

Kerley  47:35
It's a good job Becky didn't see them is all I gotta say 

Dan Apsey  47:38
Really? 

Kerley  47:38
Yes, shes a sucker for an upgrade

JP  47:39
She would have snaffled them. cool, right? Time for one more, we'll do one more. Ready? Roll those dice. We have got... well I'm gonna roll again cos that was a three, we could be here all day, couldn't we? Two

Kerley  47:52
Number two. So favourite game, under £20 pounds roughly 

Dan Apsey  47:58
Rustling Leaves

JP  48:00
Rustling Leaves? 

Kerley  48:00
I've never heard of that.

Dan Apsey  48:02
Made by Kosmos. Rustling Leaves. It's a  new one for me. I picked it up at the UK games Expo. And it's a Roll and write and I'm a bit of a... bit of a sucker for roll and writes because most of them are nice and quick. I am sure that when the Twilight Imperium roll and write comes out in a few months time that we'll all go 'That's the longest roll and right ever made'. But with Rustling Leaves, it takes about 10-15 minutes to play, has a bunch of symbols on the sheets that reflect a certain season that there are four seasons in the box, you're rolling a couple of die. And these, these symbols on the dice are leaves. So if you roll one, it says a two on it one and sort of four on it, you've got to draw around this grid of the symbols a two by four box. And when you do that, you then have symbols that you've just enclosed in this box. And then you've got to scratch off certain symbols that will give you points. And it's a quick thinker. It's not difficult. And you have like 6/7/8 people playing this game all at once. And it's just it's just nice. It's pretty easy to look at. And it's a bit of fun. And I bought it for £10 and I played it at least six times since I've been back from the from the UK games Expo and I love it

JP  49:13
Great value, isn't it when you can get a game and you're... you're getting that many plays out of it. I mean, it's just...

Dan Apsey  49:18
Love it.

JP  49:19
Yeah, I've been getting into a lot of roll and writes. I say Super-Skill Pinball right next to me, love that. But a pinball game that rolla nd write? But it works. It's brilliant. But the other one I actually got interested in which has just recently been on Kickstarter, which is The Gig by Braincrack games. And essentially you're all aspiring jazz musicians. Of course you are. 

Dan Apsey  49:43
That's right up my street. 

JP  49:44
You have basically all the different instruments that you play like the piano and bass and all that kind of stuff. And it's kind of real time dice rolling, putting them on song sheets, getting resources, scratching things off, doing this and yeah, and you kind of creating shapes with your dice on the song sheet so you can then draw those shapes onto your instrument and get bonuses and scores and stuff. And I thought 'Oh this looks fun'

Dan Apsey  50:10
Did you back it?

JP  50:10
Yeah, yeah, I did. To be fair, we did an episode about Kickstarter and how it usually stings. I didn't think that it was that bad, I thought was quite a good deal though doing, and even UK shipping because they're fulfilled from UK as well. It just felt 'Why not?' 

Dan Apsey  50:26
Actually that does make a big difference. Sorry, Cool Mini or Not (CMON), but you will not be having my money anymore because you charge an arm and a leg for shipping. 

JP  50:34
It's ridiculous, isn't it? Yeah. Oh,

Dan Apsey  50:36
my goodness. I liked cyberpunk. I played a bit of cyberpunk. But I would not back the cyberpunk board game because of the postage costs alone. Not their fault, you know, I'm sure but us poor Brits, unfortunately, have taken the full brunt of that cost. It's a shame. Hopefully, maybe one day it'll be resolved and it won't be too bad. But it's pretty bad.

JP  50:57
We'll get there. Good okay, well, we'll wrap up the old niche number ones there. So really, our final question to you Dan, is kind of what we call 'Planning your turn'. So essentially, what you're excited for, apart from obviously your event, because that is the big event in your calendar. But what generally, are you excited, game wise, anything else wise? That's coming up soon.

Dan Apsey  51:21
I love doing the the 24 hour boardgame marathon, it's great. And it means that I can meet new people and bring people into the hobby. But once it's done, I can have a rest. And once I've had a rest, I can get to the gaming table myself and just play some games. Yeah. You know, it takes up quite a bit of my time doing the marathon, but I love doing it. But when I don't do that I can get to the table more I can get some more games in. JP, you know what it's like when you've got a family with, you know, wife and kids. And it's sometimes it's very difficult to get to the table when you really want to. But I'm hoping to have a bit more time and, and get to the table and just play some play some quick games, as many as I possibly can

JP  52:02
Yeah, that balance is... I get away with a lot is what I'll say. Nice. So no, I think we are probably getting towards the end there, Dan. So just want to say a massive thank you for your time to sit down with us.

Dan Apsey  52:18
Thank you and happy to happy to be on 

JP  52:20
Yeah, it's been great to listen and learn more about your event. And I know a lot of a lot of us are really excited to get down and support you and who knows... getting that audience to start heckling. We'll see. We'll see what happens. 

Kerley  52:31
Yeah, looking forward to meeting you Dan inn real life.

JP  52:33
Yeah, absolutely.

Dan Apsey  52:34
Likewise, likewise, I can't wait. It's gonna be great. But now

JP  52:37
Look, we wish you all the success for the event. And we're more than happy to kind of devote this episode to you and the event and just kind of promote it because it's just for a great cause. Right. And yeah, thank you very much, Dan.

Dan Apsey  52:50
Thank you, thank you so much. Thank you so much would be great to see you guys there. Looking forward to it. Thanks.

JP  52:55
Thanks Dan thank you And with that a board game shenanigans have come to a close and if you've enjoyed the show, please like subscribe and review on your podcast player of choice. And if you want to get in contact with us. As usual, we've got plenty of ways to do that. You can email us on players@whoseturn.co.uk. Or you can check out our Facebook page Whose turn is it anyway podcast or Instagram, @whoseturnpodcast and of course tiktok @whoseturnisitanyway and until next time. We'll see you soon. 

Kerley  53:27
Bye

JP  53:28
Bye.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai