Ancient Robot Games

We’re speaking with our very own Robert Gelb, co-host of the pod, to discuss his new upcoming game, Aster.

Aster is an ancient space strategy game set in the ever expanding Solari universe, gifted to our ancestors by stellar travellers who sailed the stars on streams of sunlight. With your pieces representing your Skysails, Castras, and Asters you will travel the stellar map and lay claim to unoccupied areas of space on a board in a Seed of Life design.

Gelb discusses the full three year design timeline - experimenting with pieces and new shapes, diving into geometrical patterns, building the lore of Aster, and finding enjoyment in others' fun!

Show your support for Aster at:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/midnighttradingco/aster-a-game-of-skysails-strategy-and-stellar-influence

Or go to:
https://midnighttradingco.com/


If you have any burning game questions, or special events coming up and need some advice for what game to bring - email us at [email protected] and we’ll endeavour to answer in an upcoming episode!

Ancient Robot Games - https://ancientrobotgames.co.uk
Midnight Trading Co - https://midnighttradingco.com
Podcast Producer Ryan Scott - https://www.ryanscottmedia.com/

Making or want to make tabletop games in Edinburgh? A new community and coworking space opens May 2025 in Edinburgh! https://ancientrobotworkshop.co.uk

Music: Coffee Break by Sensho

In this episode, we are joined by BadCatGames CEO and founder Justin Morgan-Davies to talk about designing solo, narrative driven games and building games with theme first!

BadCatGames is an award winning Scottish publisher and creative studio with incredible thematic games such as Gladiatores, Elemenz, and of course DreamEscape - their solo narrative driven adventure through a Lovecraftian nightmare! Justin also discusses their upcoming release, ZeeDice - a frantic, quick-thinking dice game - a riff on his first ever game Elemenz.

So join in for discussions on Lovecraftian horrors, narrative game design, and building game mechanics around your theme!

See more of BadCatGames at their website - https://badcatgames.co.uk/


If you have any burning game questions, or special events coming up and need some advice for what game to bring - email us at [email protected] and we’ll endeavour to answer in an upcoming episode!

Ancient Robot Games - https://ancientrobotgames.co.uk
Midnight Trading Co - https://midnighttradingco.com
Podcast Producer Ryan Scott - https://www.ryanscottmedia.com/

Making or want to make tabletop games in Edinburgh? A new community and coworking space opens May 2025 in Edinburgh! https://ancientrobotworkshop.co.uk

Music: Coffee Break by Sensho

This week on the Ancient Robot Podcast, we are joined by Jon Hodgson, founder of Handiwork Games (Cold City: Hot War, a|state, Beowulf) a Scotland-based production company of tabletop games.

Handiwork Games is now in its eighth year, starting as an experiment to see if a company like this could exist with full-time employees, offering job security and good working conditions - so far it seems it can!

Tune in to listen to the guys talk about the inception of Handiwork Games, ENNIE wins, grand heists, and his past life working on the likes of The One Ring and the Doctor Who Roleplaying Game.


If you have any burning game questions, or special events coming up and need some advice for what game to bring - email us at [email protected] and we’ll endeavour to answer in an upcoming episode!

Ancient Robot Games - https://ancientrobotgames.co.uk
Midnight Trading Co - https://midnighttradingco.com
Podcast Producer Ryan Scott - https://www.ryanscottmedia.com/

Making or want to make tabletop games in Edinburgh? A new community and coworking space opens May 2025 in Edinburgh! https://ancientrobotworkshop.co.uk

Music: Coffee Break by Sensho

New episode is out now! Dougal and Gelb sit down to discuss the presence of deduction across ALL games - not just where you’d expect!


If you have any burning game questions, or special events coming up and need some advice for what game to bring - email us at [email protected] and we’ll endeavour to answer in an upcoming episode!

Ancient Robot Games - https://ancientrobotgames.co.uk
Midnight Trading Co - https://midnighttradingco.com
Podcast Producer Ryan Scott - https://www.ryanscottmedia.com/

Making or want to make tabletop games in Edinburgh? A new community and coworking space opens May 2025 in Edinburgh! https://ancientrobotworkshop.co.uk

Music: Coffee Break by Sensho

This week we are joined by Alysa Thomas to discuss accessibility in game design and how to assess your game to ensure you are producing a game with others in mind - using Alysa’s constantly evolving Accessibility Framework.

See Alysa's Accessibility Framework here - https://a11yframework.s.gy/tabletop2026


If you have any burning game questions, or special events coming up and need some advice for what game to bring - email us at [email protected] and we’ll endeavour to answer in an upcoming episode!

Ancient Robot Games - https://ancientrobotgames.co.uk
Midnight Trading Co - https://midnighttradingco.com
Podcast Producer Ryan Scott - https://www.ryanscottmedia.com/

Making or want to make tabletop games in Edinburgh? A new community and coworking space opens May 2025 in Edinburgh! https://ancientrobotworkshop.co.uk

Music: Coffee Break by Sensho

In this weeks episode, the guys sit down to discuss pocket-sized games to take on your travels and entertain your friends no matter where you go!
From trick-taking games, tile laying games, and even strategy games - there isn't any type of game that designers won't cram into your pocket.


If you have any burning game questions, or special events coming up and need some advice for what game to bring - email us at [email protected] and we’ll endeavour to answer in an upcoming episode!

Ancient Robot Games - https://ancientrobotgames.co.uk
Midnight Trading Co - https://midnighttradingco.com
Podcast Producer Ryan Scott - https://www.ryanscottmedia.com/

Making or want to make tabletop games in Edinburgh? A new community and coworking space opens May 2025 in Edinburgh! https://ancientrobotworkshop.co.uk

Music: Coffee Break by Sensho

This week, Dougal and Gelb are joined by Laurence Phillips of Hardy Roach Games to discuss their new game ‘Il Fantasma del Giallo’ - a new TTRPG based on the proto-slasher, horror genre of 1960’s Italian cinema.
This new game has everyone guessing who the killer could be, because it could even be YOU and you would have no idea! Laurence also goes into detail about writing systems with tension and suspense in mind and ways in which he has made his game a horror experience that GMs and players won’t forget! 💀

👉 Find more of Laurence and his game at his website - https://hardyroachgames.co.uk/il-fantasma-del-giallo/


If you have any burning game questions, or special events coming up and need some advice for what game to bring - email us at [email protected] and we’ll endeavour to answer in an upcoming episode!

Ancient Robot Games - https://ancientrobotgames.co.uk
Midnight Trading Co - https://midnighttradingco.com
Podcast Producer Ryan Scott - https://www.ryanscottmedia.com/

Making or want to make tabletop games in Edinburgh? A new community and coworking space opens May 2025 in Edinburgh! https://ancientrobotworkshop.co.uk

Music: Coffee Break by Sensho

Jamie Heitler joins with Dougal and Gelb to discuss his start in writing TTRPG adventures for various roleplaying systems - especially his favourite of the bunch Mothership - and choosing the right system for the story you want to tell!

Find more of Jamie at his itch.io account under Windblown Vagrant - https://windblown-vagrant.itch.io/


If you have any burning game questions, or special events coming up and need some advice for what game to bring - email us at [email protected] and we’ll endeavour to answer in an upcoming episode!

Ancient Robot Games - https://ancientrobotgames.co.uk
Midnight Trading Co - https://midnighttradingco.com
Podcast Producer Ryan Scott - https://www.ryanscottmedia.com/

Making or want to make tabletop games in Edinburgh? A new community and coworking space opens May 2025 in Edinburgh! https://ancientrobotworkshop.co.uk

Music: Coffee Break by Sensho

Dougal and Gelb are back from a long weekend at the UK Games Expo - with Dougal scouring the convention for new games to stock his shop and Gelb selling and demoing his latest games. In this episode, the guys share insights as to what to expect when selling at conventions, and tips on making the most of your time there both as an attendee or a vendor, and some gaming highlights from the weekend!

For more on the UK Games Expo go to - https://www.ukgamesexpo.co.uk/

Games to check out!

• Le Chocolat - https://www.allplay.com/board-games/le-chocolat
• Shakespeare the Card Game - https://www.alliesorenemies.com/shakespearethecardgame
• Circadia - https://www.jeuxsynapsesgames.com/products/pre-order-circadia?_pos=1&_sid=07314e4ef&_ss=r&variant=47389812654329
• Not Alone: Remastered Edition - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/468801/not-alone
• Onan - https://www.godcone.studio/product/onan
• Twisted Realms Series - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/insideupgames/crits-and-tricks-tug-of-roar-and-thieves-of-eldris

If you have any burning game questions, or special events coming up and need some advice for what game to bring - email us at [email protected] and we’ll endeavour to answer in an upcoming episode!

Ancient Robot Games - https://ancientrobotgames.co.uk
Midnight Trading Co - https://midnighttradingco.com
Podcast Producer Ryan Scott - https://www.ryanscottmedia.com/

Making or want to make tabletop games in Edinburgh? A new community and coworking space opens May 2025 in Edinburgh! https://ancientrobotworkshop.co.uk

Music: Coffee Break by Sensho

Dougal and Gelb are joined by Leithal Hits own, Greg Foster, to discuss the wargaming hobby and their own growing community in Edinburgh of avid 40K fans. Expect usual chaos and derailment as always.

Find out more about Leithal Hits at - https://www.leithalhits.co.uk/


If you have any burning game questions, or special events coming up and need some advice for what game to bring - email us at [email protected] and we’ll endeavour to answer in an upcoming episode!

Ancient Robot Games - https://ancientrobotgames.co.uk
Midnight Trading Co - https://midnighttradingco.com
Podcast Producer Ryan Scott - https://www.ryanscottmedia.com/

Making or want to make tabletop games in Edinburgh? A new community and coworking space opens May 2025 in Edinburgh! https://ancientrobotworkshop.co.uk

Music: Coffee Break by Sensho

Dougal and Gelb delve into the niche world of asymmetrical games. One game with different playstyles and mechanics for certain players - or in some cases for every player!

Talking about asymmetrical classics like Root, Nemesis, Terrorscape, and more - the guys discuss what makes a good game with asymmetry and how much you can truly balance an unbalanced game.


If you have any burning game questions, or special events coming up and need some advice for what game to bring - email us at [email protected] and we’ll endeavour to answer in an upcoming episode!

Ancient Robot Games - https://ancientrobotgames.co.uk
Midnight Trading Co - https://midnighttradingco.com
Podcast Producer Ryan Scott - https://www.ryanscottmedia.com/

Making or want to make tabletop games in Edinburgh? A new community and coworking space opens May 2025 in Edinburgh! https://ancientrobotworkshop.co.uk

Music: Coffee Break by Sensho

The Ancient Robot Games Podcast is now 1 year old! And what better way to celebrate than bringing back our first ever guest, Judson Cowan, to talk about what he's been up to in the last year.

Judson talks about the process of designing his first ever expansion and how funding/publishing can differ from that of a game, and also his upcoming release Personal Demons - a new game themed around mental health, demons, and overcoming obstacles.

See more of Judsons work and check out Personal Demons at https://tettixgames.com/


If you have any burning game questions, or special events coming up and need some advice for what game to bring - email us at [email protected] and we’ll endeavour to answer in an upcoming episode!

Ancient Robot Games - https://ancientrobotgames.co.uk
Midnight Trading Co - https://midnighttradingco.com
Podcast Producer Ryan Scott - https://www.ryanscottmedia.com/

Making or want to make tabletop games in Edinburgh? A new community and coworking space opens May 2025 in Edinburgh! https://ancientrobotworkshop.co.uk

Music: Coffee Break by Sensho

Dougal and Gelb talk about abstract games and their long history in influencing the industry and culture of tabletop gaming.

Covering games from the Vikings’ ultimate strategy game, reimagining classics like chess, and contemporary designs like Aster from Midnight Trading Co.


If you have any burning game questions, or special events coming up and need some advice for what game to bring - email us at [email protected] and we’ll endeavour to answer in an upcoming episode!

Ancient Robot Games - https://ancientrobotgames.co.uk
Midnight Trading Co - https://midnighttradingco.com
Podcast Producer Ryan Scott - https://www.ryanscottmedia.com/

Making or want to make tabletop games in Edinburgh? A new community and coworking space opens May 2025 in Edinburgh! https://ancientrobotworkshop.co.uk

Music: Coffee Break by Sensho

Dougal and Gelb talk some of the best BIG games out now, and how they can offer some of the most fun and exciting experiences in board gaming.


If you have any burning game questions, or special events coming up and need some advice for what game to bring - email us at [email protected] and we’ll endeavour to answer in an upcoming episode!

Ancient Robot Games - https://ancientrobotgames.co.uk
Midnight Trading Co - https://midnighttradingco.com
Podcast Producer Ryan Scott - https://www.ryanscottmedia.com/

Making or want to make tabletop games in Edinburgh? A new community and coworking space opens May 2025 in Edinburgh! https://ancientrobotworkshop.co.uk

Music: Coffee Break by Sensho

In this episode, we’re joined by Ronan Jennings of Secret Solstice Games - another board game cafe in Leith - and creator of escape rooms and immersive experiences through Case Closed Escape Rooms. Listen in for chats on creating immersive narrative experiences, and Ronans unique approach to escape room design.

See more of Ronan at:
https://www.secretsolsticegames.co.uk/
https://www.caseclosededinburgh.co.uk/


If you have any burning game questions, or special events coming up and need some advice for what game to bring - email us at [email protected] and we’ll endeavour to answer in an upcoming episode!

Ancient Robot Games - https://ancientrobotgames.co.uk
Midnight Trading Co - https://midnighttradingco.com
Podcast Producer Ryan Scott - https://www.ryanscottmedia.com/

Making or want to make tabletop games in Edinburgh? A new community and coworking space opens May 2025 in Edinburgh! https://ancientrobotworkshop.co.uk

Music: Coffee Break by Sensho

Have you ever found yourself amongst a group of people who you don’t know very well and it falls to you to break the ice with a game? What do you pick for a room full of people you don’t know? Well Dougal and Gelb answer these question in the next episode - discussing the best party games for a group of people you don’t know, everything from word games, card games, and social deduction games that anyone can get involved in!


If you have any burning game questions, or special events coming up and need some advice for what game to bring - email us at [email protected] and we’ll endeavour to answer in an upcoming episode!

Ancient Robot Games - https://ancientrobotgames.co.uk
Midnight Trading Co - https://midnighttradingco.com
Podcast Producer Ryan Scott - https://www.ryanscottmedia.com/

Making or want to make tabletop games in Edinburgh? A new community and coworking space opens May 2025 in Edinburgh! https://ancientrobotworkshop.co.uk

Music: Coffee Break by Sensho

In this episode we are joined by Andrew Stoddart and Pavel Shepan, organisers of Edinburgh Board Gamers - a club focused on bringing together fans of games into a social and welcoming atmosphere - discussing the growth of their group, their impact on the community of gamers in Edinburgh, and some of their own opinions on the games they play.

See more of Edinburgh Board Gamers on their Facebook page or MeetUp page - meetup.com/edinburgh-gamers


If you have any burning game questions, or special events coming up and need some advice for what game to bring - email us at [email protected] and we’ll endeavour to answer in an upcoming episode!

Ancient Robot Games - https://ancientrobotgames.co.uk
Midnight Trading Co - https://midnighttradingco.com
Podcast Producer Ryan Scott - https://www.ryanscottmedia.com/

Making or want to make tabletop games in Edinburgh? A new community and coworking space opens May 2025 in Edinburgh! https://ancientrobotworkshop.co.uk

Music: Coffee Break by Sensho

In this episode, we’re joined by Paul Scott Canavan - Art Director, Illustrator, and Artist - to discuss working as an artists in the games industry and developing your own Tabletop Roleplaying Game. Paul has worked with a range of clients from independent studios and designers, to larger companies such as Wizards of the Coast and Games Workshop, and is currently developing his TTRPG, Pale Tides - a game of folk horror and witchcraft, blending the themes of abstract horror and empowerment.

See more of Paul at his website - https://paulscottcanavan.squarespace.com/


If you have any burning game questions, or special events coming up and need some advice for what game to bring - email us at [email protected] and we’ll endeavour to answer in an upcoming episode!

Ancient Robot Games - https://ancientrobotgames.co.uk
Midnight Trading Co - https://midnighttradingco.com
Podcast Producer Ryan Scott - https://www.ryanscottmedia.com/

Making or want to make tabletop games in Edinburgh? A new community and coworking space opens May 2025 in Edinburgh! https://ancientrobotworkshop.co.uk

Music: Coffee Break by Sensho

Dougal and Gelb are joined by Tanya Floaker - award-winning game designer of ‘Lo! Thy Dread Empire’, ‘Be Seeing You’ and ‘Mum Chums’ - to discuss her process of designing games with a focus on the players emotional response, how she approaches publishing new games, and her upcoming release, 'The Thunder Perfect Mind' - a game that delves into toxic nostalgia with breakneck action and occult thrills.

Find Tanya at floaker.carrd.co
Also see the Kickstarter page for ‘The Thunder Perfect Mind’ at www.kickstarter.com/projects/floaker/the-thunder-perfect-mind


If you have any burning game questions, or special events coming up and need some advice for what game to bring - email us at [email protected] and we’ll endeavour to answer in an upcoming episode!

Ancient Robot Games - https://ancientrobotgames.co.uk
Midnight Trading Co - https://midnighttradingco.com
Podcast Producer Ryan Scott - https://www.ryanscottmedia.com/

Making or want to make tabletop games in Edinburgh? A new community and coworking space opens May 2025 in Edinburgh! https://ancientrobotworkshop.co.uk

Music: Coffee Break by Sensho

Kicking off the New Year with Morgan Edmonds, creator of Minion - the TTRPG in which you are the faithful Minion to a Dark Lord and must do their bidding or protect their treasure from the “brave heroes”

Morgan and the guys talk everything from writing your own RPG systems, getting games published, and some new and exciting TTRPGs that are trying out new mechanics - like jenga or cards instead of dice. A great episode for anyone looking to mix up their game nights with exciting twists to your usual RPGs!

Follow Morgan on Itch.io if you want to check out Minion (or come by the shop on Leith Walk for a copy) and keep up to date with new projects - https://thealmightyjawa.itch.io/


If you have any burning game questions, or special events coming up and need some advice for what game to bring - email us at [email protected] and we’ll endeavour to answer in an upcoming episode!

Ancient Robot Games - https://ancientrobotgames.co.uk
Midnight Trading Co - https://midnighttradingco.com
Podcast Producer Ryan Scott - https://www.ryanscottmedia.com/

Making or want to make tabletop games in Edinburgh? A new community and coworking space opens May 2025 in Edinburgh! https://ancientrobotworkshop.co.uk

Music: Coffee Break by Sensho

Dougal and Gelb sit down to wrap up some of the game highlights of 2025 and dive into a couple of Dougal's choices for Christmas gifts for your loved ones (or just for yourself)!

Check out Enthrone at https://www.smirkanddagger.com/product-page/enthrone
See more of Light Speed: Arena at https://lightspeedarena.com/


If you have any burning game questions, or special events coming up and need some advice for what game to bring - email us at [email protected] and we’ll endeavour to answer in an upcoming episode!

Ancient Robot Games - https://ancientrobotgames.co.uk
Midnight Trading Co - https://midnighttradingco.com
Podcast Producer Ryan Scott - https://www.ryanscottmedia.com/

Making or want to make tabletop games in Edinburgh? A new community and coworking space opens May 2025 in Edinburgh! https://ancientrobotworkshop.co.uk

Music: Coffee Break by Sensho

In this episode we are joined by game designer and award winning editor, Roz Leahy. Roz talks on lots of points, including editing and writing captivating RPG adventures, her favourite types of games (and least favourite), and hottakes on some tropes of TTRPGs.

This episode is full of tips and advice for budding tabletop writers that may be a little lost on this incredibly unique and baffling writing style, and some hints on working effectively as an editor in the games industry!

See more of Roz at her website - rozleahy.carrd.co


If you have any burning game questions, or special events coming up and need some advice for what game to bring - email us at [email protected] and we’ll endeavour to answer in an upcoming episode!

Ancient Robot Games - https://ancientrobotgames.co.uk
Midnight Trading Co - https://midnighttradingco.com
Podcast Producer Ryan Scott - https://www.ryanscottmedia.com/

Making or want to make tabletop games in Edinburgh? A new community and coworking space opens May 2025 in Edinburgh! https://ancientrobotworkshop.co.uk

Music: Coffee Break by Sensho

In this episode, we're joined by Dave Wright, organiser of Tabletop Scotland - a board game, card game, and RPG convention made for everyone, whether you're a long time enthusiast or brand new to the hobby!

Dave discusses his inspiration to start the convention despite a disappointment with his first business running a game store, and the complexities that come along with running Scotland's biggest tabletop convention.

See more of Tabletop Scotland at https://tabletopscotland.co.uk/

Tabletop Scotland will be back in September 2026! So keep an eye out for further updates on Tabletop Scotland's website and socials!


If you have any burning game questions, or special events coming up and need some advice for what game to bring - email us at [email protected] and we’ll endeavour to answer in an upcoming episode!

Ancient Robot Games - https://ancientrobotgames.co.uk
Midnight Trading Co - https://midnighttradingco.com
Podcast Producer Ryan Scott - https://www.ryanscottmedia.com/

Making or want to make tabletop games in Edinburgh? A new community and coworking space opens May 2025 in Edinburgh! https://ancientrobotworkshop.co.uk

Music: Coffee Break by Sensho

In this weeks episode, we are joined by Will Tempest, an illustrator for graphic novels, board games, and roleplaying games. Best known for his TTRPG work with his brother, Sam, and their publishing company Grave Goods Pub - including Frogmen, and the upcoming Strang Beorn, a Grimdark setting based on Ancient Britain and Celtic Mythology for the MORKBORG system.

See more of Wills work at:
https://www.willtempest.com/
https://www.gravegoodspub.co.uk/


If you have any burning game questions, or special events coming up and need some advice for what game to bring - email us at [email protected] and we’ll endeavour to answer in an upcoming episode!

Ancient Robot Games - https://ancientrobotgames.co.uk
Midnight Trading Co - https://midnighttradingco.com
Podcast Producer Ryan Scott - https://www.ryanscottmedia.com/

Making or want to make tabletop games in Edinburgh? A new community and coworking space opens May 2025 in Edinburgh! https://ancientrobotworkshop.co.uk

Music: Coffee Break by Sensho

In this episode, we're joined by Phil Harris, a Creative Consultant for all things game and narrative design, and is the coordinator for Conpulsion, Scotland’s longest running tabletop game convention!
From working on MMORPGs, writing tabletop roleplaying systems, and running tabletop games at conventions (you may recognise him from Tabletop Scotland), this episode covers a lot for those interested in game design - both digital AND physical - or budding Game Masters wanting tips and tricks from a true professional!

See more of Conpulsion at their site - https://conpulsion.org/
Find Phil on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-harris-18199922/?originalSubdomain=uk


If you have any burning game questions, or special events coming up and need some advice for what game to bring - email us at [email protected] and we’ll endeavour to answer in an upcoming episode!

Ancient Robot Games - https://ancientrobotgames.co.uk
Midnight Trading Co - https://midnighttradingco.com
Podcast Producer Ryan Scott - https://www.ryanscottmedia.com/

Making or want to make tabletop games in Edinburgh? A new community and coworking space opens May 2025 in Edinburgh! https://ancientrobotworkshop.co.uk

Music: Coffee Break by Sensho

In this episode, we’re joined by Eve Greenwood and Brian Tyrrell. Eve is a writer, artist, and founder of Quindire Press, an independent publisher of graphics novels and comics, and Brian is a tabletop game designer and founder of Stout Stoat Press, a game-and-book publisher.
Together, they have founded TAGS Fest (Tabletop and Graphic Storytelling) to celebrate independent artists and designers in both the gaming and comic book worlds.

This episode covers a lot, from getting started in the industry, founding and operating micro-presses, and operating a community festival where the artists come first!

Get more info at https://tagsfest.co.uk/

Give a follow to Eve and Brian to keep on the latest news of new games and comics!

Eve - https://www.quindriepress.com/
Brain - https://www.stoutstoat.co.uk/


If you have any burning game questions, or special events coming up and need some advice for what game to bring - email us at [email protected] and we’ll endeavour to answer in an upcoming episode!

Ancient Robot Games - https://ancientrobotgames.co.uk
Midnight Trading Co - https://midnighttradingco.com
Podcast Producer Ryan Scott - https://www.ryanscottmedia.com/

Making or want to make tabletop games in Edinburgh? A new community and coworking space opens May 2025 in Edinburgh! https://ancientrobotworkshop.co.uk

Music: Coffee Break by Sensho

We are joined by Tom Inglis of Teomach Games, to discuss his first upcoming project Pivot, an entrepreneurial start-up game, and dive into the works of Reiner Knizia, of whom Tom is a huge fan and collector.

See more of Tom and Teomach Games at https://www.teomachgames.com/


If you have any burning game questions, or special events coming up and need some advice for what game to bring - email us at [email protected] and we’ll endeavour to answer in an upcoming episode!

Ancient Robot Games - https://ancientrobotgames.co.uk
Midnight Trading Co - https://midnighttradingco.com
Podcast Producer Ryan Scott - https://www.ryanscottmedia.com/

Making or want to make tabletop games in Edinburgh? A new community and coworking space opens May 2025 in Edinburgh! https://ancientrobotworkshop.co.uk

Music: Coffee Break by Sensho

Dougal and Gelb are joined by the wonderful Mill Valentine! Co-Owner of Dissent Games, and founder of the Paradice Board Game Convention and the Facebook group Dundee Boardgamers.

Dissent has a new game coming soon, Loose in the Library, a sort of reimagining of their first game, Library Labyrinth. Listen in to hear more about the process of designing and developing during lockdown and how the online community of gamers helped them shape their games.

See more of Dissent Games at https://dissentgames.com/
See more of Paradice at https://paradice.uk/

Check out the Kickstarter for their upcoming game, Loose in the Library, and show your support! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/dissentgames/loose-in-the-library


If you have any burning game questions, or special events coming up and need some advice for what game to bring - email us at [email protected] and we’ll endeavour to answer in an upcoming episode!

Ancient Robot Games - https://ancientrobotgames.co.uk
Midnight Trading Co - https://midnighttradingco.com
Podcast Producer Ryan Scott - https://www.ryanscottmedia.com/

Making or want to make tabletop games in Edinburgh? A new community and coworking space opens May 2025 in Edinburgh! https://ancientrobotworkshop.co.uk

Music: Coffee Break by Sensho

Dougal and Gelb are joined with special guest Andy Law, sharing his decades worth of experience working with some of the biggest names in tabletop gaming - including Critical Role and Warhammer. In Andys (limited) spare time from designing some of the best known games, he hosts his own actual play, Lawhammer, using the Warhammer Fantasy Roleplaying Game system - that he himself worked on - and is also part of Lorebeards and the CEO of Rookery Publications.

This episode is ideal for those looking for some insight into designing games, hints and tips for GMs,
and knowing what publishers are looking for!

See more of Andy at https://www.rookerypublications.com/
Lawhammer: https://www.youtube.com/@LAWhammer
Inside the Rookery: https://www.youtube.com/@TheRookery
Lorebeards: https://www.youtube.com/@loremasterofsotek


If you have any burning game questions, or special events coming up and need some advice for what game to bring - email us at [email protected] and we’ll endeavour to answer in an upcoming episode!

Ancient Robot Games - https://ancientrobotgames.co.uk
Midnight Trading Co - https://midnighttradingco.com
Podcast Producer Ryan Scott - https://www.ryanscottmedia.com/

Making or want to make tabletop games in Edinburgh? A new community and coworking space opens May 2025 in Edinburgh! https://ancientrobotworkshop.co.uk

Music: Coffee Break by Sensho

Dougal and Gelb are joined by Dylan Balfour, creator of the upcoming game Rat King. Dylan has been developing this game for the last year while also holding down a full time job AND working on his PHD.
This episodes got it all from managing time effectively, tips for developing your first game, and Dougal's completely not flawed idea for a Teeth game.

See more of Rat King at https://www.shrimptankgames.com/

Ancient Robot Games - https://ancientrobotgames.co.uk
Midnight Trading Co - https://midnighttradingco.com
Podcast Producer Ryan Scott - https://www.ryanscottfilm.com/

Making or want to make tabletop games in Edinburgh? A new community and coworking space opens May 2025 in Edinburgh! https://ancientrobotworkshop.co.uk

Music: Coffee Break by Sensho


If you have any burning game questions, or special events coming up and need some advice for what game to bring - email us at [email protected] and we’ll endeavour to answer in an upcoming episode!

Ancient Robot Games - https://ancientrobotgames.co.uk
Midnight Trading Co - https://midnighttradingco.com
Podcast Producer Ryan Scott - https://www.ryanscottmedia.com/

Making or want to make tabletop games in Edinburgh? A new community and coworking space opens May 2025 in Edinburgh! https://ancientrobotworkshop.co.uk

Music: Coffee Break by Sensho