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Episodes
Every episode of Cult of the Old your hosts Iain McAllister, Nate Owens, and Matt Thrower focus on a title from the history of tabletop games. They’ll look at the impact of the game at the time, their own critical impressions, the games ongoing influence on the modern hobby, and whether or not they would still recommend it!
Episodes

Wednesday Aug 02, 2023
Cult of the Old - Cosmic Encounter
Wednesday Aug 02, 2023
Wednesday Aug 02, 2023
Welcome to the latest episode of Cult of the Old!
Each episode your hosts Iain McAllister, Matt Thrower, and Nate Owens are going to turn back the clock to look at games that are at least 10 years old. They’ll give their own critical impressions, tell you about the history of the game and its impact, and what relevance these games still have in the modern hobby landscape.
For the last game of this season we are venturing once more beyond the stars and further back in time than we ever have before. Cosmic Encounter is a game that has been around before the hobby as we know it today even existed. Having had numerous versions over the years, the team dive into the impact of this game and what lies behind its longevity. Designed by Bill Eberle, Jack Kittredge, Bill Norton, Peter Olotka, and Kevin Wilson over the various versions. There have been artists and publishers too numerous to mention but are all listed on BGG. The most recent version of the game that most people know is from Fantasy Flight Games.
CULT OF THE OLD WILL RETURN!
Show Links
Below are links to the games and anything else that the team mention during the course of the cast. We will be linking to BGG for games, designers, artists, and publishers as that is a good place to start for raw information about the game in question.
Games Mentioned
Dune: A game of Conquest and Diplomacy
Other Mentions
https://therewillbe.games/articles-interviews/7232-an-interview-with-peter-olotka
Team Links
Websites you can find the cast on
Iain
Matt
Nate
Support us on Ko-Fi
https://ko-fi.com/cultoftheold
Email us at cultoftheolduk@gmail.com

Wednesday Jul 19, 2023
Cult of the Old - 7 Wonders
Wednesday Jul 19, 2023
Wednesday Jul 19, 2023
Welcome to the latest episode of Cult of the Old!
Each episode your hosts Iain McAllister, Matt Thrower, and Nate Owens are going to turn back the clock to look at games that are at least 10 years old. They’ll give their own critical impressions, tell you about the history of the game and its impact, and what relevance these games still have in the modern hobby landscape.
From time to time a game comes along that captures the zeitgeist. A title that stands like a colossus above the rest of the releases that year, offering a veritable garden of delights to players. Just the sort of game we like to talk about on Cult of the Old. 7 Wonders was such a game, taking the civilisation game and boiling it down to a simpler drafting mechanism. Designed by Antoine Bauza, published by Repos Productions, with art from Dimitri Chappuis, Miguel Coimbra, Etienne Hebinger, and Cyril Nouvel.
Show Links
Below are links to the games and anything else that the team mention during the course of the cast. We will be linking to BGG for games, designers, artists, and publishers as that is a good place to start for raw information about the game in question.
Games Mentioned
Civilisation, Frances Tresham version
Other Mentions
Wizards of the Coast controversy
Team Links
Websites you can find the cast on
Iain
Matt
Nate
Support us on Ko-Fi
https://ko-fi.com/cultoftheold
Join us on our Discord https://discord.gg/Ye6Bem5Q6x
Email us at cultoftheolduk@gmail.com

Wednesday Jul 05, 2023
Cult of the Old - Galaxy Trucker
Wednesday Jul 05, 2023
Wednesday Jul 05, 2023
Welcome to the latest episode of Cult of the Old!
Each episode your hosts Iain McAllister, Matt Thrower, and Nate Owens are going to turn back the clock to look at games that are at least 10 years old. They’ll give their own critical impressions, tell you about the history of the game and its impact, and what relevance these games still have in the modern hobby landscape.
So far this season we’ve been on the farm, battled in tokyo, cured a worldwide pandemic, built an industrial empire, expanded our Citadels, struggled in the cold war, and been the lords of waterdeep. Now it is time to cross the barrier into the unknown as we journey to space for the first sci-fi game of the season. It’s time to put on your cap, yell “10-4, Rubber ducky’ and blow your space horn as we sign up to become Galaxy Truckers. Published by Czech Games Edition and designed by Vlaada Chvatil with art from Tomáš Kučerovský and Radim Pech.
Show Links
Below are links to the games and anything else that the team mention during the course of the cast. We will be linking to BGG for games, designers, artists, and publishers as that is a good place to start for raw information about the game in question.
Games Mentioned
Agricola - Cult of the Old Episode
Pandemic - Cult of the Old Episode
Legacy: The Testament of Duke de Crecy
Other Mentions
Team Links
Websites you can find the cast on
Iain
Matt
Nate
Support us on Ko-Fi
https://ko-fi.com/cultoftheold
Join us on our Discord https://discord.gg/Ye6Bem5Q6x
Email us at cultoftheolduk@gmail.com

Wednesday Jun 21, 2023
Cult of the Old - Lords of Waterdeep
Wednesday Jun 21, 2023
Wednesday Jun 21, 2023
Welcome to the latest episode of Cult of the Old!
Each episode your hosts Iain McAllister, Matt Thrower, and Nate Owens are going to turn back the clock to look at games that are at least 10 years old. They’ll give their own critical impressions, tell you about the history of the game and its impact, and what relevance these games still have in the modern hobby landscape.
Dungeons and Dragons has always been the dominant game in the tabletop RPG space. From its early days to the all encompassing 5th edition, there have always been attempts to leverage that name in other ways. T-shirts, mugs, TV shows, and of course board games. Lords of Waterdeep from designers Peter Lee and Rodney Thompson is a game that took many by surprise when it came out. Putting the worker placement mechanism into the world of DnD as you take on the role of one of the Lords of the city, it remains on shelves to this day and we delve into the reasons why.
Show Links
Below are links to the games and anything else that the team mention during the course of the cast. We will be linking to BGG for games, designers, artists, and publishers as that is a good place to start for raw information about the game in question.
Games Mentioned
Dungeons and Dragons
Other Mentions
-
Team Links
Websites you can find the cast on
Iain
Matt
Nate
Support us on Ko-Fi
https://ko-fi.com/cultoftheold
Join us on our Discord https://discord.gg/Ye6Bem5Q6x
Email us at cultoftheolduk@gmail.com

Wednesday Jun 07, 2023
Cult of the Old - Twilight Struggle
Wednesday Jun 07, 2023
Wednesday Jun 07, 2023
Welcome to the latest episode of Cult of the Old!
Each episode your hosts Iain McAllister, Matt Thrower, and Nate Owens are going to turn back the clock to look at games that are at least 10 years old. They’ll give their own critical impressions, tell you about the history of the game and its impact, and what relevance these games still have in the modern hobby landscape.
This episode the team find themselves in the midst of the Cold War. Twilight Struggle from designers Ananda Gupta and Jason Matthews, sat atop the BGG rankings for many years. It brought card driven wargames to a wider audience and has influenced the direction of much of the wargames side of the hobby. Originally published by GMT Games with Art from Viktor Csete, Rodger B. MacGowan, Chechu Nieto, Guillaume Ries, and Mark Simonitch.
Show Links
Below are links to the games and anything else that the team mention during the course of the cast. We will be linking to BGG for games, designers, artists, and publishers as that is a good place to start for raw information about the game in question.
Games Mentioned
We the People (Washington’s War)
1960: The Making of a President
Other Mentions
ACTS - Automatic card tracking system
Team Links
Websites you can find the cast on
Iain
Matt
Nate
Support us on Ko-Fi
https://ko-fi.com/cultoftheold
Join us on our Discord https://discord.gg/Ye6Bem5Q6x
Email us at cultoftheolduk@gmail.com

Wednesday May 24, 2023
Cult of the Old - Citadels
Wednesday May 24, 2023
Wednesday May 24, 2023
Welcome to the latest episode of Cult of the Old!
Each episode your hosts Iain McAllister, Matt Thrower, and Nate Owens are going to turn back the clock to look at games that are at least 10 years old. They’ll give their own critical impressions, tell you about the history of the game and its impact, and what relevance these games still have in the modern hobby landscape.
This episode the team is turning to their first small box game of the season. A game with a mean streak that brought the mechanism of role selection to the modern hobby audience and made a name for its designer. Citadels from designer Bruno Faidutti and publisher Hans im Glück was a staple of every backpack. Across the various versions it has art from Cyrille Daujean, Julien Delval, Jesper Ejsing, Bruno Faidutti, Didier Graffet, Bjarne Hansen, Darrell Hardy, Florence Magnin, Jean-Louis Mourier, Scott Nicely, Hassan Nozadian, Christian T. Petersen, Brian Schomburg, and Richard Spicer.
Show Links
Below are links to the games and anything else that the team mentions during the course of the cast. We will be linking to BGG for games, designers, artists, and publishers as that is a good place to start for raw information about the game in question.
Games Mentioned
Other Mentions
Faiduttis perfect game library
Complexity and Depth article from Iain
Team Links
Websites you can find the cast on
Iain
Matt
Nate
Support us on Ko-Fi
https://ko-fi.com/cultoftheold
Join us on our Discord https://discord.gg/Ye6Bem5Q6x
Email us at cultoftheolduk@gmail.com

Wednesday May 10, 2023
Cult of The Old - Brass
Wednesday May 10, 2023
Wednesday May 10, 2023
Welcome to the latest episode of Cult of the Old!
Each episode your hosts Iain McAllister, Matt Thrower, and Nate Owens are going to turn back the clock to look at games that are at least 10 years old. They’ll give their own critical impressions, tell you about the history of the game and its impact, and what relevance these games still have in the modern hobby landscape.
In this episode of Cult of the Old we visit the industrial revolution in England through the game Brass. With a new edition, called Brass:Lancashire, released through Roxley Games in the not too distant past, this game has caught the limelight again and reminded everyone what a powerhouse designer Martin Wallace is. The original release was through Warfrog Games. Artists who have worked on the game are Gavan Brown, Lina Cossette, Peter Dennis, David Forest, Eckhard Freytag, and Damien Mammoliti.
Show Links
Below are links to the games and anything else that the team mentions during the course of the cast. We will be linking to BGG for games, designers, artists, and publishers as that is a good place to start for raw information about the game in question.
Games Mentioned
Railroad Tycoon/Railways of the World
Team Links
Websites you can find the cast on
Iain
Matt
Nate
Support us on Ko-Fi https://ko-fi.com/cultoftheold
Join us on our Discord https://discord.gg/Ye6Bem5Q6x
Email us at cultoftheolduk@gmail.com

Wednesday Apr 26, 2023
Cult of The Old - Pandemic
Wednesday Apr 26, 2023
Wednesday Apr 26, 2023
Welcome to the latest episode of Cult of the Old!
Each episode your hosts Iain McAllister, Matt Thrower, and Nate Owens are going to turn back the clock to look at games that are at least 10 years old. They’ll give their own critical impressions, tell you about the history of the game and its impact, and what relevance these games still have in the modern hobby landscape.
In this episode of Cult of the Old the team look at a game that couldn’t be more appropriate for our times. The game that introduced the idea of co-operation to modern boardgame audience, Pandemic. Designed by Matt Leacock with art from Josh Cappel, Christian Hanisch, Régis Moulun, Chris Quilliams, and Tom Thiel. Originally published by Z-Man Games.
Show Links
Below are links to the games and anything else that the team mentions during the course of the cast. We will be linking to BGG for games, designers, artists, and publishers as that is a good place to start for raw information about the game in question.
Games Mentioned
Reiner Knizia’s Lord of the Rings
Arkham Horror 1st edition - Chaosium edition
Arkham Horror 2nd Edition - FFG
Dungeons and Dragons Adventure series
Team Links
Websites you can find the cast on
Iain
Matt
Nate
Support us on Ko-Fi https://ko-fi.com/cultoftheold
Join us on our Discord https://discord.gg/Ye6Bem5Q6x
Email us at cultoftheolduk@gmail.com

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