How To Play Podcast » Podcast
By Ryan Sturm
To listen to an audio podcast, mouse over the title and click Play. Open iTunes to download and subscribe to podcasts.
Podcast Description
Welcome to the home of the How to Play Podcast; A Podcast about learning and teaching games. We all know that the best way to learn a game is to have it taught to you by someone who knows the game well. That is what The How to Play Podcast is all about. Its like you are hearing an explanation of how to play a game from your wittiest, best looking and most charming friend. You don’t have a friend like that? Thank goodness, that guy would set the bar for me far too high, and in that case I’m sure that you will think these game explanations are fantastic. How to Play is a tool for learning, and learning to teach, games. Each explanation is carefully handcrafted for your listening pleasure. As an added bonus you might get a bit of strategy, some musings on various board game topics and assorted special lettered episodes all for the low, low price of free. Check it out.
| Name | Description | Released | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
CleanEpisode 37 – Carson City | Carson City Teaching Guide Carson City Teaching Guide B&W Released: May 6th, 2012 Game Description: It’s Caylus … but with guns! That’s right, if you don’t like that your neighbor placed his cowb[...] | 5/6/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
2 |
CleanEpisode 36x – Expansions and Spinoffs in the Catan Series | In this episode I dig into the universe of Catan and the works of Klaus Teuber. This episode will give a basic overview of the expansions, variants, scenarios, spinoffs and other assorted Klaus Teuber games. | 4/15/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
3 |
CleanEpisode 36 – The Settlers of Catan | Teaching Guide for Settlers Teaching Guide for Settlers BW Released: April 15th, 2012 Original Show Notes: Settlers of Catan is my favorite game strictly for fun player interaction. Each game involves negotiation, diplomacy and lots of la[...] | 4/15/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
4 |
CleanEpisode I: All I Really Need to Know | This is a compilation of a 5 part series that originally aired on The Dice Tower Podcast in the Summer and Fall of 2010. In this series I examine some of the deeper life lessons that can be learned from playing board games. The scripts for the fiv[... | 4/10/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
5 |
CleanEpisode 35 – Twilight Struggle | Twilight Struggle Teaching Guide Twilight Struggle Teaching Guide B&W Released: March 25th, 2012 Game Description: USA vs USSR. The struggle to alter the course of human history. Twilight struggle is a two player card driven game with[...] | 3/25/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
6 |
CleanEpisode 29w – How to Win Through the Ages | Date Released: February 12th, 2012 Description: In this third “How to Win” episode I tackle Through the Ages with my good friend and fellow TTA fan, Geoff Englestein. | 2/12/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
7 |
CleanEpisode 34 – Die Burgen von Burgund | Die Burgen von Burgund Teaching Guide Die Burgen von Burgund Teaching Guide BW Released: January 17th, 2012 Game Description: A great medium weight game couples game. In this game players are simply choos[...] | 1/17/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
8 |
CleanEpisode H: 2011 Review and Top 50 Update | In this episode I talk about the games that I played this year, muse on the year in gaming and present an updated list for my Top 50 favorite games of all time. I discuss all games I played many are new and some are older games. Here is the list g[... | 1/8/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
9 |
CleanEpisode 33 – Game of Thrones | Game of Thrones Teaching Guide Game of Thrones Teaching Guide BW Release Date: December 20th, 2011 Game Description: Game of Thrones is one of my favorite games because it lets me be a[...] | 12/20/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
10 |
CleanEpisode 32 – Advanced Civilization | Advanced Civilization Teaching Guide Advanced Civilization Teaching Guide B&W Released: November 13th, 2011 Game Description: A classic in board games and an amazing boardgame experience. Sure it may take 10-12 hou[...] | 11/11/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
11 |
CleanThe HTP Method for Teaching Games | Here is my original article on teaching games that I wrote on March 9th, 2008 with which the methods I used to eventually develop the How to Play Podcast. Feel free to read the article or listen to the audio version, Episode A, by playing the episod[...] | 11/6/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
12 |
CleanEpisode 31 – Airlines Europe | Airlines Europe Teaching Guide Airlines Europe Teaching Guide B&W Released: October 2nd, 2011 Game Description: Airlines Europe is the twenty year evolution of the original game Airlines. This game involves route buildin[...] | 10/2/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
13 |
CleanEpisode 30 – Troyes | Troyes Teaching Guide Troyes Teaching Guide B&W Released: August 20th, 2011 Game Description: Troyes is a game about building a medieval French city by exploiting your influence in the three realms of the nobility[...] | 8/20/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
14 |
CleanEpisode 4x – Expansion Maps for Age of Steam | Date Released: August 1st, 2011 Game Description: In Part 2 of my conversation with Ted Alspach we talk about some of our favorite maps for Age of Steam. Exploring our favorite maps for different numbers of players, different skill levels and previ[...] | 8/1/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
15 |
CleanEpisode 4w – How to Win Age of Steam | Released: July 29th, 2011 Show Description: In this episode I get a chance to discuss strategy for my favorite game, Age of Steam with a very special guest, Ted Alspach. Ted is the designer of many games and notably over forty maps for the game Age[...] | 7/29/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
16 |
CleanEpisode 29 – Through the Ages Part 2 | Episode 29 – Through the Ages Part 2 | 7/19/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
17 |
CleanEpisode 29 – Through the Ages | Through the Ages Teaching Guide Through the Ages Teaching Guide B&W Released: July 19th, 2011 Game Description: Through the Ages is an innovative game with the classic theme of building a civilization. Through th[...] | 7/19/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
18 |
CleanEpisode 28 – Acquire | Acquire Teaching Guide Acquire Teaching Guide B&W Released: June 4th, 2011 Game Description: Today we cover a classic in board games, Acquire. This game from 1962 holds up with some of the greatest modern games in[...] | 6/4/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
19 |
CleanEpisode 15 – Caylus | Caylus Teaching Guide Caylus Teaching Guide (B&W) Also be sure to check out the “How to Win” Caylus Episode Released: May 10th, 2010 Game Description: The original worker placement game and the best. N[...] | 5/10/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
20 |
CleanEpisode 15w – How to Win Caylus | Released: April 26th, 2011 Original Show Notes: This is the first of a potential series of episodes moving beyond learning a game to Advanced Strategy. This podcast is intended for experienced players of the game looking to take their play to the n[...] | 4/26/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
21 |
CleanEpisode 27 – Race for the Galaxy | Race for the Galaxy Teaching Guide Race for the Galaxy Teaching Guide B&W Released: April 12th, 2011 Game Description: Space. The Final Frontier. Our quest: to bravely go where no card game has gone before. (besid[...] | 4/12/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
22 |
CleanEpisode 26 – Shogun | Shogun Teaching Guide Shogun Teaching Guide B&W Released: March 21st, 2011 Game Description: In this episode we get into the exciting Japanese themed game Shogun. This unique game combines some wonderful mechanics[...] | 3/21/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
23 |
CleanEpisode 25 – Hansa Teutonica | Hansa Teutonica Teaching Guide Hansa Teutonica Teaching Guide B&W Released: February 6th, 2011 Game Description: A wonderfully simple quick and exciting game. Players are competing to claim routes as traders in Ge[...] | 2/6/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
24 |
CleanEpisode G – Evolution of Game Mechanics | Released: January 2nd, 2011 Original Show Notes: So here is an extended musings to go along with Episode #24 on the evolution of board game mechanics. Fortunately I had the chance to discuss this with Gametek’s Geoff Engelstein. We have about [...] | 1/2/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
25 |
CleanEpisode 24 – Dominant Species | Dominant Species Teaching Guide Dominant Species Teaching Guide B&W Released: January 2nd, 2011 Game Description: This worker placement game takes you through the evolution of a species. You will be forced to ada[...] | 1/2/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
26 |
CleanEpisode F – HTP’s Top 50 Games as of 2010 | Released: December 11th, 2010 Show Description: Today you are in for a special episode. I count down my personal favorite fifty games of all time as of 2010. I give a brief description of each game, and describe why it made the list. You can view or[...] | 12/11/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
27 |
CleanEpisode 23 – Notre Dame | Notre Dame Teaching Guide Notre Dame Teaching Guide B&W Released: November 22nd, 2010 Game Description: This unique game is all about resource management. You can never run out of money or cubes, you must always [...] | 11/22/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
28 |
CleanEpisode 22 – Khronos | Khronos Teaching Guide Khronos Teaching Guide B&W Released: October 20th, 2010 Game Description: This game uses a very fun theme of time travel in which players are playing tiles on three different time periods of[...] | 10/19/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
29 |
CleanEpisode 21 – Colosseum | Colosseum Teaching Guide Colosseum Teaching Guide B&W Released: October 1st, 2010 Game Description: This is one of my favorite mid-weight games. This game is about collecting various assets such as gladiators, musi[...] | 10/1/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
30 |
CleanEpisode 20 – Magic Realm | Magic Realm Teaching Guide Magic Realm Teaching Guide B&W Released: September 2nd, 2010 Game Description: Magic Realm is an older game that attempted to recreate the classic fantasy roleplaying game experience and [...] | 9/2/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
31 |
CleanEpisode E – How to Paint Miniatures | Released: August 14th, 2010 Show Description: This episode hopes to inspire you to give painting miniatures a try. I start with a motivational speech and then launch into equipment you need to paint your game pieces. I follow that with a brief descr[...] | 8/14/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
32 |
CleanEpisode 19 – Shadows Over Camelot | Shadows Over Camelot Teaching Guide Shadows Over Camelot Teaching Guide B&W Be sure to check out the episode on Painting Miniatures here to learn how to make your mini’s beautiful. Like This… Released: August 13th, 2010 [...] | 8/13/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
33 |
CleanEpisode 18 – Alhambra | Alhambra Teaching Guide Alhambra Teaching Guide B&W Released: August 4th, 2010 Game Description: Today we cover a fabulous gateway game, Alhambra. This is a great midweight game to bring out with family or friends.[...] | 8/4/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
34 |
CleanEpisode 17 – Le Havre | Le Havre Teaching Guide Le Havre Teaching Guide B&W Released: July 21st, 2010 Game Description: Another great worker placement game. Each turn you are simply making the choice of taking a pile of resources or usin[...] | 7/21/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
35 |
CleanEpisode D – Overviews and Opinions of the Top 50 Games | Released: June 29th, 2010 Show Description: In this episode I discuss not my Top 50 but I examine the Top 50 games at BGG as of June 2010. I give you a short summary of the games’ themes and mechanics and my rating and personal opinion of each[...] | 6/29/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
36 |
CleanEpisode 16 – Medici | Medici Teaching Guide Medici Teaching Guide B&W Released: June 8th, 2010 Game Description: Medici is a clean and beautiful auction game. Its the ultimate game of “whats it worth?” As players bid thei[...] | 6/8/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
37 |
CleanEpisode 14 – Citadels | Citadels Teaching Guide Citadels Teaching Guide (B&W) Released: April 13th, 2010 Game Description: The game that did Role Selection and Card Drafting before it was cool. This is a wonderfully fun game about drafti[...] | 4/13/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
38 |
CleanEpisode 13 – 1830 | 1830 Teaching Guide 1830 Teaching Guide (B&W) Released: April 4th, 2010 Game Description: This is an epically awesome railroad game. In this game you will invest in multiple railroad companies, build their tracks,[...] | 4/4/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
39 |
CleanEpisode C – Game Quiz | Released: March 15th, 2010 Show Description: I’ve always loved game shows so I thought it would be fun to put together this quiz after episode 12. Unfortunately I found it a lot more fun than the listeners. 60 questions about the first12 ga[...] | 3/15/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
40 |
CleanEpisode 12 – Reef Encounter | Reef Encounter Teaching Guide Reef Encounter Teaching Guide (B&W) Released: February 16th, 2010 Game Description: A game that had me scratching my head after reading the rulebook twice. But with a quality explana[...] | 2/16/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
41 |
CleanEpisode 11 – Abstract Games | (No Teaching Guide for this episode) Released: January 31st, 2010 Original Show Notes: In this show you get a 5 for 1 deal. I take a break from the big heavy games and take a look at some great abstract games. I will ex[...] | 1/31/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
42 |
CleanEpisode 10 – Age of Empires III | Age of Empires Teaching Guide Age of Empires Teaching Guide (B&W) Released: January 17th, 2010 Game Description: A wonderful worker placement game about discovering the new world. This game utilizes the concept of getting spe[...] | 1/17/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
43 |
CleanEpisode 9 – Brass | Brass Teaching Guide Brass Teaching Guide (B&W) Released: January 1st, 2010 Game Description: This wonderfully unique game is probably unlike anything you have played before. This is a game of card management in trying to build [...] | 1/1/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
44 |
CleanEpisode B – How to Choose the Right Game | Released: December 20th, 2009 Original Show Notes: In this episode for the sake of variety, I go into how to pick the right game for different situations. I discuss the factors that go into making this decision and talk about my favorite games for e[...] | 12/20/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
45 |
CleanEpisode 8 – Crayon Rails | Crayon Rails Teaching Guide Crayon Rails Teaching Guide (B&W) Released: December 10th, 2009 Game Description: Crayon Rails is an under-appreciated gem of a game about building track and delivering goods. It is multiplayer solitaire but it is [...] | 12/10/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
46 |
CleanEpisode 7 – Puerto Rico | Puerto Rico Teaching Guide Puerto Rico Teaching Guide (B&W) Released: November 22nd, 2009 Game Description: The game that really put role selection on the map. The major decision of the game is on your turn to deci[...] | 11/22/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
47 |
CleanEpisode 6 – Stone Age | Stone Age Teaching Guide Stone Age Teaching Guide (B&W) Released: November 16th, 2009 Game Description: A lighter worker placement game that is a lot of fun. In this game as cavemen you will get resources, technologies an[...] | 11/16/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
48 |
CleanEpisode 5 – Tigris and Euphrates | Tigris and Euphrates Teaching Guide Tigris and Euphrates Teaching Guide (B&W) Released: October 27th, 2009 Game Description: Here is Reiner Knizia’s masterpiece Tigris and Euphrates. A tile placement game where you [...] | 10/27/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
49 |
CleanEpisode A – How to Teach Games | Here is my original article on teaching games that I wrote on March 9th, 2008 with which the methods I used to eventually develop the How to Play Podcast. Feel free to read the article or listen to the audio version, Episode A, by playing the episod[...] | 10/18/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
50 |
CleanEpisode 4 – Age of Steam | Age of Steam Teaching Guide Age of Steam Teaching Guide (B&W) Released: October 12th, 2009 Game Description: My Favorite Game. This game, for me, is the ultimate gaming experience. Tension, True Interaction between the [...] | 10/12/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
51 |
CleanEpisode 3 – Agricola | Agricola Teaching Guide Agricola Teaching Guide (B&W) Released: October 12th, 2009 Complexity Rating: “Family Version” “Standard Version” Game Description: This very popular worker placement game h[...] | 10/12/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
52 |
CleanEpisode 2 – Tichu | (No Teaching Guide for this Episode) Released: October 12th, 2009 Game Description: Tichu is an amazing partnership trick taking card game. The big twist being that instead of just playing one card players are able to [...] | 10/12/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
53 |
CleanEpisode 1 – Ticket to Ride | Ticket to Ride Teaching Guide Ticket to Ride Teaching Guide (B&W) Released: October 12th, 2009 Game Description: Ticket to Ride is the ultimate gateway game. Its a faced past modern board game that everyone can enjoy and deserves a spot in ev[...] | 10/12/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
54 |
CleanWhat is How to Play? | How to Play is an audio podcast all about teaching and learning games. Each episode contains a FULL rules explanation organized in the best way I know how to explain the game to you as if you were sitting across the table from me. It is my hope that[...] | 10/12/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
| Total: 54 Episodes |
Customer Reviews
A great podcast if you're interested in gaming.
I just went game crazy this fall, and the podcast has been a boon for me. I listened to entire episodes of the games about which I'm interested in buying or bought for Xmas (puerto Rico, Agricola, ticket to ride) and have the others saved onitunes for later, in case I get around to considering those games.
Ryan does a great job, and I look forward to upcoming episodes. Bravo!
Smart and funny
If you think reading game rules is fun --and I do! -- then this podcast is for you. Ryan gives clear, charming explanations of rules and strategies, with some interesting thoughts on how and why we play games on the side. I look forward to many great explanations to come.
Great way to learn board games
I listen to several, ok a lot of gaming podcat, and I have yet to find any that teach you to play board games better than the How to Play podcast. Mr. Sturm is a wonderful educator. He is clear with rules explanations, and makes it fun to listen. Sometimes though, his charactors are a little goofy, but over all fun. Take your time and give How to Play a listen. My favorite casts are Age of Steam, and how to teach others.
Listeners also subscribed to
- Ludology
- Ryan Sturm and Geoff Engelstein
- View In iTunes
- Game On! with Cody and John
- Cody Jones and John Richard
- View In iTunes
- On Board Games
- Donald Dennis
- View In iTunes
- The Spiel
- Stephen Conway & David Coleson
- View In iTunes
- The Little Metal Dog Show
- Michael Fox
- View In iTunes
