NaPodPomo 2023: 30 Days of Game Mechanics: Area Control Games

NaPodPomo 2023: 30 Days of Game Mechanics: Area Control Games

Author: Michael & Suzanne Teske November 4, 2023 Duration: 10:03

Episode Four: Exploring Area Control Games

This episode covers area control games, a genre of board games wherein players compete to conquer different areas on the board through various methods like moving units, establishing settlements, or using influence markers. The focus is on strategic growth and defending territories which makes the genre appealing but often complex. Michael introduces a few game versions such as Risk, El Grande, Twilight Imperium, and Kemet, each representing different levels of complexity and length of game play. He also provides gameplay strategies, emphasizing the importance of not stretching resources too wildly, considering value points on the board, diplomacy and acquiring alliances, as well as being proactive in launching attacks.

00:14 Introduction to the Episode

00:35 About Meeples and Wine

01:11 Understanding Area Control Games

02:08 Exploring El Grande

03:28 Diving into Twilight Imperium

06:00 Discovering Kemet

07:50 Strategy Tips for Area Control Games

09:30 Conclusion and Preview of Next Episode

If you’ve got a game that you’d like us to demo get in touch at meeplesandwine@gmail.com, at our Twitter (@Meeplesandwine) or Facebook or if you’d like to leave us a voicemail you can go to 

https://www.speakpipe.com/MeeplesandWine or call at (707) 572-5282!

You can also check out our quicklinks page! https://podcast.show/meeplesandwine/


Every week, Michael and Suzanne Teske turn their dining table into a testing ground for connection and cardboard. Meeples And Wine-Tabletop Games for Couples is their ongoing experiment in pairing a great game with a great drink, all while navigating the unique dynamics of playing as a pair. You’ll hear their real-time reactions as they learn new rules, their strategic banter during play, and their honest post-game debriefs about what worked, what caused hilarious friction, and what truly brought them together. It’s less a formal review and more a live-play session with friends, where the conversation flows as freely as the wine, beer, or spirit they’re sampling that episode. They focus on games that are ideal for two players or work well in a couple’s setting, always with an eye toward shared enjoyment over cutthroat competition. The result is a warm, relatable podcast that feels like an invitation to their table, offering genuine recommendations for your next game night and a companionable audio experience that celebrates leisure, strategy, and partnership. You get a sense of the game’s mechanics, the drink’s profile, and the unscripted laughter that happens when two people prioritize fun. It’s about finding those perfect combinations that make an evening memorable, ensuring the only thing left on the couch at the end of the night is the game box.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Meeples And Wine - Tabletop Games for Couples
Podcast Episodes
Meeples & Wine 28 – Blackheart & Brawl [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:10
Welcome to almost the end of the #NaPodPoMo month with episode 28! This time it’s Michael rolling solo one last time, with only 2 shows left to go before midnight! It’s a nail-biter of will they/won’t they?! He’s tasting…
Meeples & Wine 27 – Pino & Mobile [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:53
It’s episode 27 of Meeples & Wine and Michael is still recording on his own, she’s coming back I SWEAR! But this episode he samples a glass of Chanmé Méchant Pinot Noir 2020, a nice dry wine that is just begging to be pa…
Meeples & Wine 26 – Butterbeer & Anomia [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:39
Hello and welcome to Meeples & Wine number 26! Only four left for #napodpomo, which would be awesome if we actually had 4 days left! This show we have Daughter “first out of the gates” Katie, who’s joining Michael in tal…
Meeples & Wine 25 – Sour Unicorns & Dungeons [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:30
Hello and welcome to episode 25! Tonight Michael is going it alone, and tasting Unicorn Fight Club from Mill Stream Brewing! The game of the day is Welcome to the Dungeon from Iello Games! If you’ve got a game that you’d…
Meeples & Wine 24 – Marshmallows & Exploding Kittens [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:58
Today Michael is running alone, as Suzy is out of town, though he will be tasting the “Marsha, Marsha, Marsha” Marshmallow Lager from Millstream Brewing Co.! He’s also talking about the card game “Exploding Kittens” the…
Meeples & Wine 23 – Negronis & Movie Games [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:57
This episode, Michael is still drinking 3 Floyds craft cocktails and has moved on to the Negroni, while not loved all that much by Suzy, it’s still a solid drink! (If this is too ginny for you try an Americano!) We discu…
Meeples & Wine 22 – Pete’s Dragon & Game Movies [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:22
Welcome to Meeples & Wine! The show that delves into the games that won’t throw your marriage into a therapy session! Today (22 of 30 shows for #NaPodPoMo!) we’re talking about our earliest memories of going to the movie…
Meeples & Wine 21 – Hot Cider & Party Games [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:47
Welcome to episode 21! Tonight on the closing of Thanksgiving, we’re resting in our turkey comas have put away all the leftovers and are enjoying a nice hot mug of cider. What’s in that cider, you may ask? Well we’ve got…
Meeples & Wine 20 – Daiquiris & Kittens [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:01
Welcome to episode 20, where we try 3 Floyds Daiquiris and kittens in blenders for dessert! Wait. Let me rephrase. Welcome to episode 20, where we drink 3 Floyds Barnabus Lime Daiquiri (still not as good as a Hemmingway)…

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