Improv Night

Improv Night

Author: Tabletop Bellhop July 1, 2025 Duration: 1:51:54

We share our favourite tabletop games that involve improvisation as part of gameplay. To go with the topic, we review Oh Captain, My Captain from Simon & Schuster. We also review Emerald Skulls from Thunderworks and, of course, talk about the games we’ve been playing lately, including first thoughts on Courtisans and the new edition of Santorini.

Tabletop Bellhop Gaming Podcast Episode 278, was recorded on June 25th, 2025. We’re on break, but starting back up in August when you can join us live on Wednesdays at 8 PM Eastern at https://www.twitch.tv/tabletopbellhop

Find detailed show notes at https://tabletopbellhop.com/podcast/ep278/

Disclosure: Links may be affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Games mentioned may be review copies provided by publishers.

(00:00:00) Checking In
(00:02:14) Announcements
The Summoning has been rescheduled for August 23rd.
We are taking the month of July off from Podcasting. We should be back August 6th with a special Bellhop Birthday episode!
No Cookie Bar event in July, our next is scheduled for August 7th.

(00:04:04) Ask the Bellhop - Our Favourite Improv Games
(00:38:26) The Bellhop's Tabletop

(01:06:10) The Game Room - Review of Oh Captain, My Captain!
Grab Oh Captain, My Captain on Amazon: https://amzn.to/45Ok1lI
You may also want to check out For The Queen: https://amzn.to/45IcZyV
Check out other RPG stuff from James D’Amato: https://amzn.to/3GoGuvd
And James’ One Shot Podcast Network: https://oneshotpodcast.com/

(01:30:49) The Game Room - Review of Emerald Skulls
Pick up Emerald Skulls on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3TMaapd
Or check out the Swindler’s Chest at Thunderworks: https://thunderworksgames.com/products/swindlers-chest-emerald-skulls-goblin-vaults
We also love Cartographers Heroes from Thunderworks, check out our review: https://tabletopbellhop.com/game-reviews/cartographers-heroes/

(01:49:59) Closing the Doors

TIP THE BELLHOP: Get bonus content by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopbellhop
Shop Tabletop Bellhop merch https://tabletopbellhop.com/merch
Buy us a coffee https://ko-fi.com/tabletopbellhop

FIND US:
Webpage: https://tabletopbellhop.com
Discord: https://discord.tabletopbellhop.com
Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/tabletopbellhop.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tabletopbellhop/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tabletopbellhop/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tabletopbellhop
Twitch: https://twitch.tv/tabletopbellhop


Ever find yourself staring at your shelf of board games, wondering which one would actually work for your particular group this weekend? Or perhaps you’ve just unboxed a new game and feel a bit lost in the rulebook. That’s the space where the Tabletop Bellhop Gaming Podcast lives. Hosted by the folks at Tabletop Bellhop, this show is like having a knowledgeable friend on call to help navigate the vast world of tabletop gaming. Each episode dives into practical advice and genuine conversations aimed at making your game nights smoother and more fun. You’ll hear detailed reviews of specific games, discussions on common gaming hurdles, and tips for everything from teaching rules to managing player dynamics. While the focus is firmly on board games, the occasional role-playing game conversation slips in, reflecting the full spectrum of tabletop hobbies. The tone is welcoming and down-to-earth, avoiding insider jargon in favour of clear, useful insights. It’s a resource built on the idea that the best games are the ones that actually get played, and that a great experience is about more than just the components in the box. Tune in for a podcast that feels like a direct consultation with your own cardboard concierge, dedicated to answering the real questions that pop up around the gaming table.
Author: Language: en-ca Episodes: 100

Tabletop Bellhop Gaming Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Great Family Game Night Games [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:56:00
This episode we share a list of great kids games that experienced gamers will also enjoy. To go with that we review a couple of family friendly games. The first is Wreck Raiders from Kids Table Board Gaming and the secon…
The Final Frontier [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:03:27
In this episode, we spend some time talking about our favourite sci-fi board games. To go with that we will also be reviewing Starship Captains, a game with a familiar theme, and MLEM Space Agency. We wrap up with a long…
Kicking the Table [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:59:40
Tonight is a follow-up to last week's episode where we talked about the best games to come from Kickstarter. After discussing the evolution of Kickstarter, we’re going to be reviewing the Robots expansion for MonsDRAWsit…
Kickstart My Heart [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:24:06
In this episode, we share what we think are some of the best board games to come through Kickstarter. We follow up with a review of The Groundhog Gambit, just in time for the holiday, and then return to Kickstarter with…
Date Night Gaming [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:38:56
With Valentine's day 2024 right around the corner, we return to one of our most popular topics: two-player games for date nights. In fitting with this theme, we review The Cupid Crisis and Distilled, a game my wife and I…
Wrapping Up 2023 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:15:59
This is a lighter (but not shorter) episode with us talking about the Holidays, looking back at the games we played in 2023, and sharing a few 2024 plans. If this happens to be your first time listening, just be aware th…
Holiday Gaming with Family [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:37:17
'Tis the season and we are sticking with the holiday theme tonight with a question about holiday game nights with family. We share tips for gaming with family and each share our top five games to play with our family thi…
Zoom [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:47:21
Happy Holidays. Since not everyone has the privilege of being able to gather together during the holidays, tonight we’re going to be sharing some great games you can play together online. After that, we’ve got a review o…
We've been good this year [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:04
In this episode, we each share the top ten items from our 2023 Holiday Wishlists. Some practical and others, not so much. After that, we’ve got a review of Star Realms Frontiers from Wise Wizard Games. We discovered this…
Mounds of Minis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:31:38
Welcome to the second part of our discussion on miniatures in board games. Last week we talked about the pros and cons of miniatures, this week we’re going to be sharing some of our favourite fantasy games with lots of m…