Mindful Games Lab
In this episode, Clay explores Undaunted: 2200 Callisto, the newest and boldest entry in the Undaunted series—now blasting off into full sci-fi territory. If you’ve ever wondered what Undaunted would feel like with mechs, lunar colonies, elevation mechanics, and high-stakes tactical skirmishes, this is the episode for you. I break down what makes 2200 Callisto different from the WWII titles before it, how the new systems change the flow of the game, and why the Breakers vs. LFA conflict is such a compelling setting. Clay talks gameplay, strategy, faction identity, deckbuilding choices,...
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Kinfire Council: When Saving the City Means Watching Your Back Din’Lux is hanging by a thread — and the greatest threat might be sitting right across the table from you. Join Clay as he dives into Kinfire Council, the gorgeous worker placement game where players must rebuild magical lighthouses to protect the last surviving city… all while silently questioning whether their fellow council members are secretly helping the cult trying to destroy it. In this episode, we explore: How cooperation quickly turns into suspicion The unforgettable gameplay moments where everything falls apart...
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In Nature from North Star Game Studio, survival isn’t about brute strength—it’s about clever adaptation. Join Clay from Mindful Games Lab as he dives into this fast-paced, beautifully illustrated board game where every round is an evolutionary arms race. Discover the game’s origin story, learn the best traits to dominate your ecosystem, and explore the high-stakes choice every player faces: to hunt, or not to hunt. You’ll get beginner strategies, insider tips, and a breakdown of the game’s replay value—plus a few laugh-out-loud moments from Clay’s own plays. Whether you’re a...
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In this episode, we take a deep dive into Vantage, the epic new open-world board game from Stonemaier Games and designer Jamie Stegmaier. Whether you’re playing solo or with friends, Vantage offers a rich, narrative-driven experience filled with exploration, choice, and surprise. You'll learn how the game works, what sets it apart from other storytelling games, and why the first-person perspective and artwork matter more than ever. We’ll cover missions, destinies, dice mechanics, cooperative elements, and replayability — plus, I share some of my own favorite moments from the game. If you...
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for a blog post about Gen Con.
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In this episode, Clay dives deep into Almoravid, the second entry in Volko Ruhnke’s celebrated Levy & Campaign series from GMT Games. Set in the gritty landscape of 11th-century Iberia during the Spanish Reconquista, Almoravid is a game of feudal logistics, political tension, and brutal siege warfare. We unpack the game’s most compelling systems: How you command lords—not armies—and what it means to manage medieval loyalty The dual-role of El Cid, the legendary knight who might fight for either side The tactical weight behind every card, siege attempt, and ravage action Why...
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Mindful Games Lab Podcast with Clay In this episode, Clay dives deep into Ironwood, the highly thematic two-player strategy game from Mindclash Games. Discover the core conflict between the industrial Ironclad and the mystical Woodwalkers, as they battle for control over the powerful Larimor Crystals in the Iron Forge Mountains. Clay explores the game’s rich lore, stunning components, and clever asymmetric mechanics that bring the clash between metal and nature to life. You’ll learn how the unique card-driven system fuels both tactical combat and strategic planning, and hear firsthand...
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Clay visits with Sarah Trager from Meeples On The Ground. We talk about some amazing games for you to check out and important game convention advice that is not easy to follow.
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Clay visits with Carla Kopp from Weird Giraffe Games. We talk about Gift of Tulips and the amazing team of women who worked on it. We dive into what to do if you’re stuck on a game design and what you must know if you want to pitch a design to a publisher.
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Clay talks with Ryan Schneider from Saint Paul Games about Electric Orchard. Find out the most important skill you need to go from idea to Kickstarter launch.
info_outlineIn this October 2020 Episode Clay visits with Megan and Tristan from the "Girl Meets Nerd" Podcast.
Find out all about the Nerdverse
Find out Megan’s favorite part of the Nerdverse
You will learn about the best game to play as a couple
as well as a great video game to play as a couple
Find out what valuable life skills you can gain from playing video games
Find out what makes Star Wars amazing is it laser swords?
Learn how to get someone into gaming for the first time
If you enjoy this episode share it with your friends on social media.
1:20 Lets make nerd culture accessible to everyone
4:02 Tristan's Favorite Fictional worlds
5:01 A conversation with Prince Zuko
6:29 Nightwing or Spiderman?
7.01 What is the Nerdverse
9:06 Megan's favorite part of the Nerdverse
10:15 Best game to play as a couple
11:50 Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime https://www.loversinadangerousspacetime.com/
13:42 Why Tristan loves games
15:52 Megan's favorite type of RPG character to play
17:30 The best video game of all-time Star Wars Battle Front and Starwars Battlefront 2 https://www.ea.com/games/starwars/battlefront/star-wars-battlefront-2
18:32 Legend of Zelda breath of the wild https://www.zelda.com/breath-of-the-wild/
18:54 Valuable Life Skills (Dedication, practice and skill) Constantly learning and constantly improving
20:41 Megan on connecting with people on a deeper level
22:06 What makes Star Wars amazing
24:37 Impact of Games
26:23 How to get someone into gaming for the first time
29:49 Sarah Nicole Landry https://www.thebirdspapaya.com/the-papaya-podcast
https://girlmeetsnerd.com/
Instagram: @girlmeetsnerdpodcast
Twitter: @girlmeetsnerd