Tabletop Season 4: Status Update

Reader T asked me in an email if there were any updates about, or news I could share about Tabletop Season 4. T mentioned that he liked the constant updates Geek & Sundry sent out during the production process of last season, and that he missed that sort of thing.

I began to reply that there “isn’t much to share, because there isn’t that much going on, except” … and then I wrote a bunch of stuff that disproved my original thought.

So, considering that T may not be the only person on this planet who wants to know what’s going on with Season 4, here’s the stuff that’s going on with Tabletop Season 4 which can be announced now:

We’ve taken a longer than usual hiatus because I was burned out, frustrated and unhappy after a really terrible experience with a (formerly) trusted friend last season, and wondering if I even wanted to do another season of the show. After a long hiatus that has allowed me to work on other things and rediscover the joy of playing games for the sake of playing games, as well as time to heal the wounds from Season 3, I’m back to work with my team, and starting to get things together for Season 4. We are in the game review process right now. From an original list of over 450 submissions, we’re actively play testing about 85 games, and that will be reduced to 18 or 20 games for the season. It’s 18 or 20 because we’ll probably do another one or two episodes that are two parts, but we won’t know for sure until we get down to about 20 games.

We’re not going to do gag reels and stuff this season. I don’t think they’re necessary, and they’re more trouble than they’re worth. We’ll still have a bi-weekly release schedule. I’m not sure if there will be something different to release on the off weeks.

One of the biggest changes this season affects me on a personal level as well as a professional one. We have asked the game publishers to send someone from their company to consult with us on rules and gameplay during production, so we don’t have to rely on one person to know the minutiae of 18 to 20 different games.

We are going to focus primarily on boardgames, as usual, but I have a couple of RPGs on my list that I really like, that I think could be really fun to showcase. We’re also going to look at more family games than we have in the past, because it turns out that families who watch together make up an enormous part of our audience. This doesn’t mean that I’m going to choose “kiddie” games, but that I’m looking at games that are fun for parents and kids to play together. For example, Tsuro, Ticket to Ride and Sushi Go! are all games that are really fun for adults and kids to play together, but they’re also fun for just adults to play together.

I have chosen two games already. They are Lanterns and Code Names. I’m also looking very seriously at Tiny Epic Galaxies.
We are planning to go into production near the end of April. We’re going to shoot for three weeks instead of two, so our schedule is a little less grueling. We don’t have an official release date, but I think the first episode of the season will be around the beginning of June.So, as you can see, maybe there’s more to share than I thought, and there it is. Play more games!!

 

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291 thoughts on “Tabletop Season 4: Status Update”

  1. Ooohhh totally excited for season 4. My 7 year old son brought Table Top to my attention and we watched almost all of them which resulted in me converting one of my spare wooden art cases in gaming case we use for family/friend get togethers. The big hits from the show were Sushi Go!, Zombie Dice, Love letter (we got the Loot Letter Version) and Castle Panic (we got the Munchkin one. My kid loves the art).

    My kid is hoping one day you guys play Exploding Kittens.

  2. You’re probably not looking for still more games to playtest, but Between Two Cities is an amazing half co-op half not game from Stonemeier games. We got the Kickstarter version a couple of months ago and have played it more than nearly all our other games. I think it would film and show well with the right group of people, and it’s just a beautiful, really neat game.

    Also, if there’s any way you can convince Scalzi to be a guest for an episode, that would be awesome!

  3. Thanks for the update Wil, games should be fun, and I hope you enjoy playing them on TableTop as much as I enjoy watching you play them!

    A suggestion, not necessarily for TableTop, but just for you to play – Mysterium – made by the good folks who made Dixit!! Some good co-op gameplay with a stunning ambience and the same beautiful art from Dixit.

  4. I appreciate the update – thank you! My 11 year-old son and I watch together and have played loads of games that we’ve found through TableTop. You and your crew have helped me and my family enjoy each other’s company in a way we really hadn’t before. And I’ve introduced a nice sized group of our friends to gaming and we’ve been enjoying a monthly game night since June.

    By the way, my son is eagerly awaiting the next season of Titansgrave. Any news to share on that?

    Thanks for all you do. Your hard work really is appreciated and has given our family a great way to bond.

  5. Awesome! It’s great for us that the show is coming back, but it’s even more exciting that you’ve been able to rediscover the fun of gaming. After all, Tabletop would be nothing without the fun. I hope the next season of filming is as fun to make as it is to watch!

  6. Lanterns, Codenames, and Tiny Epic Kingdoms are great choices. I’m so glad to hear an update on season 4 and really look forward to it. I also hope you consider some lessor known indie game makers out there. It’s a tough market and it would be nice to showcase some that people may not be aware of. Thanks for all your great work! Can’t wait to hear more.

  7. I’m embarrassed to say I’ve never heard of this show. So I checked it out on youtube, and I totally love the show. Awesome.

  8. Before I started watching TableTop the board games in our household were Monopoly, Sorry, and a couple of others along those lines. Now we have Forbidden Island, Forbidden Desert, Stone Age, Pandemic, Libertalia, Escape, Castle Panic, 7 Wonders, and we’re currently in April of our play through of Pandemic Legacy. We’ve had a ton of fun together as a family we wouldn’t have had if we hadn’t found TableTop.

    Thanks, Wil.

  9. Thanks, Wil!

    Glad to hear that you were able to take some time to recharge. Part of the joy of the show is seeing how much FUN you have playing a game and I would never want you to put out more videos if you’d lost the joy.

    That being said I’m very excited to hear that more videos are on the way!

    Take care sir!

  10. We at THE ESTABLiSHED FACTS podcast love what you do and can’t wait for season 4. Even if it doesn’t make it on the table, I recommend The Captain is Dead from the Game Crafter. Though this may seem like a star trek joke, I believe who will get some real enjoyment out of it. Check us out

    @IndyTEF

  11. Hope you’re considering “Exploding Kittens” for one of the two-part episodes. The art is really funny and bright, the game is wicked easy to learn, family-friendly, and makes for some exciting player interactions.

  12. Excited for season 4!
    Any plans to do a crowdfunding/contest with an opportunity for someone to get an opportunity to be a guest player for an episode?
    And, you probably have enough to sort through, but but I’ll throw in votes for Cosmic Encounter, Citadels, Mysterium, or Innovation in case any of those are in the top 85.

  13. Thank you, sir! I’ve been patiently waiting to see some more games that would be great to play with my (soon-to-be) 8-year old. I’m about ready to get him into D&D … provided I can get him to overcome his reticence to express himself imaginatively!

  15. Maybe it’s pushing it a little, but could you consider some kind of ‘pre-reading-age’ episode, to recommend games for kids that can’t read yet? (Start ’em early!) The field is pretty limited! My toddlers’ favorites have been Dino Hunt (yes, you did Zombie Dice awhile back, I know) and Spot It! and qwirkle (though I’m not sure they don’t just like playing with the tiles).

    1. Roll For It has been a big hit with our Kindergartener. No reading required and its a game that doesn’t require any adult intervention if he and his friends want to play by themselves.

    2. Consider trying Qwirkle Cubes. Much like the original Qwirkle but it is played open handed so it is easy to slip in a suggestion or two for younger players if they are struggling. No reading needed. But they do need their colours and shapes.

  16. Wil, thank you for taking the time to share this info with us – it’s truly appreciated.

    I’m sorry that you had to endure some issues during Season 3, but I’m glad you’ve been able to reignite your passion and want to do a Season 4; glad for your own well-being, rather than the desire to see a new season.

    I’ll be looking forward to all the episodes, whatever games may appear. Take good care of yourself, sir!

  17. Very excited to hear about production of season 4. I love the show and I’ve rediscovered a love for board games. With thanks of games I’ve built relationships with who I now call friends and have so much fun having regular games nights.

    I’m sorry to hear about the problems during production of season 3. Your work is so good and the show is so enjoyable. I like most people I’m sure would love to help in anyway I can.

  18. I cannot wait. My family rediscovered gaming together because of TableTop and it has made us a stronger family unit! Im sorry you were burned, but thank you for taking the time you needed to find your passion again. Will you be looking for sponsors again?

  19. Glad the new series is happening. As others have said I’m sure submission is over but I have just found out Discworld: Ankh Morpork is being reprinted. …..please feature it; bloody brilliant game!

  20. Looking forward to it! I really enjoyed the previous seasons, even ended up supporting the season 3 production. You are doing an amazing job with showcasing these games, and you make it very entertaining! Maybe something to consider for maybe season 5: Try to do the Titangrave episodes on the offdays for table top?

    Keep up the good work Wil!

  22. Thanks for the update. I’m relatively new to Tabletop (though I was always aware of it I wasn’t a regular viewer) but that changed this season when I started a game club at my son’s school. Tabletop was instrumental in helping me vet the games we were going to play (Roll For It, for example, has been a HUGE hit) so you can imagine how happy it makes me to hear you will be specifically looking to add more family games to the rotation. I can’t wait to see what makes the list! Thank you enough for such an amazing show!!

  23. I’m sorry that you got burned out in Season 3, all episodes were awesome and I’ve bought many games just from watching TableTop and seeing how fun it looked. Family fun games are great and you’ve done really well already choosing games that are fun for adults and kids. I look forward to a new season and hope you have fun in the process! Having fun is the most important though.

  25. Thank you for the show Wil. My board game collection has grown in the last year thanks to table top. I have picked up some of the games showcased in the show as well others I’ve come across. Again thank you for doing what you guys do.

  26. Wonderful! I really enjoy the show, and I’m excited about more family games being featured. My husband and I have taken some of the previous suggestions and bought them to play with our six year old, Jean-Luc. He LOVES Catan Junior, so we play nearly every Sunday afternoon. Thank you, Wil, and the rest of the team, for your contribution to many happy family memories.

  28. I’d love it if you would post the list of games you don’t decide to feature. Sometimes Tabletop is the only place to find out about great games we might never hear of.

  31. Awesome to hear about a Season 4 in the works!

    My family and I have become addicted to Upon a Fable by Dyskami Pulishing. might be worth adding to what I suspect is an ever-growing list of suggestions. It plays 2-6 (2-8 with expansion) and we play 2-3 games on game night.

  32. I am very sorry to hear that you were nearly burnt out, but am glad you had some time to yourself to refocus and recuperate mentally. I just wanted to let you know that I am a huge fan and that it is single-handedly because of TableTop that my interest in board gaming even exists. I then shared my new found passion with my wife, and now we have a shared hobby that will last the rest of our lives. So thank you, sir and the rest of the crew for everything you do.

  33. I’m begging for an RPG episode on Star Wars, Edge of the Empire, Age of Rebellion, or Force and Destiny.

  35. Wil,

    Great to hear. My wife and kids love to watch these episodes . They’re entertaining and love to see the Wheaton Factor in full effect.

  36. Hey Wil,
    I don’t usually stick my nose into this type of stuff, but if the thousands likes and hundreds of positive comments don’t make a nickels worth of 2 cents to you the let me add 3 more.
    1) Before your show there was nothing like your show… period. Yeah, you could look up a static gameplay tutorial of Twilight Empirium and glaze over in the first minute or two and want to hang yourself by hour 3 just to make the pain stop. Or you could get a flat game review of some dude/dudette whose opinion is about as about as trust worthy as the game shop clerk trying to sell you on warmahordes when they haven’t even played it. Granted, 2 games you have never featured (and probably never will) but I digress to my point, Tabletop is a fun, interactive, and innovated show that is a pleasure to watch.
    2) Pay no nevermind to the trolls, haters, and half bakers. Anything any one does can be shat upon by someone for some reason. People can (and do) moan about the Star Wars Prequels all day, but unless they are frakkin’ Scorsese, Cameron, or Spielberg their opinion should be about as worthless as the Drachma to Lucas.
    You are not a dick. My TI in basic training was a dick. Osama bin Laden was a huge dick. You my friend are simply an opionated individual who will not concede a position for sake of looking good or being liked.
    3) Are you a super evil genius robot from the future sent back to kill Sarah Connor? No? Then what the hell, so what if you faffed up some rules. At risk of bringing Games Workshops (TM) lawyers with a sue happy hard-on in on this, remember the Golden Rule…HAVE FUN! Don’t kill yourself trying to make something to entertain us as we eat Cheeteos, drink Code Red, and consume mass quantities of media, in a heated home in the suburbs, while the world catches fire….. wait wait let me stop…. My point being when you have fun playing the games, we as the audience see it and we want to have fun too. That is the real secret of the “Wil Weaton Effect” humans have been playing games since the dawn of our species. It literally is hard coded in our brains to play…. so with all that said Wil…
    Thank you and keep playing more games….

  37. Wil, I know you took a lot of flack over last season, but I just want to say that I have never been a gamer. However, I’ve enjoyed watching TableTop since the beginning and it’s caused me and other members of my family to buy and thoroughly enjoy a number of games from “Say Anything” to “Betrayal at House on the Hill” to “Cards Against Humanity”. Something we probably would have not done if it weren’t for your show. Thank you for coming back. Looking forward to the new Season.

  38. Thanks for the update, Wil! I’m sorry for the burnout and trouble you had, but your efforts are certainly appreciated from all of the viewers. I’m looking forward to what’s to come, and it sounds like the new season will be great!

  40. Hey Wil, if you ever decide not to continue TableTop, for the sake of us fans PLEASE hand it off to someone who you feel could give it the attention and care it deserves to carry it forward as you take on other stuff. It wouldn’t be the same without your personality of course, but the show is really important. But having said that, I’m glad to hear that your interest in it has been rekindled, and I’ll be grateful for as many seasons under your guidance as I can get.

  41. Please play Tiny Epic Galaxies! We have it at home and it is SO FUN! Also, have you thought about Splendor? Or Abyss?

  42. I’m glad to hear you’ve decided to go ahead with a fourth season. I really enjoy it for multiple reasons. For one, it showcases a wide variety of games that interest me. For two, I recently (almost a year and a half ago) started a job at a gaming store, and the fact is I get asked about games shown on Tabletop – and now know what they’re talking about. I also end up recommending it to some of my customers if they want to know more about a game, such as Lords of Waterdeep or Tokaido, both of which we carry. And you feature people I wouldn’t have heard of if it wasn’t for the show.
    Hope everything goes well and I really look forward to a new season!
    Unrelated: Curious how the “Wheaton Curse” affects you playing characters that don’t involve much in terms of d20’s 🙂

    1. Unrelated: Curious how the “Wheaton Curse” affects you playing characters that don’t involve much in terms of d20’s 🙂

      I’ve been playing the solo version of Tiny Epic Galaxies, and when I roll for myself, I roll as expected … but when I roll for the Rogue player, I roll like a boss. So … yeah.

  43. Wil, any chance we dinosaurs will be able to get a season 3 DVD (and 4 also) to go with season 1 and 2 on DVD?

  45. You could choose super-basic tabletop games like checkers and chess and i´d still watch it because you make every game ridiculously awesome (hell, even a game of poker between librarians with you as a comentator would be awesome), so i´m down with whatever choices you make as long as you´re somehow involved in every tabletop-episode. but i´d also love if the extended editions came back (a thing i was hoping for especially for the cards against humanity episode). other than that just keep up the good work!

  46. I have to say that your show has introduced games to four different generations of my family. We’ve bought almost half of the games you play on the show. Although it’s a stressful thing for you to film, I hope you find comfort in knowing you’ve helped so many families like mine come together and be gamers. Please take all the time you need, so that we can play more games!

  47. You got me interested enough to return to board games after a couple decade hiatus, and now my non-gamer wife is playing Ticket to Ride (Original and Europe), Carcassonne (We have maybe 90% of them), and someday soon, Pandemic. THANK YOU so much for that, and don’t let one fool steal your mojo.

  48. You’ve most probably heard this before but I’ve played several of the games showcased on Table Top…and enjoyed the process thoroughly…also gave the board gaming bug to a few friends in the process. I can mention Tsuro, Munchkin and Sushi Go among others. There’s one game however which I don’t believe you have reviewed so far and which I think could be a great addition…it’s called Splendor and we’re totally addicted to it.

  50. I didn’t have any real board games before watching tabletop and now I don’t have the storage space for the number I got. thank you your show has been amazing and I am sure it will continue to be

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