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!!

 

291 thoughts on “Tabletop Season 4: Status Update”

  1. I bought 2 Games form Kickstarter Last year and I am very happy with both of them “Tiny Epic Galaxies” and “Between Two Cities”. I would enjoy watching either on Tabletop.

    What I would really like to suggest is some people to game with, Seanan McGuire, Mary Robinette Kowal, or Mur Lafferty. What do they have in common? They are all Campbell Award winning authors, they are all Podcasters, and most importantly they are all Gamers.

  2. Glad to hear you are going forward with Season 4. Tabletop has done so much for the hobby over the past couple of years including getting my wife to play games with me besides Connect 4. So for that I want to say thanks.

    I’m really looking forward to seeing what games you pick for this year. I hope that Kill Doctor Lucky and Cash N Guns 2.0 are on your submission list. They would be fun to watch and easy to teach.

  3. If you need any help playtesting Cthulhu Wars here in Los Angeles, let me know…went all in on the Kickstarter and love playing the game.

    Or really, any help playtesting anything. Love to play board games.

  4. My kids and I have just discovered board games and we LOVE Tabletop. Although it is making me want to buy more games… We’ll be watching season 4.

  6. Awesome. Our family of four (including kids ages 8 and 10) watch together. We certainly play more games together as an entire family because of your show. THANK YOU!

    My suggestions for appealing to more people in the “family demo”:

    1) stop saying the word “dick”
    2) Colt Express
    3) For Sale
    4) Coloretto / Zooloretto
    5) Machi Koro Deluxe (w/ Harbor expansion)
    6) Gubs / No Thanks!
    7) Saboteur

  9. My favorite game of 2015 by far has been Castles of Mad King Ludwig, and I’ve said multiple times among friends that I think it would be perfect for Tabletop. Plays best with 4, a game runs about 90 minutes, and there’s a very clear arc to how the game plays. A lot of interesting decision-making while still being aesthetically fun. Not sure if you’re open to suggestions or not, but that’s my two cents.

  10. Remember that for every troll trying to get you down there are one hundred of us who love what you do.

  11. Wil, have you considered having an episode of tabletop with military members as your guests? I am a Senior Airman in the USAF and would be extremely excited to see my fellow military members represented in an episode, maybe on a military themed board game, or on a game for veterans day or what have you

  12. Thanks for the update! My wife and I are very excited that there is going to be a season 4 (She keeps asking me if new episodes are out as I am the one who tends to keep track of such things)! We discovered Tabletop about mid way through season 3 and binge watched all the previous episodes in a week or two. Your show helped us discover the amazing world of tabletop games and has given us something fun to do together. We used to think “Monopoly” whenever board games were mentioned. However, now we’ve built our own small collection, play “Lords of Waterdeep” all the time, and take “The Resistance” with us to every family gathering so we can transform someone else’s paradigm of board games like you did ours (Fortunately this hasn’t resulted in any family feuds… yet). Thanks again, Wil, for all the effort you put into this. Your genuine love of games and desire to share that love has really shown through in this show, and I’m glad that your were able to go back to your roots and rediscover that love after such hardship. “Until next time… play more games!”

  13. For my fellow Cosmic Encounter (Mayfair version) lovers, I would love to see this, too. But I can’t imagine all of the rules being comprehended and explored during a single sitting. There is too much. People don’t enjoy the game until the third time playing it, due to the vast number of rules. We still debate rules at our house, decades later. In fact, I once contacted a self-described online Cosmic Encounter guru to settle a long-standing rule dispute between me and my husband. Unfortunately, I was wrong and he was right. NOOOoooOoo! I presented the confirmation that I was wrong as a gift for my husband on his birthday. He still references that as one of his best gifts. 😂 Ah, good times.

    Best game, every round is different, and the interpersonal relationships of the players can drastically change the outcome of the game. But this greatness may not convey in the format of Tabletop since they can’t spend the time to show how different the game is every.single.time it is played.

    Wil, carry on, and don’t let life rob you of that which you love. If making Tabletop becomes a chore more than a joy, you are absolutely right to not let the show kill a source of happiness. Play Cosmic in the seclusion of your home instead. 😉 But make sure it’s the Mayfair version, even if you have to buy it on eBay for $200. Worth it.

  14. I was wondering on tabletop season 4, will you be playing Epic Spell Wars of the Battle Wizards Rumble at Castle Tentakill? Just to show the difference between Duel at Mt. Skullzfyre and Castle Tentakill?

    1. No. It isn’t different enough from the first one to warrant another play (Star Trek Catan and Ticket to Ride Europe both introduced things that fundamentally changed the game, so they made sense).

  16. It’s too bad the gag reels are a lot of extra work. I enjoyed them as well as the extended versions you did of some of your season two episodes. I love getting to see more of the interaction between players and some of the out loud thought processes that goes into playing the games. Don’t sweat the rules, who hasn’t gotten one wrong when playing a new game? Thanks!

  17. Two words: Can’t wait!

    Actually two more words: MORE OWLBEAR!

    (Nothing gets my kids (and me) laughing like when the owlbear shows up.)

  18. I am ridiculously excited that Codenames has already made the list. We played both that and Red7 over the holidays and both of them kept many people up way past their bedtimes. Thanks to Tabletop not only has my games collection grown to require more furniture to hold it, but we’ve made it a point to create more times to play. We’re back to playing D&D even though we can’t commit to one night a week like we did in our youth, but we’ve decided it’s worth the wait to fit it in when we can.

    We are playing a lot less cribbage and euchre but I think that’s a downside I’m willing to take 🙂

    1. So I’ve given this consideration, and sort of tried it with medium weight games last season, and what I discovered is that it’s unsatisfying for everyone in the audience. It’s too heavy for the vast majority of the audience, who want to be entertained without having to follow the complexities that make a heavy game so much fun to play (if you’re the type who enjoys a heavy game), and the people who enjoy heavy games spend the entire episode being pissed that we didn’t play it the “right” way, didn’t make the optimal strategic decisions, and a whole host of other power-gamer complaints.

      It’s a shame, because I’d love to play Concordia this year, but as a producer, I have to think about what’s best for the show and the vast majority of the audience.

  21. Hey Wil,

    Welcome back, glad you didn’t get stuck in the mountains. Next time take the Mines of Moria path instead. It’s more exciting.

    Any idea on what the time frame for deciding and letting us know? So excited and want to go buy up all the games to try.

  23. Hi Wil

    Just wanted to say Thank You for the news that TableTop is coming back.

    I found out about your series purely by accident and it became an instant favourite for me – so much so that I ended up getting Ticket To Ride on my tablet pretty much straight after… followed by Kingdom Builder and Catan.

    Whilst I may not be able to afford some of the games which have featured in my favourite episodes – specifically Small World and Fortune & Glory, I have seen the enjoyment that gaming can bring through TableTop and believe in the idea of bringing together friends and family through gaming.

    All the best to you for Season 4 and to blatantly pinch your phrase from all the way from the UK, I’m looking forward to seeing you “Play More Games!!!”

    1. It really is awesome how a game can bring people together. It’s also wonderful how the love of games can bring people from across the world together. It is this shared love that has convinced me that you need Small World (one of my favorite episodes as well). Hence, I would like, with your permission, to buy you Small World and send it to you in the UK, so that you may continue spending quality time with your friends and family.

  24. Wil – I’m not sure if you’re going to do a indiegogo for this season as well, but I would love to support! My bf and I love the show and we were thrilled to contribute last year (and I get to wear my awesome season 3 shirt!). Please keep us updated!

    I’m not a seasoned gamer yet so I like the idea of playing games with kids or other adults that give me the chance to learn them..and then defeat others! muahahahahahha

  25. Will Ashes of Valkana 2 be considered part of the new Tabletop, or will it be considered a separate project?

  26. Hey Wil!
    Love the show! Been steadily building a good game collection, and your show certainly helps a lot with deciding which ones go on the wish list!
    I recently got Alchemists, and would love to see that played in TableTop, as we have a lot of laughs when we play it at home. Also it’s super interesting introducing a smart phone app element, something that there will undoubtedly be more of in the near future. That, or AquaSphere would be a blast to see you and your crew tackle 🙂
    Glad to hear that you are coming back for another round! I’ll be there!

    Cheers!

    1. I second Alchemists what a treat that would be to see. The rule book is soo creative and witty that it would practically write the script for you !!

  27. I’m relatively new to Table Top, but I’ve binge-watched my way through the first 3 seasons. Really looking forward to the next season. Bought a few games including Elder Sign, Betrayal at House on the Hill and Sheriff of Nottingham. I was so inspired by Table Top that I am currently creating my own board game (kickstarter to release next month if nothing goes wrong). Wil was also the inspiration behind one of the characters! Thank you, Wil and Table Top, for inspiring me to bring my love of games, art and humor together.

  29. So very excited to see that TableTop will be making a return. Watching it has developed a very strong love for games between me and my boyfriend. So far we’ve added a number of games from the show to our collection — Ticket to Ride, Tsuro, Qwirkle, and Gloom, just to name a few! We love watching the different types of games and seeing which ones would be fun to play with a group of friends or just with our family members during the holidays. I’m glad that you took a break and got your love for TableTop back because the show would have been missed greatly by those of us who only really learn about these awesome new games by watching you and your friends play them! So again, thank you and can’t wait for the new season!

  30. My wife and I regularly base game purchases on Tabletop episodes, so I’m happy to hear it’s coming back!

  31. Really excited to hear this. (Fingers crossed Mysterium makes the cut). Our son wants to re-watch TableTop all the time, and after watching Dixit for the 1000th time, my wife and I had a conversation about what guests we’d want to see back. We decided Beth Riesgraf so you can get your revenge, J. August Richards so you can get your revenge, and John Bain because he is delightfully evil.

  32. Please keep making your shows. I love them!!! I play games for fun and am not a serious gamer. Getting too serious makes it on fun anymore. You have made me laugh and enjoy games even when I have no one to play games with. Please keep playing games. You have a following of people who count on you to brighten their day. God bless you and the family. Play more games!!!

  33. What are the odds of ever seeing Alchemists played on tabletop? Does it fall under the heavy games category? (Ie. Too heavy for TT)

    1. It’s unlikely, because that game takes about 2 hours to play. 90 minutes is about the upper limit of what we can do.

      1. If everyone is well versed in the rules you can do it in 90 mins – it also goes quicker with 3 players. There really is so much here that would play well on the show. It definitely would be a hit and worth the effort – truely a special game that you guys would have a lot of fun with.

  34. Soooo yeah I am watching and researching soooo much Tabletop, that my wife is getting thoroughly annoyed XD ! Anyhow, really hope that you’re feeling refreshed and ready. Glad to see the plan for a June release, even if its just so far away.

  35. I thank you tremendously for bringing back TT for another season! I especially enjoy your mini games episodes (ie Roll for It, Tsuro, Love Letter, Zombie Dice and etc…) I hope you can showcase a few games like this in the future!

  37. I love Tabletop and I watch every single one, and I constantly tell people about it. Yay for season 4!
    One request, please please be a tad cleaner this season, I know you tried, but with all the innuendo “breeding vigorously,” I think I shared about 4 episodes with my son last year. It was supposed to be a cleaner season but turned out to be less so. That being said, I know I am a prude and I know my standards are different.

    1. I’m afraid we’re going to disappoint you. The reality is that Tabletop is not for little ones, and while we make an effort to keep things PG-13, we are making a show that’s primarily for an older audience. If it makes you feel any better, it’s been my experience as a parent that almost everything that would make a parent uncomfortable goes over the heads of kids. I’ve been rewatching some shows from the 70s that I saw when I was growing up, and catching all kinds of stuff that I missed when I was a kid.

  39. From a producer standpoint, having Exploding Kittens (and Matt Inman) on would be a HUGE boon for the channel. The amount of viewers he would bring would be “legendary”. 😀 Super fun and simple game (and it comes with a NSFW expansion.) Would be great for a double episode like Love Letters was.

    Additionally I didn’t realize that there would be SO MANY games in the first round of playtesting to whittle down to the season. I personally find so many games through TableTop since I’ve never been to a large convention where board games are the focus. I’d love it if you would share the “almost made it” and “games too big to play on TableTop” lists. Or maybe if there was a monthly (bimonthly/quarterly?) TableTop EXTENDED PLAY on Twitch for the games that are too heavy for a TableTop episode. The model has been proven through Critical Role – thousands of people would have no problem sitting for 3 hours to watch it unfold.

  40. As my two favorite gaming channels are Tabletop and Dice Tower, it would be great to see the guys from Dice Tower as guests/players on Tabletop — Tom Vasel, Sam Healey and Zee Garcia. While their following is only about a tenth of that which Tabletop enjoys, they have a faithful and growing fan-base who (like myself) watch dozens of their game-related videos every week.

    I’m guessing I’m probably not the only one who would like to see a cross-over between the two. If possible, please consider it.

    Thank you.

  41. Just wondering if you have ever tried the game “Bang” it is ALOT of fun and I am certain would make a great show. Anyways, love the show! You’re doing a great job dude!

  42. Wil,

    Great show, I was relieved to see you coming back.

    Have you considered a special episode for ‘couples’? Or in another way: Games that play great with 2, but extend well to 4? Hanabi for example has been a fantastic connection point for my wife and I. It is a wonderful ‘micro’ game.

    Also, I saw a suggestion for mad castles of King Ludwig and I second it.

    Thanks for being a big part of the board game revolution, it has had a major impact on the lady year of my life.

    1. A couples episode sounds awesome! There were several games on previous seasons that Hubs and I purchased and love to play as two players, like Forbidden Island, Takenoko, and Quirkle. Most co-op games against the board are pretty good for two-player, besides maybe Betrayal. We’ve also taken to making up house rules for some so they play better as two person games. For example, Takenoko says that for 2 plays, the winner is the first to 9 completed cards. we play to 15 to make it longer. There’s also a great card game for up to 5 players called Seven Dragons. In that game, we give two challenge cards to each of us instead of just one. Makes it harder and more fun for the 2 of us! Batman Road Trip was anouther one we found at the comic book shop that is really fun even with just two players.

  43. We are pretty dang excited about Season 4! Hubs and I love playing games, and since watching the first 3 seasons of TT, we are pretty much hooked on spending ridiculous amounts of money at our local comic book shop buying them. We have been hermits for a while due to physical limitations and illness, but with board games, we can have people come over and enjoy ourselves without spending money or leaving the comfort of our home. It has been wonderful for us, and we couldn’t have done it without you and TT. We’ve always had some of the basic board games like Monopoly and Clue, but honestly, those are so boring when you’ve played them for 2 decades. Your show reminded us that there are amazing board and card games out there. Seriously, thanks for the show, and we’re really glad you are bringing it back.

  46. Will,

    I first wanted to thank you for creating a wonderful show. This show has got me back in to tabletop gaming. I was wondering if you have considered doing a show with some of the games and their expansions? For instance Castle Panic but with The Dark Titan or the Wizard’s Tower.

  48. Hello Wil,

    I have to admit that I haven’t watched every episode of Table Top all the way through. There are some games that are just not my taste and I can usually see that within the first 10 minutes. I will say I have added many family games to my stash from watching, actually alot :-). You are entertaining and I have been all over looking to see if I missed a season and came across this.

    You are a great host and I am happy to hear you are going to give it another season. I look forward to watching and adding more to my game nights with my family. Thanks!

  49. Hi Wil!

    I’ve watched the majority of the episodes and I have to say a large reason my office shelf has a bunch of boardgames is because of your show. I ended up here after thinking to myself this afternoon … Tabletop hasn’t been on in a long time… I must say I’m thankful that a season 4 is coming. If I can offer a few suggestions:

    The idea of making the games family friendly is great (always looking for games I can play with all ages) – but please don’t do shows with young children again.
    If there is a game you are interested in that isn’t quite “family friendly” a single episode per season of “Tabletop after Dark” would be a good spot for that.
    Someone above mentioned Jessie Cox as a guest and I second that he was great previously and I like his animated style. Another youtuber that might be cool to see would be GassyMexican (great voice work) or Seananners (infectious laugh and hilarious expressions).
    If full production of Tabletop ever becomes too much or if you just want a switch you should look into getting a few friends online and playing on “Tabletop Simulator”, it’s been a fantastic way for friends of mine to play games when we are scattered geographically.

    Anyway in closing hope your day has been fantastic, keep in mind that while there will always be people that don’t like what you produce there are tons of us that do love it … and all that matters is that you personally like it. Other than that PLAY MORE GAMES!

    -Kevin

  50. Great to hear that you will be returning for a fourth season. Tabletop has been instrumental to helping me learn the rules of new games for my family to play (I am always the go to rules guru, and Tabletop helps me cheat to learn the rules and gameplay beforehand).

    I would love to see you play 7 Wonders as its own episode. I know you did it for one of the Tabletop Day Livestream episodes, but a full episode, with full rules explanations, would be excellent.

Comments are closed.

Related Posts

Recent Posts