web01.fireside.fm Tue, 14 Apr 2026 20:48:59 -0500 Fireside (https://fireside.fm) Play Saves the World - Episodes Tagged with “Bernard Suits” https://boardgamefaith.fireside.fm/tags/bernard%20suits Sun, 05 Mar 2023 15:00:00 -0500 Daniel and Kevin explore the meaning of play for human flourishing – what it is, what it means, and how people create and maintain playful lives. We explore books, people, places, and ideas committed to engendering play in the midst of busy, working lives. en-us episodic On games and spirituality Daniel Hilty & Kevin Taylor Daniel and Kevin explore the meaning of play for human flourishing – what it is, what it means, and how people create and maintain playful lives. We explore books, people, places, and ideas committed to engendering play in the midst of busy, working lives. no play, gaming, game theory, work, human flourishing, the meaning of play Daniel Hilty & Kevin Taylor thomaskevintaylor@icloud.com Episode 25: Reflections on Teaching a College Class on Board Gaming https://boardgamefaith.fireside.fm/25 f822758b-e79a-407f-b07a-8f70aa6f976b Sun, 05 Mar 2023 15:00:00 -0500 Daniel Hilty & Kevin Taylor 25 Reflections on Teaching a College Class on Board Gaming full Daniel Hilty & Kevin Taylor Kevin reflects on his experience teaching a college class on board game theory and religion. He and Daniel unpack what he's learned from the experience of selecting material, teaching game mechanisms, and exploring game theory. 52:21 no Ideas behind the class What are board games, what is their history, how do they work, and why do they matter? Structuring the class I revisited some of our previous episodes – defining a game, Bernard Suits, Jane McGonigal Defining a board game history of board games mechanisms of board games (card drafting, worker placement, Euro, Ameritrash, bluffing, player elimination, trading, set collection) Games that teach history or lessons Games that are roleplaying and open-ended (TTRPG like D&D) Games and life, such as McGonigal Reality is Broken Magic circles: games and religion Board Game Lab: the experience of playing board games Documents in your syllabus that are familiar to the BGF community (The Grasshopper, Reality is Broken, Theology of Play, Meditations on Tarot), but a new addition is Nietzsche’s Zarathustra. Games that we have played Kingdomino – Euro and set collection Secret Hitler – deception and social deduction Coup - deception and social deduction Pandemic (couldn’t finish) – co-op game and so influential Freedom (couldn’t finish) – a game that teaches Dune Imperium (couldn’t finish) – card drafting, a race, worker placement, hand management Happy Salmon – silly party game that is fun but kind of pointless (which is part of the fun) Bohnanza – trading, set collection, hand management Things I have learned - What are you taking away from it? Spending time with young people is pretty wonderful It’s great to do theory and then experience/practice, especially in a small group/pod setting People are different – one dude loves the social deduction and bluffing element of Coup, while someone else loves the soothing Euro game Kingdomino Youths catch on quickly, and they love games game theory, teaching, magic circles, board games Ideas behind the class

What are board games, what is their history, how do they work, and why do they matter?

Structuring the class

I revisited some of our previous episodes – defining a game, Bernard Suits, Jane McGonigal

  1. Defining a board game
  2. history of board games
  3. mechanisms of board games (card drafting, worker placement, Euro, Ameritrash, bluffing, player elimination, trading, set collection)
  4. Games that teach history or lessons
  5. Games that are roleplaying and open-ended (TTRPG like D&D)
  6. Games and life, such as McGonigal Reality is Broken
  7. Magic circles: games and religion

Board Game Lab: the experience of playing board games

Documents in your syllabus that are familiar to the BGF community (The Grasshopper, Reality is Broken, Theology of Play, Meditations on Tarot), but a new addition is Nietzsche’s Zarathustra.

Games that we have played

  1. Kingdomino – Euro and set collection
  2. Secret Hitler – deception and social deduction
  3. Coup - deception and social deduction
  4. Pandemic (couldn’t finish) – co-op game and so influential
  5. Freedom (couldn’t finish) – a game that teaches
  6. Dune Imperium (couldn’t finish) – card drafting, a race, worker placement, hand management
  7. Happy Salmon – silly party game that is fun but kind of pointless (which is part of the fun)
  8. Bohnanza – trading, set collection, hand management

Things I have learned - What are you taking away from it?

  1. Spending time with young people is pretty wonderful
  2. It’s great to do theory and then experience/practice, especially in a small group/pod setting
  3. People are different – one dude loves the social deduction and bluffing element of Coup, while someone else loves the soothing Euro game Kingdomino
  4. Youths catch on quickly, and they love games
]]> Ideas behind the class

What are board games, what is their history, how do they work, and why do they matter?

Structuring the class

I revisited some of our previous episodes – defining a game, Bernard Suits, Jane McGonigal

  1. Defining a board game
  2. history of board games
  3. mechanisms of board games (card drafting, worker placement, Euro, Ameritrash, bluffing, player elimination, trading, set collection)
  4. Games that teach history or lessons
  5. Games that are roleplaying and open-ended (TTRPG like D&D)
  6. Games and life, such as McGonigal Reality is Broken
  7. Magic circles: games and religion

Board Game Lab: the experience of playing board games

Documents in your syllabus that are familiar to the BGF community (The Grasshopper, Reality is Broken, Theology of Play, Meditations on Tarot), but a new addition is Nietzsche’s Zarathustra.

Games that we have played

  1. Kingdomino – Euro and set collection
  2. Secret Hitler – deception and social deduction
  3. Coup - deception and social deduction
  4. Pandemic (couldn’t finish) – co-op game and so influential
  5. Freedom (couldn’t finish) – a game that teaches
  6. Dune Imperium (couldn’t finish) – card drafting, a race, worker placement, hand management
  7. Happy Salmon – silly party game that is fun but kind of pointless (which is part of the fun)
  8. Bohnanza – trading, set collection, hand management

Things I have learned - What are you taking away from it?

  1. Spending time with young people is pretty wonderful
  2. It’s great to do theory and then experience/practice, especially in a small group/pod setting
  3. People are different – one dude loves the social deduction and bluffing element of Coup, while someone else loves the soothing Euro game Kingdomino
  4. Youths catch on quickly, and they love games
]]> Episode 10: The Game of Life https://boardgamefaith.fireside.fm/10 2df89587-1495-4572-85bb-a17d0d24b7a4 Sun, 24 Jul 2022 14:00:00 -0400 Daniel Hilty & Kevin Taylor 10 The Game of Life full Daniel Hilty & Kevin Taylor We wrap up our discussion of Bernard Suits' seminal book The Grasshopper. What are the implications of approaching human life as a game? We unpack some of Suits' terms and ideas regarding utopia as a place where we only play games, and the threat that utopia is always under. 1:03:48 no What would it mean to think of life as a game? Are games merely pastimes between serious endeavors, or is it an approach to life oriented around unnecessary obstacles and enjoyment? We touch on ideas about the meaning of life, happiness, and life as something useful versus life as something to be enjoyed. Human flourishing is ultimately found in graceful abundance, in which all we can ever really do is pursue meaningful activities (and play games). Perhaps God does indeed play dice with the universe. Join us our Discord here (https://discord.gg/zPnwy5J4). The Grasshopper, Bernard Suits, game theory, board games, play, religion, Ecclesiastes, philosophy, happiness, utopia, heaven What would it mean to think of life as a game? Are games merely pastimes between serious endeavors, or is it an approach to life oriented around unnecessary obstacles and enjoyment? We touch on ideas about the meaning of life, happiness, and life as something useful versus life as something to be enjoyed. Human flourishing is ultimately found in graceful abundance, in which all we can ever really do is pursue meaningful activities (and play games). Perhaps God does indeed play dice with the universe.

Join us our Discord here.

]]> What would it mean to think of life as a game? Are games merely pastimes between serious endeavors, or is it an approach to life oriented around unnecessary obstacles and enjoyment? We touch on ideas about the meaning of life, happiness, and life as something useful versus life as something to be enjoyed. Human flourishing is ultimately found in graceful abundance, in which all we can ever really do is pursue meaningful activities (and play games). Perhaps God does indeed play dice with the universe.

Join us our Discord here.

]]> Episode 9: Is Winning the Point? https://boardgamefaith.fireside.fm/9 8e4ff6d1-ee74-468f-a6bd-d52f108eab7a Sun, 10 Jul 2022 15:00:00 -0400 Daniel Hilty & Kevin Taylor 9 Is Winning the Point? full Daniel Hilty & Kevin Taylor Daniel and Kevin tackle the obvious question: is wining the point of playing games? How does a desire to win relate to the desire to have an enjoyable gaming experience, and what spiritual realities are present when we strive to be humble and gracious at a gaming table where the object is to win the game? 57:36 no Daniel and Kevin tackle the obvious question: is wining the point of playing games? How does a desire to win relate to the desire to have an enjoyable gaming experience, and what spiritual realities are present when we strive to be humble and gracious at a gaming table where the object is to win the game? We consider that games might be training us to win over other people, instead of being more loving and kind. Does love exclude winning? Yet much of life is about improvement, and even heaven must include aspects of winning and loss. Some board games use different mechanics and win conditions such as "sandbox" and "kingmaker" type games, and others are social deduction games where players deceive and lie. How do the words of Jesus (the last shall be first) relate to ideas of winning and losing? board games, game theory, spirituality, Bernard Suits Daniel and Kevin tackle the obvious question: is wining the point of playing games? How does a desire to win relate to the desire to have an enjoyable gaming experience, and what spiritual realities are present when we strive to be humble and gracious at a gaming table where the object is to win the game?

We consider that games might be training us to win over other people, instead of being more loving and kind. Does love exclude winning? Yet much of life is about improvement, and even heaven must include aspects of winning and loss. Some board games use different mechanics and win conditions such as "sandbox" and "kingmaker" type games, and others are social deduction games where players deceive and lie. How do the words of Jesus (the last shall be first) relate to ideas of winning and losing?

Links:

]]> Daniel and Kevin tackle the obvious question: is wining the point of playing games? How does a desire to win relate to the desire to have an enjoyable gaming experience, and what spiritual realities are present when we strive to be humble and gracious at a gaming table where the object is to win the game?

We consider that games might be training us to win over other people, instead of being more loving and kind. Does love exclude winning? Yet much of life is about improvement, and even heaven must include aspects of winning and loss. Some board games use different mechanics and win conditions such as "sandbox" and "kingmaker" type games, and others are social deduction games where players deceive and lie. How do the words of Jesus (the last shall be first) relate to ideas of winning and losing?

Links:

]]> Episode 7: Book Club! The Grasshopper ch. 3 and Defining Games https://boardgamefaith.fireside.fm/7 d1a0d3c3-1900-42d9-88c6-b435c1b83816 Sun, 12 Jun 2022 15:00:00 -0400 Daniel Hilty & Kevin Taylor 7 Book Club! The Grasshopper ch. 3 and Defining Games full Daniel Hilty & Kevin Taylor What is a game, and why might it matter? Suits says that games are "the voluntary attempt to overcome unnecessary obstacles," and we mull over this, along with wondering if there is any basis for thinking God delights in games too. 55:54 no We make a new attempt at an episode opening – an improv skit with pirates playing Carcassone! We discuss Carcassone a bit, lionize the word "eschew" and life points in general, and wrestle with Bernard Suits' definition of a game: "the voluntary attempt to overcome unnecessary obstacles" (p. 43). Games require buy-in from participants who must agree to its rules, desire to best their competitors, and strive to be efficient within the games required inefficiencies. So how appropriate is it to conceive of God engaging in play and games? Kevin attempts to quote the Quran in thinking through God's delight in obstacles and complexities, and Daniel points to delight and grace. Shout out to @jtaultesq on Instagram for correctly identifying Concept in our Instagram quiz! linktr.ee/boardgamefaith patreon.com/boardgamefaith Bernard Suits, game theory, grace, Quran We make a new attempt at an episode opening – an improv skit with pirates playing Carcassone! We discuss Carcassone a bit, lionize the word "eschew" and life points in general, and wrestle with Bernard Suits' definition of a game: "the voluntary attempt to overcome unnecessary obstacles" (p. 43). Games require buy-in from participants who must agree to its rules, desire to best their competitors, and strive to be efficient within the games required inefficiencies. So how appropriate is it to conceive of God engaging in play and games? Kevin attempts to quote the Quran in thinking through God's delight in obstacles and complexities, and Daniel points to delight and grace. Shout out to @jtaultesq on Instagram for correctly identifying Concept in our Instagram quiz!

linktr.ee/boardgamefaith
patreon.com/boardgamefaith

Links:

]]> We make a new attempt at an episode opening – an improv skit with pirates playing Carcassone! We discuss Carcassone a bit, lionize the word "eschew" and life points in general, and wrestle with Bernard Suits' definition of a game: "the voluntary attempt to overcome unnecessary obstacles" (p. 43). Games require buy-in from participants who must agree to its rules, desire to best their competitors, and strive to be efficient within the games required inefficiencies. So how appropriate is it to conceive of God engaging in play and games? Kevin attempts to quote the Quran in thinking through God's delight in obstacles and complexities, and Daniel points to delight and grace. Shout out to @jtaultesq on Instagram for correctly identifying Concept in our Instagram quiz!

linktr.ee/boardgamefaith
patreon.com/boardgamefaith

Links:

]]> Episode 4: Book Club! The Grasshopper by Bernard Suits ch. 1 https://boardgamefaith.fireside.fm/4 aa071481-bf04-40db-a2eb-525dcd59910c Sun, 01 May 2022 14:00:00 -0400 Daniel Hilty & Kevin Taylor 4 Book Club! The Grasshopper by Bernard Suits ch. 1 full Daniel Hilty & Kevin Taylor Are $5K board gaming tables worth it? And what do we make of Bernard Suits' book The Grasshopper ch. 1, where the Grasshopper gladly dies in the winter for having played too many games? 52:49 no Toothsome questions abound. Are $5K board gaming tables worth it? Are there deeper implications of Clap-On technology? And what do we make of Bernard Suits' book The Grasshopper ch. 1, where the Grasshopper gladly dies in the winter for having played too many games? Can one game on the Sabbath, and why aren't there more games in the Bible? board games, religion, spirituality, value of play, Bernard Suits, The Grasshopper, Sabbath Toothsome questions abound. Are $5K board gaming tables worth it? Are there deeper implications of Clap-On technology? And what do we make of Bernard Suits' book The Grasshopper ch. 1, where the Grasshopper gladly dies in the winter for having played too many games? Can one game on the Sabbath, and why aren't there more games in the Bible?

]]> Toothsome questions abound. Are $5K board gaming tables worth it? Are there deeper implications of Clap-On technology? And what do we make of Bernard Suits' book The Grasshopper ch. 1, where the Grasshopper gladly dies in the winter for having played too many games? Can one game on the Sabbath, and why aren't there more games in the Bible?

]]>