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About This Podcast
On the Ancient Robot Podcast, hosts Dougal Freir (Owner, Ancient Robot Games) and Robert Gelb (board game designer) talk trends, design, and development of all things tabletop!
Each episode features guests from the industry sharing their insights into the world of game development and the ever-growing community of game designers in Scotland.
Tune in for your bi-monthly dose of board game nerdisms!
Ancient Robot Games - https://ancientrobotgames.co.uk
Midnight Trading Co - https://midnighttradingco.com
Podcast Producer Ryan Scott - https://www.ryanscottmedia.com/
Making or want to make tabletop games in Edinburgh? A new community and coworking space opens May 2025 in Edinburgh! https://ancientrobotworkshop.co.uk
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Recent Episodes
S1E30 Back from UK Games Expo: Showcasing at Conventions and Retailer Mojitos | Episode 30
Dougal and Gelb are back from a long weekend at the UK Games Expo - with Dougal scouring the convention for new games to stock his shop and Gelb selling and demoing his latest games. In this episode,…
Leithal Hits: Edinburgh-based Wargaming & Community with Greg Foster | Episode 29
Dougal and Gelb are joined by Leithal Hits own, Greg Foster, to discuss the wargaming hobby and their own growing community in Edinburgh of avid 40K fans. Expect usual chaos and derailment as…
S1E28 Balancing the Unbalanced: Asymmetrical Game Design | Episode 28
Dougal and Gelb delve into the niche world of asymmetrical games. One game with different playstyles and mechanics for certain players - or in some cases for every player! Talking about asymmetrical…
S1E27 Tackling Personal Demons and Even Deeper Regrets with Judson Cowan | Episode 27
The Ancient Robot Games Podcast is now 1 year old! And what better way to celebrate than bringing back our first ever guest, Judson Cowan, to talk about what he's been up to in the last year. Judson…
S1E26 Defining the Abstract: the History and Influence of Abstract Games | Episode 26
Dougal and Gelb talk about abstract games and their long history in influencing the industry and culture of tabletop gaming.Covering games from the Vikings’ ultimate strategy game, reimagining…
S1E25 I like Big Games and I cannot lie: Root, Ascending Empires, Pandemic, and more | Episode 25
Dougal and Gelb talk some of the best BIG games out now, and how they can offer some of the most fun and exciting experiences in board gaming.If you have any burning game questions, or special events…
S1E24 Making Escape Rooms with a Focus on Story and Player Experience with Ronan Jennings | Episode 24
In this episode, we’re joined by Ronan Jennings of Secret Solstice Games - another board game cafe in Leith - and creator of escape rooms and immersive experiences through Case Closed Escape Rooms.…
S1E23 Games to Play with People you Don't Know | Episode 23
Have you ever found yourself amongst a group of people who you don’t know very well and it falls to you to break the ice with a game? What do you pick for a room full of people you don’t know? Well…
S1E22 Edinburgh Board Gamers - Making Safe Spaces, and Strong Communities with Andrew & Pavel | Episode 22
In this episode we are joined by Andrew Stoddart and Pavel Shepan, organisers of Edinburgh Board Gamers - a club focused on bringing together fans of games into a social and welcoming atmosphere -…
S1E21 Making Art for Games and Pale Tides: a Folk Horror Game with Paul Scott Canavan | Episode 21
In this episode, we’re joined by Paul Scott Canavan - Art Director, Illustrator, and Artist - to discuss working as an artists in the games industry and developing your own Tabletop Roleplaying Game.…
S1E20 The Thunder Perfect Mind: Game Design with Emotional Ebb and Flow with Tanya Floaker | Episode 20
Dougal and Gelb are joined by Tanya Floaker - award-winning game designer of ‘Lo! Thy Dread Empire’, ‘Be Seeing You’ and ‘Mum Chums’ - to discuss her process of designing games with a focus on the…
S1E19 Author of MINION: The Best RPG Systems and Writing your Own with Morgan Edmonds | Episode 19
Kicking off the New Year with Morgan Edmonds, creator of Minion - the TTRPG in which you are the faithful Minion to a Dark Lord and must do their bidding or protect their treasure from the “brave…
S1E18 Santa's Choking on a Stick: Games to Gift this Christmas | Episode 18
Dougal and Gelb sit down to wrap up some of the game highlights of 2025 and dive into a couple of Dougal's choices for Christmas gifts for your loved ones (or just for yourself)!Check out Enthrone at…
S1E17 Book Editing for RPGs: A Guide to Writing Adventures with Roz Leahy | Episode 17
In this episode we are joined by game designer and award winning editor, Roz Leahy. Roz talks on lots of points, including editing and writing captivating RPG adventures, her favourite types of games…
S1E16 Scotland's Biggest Tabletop Convention and Wargaming Cows with Dave Wright | Episode 16
In this episode, we're joined by Dave Wright, organiser of Tabletop Scotland - a board game, card game, and RPG convention made for everyone, whether you're a long time enthusiast or brand new to the…
S1E15 Doing Frogmen and Illustrating for Games with Will Tempest | Episode 15
In this weeks episode, we are joined by Will Tempest, an illustrator for graphic novels, board games, and roleplaying games. Best known for his TTRPG work with his brother, Sam, and their publishing…
S1E14 Sideways Rebel: MMORPGs, Tabletop Gaming & Conpulsion 2026 with Phil Harris | Episode 14
In this episode, we're joined by Phil Harris, a Creative Consultant for all things game and narrative design, and is the coordinator for Conpulsion, Scotland’s longest running tabletop game…
S1E13 The Origins of TAGS Fest and Micro-Presses with Eve Greenwood & Brian Tyrrell | Episode 13
In this episode, we’re joined by Eve Greenwood and Brian Tyrrell. Eve is a writer, artist, and founder of Quindire Press, an independent publisher of graphics novels and comics, and Brian is a…
S1E12 PIVOT: A Game for Geeks and Entrepreneurs, and Discussions on Reiner Knizia with Tom Inglis | Episode 12
We are joined by Tom Inglis of Teomach Games, to discuss his first upcoming project Pivot, an entrepreneurial start-up game, and dive into the works of Reiner Knizia, of whom Tom is a huge fan and…
S1E11 Powerful Women are Loose in the Library with Mill Valentine | Episode 11
Dougal and Gelb are joined by the wonderful Mill Valentine! Co-Owner of Dissent Games, and founder of the Paradice Board Game Convention and the Facebook group Dundee Boardgamers.Dissent has a new…
Frequently Asked Questions
Ancient Robot Games has published 31 episodes since April 2025, covering topics in Arts, Design.
Ancient Robot Games is currently highly active with new episodes every 2 weeks. Average episode length is 38m.
Sign up on Grep.FM to access contact details for Ancient Robot Games, including email and social media links.
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