Goblins, Dice, and 14 Hands Merlot: Episode 96 Recap

Welcome back to Meeples & Wine! It’s Michael and Suzy here, bringing you another board game review for couples—always with a drink in hand.

In this episode, we are diving into a portable RPG adventure and sipping on a wine that pairs perfectly with a backyard cookout. Let’s get into the notes!

???? What We’re Drinking: 14 Hands Merlot

Today’s bottle comes from 14 Hands Winery, located in the Columbia Valley of Washington state.

• The Profile: This vintage offers rich flavors and aromas of blackberry, plum, cherry, and mocha.
• The Pairings: If you’re hungry, this red goes great with BBQ ribs, grilled tri-tip, burgers, or even spaghetti with meatballs.

???? What We’re Playing: Miniature Adventures

We are tackling Miniature Adventures: Adventure 1 – Goblin Troubles. Published by Lowtek Games LLC and designed by Jon Lowman, this is an exciting co-op card game inspired by old-school 16-bit RPGs.

The Premise:

The Kingdom of Delriah is having some serious goblin issues, and they need an adventuring party to help! You choose a Hero and a class, then work together to overcome four levels of challenges:

Misty Forest Mountain Path Goblin Fortress Goblin Throne

How it Plays:

It plays 1–4 players and relies on dice rolling mechanisms. You slot your rolled dice into your character card to determine your Initiative (speed), Power, and Actions. You have to survive various Encounters, including Mobs (enemies) and Challenges (perils), to win.

???? The Scores

Is it fun? Will it wreck your relationship? Here is our final verdict:

• Fun Score: We both loved it!
  • Michael: 8/10
  • Suzy: 8/10
• The Couch Score: (Will it wreck the relationship? 1 = Safe, 5 = Danger)
  • Since it’s co-op, it’s pretty safe!
  • Michael: 2/5
  • Suzy: 1/5
• Time Sink: We rated this a 1 (No Problem)—you can learn it in one or two games without needing hours of tutorials.

???? Kickstarter Spotlight

We love checking Kickstarter for the coolest new games. This week we shouted out Maiden of the Dark, a Game Boy game by TigerChainsaw.

???? Connect with Us!

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• Email: meeplesandwine@gmail.com
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See you next time on Meeples and Wine! Buh-Bye!