Derek Bruff
@firstplayertoken.bsky.social
Host of First Player Token, a short podcast for folks who enjoy playing board games with family and friends, https://linktr.ee/firstplayertoken
Four and a half days without power. Then the power comes on. Then Wingspan Americas shows up! Props to Trenton the FedEx driver for making it happen today.
January 30, 2026 at 4:24 AM
Four and a half days without power. Then the power comes on. Then Wingspan Americas shows up! Props to Trenton the FedEx driver for making it happen today.
Just two games at game night last night, but two very good ones! I might have shouted “I’m a brave prairie witch!” once twice.
Broom Service, which I hadn’t played in _ages_, plus Space Explorers with a few expansion modules and my fun playmat.
Broom Service, which I hadn’t played in _ages_, plus Space Explorers with a few expansion modules and my fun playmat.
January 17, 2026 at 3:52 PM
Just two games at game night last night, but two very good ones! I might have shouted “I’m a brave prairie witch!” once twice.
Broom Service, which I hadn’t played in _ages_, plus Space Explorers with a few expansion modules and my fun playmat.
Broom Service, which I hadn’t played in _ages_, plus Space Explorers with a few expansion modules and my fun playmat.
SETI! I’m playing through the solo game so I can make sure I know the rules. Later this month, I’m spending a weekend in a cabin with ten friends playing board games. I’ll definitely want to get this game to the table!
January 11, 2026 at 12:09 AM
SETI! I’m playing through the solo game so I can make sure I know the rules. Later this month, I’m spending a weekend in a cabin with ten friends playing board games. I’ll definitely want to get this game to the table!
Drop some WHEELS
January 10, 2026 at 6:20 PM
Drop some WHEELS
We got the 3yo Cascadia Jr. for Christmas, and he loves it! So do we. We can play it in 20 minutes, which is exactly as long as his attention span.
January 10, 2026 at 3:23 PM
We got the 3yo Cascadia Jr. for Christmas, and he loves it! So do we. We can play it in 20 minutes, which is exactly as long as his attention span.
We got the boy Cascadia Junior for Christmas and he loved it! He also loved punching the cardboard. :-)
Thanks for the recommendation. It’s just the right level for him and not too long of a game.
Thanks for the recommendation. It’s just the right level for him and not too long of a game.
January 7, 2026 at 4:07 AM
We got the boy Cascadia Junior for Christmas and he loved it! He also loved punching the cardboard. :-)
Thanks for the recommendation. It’s just the right level for him and not too long of a game.
Thanks for the recommendation. It’s just the right level for him and not too long of a game.
The very first game I gave my nephew, I think back in 2016, was Ticket to Ride. We broke it out yesterday for my first play in a very long time. Naturally, he crushed us. I forgot you could get 67 points on the LA-Miami connection!
January 2, 2026 at 10:08 PM
The very first game I gave my nephew, I think back in 2016, was Ticket to Ride. We broke it out yesterday for my first play in a very long time. Naturally, he crushed us. I forgot you could get 67 points on the LA-Miami connection!
And here are my 25 most played games of ‘25!
January 1, 2026 at 10:18 PM
And here are my 25 most played games of ‘25!
And here’s my 2025 year in review. That’s 275 plays, up from 229 the year before, mainly because the 3yo is a regular at the table now! Also, I played with 73 people this year! Board games are about community for me.
January 1, 2026 at 10:15 PM
And here’s my 2025 year in review. That’s 275 plays, up from 229 the year before, mainly because the 3yo is a regular at the table now! Also, I played with 73 people this year! Board games are about community for me.
With all those single plays, here’s the whole list.
January 1, 2026 at 5:40 AM
With all those single plays, here’s the whole list.
Let’s start with December! Twenty different games isn’t half bad!
January 1, 2026 at 5:22 AM
Let’s start with December! Twenty different games isn’t half bad!
The nephew loves Kingdomino, so I thought it was time to teach him Middle Ages, which has similar vibes. He loved it. And won his first game against me, naturally.
(We played Unmatched right after, where I made sure to keep him humble.)
(We played Unmatched right after, where I made sure to keep him humble.)
December 31, 2025 at 10:57 PM
The nephew loves Kingdomino, so I thought it was time to teach him Middle Ages, which has similar vibes. He loved it. And won his first game against me, naturally.
(We played Unmatched right after, where I made sure to keep him humble.)
(We played Unmatched right after, where I made sure to keep him humble.)
The new Wingspan expansion coming January 21st features South America, Central America, and the Caribbean!
Watch the @stonemaiergames.com live stream now!
www.youtube.com/live/7rREr_m...
Watch the @stonemaiergames.com live stream now!
www.youtube.com/live/7rREr_m...
December 31, 2025 at 4:13 PM
The new Wingspan expansion coming January 21st features South America, Central America, and the Caribbean!
Watch the @stonemaiergames.com live stream now!
www.youtube.com/live/7rREr_m...
Watch the @stonemaiergames.com live stream now!
www.youtube.com/live/7rREr_m...
It was two or three years ago that I got my nephew Flipships for his birthday. He had never played it until tonight when we finally tried it out. So much fun! Definitely worth the wait. #BoardGames #UncleLife
December 31, 2025 at 5:34 AM
It was two or three years ago that I got my nephew Flipships for his birthday. He had never played it until tonight when we finally tried it out. So much fun! Definitely worth the wait. #BoardGames #UncleLife
The 3yo’s second attempt at Santorini went much better than his house-toppling first attempt. This time he teamed up with his brother, and he only knocked things down once or twice! #BoardGames #DadLife
December 30, 2025 at 11:31 PM
The 3yo’s second attempt at Santorini went much better than his house-toppling first attempt. This time he teamed up with his brother, and he only knocked things down once or twice! #BoardGames #DadLife
I’ve been having fun looking through my board game photos from the year. Here are nine games that were new to me in 2025. See the alt text for the list.
December 30, 2025 at 5:56 AM
I’ve been having fun looking through my board game photos from the year. Here are nine games that were new to me in 2025. See the alt text for the list.
This isn’t all the games we reviewed on the podcast this year, but it’s a lot of them! How many can you name?
December 28, 2025 at 10:37 PM
This isn’t all the games we reviewed on the podcast this year, but it’s a lot of them! How many can you name?
Visiting family and came across this 1964 edition of Sorry. It’s very stylish.
December 28, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Visiting family and came across this 1964 edition of Sorry. It’s very stylish.
Why they keep letting us land planes is beyond me, but we did it again! Our first “exceptional conditions” landing (one of the yellow ones) and we successfully parked the plane at London Heathrow. #SkyTeam
December 23, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Why they keep letting us land planes is beyond me, but we did it again! Our first “exceptional conditions” landing (one of the yellow ones) and we successfully parked the plane at London Heathrow. #SkyTeam
Since there’s only so much Hoot Owl Hoot a dad can take, we introduced the 3yo to Calico tonight. He played along with the family variant pretty well! Naturally, the 12yo won. #BoardGames #DadLife
December 17, 2025 at 2:32 AM
Since there’s only so much Hoot Owl Hoot a dad can take, we introduced the 3yo to Calico tonight. He played along with the family variant pretty well! Naturally, the 12yo won. #BoardGames #DadLife
Today on the podcast, I review Imhotep, my favorite @philwh.bsky.social game! Players step into the sandals of the original Imhotep to build pyramids and obelisks and other great monuments. It’s a tight, interactive game, and I can’t get enough of it. Listen here: www.buzzsprout.com/2292265/epis...
December 15, 2025 at 10:50 PM
Today on the podcast, I review Imhotep, my favorite @philwh.bsky.social game! Players step into the sandals of the original Imhotep to build pyramids and obelisks and other great monuments. It’s a tight, interactive game, and I can’t get enough of it. Listen here: www.buzzsprout.com/2292265/epis...
I finally got Trickadee to the table! A little bit of tricktaking and lot of adorable birds made for a fun play.
December 14, 2025 at 3:45 AM
I finally got Trickadee to the table! A little bit of tricktaking and lot of adorable birds made for a fun play.
Imhotep! Getting a play in with friends as a way to prep for my next podcast episode. This game is so good.
December 13, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Imhotep! Getting a play in with friends as a way to prep for my next podcast episode. This game is so good.
Evening soccer practice for the teenager means two-player games with the 12yo! Christmas Patchwork and (her favorite) Royal Visit.
December 12, 2025 at 11:01 PM
Evening soccer practice for the teenager means two-player games with the 12yo! Christmas Patchwork and (her favorite) Royal Visit.
I’m am stuck on deciding what game to cover next in the podcast. Here are my most played games of 2025. Which one that I haven’t covered should I review next?
December 7, 2025 at 1:48 PM
I’m am stuck on deciding what game to cover next in the podcast. Here are my most played games of 2025. Which one that I haven’t covered should I review next?