Tabletop Games / Rick Castaño IV

Rick Castaño IV

Content Writer, Marketer, and Editor living in the Detroit Area with years of experience. No matter what I'm doing, being creative is always at my heart.

I'm a nerd and lover of technology, so video games, gadgets, and 3D printing are some of my favorite subjects to work on. However, I have written and continue to write for fields like automotive, banking, criticism, film, medical, nonprofit, theatre, and tourism, and I'm always looking for more awesome experiences to add to my repertoire.

Tabletop Games

While video games are awesome, there's a vibe that sitting down with friends around a tabletop game that simply can't be replicated. It's fun of course, but if the game is good, it's one that creates an experience you and your friends will never forget. Here are a few pieces I wrote that cover the diverse and wonderful world they create, and the communities that form up around them.

The NOVA Open Insider’s Guide: Wargames, Charity, and Lemons

Held at the Hyatt Regency, this massive event takes up over 70,000 square feet of space and features free tournaments and events for dozens of both tabletop wargames and board games. But, that’s only a fraction of the events on offer. From seminars to hobby contests to hands-on classes with professional hobbyists, there is something for pretty much anyone to enjoy, and it’s all set against the backdrop of our nation’s capital. Because coming together and having fun with people from all walks of life is truly all-American.

Make Your Own Fun: The Settlers of Catan

Anyone who’s played Catan knows the torment of having the Robber unleashed upon your fair hamlets. He destroys the resources of a particular hex tile and makes vital resource acquisition impossible for players who benefit from the tile he lands on. So what better representation than a massive T-Rex? Smashing the trees, eating the sheep, eating those trying to get to the ore… it all works! Creator Jim Rodda gives us this hilarious take on the Robber, and a great story to go along with it in his product description.

Shapeways Magazine • 9th June 2017

Prepare to Wage Wasteland Warfare With the New Fallout Tabletop Game

My heart flutters with anticipation to see what our makers will end up (literally) bringing to the table. And if Modiphius ends up running low on ideas, all they have to do is take a quick look at the Shapeways Marketplace for some inspiration. Imagine going into battle against a giant Nuka-Cola mascot, or hacking into a bunch of protectrons to shield you against those nasty-looking super mutants above. Fallout: Wasteland Warfare is set to release in November 2017, with pre-orders possible later this summer. Until then, I think I’m gonna go play some New Vegas to get into the mood.

Betrayal At Baldur’s Gate: A New Spin on a Classic Board Game

Coming in October, this game has players creating the grimy, sleazy city of Baldur’s Gate tile by tile, trying to survive. Tension mounts since, over the course of the game, one of the players will inevitably turn against the others. Events, monsters, and the unknown wear down the party, culminating in a grand battle against one of your own. Are you going to come out victorious, or will the twisted streets of Baldur’s Gate claim yet another prize?