417Gamer Podcast Episode 34: The One with Leeandra Ben and Botanik

·49 min·3 clips

Botnik only lets you take a center-row tile by using one of the scientist cards.

1. Hobby Gaming Network’s 417 Gamer Podcast episode 34 covers local events, Botnik, and seven questions with Ben and Leandra. 2. Rick hosts with Andrea, and Ben and Leandra return from episode 33 to answer the show’s recurring question segment. 3. The episode’s purpose is to share 417-area gaming events, review Botnik, and hear guests’ personal board-game histories. 4. Andrea recommends Planet Comic Con in Kansas City for March 21st, 22nd, and 23rd at the Kansas City Convention Center. 5. She names David Tennant, Andy Serkis, Jim Beaver, Richard Speight, and the voices of Rick and Morty among the guests. 6. Rick notes that Moon City Con returns to the Hilton Garden Inn on June 6th, 7th, and 8th. 7. He says badges go on sale February 28th and cost $60, with a $15 discount through March 14th. 8. Andrea points listeners to Pokemon Trivia on February 21st at 7:30 p.m. at Dirk’s Tavern, 210 West Comfort on Commercial Street in Springfield. 9. Rick closes the event roundup with the Springfield Botanical Gardens’ 2025 Cherry Blossom Kite and Piñata Festival on Saturday, April 5th at 11 a.m. at Nathaniel Green Park. 10. The Botnik segment identifies Frank Critton and Georgie Largie as designers, Franck Dion as artist, and Space Cowboys as publisher. 11. The hosts describe Botnik as a tile drafting and tile placement game about steampunky scientists and gardening. 12. They explain that Beatrix Burry discovered a technology that creates edibles, subtropical plants, stellar potatoes, and Orion Mandarins. 13. The game’s story mentions saving the people of Forharm from a world made of rust and toxic vapors. 14. Rick and Andrea call the central area the registry and explain that the board has your side, your opponent’s side, and the center. 15. They say the game starts with five tiles in the center and each turn the active player drafts three tiles. 16. The hosts emphasize that scientists can be used to release center-row tiles, and that released tiles move to a player’s tableau. 17. Andrea says the art feels steampunky and compares the character tiles to a Tim Burton-style Alice in Wonderland look. 18. The tone stays conversational, with practical rule explanations, local event recommendations, and a scoring discussion built around presentation, components, gameplay, theme, and it factor. 19. Listeners who like local convention calendars and two-player strategy games should get value from this episode. 20. Listeners who want tightly edited reviews without side conversations may skip it.

As heard by us

A local, conversational episode built around four area events, Botnik, and a return visit from Ben and Leandra.

Episode 34 stays nicely contained: four area events, a Botnik review, and a return visit from Ben and Leandra for the seven questions. It starts local and specific, then moves into Botnik without drifting far from how the game actually works.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You want a board-game hang with 417-area event chatter, a Botnik review, and returning guests.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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