Derek Bruff
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firstplayertoken.bsky.social
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
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Hello new followers! I make a short monthly podcast with each episode fearing a different game that’s been a hit with my family and friends. It’s perfect for sharing with people new to the world of board games. Listen here: firstplayertoken.buzzsprout.com
First Player Token
A board game review podcast for people who enjoy playing games with family and friends
firstplayertoken.buzzsprout.com
Okay, I'm ready to play SETI again. (I have no idea when I'll play SETI again.)
I played SETI last night! And, yes, it’s just as good as everyone says.
November 14, 2025 at 3:57 AM
I played SETI last night! And, yes, it’s just as good as everyone says.
November 13, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Reposted by Derek Bruff
New episode! We’re making movies and calling each other communists in Hollywood 1947 from Facade Games! With guest reviewer and future lawyer, the 12yo! Listen here: www.buzzsprout.com/2292265/epis...
November 10, 2025 at 10:38 PM
New episode! We’re making movies and calling each other communists in Hollywood 1947 from Facade Games! With guest reviewer and future lawyer, the 12yo! Listen here: www.buzzsprout.com/2292265/epis...
November 10, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Well that was a fun 48 hours of gaming! Two trips to Tennessee Game Days and our regular monthly game night made for a nice set of new-to-me and old favorites.
November 9, 2025 at 3:33 AM
Day 1 of Tennessee Game Days is in the books for me. Secret Origin, the new trick taker from Stonemaier; Galileo Galilei, full of stars and combos; Moon Colony Bloodbath, which I lost 0-1; and (not pictured) Duel for Cardia, my new favorite two-player game. A very good day of gaming!
November 7, 2025 at 10:13 PM
The year in gaming, however, is going very well. Thanks to the three-year-old (and me cutting back on purchases), I’ve hit an h-index of 7 already this year. I’m usually lucky to hit 7 by the last week of December!
November 1, 2025 at 6:45 PM
A very slow October in gaming. Just too many things between kid activities and fall fun. But some quality plays at game night, a few games of Shallow Regrets yesterday, and (not pictured) the three-year-old’s first play of Sushi Go!
November 1, 2025 at 6:29 PM
It’s spooky season! Thanks for the mug, @d20plusmodifier.bsky.social!
October 25, 2025 at 1:15 AM
I went all in on the new fan-designed bird cards for Wingspan! I’m very excited to try these out with Emily.
October 21, 2025 at 5:56 PM
The new booster packs of fan-design bird cards for Wingspan are now on sale! Each of the six packs has 25 new bird cards from a region already covered by Wingspan and its expansions. Thanks for making these, @stonemaiergames.com !

store.stonemaiergames.com/collections/...
October 15, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Trying out Orleans now that it’s on BGA. I can see why it’s an 8.0 on BGG! I’m liking it a lot.
October 14, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Reposted by Derek Bruff
New episode! The teenager and I start our 2025 Unmatched tournament to see which of our 16 most-played characters is our favorite Unmatched hero! It's Beowulf vs. the Winter Soldier! The Genie vs. Little Red! T-Rex vs. Dracula! And more! firstplayertoken.buzzsprout.com/2292265/epis...
October 4, 2025 at 1:48 PM
New episode! The teenager and I start our 2025 Unmatched tournament to see which of our 16 most-played characters is our favorite Unmatched hero! It's Beowulf vs. the Winter Soldier! The Genie vs. Little Red! T-Rex vs. Dracula! And more! firstplayertoken.buzzsprout.com/2292265/epis...
October 4, 2025 at 1:48 PM
How it started.
How it’s going.

#Unmatched
September 29, 2025 at 1:57 AM
Teaching three friends to play Root tonight. Wish me luck!
September 28, 2025 at 1:22 AM
Back at it tonight! Too much treasure hunting and not enough ghost fightin’. We lost. :/

But—bonus—this is great practice for the little guy in recognizing letters.
September 26, 2025 at 1:19 AM
“I’m ready to fight some ghost-es!”

We introduced the 3yo to Ghost Fightin’ Treasure Hunters tonight and he loved it! He put the ghost figures on his fingers and everything. And we won!
September 24, 2025 at 1:03 AM
Emily and I play a lot of Wingspan, so last night we mixed it up with the Duet mode from Wingspan Asia. I really like this two-player variant.
September 23, 2025 at 3:40 AM
We had a very tense game of Clank in Space last night. At one point it looked like we were all doomed, but everyone at least made it to the cargo bay to score points. The two players who were knocked out there and didn’t get the 20 point escape pods ended up in 1st and 2nd! Score: 75-73-70-65.
September 20, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Maybe the worst hand in Flip 7 last night?
September 20, 2025 at 1:39 PM
This just in! I Made You a Mixtape! Time to relive some early 90s glory days. 📼
September 8, 2025 at 10:09 PM
This month on the podcast, Emily and I review Sky Team. Come for the color commentary, stay for my theory why this pilot and co-pilot can’t talk to each other while landing an airplane. www.buzzsprout.com/2292265/epis... #BoardGames
September 8, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Reposted by Derek Bruff
If you're still up, then check out the new First Player Token podcast episode. It's all about the two-player co-op game Sky Team. Emily and I talk about why we keep coming back to this game. And I have a little fun with the audio for this episode. www.buzzsprout.com/2292265/epis...
September 7, 2025 at 5:22 AM
Of course Square would be a board gamer!

Shape Island S1E4 features a tile-laying, area control game called Stellar Chronicles. Seriously, Square calls it “area control.”

More pics here, from the prop designer: josephberryhill.com/stellar-chro...
September 7, 2025 at 1:07 PM