Thank you so much for the transparency! There are many different ways to run a UA-cam channel in this space, and I see things all over the spectrum, but I feel like you guys have the healthiest mindset. One quote especially stuck out to me and felt refreshing: “Watch our content if you want, don’t watch it if you don’t want to, just know that we’re here for us and you and nobody else.” Put that on a shirt!
This approach to your channel is so refreshing. We just kicked off our new channel at the start of the new year and hearing what you had to say here was very validating. It is very much just a passion project of making the silly fun videos we want to make without worrying about having to bow down to the algorithm or industry trends. The only tricky thing is that we of course do want to grow and get more people to check out (and hopefully enjoy!) what we’re doing so that we can share that passion and spread some joy, so we have to figure out how to strike a balance. But I believe in “do what you love and the right people will find it.” Keep doing you guys and welcome back 👍
Thank you for the candid conversation. I have followed board game UA-camrs for nearly a decade. This past year has seen a serious drop in my interest in some of the big channels. I’m experiencing serious fatigue from coverage of the same kind of games and the heavy push to buy or back games. I’ve never let a creator influence me to buy nor do I ever blame a creator if I don’t like a game. I truly appreciate your chats and genuine passion for board games. Also congrats to Braiden!
As a newer content creator I find this super valuable and thank you for opening up about this stuff. Even though my channel is small I already feel some of these pressures and I am trying to find a path I want to follow forward. I’m a long time subscriber and will continue to be. Good luck guys!
First of all congrats to Braiden🎉 I'm super excited for you I really appreciate your transparency and completely agree on your takes on prioritizing your mental health, families and so on! Also your new approach on reviews is great since I enjoy more ripped and well aged opinions and thoughts way more! Aaaand I'm super happy to hear about the Top 50 coming in the summer! Always really enjoyed those, so I'm so happy to hear you'll continue them😊 All the best to you and take care ❤
Happy to hear about the direction. As you say no disrespect to other content creators but the formula can get a little watered down sometimes. Its really nice to see something different and variety. But most importantly sounds like you are just trying to find ways to avoid that burnout. Good for you guys!
You guys are amazing! I love what you do on your channel and even though I rarely comment or contribute in any way I feel like home here. Thank you for your openness and we all sense the love in your hearts. I wish you guys an amazing 2025! We love you ❤
I’ve always really enjoyed you guys. You have a special, unique vibe. I’m really looking forward to seeing how your channel evolves. I’ll be watching! 😎
Thank you all so much for taking the time to update us! I love that you have been able to come up with a way to make sure the channel continues in a way that sits best with, and is most catered to you guys being able to just have fun and talk about the games etc you are passionate about. I will watch any content you decide to put out, whenever and however are able to provide it. Your videos really do make me feel like I am sat at the table, included in a conversation. There is something special about the atmosphere you create, that makes a video like this feel like it only lasted 20 minutes- and I think that's quite magical. I can't wait for the Hall of Fame video! I also just wanted to say thank you Dylann for sharing your experiences with mental health this past year. I am deeply sorry that you have been struggling, but am so grateful for your trying to break down the stigma associated with talking about it. What you mentioned about not feeling able to be your authentic self due to increased anxiety really struck a chord with me. It's always the first sign for me that I am really struggling, and its something that's really hard to articulate to explain to someone, so I seriously thank you for putting your experience in to words.
So nice to see you again!! Thanks for the update. I originally came for the board game content, but ended up being inspired by your advocacy for mental health and authenticity. Cheering you on to healthier days Dylann. Also huge congrats Braiden! 🎉
Thank you for being so open and honest about what you guys have been going through, while your content has been missed it’s best to take care of yourselves first and foremost. I am glad you can be your authentic selves on this channel that’s what I find so refreshing about this channel in particular. Also big congratulations to Braiden! Can’t wait to see more content from you all again in any way, shape, or form you see fit 😁
I love, love, LOVE the mindset you guys have going forward for what you want to create. As a consumer, I've definitely noticed how so many channels post similar content at similar times. I'm so excited to know that your content will be exclusively because you WANT to, rather than an algorithmic obligation. - I'd love a podcast format, even if it's just the audio of your videos. - a variation of the roasts sounds fun, but only do it if you guys want to! Either way, great to hear from you all! Love you guys!
Since entering the hobby, I tend to follow channels where I could envision having a good time playing games with those creators. The bigger channels in relation to the hobby do offer other values, but for the smaller channels, I subscribe because I like the personalites and respect their opinions, perhaps even more so when they differ from my own.
Enjoy your channel and watching you guys interact brings me joy. Do what make sense for you and your families love that message. The reason I love boardgames so much because it does bring me so much happiness. Being authentic and genuine your viewers will appreciate you and your content. Keep up the great work and remember this should be fun. Wishing you all much health and happiness in this new year.
I'm so sorry to hear about your troubles and it was very brave of you to be so open about it. Props to both of you to encourage others to talk about it as well. That's inspiring. On a more positive note, I wonder if you will be covering the latest marvel champions expansion.
Hey brothers, you do you, no expectations. I get it. Life is tough, it's even hard to do things you like sometimes. But know that we appreciate the content you do release, but also appreciate that the down time is making you all better people, mentally and physically.
Glad you guys are back. I agree that the endless churn of new titles can be very exhausting, especially for content creators. Even though I'm not a creator, I still struggle to balance my desire to explore new games (which is where a lot of my joy comes from - discovery) with the constraints of money, space, and time. I do hope you'll still cover some new titles, but that it will be on your own terms. I'd listen to a podcast, but I generally prefer video so I can actually see the games you're talking about. But better a podcast than no video, though, so if that's more sustainable for you then go for it. I'm not a fan of the roasts, personally, and I guess I seem to be in the minority on that. You guys are always very good natured about it, but I guess I just don't see the point, even if it's in jest? People like what they like, and there's really no arguing with that.
Looking forward to future videos from our philosophical kings. 1. I like UA-cam - keeps the pressure off to stretch yourselves thinly across multiple mediums. 2. - 3. RPG/ story telling / challenges / philosophy rants with Carlo 4. Personal top 5 sounds wonderful
I see Radlands on your shelf. Will you be doing a video on it? Glad you are back btw, best board game channel! Keep up the good work. Just be yourself :) We love you!
Happy to see you all back. Short and sweet answers: 1. Podcast on youtube 2. Yes! 3. Gamebooks! 18XX! Wargames! Solo board games! Rpg and solo rpg! 4. Yes, more focused roasts! ❤ Welcome back and great vodeo and changes coming. Happy for you all 🎉
Fantastic idea having Favorite Games of All Time in the summer. I've been noticing "top games" video fatigue in myself watching so many "Top Games of 2024" AND "Top Games of All Time" videos all in one small period of time. I applaud this idea and hope one day it becomes the norm.
I was so confused when you (dylann) said you haven't posted this year because I was like, you just posted that awesome cinematic playthrough of Mythwind?? then I looked and that was a year ago and I could not believe it haha so don't feel too bad about it, some of us have no clue what's going on anyway!
Somatic therapy saved my life. I did a session every week for more than half a year that got me out of the worst state of my life and I still use those tools now. Good on you Dylan for speaking out, depression/anxiety can be debilitating and some people don't realize just how much of a "world view" change happens when in those more drastic states. Let's go Braeden! Just became a father in November 2023. It rocked me, but it does get easier and so so so much more fulfilling but a lot of other life-things really take a hard pause in that first year. As for you guys opting out of the capitalist-content-creator rat-race. F-yes, I've gotta be online for a good deal of my work and it's so draining. I really gravitated to your channel because you are all down to earth, pretty straight cut and have such good banter. You guys don't ham things up, I guess what I'm trying to say is you guys are really genuine and you don't feel like "influencers". Similar energy to AntLabGames who retired from the content creator rat-race as well, good on them as well! HELL YES to question roasts. I loved the collection roasts but understand why yall would put a pause there. Maybe do a customization roast where people submit custom things they've created for their games and you roast them, thats even more niche but who knows.
1. Podcast 2. Not particularly 3. Not that I can think of 4. Yes 100% sounds like a great idea Love to see you guys back!!! And loving the shift of focus, keep it up
Appreciate your thoughts and totally respect your direction. You need to do what makes you happy, and I’m sure that will resonate with many subscribers, including me. Can’t lie that I don’t enjoy clicking on top 10’s, but I also think we need more diversity in this space rather than a bunch of cookie cutter channels. There’s room for both.
Good on y’all to prioritize your own health and goals over YT/community norms and expectations. As for the viewer questions: 1) I like YT but would engage with text-based content (5/10) and a podcast-type/audio thing would be amazing (10/10). 2) Personally no, just because I used to be big into MTG and quit cold turkey just before the pandemic, no interest anymore and have a lot of ill-will towards WotC. 0/10 3) I love content on logistical stuff such as accessories, storage & organization, etc. Not sure that’s considered board game-adjacent or if you guys care at all about it, but for example I’m so weird that one of my favorite YT series was Tolarian Community College’s MTG accessory reviews. 8/10 4) Yeah that sounds fun! 9/10
i'd be interested in a view of board game adjacent spaces in the winnipeg area! local events/BG cafes/gaming shops/library spaces/bars with big enough tables
Great Guys! Agree whole heartedly do what you love and enjoy. I was hoping to send my collection to get roasted. So yes I would be interested in top 5 collection roasts. And other content that is not UA-cam. My friend and I have just started our own UA-cam Board Game Channel from BC. WestCoast Meeples Doing it mostly for fun. Cheers!
Im sorry we have SO MUCH FUN playing games together and the games are actually much worse than they actually are looking back. SORRY we are SO COOL it's actually a detriment. 😎 🔥 😎 You cant reign in this social boardgame stallion.
Mental heath can be very isolating. Good on you guys for openly talking about it. You might never know but you're helping someone somewhere.
Thank you so much for the transparency! There are many different ways to run a UA-cam channel in this space, and I see things all over the spectrum, but I feel like you guys have the healthiest mindset. One quote especially stuck out to me and felt refreshing: “Watch our content if you want, don’t watch it if you don’t want to, just know that we’re here for us and you and nobody else.” Put that on a shirt!
Good to see you, Dylann, Hope it gets easier to ride the wave.
And Braiden has its own setup! Looks nice.
This approach to your channel is so refreshing. We just kicked off our new channel at the start of the new year and hearing what you had to say here was very validating. It is very much just a passion project of making the silly fun videos we want to make without worrying about having to bow down to the algorithm or industry trends. The only tricky thing is that we of course do want to grow and get more people to check out (and hopefully enjoy!) what we’re doing so that we can share that passion and spread some joy, so we have to figure out how to strike a balance. But I believe in “do what you love and the right people will find it.” Keep doing you guys and welcome back 👍
Thank you for the candid conversation. I have followed board game UA-camrs for nearly a decade. This past year has seen a serious drop in my interest in some of the big channels. I’m experiencing serious fatigue from coverage of the same kind of games and the heavy push to buy or back games. I’ve never let a creator influence me to buy nor do I ever blame a creator if I don’t like a game. I truly appreciate your chats and genuine passion for board games. Also congrats to Braiden!
As a newer content creator I find this super valuable and thank you for opening up about this stuff. Even though my channel is small I already feel some of these pressures and I am trying to find a path I want to follow forward. I’m a long time subscriber and will continue to be. Good luck guys!
First of all congrats to Braiden🎉 I'm super excited for you
I really appreciate your transparency and completely agree on your takes on prioritizing your mental health, families and so on!
Also your new approach on reviews is great since I enjoy more ripped and well aged opinions and thoughts way more!
Aaaand I'm super happy to hear about the Top 50 coming in the summer! Always really enjoyed those, so I'm so happy to hear you'll continue them😊
All the best to you and take care ❤
Happy to hear about the direction. As you say no disrespect to other content creators but the formula can get a little watered down sometimes. Its really nice to see something different and variety. But most importantly sounds like you are just trying to find ways to avoid that burnout. Good for you guys!
You guys are amazing! I love what you do on your channel and even though I rarely comment or contribute in any way I feel like home here.
Thank you for your openness and we all sense the love in your hearts. I wish you guys an amazing 2025! We love you ❤
Love watching the AYCB journey and thanks to all three of you for sharing where you’re at
Thank you. You are a valuable member of the community here ❤️. (This is my wife for anybody else reading this 😜)
- Braiden
I’ve always really enjoyed you guys. You have a special, unique vibe. I’m really looking forward to seeing how your channel evolves. I’ll be watching! 😎
love this channel and I'm so happy you guys are back!
you have all your priorities straight! keep at it, I'll be following your journeys
Thank you all so much for taking the time to update us! I love that you have been able to come up with a way to make sure the channel continues in a way that sits best with, and is most catered to you guys being able to just have fun and talk about the games etc you are passionate about.
I will watch any content you decide to put out, whenever and however are able to provide it. Your videos really do make me feel like I am sat at the table, included in a conversation. There is something special about the atmosphere you create, that makes a video like this feel like it only lasted 20 minutes- and I think that's quite magical. I can't wait for the Hall of Fame video!
I also just wanted to say thank you Dylann for sharing your experiences with mental health this past year. I am deeply sorry that you have been struggling, but am so grateful for your trying to break down the stigma associated with talking about it. What you mentioned about not feeling able to be your authentic self due to increased anxiety really struck a chord with me. It's always the first sign for me that I am really struggling, and its something that's really hard to articulate to explain to someone, so I seriously thank you for putting your experience in to words.
And congratulations Braiden! ☺
So nice to see you again!! Thanks for the update. I originally came for the board game content, but ended up being inspired by your advocacy for mental health and authenticity. Cheering you on to healthier days Dylann.
Also huge congrats Braiden! 🎉
Many of your comments hit the core of my personal being over the last 3 years or so. More than you might realize. Thank you.
Huge respect for the way you guys run your channel and prioritize your lives. Thanks for the update, and congrats to Braiden!! :)
So glad to see you back! Have always enjoyed your videos and really missed you this past year. Looking forward to all of your content.
Thank you for being so open and honest about what you guys have been going through, while your content has been missed it’s best to take care of yourselves first and foremost. I am glad you can be your authentic selves on this channel that’s what I find so refreshing about this channel in particular. Also big congratulations to Braiden! Can’t wait to see more content from you all again in any way, shape, or form you see fit 😁
I love, love, LOVE the mindset you guys have going forward for what you want to create. As a consumer, I've definitely noticed how so many channels post similar content at similar times. I'm so excited to know that your content will be exclusively because you WANT to, rather than an algorithmic obligation.
- I'd love a podcast format, even if it's just the audio of your videos.
- a variation of the roasts sounds fun, but only do it if you guys want to!
Either way, great to hear from you all! Love you guys!
Since entering the hobby, I tend to follow channels where I could envision having a good time playing games with those creators. The bigger channels in relation to the hobby do offer other values, but for the smaller channels, I subscribe because I like the personalites and respect their opinions, perhaps even more so when they differ from my own.
I would like you to continue to the roast of collections no matter the format.
I always enjoyed them and found them creative.
Coming into this video, I did not expect such a deep and philosophical conversation about life and content creation, but I’m glad to have found it.
Enjoy your channel and watching you guys interact brings me joy. Do what make sense for you and your families love that message. The reason I love boardgames so much because it does bring me so much happiness. Being authentic and genuine your viewers will appreciate you and your content. Keep up the great work and remember this should be fun. Wishing you all much health and happiness in this new year.
1 - maybe you could host games on bga?
2 - not into mtg
3 - rpg stuff? board game design?
4 - yes!
I'm so sorry to hear about your troubles and it was very brave of you to be so open about it. Props to both of you to encourage others to talk about it as well. That's inspiring. On a more positive note, I wonder if you will be covering the latest marvel champions expansion.
Authenticity first and foremost. I am so proud of you guys xx
Hey brothers, you do you, no expectations. I get it. Life is tough, it's even hard to do things you like sometimes. But know that we appreciate the content you do release, but also appreciate that the down time is making you all better people, mentally and physically.
Glad you guys are back. I agree that the endless churn of new titles can be very exhausting, especially for content creators. Even though I'm not a creator, I still struggle to balance my desire to explore new games (which is where a lot of my joy comes from - discovery) with the constraints of money, space, and time. I do hope you'll still cover some new titles, but that it will be on your own terms.
I'd listen to a podcast, but I generally prefer video so I can actually see the games you're talking about. But better a podcast than no video, though, so if that's more sustainable for you then go for it.
I'm not a fan of the roasts, personally, and I guess I seem to be in the minority on that. You guys are always very good natured about it, but I guess I just don't see the point, even if it's in jest? People like what they like, and there's really no arguing with that.
Love this update! Love the authenticity ❤ I am excited where 2025 takes you all!
03:10 "Hopefully my solo video will be out before my child -gets here- ."
Fixed that for you! ;-)
Bahaha 🤣🤣.
- Braiden
You guys are fine; I'm here to keep you grounded.
(Also Congrats again)
Looking forward to future videos from our philosophical kings.
1. I like UA-cam - keeps the pressure off to stretch yourselves thinly across multiple mediums.
2. -
3. RPG/ story telling / challenges / philosophy rants with Carlo
4. Personal top 5 sounds wonderful
I see Radlands on your shelf. Will you be doing a video on it? Glad you are back btw, best board game channel! Keep up the good work. Just be yourself :) We love you!
I think the idea of submitting pictures as a response to a theme and having you all comment on those submissions sounds fun and unique.
Happy to see you all back. Short and sweet answers:
1. Podcast on youtube
2. Yes!
3. Gamebooks! 18XX! Wargames! Solo board games! Rpg and solo rpg!
4. Yes, more focused roasts! ❤
Welcome back and great vodeo and changes coming. Happy for you all 🎉
Fantastic idea having Favorite Games of All Time in the summer. I've been noticing "top games" video fatigue in myself watching so many "Top Games of 2024" AND "Top Games of All Time" videos all in one small period of time. I applaud this idea and hope one day it becomes the norm.
Lets see some sick boardgame rooms and setups instead of Roasts. Like a bookshelf wall or glass cabibet storage 🎉
I was so confused when you (dylann) said you haven't posted this year because I was like, you just posted that awesome cinematic playthrough of Mythwind?? then I looked and that was a year ago and I could not believe it haha so don't feel too bad about it, some of us have no clue what's going on anyway!
Happy to see you guys back.
I started watching AYCB because of Dylan's Marvel Champions previews and reviews. I miss those.
Somatic therapy saved my life. I did a session every week for more than half a year that got me out of the worst state of my life and I still use those tools now.
Good on you Dylan for speaking out, depression/anxiety can be debilitating and some people don't realize just how much of a "world view" change happens when in those more drastic states.
Let's go Braeden!
Just became a father in November 2023. It rocked me, but it does get easier and so so so much more fulfilling but a lot of other life-things really take a hard pause in that first year.
As for you guys opting out of the capitalist-content-creator rat-race.
F-yes, I've gotta be online for a good deal of my work and it's so draining.
I really gravitated to your channel because you are all down to earth, pretty straight cut and have such good banter. You guys don't ham things up, I guess what I'm trying to say is you guys are really genuine and you don't feel like "influencers". Similar energy to AntLabGames who retired from the content creator rat-race as well, good on them as well!
HELL YES to question roasts. I loved the collection roasts but understand why yall would put a pause there.
Maybe do a customization roast where people submit custom things they've created for their games and you roast them, thats even more niche but who knows.
1. Podcast
2. Not particularly
3. Not that I can think of
4. Yes 100% sounds like a great idea
Love to see you guys back!!! And loving the shift of focus, keep it up
I was thinking about you guys the other day!
Appreciate your thoughts and totally respect your direction. You need to do what makes you happy, and I’m sure that will resonate with many subscribers, including me. Can’t lie that I don’t enjoy clicking on top 10’s, but I also think we need more diversity in this space rather than a bunch of cookie cutter channels. There’s room for both.
Good on y’all to prioritize your own health and goals over YT/community norms and expectations. As for the viewer questions:
1) I like YT but would engage with text-based content (5/10) and a podcast-type/audio thing would be amazing (10/10).
2) Personally no, just because I used to be big into MTG and quit cold turkey just before the pandemic, no interest anymore and have a lot of ill-will towards WotC. 0/10
3) I love content on logistical stuff such as accessories, storage & organization, etc. Not sure that’s considered board game-adjacent or if you guys care at all about it, but for example I’m so weird that one of my favorite YT series was Tolarian Community College’s MTG accessory reviews. 8/10
4) Yeah that sounds fun! 9/10
i'd be interested in a view of board game adjacent spaces in the winnipeg area! local events/BG cafes/gaming shops/library spaces/bars with big enough tables
Great Guys! Agree whole heartedly do what you love and enjoy.
I was hoping to send my collection to get roasted.
So yes I would be interested in top 5 collection roasts.
And other content that is not UA-cam.
My friend and I have just started our own UA-cam Board Game Channel from BC. WestCoast Meeples
Doing it mostly for fun.
Cheers!
Itd be sick to watch then shooting the shit, playing a one-shot dnd 5E adventure. Even just audio of a 2 hr adventure would be siiiiiiick and fun.
Great video!
Im sorry we have SO MUCH FUN playing games together and the games are actually much worse than they actually are looking back. SORRY we are SO COOL it's actually a detriment. 😎 🔥 😎
You cant reign in this social boardgame stallion.
Hey Carlo who is that guy with you, i like him, he should be on more often :P
I think that one is Darren