We apologize for the poor quality of Mark's half of the audio this week. We offer two possible explanations. One is that Walker, motivated as he is by spite and malice, engaged in an elaborate act of sabotage so as to undermine Mark in public. The other is that Mark (the editor, mind you) messed up the audio settings. I agree that the latter is too improbable, too conspiratorial, to take seriously--but we include it for the sake of comprehensiveness.
Games Played Last Week: 01:32 -Twilight Inscription (James Kniffen, FFG, 2022) 05:15 -Heaven & Ale (Michael Kiesling & Andreas Schmidt, eggertspiele, 2017) 07:59 -Blood Rage (Eric Lang, CMON, 2015) 09:07 -Fun Facts (Kasper Lapp, Repos Production, 2022) 12:17 -Albedo: Space Pirates! (Kai Herbertz, Herbertz Entertainment UG, 2018) 13:44 -51st State: Master Set (Ignacy Trzewiczek, Portal, 2016) 14:31 -Renegade (Richard Wilkins, Victory Point Games, 2018) 17:31 -Flamecraft (Manny Vega, Cardboard Alchemy, 2022) 19:42 -Massive Darkness 2: Heavenfall (Alex Olteanu & Marco Portugal, CMON, 2021) 22:12 -Oneironauts (Oleksandr Nevskiy, IGAMES, 2022) 26:12 -Now Boarding (Tim Fowers, Fowers Games, 2018) 29:25 -Return to Dark Tower (Tim Burrell-Saward, Isaac Childres, Noah Cohen, Rob Daviau, Justin D. Jacobson, & Brian Neff, Restoration Games, 2022)
News (and why it doesn't matter): 33:40 Cthulhu: Death May Die Season 3 coming to KS 35:41 Persona 5 co-op card game by Atlus and Pandasaurus in October '23 36:12 Spiel in Essen! For example, Cyclades 2 37:03 SHUX '22 is a wrap! Thank you, everyone! Live show with Quinns incoming 37:39 Roundtable discussion with BGB released on Patreon, note about review copies 38:39 Video review of Space Station Phoenix: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibG5qf1Rwm0 39:14 Daybreak by Matt Leacock on Backerkit 40:18 Arkhipov Day! In recognition of Vasily Arkhipiv saving the entire world on October 27, 1962, we celebrate Arkhipov Day on October 27th.
40:49 Feature Game: Heroscape (Stephen Baker, Rob Daviau, & Craig Van Ness, Hasbro, 2004)
Games Played Last Week: 03:48 -Blood Rage (Eric Lang, CMON, 2015) 06:29 -Wormholes (Peter McPherson, Alderac Entertainment Group, 2022) 09:16 -Envelopes of Cash (Andy Schwarz, Envelopes of Cash LLC, 2022) 13:52 -Fateforge: Chronicles of Kaan (Gordon Calleja, Mighty Boards, 2023) 18:44 -Albedo: Yggdrasil (Kai Herbertz, Herbertz Entertainment UG, 2019) 22:47 -Anachrony: Fractures of Time (Richard Amann, Viktor Peter, Dávid Turczi, & Mindclash Games, 2020) 27:58 -Trudvang Legends (Jordy Adan, Fel Barros, Guilherme Goulart, Eric M. Lang, Marco Maggi, Francesco Nepitello, Umberto Pignatelli, & Fabio Tola, 2022) 34:13 -Long Shot: The Dice Game (Chris Handy, Perplext, 2022) 37:10 -Hanabi (Antoine Bauza, ABACUSSPIELE, 2010) 40:42 -G.I. Joe Deck-Building Game: Shadow of the Serpent Expansion (Matt Hyra, Renegade Game Studios, 2022) 42:45 -The Mirroring of Mary King (Jim Felli, Devious Weasel Games, 2022)
Even the steadfastly Imperial Americans are familiar with metric measurements of distance, volume, and temperature; but alas, the metric French Republican calendar has fallen by the wayside. Consisting of 12 months of exactly 30 days each (3 10-day weeks) with 5 (or 6, for leap years) interstitial days called "complementary days." I mean, you couldn't call them holidays what with your trying to purge religious influence on your calendar! In a fun twist, each of the 360 normal days, instead of Saint's Days, was meant to commemorate the "treasures of the rural economy." Like horseradish day (Frimaire 12), or rabbit day (Nivôse 15). Even more exotic was metric time, and don't get me started on that.
Games Played Last Week: 01:31 -Tobago: Volcano (Bruce Allen, Zoch Verlag, 2020) 03:50 -Ascension Tactics: Miniatures Deckbuilding Game (Justin Gary & Ryan Sutherland, Stone Blade Entertainment, 2021) 06:18 -Uprising: Curse of the Last Emperor (Cornelius Cremin, Pawel Mazur, & Dirk Sommer, Nemesis.Games, 2021) 08:50 -Resist! (Trevor Benjamin, Roger Tankersley, & David Thompson, Salt & Pepper Games, 2022) 14:07 -The Adventures of Robin Hood (Michael Menzel, KOSMOS, 2021) 15:44 -Regicide (Paul Abrahams, Luke Badger, & Andy Richdale, Badgers from Mars, 2020) 16:38 -51st State: Master Set (Ignacy Trzewiczek, Portal, 2016) 18:16 -Swords around the Throne (Renaud Verlaque, My Kind of Games, 2022) 23:23 -Wormholes (Peter McPherson, Alderac Entertainment Group, 2022) 27:04 -Blitz Bowl: Season 2 (James M. Hewitt, Games Workshop Ltd., 2020)
News (and why it doesn't matter): 33:07 SHUX! September 30-October 2. SVWAG on stage for two live shows on October 1. 33:22 Unboxed: Board Game Experience and Design by Gordon Calleja and MIT Press releases October 4. 34:13 Pandemic everything! Star Wars: The Clone Wars--A Pandemic System Game 34:35 Mac Gerdts' Crossing Oceans 35:43 International Gamers Awards winners announced: Carnegie, Ark Nova, and Cascadia. [EDIT: In the broadcast we mistakenly refer to the International Gamers Awards as the International Gaming Awards. We apologize for the error.] 36:14 Disney trading card game: Disney Lorcana
37:47 Feature Game: Capital Lux 2: Generations (Eilif Svensson & Kristian Amundsen Østby, Aporta Games, 2020)
We encourage elaborate deception in this week's episode. Go on designers, up your game. While we can't accept anything from you in terms of gifts or donations, you can totally fool us. Stack yourselves three deep in a trenchcoat! Pretend to be long-lost, estranged, and newly-dead relatives! Don silly hats and fake moustaches!
Games Played Last Week: 01:00 -Monumental (Matthew Dunstan, Funforge, 2020) 06:37 -Spirit Island: Jagged Earth (R. Eric Reuss, Greater Than Games, 2020) 08:52 -Ragusa (Fabio Lopiano, Braincrack Games, 2019) 12:52 -Dead Reckoning (John D. Clair, Alderac Entertainment Group, 2022) 18:04 -Castles of Mad King Ludwig: Collector's Edition (Ted Alspach, Bézier Games, 2022) 22:04 -Space Weirdos: A Skirmish Heartbreaker (Casey Garske, Garske Games, 2021) 27:29 -Oathsworn: Into the Deepwood (Jamie Jolly, Shadowborne Games, 2022) 34:38 -Battlecrest: Fellwoods Base Game (Dustin Dobson & Milan Zivkovic, Button Shy, 2022)
News (and why it doesn't matter): 37:53 We have a Patreon. Please keep mum about it, designers! www.patreon.com/svwag 39:11 Fun Facts by Repos Production 39:40 David Thompson and BeyondSolitaire working on a game about the Night Witches 40:31 Almost Innocent on KS: co-op deduction 40:52 Come Together and hold a music festival
41:44 Feature Game: Mosaic: A Story of Civilization (Glenn Drover, Forbidden Games, 2022)
Fatal Fury 3's subtitle was Road to the Final Victory, ironic given that there were then four more Fatal Fury titles (the first's subtitle was The King of Fighters, which is its own huge delightful kettle of fish). While Fatal Fury Special (the actual third Fatal Fury title, which made 3 the fourth, please do keep up) was worthy in its own right, 3 is clearly where the Fatal Fury series hit its stride. This is to say nothing of the introductions of Ryuji Yamazaki and Blue Mary! It's either this or Kant, folks.
01:25 AYURIS: Dogs of War (Paolo Mori, CMON, 2014)
Games Played Last Week: 03:12 -Cosmic Frog (Jim Felli, Devious Weasel Games, 2020) 06:20 -Flotilla (J.B. Howell & Michael Mihealsick, WizKids, 2019) 07:55 -Massive Darkness 2: Hellscape (Alex Olteanu & Marco Portugal, CMON, 2022) 09:29 -Dead and Breakfast (Rodrigo Rego, Braincrack Games, 2018) 12:12 -So, You've Been Eaten (Scott Almes, LudiCreations, 2022) 16:13 -Fateforge: Chronicles of Kaan (Gordon Calleja, Mighty Boards, 2023) 20:27 -Ice Floes & Foes (Kees Meis & Dennis Merkx, Keep Exploring Games, 2021) 23:35 -Sentinels of the Multiverse (Christopher Badell, Paul Bender, & Adam Rebottaro, Greater Than Games, 2011) 27:52 -Santorini (Gord!, Roxley, 2016)
News (and why it doesn't matter): 29:02 Chip Theory Games gifting board game media types with swords 30:09 Vital Lacerda and Ian O'Toole: Inventions: Evolution of Ideas 30:40 HeroScape will be distributed by Hasbro's crowdfunding platform, HasLab 31:34 Astra from Mindclash games: straight to retail
Not every game needs to be four huge boxes full of other boxes and plastic. Some can be delightfully simple games... with boxes that are too big due to crowdfunding. Other games could be underappreciated Reiner Knizia classics brought to a new underappreciating audience! Via, I guess, the medium of crowdfunding. Hm. I suppose I don't have a point, except that we, like pearls before swine or a Knizia before a gamer, are ungrateful contradictory ingrates.
Games Played Last Week: 01:58 -Meadow (Klemens Kalicki, Rebel Studio, 2021) 07:26 -Chronicles of Avel (Przemek Wojtkowiak, Rebel Studio, 2021) 10:42 -Massive Darkness 2: Hellscape (Alex Olteanu & Marco Portugal, CMON, 2022) 13:36 -Noli (Jack Caesar & Alessio Cavatore, River Horse Ltd., 2022) 18:40 -Barrage: The Leeghwater Project (Tommaso Battista & Simone Luciani, Cranio Creations, 2019) 22:30 -Stephenson's Rocket (Reiner Knizia, Pegasus Spiele, 1999) 25:19 -The Mirroring of Mary King (Jim Felli, Devious Weasel Games, 2022) 29:05 -Oathsworn: Into the Deepwood (Jamie Jolly, Shadowborne Games, 2022) 36:23 -Siege of Mantua (Amabel Holland, Hollandspiele, 2022)
News (and why it doesn't matter): 41:01 Friedemann Friese's Findorff 41:46 SLightly more HeroScape news on Hasbro Pulse 43:50 Revive by Aporta Games
44:40 Feature Game: It's a Wonderful World (Frédéric Guérard, La Boîte de Jeu, 2019) and It's a Wonderful Kingdom (Frédéric Guérard, La Boîte de Jeu, 2021)
I met a gamer from an antique land Who said: “Two vast and trunkless legs of plastic Stand in the desert. Near them, on the sand, Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown, And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command, Tell that its sculptor well those passions read Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things, The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed: And on the pedestal these words appear: 'My name is Cool Mini or Not, Kickstarter of Kickstarters. Look on my pledges ye Mighty, and despair!" Nothing beside remains. Round the decay Of that Colossal Wreck, boundless and bare The lone and level sands stretch far away.
Games Played Last Week: 03:21 -Marvel Dice Throne (Gavan Brown, Nate Chatellier, & Manny Trembley, Roxley, 2022) 05:39 -Yggdrasil Chronicles (Cédric Lefebvre, Ludonaute, 2019) 09:51 -Brian Boru: High King of Ireland (Peer Sylvester, Osprey Games, 2021) 14:37 -Massive Darkness 2: Hellscape (Alex Olteanu & Marco Portugal, CMON, 2022) 16:26 -Paint the Roses (Ben Goldman, North Star Games, 2022) 18:20 -Décorum (Harry Mackin, Charlie Mackin, & Drew Tenenbaum, Floodgate Games, 2022) 21:24 -Horizon Wars: Zero Dark (Robey Jenkins, Precinct Omega Publishing, 2020) 23:11 -Skull (Hervé Marly, Asmodee, 2011) 23:37 -Dungeons & Dragons: Dungeon Scrawlers--Heroes of Undermountain (Vangelis Bagiartakis & Konstantinos Karagiannis, Wizkids, 2021) 24:57 -So Clover! (François Romain, Repos Production, 2021) 27:04 -Hour of Need (Adam Sadler & Brady Sadler, Blacklist Games, 2022) 29:58 -Framework (Uwe Rosenberg, Edition Spielwiese, 2022) 29:58 -Nova Luna (Uwe Rosenberg & Corné van Moorsel, Edition Spielwiese, 2019) 31:03 -Cerebria: The Inside World (Richard Amann, Viktor Peter, István Pócsi, Frigyes Schőberl, Nick Shaw, & Dávid Turczi, Mindclash Games, 2018) 35:42 -XenoShyft: Onslaught (Keren Philosophales & Michael Shinall, CMON, 2015) and Dreadmire (Michael Shinall, CMON, 2017) 37:32 -Fateforge: Chronicles of Kaan (Gordon Calleja, Mighty Boards, 2023)
News (and why it doesn't matter): 41:59 AGL Tournament Pack--Bixie Edition for Aristeia! 42:37 FFG's Star Wars: The Deckbuilding Game 42:50 Pandasaurus and Elizabeth Hargrave's The Fox Experiment
The Smart Car was truly out-of-the-box thinking. "Why do passenger cars all have to be the way they are?" asked some clever group of designers, and designed the minimalistic teensy Smart Car. Of course, the challenges posed by manufacturing the little thing, or driving the little thing on a highway, or walking away from a crash in the little thing, proved to be compelling arguments in favour of more traditional passenger car manufacture. What I'm saying is that sometimes the box exists for a reason, notwithstanding the virtues of experimentation.
Games Played Last Week: 01:48 -The Guild of Merchant Explorers (Matthew Dunstan & Brett J. Gilbert, AEG, 2022) 06:25 -Street Masters (Adam Sadler & Brady Sadler, Blacklist Games, 2018) 11:37 -Oltréé (Antoine Bauza & John Grümph, Studio H, 2021) 17:08 -Massive Darkness 2: Hellscape (Alex Olteanu & Marco Portugal, CMON, 2022) 21:46 -Paint the Roses (Ben Goldman, North Star Games, 2022) 24:04 -Groundhog Day: The Game (Propsero Hall, Funko Games, 2021) 26:21 -Framework (Uwe Rosenberg, Edition Spielwiese, 2022) 29:11 -Circadians: Chaos Order (S J Macdonald & Zach Smith, Garphill Games, 2022) 33:59 -For Science! (R. Eric Reuss, Grey Fox Games, 2021) 35:39 -Vengeance (Gordon Calleja, Mighty Boards, 2018)
News (and why it doesn't matter): 42:24 Tiletum from Daniele Tascini and Simone Luciani, update on the Daniele Tascini controversies 44:47 HeroScape will not return with pre-painted minis and ode to American retail 47:31 SVWAG at the Shut Up & Sit Down Expo: SHUX! September 30 - October 2
47:45 Feature Game: Space Station Phoenix (Gabriel J. Cohn, Rio Grande Games, 2022)
There was a time you could just stroll in a big box store in the United States and just buy a miniatures skirmish game that was actually pretty good. Sure, it didn't have analog movement or anything, but it used true line of sight and had amazing plastic terrain. So much plastic. Like, a whole lot. One the one hand, Hasbro says they're bringing HeroScape back, but on the other, ain't no way it's coming back the same as it was. They're going to bleed us dry for those little pre-painted dolls--even assuming they're still pre-painted, that is.
Games Played Last Week: 02:22 -My Father's Work (T.C. Petty III, Renegade Game Studios, 2022) 04:20 -Kleos (Jim Kavanagh, Azure Horizon Games, 2021) 08:14 -Meeple War (Max Valembois, Blue Cocker Games, 2016) 10:23 -Imperium: The Contention (Gary Dworetsky, Contention Games, 2021) 12:24 -Neuroshima Hex! 3.0: Beasts (Joanna Kijanka, Portal Games, 2021) 13:48 -Catch the Moon (Fabien Riffaud & Juan Rodriguez, Bombyx, 2017) 15:09 -A Feast for Odin: The Norwegians (Gernot Köpke & Uwe Rosenberg, Feuerland Spiele, 2018) 16:45 -Zeppelin Attack! (Eric B. Vogel, Evil Hat Productions, 2014) 19:22 -Arctic Scavengers (Robert K. Gabhart, Rio Grande Games, 2009) 20:43 -Capital Lux 2: Generations (Eilif Svensson & Kristian Amundsen Østby, Aporta Games, 2021) 23:04 -Wonderland's War (Tim Eisner, Ben Eisner, & Ian Moss, Druid City Games, 2022) 26:53 -Flourish (James A. Wilson & Clarissa A. Wilson, Starling Games, 2021)
News (and why it doesn't matter): 29:37 Everdell digital on Steam by Dire Wolf 30:37 www.patreon.com/svwag 31:39 HeroScape: Age of Annihilation announced at GenCon 34:35 Imperium: Horizons expandalone for Classics/Legends with 14 new civilizations 37:05 SVWAG at the Shut Up & Sit Down Expo: SHUX! September 30 - October 2
Times are bad. Children no longer listen to their elders and everyone is running a Kickstarter. When I started this hobby I had no idea I would get a crash course in international shipping and logistics. Back in the day you might have had a friend in Germany send you the hot new thing, now you're tracking to see when the container ship with your stuff gets to leave port in China.
01:24 AYURIS: Beyond the Sun (Dennis K. Chan, Rio Grande Games, 2020)
Games Played Last Week: 03:42 -Legacy of Dragonholt (Nikki Valens with Daniel Clark, Tim Flanders, Annie VanderMeer Mitsoda, & Greg Spyridis, FFG, 2017) 09:51 -Dungeons & Dragons: Dungeon Scrawlers--Heroes of Undermountain (Vangelis Bagiartakis & Konstantinos Karagiannis, Wizkids, 2021) 11:36 -The Great Wall (Kamil 'Sanex' Cieśla, Robert Plesowicz, & Łukasz Włodarczyk, Awaken Realms, 2021) 15:08 -Eriantys (Leo Colovini, Cranio Creations, 2021) 20:28 -Northgard: Uncharted Lands (Adrian Dinu, Shiro Games, 2022) 26:14 -Space Station Phoenix (Gabriel J. Cohn, Rio Grande Games, 2022) 30:07 -Don't L.L.A.M.A. Dice (Reiner Knizia, AMIGO, 2021) 31:21 -Circadians: Chaos Order (S J Macdonald & Zach Smith, Garphill Games, 2022) 37:35 -Mosaic: A Story of Civilization (Glenn Drover, Forbidden Games, 2022)
News (and why it doesn't matter): 47:38 Peter Pan by Marc Paquien 48:07 Reprint of Traumfabrik: Nightmare Productions (by Trick or Treat Productions) 48:29 Return of the 7th Sea CCG 48:45 Deal with the Devil: hidden roles, app-driven, huge theological questions 49:26 Bloodstones by Martin Wallace 50:31 SVWAG at the Shut Up & Sit Down Expo: SHUX! September 30 - October 2
Much talk of animals this week, what with wombats and mass animal harvesting in Stroganov. Mark's experience was that despite covering many hot-button issues in his medical ethics classes, the one that invariably produced the most voluble emotional responses was that of medical testing on animals. Pit Bull owners, in particular; despite there being no medical testing of the type discussed on Pit Bulls. Go figure.
Games Played Last Week: 01:03 -San Francisco (Reiner Knizia, Rebel Studio, 2022) 04:44 -Ca$h 'n Guns: Second Edition (Ludovic Maublanc, Repos Production, 2014) 06:69 -Carnegie (Xavier Georges, Quined Games, 2022) 08:15 -Vengeance (Gordon Calleja, Mighty Boards, 2018) 10:17 -Dungeons & Dragons: Dungeon Scrawlers--Heroes of Undermountain (Vangelis Bagiartakis & Konstantinos Karagiannis, Wizkids, 2021) 12:58 -Dungeons, Dice & Danger (Richard Garfield, alea, 2022) 15:44 -Space Station Phoenix (Gabriel J. Cohn, Rio Grande Games, 2022) 20:09 -The Great Wall (Kamil 'Sanex' Cieśla, Robert Plesowicz, & Łukasz Włodarczyk, Awaken Realms, 2021) 23:08 -Hand-to-Hand Wombat (Matthew Inman, Elan Lee, & Cory O'Brien, Exploding Kittens, 2022) 26:38 -Transmissions (Adam West, CrossCut Games, 2022) 27:54 -Legacy of Dragonholt (Nikki Valens with Daniel Clark, Tim Flanders, Annie VanderMeer Mitsoda, & Greg Spyridis, FFG, 2017)
News (and why it doesn't matter): 32:06 SVWAG at the Shut Up & Sit Down Expo: SHUX! September 30 - October 2 32:30 SVWAG back on YouTube: Video review of Stars of Akarios' Prelude https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXJrOXhZz0E 32:42 Gordon Calleja's Fateforge: Chronicles of Kaan 33:33 Undaunted: Battle of Britain 34:37 Ascending Empires: Zenith edition 2023 WizKids 35:48 Hickory Dickory 36:20 Spirit Island: New Horizons Target-exclusive 38:42 CMON's Dune: War for Arrakis
39:20 Feature Game: Stroganov (Andreas Steding, Game Brewer, 2021)
We celebrate the release of a palindrome episode with the glorious news of the return of SHUX, the Shut Up & Sit Down Expo. Perhaps more relevantly, SVWAG are invited guests! Both Mark and Walker will be in Vancouver from September 30th to October 2nd. Now that you know where they will be, you can more efficiently avoid them. Or you could go play a game with them, whatevs.
02:54 AYURIS: Tidal Blades: Heroes of the Reef (Tim Eisner & Ben Eisner, Druid City Games, 2020)
Games Played Last Week: 05:45 -Vengeance: Roll & Fight (Gordon Calleja, Noralie Lubbers, & Dávid Turczi, Mighty Boards, 2022) 10:05 -Regicide (Paul Abrahams, Luke Badger, & Andy Richdale, Badgers from Mars, 2020) 10:52 -Scape Goat (Jon Perry, Indie Boards & Cards, 2020) 12:54 -Battlelore 2nd Edition (Richard Borg & Robert A. Kouba, FFG, 2013) 15:57 -Millennium Blades: Collusion (Joshua Van Laningham & D. Brad Talton, Jr., Level 99 Games, 2021) 21:32 -Golem (Flaminia Brasini, Virginio Gigli, & Simone Luciani, Cranio Creations, 2021) 22:42 -Clash of the Gladiators (Reiner Knizia, Rio Grande Games, 2002) 27:17 -Guards of Atlantis II (Artyom Nichipurov, Wolff Designa, 2022) 28:22 -Ghost Adventure (Wlad Watine, Buzzy Games, 2020) 31:36 -Orléans (Reiner Stockhausen, dlp Games, 2014) 33:01 -Shamans (Cédrick Chaboussit, Studio H, 2021) 37:19 -Carnegie (Xavier Georges, Quined Games, 2022) 38:39 -Scythe (Jamey Stegmaier, Stonemaier Games, 2016) 39:44 -The Guild of Merchant Explorers (Matthew Dunstan & Brett J. Gilbert, AEG, 2022)
News (and why it doesn't matter): 41:09 Discordia by Bernd Eisenstein 41:25 Spiel des Jahres Winner: Cascadia from Randy Flynn and Flatout Games, Kennerspiel Living Forest from Aske Christiansen and Ludonaute 41:52 The Wordle nightmare evolves into board form 42.32 Sabika by Germán P. Millán 43:00 SVWAG at the Shut Up & Sit Down Expo: SHUX! September 30 - October 2
It's a weird little thematic disconnect when you're not sure who or what your avatar in-game is. Perhaps we have swallowed corporate personhood so fully that we can easily accept playing as a corporation but balk a little at an amorphous group of power brokers--or a faceless protagonist channeling tree spirits.
Games Played Last Week: 01:51 -The Great Wall (Kamil 'Sanex' Cieśla, Robert Plesowicz, & Łukasz Włodarczyk, Awaken Realms, 2021) 08:19 -Stars of Akarios (Brendan McCaskell & Jonathan Thwaites, OOMM, 2022) 12:16 -Messina 1347 (Raúl Fernández Aparicio & Vladimír Suchý, Delicious Games, 2021) [EDIT: An earlier version of this episode uncritically parroted the dodgy history of the game's purported setting. We apologize for the error and will address it further.] 13:56 -So Clover! (François Romain, Repos Production, 2021) 16:01 -Rush Out! (Thomas Dupont, Sit Down!, 2021) 19:43 -Vengeance: Roll & Fight (Gordon Calleja, Noralie Lubbers, & Dávid Turczi, Mighty Boards, 2022) 23:30 -Project L (Michal Mikeš, Jan Soukal, & Adam Spanel, Boardcubator, 2020) 26:45 -Ark Worlds: MOBA Inspired Hero Engagements Game (Orion McClelland, Unpossible Game Labs, 2021) 31:04 -Reichbusters: Project Vril (Jake Thornton, Mythic Games, 2020) 32:42 -The Silver Bayonet (Joseph McCullough, Osprey Games, 2021) 37:30 -Barrage (Tommaso Battista & Simone Luciani, Cranio Creations, 2019) 38:12 -Regicide (Paul Abrahams, Luke Badger, & Andy Richdale, Badgers from Mars, 2020) 38:34 -Aquatica (Ivan Tuzovsky, Cosmodrome Games, 2019)
News (and why it doesn't matter): 40:35 Grand Carnival expansion and Kittens Love Sushi on Kickstarter 41:32 Omicron Protocol: Critical Condition on Kickstarter 42:25 So far so good for Board Game Arena under Asmodee? T&E, Regicide, El Grande
44:17 Feature Game: Sakura Arms (BakaFire, Level 99 Games 2022)
Enjoy the works of Thomas Lehmann while you can! Despite the lack of player interaction of Dice Realms, Mr. Lehmann has violated local, provincial, and federal law by not supplying a solo mode. International treaty has also been flouted by the absence of a campaign. I fear he may be put in boardgame jail as a consequence. Can he build a tableau convincing enough as his defence? His attorney, Dr. Gonzo, does not inspire much confidence.
Games Played Last Week: 01:01 -Titan (Matthieu Podevin, Holy Grail Games, 2022) 09:25 -Carnegie (Xavier Georges, Quined Games, 2022) 12:58 -Core Worlds: Nemesis (Andrew Parks, Quixotic Games, 2021) 16:36 -Transmissions (Adam West, CrossCut Games, 2022) 19:11 -burncycle (Josh J. Carlson & Shannon Wedge, Chip Theory Games, 2022) 21:41 -Lancaster: Big Box (Matthias Cramer & Wolfgang Panning, Queen Games, 2015) 27:49 -Sleeping Gods (Ryan Laukat, Red Raven Games, 2021) 31:21 -Shamans (Cédrick Chaboussit, Studio H, 2021)
News (and why it doesn't matter): 34:49 FlickFleet: Xeno Wars on Gamefound 36:12 Village Big Box 36:39 Puerto Rico decolonized: Puerto Rico 1897 37:53 Furnace expansion: Interbellum 38:25 BoardGameGeek signs deal to push Gamegenic sleeves. Too little independent media in boardgaming?
40:22 Feature Game: Dice Realms (Thomas Lehmann, Rio Grande Games, 2022)
Mark had to reign himself in considerably this week, what with the song temptations of the Talking Heads followed by his favourite torch song teased by Welcome to the Moon. He also tried to workshop a Gourds of Atlantis joke, but responses were--to put it mildly--not encouraging. It wasn't a total loss, as he managed to sneak in some Norse mythology in Telestrations. So that's... something.
Games Played Last Week: 01:11 -XenoShyft: Onslaught (Keren Philosophales & Michael Shinall, CMON, 2015) 06:21 -Azul: Queen's Garden (Michael Kiesling, Next Move Games, 2021) 09:55 -Spirit Island (R. Eric Reuss, Greater Than Games, 2017) 11:42 -Dungeons & Dragons: Dungeon Scrawlers--Heroes of Undermountain (Vangelis Bagiartakis & Konstantinos Karagiannis, Wizkids, 2021) 13:41 -Telestrations (Uncredited, USAopoly, 2009) 19:17 -Trickerion: Legends of Illusion (Richard Amann & Viktor Peter, Mindclash Games, 2015) 20:40 -Psycho Killer (Michael Wilkinson, Escape Tabletop Games, 2020) 23:47 -Welcome to the Moon (Alexis Allard & Benoit Turpin, Blue Cocker Games, 2021) 25:47 -Yak (Michael Luu, Pretzel Games, 2022) 26:44 -Dice Realms (Thomas Lehmann, Rio Grande Games, 2022) 32:44 -Yokohama Roll & Write (Hisashi Hayashi, OKAZU Brand, 2021) 34:54 -Stars of Akarios (Brendan McCaskell & Jonathan Thwaites, OOMM, 2022)
News (and why it doesn't matter): 39:22 Spirit Island expansion to be funded on BackerKit; new crowdfunding options 40:55 Galactic Renaissance by Christian Martinez of Inis; the "Political Trilogy" by Matagot
42:05 Feature Game: Guards of Atlantis II (Artyom Nichipurov, Wolff Designa, 2022)
The dam has burst, and the flow of large player-count games rushes without signs of abating. We are willing to be sufficiently foolhardy to gather in larger groups, so the demand for 6+ player games has skyrocketed; and with it, the chance to return to old favourites. Dare we call it... a party?
Games Played Last Week: 02:22 -Guards of Atlantis II (Artyom Nichipurov, Wolff Designa, 2022) 07:46 -Thor (Reiner Knizia, Heidelberger Spieleverlag, 2002) 10:37 -Reichbusters: Project Vril (Jake Thornton, Mythic Games, 2020) 12:13 -Just One (Ludovic Roudy & Bruno Sautter, Repos Production, 2018) 13:28 -Wits & Wagers (Dominic Crapuchettes, North Star Games, 2005) 13:58 -For Sale: Advisors (Stefan Dorra, Eagle-Gryphon Games, 2021) 17:39 -The Guild of Merchant Explorers (Matthew Dunstan & Brett J. Gilbert, AEG, 2022) 19:21 -Empyreal: Spells & Steam (Trey Chambers, Level 99 Games, 2020) 21:20 -Yak (Michael Luu, Pretzel Games, 2022) 23:28 -Trial by Trolley (Scott Hauser, Skybound Games, 2020) 26:59 -The Chameleon (Rikki Tahta, Big Potato, 2017) 28:09 -Cockroach Poker (Jacques Zeimet, Drei Magier Spiele, 2004) 28:49 -Blood Bound (Kalle Krenzer, Fantasy Flight Games, 2013)
News (and why it doesn't matter): 31:49 Joan of Arc: Orléans Draw & Write, Yokohama Roll & Write 32:53 KS: Metropolys becomes Skyrise, Septima from Mindclash, and Bot Factory from Lacerda 33:29 RIP Maureen Hiron, hall-of-fame designer of Continuo and many others
Walker yearns for a universal grammar, a sort of iconograhic Esperanto. That is a bridge too far for Mark, but they nonetheless find common ground on certain time terms and certain graphical conventions. They may be alone, of course, but they would rather that everyone deferred to their intuitions.
01:17 AYURIS: The Castles of Tuscany (Stefan Feld, alea, 2020)
Games Played Last Week: 03:17 -Unsettled (Marc Neidlinger & Tom Mattson, Orange Nebula, 2021) 08:45 -Sniper Elite: The Board Game (Roger Tankersly & David Thompson, Rebellion Unplugged, 2022) 12:48 -Hidden Leaders (Andreas Müller, Markus Müller, & Raphael Stocker, BFF Games, 2022) 15:18 -For Science! (R. Eric Reuss, Grey Fox Games, 2021) 17:41 -Stars of Akarios (Brendan McCaskell & Jonathan Thwaites, OOMM, 2022) 25:13 -Omicron Protocol (Brendan Kendrick & Bernie Lin, Dead Alive Games, 2022) 31:14 -Ark Nova (Mathias Wigge, Feuerland Spiele, 2021) 32:10 -Warpgate (Artyom Nichipurov, Wolff Designa, 2018) 33:45 -Shards of Infinity (Gary Arant & Justin Gary, Stone Blade Entertainment, 2018)
News (and why it doesn't matter): 34:36 TOYS! Snap Ships Tactics 36:09 CMON: Cyberpunk 2077 and Zombicide Flip and Write. Whee. 36:58 DVG Reprints & Dice: Pavlov's House and Soldiers in Postman's Uniforms 37:53 War of the Ring Card Game by Ian Brody 38:24 Drags 2 Riches: Eleganza Deckbuilding Extravanganza 39:00 MicroMacro Crime City All-In: Sept 22
After a purgatorial thirteen months, Mark will be released from his Cain-like wanderings and allowed to repatriate to Kingston where he will get to be home. He figures that if Immanuel Kant got to be world famous before the age of global communications without leaving a 50 kilometer radius of his hometown, he has more than paid his dues. If anyone wants him to attend a function in the future, they had best plan on getting married and/or dying in close proximity to Mark's home.
01:43 AYURIS: Lost Ruins of Arnak (Elwen & Mín, CGE, 2020)
Games Played Last Week: 03:51 -Foundations of Rome (Emerson Matsuuichi, Arcane Wonders, 2022) 07:05 -Golem (Flaminia Brasini, Virginio Gigli, & Simone Luciani, Cranio Creations, 2021) 10:56 -Token Terrors: Battlegrounds (John de Campos & Phillip Doccolo, Terrible Games, 2020) 16:50 -Switch & Signal (David Thompson, KOSMOS, 2020) 19:13 -Unsettled (Marc Neidlinger & Tom Mattson, Orange Nebula, 2021) 27:09 -Ark Nova (Mathias Wigge, Feuerland Spiele, 2021) 28:21 -The Bridges of Shangri-La (Leo Colovini, Uberplay, 2003) 32:09 -Merchants of the Dark Road (Brian Suhre, Elf Creek Games, 2022) 36:09 -Paper Tales (Masato Uesugi, Stronghold, 2017) 38:31 -Memoir '44 (Richard Borg, Days of Wonder, 2004) 41:52 -Iwari (Michael Schacht, ThunderGlyph Games, 2020)
News (and why it doesn't matter): 44:51 Ghost Adventure: spinning, grabbing, tilting! 45:57 Uwe Rosenberg's Atiwa (Ghana) 47:42 Idavoll for Nidavellir: giants, Aesir, and more 49:33 Terra Mystica minus tracks becomes Terra Nova? 50:24 Terraforming Mars: Dice Game
Multi-Deck System Games! Canadian content! Kevin Bacon! So many digressions in an episode packed with so much culture it couldn't even fit in one of Vin Diesel's muscle shirts. We do, however, focus on games long enough to rhetorically ask--with several stress patterns--of David Thompson: who is this guy? As a note, during the time of the taping of this episode, David Thompson released five more excellent board games. Oh, sorry, I type slowly, make that six.
01:23 AYURIS: Fort (Grant Rodiek, Leder Games, 2020)
Games Played Last Week: 03:36 -Contra: The Board Game (Adam Sadler & Brady Sadler, Blacklist Games, 2022) 08:23 -Hour of Need (Adam Sadler & Brady Sadler, Blacklist Games, 2022) 13:58 -Paint the Roses (Ben Goldman, North Star Games, 2022) 17:41 -Sniper Elite: The Board Game (Roger Tankersly & David Thompson, Rebellion Unplugged, 2022) 24:31 -SCOUT (Kei Kajino, Oink Games, 2019) 26:48 -Hidden Leaders (Andreas Müller, Markus Müller, & Raphael Stocker, BFF Games, 2022) 30:09 -Foundations of Rome (Emerson Matsuuichi, Arcane Wonders, 2022) 34:18 -Stroganov (Andreas Steding, Game Brewer, 2021) 37:44 -burncycle (Josh J. Carlson & Shannon Wedge, Chip Theory Games, 2022) 44:48 -For Sale (Stefan Dorra, Uberplay, 1997)
News (and why it doesn't matter): 46:39 Support the show on Patreon, by word of mouth, or don't. You do you! 48:56 Fantasy Realms Deluxe. With sleeves! 49:35 Arcs by Leder Games on Kickstarter now. Trick-taking! 50:27 Batman: Gotham City Chronicles Season 3. New rulebook!
52:48 Topic: Designer Spotlight: David Thompson [EDIT: The actor who co-starred in Tremors is named Michael Gross. We regret the error.]
1:17:45 SVWAG Presents Masterpiece Theatre: The Pentaverate
On Mark's drive across Canada (the first time), he stopped in Drumheller, Alberta for some dinosaur tourism. It has a truly impressive nodosaur specimen. The nodosaur is a close relative of the ankylosaur, a key difference being the former's lack of a thagomizer, the club-like appendage at the end of an ankylosaur's tail. Mark bought a plastic ankylosaur as a souvenir. Its name is Angie. Perseverance doesn't have any ankylosaurs or nodosaurs. A shame.
Games Played Last Week: 00:53 -Planet Unknown (Ryan Lambert & Adam Rehberg, Adam's Apple Games, 2022) 04:53 -Carnegie (Xavier Georges, Quined Games, 2022) 11:16 -Imperium: Legends (Nigel Buckle & Dávid Turczi, Osprey Games, 2021) 15:08 -Titan (Matthieu Podevin, Holy Grail Games, 2022) 21:19 -Hour of Need (Adam Sadler & Brady Sadler, Blacklist Games, 2022) 27:25 -Get on Board: New York & London (Saashi, IELLO, 2022) 28:31 -Omicron Protocol (Brendan Kendrick & Bernie Lin, Dead Alive Games, 2022)
News (and why it doesn't matter): 34:05 Starship Captains by CGE (not Vlaada) 34:56 Leave the Church in the Village: Quoridor-esque? 35:50 Spiel des Jahres Nominees: Cascadia, SCOUT, Top Ten. Kennerspiel: Living Forest, Cryptid, Dune: Imperium 37:13 Escape from New York
38:07 Feature Game: Perseverance: Castaway Chronicles Episodes 1 & 2 (Richard Amann, Thomas Vande Ginste, Viktor Peter, Wolf Plancke, & Dávid Turczi, Mindclash Games, 2022)
1:09:53 SVWAG Presents Masterpiece Theatre: The Kid Detective
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