"We don’t ask that you stop loving your fantasy world. We ask

you stop paying money for the privilege to dream of it. If

you want to read the [Harry Potter] books or watch the movies, consider

buying second-hand or renting them from a library. Small

changes can make sure you never put your hard-earned

money into JKR’s hands."

-Blacklist CGE zine

Games Played Last Week:

01:01 -Through the Desert (Reiner Knizia, KOSMOS, 1998)

05:49 -Tiletum: Prospect for Silver (Simone Luciani & Daniele Tascini, Board&Dice, 2025)

10:10 -Endeavor: Deep Sea (Carl de Visser and Jarratt Gray, Burnt Island Games, 2024)

18:03 -Through Ice and Snow (Fernando Eduardo Sánchez, 2Tomatoes Games, 2024)

22:41 -Hot Streak (Jon Perry, CMYK, 2025)

27:39 -The Lord of the Rings: Fate of the Fellowship (Matt Leacock, Z-Man Games, 2025)

News (and why it doesn't matter):

41:05 New Doom board game(s) by Modiphius

41:46 High Tide by Marceline Leiman

42:20 SVWAG's statement on boycotting Czech Games Edition and in support of trans and non-binary gamers

Blacklist CGE zine: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/10BUxxRO08jS9ZFnfnt0dnMPEZi5lrwke

44:15 Feature Game: Vantage (Jamey Stegmaier, Stonemaier Games, 2025)

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A chief misgiving Mark has about the con is that he is a terrible playtester. He was able to play two unpublished games, and while the designers were gracious he is seldom able to offer anything of much substance. "This game," he might say, "has cards. And other things." Past that, for some reason, when confronted with a prototype his faculties often fail him.

01:48 AYURIS: Arborea (Dani Garcia, Alley Cat Games, 2023)

Games Played Last Week:

05:00 -Phantom Division (Pete Ruth & Mark Thomas, Phantom Horizon, 2026)

14:38 -Westphalia (Amabel Holland, Hollandspiele, 2019)

23:33 -Project: ELITE (Konstantinos Kokkinis, Marco Portugal, & Sotirios Tsantilas, CMON, 2020)

27:19 -Ankh: Gods of Egypt (Eric M. Lang, CMON, 2021)

33:25 -Rise & Fall (Christophe Boelinger, Ludically, 2024)

38:15 -Space Cadets: Dice Duel (Geoff Engelstein and Sydney Engelstein, Stronghold, 2013)

43:06 -Outlive (Gregory Iliver, La Boite de Jeu, 2017)

News (and why it doesn't matter):

N/A

45:22 Topic: SVWAG Con Report

Chef Ashlee: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100068315809451

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The purest juxtaposition that reveals the absurdity of "take that" effects can be found in many of your heavier games and some consims with cards. You gather the resources, marshal your forces, laboriously haul those troops hither and yon, and then sometimes have to manage some activation tokens or whatnot to finally get it on. And then your opponent plays the "nuh uh" card. Fun!

01:19 AYURIS: Daybreak (Matt Leacock & Matteo Menapace, CMYK, 2023)

Games Played Last Week:

04:35 -Star Wars Unlimited (Jim Cartwright, Tyler Parrott, Daniel Schaefer, & Jeremy Zwirn, Fantasy Flight Games, 2024)

09:33 -Steam Power (Martin Wallace, Wallace Designs, 2024)

16:20 -Spot It! Bluey (Denis Blanchot, Jacques Cottereau, Guillaume Gille-Naves, & Igor Polouchine, Blue Orange, 2025)

19:15 -Mosaic: A Story of Civilization (Glenn Drover, Forbidden Games, 2022)

21:47 -TowerBrix (Simon Thomas, KOSMOS, 2024)

25:46 -Walk the Plank: Deluxe Edition (Shane Steely & Jared Tinney, Mayday Games, 2017)

28:36 -Bomb Busters (Hisashi Hayashi, Pegasus Spiel, 2024)

32:47 -Paint the Roses (Ben Goldman, North Star Games, 2022)

38:24 -Kinfire Delve: Scorn's Stockade (Kevin Wilson, Incredible Dream Studios, 2024)

41:55 -Transgalactica (Daniele Tascini, Devir, 2025)

49:15 -Phantom Division (Pete Ruth & Mark Thomas, Phantom Horizon, 2026)

News (and why it doesn't matter):

55:14 Looking forward to SVWAGCon!

55:43 Topic: Take That

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"Dear friend, if you wanna feel better

Don't let the devil make you toss this letter

If you've been crossed up by hoodoo voodoo

A wizard or the lizard

You got family trouble, man trouble, woman trouble

No light through the tunnel

If you're lookin' for a true friend, or a true lover

Or if you've been livin' undercover

Well, I'm comin' to your town to break it all down

And help you with all of this

I'm lookin' to help you find bliss one day

Or one way, can't miss"

-Jack White, "Archbishop Harold Holmes", presumably extolling the virtues of the Millipede Death Cult

Games Played Last Week:

01:14 -Cthulhu: Death May Die--Fear of the Unknown (Rob Daviau, Eric M. Lang, and Marco Portugal, CMON, 2024)

06:28 -Dune: Imperium--Uprising (Paul Dennen, Dire Wolf, 2023)

12:48 -Innovation Ultimate (Carl Chudyk, Asmadi Games, 2025)

18:25 -Leviathan Wilds: Deepvale (Justin Kemppainen, Moon Crab Games, 2025)

22:03 -Line of Fire: Burnt Moon (Trevor Benjamin & David Thompson, Osprey Games, 2025) 

27:23 -Rumble Nation (Yogi Shinichi, Hobby Japan, 2017)

29:23 -Iron Forest (Brian Gomez, Brain Games, 2024)

32:23 -Crash Octopus (Naotaka Shimamoto, itten, 2021)

33:08 -Junk Art (Jay Cormier & Sen-Foong Lim, Pretzel Games, 2016)

33:51 -The Breach (Michele Morosini, Ludus Magnus Studio, 2024)

41:27 -A Gentle Rain (Kevin Wilson, Incredible Dream Studios, 2024)

News (and why it doesn't matter):

44:34 Open registration for SVWAG Con (July 25th-July 27th) on Eventbrite! https://tinyurl.com/25s6p5jd

45:24 REPRINTS! PitchCar and expansions, Ra: The Dice Game, Rheinlander, Junk Art

49:35 Carnegie expansion in development

49:52 Feature Game: Shackleton Base: A Journey to the Moon (Fabio Lopiano & Nestore Mangone, Sorry We Are French, 2024)

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It is remarkable to reflect on how much hobbies can demand of us, and certainly board gaming is no different. Setting aside the administrative, economic, and social burdens; we then have to spend so much time teaching, setting up, and tearing down. Alas! 23-step processes for general set up prior to the 12-step individual player board set up. It was not always thus, but here we are.

01:42 AYURIS: Voidfall (Nigel Buckle & Dávid Turczi, Mindclash Games, 2023)

Games Played Last Week:

07:15 -Shackleton Base: A Journey to the Moon (Fabio Lopiano & Nestore Mangone, Sorry We Are French, 2024)

13:37 -Cthulhu: Death May Die--Fear of the Unknown (Rob Daviau, Eric M. Lang, and Marco Portugal, CMON, 2024)

17:48 -Barony: Heroes (Marc André, Grail Games, 2025)

21:04 -Netrunner: System Gateway (Zoe Cohen, McGregor Crowley, June Valencia Cuervo, Max Chippington Derrick, Gregory Tongue, and Jade Wesley, Null Signal Games, 2021)

34:37 -Planepita (Eisuke Fuijinawa & Kazunori Hori, SzpiLAB, 2022)

40:50 -ALIEN: Fate of the Nostromo (Scott Rogers, Ravensburger, 2021)

44:47 -Endeavor: Deep Sea (Carl de Visser and Jarratt Gray, Burnt Island Games, 2024)

News (and why it doesn't matter):

50:05 Germán P. Millán's Covenant

50:35 Blood Rage: Valhalla expandalone to be on crowdfunding

53:52 Little Soldiers: green army men miniatures game

54:38 SVWAG Con (July 25th-July 27th) SOLD OUT

55:34 Topic: Setup and Teardown

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Apparently the American custom of the "push present" can trace its roots to the Anglo-Indian tradition of the "baby bauble", although in the latter case jewellery is the more standard gift (instead of, say, boardgames). Can we acknowledge that baby bauble is a much less crude term? Let's try to be classy here, people. There is already enough about childbirth that is fraught.

Games Played Last Week:

2:07 -Galactic Cruise (T.K. King, Dennis Northcott, and Koltin Thompson, Kinson Key Games, 2025)

6:31 -Cerebria: The Inside World (Richard Amann, Viktor Peter, István Pócsi, Frigyes Schőberl, Nick Shaw, & Dávid Turczi, Mindclash Games, 2018)

12:53 -Phantom Division (Pete Ruth & Mark Thomas, Phantom Horizon, 2026)

23:19 -Space Gits (Mike Hutchinson, Planet Smasher Games, 2025)

28:03 -Earthborne Rangers (Andrew Fischer, Brooks Flugaur-Leavitt, Andrew Navaro, Adam Sadler, and Brady Sadler, Earthborne Games, 2023)

30:00 -Dro Polter (Paul Schulz, Oink Games, 2023)

33:14 -Shackleton Base: A Journey to the Moon (Fabio Lopiano & Nestore Mangone, Sorry We Are French, 2024)

40:56 -TONKS (Apocrypha_Now, Web-published, 2023)

News (and why it doesn't matter):

43:41 Flurry of Friedemann Friese: Formidable Farm, Fearless, Five Families

44:45 Open registration for SVWAG Con (July 25th-July 27th) on Eventbrite! https://tinyurl.com/25s6p5jd

45:14 Feature Game: 7 Empires (Mac Gerdts, PD-Verlag, 2024)

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Walker's approach to parenting eschews what he sees as the coddling endemic in other families. He believes in competition above all else, where newbs must be pwned and even babies must git gud. "L2P" is his family motto. Some appalled anthropologists tried making a documentary about the Walker household, but they were forced to tone it down and release it as Squid Game.

01:21 AYURIS: Through the Desert (Reiner Knizia, KOSMOS, 1998)

Games Played Last Week:

02:56 -Pocket Paladin (Joe Klipfel, Mythfield Games, 2025)

09:44 -7 Empires (Mac Gerdts, PD-Verlag, 2024)

21:10 -A Gentle Rain (Kevin Wilson, Incredible Dream Studios, 2024)

24:37 -Flip 7 (Eric Olsen, The Op Games, 2024)

25:31 -NMBR 9 (Peter Wichmann, ABACUSSPIELE, 2017)

27:44 -Earthborne Rangers (Andrew Fischer, Brooks Flugaur-Leavitt, Andrew Navaro, Adam Sadler, and Brady Sadler, Earthborne Games, 2023)

31:23 -Everdell (James A. Wilson, Starling Games, 2018)

35:12 -Shackleton Base: A Journey to the Moon (Fabio Lopiano & Nestore Mangone, Sorry We Are French, 2024)

40:47 -Animal Upon Animal (Klaus Miltenberger, HABA, 2005)

News (and why it doesn't matter):

45:16 Open registration for SVWAG Con (July 25th-July 27th) on Eventbrite! https://tinyurl.com/25s6p5jd

47:38 Support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/svwag

48:12 Law 96 threatens hobby game stores: 

https://www.ctvnews.ca/montreal/article/hobby-shops-say-it-will-be-game-over-for-their-businesses-due-to-quebecs-language-law/

49:49 Topic: Small Box, Big Game

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"Because of the long-standing mutual enmity between Meany and Brown, Meany was named among the suspects in The Case Of Encyclopedia Brown’s Mangled Corpse. Meany denied the allegations.

'It’s true that Detective Brown and I didn’t see eye to eye, but I would never do something so downright dirty rotten as murder him,' Meany said. 'Besides, it’s a matter of public record that, at the time the crime was committed, I was at the North Pole watching the penguins.'"

-"Idaville Detective 'Encyclopedia' Brown Found Dead In Library Dumpster", The Onion

01:42 AYURIS: Zoo Vadis (Reiner Knizia, Bitewing Games, 2023)

Games Played Last Week:

4:12 -Sky Team (Luc Rémond, Le Scorpion Masqué, 2023)

7:20 -Ofrenda (Orlando Sá & André Santos, Osprey Games, 2025)

12:51 -Galactic Cruise (T.K. King, Dennis Northcott, and Koltin Thompson, Kinson Key Games, 2025)

20:05 -Twins (Reiner Knizia, Oink Games, 1996)

23:59 -Clinic Deluxe Edition (Alban Viard, AVStudioGames, 2019)

28:23 -Stationfall (Matt Eklund, Ion Game Design, 2023)

37:46 -Great Western Trail: New Zealand (Alexander Pfister, eggertspiele, 2023)

40:45 -Schotten Totten 2 (Reiner Knizia, IELLO, 2020)

45:18 -Corps of Discovery: A Game Set in the World of Manifest Destiny (Jay Cormier & Sen-Foong Lim, Off the Page Games, 2025)

News (and why it doesn't matter):

49:13 Balance updates to Fromage

50:17 Tianxia by Daniele Tascini & Antonio Petrelli, another "T" game by Board&Dice

50:39 Burned by Stone Circle Games will have a crowd sale on The Game Crafter soon

51:19 Open registration for SVWAG Con (July 25th-July 27th) on Eventbrite! https://tinyurl.com/25s6p5jd

51:45 Topic: Pulling Levers

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We generally frown on ad hominem here at SVWAG, ensconced as we are in our glass houses. In the case of Jean-Jacques Rousseau (known affectionately as "Ja-Jay" by no one), though, who wrote extensively about proper methods of childhood education, we shall report that he confessed to rather callously sandbagging his lover into abandoning their children (Rousseau claimed there were five of them, though records are tricky). Way to be a douchebag, Jay-Jay.

01:47 AYURIS: City of the Great Machine (German Tikhomirov, CrowD Games, 2023)

Games Played Last Week:

03:36 -River Rats (Mathijs Jansen & Robin Stokkel, Four Suits Studio, 2025)

08:08 -The Gang (John Cooper and Kory Heath, KOSMOS, 2024)

09:47 -SCOUT (Kei Kajino, Oink Games, 2019)

11:47 -Storm Raiders (Shem Phillips, Arkus Games, 2025)

13:36 -Tigris & Euphrates (Reiner Knizia, Hans im Gluck, 1997)

16:17 -Corps of Discovery: A Game Set in the World of Manifest Destiny (Jay Cormier & Sen-Foong Lim, Off the Page Games, 2025)

21:58 -Dogs of War (Paolo Mori, CMON, 2014)

25:27 -Stroganov: Turukhan (Andreas Steding, Game Brewer, 2024)

32:48 -Veiled Fate (Max Anderson, Zac Dixon, and Austin Harrison, IV Studio, 2022)

40:29 -Jekyll & Hyde vs Scotland Yard (Gaëtan Beaujannot, Olivier Cipière, and Geonil, Mandoo Games, 2023)

News (and why it doesn't matter):

43:56 SEAL Team Flix follow up Phantom Division! Stealth! Tactics! Flicking! on Kickstarter 

44:29 Pacific Command, fleet miniatures game, by Osprey and Mike Hutchinson

45:41 Agricola Special Edition on Gamefound

47:43 Catacombs Alpha, new minimalist Catacombs starter, on Kickstarter

48:25 Open registration for SVWAG Con (July 25th-July 27th) on Eventbrite! https://tinyurl.com/25s6p5jd

49:17 Topic: The Social Contract

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I've read several different accounts of the battle of Sekigahara, and I swear there's no mention of Kevin Bacon or anyone bleaching their hair. How am I to know if Pony Boy stayed golden? 

Games Played Last Week:

01:42 -MicroMacro: Kids--Crazy City Park (Johannes Sich, Edition Spielwiese, 2025)

04:20 -Good Puppers (Chris Cieslik, Asmadi Games, 2021)

07:38 -23 Knives (Tyler J. Brown, Play to Z, 2025)

15:13 -TEAM3 GREEN (Alex Cutler & Matt Fantastic, Brain Games, 2019)

20:04 -Marabunta (Reiner Knizia, Space Cowboys, 2023)

21:28 -Ra (Reiner Knizia, alea, 1999)

23:13 -Ra: The Dice Game (Reiner Knizia, Rio Grande Games, 2009)

26:16 -Moving Company (Guo Jiahui & Wu Ying, Whales Entertainment, 2025)

31:42 -Santorini: Riddle of the Sphinx (James Van Niekerk & Paul Saxberg, Roxley, 2025)

37:30 -The Crew: Family Adventure (Thomas Sing, KOSMOS, 2024)

42:07 -Hot Streak (Jon Perry, CMYK, 2025)

43:42 -Flip 7 (Eric Olsen, The Op Games, 2024)

News (and why it doesn't matter):

45:09 Open registration for SVWAG Con (July 25th-July 27th) on Eventbrite! https://tinyurl.com/25s6p5jd

46:35 Tabletop Tycoon acquires the rights to Eric Lang CMON designs: Blood Rage, Rising Sun, Ankh, Arcadia/Starcadia Quest

48:48 Follow-up to SEAL Team Flix: Phantom Division on Kickstarter! (Pete Ruth, Mark Thomas)

50:52 Sniper Elite: Operation Kraken on Gamefound

52:02 Feature Game: Rumble Nation (Yogi Shinichi, Hobby Japan, 2017)

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Walker and Mark almost come to blows over Flip 7 this week. Their disagreements over the merits of the product (Game? Experience? Way of Life? Sub "Roll a 6, Win a Cookie" distraction?) have long simmered, but the fundamental schism can no longer be ignored or papered over. They finally have it out. 

02:27 AYURIS: Knarr (Thomas Dupont, Bombyx, 2023)

Games Played Last Week:

03:36 -Autobahn (Fabio Lopiano and Nestore Mangone, Alley Cat Games, 2022)

06:39 -Scythe (Jamey Stegmaier, Stonemaier Games, 2016)

09:47 -Fairy Tale (Satoshi Nakamura, What's Your Game?, 2008) 

15:00 -Moon (Haakon Gaarder, Sinister Fish Games, 2023)

18:17 -Spots (Alex Hague, Jon Perry, and Justin Vickers, CMYK, 2022)

21:13 -ito (326, Arclight Games, 2019)

28:06 -Deep Rock Galactic (Ole Steiness, MOOD Publishing, 2022)

31:45 -Flip 7 (Eric Olsen, The Op Games, 2024)

News (and why it doesn't matter):

35:50 Recall from Alion by Dr. Ø; pseudo-sequel to Revive?

38:07 Open registration for SVWAG Con (July 25th-July 27th) on Eventbrite! https://tinyurl.com/25s6p5jd

38:40 Topic: What Makes Longer Games Worth It?

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"Observers brought attention to [Gritty's] appearance, which could be construed as frightening, while The Guardian described him as an "acid trip of a mascot." Response to Gritty's introduction was immediate and sharply mixed, with many fans on social media expressing bewilderment and some fright at his appearance. Public perception of Gritty became increasingly positive as Gritty's antics, which subverted the cuddly, family-friendly appearance and demeanor of other NHL mascots, gained more attention on social media."

-Wikipedia

Games Played Last Week:

00:56 -Can't Stop (Sid Sackson, Playte Games, 2023)

04:01 -Tigris & Euphrates (Reiner Knizia, Hans im Gluck, 1997)

13:09 -Hansa Teutonica: East Expansion (Andreas Steding, Argentum Verlag, 2010)

19:06 -Pandemic: Fall of Rome (Matt Leacock & Paolo Mori, Z-Man, 2018)

22:03 -SpellBook (Phil Walker-Harding, Space Cowboys, 2023)

24:40 -Skara Brae (Shem Phillips, Garphill Games, 2025)

29:52 -Sausage Sizzle (Inka and Marcus Brand, 25th Century Games, 2012)

32:07 -Unstoppable (John D. Clair, Renegade Game Studios, 2025)

38:41 -Toy Battle (Paolo Mori & Alessandro Zucchini, Repos Production, 2025)

40:38 -Leviathan Wilds (Justin Kemppainen, Moon Crab Games, 2024)

43:48 -Men at Work (Rita Modl, Pretzel Games, 2019)

News (and why it doesn't matter):

49:10 Lunar Rush expansion: Innovation

49:30 Open registration for SVWAG Con (July 25th-July27th) on Eventbrite! https://tinyurl.com/25s6p5jd

49:58 Lord of the Rings: Fate of the Fellowship

51:18 Please support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/svwag

53:32 Feature Game: Hot Streak (Jon Perry, CMYK, 2025)

[EDIT] We neglected to disclose that this was a review copy provided by the publisher. We apologize for the omission.

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"gibber--intransitive verb

:to speak rapidly, inarticulately, and often foolishly"

-Merriam-Webster

"gibberer--noun

:the hosts of SVWAG"

Games Played Last Week:

01:17 -Sausage Sizzle (Inka and Marcus Brand, 25th Century Games, 2012)

05:22 -Landmarks (Rodrigo Rego & Danilo Valente, Floodgate Games, 2024)

09:11 -Skara Brae (Shem Phillips, Garphill Games, 2025)

14:20 -Moving Company (Guo Jiahui & Wu Ying, Whales Entertainment, 2025)

16:49 -First Rat (Gabriele Ausiello & Virginio Gigli, Pegasus Spiele, 2022)

20:47 -Barbecubes (Brett J. Gilbert & Rob Sparks, Alley Cat Games, 2025)

24:35 -Unstoppable (John D. Clair, Renegade Game Studios, 2025)

29:48 -Battle of Mekaverse (Reiner Knizia, Kids Logic, 2024)

34:25 -Dorfromantik: The Board Game (Michael Palm and Lukas Zach, Pegasus Spiele, 2022)

37:41 -Toy Battle (Paolo Mori & Alessandro Zucchini, Repos Production, 2025)

40:04 -Dungeon Twister: The Card Game (Christophe Boelinger, Asmodee, 2013)

46:34 -Rumble Nation (Yogi Shinichi, Hobby Japan, 2017)

News (and why it doesn't matter):

50:10 SETI expansion: Space Agencies

50:46 Flamecraft digital

51:28 POGs are coming back? Slam Throne

52:02 Open registration for SVWAG Con (July 25th-July27th) on Eventbrite! https://tinyurl.com/25s6p5jd

53:53 Feature Game: Gibberers: The Word Game of Language Invention and Civilization Development (Keisei, Hobby Japan, 2024)

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Chaka Khan, let me rock you

Let me rock you, Chaka Khan

Let me rock you, that's all I wanna do

Chaka Khan, let me rock you

Let me rock you, Chaka Khan

Let me rock you, 'cause I feel for you

-Chaka Khan, "I Feel for You"

01:26 AYURIS: Barcelona (Dani Garcia, Board&Dice, 2023)

Games Played Last Week:

03:10 -Snap Ships Tactics: Swarm Box (Josh Derksen, Snap Ships, 2025) 

10:13 -Battle of Mekaverse (Reiner Knizia, Kids Logic, 2024)

15:34 -Everdell Farshore (James A. Wilson & Clarissa A. Wilson, Starling Games, 2023)

20:19 -Trading Titans (Reiner Knizia, Kids Logic, 2024)

25:03 -TAH WARS: Dice Tower Game (Luca Vince Caltabiano, BOARD TO DEATH, 2025)

31:06 -Things in Rings (Peter C. Hayward, Allplay, 2024)

News (and why it doesn't matter):

35:06 Lifeboat by Jeff Siadek reprint on Kickstarter

37:15 Underwater Cities: Data Era expansion

38:18 Open registration for SVWAG Con (July 25th-July27th) on Eventbrite! https://tinyurl.com/25s6p5jd

39:55 Topic: Tricky Edge Cases

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While we pride ourselves in playing more games in a week than many play in a month, when we take a week away from the SVWAG studio we often face a truly herculean backlog of games to discuss. This two-week period is no exception. Rest assured, we would never leave our dear listeners in the lurch, so we will keep you updated so you need not miss a thing.

01:00 AYURIS: Race to the Raft (Frank West, The City of Games, 2023)

Games Played Last Week:

03:40 -Knarr (Thomas Dupont, Bombyx, 2023)

06:42 -Quin (Brian Rooney and Taeleen Woodard, Arch & Gravity Publishing, 2024)

11:41 -Slay the Spire: The Board Game (Gary Dworetsky, Anthony Giovannetti, and Casey Yano, Contention Games, 2024) 

14:47 -Gùgōng: Pànjūn (Andreas Steding, Game Brewer, 2020)

22:00 -Skull (Hervé Marly, Asmodee, 2011)

24:09 -Space Gits (Mike Hutchinson, Planet Smasher Games, 2025)

30:06 -Bad Company (Kenneth Minde, Kristian Amundsen Østby, and Eilif Svensson, Aporta Games, 2021)

34:44 -Rebirth (Reiner Knizia, Mighty Boards, 2024)

36:48 -Tír na nÓg (Isaac Shalev & Jason Slingerland, Grand Gamers Guild, 2024)

38:51 -Let's Go! To Japan (Josh Wood, AEG, 2024)

41:52 -Keyflower (Sebastien Bleasdale & Richard Breese, R&D Games, 2012) 

42:54 -Altay: Dawn of Civilization (Paolo Mori & Ole Steiness, Ares Games, 2024)

47:09 -Abandon All Artichokes (Emma Larkins, Gamewright, 2020)

49:58 -Quacks (Wolfgang Warsch, Schmidt Spiele, 2018)

52:02 -23 Knives (Tyler J. Brown, Play to Z, 2025)

59:15 -Ghost Blitz: Spooky Doo (Jacques Zeimet, Zoch Verlag, 2016)

News (and why it doesn't matter):

1:03:26 Catacombs Alpha, new entry point in the Catacombs series, on crowdfunding

1:04:13 Tariff highlights: Stegmaier lawsuit, CMON, Greater Than Games

1:07:15 Open registration for SVWAG Con (July 25th-July27th) on Eventbrite! https://tinyurl.com/25s6p5jd

1:07:47 Commands & Colors news: new Memoir '44, Battle of Hoth

1:09:08 SVWAG interview with James of One Man Clapping episode #26

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Tiebreakers are arguably a kind of endgame scoring. I respect the fact that they are invariably necessary (I mean, if for no other reason than if they're omitted some smartass like me will complain). That said, clearly if the scoreboard goes to 200+ I don't imagine we'll be hauling out the second tiebreaker condition all that much. Frequently the endgame conversion of resources to points already serves as a tiebreaker anyway. 

01:48 AYURIS: Nidavellir (Serge Laget, GRRRE Games, 2020)

Games Played Last Week:

04:57 -FlickFleet (Jackson Pope & Paul Willcox, Eurydice Games, 2018)

11:55 -Slay the Spire: The Board Game (Gary Dworetsky, Anthony Giovannetti, and Casey Yano, Contention Games, 2024) 

14:21 -Altay: Dawn of Civilization (Paolo Mori & Ole Steiness, Ares Games, 2024)

17:19 -Wizards of the Grimoire: Shifting Sands (Cole Banning & Joe Banning, Grimoire Games, 2025)

21:23 -Risk 2210 A.D.: Frontline (Mike Gills, Renegade Game Studios, 2025)

32:57 -Calimala (Fabio Lopiano, Alley Cat Games, 2024)

37:20 -Ransom Notes: House Party Edition (Josh Roberts, Evan and Josh's Very Special Games Company, 2023)

40:16 -Leviathan Wilds (Justin Kemppainen, Moon Crab Games, 2024)

42:57 -Regicide (Paul Abrahams, Luke Badger, & Andy Richdale, Badgers from Mars, 2020)

News (and why it doesn't matter):

45:15 New Meltwater by Capstone Games

46:19 Open registration for SVWAG Con (July 25th-July27th) on Eventbrite! https://tinyurl.com/25s6p5jd

47:24 Topic: Endgame Scoring

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When is a thing like another thing? Is Albedo like Core Worlds? Is Cat Blues like Rummy? Is Through the Desert like Go? Is a nudge as good as a wink to blind bat? Are all Roll & Writes inferior to Roll a 6, Win a Cookie? Is Christophe Boelinger France's Vlaada Chvátil? Probably, because it's all just like Mage Knight in the end. 

Games Played Last Week:

04:46 -Street Masters: Tide of the Dragon (Scott McFall, Adam Sadler, Brady Sadler, and Mitch Schroeder, Blacklist Games, 2022)

09:45 -Castles of Mad King Ludwig: Collector's Edition (Ted Alspach, Bézier Games, 2022)

13:55 -Cat Blues: The Big Gig (Reiner Knizia, Bitewing Games, 2024)

22:14 -Moon Colony Bloodbath (Donald X. Vaccarino, Rio Grande Games, 2025)

28:03 -Albedo: Space Pirates! (Kai Herbertz, Herbertz Entertainment UG, 2018)

35:43 -Malediction (Leo Cunha, Nicole Lobo, and Daniel Pettersen de Lucena, Loot Studios, 2025)

39:46 -Hey, That's My Fish! (Günter Cornett & Alvydas Jakeliunas, Bambus Spieleverlag, 2003)

40:55 -Parks: Roll & Hike (Henry Audubon & Mattox Shuler, Keymaster Games, 2024)

News (and why it doesn't matter):

44:04 Tariffs impacting the hobby

45:12 Please support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/svwag

46:23 Zombie Princess, a riff on Spades, by Bézier and Ted Alspach

47:05 Feature Game: Rise & Fall (Christophe Boelinger, Ludically, 2024)

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People have favourably described our physical appearances as "borderline tolerable" and "just short of hideous", and that was just our mothers. In light of this, we put ourselves forward as candidates for all manner of game show. Mark is quite fond of Rice-a-Roni and thus would be more than happy to just have a consolation prize, and Walker just wants to spin something as hard as he can. Better reinforce your props.

01:43 AYURIS: Archeos Society (Paolo Mori, Space Cowboys, 2023)

Games Played Last Week:

03:16 -Ethnos (Paolo Mori, CMON, 2017)

08:20 -Wizards of the Grimoire: Shifting Sands (Cole Banning & Joe Banning, Grimoire Games, 2025)

12:14 -Jenga Maker (Uncredited, Hasbro, 2022)

16:20 -Click A Tree (Uwe Rosenberg, Skellig Games, 2025)

18:15 -Street Masters: Tide of the Dragon (Scott McFall, Adam Sadler, Brady Sadler, and Mitch Schroeder, Blacklist Games, 2022)

22:15 -Crafting the Cosmos (David Gordon & TAM, Office Dog, 2025)

23:48 -Scape Goat (Jon Perry, Indie Boards & Cards, 2020)

28:41 -Shuffle and Swing (Robert Hovakimyan, Bitewing Games, 2025)

32:31 -Bebop (Robert Hovakimyan, Bitewing Games, 2025)

39:53 -El Grande (Wolfgang Kramer & Richard Ulrich, Hans im Glück, 1995)

44:03 -Crokinole (Uncredited, Mayday, 2025)

News (and why it doesn't matter):

47:19 Phantom Division returning and editorial challenges

47:55 Early Registration for SVWAGCon for patrons! www.patreon.com/svwag

48:20 G.I. Joe Heroscape--will Transformers follow?

52:53 CMYK game show: Perfect Line hosted by Deborah Norville

54:26 Ark Nova spin-off Sanctuary

54:54 StarCraft miniatures and board games incoming

55:14 Alley Cat games sticking to crowdfunding, skipping retail

55:37 Topic: 20th Century Games

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In logic, conditionals are always true if the antecedent is false. You can't falsify the conditional if the conditions aren't met. For example, if Mark can bench 500 pounds, then vinegar tastes like cotton candy. Rest assured that I ain't benching that much, so don't worry about it; the conditional is true. Similarly, I can invite pretty much whoever I want to SVWAGCon. Fareed Zakaria, Olivia Rodrigo, and Jordan Mechner? Sure, they're all invited. They don't know about us, but it's all good.

Games Played Last Week:

04:00 -Finspan (David Gordon & Michael O'Connell, Stonemaier Games, 2025)

07:51 -Slay the Spire: The Board Game (Gary Dworetsky, Anthony Giovannetti, and Casey Yano, Contention Games, 2024) 

11:16 -Marvel Dice Throne Missions (Gavan Brown & Nate Chatellier, Roxley, 2025)

13:28 -Star Trek: Into the Unknown (Max Brooke & Michael Gernes, WizKids, 2025)

21:51 -Lunar (Masato Uesagi, Allplay, 2024)

23:25 -Lone Wolves (Yasuyuki Nakamura, Wonderful World Board Games, 2024)

27:57 -Fateforge: Chronicles of Kaan (Gordon Calleja, Mighty Boards, 2024)

33:00 -Duos (Johannes Schmidauer-König, CMYK, 2025) 

35:35 -Creature Caravan (Ryan Laukat, Red Raven Games, 2024)

News (and why it doesn't matter):

41:00 Early Registration for SVWAGCon for patrons! www.patreon.com/svwag

42:37 Space Gits on Kickstarter soon! A dexterity miniatures game of drunk orcs

43:48 Feature Game: Rebirth (Reiner Knizia, Mighty Boards, 2024)

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I was donating blood while wearing my Transformers Converse shoes, and two different phlebotomists commented positively about them. "We have won the cultural argument," I said, deliberately burying the lede that demographic destiny is probably the chief cause. I suspect that the same forces explain increased societal acceptance of toys, and board games are not immune. Thank goodness!

Games Played Last Week:

01:22 -Guards of Atlantis II Arcane Hero Pack (Artyom Nichipurov, Wolff Designa, 2024)

07:56 -Creature Caravan (Ryan Laukat, Red Raven Games, 2024) 

10:46 -Marvel Dice Throne Missions (Gavan Brown & Nate Chatellier, Roxley, 2025)

15:55 -The Elder Scrolls: Betrayal of the Second Era (Josh J. Carlson, Michael Gernes, Logan Giannini, Ryan Howard, Salem Scott, and Josh Wielgus, Chip Theory Games, 2025)

26:21 -Dungeon Kart (Michael Xuereb, Brotherwise Games, 2024)

30:50 -Star Trek: Captain's Chair (Nigel Buckle & Dávid Turczi, WizKids, 2025)

34:47 -Keyflower: The Merchants (Sebastian Bleasdale & Richard Breese, R&D Games, 2014)

40:47 -Rush M.D. (Athony Howgego, Konstantinos Kokkinis, & Dávid Turczi, Artipia Games, 2020)

News (and why it doesn't matter):

46:34 Yokohama Duel 2nd edition by Synapses Games

46:56 Helldivers II board game by Steamforged Games

49:02 New content for Inis and Tiletum

50:02 Early Registration for SVWAGCon for patrons! www.patreon.com/svwag

50:41 Feature Game: Ascending Empires: Zenith Edition (Ian Cooper, Play to Z, 2024)

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