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Normale Ansicht

Published — 27. September 2026 ⏭ Homo Ludens

Top 5 Block Wargames – With Volko Ruhnke, Candice Harris & Stuart Ellis-Gorman

✇Homo Ludens
Von: Homo Ludens
27. September 2026 um 00:58

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What are the best block wargames ever made? For this stream, I’m joined by Volko Ruhnke, Candice M. Harris, and Stuart Ellis-Gorman as each of us brings our own personal Top 5 to the table.

Rather than trying to establish some definitive ranking, we’ll use our picks to talk about what makes block games such a distinctive corner of wargaming: hidden information, fog of war, uncertainty, elegant representations of unit strength, and the simple tactile pleasure of pushing chunks of wood around a map. Expect classics, personal favorites, a few disagreements, and probably considerably more than twenty recommendations by the time we’re finished.

Come along, share your own Top 5 in the chat, and tell us which essential block game we inevitably forgot.

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Published — 22. September 2026 ⏭ Homo Ludens

Ambush at Nui Le – Playing Combat Commander: Vietnam with Joe Dewhurst

✇Homo Ludens
Von: Homo Ludens
22. September 2026 um 12:16

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For this impromptu stream, I’m joined by my friend Joe Dewhurst (who also happens to be the developer of the game ) for a playthrough of Scenario 18 from the upcoming Combat Commander: Vietnam from GMT Games.

The scenario takes us to Nui Le, South Vietnam, September 1971, during Operation Ivanhoe, the last major Australian operation of the war. As 11 Platoon, D Company, 4 RAR/NZ Battalion patrols near the Courtenay rubber plantation in search of an NVA bunker complex, a platoon of North Vietnamese regulars launches an ambush. With Joe on hand, we’ll play through the scenario while also talking about the system, the development process, and how Combat Commander has been adapted to the Vietnam War.

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0:00 Introduction and setup
1:04 Scenario context and overview
3:24 Starting the combat engagement
6:12 Initial gameplay and connection issues
12:44 Resuming the match
16:26 Fire support and early combat
22:51 Tactical maneuvering
33:40 Escalation and reinforcement
45:58 Intense firefights and artillery
57:42 Mid-game tactical developments
1:10:08 Late game attrition
1:24:10 Final tactical maneuvers
1:43:05 Conclusion and wrap-up
Published — 19. September 2026 ⏭ Homo Ludens

Operation Overlord (VUCA) - Playthrough

✇Homo Ludens
Von: Homo Ludens
19. September 2026 um 23:07

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In this teach and play session, I’m joined by Clem Seurat, designer of Operation Overlord, published by VUCA Simulations. The game covers the Normandy campaign from the June 1944 landings through the Allied breakout, with a strong focus on operational planning, logistics, fog of war, and the very different challenges facing the Allied and German commands.

Rather than playing a full scenario, Clem and I go through the first round step by step, using it to explain the sequence of play, the activation system, planning, supply, intelligence, and combat. If you’re curious about how Operation Overlord works before tackling one of its larger scenarios or the full campaign, this is a good place to start.

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Chapters:
0:00 Project origin and design
3:20 Game board and mechanics
8:30 Planning operations
17:00 Weekly turn sequence
24:00 Initial unit deployment
33:50 First combat activation
48:45 Executing tactical moves
1:21:00 End of week resolution
1:26:42 Turn transition and future
Published — 08. September 2026 ⏭ Homo Ludens

Napoleon 1870 - Kickstarter Preview of the new Wargame by Shakos

✇Homo Ludens
Von: Homo Ludens
08. September 2026 um 13:01

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In this video, I take a first look at Napoleon 1870: The Collapse of the Second French Empire, the game I co-designed with Brian Asklev, soon to be released by Shakos.

Rather than simply adapting a Napoleonic system to a later conflict, we wanted the design to reflect what made the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 fundamentally different: changing command structures, new operational realities, and above all the contrast between the warfare of Napoleon I and the very different military doctrine and political system inherited by Napoleon III. I’ll walk through the core system, explain what makes this entry unique, and discuss some of the historical and mechanical choices that shaped the design.

The Kickstarter campaign launches on September 22:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/shakos/napoleon-1870-the-collapse-of-the-second-french-empire

BGG page:
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/473376/napoleon-1870

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00:00 Intro
00:50 System Overview
05:43 Why did we deign this
08:09 What makes this entry special
11:48 Q&A - The Russ Segment
Published — 02. September 2026 ⏭ Homo Ludens
Published — 31. August 2026 ⏭ Homo Ludens

Top 5 Wargames for Beginners – The Best Games to Start Historical Wargaming

✇Homo Ludens
Von: Homo Ludens
31. August 2026 um 10:53

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This Sunday, I’m joined by my friend and designer Brian Asklev for a stream all about one question: what are the best games to start with if you want to get into wargaming?

We’ll each bring five recommendations, not as a strict ranking, but as a series of very subjective categories: the best introduction to card-driven games, block wargames, hex-and-counter systems, lighter historical games, and more. The goal is to offer different entry points depending on your tastes, your experience, and how deep you want to go. Expect plenty of discussion, disagreement, and extra recommendations along the way.

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Chapters:
00:00 Intro
03:01 Brian's intro to block wargames
07:45 Fred's intro to Commands & Colors
13:04 Brians intro to CDGs
18:59 Fred's intro to CDGs
26:02 Brian's intro to Tactical wargames
31:36 Fred's intro to Tactical wargames
36:58 Brian's intro to Commands & Colors
44:58 Fred's intro to Hex & Counter
51:52 Brian's Honorable Mention
56:12 Fred's Honorable Mention
01:02:06 Brians intro to Multiplayer wargames
01:08:44 Fred's intro to the COIN series
01:20:58 Outro and additional pics
Published — 14. August 2026 ⏭ Homo Ludens

The Guerrilla Generation: Resisting Reagan – Campaign Playthrough | Part 1

✇Homo Ludens
Von: Homo Ludens
14. August 2026 um 10:29

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Joe Dewhurst and I dive into Resisting Reagan, the campaign from The Guerrilla Generation: Cold War Insurgencies in Latin America, designed by Stephen Rangazas, developed by Joe, and published by GMT Games. The wider multipack explores four Cold War insurgencies in Uruguay, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Peru.

Over the next two or three episodes, we’ll play through the campaign while Joe gives us a developer’s-eye view of the system, its historical ideas, and the decisions behind the design. Expect revolution, counterinsurgency, questionable strategic choices, and rather a lot of Reagan.

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Published — 12. August 2026 ⏭ Homo Ludens

Wargame News, Gen Con & Gossip while playing Julius Caesar – Play & Chat with Liz

✇Homo Ludens
Von: Homo Ludens
12. August 2026 um 12:54

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This Sunday, Liz from Beyond Solitaire and I are back for a relaxed Play & Chat session: catching up on what’s new in historical gaming, hearing all about Liz’s adventures at Gen Con, and inevitably indulging in a bit of wargame gossip along the way.

While we talk, we’ll be playing Julius Caesar on Rally the Troops — because apparently discussing the hobby is more fun when there’s also a civil war happening in the background.

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Published — 11. August 2026 ⏭ Homo Ludens

Ayar - The History behind the Boardgame

✇Homo Ludens
Von: Homo Ludens
11. August 2026 um 15:49

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In this video, I sit down with designers Fabio Lopiano and Mandela Fernandez-Grandon to explore the history behind Ayar: Children of the Sun, their 2025 release from Osprey Games. The game draws on the Inca origin myth of the Ayar siblings, who journey through the Andes before the foundation of Tawantinsuyu, the Inca Empire.

Rather than focusing only on how the game plays, we dig into the research and design process behind it: how Fabio and Mandela approached Inca history and mythology, how historical material was translated into mechanisms, what had to be abstracted or adapted, and how they navigated the challenge of representing a culture that is still too rarely explored in board games. We also discuss the relationship between theme and mechanics, and what they wanted players to understand (or at least become curious about) after playing Ayar.

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Published — 19. Mai 2026 ⏭ Homo Ludens

Battle Box - Age of Sail Preview - Naval Wargame in a tinbox

✇Homo Ludens
Von: Homo Ludens
19. Mai 2026 um 19:23

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A few months ago, Adrian released Battle Box: Napoleonic Wars, a clever little travel-friendly wargame with charming wooden components, variable battlefields, and a very accessible ruleset. I enjoyed the format a lot, even if the rules felt closer to a classic miniatures wargame than to some of the more elegant board wargame designs I personally gravitate toward.

But Age of Sail feels like a real step up. In a very small box, it manages to deliver a surprisingly rich naval wargame experience: four ships, tight manoeuvring, combat, scenario-driven asymmetry, and a smart card system that gives ships different statuses, damage effects, and special traits. It is compact, affordable, and much deeper than its tiny footprint suggests.

The Kickstarter campaign is in its final days, and I highly recommend checking it out.

Battle Box: Age of Sail on Kickstarter:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/feralwizard/battle-box-age-of-sail

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Published — 07. Mai 2026 ⏭ Homo Ludens

PunchedCon 26 - Wargame Convention Debrief

✇Homo Ludens
Von: Homo Ludens
07. Mai 2026 um 11:29

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It’s time for the annual PunchedCon debrief, and this year’s edition is a special one. I’m joined by an incredible panel of guests to unpack our experiences at the Coventry wargame convention, the games we played, and the ideas they sparked.

Around the table:
- Candice M. Harris, friend of the show and host of Kickin’ It Creative
- Pierre Vagneur-Jones, co-host of We Intend to Move on Your Works and designer of Ermine (next entry in the Men of Iron series)
- Eric Vulgaris, legendary online game master
- Joe Dewhurst, partner in crime, developer and designer (The Pure Land, Resisting Revolution)
- Adam Blinkinsop, developer and designer (Echo from the Dark, upcoming ICS title from GMT)

Together, we revisit the convention: what stood out, what surprised us, and what made this year’s PunchedCon such a great space for wargames, historical games, and creative experimentation.

We talk about a wide range of titles — from classics to curiosities:
Onward Christian Soldier (Berg megagame), the surprise hit from VUCA Imperial Elegy, the unusual The Man Who Was Thursday, Pacts from DVC Games, the classic A House Divided, recent releases like Guerrilla Generation and Baltic Empires, and oddities ranging from Guerrilla (a 90s COIN-like card game) to Fleeced (yes, the Wallace & Gromit game) and many more...

Links:
Kickin’ It Creative: https://www.youtube.com/@kickinitcreative
Eric Vulgaris: https://www.youtube.com/@EricVulgaris

Support the channel on Ko-fi and join the community on Discord:
https://ko-fi.com/homoludens1871

Chapters:
Intro - 00:00
Guerilla Generation - 00:48
Onward Christian Soldier - 01:01
Baltic Empires - 02:19
Desert Duel - 03:12
Imperial Elegy - 04:18
Pacts - 05:46
Echo from the dark - 06:18
Supremacy 2050 - 09:07
The Man Who Was Thursday - 11:17
Fleeced - 12:03
Northern Pacific - 12:49
Candice's finds - 13:21
Guerilla - 13:48
A House Divided - 15:02
Love for Joe Dewhurst - 17:12
Outro - 18:15
Published — 20. April 2026 ⏭ Homo Ludens

French Wargaming at Cannes International Boardgame Festival 2026

✇Homo Ludens
Von: Homo Ludens
20. April 2026 um 17:17

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Welcome back to Homo Ludens! Join me on the sunny shores of the French Riviera for the 2026 Cannes International Boardgame Festival. In this video, we take a deep dive into the Carré Histoire, the dedicated heart of historical gaming at the festival, to see what the vibrant French wargaming scene has in store for us this year.

Whether you're a fan of grand strategy, tactical skirmishes, or innovative deck-building, the French scene is pushing the boundaries of the "playable history" we love. We’re sitting down with three of the most exciting publishers in the hobby to look at their latest releases and upcoming prototypes.

Shakos Games
We explore their diverse lineup of beautifully produced historical titles, including:
- Rex Britanorum: High-stakes Arthurian conflict.
- Breizh 1341: The War of the Breton Succession brought to the tabletop.
- Napoleon 1870: A fresh look at the Franco-Prussian War through the Shakos lens.

Les Trois Zouaves
The Zouaves are back with tactical depth and historical flavor:
- Austerlitz: The newest entry in the acclaimed Time for Heroes series.
- L'Envol de l'Aigle: A fascinating look at an upcoming deck-building game focused on Napoleon's daring escape from St Hélène.

Nuts! Publishing
We wrap up with a look at the newest addition to their Combat Ration series:
- Guerre Éclair: A fast-paced, tense depiction of the 1940 German invasion of France.

Your support not only keeps the lights on but also grants you access to our private Discord server, where we discuss history, design, and our favorite games.

☕ Support me here: https://ko-fi.com/homoludens1871
Published — 18. April 2026 ⏭ Homo Ludens

Review de Meltwater - Un jeu de plateau anti-Guerre ? (avec Polgara)

✇Homo Ludens
Von: Homo Ludens
18. April 2026 um 16:48

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Dans cette vidéo, je retrouve Polgara (https://www.lepointdepolgara.fr
) pour une discussion approfondie autour de Meltwater, un jeu aussi radical dans sa proposition ludique que dans son propos.

À travers cette review, nous nous interrogeons sur ce que peut être un jeu de société aujourd’hui : est-il un simple produit de divertissement, ou peut-il proposer une véritable expérience esthétique et philosophique ? Meltwater nous sert ici de point de départ pour explorer les limites du médium, la manière dont ses mécaniques peuvent être détournées ou mises en tension, et ce que cela implique pour les joueuses.

Dans ce monde post-apocalyptique où les survivants s’affrontent sur les glaces de l’Antarctique après une guerre nucléaire, le jeu propose une expérience dépouillée, brutale, presque inconfortable, qui questionne directement notre rapport à la guerre, à la stratégie, et à la victoire.

Meltwater est-il un jeu “anti-guerre” ? Ou simplement une autre manière de représenter le conflit ? C’est ce que nous essayons de démêler dans cette discussion.

Si ce type de contenu vous intéresse, vous pouvez soutenir la chaîne sur Ko-fi et rejoindre notre communauté Discord :
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Published — 15. April 2026 ⏭ Homo Ludens

Baltic Empires - Unboxing of Brian Asklev's upcoming wargame with GMT

✇Homo Ludens
Von: Homo Ludens
15. April 2026 um 17:04

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In this video, I unbox Baltic Empires, a new strategic-level wargame set in the early modern Baltic region. But this isn’t your typical unboxing ! As a developer on the project, I take the opportunity to go beyond the components and share insights into the design choices, development process, and production decisions that shaped the final game.

Baltic Empires is an approachable 2–5 player wargame where Denmark-Norway, Sweden, Russia, Poland-Lithuania, and Prussia compete for dominance through a mix of economic development, political maneuvering, and warfare. With asymmetric objectives and a strong focus on state-building, the game explores a transformative period marked by religious conflict, shifting alliances, and the rise of modern power structures.

As I go through the box, I’ll talk about how the system evolved, what we tried to achieve in terms of accessibility and historical framing, and some of the challenges we faced along the way.

If you enjoy this kind of behind-the-scenes content, consider supporting the channel on Ko-fi, it helps keep Homo Ludens independent and ad-free, and gives you access to our Discord community:
https://ko-fi.com/homoludens1871
Published — 07. April 2026 ⏭ Homo Ludens

Best boardgames and wargames of 2025 and a channel update

✇Homo Ludens
Von: Homo Ludens
07. April 2026 um 00:26

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In this video I go over the best boardgames and historical games that were new to me in 2025 and provide a channel updat eon what to expect in 2026.

Chapters :
Intro 00:00
Best boardgames of 2025 00:31
Channel update 04:46
Best Historical boardgames of 2025 12:08
Preview of 2026 18:04

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Published — 02. Januar 2026 ⏭ Homo Ludens

Star Wars : La Bataille de Hoth – Peut-on y jouer en famille ? Review spéciale Noël

✇Homo Ludens
Von: Homo Ludens
02. Januar 2026 um 15:36

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Pour cette review spéciale Noël, Homo Ludens change de configuration : autour de la table, mes nièces Camille et Lisa, ainsi que mon frère Nicolas, pour découvrir et discuter ensemble de Star Wars: Battle of Hoth.

Le jeu propose des affrontements héroïques et rapides de figurines, situés sur la planète glacée Hoth, et recrée l’une des scènes les plus emblématiques de Star Wars: L’Empire contre-attaque. Basé sur le système Command & Colors, il repose sur une mécanique accessible mais tendue : à chaque tour, les joueurs choisissent des cartes de commandement pour activer leurs unités, manœuvrer sur le champ de bataille et résoudre les combats.

La boîte inclut 17 scénarios, permettant de rejouer la bataille sous différents angles. Pour celles et ceux qui souhaitent aller plus loin, le jeu propose également l’ajout de cartes Leader, mettant en scène des personnages iconiques de la saga, ainsi que deux campagnes multi-scénarios où les succès et les échecs influencent les affrontements suivants.

Dans cette vidéo, nous abordons le jeu avec un regard familial et intergénérationnel : accessibilité pour des joueuses et joueurs plus jeunes, lisibilité des règles, plaisir de jeu, mais aussi ce que Battle of Hoth apporte à la longue tradition des jeux Command & Colors et des adaptations Star Wars.

Si vous appréciez ce type de contenu mêlant jeu d’histoire, culture ludique et transmission, vous pouvez soutenir la chaîne, rejoindre la communauté Discord et faire un don sur Ko-Fi :
https://ko-fi.com/homoludens1871
Published — 31. Dezember 2025 ⏭ Homo Ludens

Brandywine 1777: A Time for Heroes – History, Design, and Play | Live Stream

✇Homo Ludens
Von: Homo Ludens
31. Dezember 2025 um 11:02

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In this upcoming live stream, I will be joined by Yves Roig, the designer of Brandywine 1777: A Time for Heroes, and Valentin Crespel, the developer of the game, for an in-depth discussion and play session.

Brandywine 1777: A Time for Heroes is a two-player historical wargame covering the Battle of Brandywine, fought on 11 September 1777 during the American War of Independence. One player commands the British and Hessian forces under Howe, while the other leads the Continental Army under Washington. The game focuses on command decisions, maneuver, and the friction of 18th-century warfare, offering a tense and historically grounded experience.

During the stream, we will discuss the historical background of the battle, the core design principles behind the system, the development process, and what makes Brandywine 1777 distinct within the landscape of American Revolutionary War games. We will also talk about the production choices and what players can expect from the final version.

The game is currently available in late pledge on Gamefound. You can find the campaign here:
https://gamefound.com/en/projects/les-3-zouaves/brandywine-1777-a-time-for-heroes?ref=search

If you enjoy this content and want to support the channel, you can join the Discord and help keep Homo Ludens alive by donating on Ko-Fi:
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Published — 09. Dezember 2025 ⏭ Homo Ludens

Star Wars: Battle Of Hoth - Design Interview with Adrien Martinot

✇Homo Ludens
Von: Homo Ludens
09. Dezember 2025 um 17:40

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In this interview, I speak with Adrien Martinot, co-designer of Star Wars: Battle of Hoth alongside Richard Borg. We discuss his journey from leading the Days of Wonder studio to becoming a board game designer, his long-standing passion for Memoir ’44, and how he collaborated with Richard Borg to bring this new Command and Colors adaptation to life.

Star Wars: Battle of Hoth is a fast-paced miniatures wargame set on the iconic ice planet from The Empire Strikes Back. Built on the Command and Colors system, it offers seventeen scenarios, optional leader cards featuring six classic Star Wars characters, and two branching campaigns where each battle shapes the next.

If you want to learn more about the design process behind this game and Adrien’s insights into the board game industry, this conversation is for you.

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Published — 27. November 2025 ⏭ Homo Ludens

Quatre Bras with Paolo Mori — Battlefields of the Napoleonic Wars Play & Teach

✇Homo Ludens
Von: Homo Ludens
27. November 2025 um 22:10

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In this video, I sit down with designer Paolo Mori to play through the Quatre Bras scenario from Battlefields of the Napoleonic Wars, his new Napoleonic wargame system co-designed with Alessandro Zucchini. We walk through the rules, tactics, and historical considerations behind this fast, elegant system while trying to determine whether Wellington can hold the line against Ney’s assault.

This stream is also a chance to discuss Paolo’s design intentions, how the system evolved, and why he believes Battlefields can appeal both to experienced grognards and newcomers.

A review copy of the game was kindly provided by Paolo.

If you enjoy this type of content, consider supporting the channel on Ko-fi — it keeps the show independent and ad-free, and grants access to the Homo Ludens Discord:
👉 https://ko-fi.com/homoludens1871

Timecode:
00:00 Intro
03:40 Play
01:09:14 Debrief Chat
Published — 21. November 2025 ⏭ Homo Ludens

Ion Game Design - MinIon and other updates

✇Homo Ludens
Von: Homo Ludens
21. November 2025 um 16:39

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In this interview I speak with Besim Uyanik and Jon Manker of ION Game Design about their bold 2026 initiative: MinION — a monthly subscription program delivering a compact, standalone board game each month, designed as an entry point into ION’s award-winning strategy universe. We explore the thinking behind making “big game” depth accessible in a smaller format, how MinION bridges into their core titles, and why they’re launching it in early 2026.

We also dive into ION’s production update: how they manage physical game manufacturing, their approach to video game adaptations, and their educational initiatives aimed at bringing strategic gaming to wider audiences.

Timecode:
00:00 Intro
01:30 Essen
06:23 MinIon Games
17:04 Educational Games
24:12 Ion Game Design and Video Games
32:44 Production Pipeline

For more info on the MinION project, see:
https://iongamedesign.com/pages/minion

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