So Very Wrong About Games

You like SVWAG? Their early work was a little too negative for my taste. But when SHUX came out in '20, I think they really came into their own, commercially and artistically. The whole podcast has a clear, crisp sound, and a new sheen of consummate professionalism that really gives the episodes a big boost. They've been compared to Elvis Costello, but I think SVWAG has a far more bitter, cynical sense of humor. In '23, SVWAG released this; episode 251, their most accomplished episode. I think their undisputed masterpiece is "gullet regurgitation". An observation so catchy, most people probably don't think about the meaning. But they should, because it's not just about the pleasures of consumption and the importance of digestion. It's also a personal statement about the podcast itself. Hey, Walker!01:37 AYURIS: Whale Riders (Reiner Knizia, Grail Games, 2021)Games Played Last Week:03:42 -Godtear (David Carl, Alex Hall, & Steve Margetson, Steamforged Games, 2019)08:30 -Aliens: Another Glorious Day in the Corps (Andrew Haught, Gale Force Nine, 2020)14:17 -LOAD: League of Ancient Defenders (Uncredited, Archon Studio, 2016)17:49 -Warpgate: Beyond (Artyom Nichipurov, Wolff Designa, 2022)22:23 -Code of Nine (BakaFire, Z-Man Games, 2012)26:17 -American Psycho: A Killer Game (Dan Blanchett, Renegade Game Studios, 2022)30:25 -Sabika (Germán P. Millán, Ludonova, 2022)News (and why it doesn't matter):36:15 Bamboo by Sabika's Germán P. Millán36:53 Cyclades: Legendary Edition37:52 The closure and bankruptcy of Holy Grail Games39:16 Expansion to Cosmic Frog! "Find Muck"40:15 Topic: Gaming Design Trends

I once saw a video of a woman driving a Shelby GT350 Mustang on the Autobahn. It hit 275 kph without breaking a figurative sweat, roaring its primal power the entire way. I was petrified even watching the video. This is to say nothing of the terror I felt seeing it take offramps at roughly 100 kph, which is not terribly advisable with a vehicle that is not known for its cornering. Of course, there are many sections of the Autobahn with speed limits--and even more with no Mustangs on it at all. Tragedies heaped upon tragedies.Games Played Last Week:00:54 -boop. (Scott Brady, Smirk & Laighter Games, 2022)01:53 -Bag of Chips (Mathieu Aubert and Théo Rivière, Mixlore, 2021)03:26 -Ginkgopolis (Xavier Georges, Pearl Games, 2012)05:32 -Street Masters: Aftershock (Adam Sadler & Brady Sadler, Blacklist Games, 2019)07:10 -Equinox (Reiner Knizia, Plan B Games, 2021)13:26 -Tammany Hall (Doug Eckhart, IDW Games, 2007) 17:44 -Marvel United (Andrea Chiarvesio and Eric M. Lang, CMON, 2020)22:19 -Yellow & Yangtze (Reiner Knizia, Grail Games, 2018)24:31 -Bot Factory (Vital Lacerda and João Quintela Martins, Eagle-Gryphon Games, 2023)29:06 -The Wolves (Ashwin Kamath and Clarence Simpson, Pandasaurus Games, 2022)News (and why it doesn't matter):35:58 Dead Cells by Scorpion Masqué and Antoine Bauza, Ludovic Maublanc, et al36:35 Puerto Rico 1897 component problems36:53 Andromeda's Edge on Gamefound: Dwellings of Eldervale in spaaaace38:04 More MicroMacro: Crime City. Complete the map!38:39 Funagain distribution woes: Stationfall, Revive, Horseless Carriage39:34 Jekyll & Hyde vs. Scotland Yard: two-plaayer co-op trick-taking game40:21 SVWAG on Patreon! www.patreon.com/svwag40:56 Renegade deck-builders crossover: G.I. Joe & Transformers: New Alliances42:13 Feature Game: Autobahn (Fabio Lopiano and Nestore Mangone, Alley Cat Games, 2022)

A comprehensive list of what transpires in RRR would sound like the incoherent ramblings of someone undergoing a very potent trip, which is why we merely indulge in a curated list. While Mark does not retract his naming Decision to Leave as his favourite film of 2022, he will concede that it leads to a less absurdist discussion. It also features slightly fewer dance numbers. Games Played Last Week:01:21 -Astra (Patrik Porkoláb, Frigyes Schőberl, and Eszter Krisztina Sas, Mindclash Games, 2022) 03:37 -Much that Is Good and All that Is Evil (Jeeyon Shim, Jeeyon Shim Games, 2022)06:04 -Wonderland's War (Tim Eisner, Ben Eisner, & Ian Moss, Druid City Games, 2022)08:30 -Mosaic: A Story of Civilization (Glenn Drover, Forbidden Games, 2022)12:34 -Pax Ragnarok (Jon Moffat, Unpublished)17:53 -Street Masters: Twin Tiger (Brady Sadler and Adam Sadler, Blacklist Games, 2018)19:57 -The Crew: Mission Deep Sea (Thomas Sing, KOSMOS, 2021)News (and why it doesn't matter):22:22 Xoe Allred's Persuasion being developed by Wehrlegig Games23:38 Quartermaster General: East Front Ares Games24:34 Pride and PrejuDice on Kickstarter25:19 Hail Caesar 2nd Edition from Warlord Games26:18 Kabuto Sumo: Beetle Brawl at Target27:19 Imperial Miners: 51st State with spatial play28:23 New Sid Sackson's Acquire from Renegade29:45 Expeditions from Stonemaier: more Jakub Rozalski art; tracing controvery dead? 31:09 Feature Game: Rolling Heights (John D. Clair, AEG, 2023)54:36 SVWAG Presents Masterpiece Theatre: RRR

Our favourite Serge Laget game is Senji. "Senji" is a contraction of "Sengoku Jidai," or Warring States Period, which refers to over a century of near total civil war in Japan that started in 1467. Scholars differ as to when it ended, but mostly we can agree that it started when I traded Huey my grandpa in exchange for boats and then he shipped ol' gramps to Louis' estate. I found this out the hard way when my armies marched on Château Louis to be met with my ex-grandpa. I was a bit miffed, but I was able to use Huey's boat to steal his best stuff, so I guess I got over it. Besides, Dewey gave me Huey's son in exchange for some weapons.01:19 AYURIS: The Red Cathedral (Israel Cendrero & Sheila Santos, Devir Games, 2020)Games Played Last Week:02:35 -Autobahn (Fabio Lopiano and Nestore Mangone, Alley Cat Games, 2022)08:57 -Soda Smugglers (Reiner Knizia, Bitewing Games, 2022)11:11 -Woodcraft (Ross Arnold and Vladimír Suchý, Delicious Games, 2022)12:37 -Chinatown (Karsten Hartwig, Z-Man, 1999)15:21 -Atiwa (Uwe Rosenberg, Lookout Games, 2022)20:39 -Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy (Touko Tahkokallio, Lautapelit.fl, 2020)23:15 -Karate Tomate (Reiner Knizia, AMIGO, 2018)23:31 -Monikers (Alex Hague and Justin Vickers, CMYK, 2015)25:45 -Herd Mentality (Rich Coombs and Dan Penn, Big Potato, 2020)26:50 -Senji (Bruno Cathala & Serge Laget, Asmodee, 2008)News (and why it doesn't matter):27:00 Pearl Games closed by Asmodee, but Sébastien Dujardin might resurrect it28:37 SVWAG Videos! Uwe Rosenberg and Top 10 of 2022https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn7rQYKYwsxouP_7nSza9qQ29:15 Tom Jolly's Wiz-War on Kickstarter via Steve Jackson Games30:25 King's Dilemma: Chronicles on Steam 31:03 Topic: Serge Laget

Ah, you dear internet pedants, I can hear your rapid and ever-present desire for infinite emendations and futile attempts to be comprehensive! "What of the expansion, uhm actually," you demand. We have little experience with the Ginkgopolis expansion, and while it adds several modules, they don't add much to the game--if you catch my subtle distinction.Games Played Last Week:01:18 -The Quest for El Dorado: The Golden Temples (Reiner Knizia, Ravensburger, 2019)05:52 -Heat: Pedal to the Metal (Asger Harding Granerud and Daniel Skjold Pedersen, Days of Wonder, 2022)11:00 -Last Message (Lee Ju-Hwa and Giung Kim, IELLO, 2021)15:05 -Hyperborea: Light and Shadow (Andrea Chiarvesio, Maurizio Vergendo, and Pierluca Zizzi, Asterion Press, 2016)19:10 -Ragnarocks (Gord!, Grey Fox Games, 2022)23:45 -Undaunted: Stalingrad (Trevor Benjamin and David Thompson, Osprey Games, 2022)26:18 -Rauha (Johannes Goupy and Théo Rivière, GRRRE Games, 2023) 28:16 -For Sale (Stefan Dorra, Uberplay, 1997)30:41 -Woodcraft (Ross Arnold and Vladimír Suchý, Delicious Games, 2022)News (and why it doesn't matter):34:30 Game Brewer's Trolls and Princesses on Kickstarter36:02 Expansion to Witchstone: Full Moon36:40 Nusfjord Big Box: new expansions sold separately37:54 Gears of War: The Card Game38:26 SVWAG YouTube Page: new videoshttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn7rQYKYwsxouP_7nSza9qQ39:19 Feature Game: Ginkgopolis (Xavier Georges, Pearl Games, 2012)

Welcome to our year-end eleganza extravaganza! Lists are compiled. Harsh truths confronted. For example, while one generally takes a while to acclimatize to the using the new year in dates, 2022 seemed immediately apt and people switched over effortlessly. 2023 still seems weird, though--as evidenced by the fact that we forgot to change our tags for our 2023 episodes thus far! How embarrassing.Games Played Last Week:01:32 -Good Puppers (Chris Cieslik, Asmadi Games, 2021)03:21 -Woodcrafters (Ross Arnold and Vladimír Suchý, Delicious Games, 2022)06:55 -Robotech: Reconstruction (Dr. Wictz, Strange Machine Games, 2023) 12:59 -Black Rose Wars (Marco Montanaro, Ludus Magnus Studio, 2019)18:46 -Ankh: Gods of Egypt--Pharaoh (Erc M. Lang, CMON, 2021)22:53 -Age of Industry (Martin Wallace, Treefrog Games, 2010) and Age of Industry Expansion: Belgium and USSR (Clause Sirois, Self-published, 2013)29:17 -Sentinels of the Multiverse (Christopher Badell, Paul Bender, & Adam Rebottaro, Greater Than Games, 2011)30:25 -Artisans of Splendent Vale (Nikki Valens, Renegade Game Studios, 2022)37:14 -Lanzerath Ridge (David Thompson, Dan Verssen Games, 2022)40:42 Top 10s of 20221:04:44 Game of the Year 20221:07:33 Special Categories

"I'm head of the classI'm popularI'm a quarter backI'm popularMy mom says I'm a catchI'm popularI'm never last pickedI'm in the Green Team cliqueBeing attractive is the most important thing there isIf you wanna catch the biggest fish in your pondYou have to be as attractive as possibleMake sure to keep your hair spotless and cleanWash it at least every two weeksOnce every two weeksAnd if you see Johnny Football Hero in the hallTell him he played a great gameTell him you liked his choice in the best of three"-Popular by Nada Surf,which ought to have been in the Green Team Wins rulebookGames Played Last Week:01:09 -Undaunted: Stalingrad (Trevor Benjamin and David Thompson, Osprey Games, 2022)04:01 -Tiletum (Simone Luciani and Daniele Tascini, Board&Dice, 2022)08:18 -Green Team Wins (Nathan Thornton, 25th Century Games, 2022)10:55 -Terracotta Army (Przemysław Fornal and Adam Kwapiński, Board&Dice, 2022)17:54 -Paperback Adventures (Tim Fowers and Skye Larsen, Fowers Games, 2022)23:34 -Don't L.L.A.M.A. Dice (Reiner Knizia, AMIGO, 2021)24:46 -Robotech: Reconstruction (Dr. Wictz, Strange Machine Games, 2021) 29:12 -Hyperborea (Andrea Chiarvesio & Pierluca Zizzi, Asterion, 2014)34:24 -Roll Camera!: The Filmmaking Board Game (Malachi Ray Rempen, Keen Bean Studios, 2021)News (and why it doesn't matter):38:32 Irrgarten der Magier (Magician's Maze): Co-op dexterity with magnets!40:05 Andrew Parks and Eric Goldberg's Tales of the Arthurian Knights41:06 Isle of Skye Big Box: Walker Buys Twice Edition42:16 End of year SVWAG survey! Questions! Prizes! Please help us plan! https://forms.gle/WuqtmUK39xFMAbAb742:54 We have a Patreon. www.patreon.com/svwag44:11 Feature Game: Beowulf: The Legend (Reiner Knizia, KOSMOS, 2005)

After much popular demand, we present to you the much-anticipated return of Masterpiece Theatre. Our esteemed patron--who is utterly unaware of our existence, such is his focus on his twin demesnes of fastness and furiousness--deserves no less. Of course, should His Grace, the Reverend Doktor Doktor Vincent, Duke of Diesel, Esq. O.B.E. ever condescend to acknowledge us plebs, we would no doubt swoon from appreciation. We would cherish so much as a grunt! Or a cease and desist! Games Played Last Week:01:21 -Undaunted: Stalingrad (Trevor Benjamin and David Thompson, Osprey Games, 2022)05:33 -Time of Empires (David Simiand and Pierre Voye, Pearl Games, 2022)09:31 -Time Barons (Jon Perry and Derek Yu, WizKids, 2014)13:51 -Cat in the Box: Deluxe Edition (Muneyuki Yokouchi, Bézier Games, 2022)18:19 -Green Team Wins (Nathan Thornton, 25th Century Games, 2022)22:20 -One Deck Galaxy (Chris Cieslik, Asmadi Games, 2022)26:02 -G.I. Joe Deck-Building Game: Coldsnap Expansion (T.C. Petty III, Renegade Game Studios, 2022)29:33 -Tidal Blades: Banner Festival (J.B. Howell and Michael Mihealsick, Druid City Games, 2022)34:16 -Tiny Turbo Cars (Hjalmar Hach, Alessandro Manuini, Jonathan Panada, Laura Severino, and Giulia Tamagni, Horrible Guild, 2022)News (and why it doesn't matter):39:59 Knizia's Quo Vadis becomes Zoo Vadis from Bitewing Games41:13 Kingmaker from 1974 becomes revised from Gibsons Games42:38 End of year SVWAG survey! Questions! Prizes! Please help us plan! https://forms.gle/WuqtmUK39xFMAbAb743:25 Warsurge on Kickstarter: setting and miniature agnostic with unrestricted unit design45:59 Feature Game: Oak (Wim Goossens, Game Brewer, 2022)1:11:32 SVWAG Presents Masterpiece Theatre: Glass Onion

We take no time off for Boxing Day here at SVWAG, a day so named because according to the common law of the King (still feels weird saying that) citizens of the Commonwealth are permitted to punch someone in the face on this day only. It's like a pugilistic The Purge but with the metric system and occasional poutine. The news this week features a number of exemplary game titles. Many a stellar game has crossed our paths purely on the strength of its name, whereas others are so generic as to defy searching. Go ahead, find R on Board Game Geek, or the game Quest. I dare you.01:59 AYURIS: Dominant Species Marine (Chad Jensen, GMT Games, 2021)Games Played Last Week:04:50 -Oak (Wim Goossens, Game Brewer, 2022)10:59 -Weather Machine (Vital Lacerda, Eagle-Gryphon Games, 2022)12:42 -Time of Empires (David Simiand and Pierre Voye, Pearl Games, 2022)23:10 -Wayfarers of the South Tigris (S J Macdonald and Shem Phillips, Garphill Games, 2022)26:40 -Persuasion (Xoe Allred, Unpublished)31:31 -Starship Captains (Peter B. Hoffgaard, Czech Games Edition, 2022)37:22 -Cockroach Poker (Jacques Zeimet, Drei Magier Spiele, 2004)42:43 -Green Team Wins (Nathan Thornton, 25th Century Games, 2022)47:53 -Arcana Rising (Tim Armstrong, Grey Fox Games, 2021)50:12 -R (Seiji Kanai, Kanai Factory, 2011)News (and why it doesn't matter):52:35 Much that Is Good, and All that Is Evil: game about the Western Gull53:08 The Adventures of Robin Hood: Friar Tuck in Danger expansion54:14 End of year SVWAG survey! Questions! Prizes! Please help us plan! https://forms.gle/WuqtmUK39xFMAbAb755:10 Noobs in Space55:48 Topic: Real-time Games

All things in SVWAG are glorious, and that applies doubly for our glorious returns. We will also not be taking any additional breaks during the holidays! Yes, we can pledge an uninterrupted broadcast schedule through to the new year--leading directly to our annual end-of-year spectacular. And it shall be what, listeners? Say it with me,It shall be glorious.02:24 AYURIS: Bullet♥︎ (Joshua Van Laningham, Level 99 Games, 2021)Games Played Last Week:05:08 -Tidal Blades: Banner Festival (J.B. Howell and Michael Mihealsick, Druid City Games, 2022)08:12 -Riftforce: Beyond (Carlo Bortolini, 1 More Time Games, 2022)11:29 -Turing Machine (Fabien Gridel and Yoann Levet, Le Scorpion Masqué, 2022)17:27 -Roll Camera!: The Filmmaking Board Game (Malachi Ray Rempen, Keen Bean Studios, 2021)23:36 -John Company: Second Edition (Cole Wehrle, Wehrlegig Games, 2022)29:27 -Horizons of Spirit Island (R. Eric Reuss, Greater Than Games, 2022)33:20 -Terracotta Army (Przemysław Fornal and Adam Kwapiński, Board&Dice, 2022)35:37 -Pandemic: Fall of Rome (Matt Leacock & Paolo Mori, Z-Man, 2018)38:11 -Tiletum (Simone Luciani and Daniele Tascini, Board&Dice, 2022)39:44 -Brazil: Imperial (Zé Mendes, MeepleBR, 2021)49:02 -Oak (Wim Goossens, Game Brewer, 2022)50:46 -Frostpunk: The Board Game (Adam Kwapiński, Glass Cannon Unplugged, 2022)News (and why it doesn't matter):52:27 Calico app: cats on your phone53:20 French website Tric Trac to shut down54:18 Mythic Games divests itself of several IPs to CMON and Monolith Games56:01 Sweaty Tryhard vs. Filthy Casual: not meant as insult. New Myers-Briggs to be crafted?58:10 Inside Job: trick-taking with traitor58:52 IKI expansion: Akebono. Walker summons the purifying flames.59:23 Queen games reprints Stefan Feld's city collection with no updates in 9-day campaign. Allegedly.1:00:35 Topic: Random Events

Sometimes a game's title leads to it being underplayed. Such is not the case for Carolus Magnus, whose chief downside might be the surplus of excellent aliases (Chuckie Mags, Charlie Big-Big, Carlos Grande, Caroolie Magoonie, et al). Planet Unknown, on the other hand, hardly sticks in one's memory. Planet Lazy Susan, though perhaps a bit clumsy, would have likely generated more interest and most definitely adhered to gamers' memory more.Games Played Last Week:01:06 -I.S.S. Vanguard (Andrzej Betkiewicz, Krzysztof Piskorski, Paweł Samborski, and Marcin Świerkot, Awaken Realms, 2022) 08:03 -Teotihuacan: City of Gods (Daniele Tascini & Dávid Turczi, NSKN Games, 2018)11:51 -Frostpunk: The Board Game (Adam Kwapiński, Glass Cannon Unplugged, 2022)24:07 -MicroMacro: Crime City--All In (Johannes Sich, Edition Spielwiese, 2022)27:27 -Endless Winter: Paleoamericans (Stan Kordonskiy, Fantasia Games, 2022)29:34 -Last Message (Lee Ju-Hwa and Giung Kim, IELLO, 2021)33:07 -Eriantys (Leo Colovini, Cranio Creations, 2021)34:41 -War Chest (Trevor Benjamin & David Thompson, AEG, 2018)News (and why it doesn't matter):35:39 Snow People on Kickstarter: inexpensive PnP37:35 "Convention Haul" pictures are often just marketing; audience beware39:25 Teeter Tower: Dice-rolling stacking game40:06 Feature Game: Planet Unknown (Ryan Lambert & Adam Rehberg, Adam's Apple Games, 2022)

Walker has yet to inform us what agenda the aliens are pursuing in Argentina during their relentless campaign of cow abduction. Do the alien overlords practise colonialism in the same way as their human counterparts? Do the inscrutable extraterrestrials differentiate between different humans, perhaps much as they differentiate between cows? Are their secret machinations behind the British East India Company as well? Walker, what are you hiding!01:54 AYURIS: Faiyum (Friedemann Friese, 2F-Spiele, 2020)Games Played Last Week:05:22 -Spire's End: Hildegard (Greg Favro, Favro Ventures, LLC., 2022)07:36 -Innovation (Carl Chudyk, Asmadi Games, 2010)07:44 -A Feast for Odin (Uwe Rosenberg, Feuerland Spiele, 2016)07:50 -Jetpack Joyride: Deluxe Edition (Michał Gołębiowski, Lucky Duck Games, 2019)08:12 -Ankh: Gods of Egypt (Eric M. Lang, CMON, 2021)08:35 -Whale Riders (Reiner Knizia, Grail Games, 2021)09:04 -Wavelength (Alex Hague, Justin Vickers, & Wolfgang Warsch, Palm Court, 2019)10:29 -Trick Shot (Second Edition) (Artyom Nichipurov, Wolff Designa)14:07 -Crash Octopus (Naotaka Shimamoto, itten, 2021)16:17 -Riftforce: Beyond (Carlo Bortolini, 1 More Time Games, 2022)18:55 -Horizons of Spirit Island (R. Eric Reuss, Greater Than Games, 2022)20:47 -John Company: Second Edition (Cole Wehrle, Wehrlegig Games, 2022)27:21 -Sidereal Confluence: Bifurcation (TauCeti Deichmann, WizKids, 2022)30:34 -Oak (Wim Goossens, Game Brewer, 2022)33:55 -Persuasion (Xoe Allred, Unpublished)https://knifebunny.itch.io/persuasion38:25 -Great Western Trail: Argentina (Alexander Pfister, eggertspiele, 2022)43:53 -Turncoats (Matilda Simonsson, Milda Matilda Games, 2021)48:00 -Guards of Atlantis II (Artyom Nichipurov, Wolff Designa, 2022)News (and why it doesn't matter):52:30 Spread the news of SVWAG! www.patreon.com/svwag54:09 CMYK New Boardgame Smell scented candle 55:22 Peanut Butter Belly Time56:20 Kickstarter projects: Pest & Runar57:29 Regicide new art, new suit theme for diamonds #savepeanut59:32 Topic: Deal-Making

Say what you want about the evils of filthy lucre, but I find it amazing how managers turn communitarian and high-minded when it comes to fair remuneration. "Don't you believe in the project?" "Aren't you committed to the team?" et al get deployed all the time when people want to, you know, get compensated for their work. One can't help but notice that racialized workers and women get subjected to such nonsense at a higher-than-average rate. Volunteerism is noble and good, but stiffing workers is not. When someone is trying to elide the difference, you can bet that they're up to something.Games Played Last Week:01:12 -Wonderland's War (Tim Eisner, Ben Eisner, & Ian Moss, Druid City Games, 2022)04:36 -Fantasy Realms: Deluxe Edition (Bruce Galssco, WizKids, 2022)08:55 -Lands of Galzyr (Seppo Kuukasjärvi and Sami Laakso, Snowdale Design, 2022)12:12 -Horizons of Spirit Island (R. Eric Reuss, Greater Than Games, 2022)15:25 -Weather Machine (Vital Lacerda, Eagle-Gryphon Games, 2022)19:01 -Resurgence (Stan Kordonskiy, Half-a-Kingdom Games, 2022)22:17 -Darkest Dungeon: The Board Game (Nick Niotis and Argyris Poungouras, Mythic Games, 2022)28:23 -Innovation (Carl Chudyk, Asmadi Games, 2010)News (and why it doesn't matter):30:10 HeroScape: Age of Annihilation fails to reach crowdfunding goal32:40 Star Wars: Shatterpoint minis game from Atomic Mass35:35 Hollandays Sale! Freebie "Watch Out! That's a Dracula!"36:29 Expensive video game adaptation! Archon's Heroes of Might & Magic III, Steamforged's Elden Ring38:07 Abusive labour practices in hobby businesseshttps://www.dicebreaker.com/companies/pandasaurus-games/feature/pandasaurus-games-workers-allege-toxic-workplace-crunch-burnout-payment-issues39:45 Feature Game: Dwellings of Eldervale (Luke Laurie, Breaking Games, 2020)

Most of those time loop movies, while enjoyable, lack any degree of verisimilitude--clearly the chief use of a power to undo time or back up would be to get another chance at not saying something terribly stupid and embarrassing. One wonders if such time travelers would have a yet deeper reservoir of memories of sounding like a total cretin, even though those utterances were never said in the actual timeline (setting aside the multiverse version of time travel, or the "Infinite Douchebag" theory).01:33 AYURIS: Anachrony: Fractures of Time (Richard Amann, Viktor Peter, Dávid Turczi, & Mindclash Games, 2020)Games Played Last Week:03:56 -Free Ride (Friedemann Friese, 2F-Spiele, 2021)10:36 -Embryo Machine (Giguru Akiguchi and Toshimitsu Shigaki, LionWing Publishing, 2018)11:31 -Monolyth (Phil Walker-Harding, CMON, 2022)13:58 -Arcana Rising (Tim Armstrong, Grey Fox Games, 2021)18:17 -Skymines (Viktor Kobilke and Alexander Pfister, Deep Print Games, 2022)24:18 -Soda Smugglers (Reiner Knizia, Bitewing Games, 2022) 27:27 -Hot Lead (Reiner Knizia, Bitewing Games, 2022)30:42 -Pumafiosi (Reiner Knizia, Bitewing Games, 2022) 33:55 -Tiny Turbo Cars (Hjalmar Hach, Alessandro Manuini, Jonathan Panada, Laura Severino, and Giulia Tamagni, Horrible Guild, 2022)38:02 -Terra Nova (Andreas Faul, KOSMOS, 2022)News (and why it doesn't matter):42:16 New Patreon-exclusive show: WIRED, about our Oathsworn campaign.42:37 Check your Patreon messages if you submitted to get a copy of Horizons of Spirit Island!43:10 Tragedy Looper: New Tragedies by BakaFire45:49 Michael Crossman's 100 Post Apocalyptic Vehicular Combat Accessories on Kickstarter47:07 The Last of Us: Escape the Dark 48:48 Minimalist version of Gatefall by Jack Dire on Kickstarter50:16 Topic: Dealing with Rules Mistakes

"Let us go then, you and I,When the board is spread out against the tableLike a beast euthanized inside a stable;Let us go, through certain half-deserted tracks,The muttering attacksDuring restless nights of one-play bad gamesAnd sepia box lids with familiar names:Rules that follow like a tedious argumentOf soporific intentTo lead you to an overwhelming question ...Oh, do not ask, “What to play?”Let us go and have our say.In the room the gamers come and stayTalking of Asmodee."-The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock Games Played Last Week:00:55 -Keep the Heroes Out (Luís Brüeh, Brueh Games, 2022)06:49 -Air, Land, & Sea: Spies, Lies, & Supplies (Jon Perry, Arcane Wonders, 2022)11:46 -Skymines (Viktor Kobilke and Alexander Pfister, Deep Print Games, 2022)15:00 -Calimala (Fabio Lopiano, ADC Blackfire Entertainment GmbH, 2017)18:46 -Resist! (Trevor Benjamin, Roger Tankersley, and David Thompson, Salt & Pepper Games, 2022)21:25 -Tindaya (Lolo González, Red Mojo, 2022)26:04 -Oathsworn: Into the Deepwood (Jamie Jolly, Shadowborne Games, 2022)News (and why it doesn't matter):31:36 Teotihuacan: Deluxe Version in 202332:23 Mosaic: Wars & Disasters Expansion on KS: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/954412004/mosaic-wars-and-disasters-expansion33:28 From The Red Cathedral to The White Castle35:15 Non-US patrons! Send us a Patreon message for a chance to get a copy of Target-exclsuive Horizons of Spirit Island36:36 Slay the Spire on KS: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/contentiongames/slay-the-spire-the-board-game41:36 Dragonlance: Warriors of Krynn by Stephen Baker and ROb Daviau43:16 Feature Game: Flamecraft (Manny Vega, Cardboard Alchemy, 2022)

Replete with a robust menagerie in this episode, we perhaps begin to see why anthropomorphic animals seem to feature in every other game lately. We have Dalmations (plus a cow named Doog trying to impersonate a Dalmation), horsies, goats, weasels and wombats (seldom do we see such an august alliteration!), meeses (not to be confused with mooses), and some needed stinkin' badgers. Not a great petting zoo, sure--o of limited utility in a game of Ark Nova--but an impressive collection nonetheless.Games Played Last Week:02:05 -Spots (Alex Hague, Jon Perry, and Justin Vickers, CMYK, 2022)02:20 -Long Shot: The Dice Game (Chris Handy, Perplext, 2022)03:37 -Mountain Goats (Stefan Risthaus, BoardGameTables.com, 2020)06:10 -Mysterium Park (Oleksandr Nevskiy and Oleg Sidorenko, Libellud, 2020)09:08 -Oathsworn: Into the Deepwood (Jamie Jolly, Shadowborne Games, 2022)15:50 -Weasel-Tech (Ivan Sorensen, Nordic Weasel Games, 2021)21:22 -Hand-to-Hand Wombat (Matthew Inman, Elan Lee, & Cory O'Brien, Exploding Kittens, 2022)25:02 -Root: The Marauder Expansion (Nick Brachmann, Patrick Leder, Cole Wehrle, and Joshua Yearsley, Leder Games, 2022)28:45 -Capital Lux 2: Generations (Eilif Svensson & Kristian Amundsen Østby, Aporta Games, 2020)29:22 -I.S.S. Vanguard (Andrzej Betkiewicz, Krzysztof Piskorski, Paweł Samborski, and Marcin Świerkot, Awaken Realms, 2022)36:08 -Cult of the Deep (Sam Stockton, B.A. Games, 2022)39:58 -Strike (Dieter Nüßle, Ravensburger, 2012)News (and why it doesn't matter):42:40 Aegean Sea by Carl Chudyk on BackerKit43:18 All sorts of Patreon-exclusive content and free games! www.patreon.com/svwag44:27 Canadian patrons! Sent a message through Patreon to possibly win a copy of Horizons of Spirit Island: Tell us your Spirit Name!46:08 Feature Game: Dead Reckoning (John D. Clair, Alderac Entertainment Group, 2022)

We apologize for the all-caps implied yelling, but really, given this volume we had to have a corresponding... uh, volume. The puns are also somewhat fishy--but those you can feel free to skip, jack. The nautical theme doesn't end with fishing, as the recent Crash Octopus (when compared with older titles that are comparatively crusty) shone. More specifically given that it's about an octopus and we want to minimize the yelling, it's a safe, low pod. Wait, no, that's the wrong family. If you wanna shop in latin... you mall, usque?I'll see myself out. 1:04 AYURIS: Trick Shot (Nikita Krylov & Artyom Nichipurov, Wolff Designa, 2021)Games Played Last Week:03:27 -Lords of Hellas: Dark Ages Expansion (Adam Kwapiński, Awaken Realms, 2019)09:43 -Hallertau (Uwe Rosenberg, Lookout Games, 2020)12:27 -Keep the Heroes Out (Luís Brüeh, Brueh Games, 2022)17:37 -Nusfjord (Uwe Rosenberg, Lookout Games, 2017)21:49 -Santa Maria (Eilif Svensson and Kristian Amundsen Østby, Aporta Games, 2017)25:47 -Spots (Alex Hague, Jon Perry, and Justin Vickers, CMYK, 2022)29:37 -Long Shot: The Dice Game (Chris Handy, Perplext, 2022)33:37 -Oathsworn: Into the Deepwood (Jamie Jolly, Shadowborne Games, 2022)41:00 -Return to Dark Tower (Tim Burrell-Saward, Isaac Childres, Noah Cohen, Rob Daviau, Justin D. Jacobson, & Brian Neff, Restoration Games, 2022)43:52 -Car Wars (Sixth Edition) (Samuel Mitschke & Rany Scheunemann, Steve Jackson Games, 2021)49:39 -Twilight Inscription (James Kniffen, FFG, 2022)51:47 -Space Cadets: Dice Duel (Geoff Engelstein and Sydney Engelstein, Stronghold, 2013)53:56 -Scooby-Doo! The Board Game (Guilherme Goulart and Fred Perret, CMON, 2022)57:32 -Guards of Atlantis II (Artyom Nichipurov, Wolff Designa, 2022)1:02:50 -Chronicles of Avel (Przemek Wojtkowiak, Rebel Studio, 2021)1:04:23 -Crash Octopus (Naotaka Shimamoto, itten, 2021)News (and why it doesn't matter):1:06:29 Funbrick Series by itten: two Reiner Knizia dexterity games!1:07:19 Queen's Dilemma, and the consumer's dilemma1:09:09 Spirit Island: Nature Incarnate on BackerKit. Strangely information-free campaign. 1:12:32 HeroScape campaign floundering.1:14:08 Another G.I. JOE expansion: Cold Snap1:14:37 Both Sadler brothers out of professional game design1:15:26 A reason why we don't do previews1:16:23 October 27th is Arkhipov Day

Live at SHUX 2022, we are joined with extra-special guest Quinns from Shut Up and Sit Down! He was clearly thrilled to be with us, as evinced by the following exchange:Mark: "We're professionals, Quinns."Quinns: "Citation needed."02:26 AYURIS: Hallertau (Uwe Rosenberg, Lookout Games, 2020)Games Played Last Week:05:11 -The Siege of Runedar (Reiner Knizia, Ludonova, 2021)09:00 -Marrakesh (Stefan Feld, Queen Games, 2022)14:18 -Endless Winter: Paleoamericans (Stan Kordonskiy, Fantasia Games, 2022)20:24 -Sidereal Confluence 10m22s (TauCeti Deichmann, Wizkids, 2017)25:49 -Regicide (Paul Abrahams, Luke Badger, & Andy Richdale, Badgers from Mars, 2020)26:10 -Caverna: The Cave Farmers (Uwe Rosenberg, Lookout Games, 2013)28:31 -Master Word (Gérald Cattiaux, Le Scorpion Masqué, 2020)News (and why it doesn't matter):32:42 Terraforming Mars: Dice Game32:57 Reprint of Yellow & Yangtze: Huang by PHALANX35:07 Temple of Horrors: Dungeon crawling with shuffleboard combat36:55 October 27th is Akhipov Day38:11 Topic: Games that Make You Be Mean

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 KS35:41 Persona 5 co-op card game by Atlus and Pandasaurus in October '2336:12 Spiel in Essen! For example, Cyclades 237:03 SHUX '22 is a wrap! Thank you, everyone! Live show with Quinns incoming37:39 Roundtable discussion with BGB released on Patreon, note about review copies38:39 Video review of Space Station Phoenix: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibG5qf1Rwm039:14 Daybreak by Matt Leacock on Backerkit40:18 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)

001You approach a door. Test perception. If you fail, go to paragraph 105. If you succeed, go to paragraph 166.105You fail to notice a sharp thing, so you step on it and take 1 wound. Go to paragraph 166.166On the other side of the door are things you must kill for reasons. Dig out tiles 2B, 4A, 6A, 8B and 12B and get ready for some paperwork.02:23 AYURIS: Tungaru (Louis Malz & Stefan Malz, Alley Cat Games, 2020)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)News (and why it doesn't matter):44:45 SHUX! September 30-October 2. SVWAG on stage for two live shows on October 1.46:25 We stream games on Twitch and rebroadcast those session on Youtube! Most recently, Anachrony.47:09 Space Dwarfs aka "Squats" from Games Workshop: https://www.warhammer-community.com/2022/09/13/welcome-to-the-big-leagues-who-are-the-five-biggest-leagues-of-votann/47:50 Fuse: Countdown expandalone48:21 Topic: What a Campaign Needs

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 Game34:35 Mac Gerdts' Crossing Oceans35:43 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 Lorcana37:47 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/svwag39:11 Fun Facts by Repos Production39:40 David Thompson and BeyondSolitaire working on a game about the Night Witches40:31 Almost Innocent on KS: co-op deduction40:52 Come Together and hold a music festival41:44 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 swords30:09 Vital Lacerda and Ian O'Toole: Inventions: Evolution of Ideas30:40 HeroScape will be distributed by Hasbro's crowdfunding platform, HasLab31:34 Astra from Mindclash games: straight to retail32:18 Topic: Efficiency Euros

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 Findorff41:46 SLightly more HeroScape news on Hasbro Pulse43:50 Revive by Aporta Games44:40 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 landWho said: “Two vast and trunkless legs of plasticStand 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 readWhich 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 decayOf that Colossal Wreck, boundless and bareThe lone and level sands stretch far away.-Percy Bysshe Shelley's "Cool Mini or Not"01:17 AYURIS: Empyreal: Spells & Steam (Trey Chambers, Level 99 Games, 2020)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 Game42:50 Pandasaurus and Elizabeth Hargrave's The Fox Experiment44:06 Topic: Done with CMON?1:05:23 SVWAG Presents Masterpiece Theatre: Prey

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 controversies44:47 HeroScape will not return with pre-painted minis and ode to American retail47:31 SVWAG at the Shut Up & Sit Down Expo: SHUX! September 30 - October 247:45 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 Wolf30:37 www.patreon.com/svwag31:39 HeroScape: Age of Annihilation announced at GenCon34:35 Imperium: Horizons expandalone for Classics/Legends with 14 new civilizations37:05 SVWAG at the Shut Up & Sit Down Expo: SHUX! September 30 - October 237:19 Feature Game: Carnegie (Xavier Georges, Quined Games, 2022)

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 Paquien48:07 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 questions49:26 Bloodstones by Martin Wallace50:31 SVWAG at the Shut Up & Sit Down Expo: SHUX! September 30 - October 251:11 Topic: Does the Industry Demand Too Much?

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 Statoon 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 232:30 SVWAG back on YouTube: Video review of Stars of Akarios' Preludehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXJrOXhZz0E32:42 Gordon Calleja's Fateforge: Chronicles of Kaan33:33 Undaunted: Battle of Britain34:37 Ascending Empires: Zenith edition 2023 WizKids35:48 Hickory Dickory36:20 Spirit Island: New Horizons Target-exclusive38:42 CMON's Dune: War for Arrakis39:20 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 Eisenstein41:25 Spiel des Jahres Winner: Cascadia from Randy Flynn and Flatout Games, Kennerspiel Living Forest from Aske Christiansen and Ludonaute41:52 The Wordle nightmare evolves into board form42.32 Sabika by Germán P. Millán43:00 SVWAG at the Shut Up & Sit Down Expo: SHUX! September 30 - October 243:57Topic: Fumbling towards a New NormalVideo: Board Game Design: How COVID 19 changed the board game industry foreverhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QM190p6MiPk

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 Kickstarter41:32 Omicron Protocol: Critical Condition on Kickstarter42:25 So far so good for Board Game Arena under Asmodee? T&E, Regicide, El Grande44:17 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 Gamefound36:12 Village Big Box36:39 Puerto Rico decolonized: Puerto Rico 189737:53 Furnace expansion: Interbellum38:25 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 Grnade 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 Matagot42:05 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 & Write32:53 KS: Metropolys becomes Skyrise, Septima from Mindclash, and Bot Factory from Lacerda33:29 RIP Maureen Hiron, hall-of-fame designer of Continuo and many others 34:14 Feature Game: Golem (Flaminia Brasini, Virginio Gigli, & Simone Luciani, Cranio Creations, 2021)

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 Tactics36:09 CMON: Cyberpunk 2077 and Zombicide Flip and Write. Whee.36:58 DVG Reprints & Dice: Pavlov's House and Soldiers in Postman's Uniforms37:53 War of the Ring Card Game by Ian Brody38:24 Drags 2 Riches: Eleganza Deckbuilding Extravanganza 39:00 MicroMacro Crime City All-In: Sept 2239:28 Topic: Let's Get on the Same Page

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 more49:33 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 Thompson1:17:45 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: Imperium37:13 Escape from New York38:07 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

We received a number of questions of a more personal nature which we have decided not to address. This is only partially out of a sense of privacy. Rather, we are firmly of the editorial position that the show is best when we focus on games, rather than the personal details of the hosts. We pride ourselves in only wasting a certain amount of your valuable time, and were we to indulge in more personal digressions that could easily balloon the show well beyond the limits of absurdity. 01:08 AYURIS: Flotilla (J.B. Howell & Michael Mihealsick, WizKids, 2019)Games Played Last Week:04:10 -Ark Nova (Mathias Wigge, Feuerland Spiele, 2021)07:26 -Massive Darkness 2: Hellscape (Alex Olteanu & Marco Portugal, CMON, 2022)11:40 -Foundations of Rome (Emerson Matsuuichi, Arcane Wonders, 2022)13:31 -Planet Unknown (Ryan Lambert & Adam Rehberg, Adam's Apple Games, 2022)17:45 -Ghosts of Christmas (Taiki Shinzawa, BoardGameTables.com, 2022)20:00 -Imperium: The Contention (Gary Dworetsky, Contention Games, 2021)21:26 -Legendary Inventors (Frédéric Henry, Bombyx, 2016)22:50 -Capital Lux 2: Generations (Eilif Svensson & Kristian Amundsen Østby, Aporta Games, 2021)26:22 -Paint the Roses (Ben Goldman, North Star Games, 2022)29:40 -Space Alert (Vlaada Chvátil, Czech Games Edition, 2008)30:57 -Reichbusters: Project Vril (Jake Thornton, Mythic Games, 2020)News (and why it doesn't matter):32:02 Tough Calls: Dystopia; negotiation reminiscent of Durance?33:05 Anunnaki: Dawn of the Gods is back, revised, on Kickstarter #noTyrnosale34:10 Awlrach the Drowner from Games Workshop34:49 Topic: Omnibus Questions Charlie Bravo

Inquiring minds demand to know, and we, your humble servants, must perforce answer. Mark resists the urge to elaborate on Kant and Macross! Walker resists the siren call of nineties hip hop! Such feats of iron will are the least of what our curious and/or trolling listeners deserve.(It's the curious trolls that always get you in the end)01:21 AYURIS: Babylonia (Reiner Knizia, Ludonova, 2019)Games Played Last Week:03:05 -Switch & Signal (David Thompson, KOSMOS, 2020)05:30 -Cryptid: Urban Legends (Hal Duncan & Ruth Veevers, Osprey Games, 2022)09:21 -Horrified: American Monsters (Michael Mulvihill, Ravensburger, 2021)11:48 -Massive Darkness 2: Hellscape (Alex Olteanu & Marco Portugal, CMON, 2022)18:29 -Perseverance: Castaway Chronicles Episode 1 (Richard Amann, Thomas Vande Ginste, Viktor Peter, Wolf Plancke, & Dávid Turczi, Mindclash Games, 2022)22:42 -Core Worlds: Empires (Christopher Guild & Andrew Parks, Quixotic Games, 2021)30:47 -Paint the Roses (Ben Goldman, North Star Games, 2022)35:19 -Envelopes of Cash (Andy Schwarz, Envelopes of Cash LLC, 2022)40:17 -Fjords (Franz-Benno Delonge & Phil Walker-Harding, Grail Games, 2022)42:55 -Capital Lux 2: Pocket (Eilif Svensson & Kristian Amundsen Østby, Aporta Games, 2021)News (and why it doesn't matter):46:30 Age of Steam Deluxe with new maps and no authorial attribution47:05 Reprint of classic game Inkognito48:40 David Thompson's RESIST! on Gamefound May 12th49:09 Point Salad Pokémon version49:56 Kingdom Builder: Empire Edition for exorbitant monies51:57 Topic: Omnibus Questions Charlie Alpha

I wanna be where the patients areI wanna see, wanna see 'em coughin'Buildin' your wings, you don't get too farClients are required for billing, chargingUp where they sneeze, up where they shudderUp where they stay all day just to sufferTreatin' for a fee, wish I could bePart of that world01:37 AYURIS: Cosmic Frog (Jim Felli, Devious Weasel Games, 2020)Games Played Last Week:04:10 -Wonderland's War (Tim Eisner, Ben Eisner, & Ian Moss, Druid City Games, 2022)10:04 -Décorum (Harry Mackin, Charlie Mackin, & Drew Tenenbaum, Floodgate Games, 2022)14:48 -Crescent Moon (Steven Mathers, Osprey Games, 2022)23:07 -Gutenberg (Katarzyna Cioch & Wojciech Wiśniewski, Granna, 2021) 26:06 -Jekyll vs. Hyde (Geonil, Mandoo Games, 2021)28:30 -Stroganov (Andreas Steding, Game Brewer, 2021)31:01 -Ark Nova (Mathias Wigge, Feuerland Spiele, 2021)39:25 -Hippocrates (Alain Orban, Game Brewer, 2022)42:31 -Clinic Deluxe Edition (Alban Viard, AVStudioGames, 2019)News (and why it doesn't matter):46:38 Twilight Imperium Roll and Write46:56 Twilight Imperium Codex on FFG website47:27 Anunnaki: Dawn of the Gods cancelled Kickstarter campaign; #noTyrnosale50:07 Firefly deckbuilding game from Gale Force Nine50:27 Topic: Hidden Trackable Information

Preparation is important. We very carefully do our advance research here at SVWAG, but occasionally mild errors do creep in. For this week, Mark studiously crafted notes and observations on such issues as four octave vocal ranges, Nickelodeon celebrity culture, and whether boredom of a third party constitutes necessary or sufficient conditions for breaking up with one's girlfriend. Sadly for Mark, Ariana was not the Grande under discussion this week, so he was forced to begin anew.Games Played Last Week:01:12 -Clinic Deluxe Edition (Alban Viard, AVStudioGames, 2019)05:36 -Contra: The Board Game (Adam Sadler & Brady Sadler, Blacklist Games, 2022)07:08 -Furnace (Ivan Lashin, Hobby World, 2021)08:38 -Pulsar 2849 (Vladimír Suchý, CGE, 2017)10:59 -Settlement (Oleksandr Nevskiy, IGAMES, 2021)12:43 -Race for the Galaxy (Thomas Lehmann, Rio Grande Games, 2007)16:23 -Décorum (Harry Mackin, Charlie Mackin, & Drew Tenenbaum, Floodgate Games, 2022)19:49 -Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition (Sydney Engelstein, Jacob Fryxelius, & Nick Little, Stronghold Games, 2021)23:34 -Factory 42 (Timo Multamäki, Dragon Dawn Productions, 2021)31:05 -Nidavellir: Thingvellir (Serge Laget, GRRRE Games, 2020)33:31 -Dune: Imperium--Rise of Ix (Paul Dennen, Dire Wolf, 2022)News (and why it doesn't matter):37:19 Rise & Fall by Christophe Boelinger and Ludically launching on Kickstarter in July37:54 Doomrock Ultimate on Gamefound38:46 Castles by the Sea on Kickstarter39:41 Robotech Macross DOG FIGHT follow-up: caveat emptor, perhaps best to wait and see41:05 Mark on Board Game Barrage this Thursday, April 2841:45 Check out our Patreon: www.patreon.com/svwag, new exclusive show BLOAT42:30 Upcoming Omnibus questions episode! Please submit any and all questions. www.sowronggames.com/contact43:07 Feature Game: El Grande (Wolfgang Kramer & Richard Ulrich, Hans im Glück, 1995)1:15:08 SVWAG Presents Masterpiece Theatre: The Orbital Children

A tragedy of consuming media or goods is that sometimes, regardless of how diligent you are, you cannot keep up with new releases. The creators you love might keep putting out new products, and even a casual enthusiast of a given medium might be disappointed to learn that they missed out on an offering. What I'm trying to get at is that HOW DARE they make a new Macross tabletop game and NOT TELL MARK.01:15 AYURIS: Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy (Touko Tahkokallio, Lautapelit.fl, 2020)Games Played Last Week:03:44 -Cascadia (Randy Flynn, Flatout Games, 2021)06:25 -Contra: The Board Game (Adam Sadler & Brady Sadler, Blacklist Games, 2022)12:25 -Planet Unknown (Ryan Lambert & Adam Rehberg, Adam's Apple Games, 2022)14:43 -Mega Man Adventures (Peter Gousis & Michael D. Kelley, Blacklist Games, 2022)19:35 -Crusaders: Thy Will Be Done (Seth Jaffee, Tasty Minstrel, 2018)21:16 -Albedo (Kai Herbertz, Herbertz Entertainment UG, 2017)23:13 -Reichbusters: Project Vril (Jake Thornton, Mythic Games, 2020)28:01 -Medici: The Dice Game (Reiner Knizia, Grail Games, 2020)30:01 -Merchants of the Dark Road (Brian Suhre, Elf Creek Games, 2022)33:57 -Mogul (Michael Schacht, Spiele aus Timbuku, 2002)36:38 -Jekyll vs. Hyde (Geonil, Mandoo Games, 2021)37:05 -Attika (Marcel-André Casasola Merkle, Hans im Glück, 2003)News (and why it doesn't matter):39:43 Robotech Macross DOG FIGHT and Mark loses his mind41:30 Boardgamegeek Golden Geek Award Nominations42:32 A Game of Thrones 2nd. edition app gets A Feast for Crows expansion43:12 New Necromunda gets vehicles: Ash Wastes44:40 Shut Up & Sit Down Expo (SHUX) back in Vancouver: Sep. 30-Oct. 245:09 Topic: End Conditions

Yes, we are but slaves to the new releases, which is why we are reviewing a fifteen-year-old game. "But that's impossible!" you reply, "No one was alive back then!" Records are scant, but there is a rich oral tradition that people have been playing games at least since the release of Nirvana's Nevermind. Archeologists are still trying to carbon-date that period exactly, though.Games Played Last Week:01:39 -Dead Reckoning (John D. Clair, Alderac Entertainment Group, 2022)08:14 -Cosmic Frog (Jim Felli, Devious Weasel Games, 2020)09:54 -Familienbande (Leo Colovini, Winning Moves Germany, 2004)13:23 -Barrage (Tommaso Battista & Simone Luciani, Cranio Creations, 2019)16:04 -Cursed Court (Andrew Hanson, Atlas Games, 2017)19:37 -Blockers! (Kory Heath, AMIGO, 2007)21:48 -Dicke Dämonen (Heinrich Glumpler, Edition Erlkönig, 2004)24:09 -New York Zoo (Uwe Rosenberg, Feuerland Spiele, 2020)28:05 -Khmer (team SAIEN, Saien, 2010) [Elements Pegasus]30:05 -Priests of Ra (Reiner Knizia, Rio Grande Games, 2009)News (and why it doesn't matter):32:26 Corvus Belli's (of Infinity fame) upcoming fantasy game: Warcrow33:31 Pfister's Mombasa to become Skymines34:13 New Cosmic Encounter expansion: Cosmic Odyssey 35:30 Walker's Who Asked for This? Fantasy Realms Marvel, and Deluxe Castles of Burgundy36:48 Board game beat-em-up à la Golden Axe? Mythic Games' Anastyr38:35 Through the Desert 25th Anniversary Edition from Steeped Games39:50 Feature Game: Agricola (Uwe Rosenberg, Lookout Games, 2007) and Agricola (Revised Edition) (Uwe Rosenberg, Lookout Games, 2016)

Kids in the Hall reviewing Great Western Trail:"What's the point of what we do?""Sorry, I don't follow you.""Well, I mean, we travel 250,000 light years across the universe, abduct cows, probe them, and release them.""Yeah, and?""Well, doesn't it seem kind of pointless?""I don't think I should question the leadership of our Great Leader.""Oh, come on. We've been coming here for fifty years and performing cow probes, and all that we have learned is that one in ten doesn't really seem to mind. Couldn't we at least abduct their political or religious leaders instead of just random livestock?""I'm sure the Great Leader has his reasons.""Well, I'm sure the Great Leader is just some twisted cow freak."01:21 AYURIS: Cthulhu: Death May Die (Eric M. Lang & Rob Daviau, CMON, 2019)Games Played Last Week:04:19 -Switch & Signal (David Thompson, KOSMOS, 2020)06:32 -Big Monster (Dimitri Perrier, BoardBros, 2018)09:13 -Ghosts of Christmas (Taiki Shinzawa, BoardGameTables.com, 2022)14:29 -Champions of Midgard (Ole Steiness, Grey Fox Games, 2015)16:11 -Tsukuyumi: Full Moon Down (Second Edition) (Felix Mertikat, Grey Fox Games, 2021)22:41 -Yokohama (Hisashi Hayashi, Tasty Minstrel Games, 2016)24:15 -Dinosaur Table Battles (Amabel Holland, Hollanspiele, 2020)27:17 -Great Western Trail: Rails to the North (Alexander Pfister, eggertspiele, 2018)29:12 -Quirky Circuits (Nikki Valens, Plaid Hat Games, 2019)News (and why it doesn't matter):33:55 Agricola 15; not remotely a "big box"-style omnibus36:03 Squats return to Warhammer 40K 37:25 Trick Shot Second Edition soon on Gamefound38:13 Topic: Miniatures

Let us not, as the saying goes, hold the perfect in opposition to the good. We here at SVWAG always encourage the lowering of standards, which the hosts tend to do by their very presences--dragging down the average of any group of which they are a part. We offer but a portion of an episode, but let us be optimists and observe that that allows us to be less wrong.01:34 AYURIS: Versailles 1919 (Geoff Engelstein & Mark Herman, GMT Games, 2020)Games Played Last Week:05:42 -Creature Comforts (Roberta Taylor, Kids Table BG, 2022)10:18 -IKI (Koota Yamada, Sorry We Are French, 2015)14:24 -The Red Cathedral (Israel Cendrero & Sheila Santos, Devir Games, 2020)18:45 -Switch & Signal (David Thompson, KOSMOS, 2020)22:55 -Core Worlds (Andrew Parks, Stronghold, 2011)26:08 -SCOUT (Kei Kajino, Oink Games, 2019)28:50 -Dinosaur Island: Rawr 'n Write (Brian Lewis, David McGregor, & Marissa Misura, Pandasaurus Games, 2021)31:16 -Just One (Ludovic Roudy & Bruno Sautter, Repos Production, 2018)33:30 -Brass: Birmingham (Gavan Brown, Matt Tolman, & Martin Wallace, Roxley, 2018)36:40 -Uprising: Curse of the Last Emperor (Cornelius Cremin, Pawel Mazur, & Dirk Sommer, Nemesis.Games, 2021)38:33 -Clinic Deluxe Edition (Alban Viard, AVStudioGames, 2019)News (and why it doesn't matter):40:43 Pathways: Canadian dexterity game on Kickstarter41:25 Come see Warmboy's website sowronggames.com! Merch, esoteric information, streaming and more!43:22 ONUS! Traianus on Kickstarter: 2D miniatures-esque gaming.44:16 Sidereal Confluence: Bifurcation expansion44:50 Air, Land & Sea: Spies, Lies & Supplies expandalone45:20 Crescent Moon by Steven Mathers and Osprey Games46:44 Richard Garfield rolls, writes with Dungeons, Dice & Danger47:07 Reiner Knizia's follow-up to My City: My Island47:43 Simpler Lacerda? Bot Factory48:07 A BGG Top 100 without Reiner Knizia (and Tigris & Euphrates)?51:39 SVWAG Presents Masterpiece Theatre: Clue

The range of new features our merch line has opened up is endless. Who wore it better?, SVWAG Hypebeast, Project Runway SVWAG, Making the Cut SVWAG, the possibilities abound! Get me Tim Gunn on the line, I'm sure he's heard of us. I'm sure we'll see His Grace, Professor Doktor Doktor Vincent, Duke of Diesel, esq. O.B.E. in a t-shirt two sizes too small before long. 01:07 AYURIS: Imperial Struggle (Ananda Gupta & Jason Matthews, GMT Games, 2020)Games Played Last Week:03:26 -Black Hole Rainbows (Uncredited, June Dune Games Production, 2022)06:45 -Ascension Tactics: Miniatures Deckbuilding Game (Justin Gary & Ryan Sutherland, Stone Blade Entertainment, 2021)15:00 -Meeples and Monsters (Ole Steiness, Alderac Entertainment Group, 2022)17:17 -Assault on Doomrock: Ultimate Edition (Tom Stasiak, Beautiful Disaster Games, 2022)22:45 -Teotihuacan: Late Preclassic Period (Rainer Ahlfors, Andrei Novac, & Daniele Tascini, Board2Dice, 2019)28:01 -Crash Octopus (Naotaka Shimamoto, itten, 2021)31:39 -Reichbusters: Project Vril (Jake Thornton, Mythic Games, 2020)33:45 -Città-Stato (Simone Cerruti Sola, Giochix.it, 2021)37:06 -Clinic Deluxe Edition (Alban Viard, AVStudioGames, 2019)40:32 -IKI (Koota Yamada, Sorry We Are French, 2015)News (and why it doesn't matter):41:51 SVWAG on break42:25 Warpgate: Beyond by Artyom Nichipurov and Wolff Designa on Gamefound43:11 Renegade reprinting Crusaders: Thy Will Be Done and distributing expansion44:30 Can we stop using the word "pimp" in gaming contexts? Let us "bling" instead45:18 MERCH! soverywrongaboutgames.myspreadshop.com (or .ca) 15% off the next two weeks!46:45 Topic: Draws and Red Flags