So Very Wrong About Games

HATE has landed, and you can't have it. CMON's dalliances with Kickstarter exclusives have been numerous, but now they have their first Kickstarter-exclusive game. We review it not to taunt you with things you can't acquire, but rather to give you the vicarious thrill of someone who can have everything. Let your imagination whisk you away to a universe that is all plastic cannibalistic hardcases! AYURIS: Battlelore 2nd Edition 2m14s (Richard Borg & Robert A. Kouba, FFG, 2013)Games Played Last Week: -Root 4m39s (Cole Wehrle, Leder Games, 2018)-Gùgōng 6m37s (Andreas Steding, Game Brewer, 2018)-Blood Rage 8m36s (Eric M. Lang, CMON, 2015)-Die fiesen 7 10m34s (Jacques Zeimet, Drei Hasen in der Abendsonne, 2015)-Calimala 11m33s (Fabio Lopiano, ADC Blackfire Entertainment GmbH, 2017)-Hansa Teutonica 13m11s (Andreas Steding, Argentum Verlag, 2010)-Amun-Re: The Card Game 13m54s (Reiner Knizia, Super Meeple, 2017)-Agricola 15m45s (Uwe Rosenberg, Lookout Games, 2007)-Hanabi 18m25s (Antoine Bauza, ABACUSSPIELE, 2010)News (and why it doesn't matter)-Bauza has sequels for Ghost Stories and Tokaido 20m21s-Asmodee will distribute CMON post-Kickstarter 21m37s-The OP lands Die Hard license 22m57s-Walker falls for Aquicorn Cove's stunning visuals 24m48s -...and for Fuji Koro 25m12sFeature Game: HATE 25m50s (Raphaël Guiton, Jean-Baptiste Lullien, Alexandru Olteanu, & Nicolas Raoult, CMON, 2019)Topic: Needing to Know the Deck 50m01sAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As my father is wont to say, "Accept credit, pass blame." Actually, no, I said that, and it's my father's fault that I forgot the correct attribution. Is that how that works? At any rate, we here at SVWAG are always happy to claim responsibility for all positive developments. When and if peace breaks out anywhere, we will assert it is our doing based merely on this aside. Such is the power of our episode notes and our self-aggrandizement!AYURIS: The World of SMOG: Rise of Moloch 2m08s (Fel Barros, Christophe Madura, Alexandru Olteanu, David Rakoto, & Michael Shinall, CMON, 2018)Games Played Last Week: -Barony 4m51s (Marc André, Matagot, 2015)-Millennium Blades 5m37s (D. Brad Talton, Level 99 Games, 2016)-Santorini 7m32s (Gord!, Roxley, 2016)-Space Base 8m37s (John D. Clair, AEG, 2018)-Scythe 11m43s (Jamey Stegmaier, Stonemaier Games, 2016-Obsession 13m17s (Dan Hallagan, Kayenta Games, 2018)-Caverna: The Forgotten Folk 16m20s (Uwe Rosenberg & Alex Wilber, Lookout Games, 2018)-Claustrophobia: 1642 (Croc & Laurent Pouchain, Monolith, 2019)News (and why it doesn't matter)-Mild Patreon Shilling 23m34s-Peace during the Age of Steam 24m09s-Dune is back. Insert reference here. 25m36s -Sneak Breakout preview 28m35sFeature Game: XenoShyft: Onslaught 29m12s (Keren Philosophales & Michael Shinall, CMON, 2015) and Dreadmire (Michael Shinall, CMON, 2017)Topic: 1 vs. All vs. Coop vs. Semi-Coop vs. Vs. 53m54sAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Currencies drive many things, perhaps most things. HATE is driven by a currency called Savagery, which I believe is floated on the international market and its exchange rate fluctuates daily. We here at So Very Wrong About Games fuel our episodes with Snark, which is pegged conveniently to the Canadian Dollar. As a consequence, when some of you might be tempted to correct Mark on the name of the 1987 Richard Halliwell design ("um, actually, it's Block Mania, not Block Panic"), you are only making them stronger.AYURIS: Warhammer Underworlds: Shadespire (David Sanders, Games Workshop, 2017) 1m54sGames Played Last Week: -HATE 4m34s (Raphaël Guiton, Jean-Baptiste Lullien, Alexandru Olteanu, & Nicolas Raoult, CMON, 2019)-Climb! 7m08s (Benoit Michaud, Le Scorpion Masqué, 2008)-Siege of the Citadel 9m32s (Richard Borg, Eric M. Lang, Jason Little, & Kevin Wilson, Modiphius Entertainment, 2019)-Goodcritters 11m45s (Fabian Zimmermann, Arcane Wonders, 2018)-Teotihuacan: City of Gods 14m43s (Daniele Tascini, NSKN Games, 2018)-Infinity 15m20s (Gutier Lusquiños Rodríguez, Corvus Belli, 2005)-Pax Pamir 17m25s (Phil Eklund & Cole Wehrle, Sierra Madre Games, 2015)-Obsession 21m35s (Dan Hallagan, Kayenta Games, 2018)News (and why it doesn't matter)-The Talisman nightmare has started: Batman and Kingdom Hearts 25m34s-It, and I can't even 26m43s-Worst expansion title competition 27m30s-Judge Dredd enters the Wildlands 28m57s-Restoring Epic Duels 30m09s-Age of Steam boils over. Again. 31m49sFeature Game: Concordia (Mac Gerdts, PD-Verlag, 2013) and Concordia Venus (2018) 34m14sTopic: Spending Money on the Hobby: Are You Getting Your Money's Worth? 1h01m43sAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You do you, Walker always says, except he almost never does. Mark always says smoke 'em if you got 'em, despite his never uttering those words and frankly not knowing what they mean. He tried smoking once and didn't enjoy it. Why care about such petty things as truth or data when it feels consistent with a narrative you're peddling? Echoes of contemporary politics abound, as we ponder whether a game needs to be balanced so long as it tells a good tale.AYURIS: Rising Sun (Eric Lang, CMON, 2018) 5m26sGames Played Last Week: -Cerebria: The Inside World 8m57s (Richard Amann, Viktor Peter, István Pócsi, Frigyes Schőberl, Nick Shaw, & Dávid Turczi, Mindclash Games, 2018)-Teotihuacan: City of Gods 11m22s (Daniele Tascini, NSKN Games, 2018)-Spirit Island 12m10s (R. Eric Reuss, Greater Than Games, 2017)-Tajemnicze Domostwo/Mysterium 15m24s (Oleksandr Nevskiy & Oleg Sidorenko, Portal Games, 2013)-Millennium Blades 19m11s (D. Brad Talton Jr., Level 99 Games, 2016)-Shadowrift 21m11s (Jeremy Anderson, Game Salute, 2012)-Donning the Purple 24m54s (Petter Schanke Olsen, Tompet Games, 2018)News (and why it doesn't matter)-Hanabi deluxe blows up again 27m32s-Dice Forge rebels 28m45s-Capstone gauges Winsome's Irish Gauge 29m09s-Sailor Moon deceives...? 31m00s-White Goblin will Yoko no mo 32m04sFeature Game: A Feast for Odin: The Norwegians 33m37s (Gernot Köpke & Uwe Rosenberg, Feuerland Spiele, 2018)Topic: Theme vs. Balance 59m35sAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Peter Principle observes that people tend to get promoted to their level of incompetence. Namely if someone does a job well, they'll be promoted, until such time as they cease doing a job well and persist at that level of ineptitude. We mention this not because it accurately describes the arc of Mark's life both professionally and personally--which, let's face it, it does--but rather because we have decided to promote the AYURIS from off-hand remark into Full Fledged Segment (AYURIS, FFS [tm]). Time stamp and everything! If it does well, it'll get it's own podcast; if it does poorly, all hail the Peter Principle.AYURIS: 51st State: Master Set (Ignacy Trzewiczek, Portal, 2016) 1m31sGames Played Last Week: -Kingdom Death: Monster 5m28s (Adam Poots, Kingdom Death, 2015)-Reykholt 9m02s (Uwe Rosenberg, Frosted Games, 2018)-Bargain Hunter 15m35s (Uwe Rosenberg, Valley Games, 1998)-Meltwater: A Game of Tactical Starvation 17m34s (Erin Lee Escobedo, Hollandspiele, 2018)News (and why it doesn't matter)-The Orville Clix 19m34s-Samuel Bailey's Stars a little less Forbidden 19m59s-Samuel Bailey digs Deep 21m17s-Rooting around for more factions 22m22s-KeyForging on 22m46s-Being on the same Wavelength 23m14s-Even deeper Descent 24m31s-Rushing into the Kingdom of boardgames of apps 25m19sFeature Game: Cerebria: The Inside World 25m58s (Richard Amann, Viktor Peter, István Pócsi, Frigyes Schőberl, Nick Shaw, & Dávid Turczi, Mindclash Games, 2018)Topic: Hype 54m39sAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sometimes categories are useful taxonomical tools, and sometimes they are so blunt as to be confusing and unhelpful. What gets parsed as "worker placement" can get downright murky at times. To Walker, though, the world is clear and simple. Tolstoy tells us that "All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." Walker has a modified view--all fun games are fun and thus good and interchangeable, and all unfun games are bad and thus the same. It's a good thing he's not a critic or anything.Games Played Last Week: -Welcome to... 3m47s (Benoit Turpin, Blue Cocker Games, 2018)-A Feast for Odin: The Norwegians 6m19s (Gernot Köpke & Uwe Rosenberg, Feuerland Spiele, 2018)-Architects of the West Kingdom 9m55s (Shem Phillips & S. J. Macdonald, Garphill Games, 2018)-Byzantium 16m06s (Martin Wallace, Warfrog, 2005)News (and why it doesn't matter)-Sushi Go Rolls on 20m13s-New Quest for El Dorado? Expansion? Hybrid? 21m21s-Scotland Yard: Now with dice, uncertain haberdashery 22m25s-Who wants to license Talisman? 22m59s-Ignorance is Bliss 24m36s-Time for more T.I.M.E. Stories 24m55sFeature Game: Core Worlds 26m47s (Andrew Parks, Stronghold, 2011)Topic: OOP Games that Should Be Reprinted 51m26Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Just as we are told that it's always five o'clock somewhere, we can be assured that Mark and Walker are always wrong somewhere. Time marches inexorably forward, and we mark that passage of time by checking in with the much-loved Quartermaster General series. Mark would happily tell you that time is nothing more and nothing less than a priori intuition, which when internalized allows us to ground the science of mathematics--and then Walker would rightfully point out that it's time for Mark to shut up.Games Played Last Week: -Menara 3m01s (Oliver Richtberg, Zoch Spiele, 2018)-Massive Darkness 5m18s (Raphaël Guiton, Jean-Baptiste Lullien & Nicolas Raoult, CMON, 2017)-Sentinels of the Multiverse 8m13s (Christopher Badell, Paul Bender, & Adam Rebottaro, Greater than Games, 2011)-Millennium Blades 10m20s (D. Brad Talton, Jr., Level 99 Games, 2016)-Kitchen Rush 12m17s (Vangelis Bagiartakis & Dávid Turczi, Artipia, 2017)News (and why it doesn't matter)-Quartermaster General (WWII) re-(quarter)mastered 15m22s-alea games joins a euro publishing revival 16m12s-Mystic Vale Steams up 17m27s-Plan B Games in a new Era from Matt Leacock 18m39s-Role-play as a Sentinel of the Multiverse 20m23sFeature Game: Quartermaster General: The Cold War 22m11s (Ian Brody, PSC Games, 2018)Topic: Real-Time Games 49m59sAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sometimes our hosts can't quite understand what the situation demands of them. Walker has been known to approach thoughtful, deliberative games with the oft-repeated demand of "when do I get to shoot LEMME SHOOT." Mark tends to greet new acquaintances with profanity-laden assaults on their life choices, hygiene, and character. These traits perhaps serve to explain how they find themselves in the social circles that they do.Games Played Last Week: -The Quacks of Quedlingburg 2m37s (Wolfgang Warsch, North Star Games, 2018)-Brass: Birmingham 5m18s (Gavan Brown, Matt Tolman, & Martin Wallace, Roxley, 2018)-In the Shadow of the Emperor 8m29s (Ralf Burkert, Rio Grande Games, 2004)-Kemet: Seth 11m09s (Jacques Bariot & Guillaume Montiage, Matagot, 2018)-Gaslands 15m39s (Glenn Ford & Mike Hutchinson, Osprey Publishing, 2017)News (and why it doesn't matter)-Portal 2019: Roll & write, Neuroshima Hex! 16m58s-Restoring Conspiracy 17m50s-Build with ice (the Canadian currency) in Tuki 19m19s-Mark takes credit for Iwari 20m05s-New pain to Discover 21m52s-Rooting for new factions in Root 22m37s-Jim Henson's Labyrinth gets proportionally less Bowie 23m02s-How many Odysseys? Want 1001 of them? 23m58sFeature Game: Talon 26m11s (Jim Krohn, GMT, 2016) and Talon 1000 (Jim Krohn, GMT, 2018)Topic: Table Talk 53m51sAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We take endorsements very seriously here at SVWAG. The Ferragamo deal fell through after Walker was seen wearing Fendi, and the whole Burberry fiasco is better left forgotten. Converse was our backup, but suffice to say after Mark's public comments about sportsball that seems like a distant possibility at best.All that said, we endorse Gloomy Companion unreservedly. We don't resort to apps very often, but we don't Gloomhaven without Gloomy Companion employed on a tablet. We've tried others but it suits us the best.Games Played Last Week: -Mombasa 3m14s (Alexander Pfister, eggertspiele, 2015)-Decrypto 5m28s (Thomas Dagenais-Lespérance, Le Scorpion Masqué, 2018)-Han 6m57s(Michael Schacht, ABACUSSPIELE, 2014)-Sakura Arms 7m55s (BakaFire, AEG, 2016)-Kitchen Rush 10m08s (Vangelis Bagiartakis & Dávid Turczi, Artipia, 2017)-Chinatown 10m36s (Karsten Hartwig, Z-Man, 1999)-Eclipse 13m14s (Touko Tahkokallio, Lautapelit.fi, 2011)News (and why it doesn't matter)-Frontier Wars 15m34s-Rio Grande is back? 15m59s-The Galaxy Rolls on 16m55s-35 years of BattleTech 18m08s-Official statement on pronunciation 18m48sFeature Game: Gloomhaven 20m46s (Isaac Childres, Cephalofair Games, 2017)Topic: How Much Can a Game Demand of Its Players? 48m38sAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Constant vigilance is the price of audio quality, and we apologize for how badly that struggle has been going of late. Walker prostrates himself before the altar of Bars, and Bars we achieve, but the nature of those Bars have been fickle. Their shape and pattern cannot be properly contained or channeled, and thus they spurn us and assault your ears. Rest assured that we are consulting the augurs and they are poring over the entrails of many a cassette tape in order to discern how we may appease the Bars. But yeah, it's totally Mark's fault.We have a Patreon, if you're inclined to support us.Games Played Last Week: -XCOM: The Boardgame--Evolution 1m51s (Samuel Bailey & Mark Larson, Fantasy Flight, 2016)-Quest for El Dorado: Heroes and Hexes 2m56s (Reiner Knizia, Ravensburger, 2018)-Kitchen Rush 5m59s (Vangelis Bagiartakis & Dávid Turczi, Artipia, 2017)-Codenames 6m59s (Vlaada Chvatil, CGE, 2015)-Wildlands 9m18s (Martin Wallace, Osprey, 2018)-Scythe: The Rise of Fenris 14m44s (Ryan Lopez DeVinaspre & Jamey Stegmaier, Stonemaier, 2018)-Tobago 18m40s (Bruce Allen, Zoch Verlag, 2009)-This Guilty Land 19m42s (Tom Russell, Hollandspiele, 2018)News (and why it doesn't matter)-FFG Returns to Lord of the Rings 24m27s-Wolff Designaa in 2019: Guards and Tricks 26m11s-Snakes and Lattes unhinges its jaw and expands 27m41s-Suburbia's custom colours 28m12sFeature Game: New Frontiers 29m43s (Thomas Lehmann, Rio Grande, 2018)Topic: How Many Versions Is Too Many? 58m30sPatreon Summary 1h12m11sAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Peer influence is a strange thing. For years Mark has been yelling at Walker about various ways he really ought to change, but a single board game now has Walker spewing Macross lore like he's a convert. Perhaps the authors like Erin Lee Escobedo have a point, and board games really can serve to deliver subtle yet powerful influence. Perhaps we could make board games to convince people to like and dislike the right board games...Games Played Last Week: -Telestrations 3m40s (Uncredited, USAopoly, 2009)-Diamonds 4m52s (Mike Fitzgerald, Stronghold, 2014)-Meltwater: A Game of Tactical Starvation 8m30s (Erin Lee Escobedo, Hollandspiele, 2018)-Tokyo Highway 14m07s (Naotaka Shimamoto & Yoshiaki Tomioka, itten, 2016)-Robotech: Attack on the SDF-1 15m51s (Darius Hambleton & Jeff Mechlinski, Strange Machine Games, 2018)-Great Western Trail: Rails to the North 20m04s (Alexander Pfister, Stronghold, 2018)-Shards of Infinity: Relics of the Future 24m17s (Gary Arant & Justin Gary, Stone Blade Entertainment, 2018)News (and why it doesn't matter)-2491 Planetship disappoints Walker pre-emptively 26m17s-Successors' Successor 27m36s-Age of Steam's authorship evaporates 28m43s-Vital Lacerda and Railways of the World 30m10s-Suburbia gets purdy 30m30s-Walker unimpressed by the Hotness 31m41s-SVWAG succumbs to the inevitable with an upcoming Patreon 32m47sFeature Game: Pandemic: Fall of Rome 34m17s (Matt Leacock & Paolo Mori, Z-Man, 2018)Topic: New Year's Resolutions Past and Present 53m48sAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Another round about the sun is complete, at least for those who acknowledge that sort of thing. I'm certain there must be a strand of Flat Eartherism that bows to the reality of the Earth's orbit--I could find out, but boardgaming already more than satisfies my desire for obscure minutia. We look back at the releases of the year, agreeing on many things but rather sharply disagreeing on others. There will be lists! And categories! Oh, the pageantry! Games Played Last Week: -Space Hulk: Second Edition 1m30s (Dean Bass, Andy Chambers, Chris Colston, Richard Halliwell, Jervis Johnson, Andy Jones, & Paul Murphy, Games Workshop, 1996)-Senji 2m58s (Bruno Cathala & Serge Laget, Asmodee, 2008)-Terraforming Mars 6m19s (Jacob Fryxelius, Stronghold, 2016)-Dinosaur Island 6m58s (Jonathan Gilmour & Brian Lewis, Pandasaurus, 2017)-Cryptid 12m14s (Hal Duncan & Ruth Veevers, Osprey Games, 2018)-Mega Civilization 13m26s (Flo de Haan, John Rodriguez, & Francis Tresham, Pegasus, 2015)-Welcome To... 20m12s (Benoit Turpin, Blue Cocker Games, 2018)-Reef 21m20s (Emerson Matsuuchi, Next Move Games, 2018)-Menara 22m18s (Oliver Richtberg, ZOCH, 2018)-Diamonds 23m00s (Mike Fitzgrald, Stronghold, 2016)2018 Year in Review Personal Top 10s 23m59sSVWAG Game of the Year 45m06sOther Categories 48m30sAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Players aren't the only people who make choices, of course. Designers and publishers make decisions about the setting and the theme of their games. Insofar as games can communicate a message--whether purely aesthetic or more ideological--it is beneficial to have a clear vision. Things can get exceptionally problematic when you start playing fast and loose with things of great cultural and historical import. Incidentally, I will note that while our topic and our feature game often have no connection between them, sometimes they do. I don't know why I'm mentioning that this week.Games Played Last Week: -Hyperborea: Light and Shadow 1m37s (Andrea Chiarvesio, Maurizio Vergendo, & Pierluca Zizzi, Asterion Press, 2016)-Between Two Cities 3m15s (Matthew O'Malley, Morten Monrad Pedersen, & Ben Rosset, Stonemaier, 2015)-Factory Funner 5m03s (Corné van Moorsel, Cwali, 2016)-Photosynthesis 8m06s (Hjalmar Hach, Blue Orange, 2017)-Stephenson's Rocket: Eastern USA & China 9m13s (Reiner Knizia, Grail Games, 2018)-Petrichor 12m12s (David Chircop & Dávid Turczi, APE Games, 2018)-The Voyages of Marco Polo 12m57s (Simone Luciani & Daniele Tascini, Hans im Gluck, 2015)-Teotihuacan: City of Gods 14m59s (Daniele Tascini, NSKN Games, 2018)-Dominant Species 15m37s (Chad Jensen, GMT, 2010)-Res Publica 18m03s (Reiner Knizia, Queen, 1991)News (and why it doesn't matter)-Descent into new digital depths 22m05s-Fards of Inshinity digital 22m20s-Failed Carnival of Monsters rises again 23m02s-Die Macher won't die 24m15sFeature Game: Crusaders: Thy Will Be Done 25m10s (Seth Jaffee, Tasty Minstrel, 2018)Topic: Thematic Disconnects 48m15sAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As a new coping mechanism, Mark and Walker decide to expunge their deepest shameful acts of conspicuous consumption and frivolous travel by talking about it on the internet. Now that Tumblr is is divesting themselves of adult content they can't post their Stephen Universe erotica there, so this is the next best thing. Don't tell Mark and Walker that a) anyone is listening, or b) they've been using their real names.Games Played Last Week: -Gùgong 3m33s (Andreas Steding, Game Brewer, 2018)-Quartermaster General: Prelude 4m05s (Ian Brody, Griggling Games, 2018)-Triumph and Tragedy 6m18s (Craig Besinque, GMT, 2015)-Goodcritters 14m03s (Fabian Zimmermann, Arcane Wonders, 2018)-Heroes of Terrinoth 15m36s (Adam & Brady Sadler, Fantasy Flight, 2018)-The Estates 18m17s (Klaus Zoch, Capstone Games, 2018)-Gaslands 20m48s (Glenn Ford & Mike Hutchinson, Osprey Publishing, 2017)-Hero Realms: The Ruin of Thandar Campaign Deck (Ben Cichoski, Robert Dougherty, Darwin Kastle & Daniel Mandel, White Wizard, 2018) 22m35sNews (and why it doesn't matter)-Snake. Snake! SNAAAKE!! 24m30s-Terra Mystica Incognita 25m27s-Shadowrift Booms 26m41s-What's Your Game? Well, Madeira and Zhanguo, for two 28m15sFeature Game: Teotihuacan: City of Gods 28m53s (Daniele Tascini, NSKN Games, 2018)Topic: How Far Is Too Far? 54m45sAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lots of talk of economics in this week's news. One might expect a diminishing return on such talk, but as rational consumers of news we often find a deficit of such a valuable commodity. Ceteris paribus, we're willing to offer you the free lunch of our altruism, even though that may lead to a tragedy of the commons. We value your investment of time when you listen to us--our intellectual capital is all we have, after all.I don't think I'm very bullish on this bit any more. Games Played Last Week: -KeyForge: Call of the Archons 4m00s (Richard Garfield, Fantasy Flight, 2018)-Epic: The Card Game 6m26s (Robert Dougherty & Darwin Kastle, White Wizard, 2015)-Teotihuacan: City of Gods 8m12s (Daniele Tascini & Dávid Turczi, NSKN Games, 2018)-Argent: The Consortium 9m01s (Trey Chambers, Level 99 Games, 2015)-BattleLore: Second Edition 11m51s (Richard Borg & Robert A. Kouba, Fantasy Flight, 2013)-North Wind 13m23s (Klaus Teuber, Z-Man, 2014)-Everdell 15m18s (James A. Wilson, Starling Games, 2018)News (and why it doesn't matter)-Super Dungeon Explore's money fades into Legend 17m10s-Cool Mini or Not's earnings get more mini, isn't cool 19m08s-Omega Protocol proves once again that LoS ain't easy 23m18s-Inflation hits the stellar market with A Billion Suns 24m52Feature Game: Gùgōng 26m30s (Andreas Steding, Game Brewer, 2018)Topic: Resolving Rules Disputes 54m26sAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There's this substance that the British people deploy called "salad cream." Chemists, for decades, have tried to break down its constituent parts; but the substance's sheer viscosity--not to mention its disturbing colour and odour--have defied all analysis. I mention this because despite our Canadian prerogative of spelling colour and odour as we do, the cultural rites of salad cream are alien to us. We're proud members of the Commonwealth, but we have our limits. Also, you could put some salad cream on your point salad, bruh. Games Played Last Week: -FUSE 3m19s (Kane Klenko, Renegade Game Studios, 2015)-KeyForge: Call of the Archons 5m22s (Richard Garfield, Fantasy Flight, 2018)-Twilight Imperium 4th Edition 10m55s (Dane Beltrami, Corey Konieczka & Christian T. Petersen, Fantasy Flight, 2017)-Innovation Deluxe 11m26s (Carl Chudyk, Asmadi, 2017)-Hero Realms 14m36s (Robert Dougherty & Darwin Kastle, White Wizard, 2016)-One Deck Dungeon: Forest of Shadows 16m49s (Chris Cieslik, Asmadi, 2017)-Gugong 18m33s (Andreas Steding, Game Brewer, 2018)-Root 21m12s (Cole Wehrle, Leder Games, 2018)News (and why it doesn't matter)-V-Commandos morphing into Assassin's Creed 23m21s-Warhammer Quest gets Grimdark 26m03s-New Frontiers for Race for the Galaxy 29m50sFeature Game: Coimbra 30m10s (Flaminia Brasini & Virginio Gigli, eggertspiele, 2018)Topic: Eric Lang 50m08sAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What's in a name? Well, if the game is KeyForge, the name is pretty much the entire game. As we have learned from bots in the past, set an algorithm loose on the internet and it'll probably come back as a racist misogynist troll. So far we've seen little of that scale in KeyForge deck names, but it's spat out some pretty amazing names nonetheless. Games Played Last Week: -Paper Tales 3m24s (Masato Uesugi, Stronghold, 2017)-Food Chain Magnate 6m08s (Jeroen Doumen & Joris Wiersinga, Splotter, 2015)-For Sale 8m22s (Stefan Dorra, Ravensburger, 1997)-A Feast for Odin (Uwe Rosenberg, Feuerland Spiele, 2016)-Pantone: The Game 11m31s (Scott Rogers, Cryptozoic, 2018)-Great Western Trail: Rails to the North 14m48s (Alexander Pfister, Stronghold, 2018)-Root 17m02s (Cole Wehrle, Leder Games, 2018)-Assault on Doomrock 20m48s (Tom Stasiak, Beautiful Disaster, 2014)News (and why it doesn't matter)-Fenris Rages again 23m26s-More bunnies for Walker to loathe 24m17s-Cleopatra reprint; why, exactly? 24m57s-Andrew Parks and the Marvel B-list 25m44s-Walker liked Little Town Builders before it was cool 27m30s-Moar dexterity with Catch the Moon 28m00sFeature Game: Claustrophobia 28m20s (CROC, Asmodee, 2009)Topic: First Impressions of KeyForge (Richard Garfield, Fantasy Flight, 2018)Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We are an easily-triggered group, we geeks, we nerds; so allow us to exercize due diligence and offer the following warnings. Spoiler Alert: we discuss what spoilers are. Meta Alert: we get pretty meta about spoilers. Existentialism Alert: Walker gets pretty existential (parenthetical alert: you might have figured Mark would instead, but he has very little time for existentialism, being more modern than post-modern). Games Played Last Week: -Endeavor: Age of Sail 1m41s (Carl de Visser & Jarratt Gray, Burst Island Games, 2018)-Spinderella 5m06s (Roberto Fraga, Zoch Verlag, 2015)-Everdell 7m38s (James A. Wilson, Starling Games, 2018)-Western Legends 7m59s (Hervé Lemaître, Kolossal, 2018)-Assault on Doomrock 12m40s (Tom Stasiak, Beautiful Disaster, 2014)-Sakura Arms 15m38s (BakaFire, AEG, 2016)-Space Cadets: Away Missions 17m35s (Dan Raspler & Al Rose, Stronghold, 2015)News (and why it doesn't matter)-How many states past the 51st are we up to? 18m51s-Flicking, puns, and strategy 20m12s-A bear park for more godless killing machines 21m31sFeature Game: Discover: Lands Unknown 22m30s (Corey Konieczka, Fantasy Flight, 2018)Topic: Overused Themes 50m12sAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We've always been here. Waiting, in this basement, yelling into the can. When we invented podcasts all those years ago it was merely as avenue for our pre-existing subterranean discourse. Now some of you have joined us, and our labours are no longer in vain. Once the power dies out, we'll still be here, yelling into the can. About boardgames. Games Played Last Week: -Race for the Galaxy: Xeno Invasion 1m43s (Thomas Lehmann, Rio Grande Games, 2015)-Everdell 5m54s (James A. Wilson, Starling Games, 2018)-Starfarers of Catan 10m06s (Klaus Teuber, Mayfair Games, 1999)-Barbarians: The Invasion 12m44s (Martino Chiacchiera, Marta Ciaccasassi, & Pierluca Zizzi, Tabula Games, 2018)-Forbidden Sky 19m21s (Matt Leacock, Gamewright, 2018)News (and why it doesn't matter)-Asmodee sold, Asmodee buys something 21m55s-Taiwanese flag flap 23m58s-CMON tries zombies for the first time ever 25m27s-More Spirits on the Island 26m13sFeature Game: Stephenson's Rocket 28m03s (Reiner Knizia, Grail Games, 2018)Topic: Dealing with Frustration 54m40sAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Reading your audience is a hard thing, and not even just when blasting your errant opinions over the interwebs. Mark couldn't read the room when Walker requested a certain game, and that didn't end well. Walker couldn't perceive Mark's growing misgivings about the feature game. This one time I thought a baby boy was a baby girl and the parents were very offended. Life is hard!Games Played Last Week: -Star Realms 2m19s (Robert Dougherty & Darwin Kastle, White Wizard, 2014)-Amun-Re: The Card Game 4m59s (Reiner Knizia, Super Meeple, 2017)-Endeavor: The Age of Sail 7m03s (Carl de Visser & Jarratt Gray, Burnt Island Games, 2018)-Ortus Regni 9m26s (Jon Sudbury, Jon Sudbury Games, 2014)-Star Wars: Imperial Assault - Jabba's Realm 12m02s (Todd Michlitsch & Paul Winchester, FFG, 2017)-Pandemic: Reign of Cthulhu 13m10s (Matt Leacock & Chuck D. Yager, Z-Man, 2016)-Mage Knight Board Game 15m42s (Vlaada Chvatil, WizKids, 2011)-Race for the Galaxy: The Brink of War 18m25s (Thomas Lehmann, Rio Grande Games, 2010)News (and why it doesn't matter)-Fighting games have sequels, so too must Street Masters 19m45s-Carcassonne goes on safari 21m48s-The Grail lost? 22m44sFeature Game: 24m24s-Battle for Rokugan (Molly Glover & Tom Jolly, Fantasy Flight, 2017)Topic: Gateway Games 51m50sAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I hope you're planning your Arkhipov Day festivities. Don't get me wrong, I dig Stanislav Petrov as much as the next guy, but for my money Vasili Arkhipov is the man, and he doesn't get nearly enough credit. Because, you know, he either saved your life or your ancestors' lives--the least we could do is give the man a holiday. He doesn't even have a card in Twilight Struggle! See, I brought it back to games in the end.Games Played Last Week: -Galaxy Trucker: Missions 3m00s (Vlaada Chvátil, CGE, 2015)-Terraforming Mars: Prelude 6m04s (Jacob Fryxelius, Stronghold, 2018)-Quartermaster General: Prelude 7m01s (Ian Brody, Griggling Games, 2018)-Star Wars: Imperial Assault - Jabba's Realm 9m24s (Todd Michlitsch & Paul Winchester, FFG, 2017)-Specter Ops 10m24s (Emerson Matssuchi, Plaid Hat Games, 2015)-Master of the Galaxy 14m54s (Timofey Bokarev & Konstantin Seleznev, Ares Games, 2018)-Paper Tales: Beyond the Gate 19m38s (Masato Uesugi, Strongold, 2018)News (and why it doesn't matter)-Fog of Love expands to LGBTQ scenarios 24m22s-Z-Man Lords over Vegas 25m34s-SVWAG SWAG: Take our stuff 26m20s-Pfister Blacks Out Hong Kong 27m46s-Mac Gerdts brings the love in Concordia 28m37s-Terraforming Mars digitally 29m40s-Chip Theory's neoprene obsession 30m00sFeature Game: 31m28s-Level 7 [Omega Protocol] (Will Schoonover, Privateer Press, 2013)Topic: Keeping Games Moving 57m42sAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We're always wondering about what comes next, always on the lookout for the next big thing--both in games and broadcasting. That's why we're open to being elevated to the judiciary, so the next time there's a search committee feel free to add Mark and Walker to the ol' shortlist. We're open to traveling, so it doesn't have to be any particular country. We hear The Hague is nice? Games Played Last Week: -Mystic Vale 2m02s (John D. Clair, AEG, 2016)-Sentinels of the Multiverse 6m27s (Christopher Badell, Paul Bender, & Adam Rebottaro, Greater Than Games, 2011) -Istanbul 10m34s (Rudiger Dorn, Pegasus Spiele, 2014)-Vengeance 11m49s (Gordon Calleja, Mighty Boards, 2018)-XenoShyft: Onslaught 13m30s (Keren Philosophales & Michael Shinall, CMON, 2015)-51st State: Master Set 15m46s (Ignacy Trzewiczek, Portal, 2016)-War Chest 17m46s (Trevor Benjamin & David Thompson, AEG, 2018)-Menara 21m41s (Oliver Richtberg, Zoch Verlag, 2018)News (and why it doesn't matter)-Food Chain Magnate catches up to condiments 22m07s-Takla's bridge to nowhere 23m28s-The Boldest, a Wagnerian epic 24m22s-The city published once in a Blue Moon 25m36s Feature Game: Gaslands 27m42s (Glenn Ford & Mike Hutchinson, Osprey Publishing, 2017)Topic: The Perils of Collecting 54m58sAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We would like to apologize for the poorer audio quality of this episode. The editor (Mark) would dearly like to attribute it somehow to Walker's illness-induced stupor, but try as he might he can't seem to blame the victim on this one. The microphone has let us all down, dear listeners, and all we can do is vow not to repeat the twin errors--the one being the reduced audio quality, the other in Mark not being able to scapegoat the victim.Games Played Last Week: -Street Masters: Redemption 1m30s (Brady Sadler & Adam Sadler, Blacklist Games, 2018) -Sentinels of the Multiverse 3m35s (Christopher Badell, Paul Bender, & Adam Rebottaro, Greater Than Games, 2011)-SEAL Team Flix 7m34s (Pete Ruth & Mark Thomas, WizKids, 2018)-Mystic Vale 10m57s (John D. Clair, AEG, 2016)-Vengeance 13m10s (Gordon Calleja, Mighty Boards, 2018)-Isle of Skye: From Chieftain to King 16m26s (Andreas Pelikan & Alexander Pfister, Lookout Games, 2015) News (and why it doesn't matter)-Mississippi Queen: too many reprints? 17m00s-The Key series Flows on 20m21s-Pretzel Games puts Men at Work 21m31s-Neuroshima Hex! gets fantastical in Monolith Arena 22m31s Feature Game: BattleCON 23m54s (Brad D. Talton, Level 99 Games, 2010)Topic: Catch-up Mechanics 53m31sAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sometimes, dear listeners, the news does matter, and in such instances our hosts feel under-equipped to address them properly. Such is the nature of crippling incompetence. I mean, they could have devoted their time to worthwhile pursuits (like playing games) but instead they shout into a can to strangers (about playing games). But sometimes circumstances demand a brief segue into matters of consequence, and so we here at SVWAG swear by the majestic mountains of Manitoba to do our best.Games Played Last Week: -Ethnos 1m54s (Paolo Mori, CMON, 2017) -El Grande 2m52s (Wolfgang Kramer & Richard Ulrich, Hans im Gluck, 1995)-Who Goes There? 4m34s (Anthony Coffey & Jesse Labbe, Certifiable Games, 2018) -Street Masters: Twin Tiger 8m51s (Brady Sadler & Adam Sadler, Blacklist Games, 2018) -Level 7 [Invasion] 10m49s (Will Schoonover, Privateer Press, 2014)-Grand Austria Hotel 13m19s (Virginio Gigli & Simone Luciani, Lookout Games, 2015)-Mecanisburgo 15m43s (Servando Cavallar, Gen-X Games, 2008)News (and why it doesn't matter)-Walker discovers Norwegia 20m05s-BattleCON big (huge) box 20m45s-El Dorado gets hexed 21m05s-dlp Games' callous disregard and intellectual laziness re: Manitoba 21m29s Feature Game: Too Many Bones: Undertow 29m19s (Adam Carlson & Josh J. Carlson, Chip Theory Games, 2018)Topic: Difficulty in Co-ops 52m01sAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oh, hello there. The door's unlocked--just come on in. Please pardon our informal setting, here, we just want you to be comfortable. I suppose, though, that a tone of complete familiarity shouldn't prevent us from doing introductions. I'm the episode description, and I'm the thing you don't read. Our hosts are Mark Bigney and Mike Walker, and they're the ones you don't respect. Stay with us for a while, won't you?Games Played Last Week: -Aeon's End 1m15s (Kevin Riley, Action Phase Games, 2016), -XenoShyft: Onslaught 4m43s (Keren Philosophales & Michael Shinall, CMON, 2015), -Fast Forward: Fortress 11m17s (Friedmann Friese, Stronghold Games, 2017), -Asgard's Chosen 16m24s (Morgan Dontanville, Mayfair Games, 2013), -Age of Industry 21m26s (Martin Wallace, Treefrog Games, 2010)News (and why it doesn't matter)-Ancient Rome falls to a Pandemic 23m31s-Horizon: Zero Dawn 24m36s-There's a party and you're not invited 26m06s Feature Game: Sentinels of the Multiverse 27m05s (Christopher Badell, Paul Bender, & Adam Rebottaro, Greater than Games, 2011)Sentinels of the Multiverse: OblivAeon 36m53s (Christopher Badell, Paul Bender, & Adam Rebottaro, Greater than Games, 2018)Topic: Explaining Rules 54m14sAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Walker, ever truculent, finally succumbs to the inevitable and submits his top ten. Now we can move on, and it is best we do, as there is no shortage of games to be played! Gencon is over and the new releases flow like sweet chocolate milk. Despite this pressure, Mark and Walker find the time to indulge in old classics of yesteryear, and not just the "classics" from "back in the day" of "2012".Games Played Last Week:-Eclipse 3m00s (Touko Tahkokallio, Lautapelit.fi, 2011)-Dungeon Alliance 4m41s (Andrew Parks, Quixotic Games, 2018)-Outlive 8m16s (Gregory Iliver, La Boite de Jeu, 2017)-Food Chain Magnate 9m20s (Jeroen Doumen & Joris Wiersinga, Splotter Spellen, 2015)-Star Wars: Imperial Assault 12m22s (Justin Kemppainen, Corey Konieczka, & Jonathan Ying, Fantasy Flight, 2014) -Blue Lagoon 14m37s (Reiner Knizia, Blue Orange, 2018)-Mechs vs. Minions 17m02s (Chris Cantrell, Rick Ernst, Stone Librande, Prashant Saraswat, & Nathan Tiras, Riot Games, 2016)-Ghost Blitz 19m55s (Jacques Zeimet, Zoch Verlag, 2010)-Kingdomino: Age of Giants 22m00s (Bruno Cathala, Blue Orange, 2018) -Cult of the Cockroach King/Don't Mess with Cthulhu Deluxe 23m09s (Yusuke Sato, Indie Boards & Cards, 2018)-Root 25m34s (Cole Wehrle, Leder Games, 2018)-DC Spyfall 27m04s (Uncredited, Cryptozoic Entertainment, 2018)-Civilization 30m00s (Francis Tresham, Avalon Hill, 1980)News (and why it doesn't matter)-Quite a quantity of Quarriors 36m57s-Norwegians' toast to Odin 38m53s-Jabba lands on your mobile device 39m57s-OblivAeon is a lie 41m16s-Walker gets digital 42m34s-The Great Looping One loops ever onward, praise be his biplane 43m16s Feature Game: The Voyages of Marco Polo 44m24s (Simone Luciani & Daniele Tascini, Hans im Gluck, 2015)Topic: Walker's Top 10 Games (whatever that means) 1h10m51sIn no particular order:-Tigris & Euphrates-Scythe-Space Hulk-Gaia Project-Orleans-Level 7: Invasion-Diplomacy-Hansa Teutonica-Kemet-Axis and Allies: WWI 1914Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We are but slaves to your whims here at SVWAG, and when our massed masters demand that we dance for their amusement, we must perforce oblige. We resisted for a time, but clearly that was folly. The people have spoken, and their demands will be met: we will descend to the realm of clickbait and listicles and present to your our top 10 games. Walker remains dubious of the enterprise, but Mark is confident that slavish obedience is the path to true happiness.Games Played Last Week:-Battle for Rokugan 1m11s (Tom Jolly & Molly Glover, FFG, 2017)-Warhammer 40K: Kill Team 5m04s (Uncredited, Games Workshop, 2018)-Hit Z Road 8m09s (Martin Wallace, Asmodee, 2016)-Outlive 10m00s (Gregory Iliver, La Boite de Jeu, 2017)-Lost Cities: Rivals 12m13s (Reiner Knizia, KOSMOS, 2018)-Shogun 14m11s (Dirk Henn, Queen Games, 2006)-Mansions of Madness 2nd Edition 17m35s (Nikki Valens, FFG, 2016)-Scythe: The Rise of Fenris 23m38s (Ryan Lopez DiVinaspre & Jamey Stegamaier, Stonemaier Games, 2018) News (and why it doesn't matter)-More Neue Heimat = The Estates 25m05s -More Dune = more silly Spice memes 27m59s-More Meeple Circus = more joy 29m31s-More Spirit Island = more dead colonizers 29m49s-More Shadespire = Nightvault 30m48sFeature Game: Root 32m31s (Cole Wehrle, Leder Games, 2018)Topic: Mark's Top 10 Games of All Time 56m49s#10: Tribune Expansion#9:Ra#8:Infinity#7:Loopin' Louie#6:Race for the Galaxy: The Brink of War#5:Gloomhaven#4:Imperial 2030#3:Antike II#2:Blue Moon Legends#1:Tigris & EuphratesAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Since the dawn of time, predating recorded history, there has been the genius of Reiner Knizia. The Code of Hammurabi taught its readers how to play Tigris & Euphrates. Enkidu had his own custom set fashioned from the bones of his enemies. Gilgamesh sought immortality merely so he had enough time to git gud. Marduk once accidentally flooded the world in enthusiasm over a blue external conflict. It is literally the Ur-game. But everything gets a sequel now, so let's talk about Yellow & Yangtze. Games Played Last Week:-Downforce 1m59s (Rob Daviau, Justin D. Jacobson, & Wolfgang Kramer, Restoration Games, 2017)-Let's Make a Bus Route 3m11s (Saashi, Saashi & Saashi, 2018)-Grimslingers: The Northern Territory 3m54s (Stephen Gibson, Greenbrier Games, 2018)-Custom Heroes 6m15s (John D. Clair, AEG, 2017)-Chicken Caesar 9m07s (Bryan Fischer & John Sizemore, Nevermore Games, 2012)-Menara 11m31s (Oliver Richtberg, Zoch Verlag, 2018)-Paper Tales 13m61s (Masato Uesugi, Catch Up Games, 2017)-Blood Bowl: Team Manager 15m47s (Jason Little, Fantasy Flight, 2011)-Titans Tactics 17m06s (G. Kelly Toyama, Imbalanced Games, 2013)-The Resistance: Avalon 20m00s (Don Eskridge, Indie Boards & Cards, 2012)News (and why it doesn't matter) -Richard Garfield has a new distribution model to take your money 22m09s-Consolidation: It's not just for Asmodee 27m01s-Make Project ELITE again 28m25sFeature Game(s): Tigris & Euphrates 30m44s (Reiner Knizia, Hans im Gluck, 1997)Yellow & Yangtze 48m51s (Reiner Knizia, Grail Games, 2018)Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This episode enters the Fire Swamp, the reputed lair of the R.O.U.S.--the Rodents of Unusual Size. Mark doesn't think they exist. We go in-depth into Thunderstone Quest, a long-serving deckbuilder that is a loyal as a farm boy. Walker announces that take-that cards killed his father, and they should prepare to die. I guess Andre the Giant shows up...? Games Played Last Week:-Gaslands 3m46s (Glenn Ford & Mike Hutchinson, Osprey Publishing, 2017)-San Juan 2nd ed. 5m27s (Andreas Seyfarth, alea, 2014)-13 Days: The Cuban Missile Crisis 6m39s (Asger Harding Granerud & Daniel Skjold Pedersen, Jolly Roger Games, 2016)-EXCEED Fighting System 9m01s (D. Brad Talton, Level 99 Games, 2016)-Duhr: The Lesser Houses 10m11s (Jim Felli, Devious Weasel, 2018)-Rum & Bones: Second Tide 14m03s (Michael Shinall, CMON, 2017)-Guards of Atlantis 14m53s (Artyom Nichipurov, Wolff Designa, 2017)-Scoville 15m57s (Ed Marriott, Tasty Minstrel, 2014)News (and why it doesn't matter) -Eclipse 1st edition gets eclipsed by 2nd ed. 17m43s-Overturn KS gets overturned by KS 21m36s-Vital Lacerda's vital work continues 24m36s-Knizia lays tiles in the Blue Lagoon 25m01s-Walker explains Wacky Races 25m44s-Asmodee being transferred from one Paris equity firm to another 27m27s Feature Game: Thunderstone Quest 28m40s (Mike Elliott, Bryan Reese & Mark Wootton, AEG, 2018)Topic: The Romance is Over: Mechanisms We're Tired Of 1h00m46sAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we stumble on the terrible, horrifying fact that there are other hobbies than boardgames, and we take pity on those poor lamented souls who are enslaved in their thrall. Just what is scrapbooking, anyway? Walker has a theory, but no one is really sure. We should thus feel blessed that we chosen few enjoy the hobby that we do, and so we discuss ways to try to be decent while doing so. Games Played Last Week:-Clans of Caledonia 1m59s (Juma Al-Joujou, Karma Games, 2017)-Starship Samurai 4m04s (Isaac Vega, Plaid Hat Games, 2018)-Neuroshima Hex! 8m45s (Michal Oracz, Portal Games, 2006)-Hellapagos 9m50s (Laurence & Philippe Gamelin, Gigamic, 2017)-Azul 11m46s (Michael Kiesling, Plan B Games, 2017)-Fog of Love 14m33s (Jacob Jaskov, Hush Hush Projects, 2017)-When I Dream 18m13s (Chris Darsaklis, Drawlab Entertainment, 2016)-Goa 20m23s (Rudiger Dorn, Hans im Gluck, 2004)News (and why it doesn't matter) -Quartermaster General gets downright chilly 22m16s-The first ever Cthulhu game, ever (Walker's excited) 24m05s-Kwanchai Moriya Targets The Game 26m46s-Terraforming Mars metastasizes further (Mark's excited) 28m31s-Race races further into the galaxy 29m02s-Catan isn't history thanks to Catan Histories 30m13sFeature Game: Street Masters 31m13s (Brady & Adam Sadler, Blacklist Games, 2018)Topic: Board Game Table Etiquette 54m28sAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A reminder that there is no necessary connection between our feature game and our topic. We would not divest ourselves of SEAL Team Flix, The Only Game that Matters, if for no other reason than we need it on hand so we can talk about it and only it for perpetuity. That, and it's great. Sorry, spoilers! Oh, and Walker was Keyser Söze the entire time.Games Played Last Week:-Cthulhu Wars 1m28s (Sandy Peterson & Lincoln Peterson, Peterson Games, 2015)-Decrypto 5m09s (Thomas Dagenais-Lespérance, Le Scorpion Masqué, 2018)-Gaslands 7m39s (Glenn Ford & Mike Hutchinson, Osprey Publishing, 2017)-Beowulf: The Legend 12m06s (Reiner Knizia, KOSMOS, 2005)-The Voyages of Marco Polo 15m04s (Simone Luciani & Daniele Tascini, Hans im Gluck, 2015)-Dungeon Degenerates: Hand of Doom 18m03s (Sean Äaberg & Eric Radey, Goblinko, 2018)News (and why it doesn't matter) -SVWAG Summer Schedule 20m29s-An editorial from Mark in the context of #MeToo: Making our gaming environment safe and welcoming 21m04sFeature Game: SEAL Team Flix 26m03s (Pete Ruth & Mark Thomas, WizKids, 2018)Topic: When and Why to Get Rid of Games 51m57sAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It is important to stay flexible, and follow the ways of those who practise judo and jiu-jitsu. That is why we choke people as often as we can. Wait, that's not right. Rather, it is important to be supple and adaptable. We had intended to be on time and talking about different things, but sundry unrelated crises have changed both of those plans. We apologize for the delay, but we are confident our new plans are much better. We adapt. We choke. It is a good thing no one reads these, or these comments might be construed as an admission of assault. Games Played Last Week:-LOAD: League of Ancient Defenders 1m43s (Archon Studio, 2016)-The 7th Continent 3m42s (Ludovic Roudy & Bruno Sautter, Serious Poulp Games, 2017)-Heroes of Air, Land, & Sea 6m34s (Scott Almes, Gamelyn Games, 2018)-John Company 11m38s (Cole Wehrle, Sierra Madre, 2017)-Shards of Infinity 12m34s (Gary Arant & Justin Gary, Stone Blade Entertainment, 2018)-Grimslingers: The Northern Territory 15m30s (Stephen Gibson, Greenbrier Games, 2018)News (and why it doesn't matter)-Netrunner Runs No More? 18m00s-Kung Fu Panda...? 18m41s-Monolith: A New Mold for Kickstarter? 19m07s-Summer Hours at SVWAG? 23m02sFeature Game: Food Chain Magnate 23m11s (Jeroen Doumen & Joris Wiersinga, Splotter Spellen, 2015)Topic: Board Game Storage 48m56sAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We here at SVWAG take acronyms very seriously, but sometimes get carried away with such abbreviations. As a public service announcement, allow me to remind all of you that TI:4 stands for Twilight Imperium 4th Edition. It is purely coincidental that I mention this in the context of an episode dealing with games that have turn order problems. It is also a coincidence that Kemet is the feature game of said episode. Don't read too much into either of those facts, you wild conspiracist you.Games Played Last Week:-Ra 1m34s (Reiner Knizia, alea, 1999)-First Class 4m31s (Helmut Ohley, Hans im Gluck, 2016)-Dogs of War 7m49s (Paolo Mori, CMON, 2014)-Downforce 8m53s (Rob Daviau, Justin D. Jacobson, & Wolfgang Kramer, Restoration Games, 2017)-Deception: Murder in Hong Kong 10m39s (Tobey Ho, Grey Fox Games, 2014)-Skull 12m34s (Hervé Marly, Asmodee, 2011)News (and why it doesn't matter)-Borg's Command is that the Color be Red (Alert) 13m08s-Designing SEAL Team Flix 14m50s-First Cthulhu game ever 16m38s-Mythic Battles Pantheon returns 17m52s-Warhammer Quest Adventure Card Game decamps to Terrinoth 18m44sFeature Game: Kemet 20m44s (Jacques Bariot & Guillaume Montiage, Matagot, 2012)Topic: Turn Order 51m02sAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You can have too much of a good thing, which is why Mark always tries to interrupt Walker before he can finish a single sentence. Of course, "too much" is a highly subjective idea, whether applied to game length or pie. This week Keyflower is discussed, which is not too long but can feel too short--except if it were not too short it would be too long. Clear enough. Games Played Last Week:-Star Wars: Imperial Assault 3m25s (Justin Kemppainen, Corey Konieczka, & Jonathan Ying, Fantasy Flight, 2014)-Lords of Vegas 5m31s (James Ernest & Mike Silenker, Mayfair, 2010)-Sagrada 6m41s (Adrian Adamescu & Daryl Andrews, Floodgate Games, 2017)-Thunderbolt Apache Leader 8m12s (Dan Verssen, DVG, 2012)-Ginkgopolis 9m57s (Xavier Georges, Pearl Games, 2012)-Ora et Labora 11m46s (Uwe Rosenberg, Lookout Games, 2011)-Dungeon Alliance 15m11s (Andrew Parks, Quixotic Games, 2018)-Spheres of Influence 20m33s (Josh Lamont, Little Nuke Games, 2016)News (and why it doesn't matter)-Jetpack Joyride 24m45s-Spring Meadow 25m22s-Contest Results! 25m55s-Mark on The Long View (again) 26m36sFeature Game: Keyflower 27m57s (Sebastian Bleasdale & Richard Breese, R&D Games, 2012)Topic: Games that Are Too Long 51m45sAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We delve into the culinary arts here at So Very Wrong About Games; having failed at math but excelling in eating, both Mark and Walker eschew conventional rating systems for gastronomical ones. They had considered rating the rating systems themselves, but were reminded of the podcast's firm stance against paradoxes. So, they threw all their pies into a bag and drew them randomly. It's been a confusing week, to say nothing of the mess.Games Played Last Week:-Quantum 1m00s (Eric Zimmerman, Funforge, 2013)-Spheres of Influence 2m23s (Josh Lamont, Little Nuke Games, 2016)-Lords of Hellas 3m37s (Adam Kwapinski, Awaken Realms, 2018)-Core Worlds 4m24s (Andrew Parks, Stronghold Games, 2011)-Ethnos 7m03s (Paolo Mori, CMON, 2017)-Sakura Arms 11m41s (BakaFire, AEG, 2017)-Empires: Age of Discovery 13m28s (Glenn Drover, Eagle-Gryphon Games, 2015)-Too Many Bones 16m33s (Adam Carlson & Josh Carlson, Chip Theory Games, 2017)News (and why it doesn't matter)-Jettisoning Arcadia Quest into space 19m33s-More Clank, more space 21m02s-Cosmic Encounter is the answer to life, the universe, and everything 21m21s-Giant Azul 25m40s-Last contest reminder 26m55sFeature Game: Bag-Building Bonanza 27m30sHyperborea (Andrea Chiarvesio & Pierluca Zizzi, Asterion, 2014)Orleans (Reiner Stockhausen, dlp Games, 2014)Altiplano (Reiner Stockhausen, dlp Games, 2017)Topic: Rating Systems 55m27sAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Walker encourages you to tell friends about So Very Wrong About Games, despite his not listening to the podcast. Mark has recommended it to him, but apparently Walker's contempt for his co-host's opinions is not limited to games, but extends also to the podcast they produce together about games. One assumes Walker also does not read the episode descriptions, which is truly risky, and might create an incentive to make them devoted to discussing his manifold character flaws. Games Played Last Week:-Forbidden Stars 2m51s (Samuel Bailey, James Kniffen, & Corey Konieczka, Fantasy Flight, 2015)-Dice Hockey 4m17s (Artyom Nichipurov, Unpublished Wolff Designa prototype)-Ortus Regni 5m46s (Jon Sudbury, Jon Sudbury Games, 2014)-Xia: Legends of a Drift System 7m00s (Cody Miller, Far Off Games, 2014)-Skull 9m27s (Hervé Marly, Asmodee, 2011)-Cockroach Poker 9m27s (Jacques Zeimet, Dre Magier Spiele, 2004)-Escape: The Curse of the Temple 14m24s (Kristian Amundsen Østby, Queen Games, 2012)-878: Vikings – Invasions of England 15m16s (Beau Beckett, Dave Kimmel, & Jeph Stahl, Academy Games, 2017)News (and why it doesn't matter)-Ortus Regni back...ish 17m19s-Tokyo Game Market 19m18s-Nostalgic Splat Attack 19m38s-Knizia auctions Lost Cities 20m13sFeature Game: Preview of Crisis at Steamfall 22m36s (Tom Stasiak, Beautiful Disaster Games, 2018)Topic: Interview with Chris Cieslik of Asmadi Games 40m16sAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mark tries to come to terms with his outright hypocrisy, largely on the basis that he feels it's acceptable for him but not for everyone else. Walker yearns for glory, but learns to his disappointment that glory is not legal tender and cannot be exchanged for goods or services. Lords of Hellas offer such piercing insights into the soul, "self-knowledge" being one of its 43 victory conditions. Also, SVWAG is giving away stuff.Massive Darkness Giveaway: 1m33sGames Played Last Week:-Spirit Island 3m05s (Eric Reuss, Greater Than Games, 2017)-John Company 4m21s (Cole Wehrle, Sierra Madre Games, 2017)-Altiplano 5m57s (Reiner Stockhausen, dlp Games, 2017)-Fairy Tale 9m14s (Satoshi Nakamura, Z-Man Games, 2004)News (and why it doesn't matter)-Asmodee for sale? Maybe? Maybe not? 10m42s-Forbidden City Forbidden 11m43s-Spiel des Jahres 12m24s-More Kemet. Purple for everything! 13m05s-Jakub Rozalski's art under scrutiny 13m32sFeature Game: Lords of Hellas 17m05s (Adam Kwapinski, Awaken Realms, 2018)Topic: Problematic Expansions 51m14sAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As it happens, games do not spawn ex nihilo, fully armed and armored from Zeus' forehead. I'm certain that's what most of you believed, but it's not true! To confirm this implausible fact, Mark sat down with Eric Reuss, the designer of Spirit Island, to talk about stuff. Walker and Mark also discuss The City of Kings, a game that is a fascinating mixture of euro mechanics, grand adventure, and both excellent and terrible theming.Games Played Last Week:-Kemet 1m25s (Jacques Bariot & Guillaume Montiage, Matagot, 2012)-The Castles of Burgundy 3m22s (Stefan Feld, alea, 2011)-878: Vikings – Invasions of England 4m40s (Beau Beckett, Dave Kimmel, & Jeph Stahl, Academy Games, 2017)-One Deck Dungeon: Forest of Shadows 7m12s (Chris Cieslik, Asmadi Games, 2018)-Warhammer Underworlds: Shadespire 8m19s (David Sanders, Games Workshop, 2017)News (and why it doesn't matter)-Acros forced off of Steam 12m55s-X-Wing Second Edition 14m16s-Empyreal: Spells and Steam 18m39sFeature Game: The City of Kings 19m01s (Frank West, The City of Games, 2017)Topic: Interview with Eric Reuss, designer of Spirit Island 41m32sAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This podcast scales seamlessly from 2 to an in finite number of listeners, but we're not nearly that optimistic. Walker sometimes dreams of a solo mode, but sadly Mark insists on speaking. Mark and Walker again turn to Vlaada Chvatil, a designer who loves idiosyncrasy and detail--sometimes to excess. Walker asks if it would be appropriate to rant, and Mark gladly lets him off leash. Games Played Last Week:-Railroad Tycoon/Railways of the World 1m52s (Glenn Drover & Martin Wallace, Eagle-Gryphon Games, 2005)-House of Borgia 3m13s (Scott Almes, Gamelyn Games, 2017)-Ex Libris 5m24s (Ada P. McIver, Renegade Game Studios, 2017)-Situation 7 7m27s (Marvin Glass, Parker Brothers, 1969)-Biblios 10m47s (Steve Finn, Iello, 2007)-Corporate America 13m15s (Teale Fristoe, Nothing Sacred Games, 2013)-Winner's Circle 14m36s (Reiner Knizia, Face2Face, 2001)-Rheinlander 15m30s (Reiner Knizia, Face2Face, 1999)News (and why it doesn't matter)-7 Wonders expands, Walker sighs 16m32s-SVWAG expands, Walker sighs 17m37s-Renegade Arboretum 18m41s Feature Game: Mage Knight: The Board Game 20m25s (Vlaada Chvatil, WizKids, 2011)Topic: Player Scaling 51m39sAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You wouldn't like Mark when he's angry, but that's probably attributable to his being fundamentally unlikable at the best of times. At any rate, Walker tries to rein him in from ranting too long about obvious component failures, publisher laziness, and alleged outright theft. Walker, for his part, just wants things to mean something. We are seekers here at So Very Wrong About Games.Games Played Last Week:-Spirit Island 2m10s (Eric Reuss, Fabled Nexus, 2017)-The City of Kings 4m00s (Frank West, The City of Games, 2018)-Warhammer Underworlds: Shadespire 6m00s (David Sanders, Games Workshop, 2017)-World of SMOG: Rise of Moloch 9m04s (Fel Barros, Christophe Madura, Alexandru Olteanu, David Rakoto, & Michael Shinall, CMON, 2018)-Shadowrift: Skittering Darkness 9m47s (Jeremy Anderson, Game Salute, 2018).-John Company 15m22s (Cole Wehrle, Sierra Madre, 2018)News (and why it doesn't matter)-Music and geopolitics 22m14s-Red Raven Targets the mass market 24m10s-App didn't kill Imperial Assault 25m07s-In France, no one can hear you scream theft 26m18s-No app didn't kill Specter Ops 29m24sFeature Game: Feudum 30m06s (Mark K. Swanson, Odd Bird Games, 2018) Topic: Euro/Ameritrash Hybridization 54m22sAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mark and Walker delve into matters of criminal justice this week, pondering the balance and tradeoffs between deterrence, retribution, and rehabilitation. Walker seems to think that Bunny Kingdom a form of cruel and unusual punishment, whereas Mark seems to think that any form of travel is necessarily a form of inhumane rendition. Anyway, they're sellouts now, so if you send them free stuff in the mail they'll say whatever you want them to.Games Played Last Week:-When I Dream 3m22s (Chris Darsaklis, Repos Productions, 2016)-Noria 6m09s (Sophia Wagner, Stronghold, 2017)-A Feast for Odin 8m46s (Uwe Rosenberg, Feuerland Spiele, 2016)-Space Hulk 3rd Edition 12m13s (Richard Halliwell, Games Workshop, 2009)-XenoShyft: Onslaught 14m00s (Michael Shinall, CMON, 2015)-Massive Darkness 18m07s (Raphaël Guiton, Jean-Baptiste Lullien, & Nicolas Raoult, CMON, 2017)-Feudum 21m12s (Mark K. Swanson, Odd Bird Games, 2018)News (and why it doesn't matter)-More Shade, more Spire 28m15s-Boarders' backers left in the lurch 28m46s-Battlestar Galactica minis 30m20s-Starship Samurai 32m11sFeature Game: Quartermaster General 33m50s (Ian Brody, Griggling Games, 2014)Quartermaster General: Victory or Death: The Peloponnesian War (Ian Brody, Griggling Games, 2016)Quartermaster General: 1914 (Ian Brody, Griggling Games, 2016)Topic: Gaming Conventions 55m20sAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Times are bad--children no longer respect their elders and everyone is running a Kickstarter. Nostalgia fuels our news segment today, with varying levels of scorn for cherished memories. For those of you playing along at home with their So Very Wrong About Games bingo cards, Walker talks about a Mystic Vale expansion and Mark brings up Macross--let us know if that makes five in a row.Games Played Last Week:-Not Alone 1m48s (Ghislain Masson, Stronghold Games, 2016)-Quartermaster General: 1914 2m49s (Ian Brody, PSC Games, 2016)-Mythic Battles: Pantheon 5m07s (Benoit Vogt, Monolith, 2017)-Formula D 7m10s (Laurent Lavaur & Eric Randall, Asmodee, 2008)-Rising Sun 9m30s (Eric Lang, CMON, 2018) vs. -Blood Rage 9m30s (Eric Lang, CMON, 2015)-The City of Kings 13m34s (Frank West, The City of Games, 2018)News (and why it doesn't matter)-Mousetrap Redux...? 16m59s-Robot? Eck. 19m12s-The Mystic Vale gets yet bigger 20m11s-So much Confrontation 21m21s-2nd editions for Claustrophobia and Race 23m15sFeature Game: GKR: Heavy Hitters 23m41s (Matt Hyra, Cryptozoic and WETA Workshop, 2018)Topic: Blinging Out Your Games 45m26sAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We adopt a policy of firm opposition to irresolvable paradoxes here at So Very Wrong About Games. Then again, everything we say is wrong, so take that for what it is worth. Don't even ask us about sets not containing themselves. We turn our attention to Vlaada Chvatil's work for the first time, and ruminate about multiplayer conflict games and how they often fail. Also, swimwear...? And "cascades of nightmarish terribleness," which might become our new podcast name.Games Played Last Week:-World of SMOG: Rise of Moloch 1m10s (Fel Barros, Christophe Madura, Alexandru Olteanu, David Rakoto, & Michael Shinall, CMON, 2018)-Concordia 2m59s (Mac Gerdts, PD-Verlag, 2013)-Meeple Circus 8m30s (Cedric Millet, Matagot, 2017)-Clans of Caledonia 10m13s (Juma Al-Joujou, Karma Games, 2017)-Rum & Bones: Second Tide 11m31s (Michael Shinall, CMON, 2017)-Warfighter 13m59s (Dan Verssen, DVG, 2014)News (and why it doesn't matter)-April Fools disappointment roundup 16m06s-More Mystic, more Vale 17m25s-More Gloom, more Haven 17m51sFeature Game: Space Alert 19m21s (Vlaada Chvatil, CGE, 2008)Topic: Problems in Multiplayer Conflict Games 43m33sAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mark references several films while trying, and failing, to keep his composure. Walker tells stories that may or may not resemble reality. Both hosts rant about design decisions they find inexplicable. It's a very cathartic experience for all involved.Games Played Last Week:-Dinosaur Island 1m16s (Jonathan Gilmour & Brian Lewis, Pandasaurus, 2017)-Cockroach Poker Royal 2m17s (Jacques Zeimet, 999 Games, 2012)-Caverna: The Cave Farmers 4m05s (Uwe Rosenberg, Lookout Games, 2013) -Unusual Suspects 6m00s (Paolo Mori, Cranio Creations, 2015)-Too Many Bones 8m45s (Adam & Josh Carlson, Chip Theory Games, 2017)-Infinity 12m16s (Gutier Lusquiños Rodríguez, Corvus Belli, 2005)-Warhammer Underworlds: Shadespire 13m38s (David Sanders, Games Workshop, 2017)-Food Chain Magnate 15m35s (Jeroen Doumen & Joris Wiersinga, Splotter, 2015)News (and why it doesn't matter)-Bruno's Imaginarium 19m15s-Other Bruno's Chawai 19m45s-Asmodee: The Movie 20m20s-Shilling for Dinosaur Island 21m10s-Infinity plus one 22m06s-SVWAG Giveaway 23m00sFeature Game: Champions of Midgard 24m14s (Ole Steiness, Grey Fox Games, 2015) Topic: Victory Point Systems 47m24sAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mark and Walker explore how sophisticated the rejoinder "git gud" can be, perhaps indicating that they are getting good at unhelpful trash talking. Perhaps anything can be an art. Perhaps being a better degerenate is truly the life lesson they have extracted from their years as hobbyists; Mark's experiences have certainly turned him into a fantasy racist. Join us for A Very Special Episode of So Very Wrong About Games.Games Played Last Week:-Path of Light and Shadow 1m05s (Travis R. Chance, Jonathan Gilmour, & Nick Little, Action Phase Games, 2017)-Catacombs 4m02s (Ryan Amos, Marc Kelsey, & Aron West, Elzra Corp., 2015)-Barony 5m56s (Marc Andre, Matagot, 2015)-Core Worlds 7m22s (Andrew Parks, Stronghold, 2011)-Antike II 8m05s (Mac Gerdts, PD-Verlag, 2014)-Rum & Bones: Second Tide 10m49s (Michael Shinall, CMON, 2017)News (and why it doesn't matter)-Mercury taking on Valley Games' legacy with Big City 13m59s-Monsterpocalypse mutates, rises again 14m50s-Death Note, an animated series, is licensed 16m44s-Plan B for Tric Trac and gaming coverage? 16m59s-Samurai Jack, an animated series, is licensed 18m55s-Higher prices are constant as the Northern Star 19m43s-Renegade stays Frosted, stuns the world with Rosenberg agriculture 21m01sFeature Game: BattleLore 2nd Edition 21m57s (Richard Borg & Rob Kouba, FFG, 2013)Topic: Board game hacks in real life 44m22sAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Walker pretends to tolerate Mark's digression into pronunciation, and in exchange Mark pretends to be surprised to hear that TI4 has problems. Both fail to be even remotely surprised that CMON is in the plastic pushing business, novelty or creativity optional. Games Played Last Week:-Zombicide: Black Plague 4m39s (Raphaël Guiton, Jean-Baptiste Lullien, & Nicolas Raoult, CMON, 2015)-Black Orchestra 6m08s (Philip duBarry, Game Salute, 2016)-Tobago 15m00s (Bruce Allen, Zoch Verlag, 2009)-The Nasty 7 16m07s (Jacques Zeimet, Drei Hasen in der Abendsonne, 2015)-Twilight Imperium 4th Edition 17m10s (Dane Beltrami, Corey Konieczka, & Christian T. Petersen, Fantasy Flight, 2017)-Ortus Regni 18m08s (Jon Sudbury, Jon Sudbury Games, 2014)News (and why it doesn't matter)-Zombies! In! Space! 20m30s-Where to avoid hearing more from Mark 21m57s-Mage Knight likes big boxes and cannot lie 23m27sFeature Game: World of SMOG: Rise of Moloch 24m08s (Fel Barros, Christophe Madura, Alexandru Olteanu, David Rakoto & Michael Shinall, CMON, 2018)Topic: Games that Shouldn't Work, But Do 53m01sAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Why can't we all just get along? This week Mark and Walker agree that anyone causing pain should be tortured to death. Wait, that doesn't work. Okay, can we agree that people who cause pain wrongly are wrong? Hm. That seems problematic. What about we should shun those that aren't friendly? Crap. Let's just say that everyone should be nice to me, how's that?Games Played Last Week:-Clans of Caledonia 2m45s (Juma Al-Joujou, Karma Games, 2017)-Gaia Project 5m15s (Jens Drögemüller & Helge Ostertag, Feuerland Spiele, 2017)-Path of Light and Shadow 6m08s (Jonathan Gilmour, Travis Chance, & Nick Little, Indie Boards and Cards, 2017)-World of SMOG: Rise of Moloch 11m19s (Fel Barros, Christophe Madura, Alexandru Olteanu, David Rakoto & Michael Shinall, CMON, 2018)-Deception: Murder in Hong Kong 15m50s (Tobey Ho, Jolly Thinkers, 2014)News (and why it doesn't matter)-Luma Games and historical linguistics 16m34s-Palladium finally puts Robotech backers out of their misery 17m24s-Terraforming Mars needs to be longer 20m53s-Fireball Island: this time with choices? 21m14s-Batman. Lots of Batman. 23m14sFeature Game: Warhammer Underworlds: Shadespire 25m39s (David Sanders, Games Workshop, 2017)Topic: House Rules 51m52sAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Walker acts on his firm conviction that sympathy is for the weak, and the internet seems to endorse this position. Fueled by Mark's misery, the pair utter a great deal of words on the topic of Rising Sun, which has had a firm grip on their gaming time of late. They then decide to move on to matters of history and politics, which are always safe topics. Nothing could possibly go wrong.Games Played Last Week:-Arcane Academy 3m49s (Eric Lang & Kevin Wilson, IDW Games, 2016)-Dogs of War 5m26s (Paolo Mori, CMON, 2014)News (and why it doesn't matter):-Deep in deep trouble 11m04s-Star Trek Ascendancies yet further 16m19sFeature Game: Rising Sun 18m12s (Eric Lang, CMON, 2018)Topic: Inappropriate Themes 53m22sAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mark and Walker dare the siege perilous in this, their thirteenth installment. Walker shares a rare moment of sincerity, and Mark restrains himself from taunting him for the lapse. Rising Sun is revisited and compared to Twilight Imperium, and shockingly Mark highlights ways in which that is favorable to TI:4. Mass hysteria ensues.Games Played Last Week:-Tigris & Euphrates 2m16s (Reiner Knizia, Hans im Gluck, 1997)-Inkognito 3m36s (Leo Colovini & Alex Randolph, Ares Games, 1988)-Charterstone 4m40s (Jamey Stegmaier, Stonemaier Games, 2017)-Barony 9m29s (Marc Andre, Matagot, 2015)-Rising Sun 10m58s (Eric Lang, CMON, 2018)-Twilight Imperium: Fourth Edition 13m44s (Dane Beltrami, Corey Konieczka, & Christian T. Petersen, Fantasy Flight, 2017)-Han 19m14s (Michael Schacht, ABACUSSPIELE, 2014)News (and why it doesn't matter):-Harry Potter Minis Game 21m38s-Race for the Galaxy's Branching Expansions 23m04s-Munchkin CCG...? Munchkin CCG. 24m20s-AMIGO en los Estados Unidos 25m23sFeature Game: 51st State Master Set 26m45s (Ignacy Trzewiczek, Portal Games, 2016)Topic: Kickstarter Exclusives 49m06sAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mark has a bit of an identity crisis, but his devotion to his listeners will see him through. Walker, as is his wont, merely patiently rolls his eyes-especially when Mark almost tries to get him to review a game they've only played once. The insolence! Games Played Last Week:-Rising Sun 2m14s (Eric Lang, CMON, 2018)-Sid Meier's Civilization: A New Dawn 11m31s (James Kniffen, Fantasy Flight, 2017)-Domaine 13m27s (Klaus Teuber, KOSMOS, 2003)-Tigris & Euphrates 14m56s (Reiner Knizia, Hans im Gluck, 1997)-Codenames 15m34s (Vlaada Chvatil, CGE, 2015)-Star Trek: Ascendancy 16m19s (Aaron Dill, John Kovaleski & Sean Sweigart, Gale Force Nine, 2016)-One Deck Dungeon 17m30s (Chris Cieslik, Asmadi Games, 2016)News (and why it doesn't matter):-Asmodee Buys Something Important 20m18s-Walker at Cons 23m15s-A Wrinkle in Time License 24m02s-Games Workshop Tolerates File Submissions on BGG 25m12sFeature Game: Deception: Murder in Hong Kong (Tobey Ho, Grey Fox, 2014) and Deception: Undercover Allies (2018)Topic: Hidden Game States 55m31sAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices