#320: Slay the Spire

Walker: But, indeed, sir, we make holiday,to see Freedom Five and to rejoice in its triumph.Mark: Wherefore rejoice? What delight brings it home?What enjoyment follows it to the table,To grace in fun times its board presence?You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things!Games Played Last Week:01:08 -Freedom Five: A Sentinel Comics Board Game (Richard Launius, Adam Sadler, and Brady Sadler, Arcane Wonders, 2024)10:51 -Things in Rings (Peter C. Hayward, Allplay, 2024)13:46 -City of the Six Moons (Amabel Holland, Hollandspiele, 2024)19:56 -Lost Cities: Rivals (Reiner Knizia, KOSMOS, 2018) 22:58 -Through Ice and Snow (Fernando Eduardo Sánchez, 2Tomatoes Games, 2024)29:54 -Don't L.L.A.M.A. Dice (Reiner Knizia, AMIGO, 2021)32:24 -Cockroach Poker (Jacques Zeimet, Drei Magier Spiele, 2004)37:03 -The Lord of the Rings: Duel for Middle-earth (Antoine Bauza & Bruno Cathala, Repos Production, 2024)39:42 -Harmonies (Johan Benvenuto, Libellud, 2024)News (and why it doesn't matter):40:18 Twilight Struggle 20th Anniversary Hall of Fame Edition41:25 Richard Garfield and CMYK revamp Magical Athlete42:19 Tons of upcoming Devir releases  44:49 Amazing hidden movement: Burned is back on Kickstarter45:31 Feature Game: EGO (Reiner Knizia, Bitewing Games, 2025)Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

An auspicious palindrome of an episode number! Granted, in triple digits one encounters a palindrome every ten episodes or so, but I'm sure the numerologists amongst us have special enthusiasm for the mighty TRIP THREE. I mean, primes, and threes, and all that. Anyway, it'll be a minute until we reach episode TRIP FOUR, so lets savour this while we can.01:10 AYURIS: Mille Fiori (Reiner Knizia, Schmidt Spiele, 2021)Games Played Last Week:04:06 -Lunar Rush (Steven "Skippy" Brown, Dead Alive Games, 2023)08:53 -Dragons Down (Scott DeMers, Mr. B Games, 2024)16:20 -Things in Rings (Peter C. Hayward, Allplay, 2024)26:00 -EGO (Reiner Knizia, Bitewing Games, 2025)33:37 -Keep the Heroes Out!: Boss Battles (Luís Brueh, Brueh Games, 2024)37:20 -Mexica (Michael Kiesling & Wolfgang Kramer, Rio Grande Games, 2002)40:22 -Avatar: The Last Airbender--Aang's Destiny (Patrick Marino, The OP Games, 2024)43:47 -Formula D (Laurent Lavaur & Eric Randall, Asmodee, 2008)45:18 -Aquatica: Coral Reefs (Ivan Tuzovsky, Arcane Wonders, 2024) News (and why it doesn't matter):50:22 Risk 2210 A.D.: Frontline expansion51:49 New version of Diplomacy: Era of Empire52:42 Axis & Allies: Battle for the Deep 53:41 Trilogy of Bitewing Knizia games: SILOS, EGO, and ORBIT 55:20 It's time for another Mission: Red Planet reprint55:49 Join us in celebrating Arkhipov Day on October 27th56:08 Topic: Expectations in CrowdfundingAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Once again, a primer on some of the differences between the US and Canada. We Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving in early October, in honour of our second governor general, the Right Honourable October G. Thanksington. Rather than turkey and football, we do latkes and rugby. Games Played Last Week:00:55 -Black Forest (Tido Lorenz and Uwe Rosenberg, Feuerland Spiele, 2024)09:36 -Bargain Hunter (Uwe Rosenberg, Valley Games, 1998)12:21 -Unreliable Wizard (Kamibayashi, Salt & Pepper Games, 2024)15:25 -Space Alert (Vlaada Chvátil, Czech Games Edition, 2008)20:21 -Wabash Cannonball (John Bohrer, Rio Grande Games, 2023)25:28 -Quartermaster General: 1914 (Second Edition) (Ian Brody, Ares Games, 2022)29:20 -Lunar Rush (Steven "Skippy" Brown, Dead Alive Games, 2023)32:51 -Cross Clues (Grégory Grard, Blue Orange Games, 2020)35:46 -Avatar: The Last Airbender--Aang's Destiny (Patrick Marino, The OP Games, 2024) News (and why it doesn't matter):40:26 The Waste of Parts: a post-apocalyptic journey42:09 Join us in celebrating Arkhipov Day on October 27th42:19 Talisman Alliances: Fate Beckons. Co-op Talisman?43:19 Feature Game: Undaunted 2200: Callisto (Trevor Benjamin and David Thompson, Osprey, 2024)Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

It is October, the month of Fat Bear Week, Decorative Gourd Season, Halloween, and Arkhipov Day! Sure, it has less candy than some of those other celebrations, but I'll wager neither a corpulent bear nor a kid dressed as a pirate has ever saved the entire human race. 01:00 AYURIS: IKI (Koota Yamada, Sorry We Are French, 2015)Games Played Last Week:03:38 -Valka (Brooke Penrose, Terrible Games, 2024)07:16 -Bus (Jeroen Doumen and Joris Wiersinga, Capstone Games, 2019)09:47 -Warpgate: Beyond (Artyom Nichipurov, Wolff Designa, 2022)12:33 -Dinosaur World (Brian Lewis, David McGregor, & Marissa Misura, Pandasaurus Games, 2021)16:02 -SCOUT (Kei Kajino, Oink Games, 2019)18:18 -Jekyll & Hyde vs Scotland Yard (Gaëtan Beaujannot, Olivier Cipière, and Geonil, Mandoo Games, 2023)20:11 -Cthulhu: Death May Die--Fear of the Unknown (Rob Daviau, Eric M. Lang, and Marco Portugal, CMON, 2024)22:57 -Set a Watch (Mike Gnade and Todd Walsh, Rock Manor Games, 2019)25:04 -Hamster Roll (Jacques Zeimet, Zoch Verlag, 2000)27:02 -Federation (Dimitri Perrier and Matthieu Verdier, Explor8, 2022)28:22 -R (Seiji Kanai, Kanai Factory, 2011)31:03 -Lost Cities: The Board Game (Reiner Knizia, Rio Grande, 2008)35:21 -Vengeance: Roll & Fight (Gordon Calleja, Noralie Lubbers, & Dávid Turczi, Mighty Boards, 2022) News (and why it doesn't matter):38:57 Friedemann Friese's Fishing: trick-taking39:37 Mac Gerdts' 7 Empires40:40 Reiner Knizia's Cosmolancer: Kingdoms, again41:48 Burned relaunches on crowdfunding October 23 from Jon Moffat and Stone Circle Games42:15 Daniele Tascini's Transgalactica42:29 Chonkers Party: phat animals42:50 Walker on Boards and Brews43:14 Join us in celebrating Arkhipov Day on October 27th44:22 Topic: Our Favourite FactionsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Generally we here at SVWAG prefer sci-fi to fantasy, especially if it is of the general sort. There is something joyous about the weird flights of fancy that sci-fi can enable, such as Andromeda's Edge with its "Jelluloid Technoblorps." That said, there's something particularly odious about importing generic fantasy into your sci-fi, like space dwarves and space dragons--something Andromeda's Edge also does. Call it a wash.Games Played Last Week:01:01 -Harmonies (Johan Benvenuto, Libellud, 2024)02:14 -Dro Polter (Paul Schulz, Oink Games, 2023)05:56 -Rise and Fall (Christophe Boelinger, Ludically, 2024)11:26 -Planet Unknown (Ryan Lambert & Adam Rehberg, Adam's Apple Games, 2022)16:27 -Undaunted 2200: Callisto (Trevor Benjamin and David Thompson, Osprey, 2024)18:18 -Irish Gauge (Amabel Holland, Capstone Games, 2019)22:25 -Jekyll vs. Hyde (Geonil, Mandoo Games, 2021)26:42 -Through the Desert (Reiner Knizia, Allplay, 2024)31:43 -Cthulhu: Death May Die--Fear of the Unknown (Rob Daviau, Eric M. Lang, and Marco Portugal, CMON, 2024) News (and why it doesn't matter):37:15 From the Voidfall universe Mindclash brings us Revenant by Allan Kirkeby 39:28 Renegade reprints Acquire41:03 Please support us on Patreon and take our games! www.patreon.com/svwag41:53 Feature Game: Andromeda's Edge (Luke Laurie and Maximus Laurie, Cardboard Alchemy, 2024)Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

If you replayed all the published SVWAG episodes back-back, it would take over 355 hours, or almost 15 days. This is not necessarily how we would recommend you spend your time. Indeed, for our purposes, we are equally wrong regardless of whether anyone is there to hear it; while we sometimes engage with Western philosophy due to Mark's academic background, the realm of the koan is beyond our purview. Long story short, feel free to re-download all our episodes to your heart's content. I'm sure it would help us with some algorithm somewhere.01:41 AYURIS: Autobahn (Fabio Lopiano and Nestore Mangone, Alley Cat Games, 2022)Games Played Last Week:05:06 -Harmonies (Johan Benvenuto, Libellud, 2024)11:30 -Valka (Brooke Penrose, Terrible Games, 2024)17:01 -Keep the Heroes Out!: Boss Battles (Luís Brueh, Brueh Games, 2024)21:43 -Undaunted 2200: Callisto (Trevor Benjamin and David Thompson, Osprey, 2024)29:36 -CATAN: Starfarers Duel (Klaus Teuber and Benjamin Teuber, KOSMOS, 2023) 33:38 -Rise and Fall (Christophe Boelinger, Ludically, 2024)40:54 -Martian Dice (Scott Almes, Tasty Minstrel Games, 2011) News (and why it doesn't matter):42:20 International Gamers Awards announce their 2024 winners43:18 German wooden monstrosity: Drachentreppe44:59 David Thompson and Trevor Benjamin Line of Fire: Burnt Moon; in the Undaunted 2200 setting46:12 Topic: ReplayabilityAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

I find so many mnemonics to be profoundly disappointing. Unless there's a structural element to tie the components together, a mnemonic will not serve to dispositively disambiguate a dyad. I assure you, that lamentable bit of alliteration was unintentional.For example, "I before E except after C" also works qua slogan as "I after E except before C." There are the ones about beer and liquor, feeding or starving a cold, colour of the sky and sailors' states of mind... I recall the structure, but not which one goes with which. Relatedly, is there a mnemonic to remember how to spell mnemonic?Games Played Last Week:02:27 -The Voyages of Marco Polo (Simone Luciani & Daniele Tascini, Hans im Gluck, 2015)04:52 -Pulsar 2849 (Vladimír Suchý, CGE, 2017)07:29 -Faiyum (Friedemann Friese, 2F-Spiele, 2020)12:01 -MicroMacro: Crime City--All In (Johannes Sich, Edition Spielwiese, 2022)14:45 -Who's the Banana? (Chris Cieslik, Asmadi Games, 2009)17:07 -Rats of Wistar (Simone Luciani and Danilo Sabia, Cranio Creations, 2023)19:29 -Raccoon Tycoon (Glenn Drover, Forbidden Games, 2018)22:05 -Yokohama Roll & Write (Hisashi Hayashi, OKAZU Brand, 2021)24:29 -Gods Love Dinosaurs (Kasper Lapp, Pandasaurus Games, 2020)27:05 -Harmonies (Johan Benvenuto, Libellud, 2024)29:49 -Ratyl (Andy Gallagher, Busy Dad Games, 2023) News (and why it doesn't matter):33:51 Monopoly goes to Flavortown34:38 Zheng He by Greg Engelstein and David Thompson on GMT's P50035:47 Cyberpunk 2077: more promising-looking than CMON's offering39:46 Beyond the Horizon: Dennis K. Chan, Adam Hill, Ben Pinchback, Matt Riddle41:20 Studio Ghibli Othello/Reversi sets: https://boardgamegeek.com/image/8405167/othello43:20 Feature Game: The Vale of Eternity (Eric Hong, Mandoo Games, 2023)Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Solidarity, dear listeners, on this most august September Labour Day. Of course, Labour Day is the labour holiday invented for the US and Canada so as to undermine global solidarity. Nearly everywhere else celebrates International Workers' Day instead. One must marvel at the ingenuity of inventing Labour Day so as to undermine global labour solidarity. 02:29 AYURIS: Rolling Heights (John D. Clair, AEG, 2023)Games Played Last Week:06:59 -Harmonies (Johan Benvenuto, Libellud, 2024)09:49 -Flowerfall (Carl Chudyk, Asmadi Games, 2012)11:51 -MicroMacro: Crime City--All In (Johannes Sich, Edition Spielwiese, 2022)12:29 -Who's the Banana? (Chris Cieslik, Asmadi Games, 2009)14:52 -Dodo (Frank Bebenroth and Marco Teubner, MOSMOS, 2020)19:00 -Life in Reterra (Ken Gruhl and Eric M. Lang, Hasbro, 2024)21:48 -Windmill Valley (Dani Garcia, Board&Dice, 2024)25:12 -Ra (Reiner Knizia, alea, 1999)28:28 -River of Gold (Keith Piggott, Office Dog, 2024)33:06 -Spectral (Ryan Courtney, Bitewing Games, 2024)37:07 -Bargain Hunter (Uwe Rosenberg, Valley Games, 1998)41:53 -Fateforge: Chronicles of Kaan (Gordon Calleja, Mighty Boards, 2024)45:15 -Heat: Pedal to the Metal (Asger Harding Granerud and Daniel Skjold Pedersen, Days of Wonder, 2022)News (and why it doesn't matter):47:18 Kronologic series: Paris 1920, Cuzco 1450, and Babylon 250048:15 Topic: Game MasteryAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Some important editorial notes!-the game walker mentioned is Völuspá, and no we don't know what work those accents are doing;-SVWAG does not engage in the eating of seal meat (no one's thought to offer, really);-we hope that Undaunted 2200: Callisto will follow in Battle of Britain's excellent example of having a badass Sikh pilot.Games Played Last Week:01:02 -Nocturne (David Iezzi, Flatout Games, 2024) 03:24 -Cosmic Encounter (Bill Eberle, Jack Kittredge, Bill Norton, Peter Olotka, and Kevin Wilson, Fantasy Flight, 2008)12:20 -Spectral (Ryan Courtney, Bitewing Games, 2024)15:13 -The Edge: Dawnfall (Michał Oracz, Krzysztof Piskorski, and Marcin Świerkot, Awaken Realms, 2018)22:20 -Darwin’s Journey (Simone Luciani and Nestore Mangone, ThunderGryph Games, 2023)24:50 -Life in Reterra (Ken Gruhl and Eric M. Lang, Hasbro, 2024)28:06 -Undaunted: Battle of Britain (Trevor Benjamin and David Thompson, Osprey Games, 2023)News (and why it doesn't matter):34:55 English Sakura Arms now owned by Japanime Games; third time's the charm?37:03 Res Arcana Duo expandalone 37:48 Natera: New Beginning: cute and only somewhat anthropomorphic38:53 Lords of Heaven from PHALANX: Crusades revisionism or culturally sensitive?40:55 Feature Game: Deep Rock Galactic (Ole Steiness, MOOD Publishing, 2022)Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The full title of the Spider Lord is Spider the Third, by the Grace of God of the Unfinished Basement, Canada and His other Realms and Territories King, Head of the Subterranean, Defender of the Faith.01:56 AYURIS: Ginkgopolis (Xavier Georges, Pearl Games, 2012)Games Played Last Week:05:02 -Knarr (Thomas Dupont, Bombyx, 2023)08:12 -Primal: The Awakening (Tommaso Mondadori and Alberto Parisi, Reggie Games, 2024)12:55 -Beowulf: The Legend (Reiner Knizia, KOSMOS, 2005)19:19 -Pavlov's House (David Thompson, Dan Verssen Games, 2018)23:26 -Deep Rock Galactic (Ole Steiness, MOOD Publishing, 2022)24:47 -Capital Lux 2: Generations (Eilif Svensson & Kristian Amundsen Østby, Aporta Games, 2020)29:17 -Trolls & Princesses (Pim Thunborg, Game Brewer, 2023)32:21 -Dro Polter (Paul Schulz, Oink Games, 2023)36:47 -Gnome Hollow (Ammon Anderson, Levity Games, 2024)News (and why it doesn't matter):42:22 Board Game Arena: Gnome Hollow, Orleans, Darwin's Journey43:47 Flickering Stars: sci-fi dexterity by Matt Leacock 44:11 French Republican Calendar from Karate Fight Publishing45:15 Tikal Legendary46:19 Please consider supporting us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/svwag46:40 Topic: Collection OrganizationAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy