So Very Wrong About Games

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)Our Sponsors:* Check out Express VPN: https://expressvpn.com/SOWRONGGAMESAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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)Our Sponsors:* Check out Express VPN: https://expressvpn.com/SOWRONGGAMESAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Topics include XenoShyft: Onslaught, Azul: Queen's Garden, Spirit Island, Telestrations, Trickerion, Welcome to the Moon, Yak, Dice Realms, Yokohama Roll & Write, Stars of Akarios. Also, Norse mythology in Telestrations, Spirit Island expansion, Galactic Renaissance game, and Manscaped sponsorship.

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)Our Sponsors:* Check out Express VPN: https://expressvpn.com/SOWRONGGAMESAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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 PageOur Sponsors:* Check out Express VPN: https://expressvpn.com/SOWRONGGAMESAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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 GameOur Sponsors:* Check out Express VPN: https://expressvpn.com/SOWRONGGAMESAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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 Thompson[EDIT: The actor who co-starred in Tremors is named Michael Gross. We regret the error.]1:17:45 SVWAG Presents Masterpiece Theatre: The PentaverateOur Sponsors:* Check out Express VPN: https://expressvpn.com/SOWRONGGAMESAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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 DetectiveOur Sponsors:* Check out Express VPN: https://expressvpn.com/SOWRONGGAMESAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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 BravoOur Sponsors:* Check out Express VPN: https://expressvpn.com/SOWRONGGAMESAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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 AlphaOur Sponsors:* Check out Express VPN: https://expressvpn.com/SOWRONGGAMESAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy