21 FEB 2023 · You like SVWAG? Their early work was a little too negative for my taste. But when SHUX came out in '20, I think they really came into their own, commercially and artistically. The whole podcast has a clear, crisp sound, and a new sheen of consummate professionalism that really gives the episodes a big boost. They've been compared to Elvis Costello, but I think SVWAG has a far more bitter, cynical sense of humor. In '23, SVWAG released this; episode 251, their most accomplished episode. I think their undisputed masterpiece is "gullet regurgitation". An observation so catchy, most people probably don't think about the meaning. But they should, because it's not just about the pleasures of consumption and the importance of digestion. It's also a personal statement about the podcast itself. Hey, Walker! 01:37 AYURIS: Whale Riders (Reiner Knizia, Grail Games, 2021) Games Played Last Week: 03:42 -Godtear (David Carl, Alex Hall, & Steve Margetson, Steamforged Games, 2019) 08:30 -Aliens: Another Glorious Day in the Corps (Andrew Haught, Gale Force Nine, 2020) 14:17 -LOAD: League of Ancient Defenders (Uncredited, Archon Studio, 2016) 17:49 -Warpgate: Beyond (Artyom Nichipurov, Wolff Designa, 2022) 22:23 -Code of Nine (BakaFire, Z-Man Games, 2012) 26:17 -American Psycho: A Killer Game (Dan Blanchett, Renegade Game Studios, 2022) 30:25 -Sabika (Germán P. Millán, Ludonova, 2022) News (and why it doesn't matter): 36:15 Bamboo by Sabika's Germán P. Millán 36:53 Cyclades: Legendary Edition 37:52 The closure and bankruptcy of Holy Grail Games 39:16 Expansion to Cosmic Frog! "Find Muck" 40:15 Topic: Gaming Design Trends

14 FEB 2023 · I once saw a video of a woman driving a Shelby GT350 Mustang on the Autobahn. It hit 275 kph without breaking a figurative sweat, roaring its primal power the entire way. I was petrified even watching the video. This is to say nothing of the terror I felt seeing it take offramps at roughly 100 kph, which is not terribly advisable with a vehicle that is not known for its cornering. Of course, there are many sections of the Autobahn with speed limits--and even more with no Mustangs on it at all. Tragedies heaped upon tragedies. Games Played Last Week: 00:54 -boop. (Scott Brady, Smirk & Laighter Games, 2022) 01:53 -Bag of Chips (Mathieu Aubert and Théo Rivière, Mixlore, 2021) 03:26 -Ginkgopolis (Xavier Georges, Pearl Games, 2012) 05:32 -Street Masters: Aftershock (Adam Sadler & Brady Sadler, Blacklist Games, 2019) 07:10 -Equinox (Reiner Knizia, Plan B Games, 2021) 13:26 -Tammany Hall (Doug Eckhart, IDW Games, 2007) 17:44 -Marvel United (Andrea Chiarvesio and Eric M. Lang, CMON, 2020) 22:19 -Yellow & Yangtze (Reiner Knizia, Grail Games, 2018) 24:31 -Bot Factory (Vital Lacerda and João Quintela Martins, Eagle-Gryphon Games, 2023) 29:06 -The Wolves (Ashwin Kamath and Clarence Simpson, Pandasaurus Games, 2022) News (and why it doesn't matter): 35:58 Dead Cells by Scorpion Masqué and Antoine Bauza, Ludovic Maublanc, et al 36:35 Puerto Rico 1897 component problems 36:53 Andromeda's Edge on Gamefound: Dwellings of Eldervale in spaaaace 38:04 More MicroMacro: Crime City. Complete the map! 38:39 Funagain distribution woes: Stationfall, Revive, Horseless Carriage 39:34 Jekyll & Hyde vs. Scotland Yard: two-plaayer co-op trick-taking game 40:21 SVWAG on Patreon! www.patreon.com/svwag 40:56 Renegade deck-builders crossover: G.I. Joe & Transformers: New Alliances 42:13 Feature Game: Autobahn (Fabio Lopiano and Nestore Mangone, Alley Cat Games, 2022)

7 FEB 2023 · A comprehensive list of what transpires in RRR would sound like the incoherent ramblings of someone undergoing a very potent trip, which is why we merely indulge in a curated list. While Mark does not retract his naming Decision to Leave as his favourite film of 2022, he will concede that it leads to a less absurdist discussion. It also features slightly fewer dance numbers. Games Played Last Week: 01:21 -Astra (Patrik Porkoláb, Frigyes Schőberl, and Eszter Krisztina Sas, Mindclash Games, 2022) 03:37 -Much that Is Good and All that Is Evil (Jeeyon Shim, Jeeyon Shim Games, 2022) 06:04 -Wonderland's War (Tim Eisner, Ben Eisner, & Ian Moss, Druid City Games, 2022) 08:30 -Mosaic: A Story of Civilization (Glenn Drover, Forbidden Games, 2022) 12:34 -Pax Ragnarok (Jon Moffat, Unpublished) 17:53 -Street Masters: Twin Tiger (Brady Sadler and Adam Sadler, Blacklist Games, 2018) 19:57 -The Crew: Mission Deep Sea (Thomas Sing, KOSMOS, 2021) News (and why it doesn't matter): 22:22 Xoe Allred's Persuasion being developed by Wehrlegig Games 23:38 Quartermaster General: East Front Ares Games 24:34 Pride and PrejuDice on Kickstarter 25:19 Hail Caesar 2nd Edition from Warlord Games 26:18 Kabuto Sumo: Beetle Brawl at Target 27:19 Imperial Miners: 51st State with spatial play 28:23 New Sid Sackson's Acquire from Renegade 29:45 Expeditions from Stonemaier: more Jakub Rozalski art; tracing controvery dead? 31:09 Feature Game: Rolling Heights (John D. Clair, AEG, 2023) 54:36 SVWAG Presents Masterpiece Theatre: RRR

31 JAN 2023 · Our favourite Serge Laget game is Senji. "Senji" is a contraction of "Sengoku Jidai," or Warring States Period, which refers to over a century of near total civil war in Japan that started in 1467. Scholars differ as to when it ended, but mostly we can agree that it started when I traded Huey my grandpa in exchange for boats and then he shipped ol' gramps to Louis' estate. I found this out the hard way when my armies marched on Château Louis to be met with my ex-grandpa. I was a bit miffed, but I was able to use Huey's boat to steal his best stuff, so I guess I got over it. Besides, Dewey gave me Huey's son in exchange for some weapons. 01:19 AYURIS: The Red Cathedral (Israel Cendrero & Sheila Santos, Devir Games, 2020) Games Played Last Week: 02:35 -Autobahn (Fabio Lopiano and Nestore Mangone, Alley Cat Games, 2022) 08:57 -Soda Smugglers (Reiner Knizia, Bitewing Games, 2022) 11:11 -Woodcraft (Ross Arnold and Vladimír Suchý, Delicious Games, 2022) 12:37 -Chinatown (Karsten Hartwig, Z-Man, 1999) 15:21 -Atiwa (Uwe Rosenberg, Lookout Games, 2022) 20:39 -Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy (Touko Tahkokallio, Lautapelit.fl, 2020) 23:15 -Karate Tomate (Reiner Knizia, AMIGO, 2018) 23:31 -Monikers (Alex Hague and Justin Vickers, CMYK, 2015) 25:45 -Herd Mentality (Rich Coombs and Dan Penn, Big Potato, 2020) 26:50 -Senji (Bruno Cathala & Serge Laget, Asmodee, 2008) News (and why it doesn't matter): 27:00 Pearl Games closed by Asmodee, but Sébastien Dujardin might resurrect it 28:37 SVWAG Videos! Uwe Rosenberg and Top 10 of 2022 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn7rQYKYwsxouP_7nSza9qQ 29:15 Tom Jolly's Wiz-War on Kickstarter via Steve Jackson Games 30:25 King's Dilemma: Chronicles on Steam 31:03 Topic: Serge Laget

24 JAN 2023 · Ah, you dear internet pedants, I can hear your rapid and ever-present desire for infinite emendations and futile attempts to be comprehensive! "What of the expansion, uhm actually," you demand. We have little experience with the Ginkgopolis expansion, and while it adds several modules, they don't add much to the game--if you catch my subtle distinction. Games Played Last Week: 01:18 -The Quest for El Dorado: The Golden Temples (Reiner Knizia, Ravensburger, 2019) 05:52 -Heat: Pedal to the Metal (Asger Harding Granerud and Daniel Skjold Pedersen, Days of Wonder, 2022) 11:00 -Last Message (Lee Ju-Hwa and Giung Kim, IELLO, 2021) 15:05 -Hyperborea: Light and Shadow (Andrea Chiarvesio, Maurizio Vergendo, and Pierluca Zizzi, Asterion Press, 2016) 19:10 -Ragnarocks (Gord!, Grey Fox Games, 2022) 23:45 -Undaunted: Stalingrad (Trevor Benjamin and David Thompson, Osprey Games, 2022) 26:18 -Rauha (Johannes Goupy and Théo Rivière, GRRRE Games, 2023) 28:16 -For Sale (Stefan Dorra, Uberplay, 1997) 30:41 -Woodcraft (Ross Arnold and Vladimír Suchý, Delicious Games, 2022) News (and why it doesn't matter): 34:30 Game Brewer's Trolls and Princesses on Kickstarter 36:02 Expansion to Witchstone: Full Moon 36:40 Nusfjord Big Box: new expansions sold separately 37:54 Gears of War: The Card Game 38:26 SVWAG YouTube Page: new videos https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn7rQYKYwsxouP_7nSza9qQ 39:19 Feature Game: Ginkgopolis (Xavier Georges, Pearl Games, 2012)

17 JAN 2023 · Welcome to our year-end eleganza extravaganza! Lists are compiled. Harsh truths confronted. For example, while one generally takes a while to acclimatize to the using the new year in dates, 2022 seemed immediately apt and people switched over effortlessly. 2023 still seems weird, though--as evidenced by the fact that we forgot to change our tags for our 2023 episodes thus far! How embarrassing. Games Played Last Week: 01:32 -Good Puppers (Chris Cieslik, Asmadi Games, 2021) 03:21 -Woodcrafters (Ross Arnold and Vladimír Suchý, Delicious Games, 2022) 06:55 -Robotech: Reconstruction (Dr. Wictz, Strange Machine Games, 2023) 12:59 -Black Rose Wars (Marco Montanaro, Ludus Magnus Studio, 2019) 18:46 -Ankh: Gods of Egypt--Pharaoh (Erc M. Lang, CMON, 2021) 22:53 -Age of Industry (Martin Wallace, Treefrog Games, 2010) and Age of Industry Expansion: Belgium and USSR (Clause Sirois, Self-published, 2013) 29:17 -Sentinels of the Multiverse (Christopher Badell, Paul Bender, & Adam Rebottaro, Greater Than Games, 2011) 30:25 -Artisans of Splendent Vale (Nikki Valens, Renegade Game Studios, 2022) 37:14 -Lanzerath Ridge (David Thompson, Dan Verssen Games, 2022) 40:42 Top 10s of 2022 1:04:44 Game of the Year 2022 1:07:33 Special Categories

10 JAN 2023 · "I'm head of the class I'm popular I'm a quarter back I'm popular My mom says I'm a catch I'm popular I'm never last picked I'm in the Green Team clique Being attractive is the most important thing there is If you wanna catch the biggest fish in your pond You have to be as attractive as possible Make sure to keep your hair spotless and clean Wash it at least every two weeks Once every two weeks And if you see Johnny Football Hero in the hall Tell him he played a great game Tell him you liked his choice in the best of three" -Popular by Nada Surf, which ought to have been in the Green Team Wins rulebook Games Played Last Week: 01:09 -Undaunted: Stalingrad (Trevor Benjamin and David Thompson, Osprey Games, 2022) 04:01 -Tiletum (Simone Luciani and Daniele Tascini, Board&Dice, 2022) 08:18 -Green Team Wins (Nathan Thornton, 25th Century Games, 2022) 10:55 -Terracotta Army (Przemysław Fornal and Adam Kwapiński, Board&Dice, 2022) 17:54 -Paperback Adventures (Tim Fowers and Skye Larsen, Fowers Games, 2022) 23:34 -Don't L.L.A.M.A. Dice (Reiner Knizia, AMIGO, 2021) 24:46 -Robotech: Reconstruction (Dr. Wictz, Strange Machine Games, 2021) 29:12 -Hyperborea (Andrea Chiarvesio & Pierluca Zizzi, Asterion, 2014) 34:24 -Roll Camera!: The Filmmaking Board Game (Malachi Ray Rempen, Keen Bean Studios, 2021) News (and why it doesn't matter): 38:32 Irrgarten der Magier (Magician's Maze): Co-op dexterity with magnets! 40:05 Andrew Parks and Eric Goldberg's Tales of the Arthurian Knights 41:06 Isle of Skye Big Box: Walker Buys Twice Edition 42:16 End of year SVWAG survey! Questions! Prizes! Please help us plan! https://forms.gle/WuqtmUK39xFMAbAb7 42:54 We have a Patreon. www.patreon.com/svwag 44:11 Feature Game: Beowulf: The Legend (Reiner Knizia, KOSMOS, 2005)

3 JAN 2023 · After much popular demand, we present to you the much-anticipated return of Masterpiece Theatre. Our esteemed patron--who is utterly unaware of our existence, such is his focus on his twin demesnes of fastness and furiousness--deserves no less. Of course, should His Grace, the Reverend Doktor Doktor Vincent, Duke of Diesel, Esq. O.B.E. ever condescend to acknowledge us plebs, we would no doubt swoon from appreciation. We would cherish so much as a grunt! Or a cease and desist! Games Played Last Week: 01:21 -Undaunted: Stalingrad (Trevor Benjamin and David Thompson, Osprey Games, 2022) 05:33 -Time of Empires (David Simiand and Pierre Voye, Pearl Games, 2022) 09:31 -Time Barons (Jon Perry and Derek Yu, WizKids, 2014) 13:51 -Cat in the Box: Deluxe Edition (Muneyuki Yokouchi, Bézier Games, 2022) 18:19 -Green Team Wins (Nathan Thornton, 25th Century Games, 2022) 22:20 -One Deck Galaxy (Chris Cieslik, Asmadi Games, 2022) 26:02 -G.I. Joe Deck-Building Game: Coldsnap Expansion (T.C. Petty III, Renegade Game Studios, 2022) 29:33 -Tidal Blades: Banner Festival (J.B. Howell and Michael Mihealsick, Druid City Games, 2022) 34:16 -Tiny Turbo Cars (Hjalmar Hach, Alessandro Manuini, Jonathan Panada, Laura Severino, and Giulia Tamagni, Horrible Guild, 2022) News (and why it doesn't matter): 39:59 Knizia's Quo Vadis becomes Zoo Vadis from Bitewing Games 41:13 Kingmaker from 1974 becomes revised from Gibsons Games 42:38 End of year SVWAG survey! Questions! Prizes! Please help us plan! https://forms.gle/WuqtmUK39xFMAbAb7 43:25 Warsurge on Kickstarter: setting and miniature agnostic with unrestricted unit design 45:59 Feature Game: Oak (Wim Goossens, Game Brewer, 2022) 1:11:32 SVWAG Presents Masterpiece Theatre: Glass Onion

27 DEC 2022 · We take no time off for Boxing Day here at SVWAG, a day so named because according to the common law of the King (still feels weird saying that) citizens of the Commonwealth are permitted to punch someone in the face on this day only. It's like a pugilistic The Purge but with the metric system and occasional poutine. The news this week features a number of exemplary game titles. Many a stellar game has crossed our paths purely on the strength of its name, whereas others are so generic as to defy searching. Go ahead, find R on Board Game Geek, or the game Quest. I dare you. 01:59 AYURIS: Dominant Species Marine (Chad Jensen, GMT Games, 2021) Games Played Last Week: 04:50 -Oak (Wim Goossens, Game Brewer, 2022) 10:59 -Weather Machine (Vital Lacerda, Eagle-Gryphon Games, 2022) 12:42 -Time of Empires (David Simiand and Pierre Voye, Pearl Games, 2022) 23:10 -Wayfarers of the South Tigris (S J Macdonald and Shem Phillips, Garphill Games, 2022) 26:40 -Persuasion (Xoe Allred, Unpublished) 31:31 -Starship Captains (Peter B. Hoffgaard, Czech Games Edition, 2022) 37:22 -Cockroach Poker (Jacques Zeimet, Drei Magier Spiele, 2004) 42:43 -Green Team Wins (Nathan Thornton, 25th Century Games, 2022) 47:53 -Arcana Rising (Tim Armstrong, Grey Fox Games, 2021) 50:12 -R (Seiji Kanai, Kanai Factory, 2011) News (and why it doesn't matter): 52:35 Much that Is Good, and All that Is Evil: game about the Western Gull 53:08 The Adventures of Robin Hood: Friar Tuck in Danger expansion 54:14 End of year SVWAG survey! Questions! Prizes! Please help us plan! https://forms.gle/WuqtmUK39xFMAbAb7 55:10 Noobs in Space 55:48 Topic: Real-time Games

20 DEC 2022 · All things in SVWAG are glorious, and that applies doubly for our glorious returns. We will also not be taking any additional breaks during the holidays! Yes, we can pledge an uninterrupted broadcast schedule through to the new year--leading directly to our annual end-of-year spectacular. And it shall be what, listeners? Say it with me, It shall be glorious. 02:24 AYURIS: Bullet♥︎ (Joshua Van Laningham, Level 99 Games, 2021) Games Played Last Week: 05:08 -Tidal Blades: Banner Festival (J.B. Howell and Michael Mihealsick, Druid City Games, 2022) 08:12 -Riftforce: Beyond (Carlo Bortolini, 1 More Time Games, 2022) 11:29 -Turing Machine (Fabien Gridel and Yoann Levet, Le Scorpion Masqué, 2022) 17:27 -Roll Camera!: The Filmmaking Board Game (Malachi Ray Rempen, Keen Bean Studios, 2021) 23:36 -John Company: Second Edition (Cole Wehrle, Wehrlegig Games, 2022) 29:27 -Horizons of Spirit Island (R. Eric Reuss, Greater Than Games, 2022) 33:20 -Terracotta Army (Przemysław Fornal and Adam Kwapiński, Board&Dice, 2022) 35:37 -Pandemic: Fall of Rome (Matt Leacock & Paolo Mori, Z-Man, 2018) 38:11 -Tiletum (Simone Luciani and Daniele Tascini, Board&Dice, 2022) 39:44 -Brazil: Imperial (Zé Mendes, MeepleBR, 2021) 49:02 -Oak (Wim Goossens, Game Brewer, 2022) 50:46 -Frostpunk: The Board Game (Adam Kwapiński, Glass Cannon Unplugged, 2022) News (and why it doesn't matter): 52:27 Calico app: cats on your phone 53:20 French website Tric Trac to shut down 54:18 Mythic Games divests itself of several IPs to CMON and Monolith Games 56:01 Sweaty Tryhard vs. Filthy Casual: not meant as insult. New Myers-Briggs to be crafted? 58:10 Inside Job: trick-taking with traitor 58:52 IKI expansion: Akebono. Walker summons the purifying flames. 59:23 Queen games reprints Stefan Feld's city collection with no updates in 9-day campaign. Allegedly. 1:00:35 Topic: Random Events