So Very Wrong About Games

• #356: Endgame Scoring

  Tiebreakers are arguably a kind of endgame scoring. I respect the fact that they are invariably necessary (I mean, if for no other reason than if they're omitted some smartass like me will complain). That said, clearly if the scoreboard goes to 200+ I don't imagine we'll be hauling out the second tiebreaker condition all that much. Frequently the endgame conversion of resources to points already serves as a tiebreaker anyway. 01:48 AYURIS: Nidavellir (Serge Laget, GRRRE Games, 2020)Games Played Last Week:04:57 -FlickFleet (Jackson Pope & Paul Willcox, Eurydice Games, 2018)11:55 -Slay the Spire: The Board Game (Gary Dworetsky, Anthony Giovannetti, and Casey Yano, Contention Games, 2024) 14:21 -Altay: Dawn of Civilization (Paolo Mori & Ole Steiness, Ares Games, 2024)17:19 -Wizards of the Grimoire: Shifting Sands (Cole Banning & Joe Banning, Grimoire Games, 2025)21:23 -Risk 2210 A.D.: Frontline (Mike Gills, Renegade Game Studios, 2025)32:57 -Calimala (Fabio Lopiano, Alley Cat Games, 2024)37:20 -Ransom Notes: House Party Edition (Josh Roberts, Evan and Josh's Very Special Games Company, 2023)40:16 -Leviathan Wilds (Justin Kemppainen, Moon Crab Games, 2024)42:57 -Regicide (Paul Abrahams, Luke Badger, & Andy Richdale, Badgers from Mars, 2020)News (and why it doesn't matter):45:15 New Meltwater by Capstone Games46:19 Open registration for SVWAG Con (July 25th-July27th) on Eventbrite! https://tinyurl.com/25s6p5jd47:24 Topic: Endgame ScoringAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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• #355: Rise & Fall

  When is a thing like another thing? Is Albedo like Core Worlds? Is Cat Blues like Rummy? Is Through the Desert like Go? Is a nudge as good as a wink to blind bat? Are all Roll & Writes inferior to Roll a 6, Win a Cookie? Is Christophe Boelinger France's Vlaada Chvátil? Probably, because it's all just like Mage Knight in the end. Games Played Last Week:04:46 -Street Masters: Tide of the Dragon (Scott McFall, Adam Sadler, Brady Sadler, and Mitch Schroeder, Blacklist Games, 2022)09:45 -Castles of Mad King Ludwig: Collector's Edition (Ted Alspach, Bézier Games, 2022)13:55 -Cat Blues: The Big Gig (Reiner Knizia, Bitewing Games, 2024)22:14 -Moon Colony Bloodbath (Donald X. Vaccarino, Rio Grande Games, 2025)28:03 -Albedo: Space Pirates! (Kai Herbertz, Herbertz Entertainment UG, 2018)35:43 -Malediction (Leo Cunha, Nicole Lobo, and Daniel Pettersen de Lucena, Loot Studios, 2025)39:46 -Hey, That's My Fish! (Günter Cornett & Alvydas Jakeliunas, Bambus Spieleverlag, 2003)40:55 -Parks: Roll & Hike (Henry Audubon & Mattox Shuler, Keymaster Games, 2024)News (and why it doesn't matter):44:04 Tariffs impacting the hobby45:12 Please support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/svwag46:23 Zombie Princess, a riff on Spades, by Bézier and Ted Alspach47:05 Feature Game: Rise & Fall (Christophe Boelinger, Ludically, 2024)Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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• #354: 20th Century Games

  People have favourably described our physical appearances as "borderline tolerable" and "just short of hideous", and that was just our mothers. In light of this, we put ourselves forward as candidates for all manner of game show. Mark is quite fond of Rice-a-Roni and thus would be more than happy to just have a consolation prize, and Walker just wants to spin something as hard as he can. Better reinforce your props.01:43 AYURIS: Archeos Society (Paolo Mori, Space Cowboys, 2023)Games Played Last Week:03:16 -Ethnos (Paolo Mori, CMON, 2017)08:20 -Wizards of the Grimoire: Shifting Sands (Cole Banning & Joe Banning, Grimoire Games, 2025)12:14 -Jenga Maker (Uncredited, Hasbro, 2022)16:20 -Click A Tree (Uwe Rosenberg, Skellig Games, 2025)18:15 -Street Masters: Tide of the Dragon (Scott McFall, Adam Sadler, Brady Sadler, and Mitch Schroeder, Blacklist Games, 2022)22:15 -Crafting the Cosmos (David Gordon & TAM, Office Dog, 2025)23:48 -Scape Goat (Jon Perry, Indie Boards & Cards, 2020)28:41 -Shuffle and Swing (Robert Hovakimyan, Bitewing Games, 2025)32:31 -Bebop (Robert Hovakimyan, Bitewing Games, 2025)39:53 -El Grande (Wolfgang Kramer & Richard Ulrich, Hans im Glück, 1995)44:03 -Crokinole (Uncredited, Mayday, 2025)News (and why it doesn't matter):47:19 Phantom Division returning and editorial challenges47:55 Early Registration for SVWAGCon for patrons! www.patreon.com/svwag48:20 G.I. Joe Heroscape--will Transformers follow?52:53 CMYK game show: Perfect Line hosted by Deborah Norville54:26 Ark Nova spin-off Sanctuary54:54 StarCraft miniatures and board games incoming55:14 Alley Cat games sticking to crowdfunding, skipping retail55:37 Topic: 20th Century GamesAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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• #353: Rebirth

  In logic, conditionals are always true if the antecedent is false. You can't falsify the conditional if the conditions aren't met. For example, if Mark can bench 500 pounds, then vinegar tastes like cotton candy. Rest assured that I ain't benching that much, so don't worry about it; the conditional is true. Similarly, I can invite pretty much whoever I want to SVWAGCon. Fareed Zakaria, Olivia Rodrigo, and Jordan Mechner? Sure, they're all invited. They don't know about us, but it's all good.Games Played Last Week:04:00 -Finspan (David Gordon & Michael O'Connell, Stonemaier Games, 2025)07:51 -Slay the Spire: The Board Game (Gary Dworetsky, Anthony Giovannetti, and Casey Yano, Contention Games, 2024) 11:16 -Marvel Dice Throne Missions (Gavan Brown & Nate Chatellier, Roxley, 2025)13:28 -Star Trek: Into the Unknown (Max Brooke & Michael Gernes, WizKids, 2025)21:51 -Lunar (Masato Uesagi, Allplay, 2024)23:25 -Lone Wolves (Yasuyuki Nakamura, Wonderful World Board Games, 2024)27:57 -Fateforge: Chronicles of Kaan (Gordon Calleja, Mighty Boards, 2024)33:00 -Duos (Johannes Schmidauer-König, CMYK, 2025) 35:35 -Creature Caravan (Ryan Laukat, Red Raven Games, 2024)News (and why it doesn't matter):41:00 Early Registration for SVWAGCon for patrons! www.patreon.com/svwag42:37 Space Gits on Kickstarter soon! A dexterity miniatures game of drunk orcs43:48 Feature Game: Rebirth (Reiner Knizia, Mighty Boards, 2024)Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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• #352: Ascending Empires: Zenith Edition

  I was donating blood while wearing my Transformers Converse shoes, and two different phlebotomists commented positively about them. "We have won the cultural argument," I said, deliberately burying the lede that demographic destiny is probably the chief cause. I suspect that the same forces explain increased societal acceptance of toys, and board games are not immune. Thank goodness!Games Played Last Week:01:22 -Guards of Atlantis II Arcane Hero Pack (Artyom Nichipurov, Wolff Designa, 2024)07:56 -Creature Caravan (Ryan Laukat, Red Raven Games, 2024) 10:46 -Marvel Dice Throne Missions (Gavan Brown & Nate Chatellier, Roxley, 2025)15:55 -The Elder Scrolls: Betrayal of the Second Era (Josh J. Carlson, Michael Gernes, Logan Giannini, Ryan Howard, Salem Scott, and Josh Wielgus, Chip Theory Games, 2025)26:21 -Dungeon Kart (Michael Xuereb, Brotherwise Games, 2024)30:50 -Star Trek: Captain's Chair (Nigel Buckle & Dávid Turczi, WizKids, 2025)34:47 -Keyflower: The Merchants (Sebastian Bleasdale & Richard Breese, R&D Games, 2014)40:47 -Rush M.D. (Athony Howgego, Konstantinos Kokkinis, & Dávid Turczi, Artipia Games, 2020)News (and why it doesn't matter):46:34 Yokohama Duel 2nd edition by Synapses Games46:56 Helldivers II board game by Steamforged Games49:02 New content for Inis and Tiletum50:02 Early Registration for SVWAGCon for patrons! www.patreon.com/svwag50:41 Feature Game: Ascending Empires: Zenith Edition (Ian Cooper, Play to Z, 2024)Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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