Rulebooks

Rulebooks

Author: Pickaxe October 21, 2025 Duration: 1:17:48
As ever, we do not acknowledge one of the most pernicious false dichotomies in the rulebook space; whether rules should be strictly permissive (you can only do what the rules say you can) or strictly restrictive (you can do anything unless the rules say otherwise). I have never seen a rulebook forbid me from choking an opponent, nor have I see a rulebook give me permission to breathe. I will thus reject both models as being rather too simplistic. 01:28 AYURIS: Galactic Renaissance (Christian Martinez, Matagot, 2024) Games Played Last Week: 05:09 -The Guest (Arkaitz Caride, Devir, 2025) 10:48 -Cosmic Encounter (Bill Eberle, Jack Kittredge, Bill Norton, Peter Olotka, and Kevin Wilson, Fantasy Flight, 2008) 16:04 -Firefighters on Duty (Konstantinos Kokkinis & Sotirios Tsantilas, Artipia Games, 2025) 22:10 -Deck of Spies (James Newman, Web published, 2021) 24:43 -Fishing (Friedemann Friese, 2F-Spiele, 2024) 29:27 -KINGs: TRICKTAKERs (Hiroken, Joyple Games, 2023) 36:11 -Gaslands: Refuelled (Mike Hutchinson, Osprey Publishing, 2019) 40:08 -Cockroach Poker (Jacques Zeimet, Drei Magier Spiele, 2004) News (and why it doesn't matter): 43:45 Burned available on Gamecrafter's Crowdsale 44:42 Claustrophobia 3rd edition, 1692, by Devir 46:33 Mystic Curling by Asmadi Games on Kickstarter 46:50 Amigo US is no more; No Thanks joining CMYK's Magenta line along with I'm Out 47:46 Voidfall expansion: Resurgence 48:27 Sidereal Confluence expansion: Proliferation 49:11 Winnie the Pooh: Serious Detective 49:39 Arkhipov Day: Oct. 27th. Celebrate Vasili Arkhipov and his having saved the human race! 50:29 Topic: Rulebooks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hosted by Mike Walker and Mark Bigney, So Very Wrong About Games digs into the world of hobby gaming with a blend of sharp critique and genuine enthusiasm. Each episode feels like pulling up a chair at a table where two knowledgeable friends are deep in conversation, dissecting everything from the latest releases to timeless classics. They believe that a bad game deserves a thorough examination just as much as a great one, applying that same level of detailed analysis to reviews, industry news, and broader gaming topics. This isn't about following trends or generating hype; it's about thoughtful discussion that respects both the listener's time and the context in which games are made and played. The dynamic between Walker and Bigney captures a fundamental truth about the hobby-that taking games seriously and having fun with them are not mutually exclusive. You'll find their approach both refreshing and deeply engaging, whether they're championing an overlooked gem or meticulously explaining why a popular title didn't work for them. Tune in to this Pickaxe-produced podcast for honest, substantive talk that treats the medium with the depth it often deserves, but rarely receives in casual conversation.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

So Very Wrong About Games
Podcast Episodes
#326: Deep Rock Galactic [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:57
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 ho…
#325: Collection Organization [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:09
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: Gink…
#324: Design Pet Peeves [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:41
It is Festivus once again here at SVWAG, where we shall once again vent our collective spleen over features of games that irk us. Sometimes we will assert that our umbrage is righteous and ought to be shared, and other t…
#323: Wilmot's Warehouse [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:11
Who is this Wilmot? What wares is he housing? Few answers are offered. We are merely told, rather imperiously, that we work at his warehouse. Sure, we have weekends off, but on occasion the fickle demiurge Wilmot command…
#322: Michael Walker Revolutionizes Physical Therapy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:34
We here at SVWAG take pains to differentiate between two conflated ideas. We say "approachable" for rulesets that are easily learned and internalized, reserving the similar-sounding term "accessible" to refer to games th…
#321: Captain Flip and the SdJ [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:27:07
Our guest host this week is the estimable Mark Besada of the Golden Geek Award-winning podcast, Board Game Barrage! Known as the Green Tank because he is more swole than the Hulk (rumours persist that Lou Ferrigno learne…
#320: Slay the Spire [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:37:59
Our next guest host during Michael Walker's recovery is Efka Bladukas, half of No Pun Included! Efka is an internationally-renowned board game critic and dog enthusiast, known for his detestation of whimsy and tireless t…
#319: When to Go Digital [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:21
Our first guest host while Michael Walker is recovering is James de Moss, aka Jimbo! Many a human being has become lost in the deep recesses of Jimbo's sonorous voice, and thus one must take care lest you become consumed…
#318: Fateforge: Chronicles of Kaan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:54
One of the under-appreciated virtues of an auction game is that each session can provide its own economy. While daunting to new players, who don't know what things might be worth, their flailing speculation actually help…
#317: The 180 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:57
While we pride ourselves on our internationalist focus here at SVWAG, we have been remiss in our multilingualism lately. While we reliably rendezvous with French on a semi-regular basis, a skosh of Japanese here and ther…