Pickaxe

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Channel • 8 Shows

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Games

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Hobbies

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Mental Health

Every two weeks
Games

Games

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Video Games

Video Games

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Games

Games

Updated weekly
Comedy

Comedy

Updated weekly

23/08/2022

#227: Done with CMON?

I met a gamer from an antique landWho said: “Two vast and trunkless legs of plasticStand in the desert. Near them, on the sand,Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown,And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,Tell that its sculptor well those passions readWhich yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed:And on the pedestal these words appear:'My name is Cool Mini or Not, Kickstarter of Kickstarters.Look on my pledges ye Mighty, and despair!"Nothing beside remains. Round the decayOf that Colossal Wreck, boundless and bareThe lone and level sands stretch far away.-Percy Bysshe Shelley's "Cool Mini or Not"01:17 AYURIS: Empyreal: Spells & Steam (Trey Chambers, Level 99 Games, 2020)Games Played Last Week:03:21 -Marvel Dice Throne (Gavan Brown, Nate Chatellier, & Manny Trembley, Roxley, 2022)05:39 -Yggdrasil Chronicles (Cédric Lefebvre, Ludonaute, 2019)09:51 -Brian Boru: High King of Ireland (Peer Sylvester, Osprey Games, 2021)14:37 -Massive Darkness 2: Hellscape (Alex Olteanu & Marco Portugal, CMON, 2022)16:26 -Paint the Roses (Ben Goldman, North Star Games, 2022)18:20 -Décorum (Harry Mackin, Charlie Mackin, & Drew Tenenbaum, Floodgate Games, 2022)21:24 -Horizon Wars: Zero Dark (Robey Jenkins, Precinct Omega Publishing, 2020)23:11 -Skull (Hervé Marly, Asmodee, 2011)23:37 -Dungeons & Dragons: Dungeon Scrawlers--Heroes of Undermountain (Vangelis Bagiartakis & Konstantinos Karagiannis, Wizkids, 2021)24:57 -So Clover! (François Romain, Repos Production, 2021)27:04 -Hour of Need (Adam Sadler & Brady Sadler, Blacklist Games, 2022)29:58 -Framework (Uwe Rosenberg, Edition Spielwiese, 2022)29:58 -Nova Luna (Uwe Rosenberg & Corné van Moorsel, Edition Spielwiese, 2019)31:03 -Cerebria: The Inside World (Richard Amann, Viktor Peter, István Pócsi, Frigyes Schőberl, Nick Shaw, & Dávid Turczi, Mindclash Games, 2018)35:42 -XenoShyft: Onslaught (Keren Philosophales & Michael Shinall, CMON, 2015) and Dreadmire (Michael Shinall, CMON, 2017)37:32 -Fateforge: Chronicles of Kaan (Gordon Calleja, Mighty Boards, 2023)News (and why it doesn't matter):41:59 AGL Tournament Pack--Bixie Edition for Aristeia!42:37 FFG's Star Wars: The Deckbuilding Game42:50 Pandasaurus and Elizabeth Hargrave's The Fox Experiment44:06 Topic: Done with CMON?1:05:23 SVWAG Presents Masterpiece Theatre: PreyAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

23/08/2022

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1h 12m
19/07/2022

#222: Fumbling towards a New Normal

We celebrate the release of a palindrome episode with the glorious news of the return of SHUX, the Shut Up & Sit Down Expo. Perhaps more relevantly, SVWAG are invited guests! Both Mark and Walker will be in Vancouver from September 30th to October 2nd. Now that you know where they will be, you can more efficiently avoid them. Or you could go play a game with them, whatevs.02:54 AYURIS: Tidal Blades: Heroes of the Reef (Tim Eisner & Ben Eisner, Druid City Games, 2020)Games Played Last Week:05:45 -Vengeance: Roll & Fight (Gordon Calleja, Noralie Lubbers, & Dávid Turczi, Mighty Boards, 2022)10:05 -Regicide (Paul Abrahams, Luke Badger, & Andy Richdale, Badgers from Mars, 2020)10:52 -Scape Goat (Jon Perry, Indie Boards & Cards, 2020)12:54 -Battlelore 2nd Edition (Richard Borg & Robert A. Kouba, FFG, 2013)15:57 -Millennium Blades: Collusion (Joshua Van Laningham & D. Brad Talton, Jr., Level 99 Games, 2021)21:32 -Golem (Flaminia Brasini, Virginio Gigli, & Simone Luciani, Cranio Creations, 2021)22:42 -Clash of the Gladiators (Reiner Knizia, Rio Grande Games, 2002)27:17 -Guards of Atlantis II (Artyom Nichipurov, Wolff Designa, 2022)28:22 -Ghost Adventure (Wlad Watine, Buzzy Games, 2020)31:36 -Orléans (Reiner Stockhausen, dlp Games, 2014)33:01 -Shamans (Cédrick Chaboussit, Studio H, 2021)37:19 -Carnegie (Xavier Georges, Quined Games, 2022)38:39 -Scythe (Jamey Stegmaier, Stonemaier Games, 2016)39:44 -The Guild of Merchant Explorers (Matthew Dunstan & Brett J. Gilbert, AEG, 2022)News (and why it doesn't matter):41:09 Discordia by Bernd Eisenstein41:25 Spiel des Jahres Winner: Cascadia from Randy Flynn and Flatout Games, Kennerspiel Living Forest from Aske Christiansen and Ludonaute41:52 The Wordle nightmare evolves into board form42.32 Sabika by Germán P. Millán43:00 SVWAG at the Shut Up & Sit Down Expo: SHUX! September 30 - October 243:57Topic: Fumbling towards a New NormalVideo: Board Game Design: How COVID 19 changed the board game industry foreverhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QM190p6MiPkAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

19/07/2022

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1h 6m
15/12/2020

#148: Combat Systems

"I hit you!" "Nuh-uh, you missed!" "I totally hit you!" "I dodged it!" "I have special homing missiles you can't dodge!" "I have a shield that redirects all your shots back to you!" "I have an invincibility field!" "I can shoot through invincibility!" At this point, Games Workshop would have us roll off, with the person rolling higher getting the title of Most Obnoxious Person.01:49 AYURIS: Cthulhu Wars (Sandy Peterson & Lincoln Petersen, Petersen Games, 2015)Games Played Last Week:05:02 -AuZtralia (Martin Wallace, Stronghold Games, 2018)11:16 -Under Falling Skies (Tomáš Uhlíř, Czech Games Edition, 2020)12:49 -The King Is Dead: Second Edition (Peer Sylvester, Osprey Games, 2020)19:48 -Jetpack Joyride: Deluxe Edition (Michał Gołębiowski, Lucky Duck Games, 2019)22:43 -Apocalypse Road (Jeff Horger & Carla Horger, GMT Games, 2020)29:53 -Marvel United (Andrea Chiarvesio & Eric M. Lang, CMON, 2020)33:06 -Gaia Project (Jens Drögemüller & Helge Ostertag, Feuerland Spiele, 2017)38:52 -Terraforming Mars (Jacob Fryxelius, Stronghold Games, 2016) News (and why it doesn't matter):41:24 Board Game Arena's month of releases mostly old betas42:15 Everdell publisher sending cease & desist orders to Etsy sellers46:04 Topic: Combat SystemsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

15/12/2020

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1h 25m
28/09/2021

#186: Imperium: The Contention

In case you missed it, we have now offered to the series of tubes the definitive website for all your non-porn non-cat needs. Sowronggames.com is your official repository for all things SVWAG, including all of our episodes, editorial policies, the full Swagoo, and definitions of all the arcane cant of the show (such as Swagoo). Excellent for neophytes and long-time Svwaggers alike. Unlike other websites, we don't discriminate against bots! We believe sapient bots deserve full moral recognition, and that includes access to our font of digital nonsense. You're welcome, Messrs. Prime and Magnus.Games Played Last Week:01:12 -Ankh: Gods of Egypt (Eric M. Lang, CMON, 2021)07:44 -Furnace (Ivan Lashin, Hobby World, 2021)11:58 -Core Worlds: Galactic Orders (Andrew Parks, Stronghold Games, 2012)14:34 -Khôra: Rise of an Empire (Head Quarter Simulation Game Club, IELLO, 2021)17:23 -Tapestry (Jamey Stegmaier, Stonemaier Games, 2019)19:46 -The Resistance: Avalon (Don Eskridge, Indie Boards & Cards, 2012)21:46 -Cloud City (Phil Walker-Harding, Blue Orange Games, 2020)23:07 -Simplicity (David Brain, Fractal Juegos, 2021)23:57 -Niagara (Thomas Liesching, Zoch Verlag, 2004)26:47 -Kabuto Sumo (Tony Miller, BoardGameTables.com, 2021)28:38 -Camel Up (Second Edition) (Steffan Bogen, eggertspiele, 2018)31:11 -Robotech: Brace for Impact (Nick Ferris, Strange Machine Games, 2019)News (and why it doesn't matter):35:27 Fundraiser on Twitch for Food Banks Canada on October 2nd at 3 PM EST.Guests: No Pun Included, Board Game Barrage, the SVWAG crew! KOSMOS has donated copies of The Crew: Mission Deep Sea to give away!https://tiltify.com/@svwag/so-very-wrong-about-games-food-drive36:11 Parasocial Saturdays! Saturday, 10:30 EST. 36:45 Myth and Goal: James Hewitt & Sophie Williams37:27 Let's Make a Bus Route domestic reprint: Get on Board: New York & London38:08 Eastern Empires by 999 Games40:01 No episode next week; Happy Thanksgiving!40:25 Skinny Minis 41:46 International Gamers Awards winners: Lost Ruins of Arnak, My City, and Under Falling Skies42:40 Language that insidiously encourages gatekeeping45:26 Feature Game: Imperium: The Contention (Gary Dworetsky, Contention Games, 2021)1:04:58 SVWAG Presents: Masterpiece Theatre: Avatar The Last Airbender Season 2Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

28/09/2021

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1h 11m
04/06/2019

#70: Asgard's Chosen

Do you sometimes feel like having your blind brother hurl spears at you as a party trick? Do you feel the urge to put your hand in a giant wolf's mouth to make your friends feel bad? Do you wish you could ride a chariot pulled by cats for no discernible reason? Do you long to carry on rambling conversations with a severed head? Do you want days of the week to be named after you?Well, this is your episode!Games Played Last Week: -Just One 1m26s (Ludovic Roudy & Bruno Sautter, Repos Productions, 2018)-Lords of Hellas 3m12s (Adam Kwapiński, Awaken Realms, 2018)-Combat Commander: Europe 5m26s(Chad Jensen, GMT, 2006)-Barenpark 7m56s (Phil Walker-Harding, Lookout Games, 2017)-Corporate America 8m31s (Teale Fristoe, Nothing Sacred Games, 2013)-Reykholt 10m09s (Uwe Rosenberg, Frosted Games, 2018)-Burning Suns 11m05s (Emil Larson, SunTzu Games, 2013)-51st State: Master Set - Allies 13m32s (Joanna Kijanka & Ignacy Trzewiczek, Portal Games, 2019)-Tammany Hall 16m12s (Doug Eckhart, IDW Games, 2007)News (and why it doesn't matter):-Chad Jensen diagnosed with cancer and is raising funds 21m24shttps://www.gofundme.com/help-chad-with-chemo-Stack with Tuki 22m16s-Ready availability of Queenies? 23m16s-Papillon flies again 24m51s-Modiphius doubles down on Bethesda 25m31sFeature Game: Asgard's Chosen 27m14s (Morgan Dontanville, Mayfair Games, 2013)Solo variant: https://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/1058313/solo-variant-more-tense-gameplayAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

04/06/2019

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55 min
30/04/2019

#66: Warpgate and Biggest Rules Mistakes

We humble ourselves before you, O merciful audience, so as to lay bare our sins against the gaming world. Granted we toil as rules explainers on the behalf of ungrateful vermin who do not appreciate our labours, but nonetheless we take full responsibility for mildly inconveniencing the filthy ingrates who can't be bothered to read a rulebook. We implore that these monstrously selfish demons might find it in their paltry hearts and feeble minds to grant us a little mercy. We sincerely apologize to these subhuman monsters, we truly do.AYURIS: Feudum 3m20s (Mark K. Swanson, Odd Bird Games, 2017)Games Played Last Week: -The Boldest 4m38s (Sophia Wagner, Pegasus Spiele, 2019)-Wingspan 6m36s (Elizabeth Hargrave, Stonemaier Games, 2019)-Council of 4 9m00s (Simone Luciani & Daniele Tascini, Cranio Creations, 2015)-Root 11m42s (Cole Wehrle, Leder Games, 2018)-Imperius 12m20s (Grant Rodiek, Kolossal Games, 2018)-Siege of the Citadel 15m23s (Richard Borg, Eric M. Lang, Jason Little, & Kevin Wilson, Modiphius, 2019)News (and why it doesn't matter)-51st State expands with Allies 18m00s-Mark is not a lawyer on the Great Western Trail 19m14s-In space, no one can hear you roleplay 21m59s-Warhammer Underworlds goes digital 22m32s-Terraforming Kickstarter 23m27s-Kolossal Kickstarter takedown 24m15sFeature Game: Warpgate 26m52s (Artyom Nichipurov, Wolff Designa, 2018)Topic: Biggest Rules Mistakes 53m10sAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

30/04/2019

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1h 9m
01/05/2018

#23: Mage Knight and Player Scaling

This podcast scales seamlessly from 2 to an in finite number of listeners, but we're not nearly that optimistic. Walker sometimes dreams of a solo mode, but sadly Mark insists on speaking. Mark and Walker again turn to Vlaada Chvatil, a designer who loves idiosyncrasy and detail--sometimes to excess. Walker asks if it would be appropriate to rant, and Mark gladly lets him off leash. Games Played Last Week:-Railroad Tycoon/Railways of the World 1m52s (Glenn Drover & Martin Wallace, Eagle-Gryphon Games, 2005)-House of Borgia 3m13s (Scott Almes, Gamelyn Games, 2017)-Ex Libris 5m24s (Ada P. McIver, Renegade Game Studios, 2017)-Situation 7 7m27s (Marvin Glass, Parker Brothers, 1969)-Biblios 10m47s (Steve Finn, Iello, 2007)-Corporate America 13m15s (Teale Fristoe, Nothing Sacred Games, 2013)-Winner's Circle 14m36s (Reiner Knizia, Face2Face, 2001)-Rheinlander 15m30s (Reiner Knizia, Face2Face, 1999)News (and why it doesn't matter)-7 Wonders expands, Walker sighs 16m32s-SVWAG expands, Walker sighs 17m37s-Renegade Arboretum 18m41s Feature Game: Mage Knight: The Board Game 20m25s (Vlaada Chvatil, WizKids, 2011)Topic: Player Scaling 51m39sAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

01/05/2018

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1h 11m
20/06/2018

#30: Food Chain Magnate and Game Storage

It is important to stay flexible, and follow the ways of those who practise judo and jiu-jitsu. That is why we choke people as often as we can. Wait, that's not right. Rather, it is important to be supple and adaptable. We had intended to be on time and talking about different things, but sundry unrelated crises have changed both of those plans. We apologize for the delay, but we are confident our new plans are much better. We adapt. We choke. It is a good thing no one reads these, or these comments might be construed as an admission of assault. Games Played Last Week:-LOAD: League of Ancient Defenders 1m43s (Archon Studio, 2016)-The 7th Continent 3m42s (Ludovic Roudy & Bruno Sautter, Serious Poulp Games, 2017)-Heroes of Air, Land, & Sea 6m34s (Scott Almes, Gamelyn Games, 2018)-John Company 11m38s (Cole Wehrle, Sierra Madre, 2017)-Shards of Infinity 12m34s (Gary Arant & Justin Gary, Stone Blade Entertainment, 2018)-Grimslingers: The Northern Territory 15m30s (Stephen Gibson, Greenbrier Games, 2018)News (and why it doesn't matter)-Netrunner Runs No More? 18m00s-Kung Fu Panda...? 18m41s-Monolith: A New Mold for Kickstarter? 19m07s-Summer Hours at SVWAG? 23m02sFeature Game: Food Chain Magnate 23m11s (Jeroen Doumen & Joris Wiersinga, Splotter Spellen, 2015)Topic: Board Game Storage 48m56sAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

20/06/2018

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1h 7m
17/09/2019

#85: Tableau-Builders

Mark thinks it is colossally unfair that he gets so much flak for speaking French when mediocre game designers get to throw around a word like "tableau." Then again, Mark and Walker can't quite agree on what a tableau constitutes. Mark seems to define it the way that American judge famously defined pornography--he knows it when he sees it--whereas Walker is more conspiratorial about tableaus (Tableaux? Tableausies?), seeing them everywhere and lurking behind every player board or suite of special powers. Nothing seems to inspire disagreement among geeks like a taxonomy. AYURIS: Street Masters 2m17s (Adam Sadler & Brady Sadler, Blacklist Games, 2018)Games Played Last Week: -Attribute 5m27s (Marcel-Andre Casasola Merkle, Z-Man Games, 2002)-Pax Pamir: Second Edition 7m33s (Cole Wehrle, Wehrlegig Games, 2019)-Air, Land & Sea 9m57s (Jon Perry, Arcane Wonders, 2018)-Shadows of Malice: Revised 2nd Printing 13m27s (Jim Felli, Devious Weasel Games, 2019)-Undaunted: Normandy 17m10s (Trevor Benjamin & David Thompson, Osprey Games, 2019)-Infinity 21m44s (Gutier Lusquiños Rodríguez, Corvus Belli, 2005)News (and why it doesn't matter):-Root's solitaire expansion 23m54s-Donning more Purple 24m42s-Mark pleads for strength in the face of Aeon Trespass 26m27s-John Company 2nd edition: Mo JoCo Fo Sho 28m14sTopic: Tableau-Builders 29m10sAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

17/09/2019

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59 min
10/09/2025

Perfect Dark & Gears of War: Reloaded

How six years can change an industry--from local deathmatch FPS being all the rage (Perfect Dark), to online co-op third-person cover-hugging (Gears of War: Reloaded). What We're Playing 00:52 Mark: Marfusha: Sentinel Girls (hinyari9, 2021) 10:16 Caitlin: PEAK (Team PEAK, 2025) 20:15 GOOF: Perfect Dark (Rare, 2000) 39:27 Feature Game: Gears of War: Reloaded (The Coalition, 2025) SHOUT 1:03:22 Mark: Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch (Ocean Drive Studio) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

10/09/2025

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1h 10m

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