Homo Ludens Podcast

Don't call it a comeback 'cause they've always been here, the boys are finally starting 1863! This episode the lads dive into the Civil War's longest battle, playing 2022's Give Us Victories, an Italian design courtesy of Sergio Schiavi. What will they think of this bespoke take on Chancellorsville, how will it compare to their previous outing in Rebel Fury, and will Stuart manage to keep the historical context to under 10 minutes?

The gang has finally reached the end of 1862 (in Virginia at least) with Ambrose Burnside's ill fated turn at the head of the Army of the Potomac, as depicted in the new hotness that is Mark Herman's Rebel Fury. It promises dynamic movement and a new take on ACW combat, all in a simple quick playing ruleset. As fans of the C3i game Gettysburg that Rebel Fury builds on, will Pierre and Stuart enjoy this new entry from a much beloved designer or will it go the way of Burnside and be demoted and shipped off to fight on another table?

Stonewall Jackson has had his way, and now, thanks to the recovery of some lost orders, the boys are in Maryland fighting over a couple of gaps in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Can Stuart break through the rebel lines or will he suffer the ignominious fate of performing worse than McClellan did? Listen on to hear what they think about this John Poniske design on the Battle of South Mountain, its Rick Barber map, and the beginnings of the Maryland Campaign.

Having finally reached the end of the second day, the gang emerges from the woods of Shiloh battered but miraculously still alive. For the second time they pushed some blocks around and rolled some dice, and compare Columbia's take on Shiloh with the games they have played before. Do wooden components make for the best woods? Which Shiloh game did Pierre and Stuart like best? Answers to these questions and more lie within the final episode of Season 1 of We Intend to Move on Your Works.

The boys decided to take a break from their chronological playthrough and mark the 160th anniversary of Gettysburg with a game about James Longstreet. Unfortunately, they got a little carried away and are still recovering from their wounds - Pierre insists the amputation was unnecessary but this podcast adheres to only the highest standards of historical accuracy. After some delay, please enjoy our thoughts on Hermann Luttmann's Blind Swords system and what it has to say about the second day of the Civil War's most famous battle.

Episode 4: Montreal's Revenge sees the return of Alexandre as host while the boys discuss Amabel Holland's intriguing hex and counter game, Seven Pines; or, Fair Oaks. Amabel brings her trademark creativity and love of brittle design to this treatment to the largest battle in the Virginia theater to date, and the one that would unintentionally give Robert E. Lee his command. There's obviously plenty to discuss, and discuss it we shall!

A Homo Ludens podcast exclusive episode where we talk about somewhat historical board games related stuff we read, watched and play in April 2023 and collectively review our game of the month: Polis, an intriguing euro-wargame on the Peloponnesian War. Part 1: 00:00 - cultural debrief with Joe Dewhurst. Watched: White Noise, Banshees of Inisherin, The first Cow, Aloners etc... Played: Frosthaven, Land and Freedom, Maria, Hegemony... Musical Interlude: 50:47 LCD Soundsystem - New Body Rhumba Part 2: 54:22 - Collective review of April's 2023 “Club de jeu” game, Polis, released by Devir, designed by Fran Diaz. Guests for the discussion: Deborah, Joe Byer, Russ. Outro: 01:41:26 Meryem Aboulouafa - Ya Qalbi To become part of the Homo Ludens community & support the show, send me a Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/homoludens1871 Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/homoludens1871

In this new series, a southerner and two Anglo-Frenchmen play through the American Civil War in approximately chronological order, discussing the Lost Cause and how wargames have chosen to portray what is arguably the United States' most significant war as they play each game. For the fist episode, Stuart and Pierre will talk about Manassas, a board game created by Rick Britton and published by Iron Crown Enterprises, recreates the First Battle of Manassas (also known as Bull Run) which took place in 1861 during the American Civil War. The game's design offers players a thrilling and immersive experience by providing a great tactical feel for the battle. With its sprawling gameplay, Manassas allows players to strategize and maneuver their units across the battlefield, making it a great option for history enthusiasts and gamers alike. Interestingly, Manassas holds a unique place in the history of Iron Crown Enterprises, as it is the only historical board game ever produced by the company. It can be played as a two-player game or with up to four players, making it a versatile option for gaming groups of different sizes.

A Homo Ludens podcast exclusive episode where we talk about somewhat wargame related stuff we did in October and November 2022. Part 1: 00:00 - discussion about things we watched, read and played for those two months, with Joe Dewhurst. Watched: Glitch, Wednesday, Pinocchio, Andor... Played: John Company, SpaceCorp, The British Way, Unmatched... Interlude: 01:00:25 Jazz Emu - The True Meaning of the Season Part 2: 55:14 - Collective review of November's “Club de jeu” game, Napoléon 1806, released by Shakos Games, designed by Denis Sauvage. Guests for the discussion: Stuart Ellis-Gorman. Outro: 01:48:58 Anna Von Hausswolff - Thatre of Nature To become part of the Homo Ludens community & support the show, send me a Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/homoludens1871 Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/homoludens1871

A Homo Ludens podcast exclusive episode where we talk about wargame related stuff we did in summer of 2022. Part 1: 00:00 - Summer debrief discussion about things we watched, read and played with Joe Dewhurst Games discussed: Bayonets & Tomahawks, Wilderness Wars, Brian Boru, Combat Commander, Ahoy, Pax Pamir, Pax Viking, Pax Renaissance, Turncoats Interlude: 54:26 Georges Delerue - Capri Part 2: 57:03 - Collective review of this summer’s “Club de jeu” game, Sekigahara released by GMT Games in 2011, designed by Matt Calkins. Guests for the discussion: Stuart & Luis. Outro: 01:59:08 Haruomi Hosono - Sports Men To become part of the Homo Ludens community & support the show, send me a Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/homoludens1871 Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/homoludens1871

Podcast exclusive episode where we talk about wargame related stuff that we did in May. Part 1: 00:00 - May debrief discussion about the channel, things we watched, read and played with Joe Dewhurst Games discussed: Arcs, Sovereign of Discord, Triumph & Tragedy, Conquest & Consequence, Baltic Empires, Nevsky, And an update about Consim Game Jam! Interlude: 43:56 MC5 - Kickout the Jam Part 2: 46:31 - Collective review of this month’s “Club de jeu”, Warriors of God released by MMP, designed by Makoto Nakajima (in english by Adam Starkweather).  Guests for the discussion: Deborah, Stuart, Pierre and Luis. Outro: 01:42:41 - Beatmar von Verseburg - Toxicum (Britney Spears Bardcore cover) To become part of the Homo Ludens community & support the show, send me a Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/homoludens1871

Second part of the discussion about Card Driven Games, one of the most popular modern families of wargames, with legendary designers: - Mark Herman: CDG pioneer, designer of Empire of The Sun, Churchill, and so many more - Jason Matthews: making CDGs go beyond traditional wargames with games such as Twilight Struggle or 1960 Making of a President - Volko Ruhnke: known for his COIN series but also for some of the most interesting Card Driven Wargames like Wilderness War or Labyrinth