Tom: Hey there, reader. Are you excited by news? Do you like boardgames? Do you want to make a fortune through- Ava: What are you doing. Tom: Shh! Let me finish my pitch. …As I was saying – you, the reader, stand to gain cardboard riches beyond compare. How? Well, it’s as simple as the … Read more
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AwSHUX Update! AwSHUX will be open to everyone! It will also be free for everyone, attendees and exhibitors! Bookmark https://awshux.show, the site will go live on Friday Oct 16. We’re just finishing final tweaks leading up to the show. There will be no password, signup or any registration needed, the site will open to the … Read more
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For this week’s Wednesday video, we wanted to offer something a little different.
At SHUX last year Quinns gave a talk on the history of board games. A quick’n’dirty tour of the games of ancient prehistory, all the way through to the invention of cardboard in the 19th century.
We present it today as a reminder that while today’s tabletop scene is overwhelming white, this is a blip in the 8000 year history of the hobby. The earliest known board games are found in Africa. Dice were invented in the Middle East. The first games that tell stories are found in Egypt. Playing cards were conceived in China. Chess came from India, by way of an Islamic Caliphate.
This hobby owes a debt to people of colour that it could never possibly repay. At the very least, we can make sure we don’t forget it.
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Ava: There’s just too much news, Tom. Tom: Yes, but most of that isn’t actually about games is it. Ava: I know, but it feels super weird to be focussed on one narrow stream of stuff when so much huge other stuff is happening. Tom: How about this. We’ll pick a few fruits from the … Read more
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Are current events getting you down? Ha ha. That’s our little joke. Of course they are. But in this episode of the podcast, Ava and Quinns are here to remind you through the magic of tabletop, things can always be worse! There’s the threat of adorable animals drowning in Isle of Cats (02:43), a world-devouring demon invasion in Planet Apocalypse (12:53), the startling cruelty of medieval Italy in Antiquity (24:17), as well as the bum-punishingly long Western Empires (46:01).
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It is the End Times, and the hordes of Hell are invading our world. Destroy the Hellgate & save our world! Planet Apocalypse is a cooperative game. The players battle and kill demons as a team. The game is primarily a battle game, but also has a tower-defense element, and a roleplaying element as you build … Read more
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“These fields no longer yield grain the way they used to,” complains the farmer. “We should settle new lands before our food runs out. Why don’t we start farming olives, like our neighbors?” The cart-driver nods: “Ever since them city folks started worshiping San Giorgio I have to travel further and further to new building … Read more
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The Isle of Cats is a competitive, medium-weight, card-drafting, polyomino cat-placement board game for 1-4 players (6 with expansions). You are citizens of Squalls End on a rescue mission to The Isle of Cats and must rescue as many cats as possible before the evil Lord Vesh arrives. Each cat is represented by a unique tile … Read more
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Everybody at Shut Up & Sit Down is finding it very hard to work this week, and we’d imagine that many of you feel the same. We offer love and solidarity to those currently struggling in the face of police brutality – we stand unequivocally with those who rightly demand justice. While the severity of violence towards peaceful protests isn’t an issue our country shares today, Great Britain is equally guilty of allowing systemic racism to thrive – and the culture of our hobby is far from exempt.
As a small show of immediate support, we will be donating all money raised through Twitch streaming this month to Black Lives Matter and The Stephen Lawrence Trust. This is a start, but it is far from enough. This need for action extends beyond this week or this month, and the team remains in serious conversation about how we can make a difference on a more long-term basis. If you already donate via Twitch – you don’t need to do anything. If not, we would ask that you donate directly via the links above.
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Ava: Come on, come on! That games news needs to be piping hot when it goes to the serving hatch or table four is going to send it right back! Have you chopped those opinions yet? Peeled the puns? How’s the reckon roux reducing? Have you even basted the takes? Tom: Oh darn, I’ve made … Read more
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