The best Spiel episode in quite some time, buoyed by the expected history lessons accompanying Founding Fathers, which made me appreciate all of the points you raise all over again. The quotes were fascinating; I’m going to have to look up Patrick Henry’s rat. (As with  many idealists, disappointed pessimism fell upon many of these men in later years, especially Jefferson.) Only The Spiel would take the time in a game review to read the Bill of Rights; I listen to some of them with more concern these days. The unexpected bonus history of the archaeological findings is more grist to studies which suggest that, as you say, almost every human culture does some variant of this strange thing. Throw in your digressions on simulations (I'll let the M thing go this week, but what about Clue2?) and you have the weightiest Spiel yet and a pleasure to listen to.

And yes, a challenge well met. Although, hey, I like The Club and wish the DJ Expansion was available in the states. As too the artwork in Mr. Jack, the squidgy feeling did indeed come from knowing the lurid details of the historical horror which were surprisingly hard to purge from my mind. So yes, I might initially have been more comfy had it been treated either as a straight horror game or centered on a fictional homicidal maniac. (Juve and Fandor feverishly trying to unmask and capture Fantomas in turn of the century Paris?) I understand why my favorite childhood game, Ideal’s equally cartoonish (and admittedly just plain wrong) Sinking of The Titanic was briefly renamed Abandon Ship. The closer you get to reality the fuzzier things get. Road Kill Rally floats by because, like its obvious influences, it is simply too much of a Looney Tunes cartoon to take seriously. By contrast, War on Terror engages reality head on, but for a carefully considered and well-executed reason- there are truths about the international situation in that silly board game that few politicians have the temerity to mention and as with the follow up Crunch, its cartoonish tone disguises a genuine satirical anger.

Escape From Colditz is a slightly different kettle of fish and chips. Far from being sympathetic to the Nazis, it's the creation of the thoroughly remarkable Patrick Reid who actually lived the title. However, while other more violent wargames require one player to take on the German role, Colditz is apparently a full-fledged family classic in Britain and, in that context, it does feature unusually conspicuous use of one specific symbol. My own copy is a later (and cheaper) edition featuring the eagle on the box rather than the swastika but I understand the original runs into trouble on some websites. It’s a fine game of its type, even more intriguing given its designer’s history, but yes, I might be uncomfortable putting it on a table in public.

Fiese Freunde Fette Feten  (bowdlerized in its English translation as Funny Friends) is the sort of thing I had in mind when making my suggestion on this challenge. It split people between those upset that the US edition was to be censored and those upset that it was to exist at all. Some seemed to argue that it had moved into altogether inappropriate territory for games, yet the stature of the designers made it difficult to dismiss altogether. It prompted one of them, Marcel Andre Carasola-Merkle, the man with the name from everywhere, to comment:  “The absurd fear of German publishers of producing games that could ignite even just a small bit of controversy... causes a bunch of tamed down ever repeating themes that get squeezed to death....  I don't appreciate offensive themes that are just pasted on to get a little bit more attention; but if a theme fits and the game is fun and there is a target group, then I would consider it.”

Ironically, the most recent potentially offensive content I’ve seen came from the very company I recently dismissed for sanding all the rough edges off. Days of Wonder’s new Cargo Noir, aside from shamelessly reveling in a level of racial caricature somewhere between Wok Star (whose “Free Meat” card frequently gets groans from the table) and the jaw-dropping “gangsta” character in Formula D, allows the customer to smuggle weapons, alcohol and (choke) ivory. It stops short of mentioning certain contraband but it’s not difficult to imagine customs officials slicing open those cigars with a satisfied smirk as the perspiring smuggler before them watches his situation get that much worse. It’s sordid and tawdry. It’s also brilliantly illustrated and it may on the whole be the most satisfying game I’ve seen DOW release yet.

And coming full circle, the newest expansion for Cosmic Encounter loops nicely back to the subject that set you off on all this with the introduction of The Chosen, an alien who is for all intents and purposes, connected up with the one, true omniscient superbeing call it what you will. I don’t know what’s worse, the fact that they’re there or the philosophical implications of losing with them.

Still on the fence for founding fathers , need to play it before buying I guess.

Liked the new segment on game design - maybe a tighter focus might help - taking on simulations was a huge first task but I see great things in the future here.

Wanted  to add that ,based on prior episodes, I picked up Survive and Telestrations for our recent family trip.  Both were great fun.  Everyone loved eating someone with a shark (guess this doesn't say much for my family) and we all agreed with Dave - no reason to score Telestrations it was so much fun with out it.   

Keep up the great work 

Thanks for the tip on the CheapAss PNPs!  A few seconds later I was the proud owner of 3 of them. :-)

Great to see Founding Fathers getting the Spiel treatment - it's currently my favourite game and I keep pushing to get it more table time (a few rules bloopers by the way - for example you deal out the initial Virginia Plan with the historical side up so you do not start with a 'deviation' - but nothing that really affected the overall feel of the experience).

I was interested in the discussion regarding the potential 'overpowered' cards and agree with your assessments that there are checks and balances and no real game breakers. Sure "George Washington" is very useful to have, but only if you are at a point where you need to vote early and that can be difficult to achieve if you are holding him for just the right moment (as you are reduced to only playing two cards until George is 'ready'). Also, don't forget that the "Robert Morris" persistent event nullifies Washington and makes it a dead card in your hand for the entire round. "Benjamin Franklin" is great if you can get some influence markers out quickly with single delegates but it takes time to pull off.

Personally I find "John Langdon" a great card to get early as he increases your Caucus to four which can make a big difference when you are trying to keep your options open.

At the end of the day, though, each card has an event which can be powerful dependent on the current state of play. There's always a 'here and now' element which means that the usefulness of each card ebbs and flows.

It's a great game which gets better with every playing.

On another note, I was amused by the somelier challenge.

I put together a geeklist a few years ago on "Games that push a sensitivity button" (not mine, other peoples). I'm surprised you did not have Guillotine or one of the many evolution games.