Podcast fans- I hope you are well on this Thursday evening! A few weeks ago, Kelly, Brian and I had the privilege to interview three remarkable people- renowned game designer Alessio Cavatore (Mordheim, Warmaster, Kings of War, to name a few) and Christopher McEleron and Neal Wilkinson from the american vicarious. Together, they created a project which is in part art installation, in part a LARP like theater, in part performance art, and in part one of the largest wargame style games you'll ever play- all focused on one of the more traumatic experience in recent American political memory- January 6th. In many ways, this episode was easily one of the heaviest we've done. That being said, I do think that the overall premise- that we as Americans need to have conversations about difficult topics- is important to explore, and what better way to do that than through an immersive gaming experience! Rather than explain the project further, I asked Chris and Neal to provide a description of the project. Give it a read, grab yourself a coffee, and fire up the episode. It was a good one! Please enjoy!

"Internationally acclaimed multi-media performance company the american vicarious presents Fight for America!, a mega-wargaming event that examines the gamification of American politics and the legacy of the January 6th Capitol riot. Created by artists Neal Wilkinson and Christopher McElroen, with game design by renowned designer Alessio Cavatore (Warhammer 40K, Bolt Action, Kings of War, Lord of the Rings), this immersive experience invites participants to step into the events of January 6, 2021—reshaping (or not) its outcome.

At the heart of Fight for America! is a massive 50’ x 50’ game board featuring over 12,000 hand-painted 28mm miniatures and a 15-foot-wide model of the U.S. Capitol. Led by a gamemaster in the form of Uncle Sam, up to 20 players take on roles in one of two factions: TEAM RED (protesters, both armed and unarmed) or TEAM BLUE (U.S. Capitol Police and D.C. Metro Police). As the game unfolds, strategic decisions shape the battlefield, forcing players to confront the question: What about America is worth fighting for?

Blending immersive performance with turn-based strategy, Fight for America! challenges players to navigate political extremism, uncertainty, and the escalating tensions of democracy itself."

http://www.FightforAmerica.games

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/fightforamerica/fight-for-america

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