While it has been months since this video has been released, in so many ways this review video throughout would deserve to be nominated as Best Board Game Content of the year. The way it handles the game itself and the lore and the feel of it all is brilliant. Whenever No Pun Included puts their passion into it, they far outdo any other content creator for board games out there - including surpassing Shut Up and Sit Down in maturity, humor and heart.

While I do not agree with all the criticism in the video, I really do appreciate the amount of informations and research behind it. Thanks for all your hard work. I do not know if being historically accurate was a stated goal for the designers of this game but I feel like they are being branded by their creative choices. I'd like to give them the benefit of the doubt before jumping to any conclusions of them doing all of these links by design.

Ok, first off I am an absolute simp for Wyrd Games to the point I've dedicated the majority of free time to their games and making fan content for said games. Grain of salt here. I enjoyed this deep dive. NPI did the thing I always try and do and see a real world reference and try to dig deeper and learn about it. Wyrd puts a lot of references into their games, not as a lesson on who the character or actual thing was, but a 'how is said historical character/fictional character translates into this game'. It's a hook to get you to go look and learn or immediately clue you in on what the character is about, not a teaching tool in and of itself (though Herbert Kitchener is a monster in both this fiction and real life). I'm not saying that's a 100% positive thing, but I've learned a lot more about late 19th early 20th century history playing Malifaux and googling names on a whim than I ever would have otherwise. Vagrantsong isn't perfect. It brings up dirtier parts of our history simply by its setting and art choice, which is reflected here. IMHO some mistakes were made in some choices but there wasn't any evil intent. For example, I didn't learn that the Wendigo was a Faux Pas until this past year when the game was already in print. I brought it up with them in an interview and their response was of a similar sentiment. The devs were mainly focused in presenting not just general American folklore, but that of Appalachian culture in regards to their Haints. Wanting to represent that in many ways can lead to hiccups if the folklore is borrowed i.e. the Wendigo. As far as my basic research has gone, the Wendigo was one of these entities that had spread out from Native cultures into its own thing. As far as rubber hose goes, I appreciate the response isn't immediately "How dare you?!" but instead 'tread lightly everyone". I personally don't think it's as far gone as certain German symbols and iconography to a place where no one should use it ever, but it's modern representation needs to start pulling back the reputation to that of an art style that can be used if handled correctly. Nothing in the game I could find was referencing the racism of the time, and the characters are a diverse group of people more or less devoid of hurtful caricatures or stereotypes. The CHOICE of using rubber hose was, if I recall correctly, the design that brought the whole game together. Once they saw that style they knew it would perfectly convey the lighthearted intensity that you mentioned while also referencing the time period the game was set it. Sadly we have to measure success in the capitalistic way if we want to prosper and the art style is ALSO a very quick and obvious hook to bring people to the game. In short, I think the devs made a few mistakes in trying to convey the flavor of the game and the folklore they were passionate about. From what I know of the company, though, is that they are willing to see their mistakes, admit them, and address them in time. Malifaux still has a few problematic elements that are holdovers from its early edition, but if you go look at the models, characters, and lore, it's come a long way and now sports some of the best diversity in the miniatures world.

I don’t consume much board game content anymore because I realized that I’ve been buying way too many games. But wow NPI knows how to keep me around. These video essays are the kind of thing I always wanted to see come out of this community.

Thank you NPI! You once more did an excellent and thorough job here, that taught me a lot about histories I'd never even heard of (I'm from the Netherlands.) In fact I just finished reading Octavia Butler's 'Parable'-series, a gut-wrenching dystopian story about the near future of the U.S. that is, sadly, not so dystopian any more reading it in the current post-Trump era.... The two books actually talk a lot about criminalized vagrancy and communities of people roaming the country to secure a safe and humane life. And because of this video I understand much more of it's history and relevance, and makes me want to read more about it! But that's not all. With this series, and the amazing video about colonialism in boardgames, you acknowledge that the hobby should by now be seen as a proper art form and cultural expression. One that comes with the same responsibilities that things like theatre, literature and cinema have went through when they first started growing in popularity. This elevates the hobby to so much more than 'only a game'. Elaine's repeated jabs at this common phrase/excuse really drove that point home for me. It is clear to me that by now, board games really are NOT only games any more, they're part of culture.

NPI videos always make me think about games in new and different ways. I always appreciate that. Although, as a Bay Area denizen, I hope the "Sunny San Francisco" reference was sarcastic.

Fantastic video! I played this one last year at Gen Con. I was initially not at all interested in it because of a very lack luster demo. I was also very confused by the choice of using standees when the company is known for making super detailed miniatures. One of my buddies did buy it and we played it that night at the hotel. I fell in love with it. As a game - its great! The standees made more sense due to what it was trying to evoke. I did know some of the history of vagrancy and hobos, but I didn't realize how much they drew upon. Thank you for the history lesson! also, when it comes to The wendigo: if one was to be accurately represented, it would likely look like Jeff Bezos.

For a great depiction of Emperor Norton, see the Sandman comic book issue #31, "Four Septembers and a January" where he becomes a pawn in a struggle between Dream, Desire and Despair. Many forget that "the organization" also attacked Jews and Catholics, since it was a fundamentalist white Protestant organization.

I always hear the opening notes of Minnie the Moocher whenever looking at rubber hose characters.

I love your thought & attention to detail in the analysis. Scratching below the surface often reveals interesting workings.

I love the way you don't just give me a board game review but instead go into the context and history of the board game's themes.

I've been playing this game for months and have a whole new appreciation for it. Thank you for such interesting research!

Fantastic, NPI continuing to elevate the conversation for those who want to take part in it. For those that don’t, there’s dozens of videos that’ll “just play the notes.”

There's a real lack of this kind of criticism in the boardgaming space. Regardless of whether people agree with NPI's conclusions in this video or not, asking these kinds of questions should be celebrated. Thanks for doing all this research and sharing it with the world!

Another very well thought out and balanced video, really loving this new series. This video in particular shed some light on elements that many gamers including myself (to my shame) simply wouldn't spot or consider looking at this game at face value, which in itself seems like a bit of a problem. Thank you for going the extra mile on these videos and for always being so thought-provoking.

Fantastic video, really well done. Also Elaine really is a great host for these

What a fantastically well researched and presented biography. NPI, you're a treasure.

Great in-depth video….. Plus I really like the acrylic figures, they save a lot of painting and look great in their own right.

I really enjoyed the parts of the video which talk about history of Vagrancy. I don't think I've ever seen a show or movie which discusses the cause. One can think of Colonization and how many have no idea how it affected people (maybe this has started changing the last 5 years in the general population). Your channel (like Thinker Themer) makes me really think about not only about the original history, but also a thorough outlook on a game. I feel my diverist taste has come aboutby listening to you. I also deep dive. Thank you for your quality work. I hope other content creators take a page from what you do. Everything is not about a game rating. Maybe game designers will consider the theme more.

Love your reviews. The sense of humor and mix of thoughtfulness and care that you put into your critiques is compelling. That said I can’t get behind impugning the publisher or artist for their art choice here, and that seems to be maybe more than half of this video. Cuphead’s art style is better than great, what says it wasn’t the influence behind the decision? I’m all about hearing your feelings on the origin of the art style, the history and all that… but those are things that you bring to your dissection of the game, they aren’t things the game brings to the table itself unless you can point to actual problematic tropes in the box. It seems you try draw that line to common gambling mechanisms, and archetypal good vs evil symbolism begging if it is just a coincidence… that seems wholly unfair. Just my 2 cents here.

Thanks for another deep, thoughtful exploration.

NPI is really doing something different and unique in the games review space and I so appreciate all the work you do. It’s so much more than just an explanation of the rules and a good/bad summary. Recognizing that games don’t exist in a vacuum and that they can be meaningful reflections of culture is miles beyond the usual discourse around games. This was truly excellent work. Bravo.

Watching your video, I feel I have leveled up in the hobby. Brilliant!

Thank you for these videos. As a librarian by trade with a history degree, I find these fascinating.

Beautifully done. Bravo!

Super interesting! Learnt a lot. Thank you :)

I just got this game a week ago and I love it! Great video!!!

The industry needs more of this…the critical well researched review, not the other thing being reviewed.

Love this series!! Amazing work, Elaine!!

Excellent review, Elaine!

excellent video, more of these please :)

I don't know what I think about that one. It is really obvious that you put a lot of time and sweat to make this video, and I greatly appreciate that. It is very interesting to analyze boardgames as something more than just a basic game. It seems that nowadays, theme is increasingly important for designers, and they should gain concern about the meaning and the history of the theme they choose. Now, you must know I haven't played the game, I don't really plan to and I only vaguely heard of it before now, so it may be possible that what I'l say is just wrong. But I think you may have done more researches than the developers have done. You read a lot behind every words of the rulebook, and make analogies where you maybe should not have to. Now, I'm french, not american, and I know very little of the hobo lifestyle, but to me, it remind me a lot more of "On the Road" from Jack Kerouac than anything else : just a couple of friends without a penny in their pocket who choose to travel around the country, meeting and helping strangers on the way. Nothing ill-intended (unless I completely misunderstoof this book !) I don't know how deep the designers wanted their theme to be. If they really wanted to use all those stories and characters to teach something, or if they just wanted to use monsters they thought were cool and iconic. The game doesn't appear to be a recreation of accurate events or persons (where, for example, "Freedom : The underground raildoad" wants to be much more educative and close to real historical events), so I really don't mind approximations. After all, ghosts aren't real, so ... Eventually, I would be less vehement than you towards the game and its creators, at least as long I don't read or hear what were their thoughts during the creation process. It doesn't mean that the video wasn't interesting or that it does'nt ask the good questions, and I strongly agree with you that, even in a boardgame, bad representations remain bad representations. I guess I would have liked it better if you took several other games as examples (games that speak about their subject accordingly, and maybe other that don't) to illustrate your subject as, maybe, a problem as a whole, and not just for this game.

Listening to how the folklore has been utilised for this game feels like a massive unmined resource, possibly due to the constraints of the game itself. How great a sourcebook this would make for something like Call of Cthulhu, or an American version of Vaesen.

17:20 I find it crazy how game design has a lot of difficulty conceiving conflict without physical violence.

Love this video! And love this game, but it’s always important to understand the cultural implications of the choices we make as game creators and players. Thanks for always doing the dirty work of diving deep into these subjects

The use of 'haint' is almost certainly a reference to the stage play 'The Emperor Jones' by Eugene O'Neill. I live in the western coastal US, and I have heard the term haint on and off for all of my 62 years, even though it is known to originate in the south. There is a lot more cultural crossover than you might imagine; in Oregon, for example, I have seen quite a few porches with ceilings painted blue, a southerner would know what that means. Culture and words spread like honey over the surface of civilization and inevitably become universal if they do not fade and vanish.

I love NPI, I love that you take the sociological aspect of gaming seriously, and I love these historical deep dives in general. Like other commentors here, I truly appreciate the work that goes into these productions. But I didn't love this one. What I heard was a great history lesson about the racist criminalization of vagrancy, a legitimate critique of the bad choice made in using an appropriated distortion of the wendigo myth...and a pile-on of unfair criticisms interpreting various other game elements as problematic based on tenuous connections or unclear principles. For example, I don't see why it's problematic to base one of the player characters on Emperor Norton. I don't see that there is any rationale behind the "shoulds" Elaine imposes here. Why "should" the characters be either entirely made up or all inspired by real figures? What is the harm in combining the two, particularly when the real-world inspiration is explicitly acknowledged? And why "should" the real-world inspiration be limited to people who were hobos? First of all, I would understand why you might set such a limit in a non-fantasy setting. If you were creating a work of historical fiction designed to accurately tell a story in a certain time and place, then you might want to be able to point to the real-world people who justified your characters' attitudes and actions as historically-appropriate. But this game clearly doesn't represent real historical attitudes and actions for helping ghosts remember they are human. I can't see what the harm is here of the typical fantasy "what if this kind of famous person found themselves in this kind of situation/time/place". Moreover, it's barely even a stretch to include Emperor Norton as a legitimate inspiration. The game is called Vagrantsong, not Hobosong, and Emperor Norton was pretty clearly "vagrant." He was destitute, jobless, and nearly homeless, arrested at one point for involuntary commitment for his mental illness. He was released after a public outcry, being viewed as a beloved persona and harmless eccentric, and continued to survive on fairly haphazard charity until his death. While he predates the time period the game invokes, he exemplifies the kind of folkloric hero-vagrant the game means to represent: figures at the edge of society, living by an eccentric reinvention of social rules and roles, a subcultural force of will. The criticism here feels like pointless nitpicking. Similarly, the implication that the gambling mechanism might be racially insensitive just because it's gambling seems particularly absurd. Gambling is about as culturally universal as music and clothing: every culture has it. Dice specifically are an absolutely ancient invention, with cubic dice being over 4000 years old and used across the entire Eurasian continent for at least a 1000 years. Even within the context of this game, recalling 1930s America, the idea that gambling would have been distinctly linked to criminalized black culture is simply not accurate. Basically all segregated minority communities ran illegal gambling operations, including many ethnic groups now considered white. If gambling in the 1930s brings any ethnic association to mind, the strongest would certainly be the Italian mafia. But let's acknowledge that the rubber hose animation of the 20s and 30s did frequently represented gambling a distinctly black cultural vice. If there is a racial narrative here because of that (and I still think that's a stretch), then it is insufficient to simply point out that racial connections and connotations exist and indicate that alone is problematic. You have to actually examine the context that gives it in the game. Unlike in those cartoons, it's not being represented in the game as a trap or temptation orchestrated by the bad guys in cahoots with demonic forces. Instead, gambling is the main mechanism of *agency* for the player characters. If we say that gambling here has a racial context, then I would also say that the game structure *aligns* the players *with* that black gambling. It is represented as a native and legitimate source of player power for managing their luck in bad circumstances, which are otherwise outside of their control. Sure, it's limited, unpredictable, and dangerous power, and one that could be used ruinously, but, crucially, it is *not* an evil choice that players are lured into by the "other." This is not, in my opinion, a problematic representation. In fact, I would go so far as to say that's a sympathetic representation of the psychological and social role gambling often held in those marginalized communities.

Another great video!

I love your video essays so much! Thank you very much for making them, I know they require a lot of time and effort. They are so thorough, yet digestible and even funny. That's such a tough combination to achieve. Also, as I can see in the comments, many people still don't seem to grasp that something can be problematic without that being the creators' intentions. Without them even having to be blamed, even. To me, what you mean is more clear, I think, because I also consume content on this topic in other areas. To name a relevant example: Sunn m'Cheaux is an amazing Gullah/Geechee youtuber who talks about language, race, and diversity/equality. Very funny, very knowledgeable, takes no billshoot. However, to many boardgamers your channel might be the first, or even only source offering extensive yet clear information and education about issues to do with (unconscious) biases, colonial/slavery history, racism, diversity, equality, etc. Perhaps it would be helpful to make an essay (or series of essays) on those broader topics? I think it would help get more people aboard, who now still seem to teeter on the side of "well-written, interesting, even though I don't agree that the makers had X intentions." Reaching these open-minded positive people would be an immensely helpful step forward. Also, I myself love writing that kind of stuff, and I do a lot of writing about that kind of stuff, but so far most of it is just exploring or defining ideas for myself. I've realised that for now it's much easier for me to write on a more well-defined topic for an actual audience when I have concrete extrinsic motivation. Like helping specific people. So if you want someone to research and/or write some additional material, I'm your woman.

Can't wait to see review of 7 Wonders: Architects and how accurate Bauza depicted working conditions of builders of those wonders. Or review of Ark Nova and what does living in zoos does to animals. Here is a fun quote "The practice of killing “surplus” animals is kept quiet by zoos, but it happens, especially in Europe." I don't remeber this mechanism in Ark Nova, bu I played it once.

Great video. I just watched ken Burns: Country music which touches on similar topics (racism, music, folk tales, economics and their relationships). I highly recommend the first two episodes if you’re interested in some of the history this video covers.

Very tastefully and tactfully done.

Your notes list seems to have thrown the Emperor Norton stuff under the game art. But, great video!

made me think of Where Water Tastes Like Wine

Fabulous video!

One thing about the rubber hose style I don't think you mentioned is that, correctly or not, it evokes the time period in which the actions of the game are ostensibly set. Great analysis. Love your videos. Were two of those characters just kind of, weirdly gray?

That’s exactly why this series is so important. If we don’t take thematic in boardgames serious and always say „It’s just a boardgame“, we will never get out of this „niche-hobby“ Where everybody just says: „Oh! You are playing Boardgames? Like Monopoly?“ We have to take it serious. Otherwise we will not satisfy our beloved hobby.

Thanks for this, Elaine. You are the best! 🤩 Maybe we can look forward to an expansion with blues singers or other African American migrants as playable characters. Now I am going to go watch 'Daughters of the Dust' again...

Sunny San Francisco? You know Mark Twain said the coldest winter he ever experienced was summer in San Francisco. ;-)

This is some of the most informed and best scripted video art criticism on the web. Phenomenal job Elaine.

Your reviews are simply like no other. Props, guys!

This is one of your best, NPI! Great work Elaine!

Well, time to play Where The Water Tastes Like Wine while listening to some '73 Grateful Dead

I LOVE these videos. Keep’em coming!

Thank you for all your videos, you can feel the effort when viewing them. This was very informative and i think this video helps to spread awareness in the board game space to be mindful of design choices and to think about the games you play and what they might tell you about our world and narratives that can be hurtful.

Great video! Really like these longer, essay like reviews!

Brilliant stuff

Great to see more of Elaine! Interesting game and video. What’s with “the organization”? Does KZfaq not allow creators to mention certain groups by name? Why not?

Nothing short of brilliant analysis - though, it does set a really high bar :) Your videos are just getting better and better - freaking amazing, in fact! WOOHOO!

I really appreciate your deep research for this review and the copious links you provided. I'm trying to find the discussion of Cuphead by some sort of talking skull, but I can't find it-- anyone have a link?

Informative

Great video. The description you cite for the 'conflict' rules, sounds a LOT like the methods used in the slave trade and on slave plantations: gotta beat the savage outta the savage to 'tame' (if not humanize) them. The term "folklore" itself is being revisited as there are arguments being made that it only serves to 'other' the belief systems, cultures and traditions of the more marginalized. Looking at the illustration I would guess the makers based the Songster(?) on Woodie Guthrie. I'm waiting for the board game based on the life of Woodie Guthrie. : )

so your real hair color was pink all the time.. I knew it

Thanks NPI- I don't know of another channel that puts as much time and effort into how the art style, design, mechanics and cultural references all interact. Hope the walk back from the 14th century was pleasent. 😁

Thank you for the video. I feel like these longer deep dives are looking to expand on how board games aren't " just games" they are interactive art and they tell a story. They place us in the middle of the story. When making artistic choices one needs to consider the full implications of those choices. Maybe I missed the entire point of the video but my take away is that designing a board game is no longer designing "just a game" and mechanics and themes pasted on. But that mechanics, and theme, and game art all tie into a story being told and the implications of each of those aspects should be thoughtfully considered into elevating board games into a more transformative medium.

This video is brilliant. Thanks a lot guys, you did it once again :)

I'm not sure if I'm missing context here or something but did Wyrd say or do something that led to the "it's only a game comments"? They feel directed at someone and since Wyrd is the producer of the game I'm assuming it's them? Thanks for the video!

Thank you!

Huh I’ve never seen a wendigo with horns before

23:52 i had the 1st and second haint I managed to laugh as thy bot w8sted 4-5 turns doing nothing with me simply ruming away to heal or rampage or do the quest :D, an after prepare one hit KO them(from one break) "All hail the Empress (my faw)" candles are op as hell :D disabling ultima attacks is played well, rabit's foot is awesome with any especially the Empress , nail are 2 guaranty free damage for 1 action/coin, Apple is 9-10 life point, salt is counter spell. Watt is useless in the bag ?:D

This has been an absolutely fantastic review. Honestly I enjoyed this so much

loving the pink hair and happy smiley eyes

It took me a moment to realize this isn't a review but rather a deep dive into a game's cultural baggage from their choice of art and theme. It really highlights how much of a game's choice seems to be mostly about "cause it looks cool" which is a shame especially on more narrative focused games. Great video as always NPI.

Wow, this is fantastic, so much research and really fascinating!

Wow, really loved this video. Great work. Ironically, I can't tell if this makes me more or less curious to actually try Vagrantsong and get a copy of it for myself!

What an incredibly refreshing, well researched and presented peek behind the curtain so to speak - talking about items that we just don't consider when making purchases of board games and what they are communicating - or should be communicating to the players. Thank you Elaine for this presentation. As a Patreon - it is a pleasure to see how my small contribution can help to raise these topics to the surface.

Why is this video giving me deja vu?

Another freakin slam dunk in NPI's basket (I think that metaphor works). The issues you highlight here are sadly something Wyrd is currently struggling with (and trying to be better at to be fair) in Malifaux as well, drawing interesting real world stories into itself but not quite understanding their context.

That art and cartoon style was not friendly or kind to the African American community. Thank you for putting that fact and many others out there. Publishers and designers must and we repeat MUST do better. And also, as always, great video!

More comments for the engagement god, likes for their throne. 👏

This is about the best game review video I've ever seen. Utterly fascinating.

This was amazing. I hope to see more honest, deep looks at popular games and their art like this.

"It's just a game right?" O.o

Love your hair, Elaine!

I saw the video twice and still dont know if its fun ...

14:09 Deerclops !!

Hey guys. Long-time fan and worker in UK immigration and asylum advocacy here. I realise you guys did tonnes of research for this video, have already wrapped it up, and besides surely have tonnes of other work and reading to do yourselves. But just in case you ever wanted to read specifics about how the historic vagrancy laws of England and Wales continue to shape the immigration and welfare regimes we still endure under in the UK, may I recommend the short, readable first two chapters of Bridget Anderson's ' Us and Them? The Dangerous Politics of Immigration Controls'? They are great on this topic. (Anderson is a scholar at Oxford's Centre on Migration, Policy and Society and is well-regarded as a policy expert. Her perspective is explicitly radical.) In lieu of investigating her writing, the brief snippet about vagrancy in this clip is highly instructive, in my view! kzfaq.info/get/bejne/fZhxeteou5u9has.html

Brillant.

Love your hair colour.

As excellent as the video is, I really, REALLY appreciate the provided links (bibliographies in my entertainment? GROSS /s). Not that I needed an excuse to go link-diving into a topic I know so little about, but there it is. Thank you!

👍👍👍

Boardgame Bios are masterpieces of video. NPI is clearly becoming a label of great quality

Very thorough analysis. The rubber hose style in this context just doesn’t work for me and I’m not surprised to see it wasn’t part of the original conception of the game.

To Elanie's point I can not see rubber hose art and not consider most of the racism in those old cartoons.

Morę please.

Thank you for the huge amount of research behind this review and also for the information I learned from it. But I have one main question, We all know that nuclear power at first used and designed for weapons of mass destruction. If I am using/advertising/... electrical power supplied by nuclear plant nowadays, do I need to condemn the origin publicly to show my good intent?! It seems your main problem is the art style (which some the other problems directly and coincidentally related to it), why should we not distinguish the style from its original setup?! (Either in Cuphead or in Vagrantsong). Focusing on the origin of the art style pushes you to see modification of the dice-rolling as the pure gambling or action tokens as gambling devices. While dice rolling and action tokens/cubes/cards/... and linking this two together are typical elements in the hubby.

I find myself nodding my head every time Elaine asks if it is only a game.

So this was a 30-minute video to explain that vagrantsong misunderstands its theme? There wasn't anything in this video that told me about the game outside of that. I usually don't mind the history lesson presented in NPI videos, but this one was a big miss for me. Usually the history lesson is there to reinforce the opinions that are shared. The only opinion shared in this video was that the theme is misrepresented. That could have been summed up in a couple of minutes and then moved on to gameplay, since it is a game after all.

So was it a good game?