War With A Mate

Listen along to the Livestream audio of the guys getting giddy and carried away while finally commencing The Campaign For North Africa, with the first dice roll taking place determining the weather! A second special, in more typical podcast form to follow soon.

Livestream in all it’s video glory can be found at https://www.youtube.com/live/c5V_7MseTgo?is=Qpb4ZxMP3r0Q4qtk

The guys are taking part in Movember this year and you can support them at https://movember.com/m/15500393?mc=1

Join Andy & James as they recap and re-introduce the premise of War With A Mate, the last two years, and what to expect for the coming 20-30 years of playing SPI’s Campaign For North Africa every week until completion.

Taking the day off from their day jobs, Andy and James have dedicated a very long stint to their final stretch of preparation for the full playthrough of the Campaign For North Africa. The Mailbag encourages the guys to travel to North Africa, Andy’s History Corner finally reaches the commencement of World War Two, and Common Ground picks apart the fabric of a podcast - Sound. The last stretch is upon us.

The last of the three major rule sections are recapped by the guys today as they hurtle towards the start of the full game. A very ill Andy powers through the History Corner which sees out the final outing of everyone’s favourite secret-treaty league, the Mailbag showcases all the ways to procrastinate and distract using WwaM and Andy loses his goddamn mind in a Common Ground that ties together this week’s meal-centric episode…nicely?

It’s all pounds, shilling and pence this week at War With A Mate, as the guys cover a lot of big money topics in both Andy’s History Corner and Common Ground. The game recap tackles the combat section of the rules which is refreshingly unproblematic and the Audio Mailbag makes its Sophomoric appearance with Rick.

For those who enjoy board games and good causes, we highly recommend checking out The Spiel Foundation, maintained by swell people like Rick.

https://thespielfoundation.com

The guys reflect on an out-of-the-ordinary week for their hijinx, and recap their play of Pandemic; a game they swore to god is easy. The Mailbag exhibits some unexpected record keeping, Andy’s History Corner reminisces on some strange agricultural choices and Common Ground sees the guys try to let go of the past. I DON’T LIKE THE BEETLES.

Why did they have to make palm oil so tasty? The guys have been working hard on the logistics of showing off their many spreadsheets to everyone come the full game. The mailbag covers some long awaited “hate” mail, Andy’s History Corner covers the British Empire post-Great War and this week’s Common Ground pries open the truth about lying morally.

The spreadsheets are looking nice and well-formed following some hefty prep work, and the guys relax after such prep with a quick and friendly “game” on-mic. The Mailbag looks at the origin of Andy and James as friends, Andy’s History Corner unveils a super overt smear campaign and Common Ground asks that we call a spade a spade.

Announcement is now up for the grand beginning of the full game in all its glory, via a live-streamed Episode 100: https://youtu.be/Jy61r6e1YSw?is=IeRm4tVjxJVUffFv

The guys delve into this chapter of the hiatus with a bit of Viking adventure; which in this context means playing a board game of Viking origin. Alongside setting the no-AI expectations of WwaM’s journey, Andy & James cover some vows and animals in the Mailbag, Andy’s History Corner sees the end of the First World War and Common Ground tweaks a previous agreement, because we’re obligated to do so.

The guys have taken it back to basics and have been revisiting the entirety of the rulebook to familiarise themselves in any gaps in knowledge, and this (coupled with hot weather and lack of sleep) has resulted in delirium. This week’s Mailbag teaches us all about teaching, Andy’s History Corner sees some corner-cutting to keep British bellies full, and Common Ground tells us that our time isn’t all that unique - except it is.

What’s a Campaign For North Africa without friends to share it with? The guys are joined by Kam to review their dastardly Six-Turn practice run, and uncover CFNA’s higher difficulty setting, as well as the larger game group that could have been, other awful board games and the concoction of a gaming challenge to rival the War With A Mate quest in scale of hardship.

The guys have taken it back to Medieval France, spending this week playing Carcassonne and setting in motion some prep for the full game playthrough. This week’s episode sees a Mailbag that gives Andy and James each a silhouette, Andy’s History Corner takes a look at Britain’s recruitment during WWI, and the guys get giddy in one of the most Common Ground-y, Common Ground segments to date.

Here we are in the hiatus between practice game and full game. The guys have kept themselves busy with some chess this week, and are here to announce when the full game will begin. The Mailbag, Andy’s History Corner and Common Ground all return, touching on how they feel about the full game approaching, devastating Italian circumstances leading to WWII, and a blast from the past in a heel-turn from Andy’s Common Ground.

It’s over. The victor declared, and the Six-Turn practice scenario finally concluded after 22 long months. Join Andy and James as they wrap up the decidedly odd conclusive session of play, voyage out to collect the prize, and have an overdue confrontation with a guest on the sofa.

The last flights of the practice run have been flown, and James’ final movement takes place. All eyes are on Bardia, and it’s a mad rush to see who will be left standing along the North African coastline. This week, Andy’s History Corner covers simply the worst boss, and Common Ground helps us all ensure those at the top remain subtle and humble. The end is in sight.

The final push has begun. Op Stage Two of Turn Six draws to a close as Andy makes a devastating push, taking the fight exactly where it needs to be; Bardia. James’ units flounder in attempts at defence, but not all hope is lost for the Axis forces. It’s all to play for, in such little time. This week’s Mailbag sees an original story realised, Andy’s History Corner gives some high-altitude, high-octane action and Common Ground brings Andy and James back to where it all began.

The Second Op Stage of Turn Six has unleashed Andy’s fury, laying waste to more of James’ forces and leaving the future of Bardia, Tobruk, and vast stretches of desert up in the air - with only one decision to decide where the final stretch plays out. Andy’s History Corner sees out the end of the Ottoman Empire, and Common Ground really moves the goalposts.

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Website: WarWithAMate.co.uk

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Op Stage One is over, and the guys have been caught unawares by the outcomes - who’d have thought it? It’s all turned on its head, and the end of the turn is looking as uncertain as ever. This week’s History Segment shows that the British Empire doesn’t understand what loneliness is, the Mailbag takes to the skies and Common Ground teaches the world a lesson in what REAL sportsmanship is.

The end is near. In an audio-issue filled episode, the guys commence Turn Six, with some unexpected last minute obstacles appearing for Andy, giving James an opportunity to (possibly) pull things around. Sales tomfoolery is afoot in the Mailbag, the History Segment touches on surprisingly positive British decisions and Common Ground has everyone feeling a little boxed in.

The penultimate turn is over, and all tang stands between Andy and James and the full game is Turn Six. A very hard fought series of battle in the conclusion of the Land Movement leaves the theatre in an uncertain state, with both sides taking losses tactically and psychologically. The Mailbag unravels some questionable purchases, the History Segment reveals a fatal flaw in naval development and the guys accidentally stumble across the most wholesome Common Ground to date.

This week a minor setback proves to be too much for James’ patience to take, as Andy makes impressive strides with the end of Turn Five on the horizon. The History Segment further sets the stage for the First World War and a Common Ground that comes with a lot of baggage, all to be enjoyed in this discontent-filled content!

The guys are back from the first WwaM Live Show at the UK Games Expo, and have returned to the eternal trenches of war. The final Op Stage of Turn Five is underway, with a very lopsided Air Phase due to inclement weather. The mailbag brings to mind Andy & James’ other boardgame exploits, the History Segment sees an escalating situation for the Ottoman Empire and Common Ground really challenges the way we go from Map A to Map B. Sorry about the noise!

Twins, crab and a lion, maybe? Speaking of written in the stars, the trucks are delivering resources because it’s a truck day! Little in terms of action from the guys today, but plenty in terms of mailbags addressing previous Common Ground, a History Segment that is bursting at the STEAMS and propositions of showing what the very best of us can look like - at our worst.

The conflict is truly heating up as James suffers a heavy assault under Andy’s advance West; what’s new there? With only one Op Stage left of the penultimate Turn, the losses feel very real on both sides. Obliteration of the game forces is gently countered by a mailbag welfare check for the guys, a History Segment about a very well known Duke, and a frightfully dangerous Common Ground. Different strokes, and all that!

Hellfire has rained down upon the central column of the map, as the guys let loose their airforces, with the dice coming along with some real vigour today! A Mailbag that brings comparisons to war and Ghostbusters, a History Segment that concludes the Italo-Turkish War and a Common Ground that can only be resolved with a little bit of roleplay.

What is going on at the airfields? What is going on with charity? What is going on with fruit? The guys are abuzz with questions they aren’t entirely capable of answering, but James demands answers from Andy following a sly and familiar tactical move emerging on the front lines, as the movement and truck segments of Turn Five, Op Stage One is wrapped up and sets the stage for the fleshy underbelly of Op Stage Two.

It was the best of times, it is the worse of times. The source and solution of the Buenos are tackled in this airborne episode of War With A Mate. With the guys resolving the first air phase of Turn Five, looking to the progenitor of bombing runs in the history segment, and taking criticism of “helpful” suggestions into the stratosphere in this week’s Common Ground. This is most certainly for you.

Following their return from the War With A Mate company retreat, Andy and James embark on the beginning of Turn Five. There’s no holding back this Air Phase, and with their well supplied positions there’s no need to! The Ottoman Empire, Oceania and medical sciences all appear as guests on an episode to be remembered.

With two-thirds of the practice run completed, the guys attempt to make sense of the game they’re playing and the feelings their feeling, only to re-awaken the damming truth that they’re fighting an unstoppable foe. Not that the truth would ever hinder them, these people are foolhardy, as they find throughout the hour of recapping rules and regrets.

What weighs more; a tonne of fission or a tonne of candour? The guys clash in the climax, and conclusion of Turn Four, with James finding his supply line in a shocking state and Andy making a tactical movement poised to sucker-punch James’ defences. A Sultan filled history segment, a celebratory mailbag and a cunning-fuelled Common Ground are all in store, grab it while you can!

What happens when an unstoppable force hits a very moveable object? James finds out the hard way, as his plan to delay Andy goes exactly as he thought it would. A WwaM first ever audio mailbag makes an appearance, the History Segment brings about a very on the nose moniker and Common Ground reveals the nature of somethings are immutable. The Fat Controller is very disappointed.

A rain of hellfire from the skies…is what both guys intended to deliver, however James encounters some obstacles for his air missions while Andy continues to control the skies. James’ alter ego makes an appearance in the mailbag, the History Segment takes us gradually closer to Italy as WWII knew it, and the conclusion of the Common Ground is the perfect position for the guys to try and come together.

It’s all kept in the family today! Between James creating a parasocial bond with a parent, and a very familial History Segment. That’s not the only segment that’s “lighter” as we experience a Common Ground like no other, all against the backdrop of Andy’s great push West, as the Allies finally begin their move towards the border, chipping down the Axis forces as they move.

A run along the escarpments, and a position well held. The shift of the conflict has gradually started to focus on Bardia, the place to be! Is digging in and hoping to wait it out really the best strategy for James? Is overextending supply lines over a DESERT really the best play for Andy? We simply can’t tell. All we can do is learn from the History Segment on how not to be deplorable along the way, and learn from Common Ground to eat my shorts.

The gradual crawl through Turn Four continues, with a real switch-up in initiative - and very familiar weather. A mailbag hits a little close to home with today’s play and the history segment hits a little too hard (seriously, this one isn’t pleasant folks). Thank goodness we have Andy’s Common Ground that James can agree with, and not completely derail…?

After last week’s episode mishap, the guys have been robbed of their gameplay time, and so instead delve into some thoughts on the game(s) they’re playing. Armed with nothing but anecdotes, these two marvellous story-tellers take us on a journey through their thoughts, their past, their mailbag and of course their Common Ground.

An episode far too long in the making, cursed with audio issues is finally here almost a week late. Andy is faced with a confusing move by James’ North Wall, while the Italians of the past are confused by geography. The mailbag circles the guys back to The Worst Boardgame Competition 2026, and the very first War With A Mate Live Show is finally announced!

Technical issues at WwaM HQ means the episode this week is delayed, very sorry! James explains the whoopsie in this brief out-of-office recording. You’ll hear from us very soon!

The most important meal of the day? Over at WwaM headquarters, it’s Humble Pie! The guys continue their intense clash along the North Coast, with Andy making headway on terrifying James. The first WwaM public appearance is determined, all while concluding that some things are just simply bigger than them - The game, its creators, the listeners; and Father Time.

You don't need a licence fee for this quality entertainment! In the aftermath of James' Scenario Win, Andy retaliates with a now superior air force and a better equipped ground force while James wields the only force he has left; force majeure.