Uploaded August 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
šļøWelcome to the Lens and Veil podcast, join Shem, Sam and Zach as they discuss games they've played together, specifically focusing on game design elements.
In this episode they discuss The Anarchy, and are joined by the game's designer Bobby Hill. In The Anarchy, players take on the role of English nobles loyal to King Stephen during the civil war. Over five rounds, players must build their domain, defend their castle from attacks by the approaching Angevin armies, and storm strongholds loyal to Matilda with their own crafted siege weapons.
You can purchase The Anarchy at ā https://www.garphill.comā
You can find out more about about Bobby's upcoming games on his website ā here: motherlodegames.rocks/ā
šChapters:
0:00:00 - Intro
0:00:28 - Which would you prefer?
0:05:06 - Overview of The Anarchy
0:07:06 - Discussion of The Anarchy
0:53:00 - Questions for audience
0:53:25 - Top 200 Draft: 11-20
āAbout the Cast
Shem Phillips is the owner of Garphill Games and has designed a fair few board games, notably Raiders of the North Sea (Kennerspiel des Jahres Nominee) and Legacy of Yu (Golden Geek, Dice Tower Award, Origins Award for Best Solo Game of 2023).
Sam Macdonald is a Game Designer and Developer at Garphill Games, bursting onto the scene with his co-design together with Shem, Architects of the West Kingdom. He has gone on to design a number of other games, most notable among them is Paladins of the West Kingdom which is currently in the top 100 games on BGG.
Zach Smith works for Garphill Games as Marketing and Media Manager, but is also a credited designer, having co-designed Circadians: Chaos Order together with Sam. They also have another game together under development.
šµ Music licenced from ā ā ā ā ā ā ā ā Jessy Ribordy Studiosā
šļøWelcome to the Lens and Veil podcast, join Shem, Sam and Zach as they discuss games they've played together, specifically focusing on game design elements.
In this episode they discuss The Anarchy, and are joined by the game's designer Bobby Hill. In The Anarchy, players take on the role of English nobles loyal to King Stephen during the civil war. Over five rounds, players must build their domain, defend their castle from attacks by the approaching Angevin armies, and storm strongholds loyal to Matilda with their own crafted siege weapons.
You can purchase The Anarchy at ā https://www.garphill.comā
You can find out more about about Bobby's upcoming games on his website ā here: motherlodegames.rocks/ā
šChapters:
0:00:00 - Intro
0:00:28 - Which would you prefer?
0:05:06 - Overview of The Anarchy
0:07:06 - Discussion of The Anarchy
0:53:00 - Questions for audience
0:53:25 - Top 200 Draft: 11-20
āAbout the Cast
Shem Phillips is the owner of Garphill Games and has designed a fair few board games, notably Raiders of the North Sea (Kennerspiel des Jahres Nominee) and Legacy of Yu (Golden Geek, Dice Tower Award, Origins Award for Best Solo Game of 2023).
Sam Macdonald is a Game Designer and Developer at Garphill Games, bursting onto the scene with his co-design together with Shem, Architects of the West Kingdom. He has gone on to design a number of other games, most notable among them is Paladins of the West Kingdom which is currently in the top 100 games on BGG.
Zach Smith works for Garphill Games as Marketing and Media Manager, but is also a credited designer, having co-designed Circadians: Chaos Order together with Sam. They also have another game together under development.
šµ Music licenced from ā ā ā ā ā ā ā ā Jessy Ribordy Studiosā
