RDTN 174: Undaunted: Normandy, Corinth and Origins Highlights

Two games with very different table rhythms lead this episode’s convention recap: Undaunted: Normandy brings deck building and tactical choices to a World War II setting, while Corinth offers a lighter roll-and-write built around a traveling merchant. Marty’s trip to Origins supplies the wider frame, with a sampling of games and other stops from the show.

Undaunted: Normandy turns card play into battlefield decisions

The appeal of Undaunted: Normandy begins with a combination the hosts already have reason to watch closely: the game comes from the designers of War Chest, which the show praised the previous year and which received a Squirrely award. This time, the designers have chosen a World War II subject, focusing on the invasion of Normandy and the Allied effort to break through German lines.

Deck building is the central mechanic Marty calls out, but the pitch goes beyond improving or changing a deck. Players also have to consider cover and line of sight, with dice adding variability to the strategy. Those elements point toward decisions shaped by both the cards available and the position of units on the battlefield. A hand may give a player options, but the map and the possibility of an uncertain result help determine which option makes sense.

The scenario book is another part of the game’s presentation. It details battles from this phase of the war, giving the subject a historical frame and providing a structure for play. The episode doesn’t describe individual scenarios or explain how they differ, so there’s no basis here for claiming a particular level of historical detail or campaign length. What it does make clear is that the designers are pairing a theme Marty enjoys with strategic systems he’s keen to explore further.

His enthusiasm is still a preview rather than a settled review: he says he’s looking forward to more plays in the coming months. For players following the game, that makes future table time the useful next checkpoint. Repeated plays can show how the deck building, terrain decisions and dice results work together across scenarios. The episode also notes that preorders were being taken at Miniature Market when it was recorded.

Corinth adds a route-planning choice to roll-and-write play

Corinth, from Days of Wonder, is presented as a simpler entry in the growing group of roll-and-write games. Its standout detail is a traveling merchant who gives players another way to use what happens on a turn. If a player doesn’t want to take an available play, or doesn’t want to use what the turn offers, they can move the merchant and take the bonus where he stops.

That choice has a built-in limit: the merchant can’t cross his own path again. So the route isn’t just a way to claim a single reward. Players need to think ahead about where they’ve already sent him and which spaces they may want to reach later. The rule gives the game a planning puzzle that can carry across turns, even though Marty describes the overall experience as simpler than some other roll-and-writes.

That distinction may be useful for groups choosing among games in the format. A compact rules load can make a game easier to bring to the table, while one clear constraint gives players something to weigh beyond simply taking an immediate benefit. Marty’s recommendation is straightforward: players enjoying the current run of roll-and-writes should give Corinth a look.

Origins recap and the rest of the episode

Marty describes his Origins trip as a chance to see a large number of upcoming games and share a few that stood out. The recap is a sample, rather than a full account of everything shown at the event. For listeners, that makes the episode a useful snapshot of what caught his attention and a starting point for deciding which titles to follow.

The show’s running order also includes a Nintendo Switch segment, a “Discover This” feature, and a stop with The Broken Token. Later, the discussion returns to Portal Games, before moving through Undaunted: Normandy, the Southern Fried Gaming Expo, Game Toppers and Miniature Market. Marty also talks with one of the Southern Fried Gaming Expo organizers about the event and what to expect when he attends as a special guest; the source doesn’t give further details about the schedule or activities.

For listeners who want to jump to a particular topic, the episode guide places the segments at these times:

• 00:50 — Intro
• 13:20 — Nintendo Switch Obsession
• 21:25 — Corinth
• 23:35 — Discover This
• 26:50 — The Broken Token
• 28:30 — Origins Recap
• 52:05 — Portal Games
• 53:17 — Undaunted: Normandy
• 58:55 — Southern Fried Gaming Expo
• 1:14:05 — Game Toppers
• 1:18:23 — Miniature Market

The most revealing contrast in the recap is between Corinth’s bounded route puzzle and Undaunted: Normandy’s tactical mix of cards, position and dice. Marty’s Origins notes make both worth tracking, with more plays of Undaunted the clearest next step for seeing how its strategic pieces hold up at the table. The show closes with thanks to listeners and a promise to return in two weeks.