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★★★★★

4.9

from

29 reviews

Description

Join Andy and James as they play an unfinishable board game to completion, or die trying. From the first 14 episodes figuring out how to play, followed by their near 100-episode practice run of 6 Turns, the guys are eyeing up the full 111-Turn game that will take them maybe the rest of their mortal lives. With weekly doses of game recap, listener mail, Andy's History Corner and tangent-friendly "Common Ground" segments, this playthrough is only achievable for the Subtle, Humble and Brave. SPI's The Campaign For North Africa is a comically complicated board game that feels like a practical joke. Published in 1978, with no evidenced completions of the 111-Turn game, this is a behemoth board game like no other. Learning the ropes - Ep 1 - 14 Practice Turn One - Ep 15 - 37 Practice Turns Two to Six - Ep 38 - Ep 87 Hiatus - Ep 88 - Ep 99 Full Campaign for North Africa = Ep 100 - Heat death of the universe Email: [email protected] Website: WarWithAMate.co.uk Instagram: WarWithAMate

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Check latest episodes from War With A Mate podcast

Episode 100, Part Two: The Elephant

2026/11/06

A plan two years in the making and decades to come; Andy and James have started playing The Campaign For North Africa and will do so until it’s done. A look ahead at the years to come, with all the bells and whistles of a classic WwaM episode. Buckle up, it’s going to be a long ride. https://www.patreon.com/cw/WarWithAMate https://movember.com/m/15500393?mc=1

Episode 100, Part One: The Livestream

2026/11/05

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

Episode 99: Pilot

2026/10/25

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.

Episode 98: One Last Hurrah

2026/10/19

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.

Episode 97: Get This Man Some Air!

2026/10/12

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?

Episode 96: Show Me The Money!

2026/10/05

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

Episode 95: He’s Obsessed With Wheat, Right?

2026/09/28

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.

Episode 94: The Siren Song Of The Secret Treaty

2026/09/21

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.

Episode 93: I’ll Do Another Fake Newspaper I Swear To God

2026/09/14

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

Episode 92: Norse Game, Prompts Lame and Fame Shame

2026/09/06

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.

Episode 91: Government Bread

2026/08/30

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.

Episode 90: Father Figure (w/KamSandwich)

2026/08/23

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.

Episode 89: Singular And One Of A Kind

2026/08/16

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.

Episode 88: En Passant

2026/08/09

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.

Episode 87: That Takes The Biscuit

2026/08/03

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.

Podcast reviews

Read War With A Mate podcast reviews

4.9 out of 5

29 reviews

★☆☆☆☆

DJW6469 2026/11/05

Slow Start

Saw an article about this podcast, was really excited to give it a listen, but six episodes in and we’re just talking about our relationship relations...

★★★★★

LaPlaque 2025/07/31

Subtle, Humble, Brave

One might not think that a podcast about two guys playing an insanely complicated board game that entails almost more bookkeeping than actual play wou...

★★★★★

Ashbarrr 2025/05/05

Very cool idea!

I’m glad I randomly stumbled upon this podcast early. I look forward to being a part of this adventure (at least as an outsider)!

★★★★★

MelMat07 2025/04/04

Followed for the board game, stayed for the rapport.

It is clear that Andy and James have been friends for a long time which helps to create an entertaining atmosphere. Learning the game history, the war...

★★★★★

Toasterman7884 2025/03/17

Love this game

Heard about this game a few months ago and I’m really looking forward to this amazing journey. James and Andy are hilarious and always entertaining!

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