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Description
Your last village was ransacked by barbarians. You barely had time to pick up the baby and your favorite fishing pole before they started the burning and pillaging. You wandered over a cruel desert, braved frozen peaks, and even paddled a log across a rough sea, kicking at the sharks whenever they got too close, the baby strapped tightly to your back.
Then you found it! The perfect place to make your new home. But as soon as you had the first hut built, you discovered a vast network of caverns underground, brimming with shiny treasures, rare resources, and untold adventure. How could you limit your new village to the surface? You immediately start organizing expeditions and building houses underground as well as on the surface.
With any luck, you'll build a village even stronger than your last-- strong enough, even, to turn away the barbarians the next time they come knocking.
Above and Below is a mashup of town-building and storytelling where you and up to three friends compete to build the best village above and below ground. In the game, you send your villagers to perform jobs like exploring the cave, harvesting resources, and constructing houses. Each villager has unique skills and abilities, and you must decide how to best use them. You have your own personal village board, and you slide the villagers on this board to various areas to indicate that they've been given jobs to do. Will you send Hanna along on the expedition to the cave? Or should she instead spend her time teaching important skills to one of the young villagers?
A great cavern lies below the surface, ready for you to explore-- this is where the storytelling comes in. When you send a group of villagers to explore the depths, one of your friends reads what happens to you from a book of paragraphs. You'll be given a choice of how to react, and a lot will depend on which villagers you brought on the expedition, and who you're willing to sacrifice to succeed. The book of paragraphs is packed with encounters of amazing adventure, randomly chosen each time you visit the cavern.
At the end of the game, the player with the most well-developed village wins!
The Kickstarter version of the game included the following items which are not found in the Retail version:
Villager Tool tokens
Lost Villagers
Swamp Villagers
Exclusive Stretch goals:
Creature Villagers
Quest Tokens
Underforest Tokens and PDF story book
Desert Labyrinth tokens and PDF story book
Wooden Goods
This collection of items can be found in Above and Below: Expanded Edition Exclusives
Year Published
2015
Transcript Analysis
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 18
This page: 18
Sentiment:
pos 16 ·
mix 1 ·
neu 0 ·
neg 1
Showing 1–18 of 18
Video cF_b0HZsrR4
Dungeon Master's Ludus general_discussion at 2:26 sentiment: positive
video_pk 12831 · mention_pk 37458
Click to watch at 2:26 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Distinct narrative-driven flavor
- Accessible yet flavorful engine
- Evident care in world-building and theming
Cons
- Less punishing/emergent than heavier designs
- Some players want more interaction between players
Thematic elements
- Frontier exploration, community, and storytelling
- Village-building with exploration and settlement
- Player-driven stories with modular narrative elements
Comparison games
- Empires of the Void II
- Near and Far
- Robinson Crusoe
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Worker placement with a narrative/story mode — Players balance story and settlement work
- Worker-driven exploration and action resolution — Choice of actions influences village growth and adventures
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- when I'm in the game I want to feel like the game itself has a mind of its own and it is operating like its own organism
- experience is one of the most important things to me about any game no matter what it is
- these event cards don't poke you with a stick directly but what they do is they create some sort of event that is going on in the universe based on that planet
- the game feel alive
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video o_7Z4ey9qFI
Our Family Plays Games general_discussion at 36:50 sentiment: positive
video_pk 12096 · mention_pk 35406
Click to watch at 36:50 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Strong thematic integration
- Cozy storytelling atmosphere
Cons
- Complex rules may deter new players
Thematic elements
- Narrative-driven settlement building
- Fantasy world of Arum blending town-building and exploration
- Story-driven, branching exploration
Comparison games
- Trio
- Azul
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Story-driven exploration — Players choose paths that reveal stories and rewards
- tile placement — Construct parts of a town as you progress
- worker placement — Allocate workers to gather resources or enable actions
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- "Do themes matter? yes do they matter I have my book now I'm on the fence with this one"
- "Terraforming Mars could have been about the circus no but it needs the theme to work"
- "Quacks of Quedlinburg... you need all of that to really get into that Medieval theme"
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video B6osTWjeehs
RZM Archive promotion at 0:08 sentiment: positive
video_pk 11957 · mention_pk 35079
Click to watch at 0:08 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Accessible entry to the designer's world
- Beautiful components and art
Cons
- Some mechanisms feel simpler compared to later titles
Thematic elements
- Decision-driven exploration with village building
- Settlement-building in a frontier fantasy world
- Interwoven storybook exploration chapters
Comparison games
- Near and Far
- Sleeping Gods
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Storybook challenges — Choose-your-path style encounters that shape the narrative
- worker placement / engine-building — Players place workers to take actions and develop their settlement
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- "Emerald Edition this is a must have for Ryan Laukat fans"
- "promo cards for some of Ryan's most popular games"
- "check out my channel to see me play some of Ryan's games"
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video gXKa7C35C0E
Our Family Plays Games general_discussion at 19:17 sentiment: positive
video_pk 11607 · mention_pk 34090
Click to watch at 19:17 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- fun gameplay
- character selection
- story elements with book
- creative world building
Cons
- monsters/golems can be frightening in appearance
Thematic elements
- fantasy adventure
- exploration
Comparison games
- Near and Far
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- We need to respect one another regardless of race, creed, color, gender
- Let's just try to work together and be more proactive and productive as a society
- Games that just make us smile - when I think about them I just go yeah this makes you smile
- You can smile on every game because you win all of them
- I love the world that Ryan Loughton put together and it makes me smile
- When I know we're gonna put Dune on the table, I smile
- Parks gives me these pleasant memories
- I know I'm gonna have fun with my family and friends playing Ticket to Ride
- Now I can play in that Star Wars universe with Boba Fett and it makes me smile
- Our lists are like night and day
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video gsmsiv7nZIw
Our Games Boom general_discussion at 27:36 sentiment: positive
video_pk 10789 · mention_pk 31840
Click to watch at 27:36 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- strong narrative feel and imaginative world
- engaging two-front (surface/underground) gameplay
- family-friendly with easy entry
Cons
- can feel variable depending on the storytelling track chosen
- mechanics density may be higher for casual players
Thematic elements
- storytelling through branching paths and narrative consequences
- Above-ground village building and an underground world
- semi-cooperative storytelling embedded in worker-placement framework
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- storytelling / narrative choice — players craft a personal story by selecting actions and outcomes that shape their village
- worker placement — players place workers to gather resources and influence actions on both surface and underground boards
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Above and Below is a wonderful game that blends storytelling with village-building.
- The storytelling sparks imagination and makes it a great family experience.
- Settlers of Katon… we still call it Settlers of Katon.
- you negotiate to get the resources you need to grow your settlements.
- Clank is a great game and we even have a Bunny Mafia promo card.
- you go into the dragon’s lair and try to escape with the loot.
- Dominion… they have just they're about to come out with the 16th expansion.
- we love the minion and the endless engine-building possibilities.
- Grant loves King of Tokyo.
- this game is BattleBots on a board.
- the robots are the cutest little robots you ever want to see.
- Trio it's called Trio.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video o8jW4UWSlP8
Our Family Plays Games general_discussion at 6:54 sentiment: positive
video_pk 10590 · mention_pk 31201
Click to watch at 6:54 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Strong integration of narrative with game actions
- Beautiful components and artwork
- Engaging exploration and story progression
Cons
- Rules can be dense for new players
- Some players may prefer a heavier or lighter weight
Thematic elements
- story-driven narrative integrated with light engine-building
- fantasy village exploration with storytelling sequences
- modular storytelling that reacts to player actions
Comparison games
- Sleeping Gods
- Above and Below
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Building/modules — Construct buildings/events that shape the narrative and engine
- Resource management — Balance resources to progress on the surface map and in the storytelling track
- story-driven actions — Story cards and arcs influence options and outcomes
- worker placement — Place workers to gather resources and trigger story events
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- the above and below series you know that's really story driven because you depend on the story to tell you what your next actions are going to be
- I like the way it's tied to a story and the characters
- Ticket to Ride it's a old game
- Lords of Water Deep yeah that is true we love Lords of Water Deep
- Five Tribes yes those are two
- Settlers of Katon so those are my three
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video As4FSX71Euo
Unknown Channel general_discussion at 0:00 sentiment: positive
video_pk 10470 · mention_pk 30832
Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Charming blend of building and exploration
- Beautiful artwork by Ryan Laukat
Cons
- Rules can be heavy for new players
- Downtime in longer play sessions with more players
Thematic elements
- story-driven exploration with light resource management
Comparison games
- Above and Below
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Story-driven exploration — Exploration elements reveal rooms and encounters that influence progression
- worker placement — Players assign efforts to locations to advance goals and collect resources
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- This is a banger similo deck.
- Galaxies is hands down my favorite that he's done.
- It's a fun episode, so it should be good.
- Star Wars Battle of Hoth is officially available I guess.
- I just love the wings on your dragon.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video My18DPlP8Gw
Farmer Giles top_10_list at 22:13 sentiment: negative
video_pk 10198 · mention_pk 30058
Click to watch at 22:13 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
negative
Pros
none
Cons
- Completely superseded by Near and Far
- No reason to play if you have Near and Far
Thematic elements
- Adventure with story encounters
- Village and dungeon exploration
Comparison games
- Near and Far
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- storybook encounters — Story scenes encountered during play
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's just like falling off it's just literally there are 100 better games in it
- Small Islands uh this is the one that i've been saying is a replacement for carcassonne
- way too complicated for its own good
- it is one of the most beautiful games in existence
- i still think five tribes is better than yamatai
- nations is still my preference to fruity ages in terms of playing a physical game
- really good negotiation game
- great teamwork cooperative very cool
- this is a really good solo
- the deductions are really hard it's a really tough one to do
- it's oh it's a mind bender gorgeous looking
- reef is still a really cool game
- azul is only that good at two player
- near and far still really good
- there's no reason to play that one if you have near and far
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video xhjlrwhPb80
Place Games top_10_list at 11:16 sentiment: positive
video_pk 8876 · mention_pk 26170
Click to watch at 11:16 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Unique storytelling framework
- Strong narrative moments
- Provides a different pace from typical eurogames
Cons
- Not a strict co-op; some players may prefer more cooperation
Thematic elements
- Storytelling integrated with worldbuilding.
- Fantasy world with village-building and exploration.
- Storybook-like, branching scenarios.
Comparison games
- Near and Far
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Resource management — Balancing exploration and village-building resources to progress.
- Storytelling — Players read and react to a narrative framework that guides actions.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- these are essential to any collection
- gateway into the hobby
- we're a competitive family
- it's essential for our family collection
- the ultimate deck builder
- it's a party game you gotta have
- it's racing you know
- pickup and delivery, this is essential
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video j_w5rDPfR-0
Starla's Awesome Things top_10_list at 30:10 sentiment: positive
video_pk 8856 · mention_pk 26129
Click to watch at 30:10 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- exploration, community, and storytelling within a dual-layer world
- A village with both above-ground and underground exploration; narrative-driven town-building
- storytelling-driven with player-chosen outcomes
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- dice_rolling — random elements that drive actions and exploration
- set_collection — collecting resources to build and develop the village and its underground counterpart
- Storytelling — narrative-driven decisions and events shaping the town and characters
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- It's a wonderful day to celebrate mothers and what they do for us.
- I'm going to give you a list of games that you can just take to the table and have a good time.
- Survive is so much fun—take a look at it—you will laugh till you cry.
- Cat in the Box hands down. Yes, hands down, cat in the box.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video UIySi3BySqU
Three Minute Board Games top_10_list at 11:09 sentiment: positive
video_pk 8691 · mention_pk 25603
Click to watch at 11:09 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- combines worker placement and narrative storytelling
- wholesome art
- solid and fun game
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- community building with story
- fantastical village
- narrative_worker_placement
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- narrative storytelling — narrative storytelling integrated with gameplay
- worker placement — worker placement mechanic
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- this is my list the video says the top 100 board games of all time but it really is just my top 100 board games of all time
- three minute board games is an independent channel we dont take money from publishers and we do not do any form of paid content
- Mosaic has the ambitious goal of being a civilization game that can be played in two to three hours and it very much succeeds at this goal
- a game that does not need to be played with a traitor because the inherent selfish goals in this game created enough internal conflict
- I love space racing games and space corp is the game that is most racy as far as space racers go
- the term I use instead of gateway game is foundation game
- Sentinels could easily be a forever game the kind of game you just play over and over and over and over again endlessly
- Modern Art is a simple and brilliant and beautiful game and easily the best pure auction game Ive ever played
- Black Orchestra models some very clever things about how conspiracy is run
- when I asked the question hey what game should I play with my non-gamer friend who's interested in gaming but hasn't done much gaming I almost always answer Sentient Golem Edition
- Arkham Horror is the game that really made board gaming my number one hobby
- there are a few things more fun and rewarding in board gaming than organizing a fight in the arena
- Twilight Struggle is one of the best head-to-head games out there
- Santorini is the definition of an elegant design
- Arkham Horror the card game absolutely should be for you it's a hundred percent for me and it is my number one game of 2023
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video _71-HzBRuJw
Above and Below game_review at 0:03 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 7762 · mention_pk 22929
Click to watch at 0:03 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- Stunning art and unique village designs.
- Balances traditional euro-style set collection and optimization with thematic adventure elements.
- Adventure components add flavor without breaking euro mechanics.
- Goblin encounter narration and art style contribute charm.
Cons
- Combination of story elements and euro mechanics may deter purists on either side.
- Dice rolling and randomness can be off-putting for some euros players.
- You can win without exploring underground, which may reduce thematic tension for some players.
Thematic elements
- Settlement optimization blended with exploration and narrative encounters
- Post-war settlement where players build a village above ground while exploring underground cave networks
- Storybook-driven encounters with branching choices
Comparison games
- Near and Far
- Village
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- build — Purchase buildings with gold; above-ground buildings can be built freely, while below-ground buildings must be placed in cave areas; timing rules for when you can build.
- explore — Draw a cave card, roll dice for explorers, consult an encounter in the storybook, choose an option, roll for each explorer, gain successes and rewards, with injuries possible to gain more successes.
- Harvest — Take Goods from your buildings and add them to your village inventory.
- Labour — Assign villagers to work to generate gold; the first village to use labour in a turn gains cider.
- Reputation — Represents reputation with a torch symbol; higher reputation increases end-game points and triggers story effects.
- Trading — Trade goods with other players with a minimum cost of three gold per exchange.
- Train — Recruit new workers from the main board into your village.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Above and Below walks an interesting tightrope between a traditional set collection and optimization euro game and a more thematic adventure game
- The best thing about this game is how I get to talk of my silly goblin voice while reading from the encounter book
- if you like Story games you may be put off by the fact that game is normally one by pragmatic building and resource collecting
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video -IgHRJzMVAQ
Unknown Channel top_10_list at 1:06 sentiment: positive
video_pk 5920 · mention_pk 17543
Click to watch at 1:06 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- strong emergent storytelling from character interactions
- two intertwined modes (above and below) provide varied play and narrative texture
- encourages players to invent personal stories within the game world
Cons
- story elements can feel loosely tied to concrete gameplay
- rules can be dense for new players and may slow early sessions
Thematic elements
- Storytelling through emergent narrative constructed by players from character actions and town growth.
- A town-building experience that alternates between above-ground development and underground exploration.
- emergent storytelling
Comparison games
- Gloom
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- character_development — Characters with distinct powers influence actions and story beats.
- Storytelling — Story cards and player choices shape the narrative surrounding the town.
- tile_placement — Players place actions on tiles to develop the town above or explore below.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- there's an emergent story that comes from the characters
- the emergent storytelling that you can see in Z is amazing because it's so sandbox
- we make decisions based on what our character would do rather than what's the best choice
- it's fun to make up stories as you're spending lots of money
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video RGthsyPZ1Mw
RFG Family top_10_list at 20:06 sentiment: positive
video_pk 5290 · mention_pk 15727
Click to watch at 20:06 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Engaging storytelling
- Two gameplay modes (story and euro)
Cons
- Learning curve for new players
- Rule integration can feel clunky at first
Thematic elements
- Story-driven village-building and exploration
- An underground/underground-frontier village guided by storybook elements
- Storybook-driven with branching events alongside euro-style play
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Story/quest integration — A narrative-driven side of the game with storybook events affecting outcomes.
- worker placement — Place workers to gather resources and undertake actions on the village/expansion track.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Above and Below love that game and that came out in 2015.
- the art is so gorgeous
- we love champions of midgard so much we got all the expansions
- quadropolis you've got some hand management you've got your toys and you're building up your metropolis
- it's a great gateway it's cute and fun
- Yamatai... it's a beautiful board; production values are amazing
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 3y9NjgP2bmY
Unknown Channel game_review at 3:56 sentiment: positive
video_pk 4409 · mention_pk 12897
Click to watch at 3:56 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- strong thematic blend of storytelling and euro-style efficiency
- great for players who enjoy both narrative moments and strategic building
- art and production are consistently praised
Cons
- can be polarizing for players seeking pure euro or pure narrative
- some stakeholders may find the theme mix odd or divergent
Thematic elements
- adventure, exploration, and settlement-building
- A village with subterranean tunnels and above-ground village life
- narrative-driven with storybook cards guiding choose-your-path adventures
Comparison games
- Between Two Cities
- Village above and below
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Set collection and resource management — collect resources to score and to build above-ground or beneath-ground options
- simultaneous reveal of certain actions — order of and timing for certain actions is revealed concurrently to create tension
- Story-driven exploration — players draw cave/story cards and resolve with dice, shaping narrative outcomes
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- This is the definitive Game of Thrones game if you want to capture the feeling of the epic battles for the throne.
- The best thing about this game is winning as House Lannister.
- The dice's combat is great and I personally do not like playing with the optional tides of battle cards.
- The art as always with Red Raven Games is stunning.
- Chinatown is deeply rooted in stereotypes of Chinese businesses and families; if you find that offensive, this game won't be for you.
- Circadian's First Light is a busy game with a heck of a lot going on.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video jKtjj4_5sik
The Secret Cabal top_50_list at 0:18 sentiment: positive
video_pk 1259 · mention_pk 3648
Click to watch at 0:18 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Story-driven adventures with high replayability
- Village-building adds narrative depth
- Dynamic above/below action integration
Cons
- Rules can be dense for new players
- Balancing the above/below tracks can be fiddly
Thematic elements
- story-driven exploration and settlement
- fantasy village with exploration into underground caves
- adventure book/storybook with randomized cave adventures
Comparison games
- Battlestar Galactica
- Dark Moon
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Storybook adventures — Adventures are randomized via a storybook, yielding replayable narrative variety.
- Worker placement / exploration — Players place workers to perform actions around the village or descend into caves to pursue adventures.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- there are stories in a giant book and it randomizes when you go down in the caves
- it's always a new adventure
- the one thing I like is the way that people can take people on missions
- it's got aspects of why I love Battlestar Galactica and the hidden Trader
- the stock market of this game
- it's still there, it's still a great game to play
- the Rondell is so neat
- you can lock out tiles if you take one of the scoring spaces
- the more cards you pull back to your hand when you recall them the better the benefit is
- the minis are really cute, this like cute chibi style
- the artwork and graphic design of this game it is just gorgeous
- it's fascinating to watch people and their logic for figuring out who is The Insider
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video hLV36__EAxQ
Of The Games Family general_discussion at 0:00 sentiment: positive
video_pk 513 · mention_pk 1549
Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Diverse artwork
- Inclusive character representation
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- Fantasy
- Adventure
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
No quotes stored for this video.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video npUKnnaGyRc
Our Family Gaming general_discussion at 10:46 sentiment: positive
video_pk 23 · mention_pk 49
Click to watch at 10:46 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Excellent storytelling with narrative choices
- Variable outcomes based on risk decisions
- Fun to read narratives in different voices
- Diverse narrative scenarios
- Supports digital narration option
Cons
- Digital narration removes fun of reading aloud
Thematic elements
- storytelling
- narrative
- exploration
Comparison games
- Near and Far
- Now and Never
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- games don't walk up out of this house it's their favorite they don't they don't go nowhere
- i tell everybody get the expansion too
- terra mystica is one of my favorites of my favorite fantasy games
- i love gloom haven even though i like saying gloom haven but i still i love it
- the artwork although it's scary it's it's beautiful absolutely beautiful
- that's the way to play that yeah you can play it at any time
- freedom for the dwarves freedom
- that's fantasy and i agree with that's fantasy
- family i love fantasy games i love fantasy games
- those are our recommendations on our list yeah what fantasy games we like
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Transcript Navigation
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