Guns, Dice, Butter

Guns, Dice, Butter XXX Nov 11, 2020

Welcome Guns, Dice, Butter Episode XXX NOV 11, 2020 On this episode, game designer Kim Kanger and a panel (Roberto’s The Good, The Best, The Glorious game club) discussing GCACW (Great Campaigns of the American Civil War) from Avalon Hill and MMP and Ed Beach and I do our final die roll in our final of the GCACW BPA tourney: the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. 0:06 Kim Kanger intro...point of origin 0:17 Becoming a designer; design philosophy 0:35: Why these conflicts; Di...

Guns, Dice, Butter XXIX SEP 15 2020

Welcome Guns, Dice, Butter Episode XXIX SEP 16, 2020 On this episode, game designer Ben Madison and a panel (JR, Mr Herman and WBC Curdis) discussing OCS (Operational Combat Series) from the Gamers and MMP. 0:05 Ben Madison intro...point of origin 0:22 White Tribe and Absolute Victory 0:36: THE MISSION and christianity's struggle to become a world religion 0:49 Death in the Trenches and a unique combat resolution system 1:02: What's on Ben's design plate and "delicate" topics in...

Top Rated Wargames Published 2015 through 2019

GDB XXVIII AUG 24 2020

  Guns, Dice, Butter continues in the summer of 2020. 0:05 Conversation with Ed Beach: game designs published (Here I Stand, Great Campaigns of the American Civil War, etc.)...point of origin...current GCACW WBC BPA tourney finals match 1:29 Swampcon crew resumes panel discussion of "Which wargames published 2016 > 2020 should we be playing?"...discussion resumes with Between the Wars...WW2...modern. 2:30 Wrap up, shout outs and "what's on my gaming plate"

Guns, Dice, Butter XXVII JUN 2 2020

  Guns, Dice, Butter continues it return after a four year break in the conversation. 0:04 Gareth and Curtis: The Napoleonic Wars: Gareth point of gaming origin, The fantastic WBC Nappy Wars tourney 0:17 Data, a dog and opening moves 0:33 Gaming personalities and player countries, the dick move and the attack of the Rohan 0:47 Gaming the system, Nappy Wars vs Empires in Arms 1:05 We lost Curtis. Gareth wraps it up with a thoughts on Nappy Wars v3 1:21 Jeff Lester point of gami...

Guns, Dice, Butter XXVI May 12 2020

Guns, Dice, Butter returns after a four year break in the conversation. 0:00 Conversation with Mark Herman regarding Richard Berg 1:12 Herman and Berg Redux 1:30 Panel discussion (Swampcon gang: JR, Chris and Roberto) regarding "So, what wargames published 2016 - 2020 should we be playing?" (given that GDB missed the last four years). 2:42 Remembering a few our gaming mates (R.Coffey, R.Moyers, R.Berg). Other bits and bobs.  Great to be back. Related data: https://boardgamegee...

Guns, Dice, Butter XXV Easter 2016

Welcome to episode XXV of Guns, Dice, Butter: a series of conversations with members of the wargaming tribe. 0:00: Opening and episode preview 0:07: Fran Diaz, Game Designer, Polis 0:58: Esteemed historian, author and storyteller Adrian Goldsworthy and game designer extraordinaire Mark Herman discuss Rome and what not 2:08: Mark Herman and Pericles 2:49: Episode wrap up Episode references: https://www.boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/151903/ancients-wargames-glory-was-greece-and-gra...

Episode XXV Preview: Adrian Goldsworthy and Others

Guns, Dice, Butter returns to the ancient world with a discussion evolving esteemed historian Adrian Goldsworthy and game designer extraordinaire Mark Herman. Hope to publish in the next week or so.

Guns, Dice, Butter XXIV: Nov 5, 2015

Welcome to episode XXIV of Guns, Dice, Butter 0:00 Intro: Guns Returns! 0:04: Richard Berg and Mark Herman   1st segment: Point of SPI orgin, Tiny Tim, Herman’s career as a roadie for Lover, Berg’s singing career 2nd segment: Design and game components 3rd segment: What makes a good multiplayer wargame? Herman & Berg works in progress. 4th segment: Depth of historical knowledge drives designs: Ancients: battles, operational dynamics, logistics   1:07: GaGa Panel: Marty Sample, Wende...

Guns Returning SOON!

Guns, Dice, Butter returning soon: recorded long session with two designers today :-) Hope to get a panel this week - then I'll have episode 24. It will be a good one: promise. Life and gaming (my manic pace of playing new games the last 2 years: Wargames Played in 2015: One 1st MNer) had put Guns on the shelf for a bit, but, I do intend to start cranking out new episodes this winter. Checked the downloads the other day - near 70k now: thank you for your continued support.

Guns, Dice, Butter episodes in the works..FINALLY!

      ... ... ... Wow... Can NOT believe it has been 6 months since an episode. Been enjoying the break with gaming at the 1st MN  Wargame Society and working on two designs: Triumph of Chaos v2: DELUXE! and Triumph of Fascism (Spanish Civil War).   I've got two Guns episodes lined up; just need to get the conversations completed. They'll be good ones. Guaranteed.   Up to 65k+ downloads now; averaging about 4k per episode. Thank you for your continued support!

Episode XXIV still in the works...

Guns, Dice, Butter has been on a break, but, starting to think about getting some episodes out again. Too much gaming and game design (Triumph of Chaos v2 (DELUXE!)  the last 4 months: all good, but it has significantly crimped my podcasting efforts. Thanks to those of you that have "politely nudged" me to get going again. I do finally have an idea for episode XXIV. Will try to get something up by mid summer. In the meantime, if you are in our hood this week, stop by and play some Vietnam ...

Episode XXIV of Guns, Dice, Butter in the Works

Have a line on episode XXIV.  Will be a good one. Hoping up before May Day. In the meantime, if you are in the hood, stop by our Games of the American Revolution War Day, May 8, 2015 for 1st MN at The Source in St.Paul. Guns now passed the 60k download mark. Related, episode XXII (the epic 4+hr July 4th, 2014 lark) now has 5k downloads; most popular episode yet. Thank you for your support!

Guns,Dice,Butter XXIII: FEB 17, 2015

Welcome to Episode XXIII of Guns, Dice, Butter: Feb 17 2015, Fat Tuesday Special! 0:00 Intro: It’s Mardi Gras! Spring is near! 0:05 Curtis Baer: WBC stories:  Point of Origin, Matt & Joe’s Devil Cauldron, Pitch Car, THE BIG GAME, François’  wild NAP WARs game, Red Neck Life, WBC food, Being the coach of the RANGERS!, the Honorary Fez 0:41 John Butterfield: Point of Origin, Early days at SPI, the playtest room for Campaign in North Africa, John’s great designs: Freedom of the Galaxy, Ambu...

Episode XXIII in the pipe...finally!

Finally have a bead on episode XXIII, after a 6 month break for playing games and dealing with real life. Hope to have posted by end of the month. Also, looking forward to COIN DAY at our gaming club, the 1st MN (BGG guild 875) on Feb 20.

Episode before the Holidays? Maybe...

Been busy with life, gaming (Empires in Arms, The Korean War, La Grande Guerre and now The Third World War) and designing (Triumph of Chaos v2) the last few months. Hope have an episode posted before the holidays.  Episode XXII (the epic July 4th lark) has been downloaded nearly 4k times; GDB now at 55k downloads in total.  Thank you for your support!

50,000+ Downloads now for Guns, Dice, Butter.

Just passed 50,000+ Downloads now for Guns, Dice, Butter. THANK YOU for your support! Hope to see some of you at World Board Gaming Championships in a few days. Hope to have a episode after WBC in August sometime.

Guns,Dice,Butter XXII: July 4, 2014

Welcome to Episode XXII of Guns, Dice, Butter; a series of conversations (238+ minutes in this case, given, our 238th Fourth of July) with members of the wargaming tribe. O:05 Joe Balkoski: intro to gaming, SPI stories, Minuteman, War in the Ice, City Fight & Wacht Am Rhein, Operation Typhoon 0:33 Joe: Cover art to Patton’s Third Army, Redmon Simonsen, SPI Peak, Transition to Avalon Hill Classic, end day at SPI, 0:54 Joe: AH days, Victory Games, The Korean War 1:09 Joe: Great Campaigns o...

Guns, Dice, Butter Episode XXII Preview: Balkoski

Joe Balkoski, designer of the outstanding series Great Campaigns of the American Civil War, the SPI monster the Atlantic Wall (plus a few others!) and the Victory Games classic The Korean War, will be our guest on episode XXII of Guns, Dice, Butter. Nick Karp, another member of the SPI/Victory Games tribe (and designer of the fantastic BEAST called Vietnam), and now CFO at Shenandoah Studio, will discuss recently released Desert Fox and other items in the SS pipeline. Also trying to slap ...

Guns,Dice,Butter XXI: June 17, 2014

Welcome to episode XXI of Guns, Dice, Butter.   0:00 Episode Preview   0:06 Don Greenwood: Don provides a preview of WBC (World Boardgaming Championships) 2014   0:36 Ted Raicer: Ted discusses his point of origin in the hobby/game design, Paths of Glory, Dark Valley, his recent iPad game collaboration with Shenandoah Studio, Drive on Moscow and his game pipeline.   1:41 John Alsen: John gives us an after action report for Consimworld Expo 2014 and tells us about the upcoming wargames...

Episode XXI Preview: Greenwood, Raicer, Alsen

Just got the all the material completed for episode XXI: Greenwood (WBC 2014 preview), Raicer (Paths of Glory, Dark Valley and other topics), John Alsen (Consimworld Expo 2014 AAR). Hope to post in a week or so.

War by Other Means: Khaleesi: Post GDB Episode XX

Who doesn’t love a good slave revolt? All hail Spartacus. War by other means; addressing the other 7 M’s of waging war... Was watching the most recent two episodes of Game of Thrones (DAMM good, almost as good as The Wire …and has the potential to equal The Wire, it if it (GoT) doesn’t go stupid - which, is always a possibility for a series) and I think the fog finally began to clear. Khaleesi {Daenerys Targaryen}  (waring: spoiler alert) is on the move. She frees the most recent slave c...

Guns, Dice, Butter Episode XX: APR 16, 2014

Welcome to Guns, Dice, Butter: Episode XX April 16, 2014 On this episode of GDB: 0:00 Episode Intro and Preview 0:13 Eklund: Conversation with Phil Eklund, designer of High Frontier, Pax Porfiriana , Greenland ,  Luftschiff (Zeppelins!) and 26 other games covering the human (and pre-human) experience. 1:22 War by Other Means: Panel discussion with Jim Doughan, Mark Herman and Brian Train regarding the other “7 M’s”  of warcraft {besides the 3 traditional "M's" of combat - machetes (irreg...

Preview Episode XX: Phil Eklund+Panel on "War by Other Means"+Brian Train

Episode XX of Guns, Dice, Butter will be published this week. On Episode XX: 1) Conversation with Phil Eklund, designer of High Frontier, Pax Porfiriana, Lufschiff among many others. 2) Panel discussion: War by Other Means: Mark Herman, Brian Train and Jim Doughan 3) Conversation with Brian Train regarding his DTP game regarding the Ukrainian Crisis ...and more.

40k Downloads of Guns, Dice, Butter

Passed the 40,000 download mark for Guns, Dice, Butter yesterday. Thank you for your strong support! Recorded and mixed half of episode XX yesterday - hope to have the other segment completed this weekend. If so, should be able to post the next episode in the next two weeks.

Guns, Dice, Butter Episode XIX: APR 4, 2014

Welcome to Episode XIX: APR 4, 2014 of Guns, Dice, Butter: a series of conversations with members of the wargaming tribe 0:00 Introduction: Episode Preview 0:05 Discussion with Ben Hull, designer of the incredible Musket & Pike Series. Additionally, we talk about his series Fields of Fire and his soon to be published operational series titled Won by the Sword 1:35 Discussion First Minnesota Historical Wargaming Society (BGG guild 875) sparkplugs Lt. Jason and Gordo. We discuss the club a...

New Episode Real Soon

Have a long conversation with Ben Hull of Musket & Pike fame recorded; just have to mix it. And, need to get one other shorter segment. Won't be too long (real life work permitting). 

New Episode Soon

Hope to publish a new episode soon; have a couple of great game designers lined up. Thoughts and prayers with friends and family in Ukraine. Related, I've been blogging on the situation in Ukraine on my Triumph of Chaos board (in the between the wars folder) on Consimworld.

Plumbing: listener survey

  My podcast hosting service provided a link for a survey of demographic stats related to GDB: http://survey.libsyn.com/gunsdicebutter Of course, if you are interested, complete. If not, no prob. I'll post the results when they are made available. Also, I assume it will generate an email list for the show, which I can send out updates/files/etc to listeners.

Growing audience for GDB

Checked out a few stats for downloads of Guns, Dice, Butter (now near 40k). Image here shows the number of downloads for each episode in the first three days of episode being posted. Looks like GDB continuing to build a following. Thank you for your continued support! I'll post a survey on BGG (Boardgamegeek.com) in a few days for listeners to complete.

Guns, Dice, Butter Episode XVIII: JAN 13, 2014

Welcome to Episode XVIII: JAN 13, 2014 of Guns, Dice, Butter: a series of conversations with members of the wargaming tribe 0:00 Introduction: Episode Preview 0:05 Discussion with Harry Rowland, designer of Empires in Arms and World in Flames, grand poobah of Australian Design Group 1:20 Discussion with J.R.Tracy and Jim Doughan regarding games published in 2013, wargaming experiences and various multi-player wargames 2:28 Wrap up: On our wargaming desk,  shout outs and Guns, Dice, Butte...

Next Episode Soon

Been swamped with real life work. Just back in the States for holidays. Will post next episode soon. Thanks for the emails/posts inquiring to my status.

Gaming Book on 3rd Reich

Spent the day reading The Third Reich by Roberto Bolano. Had heard about the book - and given that I played the game in my mispent youth, I decided to read it. Selve description here: On vacation with his girlfriend, Ingeborg, the German war-game champion Udo Berger returns to a small town on the Costa Brava where he spent his summers as a child. There, they meet another vacationing German couple, who introduce them to the darker side of the resort town’s life. Soon Udo is enmeshed in a r...

30k

Just passed 30k downloads; actually 33k. Thank you for your support! Will be posting next episode (already recorded - just have to mix it) soon.

Guns, Dice, Butter Episode XVII: SEP 11, 2013

Welcome to Episode XVII: SEP 11, 2013 of Guns, Dice, Butter: a series of conversations with members of the wargaming tribe 0:00 Introduction: Episode Preview 0:06 Panel discussion with Mark Herman, Eric Lee Smith, Ed Beach and Ed Wimble (and his parrot) regarding the American Civil War and Wargames 1:05 Discussion with Eric Lee Smith (Shenandoah Studio) and Ed Wimble (Clash of Arms regarding their collaboration on a new game on Gettysburg 1:42 Wrap up: On our wargaming desk,  shout outs...

Episode XVI: Cold War Goes Hot Surveys

Record amount of downloads for Guns, Dice, Butter today. Must be the references to Red Dawn. Hats off to our two panels. Also, interesting story on BBC site today: AUG 1: 2013: BBC: WWIII Queen's speech' script revealed In a Whitehall-written script, the Queen speaks of the "madness" of war The Queen was expected to urge Britons to pray and remain united and resolute in the event of the "madness" of nuclear war, papers from 1983 show The script for a hypothetical broadcast has the mona...

Guns, Dice, Butter Episode XVI: July 31, 2013

Welcome to Episode XVI: July 31, 2013 of Guns, Dice, Butter: a series of conversations with members of the wargaming tribe 0:02 Introduction: Episode Preview 0:07 Panel discussion with Maymi Hayakawa (FushigiTerebi youtube channel) and Gesine Staniend (kallisto73 youtube channel) on their journey as new and relatively new wargamers; very interesting perspectives. 1:05 Panel discussion with Mark Herman, Brian Train and Volko Ruhnke regarding Games of the WWIII: The Cold War Goes Hot. We su...

444 Days and 25,000+ Downloads

Will pass the 25,000 download mark today; 444 days since starting Guns, Dice, Butter. 15 Episodes 32 GREAT guests on the show so far. 38 Hours of programming. Thanks to Mr. LaDue and Mr. Sample for pushing me into this lark.  And, the incredible technical skill of the Applenista.  Been a blast.

Summary Stats from Guns, Dice, Butter (GDB) Listener Surveys

Summary stats from various GDB listener surveys on Boardgamegeek (BGG). Some very interesting stats: > The percentage of listeners that have been in the wargame hobby less than 5 years is now 43% - vs about 20% that we had in 2012. I wonder if GDB is just attracting a higher percentage of rookies within in the hobby, or, if the hobby is actually beginning to add significant new users. > The average GDB listener buys about 1 game a month...$838/yr...33% indicating that they are purchasing m...

Guns, Dice, Butter Episode XV: June 14, 2013

Welcome to Episode XV: June 14, 2013 of Guns, Dice, Butter: a series of conversations with members of the wargaming tribe O:00 Intro; overview of the episode  0:07 Al Nofi discusses SPI and S&T, researching games with Dunnigan & gang, wargaming connection to sci-fi, John Boardman, Issac Assinov, Sprague de Camp..Friday nite follies, bouncing checks to an Israeli general, West Point and a pretty face at SPI. 0:45 Al Nofi discusses his design Imperium Romanum and seven centuries of associat...

GDB Listener Poll: Episodes X to XIV

Posted a listener survey on boardgamegeek. If you have a few minutes, please complete it: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/991274/guns-dice-butter-gsb-listener-poll-episodes-x-xiv 

Guns, Dice, Butter Episode XIV: June 6, 2013

Welcome to Episode XIV of Guns, Dice, Butter: (Season 2: #4) 0:00 Intro: Back podcasting after 5 months of real life, work and gaming. 0:10 Shenandoah Studio: Eric Lee Smith, CEO and Brad Cummings, Marketing Director. Eric and Brad give us an update of what's in the pipe at Shenandoah, following on the tremendous success of their iPad game, Battle of the Bulge. Additionally, Eric shares with us his plan to create a guild - a creative studio in Philly - to bring us high quality games. 0.45...

Back soon

Been totally swamped with work lately. Back soon (when spring finally arrives). Have some great guest lined up. Great to see continued strong interest (emails, posts and downloads) in Guns, Dice, Butter.

GDB Download Stats

Been quite busy with real life work lately and likely to be for the next month. Do have a couple of great guests lined up that I hope to squeeze in soon. Also, had a great time at Swampcon; Thanks Jimbo! AAR link below: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/929982/why-we-game/new

20k Downloads. Thanks!

Thanks for your support; just passed 20,000 downloads for GDB (Guns, Dice, Butter). Planning to take a break for a month or so.

Guns, Dice, Butter Episode XIII: Jan 30, 2013

Welcome to Episode XIII of Guns, Dice, Butter: (Season 2: #3) 0:00: Episode Intro 0:08 Greenwood: Intro to gaming 0.17 The jump to Avalon Hill 0:30 D&D, SL, ASL and peak at AH 0:44 Nappy Wars, start of Avaloncon/WBC 1:02 WBC Survey 1:10 What is Don playing? 1:27 Thompson: Niagara Broadgame Weekend: Ardennes 44, It Never Snows 1:40 Eclipse 1:43 Playing Greenwood in BKN 1:53 All hail Pax Porfiriana 2:08 Solomons Campaign/Operation Shoestring 2:14 Wrap: Shout outs, on the table/on ...

Episode XIII Preview: Greenwood

Episode XIII will feature a conversation with Don Greenwood; convention director WBC, Avalon Hill chief of staff, designer/developer of many great wargames (ASL! , 3rd Reich, Breakout Normandy, etc) and consummate gamer. Hope to post in early Feb 2013.

Guns, Dice, Butter Episode XII: Jan 16, 2013

Welcome to Episode XII of Guns, Dice, Butter: (Season 2: #2) 0:01 Intro 0:11 Jim Dunnigan, a co-founder of modern wargaming and SPI 1:20 Wrap up 1:25 SPI Commercial (the first ever commercial on Guns, Dice, Butter) Survey of Dunnigan games ("top" 100) available on www.gunsdicebutter.com, www.consimworld.com GDB discussion board or GDB Guild on www.boardgamegeek.com  Jim Dunnigan's website www.strategypage.com 

Episode XII Preview: Dunnigan

Episode XII will be a conversation with one of the founders of wargaming and SPI, Jim Dunnigan. Hope to have it posted in a few days. Link to survey of Dunnigan games on the GDB consimworld website: http://talk.consimworld.com/WebX?233@@.1dd6d36f/258!enclosure=.1dd81bcc Link to BGG thread when Mr.Dunnigan featured as a wargame designer: http://rpggeek.com/thread/602022/bgg-wargame-designer-of-the-month-jim-dunnigan/page/1  Also, a discussion of Dunnigan games here:  http://www.boardga...

Guns, Dice, Butter Episode XI: Jan 8, 2013

Welcome to Episode XI of Guns, Dice, Butter: (Season 2: #1) 0:01 Intro: Wargamer recruitment, mini wargame cons in Jan/Feb and other odds and ends. 0:07 Conversation with Fred Schachter, designer of Siege of Jerusalem (SoJ). Fred tells about his early days in the hobby at SPI, designer SoJ, his work on The Napoleonic Wars series of games and few games in development (Rebel Raiders, Mussolini. 1:07 Conversation with Enrico Viglino (game reviewer {video BGG} extraordinaire) regarding wargam...