Guns, Dice, Butter

Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays 2012, tribe! Again, thank you for your listening support during our first year of Guns, Dice, Butter.  Hope to have the first episode on 2013 posted just after the new year. It will cover ancients wargames: Greece & Rome. Already have it 1/2 finished; a great conversation with a designer of one of these games. Just need to get the panel discussion with the gamers finished. And, a link to the data file:  http://talk.consimworld.com/WebX?233@@.1dd6d36f/235!enclosure=.1dd80d53...

BGG List on Insurgencies and Wargames

Mentioned this on the podcast: an excellent list on BGG (boardgamegeek.com) by Tom Grant (host of the podcast I've Been Diced) regarding insurgencies and wargames that inspired episode X of Guns, Dice, Butter: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/6478/insurgency-and-terrorism  Many of us have been using BGG for years. For those of you new to BGG, just scroll down the list, click on the game that interests you and away you go (you'll be dumped to the game page that has a ton of resources: ...

15k

Passed the 15k downloads of Guns, Dice, Butter today. Thank you for listening!

Favorite/Least Favorite Armies to Game

I was thinking about a question Volko asked on Episode X: "Why don't you like to game modern conflicts?". Basically, I answered on the podcast that it was due to story; that somehow the stories from the past are "richer". It may be that we've had A LOT longer to develop the narrative with stories of yore that stories from present times.  I also remembered that I had conducted a poll on BGG a few years ago regarding what are gamers' favorite armies/least favorite armies to game out: image b...

Wargame Podcast Listeners: BGG Survey Dec 2012

Results from a poll on BGG in early December 2012: about 200 wargamers responded in the first day of the poll...initial results regarding what podcasts they listen to: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/895791/wargamer-activities-in-2012 A good way to celebrate the 15,000th download of Guns, Dice, Butter today. Thank you to the listeners for your support. 

Listener Ratings Thru Episode 9 and Dec 6 2012

Listener Ratings from Boardgamegeek.com polls during 2012. Sample size averaged between 37 and 75. Thank you for taking the time to respond. Mr.Berg captured has captured the gold ring so far in 2012 with a 4.7 rating (5=great, 1=poor) for the highest listener rated episode.

Guns, Dice, Butter Episode X: Dec 7 2012

Welcome to Episode X of Guns, Dice, Butter. 0:01 Intro 0:06 Conversation with Mercury Games: Richard Diosi (Doc Stryder) and Kevin Nesbitt 0:32 Panel discussion with Mark Herman, Brian Train and Volko Ruhnke regarding insurgencies and wargames: Wide ranging discussion examining wargames that model insurgencies (see website for link to games on insurgencies and national/strategic will games), political dynamics of insurgencies and insurgency games in the pipeline from this group of designe...

Guns, Dice, Butter on Twitter

Linked the Herr Dr twitter account to this website. It should now provide notification of website posts, episodes being published, etc. My handle is Herr Dr. I am still holding out vs. Facebook; will get the newest/best social media/networking from the Applenista and post the link when we pick one. Planning to post Episode X later this evening; was able to get conversation with Mercury Games, a brand spanking new wargame co, today. Best of luck to them and their first game to published - w...

GDB Download Stats Dec 3 2012

Episode X Preview: Panel Discussion on Politics and War: Insurgencies

Episode X of Guns, Dice, Butter will feature a panel discussion including Mark Herman, Brian Train, Volko Ruhnke regarding politics and war; specifically insurgencies. We'll discuss how they insurgencies are modeled in wargames, what works/doesn't and a wide variety of games published and those in the pipeline. In preperation for that episode, see this link for a few data files: 203 Episode X will also include, hopefully, an interview with the lead(s) for a new wargaming company and the us...

Links to Berg catalogue of games

Link to a couple of files regarding Berg's catalogue of games: 182 ...and a link to history of Rome podcast: 179 episodes of incredible story telling: http://thehistoryofrome.typepad.com/  Mr.Duncan tells the story of Rome, from its beginning to its demise. Each episode is about 15-20 minutes. If you love Roman history, this is your podcast.

Guns, Dice, Butter Episode IX: Nov 18, 2012

Welcome to episode IX of Guns, Dice, Butter 0:01 Guns, Dice, Butter Intro 0:11 Conversation with Richard Berg: Entry into world of gaming 0:34 Berg: CNA, Kingmaker, Geronimo 0:59 Berg: Blackbeard, Gamer types, Game development, Schilling, War is Hell 1:20 Berg: Games as stories, Berg Pipeline, Evocation 1:37 Berg: Rome, wrap up 1:46 Guns, Dice, Butter wrap up Additionally, will upload a couple of files on Berg's IMPRESSIVE volume of work.

Episode IX Preview

Took a break from podcasting for a couple of months: life, work and gaming. Back very soon with a conversation with game designer extraordinaire Richard Berg. I'll upload a 1 page summary of some his titles/BGG related stats and a comprehensive list of his games. Richard shares some great stories, discusses a few of his designs and reveals the Berg pipeline. Hope to post by the end of November.

Links mention in Episode VIII

A few links to items disussed in Episode VIII The epic WWI Op/Europa type game... http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamefamily/111/der-weltkrieg-simulation-series Enrico's recommendations... The Thomas Jefferson/A.Burr game... http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/100169/hero-of-weehawken Bustin heads with/against the brownshirts... http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/5024/der-fuhrer Marty's Afghan game by Volko and Brian Train: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/127518/a-distan...

Guns, Dice, Butter Episode VIII: Sept 18, 2012

Welcome to Episode VIII of Guns, Dice, Butter 0:02 Wargames in the pipeline: Enrico, Marty and Nels for a long discussion reviewing wargames in the pipeline and a few titles we would like to see...and a related wide ranging discussion (toenail fairy, siege games, burma, weimer republic, COIN and even ballons in wargames and movies). A link to follow along regarding wargames in the pipeline we discuss: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/76062/your-most-anticipated-wargames-of-2012  htt...

Episode VIII Preview: Wargames in the Pipeline, Kingdom of Heaven

Episode VIII Preview Should be posting Episode VIII in the next few days:  0:02 Wargames in the pipeline: Enrico, Marty and Nels for a long discussion reviewing wargames in the pipeline:  http://www.boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/76062/your-most-anticipated-wargames-of-2012  2:12 Conversation with Scott de Brestian, designer of Kingdom of Heaven.  http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/25900/kingdom-of-heaven-the-crusader-states-1097-1291  2:55 Usual shout-outs, wrap up  Related, analysi...

Survey Results

Thanks for taking time to respond to the listener surveys!

Listener Survey Episodes VI and VII

Posted a listener survey on boardgamegeek. If you have a few minutes, please complete it.     http://www.boardgamegeek.com/article/10007177

GDB Download Stats

10,000 downloads

Guns, Dice, Butter has passed 10k downloads (about 60/day since we started); thank you for your strong support, feedback, donations and listening to the show. Some related stats: Average episode is downloaded 170/day during the first 7 days of its release. After that, 6 times a day/episode. 1, 2 and 6th episodes most listened to...but 7th episode is on a good path to displace on of those. A BIG thank you to all our guests so far: Herman (2x), Doughan (2x), Wimble (2x), Heinzmann, Mulhollan...

Guns, Dice, Butter Episode VII: August 31, 2012

0:05: Conversation with Kaarin Engleman, Assistant Convention Director, World Boardgaming Championships (WBC). Kaarin recaps WBC 2012 and previews WBC 2013 http://www.boardgamers.org/  0:22: Conversation with friend of the show Jim Doughan. Jimbo discusses his 2012 WBC experience, Virgin Queen vs Here I Stand and Napoleonic Wars, Card Irony and Kickstarter/P500. 1:12: Conversation with John Alsen. John tells us about how he got into gaming, the First Minnesota Wargaming Society, Monsterco...

Episode VII Preview

In episode VII of Guns, Dice, Butter we will get Kaarin Engleman's report from WBC 2012. Friend of the show, Jim Doughan, will tell us about his WBC 2012 experience, Virgin Queen, card irony and kickstarter/P500. John Alsen joins us after that to talk First Minnesota Wargaming Club good times, Consimworld/Monster Con 2012, developing wargames and our recent experience playing a lot of Amateurs to Arms (AtA), War of 1812, from Clash of Arms. We'll conclude with a conversation with Kevin McPar...

Guns, Dice, Butter Episode VI: July 19, 2012

0:08: Conversation with Kaarin Engleman, Assistant Convention Director, World Boardgaming Championships (WBC). Kaarin tells us why WBC is the best game con in the hobby. We also discuss how Kaarin got into gaming and women in gaming. http://www.boardgamers.org/  0:55: Conversation with Stuart Tucker. We disucss a wide range of topics including his days at Avalon Hill (Classic!), his role in the development of Napoleonic Wars, the WBC Pre-cons, WAM (Winter Activation Meeting - a con in Bal...

Been taking a break...

Been taking a break; busy with life and playing a few wargames. Planning to get the next episode up before WBC  http://www.boardgamers.org/

Listener survey Episodes IV and V

Posted a listener survey on boardgamegeek. If you have a few minutes, please complete it.     http://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/808351/guns-dice-butter-gdb-podcast-episode-iv-v-listene

Guns, Dice, Butter Episode V: May 25, 2012

0:0 Introduction with Herr Dr: Feedback, review of listener emails/posts, discussion of Kickstarter project for Guns, Dice, Butter Season ONE and a preview of this episode 0:10: Conversation with Harry Rowland, designer of Empires in Arms, World in Flames and head cheese at Austrialian Design Group. Harry tells us how he got into gaming, how EiA and WiF came about, discusses the games in detail and what is in the pipeline at ADG. Also, Harry tells us how World in Flames saved a life. 1:40...

Preview of Guns,Dice,Butter Episode V

Preview of Guns,Dice,Butter Episode V:  Conversation with Harry Rowland, designer of Empire in Arms, World in Flames, Days of Decision, among others. Harry discusses EiA, WiF, what's in the ADG pipeline and a number of other topics. Conversation with the Team Flip Attack (Casey, Bob, Jason and D) which have relentlessly played World in Flames and Empire in Arms for over 20 years. I expect to post the episode in the next week.  Additionally, please support the Guns,Dice,Butter Kickstarter...

5K

Just passed the 5,000 mark for the number of Guns, Dice and Butter Podcast downloads. Very encouraging to see this lark has some legs in the hobby. A BIG THANK YOU to all our guests so far (Herman, Doughan, Wimble, Heinzmann, Mulholland, Bother Paull, Karp and Thompson) for giving us great content. Would cool to have our Kickstarter project for Guns suceed, so that we can enlist more wargamers for our great hobby. KS link here: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/523543153/guns-dice-butte...

Guns, Dice, Butter: Episode IV: May 11, 2012

Episode IV 0:0 Introduction with Herr Dr: Feedback, review of listener survey on Boardgamegeek.com, announcement of Kickstarter project for Guns, Dice, Butter Season ONE and a preview of this episode 0:17: Intro & conversation with Nick Karp, designer of Victory Games' Vietnam and CFO of Shenandoah Studio, the new gameco that is bringing wargames (among others) to new devices like the iPad. Nick discusses early days at SPI and Victory Games, his design Vietnam, Shenandoah Studio, and their...

Episode III Listener Survey

Thank you for the feedback I've been receiving.  I've posted a short survey for listeners to complete regarding Episode III that will help us better tailor content to what you want to hear on Guns, Dice, Butter. If you have a few minutes, please take time to complete at: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/article/9025556

Episode IV Preview: Vietnam and Shenandoah Studio

In the next episode of Guns,Dice, Butter, Episode IV, we will focus on the epic Victory Games title Vietnam 1965 - 1975 and Shenadoah Studio. Conversations with Nick Karp, designer of Vietnam, and now CFO of Shenandoah Studio http://www.shenandoah-studio.com/ , the gameco that will be bringing us wargames (among other games) to the iPad, and gamer Nels Thompson, who is on a lark to conquer Vietnam. Nick will also discuss Shenandoah's first game, Battle of the Bulge, which also currently has...

Episode 3 Listener Poll and Links to Items Mentioned on Guns, Dice, Butter

I mentioned a number of items on Episode 3; thought I would provide the links to those items below. Additionally, I've just posted a listener poll on episode 3; would be great if you could take a few minutes to answer the ten questions to help guide our dialogue with members of the wargamer tribe. We'll pass 3,500 downloads today; THANK YOU for your support. Links to items mentioned on the podcast:   Episode 3 listener poll: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/article/9025556 Wargamer’s Gui...

Guns, Dice, Butter: Episode 3: April 24, 2012

Third Episode of Guns, Dice, Butter. 0:0 Introduction with Herr Dr: Feedback, review of listener survey on Boardgamegeek.com, preview of episode 0:31 Conversation with Andrew Mulholland, author of “Keeping the Colonies Royal”, a review of strategic level boardgames on the American Revolutionary War, 2008, ATO, issue 23. 0:50  Panel discussion with Ed Wimble, game designer and owner of Clash of Arms, Mark Herman, game designer extraordinaire  and Andrew Mulholland. 2:08 Conversation with ...

Card Driven Wargames (CDW) Evolution and Revolution

I've kept a chart of Card Driven Wargames (CDWs) up to date the last few years. By CDWs, I mean those games that trace lineage to either We the People or Parths of Glory. I updated that chart today. The link to it is at the bottom of this post. Paths of Glory brought me back into the hobby. Shortly after that, while attending WBC, I stumbled across Mark Herman and his game For the People...and I was firmly hooked on wargaming and WBC again. During WBC 2002, I met a few players that had a si...

Episode III Preview: Panel Discussion of American Revolutionary War Strategic Games

On our next episode of Guns, Dice, Butter, we'll have a panel discussion with Mark Herman, Ed Wimble and Andrew Mulholland regarding strategic level wargames of the American Revolutionary War (ARW). In 2008, Mr.Mulholand wrote an excellent article for ATO vol VI Nr 3 (issue 23: Guerra a Muerte) analyzing these games. We thought it would be productive to discuss the main dynamics of the ARW, how these games model these dynamics and offer some conclusions...and, of course, the call for more ti...

Survey Results: Episodes 1 & 2

Passed 2,500 downloads of the show this Easter weekend: Thank you for your support. Have about 50 responses for the survey I placed on BGG this weekend. Here are some of the results: 100%!: 100% of listeners reported that they plan to listen to future episodes; this feedback was the type of good news needed to lift my spirits after the horrendous 0-3 start the Beloved Minnesota Twins had to kick off the 2012 baseball season. Episode Quality: Scale: 1=poor, 5=great Episode 1: Audio 2.2,...

History's Losing Sides

One item I discussed on the Episode 2 was a series of posts on BGG with designer Harry Rowland. They occurred in December 2011 when Mr.Rowland was selected as the featured wargame designer of the month. I've always been a BIG fan of Mr.Rowland's work: Empire in Arms, World in Flames, Days of Decision, etc. I posed the following question to Mr.Rowland: That brings up a question; How you [Mr.Rowland] would rate the relative chances (from favored to win vs didn't have a snowball's chance of w...

Books Mentioned on the Show

Ed Wimble and I refered to a number of books on Episode 2. Following is that list: Logistics and the Failure of the British Army in America by R. Arthur Bowler The Southern Strategy by David Wilson The War for America by Piers Mackesy The Long Fuse: How England Lost the American Colonies 1760-1785 by Don Cook The Frontier War for American Independence by William R. Nester I've read all but Mr.Wilson's book and would highly recommend the whole lot: they really gave me a different perspe...

Data and Analysis

Those of you that know me from BGG (Boardgamegeek.com), know that I periodically conduct analysis of the BGG data regarding wargames. Consequently, I've now uploaded (or linked to) some of that work to this website. The first file contains my analysis of wargames from 1958-2008. This work was initated when I began to wonder how wargames had evolved: by subject type, mechanic, etc. BGG is a GREAT resource for the hobby, so, I utilized the data there to compile a short analytical piece. It i...

Listener Survey

Thank you for the feedback I've been receiving.  I've posted a short survey for listeners to complete that will help us better tailor content to what you want to hear on Guns, Dice, Butter. If you have a few minutes, please take time to complete at: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/787515/podcast-poll-guns-dice-butter

Play Ball!

Guns, Dice, Butter (GDB) odds and ends: 1) Will shoot to have the next episode out by the end of April; still not sure what the format will be - either another designer & gamer conversation (like episodes 1 & 2) or something completely different. 2) Will post a poll on Boardgamegeek.com this weekend for listeners to answer; to help guide format of next shows. 3) 750+ downloads now of GDB. Even made the top downloaded podcast in its section within iTunes today Thank you for your support! ...

Guns, Dice, Butter: Episode 2: April 2012 mp3

Second episode of Guns, Dice, Butter: a podcast of a series of conversations with members of the wargaming tribe. Herr Dr opens with a review of feedback from Episode 1 and preview of this show. Conversation with game designer and game co owner, Ed Wimble, regarding Ed's early days in the hobby, a few Clash of Arms titles, the Clash pipeline, the American Revolutionary War and what Ed currently has in the design plate. Final major segment is with Bob Heinzmann regarding those wargames on his...

Guns, Dice, Butter now on iTunes.

A friend just indicated that he just downloaded Guns, Dice, Butter on iTunes; so you can also download it there. Thank you to the 125 listeners that have so far downloaded on the first day. I encourage your feedback and suggestions: either leave here in the comments, on boardgamegeek or consimworld in the revelant forums.

Guns, Dice, Butter: Episode 1: March 2012 mp3 ver

First episode of Guns, Dice, Butter: a podcast of a series of conversations with members of the wargaming tribe. In this first episode, Herr Dr discusses how he thinks the podcast may (or may not!) contribute to the dialogue in the hobby. Secondly, he has a long conversation with game designer Mark Herman regarding Mark's early days in the hobby at SPI, a few of his published wargames and what Mark currently has in the pipeline. Final major segment is with Jim Doughan regarding those games ...

Early Feedback...THANK YOU!

Received some early feedback from the first 50 listeners...(via BGG, consimworld and email) Will summarize here: Really enjoyed the conversation with Mr.Herman (We'll get Mark back on the show sooner than later) Would like to see some segment(s) on strategy & tactics tips for a variety of games (ex: Paths of Glory)  (What other games would listeners like to see segments on? I'll try to rope some sharks on to the show for Paths of Glory, Washington's War, Breakout Normandy, etc) Jimbo kno...

Success?

So, how to podcast? Bought a mic: Blue Snowball $80. Got a plug in for Skype that records conversations - $20. Created episode in garageband (get one of your kids to show you how to use - or go to applestore). Additional handy program is Soundflower: allows you to record any sound that plays thru your computer. Placed in itunes (on my desktop - just watch any podcast on youtube telling you how). Purchased a domain www.gunsdicebutter.com $6/yr, which will point to this site. Got an account h...

Guns, Dice, Butter: Episode 1: March 2012

First episode of Guns, Dice, Butter: a podcast of a series of conversations with members of the wargaming tribe. In this first episode, Herr Dr discusses how he thinks the podcast may (or may not!) contribute to the dialogue in the hobby. Secondly, he has a long conversation with game designer Mark Herman regarding Mark's early days in the hobby at SPI, a few of his published wargames and what Mark currently has in the pipeline. Final major segment is with Jim Doughan regarding those games o...