Three Moves Ahead

Troy, Tom and Julian look at the year so far and look ahead to see what games they liked and what they are anticipating. Detours into diving, naval warfare and whether Starcraft 2 will appeal to the masses.Stay tuned to the end for a look at who chose which race for their Dominions 3 multiplayer match and why. (Troy butchers his race name over and over, too. It's very stupid.)Fourmageddon Map for Dominions 3Tom comments on Starcraft's single player plansBill Abner's "Blood Bowl" BlogTroy's Half Year Round Up

This week, the panel takes the pulse of strategy franchises. What makes you strong? What makes you weak? And is any particular franchise in trouble?We also give you a preview of our next epic multiplayer gaming experience. Will Tom and Julian redeem themselves after such a terrible showing last time? Not with this game.

This week is all about Bruce as he goes on and on about how hard it was to write the manual for Dominions 3. The panel talks about how a manual is not the same as documentation, how even good games could be better with a paper friend and lots of other commentary that only reveals just how old we four actually are.Rome on 640KMy thoughts on the Dominions 3 manualGMT GamesBill Harris on Dwarf FortressBill Harris on Armageddon Empires

Bruce shows up late, but we do get a full panel to talk about The Sims 3 and the franchise in general. Tom gets all artsy, Julian makes an odd comparison and Troy is a cheater. One of the four panelists hates The Sims, by the way. No prize for guessing who.And be sure to check out Crispy Gamer for Tom's Sims 3 RTS Challenge. Can you turn his loser into a success?Robin Burkinshaw's sad story of Alice and Kev

Tom and I sit down with Johan Andersson of Paradox Interactive and Kim Soares of Nitro Studios to talk about Hearts of Iron 3, East India Company and what it's like for a hardcore strategy publisher at the new E3.Please excuse the background noise. E3 is a noisy place and Paradox had no ceiling on their meeting room. Context important links to follow.

The panel jumps the gun a little bit and talks about maps before Troy can finish quite his series, but they have good reason. The team goes over an hour this time so Bruce can call Civilization IV's map dead, so Tom can regale you with his wilderness adventures and so Troy can listen to his colleagues say nice things about him.Source of the Nile on Board Game GeekTroy's Map Series from the beginning.

Four men enter, two men leave as Tom and Bruce welcome their podcast partners into the oldest continuous rivalry in strategy gaming. In the first official multiplayer recap session in TMA history, the panel talks about Dawn of War 2, how the multiplayer experience holds up under the pressures of age and infirmity.Bonus files include a replay you can load into Dawn of War 2 to see us flail about and an audio of us setting up the game and playing.

So what happens when an emergency derails a scheduled topic for a podcast? People scramble, that's what. Listen as Troy, Tom and Julian spend half the podcast debating and discussing how diplomacy is best represented in strategy games, and the other half catching up with topics previously covered, with shoutouts to a Flash of Steel commenter, a Qt3 poster and Julian's daughter. Also, bonus references to 17th century English philosophers, JRPGs and the time Tom sulked because he was a poor loser.Troy's Crispy Gamer article on games and foreign policyDokapon Kingdom at Qt3Free RealmsDawn of War II patch notes

This week, the panel uses Popcap's Plants vs Zombies as a jumping off point to talk about defensive games in general - tower defense, grid defense and wargames. Bruce hates playing the Reds, Julian talks about his iPhone, Tom comes with another list and Troy is probably stressing the wrong syllable in Omdurman. We also announce the winner of the Demigod CE.Desktop Tower DefenceJulian's Plants vs Zombies article at GWJMore from Tom at FidgitDowntown at Board Game GeekAmbush at Board Game GeekCarrier at Board Game GeekRAF at Board Game Geek

A disorganized and rambling panel deals with multiplayer gaming in general and some war stories is specific. Bruce and Tom give the not-so-secret history of Tom vs Bruce. Julian sings the praises of the Gamers With Jobs community. Troy explains how he and Bruce used to spend lazy Sunday mornings.And Tom outs himself as a cheater. A dirty, no good, cheater.The Story of the Crispy Gamer FiascoQuarter to ThreeGamers With JobsBrettspielwelt

This week, the panel has a special guest. Stardock's Brad Wardell joins Troy, Tom, Bruce and Julian to explain just what was up with Demigod's botched multiplayer launch. We also get a little bit of information on Stardock's upcoming fantasy turn based strategy game, Elemental: War of Magic.And stay tuned to the end, where we give the details for a prize drawing.

A full panel today as the experts ramble about symmetry and asymmetry in strategy game design. What do we even mean by an asymmetrical game? When is asymmetry just a cheat to hide poor game design? Listen as Julian poses hypothetical questions, Tom praise the King of Asymmetry, Troy challenges Tom's logic and Bruce tries to stay on the sidelines.Tom's first Demigod diaryOgre/GevBruce's first article on board games vs computer games

The full panel is on hand this week and Troy is way out of his element as they talk about Collectible Card Games as strategy games, starting with Battleforge and moving through Star Chamber, Culdcept Saga and Magic. Should Bruce by a PSP? Who uses the phrase "synergy of modalities of gameplay"? And what game does Tom absolutely not want any of you to buy this week?Listen here as these and more questions are answered.Troy's Battleforge reviewStar ChamberPox Nora

This week, Troy, Tom and Bruce devote the entire show to Demigod, the upcoming RTS from Gas Powered Games and Stardock. Bruce reaches into the past for a boardgame comparison, Tom is annoyed by everyone and Troy likes most of what he sees.Titan

This week, Troy Goodfellow, Tom Chick and Julian Murdoch discuss what a strategy game is. In a world of genre blending titles, what is core nature of strategy gaming? Listen as Tom sells the panel on his new Japanese child game, Julian dismisses Settlers of Catan and Troy searches for a sponsor.

This week it's all about wargaming as John Hawkins from KE Studios comes in to talk about War Plan Pacific. Julian Murdoch returns to explain why he doesn't understand anything, Bruce Geryk would rather talk about Victory in the Pacific, Tom Chick almost rediscovers his love of wargames and Troy Goodfellow resorts to Star Trek Voyager to make a point. And stay for the end, where John Hawkins unveils his new project!(Some weather problems at Mr. Hawkins' end caused a little bit of feedback in places. Be patient.)KE Studios home pageVictory in the Pacific at Board Game GeekTroy's review of War Plan PacificThe perfect strategy podcast?Have a question for the panel? Email me at troy DOT goodfellow AT gmail DOT com.

This week, host Troy Goodfellow and panelists Tom Chick and Bruce Geryk spend most of their time talking about Empire: Total War, with a lot of armchair game design. Tom challenges the very premise of the Creative Assembly design philosophy, Bruce rejects Tom's premise and Troy tries to get a word in edgewise. Learn for Tom's "perfect strategy game", Bruce's love of Dominions 3 and Troy's memories of Dagestan.Troy's review of Empire: Total WarTom's interview with Brian Fraser of Ironclad StudiosDominions mod forumTom discovers Dominions on UsenetHave a question? Email me at troy DOT goodfellow AT gmail DOT com. And pick Bruce's homework assignment in the comments.

Three Moves Ahead: Episode TwoHost: Troy GoodfellowPanel: Tom Chick, Bruce Geryk, Julian MurdochThe second episode of TMA talks about Halo Wars, Demigod, Sins of a Solar Empire and Empire: Total War, with slight detours into Lord of the Rings Online and whether or not it is cool to use Google while podcasting.