But Why Vikings?

Iain McAllister
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Games
  • Biweekly

Any unanswered questions at your gaming table? Ava Foxfort, Tim Clare, and Iain McAllister mull over tabletop conudrums: from etiquette at the table to recommendations, to historical research. These 3 ludological agony aunts will give your queries the attention they deserve.

  1. 3d ago

    Hurdy Gurdy Drone Note

    Welcome to “But, Why Vikings?”. Each episode your hosts Tim Clare, Ava Foxfort, and Iain McAllister will answer a variety of tabletop related questions sent in to them by listeners. From tabletop etiquette to historical mysteries there is no question too esoteric for this group of gaming agony aunts.  In our latest episode Iain and Ava tackle a dilemma that has been “haunting” a listener for years. In answering it they discuss if it is ever possible to know the intent of a designer and when it is ok to act in a thematic way when playing a game versus ‘how the game should be played’.  They also dive into using music around the gaming table and discuss the benefits, and draw backs, of setting the atmosphere this way.  Our show notes links to games and sources we mention in running order. Games will have their BGG entry linked to, though we recognise that is not the only source of information on games.  Games mentioned Game of Thrones: The Board Game  Cosmic Encounter  Inis Antiquity Twilight Imperium Diplomacy Lords of Vegas Maria Friedrich  Dead of Winter Other things mentioned The Score: C Thi Ngyuen  Agency as Art Ask us a question https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSegTjz9poSm_5FyBsIfetvOceE_Tazdfc4wFnYHujLLRI1mQA/viewform?usp=header Our Socials ⁠Music by Fae Spencer on Pixabay⁠ Tim Clare Bluesky Website Ava Foxfort Bluesky Website Iain McAllister Bluesky Website

  2. Oct 23

    Increase their surface area

    Welcome to “But, Why Vikings?”. Each episode your hosts Tim Clare, Ava Foxfort, and Iain McAllister will answer a variety of tabletop related questions sent in to them by listeners. From tabletop etiquette to historical mysteries there is no question too esoteric for this group of gaming agony aunts.  This episode Iain is back behind the mic along with Ava to talk one of his favourite topics, players in RPGs. They answer a question from a listener about why there is so little advice for players in most RPGs but lots for the GM. They delve into what it takes to be a good player in an RPG, which RPGs excel at giving good player advice, and the techniques you can use to make your games sing.  Our show notes links to games and sources we mention in running order. Games will have their BGG entry linked to, though we recognise that is not the only source of information on games.  Games mentioned Apocalypse World Blades in the Dark - Iain’s Guide Mothership A Quiet Year Agon Deathmatch Island Wanderhome - Belonging outside Belonging DIE Into the Odd https://www.bastionland.com/ For the Queen The Time we Have Other things mentioned Unconventional GMs How to get into RPGs - Iain’s piece Dungeons & Drag Queens Tim’s Writing Course Play Unsafe Improv for Gamers - Evil Hat book Iain mentions Our Socials ⁠Music by Fae Spencer on Pixabay⁠ Ask us a question Google Form Tim Clare Bluesky Website Ava Foxfort Bluesky Website Iain McAllister Bluesky Website

  3. Oct 9

    Our old enemy, nuance

    Welcome to “But, Why Vikings?”. Each episode your hosts Tim Clare, Ava Foxfort, and Iain McAllister will answer a variety of tabletop related questions sent in to them by listeners. From tabletop etiquette to historical mysteries there is no question too esoteric for this group of gaming agony aunts.  In this episode Tim and Ava dive into the tricky issues around board gaming friendships and what to do when they go wrong! They also debate the merits of expansions and muse on how many is too many.  If you have questions for our next episode, please get in touch through our socials.  Our show notes links to games and sources we mention in running order. Games will have their BGG entry linked to, though we recognise that is not the only source of information on games.  Games mentioned Terraforming Mars: Prelude Agricola: All Creatures Big & Small Forest Shuffle Feast for Odin Power Grid Concordia Cosmic Encounter  Magical Athlete Root Sea, Salt, and Paper Battlestar Galactica  Other things mentioned Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria  Thus Spake Kishibe Rohan  Ask us a question! Question Form Our Socials ⁠Music by Fae Spencer on Pixabay⁠ Tim Clare Bluesky Website Ava Foxfort Bluesky Website Iain McAllister Bluesky Website

  4. Sep 25

    Dr. Emily Friedman - Teacher at Large

    Welcome to “But, Why Vikings?”. Each episode your hosts Tim Clare, Ava Foxfort, and Iain McAllister will answer a variety of tabletop related questions sent in to them by listeners. From tabletop etiquette to historical mysteries there is no question too esoteric for this group of gaming agony aunts.  Our show notes links to games and sources we mention in running order. Games will have their BGG entry linked to, though we recognise that is not the only source of information on games.  In this special guest-hosted episode, Ava is joined by 18th centuryist and actual play academic Dr Emily Friedman to talk about setting up game groups in restrictive communities and using games in education environments.  Dr Em has a huge range of experience to draw on and brings exciting ideas and fascinating points of view to the usual chaotic agony aunting. We end up mentioning everything from Twilight Imperium to the Brontës' juvenilia, by way of comics, academia, anecdotes and board game arena. Games mentioned DIE Twilight Imperium Heart Triangle Agency Mahjong Shakespeare - Avalon Hill Seven Part Pact Teeth For the Queen Oh Captain, my Captain Little Wars Other things mentioned The Actual History of actual play Folger Shakespeare Library Boardgame arena  Evan Torner  Metatopia Fort Circle Games Patricia Matthew on Bridgerton Dragon Magazine  Emma - Jane Austen Our Socials Music by Fae Spencer on Pixabay⁠ Emily Friedman Bluesky Website Critical Prof Patreon Tim Clare Bluesky Website Ava Foxfort Bluesky Website Iain McAllister Bluesky Website

  5. Aug 27

    Radical Epistemology

    Welcome to “But, Why Vikings?”. Each episode your hosts Tim Clare, Ava Foxfort, and Iain McAllister will answer a variety of tabletop related questions sent in to them by listeners. From tabletop etiquette to historical mysteries there is no question too esoteric for this group of gaming agony aunts.  It’s a rare triumvirate as Tim, Ava, and Iain answer questions about the etiquette in finishing a game that you aren’t entirely enjoying and how to be a good trans ally at the table (and maybe some advice about silly voices in RPGs).  Our show notes links to games and sources we mention in running order. Games will have their BGG entry linked to, though we recognise that is not the only source of information on games.  Games mentioned John Company Other things mentioned Dr. Emily Friedman Meguey Baker Our Socials ⁠Music by Fae Spencer on Pixabay⁠ Tim Clare Bluesky Website Ava Foxfort Bluesky Website Iain McAllister Bluesky Website

  6. Aug 14

    Better in at least one dimension

    Welcome to “But, Why Vikings?”. Each episode your hosts Tim Clare, Ava Foxfort, and Iain McAllister will answer a variety of tabletop related questions sent in to them by listeners. From tabletop etiquette to historical mysteries there is no question too esoteric for this group of gaming agony aunts.  It’s been a while and we are delighted to be back recording answering your ludological questions. One this episode Ava and Iain tackle questions about big box games, second editions, and ice breakers at a hen party!  Our show notes links to games and sources we mention in running order. Games will have their BGG entry linked to, though we recognise that is not the only source of information on games.  Games mentioned Mottainai Glory to Rome Castle of Burgundy Special Edition Castle of Burgundy original edition  Twilight Imperium  Lisboa Marvel United Zombicide Barbecubes Tigris & Euphrates Catan Magical Athlete  Dune Wiz War Fury of Dracula  El Grande Wavelength Monikers Cross Clues Codenames Team 3 Other things mentioned Buttonshy Carl Chudyk 2001: A Space Odyssey  Vital Lacerda The Complexity of Depth  CMON Cult of the Old Restoration Games Our Socials ⁠Music by Fae Spencer on Pixabay⁠ Tim Clare Bluesky Website Ava Foxfort Bluesky Website Iain McAllister Bluesky Website

  7. Jun 19

    A Massive Aura

    Welcome to “But, Why Vikings?”. Each episode your hosts Tim Clare, Ava Foxfort, and Iain McAllister will answer a variety of tabletop related questions sent in to them by listeners. From tabletop etiquette to historical mysteries there is no question too esoteric for this group of gaming agony aunts.  Tim and Ava are back from the UK Games Expo with a special themed episode around the convention itself. They answer a question about why you should go to the con in the first place and then move on to discussing how to deal with the sheer scale of the event on a personal level.  Our show notes links to games and sources we mention in running order. Games will have their BGG entry linked to, though we recognise that is not the only source of information on games.  Games mentioned None this episode, unusual for us Other things mentioned Ava’s piece on Expo Tim’s piece on Expo Dragonmeet Airecon Mind Games Olympiad Knightmare Live The Dark Room Our Socials ⁠Music by Fae Spencer on Pixabay⁠ Tim Clare Bluesky Website Ava Foxfort Bluesky Website Iain McAllister Bluesky Website

  8. Jun 5

    Meet people where they are

    Welcome to “But, Why Vikings?”. Each episode your hosts Tim Clare, Ava Foxfort, and Iain McAllister will answer a variety of tabletop related questions sent in to them by listeners. From tabletop etiquette to historical mysteries there is no question too esoteric for this group of gaming agony aunts.  Tim and Iain answer a question from a listener about how to help re-onboarding family members when it comes to board games. They also debate the ways to avoid analysis paralysis and talk about our own experiences with it.   Our show notes links to games and sources we mention in running order. Games will have their BGG entry linked to, though we recognise that is not the only source of information on games.  Games mentioned Wingspan Lacuna Twilight Struggle Carcassone Magical Athlete The Resistance: Avalon Into the Odd Arcs Root Other things mentioned Beyond Cataclysm David Parlett Buridan’s Ass Our Socials ⁠Music by Fae Spencer on Pixabay⁠ Tim Clare Bluesky Website Ava Foxfort Bluesky Website Iain McAllister Bluesky Website

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Any unanswered questions at your gaming table? Ava Foxfort, Tim Clare, and Iain McAllister mull over tabletop conudrums: from etiquette at the table to recommendations, to historical research. These 3 ludological agony aunts will give your queries the attention they deserve.

Information

  • Creator
    Iain McAllister
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    19
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Iain McAllister
  • Show Website
    But Why Vikings?

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