But Why Vikings?

Iain McAllister
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Games
  • Updated 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. 1d ago

    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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. May 22

    The Fug of Silent Approval

    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.  The 3 hosts are back together for the first time since the dawn of this podcast and we have some spicy topics to talk about. We tackle a hypothetical university course on the art of games, and what we would include in the syllabus. We also have a chat about how to manage a board game library and the benefits of doing so.  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 Catan Can’t Stop Acquire El Grande Dominion Puerto Rico Train - Brenda Romero  Daybreak Molly House Twilight Struggle Votes for Women The Mind Apocalypse World Blades in the Dark Alice is Missing Bluebeard’s Bride Other things mentioned Games: agency as art The Score The Forge Blackmoor - the pre-D&D setting Iain was trying to remember.  When we were Wizards Game Wizards Critical Role Edinburgh Board game library Ancient Robot Games Cards or Die Our Socials ⁠Music by Fae Spencer on Pixabay⁠ Tim Clare Bluesky Website Ava Foxfort Bluesky Website Iain McAllister Bluesky Website

  7. May 8

    Weird little squiggles

    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.  Ava and Tim, the dream team, are back behind the mics for another episode of questions and queries. This time round they tackle mixed priority tables for RPGs and answer a question about humour in games and what makes them laugh 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 Pathfinder Call of Cthulhu Blades in the Dark - Forged in the Dark  Vibes - Forthcoming from MacGuffin and Co  Out of Sorts Monikers Cosmic Encounter Beyond The Sun Taco Goat Cheese Pizza Jiangnan Other things mentioned Session Zero Our Socials ⁠Music by Fae Spencer on Pixabay⁠ Tim Clare Bluesky Website Ava Foxfort Bluesky Website Iain McAllister Bluesky Website

  8. Apr 10

    Cone Shaped Dominance

    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.  Ava and Iain are returned from Airecon and have a bunch of convention related questions to ask? What sort of games do you bring to a convention? How do you deal with feelings of being overwhelmed? What are the worst table habits, and can you come up with ways to fix them?  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 Cross Clues Newsboys Dominant Species Magical Athlete Eternal Decks Stationfall Wir sind das Volk!: 2+2 Other things mentioned Essen Gencon Airecon 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
    16
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Iain McAllister
  • Show Website
    But Why Vikings?

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