But Why Vikings?

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 [https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/266192/wingspan] Lacuna [https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/386937/lacuna] Twilight Struggle [https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/12333/twilight-struggle] Carcassone [https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/822/carcassonne] Magical Athlete [https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/454103/magical-athlete] The Resistance: Avalon [https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/128882/the-resistance-avalon] Into the Odd [https://giantbrain.co.uk/2025/11/22/into-the-odd-gms-review/] Arcs [https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/359871/arcs] Root [https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/237182/root] Other things mentioned Beyond Cataclysm [https://beyondcataclysm.co.uk/] David Parlett [https://www.parlettgames.uk/] Buridan’s Ass [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buridan%27s_ass] Our Socials ⁠Music by Fae Spencer on Pixabay⁠ [https://pixabay.com/users/faespencer-31790355/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=195117] Tim Clare Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/timclare.bsky.social] Website [https://bsky.app/profile/timclare.bsky.social] Ava Foxfort Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/ava.foxfort.net] Website [https://campsite.bio/avafoxfort] Iain McAllister Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/giantbrain.co.uk] Website [https://giantbrain.co.uk/]

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 [https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/13/catan] Can’t Stop [https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/41/cant-stop] Acquire [https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/5/acquire] El Grande [https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/93/el-grande] Dominion [https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/36218/dominion] Puerto Rico [https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/3076/puerto-rico] Train - Brenda Romero  [https://brenda.games/train] Daybreak [https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/334986/daybreak] Molly House [https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/349750/molly-house] Twilight Struggle [https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/12333/twilight-struggle] Votes for Women [https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/311900/votes-for-women] The Mind [https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/244992/the-mind] Apocalypse World [https://lumpley.games/apocalypseworld/] Blades in the Dark [https://johnharper.itch.io/blades-in-the-dark] Alice is Missing [https://www.aliceismissing.com/] Bluebeard’s Bride [https://magpiegames.com/collections/bluebeards-bride] Other things mentioned Games: agency as art [https://academic.oup.com/book/32137?login=false] The Score [https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/457380/the-score-by-nguyen-c-thi/9780241653975] The Forge [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dm0dnjbQzD4] Blackmoor - the pre-D&D setting Iain was trying to remember. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackmoor_(campaign_setting)]  When we were Wizards [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/when-we-were-wizards/id1631699827] Game Wizards [https://www.waterstones.com/book/game-wizards/jon-peterson/9780262542951] Critical Role [https://critrole.com/] Edinburgh Board game library [https://edinburghboardgamelibrary.org.uk/] Ancient Robot Games [https://edinburghboardgamelibrary.org.uk/] Cards or Die [https://cardsordie.com/] Our Socials ⁠Music by Fae Spencer on Pixabay⁠ [https://pixabay.com/users/faespencer-31790355/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=195117] Tim Clare Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/timclare.bsky.social] Website [https://bsky.app/profile/timclare.bsky.social] Ava Foxfort Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/ava.foxfort.net] Website [https://campsite.bio/avafoxfort] Iain McAllister Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/giantbrain.co.uk] Website [https://giantbrain.co.uk/]

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 [https://paizo.com/pathfinder] Call of Cthulhu [https://www.chaosium.com/call-of-cthulhu-rpg/] Blades in the Dark [https://evilhat.com/product/blades-in-the-dark/] - Forged in the Dark  Vibes - Forthcoming from MacGuffin and Co [https://www.macguffinandcompany.com/]  Out of Sorts [https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/427097/out-of-sorts] Monikers [https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/156546/monikers] Cosmic Encounter [https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/39463/cosmic-encounter] Beyond The Sun [https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/317985/beyond-the-sun] Taco Goat Cheese Pizza [https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/253664/taco-cat-goat-cheese-pizza] Jiangnan [https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/342674/jiangnan-life-of-gentry] Other things mentioned Session Zero [https://www.dndbeyond.com/posts/929-how-to-run-a-session-0-for-your-d-d-game] Our Socials ⁠Music by Fae Spencer on Pixabay⁠ [https://pixabay.com/users/faespencer-31790355/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=195117] Tim Clare Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/timclare.bsky.social] Website [https://bsky.app/profile/timclare.bsky.social] Ava Foxfort Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/ava.foxfort.net] Website [https://campsite.bio/avafoxfort] Iain McAllister Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/giantbrain.co.uk] Website [https://giantbrain.co.uk/]

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 [https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/300753/cross-clues] Newsboys [https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/401543/newsboys] Dominant Species [https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/62219/dominant-species] Magical Athlete [https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/454103/magical-athlete] Eternal Decks [https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/424981/eternal-decks] Stationfall [https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/316624/stationfall] Wir sind das Volk!: 2+2 [https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/234017/wir-sind-das-volk-2-plus-2] Other things mentioned Essen [https://www.spiel-essen.de/de/] Gencon [https://www.gencon.com/] Airecon [https://www.airecon.co.uk/] Our Socials ⁠Music by Fae Spencer on Pixabay⁠ [https://pixabay.com/users/faespencer-31790355/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=195117] Tim Clare Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/timclare.bsky.social] Website [https://bsky.app/profile/timclare.bsky.social] Ava Foxfort Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/ava.foxfort.net] Website [https://campsite.bio/avafoxfort] Iain McAllister Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/giantbrain.co.uk] Website [https://giantbrain.co.uk/]

I learnt it from you

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.  Podcast Daddy Iain McAllister is back along with Ava Foxfort to answer questions about the digital to analogue divide in RPGs, the use of strategy guides, and how, or even if, they record their play stats.  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 7th sea second edition Kickstarter  [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/johnwickpresents/7th-sea-second-edition] Absurdia [https://quinnm.itch.io/absurdia] Asher’s Ridge [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/montfordtales/ashers-ridge] Yazeeba’s Bed & Breakfast [https://possumcreekgames.itch.io/yazebas-bed-breakfast] Wanderhome [https://possumcreekgames.com/en-gb/pages/wanderhome] Brindlewood Bay - Character Keeper  [https://www.gauntlet-rpg.com/] Balatro [https://store.steampowered.com/app/2379780/Balatro/] Other things mentioned Roll20 [https://roll20.net/] Iain’s Triangle Agency Review [https://giantbrain.co.uk/2026/02/28/the-truth-is-a-3-sided-coin/] itch.io [http://itch.io] Agon Character Sheet [https://johnharper.itch.io/agon/devlog/642292/agon-revised-character-sheet-added-to-playerkit] Bits & Mortar [https://bits-and-mortar.com/] BG Stats [https://www.bgstatsapp.com/] Obsidian [https://obsidian.md/] Our Socials ⁠Music by Fae Spencer on Pixabay⁠ [https://pixabay.com/users/faespencer-31790355/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=195117] Tim Clare Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/timclare.bsky.social] Website [https://bsky.app/profile/timclare.bsky.social] Ava Foxfort Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/ava.foxfort.net] Website [https://campsite.bio/avafoxfort] Iain McAllister Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/giantbrain.co.uk] Website [https://giantbrain.co.uk/]