Logo and banner by Jennifer Sparks.
Three Moves Ahead is the official podcast of Flash of Steel and the leading strategy game themed podcast on the internet. Troy Goodfellow, founded the show in 2009. Every week by a panel of knowledgeable gamers with strong opinions on strategy and wargames meets to talk about games of the day, design issues and games in the wider world. The regular panelists are:
Rob Zacny: Freelance writer and PC Gamer’s strategy columnist, who became a regular panelist on 3MA starting with a great pinch-hit appearance in Episode 42. Rob assumed hosting duties in early 2010. If you have any suggestions for the show, you can email him at robert.w.zacny [at] gmail.
Julian Murdoch: Freelance Writer and co-manager of Gamers With Jobs, home of the best gaming panel discussion online.
Bruce Geryk: Former freelance writer, and former wargame columnist for Computer Gaming World/Games for Windows Magazine and Games Domain (pre-Yahoo). Tom and Bruce are probably best known for their long running Tom vs Bruce series in CGW/GfW.
Three Moves Ahead is edited and arranged by Michael Hermes. You can find the official forums for the show over on the Idle Thumbs network over here.
For the first half of the run, Tom Chick: Freelance writer, Former SciFi Channel Game Blogger at Fidgit and proprietor of Quarter To Three. Though always welcome on the show, Tom retired as a regular panelist in June 2010 because of his schedule.
Episode 1 — Troy, Tom, Bruce and Julian are joined by Vic Davis. (Deleted for the moment due to poor recording quality. I promise we’ll have Vic back, or I’ll find a way to clean it up.)
Episode 2 — Troy, Tom, Bruce and Julian talk about Halo Wars, Sins of A Solar Empire and a little bit on Empire: Total War.
Episode 3 — Empire Total War and the trouble with dual track game design.
Episode 4 — John Hawkins from KE Studios drops by to talk about War Plan Pacific and unveils his next game idea.
Episode 5 — Defining strategy and avoiding ‘fun’
Episode 6 — Demigod
Episode 7 — Collectible Card Games
Episode 8 — Symmetry
Episode 9 — Brad Wardell, Stardock Games
Episode 10 — Multiplayer
Episode 11 — Tower Defense and Defensive gaming
Episode 12 — Diplomacy and other stuff
Episode 13 — Tom vs Bruce vs Troy vs Julian
Episode 14 — Maps and game design
Episode 15 — Paradox at E3
Episode 16 — The Sims
Episode 17 — Manuals and documentation
Episode 18 — How Healthy is your franchise?
Episode 19 — The first half of 2009 and looking forward
Episode 20 — The Snowball Effect
Episode 21 — Soren Johnson
Episode 22 — Sports sims, Blood Bowl and Bill Abner
Episode 23 — Designing historical conflict, how war changes games
Episode 24 — East India Company and trading sims.
Episode 25 — World War 2 and Hearts of Iron 3
Episode 26 — City builders
Episode 27 — Mark Walker and Lock N Load
Episode 28 — In the Navy
Episode 29 — Getting Started
Episode 30 — RPGs and strategy gaming
Episode 31 — Majesty 2
Episode 32 — PBEM, Section 8
Episode 33 — board games, complexity, reviving Dominions 3
Episode 34 — EndWar with special guest Michael de Plater
Episode 35 — Brutal Legend
Episode 36 — Panzer General, Tropico and sundries
Episode 37 — Chris Park talks AI War: Fleet Command
Episode 38 — We talk expansion packs and DLC
Episode 39 — Bob Smith and Armada 2526
Episode 40 — Listener Question Show
Episode 41 — Vic Davis and Solium Infernum
Episode 42 — Epic Fails in strategy gaming
Episode 43 — Console strategy gaming
Episode 44 — Religion as a strategy game mechanic
Episode 45 — Year in Review
Episode 46 — Europa Universalis 3 and Heir to the Throne
Episode 47 — Looking forward to 2010
Episode 48 — The Gaming Gender Gap with Lara Crigger, Jenn Cutter and Tiffany Martin
Episode 49 — Story Telling
Episode 50 — Governments and Detail
Episode 51 — Science and Technology
Episode 52 — Sins of a Solar Empire: Diplomacy
Episode 53 — One Year Anniversary
Episode 54 — Introversion
Episode 55 — Starcraft 2 beta and Napoleon Total War
Episode 56 — Civ 5, Sid Meier and Farmville
Episode 57 — Supreme Commander 2 and Command & Conquer 4
Episode 58 — PAX East
Episode 59 — Distant Worlds
Episode 60 — Achtung Panzer
Episode 61 — Imperialism
Episode 62 — Norb Timpko and Jim Weaver on Gettysburg: Scourge of War
Episode 63 — Frozen Synapse
Episode 64 — Forgotten Fronts
Episode 65 — Tutorials
Episode 66 — The SimTex Legacy
Episode 67 — RPG at Rabbitcon
Episode 68 — Selling Strategy Games
Episode 69 — Jon Shafer at E3
Episode 70 — E3, Risk and 1C’s Lineup
Episode 71 — Disciples 3, HoMM and the like with Bill Abner
Episode 72 — Technological Innovation with Loyd Case
Episode 73 — Formative Gaming Experiences with Jenn Cutter
Episode 74 — Freedom Force with Ken Levine
Episode 75 — Strategy Syllabus
Episode 76 — Modding with Soren Johnson and Derek Paxton
Episode 77 — Starcraft 2 with Chris Remo
Episode 78 — Forgettable Games, Memorable Ideas
Episode 79 — Victoria 2
Episode 80 — Question time
Episode 81 — Elemental Post-Mortem with Brad Wardell
Episode 82 — Chris King and more Victoria 2
Episode 83 — RUSE
Episode 84 — Civilization V with Todd Brakke
Episode 85 — Betrayal and Manipulation with Rob Daviau and Chris Remo
Episode 86 — Logistics
Episode 87 — Borrowing from other genres with Rhea Monique
Episode 88 — Ethics, Morality and Motivation with Michael Abbott
Episode 89 — Elections and Campaigning with Bill Abner
Episode 90 — Build orders
Episode 91 — Licenses and strategy games
Episode 92 — Classic game analysis X-Com with Dan Stapleton
Episode 93 — Theme, Meaning and Mechanics with Soren Johnson
Episode 94 — Home for the Holidays
Episode 95 — End Games
Episode 96 — News Update and Holiday Wishes
Episode 97 — Bronze with Alex Kutsenok
Episode 98 — 2010 in Review
Episode 99 — War in the East
Episode 100 — The Reboot
Episode 101 — Paradox Con with Jenn Cutter and Greg Tito
Episode 102 — Online board gaming with Robert Eng
Episode 103 — RTS Community with Tom Chick and Chris Remo
Episode 104 — Catching up with War in the East
Episode 105 — Luck in games with Lara Crigger and Rob Daviau
Episode 106 — Paradox design and expansion strategy with Johan Andersson
Episode 107 — State of strategy at GDC with Soren Johnson and return of Tom Chick
Episode 108 — Men of War with Jim Rossignol
Episode 109 — Troy and Rob ramble, Field of Glory, Innovation
Episode 110 — Shogun 2 with Bill Abner
Episode 111 — Dawn of War 2: Retribution with Bill Abner and Dan Stapleton
Episode 112 — Civil War with Erik Hanson
Episode 113 — Panzer General
Episode 114 — Copyright and Game Design
Episode 115 — Revolution Under Siege with Scott Jennings
Episode 116 — Tower Defense Innovation
Episode 117 — Elemental and Civ patches
Episode 118 — Operational Art of War with Ralph Trickey
Episode 119 — Rabbitcon Spring 2011
Episode 120 — Six Gun Saga with Vic Davis
Episode 121 — Pride of Nations with Philippe Thibaut
Episode 122 — Frozen Synapse
Episode 123 — The Review Process with Ben Kuchera
Episode 124 — The Show Must Go On
Episode 125 — Hegemony with Rick Yorgason
Episode 126 — Contemporariness of Strategy Games with Logan Decker
Episode 127 — Panzer Corps
Episode 128 — Multiple topics with Phill Cameron
Episode 129 — Combat Mission again, but with Ken Levine
Episode 130 — National Character
Episode 131 — Small Games with Soren Johnson
Episode 132 — Age of Empires Online with Tom Chick and Soren Johnson
Episode 133 — Tropico 4 and city building with Soren Johnson
Episode 134 — Alpha Centauri with Brian Reynolds and Soren Johnson
Episode 135 — Board gaming with Soren Johnson and Paul Sottosanti
Episode 136 — Franchises with Soren Johnson
Episode 137 — Achron with Richard Cobbett and Chris Hazard
Episode 138 — Game of Thrones: Genesis and Napoleon in Europe with Greg Tito
Episode 139 — Memoir 44 on Steam
Episode 140 — F1 2011 with Jenn Cutter
Episode 141 — Basic things games get wrong
Episode 142 — League of Legends with Ryan Scott
Episode 143 — Personal connections in games with Phill Cameron
Episode 144 — Rise: Legacy with Rob Daviau
Episode 145 — Question and Answer Show
Episode 146 — Air wars with Lee Brinnicombe Wood
Episode 147 — Non-violent strategy
Episode 148 — Unity of Command
Episode 149 — Battlemechs
Episode 150 — 2011 in review with Tom Chick
Episode 151 — Random chat with Rob Daviau
Episode 152 — Few Acres of Snow with Martin Wallace
Episode 153 — Paradox Con 2012 with Jenn Cutter and Dan Stapleton
Episode 154 — Missing Classics
Episode 155 — King Arthur 2 with Andrew Groen and Charlie Hall
Episode 156 — Classic Game Analysis Jagged Alliance 2 with Evan Lahti and Darius Kazemi
Episode 157 — Jagged Alliance: Back in Action with Dan Stapleton and Darius Kazemi
Episode 158 — Conquest of Elysium with Tom Chick
Episode 159 — iPad gaming
Episode 160 — Wargame: European Escalation
Episode 161 — Co-op play
Episode 162 — The Idle Thumbs partnership with Idle Thumbs team
Episode 163 — Crusader Kings 2 with Rowan Kaiser and Jon Shafer
Episode 164 — PAX East Panel recording with Chris King, Jon Shafer and Rob Daviau
Episode 165 — Shogun 2: Fall of the Samurai with Tom Senior and Phill Cameron
Episode 166 — Devising challenge with Jon Shafer
Episode 167 — Naval War Arctic Circle with Jan Haugland
Episode 168 — Bomber Command with Lee Brimmicombe-Wood
Episode 169 — Out of the Park Baseball and sports sims with Bill Abner and Dirk Knemeyer
Woo Hoo!
Looks like a great cast.
Long overdue!
Three Moves Ahead | Games Revu // Mar 16, 2009 at 6:44 am
[...] I will listen to it for a long time. Idle Thumbs and A Life Well Wasted are recent examples, and Three Moves Ahead can now be added to that list. Only three episodes are released so far, but they all deal with the [...]
Is there a URL for an RSS feed of the podcasts?
The RSS feed is:
http://threemovesahead.libsyn.com/rss
Concerning Dawn of War 2 in Episode 10 and Tom’s match against a high ranked player, the matchmaking uses a system called “Trueskill” which tries to gauge your ability by initially matching you up against opponents of varying proficiency rather than just every fresh-eyed new player. Ideally once Trueskill finds your niche then matches can be consistently challenging but within your realm of capability. I hope this bit of information finds its way onto the podcast. If you take requests then please make readermail a feature!
Joseph:
Maybe we can do a reader mail episode every now and then.
When’s 18 coming out? You guys have gotten me hooked on my Tuesday fix. Now I apparently get worried enough to post something when that doesn’t happen.
Strange. But I do enjoy the podcast!
Strategy Games of the Half Year – 2009 Edition // Jun 29, 2009 at 9:53 am
[...] Three Moves Ahead [...]
Tom versus Bruce Online // Aug 14, 2009 at 7:12 pm
[...] Three Moves Ahead [...]
Hi guys,
I just recently found out about TMA and I’m enjoying listening to you guys.
As a two-year podcasting veteran, I have to urge you to keep improving the sound quality. The most annoying and easiest to fix issue I’ve noticed is that there are all sorts of microphone-handling noises in some episodes that really make you sound bad.
Keep up the great content, and maybe point out topics discussed which are for veterans vs. newbies.
Thanks!
Nostalgia is going to the Blogs! « Cake-Pie // Oct 5, 2009 at 8:58 pm
[...] his site at http://www.flashofsteel.com and if you’re a strategy gamer you can listen to his podcast Three Moves Ahead with actor Tom Chick who was Oscar’s boyfriend in The Office (he does other stuff, too, or so [...]
The Claw | // Nov 26, 2009 at 6:42 am
[...] guys from the Three Moves Ahead podcast, hosted on the FlashofSteel.com website have been using the games Play By EMail (PBEM) [...]
You guys should try and get brad from stardock on here to discuss elemental. As strategy gamers you ought to be able to grill him.
Sushi:
We want to have Brad on, soon.
Episode 73,
I disapprove pf your wish to bomb Keflavík, considering I live so close to that place. :(
Are we getting a TMA this week? I’m jonesing.
Jorune
Yes
Phew! I thought you getting these paying gigs might affect TMA.
Jorune
PS. Don’t go Hollywood on us ;-)
We’ve never missed a week. I will be doing some traveling next month, but the show will still get up.
I am a huge fan of your podcast! My subscription to “Three Moves Ahead” through itunes has helped me get through many days of document review at work… Thanks for providing such a useful service, and keep up the good work!
I was wondering whether you could suggest any high quality podcast(s) that focus on the RPG genre? I appreciate the help.
I just want to let you guys know that this podcast to me, is like how putting the bible in audio book form would be to a religious person. I never miss an episode. And you guy’s love and passion for strategy gaming definitely shines through. The fact that you are independent from corporate influence, and simply tell it like it is is the reason I tune in each and every week. I appreciate you and what you do. Keep up the great work.
With Elemental:War of Magic under new “management”, you guys should get the “new guy” in for an interview.
Can they “save” Elemental? What are the future plans? etc etc..
Hello guys,
In the podcast at min 20:40 someone (sorry, I’m not yet good at distinguishing who’s talking at the moment) brought up the question – “What do you keep the same, what do you change, how do you extend the franchise?” in regard to creating a sequel, and I would like to mention a great quote I heard in that regard:
“The formula to a good sequel is 30% the same, 30% new and 30% what people already EXPECT to be in the sequel.” (typed by memory)
I believe the saying belongs to Sid Mier himself but it might as well belong to some other iconic industry member like Warren Spector or Will Wright. That third part is really interesting and deserves a special mention.
Great show guys, keep up the good work and cheers –
Really great podcast. I wonder. Have you talked about Command ops: Battles from the bulge yet? If not when will you talk about this great game :)
Hey there. In episode 155 you mentioned confusion over how a wedge formation was ever effective. A lot of the reason for the confusion is because the concept of the wedge formation has been misinterpreted and taken too literally. There was never a single guy formed at the apex of a triangle. Instead, the reality was that the formation was called the “Pigs Head” and was formed with a minimum tactical unit around the size of a cohort (300). The lead unit would fight in a standard linear formation with the remaining formations forming in echelon to both the left and right. The impetus of the backup units would have both a moral and tactical flexibility that would contribute to the breakthrough. When the lead unit makes the breakthrough the backup formations are there to exploit and flank the lines of the enemy. Here is a diagram showing how it worked. Hope this helps. http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y22/1stltvels/Romanwedgeformationattack.png
was intrigued by your podcast of Crusader Kings that I bought the game. really enjoying it. one that I might have missed if it weren’t for you guys. only been listening for a few episodes and so far I’ve been duly impressed. many thanks for the great review, and the original shout-out from the PC Gamer podcast. glad I found you guys.