Explore every episode of the podcast But Why Vikings?
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. Emily Friedman - Teacher at Large | 25 Sep 2026 | 01:26:24 | |
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 Other things mentioned The Actual History of actual play Patricia Matthew on Bridgerton Our Socials Music by Fae Spencer on Pixabay Emily Friedman Tim Clare Ava Foxfort Iain McAllister | |||
| Radical Epistemology | 27 Aug 2026 | 00:59:47 | |
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 Other things mentioned Our Socials Music by Fae Spencer on Pixabay Tim Clare Ava Foxfort Iain McAllister | |||
| Better in at least one dimension | 14 Aug 2026 | 00:54:40 | |
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 Castle of Burgundy Special Edition Castle of Burgundy original edition Other things mentioned Our Socials Music by Fae Spencer on Pixabay Tim Clare Ava Foxfort Iain McAllister | |||
| A Massive Aura | 19 Jun 2026 | 01:05:46 | |
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 Our Socials Music by Fae Spencer on Pixabay Tim Clare Ava Foxfort Iain McAllister | |||
| Meet people where they are | 05 Jun 2026 | 00:54:04 | |
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 Other things mentioned Our Socials Music by Fae Spencer on Pixabay Tim Clare Ava Foxfort Iain McAllister | |||
| The Fug of Silent Approval | 22 May 2026 | 01:03:35 | |
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 Other things mentioned Blackmoor - the pre-D&D setting Iain was trying to remember. Our Socials Music by Fae Spencer on Pixabay Tim Clare Ava Foxfort Iain McAllister | |||
| Weird little squiggles | 08 May 2026 | 01:01:45 | |
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 Blades in the Dark - Forged in the Dark Vibes - Forthcoming from MacGuffin and Co Other things mentioned Our Socials Music by Fae Spencer on Pixabay Tim Clare Ava Foxfort Iain McAllister | |||
| Cone Shaped Dominance | 10 Apr 2026 | 00:51:58 | |
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 Other things mentioned Our Socials Music by Fae Spencer on Pixabay Tim Clare Ava Foxfort Iain McAllister | |||
| I learnt it from you | 06 Mar 2026 | 00:50:46 | |
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 Brindlewood Bay - Character Keeper Other things mentioned Our Socials Music by Fae Spencer on Pixabay Tim Clare Ava Foxfort Iain McAllister | |||
| Run out of sense | 20 Feb 2026 | 01:20:49 | |
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 Ava and Tim answer a question about how to be a more collaborative player in an RPG and how to go about culling your boardgame collection. 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 Other things mentioned Comedian dies in the middle of a joke Music by Fae Spencer on Pixabay Our Socials Tim Clare Ava Foxfort Iain McAllister | |||
| The tyranny of structurelessness | 23 Jan 2026 | 01:03:50 | |
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 the latest episode of But Why Vikings?, Tim and Ava dive into the etiquette around bringing your games to someone else’s games night, and the role that Boardgame Arena plays in their gaming lives and what impact they think it has had on the hobby. Games mentioned Other things mentioned Our Socials Tim Clare Ava Foxfort Iain McAllister | |||
| Eyebrows are Fair Game | 09 Jan 2026 | 00:49:11 | |
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 Ava and Iain discuss the assumptions folk can make around game products being in-world objects and how it can alter perception of the experience. They also look at the pitfalls of ‘no-communication’ games and where the wiggle room can be in such titles. Finally they answer a very strange question about consumption. 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 Other things mentioned Our Socials Tim Clare Ava Foxfort Iain McAllister | |||
| I love a 'What do?' | 12 Dec 2025 | 00:49:12 | |
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 Ava and Iain address the controversy around using the term ‘Gateway Games’ and look at the games they frequently use to introduce folk to the hobby. Changing tack they also look at how to teach games digitally over platforms like Boardgame Arena 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 Other things mentioned Music by Fae Spencer on Pixabay Our Socials Tim Clare Ava Foxfort Iain McAllister | |||
| A lazy susan of interest cakes | 28 Nov 2025 | 00:51:08 | |
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 Ava and Tim dive into the mail bag and come up with 2 questions from our lovely listeners. They think about hyperfixating on games and how it can affect your relationships as well as the potential benefits of gaming solo. 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 Other things mentioned Our Socials Tim Clare Ava Foxfort Iain McAllister | |||
| People Can't Hear Faces | 14 Nov 2025 | 00:55:26 | |
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 Iain and Ava tackle questions about organizing your game collection, how to choose a game to play in the fairest way possible, and what to play when you might all be a bit knackered. 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 Escape the Curse of the Temple Other things mentioned Music by Fae Spencer on Pixabay Our Socials Tim Clare Ava Foxfort Iain McAllister | |||
| Deranged in my Promiscuity | 31 Oct 2025 | 01:34:17 | |
Welcome to the very first episode of “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 to be esoteric for this group of gaming agony aunts. In this first episode we talk about fiddling at the table, getting fun folks into boring themes and places to start with role-playing games. 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 Other things mentioned Music by Fae Spencer on Pixabay Our Socials Tim Clare Ava Foxfort Iain McAllister | |||