Three Moves Ahead

They dig into a story-driven strategy RPG where you play a newly sentient AI in a quarantined city. Conversations cover sandbox freedom, procedural districts, and creative mission solutions. Topics include manipulating humans, building afterlives, cross-timeline puzzles, strange side quests like bees and fungal computing, and balancing ethics versus efficiency in long-term play.

D.M. Schmeyer, a Manhattan litigation partner who advises game studios, reconnects with Len to nerd out about nearly 30 years of gaming. They trade Tokyo and Japan travel stories, joke about Yakuza misadventures, and reminisce about formative strategy and JRPG influences. Conversations hop between industry life, press codes and teaching crisis management, and favorite deep-dive game recommendations.

Tactical platoon combat and platoon-scale design take center stage. Detailed ballistics, suppression and realistic firefights shape strategy. Faction variety and enemy behaviors force loadout adaptation. Vehicles, drones and environmental modifiers add high-risk, high-reward choices. Procedural objectives, mission templates and squad leader perks drive diverse playstyles.

Luke Plunkett, writer and games commentator, digs into Whiskerwood, a feline-overlord city builder. They explore cat taxes, smuggler risk-reward trades, and the tug-of-war between local needs and export goods. Conversation covers charming logistics: visible hauling, conveyors, rails, vertical island design, and satisfying build feedback. The chat highlights pacing, UX choices, and why manual tasks stay fun.

Brian "Chef Lu Bu" Smawley, strategy games enthusiast and Warhammer 40K lore buff. They preview big 2026 releases and debate whether Total War 40K can capture authentic battle scale. Short takes on Dawn of War 4, Slay the Spire 2, and XCOM-like Menace. Deep dives into city-builders like Nova Roma, DarkSwitch and Beyond These Stars, plus impressions of Star Wars: Zero Company and a Game of Thrones RTS.

Joining the discussion, Mike Williams is a regular strategy game commentator, while Luke Plunkett writes for Aftermath and shares his strong opinions on game design. They dive into the major disappointments of 2025 releases, with Civilization 7 paving the way for critique. Positive notes arise about indie titles and expansions like Crusader Kings 3's improvements and the charm of Two Point Museum. They also explore the challenges of modern 4X games, public testing priorities, and innovative titles like Burden of Command, concluding with excitement for the upcoming year.

Nerium Strong, a seasoned game developer and panelist, joins to dive into highlights from the year’s intriguing games. They discuss the mechanics of *Nova Roma* and the RPG brilliance of *Look Outside*, balancing emotional depth with body-horror themes. Nerium praises *Phantom Brigade*'s revamped mech combat and chats about the strategic intricacies of games like *Total War: Tides of Torment* and the immersive *Skin Deep*. The conversation even touches on the legitimacy of sports management as strategy. A lively mix of insights and recommendations awaits!

In this discussion, Kate Sánchez, a game writer with deep experience in the Anno series, and Dayna Eileen, an executive editor at CGMagazine, dive into Anno 117: Pax Romana. They unpack the unique gameplay mechanics and aesthetic innovations while emphasizing the importance of cultural context, including the moral complexities of Roman imperialism. The conversation explores co-op dynamics, building strategies, and the balance between beauty and efficiency. Listeners are treated to insights on the game's narrative depth and accessibility options.

John Boulding, a seasoned games journalist, and Rowan Kaiser, a veteran commentator on strategy games, dive into the complex world of Europa Universalis 5. They discuss how the game juggles player agency against grand simulation, highlighting issues like infrastructure impact and AI diplomacy's fragmentation of Europe. The duo also critiques mission trees' tutorial gaps and the intricacies of army micromanagement. They explore the fascinating dynamics of dynastic play and the beautiful but fragmented map, concluding that EU5 is a messy yet captivating foundation awaiting fine-tuning.

Freelance games writers Ruth Cassidy and Sin Vega dive deep into their early impressions of Endless Legend 2. Ruth critiques the narrative focus and distinct faction mechanics, emphasizing how they affect playstyles and replayability. The duo explores the contrasting storytelling approaches of Endless Legend 2 and other strategy games. They also share insights on other titles, from the updates in Against the Storm to the historical depth of Rise of the White Sun, reflecting on the evolving landscape of strategy gaming.