Three Moves Ahead
@3ma.bsky.social
Three Moves Ahead is an independent, ad-free, listener-supported podcast deep diving into strategy, tactics, and management games with passionate genre experts since 2009. Free feed: idlethumbs.net/3MA Membership: patreon.com/3MA
This week, @len.bsky.social, @jonbolds.bsky.social, and Fraser set sail with Corsair Cove, a pirate city-builder. We discuss building styles, the card- and dice-based ship combat, and try to answer the eternal question: what DO you do with a drunken sailor? www.idlethumbs.net/3ma/episodes...
Three Moves Ahead: Corsair Cove
Episode 653. Obeying The Pirate Zoning Code.
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This week, @len.bsky.social sat down with Game Director Marv Gouw and Consulting Art Director (and Relic co-founder) J. Aaron Kambeitz to talk about ZeroSpace, a new sci-fi RTS inspired by the greats of the genre. www.idlethumbs.net/3ma/episodes...
Three Moves Ahead: ZeroSpace Early Access Interview
Episode 652. Zero to Hero.
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This week, Len and DM joined by the current Age of Empires II world champion, Hera, to discuss the state of the game in 2026, playing esports at the top level, and the ongoing King's Gauntlet invitational streamer tournament. www.idlethumbs.net/3ma/episodes...
Three Moves Ahead: Age of Empires II in 2026 feat. Hera
Episode 651. The Gauntlet Has Been Thrown.
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This week @len.bsky.social and @jonbolds.bsky.social are joined by PC Gamer's @elahti.bsky.social to talk Slay the Spire 2. Can we get to the bottom of why Len is so bad at deckbuilders? www.idlethumbs.net/3ma/episodes...
Three Moves Ahead: Slay the Spire 2
Episode 650. Draw!
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This week, @len.bsky.social, @jonbolds.bsky.social, and Sin Vega strap in for Xenonauts 2, a sequel to a throwback to a classic tactics game. www.idlethumbs.net/3ma/episodes...
Three Moves Ahead: Xenonauts 2
Episode 649. This Time, It's Not Xenonauts 1.
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3MA is finally embracing AI! Okay, not really. But @len.bsky.social and @jonbolds.bsky.social do have many thoughts about Heart of the Machine, a fascinating, story-driven strategy RPG about becoming the world's first sentient computer. www.idlethumbs.net/3ma/episodes...
Three Moves Ahead: Heart of the Machine
Episode 648. Inventing the Torment Nexus.
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We're launching a new regular show on the Patreon feed this month featuring @len.bsky.social and @dmschmeyer.bsky.social discussing 30 years of nerding out and what they're currently into and up to. The first episode is available in full for $0 just for signing up as a free member of our Patreon!
WtHTI 1 - Len and D.M. Join the Yakuza | Three Moves Ahead
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This week, @len.bsky.social and @jonbolds.bsky.social get tactical with some turn-based space marine (in the traditional sense) bug and terminator-hunting in Menace. www.idlethumbs.net/3ma/episodes...
Three Moves Ahead: Menace Early Access
Episode 647. Recon By Fire.
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This week, @rowan.monster and @lukeplunkett.com contemplate the innate class stuggle embedded in feline-rodent relations with the delightful Early Access city builder Whiskerwood: www.idlethumbs.net/3ma/episodes...
Three Moves Ahead: Whiskerwood
Episode 646. The Joy of Plopping.
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This week, @len.bsky.social and @cheflubu.bsky.social were joined by our new friend Diana to take a look forward at the strategy games with announced or probable release dates in 2026! In particular, we dig into whether or not 40K Total War is even a good idea www.idlethumbs.net/3ma/episodes...
Three Moves Ahead: 2026 Look Ahead
Episode 645. Something's Coming...
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It's over! 2025, that is. Join @len.bsky.social, @mhwilliams.bsky.social, and @lukeplunkett.com to recap the year in strategy games and shout out our favorites for the year in the rear-view. A lot of disappointment, but a lot of bright spots too! www.idlethumbs.net/3ma/episodes...
Three Moves Ahead: 2025 Strategy Games of the Year
Episode 644. The only ones that matter!
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This week, @len.bsky.social @mhwilliams.bsky.social, and @neriumstrom.bsky.social kick back to catch up with some of the most interesting games of 2025 that didn't fit into a full episode, including a whole bunch of expansions and DLC. www.idlethumbs.net/3ma/episodes...
Three Moves Ahead: 2025 Catch-Up
Episode 643. And Many More.
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Last chance to sign up for the @3ma.bsky.social Patreon for 30% off your first month on our discord access tiers! We put out 3-4 hours of bonus shows a month that you'll also get access to, and you can preview five of the best ones for $1. This will help me out a lot this winter. RTs appreciated!
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creating Podcasts
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We had a fantastic panel this week as, @len.bsky.social and @jonbolds.bsky.social are joined by special guests @ohmymithrandir.bsky.social and @thedaynaeileen.bsky.social to build Rome in a day in Anno 117: Pax Romana www.idlethumbs.net/3ma/episodes...
Three Moves Ahead: Anno 117: Pax Romana
Episode 642. Perfidious Albion.
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I enjoy this podcast, even when I don't understand it.
Three Moves Ahead@3ma.bsky.social · 9mo agoIntimidated by EU5? We're offering a 30% off discount on your first month of the 3MA Patreon at the Discord Access tier and above, where @len.bsky.social can be your personal part-time tutor. Plus you'll get to hang out with our community of strategy experts! Patreon.com/3MA Code: LEARNEU5
Intimidated by EU5? We're offering a 30% off discount on your first month of the 3MA Patreon at the Discord Access tier and above, where @len.bsky.social can be your personal part-time tutor. Plus you'll get to hang out with our community of strategy experts! Patreon.com/3MA Code: LEARNEU5
Three Moves Ahead@3ma.bsky.social · 9mo agoIt's finally here! @len.bsky.social, @rowan.monster, and @jonbolds.bsky.social set sail into Europa Universalis 5 to answer burning questions like, "Is it actually good?" and, "Is it even possible to evaluate it that straightforwardly at all at this point?" www.idlethumbs.net/3ma/episodes...
It's finally here! @len.bsky.social, @rowan.monster, and @jonbolds.bsky.social set sail into Europa Universalis 5 to answer burning questions like, "Is it actually good?" and, "Is it even possible to evaluate it that straightforwardly at all at this point?" www.idlethumbs.net/3ma/episodes...
Three Moves Ahead: Europa Universalis 5
Episode 641. Master Class.
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This week, @len.bsky.social and @mhwilliams.bsky.social are joined by Ruth Cassidy and Sin Vega to discuss Endless Legend 2's Early Access launch and a bunch of other stuff we've been playing in this chill variety chat. www.idlethumbs.net/3ma/episodes...
Three Moves Ahead: Endless Legend 2 & Friends
Episode 640. What Really Is A Strategy Game?
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This week, @len.bsky.social, @ianboudreau.com, and Fraser discuss the Past and Future of Dawn of War, in the forms of Dawn of War: Definitive Edition, which holds up shockingly well for such a venerable RTS, and Dawn of War 4, which we got to play a demo of! www.idlethumbs.net/3ma/episodes...
Three Moves Ahead: The Past and Future Dawn of War
Episode 639. Relics of A Bygone Age.
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This week, @mhwilliams.bsky.social, @ianboudreau.com, Sin Vega, and @len.bsky.social sink their oversized incisors into Timberborn, an Early Access city-builder we missed covering at its launch, and we're not sure when it's going to be done... so what better time to talk about it than now? #bobr
Three Moves Ahead: Timberborn
Episode 638. Better Late Than Never.
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This week, @len.bsky.social got to chat with Frost Giant's Tim Morten and Tim Campbell about their careers working on RTS, Stormgate leaving early access, and the Ashes of Earth campaign. www.idlethumbs.net/3ma/episodes...
Three Moves Ahead: Stormgate: Ashes of Earth Interview
Episode 637. Open The Gates.
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This week, @rcmacleod.bsky.social comes to be tutored in the ways of Civil War strategy games by @robzacny.bsky.social, @rowan.monster, and @lukeplunkett.com. www.idlethumbs.net/3ma/episodes...
Three Moves Ahead: Civil War Midlife Crisis
Episode 636. Let's Remember Some Guys.
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New for $5+ Patrons: We got to talk for 2.5 hours with Paradox's Johan Andersson about Europa Universalis 5, "crunch" culture, difficulty in strategy games, and more! www.patreon.com/posts/no-cb-...
No CB Megacast 14: The Johan Interview | Three Moves Ahead
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This week, @len.bsky.social, @mhwilliams.bsky.social, and @dominictarason.com run down the most exciting and notable strategy and tactics games from Steam Next Fest 2025 (and a couple that are outside our usual wheelhouse). www.idlethumbs.net/3ma/episodes...
Three Moves Ahead: Three Moves Ahead 635 - The Strategy Games of Steam Next Fest 2025
Episode 635. Who's next?
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This week, @len.bsky.social, @lukeplunkett.com, @mhwilliams.bsky.social, and @jonbolds.bsky.social roll out the royal red carpet for 9 Kings, a tile-placement strategy roguelite that's... kind of hard to describe, honestly. www.idlethumbs.net/3ma/episodes...
Three Moves Ahead: 9 Kings
Episode 634. We'll lead as nine kings.
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It's even more EU5, this time on Three Moves Ahead Original Flavor as Len, Fraser, and Jon gather for a second panel discussion on the press hands-on for Europa Universalis 5 and argue about whether or not Greenland is a good starter nation. www.idlethumbs.net/3ma/episodes...
Three Moves Ahead: Even More EU5
Episode 633. Learning Curve.
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Europa Universalis 5 is real! And we played it! 40-minute free preview: www.idlethumbs.net/3ma/episodes... 2.5-hour megacast for Patrons: www.patreon.com/posts/128479... And there is more to come!
Three Moves Ahead: We Played Europa Universalis 5! (No CB Megacast 11 Preview)
Episode 632. The Johan Piece Is Real!
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New for $5+ Patrons: NoCB Megacast 10: "Antici-" Two more hours of dissecting dev diaries for the top secret Paradox game "Project Caesar" that *some have speculated* is Europa Universalis 5. www.patreon.com/posts/no-cb-... Last chance to get it for 20% off 1st month with code 37E8A at sign up!
No CB Megacast 10: Antici- | Three Moves Ahead
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This week, @len.bsky.social was joined by @caseyexplosion.bsky.social to discuss Cataclismo, a horde survival RTS with a unique, LEGO-like base-building mechanic. www.idlethumbs.net/3ma/episodes...
