Show Notes
7 February 2025 ~ click to really enlarge Brant & Mike are joined by Ardwulf, and Bill is back again, to talk about the classic quadrigames from SPI, and their later evolutions through TSR and Decision Games, as well as other emulations of the form by Compass Games, GMT, and others. We talk about the history of the games and the designers who were ‘trained’ on quads, and the underlying ‘schtick’ of fast-playing, quick-learning, low-overhead, small(er)-footprint combo packs. We also cover some of our favorites, some recent multi-pack games that fit the “quad” ethos, and the fifth-wheel games later published in S&T. Are series wargames more of a thing now than back then? And which quads showed up in single packs, as well? All of this is leading up to this year’s Buckeye Game Fest 15, where we’ll be sponsoring/participating in Quad Fest! In partnership with Ardwulf’s Lair and My Own Worst Enemy, we’re putting 6 classic SPI quads on the table in The War Room at BGF, from Wednesday through Saturday (with Friday as the main day). There’s even room for more GMs to add a couple of Quad Fest events – just get in touch with us about scheduling so we don’t overlap each other!
When? Quad!
WED 6p-9p Crimean War
THU 1p-4p Blue & Gray
FRI 9a-Noon Modern Battles I
FRI 1p-4p Island War
FRI 6p-9p Thirty Years War
SAT 9a-Noon Modern Battles II
What are your thoughts on the old quad games? Any particular favorites, or ones you hated? What about Quad Fest? Is that enough to get you to come join us / game with us at Buckeye Game Fest? Is there a game you want to see added, or one you’re willing to come join as a GM? Sound off below, or tell us in our forums!
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More from "Mentioned In Dispatches" with the Armchair Dragoons
16 October 2026 ~ Bill & Mike both attended the September weekend of American Revolutionary War gaming in Camden, SC. This weekend was sponsored by GMT Games and built primarily around Mark Miklos’ Battles of the American Revolution series (although other games were played, too). Battlefield tours, cannon fire, wargaming tournaments, Justegarde, and more! Kick back and enjoy the shortest episode of our podcast in 17 seasons. Key links!
9 October 2026 ~ Brant is joined by Drew & Cole Wehrle, of Buried Giant Studios, for a rambling chat about their plans & development processes, plus alt-histories, convention booths, and more Some links to things we discussed:
2 October 2026 ~ Brant is joined by Elizabeth Hargrave and David Thompson to talk about the TTGDA and what it can do for game designers and publishers. There’s discussion of contracts (and contract shenanigans!) and professional development and designers’ rights and a bit on AI. We get a couple of war stories and some discussion on payments & royalties, how to engage with the TTGDA, and more.
25 September 2026 ~ They’re back! Liz from Beyond Solitaire joins Brant & Mike to talk about the past 4 years of the solo wargaming survey as well as a few thoughts about the 2026 iteration. What have we learned? What do we want to change going forward? What are some of those burning questions that we just won’t get answered in a survey like this? When is Liz going to schedule and hold her co-working “SoloGameCon” on Discord? All this and more, tonight on BIIIIIIIIG-PODCAST!
18 September 2026 ~ Conventions don’t just ‘happen’! There’s a lot that goes into the planning, whether picking the time on the calendar, or dealing with venues, or planning your events, and dealing with attendees, so we brought together a great panel to talk about them Let’s welcome Rob Bottos (BottosCon) and Andrew Buchholz (SDHistCon) and Sean Nittner (formerly of Big Bad Con and now . . . well, you gotta listen) to join Brant to talk about all this and more in their discussion of convention planning