Uploaded July 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 hours ago
In this episode we talk to Glorious Ruse—historian, umpire, and one of the most thoughtful voices in the International Kriegsspiel Society. From his early days stumbling into a wargame seminar to his signature "From the Saddle" report style, Ruse shares his journey through Kriegsspiel and what he's learned about command, coordination, and the human element of war. We cover the value of detailed reports, how to reward thoughtful orders, the limits of modern simulation, and the challenges of operational play-by-post campaigns. We also explore his experiments with Napoleonic, Civil War, and even space-based physics-driven games, and why straggling and exhaustion should matter more in design. If you're an umpire—or aspire to be—this interview offers sharp insight and actionable philosophy from a seasoned game master.
In this episode we talk to Glorious Ruse—historian, umpire, and one of the most thoughtful voices in the International Kriegsspiel Society. From his early days stumbling into a wargame seminar to his signature "From the Saddle" report style, Ruse shares his journey through Kriegsspiel and what he's learned about command, coordination, and the human element of war. We cover the value of detailed reports, how to reward thoughtful orders, the limits of modern simulation, and the challenges of operational play-by-post campaigns. We also explore his experiments with Napoleonic, Civil War, and even space-based physics-driven games, and why straggling and exhaustion should matter more in design. If you're an umpire—or aspire to be—this interview offers sharp insight and actionable philosophy from a seasoned game master.
