Uploaded May 2025 | Updated September 2026, 7 hours ago
In this episode of the Kriegsspiel Umpiring Podcast, LaFondiose welcomes GPuzzle, an IKS umpire and game designer, to explore the art, effort, and philosophy behind running historical wargames. From his roots in Brazil and early love for history and Civilization V, to developing custom mods and print-and-play alternatives to Warhammer, GPuzzle charts his journey into Kriegsspiel.
The conversation covers a wide range of topics: from his coding projects that assist umpires, to his design of "Blitzspiels"—fast, one-hour games ideal for onboarding new players. He shares how he balances realism with playability, especially in modeling combat morale, line-of-sight, fog of war, and the human dynamics of leadership and communication.
GPuzzle explains why World War I poses such an interesting challenge for simulation and how the lack of radio communication and the primacy of pre-planned artillery barrages define that period. He advocates for more attention to signal communication systems like flag signaling and discusses dispatch philosophy, resolution writing, and burnout management for umpires.
A standout takeaway: you don’t have to umpire constantly—just run a seasonal game you care about and know well. For aspiring umpires, GPuzzle encourages starting with a topic you love and building from your own historical expertise.
This episode is packed with insights for Kriegsspiel enthusiasts, game designers, and history nerds alike.
In this episode of the Kriegsspiel Umpiring Podcast, LaFondiose welcomes GPuzzle, an IKS umpire and game designer, to explore the art, effort, and philosophy behind running historical wargames. From his roots in Brazil and early love for history and Civilization V, to developing custom mods and print-and-play alternatives to Warhammer, GPuzzle charts his journey into Kriegsspiel.
The conversation covers a wide range of topics: from his coding projects that assist umpires, to his design of "Blitzspiels"—fast, one-hour games ideal for onboarding new players. He shares how he balances realism with playability, especially in modeling combat morale, line-of-sight, fog of war, and the human dynamics of leadership and communication.
GPuzzle explains why World War I poses such an interesting challenge for simulation and how the lack of radio communication and the primacy of pre-planned artillery barrages define that period. He advocates for more attention to signal communication systems like flag signaling and discusses dispatch philosophy, resolution writing, and burnout management for umpires.
A standout takeaway: you don’t have to umpire constantly—just run a seasonal game you care about and know well. For aspiring umpires, GPuzzle encourages starting with a topic you love and building from your own historical expertise.
This episode is packed with insights for Kriegsspiel enthusiasts, game designers, and history nerds alike.
