Uploaded July 2025 | Updated September 2026, 38 minutes ago
In this episode of the Kriegsspiel Umpire Chat Show, LaFondiose welcomes Jeb, known for his deep interest in the American Civil War and detailed game design. Jeb recounts how he transitioned from political studies to military history and grew into an umpire by designing the kinds of games he wanted to play. He discusses his focus on Civil War scenarios, his adaptation of historical battles, and his hands-on battlefield visits that inform his map work and scenario design.
The conversation explores Jeb's resolution process, his use of the Citizen-Soldier rule set, and his preference for POV-style maps to simulate limited knowledge of terrain. He shares lessons learned from commanding in past games, talks about sourcing books and balancing realism with playability, and outlines upcoming projects—including a hidden alt-history operational campaign. Whether you're a new umpire or an experienced player, this in-depth chat offers valuable insight into the craft of historical simulation design.
In this episode of the Kriegsspiel Umpire Chat Show, LaFondiose welcomes Jeb, known for his deep interest in the American Civil War and detailed game design. Jeb recounts how he transitioned from political studies to military history and grew into an umpire by designing the kinds of games he wanted to play. He discusses his focus on Civil War scenarios, his adaptation of historical battles, and his hands-on battlefield visits that inform his map work and scenario design.
The conversation explores Jeb's resolution process, his use of the Citizen-Soldier rule set, and his preference for POV-style maps to simulate limited knowledge of terrain. He shares lessons learned from commanding in past games, talks about sourcing books and balancing realism with playability, and outlines upcoming projects—including a hidden alt-history operational campaign. Whether you're a new umpire or an experienced player, this in-depth chat offers valuable insight into the craft of historical simulation design.
