Realism vs Abstraction in Gaming | Single Malt Strategy | Episode 96

In today’s episode The Historical Game (What Is a Sandbox?), Tortugapower (Deposed Host) discuss the topic of Mods in computer gaming with regular guests and sometime cohosts, Wolfpack345 (Coup Plotter) and Finnish Jager (Noted Thumbnail Artist). Join the crew as they discuss burning questions like, can a Mod save a game, such as the Grey Wolfs mod in Silent Hunter 3, and what the heck went wrong with Kerbel Space Program 2?Check out Finn's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UCFrL4WooeYbuKIUT0wTTr-g Check out Wolfpack’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX2rH9OfjaRlRdbONXlRtKQCheck out Wolfpack’s Twitch Channel: https://www.twitch.tv/wolfpack345liveSome of The Games Discussed Sea Power: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1286220/Sea_Power__Naval_Combat_in_the_Missile_Age/ Task Force Admiral: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1281220/Task_Force_Admiral__Vol1_American_Carrier_Battles/Silent Hunter 3: https://store.steampowered.com/app/15210/Silent_Hunter_III/War in the Pacific: https://www.matrixgames.com/game/war-in-the-pacific-admirals-editionCall to Arms: https://store.steampowered.com/app/400750/Call_to_Arms__Gates_of_Hell_Ostfront/ Kerbel Space Program 1: https://store.steampowered.com/app/220200/Kerbal_Space_Program/Listen to the show on: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/single-malt-strategy/id1148480371Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2YMkUR638whzsK2QD19RjW?si=LOwKPweeS7ix7ucYqo0WeAYouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-Twitter :TortugaPower - @TortugaPowerYTThe Historical Gamer - @historicalgamer  #strategygame #top3 #wargame

On today's episode of SMS, The Historical Gamer and Tortuga Power welcome back BLXZ and Alekius to discuss the topic of Realism vs Abstraction in gaming. Why are some “realistic” features unrealistic? Why do we abstract certain things and not others? Who are game designers trying to fool when they introduce a “realistic feature” by making me do the job of 300 people? What’s the right level of abstraction? Does it really all matter? Check out Alekius’ YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX2rH9OfjaRlRdbONXlRtKQ Listen to the show on:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/single-malt-strategy/id1148480371Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2YMkUR638whzsK2QD19RjW?si=LOwKPweeS7ix7ucYqo0WeAYouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-nVRDDBCw0&list=PLTGFcT0l8dvCh90halCTbGfAAscaeqncLSpreaker: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/45422258YouTube:TortugaPower - www.youtube.com/tortugapower The Historical Gamer - www.youtube.com/thehistoricalgamer Twitter :TortugaPower - @TortugaPowerYTThe Historical Gamer - @historicalgamer  #strategygame #top3 #wargame

On today's episode of SMS, The Historical Gamer (Pro-Sicko) and Tortuga Power (Mr. List) welcome back Wolfpack345 (Mr. Fish Fry) and Finnish Jager (The Guest) to discuss what they’re looking forward to in 2026 and discuss their Top 3 most anticipated games of 2026. Check out Wolfpack’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX2rH9OfjaRlRdbONXlRtKQCheck out Wolfpack’s Twitch Channel: https://www.twitch.tv/wolfpack345liveChapters -1992 Rasputie – 1:50 (Finnish #3)Lines of Battle – 5:12 (THG #3)Modern Naval Warfare – 9:24 (Wolfpack #3)Warhammer 40k - Dawn of War 4 – 11:10 (Tortuga #3)Transport Fever 3 – 14:54 (Finnish #2)Gilded Destiny – 16:51 (THG #2)Dark Heresy – 22:16 (Wolf #2)Beyond Astra – 27:15 (Tortuga #2)Junctions – 32:04 – (Finnish #1)War in Spain – 39:52 (THG #1)IL-2 Korea – 44:53 (Wolf #1)Sintopia – 53:51 (Tortuga #1)Honorable Mentions – 57:11Conclusion – 1:29:00 The Games:1992 Rasputie – https://store.steampowered.com/app/3593470/1992_Rasputie/ Lines of Battle – https://store.steampowered.com/app/3699910/Lines_of_Battle/ Modern Naval Warfare – https://store.steampowered.com/app/1816640/Modern_Naval_Warfare/ Warhammer 40k - Dawn of War 4 – https://store.steampowered.com/app/2272360/Warhammer_40000_Dawn_of_War_IV/ Transport Fever 3 – https://store.steampowered.com/app/3493540/Transport_Fever_3/ Gilded Destiny – https://store.steampowered.com/app/2189430/Gilded_Destiny/?curator_clanid=38719421 Dark Heresy – https://store.steampowered.com/app/3710600/Warhammer_40000_Dark_Heresy/ Beyond Astra – https://store.steampowered.com/app/2669060/Beyond_Astra/ Junxions – https://store.steampowered.com/app/1447250/Junxions/ War in Spain – https://www.matrixgames.com/game/war-in-spain-1936-39 IL-2 Korea – https://il2-korea.com/en/ Sintopia – https://store.steampowered.com/app/2213700/Sintopia/ Espiocracy - https://store.steampowered.com/app/1670650/Espiocracy/ Battleship Command – Nova Roma - https://store.steampowered.com/app/2426530/Nova_Roma/?curator_clanid=38719421 Listen to the show on:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/single-malt-strategy/id1148480371Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2YMkUR638whzsK2QD19RjW?si=LOwKPweeS7ix7ucYqo0WeAYouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-nVRDDBCw0&list=PLTGFcT0l8dvCh90halCTbGfAAscaeqncLSpreaker: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/45422258 YouTube:TortugaPower - www.youtube.com/tortugapower The Historical Gamer - www.youtube.com/thehistoricalgamer Twitter :TortugaPower - @TortugaPowerYTThe Historical Gamer - @historicalgamer  #strategygame #top3 #wargame

On today's episode of SMS, The Historical Gamer and Tortuga Power welcome back Wolfpack345 (Co-Host) and Finnish Jager (Made the Cut) to discuss their favorite games of 2025, and to share their Top 3 strategy games of 2025.*Today's thumbnail was created and designed by Finnish JagerCheck out Wolfpack’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX2rH9OfjaRlRdbONXlRtKQCheck out Wolfpack’s Twitch Channel: https://www.twitch.tv/wolfpack345liveChapters -Intro: 0:00Wings over Flanders Fields – 3:25Subway Builder – 7:37Broken Arrow – 16:11Burden of Command – 29:07Rogue Trader – 38:23Call to Arms: Gates of Hell – 46:11Master of Command – 52:26Flashpoint Campaigns: Cold War – 1:00:56Silent Hunter 3 – 1:08:39House of Legacy – 1:14:02Crusader Kings 3: All under Heaven – 1:22:51Emperor of the Fading Suns – 1:28:37Honorable Mentioned – 1:33:03Conclusion – 1:42:13The Games:Wings over Flanders Fields – https://overflandersfields.comSubway Builder – https://www.subwaybuilder.com/Broken Arrow – https://store.steampowered.com/app/1604270/Broken_Arrow/Burden of Command – https://store.steampowered.com/app/887490/Burden_of_Command/Rogue Trader – https://store.steampowered.com/app/2186680/Warhammer_40000_Rogue_Trader/ Call to Arms: Gates of Hell – https://store.steampowered.com/app/400750/Call_to_Arms__Gates_of_Hell_Ostfront/Master of Command – https://store.steampowered.com/app/2878450/Master_of_Command/ Flashpoint Campaigns: Cold War – https://store.steampowered.com/app/3170350/Flashpoint_Campaigns_Cold_War/Silent Hunter 3 – https://store.steampowered.com/app/15210/Silent_Hunter_III/House of Legacy – https://store.steampowered.com/app/2503770/House_of_Legacy/Crusader Kings 3: All under Heaven – https://store.steampowered.com/app/3315530/Crusader_Kings_III_All_Under_Heaven/Emperor of the Fading Suns – https://store.steampowered.com/app/2799350/Emperor_of_the_Fading_Suns_Enhanced/Listen to the show on:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/single-malt-strategy/id1148480371Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2YMkUR638whzsK2QD19RjW?si=LOwKPweeS7ix7ucYqo0WeAYouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-nVRDDBCw0&list=PLTGFcT0l8dvCh90halCTbGfAAscaeqncLSpreaker: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/45422258YouTube:TortugaPower - www.youtube.com/tortugapowerThe Historical Gamer - www.youtube.com/thehistoricalgamerTwitter :TortugaPower - @TortugaPowerYTThe Historical Gamer - @historicalgamer #strategygame #top3 #wargame

In today's episode Matt (the Historical Gamer), Eric (Tortuga Power), and Finnish Jager return to discuss what they've been playing lately, and some new strategy and wargames, like the Armchair Historian's real-time wargame, Master of Command, and Paradox Interactive's newest DLC for Crusader Kings 3, All Under Heaven.Listen to the show on: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/single-malt-strategy/id1148480371Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2YMkUR638whzsK2QD19RjW?si=LOwKPweeS7ix7ucYqo0WeAYouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-nVRDDBCw0&list=PLTGFcT0l8dvCh90halCTbGfAAscaeqncLSpreaker: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/45422258YouTube:TortugaPower - www.youtube.com/tortugapowerThe Historical Gamer - www.youtube.com/thehistoricalgamerTwitter :TortugaPower - @TortugaPowerYTThe Historical Gamer - @historicalgamerIntro – 0:00Brotato – 1:25Subway Builder – 11:07House of Legacy – 16:28Master of Command – 21:20Battleplan – 36:17Crusader Kings 3 – 43:08Conclusion – 1:10:38

Pour yourself a dram and get ready for some high-level wargaming chatter! This week Tortuga Power and The Historical Gamer are joined by returning compatriots Wolfpack345 and Finnish Jäger to take on Broken Arrow a new Eugen-like, real time strategy and wargame being published by Slitherine and made by Steel Balalaika.The question of the day: could this be the long-awaited“Eugen Killer”? With modern World War 3 setting does Broken Arrow have what it takes to outflank WARNO and the Wargame series, or is it destined to just hold the line?Check out Wolfpack’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX2rH9OfjaRlRdbONXlRtKQCheck out Wolfpack’s Twitch Channel: https://www.twitch.tv/wolfpack345liveListen to the show on: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/single-malt-strategy/id1148480371Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2YMkUR638whzsK2QD19RjW?si=LOwKPweeS7ix7ucYqo0WeAYouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-nVRDDBCw0&list=PLTGFcT0l8dvCh90halCTbGfAAscaeqncLSpreaker: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/45422258YouTube:TortugaPower - www.youtube.com/tortugapowerThe Historical Gamer - www.youtube.com/thehistoricalgamerTwitter :TortugaPower - @TortugaPowerYTThe Historical Gamer - @historicalgamer

On today's episode of SMS, The Historical Gamer (I Like Trains) and Tortuga Power (Everything's a Tycoon Game) welcome back BLXZ (Traditionalist) and Lethrington (Man of Mystery) to discuss Tycoon games, what are they, what are their favorite, how are they different from other types of games? The Games: Sky Haven: https://store.steampowered.com/app/674090/Sky_Haven_Tycoon__Airport_Simulator/Railroad Tycoon 2: https://store.steampowered.com/app/7620/Railroad_Tycoon_II_Platinum/Cartel Tycoon: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1220140/Cartel_Tycoon/Arms Trade Tycoon Tanks: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1662210/Arms_Trade_Tycoon_Tanks/Tavern Tycoon: https://store.steampowered.com/app/439340/Tavern_Tycoon__Dragons_Hangover/ Anno: 117 Pax Romana: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3274580/Anno_117_Pax_Romana/Listen to the show on:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/single-malt-strategy/id1148480371 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2YMkUR638whzsK2QD19RjW?si=LOwKPweeS7ix7ucYqo0WeAYouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-nVRDDBCw0&list=PLTGFcT0l8dvCh90halCTbGfAAscaeqncLSpreaker: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/45422258YouTube:TortugaPower - www.youtube.com/tortugapowerThe Historical Gamer - www.youtube.com/thehistoricalgamerTwitter :TortugaPower - @TortugaPowerYTThe Historical Gamer - @historicalgamer

On today's episode of SMS, The Historical Gamer (The Procrastinating Editor) and Tortuga Power (Mr. Lists) welcome back Wolfpack345 (Repeat Offender) to discuss their most anticipated games of 2025, only halfway into the year, but hey... better late than never... right?Check out Wolfpack’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX2rH9OfjaRlRdbONXlRtKQ Check out Wolfpack’s Twitch Channel: https://www.twitch.tv/wolfpack345liveChapters -Explanation - 0:00Intro - 1:09Espiocracy - 5:36Playway - 12:12Roman Empire Wars - 19:02Tank Squad - 21:43GHPC - 23:08Wolfpack - 25:36Squad 44 - 26:42Broken Arrow - 28:33Burden of Command - 34:21Falling Frontier - 39:26Distant Worlds 2 - 43:00Liegecraft - 45:22 IL-2Korea - 47:52Combat Pilot - 53:14Chuck Yaegar Air Combat - 55:24Never Second in Rome - 58:21Modern Naval Warfare - 1:02:51Anno: 117 Pax Romana - 1:07:00Civ 7 - 1:09:46Radio Commander: Pacific Campaign – 1:14:09Kaiserpunk - 1:15:33400 Catapults - 1:17:08Yield Fall of Rome - 1:18:02CK 3 - 1:20:45Heart of the Machine - 1:21:38Star Citizens - 1:23:17Squadron 42 - 1:23:53Fragile Existence - 1:25:16Conclusion - 1:26:27Listen to the show on:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/single-malt-strategy/id1148480371Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2YMkUR638whzsK2QD19RjW?si=LOwKPweeS7ix7ucYqo0WeAYouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-nVRDDBCw0&list=PLTGFcT0l8dvCh90halCTbGfAAscaeqncLSpreaker: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/45422258YouTube:TortugaPower - www.youtube.com/tortugapowerThe Historical Gamer - www.youtube.com/thehistoricalgamerTwitter :TortugaPower - @TortugaPowerYTThe Historical Gamer - @historicalgamer

On today's episode of SMS, The Historical Gamer (Watch This Drive) and Tortuga Power (My #1 isn’t my #1) welcome back Wolfpack345 (Sea Power Stocking) and Finnish Jager (Scenario Designer) to discuss their favorite games of 2024, and to share their Top 2 but kind of 3 strategy games of 2024.Check out Wolfpack’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX2rH9OfjaRlRdbONXlRtKQCheck out Wolfpack’s Twitch Channel: https://www.twitch.tv/wolfpack345liveCheck out Finnish Jager’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@FinnishJager Check out Finnish Jager’s Twitch Channel: https://www.twitch.tv/finnish_jaeger Chapters - Intro – 0:00 Early Access Discussions – 3:09 Manor Lords – 8:07 Sea Power – 21:32 Frost Punk 2 – 47:52 Scramble Battle of Britain – 56:55 Suzerain – Rizia – 58:41 WARNO – 1:02:08 Mechabellum – 1:05:43 Arms Trade Tycoon Tanks – 1:10:00 Conclusion – 1:13:34 The Games: Manor Lords: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1086940/Baldurs_Gate_3/ Sea Power: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1286220/Sea_Power__Naval_Combat_in_the_Missile_Age/ Frost Punk 2: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1601580/Frostpunk_2/ Suzerain Rizia: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2352340/Suzerain_Kingdom_of_Rizia/ WARNO: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1611600/WARNO/ Mechabellum: https://store.steampowered.com/app/669330/Mechabellum/ Arms Trade Tycoon: Tanks - https://store.steampowered.com/app/1662210/Arms_Trade_Tycoon_Tanks/     Listen to the show on: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/single-malt-strategy/id1148480371Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2YMkUR638whzsK2QD19RjW?si=LOwKPweeS7ix7ucYqo0WeAYouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-nVRDDBCw0&list=PLTGFcT0l8dvCh90halCTbGfAAscaeqncLSpreaker: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/45422258YouTube:TortugaPower - www.youtube.com/tortugapowerThe Historical Gamer - www.youtube.com/thehistoricalgamerTwitter :TortugaPower - @TortugaPowerYTThe Historical Gamer - @historicalgamer

The moment is at hand, tomorrow one of the most anticipated games of the last 5 years for The Historical Gamer, Tortuga Power, Wolfpack345, and Finnish Jager enters early access. Tune in to hear Single Malt Strategy's opinion on the new Microprose, real-time naval combat game, Sea Power, as it enters early access.Check out Wolfpack’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX2rH9OfjaRlRdbONXlRtKQCheck out Wolfpack’s Twitch Channel: https://www.twitch.tv/wolfpack345liveCheck out Finnish Jager’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@FinnishJagerCheck out Finnish Jager’s Twitch Channel: https://www.twitch.tv/finnish_jaegerListen to the show on: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/single-malt-strategy/id1148480371Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2YMkUR638whzsK2QD19RjW?si=LOwKPweeS7ix7ucYqo0WeAYouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-nVRDDBCw0&list=PLTGFcT0l8dvCh90halCTbGfAAscaeqncLSpreaker: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/59663147 YouTube:TortugaPower - www.youtube.com/tortugapowerThe Historical Gamer - www.youtube.com/thehistoricalgamerTwitter :TortugaPower - @TortugaPowerYTThe Historical Gamer - @historicalgamer