@originsgamefair.bsky.social is just around the corner & in addition to great game play there’s always the chance to improve one’s own designs. Some thoughts on how Origins 2024 led to a breakthrough on a game I believed “done:” #wargaming @armchairdragoons.bsky.social armchairdragoons.com/mwmm/

I have it on good authority that every professional #wargamer has a version of this trophy case at home:

Been waiting for this for a while. I think there’s a critical need for game engines that model global interactions & help you think about how to deal w/ crises before they get to the point where it seems like bullets are the only option. Is this such a model? We’ll see #wargaming

There are still some slots left for the Littoral Commander: #Ukraine and #ManeuverWarfare #wargames I’m running at @originsgamefair.bsky.social for @armchairdragoons.bsky.social but they’re going fast! Reserve your tickets now: tabletop.events/conventions/...

Not every day a 5th gen fighter buzzes your Food Lion:

Good day for a trip to @USMCMuseum. Saw some old stuff, discovered cool new stuff including a fun video snapshot of maneuver warfare:

NEW: Hegseth orders new loyalty oath for Catholic troops www.duffelblog.com/pentagon-cat...

“At press time, Hegseth also asked Pope Leo whether the Vatican could assist the Navy with “the whole loaves-and-fishes thing,” citing ongoing concerns over the quality of shipboard food.” Duffleblog strikes again!

Michael Pigford 11/4/2024 Not forgotten. S/F

Jonathan Currier 8/17/2018 Not forgotten. S/F

(Left) Bradley Atwell (Right) Christopher Raible 9/14/2012 Not forgotten. S/F

Alexis Fontalvo 3/17/2011 Not forgotten. S/F

Kyle Van De Giesen 10/26/2009 Not forgotten. S/F

(Left) Jared Landaker 2/7/2007 (Right) Andy Budenz 9/21/2013 Not forgotten. S/F

1/x You know the saying “the past is never dead, it’s not even the past?” Sometimes that comes crashing home. For example: doing research on aircraft specs for my foo fighter-hunting #wargame led me to this Beaufighter housed at the Air Force Museum. www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum...

Twice, American leadership called on the Iranian people to take to the streets with no plan on how to actually support them. Whatever happens next, I doubt Iranians will forget that double betrayal any time soon.

Good Lord, @originsgamefair.bsky.social is just around the corner. Join me courtesy of @armchairdragoons.bsky.social for some “Maneuver Warfare” from @thedietzfoundation.bsky.social & a prototype design for “Littoral Commander: Ukraine!” #wargaming tabletop.events/conventions/...

my body is a temple, but one that has been sacked and burned to the ground

This is what defines a professional military—not bullshit about “lethality” or “meat eaters” or jerking off to kill cams, but some unnamed enlisted person who day after day made sure the ejection seat they were responsible for met the standard so that when it mattered, it worked.

It’s been a while since we looked at the discourse on Marine Corps Compass Points, how is the Chowder II crowd doing? Ah. Same as usual. & as usual Krulak, Van Riper, McAbee & the rest who frequent the comment section on that site refuse even a mild defense of women #Marines.

Alright—now 2.0 prototyping and play-testing for the foo fighter hunt can begin in earnest #wargaming

Well, @teaandtactics.bsky.social wrote the defining piece on lethality for @thestrategybridge.bsky.social, so I’d start there. thestrategybridge.org/the-bridge/2...

It’s in Guide to Tactics by the way. Written well before On War (this edition edited by @teaandtactics.bsky.social) and available for free from Marine Corps University.

ICYMI weekend #wargaming reading—my thoughts on the “Games of War” conference focused on #wargaming the war in Ukraine at the SPA FOCUS blog: spa.com/blog/wargami...

Need some weekend #wargaming reading? Check out my write-up of the recent Connections North #wargaming conference at @armchairdragoons.bsky.social: armchairdragoons.com/cnx-north-26/

Post a meme made by you

Highways in the sky:

Just signed up for the Game Demo/Game Night at #Connections 2026. I’ll be bringing a prototype game on chasing foo fighters in WWII, and “Shape Seize Secure,” a drone warfare card game developed by me and my fantastic coworkers at SPA. See you there! #wargaming

Inter library loan is a true superpower for the researcher. Thanks to the Library of the Marine Corps I now have this rare primary source of the night fighter squadron that had the most recorded encounters with foo fighters: #wargaming

ICYMI: I finally got the chance to attend #Connections North this year. Check out my write-up at @armchairdragoons.bsky.social #wargaming armchairdragoons.com/cnx-north-26/

Reboot/2.0 prototyping for what will now be a WWII-based foo fighter hunt rather than modern UAP hunt officially begins #wargaming

Took me a little while but my conference report on “Connections North” is finally out courtesy of @armchairdragoons.bsky.social, read it here: armchairdragoons.com/cnx-north-26/

To the project manager given impossible requirements and a toxic sponsor—we could feel your pain, even from a galaxy far far away. RIP and may the Force be with you: www.forbes.com/sites/timlam...

After today’s UFO/UAP data dump, you may be asking: “where are UAPs in #wargames?” Well, my #ManeuverWarfare #cardgame #wargame had ‘em before they were cool. Order your copy here: dietzfoundation-org.square.site/product/mane... #wargaming @thedietzfoundation.bsky.social

Excited to finally get my hard copy of “The Future of Air and Space Power!” Nothing has the same feeling as holding something you helped create in your hand. Thanks again to Heather "Ripley" Venable for the chance to contribute with my short story “Steel Rain.”

Yup—I wrote a speculative fiction vignette about precisely the disruption of the “ultimate high ground” by an asymmetric power last year in Heather Venable’s “The Future of Air and Space Power:” www.airuniversity.af.edu/Portals/10/A...

Good morning 🇺🇸

Before this week I wasn’t familiar with the name “Vannevar Bush.” Then in the space of a week while researching foo fighters and WWII radar, reading “Loonshots” on organizational structure, and listening to the @sirenspod.bsky.social ” podcast on present U.S. gov’t en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanneva...

The old is always new again—the problem of logistics movement across the Pacific solved by advanced bases and amphibious aircraft:

Tonight’s research stack #wargaming

Study John Boyd long enough and you realize that his insights, like those of the most impactful military theorists, are universal. But one theme that screamed out at me above the others in working on “Snowmobiles and Grand Ideals” was that survival and success don’t happen alone—

I had high hopes for day 3 swag at Modern Day Marine and the fates did not disappoint. My deepest thanks to CG EDCOM—and fellow Boyd traveler—BGen Tracy of Marine Corps University for his challenge coin and support of #wargaming and #PME.

My thanks to SPA for the chance to share some insights from February’s “Games of War” #wargaming conference hosted by University of Gdansk: spa.com/blog/wargami...

Film you've watched more than six times with a gif. Hard mode: no Star Trek, Star Wars, LOTR, Marvel, Disney, or Ghibli.

I think Vrabel should resign. And I suspect, before the season starts, he will.

Prototyping 2.0 #wargaming

I think @sebastianbae.bsky.social would agree that you know you’ve arrived as a game designer when people make custom 3D-printed storage for your game. This is awesome, courtesy of a co-worker! #wargaming @thedietzfoundation.bsky.social

Broke out “One Billion Users” today and fittingly our 14YO won. There are some interesting mechanics about the attack and defense of networks along with the effects of toxicity and influencers on different platforms.

Without stating your age, post your favourite film released the year you turned 18.