New podcast episode posted. It’s got my impressions from SDHistCon as well as a wrap up of the Invasion of Norway topic. WargamesToGo.com

Happy to back this one. A great subject, and I trust the team behind it (Liz, David, and Salt & Pepper). Hey @beyondsolitaire.bsky.social , what book would you recommend for more context?

Guess what? Besides the cool seminars/talks and seeing the local sights I also played some GAMES at @sdhistcon.bsky.social . As befits this unique event, the titles reflect new directions in “wargaming,” as well as older precursors of the same. History Games!

Age yourself with tabletop gaming

Hey @volko.bsky.social , after I recommended The Barbarossa Campaign to you (for its chit-pull), and name-dropped Bruce Geryk to emphasize the point, I learned that Bruce is actually trying to bring it back into print. boardgamegeek.com/thread/34235...

As much as I liked the games I played (to be described on my next podcast), I also liked the other opportunities at @sdhistcon.bsky.social . I went to the nearby Sunset Cliffs, saw the impressive Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, and listened to more seminar panels.

A rare treat to get back into some smaller/lighter wargames & history games at @sdhistcon.bsky.social .

What was your first tabletop wargame?

Now some wonderful nautical history at the Connecticut River museum. The successful British raid on Essex in 1814, the AWI’s Turtle, and a replica of the Onrust that first brought European explorers to the interior in 1614.

A bit of FIW tourism today. Drove down the Lake Champlain/Lake George corridor, then visited Fort William Henry. A little cheesy (1950s reconstruction & museum mannequins), but still good to see & understand. And yes—I’m also playing AFAoS right now on Yucata.

These were the “history games” I played in August. Arguably HotW is more euro and M44 is more wargame, but I think they both count. I love this in-between category.

I’ve got an adult kid moving to Germany for grad school soon. Figuring out how to find & sign a contract for an apartment is tricky. DM me if you’ve got experience or tips with this.

ATO “minigame” Assault on Narvik getting set up. Not sure about that fatigue tracking for each unit…

I’d been setting up to try ATO’s mini game Assault On Narvik when I learned a fan made map redone “in SPI style.” It looks so much better that I’m waiting to play until I can print it out. (I wish it had snowy mountains, but the green tones are an improvement over the original’s inexplicable reds).

Five years ago I used some bonus money to treat myself to a 5year subscription to S&T Quartely, now almost up. No games in these, but an entire journal devoted to a specific topic, with a foldout map. Truthfully, they pile up at home, but I love the chance to dive into these when there’s time. 🌍🌏🌎📖

There’s so much in @cfarrell317.bsky.social latest blog entry that I had to go past the Purple Haze and Pandemic-LotR stuff to get to what wanted—a critical look at the “history” in Pax Hispanica. Worth it. open.substack.com/pub/chrisfar...

New podcast episode 27.1 is about the Invasion of Norway in WW2. boardgamegeek.com/blog/2623/bl...

A nice morning cutting counters & watching @pushingcardboard.bsky.social ‘s Livestream YouTube episode

Today’s the 85th anniversary of Nazi Germany’s invasion of Norway. I tried Lou Coatney’s pnp wargame on the topic. Rules are short, but a bit tricky to parse. In this game, the Germans were NOT able to gain control. boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/23...

On @cfarrell317.bsky.social 's excellent blog, Illuminating Games (now at chrisfarrell317.substack.com), he recommended Real Time History on YouTube for its WW2 docs. This one about the 1940 Battle of Norway is just what I needed. www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_7O...

On #TDOV (last Monday), one of the points was showing who “we” are. I’ve got a transgender daughter. If 1% of the population is transgender, that’s small but IMPORTANT. They deserve kindness, respect, and rights. Their parents should support & band together. You probably know someone.

Next podcast topic is the Invasion of Norway 1940. As always, learning tons already when I didn’t know so much before. This series has been a good overview before later books, magazines, and wargames. megaphone.link/ARML2095921269

My podcast episode wrapping up the look at First Contact in Wargames is now posted. Features a discussion with @joebyer.bsky.social . The topic for the next episode will be Norway 1940. WargamesToGo.com

Ooh! This shoots to the top of my podcast queue. Just like a Minié ball!

Designer & tireless wargame booster @fredserval.bsky.social innovates yet again. When have we ever seen a designer self-criticize his own game? RFOP is a quick-but-deep wargame about a fascinating episode in world history. Bravo! youtu.be/ESlo7R2v9sE

I’ve appreciated the online marketplace buying & selling secondhand wargames, wherever it is. Over decades I’ve done everything from eBay to rec.games.board.marketplace to CSW to BGG to Facebook Marketplace. But now I’m leaving Facebook entirely. Where’s the next best place for buying & selling?

I’ve clearly bitten off more than I can chew with this “First Contact” topic for my podcast episode. Most of the games aren’t exactly about that, and the books keep coming. Now reading one about the Norse in Greenland and “Canada”

A prime benefit of exploring “First Contact” in the New World through history games has been learning more about Indigenous peoples—past history & current issues. While I honestly say, “Happy Thanksgiving” to everyone & enjoy having my family here, I also now know about the Nat’l Day of Mourning.

I don’t know the answer but have the same question

Time to finish this game (at least enough of it) and clear the table in the spare bedroom/office before family arrives for Thanksgiving.

2024 Bobby Nunes Memorial Award finalists: - @amabel.bsky.social, video essays - @beyondsolitaire.bsky.social, interviews - @danthurot.bsky.social, Space-Biff work - "We Intend To Move On Your Works" (@drcrossbows.bsky.social, @pierrevj.bsky.social, @fredserval.bsky.social, Alex Fontaine-Rousseau).

Of course #BGGcon is mostly about euros, but there’s a small core of real wargamers at the event, too. My buddy Phil played Downfall all day on Saturday.

I finally caught up with this article, and found it delightful and excellent. Anyone can evaluate presidents and give them points for policy, integrity, etc. Clio serves our hobby by connecting these evaluations to a notable wargame, showcasing the president AND the game's great strengths.

We shared a town, though I’d moved away from my hometown of Lodi long before I knew about Mark. Of course I knew his wargame interest—somehow I’d missed his strong union life. Something else I admire. A great ambassador in more ways than I’d realized

I’m sure we can find someone to teach us how to make such a starter here on Bluesky. Count me in to help.

For a fundamentally simple game, the rules for Mound Builders are an obstacle. Still, it may be worth the effort for the uniqueness of its subject (Pre-Columbian North American civilizations). boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/15...

Is there a geeklist or something for anyone who wants to organize wargames at BGGcon?

Oh wow. I was doing some "Google Streetview tourism" to visit Mexico City virtually, similar to what I've done with other WargamesToGo topics I've never visited in-person. That's great, but THIS...this is incredible. Be sure to try the swiping overlay images at the end. tenochtitlan.thomaskole.nl

New WGTG podcast posted. I finally summon the courage to explore First Contact in the new world, as depicted in wargames. Spoiler: we need newer/better ones! boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/166...

I’ve recorded an intro episode of Wargames To Go about First Contact in history games. Should be posted this weekend. Here is one of the games I mention.

Map & counters (freshly rounded!) from the Vae Victis game I posted short vids of yesterday. Cowpens 1781 boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/42...

I joined @fredserval.bsky.social and @djackthompson.bsky.social for Fred’s teach & play of Undaunted 2200 Callisto (at 2am!!) www.youtube.com/live/dvkbnQV...

An experiment! Can I post a mini-“unboxing” of the latest Vae Victis mag+wargame in Bluesky? I’m trying in three one-minute videos. Issue 176 features the Battle of Cowpens (AWI) en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_...

Recently I posted my latest podcast episode where I recount my experiences at @gmtgames.bsky.social Weekend at the Warehouse, conclude my Wars of Scotland subject, and mention my next topic (a joint project with @joebyer.bsky.social ) WargamesToGo.com

I love the rare chance (as a Californian) to feel a local connection to a wargame. I was *just* here (Hartford, CT) yesterday. Read the book & played the game a decade ago, but time to do it again. I really appreciate the designer’s notes & bibliography, too.

The Old North Bridge and Minuteman statue. Yesterday I was looking over the Mystic River to where the Pequot Massacre took place. Oozing history in New England.

Very cool, another Battle Card game, this time in North Africa. What I love most about these are the design choices that go into minimalism for the model. That and the graphic design.

I’m a huge fan of the entire podcast series. I thought it was incredible that we didn’t know (until recently) the artist behind Rich Uncle Pennybags, perhaps the most recognizable art in boardgaming. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Mon...

Last games for me at GMT’s Weekend at the Warehouse. Next time I’ll bring more euros for the last day. Reef Encounter, A Gest of Robin Hood, World War 1. That last (from 1975) made several grognards smile & remember their old days. @pushingcardboard.bsky.social @gmtgames.bsky.social

When GMT says warehouse, they aren’t kidding. But it works, they’ve added more gaming tables, the lighting is good, and these days there’s a taco truck! All is bigger & better than my first attendance 8 years ago. Nice to be back, and thanks for hosting all of us! @gmtgames.bsky.social