Maurice Suckling

Gah. How frustrating.

Just played it the once so far. But I like it. It’s a different sort of experience. It’s co-op, for one thing. But, like WotR, it does feel like it captures the essence of the narrative.

Today’s game: Fate of the Fellowship. The Shadow overcame the Free Peoples today.

Today’s game: The Emperor’s Voice (Part 1) prototype.This is a 2 Part game (co-design with Wes Crawford) about Japan’s surrender in 1945 and the attempted coup resulting from it.

Today’s game in Historical Simulations class - Quartermaster General (second edition). Such a good game and system in general.

Thanks for sharing. I might dig into BGG and see what I can find there.

Is each player’s objective secret?

Ooo - what’s the other one?

Today’s game (posting late), Nicea by Amabel Holland. Smart design about the 325 CE council tackling, amongst other things, the Nicene Creed. A sort of semi-cooperative semi-competitive conflict negotiation engine.

Today’s arrivals: “Keep The Faith” and to the right is “Eyeball to Eyeball” about the Cuban Missile Crisis. Both games are published by Central Michigan University Press.

Today’s arrival: The Reason Why. (Who knew Cecil could be a woman’s name? Not me.)

Today’s arrival: China’s War (GMT), designed by Brian Train. Such a wonderful designer. And an utterly splendid chap too.

Thank you.

Yesterday’s game, more Cabinet Noir (intelligence agency competition and cooperation in Napoleon’s Empire). 3 players today. (Scales from 2-8 players.) Here are some prototype components, and a section of detail from the board with the color-coding for the different dice in play:

Today’s game, a matrix game called New World Order, designed off the back of the U.S. November 2025 NSS. Global trade agreements gradually froze Russia out. Although an incident with Russian and Chinese warships in the Malacca Straits caused loss of life and some military escalation no war erupted.

Today’s game: Black Orchestra. We played 5 players - and killed Hitler.

Today’s reading is a play: The Rhineland War: 1936.

ameritrash vs euro games YouTube video by ProZD

youtu.be/nyYexTcyY2A

Today’s (simplified) history, at Albany airport, NY. Because of these contraptions strung across the Hudson the Royal Navy couldn’t get down from Canada, so we get the Saratoga Campaign, so we get the French entry into the war, so we get American independence. (Add a couple of those to the flag?):

Today’s game: Tales of the Arthurian Knights. A storytelling engine game. (I think of this as a blend of a tailored storytelling game, and a systemic storytelling game.) Derived from Tales of the Arabian Nights, but with some successful amendments, in my opinion.

Among my most anticipated historical board game releases of 2026: Peace 1905, a delicate balancing act of peace, national interest, and face-saving (@writegameread.bsky.social @fortcircle.bsky.social). Read more:
cliosboardgames.wordpress.com/2026/01/11/m...

Yes - no graphic designers were harmed in the making of this prototype. When the publisher gets it things will start to change and art will get a proper focus.

Today’s game: Cabinet Noir (prototype for Les 3 Zouaves publisher). Fouche (who would have thought?) backs the Empire which clings on and survives into 1815, despite Napoleon’s unpopularity, and so he wins. Berthier backed the Jacobins, Talleyrand the Russians, Chaptal the British.

Most Anticipated Historical Board Games, 2026 Happy new year, everybody! I hope it will bring you much joy. I also hope it will bring you board games (which is basically the same thing). The question is, however: Which games? – Here are a few …

Here are my most anticipated historical board games to be released in 2026!
cliosboardgames.wordpress.com/2026/01/11/m...

Grading Never Dies

Recent acquisitions of possible interest:

Yes - I’m looking forward to these immensely. Frank is a thoughtful designer coming to shake things up.

Downer ending for too many people?

What historians are you recommending?