Maurice Suckling

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.

YouTube video by ProZD ameritrash vs euro games

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?

From your previous post you seem to suggest US institutions were responsible for the advent or rise of Nazism. Am I following you correctly? Who do you think should have been prosecuted?

Here’s hoping…

What you said gave the strong impression to me that you thought the trials were not worth conducting. I feel, as imperfect as they were, they were better than nothing.

Better than short-cutting to executions, though, no?

Excellent - thank you - I agree with you about the wrong decision taken. It was my least favourite part of the movie, and didn’t even feel that satisfying in the moment. I enjoyed your notes on the historical background too.

Today’s arrival: Prelude to Leipzig by John Theissen.

Today’s movie:

YouTube video by Rolling with the Beard Poker and Battleship Had a Baby! - Operation Barclay Board Game Review

Lovely review of Operation Barclay here. youtu.be/jGu8ikjmEL4?...

Today’s second game - 2-player Cabinet Noir (prototype). The British win, which means Berthier and Fouche tie in this case.

Today’s first game - teaching 2-player Crisis: 1914 (with a power cut going on).

Today’s delivery: Beethoven’s Assassins by my PhD advisor of yesteryear, Andrew Crumey.

I entirely agree.