Stuart Ellis-Gorman
@drcrossbows.bsky.social
Medieval historian, crossbows and the Hundred Years War. Author of The Medieval Crossbow (2022) and Castillon (2025).
Freelance writer/editor/proofreader, occasional game designer. Reviewer of books and games.
Website: www.stuartellisgorman.com
Freelance writer/editor/proofreader, occasional game designer. Reviewer of books and games.
Website: www.stuartellisgorman.com
Pinned
Today is the anniversary of the Battle of Castillon, the final battle of the Hundred Years War. Fought outside the city of Castillon a day or so's march east of Bordeaux in Gascony/Aquitaine, it saw the combined Anglo-Gascon army led by John Talbot be utterly annihilated by the French.
Reposted by Stuart Ellis-Gorman
YIKES.
Upper Deck (Marvel Legendary) just announced a CCG using the Harry Potter license.
Fans of UD are rallying against this decision. Like the CGE situation last year, I’m asking for your help.
Join us. Share your disgust and frustration, and help us push UD to retract their awful decision. 🎲✂️
Upper Deck (Marvel Legendary) just announced a CCG using the Harry Potter license.
Fans of UD are rallying against this decision. Like the CGE situation last year, I’m asking for your help.
Join us. Share your disgust and frustration, and help us push UD to retract their awful decision. 🎲✂️
UPPER DECK ANNOUNCES COVETED HARRY POTTER LICENSE, UPCOMING PRODUCT COLLECTION - Upper Deck
Carlsbad, CA (Jan. 7, 2026) – Upper Deck, the global leader in sports and entertainment collectibles, is adding another iconic license to its extensive portfolio – announcing a deal to create collecti...
upperdeck.com
January 14, 2026 at 2:35 PM
YIKES.
Upper Deck (Marvel Legendary) just announced a CCG using the Harry Potter license.
Fans of UD are rallying against this decision. Like the CGE situation last year, I’m asking for your help.
Join us. Share your disgust and frustration, and help us push UD to retract their awful decision. 🎲✂️
Upper Deck (Marvel Legendary) just announced a CCG using the Harry Potter license.
Fans of UD are rallying against this decision. Like the CGE situation last year, I’m asking for your help.
Join us. Share your disgust and frustration, and help us push UD to retract their awful decision. 🎲✂️
Reposted by Stuart Ellis-Gorman
When I did This Guilty Land, I spent the year before its publication carefully & consistently framing its argument and its approach, and I do feel it's incumbent on someone making a serious game on a sensitive topic to do that. But to demonstrate your thoughtfulness you need to *be* thoughtful. 🧵
And one thing I want to make clear: I dont think anyone who saw this and reacted negatively has to give it the benefit of the doubt.
If you are designing a game on a sensitive issue, it is on *you* to show that you did the work and it is *your* job to convince the audience that this should exist.
If you are designing a game on a sensitive issue, it is on *you* to show that you did the work and it is *your* job to convince the audience that this should exist.
January 14, 2026 at 1:09 PM
When I did This Guilty Land, I spent the year before its publication carefully & consistently framing its argument and its approach, and I do feel it's incumbent on someone making a serious game on a sensitive topic to do that. But to demonstrate your thoughtfulness you need to *be* thoughtful. 🧵
Something that really frustrates me when games like this crop up is that their defenders almost always jump to a generic "history is harsh, historical games tackle tough subjects" defense.
I already said I don't think topics are always off limits in my second post.
That's not what this is about.
I already said I don't think topics are always off limits in my second post.
That's not what this is about.
While I love my niche stupid hobby of historical board gaming, sometimes it does just make me want to scream. Take the latest example, a board game about the Irish Potato Famine where you get to compete with friends to see who survives best (?)
www.kickstarter.com/projects/com...
www.kickstarter.com/projects/com...
The Great Hunger
Easy-to-learn, card-driven game, rich with historical detail; explores 19th-century Irish expansion, blight, famine, & emigration. 2-5P
www.kickstarter.com
January 14, 2026 at 11:56 AM
Something that really frustrates me when games like this crop up is that their defenders almost always jump to a generic "history is harsh, historical games tackle tough subjects" defense.
I already said I don't think topics are always off limits in my second post.
That's not what this is about.
I already said I don't think topics are always off limits in my second post.
That's not what this is about.
Reposted by Stuart Ellis-Gorman
I think the followup does a good job of providing context. I think we can get past the idea that You Can't Make A Game About That and as discussed say there's a greater burden to get it right, but real talk, the actual question is, of course, "Can I shit on the designers?" And the answer is...maybe?
While I love my niche stupid hobby of historical board gaming, sometimes it does just make me want to scream. Take the latest example, a board game about the Irish Potato Famine where you get to compete with friends to see who survives best (?)
www.kickstarter.com/projects/com...
www.kickstarter.com/projects/com...
The Great Hunger
Easy-to-learn, card-driven game, rich with historical detail; explores 19th-century Irish expansion, blight, famine, & emigration. 2-5P
www.kickstarter.com
January 13, 2026 at 2:12 PM
I think the followup does a good job of providing context. I think we can get past the idea that You Can't Make A Game About That and as discussed say there's a greater burden to get it right, but real talk, the actual question is, of course, "Can I shit on the designers?" And the answer is...maybe?
Reposted by Stuart Ellis-Gorman
Thinking out loud - how would I make an interesting and thoughtful game about the Famine?
My first inclination would be to do some asymmetrical - one player's the landlord of an estate, the rest are tenant farmers. Explore different incentives and responses.
My first inclination would be to do some asymmetrical - one player's the landlord of an estate, the rest are tenant farmers. Explore different incentives and responses.
Could someone maybe make an interesting and thoughtful game about the Famine? Probably. But this game is not that. This game looks to be an embarrassment to the hobby. Sadly, I know its publisher isn't the sort to do anything about that, but that doesn't mean I won't complain.
January 13, 2026 at 12:30 PM
Thinking out loud - how would I make an interesting and thoughtful game about the Famine?
My first inclination would be to do some asymmetrical - one player's the landlord of an estate, the rest are tenant farmers. Explore different incentives and responses.
My first inclination would be to do some asymmetrical - one player's the landlord of an estate, the rest are tenant farmers. Explore different incentives and responses.
Reposted by Stuart Ellis-Gorman
From the same designer & publisher who did that Māori game a couple years back, never talked to any Māori, and disregarded any complaints about representation & appropriation on Kickstarter while other white dudes leapt to his defense, all while deflecting with dubious claims of historical accuracy
It's getting some push back on its Kickstarter comments by actual Irish people - not all of whom I agree with, but the general sentiment of "could you have checked in with an Irish historian first" rings incredibly true.
Sadly, there are also weirdo kneejerk defenders with their heads deep in sand
Sadly, there are also weirdo kneejerk defenders with their heads deep in sand
January 13, 2026 at 9:35 AM
From the same designer & publisher who did that Māori game a couple years back, never talked to any Māori, and disregarded any complaints about representation & appropriation on Kickstarter while other white dudes leapt to his defense, all while deflecting with dubious claims of historical accuracy
While I love my niche stupid hobby of historical board gaming, sometimes it does just make me want to scream. Take the latest example, a board game about the Irish Potato Famine where you get to compete with friends to see who survives best (?)
www.kickstarter.com/projects/com...
www.kickstarter.com/projects/com...
The Great Hunger
Easy-to-learn, card-driven game, rich with historical detail; explores 19th-century Irish expansion, blight, famine, & emigration. 2-5P
www.kickstarter.com
January 13, 2026 at 9:15 AM
While I love my niche stupid hobby of historical board gaming, sometimes it does just make me want to scream. Take the latest example, a board game about the Irish Potato Famine where you get to compete with friends to see who survives best (?)
www.kickstarter.com/projects/com...
www.kickstarter.com/projects/com...
Reposted by Stuart Ellis-Gorman
My year in review posts continue, this time with books! 2025 had more than its fair share of underwhelming books, but we're not hear to talk about that. Instead, these are my top 8 books I read in 2025, split evenly between fiction and non-fiction.
www.stuartellisgorman.com/blog/2025-in...
www.stuartellisgorman.com/blog/2025-in...
2025 in Review – Top 8 Books — Stuart Ellis-Gorman
My goal for 2025 was to read 35 books, a significant drop from the 50 I had set in previous years, but one that allows me to dive deeper into longer books, which I did this year. I plan on keeping my ...
www.stuartellisgorman.com
January 12, 2026 at 4:27 AM
My year in review posts continue, this time with books! 2025 had more than its fair share of underwhelming books, but we're not hear to talk about that. Instead, these are my top 8 books I read in 2025, split evenly between fiction and non-fiction.
www.stuartellisgorman.com/blog/2025-in...
www.stuartellisgorman.com/blog/2025-in...
My year in review posts continue, this time with books! 2025 had more than its fair share of underwhelming books, but we're not hear to talk about that. Instead, these are my top 8 books I read in 2025, split evenly between fiction and non-fiction.
www.stuartellisgorman.com/blog/2025-in...
www.stuartellisgorman.com/blog/2025-in...
2025 in Review – Top 8 Books — Stuart Ellis-Gorman
My goal for 2025 was to read 35 books, a significant drop from the 50 I had set in previous years, but one that allows me to dive deeper into longer books, which I did this year. I plan on keeping my ...
www.stuartellisgorman.com
January 12, 2026 at 4:27 AM
My year in review posts continue, this time with books! 2025 had more than its fair share of underwhelming books, but we're not hear to talk about that. Instead, these are my top 8 books I read in 2025, split evenly between fiction and non-fiction.
www.stuartellisgorman.com/blog/2025-in...
www.stuartellisgorman.com/blog/2025-in...
Reposted by Stuart Ellis-Gorman
I have @askhistorians.bsky.social stickers with me if you're at #AHA26 and want a Jane Austen or Chief Joseph! (Or want to talk digital public history on Reddit)!
January 9, 2026 at 8:41 PM
I have @askhistorians.bsky.social stickers with me if you're at #AHA26 and want a Jane Austen or Chief Joseph! (Or want to talk digital public history on Reddit)!
I'm catching up on video essays I missed during my incredibly hectic second half of 2025, and I really enjoyed this one from @amabel.bsky.social. Big recommend for history nerds as it's a great exploration of what it's like to try and track down that one piece of historical evidence.
January 9, 2026 at 1:30 AM
I'm catching up on video essays I missed during my incredibly hectic second half of 2025, and I really enjoyed this one from @amabel.bsky.social. Big recommend for history nerds as it's a great exploration of what it's like to try and track down that one piece of historical evidence.
Reposted by Stuart Ellis-Gorman
I'm chasing for work. What I do: Technical Marketing. Google, Facebook, and LinkedIn ads; from setup to making the things WORK. Search Engine Optimisation. Email marketing. Social media. Website traffic analysis and optimisation. And fixing things that aren't going right. Drop me a line!
January 8, 2026 at 1:55 PM
I'm chasing for work. What I do: Technical Marketing. Google, Facebook, and LinkedIn ads; from setup to making the things WORK. Search Engine Optimisation. Email marketing. Social media. Website traffic analysis and optimisation. And fixing things that aren't going right. Drop me a line!
@pierrevj.bsky.social and I are back on our ACW bullshit, finally playing Dissimula Edizioni's Give Us Victories. Initial impressions are this is an overlooked gem. We're not entirely convinced by the combat resolution, but it's okay and everything else has been wonderful.
January 8, 2026 at 2:44 AM
@pierrevj.bsky.social and I are back on our ACW bullshit, finally playing Dissimula Edizioni's Give Us Victories. Initial impressions are this is an overlooked gem. We're not entirely convinced by the combat resolution, but it's okay and everything else has been wonderful.
Reposted by Stuart Ellis-Gorman
Remembering and Forgetting January 6, 2021 🗃️ open.substack.com/pub/kevinmle...
Remembering and Forgetting January 6, 2021
Every historical event exists within a constant tug between remembering and forgetting.
open.substack.com
January 6, 2026 at 12:26 PM
Remembering and Forgetting January 6, 2021 🗃️ open.substack.com/pub/kevinmle...
Last year I only managed to play 6 out of 12 of the games on my 2025, so I have a target to beat for this year's 2026 Wargaming Targets, shared here for accountability (and possibly the interest of others) boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/370...
Stuart Ellis-Gorman 2026 Wargaming Targets
This is my entry into Judd Vance's 2026 Wargaming Targets challenge: https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/3636832/its-back-wargamers-i-want-to-see-your-2026-targets/page/1
boardgamegeek.com
January 6, 2026 at 2:06 AM
Last year I only managed to play 6 out of 12 of the games on my 2025, so I have a target to beat for this year's 2026 Wargaming Targets, shared here for accountability (and possibly the interest of others) boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/370...
Reposted by Stuart Ellis-Gorman
The Queen of Spies campaign is in its final 48 hours. Don't forget to back my first co-design with @djackthompson.bsky.social to hit crowdfunding! gamefound.com/en/projects/...
Queen of Spies by SaltandPepper - Gamefound
Queen of Spies is a solo, story-driven board game of espionage and daring missions set in occupied Belgium during the First World War.
gamefound.com
January 5, 2026 at 4:53 PM
The Queen of Spies campaign is in its final 48 hours. Don't forget to back my first co-design with @djackthompson.bsky.social to hit crowdfunding! gamefound.com/en/projects/...
Reposted by Stuart Ellis-Gorman
anyway it's a new year, a year in which we plan* to release 4 (+ actually) issues, and so for the fifth year running I am on my hands & knees begging people to try sending us info about what they're working on, ideally 2-3 months before release
our inbox for all press releases is [email protected]
our inbox for all press releases is [email protected]
January 5, 2026 at 1:09 PM
anyway it's a new year, a year in which we plan* to release 4 (+ actually) issues, and so for the fifth year running I am on my hands & knees begging people to try sending us info about what they're working on, ideally 2-3 months before release
our inbox for all press releases is [email protected]
our inbox for all press releases is [email protected]
Reposted by Stuart Ellis-Gorman
Thanks to starting a new job last year I learned and played far fewer new games than I would have liked, which has made this list a little weirder than usual. Still, tradition must be upheld so here is my Top 7 New (to me) Games of 2025: www.stuartellisgorman.com/blog/2025-in...
2025 in Review – Top 7 Games — Stuart Ellis-Gorman
Normally I start these posts with a rundown on my year in gaming and life, but not much happened in 2025 so there’s not much to report, especially compared to 2024 when I moved to a new continent and ...
www.stuartellisgorman.com
January 5, 2026 at 2:44 AM
Thanks to starting a new job last year I learned and played far fewer new games than I would have liked, which has made this list a little weirder than usual. Still, tradition must be upheld so here is my Top 7 New (to me) Games of 2025: www.stuartellisgorman.com/blog/2025-in...
Reposted by Stuart Ellis-Gorman
Friend of Garak patches are restocked! I haven't had these in about a year and a half. It's hard to photograph but the thread has a subtle shimmer I'm really pleased with.
willburrows.art/shop
willburrows.art/shop
January 4, 2026 at 11:51 PM
Friend of Garak patches are restocked! I haven't had these in about a year and a half. It's hard to photograph but the thread has a subtle shimmer I'm really pleased with.
willburrows.art/shop
willburrows.art/shop
Thanks to starting a new job last year I learned and played far fewer new games than I would have liked, which has made this list a little weirder than usual. Still, tradition must be upheld so here is my Top 7 New (to me) Games of 2025: www.stuartellisgorman.com/blog/2025-in...
2025 in Review – Top 7 Games — Stuart Ellis-Gorman
Normally I start these posts with a rundown on my year in gaming and life, but not much happened in 2025 so there’s not much to report, especially compared to 2024 when I moved to a new continent and ...
www.stuartellisgorman.com
January 5, 2026 at 2:44 AM
Thanks to starting a new job last year I learned and played far fewer new games than I would have liked, which has made this list a little weirder than usual. Still, tradition must be upheld so here is my Top 7 New (to me) Games of 2025: www.stuartellisgorman.com/blog/2025-in...
Reposted by Stuart Ellis-Gorman
Has anyone got the original #Spelljammer box and can take a photo of all its bits for me? I’ll credit you in the mag and send you a copy!
#ttrpg #dnd
#ttrpg #dnd
January 1, 2026 at 1:59 PM
Has anyone got the original #Spelljammer box and can take a photo of all its bits for me? I’ll credit you in the mag and send you a copy!
#ttrpg #dnd
#ttrpg #dnd
Reposted by Stuart Ellis-Gorman
Happy New Year to all the Chimerians! If you havent set a New Years resolution then why not resolve to join us on 16th and 17th May in Dublin!
January 1, 2026 at 12:13 PM
Happy New Year to all the Chimerians! If you havent set a New Years resolution then why not resolve to join us on 16th and 17th May in Dublin!
Happy New Year from South Korea!
December 31, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Happy New Year from South Korea!
Reposted by Stuart Ellis-Gorman
Ok team, we can bring these words back into usage! 💪
Overmorrow = the day after tomorrow
Ereyesterday = the day before yesterday
We ahould have been using such excellent words ereyesterday, but if we start now we’ll be glad overmorrow!
Overmorrow = the day after tomorrow
Ereyesterday = the day before yesterday
We ahould have been using such excellent words ereyesterday, but if we start now we’ll be glad overmorrow!
You can be the change you want to see in the English language!
So long as we get ereyesterday back too! Words need their inverses!
December 31, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Ok team, we can bring these words back into usage! 💪
Overmorrow = the day after tomorrow
Ereyesterday = the day before yesterday
We ahould have been using such excellent words ereyesterday, but if we start now we’ll be glad overmorrow!
Overmorrow = the day after tomorrow
Ereyesterday = the day before yesterday
We ahould have been using such excellent words ereyesterday, but if we start now we’ll be glad overmorrow!
Went to Seoul for a couple of days, did some sightseeing, ate food (sometimes, a little too much), and bought relatively few souvenirs.
I did, however, spend too much on a Hatsune Miku x Gundam gatcha, and luckily I got the one I wanted first try.
I did, however, spend too much on a Hatsune Miku x Gundam gatcha, and luckily I got the one I wanted first try.
December 30, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Went to Seoul for a couple of days, did some sightseeing, ate food (sometimes, a little too much), and bought relatively few souvenirs.
I did, however, spend too much on a Hatsune Miku x Gundam gatcha, and luckily I got the one I wanted first try.
I did, however, spend too much on a Hatsune Miku x Gundam gatcha, and luckily I got the one I wanted first try.