James Buckley
@jsbuckley.bsky.social
Founder of Sapper Studio - a tabletop game design and development studio. https://www.sapperstudio.com/
Interested in all things wargamey - both professional and hobby fields.
Interested in all things wargamey - both professional and hobby fields.
Just to understand as I can't access the article: you disagree that it's possible that LLMs like Claude are anything but highly sophisticated stochastic parrots. Articles like this that imply they might be something more than that are signs of nefarious influence by techbros to pump their products?
February 11, 2026 at 5:26 PM
Just to understand as I can't access the article: you disagree that it's possible that LLMs like Claude are anything but highly sophisticated stochastic parrots. Articles like this that imply they might be something more than that are signs of nefarious influence by techbros to pump their products?
Professional wargaming on the front page of BGG. A first?
February 10, 2026 at 8:05 AM
Professional wargaming on the front page of BGG. A first?
It's taken some time to grok but now I have, I'm very much appreciating the risk-reward solitaire mechanics of Operation Bollebank. Original. Good emergent narrative too. Thanks for bringing it to my attention @letsplayhistory.bsky.social
February 7, 2026 at 2:56 PM
It's taken some time to grok but now I have, I'm very much appreciating the risk-reward solitaire mechanics of Operation Bollebank. Original. Good emergent narrative too. Thanks for bringing it to my attention @letsplayhistory.bsky.social
That's true, they really seem to have bought into it, and have a very good steward in Major Somerville.
February 6, 2026 at 4:05 PM
That's true, they really seem to have bought into it, and have a very good steward in Major Somerville.
To be fair so are the British. After Battlegroup Wargame System there's Platoon Wargame System now being designed, and a Brigade level version planned.
February 6, 2026 at 1:47 PM
To be fair so are the British. After Battlegroup Wargame System there's Platoon Wargame System now being designed, and a Brigade level version planned.
I struggle to see how the human remains in the loop TBH. I know that is the current 'plan' but if your adversary, or your assumption that your adversary, removes the human, which is where China is thought to be going, then a human is a liability timewise in the loop. It's pretty bad...
February 6, 2026 at 6:45 AM
I struggle to see how the human remains in the loop TBH. I know that is the current 'plan' but if your adversary, or your assumption that your adversary, removes the human, which is where China is thought to be going, then a human is a liability timewise in the loop. It's pretty bad...
February 5, 2026 at 12:11 PM
Battlegroup Clash is my title. I'm the publisher. I also know the publisher of W&P. Who can I contact to discuss?
February 5, 2026 at 7:10 AM
Battlegroup Clash is my title. I'm the publisher. I also know the publisher of W&P. Who can I contact to discuss?
Any chance you can make some a) for War & Peace 7th Ed, and 2) for my new game Battlegroup Clash Baltics? The latter is being delivered to pre order customers at the moment.
February 4, 2026 at 4:42 PM
Any chance you can make some a) for War & Peace 7th Ed, and 2) for my new game Battlegroup Clash Baltics? The latter is being delivered to pre order customers at the moment.
Reposted by James Buckley
Check out our latest production schedule below. Of particular interest to wargamers is the news that Guerre Eclair will arrive at our warehouse next month, and in May we'll launch the Kickstarter for our new edition of Sword of Rome. More details on that to come.
February 3, 2026 at 10:52 AM
Check out our latest production schedule below. Of particular interest to wargamers is the news that Guerre Eclair will arrive at our warehouse next month, and in May we'll launch the Kickstarter for our new edition of Sword of Rome. More details on that to come.
Day 2 & 3 of Napoleonics @ SquareBASH with Congress of Vienna and 1812 Napoleon's Fateful March. French victories in both. Excellent games. It's been a great excursion in the world of Napoleonics, but now it's back to my main interest of modern warfare with these three new purchases.
February 1, 2026 at 5:08 PM
Day 2 & 3 of Napoleonics @ SquareBASH with Congress of Vienna and 1812 Napoleon's Fateful March. French victories in both. Excellent games. It's been a great excursion in the world of Napoleonics, but now it's back to my main interest of modern warfare with these three new purchases.
Day one of my Napoleonic all in at SquareBASH. War & Peace, Santa Cruz 1797 and best of all, a very blinded up Coalitions, which was great to finally see and play IRL.
January 31, 2026 at 12:30 AM
Day one of my Napoleonic all in at SquareBASH. War & Peace, Santa Cruz 1797 and best of all, a very blinded up Coalitions, which was great to finally see and play IRL.
Deliberately timed to make @armchairdragoons.bsky.social TuesdayNewsday of course Brant 🫡
January 26, 2026 at 1:05 PM
Deliberately timed to make @armchairdragoons.bsky.social TuesdayNewsday of course Brant 🫡
NEWS!
Delivery of Battlegroup Clash: Baltics has begun. And now available is a free game supplement with enhanced rules for Orders and Electronic Warfare.
If you want to know more about Battlegroup Clash: Baltics you can check out the product page here -https://www.sapperstudio.com/battlegr
Delivery of Battlegroup Clash: Baltics has begun. And now available is a free game supplement with enhanced rules for Orders and Electronic Warfare.
If you want to know more about Battlegroup Clash: Baltics you can check out the product page here -https://www.sapperstudio.com/battlegr
January 26, 2026 at 1:04 PM
NEWS!
Delivery of Battlegroup Clash: Baltics has begun. And now available is a free game supplement with enhanced rules for Orders and Electronic Warfare.
If you want to know more about Battlegroup Clash: Baltics you can check out the product page here -https://www.sapperstudio.com/battlegr
Delivery of Battlegroup Clash: Baltics has begun. And now available is a free game supplement with enhanced rules for Orders and Electronic Warfare.
If you want to know more about Battlegroup Clash: Baltics you can check out the product page here -https://www.sapperstudio.com/battlegr
I made it to Moscow but with no supply line and only 1 unexhausted infantry 😄
We figured that the game was realistic! If the greatest general ever failed IRL, what chance does a bloke in a pub have...
We figured that the game was realistic! If the greatest general ever failed IRL, what chance does a bloke in a pub have...
January 20, 2026 at 8:38 AM
I made it to Moscow but with no supply line and only 1 unexhausted infantry 😄
We figured that the game was realistic! If the greatest general ever failed IRL, what chance does a bloke in a pub have...
We figured that the game was realistic! If the greatest general ever failed IRL, what chance does a bloke in a pub have...
I agree it's key. I just wish it was a bit more elegantly implemented. Weather, then force size, then type of location, then distance from depot, then # of D markers, then Forage order. Repeat 8 times or so times, each turn. I know there are some short cuts. But it kills the game flow a bit.
January 20, 2026 at 8:36 AM
I agree it's key. I just wish it was a bit more elegantly implemented. Weather, then force size, then type of location, then distance from depot, then # of D markers, then Forage order. Repeat 8 times or so times, each turn. I know there are some short cuts. But it kills the game flow a bit.
Yeah it's a great mechanic.
January 20, 2026 at 7:07 AM
Yeah it's a great mechanic.
Ok interesting. The logistics was part of where I thought it was too ambitious. I liked the supply lines, but the attrition calculation was a bit overblown IMO. I'd have preferred a pared down game in that regard. But only played once, I'll play again in a few weeks so can see.
January 19, 2026 at 10:07 PM
Ok interesting. The logistics was part of where I thought it was too ambitious. I liked the supply lines, but the attrition calculation was a bit overblown IMO. I'd have preferred a pared down game in that regard. But only played once, I'll play again in a few weeks so can see.
1812 from @vucasimulations.bsky.social Napoleon makes it to Moscow! This game has elements of Pericles and Levy & Campaign. The orders mechanic is excellent. Unfortunately it can get a bit lost in other bells and whistles, but it definitely has lots of potential.
January 19, 2026 at 9:50 PM
1812 from @vucasimulations.bsky.social Napoleon makes it to Moscow! This game has elements of Pericles and Levy & Campaign. The orders mechanic is excellent. Unfortunately it can get a bit lost in other bells and whistles, but it definitely has lots of potential.
Reposted by James Buckley
COMPETITION TIME!
Follow us on Bluesky, like this link, and you'll be entered to win one of 17 Heroes of Normandie bundle prizes (more on the game here en.dpg-final.com).
Read more details on the competition on the Facebook post below (no FB account is required).
www.facebook.com/nutspublishi...
Follow us on Bluesky, like this link, and you'll be entered to win one of 17 Heroes of Normandie bundle prizes (more on the game here en.dpg-final.com).
Read more details on the competition on the Facebook post below (no FB account is required).
www.facebook.com/nutspublishi...
Nuts Publishing
We are launching a give away with HUGE prizes, to win some of Devil Pig Games' very last games. Whether you're a long-time fan or a newcomer, you have until Monday, January 26 at 6 p.m. French time...
www.facebook.com
January 19, 2026 at 3:32 PM
COMPETITION TIME!
Follow us on Bluesky, like this link, and you'll be entered to win one of 17 Heroes of Normandie bundle prizes (more on the game here en.dpg-final.com).
Read more details on the competition on the Facebook post below (no FB account is required).
www.facebook.com/nutspublishi...
Follow us on Bluesky, like this link, and you'll be entered to win one of 17 Heroes of Normandie bundle prizes (more on the game here en.dpg-final.com).
Read more details on the competition on the Facebook post below (no FB account is required).
www.facebook.com/nutspublishi...
Warhammer with hexes?
January 18, 2026 at 5:46 PM
Warhammer with hexes?
Not sure where the wider discussion is on this, but this discussion was about getting KS to ban a board game; an idea I don't agree with or think is remotely practical even if I did.
January 14, 2026 at 3:55 PM
Not sure where the wider discussion is on this, but this discussion was about getting KS to ban a board game; an idea I don't agree with or think is remotely practical even if I did.
Yeah but if that was your 'editorial guidelines' requirement then This War Of Mine would also be banned. That may be a much more 'tasteful' game (I have played neither game so can't say), but that's subjective. Would that be an acceptable outcome if it meant this game could be banned?
January 14, 2026 at 12:56 PM
Yeah but if that was your 'editorial guidelines' requirement then This War Of Mine would also be banned. That may be a much more 'tasteful' game (I have played neither game so can't say), but that's subjective. Would that be an acceptable outcome if it meant this game could be banned?