Author | Lightnews

Paul B

@pbgameshistory.bsky.social

62 followers 100 following 870 posts

Account for games, history, places and often linking them together. Live in Co. Tyrone v close to Fermanagh. Focus 2025: 1300-1500, China Song & Empire to Republic, Art, skirmishes & small battles, Dublin Castle, Hoche, 1521-26, 1536 & 1549 projects.

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Paul B @pbgameshistory.bsky.social · 14h

Cubicle? Autocorrect shifts the meaning a block?

Paul B @pbgameshistory.bsky.social · 14h

And done. Pre next playtest need to comb through rules to check matches to paragraphs and move the playbook along.

More blocks for Dublin castle game. 22 in all.

1 1 3

Paul B @pbgameshistory.bsky.social · 14h

Inspired by @davekershaw.bsky.social ‘s efforts I thought I would get on with upping the visual tactile side of the Dublin Castle playtest materials with some blocks (dice show forces so keeping cubicle makes some sense).

Six 2 centimetre square blocks with Crown side stickers.

1 1 6

Paul B @pbgameshistory.bsky.social · 15h

It's light with flavour. Sure, I won't have time until late Nov as clearing some things before a break. I know of that system but have not played it.

Paul B @pbgameshistory.bsky.social · 15h

I tracked who was on which ship (French sources and Jones 'An Invasion That Failed') to see who might be on the ground depending on which vessels made it. Tried some AI tracking of individuals and realised it was blatantly lying and doubling down.

Paul B @pbgameshistory.bsky.social · 15h

Excellent. I use a Traveller type system with mods to see who makes it to Bantry or not (for Hoche game) &can then call it off as a loss and reboot if you don't have a viable force. Or chance it? John Tyrell's works are a go to for Bantry Bay weather and for conditions prevailing for 1798 battles.

1 1

Paul B @pbgameshistory.bsky.social · 1d

The Warbeck exploits are a Cook’s tour taking in Ireland, Deal in Kent, Edinburgh, Cornwall, taking Exeter (see image – something the 1549 rebels fail to do), Beaulieu, London… If you have slogged your way through studying the Wars of the Roses, reaching this pair truly get your eyes rolling.

Early 20th century painting by Mary Drew of rebels under Perkin Warbeck as they attempt to burn Exeter's West gate now in Exeter Museum collection.

Paul B @pbgameshistory.bsky.social · 1d

Plus there are continental mercenaries. Image shows 'last stand of Schwarz and his Germans'. www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/culture-leis...

Henry Marriott Paget drawing of The last stand of Schwarz and his Germans in the Battle of Stoke Field in 1487 from about 1910 source Wikipedia.

1 1

Paul B @pbgameshistory.bsky.social · 1d

The 1487 battle of Stoke (Field) next to the river Trent in Notts, and nowhere near Stoke-on-Trent, is an interesting one with Irish Kerns (with darts?) involved. www.battlefieldstrust.com/resource-cen...

The Battlefields Hub → → The Stoke Campaign

www.battlefieldstrust.com

Paul B @pbgameshistory.bsky.social · 1d

Reading about both Simnel and Warbeck (first encountered head-scratchingly at school long ago) from an Irish perspective at the end of chapter XXI of ‘A New History of Ireland Vol II’ (my copy is a 2008 thick paperback). I think there’s a whacky game in there. One day. Maybe.

Excerpt from NHI Volume 2 page 612 by D B Quinn.

Paul B @pbgameshistory.bsky.social · 1d

Last summer, dipping back into sources to see if I wanted to pull selected events from 1798 back into 1797 (mostly no), a fairly simple Dublin Castle pretty much fell into place. With event paragraphs. Went for three theatres rather than an all Ireland map.

Layout of the three theatres plus record tracks.

Snip of some of the paragraphs in a spreadsheet.

1 1

Paul B @pbgameshistory.bsky.social · 1d

Wonderful. A 5+ years ongoing project is a 'what if Hoche did land and set off towards Dublin to try to establish a Directory / Sister Republic?' - Without Delay.

2 1

Paul B @pbgameshistory.bsky.social · 1d

Looks good, is it your design?

1 1

Reposted by Paul B

Clio's Board Games @cliosboardgames.bsky.social · 2d

Neither King Nor God (Uwe Walentin, Sound of Drums) at #SPIEL

1 1 24

Paul B @pbgameshistory.bsky.social · 1d

Good draft cards for 1812 printed (backs reflect an earlier clearing the way for a ballroom) but am not sure Tudors need cards (though simple rough cards made).

Paul B @pbgameshistory.bsky.social · 1d

One of the things I am experimenting with in both the 1812 and Tudor Rebellions Battles is an inbuilt adverse /subtractive result shown by your opponent's icon.

Dice faces showing Star Spangled banner, Union Flag, Tudor rose and Five Wounds banner plus UK 20p coin for scale.

1 1

Paul B @pbgameshistory.bsky.social · 1d

Dice face include the Star Spangled Banner (current state, it’s ’still there’), a Union Flag where lines hadn’t quite settled down plus four faces from game-icons.net

Paul B @pbgameshistory.bsky.social · 1d

Tokens / Medals / Objectives from a contemporary print. [Future GIV was actually Regent, but GIII was no doubt in minds.]

William Charles print captioned A Boxing Match is another bloody nose for John Bull.

George III and President Madison images from the 1813 print.

1 1

Paul B @pbgameshistory.bsky.social · 1d

In the mail: materials for the 2026 C&C Variantish War of 1812 project.

1 1

Paul B @pbgameshistory.bsky.social · 3d

I want to see if my idea of one set of
dice rolled for different purposes can replace cards, command dice and battle dice.

Paul B @pbgameshistory.bsky.social · 3d

Looping back to the bolt on battle system for 1549 (happened) and 1536 (didn’t), I put away the figures I was going to base and made some card counters instead for now as I know I will change my mind.

Paul B @pbgameshistory.bsky.social · 4d

Penultimate regular scenario where my Rebels are trying to break through past the enemy. They fail. #Hoth

Hoth hame early in the scenario before any losses.

Paul B @pbgameshistory.bsky.social · 4d

Tempted to go in just to see who / what I come out as.

Gilgamesh Barber Shop with some Mesopotamian signage.

Paul B @pbgameshistory.bsky.social · 7d

Yes there are only a few cards so crafting not much of a challenge and you add some counters or coins. [Tin and counters added.] Think it is best of the three.

Paul B @pbgameshistory.bsky.social · 7d

Image from 2022. It's a compact, tight, 'aha' little game that is well themed. See also their Toledo War and Republic of Virtue for short games with a few cards and a distinctive historical take.

1 1