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
There are also substantial differences between going to America vs the UK, one being obviously much further away. The American Wake was, of course, for the former. UK migrants were likely much more closely connected to the family back in Ireland.
(But the game doesn't include that, sigh)
(But the game doesn't include that, sigh)
January 14, 2026 at 2:20 PM
There are also substantial differences between going to America vs the UK, one being obviously much further away. The American Wake was, of course, for the former. UK migrants were likely much more closely connected to the family back in Ireland.
(But the game doesn't include that, sigh)
(But the game doesn't include that, sigh)
But the funeral aspect was huge. Funerals are very important culturally in Ireland and the idea of not being able to bury your loved ones because they were gone was so hard that they'd have funerals for them in advance.
Some did come back, like my partner's great grandmother, but many didn't.
Some did come back, like my partner's great grandmother, but many didn't.
January 14, 2026 at 2:20 PM
But the funeral aspect was huge. Funerals are very important culturally in Ireland and the idea of not being able to bury your loved ones because they were gone was so hard that they'd have funerals for them in advance.
Some did come back, like my partner's great grandmother, but many didn't.
Some did come back, like my partner's great grandmother, but many didn't.
Irish people emigrated en masse from the 1840s up until at least the 1980s (and maybe again now?) so there's a lot of variation to be found in that time.
Sometimes the migrants might not even speak the same language, families would teach English instead of Irish to send their children abroad.
Sometimes the migrants might not even speak the same language, families would teach English instead of Irish to send their children abroad.
January 14, 2026 at 2:20 PM
Irish people emigrated en masse from the 1840s up until at least the 1980s (and maybe again now?) so there's a lot of variation to be found in that time.
Sometimes the migrants might not even speak the same language, families would teach English instead of Irish to send their children abroad.
Sometimes the migrants might not even speak the same language, families would teach English instead of Irish to send their children abroad.
I'm rusty on my Irish immigration history (last studied it at university a long time back), but my understanding is that it wasn't a major feature.
That's not to say it didn't happen, but often emigration was an act of desperation to avoid starvation.
That's not to say it didn't happen, but often emigration was an act of desperation to avoid starvation.
January 14, 2026 at 2:20 PM
I'm rusty on my Irish immigration history (last studied it at university a long time back), but my understanding is that it wasn't a major feature.
That's not to say it didn't happen, but often emigration was an act of desperation to avoid starvation.
That's not to say it didn't happen, but often emigration was an act of desperation to avoid starvation.
That should be first player rule. Sigh. You think you find all the typos and then...
Anyway, its this:
bsky.app/profile/flin...
Anyway, its this:
bsky.app/profile/flin...
January 14, 2026 at 1:30 PM
That should be first player rule. Sigh. You think you find all the typos and then...
Anyway, its this:
bsky.app/profile/flin...
Anyway, its this:
bsky.app/profile/flin...
And maybe no single thing is a smoking gun for ahistorical bullshit, but together (along with the designers previous behavior towards Maori people who objected to his earlier design) they do not paint an encouraging picture.
And as I said, when depicting hard topics the onus is on the designer.
And as I said, when depicting hard topics the onus is on the designer.
January 14, 2026 at 1:07 PM
And maybe no single thing is a smoking gun for ahistorical bullshit, but together (along with the designers previous behavior towards Maori people who objected to his earlier design) they do not paint an encouraging picture.
And as I said, when depicting hard topics the onus is on the designer.
And as I said, when depicting hard topics the onus is on the designer.
The designer also mentions in his notes that his grandfather fled the Famine, but he also says he was born in the late 19th century.
The Famine ended in 1852. While emigration stayed high, the famine ended.
It's a small error, but if you cant get the little ones can I trust you with the big ones?
The Famine ended in 1852. While emigration stayed high, the famine ended.
It's a small error, but if you cant get the little ones can I trust you with the big ones?
January 14, 2026 at 1:07 PM
The designer also mentions in his notes that his grandfather fled the Famine, but he also says he was born in the late 19th century.
The Famine ended in 1852. While emigration stayed high, the famine ended.
It's a small error, but if you cant get the little ones can I trust you with the big ones?
The Famine ended in 1852. While emigration stayed high, the famine ended.
It's a small error, but if you cant get the little ones can I trust you with the big ones?
You've mentioned Freedom: The Underground Railroad before, and I really like that game. Importantly, it is cooperative, we are not asking the slaves to fight each other. It is als really quite somber and bleak in a way The Great Hunger doesn't seem to be.
January 14, 2026 at 1:07 PM
You've mentioned Freedom: The Underground Railroad before, and I really like that game. Importantly, it is cooperative, we are not asking the slaves to fight each other. It is als really quite somber and bleak in a way The Great Hunger doesn't seem to be.
There's too much levity. The first player rule has been discussed, but things like the Luck of the Irish event is too tongue in cheek for me to accept as serious engagement with a harrowing topic.
And why competitive between Irish families all suffering together?
And why competitive between Irish families all suffering together?
January 14, 2026 at 1:07 PM
There's too much levity. The first player rule has been discussed, but things like the Luck of the Irish event is too tongue in cheek for me to accept as serious engagement with a harrowing topic.
And why competitive between Irish families all suffering together?
And why competitive between Irish families all suffering together?
The boats only go to America, when most Irish people went to the UK.
And going to America was seen as a death in Ireland - the American Wake was a semi-funeral held for family going to America to recognise that they were effectively dying. You'd never see them again.
It ain't victory points.
And going to America was seen as a death in Ireland - the American Wake was a semi-funeral held for family going to America to recognise that they were effectively dying. You'd never see them again.
It ain't victory points.
January 14, 2026 at 1:07 PM
The boats only go to America, when most Irish people went to the UK.
And going to America was seen as a death in Ireland - the American Wake was a semi-funeral held for family going to America to recognise that they were effectively dying. You'd never see them again.
It ain't victory points.
And going to America was seen as a death in Ireland - the American Wake was a semi-funeral held for family going to America to recognise that they were effectively dying. You'd never see them again.
It ain't victory points.
I see lots of historical oversimplifications and errors and Im fundamentally not convinced by the perspective.
Spreading cubes around the island as "families" misunderstands Irish demographics and familial connections.
It also wildly abstracts huge amounts of complex history.
Spreading cubes around the island as "families" misunderstands Irish demographics and familial connections.
It also wildly abstracts huge amounts of complex history.
January 14, 2026 at 1:07 PM
I see lots of historical oversimplifications and errors and Im fundamentally not convinced by the perspective.
Spreading cubes around the island as "families" misunderstands Irish demographics and familial connections.
It also wildly abstracts huge amounts of complex history.
Spreading cubes around the island as "families" misunderstands Irish demographics and familial connections.
It also wildly abstracts huge amounts of complex history.
If you're not familiar with them, check out Punch's Irish cartoons from the 19th century for how Irish people were dehumanized during the time this game is set.
There's a reason Irish people are often a bit touchy about how they're represented.
magazine.punch.co.uk/gallery/Irel...
There's a reason Irish people are often a bit touchy about how they're represented.
magazine.punch.co.uk/gallery/Irel...
Ireland Cartoons - Images | PUNCH Magazine Cartoon Archive
magazine.punch.co.uk
January 14, 2026 at 12:48 PM
If you're not familiar with them, check out Punch's Irish cartoons from the 19th century for how Irish people were dehumanized during the time this game is set.
There's a reason Irish people are often a bit touchy about how they're represented.
magazine.punch.co.uk/gallery/Irel...
There's a reason Irish people are often a bit touchy about how they're represented.
magazine.punch.co.uk/gallery/Irel...
It shows to me that no Irish person was ever shown this rule - something the negative reaction to it by many Irish people after I shared it reinforced.
This is the kind of stupid rule you find in a party game, not a game that claims to take seriously a historic tragedy.
This is the kind of stupid rule you find in a party game, not a game that claims to take seriously a historic tragedy.
January 14, 2026 at 12:44 PM
It shows to me that no Irish person was ever shown this rule - something the negative reaction to it by many Irish people after I shared it reinforced.
This is the kind of stupid rule you find in a party game, not a game that claims to take seriously a historic tragedy.
This is the kind of stupid rule you find in a party game, not a game that claims to take seriously a historic tragedy.
It also makes light of Irishness and Irish identity (just Irish up someone's name if no suitable Irish Americans are playing!)
This plays on stereotypes of Irishness (a historic problem for actual Irish people) and shows a lack of serious consideration for Irish people and their culture.
This plays on stereotypes of Irishness (a historic problem for actual Irish people) and shows a lack of serious consideration for Irish people and their culture.
January 14, 2026 at 12:44 PM
It also makes light of Irishness and Irish identity (just Irish up someone's name if no suitable Irish Americans are playing!)
This plays on stereotypes of Irishness (a historic problem for actual Irish people) and shows a lack of serious consideration for Irish people and their culture.
This plays on stereotypes of Irishness (a historic problem for actual Irish people) and shows a lack of serious consideration for Irish people and their culture.
Conflating Irishness with blood relation is troubling because it assumes that to be Irish one must have blood ties. This excludes non-white actual Irish people and is reminiscent of white nationalist perspectives.
By picking "closest Irish ancestry" it also doesn't really factor in Irish people.
By picking "closest Irish ancestry" it also doesn't really factor in Irish people.
January 14, 2026 at 12:44 PM
Conflating Irishness with blood relation is troubling because it assumes that to be Irish one must have blood ties. This excludes non-white actual Irish people and is reminiscent of white nationalist perspectives.
By picking "closest Irish ancestry" it also doesn't really factor in Irish people.
By picking "closest Irish ancestry" it also doesn't really factor in Irish people.
Similarly, I have less than no time for people who point to some game from 30 years ago that was similarly bad or worse.
We're not here to discuss past mistakes made when I was a child, I'm trying to make my hobby a better place in the future.
We claim to take games seriously, so let's try it.
We're not here to discuss past mistakes made when I was a child, I'm trying to make my hobby a better place in the future.
We claim to take games seriously, so let's try it.
January 14, 2026 at 11:56 AM
Similarly, I have less than no time for people who point to some game from 30 years ago that was similarly bad or worse.
We're not here to discuss past mistakes made when I was a child, I'm trying to make my hobby a better place in the future.
We claim to take games seriously, so let's try it.
We're not here to discuss past mistakes made when I was a child, I'm trying to make my hobby a better place in the future.
We claim to take games seriously, so let's try it.
And if people need to point to other games or media that did it better, that's not a defense!
The fact that John Company or any number or @amabel.bsky.social games exist does not give people cart blanche to misrepresent history and make bad games about serious topics. Those designers did the work!
The fact that John Company or any number or @amabel.bsky.social games exist does not give people cart blanche to misrepresent history and make bad games about serious topics. Those designers did the work!
January 14, 2026 at 11:56 AM
And if people need to point to other games or media that did it better, that's not a defense!
The fact that John Company or any number or @amabel.bsky.social games exist does not give people cart blanche to misrepresent history and make bad games about serious topics. Those designers did the work!
The fact that John Company or any number or @amabel.bsky.social games exist does not give people cart blanche to misrepresent history and make bad games about serious topics. Those designers did the work!
If you're making a game on a historical tragedy, maybe ask yourself: are you prepared to discuss how you represented it with someone who suffered because of it?
If you aren't prepared to face criticism and discuss it in a serious way, maybe you shouldn't be making the game in the first place.
If you aren't prepared to face criticism and discuss it in a serious way, maybe you shouldn't be making the game in the first place.
January 14, 2026 at 11:56 AM
If you're making a game on a historical tragedy, maybe ask yourself: are you prepared to discuss how you represented it with someone who suffered because of it?
If you aren't prepared to face criticism and discuss it in a serious way, maybe you shouldn't be making the game in the first place.
If you aren't prepared to face criticism and discuss it in a serious way, maybe you shouldn't be making the game in the first place.
I have referred to defenses of games like this as Cake and Eat It Wargames.
They want you to believe that they are serious works of scholarly engagement, not crass exploitation.
But if you ask questions about their research or representation, suddenly they're only games and you should relax, man.
They want you to believe that they are serious works of scholarly engagement, not crass exploitation.
But if you ask questions about their research or representation, suddenly they're only games and you should relax, man.
January 14, 2026 at 11:56 AM
I have referred to defenses of games like this as Cake and Eat It Wargames.
They want you to believe that they are serious works of scholarly engagement, not crass exploitation.
But if you ask questions about their research or representation, suddenly they're only games and you should relax, man.
They want you to believe that they are serious works of scholarly engagement, not crass exploitation.
But if you ask questions about their research or representation, suddenly they're only games and you should relax, man.
Could a good and interesting game be made about the Famine? Yes, I genuinely believe so.
But I didn't post this because I saw a game that was doing that. I saw a game by an American trading on his ancestry while offending the nation who lives with this event's consequences.
Not a good look.
But I didn't post this because I saw a game that was doing that. I saw a game by an American trading on his ancestry while offending the nation who lives with this event's consequences.
Not a good look.
January 14, 2026 at 11:56 AM
Could a good and interesting game be made about the Famine? Yes, I genuinely believe so.
But I didn't post this because I saw a game that was doing that. I saw a game by an American trading on his ancestry while offending the nation who lives with this event's consequences.
Not a good look.
But I didn't post this because I saw a game that was doing that. I saw a game by an American trading on his ancestry while offending the nation who lives with this event's consequences.
Not a good look.
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 11:56 AM
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.
In this case, I'm pretty decidedly on "no". The research looks shoddy and the material (both promotional and in the rules) does not seem to treat its topic with the care it deserves.
From fake oirish accents to tagging it "hot potato" on BGG, to a first player that assumes Irish people aren't real.
From fake oirish accents to tagging it "hot potato" on BGG, to a first player that assumes Irish people aren't real.
January 14, 2026 at 11:56 AM
In this case, I'm pretty decidedly on "no". The research looks shoddy and the material (both promotional and in the rules) does not seem to treat its topic with the care it deserves.
From fake oirish accents to tagging it "hot potato" on BGG, to a first player that assumes Irish people aren't real.
From fake oirish accents to tagging it "hot potato" on BGG, to a first player that assumes Irish people aren't real.
What these defenses do, though, is pivot an argument about whether *this* game should exist into a more abstract "should a game about this" exist argument.
But we're not dealing in abstracts, we're dealing with an actual game that is being made. So the question is: does this game deserve to exist?
But we're not dealing in abstracts, we're dealing with an actual game that is being made. So the question is: does this game deserve to exist?
January 14, 2026 at 11:56 AM
What these defenses do, though, is pivot an argument about whether *this* game should exist into a more abstract "should a game about this" exist argument.
But we're not dealing in abstracts, we're dealing with an actual game that is being made. So the question is: does this game deserve to exist?
But we're not dealing in abstracts, we're dealing with an actual game that is being made. So the question is: does this game deserve to exist?