Maurice Suckling
@writegameread.bsky.social
Writes stories, makes games, reads history.
Assistant Professor, Games and Experiential Media, RPI, NY. Researching narrative in games & historical simulations. Writer of stories for games. Designer of board games.
https://mauricesuckling.com
Assistant Professor, Games and Experiential Media, RPI, NY. Researching narrative in games & historical simulations. Writer of stories for games. Designer of board games.
https://mauricesuckling.com
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.
February 9, 2026 at 5:18 PM
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.
February 4, 2026 at 5:36 PM
Today’s game: Black Orchestra. We played 5 players - and killed Hitler.
Today’s reading is a play: The Rhineland War: 1936.
February 1, 2026 at 4:29 PM
Today’s reading is a play: The Rhineland War: 1936.
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?):
January 29, 2026 at 3:16 PM
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.
January 28, 2026 at 5:08 PM
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.
Reposted by Maurice Suckling
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...
cliosboardgames.wordpress.com/2026/01/11/m...
January 19, 2026 at 5:50 PM
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...
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.
January 15, 2026 at 6:16 PM
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.
January 14, 2026 at 5:34 PM
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.
Reposted by Maurice Suckling
Here are my most anticipated historical board games to be released in 2026!
cliosboardgames.wordpress.com/2026/01/11/m...
cliosboardgames.wordpress.com/2026/01/11/m...
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 …
cliosboardgames.wordpress.com
January 12, 2026 at 5:50 PM
Here are my most anticipated historical board games to be released in 2026!
cliosboardgames.wordpress.com/2026/01/11/m...
cliosboardgames.wordpress.com/2026/01/11/m...
Grading Never Dies
December 29, 2025 at 4:36 AM
Grading Never Dies
Recent acquisitions of possible interest:
December 26, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Recent acquisitions of possible interest:
Yes - I’m looking forward to these immensely. Frank is a thoughtful designer coming to shake things up.
December 26, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Yes - I’m looking forward to these immensely. Frank is a thoughtful designer coming to shake things up.
Downer ending for too many people?
December 24, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Downer ending for too many people?
What historians are you recommending?
December 23, 2025 at 10:38 PM
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?
December 23, 2025 at 10:35 PM
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…
December 23, 2025 at 10:17 PM
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.
December 23, 2025 at 10:14 PM
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?
December 23, 2025 at 9:41 PM
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.
December 23, 2025 at 9:40 PM
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.
December 23, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Today’s arrival: Prelude to Leipzig by John Theissen.
Today’s movie:
December 23, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Today’s movie:
Lovely review of Operation Barclay here. youtu.be/jGu8ikjmEL4?...
Poker and Battleship Had a Baby! - Operation Barclay Board Game Review
YouTube video by Rolling with the Beard
youtu.be
December 21, 2025 at 2:18 AM
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.
December 19, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Today’s second game - 2-player Cabinet Noir (prototype). The British win, which means Berthier and Fouche tie in this case.