J. R. Tracy
@jrtracy.bsky.social
Father, husband, reader, gamer, friend
A self-rally in Q8 generated a leader who in turn rallied a second squad in the location; they then combined with a pair of .50cals to bring some serious pain to my upper level defenders. Danny might not even need the Crocs if this keeps up.
November 19, 2025 at 4:31 PM
A self-rally in Q8 generated a leader who in turn rallied a second squad in the location; they then combined with a pair of .50cals to bring some serious pain to my upper level defenders. Danny might not even need the Crocs if this keeps up.
Belgium, December 1944 - Danny's Combat Command 'Romeo' assaults my 9PzD infantry defending a chateau. It's grim already and a pair of Crocodiles are on the way to enhance my misery. J28 Inhumaine, from MMP.
November 19, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Belgium, December 1944 - Danny's Combat Command 'Romeo' assaults my 9PzD infantry defending a chateau. It's grim already and a pair of Crocodiles are on the way to enhance my misery. J28 Inhumaine, from MMP.
Forever the By-Tor to my Snow Dog.
Natus and I meet again, this time under the walls of Nicaea, 1097. GMT’s Command & Colors: Medieval, Crusades Expansion. We Darkened the Skies, we traded Mounted Charges, and loosed more than a few Parthian Shots. It was a great afternoon.
Natus and I meet again, this time under the walls of Nicaea, 1097. GMT’s Command & Colors: Medieval, Crusades Expansion. We Darkened the Skies, we traded Mounted Charges, and loosed more than a few Parthian Shots. It was a great afternoon.
November 14, 2025 at 2:13 AM
Forever the By-Tor to my Snow Dog.
Natus and I meet again, this time under the walls of Nicaea, 1097. GMT’s Command & Colors: Medieval, Crusades Expansion. We Darkened the Skies, we traded Mounted Charges, and loosed more than a few Parthian Shots. It was a great afternoon.
Natus and I meet again, this time under the walls of Nicaea, 1097. GMT’s Command & Colors: Medieval, Crusades Expansion. We Darkened the Skies, we traded Mounted Charges, and loosed more than a few Parthian Shots. It was a great afternoon.
Working the polls has its unique rewards but today I received my all-time favorite - an octogenarian voter handed out (admittedly vaguely) heart-shaped rocks to our poll team, saying “This is my love for you, please pass it on!” Corny? Sure. Ridiculously uplifting? You bet.
November 5, 2025 at 4:18 AM
Working the polls has its unique rewards but today I received my all-time favorite - an octogenarian voter handed out (admittedly vaguely) heart-shaped rocks to our poll team, saying “This is my love for you, please pass it on!” Corny? Sure. Ridiculously uplifting? You bet.
Smith had enough time to prepare two place settings, light a couple candles, and let the Cabernet breathe a bit before a romantic tag-out
October 28, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Smith had enough time to prepare two place settings, light a couple candles, and let the Cabernet breathe a bit before a romantic tag-out
Life is cheap if you’re standing between Hurley the Hotdog and the finish line in CMYK’s Hot Streak
October 25, 2025 at 5:12 AM
Life is cheap if you’re standing between Hurley the Hotdog and the finish line in CMYK’s Hot Streak
Dune Imperium: Uprising - Yojimbo’s Intrigue play derails George’s worm-ride to victory, while my Lady Jessica builds a steady trove of completed contracts.
October 24, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Dune Imperium: Uprising - Yojimbo’s Intrigue play derails George’s worm-ride to victory, while my Lady Jessica builds a steady trove of completed contracts.
We are all in on Dangle in the second race of Hot Streak (CMYK)
October 24, 2025 at 4:09 AM
We are all in on Dangle in the second race of Hot Streak (CMYK)
Buy stock now - you’ll thank me later
October 7, 2025 at 1:56 AM
Buy stock now - you’ll thank me later
A friend asked if I wanted to try a strange foul-tasting Hungarian liqueur and I immediately knew what he was talking about. I could not be more excited. He hates it - it’s mine now. I discovered it 30 years ago and love the stuff.
September 30, 2025 at 3:50 PM
A friend asked if I wanted to try a strange foul-tasting Hungarian liqueur and I immediately knew what he was talking about. I could not be more excited. He hates it - it’s mine now. I discovered it 30 years ago and love the stuff.
I had a great afternoon playtesting Air&Armor's next module, BAOR, with designer Bruce Maxwell. My motor rifle division was across the Leine and making good time when roving A-10s discovered my artillery park and main HQ - that was pretty much ballgame! Fun session, I learned a lot
September 24, 2025 at 10:30 PM
I had a great afternoon playtesting Air&Armor's next module, BAOR, with designer Bruce Maxwell. My motor rifle division was across the Leine and making good time when roving A-10s discovered my artillery park and main HQ - that was pretty much ballgame! Fun session, I learned a lot
Very close to wrapping up the 8-turn Salerno '43 scenario versus Danny. He's one VP shy of victory with one turn to go. He had it in hand thanks to a plucky paradrop but those GIs are now dispersed. It will come down to Eboli - the passes north of Salerno are secure and nothing else is within reach
September 24, 2025 at 10:28 PM
Very close to wrapping up the 8-turn Salerno '43 scenario versus Danny. He's one VP shy of victory with one turn to go. He had it in hand thanks to a plucky paradrop but those GIs are now dispersed. It will come down to Eboli - the passes north of Salerno are secure and nothing else is within reach
At the Char Bar in Kansas City - this is a menu alert I can appreciate!
September 1, 2025 at 1:18 AM
At the Char Bar in Kansas City - this is a menu alert I can appreciate!
We visited the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City Friday - great exhibits, worthwhile and informative for baseball fans and non-fans alike. As much a Civil Rights museum as a sports museum.
August 31, 2025 at 10:51 PM
We visited the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City Friday - great exhibits, worthwhile and informative for baseball fans and non-fans alike. As much a Civil Rights museum as a sports museum.
These chickens were either adorable or terrifying - there is no middle ground
August 8, 2025 at 10:01 PM
These chickens were either adorable or terrifying - there is no middle ground
I listened to Episode 332 of The History of Byzantium today - the end of a long, fun, and informative ride. Mehmed is at the gates and it's game over. Great podcast, with the depth and breadth the topic fully deserves. Highly recommended. thehistoryofbyzantium.com
July 16, 2025 at 2:54 AM
I listened to Episode 332 of The History of Byzantium today - the end of a long, fun, and informative ride. Mehmed is at the gates and it's game over. Great podcast, with the depth and breadth the topic fully deserves. Highly recommended. thehistoryofbyzantium.com
The seductive allure of my exposed heavy foot (hey now) drew George into a toe-to-toe slugfest on his first card, miring him in a situation custom-fit to Crusader advantages. I reckon this one will play a lot differently as we master the nuances of the Crusader expansion 7/7
July 11, 2025 at 3:23 PM
The seductive allure of my exposed heavy foot (hey now) drew George into a toe-to-toe slugfest on his first card, miring him in a situation custom-fit to Crusader advantages. I reckon this one will play a lot differently as we master the nuances of the Crusader expansion 7/7
In most situations the Crusader player is struggling to engage, but here you start right on top of each other. Any Inspired Special Action card brings the Crusaders into immediate contact with bone-crunching power. The Fatimids might best be served by an early retreat 6/7
July 11, 2025 at 3:23 PM
In most situations the Crusader player is struggling to engage, but here you start right on top of each other. Any Inspired Special Action card brings the Crusaders into immediate contact with bone-crunching power. The Fatimids might best be served by an early retreat 6/7
However, I had been saving Line Command for this moment. My knights overran one unit and reduced another to a single step, which a medium crossbow unit dispatched with a sword hit for my final banner 5/7
July 11, 2025 at 3:23 PM
However, I had been saving Line Command for this moment. My knights overran one unit and reduced another to a single step, which a medium crossbow unit dispatched with a sword hit for my final banner 5/7
With a 4-2 banner lead I played Order Heavy Troops, sadly *after* George slaughtered my foot men-at-arms. I managed to kill another unit and whittled down two more. George replied with Order Light Troops, a great Fatimid card, killing one unit and peppering several others 4/7
July 11, 2025 at 3:23 PM
With a 4-2 banner lead I played Order Heavy Troops, sadly *after* George slaughtered my foot men-at-arms. I managed to kill another unit and whittled down two more. George replied with Order Light Troops, a great Fatimid card, killing one unit and peppering several others 4/7
George responded with Forward, and I didn't have a good reply. He followed up with a Leadership play and turned it into Foot Onslaught. George finished off my heavy foot, but Baldwin greeted his heavies with Ambush!, annihilating the unit and setting their commander to flight 3/7
July 11, 2025 at 3:23 PM
George responded with Forward, and I didn't have a good reply. He followed up with a Leadership play and turned it into Foot Onslaught. George finished off my heavy foot, but Baldwin greeted his heavies with Ambush!, annihilating the unit and setting their commander to flight 3/7
I opened with Leadership Center Section. My knights didn't get involved but Baldwin was behind the infantry, giving tactical advice such as "Kill that guy" and "Okay, now kill that guy" - hot dice and focused attacks combined to kill two Fatimid units on the first card 2/7
July 11, 2025 at 3:23 PM
I opened with Leadership Center Section. My knights didn't get involved but Baldwin was behind the infantry, giving tactical advice such as "Kill that guy" and "Okay, now kill that guy" - hot dice and focused attacks combined to kill two Fatimid units on the first card 2/7
I met George on the road to Ascalon for the 3rd Battle of Ramla in GMT's Command & Colors: Medieval, Crusades expansion. It's 1105 and my Crusader knights and men-at-arms faced a Fatimid host of light cav and nervous foot, supported by some heavy cav of its own 1/7
July 11, 2025 at 3:23 PM
I met George on the road to Ascalon for the 3rd Battle of Ramla in GMT's Command & Colors: Medieval, Crusades expansion. It's 1105 and my Crusader knights and men-at-arms faced a Fatimid host of light cav and nervous foot, supported by some heavy cav of its own 1/7
Learning Dirk Blennemann's Crossing the Line – Aachen 1944, a game from VUCA Simulations, via VASSAL with the help of Tom Jazbutis and Scott Johnstone. Battalion level, with an interesting approach to formation fatigue. Beautiful game, both on VASSAL and in physical form.
July 10, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Learning Dirk Blennemann's Crossing the Line – Aachen 1944, a game from VUCA Simulations, via VASSAL with the help of Tom Jazbutis and Scott Johnstone. Battalion level, with an interesting approach to formation fatigue. Beautiful game, both on VASSAL and in physical form.