Mark Johnson
@wargamestogo.bsky.social
This is my wargame-focused account, tying in to my irregular podcast. Proud parent of trans & cis daughters.🏳️⚧️👩🏽🤝👩🏼 Discord: https://discord.gg/vxEG9bMPdx
WargamesToGo.com
WargamesToGo.com
Guess what? Besides the cool seminars/talks and seeing the local sights I also played some GAMES at @sdhistcon.bsky.social . As befits this unique event, the titles reflect new directions in “wargaming,” as well as older precursors of the same. History Games!
November 15, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Guess what? Besides the cool seminars/talks and seeing the local sights I also played some GAMES at @sdhistcon.bsky.social . As befits this unique event, the titles reflect new directions in “wargaming,” as well as older precursors of the same. History Games!
Age yourself with tabletop gaming
November 14, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Age yourself with tabletop gaming
As much as I liked the games I played (to be described on my next podcast), I also liked the other opportunities at @sdhistcon.bsky.social . I went to the nearby Sunset Cliffs, saw the impressive Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, and listened to more seminar panels.
November 10, 2025 at 9:09 PM
As much as I liked the games I played (to be described on my next podcast), I also liked the other opportunities at @sdhistcon.bsky.social . I went to the nearby Sunset Cliffs, saw the impressive Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, and listened to more seminar panels.
A rare treat to get back into some smaller/lighter wargames & history games at @sdhistcon.bsky.social .
November 9, 2025 at 6:07 AM
A rare treat to get back into some smaller/lighter wargames & history games at @sdhistcon.bsky.social .
What was your first tabletop wargame?
October 10, 2025 at 1:08 PM
What was your first tabletop wargame?
Now some wonderful nautical history at the Connecticut River museum. The successful British raid on Essex in 1814, the AWI’s Turtle, and a replica of the Onrust that first brought European explorers to the interior in 1614.
October 9, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Now some wonderful nautical history at the Connecticut River museum. The successful British raid on Essex in 1814, the AWI’s Turtle, and a replica of the Onrust that first brought European explorers to the interior in 1614.
A bit of FIW tourism today. Drove down the Lake Champlain/Lake George corridor, then visited Fort William Henry. A little cheesy (1950s reconstruction & museum mannequins), but still good to see & understand. And yes—I’m also playing AFAoS right now on Yucata.
October 8, 2025 at 12:44 AM
A bit of FIW tourism today. Drove down the Lake Champlain/Lake George corridor, then visited Fort William Henry. A little cheesy (1950s reconstruction & museum mannequins), but still good to see & understand. And yes—I’m also playing AFAoS right now on Yucata.
I love me a good (shorter) hex & counter game, too. ;-)
September 3, 2025 at 5:12 AM
I love me a good (shorter) hex & counter game, too. ;-)
These were the “history games” I played in August. Arguably HotW is more euro and M44 is more wargame, but I think they both count. I love this in-between category.
September 3, 2025 at 2:37 AM
These were the “history games” I played in August. Arguably HotW is more euro and M44 is more wargame, but I think they both count. I love this in-between category.
ATO “minigame” Assault on Narvik getting set up. Not sure about that fatigue tracking for each unit…
June 18, 2025 at 3:36 AM
ATO “minigame” Assault on Narvik getting set up. Not sure about that fatigue tracking for each unit…
This is a good companion film. Streaming on Prime.
June 17, 2025 at 3:34 AM
This is a good companion film. Streaming on Prime.
I’d been setting up to try ATO’s mini game Assault
On Narvik when I learned a fan made map redone “in SPI style.” It looks so much better that I’m waiting to play until I can print it out. (I wish it had snowy mountains, but the green tones are an improvement over the original’s inexplicable reds).
On Narvik when I learned a fan made map redone “in SPI style.” It looks so much better that I’m waiting to play until I can print it out. (I wish it had snowy mountains, but the green tones are an improvement over the original’s inexplicable reds).
June 9, 2025 at 4:13 AM
I’d been setting up to try ATO’s mini game Assault
On Narvik when I learned a fan made map redone “in SPI style.” It looks so much better that I’m waiting to play until I can print it out. (I wish it had snowy mountains, but the green tones are an improvement over the original’s inexplicable reds).
On Narvik when I learned a fan made map redone “in SPI style.” It looks so much better that I’m waiting to play until I can print it out. (I wish it had snowy mountains, but the green tones are an improvement over the original’s inexplicable reds).
Five years ago I used some bonus money to treat myself to a 5year subscription to S&T Quartely, now almost up. No games in these, but an entire journal devoted to a specific topic, with a foldout map. Truthfully, they pile up at home, but I love the chance to dive into these when there’s time. 🌍🌏🌎📖
June 1, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Five years ago I used some bonus money to treat myself to a 5year subscription to S&T Quartely, now almost up. No games in these, but an entire journal devoted to a specific topic, with a foldout map. Truthfully, they pile up at home, but I love the chance to dive into these when there’s time. 🌍🌏🌎📖
There’s so much in @cfarrell317.bsky.social latest blog entry that I had to go past the Purple Haze and Pandemic-LotR stuff to get to what wanted—a critical look at the “history” in Pax Hispanica. Worth it.
open.substack.com/pub/chrisfar...
open.substack.com/pub/chrisfar...
May 25, 2025 at 12:56 PM
There’s so much in @cfarrell317.bsky.social latest blog entry that I had to go past the Purple Haze and Pandemic-LotR stuff to get to what wanted—a critical look at the “history” in Pax Hispanica. Worth it.
open.substack.com/pub/chrisfar...
open.substack.com/pub/chrisfar...
May 13, 2025 at 12:49 AM
A nice morning cutting counters & watching @pushingcardboard.bsky.social ‘s Livestream YouTube episode
April 12, 2025 at 5:06 PM
A nice morning cutting counters & watching @pushingcardboard.bsky.social ‘s Livestream YouTube episode
Today’s the 85th anniversary of Nazi Germany’s invasion of Norway. I tried Lou Coatney’s pnp wargame on the topic. Rules are short, but a bit tricky to parse. In this game, the Germans were NOT able to gain control.
boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/23...
boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/23...
April 9, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Today’s the 85th anniversary of Nazi Germany’s invasion of Norway. I tried Lou Coatney’s pnp wargame on the topic. Rules are short, but a bit tricky to parse. In this game, the Germans were NOT able to gain control.
boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/23...
boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/23...
Not the ones with any backbone or brains. We know the difference between our friends & enemies
April 2, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Not the ones with any backbone or brains. We know the difference between our friends & enemies
On #TDOV (last Monday), one of the points was showing who “we” are. I’ve got a transgender daughter. If 1% of the population is transgender, that’s small but IMPORTANT. They deserve kindness, respect, and rights. Their parents should support & band together. You probably know someone.
April 2, 2025 at 7:00 PM
On #TDOV (last Monday), one of the points was showing who “we” are. I’ve got a transgender daughter. If 1% of the population is transgender, that’s small but IMPORTANT. They deserve kindness, respect, and rights. Their parents should support & band together. You probably know someone.
My podcast episode wrapping up the look at First Contact in Wargames is now posted. Features a discussion with @joebyer.bsky.social . The topic for the next episode will be Norway 1940.
WargamesToGo.com
WargamesToGo.com
March 24, 2025 at 6:58 PM
My podcast episode wrapping up the look at First Contact in Wargames is now posted. Features a discussion with @joebyer.bsky.social . The topic for the next episode will be Norway 1940.
WargamesToGo.com
WargamesToGo.com
Ooh! This shoots to the top of my podcast queue. Just like a Minié ball!
March 13, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Ooh! This shoots to the top of my podcast queue. Just like a Minié ball!
Wow, what a loss. Rodger's striking wargame covers are imprinted on my formative memories in this hobby. Whether I played the game or not, I know his artwork made me pick up the box and wonder at what it's about, what's inside.
February 24, 2025 at 3:38 AM
Wow, what a loss. Rodger's striking wargame covers are imprinted on my formative memories in this hobby. Whether I played the game or not, I know his artwork made me pick up the box and wonder at what it's about, what's inside.
Let’s make it happen, cap’n.
Adding a couple pics to make it legit. The first one I just played is the Siege of Tenochtitlan from Command Magazine in 1993, the second I’ll try next is from Vae Victis in 2018. #boardwargames
boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/60...
boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/25...
Adding a couple pics to make it legit. The first one I just played is the Siege of Tenochtitlan from Command Magazine in 1993, the second I’ll try next is from Vae Victis in 2018. #boardwargames
boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/60...
boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/25...
November 27, 2024 at 5:35 AM
Let’s make it happen, cap’n.
Adding a couple pics to make it legit. The first one I just played is the Siege of Tenochtitlan from Command Magazine in 1993, the second I’ll try next is from Vae Victis in 2018. #boardwargames
boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/60...
boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/25...
Adding a couple pics to make it legit. The first one I just played is the Siege of Tenochtitlan from Command Magazine in 1993, the second I’ll try next is from Vae Victis in 2018. #boardwargames
boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/60...
boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/25...
And that will do it for Command Magazine’s Cortez, at least for me. More to think about and discuss whenever I get around to recording the conclusion episode of my podcast on the subject.
November 23, 2024 at 10:15 PM
And that will do it for Command Magazine’s Cortez, at least for me. More to think about and discuss whenever I get around to recording the conclusion episode of my podcast on the subject.
Aztec canoe fleets and archers take their toll on the Spanish invaders, but brigantines achieve “naval superiority” and it’s reducing to an urban fight in Tenochtitlan.
November 23, 2024 at 10:03 PM
Aztec canoe fleets and archers take their toll on the Spanish invaders, but brigantines achieve “naval superiority” and it’s reducing to an urban fight in Tenochtitlan.