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Cole Wehrle

@colewehrle.bsky.social
7.3K followers 348 following 1.2K posts

Creative Director at Buried Giant Studios. Designer of Root, Oath, Arcs, and lots of historical games. Focuses on strategy games with strong emergent narratives and responsive systems. Voracious reader of just about anything I can get my hands on.

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Cole Wehrle @colewehrle.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
What perfect timing! After Arcs came out I took about a year break from the game. With Beyond the Reach, I've had a good excuse to be playing it a lot again and rediscovering what fired me up about the game in the first place. This is a marvelous review and well worth the wait.
youtube.com
Herding a Space Whale | Arcs: Blighted Reach Review
YouTube video by analog arnie
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Alexei Pepers @apepers.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
The schedule for @roguelike.club is up! We’ve got yet another stunning lineup with multiple people who are such a good fit I had assumed they’d spoken already 🤣 Time is fake and it’s just over two weeks until the con so check it out, buy a ticket, come hang out! www.roguelike.club/event2026.html
roguelike.club
Roguelike Celebration - Event 2026
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Cole Wehrle @colewehrle.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
In today's diary, I get into one of my favorite subjects: agency in historical games. Did the Opium Wars have to happen? Were the player's historical counterparts in a position to prevent them? It's a big subject, and a place where the 2e differs sharply from 1e. boardgamegeek.com/thread/37746...
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YoYoni @yoyoni.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
4 more days to go on the Kickstarter Campaign for "The Nights of King Ludd: The Luddite War on Industry 1811-?" www.kickstarter.com/projects/die... In the comments I share some impressions of the game from the first players to engage with it. @thedietzfoundation.bsky.social #boardgames
kickstarter.com
The Nights of King Ludd
Rage against the Machines at the Dawn of the Industrial Revolution
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Cole Wehrle @colewehrle.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
A rainy evening made for the perfect excuse to finally learn @gmtgames.bsky.social 's Cuius Regio which I'm pairing with C.V. Wedgewood's book on the 30 Years War. I've wanted to read this book for so long, and it does not disappoint. I can't believe she was so young when she wrote it (late 20s!).
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Kyle Ferrin 🧙‍♂️✍️ @d20plusmodifier.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Up late doing laundry and some Arcs expansion art because I have a doc appointment tomorrow. I love when I can make myself laugh. Gotta wear PPE when handling the Psionic Auditor. #arcsboardgame #illustration
Drawing: An alien in PPE is hoisting a baby alien that seems to be draining the life force from a third alien.
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Cole Wehrle @colewehrle.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
The weather begins to cool. The leaves are starting to change. It can only mean one thing: it's time to get the rules for the next WGG project into their initial layout.
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Cole Wehrle @colewehrle.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
In today's designer diary for An Infamous Traffic, I wrote about positional asymmetry and how a little player difference was good for the game's economy and historicity. If you're curious about some of the core design differences between 1e and 2e, check it out! boardgamegeek.com/thread/37713...
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Dan Thurot @danthurot.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Organism is a forthcoming abstract game about cellular evolution, positioning, and violence — and it's subtly brilliant. My preview: spacebiff.com/2026/09/17/o...
spacebiff.com
Goop vs. Goop
Board games aren’t always very good at themes. Actual themes, as in underlying messages, not “themes,” the settings that appear in a game’s artwork. One of the hobby’s…
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Cole Wehrle @colewehrle.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
I just checked the Organism campaign and was so disappointed to see that it hasn't funded yet. Y'all, this is seriously one of the most incredible designs of the decade and truly a perfect example of what Kickstarter is for. What are you waiting for? www.kickstarter.com/projects/ele...
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Pete @petewiss.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
The new @decisionspace.bsky.social is a deep dive on my favorite "new to me" game of 2026. I've played Indonesia over 20 times this year and I'm still not bored of it. It has everything I want in a "big" game: slim rules, high interaction, and dramatic swings. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o...
podcasts.apple.com
Our Favorite Splotter? Indonesia Roundtable Merge-a-Palooza
Podcast Episode · Decision Space · September 16 · 1h 33m
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Cole Wehrle @colewehrle.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
It was such a pleasure to work with Alita and Andrea during my time at LG, and I am so grateful for their hard work on Oath: New Foundations. I'm looking forward to checking out what they get up to next. (Also welcome to Bsky, @alita-robertson.bsky.social!)
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The Secret Lives of Games @secretlivesofgames.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
All Systems Brough - IMBROGLIO We're joined by @nicole.pizza @eddybox.bsky.social @getdizzy.bsky.social to discuss this deck-building genre-defining brough-like, the 9th game in our yearlong coverage of @smestorp.bsky.social's wide-ranging catalogue. secretlives.games/all-systems-...
secretlives.games
The Secret Lives of Games: All Systems Brough - Imbroglio
We're joined by Nicole He (The Crush House, Kinlo Labs), Eddy Boxerman (Osmos, Karmaka, Broken Rules), and Noah Sasso (Sportsfriends, Iron Galaxy Studios) to discuss Imbroglio, a deck-building, grid-based, genre-defining brough-like. It’s the ninth installment in our yearlong special series exploring the work of Michael Brough: All Systems Brough. Next episode: Cinco Paus Audio edited by Dylan Shumway. Discussed in this episode: Imbroglio https://apps.apple.com/us/app/imbroglio/id969264934  868-BACK (Out now!! Go buy it!!) https://store.steampowered.com/app/3304110/868BACK/  https://finji.itch.io/868-back  Michael Brough’s Website https://www.smestorp.com/  Michael Brough’s Blog https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/ September 9th, 2026 Imbroglio Notes 14 blog post https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2020/06/imbroglio-notes-14-mizzenmast.html  Imbroglio release blog post https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2016/05/imbroglio.html Imbroglio Notes 6 blog post https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2016/08/imbroglio-notes-6-meditation.html Guxt https://www.cavestory.one/pixels-works/guxt.php  Igbo Calendar https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Igbo_calendar Everyday Shooter https://store.steampowered.com/app/16300/Everyday_Shooter/  Imbroglio Notes 8 blog post https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2016/08/imbroglio-notes-8-score-o.html Vivafringe Guide to Imbroglio Boardbuilding https://vivafringe.wordpress.com/2017/03/02/a-guide-to-imbroglio-boardbuilding/ Vivafringe Izu Mode blog post  https://vivafringe.wordpress.com/2017/02/21/imbroglios-izu-mode-is-the-way-forward-for-deckbuilding/ Vivafringe Izu Mode YouTube videos https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVkyA1oDHBa_PGysiUQ_kGaCorynP21O9 Noah’s Bandcamp https://octopusinc.bandcamp.com/album/also-the-remixes Kinlo Labs (join their waitlist!) https://playkinlo.com/  I’m So Happy You’re Here – I Can’t Meditate! https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJ9ZwePF3_ms&si=jALBpOdXrprPI8Z_ Baba Is You: The Board Game & Party House: The Deckbuilding Game Kickstarter https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/bitewinggamesnick/baba-is-you-the-board-game  Imbroglio in-progress blog post https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2016/03/still-working-on-imbroglio-this-is.html Imbroglio Notes 1 blog post https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2016/05/imbroglio-notes-1-inventory-management.htm Imbroglio Notes 3 blog post https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2016/06/imbroglio-notes-3-monsters.html   https://secretlives.games/  https://discord.gg/tslog https://www.patreon.com/tslog
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Cole Wehrle @colewehrle.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Today's designer diary covers the early stages of An Infamous Traffic: Second Edition, the difficulty of understanding how designs really work, and how, at least for me, coming to really dislike something is often the first step in building something new. boardgamegeek.com/thread/37682...
boardgamegeek.com
Designer Diary 3 - Diagnostic Difficulties | An Infamous Traffic: Second Edition
I consider myself a pretty optimistic and joyful worker. I love getting to the office early and kicking off a new project, and I never mind staying late to talk about some little element of a design. ...
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Roguelike Celebration @roguelike.club · 07/09/2026
Excited to see y'all in our freshly painted MUD space with preview event speakers @martinpi.bsky.social, @matronboy.bsky.social, and Greg L. who made this lovely little ad as part of a coding demo for his talk! September 13, 2026, 2PM PDT | 21:00 UTC www.roguelike.club/event2026.html
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Cole Wehrle @colewehrle.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Incredible stuff. Even if you've bounced off of A Sharp's previous games, this is worth checking out. And, if you loved KoDP/Six Ages, then get to this immediately.
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Buried Giant Studios @buriedgiantstudios.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
We have a big announcement! If you've been wanting to get your hands on our nifty looking sweatshirt, now you can! Head on over to buriedgiant.shop/products/coz...
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Cole Wehrle @colewehrle.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Starting this week, we're releasing weekly designer diaries for the new edition of An Infamous Traffic. These will usually go live on Mondays and will continue until launch. In today's entry, I write about the production difficulties that come with its subject. boardgamegeek.com/thread/37654...
boardgamegeek.com
Designer Diary 2 - An Infamous Production | An Infamous Traffic: Second Edition
This week we’re launching the first of several designer diaries for An Infamous Traffic. Often, when I write these diaries, I move between describing the aspirations of the present design and describi...
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Cole Wehrle @colewehrle.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Go back this remarkable thing! www.kickstarter.com/projects/ele...
kickstarter.com
ORGANISM
ORGANISM is a board game of growth, exploration, survival, and reproduction! with simple rules and boundless potential
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Cole Wehrle @colewehrle.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
I've been following and playing this one for years. You're going to want to check this one out, folks.
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Cole Wehrle @colewehrle.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
LFG!
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Cole Wehrle @colewehrle.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
Sunday morning Tigris and Euphrates with kiddo #1.
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SDHistCon @sdhistcon.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
We are thrilled to announce the finalists for the 2026 Summit Award, the fifth such award. They are Battlefields of the Napoleonic Wars, Chicago '68, Molly House, and Onoda, with The Bell of Treason and Winter Rabbit as honorable mentions. More details: sdhist.com/2026-summit-...
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Cole Wehrle @colewehrle.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Time to get these preview kits for An Infamous Traffic in the mail!
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Amabel Holland @amabel.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
In 1990, an elementary school teacher won $16,500 on a game show, and used her winnings to publish a board game about the Exxon Valdez oil spill. This is her story. youtu.be/r1g7C0o9Oqc
youtu.be
Tracia Newman's Board Game: Oil Spill & Amateur Art
YouTube video by Hollandspiele
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jason grinblat @jfg.land · 28/08/2026
this is one of the most deranged (positive) fan works I've seen. please watch this video
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YoYoni @yoyoni.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
In less than a week we launch "The Nights of King Ludd: The Luddite War on Industry 1811-?" Follow our campaign page for updates: www.kickstarter.com/projects/die... A new game by me @joedewhurst.bsky.social & @ronengoldstein.bsky.social & published by @thedietzfoundation.bsky.social #boardgames
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Kyle Ferrin 🧙‍♂️✍️ @d20plusmodifier.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Check out this panel where I shared something a high school art teacher said to me that changed my life forever: www.youtube.com/watch?v=toq0...
youtube.com
Art and Graphic Design Panel - GenCon 2026
YouTube video by Buried Giant Studios
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Cole Wehrle @colewehrle.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
If you missed us at Gen Con, we've got the first of our panels up with Pablo @theoldkingscrown.bsky.social, Andrew, Josh, and I as we chat about design and playtesting. Many kudos to @mattmartens.bsky.social for filming this and our dear friend Aja for moderating! www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FaA...
youtube.com
Game Design Panel - GenCon 2026
YouTube video by Buried Giant Studios
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Cole Wehrle @colewehrle.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
This weekend I had the privilege of grappling with some very big and difficult games with a spotlight on Michael Lorino's Imperial Elegy. As usual, the whole experience got me thinking about big games, what they demand of their players and the rewards to be found in their exploration. 🧵
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Cole Wehrle @colewehrle.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Today's fare: Imperial Elegy by Michael Lorino and @vucasimulations.bsky.social. Fascinating. I'm having a very strong first outing as the Austrians. The imperial franchise is generous and Italy is a happy member of our cosmopolitan empire. Sorry to those with dreams of unification!
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Cole Wehrle @colewehrle.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
What a perfect little benediction to start the day.
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Cole Wehrle @colewehrle.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Taking Greylune for another spin with @ryanschneider.bsky.social, Cati, and Owen. Much better on the second outing and with four players. It's a nice improvement over Spyrium, but mostly makes me want to play Caylus or Calimala.
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Cole Wehrle @colewehrle.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
We inaugurated our new playtesting room tonight with a couple tables of Arcs, a game of Infamous Traffic, and a match of Big Shot, just for good measure.
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Tabletop Game Designers Association @ttgda.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
Today TTGDA released what we believe is our most important effort so far - our Licensing Contract Rubric. This is an objective scoring metric that can be used to partially evaluate the quality of a contract. We applied it to a huge swath of the industry, and this chart shows how they scored. 🧵 🎲✂️
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Hawk and Dove Games @hawkanddovegames.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
Today, we're proud and excited to announce that we've signed El Pulpo (some may know it as Fruit), designed by @danbullock.bsky.social! It will be our second game, after Painkillers. Read more about why we think it's such a great fit for H&D: www.hawkanddovegames.com/blog/el-pulpo
hawkanddovegames.com
El Pulpo — Hawk and Dove
Why Hawk & Dove's next board game is El Pulpo.
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Cole Wehrle @colewehrle.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Welp, that's a wrap. Buried Giant Studios has just finished its #GenCon2026 debut. What a wild ride it was. I hardly had time to post during the show, but I wanted to jot something down now. 🧵
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Buried Giant Studios @buriedgiantstudios.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
We are pumped!! We are all set up for Gen Con with @theoldkingscrown.bsky.social so find us at the giant mouth! Room 126. Booth 1555.
Buried Giant Studios massive inflatable mouth. Room 126. Signage with Old King's Crown, Arcs, Oath, Pax Pamir, John Company, and Molly House logos. Visit us at booth number #1555 and Gen Con 2026.
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Pete @petewiss.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
New @decisionspace.bsky.social is a report from @sdhistcon.bsky.social North! We talk about a bunch of games we played at this unique convention. I had an awesome time there and I hope my enthusiasm for the experience comes through! open.spotify.com/episode/0vDa...
open.spotify.com
An Infamous Traffic, Virgin Queen, John Company Megagame and More: Report from a Historical Game Convention
Decision Space · Episode
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Cole Wehrle @colewehrle.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
Today, we took the kiddos out for an afternoon of skipping rocks and swimming at McCormick's Creek state park about an hour outside of Indy. I'm grateful to have some time with the family before the hustle and bustle of the next few days. Tomorrow, setup for #Gencon2026 begins in earnest.
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Cole Wehrle @colewehrle.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
I've been fortunate enough to play this throughout its development and cannot wait to see the final thing. If you're interested in early modern labor politics or want to try your hand at smashing a stocking frame, check it out!
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Cole Wehrle @colewehrle.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
Next week we are heading to Gen Con. We've spent months preparing the for the big show in one capacity or another. This is a ton of work with often low returns, but Gen Con isn't just about sales. It's about community and the work of making games together.🧵https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErRzMS2YmAs
youtube.com
GenCon is for Playtesting
YouTube video by Buried Giant Studios
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Cole Wehrle @colewehrle.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
Today we’re posting the prelaunch page for our next game: the second edition of An Infamous Traffic. There is so much to say about this game, and we’ll be talking about it quite a bit in the coming months, but I wanted to provide a little background here. 🧵 www.kickstarter.com/projects/col...
kickstarter.com
Coming soon: An Infamous Traffic: Second Edition
A new edition of the acclaimed game of cutthroat capitalism in the nineteenth century opium trade.
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Buried Giant Studios @buriedgiantstudios.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
It's the game you've heard so much about! Winner of the 2025 Artwork & Presentation Golden Geek, The Old King's Crown is making its US convention debut at GenCon and the only place to find it is at Buried Giant Studios! Room 126. Booth 1555.
The Old King's Crown box above the GenCon location details. Booth #1555, Room #126
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jay Dragon is unstoppable @jdragsky.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
SEVEN-PART PACT, my fantastical ornate TTRPG about powerful wizards, asymmetrical board games, and the pressures of masculinity is now launching on kickstarter! www.kickstarter.com/projects/sjg...
kickstarter.com
Seven-Part Pact
A fantastical, ornate TTRPG from Possum Creek about the might and folly of powerful wizards bound by a venerable Pact.
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jo kelly @miasmacorp.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
I'll be at Games for Change Festival in NY next week, where Molly House has been nominated for an award!
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Meeple Lady @ RinCon @meeplelady.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
Had a great time visiting the new @buriedgiantstudios.bsky.social office with @danbullock.bsky.social! Thanks for the tour @colewehrle.bsky.social and @wehrlegig.games!
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Wehrlegig Games @wehrlegig.games · 13/07/2026
I can't believe we ran a 25 player John Company mega game using the 1813 deregulation scenario AND mess of demos for An Infamous Traffic. Thank you @sdhistcon.bsky.social for organizing an incredible weekend of gaming here St. Paul. Until next time!
Photo of people playing the Company Archives in a board room.To the generous and kind Hastings,
Thank you once more for your continued business with us. I'm confident we've done the best and have served all of our interests to the best of our abilities and we become more able as the company grows!
We hope our leadership and organization has allowed you to sit back and enjoy the readings of your investments. I'm sure your business as a family takes up enough time and resources.in short, leave the company business to us. You have no need to worry.
Warmly, 
Eli Larkin's

Handwritten letter dated July 1826 from John Company Mega game SD Hist Con North.Overhead photo of An Infamous Traffic  Playtest demo during SD Hist Con North
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Cole Wehrle @colewehrle.bsky.social · 11/07/2026
In a little less than an hour we are kicking off the John Company Megagame here at #SDHistNorth.
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Cole Wehrle @colewehrle.bsky.social · 11/07/2026
Having a blast here at Union Depot in Saint Paul at the first SD Hist North. Today is Traffic and Hellraisers and the John Company megagame this evening.
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