iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

J. R. Tracy @jrtracy.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Every fall Liz tries to throw out my Browns gear because I haven’t worn it in years. I have to point to the Deshaun Watson Contract Calendar hanging above our bed and remind her time heals all wounds

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J. R. Tracy @jrtracy.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

I’m in the awkward position of hating the Browns for the intergalactically terrible Deshaun Watson deal and then he finally gets back on the field and leads them to a 3-1 record in his final contract year. Seriously, fuck this guy.

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J. R. Tracy @jrtracy.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

non-essential but a great resource for on-line gaming

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J. R. Tracy @jrtracy.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Say what you will about the looming Apocalypse, but the sunsets have been spectacular

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J. R. Tracy @jrtracy.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

In the movies, all the cool secretly evil supercorporations have their own paramilitaries. I gotta assume this current batch is one-upping that with a fleet of killbots they will inevitably lose control over

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J. R. Tracy @jrtracy.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

I dunno, man - this might go higher than we think. All I can say is this whole Strait of Hormuz thing kicked off right around when I started asking questions about capers.

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J. R. Tracy @jrtracy.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

It's always a pleasure to extract a recipe's caper component one...caper...at...a...time. "Two tablespoons? I don't have time for this shit." My brother in law did provide me the obvious and simple solution. Dump them through a small sieve and capture the brine to return to the jar later. Still.

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J. R. Tracy @jrtracy.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Who established the international standard for caper bottles? Are they in bed with Big Tiny Spoon?

A jar of capers in front of an open fridge

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J. R. Tracy @jrtracy.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Welcome to the 2026 media landscape

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J. R. Tracy @jrtracy.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

This remains an absolute banger of a soundtrack

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J. R. Tracy @jrtracy.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

One of the arguments against US support of Ukraine against Russia was the fear of escalating that conflict. Instead, the putative worrywarts started a war of their own that adds a fresh dimension every couple of weeks

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J. R. Tracy @jrtracy.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

The news is just a series of rejected Onion headlines at this point

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J. R. Tracy @jrtracy.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

For any boardgamers here, this is an outstanding title on the topic - chaotic, cutthroat, and faithful to the history: boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/26...

boardgamegeek.com

Successors: The Battles for Alexander's Empire

Card-based scrap between Alexander's generals to succeed to his empire.

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J. R. Tracy @jrtracy.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Pickling cherry tomatoes - we have a zillion of them. An easy pickle - the effort/outcome ratio is outstanding. Lots of recipes on the internet but I like add a pinch of red pepper flakes as well.

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J. R. Tracy @jrtracy.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

The ATR - the tournament scoring was based on CVP so I was opting for Deliberate Immobilizations instead of kills, hoping to coax a bailout to allow a capture

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J. R. Tracy @jrtracy.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

Good friends and gaming pals Chris 'Campoverdi' Greenfield and Jim Campagna, enjoying beers on the Bavarian deck at Seven Springs on the final weekend of DonCon

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J. R. Tracy @jrtracy.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

Tony Birkett explains his new operational combat system to Jeff, under Gary's baleful gaze. Tony is working with Curtis Baer and Chip Saltsman on the system, using the early '43 Red Army counteroffensive and Manstein's Backhand Blow as the base case. It's early in the process but looks promising

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J. R. Tracy @jrtracy.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

A Polish tankette about to be captured - Maczek Fire Brigade in the ASL tournament at DonCon @multimanpublishing.bsky.social

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J. R. Tracy @jrtracy.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

A 75mm HEAT round from a field piece claims a Canadian Sherman, drawing first blood in Sting of the Italian Hornet vs Rob Schoenen - ASL tournament at DonCon @multimanpublishing.bsky.social

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J. R. Tracy @jrtracy.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

The Command of the Ocean by N. A. M. Rodgers. It runs from the 17th century through 1815 and obviously focuses on Britain but it provides the global context of the Anglo-French rivalry. It helps explain Napoleon’s political and strategic choices as he struggled to counter the Royal Navy’s dominance

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J. R. Tracy @jrtracy.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Outstanding recommendation, seconded

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J. R. Tracy @jrtracy.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

My first game - you’re absolutely right, it’s not just a pretty face

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J. R. Tracy @jrtracy.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Playing Wonderland’s War with Laura Mueller’s lovely painted set - the sculpts are very nice but she really makes them pop - WBC at Seven Springs

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J. R. Tracy @jrtracy.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Victory is out of reach, but I can salvage a draw by taking the Holy City. Repeated assaults weaken the garrison, but thin my own forces. With fading hope I send them forward once more on my final card. God smiles, Jerusalem falls, Gary blasphemes - Kingdom of Heaven from MMP.

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J. R. Tracy @jrtracy.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Egypt is out so I turn to Damascus. However, my fistful of siege cards is neutered by Heroic Defense, which increases the resolve of the defenders and halves the effectiveness of my siege engines. Another year of campaigning comes to nought. Kingdom of Heaven, MMP @multimanpublishing.bsky.social

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J. R. Tracy @jrtracy.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

My Crusader army learns the Mediterranean is closed for transit for the year thanks to a Venetian-Genoese trade dispute - Damietta and the Nile Delta are safe for the moment. MMP’s Kingdom of Heaven, Fifth Crusade, versus the GareBear @multimanpublishing.bsky.social

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J. R. Tracy @jrtracy.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Turnabout is fair play as Dutch Fokkers strike heavy weapons and artillery assets of 22. Luftlande-Division - Fallschirmjäger from MMP, with Jeff Coyle @multimanpublishing.bsky.social

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J. R. Tracy @jrtracy.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

The terrorbombing continues - MMP’s Fallschirmjäger versus The Jackal at DonCon @multimanpublishing.bsky.social

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J. R. Tracy @jrtracy.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

It’s a lot of work but it rewards the effort

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J. R. Tracy @jrtracy.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

It’s raining men over Rotterdam! Fallschirmjäger from MMP/The Gamers at the WBC, versus the Jackal

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J. R. Tracy @jrtracy.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Stukas and Ju-88s open the German air assault on Holland - MMP’s Fallschirmjäger versus the Jackal at DonCon

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J. R. Tracy @jrtracy.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Warthogs hammer the 44th Guards Tank Regiment two miles from its objective - Air & Armor: V Corps from Compass Games, Spearhead scenario

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J. R. Tracy @jrtracy.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

It’s a great color palette - a lot more low key than the first edition (which I liked). It’s a challenge ergonomically in terms of display sprawl but Bruce reduced the pain as much as possible

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J. R. Tracy @jrtracy.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

The 303rd Guards Artillery Regiment sends a 203mm love letter to the HQ of the 1st Squadron of the Blackhorse

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J. R. Tracy @jrtracy.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

3AD - eight hours in and my brain is a little cooked

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J. R. Tracy @jrtracy.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

It’s not too bad - calling Mark Simonitch’s 4X series a 5 and ASL a 10, I’d put A&A around 7-7.5. The catch is it is a unique system, very much its own animal. The discrete elements are easily grasped but the interactions are complex. It takes a lot of cycles to burn in.

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J. R. Tracy @jrtracy.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

Supported by Cobra gunships, 3ID pushes into the DDR to threaten the flank of 28th Army’s axis of advance - Air & Armor from Compass Games

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J. R. Tracy @jrtracy.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

29th Guards Motor Rifle Regiment feasts on the soft nougaty deliciousness of 3ID’s support echelon - Air & Armor: V Corps from Compass Games at the WBC

Soviet motorized infantry attacks US 3ID headquarters units

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J. R. Tracy @jrtracy.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

Life is tough at the tip of the spear of the Group of Soviet Forces Germany - Air & Armor: V Corps from Compass Games, Juggernaut scenario

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J. R. Tracy @jrtracy.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Thanks. Honestly I’m viewing this as a blessing, or at least trying to. It’s just stuff, after all, no matter what the emotional attachment. That ‘loosely controlled’ entropy broke its bonds during COVID and the space saw much less use. This is an opportunity to restore it to its former glory

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J. R. Tracy @jrtracy.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Thanks, it’s been an unpleasant couple weeks

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J. R. Tracy @jrtracy.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Due to a major plumbing catastrophe (thank you, upstairs neighbors!) I'm throwing out a lot of games and game-related material. Most fill me with sadness but tossing this piece of shit Yaquinto counter tray was a rare bright spot. Jeebus, these things sucked. Loved their games, but not these.

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J. R. Tracy @jrtracy.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

I played a game 20 years ago with players managing damage control on Bismarck - it was a passion project, never saw publication

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J. R. Tracy @jrtracy.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Dostoyevsky’s CSA of the Damned: a lot of turnips, a few potatoes, and kale, unless you like kale, in which case no kale

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