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James Buckley

@jsbuckley.bsky.social
733 followers 102 following 572 posts

Founder of Sapper Studio - a tabletop game design and development studio. www.sapperstudio.com Interested in all things wargamey - both professional and hobby fields.

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James Buckley @jsbuckley.bsky.social · 23h
Totally missed that Battlegroup Clash 2nd printing made it to the very top of the list here. Yes it's available on a very discounted early bird rate, ending soon. Thanks for the mention Grant!
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James Buckley @jsbuckley.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Which airline has the best food in your opinion?
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James Buckley @jsbuckley.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
You forgot to mention that you also made it on to French TV news
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James Buckley @jsbuckley.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
This War Without An Enemy tops my list.
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James Buckley @jsbuckley.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Just played this as OFJH. The play experience is like reading polemical long form journalism. The target is the drug companies. The twist is you play as the drug company. The activist is your enemy, the corrupt doctor your friend. It's very well done.
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James Buckley @jsbuckley.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Needs the Sopranos at #1.
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James Buckley @jsbuckley.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Yay!
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James Buckley @jsbuckley.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Just booked my tickets and accommodation for Circle DC 2027! I'll also take the opportunity to go watch the Washington Nationals lose with the fine gents from @fortcircle.bsky.social
static.klipy.com
Dr. Fauci's First Pitch at Nationals Park
ALT: Dr. Fauci's First Pitch at Nationals Park
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James Buckley @jsbuckley.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
I just backed By Order of the King on @kickstarter.com www.kickstarter.com/projects/loo...
kickstarter.com
By Order of the King
Gallows humor, social deduction, and ruthless lies. One player executes their friends while the rest bluff, lie, and try to survive.
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James Buckley @jsbuckley.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Congratulations, I was playing it a few days ago in Poland with Mariusz (PHALANX developer); it remains my favourite trick taker 👍
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James Buckley @jsbuckley.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Until it catches the worm.
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James Buckley @jsbuckley.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
The 2nd printing of Battlegroup Clash is now available to pre-order at a large early-bird discount on the MSRP. Click below to order: www.sapperstudio.com/product-page...
sapperstudio.com
Battlegroup Clash: Baltics (2nd printing) | Sapper Studio
Battlegroup Clash: Baltics (BC:B) is a two- to six-player platoon-level tactical combat game. It simulates a series of hypothetical near future battles in the Baltics between NATO and Russian forces.   The game emphasises the importance of planning and modern day combined armed techniques. Drones and tactical electronic warfare are key features of the game.    BC:B can be used to support learning and development as a PME tool. It will also appeal to commercial gamers interested in learning more about the modern battlefield and how a NATO Battlegroup would respond and perform against equivalent sized Russian forces in the river and forest-rich terrain of the Baltics. This 2nd printing updates the rulebook and scenario book to incorporate the minor errata from the first printing, but is otherwise identical to the first printing.
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James Buckley @jsbuckley.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Got to learn about and look at the new Race to Rabul game from @volko.bsky.social and @phalanxgames.bsky.social, with art for @domhnallh.bsky.social. It looks amazing, excellent iteration of the system. I will be pre-ordering it tonight!
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James Buckley @jsbuckley.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
I'm very much in favour of the rules too. However, currently to comply I will need to register with 27 separate EU member state bodies, each charging separate fees, sometimes several hundred euros a year, and each with separate data requirements, sometimes not in English. It's not worth it for me.
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James Buckley @jsbuckley.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
My company Sapper Studio has the same problem. I think I now need to stop all direct sales to the EU 😕. The EU's PPWR is much worse than the new US tariffs for us.
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Lee Brimmicombe-Wood @leebwood.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Work-in-progress map for @jsbuckley.bsky.social's 'Razor's Edge' board game, on the 1982 Falklands War. We're getting close to complete on this, but still some tweaking to do.
Map for the Razor's Edge board game on the Falklands War.
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James Buckley @jsbuckley.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
“Like Next War in scope, and Littoral Commander in style.” That's the sub-heading for the second designer diary I've just published for Razor's Edge. Curious to read more, click here: www.sapperstudio.com/post/razor-s...
sapperstudio.com
Razor’s Edge: The Falklands War 1982 - Designer Diary #2
“Like Next War in scope, and Littoral Commander in style.” An extremely short elevator pitch I have come up with to describe Razor’s Edge is that it’s like Next War in scope, and Littoral Commander in...
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James Buckley @jsbuckley.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
Timely, my forthcoming game Razor's Edge: The Falklands War 1982 has a 'hypothetical' 2028 re-invasion scenario. Arg SOF launch an Operation Spiderweb type-attack, taking out British air defences. Land forces follow. A threadbare British Task Force responds... www.sapperstudio.com/razorsedge1982
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James Buckley @jsbuckley.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
I just backed Outside the Wire on @kickstarter.com www.kickstarter.com/projects/133...
kickstarter.com
Outside the Wire
A tactical sandbox tabletop RPG about modern military operations, solo or group play, and a decision-making campaign ecosystem
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James Buckley @jsbuckley.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
I backed the digital starter kit. Interested to see what they come up with and how it differs from Twilight 2000.
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James Buckley @jsbuckley.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Beautiful!
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Sebastian Bae @sebastianbae.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
"Guerre Eclair" by Yasushi Nakaguro is such a brilliant compact #wargame. Despite very few components, the decision space is incredibly rich and engaging. I love getting it on the table and introducing #wargaming to people with it. 🎲
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James Buckley @jsbuckley.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
A really excellent game
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James Buckley @jsbuckley.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
This really chimes with me. As a designer/developer I feel I need to play as many new games as possible to see if there are innovations or ideas I can learn from. That is valuable from a professional perspective, but not ideal from the perspective of getting maximum enjoyment from my hobby.
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James Buckley @jsbuckley.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
I enjoyed your review of Stalingrad Roads. It does have a lot of chrome but as you note, the juice is worth the squeeze. One of my favourite hex and counter games.
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James Buckley @jsbuckley.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
Yeah looks like a good one
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James Buckley @jsbuckley.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
See you there pal!
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James Buckley @jsbuckley.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
Mark what was it like? Anything you can compare it to?
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James Buckley @jsbuckley.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Yay see you there mate
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James Buckley @jsbuckley.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
Battlegroup Clash Baltics now has a Vassal mod. Download it here 👇 Battlegroup Clash: Baltics - Module Library - Vassal share.google/kEUr2btd4M7M...
share.google
Battlegroup Clash: Baltics - Module Library - Vassal
Vassal is an open-source game engine for building and playing online adaptations of board games and card games.
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Zilla Blitz @zillablitz.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Another BIG and beautiful one! Urban Operations 2nd Edition, a game of modern tactical combat from @nutspublishing.bsky.social. #boardwargames #boardgames
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Catastrophe Games @catastrophegames.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
And now we have a cover for the game! Thanks @ilyakudr.bsky.social
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James Buckley @jsbuckley.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Good cover BTW
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James Buckley @jsbuckley.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Factions are Afghan government, Taliban and Int Coalition?
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Wargaming Weekly @wargamingweekly.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
About to play "Battlegroup Clash: Baltics" by @jsbuckley.bsky.social at @sapperstudio.bsky.social 🎲 I'm going to try Scenario 2 (The Battle for Purtse Bridge) ⚔️ 🔗 The game is currently sold out, sign up to the Sapper Studio mailing list for updates on a reprint: sapperstudio.com/battlegr
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Lee Brimmicombe-Wood @leebwood.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Today's a heavy day of working on prototype game components for the next 'Air & Armor' and 'Razor's Edge', our Falklands wargame.
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James Buckley @jsbuckley.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
I really like it too, some of the individual tracks are amazing. I've listened to it at least 20 times now. I think Music Has The Right To Children is probably a better album. But maybe that's nostalgia.
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James Buckley @jsbuckley.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
"Of course, it takes two to tango, and the Argentines may not want to dance." No, not football, another type of game. Find out more in the first designer diary for Razor's Edge: The Falklands War 1982, a new wargame coming from Sapper Studio. www.sapperstudio.com/post/razor-s...
sapperstudio.com
Razor’s Edge: The Falklands War 1982 - Designer Diary #1
What is the razor's edge?I was wee when the Falklands War happened. Except for the headlines, I knew little about it. That changed a few summers ago when I participated in a professional wargame run f...
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James Buckley @jsbuckley.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Watching it at IMAX, but not until Sunday week
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James Buckley @jsbuckley.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
I also see your reviews as "insights". My standard, which applied to any review in Punched magazine (RIP), is that a proper understanding of a game takes multiple plays. So previews, overviews, insights, that's fine after one play. But giving a BGG rating or an actual 'critical' review, 3+ plays.
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Nico Roblin @nicoroblin.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
#portfolioday Hi, i'm Nicolas, a freelance graphic designer in France. I work mainly in board games. Always open for new work. 👍 👉https://www.behance.net/nicolasroblin1
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James Buckley @jsbuckley.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
That seems a fair summary 👍 In Europe thou we are seeing a pretty large increase in the number of wargame specific conventions at the moment. The outsourcing of design is a good thing IMO. It opens up the hobby to new ideas and settings, and it's more economically sustainable for publishers.
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James Buckley @jsbuckley.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
Congratulations! Looks great
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James Buckley @jsbuckley.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
I liked the clip at the end of the news anchor. She seems a good sport
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James Buckley @jsbuckley.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
Bring on the pierogi
static.klipy.com
Вкусные вареники: с картошкой и клубникой
ALT: Вкусные вареники: с картошкой и клубникой
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James Buckley @jsbuckley.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
Are you going? I'm a maybe as the new event in Wroclaw Poland is on the following week and I'm attending that.
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James Buckley @jsbuckley.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
Blunt? I have in any event indeed decided to move on.
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James Buckley @jsbuckley.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
That's interesting! After further thought though I've decided to maintain the position of no Chinese localisation for this game.
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James Buckley @jsbuckley.bsky.social · 28/06/2026
Yes but what measures can I reasonably take (other than licencing an official version)?
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James Buckley @jsbuckley.bsky.social · 28/06/2026
I suppose I should be flattered that Battlegroup Clash has now been pirated by a Chinese publisher? I wasn't going to license it in China but now I think I should just to counter this. Anyone experienced something similar?
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