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The Players’ Aid

@playersaidblog.bsky.social
2.1K followers 727 following 2.1K posts

We are a written blog and YouTube Channel that discuss all kinds of great historical games and wargames. Visit the blog at theplayersaid.com and our YouTube Channel at youtube.com/@theplayersaid?si=vRe0I…

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The Players’ Aid @playersaidblog.bsky.social · 2h
Interview with Darren McGuire Designer of Iron Triangle: Search and Destroy Operations in the Vietnam War from @gmtgames.bsky.social theplayersaid.com/2026/10/05/i...
theplayersaid.com
Interview with Darren McGuire Designer of Iron Triangle: Search and Destroy Operations in the Vietnam War from GMT Games
A new series, and we have seen how well series have done at GMT Games, a new designer and a new concept to wargaming (lane battler), I think that this game has great potential and it happens to be …
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The Players’ Aid @playersaidblog.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
September was a slid month for the blog with 47,493 views, 23,966 visitors, 236 likes and 62 comments. A bit less views than normal but still really solid. Thanks to all who stop by.
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The Players’ Aid @playersaidblog.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
The October Wargame Watch feature is up on the blog and contains 15 games from great publishers like @gmtgames.bsky.social, Sapper Studio, Dissimula Edizioni, Shakos and more. theplayersaid.com/2026/10/01/w...
theplayersaid.com
Wargame Watch – What’s New & Upcoming – October 2026
September has been really, really busy for me. We attended the Gaming the American Revolution Camden 250 Event in Camden, South Carolina and work was pretty busy as well. As such, I just feel like …
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The Players’ Aid @playersaidblog.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
My Favorite Wargame Cards – A Look at Individual Cards from My Favorite Games – Card #96: Henry Knox Continental Artillery Commander from Washington’s War from @gmtgames.bsky.social theplayersaid.com/2026/09/29/m...
theplayersaid.com
My Favorite Wargame Cards – A Look at Individual Cards from My Favorite Games – Card #96: Henry Knox Continental Artillery Commander from Washington’s War from GMT Games
With this My Favorite Wargame Cards Series, I hope to take a look at a specific card from the various wargames that I have played and share how it is used in the game. I am not a strategist and fra…
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The Players’ Aid @playersaidblog.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Gaming the American Revolution – Camden 250 Event Daily Debrief Series – Day 4. theplayersaid.com/2026/09/27/g...
theplayersaid.com
Gaming the American Revolution – Camden 250 Event Daily Debrief Series – Day 4
Day 4 was our site visiting day and we planned out an all day trip that would take us to 4 different American Revolution battlefield sites including Waxhaws (Buford’s Massacre), King’s Mountain, Co…
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The Players’ Aid @playersaidblog.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Gaming the American Revolution – Camden 250 Event Daily Debrief Series – Day 3. theplayersaid.com/2026/09/26/g...
theplayersaid.com
Gaming the American Revolution – Camden 250 Event Daily Debrief Series – Day 3
What a great time we have had at this convention! 2 fulls day of gaming in a fantastic historical setting here in Camden, South Carolina. But it hasn’t just been gaming though. Today started with a…
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The Players’ Aid @playersaidblog.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Finishing the night with a play of Small BoAR Cowpens from @gmtgames.bsky.social Man this one is very different with a smaller scale that means more ability to shoot artillery and rifles/muskets from range.
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The Players’ Aid @playersaidblog.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Afternoon game of Newtown from GMT Games.
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The Players’ Aid @playersaidblog.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Gaming the American Revolution – Camden 250 Event Daily Debrief Series – Day 2. @gmtgames.bsky.social theplayersaid.com/2026/09/25/g...
theplayersaid.com
Gaming the American Revolution – Camden 250 Event Daily Debrief Series – Day 2
Day 2 dawned early with a morning gathering at the Camden Revolutionary War Visitor Center to receive instruction on the days events and schedule. As you can see in the picture below, there were ab…
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The Players’ Aid @playersaidblog.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
French (Alexander) victory at end of 1779 (5th deck) in Liberty or Death from @gmtgames.bsky.social Final score was French -5, Indians (Grant) -10, Patriots (Shane) -10 and British (Mark) -15.
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The Players’ Aid @playersaidblog.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Afternoon game of Liberty or Death from @gmtgames.bsky.social
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The Players’ Aid @playersaidblog.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
A look at the gorgeous gaming space here at the Camden Revolutionary War Visitor Center here for the Gaming the American Revolution - Camden 250 Event. BOAR, Washington’s War, Liberty or Death and Common Sense being played. @gmtgames.bsky.social
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The Players’ Aid @playersaidblog.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Ambush set in Oriskany from @gmtgames.bsky.social here at the Gaming the American Revolution Camden 250 Event.
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The Players’ Aid @playersaidblog.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Gaming the American Revolution – Camden 250 Event Daily Debrief Series – Day 1. No gaming on day 1 but here is a recap. @gmtgames.bsky.social theplayersaid.com/2026/09/24/g...
theplayersaid.com
Gaming the American Revolution – Camden 250 Event Daily Debrief Series – Day 1
What a long day! Made up mostly of travel but I’m exhausted. We left my house this morning at 8:30am via an Uber to the airport where we made it through security and to our gate for a 10:15am fligh…
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The Players’ Aid @playersaidblog.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Gaming the American Revolution – Camden 250 Event Daily Debrief Series - Introduction. @gmtgames.bsky.social theplayersaid.com/2026/09/24/g...
theplayersaid.com
Gaming the American Revolution – Camden 250 Event Daily Debrief Series
If you have been following our blog for a while now, you know of my affinity for the history of the American Revolutionary War. I am a proud American, believe deeply in the principles of our land a…
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The Dietz Foundation @thedietzfoundation.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
The @playersaidblog.bsky.social did a pair of interviews with Yoni (designer of Nights of King Ludd). We put links to those in our latest #kickstarter update. #boardgames #history #education www.kickstarter.com/projects/die...
kickstarter.com
The Nights of King Ludd
Rage against the Machines at the Dawn of the Industrial Revolution
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The Players’ Aid @playersaidblog.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
This arrived yesterday off of Gamefound. Armed Conflict from Bockholm Games. It is a 2-6 player wargame set in a post WWII world but with no historical setting. The focus is strategy and tactics using your unique units. I’m very interested in getting this tabled.
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The Players’ Aid @playersaidblog.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
In today’s entry in The Beautiful Boards of Wargaming! Series, we take a look at the work of Charlie Kibler for Great Campaigns of the American Civil War: Thunder On the Mississippi: Grant’s Vicksburg Campaign, April-July, 1863 from Multi-Man Publishing. theplayersaid.com/2026/09/23/t...
theplayersaid.com
The Beautiful Boards of Wargaming! – Great Campaigns of the American Civil War: Thunder On the Mississippi: Grant’s Vicksburg Campaign, April-July, 1863 from Multi-Man Publishing
Continuing along in this series devoted to the best looking boards found in the wargaming world where I will highlight the art and layout of a different board in a wargame that we have played to sh…
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The Players’ Aid @playersaidblog.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
My Favorite Wargame Cards – A Look at Individual Cards from My Favorite Games – Card #95: Flying Ace from The Republic’s Struggle: Battle for the Republic, Spain 1931-1939 from NAC Wargames. theplayersaid.com/2026/09/22/m...
theplayersaid.com
My Favorite Wargame Cards – A Look at Individual Cards from My Favorite Games – Card #95: Flying Ace from The Republic’s Struggle: Battle for the Republic, Spain 1931-1939 from NAC Wargames
With this My Favorite Wargame Cards Series, I hope to take a look at a specific card from the various wargames that I have played and share how it is used in the game. I am not a strategist and fra…
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The Players’ Aid @playersaidblog.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Interview with Yoni Goldstein designer of The Nights of King Ludd: The Luddite War on Industry, 1811-? from The Dietz Foundation currently on Kickstarter – Part II. theplayersaid.com/2026/09/21/i...
theplayersaid.com
Interview with Yoni Goldstein Designer of The Nights of King Ludd: The Luddite War on Industry, 1811-? from The Dietz Foundation Currently on Kickstarter – Part II
The Dietz Foundation has a new game from Yoni Goldstein on Kickstarter called The Nights of King Ludd: The Luddite War on Industry, 1811-? (the game has already funded). The Nights of King Ludd&nbs…
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The Players’ Aid @playersaidblog.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Unboxing Video: Battles of the American Revolution Tri-Pack II: Monmouth, Germantown and Newtown from @gmtgames.bsky.social theplayersaid.com/2026/09/20/u...
theplayersaid.com
Unboxing Video: Battles of the American Revolution Tri-Pack II: Monmouth, Germantown and Newtown from GMT Games
Battles of the American Revolution Tri-Pack II: Monmouth, Germantown and Newtown is the second compilation of earlier releases from GMT Games’ Battles of the American Revolution Series. These…
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The Players’ Aid @playersaidblog.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
ICYMI The September Wargame Watch sponsored by @nevagamepress.bsky.social is up and includes 19 games from publishers like Cadet Games, @gmtgames.bsky.social, Compass Games, MultiMan Publishing, Dan Verssen Games, High Flying Dice Games + more. theplayersaid.com/2026/09/01/w...
theplayersaid.com
Wargame Watch – What’s New & Upcoming – September 2026
The year is quickly fading as we are nearing the start of the 4th quarter of 2026. Man the year has just gone by so quickly and I still have so many great games awaiting us to give them the attenti…
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The Players’ Aid @playersaidblog.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
In the 7th entry in a series of History Behind the Cards posts focused on Checkpoint Charlie from @gmtgames.bsky.social designed by Russell Brown, we take a look at Ich Bin Ein Berliner. theplayersaid.com/2026/09/17/h...
theplayersaid.com
History Behind the Cards – A Look at Checkpoint Charlie from GMT Games – Card #7: Ich Bin Ein Berliner
I love a different style and focus of wargame. A game that takes a look at an important but somewhat obscure or rarely addressed historical topic, such as espionage or intelligence, and creates a g…
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The Players’ Aid @playersaidblog.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
1st play of The Alamo: The Battle of the Alamo 1836 from Art of Wargames. Another simple dice chucking solo game. Fun but brutally tough.
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The Players’ Aid @playersaidblog.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Clipping the counters for Doodlebugs! The First Week of Operation Eisbär, June 13-20, 1944 from Legion Wargames. Great looking little solo game.
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The Players’ Aid @playersaidblog.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Grant shares his Best 3 Games with…Sieges! theplayersaid.com/2026/09/16/b...
theplayersaid.com
Best 3 Games with…Sieges!
One of the more interesting topics to play a wargame on is that of a sustained siege. I am not talking about a game that has a siege mechanic that is used over the course of the game but a game tha…
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The Players’ Aid @playersaidblog.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
My Favorite Wargame Cards – A Look at Individual Cards from My Favorite Games – Card #94: Hamet’s Army Created from The Shores of Tripoli from @fortcircle.bsky.social theplayersaid.com/2026/09/15/m...
theplayersaid.com
My Favorite Wargame Cards – A Look at Individual Cards from My Favorite Games – Card #94: Hamet’s Army Created from The Shores of Tripoli from Fort Circle Games
With this My Favorite Wargame Cards Series, I hope to take a look at a specific card from the various wargames that I have played and share how it is used in the game. I am not a strategist and fra…
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The Players’ Aid @playersaidblog.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Interview with Adam Starkweather Designer of Advanced Company Scale System Game One: Anzio: A Lost Opportunity from Bring it on Games. theplayersaid.com/2026/09/14/i...
theplayersaid.com
Interview with Adam Starkweather Designer of Advanced Company Scale System Game One: Anzio: A Lost Opportunity from Bring it on Games
We have played several games designed by Adam Starkweather in his Company Scale System (CSS). These games are really good solid chit draw systems that really puts some unknown in what groups of uni…
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The Players’ Aid @playersaidblog.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
These just arrived. Modern Tactics - Afghanistan British Forces Expansion and Thirty Years of Misery from @vucasimulations.bsky.social
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The Players’ Aid @playersaidblog.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Unboxing Video: Line of Fire: Burnt Moon from Osprey Games. theplayersaid.com/2026/09/12/u...
theplayersaid.com
Unboxing Video: Line of Fire: Burnt Moon from Osprey Games
A group of black-hat hackers known as POSIWID plots to hijack the moon Io and hold the entire Jovian power grid to ransom. Standing in their way are the ultra-corporate LFA, the constructors of the…
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The Players’ Aid @playersaidblog.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Our blog has been honored by being included in the Feedspot Top 100 Best Board Game Blogs to Follow 2026 in the #12 spot! Thank you for all your support! theplayersaid.com/2026/09/11/f...
theplayersaid.com
Feedspot Top 100 Best Board Game Blogs to Follow 2026 – The Players’ Aid Comes in at #12
Every year or so, we find out that our little blog has entered a list or climbed up a few ranks. I am always interested in these lists, as frankly I put a lot of time and effort into the blog, spen…
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The Players’ Aid @playersaidblog.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
The July 2026 Monthly Debrief Video sponsored by @nobleknightgames.bsky.social is up and sees us discussing Vietnam Wargames. theplayersaid.com/2026/09/10/j...
theplayersaid.com
July 2026 Monthly Debrief Video – Vietnam Wargames
The July 2026 Monthly Debrief Video, which is the 7th episode in Season 6 of this series, saw us discussing Vietnam Wargames. One of my favorite wars to game is that of the Vietnam War. Part of tha…
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The Players’ Aid @playersaidblog.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Defeated Colonel Oka’s final attack w/a 12 (needed 7) and finished my 1st full solo play of the excellent Guadalcanal: The Battle for Henderson Field from DVG. I know I made lots of mistakes, both tactical and rules wise, but earned a Major Victory with 38 VP’s. Love this one!
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YoYoni @yoyoni.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Curious how “The Nights of King Ludd” actually plays? Get into the nitty gritty with our developer, @joedewhurst.bsky.social:
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The Players’ Aid @playersaidblog.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
My Favorite Wargame Cards – A Look at Individual Cards from My Favorite Games – Card #93: German Home Card Otto von Bismarck from Imperial Elegy: The Road to the Great War 1850-1920 from @vucasimulations.bsky.social theplayersaid.com/2026/09/09/m...
theplayersaid.com
My Favorite Wargame Cards – A Look at Individual Cards from My Favorite Games – Card #93: German Home Card Otto von Bismarck from Imperial Elegy: The Road to the Great War 1850-1920 from VUCA Simulati...
With this My Favorite Wargame Cards Series, I hope to take a look at a specific card from the various wargames that I have played and share how it is used in the game. I am not a strategist and fra…
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The Players’ Aid @playersaidblog.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
In this entry in The Love/Hate Relationship Series, we take a look at Wargame Nostalgia. theplayersaid.com/2026/09/08/t...
theplayersaid.com
The Love/Hate Relationship: Wargame Nostalgia
There are a few words in our English language that have the ability to assist us with time travel. Traveling back not in physical form but back in our memory vault to a time and place that has long…
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YoYoni @yoyoni.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Part 1 of my interview with @playersaidblog.bsky.social, discussing "The Nights of King Ludd: The Luddite War on Industry, 1811-?", a new collaborative game of machine smashing and industrial sabotage: theplayersaid.com/2026/09/07/i... #boardgames #history @thedietzfoundation.bsky.social
theplayersaid.com
Interview with Yoni Goldstein Designer of The Nights of King Ludd: The Luddite War on Industry, 1811-? from The Dietz Foundation Currently on Kickstarter – Part I
As you know, I do love me a good Card Driven Game….or a game that uses cards….multi-use cards. I love cards because it allows for the designer to keep a game going while using a vehicle…
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The Players’ Aid @playersaidblog.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Our first cooperative play of Guadalcanal: The Battle of Henderson Field from Dan Verssen Games. Such a beautiful production and the game is very tough which is what you want.
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The Players’ Aid @playersaidblog.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Interview with Yoni Goldstein designer of The Nights of King Ludd: The Luddite War on Industry, 1811-? from The Dietz Foundation currently on Kickstarter – Part I. theplayersaid.com/2026/09/07/i...
theplayersaid.com
Interview with Yoni Goldstein Designer of The Nights of King Ludd: The Luddite War on Industry, 1811-? from The Dietz Foundation Currently on Kickstarter – Part I
As you know, I do love me a good Card Driven Game….or a game that uses cards….multi-use cards. I love cards because it allows for the designer to keep a game going while using a vehicle…
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The Players’ Aid @playersaidblog.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
All done with the clipping and organizing of the counters for Battles of the American Revolution: Tri-Pack II from @gmtgames.bsky.social
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The Players’ Aid @playersaidblog.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Unboxing Video: Axis & Allies: North Africa from Renegade Game Studios. theplayersaid.com/2026/09/05/u...
theplayersaid.com
Unboxing Video: Axis & Allies: North Africa from Renegade Game Studios
The fighting in North Africa was unlike any other in World War II. In Axis & Allies: North Africa, you will command the forces of either the Axis (Germany and Italy) or the Allies (the United K…
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The Players’ Aid @playersaidblog.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
First Impressions Video: The Napoleonic Wars from @gmtgames.bsky.social theplayersaid.com/2026/09/04/f...
theplayersaid.com
First Impressions Video: The Napoleonic Wars from GMT Games
The Napoleonic Wars, 1805 – 1815, brings you a fast-paced, tension-filled, card-driven wargame using a point-to-point movement system that pushes the envelope in a new direction for this pivo…
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The Players’ Aid @playersaidblog.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Clipping the counters for Battles of the American Revolution: Newtown/Oriskany from @gmtgames.bsky.social ahead of our upcoming trip to Camden, SC at the end of September to attend Gaming the American Revolution - Camden 250. Very much looking forward to it!
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The Players’ Aid @playersaidblog.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
In the 6th entry in a series of History Behind the Cards posts focused on Checkpoint Charlie from @gmtgames.bsky.social designed by Russell Brown, we take a look at General Clay Steps In. theplayersaid.com/2026/09/03/h...
theplayersaid.com
History Behind the Cards – A Look at Checkpoint Charlie from GMT Games – Card #6: General Clay Steps In
I love a different style and focus of wargame. A game that takes a look at an important but somewhat obscure or rarely addressed historical topic, such as espionage or intelligence, and creates a g…
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The Players’ Aid @playersaidblog.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
My Favorite Wargame Cards – A Look at Individual Cards from My Favorite Games – Card #92: Castelnau and Voie Sacrée from Verdun 1916: Steel Inferno from Fellowship of Simulations. theplayersaid.com/2026/09/02/m...
theplayersaid.com
My Favorite Wargame Cards – A Look at Individual Cards from My Favorite Games – Card #92: Castelnau and Voie Sacrée from Verdun 1916: Steel Inferno from Fellowship of Simulations
With this My Favorite Wargame Cards Series, I hope to take a look at a specific card from the various wargames that I have played and share how it is used in the game. I am not a strategist and fra…
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The Players’ Aid @playersaidblog.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
August was another very solid month for the blog with 66,007 views, 31,342 visitors, 213 likes and 72 comments. Every single month this year has seen over 50,000 views which is huge. At this rate, we might come close to our all-time high. Thanks to all who follow along.
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The Players’ Aid @playersaidblog.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
These arrived yesterday! Quatre Bras 1815 from Sound of Drums and Brandywine 1777: A Time for Heroes from Les 3 Zouaves.
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The Players’ Aid @playersaidblog.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
The September Wargame Watch sponsored by @nevagamepress.bsky.social is up and includes 19 games from publishers like Cadet Games, @gmtgames.bsky.social, Compass Games, Multi-Man Publishing, Dan Verssen Games, High Flying Dice Games + more. theplayersaid.com/2026/09/01/w...
theplayersaid.com
Wargame Watch – What’s New & Upcoming – September 2026
The year is quickly fading as we are nearing the start of the 4th quarter of 2026. Man the year has just gone by so quickly and I still have so many great games awaiting us to give them the attenti…
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The Players’ Aid @playersaidblog.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
Got this all printed out and ready to try later this week! Medieval Command: Battle of Varna, 1444 from Solo Wargame. You can get a copy from Dice Pen. shop.dicepen.pl/shp/products...
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The Players’ Aid @playersaidblog.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
Interview with Kevin Talley developer for The Great Anglo-Boer War: The Battle for South Africa 1899-1902 from Cadet Games currently on Kickstarter. theplayersaid.com/2026/08/31/i...
theplayersaid.com
Interview with Kevin Talley Developer for The Great Anglo-Boer War: The Battle for South Africa 1899-1902 from Cadet Games Currently on Kickstarter
A few years ago, I came across this interesting looking wargame from a new company Cadet Games called They Were Soldiers: Battle of the Ia Drang Valley that was heading to Kickstarter at the time. …
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