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SDHistCon

@sdhistcon.bsky.social
1.1K followers 211 following 147 posts

The San Diego Historical Games Convention. Check out everything on our in-person and online conventions, our Conflicts of Interest Online articles, and our annual Summit Award at www.sdhist.com.

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Armchair Dragoons @armchairdragoons.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Mentioned In Dispatches S17 E2 — Convention Planning Cons don't just 'happen'! There's a lot that goes into them—picking the time on the calendar, dealing with venues, planning your events, & dealing with attendees, so we brought together a great panel to talk about them armchairdragoons.com...
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David Thompson @djackthompson.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
A little early morning fun. Working on the counter sheet for Throw Down That Flag. Co-designed with @beyondsolitaire.bsky.social for the @sdhistcon.bsky.social Night Market on 7 November. It will be printed by Blue Panther.
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Dan Thurot @danthurot.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Finally, Onoda is a dark look at a troubled soul who would rather wage war against the whole world than accept surrender. Is this honor or cowardice? Maybe sickness? Multiple films and books have documented this tale, but it's the board game that tells it most honestly. spacebiff.com/2024/10/21/o...
spacebiff.com
On Banditry
In 1944, during the height of the Second World War, a young intelligence officer named Hiroo Onoda was deployed to Lubang Island in the Philippines. Only two months passed before American and Phili…
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Dan Thurot @danthurot.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Molly House has been feted by many awards already, but for good reason: with community and loyalty mastering more than ever, this rumination on love, identity, and empire can't help but feel like one of the most relevant games ever designed. spacebiff.com/2025/02/12/m...
spacebiff.com
Love and Heartbreak in Georgian London
As a second-grader, I despised recess. Not because I enjoyed class — it was boring and tedious, hemmed in by schedules and busywork — but rather because I was lonely. Some people don’t unders…
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Dan Thurot @danthurot.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Chicago '68 applies the card-driven formula to street action and protest rather than sweeping strategic conflict, presenting a more intimate and timely look at how the most important power is local power. spacebiff.com/2024/08/19/c...
spacebiff.com
The Whole World Is Watching
It’s a rare board game that asks you to locate yourself in history. To do more than merely visit some remote decade but to recognize your place within it, the ways it has accompanied your cou…
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Dan Thurot @danthurot.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
First is Battlefields of the Napoleonic Wars, an incredibly approachable introduction to hex-and-counter table battles. Its designers run this business out of their basements; it's a labor of love, and surprisingly innovative. spacebiff.com/2025/09/25/b...
spacebiff.com
Hex-and-Counter Meets Its Little Boney
Hex-and-counter has always been that inscrutable corner of the wargaming hobby for me. Whenever I venture over, it’s like getting a faceful of cobwebs. And don’t even get me started on …
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Dan Thurot @danthurot.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
The Summit Award nominees for @sdhistcon.bsky.social have been announced! I wanted to take a minute to mention each one in turn and why it's so exciting.
SDHistCon Summit Award logo
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BoardGameWire 🔜 Spiel Essen @boardgamewire.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
From 1968 Chicago protests to queer life in Georgian London: Summit Award continues to celebrate designs that broaden historical gaming: boardgamewire.com/index.php/20... @sdhistcon.bsky.social @colewehrle.bsky.social @fgradaille.bsky.social @miasmacorp.bsky.social @yoyoni.bsky.social
Logo featuring an illustration of a three-peaked mountain in white, light blue and black, with a large yellow circle representing the sun appearing from behind it. Inside the sun is the logo for SD Hist Con, around the sun is written 'Broadening Historical Gaming', and below is written Summit Award. Logo for the Summit Award for historical board games which have attracted new players or introduced new subjects or perspectives to the hobby.Red and blue cubes on a game board representing the city of Chicago, in green and beige and blue/grey. Board and components from the board game Chicago '68, designed by Yoni Goldstein.Game board, yellow and white components and four cards from the board game Onoda. The game board is a map of a green island with blue water surrounding it. The yello components are triangles with a black exclamation mark, and the white components a Japanese soldier from WW2 and what looks to be a sword in a rock. Components from the Onoda board game, designed by Francisco Gradaille.The words Molly HOuse in elaborate pink script, on a darker pink background which on inspection is a line drawn scene of polite society below, and a masked ball above. Box cover for the board game Molly House, designed by Jo Kelly and Cole Wehrle.
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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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Meeple Lady @meeplelady.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
NEW POST: Last month, @sdhistcon.bsky.social held its first ever North convention in St. Paul, Minneapolis, inside the Union Depot, a gorgeous location that had lots of hotels and restaurants within walking distance. Here's what I played. www.boardgamemeeplelady.com/2026/08/05/s...
boardgamemeeplelady.com
SDHistCon North: Undaunted 2200: Revolution, Baltic Empires, Penitent -
Last month, SDHistCon held its first ever North convention in St. Paul, Minneapolis, on July 11-12, 2026. SDHistCon North was held inside the Union Depot, a gorgeous location that had lots of hotels a...
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SDHistCon @sdhistcon.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
Badges for SDHistCon Summit 2026 are now live here: tabletop.events/conventions/.... Come join us in San Diego this fall! More information: sdhist.com/badges-on-sa...
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Andrew Bucholtz @andrewbucholtz.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Hopping on The Chit Show with Harold Buchanan, @ardwulf.bsky.social, and Dan Pancaldi to talk about past and upcoming @sdhistcon.bsky.social events! Tune in:
youtube.com
CHIT SHOW SPECIAL | SDHistCon with Harold and Andrew
YouTube video by Ardwulf's Lair
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SDHistCon @sdhistcon.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Thanks to everyone who made #SDHistConNorth2026 so magical! Here's a recap looking back at it, with photos and collections of written, audio, and video recaps from attendees: sdhist.com/highlights-a...
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SDHistCon @sdhistcon.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Our next convention is just around the corner! Saturday, Aug. 8 at noon PDT/3 p.m. EDT, tickets will go on sale for #SDHistConSummit2026, to be held from Nov. 6-9 at the SES Portuguese Hall in Point Loma San Diego (with a pre-convention brewery meetup Nov. 5). More info: sdhist.com/tickets-sdhi...
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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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YoYoni @yoyoni.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
Please consider nominating Chicago ‘68 for this year’s @sdhistcon.bsky.social Summit Award ✊
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Keith DeViere Donaldson @kddgames.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
I just ordered 500 Steel 9mm Luger Once Fired Casings for use as pawns in the 50 copies of COINTELPRO: The Assaination of Fred Hampton, I'll have for sale at the @sdhistcon.bsky.social Summit 2026 Night Market. They've been wet washed and dry tumbled. Don't worry about explosive residue. Trust me!
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SDHistCon @sdhistcon.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
Nominations are now open for the 2026 Summit Award (for historical games published in 2025) and the 2026 Bobby Nunes Memorial Award (for historical gaming content published in 2025)! More info, and the nominations form, available here: sdhist.com/nominations-...
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Grant (Cardboard Pusher) @pushingcardboard.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
On my most recent Live Cardboard, I did a recap of everything I did and saw at SD Histcon North. It ends with a conversation about weather, because that's what midwesterners do. @sdhistcon.bsky.social #SDHistConNorth2026 youtube.com/live/6YMM6-Z...
youtube.com
Live Cardboard 36 - SDHJist North Recap
YouTube video by Pushing Cardboard
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SDHistCon @sdhistcon.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
Thanks to @beyondsolitaire.bsky.social for a great recap of her time at #SDHistConNorth2026! youtu.be/yNywN2718Oo
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Matt @matt.blobfish.zone · 14/07/2026
SDHistConNorth was a great time! The only thing better than the games were the kind and welcoming people at the table. My wife and I had a great time. Thanks to all the folks teaching games and the @sdhistcon.bsky.social staff making sure things were running smoothly!
Players learning Tank Duel examining their hands of cards and deciding what to do next.Matt and Drew going through a big stack of letters from the John Company Megagame as the Larkins family looks on.Players gathered around a table of Coast Watchers. One side is examining a chit and reading the player guide.
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Zilla Blitz @zillablitz.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
An awesome recap of SDHistCon! @sdhistcon.bsky.social #boardwargames #boardgames
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Zilla Blitz @zillablitz.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
More fun from SDHistCon North. :) A delightful game of Crisis 1914 with the marvelous @beyondsolitaire.bsky.social, @djackthompson.bsky.social, @pushingcardboard.bsky.social, and @lukeevison.bsky.social. @sdhistcon.bsky.social
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The Frozen Gamer❄️ @thefrozengamer.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
4th game played at SDHistConNorth Rebels Against Rebellion by @djackthompson.bsky.social and Trevor Benjamin. Super interesting little-known civil war theme, 2 player deck builder of sorts. The game def won me over. Lots of tension and our game felt very balanced @sdhistcon.bsky.social
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The Frozen Gamer❄️ @thefrozengamer.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
3rd game played at SDHistConNorth - Politik - a heavy but accessible game on Gamefound now, taught by @zillablitz.bsky.social. Play political, economical and military fronts in a Euro style game making a tight sandbox feel to it. Really cool, amazing art. @sdhistcon.bsky.social
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The Frozen Gamer❄️ @thefrozengamer.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
2nd game played at SDHistConNorth - Shakespeare’s First Folio by @fortcircle.bsky.social. I pre-ordered this a while back as theme wise and tricktaking it is a perfect game for me. Loved it. @sdhistcon.bsky.social
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The Frozen Gamer❄️ @thefrozengamer.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
First game played at SDHistConNorth - Microverse by Sam London and @gmtgames.bsky.social 4x space game with very different faction powers - I immediately P500’d it. @sdhistcon.bsky.social
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Luke Evison @lukeevison.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
An interlude for the England-Norway game at the excellent Barrel Theory was then prelude to perhaps THE event of the Con, the John Company Mega Game run by the @wehrlegig.games crew. I couldn't have wished for a finer family to plunder, scandalise, & be clueless with than my fellow Larkins. (Pt 4)
A glass of seriously Hazy murk, with fine lacing in a barrle theory glass. Held in front of a TV with a blurry Jude Bellignham looming.The Riverview room, packed out as Cole, Drew, Cardner, and Matt prepare to put us all through our paces. The Larkins family were an independent firm, and so had our own table. All the other families are gathered on the long conference table. At the end of the room is a white board, beyond which lies India.My first two characters, enthusiastic but naive military officers to be dispatched to Bengal and write useless letters about their own ineptitude. On the table behind we see two fellow family members furiously engaged in letter writing
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Luke Evison @lukeevison.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
After lunch I filled in on a game of Shakespeare's First Folio (@fortcircle.bsky.social), which is light but lovely, as well as gorgeously illustrated (my own photo didn't do justice). Then a speedy impromptu playtest of Hell Raisers- testing a company coal/bidding idea from a test on Friday (pt3)
The map for First Folio, locations (on the left) form spaces for workers placement, and on the right is a market for persons and playsThe cards and people all have fabulous illustrations, this one is from A Midsummer Nights Dream, I think. It shows a humanoid horse in pantaloons, being acosted by green haired fae, and is charming Hell Raisers on the table, a looooong cars market is accompanied by a small board covered in sticks (at work or striking). Cole, David, and Guy sit at the table, helping me test!
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Luke Evison @lukeevison.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
I then had a blast with @yoyoni.bsky.social's Nights of Ludd. All mills wrecked, all oaths kept, but certainly not all objectives met. Coordinating actions & dodging the authorities is very much the game- but you individual priorities (for Studham, Baines, Byron, & co) risk tearing you apart (pt2)
The 4 of us conspire, sitting to the left and overlooking the table. My board as Elizabeth Studham, aiming to minimise deportations. Towards the top of the image is the main game board, with red cubes showing idle mill workers and the back chess pieces representing the army and militias on our tail
The main game board is center table, and I seem to be gesturing at an icon (I think 'Militia advance') Thank you again to Yoni for the photo!
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Luke Evison @lukeevison.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
A personal #SDHistConNorth2026 recap- Day 1 Morn: We kicked off in the stately (and mercifully well-cooled) Union Depot, with @ryanschneider.bsky.social manning the greeting desks. I sat in on an immediately spicy Night Witches demo from @beyondsolitaire.bsky.social, who pulled no punches! (pt1...)
Union Depot is a grand collondaded turn of the century railway station, seen here dwarfing its gardens on a blue sky day.
This is the hall which the Red Cap room overlooked. Lovely lighting, grand curves, and marble all round. 
Night Witches on the table, a plane can be seen with two failures out, 1 bomb gone, and on the map book next to it many aa guns sit around the plane.
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Andrew Bucholtz @andrewbucholtz.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
People were the best part of #SDHistConNorth2026! Thanks @jeffdreher.bsky.social, @danbullock.bsky.social, @ryanschneider.bsky.social, @beyondsolitaire.bsky.social, @meeplelady.bsky.social, @djackthompson.bsky.social, @volko.bsky.social, @colewehrle.bsky.social, + all other board/advisors/attendees!
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Andrew Bucholtz @andrewbucholtz.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
And our pre-convention events were incredible, including Fort Snelling, the Minnesota History Center tour, and the brewery mixer at MetroNOME.
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Andrew Bucholtz @andrewbucholtz.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
#SDHistConNorth2026 was one of my personal favourite convention experiences. My teaches/plays were a great mix of lovely weird games (Confederate Rails, O Canada, High Treason, Pacific Typhoon) and popular bangers (Liberty or Death, Tank Duel, Fate of the Fellowship, Fellowship trick-taking).
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Luke Evison @lukeevison.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
I'm plotting a proper recap post later today, but in short SDHistConNorth was a fantastic time. Huge thanks to all the organisers and fellow gamers, local and afar for being so welcoming!
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SDHistCon @sdhistcon.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
Thank you to everyone who came to #SDHistConNorth2026 this weekend! We had a tremendous convention at the Union Depot in St. Paul. We appreciate all of you for making it such an outstanding event!
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Ardwulf the Traveller @ardwulf.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
Games on Tables at SDHISTCON North.
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Andrew Bucholtz @andrewbucholtz.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
Thanks to all the @sdhistcon.bsky.social staff and attendees for making #SDHistConNorth2026 a special weekend! It was an incredible historical gaming convention. And it was awesome to see so many old friends and make some new ones!
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Grant (Cardboard Pusher) @pushingcardboard.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
Sam London in his Common Sense tricorne teaching his Microverse game (I think) #sdhistconnorth2026
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Grant (Cardboard Pusher) @pushingcardboard.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
Mark Herman and his son Grant teach Dan P and me Pericles in a late session. Once you absorb the multiple mechanics it’s a fantastic game. Crazy fun. #sdhistconnorth2026
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Grant (Cardboard Pusher) @pushingcardboard.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
David Siskin helping Mike S and I play La Der des Ders. Great game! #sdhistconnorth2026
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John Wolf @wolfdog.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
Going to finish up #sdhistconnorth2026 with World Order.
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John Wolf @wolfdog.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
Starting the day with @gmtgames.bsky.social Baltic Empires featuring @zillablitz.bsky.social #sdhistconnorth2026
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Andrew Bucholtz @andrewbucholtz.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
Some Day 2 highlights for me from #SDHistConNorth2026: Tank Duel, High Treason: The Trial of Louis Riel, O Canada, and Pacific Typhoon. Got to play some great games with better people!
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Andrew Bucholtz @andrewbucholtz.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
"July 2026. @jeffdreher.bsky.social is now master of Europe. Only a giant neoprene mat stands before him. CONVENTIONS ARE NOW BATTLEFIELDS." #SDHistConNorth2026
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Meeple Lady @meeplelady.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
What an amazing time! Glad I got a chance to go to the inaugural one.
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Ryan Schneider @ryanschneider.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
Thank you #SDHistConNorth2026. Hope to see you all next year! @sdhistcon.bsky.social
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Pete @petewiss.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
Coolest thing though was meeting folks that share a common passion for history and niche heavy games. It was also a DREAM to hang out with the @buriedgiantstudios.bsky.social / @wehrlegig.games crew. These great games are made by great people. Thanks to @colewehrle.bsky.social for all that.
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Pete @petewiss.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
First play was the upcoming second edition of An Infamous Traffic by @colewehrle.bsky.social and @wehrlegig.games . This was a tight economic game that was super nasty and I had a wonderful time with it. I ended up with negative points because I got too greedy with prizes.
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Pete @petewiss.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
Here’s my recap of @sdhistcon.bsky.social North. It was my first historical game con and I had an amazing time. It was different from other cons I’ve attended in that the bulk of the play happening centers around pre scheduled games. Luckily I was prepared and had @luke6080.bsky.social as a buddy.
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