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Thomas Brandstetter

@thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social
690 followers 508 following 797 posts

Miniature wargames, role-playing games, boardgames, game studies, game design, history. He/Him. OUT NOW: Torpedoes and Tides. A WWII Coastal Forces Wargame. Get the printed book from Lulu or the pdf from Ganesha Games.

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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
The latest issue of the excellent french wargaming magazine Vae Victis features a review of Torpedoes and Tides! And what's more, it's a positive one 🙂 #torpedoesandtides
Review of Torpedoes and Tides in Vae Victis nr 188.
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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Crafting resistance: Blouse made by a French woman during the German occupation - a dangerous symbol of resistance. She wore it on liberation day. Great example of how crafting can be a bodily technique „to make hope possible, rather than despair convincing“. Collection Musée Galliera Paris
Blouse from the collection of the Musée Galliera Paris
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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
My favourite area in Paris: marché d’Aligre
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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Fantastic ship models in the Musée national de la Marine in Paris, but only one photo because the light and the display cases made it difficult to photograph.
Model of a sailing ship
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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Had a brilliant game of Napoleon 1806 with @viennagrog.bsky.social yesterday. I was a bit too rash and got Napoleon captured by the Prussians (quelle honte!). But the game flows at a good pace and rewards planning while still having enough friction to satisfy my Clausewitzian heart. #wargaming
Napoleon 1806 by Shakos.
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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Due to a case of mistaken identity, the Italian boat comes under a full barrage of fire from the Ju 88. Tough luck for the Italians in this scenario playtest for the upcoming Torpedoes and Tides scenario book. #navalwargaming #torpedoesandtides
Table with cloth representing the ocean and ship models in 1/1250 and an aircraft model in 1/600.
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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
It's that time of the year again!
Image with Humpty Dumpty doing fall related things, such as taking a walk, carving a bumpkin, reading and picking fruit, with the heading: "Humpty Dumpty had a great fall". Artwork (c) WholesomeNsuchArt
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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Played Port Arthur yesterday. It so happened that there was an epic Battle of Tsushima, but the result was very different from the historical one - the Japanese got a thorough trouncing, and when the flagship Mikasa vanished beneath the waves, they abandoned the invasion of Manchuria #navalwargaming
Boardgame Port Arthur, with two large fleets in the Tsushima zone.Boardgame Port Arthur. The two fleets in the Tsushima zone are much smaller now.
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Reposted by Thomas Brandstetter
Count Belisarius @countbelisarius.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
There is an auto blog post appearing for this as but for people not wanting to click through here are pics, the result of my recent painting. A concert for the Archduke of Altefritzenburg by the keyboardist Sir Archibald Bax, who he affectionately refers to as 'Meiner Lieber Archie'... #wargaming
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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
I playtested a Torpedoes and Tides scenario today. It's based on an early experiment with rockets mounted on MTBs by the US MTBRON 15 in the Med in February 1944. The squadron was out to hunt MFPs, but stumbled upon torpedoe boats instead. 1/6 #navalwargaming #torpedoesandtides
Table with cloth representing the sea, model islands and model ships in 1/1250 scale.
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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
More Torpedoes and Tides fun, this time by @kaptainkobold.bsky.social: hordesofthethings.blogspot.com/2026/08/more... #navalwargaming
hordesofthethings.blogspot.com
More Dancing In The Dark
A blog about wargames. Mostly miniature wargames. Focusing on 'Hordes of the Things'.
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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
It makes me very happy that people keep on playing Torpedoes and Tides: onesidedminiaturewargamingdiscourse.blogspot.com/2026/08/torp... #navalwargaming
onesidedminiaturewargamingdiscourse.blogspot.com
Torpedoes and Tides - Making a Beginning Twice
The first game of the Making a Beginning scenario pitted Simon in command of the returning S-Boots against Stephen with three MGB out for re...
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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
First game of Snorkers (Good oh!). Holy Horatio, torpedoes are deadly! My Italians were decimated by the RN. Fun game though. I like the card activation, exploding dice make the shooting process more exciting, force morale plays a role & torpedo hit resolution is interesting. #navalwargaming
All the ships.Find the missing ships.
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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
For this year's International Naval Wargaming Day, we played a Torpedoes and Tides scenario about Polish MGB S-2 engaging a formation of 4 German S-boats in the early hours of 22nd June 1942. Very challenging for the Polish player! #navalwargaming #torpedoesandtides
Table with cloth representing the ocean and model ships in 1/1250 scale.
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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
Very cool Torpedoes and Tides game report from @kaptainkobold.bsky.social: hordesofthethings.blogspot.com/2026/08/danc... And I'm chuffed that he chose TnT to celebrated International Naval Wargames Day! #navalwargaming
hordesofthethings.blogspot.com
Dancing In The Dark
A blog about wargames. Mostly miniature wargames. Focusing on 'Hordes of the Things'.
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Reposted by Thomas Brandstetter
Battle Brush Studios @battlebrushstudios.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Heyhey, I got to play Tilly's Very Bad Day with @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social . Here's my rules introduction, some thoughts and a battle report: tabletopstories.net/language/en/... Hope you find the post interesting! (available in English and German)
10mm Thirty Year War miniatures
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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
This is very cool! I always wanted to learn bookbinding...
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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Cool report of a game of Torpedoes and Tides. They played the False Nose Job scenario: onesidedminiaturewargamingdiscourse.blogspot.com/2026/07/fals...
onesidedminiaturewargamingdiscourse.blogspot.com
False Nose Job - A Scenario for Torpedoes and Tides
Mark B took on the job of a secret mission to XXXX and deliver XXXX.   It was all very hush hush.  For the mission he was given two British...
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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
We played the Battle of Heligoland 1864 yesterday using Galleys & Galleons. It worked ok-ish but not perfectly. At least the result was almost historical apart from a prussian ship blowing up 😀. I might try it again with another ruleset. Still, we had fun pushing the ships around. #navalwargaming
Ship models in 1/1200 by Spithead miniatures on a blue surface representing the ocean.
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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 26/07/2026
At this year's traditional summer gaming event, we had three fantastic tables: Space Gitz, Flashing Steel and Galleys & Galleons. But most important of all, we had a bunch of great people getting together to spend an afternoon gaming! This is always one of the highlights of the year for me.
Table with the tabletop game Space Gitz being played.Table with a four-player game of Flashing Steel being played.Table with a four-player game of Galleys & Galleons with fantasy fleets.
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Reposted by Thomas Brandstetter
Battle Brush Studios @battlebrushstudios.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Well, it only took 6 weeks, but here's my show report of Austrian Salute. :D www.battlebrushstudios.com/2026/07/show... As always, just a quick overview of the games on the day. Hope you find it interesting!
battlebrushstudios.com
Show Report: Austrian Salute 2026
Heyhey, it's been a while since the last update. The reason being that I was busy finishing stuff! I'm back now, and here's my annual show...
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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Had a game of Tilly's Very Bad Day with @battlebrushstudios.bsky.social yesterday, using his lovely collection of figures. It was a bad day for the Catholics indeed. I had a plan, I stuck to it, I rolled well and everything came together for once. A resounding Swedish victory! #wargaming
Table with miniatures in 10mm scale and terrain.Table with miniatures in 10mm scale and terrain.
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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
Boats from the Yugoslavian partisan navy attacking a German convoy in the Adriatic. Playtest for an upcoming scenario book for Torpedoes and Tides (the book will contain scenarios for different theatres of the war, but with a focus on lesser known navies). #navalwargaming #torpedoesandtides
Table with a cloth representing the sea, a coast and islands as well as miniature ships in 1/1250 scale.
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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 21/06/2026
Torpedoes and Tides scenario playtest. The Operation Pedestal convoy was attacked by 23 small torpedo craft in the night of 12th/13th August 1942. My scenario represents a small part of this action, focussing on the Italian MS and MAS boats. Here, they stealthy approach a part of the convoy...
Table with a cloth representing the ocean and blinds representing hidden ships.
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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 20/06/2026
Secret operations during World War 2 attracted the most excentric men and women. The above is a quote from Cecil Sander's memoirs Mediterranean War Cruise. Sanders served in MTBRON 15 in the Mediterranean and his PT boat was involved in numerous secret operations. Sanders is not facetious here: 1/2
Image that shows a quote that reads as: "We are always carrying around with us the boys of the Naval intelligence, a galaxy of ex-wrestlers, circus owners and whatnots."
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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
Another Battletech: Aces game with @cgoepa.bsky.social and @battlebrushstudios.bsky.social . Tanit's Talons successfully defended the geothermal-desalination-whatever-plant that keeps the planet running (or so we were told - we are mercenaries, not engineers). Great fun! #battletech #wargaming
Table with desert terrain and buildings and models of mechs.
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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
The cat helped my wife put things away on the shelf.
Dark grey cat sitting in a narrow shelf.
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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 13/06/2026
Giving Mike Lambo's Battles for Normandy a try to see what the fuzz is all about. It's a clever little solo game that achieves a lot with minimal rules overhead. I like the bookgame format and the addition of counters makes it much more dynamic than similar offerings from other publishers. 1/2
Scenario 1 of Battle of Normandy (Mike Lambo 2022). More information: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/356224/battles-of-normandy-a-solitaire-wargame
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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 30/05/2026
Torpedoes and Tides at Austrian Salute today! #torpedoesandtides
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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
Just had my first game of @lackingceremony.bsky.social's Monsterhearts (yeah, that late to the party). One of the best RPGs I've played for a very long while. The rules and the rulebook are a masterclass in game design and writing. The mechanisms are well structured and precise 1/4
Cover of the tabletop role-playing game Monsterhearts 2 by Avery Alder.
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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
Over in Orkney, Angus Konstam and Nick Hewitt played another game of Torpedoes and Tides at their club. This was a large one, with Dog boats attacking the German commerce raider Orion. Find out who won here: orkneywargames.com/the-orion-co... #torpedoesandtides
orkneywargames.com
The Orion Convoy – Orkney Wargames
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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 16/05/2026
For all Torpedoes and Tides players looking for more scenarios: David Manley just released a coastal forces scenario book for the Baltic theatre. If you fancy playing with the somewhat unconventional Tupolev G-5 MTBs get yourself a copy here: www.wargamevault.com/de/product/5... #torpedoesandtides
wargamevault.com
Wargame Vault - The Largest RPG Download Store!
Wargame Vault is the largest wargame download store.
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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
As a birthday present, my wife had the original of Andrea Sfiligoi's cover image for Torpedoes and Tides framed. This week we could finally pick it up. The frame really makes the vibrant colours and the dynamic scene pop! #torpedoesandtides
Wall with a framed picture (cover image of my game Torpedoes and Tides) and a small display case of ship models beneath.
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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
For those of you playing Torpedoes and Tides, here is a short errata and FAQ: wargamingraft.wordpress.com/wp-content/u... Fortunately, the errata is very short, although every mistake is annoying. If you find any more, or have questions, please let me know! #torpedoesandtides #navalwargaming
wargamingraft.wordpress.com
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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
I've just published a new scenario for Torpedoes and Tides. This is a large one, written for 4 players, though it can of course be played with 2. It's about an MTB attack on the last German convoy leaving the besieged port of Cherbourg in Jun 1944: www.wargamevault.com/de/product/5...
Cover of the TnT scenario Last Exit Cherbourg.
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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
Just had a very inspiring and productive workshop session with @cgoepa.bsky.social collecting ideas for a new game. Everything is still in a very early phase of brainstorming, but today's session yielded a lot of promising avenues. I'll let you guess what the game might be about... #gamedesign
Model ships on a blue surface.
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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 02/05/2026
Today, we had a splendid walk in the Danube National Park. I love those primordial wetlands and woods, walking there makes you feel like you are far away from Vienna. Also, we saw a creepy tree, a red kite and snakes: a young and angry European grass snake and a large Aesculapean snake (I think).
An arm of the Danube at the National Park near Maria Ellend.Dead tree that forms the impression of a screaming face.Small European grass snake poised to attack.
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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
Large game of Torpedoes and Tides. A heavily defended German convoy forms up outside Cherbourg harbour, with smoke drifting over the sea from the burning city. The Allies attack with 3 MGBs and 3 MTBs. The first probes by the MGBs encounter heavily armed Marinefährpramen. 1/4
Gaming table with sea cloth and ship models in 1/1200 scale.
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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
A solo game of Atlantic Chase ends with a clear British victory: I have safely brought in two convoys and landed troops to contest the German invasion of Norway. I also sunk the Graf Spee! A hun commerce raider is breaking out to South America, but we'll deal with it later. Tally ho! #navalwargaming
End state of the boardgame Atlantic Chase, showing a map of the North Atlantic with ship trajectories.
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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 25/04/2026
And Ilya from Dragonhorse GW also released a set of boats and ships for Torpedoes and Tides as stl files! Again, they are pay-what-you want, which is incredibly generous: www.wargamevault.com/de/product/5... #torpedoesandtides
Photo of 3D-printed ships in 1/1250 scale.
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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
Dragonhorse GW just released stl files for a Torpedoes and Tides accessories set, including moon markers, blinds, a turning template and other useful things. And it's pay what you like! www.wargamevault.com/de/product/5... #torpedoesandtides
wargamevault.com
DriveThruRPG
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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
We played another game of the Battletech Aces: Scouring Sands Campaign! As always, @battlebrushstudios.bsky.social wrote an AAR on his blog: tabletopstories.net/language/en/... #battletech
tabletopstories.net
Battletech Scouring Sands: Game 5 – Tabletop Stories
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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 18/04/2026
Another great (and very kind) report by someone playing Torpedoes and Tides with 1/300 models. Having playtested it with my tiny 1/1250 ships, I'm really glad it seems to work well with large vessels: grahamsgaming.blogspot.com/2026/04/firs... #torpedoesandtides #navalwargaming
grahamsgaming.blogspot.com
First Game with Torpedoes and Tides
When Cruel Seas first came out we played it a lot and Colin and myself invested heavily in additional boats. But after a while the rules be...
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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
Naval historians @nickhewitt4.bsky.social and Angus Konstam have recently played Torpedoes and Tides - twice! What an honour! Read about their games here: www.orkneywargames.com/the-goodwin-... #torpedoesandtides
orkneywargames.com
The Goodwin Sands 1941 – Orkney Wargames
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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
A user of the naval wargaming group over on FB has created 3-D files for Torpedoes and Tides: boats, blinds, a measuring stick and even moon markers. Fantastic work! (He will publish the stl files at a later date). It's humbling to see how much creativity people put into the game. #torpedoesandtides
3-D printed markers for Torpedoes and Tides. Design and photo by Ilya Yudovsky.
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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 11/04/2026
Played a couple of games of Torpedoes and Tides recently. Despite all the playtesting and scenario design and whatnot, I still enjoy the game. And I'm incredibly happy that others seem to enjoy it, too! Thank you to all who have bought it and played it and posted kind words about it.
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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 10/04/2026
Hi! For those of you playing Torpedoes and Tides: I have just published a new scenario. This time, it's about a German S-boat flotilla getting surprised by British MTBs while on a mine-laying mission. I hope you enjoy it: www.wargamevault.com/de/product/5... #torpedoesandtides #navalwargaming
wargamevault.com
DriveThruRPG
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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
One of the birthday presents I got is this graphic novel about 'La Nueve', a company in the Div. Leclerc of the Free French forces that consisted mainly of Spanish republicans who had fought in the Spanish Civil War and then went on to help liberate France from fascism. 1/2 #graphicnovel
Cover of the German edition of the graphic novel "Die Heimatlosen" by Paco Roca, published as "Twists of Fate" in english.
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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 05/04/2026
Happy Easter! Here's a festive image from our WH Renaissance game, with @battlebrushstudios.bsky.social's avalry in a wild melee with @cgoepa.bsky.social's goblin horde. I really learned to respect the poultry there. #warhammerrenaissance
A table with 28mm miniatures. To the left, a goblin horde and to the right, rooster-riding halflings.
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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
I have created simple cardboard standees of coastal forces craft, if anyone wants to try out Torpedoes and Tides without investing in ship models. They are a bit crude, but my drawing skills are limited. But at least they are free: site.wargamevault.com/product/5627... #torpedoesandtides
site.wargamevault.com
Torpedoes and Tides Standees - The Raft Games | Wargame Vault
This booklet contains cardboard standees for all four historical scenarios in the Torpedoes and Tides rulebook in 1/1250
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