Cardboard Linguist
@cardboardlinguist.bsky.social
A British translator's adventures in board games. Looking particularly at the French- and German-speaking board game community.
He/him (EN/FR/DE)
He/him (EN/FR/DE)
Reposted by Cardboard Linguist
In 2024 I kept a diary on a deck of cards. Every week I would write an abbreviated summary of the main events, in ultrafine sharpie. 52 weeks, 52 cards.
I finished the year, but the plan was to play Solitaire on NYE as a means of reflecting on the year, and I never did that.
I finished the year, but the plan was to play Solitaire on NYE as a means of reflecting on the year, and I never did that.
October 4, 2026 at 3:12 AM
In 2024 I kept a diary on a deck of cards. Every week I would write an abbreviated summary of the main events, in ultrafine sharpie. 52 weeks, 52 cards.
I finished the year, but the plan was to play Solitaire on NYE as a means of reflecting on the year, and I never did that.
I finished the year, but the plan was to play Solitaire on NYE as a means of reflecting on the year, and I never did that.
How much did Horror on the Orient Express people have to pay Hugh Laurie/the Blackadder crew in royalties? The people demand answers!
September 26, 2026 at 4:18 PM
How much did Horror on the Orient Express people have to pay Hugh Laurie/the Blackadder crew in royalties? The people demand answers!
Reposted by Cardboard Linguist
I actually wish bgg would include critic scores for board games along with user (audience) scores - like rotten tomatoes.
Why can’t we have acknowledged board game critics after many decades of board game review and critique?
Sure it’s a bit exclusive but it could be organised in a sensible way.
Why can’t we have acknowledged board game critics after many decades of board game review and critique?
Sure it’s a bit exclusive but it could be organised in a sensible way.
August 16, 2026 at 8:05 AM
I actually wish bgg would include critic scores for board games along with user (audience) scores - like rotten tomatoes.
Why can’t we have acknowledged board game critics after many decades of board game review and critique?
Sure it’s a bit exclusive but it could be organised in a sensible way.
Why can’t we have acknowledged board game critics after many decades of board game review and critique?
Sure it’s a bit exclusive but it could be organised in a sensible way.
Tempted to try this with my English-speaking group and really push "no-preparation" with on-the-fly translation. Would of course try to keep an outrageous French accent going throughout the session...
Ce week-end à Octogones, mon dernier #jdr c'est vendu comme des petits pains qui se vendent bien... Et ça fait trop du bien du plaisir de la joie dans mon coeur !
si vous aussi vous voulez ce mini-banger-de jeu indé de rien du tout, il est en pdf sur itch :
guillaumejentey.itch.io/ze-attack-of...
si vous aussi vous voulez ce mini-banger-de jeu indé de rien du tout, il est en pdf sur itch :
guillaumejentey.itch.io/ze-attack-of...
Ze Attack of Ze Autruches Synthétiques by GuillaumeJentey
slasher cartoonesque sans MJ ni préparation
guillaumejentey.itch.io
May 26, 2026 at 4:49 PM
Tempted to try this with my English-speaking group and really push "no-preparation" with on-the-fly translation. Would of course try to keep an outrageous French accent going throughout the session...
Alright, that's this year's edition of Eurovision Bingo sorted. Nieces appeased, and their parents will be pleased that they won't get pestered about it now.
May 10, 2026 at 5:14 PM
Alright, that's this year's edition of Eurovision Bingo sorted. Nieces appeased, and their parents will be pleased that they won't get pestered about it now.
Had my eye on this project: a dexterity, polyomino-stacking game themed around nebulae collapsing into stars. Some push-your-luck, not wanting to make a tower too stable or unstable.
Crowdfunding now at (EN interface): www.ulule.com/nebulae-orig...
#boardgames #brettspiele #j2s
/1
Crowdfunding now at (EN interface): www.ulule.com/nebulae-orig...
#boardgames #brettspiele #j2s
/1
May 6, 2026 at 10:30 AM
Had my eye on this project: a dexterity, polyomino-stacking game themed around nebulae collapsing into stars. Some push-your-luck, not wanting to make a tower too stable or unstable.
Crowdfunding now at (EN interface): www.ulule.com/nebulae-orig...
#boardgames #brettspiele #j2s
/1
Crowdfunding now at (EN interface): www.ulule.com/nebulae-orig...
#boardgames #brettspiele #j2s
/1
All these interesting 2-player games out there... and yet those are the ones I find hardest to get to the table as we're usually at least 3. :(
April 22, 2026 at 9:16 AM
All these interesting 2-player games out there... and yet those are the ones I find hardest to get to the table as we're usually at least 3. :(
Reposted by Cardboard Linguist
Types of Board Game
https://xkcd.com/3235/
I can't believe Candles of Vienna caved to commercial pressure and added the Goku expansion.
Explain xkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3235
https://xkcd.com/3235/
I can't believe Candles of Vienna caved to commercial pressure and added the Goku expansion.
Explain xkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3235
April 21, 2026 at 4:08 AM
Types of Board Game
https://xkcd.com/3235/
I can't believe Candles of Vienna caved to commercial pressure and added the Goku expansion.
Explain xkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3235
https://xkcd.com/3235/
I can't believe Candles of Vienna caved to commercial pressure and added the Goku expansion.
Explain xkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3235
Reposted by Cardboard Linguist
whoever this is, they are amazing
April 17, 2026 at 3:25 PM
whoever this is, they are amazing
Okay, very niche British culture, but this entire thread is delightful
Godzilla is attacking London and you must summon a British kaiju to defeat them. Who are you choosing?
March 21, 2026 at 11:57 AM
Okay, very niche British culture, but this entire thread is delightful
Good to see poking fun at generated images is in vogue on BGG.
March 16, 2026 at 11:34 AM
Good to see poking fun at generated images is in vogue on BGG.
Not sure whether to laugh or cry at someone making this: sweepthestrait.com
Minesweeper but not with your typical rectangular grid.
Minesweeper but not with your typical rectangular grid.
Sweep the Strait
sweepthestrait.com
March 11, 2026 at 12:34 PM
Not sure whether to laugh or cry at someone making this: sweepthestrait.com
Minesweeper but not with your typical rectangular grid.
Minesweeper but not with your typical rectangular grid.
Although not frequent, I always enjoy reading new posts by Sarah Shipp on integrating theme into board game design. This is her latest, the script for a talk she gave at GAMA. shippboardgames.blogspot.com/2026/03/gama...
GAMA 2026: Thematic Integration Talk
[I gave this talk at GAMA. It builds on some of the topics in my book. The talk wasn't recorded, so here's the manuscript.] Good morning, m...
shippboardgames.blogspot.com
March 10, 2026 at 2:44 PM
Although not frequent, I always enjoy reading new posts by Sarah Shipp on integrating theme into board game design. This is her latest, the script for a talk she gave at GAMA. shippboardgames.blogspot.com/2026/03/gama...
- So you got a French copy of Eternal Decks?
- Yup.
- And you're now learning it so you can teach 3 Germans to play it on Wednesday?
- Yup.
- Alright, have fun.
Gotta say, it is one dense little box. Lot of game packed into it.
#j2s #boardgames #brettspiele
- Yup.
- And you're now learning it so you can teach 3 Germans to play it on Wednesday?
- Yup.
- Alright, have fun.
Gotta say, it is one dense little box. Lot of game packed into it.
#j2s #boardgames #brettspiele
March 9, 2026 at 8:23 PM
- So you got a French copy of Eternal Decks?
- Yup.
- And you're now learning it so you can teach 3 Germans to play it on Wednesday?
- Yup.
- Alright, have fun.
Gotta say, it is one dense little box. Lot of game packed into it.
#j2s #boardgames #brettspiele
- Yup.
- And you're now learning it so you can teach 3 Germans to play it on Wednesday?
- Yup.
- Alright, have fun.
Gotta say, it is one dense little box. Lot of game packed into it.
#j2s #boardgames #brettspiele
I didn't get to play it at #fij2026 but an interesting mechanic from The Royal Society of Archeology is the worker placement slots. According to the strength of you worker, they are placed in the corresponding sector of the semicircle.
/1
#j2s #boardgames #brettspiele
/1
#j2s #boardgames #brettspiele
March 8, 2026 at 5:46 PM
I didn't get to play it at #fij2026 but an interesting mechanic from The Royal Society of Archeology is the worker placement slots. According to the strength of you worker, they are placed in the corresponding sector of the semicircle.
/1
#j2s #boardgames #brettspiele
/1
#j2s #boardgames #brettspiele
It's also an example of the failure of recommendation systems. When purely algorithmic, you'd just laugh about weird recommendations. Now, there's always that suspicion that it's being pushed to you because someone paid for it.
Shows the importance of finding reviewers you vibe with and can trust.
Shows the importance of finding reviewers you vibe with and can trust.
Hey board gamers - your feelings an opinions about games are being turned into slop.
There's a channel called Board Game Critique. All their videos are clearly made with AI. They fess up to this, but they claim that they write their own scripts.
I cannot definitively prove that they don't, but 1/x
There's a channel called Board Game Critique. All their videos are clearly made with AI. They fess up to this, but they claim that they write their own scripts.
I cannot definitively prove that they don't, but 1/x
March 6, 2026 at 4:44 PM
It's also an example of the failure of recommendation systems. When purely algorithmic, you'd just laugh about weird recommendations. Now, there's always that suspicion that it's being pushed to you because someone paid for it.
Shows the importance of finding reviewers you vibe with and can trust.
Shows the importance of finding reviewers you vibe with and can trust.
Whoops, got the wrong numbers for Spiel 2025. Have a correction and adding UKGE figures
UKGE 2025: 43,000 sq m - 72,000 attendees
Spiel 2025: 77,500 sq m - 220,000 attendees
FIJ 2026: > 60,000 sq m - 110,000 attendees
UKGE 2025: 43,000 sq m - 72,000 attendees
Spiel 2025: 77,500 sq m - 220,000 attendees
FIJ 2026: > 60,000 sq m - 110,000 attendees
So, expanding into that final Hall certainly makes sense for the number of attendees.
Just as a comparison:
Spiel 2025: 62,500 sq m - 220,000 attendees
FIJ 2026: > 60,000 sq m - 110,000 attendees
Not clear for the FIJ how much of that was in the tents outside, but no wonder it felt less crowded!
Just as a comparison:
Spiel 2025: 62,500 sq m - 220,000 attendees
FIJ 2026: > 60,000 sq m - 110,000 attendees
Not clear for the FIJ how much of that was in the tents outside, but no wonder it felt less crowded!
Giant board game fair Spiel Essen has expanded again to ‘max out’ its venue space amid “overwhelming interest” from exhibitors. The show's exhibition floor is now bigger than 15 American football pitches:
boardgamewire.com/index.php/20...
boardgamewire.com/index.php/20...
March 5, 2026 at 2:16 PM
Whoops, got the wrong numbers for Spiel 2025. Have a correction and adding UKGE figures
UKGE 2025: 43,000 sq m - 72,000 attendees
Spiel 2025: 77,500 sq m - 220,000 attendees
FIJ 2026: > 60,000 sq m - 110,000 attendees
UKGE 2025: 43,000 sq m - 72,000 attendees
Spiel 2025: 77,500 sq m - 220,000 attendees
FIJ 2026: > 60,000 sq m - 110,000 attendees
So, expanding into that final Hall certainly makes sense for the number of attendees.
Just as a comparison:
Spiel 2025: 62,500 sq m - 220,000 attendees
FIJ 2026: > 60,000 sq m - 110,000 attendees
Not clear for the FIJ how much of that was in the tents outside, but no wonder it felt less crowded!
Just as a comparison:
Spiel 2025: 62,500 sq m - 220,000 attendees
FIJ 2026: > 60,000 sq m - 110,000 attendees
Not clear for the FIJ how much of that was in the tents outside, but no wonder it felt less crowded!
Giant board game fair Spiel Essen has expanded again to ‘max out’ its venue space amid “overwhelming interest” from exhibitors. The show's exhibition floor is now bigger than 15 American football pitches:
boardgamewire.com/index.php/20...
boardgamewire.com/index.php/20...
March 5, 2026 at 1:54 PM
So, expanding into that final Hall certainly makes sense for the number of attendees.
Just as a comparison:
Spiel 2025: 62,500 sq m - 220,000 attendees
FIJ 2026: > 60,000 sq m - 110,000 attendees
Not clear for the FIJ how much of that was in the tents outside, but no wonder it felt less crowded!
Just as a comparison:
Spiel 2025: 62,500 sq m - 220,000 attendees
FIJ 2026: > 60,000 sq m - 110,000 attendees
Not clear for the FIJ how much of that was in the tents outside, but no wonder it felt less crowded!
Time for a little roundup I suppose. I had a good time at #fij2026, interesting games, a good atmosphere and warm, friendly people to meet and play those games with.
- Lots of small game: trick-takers, grid-based tableau builders and duo/duel games on display
1/
#j2s #boardgames #brettspiele
- Lots of small game: trick-takers, grid-based tableau builders and duo/duel games on display
1/
#j2s #boardgames #brettspiele
March 3, 2026 at 9:21 AM
Time for a little roundup I suppose. I had a good time at #fij2026, interesting games, a good atmosphere and warm, friendly people to meet and play those games with.
- Lots of small game: trick-takers, grid-based tableau builders and duo/duel games on display
1/
#j2s #boardgames #brettspiele
- Lots of small game: trick-takers, grid-based tableau builders and duo/duel games on display
1/
#j2s #boardgames #brettspiele
And another example of the interesting cross-fertilisation going on between board games and computer games. The Mist is a Metroidvania in board game form.
1/
#fij2026 #j2s #boardgames #brettspiele
1/
#fij2026 #j2s #boardgames #brettspiele
March 1, 2026 at 3:41 PM
And another example of the interesting cross-fertilisation going on between board games and computer games. The Mist is a Metroidvania in board game form.
1/
#fij2026 #j2s #boardgames #brettspiele
1/
#fij2026 #j2s #boardgames #brettspiele
Ants are apparently a popular theme at the moment. Microlonies is a pretty brisk game that uses a mancala-esque system where you take all the ants from one section of your nest and leave one in each room on your path from that room. 1/
March 1, 2026 at 3:29 PM
Ants are apparently a popular theme at the moment. Microlonies is a pretty brisk game that uses a mancala-esque system where you take all the ants from one section of your nest and leave one in each room on your path from that room. 1/
A big appeal for heading to #FIJ was the Nuits du Off: evening events where designers can playtest their games. Tested out Yurei: Ghosts of Enoshima, a Pandemic-esque game of villagers trying to save their island from curses and ghosts.
#fij2026 #j2s #boardgames #brettspiele
#fij2026 #j2s #boardgames #brettspiele
February 28, 2026 at 7:59 AM
A big appeal for heading to #FIJ was the Nuits du Off: evening events where designers can playtest their games. Tested out Yurei: Ghosts of Enoshima, a Pandemic-esque game of villagers trying to save their island from curses and ghosts.
#fij2026 #j2s #boardgames #brettspiele
#fij2026 #j2s #boardgames #brettspiele
Panorama, a nice simple game where you ride around in a hot air balloon and build your landscape. Points are scored by multiplying animals and plants in contiguous area and 3 random bonus contracts drawn at the start of the game.
#fij2026 #j2s #boardgames #brettspiele
#fij2026 #j2s #boardgames #brettspiele
February 27, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Panorama, a nice simple game where you ride around in a hot air balloon and build your landscape. Points are scored by multiplying animals and plants in contiguous area and 3 random bonus contracts drawn at the start of the game.
#fij2026 #j2s #boardgames #brettspiele
#fij2026 #j2s #boardgames #brettspiele
Fond memories of FTL? Solo or 2-player version that seems very reminiscent from the explanation. No demo available unfortunately.
#fij2026 #boardgames #brettspiele
#fij2026 #boardgames #brettspiele
February 27, 2026 at 5:54 PM
Fond memories of FTL? Solo or 2-player version that seems very reminiscent from the explanation. No demo available unfortunately.
#fij2026 #boardgames #brettspiele
#fij2026 #boardgames #brettspiele