Mark Johnson
@wargamestogo.bsky.social
This is my wargame-focused account, tying in to my irregular podcast. Proud parent of trans & cis daughters.🏳️⚧️👩🏽🤝👩🏼 Discord: https://discord.gg/vxEG9bMPdx
WargamesToGo.com
WargamesToGo.com
Our trip to Ireland covered a lot of ground, and opened my eyes to the complex history of this amazing island. Dublin is great, but there’s a lot more to see, too.
October 4, 2026 at 6:24 PM
Our trip to Ireland covered a lot of ground, and opened my eyes to the complex history of this amazing island. Dublin is great, but there’s a lot more to see, too.
For all the endless wargames about familiar topics (Waterloo, Bulge, Gettysburg), I keep finding more topics without a single obvious title. Now visiting Ireland, I wish I could play something about the Williamite War or the Nine Years War.
September 29, 2026 at 1:48 PM
For all the endless wargames about familiar topics (Waterloo, Bulge, Gettysburg), I keep finding more topics without a single obvious title. Now visiting Ireland, I wish I could play something about the Williamite War or the Nine Years War.
Travel, history, movies, and games that help me learn about it more. (Not to mention podcasts, youtube vids, blogs, wikipedia…)
September 22, 2026 at 6:06 PM
Travel, history, movies, and games that help me learn about it more. (Not to mention podcasts, youtube vids, blogs, wikipedia…)
What should a history gamer like me see when visiting Ireland for the first time? GPO, Hill of Tara, Croke Park…? Of course we’re also seeing sites like the Cliffs of Moher. I’m asking about places of historical events.
September 11, 2026 at 12:12 AM
What should a history gamer like me see when visiting Ireland for the first time? GPO, Hill of Tara, Croke Park…? Of course we’re also seeing sites like the Cliffs of Moher. I’m asking about places of historical events.
Podcast episode 30 is up, a smaller one about Charlemagne and the Carolingians. Played some history games, read some books, visited Aachen…but saw no movies!
WargamesToGo.com
WargamesToGo.com
September 7, 2026 at 3:25 PM
Podcast episode 30 is up, a smaller one about Charlemagne and the Carolingians. Played some history games, read some books, visited Aachen…but saw no movies!
WargamesToGo.com
WargamesToGo.com
Another solo try at Les Rois Francs (Vae Victis mag, A La Charge system) via Vassal. Here Roland performs as per history (well, the legend/song) when serving as the rearguard for Charlemagne's departure from the Pyrenees.
August 23, 2026 at 11:40 PM
Another solo try at Les Rois Francs (Vae Victis mag, A La Charge system) via Vassal. Here Roland performs as per history (well, the legend/song) when serving as the rearguard for Charlemagne's departure from the Pyrenees.
There aren't many games about the Carolingians, or specifically Charlemagne. Luckily, one of the few also happens to be a great game. I'd played its predecessor, with the super clever cup-building system. Here the game is even more impressive. Abstract though it is, it brings the history to life.
August 17, 2026 at 2:46 AM
There aren't many games about the Carolingians, or specifically Charlemagne. Luckily, one of the few also happens to be a great game. I'd played its predecessor, with the super clever cup-building system. Here the game is even more impressive. Abstract though it is, it brings the history to life.
Battle of Tours 732AD, one of the Turning Point Simulations series of smaller wargames, but with a mounted map. They cover the so-called “20 Decisive Battles.” This one is by Berg, and a slightly lighter version of his MOI system. Which I don’t love, but appreciate learning about it all.
June 21, 2026 at 11:17 PM
Battle of Tours 732AD, one of the Turning Point Simulations series of smaller wargames, but with a mounted map. They cover the so-called “20 Decisive Battles.” This one is by Berg, and a slightly lighter version of his MOI system. Which I don’t love, but appreciate learning about it all.
That was fun--my first play of the À La Charge system from Vae Victis. Here I was was playing the Battle of Fontenoy-en-Puisaye, 841 (Lothaire vs. Charles the Bald and Louis the German). A very simple, introductory system. Still, felt right enough to me. Charges, disarray, and panicked retreats.
June 6, 2026 at 4:54 AM
That was fun--my first play of the À La Charge system from Vae Victis. Here I was was playing the Battle of Fontenoy-en-Puisaye, 841 (Lothaire vs. Charles the Bald and Louis the German). A very simple, introductory system. Still, felt right enough to me. Charges, disarray, and panicked retreats.
New podcast episode. I’m learning about Operation Torch, the real payoff was starting to understand more about what Vichy France was.
boardgamegeek.com/blog/2623/bl...
boardgamegeek.com/blog/2623/bl...
February 6, 2026 at 4:43 PM
New podcast episode. I’m learning about Operation Torch, the real payoff was starting to understand more about what Vichy France was.
boardgamegeek.com/blog/2623/bl...
boardgamegeek.com/blog/2623/bl...
Wow, a second Norwegian film was released last year about the invasion in 1940 and key decision of the Oscarsborg Fortress commander to fire. I need to watch this! Haven’t yet found a place to stream it.
youtu.be/ccz0EXDYg9E?...
youtu.be/ccz0EXDYg9E?...
The sinking of Blücher - The Battle of Oslo (2025)
YouTube video by ashton
youtu.be
December 31, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Wow, a second Norwegian film was released last year about the invasion in 1940 and key decision of the Oscarsborg Fortress commander to fire. I need to watch this! Haven’t yet found a place to stream it.
youtu.be/ccz0EXDYg9E?...
youtu.be/ccz0EXDYg9E?...
New podcast episode posted. It’s got my impressions from SDHistCon as well as a wrap up of the Invasion of Norway topic. WargamesToGo.com
December 15, 2025 at 8:28 PM
New podcast episode posted. It’s got my impressions from SDHistCon as well as a wrap up of the Invasion of Norway topic. WargamesToGo.com
Happy to back this one. A great subject, and I trust the team behind it (Liz, David, and Salt & Pepper). Hey @beyondsolitaire.bsky.social , what book would you recommend for more context?
December 4, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Happy to back this one. A great subject, and I trust the team behind it (Liz, David, and Salt & Pepper). Hey @beyondsolitaire.bsky.social , what book would you recommend for more context?
Guess what? Besides the cool seminars/talks and seeing the local sights I also played some GAMES at @sdhistcon.bsky.social . As befits this unique event, the titles reflect new directions in “wargaming,” as well as older precursors of the same. History Games!
November 15, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Guess what? Besides the cool seminars/talks and seeing the local sights I also played some GAMES at @sdhistcon.bsky.social . As befits this unique event, the titles reflect new directions in “wargaming,” as well as older precursors of the same. History Games!
Age yourself with tabletop gaming
November 14, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Age yourself with tabletop gaming
Hey @volko.bsky.social , after I recommended The Barbarossa Campaign to you (for its chit-pull), and name-dropped Bruce Geryk to emphasize the point, I learned that Bruce is actually trying to bring it back into print. boardgamegeek.com/thread/34235...
TBC rights and reprint | The Barbarossa Campaign
I'd like to announce that I have purchased the rights to The Barbarossa Campaign (both editions) from Gary Graber. I did this specifically in order to facilitate a new edition. I have been trying to g...
boardgamegeek.com
November 10, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Hey @volko.bsky.social , after I recommended The Barbarossa Campaign to you (for its chit-pull), and name-dropped Bruce Geryk to emphasize the point, I learned that Bruce is actually trying to bring it back into print. boardgamegeek.com/thread/34235...
As much as I liked the games I played (to be described on my next podcast), I also liked the other opportunities at @sdhistcon.bsky.social . I went to the nearby Sunset Cliffs, saw the impressive Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, and listened to more seminar panels.
November 10, 2025 at 9:09 PM
As much as I liked the games I played (to be described on my next podcast), I also liked the other opportunities at @sdhistcon.bsky.social . I went to the nearby Sunset Cliffs, saw the impressive Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, and listened to more seminar panels.
A rare treat to get back into some smaller/lighter wargames & history games at @sdhistcon.bsky.social .
November 9, 2025 at 6:07 AM
A rare treat to get back into some smaller/lighter wargames & history games at @sdhistcon.bsky.social .
What was your first tabletop wargame?
October 10, 2025 at 1:08 PM
What was your first tabletop wargame?
Now some wonderful nautical history at the Connecticut River museum. The successful British raid on Essex in 1814, the AWI’s Turtle, and a replica of the Onrust that first brought European explorers to the interior in 1614.
October 9, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Now some wonderful nautical history at the Connecticut River museum. The successful British raid on Essex in 1814, the AWI’s Turtle, and a replica of the Onrust that first brought European explorers to the interior in 1614.
A bit of FIW tourism today. Drove down the Lake Champlain/Lake George corridor, then visited Fort William Henry. A little cheesy (1950s reconstruction & museum mannequins), but still good to see & understand. And yes—I’m also playing AFAoS right now on Yucata.
October 8, 2025 at 12:44 AM
A bit of FIW tourism today. Drove down the Lake Champlain/Lake George corridor, then visited Fort William Henry. A little cheesy (1950s reconstruction & museum mannequins), but still good to see & understand. And yes—I’m also playing AFAoS right now on Yucata.
These were the “history games” I played in August. Arguably HotW is more euro and M44 is more wargame, but I think they both count. I love this in-between category.
September 3, 2025 at 2:37 AM
These were the “history games” I played in August. Arguably HotW is more euro and M44 is more wargame, but I think they both count. I love this in-between category.
I’ve got an adult kid moving to Germany for grad school soon. Figuring out how to find & sign a contract for an apartment is tricky. DM me if you’ve got experience or tips with this.
August 28, 2025 at 5:20 PM
I’ve got an adult kid moving to Germany for grad school soon. Figuring out how to find & sign a contract for an apartment is tricky. DM me if you’ve got experience or tips with this.
ATO “minigame” Assault on Narvik getting set up. Not sure about that fatigue tracking for each unit…
June 18, 2025 at 3:36 AM
ATO “minigame” Assault on Narvik getting set up. Not sure about that fatigue tracking for each unit…
I’d been setting up to try ATO’s mini game Assault
On Narvik when I learned a fan made map redone “in SPI style.” It looks so much better that I’m waiting to play until I can print it out. (I wish it had snowy mountains, but the green tones are an improvement over the original’s inexplicable reds).
On Narvik when I learned a fan made map redone “in SPI style.” It looks so much better that I’m waiting to play until I can print it out. (I wish it had snowy mountains, but the green tones are an improvement over the original’s inexplicable reds).
June 9, 2025 at 4:13 AM
I’d been setting up to try ATO’s mini game Assault
On Narvik when I learned a fan made map redone “in SPI style.” It looks so much better that I’m waiting to play until I can print it out. (I wish it had snowy mountains, but the green tones are an improvement over the original’s inexplicable reds).
On Narvik when I learned a fan made map redone “in SPI style.” It looks so much better that I’m waiting to play until I can print it out. (I wish it had snowy mountains, but the green tones are an improvement over the original’s inexplicable reds).