Ian TB

The universe continues to take everything from us. RIP Ensign Chekov: variety.com/2026/film/ne...

Oh dear, someone’s upset that their preferred pronouns aren’t being used.

I’ve never encountered a movie reviewer who hates movies so absolutely as Armond White.

Something something “old breed, new breed, not a damn bit of difference as long as it’s the Marine breed.” Looks like the pronoun that matters is “Marine:”

Always great seeing a book review in the wild—thanks for sharing @MC_UPress! From the Australian Army Research Centre, a look at “Snowmobiles and Grand Ideals” by myself and @osinga.bsky.social: researchcentre.army.gov.au/library/land...

I play-tested my #ManeuverWarfare #cardgame #wargame under expeditionary conditions on my truck’s tailgate so I don’t think it’s weird to give a lecture about it from my expeditionary truck cab #wargaming @thedietzfoundation.bsky.social

I can’t see into the souls of all the US decision makers whose choices whether through malice, naivety, or indifference have led to this. But for those who wind up in the Bad Place: I hope they spend all of eternity listening to the screams of these children.

Victory formation #NEPats

Some sloppy play out there, but a W is a W. #NEPats

👇all this as a two week Hail Mary to move a domestic political needle that nothing at this point can move.

Also kudos to the crowd that thinks a flipping car makes up for throttling the means for a civilian population to protect itself from getting murdered.

Hope Elmo is ready for the bottom to drop out of the StarLink market as customers realize access depends entirely on whether Elmo likes you or not—and that potentially includes the U.S. military under an admin he doesn’t like.

The character of war changes but the cost is eternal. In #ManeuverWarfare from @thedietzfoundation.bsky.social, your successes & failures have a cost. It’s a #wargame made to get costly mistakes behind you before you lose things that can’t be replaced dietzfoundation-org.square.site/product/mane...

A year ago today I came back from the first @AWL_Wroc #wargaming conference with some new perspectives on wargaming tools. My feelings remain unchanged.

I’m going to have to make a “Brain-wormed TechBro” card for my #ManeuverWarfare #cardgame #wargame aren’t I…only Red gets to play it and it disables Blue’s satellite constellations. 🙄🔫

So I guess @elonmusk’s report on future warfare to the Pentagon will be “buy my stuff which you’ll then only be allowed to use at my whim.”

Happy birthday US Navy. If you want to practice how the Navy helps support multi-domain operations, then see what your ships can do in my #ManeuverWarfare #cardgame #wargame from @thedietzfoundation.bsky.social #wargaming dietzfoundation-org.square.site/product/mane...

When you realize Gary Anderson is the author and that means it’s Opposite Day: www.realcleardefense.com/articles/202...

Armchair Dragoons Reviews: And The War Came My point is that I'm extremely selective when it comes to ACW games. It would take a truly singular design to pique my interest Which brings us to And The War Came, designed by Larry Pinkerton & published by Blue Panther wp.me/pae4WL-fJB

One small step for wargamers, one giant leap for wargaming.

We are so back. #NEPats

BTW, you also get a guest lecture from @iantb.bsky.social and @rooksandkings.bsky.social in this semester. Kevin will help us look at U.S. wargaming from the lens of what PRC gamers are doing & Ian is reprising his @guws.bsky.social webinar on design with some extras thrown in.

Wargamers of the world! The Spring 2027 semester of the @virginiatech.bsky.social Graduate Certificate in Wargaming is upon us. I'll be teaching the intro course again, Analytic methods course will come back this Summer, & @strategerist.bsky.social and Ed McGrady will join the team for 5324 and 5334

If you could assemble any five game designers to design a game for you, who would be on the team? And what would you have them design? It can be a commercial, educational, or analytical game. #wargaming

Too good not to share:

Don’t forget, @cimsec.bsky.social’s call for submissions for Fiction Week is open! I’m working on mine—you working on yours? cimsec.org/call-for-art...

Cold, bright, and alone Death in the air around you You refuse silence

The obvious next step for protecting our investment:

Always a great day when you randomly visit Marine Corps University and find your books bracketing the shelves!

I love the fact that the Marines are just like “fuck ‘im, leave him in the dust.”

Has the well of Civil War #wargaming been exhausted? No, not if you play “And The War Came” by Larry Pinkerton. Check out my review on this refreshing approach to Civil War gaming at @armchairdragoons.bsky.social armchairdragoons.com/atwc-rev/

My thanks to @armchairdragoons.bsky.social for their eternal patience in delivering this long-overdue #wargame review. Check out my playthrough of “And The War Came,” an American Civil War tabletop offering, on their website: #wargaming armchairdragoons.com/atwc-rev/

🔥

Best part of this is another pour from the victory bottle. I was afraid I wouldn’t get to taste it again for a long time #NEPats

I am stunned we won this game given all the injuries on both sides of the ball, but goddamn boys, hell of a game and way to give us sad Josh Allen.