James Buckley

James Buckley

@jsbuckley.bsky.social

Founder of Sapper Studio - a tabletop game design and development studio. https://www.sapperstudio.com/ Interested in all things wargamey - both professional and hobby fields.

739 followers103 following586 posts

James Buckley
@jsbuckley.bsky.social

Totally missed that Battlegroup Clash 2nd printing made it to the very top of the list here. Yes it's available on a very discounted early bird rate, ending soon. Thanks for the mention Grant!

The Players’ Aid@playersaidblog.bsky.social

The October Wargame Watch feature is up on the blog and contains 15 games from great publishers like @gmtgames.bsky.social, Sapper Studio, Dissimula Edizioni, Shakos and more. theplayersaid.com/2026/10/01/w...

theplayersaid.comWargame Watch – What’s New & Upcoming – October 2026September has been really, really busy for me. We attended the Gaming the American Revolution Camden 250 Event in Camden, South Carolina and work was pretty busy as well. As such, I just feel like …
James Buckley
@jsbuckley.bsky.social

Just played this as OFJH. The play experience is like reading polemical long form journalism. The target is the drug companies. The twist is you play as the drug company. The activist is your enemy, the corrupt doctor your friend. It's very well done.

Hawk and Dove Games@hawkanddovegames.bsky.social

Two demos of Painkillers at OFJH so far. Both went well. This game is a difficult experience for players, but it delivers the argument I want very effectively. I’m very excited to show its full visual presentation soon.

James Buckley
@jsbuckley.bsky.social

The 2nd printing of Battlegroup Clash is now available to pre-order at a large early-bird discount on the MSRP. Click below to order: www.sapperstudio.com/product-page...

sapperstudio.comBattlegroup Clash: Baltics (2nd printing) | Sapper StudioBattlegroup Clash: Baltics (BC:B) is a two- to six-player platoon-level tactical combat game. It simulates a series of hypothetical near future battles in the Baltics between NATO and Russian forces.   The game emphasises the importance of planning and modern day combined armed techniques. Drones and tactical electronic warfare are key features of the game.    BC:B can be used to support learning and development as a PME tool. It will also appeal to commercial gamers interested in learning more about the modern battlefield and how a NATO Battlegroup would respond and perform against equivalent sized Russian forces in the river and forest-rich terrain of the Baltics. This 2nd printing updates the rulebook and scenario book to incorporate the minor errata from the first printing, but is otherwise identical to the first printing.
James Buckley
@jsbuckley.bsky.social

My company Sapper Studio has the same problem. I think I now need to stop all direct sales to the EU 😕. The EU's PPWR is much worse than the new US tariffs for us.

Neva Game Press@nevagamepress.bsky.social

New Horizons in Europe and Support for Local Retail EN nevagamepress.com/2026/09/13/n... Nuevos horizontes en Europa y apoyo al comercio local ES nevagamepress.com/2026/09/13/n...

nevagamepress.comNew Horizons in Europe and Support for Local Retail - Neva Game PressHello everyone, At Neva Game Press, we are a new independent publisher. Designing, illustrating, and producing board games with the care we love requires a massive effort, and our commitment is always...
James Buckley
@jsbuckley.bsky.social

“Like Next War in scope, and Littoral Commander in style.” That's the sub-heading for the second designer diary I've just published for Razor's Edge. Curious to read more, click here: www.sapperstudio.com/post/razor-s...

sapperstudio.comRazor’s Edge: The Falklands War 1982 - Designer Diary #2“Like Next War in scope, and Littoral Commander in style.” An extremely short elevator pitch I have come up with to describe Razor’s Edge is that it’s like Next War in scope, and Littoral Commander in...

James Buckley reposted

Sebastian Bae
@sebastianbae.bsky.social

"Guerre Eclair" by Yasushi Nakaguro is such a brilliant compact #wargame. Despite very few components, the decision space is incredibly rich and engaging. I love getting it on the table and introducing #wargaming to people with it. 🎲

James Buckley
@jsbuckley.bsky.social

"Of course, it takes two to tango, and the Argentines may not want to dance." No, not football, another type of game. Find out more in the first designer diary for Razor's Edge: The Falklands War 1982, a new wargame coming from Sapper Studio. www.sapperstudio.com/post/razor-s...

sapperstudio.comRazor’s Edge: The Falklands War 1982 - Designer Diary #1What is the razor's edge?I was wee when the Falklands War happened. Except for the headlines, I knew little about it. That changed a few summers ago when I participated in a professional wargame run f...

James Buckley reposted

Nico Roblin
@nicoroblin.bsky.social

#portfolioday Hi, i'm Nicolas, a freelance graphic designer in France. I work mainly in board games. Always open for new work. 👍 👉https://www.behance.net/nicolasroblin1

James Buckley
@jsbuckley.bsky.social

I suppose I should be flattered that Battlegroup Clash has now been pirated by a Chinese publisher? I wasn't going to license it in China but now I think I should just to counter this. Anyone experienced something similar?

James Buckley
@jsbuckley.bsky.social

Today is the first public test of Razor's Edge: The Falklands War 1982, the next game to be published by Sapper Studio. The British Carrier Task Force is playing it safe, keeping far from the Exocets. The British subs have the Argentine fleets in their sights. Neither side has the advantage, so far.

James Buckley
@jsbuckley.bsky.social

US-based and want a copy of Battlegroup Clash? The last available copies are now with Catastrophe Games. Live anywhere else? You'll have to wait for the reprint, as the game has proven very popular and is now SOLD OUT.

Catastrophe Games @catastrophegames.bsky.social

NOT SOLD OUT HERE AT CATASTROPHE!!! We are almost out of @jsbuckley.bsky.social 's Battlegroup Clash, but managed to get the last remaining copies in the US! I expect we'll be sold out by the end of JUL though....

James Buckley
@jsbuckley.bsky.social

Leading French wargame mag Vae Victis just reviewed Battlegroup Clash: Baltics. The summary: "Undoubtedly one of the most stimulating offerings currently available in the modern battlefield genre: a serious, intelligent game that genuinely gives you something to think about." Only 10 copies left!

James Buckley reposted

statto99
@statto99.bsky.social

@joedewhurst.bsky.social @wargamestogo.bsky.social @volko.bsky.social @armchairdragoons.bsky.social @jsbuckley.bsky.social @fredserval.bsky.social @lukeevison.bsky.social The PunchedCon '26 Geeklist of Games Played is now available at the following link: boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/377...

boardgamegeek.comPunchedCon '26 - games playedA list of the games played at PunchedCon '26, held at the Royal Court Hotel, Coventry (UK) from (officially, at least) Friday 1st - Sunday 3rd May. The list has been created based on games that I pers...
James Buckley
@jsbuckley.bsky.social

Semper Fi hits the table for the first time. I absolutely love the Tactical Combat Series. It generates excellent emergent narrative and rewards realistic tactics. The juice is definitely worth the (considerable) squeeze IMO.

James Buckley
@jsbuckley.bsky.social

Just discovered the Tactical Combat Series by MMP (Goose Green, pictured). If you enjoy games with operational planning mechanics, that reward 'actual' infantry tactics based on terrain and positioning, you gotta check it out. So so good. Now to scour BGG marketplace for other games in the system.

James Buckley
@jsbuckley.bsky.social

And drones. Don't forget the drones!

Pijus Krūminas@pijusk.bsky.social

First learning session of Battlegroup Clash: Baltics by James Buckley and Sapper Studio. I really like this new trend in professional games turning to commercial ones. Sync matrices, hexless maps, EW - they're all here in BCB.