October 2026 Gaming Roundup Part 1

Gaming roundup

I seem to be on a retro gaming kick at the moment. I’d like to blame this on my friend Gavin and his hunt for a cheap copy of Acquire. Speaking honestly none of these games I played as a kid or teenager. So they are new to me. What’s surprising to me is how well the ones I’ve managed to get to the table so far have held up.

Take Stratego. I saw a video on YouTube of a game being played using an app (which I now have installed). It looked fun. So I’ve been playing the app a little. Loved the game play. And would you know it a 1982 copy of the game popped up on the Facebook group, dirt cheap. It’s now on its way to me.

Let’s look at what I’ve played so far this month.

The new set Homeworlds has dropped. And after scavenging cards from the Tarkin spotlight deck, it’s imperial after all. I updated my All the Vaders deck to a Varder/Tarkin deck. The fortify mechanic is interesting. It’s basically upgrades for bases.

Tenby: a four player game. Yeah I like this game. It works so well. I love the choice you have to make between the number of actions (and what they are) and turn order. Going early means you can do less but have more choice, but vice versa going later means you do more but have less choice!

Into The Machine: a worker placement game of sorts where you are manipulating your position on a track. The theme is paper thin. You upgrade workers to access more powerful actions. There is a race along a track which you manipulate with the actions. It’s good, not great.

Splendor Duel: played with the new Counterfeiters expansion. I like the new expansion. It adds literally no overhead to the game play. But the powers you are able to tap into with the counterfeit cards can be pretty powerful.

Hanami: I actually liked it as a two player game. It worked really well.

Innovation: what can I say I love this as a two player game.

New Arrivals

  • Comic Hunters
  • Alien Evolved RPG Colonial Marines Operations Manual and Building Better Worlds
  • Root Homeland expansion, Homeland hirelings pack, Squires & Disciples deck
  • More Mayday premium card sleeves
  • Stratego 1982 MB Games edition
  • Battletech Starter Set (new edition)

Operation A Dog Named Sue #28

#littlemonsters, #MonsterSquad, #SuicideSquad

The last couple of days has seen a lot of photos of Ace, plus a short video clip. In this post I’m going to share the update that came in last night plus all of the photos. I’ll save the video clip for another day when there are more clips to go with it.

“Hi! Here are some pictures of Ace in The Village :)

Wound is closed but with the minimum contact with the boot over night it opens a little bit

Today we are doing laser on the wound to help healing

We will see how it appears tomorrow morning to see if he is able to pass SENASA on Monday

If not, we will need to posponed the departure some extra days”

I love as a Prisoner fan that they call the place Ace is staying The Village. It’s almost apt.

Operation A Dog Named Sue #27

#littlemonsters, #MonsterSquad, #SuicideSquad

I know the last few posts have all been dog related. To be fair that is the most important thing going on in my life at the moment. There will be other content soon I promise.

Last night Kate asked how Ace’s paw was doing. What I present here is the resulting exchange that was interspersed with photos and video.

“He’s healing well, and we’re keeping a very close eye on him”

“Good he seems very friendly and good with the other dogs.”

“Yes, he is very friendly with everyone !”

“Ace has been friendly/playful with other dogs and people.”

It is very obvious from the photos, now and previously, that he gets on well with other dogs. I have to admit I find these photos hard because I want the other dogs as well. They too deserve a loving forever home.

The one thing I am unsure is whether myself, Dolly, and Loki are ready for Diogo and Ace playing!

Looking at the paw in the video I don’t think next week is out of the question for Ace completing his journey to us. Then I can start getting excited again.

LiveFromPeru Part 16

#littlemonsters, #livefromperu, #MonsterSquad, #SuicideSquad

Tuesday saw Diogo have his second pickup and train session with Heidi.

As usual Heidi takes the odd photo and video of Diogo to show how he is doing throughout the lesson.

This time he spent time in the main park in Wisbech.

Obviously there were other dogs and even joggers there. He’s still reacting to other dogs, but his recovery ie stop reacting is improving.

Diogo even took treats from Heidi this time!

Diogo even had his first ever pup cup from the local Costa. Something I wasn’t aware they did. That did feel a bit like missing a child’s first word to be honest. It also means road trips to walks in the area just got expensive!

It does appear, no it’s obvious that Diogo is enjoying these sessions with Heidi, and a trust is building up between them.

Diogo has another session booked in two weeks time.

Operation A Dog Named Sue #26

#MonsterSquad, #SuicideSquad

Over night there has been an update on Ace and his injury. Sadly it’s a bit of bad news.

“We have an update regarding Ace’s injury.

Although it is improving, it has not fully healed yet. If SENASA were to inspect him today, they would see the injury and would not approve the issuance of the health certificate.

For this reason, we believe it would be best to reschedule his trip for at least one week later and continue with his treatment until the wound is 100% closed and healed.

The little one is under constant supervision. He’s in great spirits and eating well. We’ll continue to keep you updated on his progress and health. He’s such a sweet, lovable little guy. ❤️”

It was pointed out that “It looks like he has chewed his paw too.”

They replied:

“In fact, it looks wet because we cleaned the area this morning.

I can confirm that he has not been chewing his paw, as he has been wearing the cone, and we only use the boot when we are not able to keep an eye on him.

We are trying to keep him without the boot as much as possible, while keeping the cone on at all times, because the boot causes his paw to sweat excessively, which does not help the healing process.”

Can’t say I’m more than a little disappointed with the delay. It does mean there is a high likelihood that this now overlaps with my ex-wife (who is paying for all this) being out of the country. Which adds a further complication that isn’t insurmountable. Just inconvenient.

Let’s finish this update with some more photos of Ace that were also shared with the bad news.

Operation A Dog Named Sue! #25

#littlemonsters, #MonsterSquad

The great journey from Peru to his forever home here in the UK with me and the monster squad, has started for Ace.

Ace is currently in Lima (as an update below will confirm) going through the “usual” checks required for him to leave Peru and enter the EU, before then coming to the UK.

Here is the latest update and photo drop of Ace. Which is a combination of photos of him at the airport and at the foster home.

“Ace is a very loving dog. He has a limp on that foot. Sometimes he drags that paw and he’ll hurt his nails. These days he’s been nervous. Thank you for all the care.

I recommend to order his boots for when he arrives to England. I’ll send the size I previously ordered on Amazon.

But that’s why his boots will end up getting messed up with holes very quickly.”

Naturally when I read that update at 4am (what was I doing awake at that time in the morning? Old person bladder issues, and I’ll leave it at that) I was onto Amazon and ordering the suggested boots.

However…

“There’s been a hiccup he has a sore on his paw. He’s in Lima now.”

So my first job of the day is to get a visit to the vet booked in for Ace.

I also need to get the vet to tell me how I can get Ace’s medical records transferred to them digitally because they are too large to just email.

Because Ace is limping I will need to get him to a specialist orthopedic vet hopefully near me. But these have to be through referral so I will be asking the vet to do that also.

Let’s end this post on a high with some video clips that were also shared with me.

My Fire Kit

#backtothehills, Camping/hiking gear, hiking/backpacking/camping, outdoors

I’ve not done an outdoors related post for a while, or as some more hip and younger folks would say “in a long minute”.

Either way the fact remains it’s been board games and dogs mainly on here.

So let’s try and even things up with an outdoors related post.

Recently I got a DJI Osmo 360 2 camera. So I’ve been doing some test footage with it. Just to see what it allows me to capture in various situations.

One test was the short video below where I decided to film the contents of my fire kit and my canteen holder/bag contents for fire starting.

I think it’s general/common knowledge given in many YouTube videos that you have redundancy in your fire kit. Usually three ways to get a spark. So if one fails etc etc.

My little fire kit has a fourth because it’s so small and takes up so little space really.

In my canteen bag/holder (a Helicon one iirc) I also have a “basic” fire kit.

Usually the fire kit goes in the bag if I’m out playing with one of my twig/wood burning stoves. But the canteen bag kit is permanently in one of the bag’s pockets. So if I have the canteen I have a fire kit of sorts no matter what stove I’m using. To be fair these days my preference for lighting a meths stove is a ferro rod.

Anyway enough rambling and on with the short movie.

Fire kit items in the video:

  • Forest Fundamentals Zipped Organiser Pouch for the Nesting Stove
  • Forest Fundamentals Artisan Mini Fire Mat for the Nesting stove
  • BCB Fireball Ferro Rod & Striker
  • British Army Windproof/Waterproof Matches (from a ration pack)
  • Bic lighter
  • 2x Forest Fundamentals Fire Plugs
  • Pathfinder Mini Inferno Fire Disc
  • 2x homemade version of fire disc
  • US Military Spark-lite fire starter
  • Some odd ends of paracord 

From the Forest Fundamentals Pocket Fire Kit:

  • Handmade Waxed-Canvas Fire Mat
  • Hex Bellows & Wax-Infused Jute Rope
  • Telescopic bellows from a Polymath Spitfire Pocket Fire Lighting Kit

Canteen holder contents:

  • Forest Fundamentals Beast Fire Starter & Stealth Striker
  • BCB Strong Match Safe filled with British Army Windproof/Waterproof Matches (from ration packs)
  • Bic lighter in an Exotac Men’s Waterproof Firesleeve 
  • Fat wood from a Forest Fundamentals Fire Lighting kit

Obviously in both kits my first port of call is the bic lighter. If that fails for whatever reason, most likely it’s run out of fuel, it’s on to the matches. With the third and final option being the ferro rod. And yes there is a fourth option in the main kit of the Spark-lite.

For me starting a fire is about minimum effort, ease, and speed. I want my fire going as quickly as possible. That’s why the lighter is the first option.

Yes there is more to starting a fire than just what you are igniting it with. There is what tinder you are using, your wood, weather conditions, etc, etc. I usually have at least a couple different types of tinder with me, and carry my own wood (there is a logic to this that I’ll go into one day).

So that’s my fire kit.

September 2026 Gaming Roundup Part 2

Gaming roundup

The month continues with more games being played than expected.

I still can’t help feel the format needs some tweaks. But will need to reassess after the next set Homeworlds, and the base upgrades. Which I believe we are less than a week away from.

It was nice to get a handful of games in this month. Although it seems the latest shiny CCG Cyberpunk has diverted the attention of one or two players. So at the moment and possibly for the foreseeable future games might once more become hard to get.

Acquire 60th Anniversary edition: so I’ve played a board game older than me! And it still holds up. It just works at four and five players. I did buy 6 wooden scrabble tile holders to use with the game. It makes holding the game tiles easier. I think it’s the only thing this anniversary edition is missing. The poker chips have a nice weight to them. I think I’ve become a big Sid Sackson fan.

Hanami: I think this is a very pretty game. It does play nicely at three and four players. Plus it’s become a hit with those I’ve played it with. One club night saw us play it three times in a row! It’s also deceptively cut throat. Plus it’s not a high scoring game. You are in the end competing for three points! Each point decided by who has a majority in that token. I lost two games on the tie breakers.

Innovation: another two player game, which it really works well for. This is a very take that game. Which I love but get that this style of game is not for everyone. Sadly they are missing a great game.

The Thing Board Game: we managed to get a 4 player organised. On the day we managed to play 2 games. It was fun but better with the higher player counts. I managed to be on the winning side both times.

National Economy: a great card based worker placement game. And so far everyone who’s played it likes it. Sadly it needs a western publisher to make it more easily accessible.

Sakana Stack: jury is still out on this. It was enjoyable but I need a game or two more I think.

Catan on the Road: Catan in less than 15 minutes? I’m not sure our game was that quick. But still it was mostly a Catan like experience. I say mostly because there was very little trading going on. But it was fun.

New Arrivals

  • More Mayday premium card sleeves
  • A Gamut of Games by Sid Sackson
  • 6 wooden scrabble tile holders
  • Villagers Shifting Seasons
  • Halo Flashpoint Zeta all in
  • Root 2nd edition clearing markers and frog clearing markers

1982 peak board gaming?

life, the universe, and everything

Without realising it I’d become a Sid Sackson fan.

I’d enjoyed his push your luck game Can’t Stop.

But then recently I bought another game of his Acquire after finding out about it via my friend Gavin. Well Gavin was after a copy. I’d never heard of it and looked into it. Which made me think “oh that sounds interesting, I’d like to play that too”. So not long after the 60th anniversary edition with its bling was on its way to me.

At the same time I ordered a copy of Sid Sacksons book A Gamut of Games.

The 2011 printing of A Gamut of Games has three different prefaces from the earlier editions.

In the included preface for the Dover edition Sid Sackson says the following:

“1982 marked the end of what I consider a golden age of serious games.”

Which for me got me thinking has gaming been going down hill ever since?

Definitely when Sackson made that statement in 1982, he pointed out earlier in the same paragraph, video games were a thing. In the UK we were in the early days of the birth of the home computer boom. If memory doesn’t fail me the US was on the brink of the video game crash.

It was not hard to see where he was coming from. Video games pushing out board games for the attention of kids. Everyone and their dog trying to jump on the bandwagon. The writing was on the wall.

Sid Sackson passed away in 2002.

Catan aka Settlers of Catan was first published in 1995. Along with the likes of Carcassonne (2000), Ticket to Ride (2004) and many others to numerous to mention. A modern board game renaissance was born.

I can’t say Sid Sackson played or was aware of these games. I have no way to know. I do know he was not only a board game designer but also a collector. I have no way to know what he thought of those games that were out during his life time. But I’d be surprised if he had not at least heard of them.

Definitely since 2010 we have seen as some have called it a golden age of gaming, and numerous bubbles. Plus the rise of crowdfunding.

Each year somehow hundreds of new games get released. There is no way you can play them all, or buy them all.

Board gaming is more popular than ever. We have board gaming cafes, clubs, dedicated shops. Then add on the whole internet and what that brings to the coverage of board games.

Would Sackson think we are in a new golden age or renaissance?