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My review of the early medieval skirmish game, Pillage. Simple to play and a lot of fun. Glad I gave in. balkandave.blogspot.com/2026/08/pill...

PillageThe skirmish game, Pillage, is very popular at my wargames club.  I have resisted the temptation, taking the view that I have plenty of skir...balkandave.blogspot.com

Victory to the Picts. The pillaging begins. Although they are minus a chieftain, so it will be a slow trip home. Pillage is great set of rules for an evening game. Just a few figures to set up. Quick to pick up, yet with plenty of subtlety.

Inspired by my current reading of Matthew Harffy’s new Bernicia book, the Picts are invading a Bernician village in our midweek game. Where is Beobrand! The rules are Pillage.

OTD in 1571, Famagusta, the last Venetian stronghold on Cyprus, was captured by the Ottomans after a siege that lasted nearly a year. An Ottoman siege camp of the period.

OTD in 1716, Prince Eugene defeated the Ottomans outside the fortress of Petrovaradin (in modern Serbia). I was at the well-preserved fortress in May, and much of the battlefield remains clear. Some of my figures of the period.

OTD in 1791, the Treaty of Sistova ended the last Austro-Ottoman war (1787–91). The Austrians, threatened by Prussia and the French Revolution, accepted only modest gains from the conflict. Some of my 28mm Austrians.

We investigated Russia’s military indoctrination of Ukrainian children in occupied territories – what we found was more shocking than we could have imagined. International law forbids the indoctination and militarisation of children in occupied territories theconversation.com/we-investiga...

We investigated Russia’s military indoctrination of Ukrainian children in occupied territories – what we found was more shocking than we could have imaginedInternational law forbids the indoctination and militarisation of children in occupied territories.theconversation.com

My review of the Claymore 2026 Wargames show in Edinburgh yesterday. Many thanks to the Edinburgh club for organising a good day. balkandave.blogspot.com/2026/08/clay...

Claymore 2026Yesterday was the Edinburgh Claymore show, held on the Edinburgh College site at Granton. As usual, it was excellently organised by the Edi...balkandave.blogspot.com

Thanks to everyone who chatted and played our Battle of Grocka 1739 game at Claymore today. It went pretty much as the historical battle. This single dragoon unit was the only survivor of the Austrian cavalry charge. But Wallis and Crawford survived!

Arnhem, in the long view at Claymore today.

Border Wars inside the castle. Claymore today.

Beneath the Lily Banners game at Claymore today.

The Yarkshire Gamer with his Italian Wars game at Claymore today.

Really nice skirmish game requiring Caledonians to get through the Roman lines. Claymore today.

Glasgow veterans doing their vast ACW game using Epic Black Powder. Claymore show today.

54mm DBA from the Durham club. Love those elephants!

That’s us set up at Claymore. The Battle of Grocka 1739, Austrians v Ottomans. Lust for Glory rules in 28mm.

On my way to the Lancs v Notts cricket this morning. I didn’t expect to see a Centurion Tank on the roundabout next to the ground. But they were built in the town.

OTD in 1014, the Battle of Kleidion was fought between the Byzantines and Bulgarians. Thousands of Bulgarian soldiers were captured and blinded by order of Basil II, the "Bulgar-Slayer". Some Byzantine figures of the period.

New theory on how six-tonne Stonehenge rock was transported from Scotland thousands of years ago – on a glacier, via Doggerland. Neolithic people had the agency and coordination to move a large rock hundreds of kilometres. theconversation.com/new-theory-o...

New theory on how six-tonne Stonehenge rock was transported from Scotland thousands of years ago – on a glacierStonehenge has captured popular imagination for generations.theconversation.com