Legendary: The Princess Bride

The Princess Bride is a rare and precious film, one that combines action, adventure, romance and humour into an epic tale of love lost, found, and fought for. A cult classic. (Buy the film it's awesome!)

The Legendary Encounters system is a fantastic set of board game mechanisms that allow the developers to produce thematic cards games that evince the feel of the stories they tell in a marvelous way. (Check out "Legendary Encounters: Alien" and "Legendary Encounters: Predator", they're as awesome as the films they're based on!)

So here I present a combination of these two fantastic flavours! The Princess Bride transformed into board game form!

Here are a few cards from the game to give you a feel for what the game looks like :)

This game is a fan-work given away for free to all who want it. It is designed for either 1 or 3 players, although you might try 2 but I make no promises about that. You can download the files and print them yourself or use some independent print service. The game consists of a 10 page rule book, a board, and 218 cards. You can print everything in black and white or full colour, as you wish.

Download and enjoy :)

Download the Print and Play package  (if the direct link doesn't work try this )

Update! Following demand, I have combined the cards images into PDFs to aid printing at home.

Download the card PDFs

New Update : This replaces the previous packages. It includes a small addition to the rules, and five cards have been updated and these changes are necessary fixes! The following cards have been updated. 001, 003, 041, 043, 090

Download v1.1 or if that doesn't work, you can visit the download page here.

Edit: I've uploaded the cards to a series of 4 decks that you can purchase via  ArtsCow.com , you'll need to order 1 copy of each of each. (I've carefully looked over these decks but I haven't ordered them myself to proof check them).

Deck 1
http://www.artscow.com/gallery/playing-cards/princess-bride-deck-5rwtrbwhhm3b

Deck 2
http://www.artscow.com/gallery/playing-cards/princess-bride-deck-0he11fcehp5u

Deck 3
http://www.artscow.com/gallery/playing-cards/princess-bride-deck-6vcrmi0phcmb

Deck 4
http://www.artscow.com/gallery/playing-cards/princess-bride-deck-3f8wabw1c2a3

Free Trader, goes digital!

A board game I developed a few years ago called "Free Trader" which has you on a solitaire mission flying around the galaxy dodging pirates and aliens as you try to pay for your space ship is now available in digital form on Android and iOS.

Baby Marsupial Creations LLC has given the game an all-new look but kept the core mechanics, so if you're familiar with the board game version you'll be up an running with this digital version in next to no time.

Here are some screen shots for your visual pleasure:

The game is available on Android and iOS

Rules for the Conduct of the War-Game on a Map

This short book was published in 1896. I've converted an old paper copy of the rules into a modern ePUB format.


In 1896 the British Government published this paper which formalised the adoption of War-gaming in the Empire forces. The rules closely follow those created in 1812 by Reiswitz under the German name of “Kreigsspiel”.

These rules describe and give guidance on how a group of officers can use small blocks laid out on a large-scale map to represent various troops, and then issue orders to those troops. It further describes how those blocks move and how the umpires act as both judges and messengers.

Buy the ePUB from LuLu or get a copy at Wargame Vault

March to the Sea

It's 1995 the cold war is over and an uneasy peace stands, but the weapons of mass destruction from those bad and scary days still exist. A particularly nasty old-guard leader has had himself "elected" as the de-facto dictator of the Czech Republic.

American politicians and leaders are worried. This dictator has expressed extreme anti-American, anti capitalist statements. The Russian leadership have advised the American president that the dictator has access to ex-Soviet chemical and biological weapons stored within the borders of the Czech Republic.

The American president is determined to authorize a risky and dangerous plan to mount a military raid into Czech territory, confiscate the Weapons of Mass Destruction and return them to the United States.

Under the guise of a NATO War Game, the American forces stationed in Germany are positioned close to the Czech border as the first step in the plan. The extreme risk of the operation causes the Americans to not inform the German government prior to the operation beginning, as they fear a warning might leak to the Czechs.

The operation commences on a cold clear night. U.S. Forces advance into the Czech Republic and soon capture the weapons. As the troops start to withdraw back to Germany the weapons are flown to a U.S. Base within Germany.

Realising that the Americans are up to something, the German Chancellor calls up the Bundeskabinett to an immediate session. As details of the American action are revealed the Bundeskabinett become enraged. That the Americans would launch an act of war from their territory without permission is outrageous!. Then to compound that crime by bringing Weapons of Mass Destruction within the German borders without permission is too much!

The executive immediately call the military to a state of readiness, and demand that all American forces in Germany lay down their arms and equipment and evacuate the country. Astonished and astounded by such a request, the American government reels, paralysed with indecision.

General Smith, in charge of all American forces in Germany, determines that neither he nor any of his men will lay down their arms. He immediately commences operation "Long Leap", whereby he intends to march his forces to the sea where men and equipment can be shipped back to the United States. Smith announces his intention and asks that the German military simply stand aside and let them leave peaceably.

The German Chancellor is further outraged that his demands are being ignored, and orders the Bundeswehr to attack any American units that dare to move. The leadership of the Bundeswehr is torn by indecision within its ranks. Many can not bring themselves to fight the Americans, who only wish to leave, but others are ready and willing to commence the shooting.

In this solitaire wargame you take control of the lone American armoured brigade and try to get them to the sea. Set against you are all of the German forces that can be scraped together in time to stop your march. Your objective is to get as many of your units to the coast as you can, fighting any forces that oppose you and  dealing with the unexpected events that occur.

Featuring the following components: 34 counters, 6 piece large format game board, 20 card event deck and a nine page rule book.

Available from Wargame Vault

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Target! Bearing 093 degrees!

My latest game offering is Target! Bearing 093 degrees! which is a solitaire submarine game. You control a submarine on a mission to sink enemy shipping. As the captain of this vessel you have to husband your torpedoes, fuel and deck0gun ammunition in order to sink the maximum amount of enemy shipping.


Each turn you have to search for a target, check out what kind of protective escort it has and decide on a method of attack. Each stage is a decision and committing to the wrong sort of target means you might risk being sunk or worse yet, returning home with a trivial tonnage of sunk enemy shipping.

The game is Print and Play, meaning you download a file and print out the game components yourself. It's been deliberately created in black and white with a minimum of expensive ink usage. It plays in about 10-20 minutes and makes a nice filler.

Buy the game online at Wargame Vault

Conquer the Galaxy

Conquer the Galaxy is a card driven/action point  wargame/boardgame for two players, where each tries to win control of the Galaxy using Armies, Fleets, Maneuver and Politics.

It's Red vs Blue on a Galactic scale, with multiple ways to win in knife edge.victories. Balance your political prowess with military might to take over, control and dominate the Galaxy.

Purchase the game from LuLu

Sink the Bismarck

The German battleship Bismarck is one of the most famous warships of the Second World War. The lead ship of her class and named after the 19th century German chancellor Otto von Bismarck, Bismarck displaced more than 50,000 tons fully loaded and was the largest warship then commissioned. Her chief claim to fame came from the Battle of the Denmark Strait in May 1941 during which the battlecruiser HMS Hood, flagship of the Home Fleet and pride of the Royal Navy, was sunk within several minutes. In response, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill issued the order to "Sink the Bismarck", spurring a relentless pursuit by the Royal Navy.

Two days later, with safer waters almost in reach, Fleet Air Arm aircraft torpedoed Bismarck and jammed her rudder, allowing heavy British units to catch up with her. In the ensuing battle on the morning of 27 May 1941, Bismarck was heavily attacked for nearly three hours before sinking.

The Boardgame

In this board game you become the controller of the Anti Aircraft batteries on board the Bismarck, desperately attempting to keep the attacking British Swordfish torpedo planes at bay.

This is a solitaire game and after printing out the game all you need to supply are four standard dice and a pencil! It's FREE, why not give it a try?

The game is written up in a PDF and stored on my Sky Drive, why not download it?

Cthulhu Boardgame

Inspired by the stark and dark horror of the Cthulhu Mythos I put together this little boardgame that has a Cthulhu Mythosy feel.

The game is written into a simple to print PDF that you can get from my Sky Drive.

Stronghold type game playtest kit

Introduction

I'm a fan of the computer game "Stronghold". Inspired by that game I wanted to create a board game that could capture that games spirit while combining it with the fun social aspects of a board game.

This Kit

This page presents the playtest kit for my first attempt at the game. Let me make this clear, THIS IS NOT A FINISHED GAME. This is a playtest kit. It's for people to take and print out just so they can try out the rules and machanics therein. To this end the rules in the kits are in a draft format and all printable items use a minimum of color, additionally there is no decent artwork only simple line drawings in a representative style.

Feedback

By placing this file on the internet I hope to encourage people with a similar interest in the game to download, print and try out the game. I have included an email address in the playtest kit file, please let me know what you think of the way the game works ( or doesn't! )

This kit is written into a PDF file which is stored on my Sky Drive

Scenario - Memoir '44 - Defence of Calais

This is a scenario for the excellent Days of Wonder boardgame Memoir 44.

What has become known as the "Dunkirk campaign" was not merely a retreat and defence at Dunkirk. It was in fact a series of defences of coastal ports. One of the important defensive actions was that in Calais. Many British troops were evacuated from the docks while other staunch defenders both British and French held back the Axis Forces. 

the scenario is written up in a PDF and stored on my Sky Drive

Scenario - Valor & Victory - Messenger Ambush

This is a scenario for the excellent and free war game Valor and Victory.

A German patrol is returning to the village with information that must be transmitted to Battalion HQ, the patrol must reach the radio set up in the village. Little do the Germans realise, that a U.S. Ambush has been set up within the perimeter of the village itself. This is a very small scenario for learning puposes.

The scenario is written up as a PDF and stored onmy Sky Drive

Scenario - Memoir '44 - Battle of the Five Armies

This is a scenario for the excellent Days of Wonder boardgame Memoir 44.

Although Memoir 44 is a serious game about combat during WWII, I decided to merge fantasy and history in this scenario.

The Battle of the Five Armies is the large Battle fought at the end of the fantasy book "The Hobbit" written J.R.R. Tolkien. This Memoir '44 scenario pays honour to that novel by presenting a 5 medal battle based on the terrain described in the book.

The scenario is written up as a PDF and stored on my Sky Drive

Scenario - Valor & Victory - Recon Patrol

This is a scenario for the excellent and free war game Valor and Victory.

A British reconnaissance force advances up a road to determine if it would be suitable for a quick advance by the main force. The Germans are dug in up ahead and the reconnaissance must determine if it should be bypassed or pushed through. 

The scenario is written up in a PDF and stored on my Sky Drive.

Scenario - Valor & Victory - Take the Bridge

This is a scenario for the excellent and free war game Valor and Victory.

A small German garrison well in the rear of front lines is stationed at the bridge on the canal charged with protecting it. The officer in charge has left a very light guard in the field fortifications on either side of the bridge while the majority of the force sleep in the nearby dwellings.

This scenario is written up as a PDF and stored on my Sky Drive.

Scenario - Valor & Victory - Leading Edge

This is a scenario for the excellent and free war game Valor and Victory.

The British have planned a raid against the German held Belgium coast. “The first wave will approach the beach in dingies, assault up the beach and take control of the beach defences. Subsequent waves will advance through the first wave who will remain in position to protect the main forces line of communication.”

The scenario is written up in a PDF file and stored on my Sky Drive

Solo Dungeon Bash

This game is for anyone who is on their own and fancying a Dungeon Bash. All you need are these rules, a piece of paper ( preferably of the graph variety ), a pen and a bunch of six sided dice.

The dungeon is made up of a grid of squares, 9 squares wide and 10 rows deep.  You'll start at the entrance square and begin investigating the rooms finding treasure or monsters

If you're clever and brave enough ( and maybe just a bit lucky too ) you'll get to the end space beyond level 10 and defeat the big bad!

I've put a PDF containing the game onto my Sky Drive and you can download it from there.

24th Nov 2010 Update

I've been sent this cool DOS-like Java implementation of Solo Dungeon Bash by " D'Aluisio-Guerrieri Josh" which he put together while learning Java. It reminds me of the old fashioned text adventures which were all we had back in the late 80's. I've played it through a couple of times and got a kick out it!

Disclaimer : I didn't write this software so can't tell you how it'll behave.

Download from the 'ole Skydrive


7th jun 2011 Update

Wow! Another computer version has been created, this one you can play in your browser.

Disclaimer : I didn't write this software so can't tell you how it'll behave.