Dave Watson
@balkandave.bsky.social
Think tank director, historian, wargamer, Fulham FC fan. Editor www.balkanhistory.org. Mostly history and wargaming here.
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...
Pillage
The 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.
Not the Western Front Conference 2026 Following last years great conference will take place on Saturday 31st October in Wakefield West Yorkshire just off the M1. Tickets cost £29 including lunch.with 4 great speakers. www.trybooking.com/uk/FPHV
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 imagined
International 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 2026
Yesterday 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!
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.
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 glacier
Stonehenge has captured popular imagination for generations.
theconversation.com
Andy Burnham’s No 10 North has a precedent. Between 1298 and 1337, three successive English kings repeatedly transferred major parts of their central administration to York. Medievalists know how to be topical! We should also try medieval progress tours! theconversation.com/andy-burnham...
Andy Burnham’s No 10 North has a precedent – in medieval York
No 10 North is historic – but not unprecedented. Medieval York shows England has governed from more than one centre before.
theconversation.com
The Swedes are in full retreat, but the solid British line routed the Russians on the Allied right. Both sides withdraw to fight another day, and Finland is saved for now. A bit quicker this evening as we grasped General d’Armee rules. Not convinced yet, but we will stick at it.
Round two for the Swedish/British defence of Finland this evening. The Swedes are not in good shape as the Russians move in. General d’Armee rules.
Why is there always a unit to paint before a Wargames show? Some Bavarians for my Holy Roman Empire contribution to the Austrian army at Grocka in 1739. The Ottomans will be waiting at the Claymore show in Edinburgh this Saturday.
Book review: Empire of the Moghul - the first of Alex Rutherford's Empire of the Moghuls series. This book covers the first Emperor, Babur. Brilliant and fast-paced fiction that sticks pretty close to this remarkable and lucky leader. balkandave.blogspot.com/2026/07/empi...
balkandave.blogspot.com
OTD in 1914, Austria invaded Serbia. Shells landed in Belgrade, and the main Austrian attack came from Bosnia. It did not go well. Some of my 28mm Serbs and some of the heavy Austrian artillery. This picture in the Vienna Military Museum sums it up!
OTD in 1330, the Serbs defeated the Bulgarians at the Battle of Velbazhd (Kyustendil in modern Bulgaria). The Serbian army caught the Bulgarians before their Byzantine allies could join them. Some of my 15mm Serbian forces.
Musk says AI will make a ‘historically accurate’ Odyssey – here’s why that’s impossible. Apart from accurate from what, when AI renders antiquity, it’s not reaching back into history, it’s reaching for the average of every image ever made about it. theconversation.com/elon-musk-sa...
Elon Musk says AI will make a ‘historically accurate’ Odyssey – here’s why that’s impossible
When AI renders antiquity, it’s not reaching back into history, it’s reaching for the average of every image ever made about it.
theconversation.com
We are playing/learning Pillage at the club in Glasgow today. My solid Saxons are in shieldwall, ready for the rampaging Vikings.
