Brooks Barber
@rollplusfun.bsky.social
Tabletop game designer - mostly historical but not always. Designer of Sykes-Picot from Hollandspiele. Forthcoming games Threed, Spindletop, and Painkillers.
Pinned
Brooks Barber
@rollplusfun.bsky.social
· Apr 28
Sykes-Picot, a trick-taking game about the secret treaty to partition the Ottoman Empire, is now available.
Sykes-Picot
Game Design: Brooks BarberArt: Amabel HollandHex Number: 88Duration: 60 minutesPlayers: 2Solitaire Suitability: LowTheme: WWIMSRP: $35.00
During the First World War, the British and French made a secr...
hollandspiele.com
It's here! Check it out, and let me know what you think!
Big personal update! My little family is going on a massive adventure and relocating to the Netherlands soon. We’re leaving in April or May, and we couldn’t be more excited! There’s a lot to do in a short time, but we wanna gtfoh, ya know?
There’s related professional news, but that’ll come later 😉
There’s related professional news, but that’ll come later 😉
January 23, 2026 at 10:01 PM
Big personal update! My little family is going on a massive adventure and relocating to the Netherlands soon. We’re leaving in April or May, and we couldn’t be more excited! There’s a lot to do in a short time, but we wanna gtfoh, ya know?
There’s related professional news, but that’ll come later 😉
There’s related professional news, but that’ll come later 😉
Reposted by Brooks Barber
We are calling for an immediate stop to all purchases from Upper Deck.
Their total lack of communication is distressing—so we call upon everyone to help us escalate.
No purchases from Upper Deck. No media coverage or posts of their games.
Upper Deck will only respond when it hurts their wallets.
Their total lack of communication is distressing—so we call upon everyone to help us escalate.
No purchases from Upper Deck. No media coverage or posts of their games.
Upper Deck will only respond when it hurts their wallets.
YIKES.
Upper Deck (Marvel Legendary) just announced a CCG using the Harry Potter license.
Fans of UD are rallying against this decision. Like the CGE situation last year, I’m asking for your help.
Join us. Share your disgust and frustration, and help us push UD to retract their awful decision. 🎲✂️
Upper Deck (Marvel Legendary) just announced a CCG using the Harry Potter license.
Fans of UD are rallying against this decision. Like the CGE situation last year, I’m asking for your help.
Join us. Share your disgust and frustration, and help us push UD to retract their awful decision. 🎲✂️
UPPER DECK ANNOUNCES COVETED HARRY POTTER LICENSE, UPCOMING PRODUCT COLLECTION - Upper Deck
Carlsbad, CA (Jan. 7, 2026) – Upper Deck, the global leader in sports and entertainment collectibles, is adding another iconic license to its extensive portfolio – announcing a deal to create collecti...
upperdeck.com
January 17, 2026 at 3:14 PM
We are calling for an immediate stop to all purchases from Upper Deck.
Their total lack of communication is distressing—so we call upon everyone to help us escalate.
No purchases from Upper Deck. No media coverage or posts of their games.
Upper Deck will only respond when it hurts their wallets.
Their total lack of communication is distressing—so we call upon everyone to help us escalate.
No purchases from Upper Deck. No media coverage or posts of their games.
Upper Deck will only respond when it hurts their wallets.
A reminder that anything HP related puts money in the pockets of a billionaire actively working to eradicate trans people from existence. Your money will go straight toward funding bigotry and hate. Please make your voice heard.
YIKES.
Upper Deck (Marvel Legendary) just announced a CCG using the Harry Potter license.
Fans of UD are rallying against this decision. Like the CGE situation last year, I’m asking for your help.
Join us. Share your disgust and frustration, and help us push UD to retract their awful decision. 🎲✂️
Upper Deck (Marvel Legendary) just announced a CCG using the Harry Potter license.
Fans of UD are rallying against this decision. Like the CGE situation last year, I’m asking for your help.
Join us. Share your disgust and frustration, and help us push UD to retract their awful decision. 🎲✂️
UPPER DECK ANNOUNCES COVETED HARRY POTTER LICENSE, UPCOMING PRODUCT COLLECTION - Upper Deck
Carlsbad, CA (Jan. 7, 2026) – Upper Deck, the global leader in sports and entertainment collectibles, is adding another iconic license to its extensive portfolio – announcing a deal to create collecti...
upperdeck.com
January 14, 2026 at 3:49 PM
A reminder that anything HP related puts money in the pockets of a billionaire actively working to eradicate trans people from existence. Your money will go straight toward funding bigotry and hate. Please make your voice heard.
Reposted by Brooks Barber
✉️ If you're interested in what The Seahorse & The Hummingbird did, does, is doing and/or will do, join The Core Loop. You can sign up for the quarterly newsletter and a small handful of announcements when cool stuff happens. No more than 8 emails per year.
I respect your inbox.
#boardgames
I respect your inbox.
#boardgames
The Core Loop - The Seahorse and The Hummingbird
Email news, notifications and communications regarding the goings on of The Seahorse & The Hummingbird. Quarterly Newsletter.
www.seahorseandhummingbird.com
January 11, 2026 at 8:03 PM
✉️ If you're interested in what The Seahorse & The Hummingbird did, does, is doing and/or will do, join The Core Loop. You can sign up for the quarterly newsletter and a small handful of announcements when cool stuff happens. No more than 8 emails per year.
I respect your inbox.
#boardgames
I respect your inbox.
#boardgames
Happy to see this starting to take shape!
What comes after Pyrotechnics? A trick-taking game like you've never seen before: Threed, by Brooks Barber. Stay tuned for updates and look for it (possibly) in the first half of 2026!
#boardgames
#boardgames
January 9, 2026 at 1:32 AM
Happy to see this starting to take shape!
I have found a lot of my most recent board game design ideas involve trying to pull subjectivity into them. I seem to be interested in the interplay between traditionally individualistic experiential phenomena and the mechanical necessity of board games. 🎲✂️
January 5, 2026 at 8:51 PM
I have found a lot of my most recent board game design ideas involve trying to pull subjectivity into them. I seem to be interested in the interplay between traditionally individualistic experiential phenomena and the mechanical necessity of board games. 🎲✂️
Reposted by Brooks Barber
Better sentiments tonight, about 2025. My year in game design has been amazing! I set out with some ambitious goals and I have largely achieved them (and more)!
Best of all, my first game came out in April! Sykes-Picot from Hollandspiele. Check it out!
hollandspiele.com/products/syk...
Best of all, my first game came out in April! Sykes-Picot from Hollandspiele. Check it out!
hollandspiele.com/products/syk...
Sykes-Picot
Game Design: Brooks BarberArt: Amabel HollandHex Number: 88Duration: 60 minutesPlayers: 2Solitaire Suitability: LowTheme: WWIMSRP: $35.00
During the First World War, the British and French made a secr...
hollandspiele.com
December 31, 2025 at 2:12 AM
Better sentiments tonight, about 2025. My year in game design has been amazing! I set out with some ambitious goals and I have largely achieved them (and more)!
Best of all, my first game came out in April! Sykes-Picot from Hollandspiele. Check it out!
hollandspiele.com/products/syk...
Best of all, my first game came out in April! Sykes-Picot from Hollandspiele. Check it out!
hollandspiele.com/products/syk...
What a fucking year this has been, huh? I mostly talk about game design on here, and that part of my life has gone well in 2025 (more on that later). But the rest of this year? Let's leave it in the bin. It's been a complete shitshow, especially in the United States.
December 30, 2025 at 3:23 AM
What a fucking year this has been, huh? I mostly talk about game design on here, and that part of my life has gone well in 2025 (more on that later). But the rest of this year? Let's leave it in the bin. It's been a complete shitshow, especially in the United States.
This is dumb policy-making being used to justify unnecessary and illegal aggression.
But does this mean I need to rename Painkillers? It's apparently now a game about WMDs.
But does this mean I need to rename Painkillers? It's apparently now a game about WMDs.
December 15, 2025 at 10:43 PM
This is dumb policy-making being used to justify unnecessary and illegal aggression.
But does this mean I need to rename Painkillers? It's apparently now a game about WMDs.
But does this mean I need to rename Painkillers? It's apparently now a game about WMDs.
If you suddenly made a whole bunch on your board game designs (maybe from a @shutupshow.bsky.social spotlight), what would you name the yacht you buy with your fuck you money? 🎲✂️
December 13, 2025 at 4:50 AM
If you suddenly made a whole bunch on your board game designs (maybe from a @shutupshow.bsky.social spotlight), what would you name the yacht you buy with your fuck you money? 🎲✂️
Reposted by Brooks Barber
Okay. The Seahorse & The Hummingbird is once again open for business after a SERIOUS redesign.
It's not perfect, but I gotta move forward. If any of y'all wouldn't mind giving the site a good, hearty look, I'm in the market for feedback of the following variety:
🧵 1 of 2
#boardgames 🎲✂️
It's not perfect, but I gotta move forward. If any of y'all wouldn't mind giving the site a good, hearty look, I'm in the market for feedback of the following variety:
🧵 1 of 2
#boardgames 🎲✂️
The Seahorse & The Hummingbird
Think Deep & Play Light. Small- and medium-sized indie board games that challenge the mind and lighten the heart.
www.seahorseandhummingbird.com
December 9, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Okay. The Seahorse & The Hummingbird is once again open for business after a SERIOUS redesign.
It's not perfect, but I gotta move forward. If any of y'all wouldn't mind giving the site a good, hearty look, I'm in the market for feedback of the following variety:
🧵 1 of 2
#boardgames 🎲✂️
It's not perfect, but I gotta move forward. If any of y'all wouldn't mind giving the site a good, hearty look, I'm in the market for feedback of the following variety:
🧵 1 of 2
#boardgames 🎲✂️
As always, go read Dan’s writing!
But even more importantly, go support @xoe.gay’s work! I have persuasion on the way from Hollandspiele now!
But even more importantly, go support @xoe.gay’s work! I have persuasion on the way from Hollandspiele now!
Persuasion and Conviction, both by @xoe.gay, explore two distinct acts in the life cycle of a relationship. Both installments are incisive, thought-provoking, and (deliberately) toxic. My review: spacebiff.com/2025/12/09/p...
Lovers’ Quarrels
Who was it that said that every tale is a tragedy, it’s only a question of when the story ends. I bet that person was a real hoot at noon tea. Personally, I think every story is a comedy, pro…
spacebiff.com
December 10, 2025 at 2:18 PM
As always, go read Dan’s writing!
But even more importantly, go support @xoe.gay’s work! I have persuasion on the way from Hollandspiele now!
But even more importantly, go support @xoe.gay’s work! I have persuasion on the way from Hollandspiele now!
Happy to see this. Historical gaming will be all the better for this! Candice is so great and deserves the best.
“There’s more to historical board games than just hex-and-counter WWII”: Candice Harris on turning her video talents to making historical wargaming more accessible after her surprise BoardGameGeek exit:
boardgamewire.com/index.php/20...
@candidrum.bsky.social @gmtgames.bsky.social
boardgamewire.com/index.php/20...
@candidrum.bsky.social @gmtgames.bsky.social
December 9, 2025 at 4:41 AM
Happy to see this. Historical gaming will be all the better for this! Candice is so great and deserves the best.
Reposted by Brooks Barber
The furnace broke. It's very cold, so we're having a sale on an appropriately chilly game!
December 8, 2025 at 7:59 PM
The furnace broke. It's very cold, so we're having a sale on an appropriately chilly game!
Hey friends who read! Looking for an alternative to Audible for audiobooks. Any good options?
November 29, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Hey friends who read! Looking for an alternative to Audible for audiobooks. Any good options?
This was the most affecting board game experience of my life, and I don’t see that ever changing. Although I know each person at the table had their own unique response, Dan does an incredible job here of putting words to it.
I don't know how to introduce this one. After three titles about opium peddling, I figured the rest of SDHistCon would be breezy by comparison. I was wrong. The next day, I experienced one of the toughest board games I've ever played. Perhaps *the* toughest. spacebiff.com/2025/11/24/u...
Unnameable
After the first day of SDHistCon, where I played three games about opium peddling, I figured the second would be easier on my stomach. I could not have been more wrong. It has no name. Its designer…
spacebiff.com
November 24, 2025 at 8:27 PM
This was the most affecting board game experience of my life, and I don’t see that ever changing. Although I know each person at the table had their own unique response, Dan does an incredible job here of putting words to it.
Reposted by Brooks Barber
Hollandays ends tomorrow night. Let's take a look at our best-selling games during this year's sale!
(1) City of Six Moons (2024, Holland)
Probably not a surprise, our bestselling game of all time continues to sell strong during the sale.
hollandspiele.com/products/cit...
(1) City of Six Moons (2024, Holland)
Probably not a surprise, our bestselling game of all time continues to sell strong during the sale.
hollandspiele.com/products/cit...
City of Six Moons
City of Six MoonsDiscovered by: Amabel HollandMSRP: $35.00
Europeans: You can order our game through Second Chance Games in the UK. We do not ship to Europe directly. If you are unable to place an or...
hollandspiele.com
November 22, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Hollandays ends tomorrow night. Let's take a look at our best-selling games during this year's sale!
(1) City of Six Moons (2024, Holland)
Probably not a surprise, our bestselling game of all time continues to sell strong during the sale.
hollandspiele.com/products/cit...
(1) City of Six Moons (2024, Holland)
Probably not a surprise, our bestselling game of all time continues to sell strong during the sale.
hollandspiele.com/products/cit...
Love to see a deep dive history thread that counters revisionism.
The myth is circulating again that it was more radical otg activists and assimilationist gays ("boots and suits") teaming up that was responsible for queer communities' gains late '60s on.
The history doesn't back this up. What actually happened is more revealing. 🧵
Let's start with Stonewall...
The history doesn't back this up. What actually happened is more revealing. 🧵
Let's start with Stonewall...
November 21, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Love to see a deep dive history thread that counters revisionism.
Good luck to all the 🎲✂️ folks at PAXU this weekend! Hope your testing goes well and your pitches succeed!
November 21, 2025 at 4:22 AM
Good luck to all the 🎲✂️ folks at PAXU this weekend! Hope your testing goes well and your pitches succeed!
Tough to choose but probably:
Pax Pamir
Lisboa
War of the Ring
Age of Steam
Maria
Chess
Axis and Allies
Arcs
Spades
Nemesis
Pax Pamir
Lisboa
War of the Ring
Age of Steam
Maria
Chess
Axis and Allies
Arcs
Spades
Nemesis
board game enthusiasts of bluesky, what are your top 10 board games of all time
November 15, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Tough to choose but probably:
Pax Pamir
Lisboa
War of the Ring
Age of Steam
Maria
Chess
Axis and Allies
Arcs
Spades
Nemesis
Pax Pamir
Lisboa
War of the Ring
Age of Steam
Maria
Chess
Axis and Allies
Arcs
Spades
Nemesis
The sale is on! Obviously, I think you should pick up a copy of my game. But also there are so many other cool things to check out. Do yourself a favor and peruse the catalog of one of the most interesting publishers in gaming!
The debut game from @rollplusfun.bsky.social , Sykes-Picot is an acerbic negotiation-based 2P trick-taker that lets you color in its map. The form of the game reflects & critiques the way colonial powers casually disregard the colonized.
hollandspiele.com/products/syk...
hollandspiele.com/products/syk...
Sykes-Picot
Game Design: Brooks BarberArt: Amabel HollandHex Number: 88Duration: 60 minutesPlayers: 2Solitaire Suitability: LowTheme: WWIMSRP: $35.00
During the First World War, the British and French made a secr...
hollandspiele.com
November 14, 2025 at 4:40 PM
The sale is on! Obviously, I think you should pick up a copy of my game. But also there are so many other cool things to check out. Do yourself a favor and peruse the catalog of one of the most interesting publishers in gaming!
Reposted by Brooks Barber
This past weekend, I was delighted to attend @sdhistcon.bsky.social, where on Saturday I played not one, not two, but three games about selling opium. It was quite the day. Read about it here: spacebiff.com/2025/11/13/s...
SDHist 2025: Day of Copium
This past weekend, I attended SDHistCon in San Diego, the most interesting board gaming convention currently running. Here are the official snapshots: the Summit Award went to War Story: Occupied F…
spacebiff.com
November 13, 2025 at 9:51 PM
This past weekend, I was delighted to attend @sdhistcon.bsky.social, where on Saturday I played not one, not two, but three games about selling opium. It was quite the day. Read about it here: spacebiff.com/2025/11/13/s...
If you’ve been waiting to pick up Sykes-Picot, this is a great time to do it! Definitely check out Persuasion by @xoe.gay!! Or Oblique or Table Battles or or or so many other great games from Hollandspiele!
November 13, 2025 at 12:40 AM
If you’ve been waiting to pick up Sykes-Picot, this is a great time to do it! Definitely check out Persuasion by @xoe.gay!! Or Oblique or Table Battles or or or so many other great games from Hollandspiele!
And now that I've had a decent night's sleep, a more in-depth recap of my time in San Diego this past weekend at #SDHistCon. It was only my second time there, and I got even more out of it than I did the first one. This convention is consistently excellent in what it delivers.
November 11, 2025 at 7:29 PM
And now that I've had a decent night's sleep, a more in-depth recap of my time in San Diego this past weekend at #SDHistCon. It was only my second time there, and I got even more out of it than I did the first one. This convention is consistently excellent in what it delivers.