But basically it’s the “every game is better if it’s Pasión de las Pasiones” vs “no one ever betrays their allies in a Cataphracts game”
January 16, 2026 at 10:15 PM
But basically it’s the “every game is better if it’s Pasión de las Pasiones” vs “no one ever betrays their allies in a Cataphracts game”
Just had an idea for a cataphracts game set in space. Spent five minutes pondering how to do the 3d aspects...
Hard no!
Hard no!
January 16, 2026 at 4:41 PM
Just had an idea for a cataphracts game set in space. Spent five minutes pondering how to do the 3d aspects...
Hard no!
Hard no!
rite of passage (writing my stupid fucking cataphracts game)
January 15, 2026 at 11:21 PM
rite of passage (writing my stupid fucking cataphracts game)
If anyone wants to know what playing Cataphracts by @samsorensen.bsky.social is like, it’s checking your Discord notifications first in the morning and getting sent hurtling through this loop like you are clothes in the dryer.
January 13, 2026 at 12:52 PM
If anyone wants to know what playing Cataphracts by @samsorensen.bsky.social is like, it’s checking your Discord notifications first in the morning and getting sent hurtling through this loop like you are clothes in the dryer.
The fastest way to lose against Cataphracts is pretending they’re just heavy cavalry.
January 13, 2026 at 7:13 AM
The fastest way to lose against Cataphracts is pretending they’re just heavy cavalry.
Ugh, getting so many letters in Cataphracts right before bed time.
January 13, 2026 at 5:25 AM
Ugh, getting so many letters in Cataphracts right before bed time.
Haven’t been posting much on here, I’ve been absolutely locked in on my Cataphracts character in a game that is about 4 weeks in now.
Jean-Claude Sartre, elder statesman, diplomat, codename Penknife.
He’s my fuckin BOI and his storyline has been crazy and is only slated to get crazier.
Jean-Claude Sartre, elder statesman, diplomat, codename Penknife.
He’s my fuckin BOI and his storyline has been crazy and is only slated to get crazier.
January 10, 2026 at 7:06 AM
Haven’t been posting much on here, I’ve been absolutely locked in on my Cataphracts character in a game that is about 4 weeks in now.
Jean-Claude Sartre, elder statesman, diplomat, codename Penknife.
He’s my fuckin BOI and his storyline has been crazy and is only slated to get crazier.
Jean-Claude Sartre, elder statesman, diplomat, codename Penknife.
He’s my fuckin BOI and his storyline has been crazy and is only slated to get crazier.
"hellenistic cataphracts" aren't a thing till the 2nd century AD so belong in the 'decline and fall' category. Unless the submitter meant something else and used the wrong term.
The chinese dragon dance is a mostly modern thing in its recognizeble form, so really should be in the pulp catagory.
The chinese dragon dance is a mostly modern thing in its recognizeble form, so really should be in the pulp catagory.
January 9, 2026 at 6:35 PM
"hellenistic cataphracts" aren't a thing till the 2nd century AD so belong in the 'decline and fall' category. Unless the submitter meant something else and used the wrong term.
The chinese dragon dance is a mostly modern thing in its recognizeble form, so really should be in the pulp catagory.
The chinese dragon dance is a mostly modern thing in its recognizeble form, so really should be in the pulp catagory.
Yeah, I think Mark’s rules have a solid core that can be adapted to loads of periods. I’m looking at Vikings as a mod and even considering ACW. The rules as heavy on Roman HI as to be expected. I’m trialling a few tweaks around cataphracts and horse archers for my Sasanians, not much else needed. 👍
January 7, 2026 at 5:41 PM
Yeah, I think Mark’s rules have a solid core that can be adapted to loads of periods. I’m looking at Vikings as a mod and even considering ACW. The rules as heavy on Roman HI as to be expected. I’m trialling a few tweaks around cataphracts and horse archers for my Sasanians, not much else needed. 👍
We don't even know what that mask (sans helmet) was doing there under the collapsed embankment; it could have been in the looted baggage. Cataphracts and clibanariii are irrelevant to the early Principate #RomanCavalry (the time of Kalkriese) and masks definitely hinder riders' field of view ...
January 7, 2026 at 5:14 PM
We don't even know what that mask (sans helmet) was doing there under the collapsed embankment; it could have been in the looted baggage. Cataphracts and clibanariii are irrelevant to the early Principate #RomanCavalry (the time of Kalkriese) and masks definitely hinder riders' field of view ...
You get cooler shit further east. The Seleucids especially get all the fun toys - elephants and phalanxes and cataphracts, oh my.
January 6, 2026 at 11:32 PM
You get cooler shit further east. The Seleucids especially get all the fun toys - elephants and phalanxes and cataphracts, oh my.
It's nice to start the new year in the throes of play by post RPGs as well as cataphracts. i forgot how wonderful it is to write for fun with friends! to make characters and play them out and have them make CHOICES!
January 6, 2026 at 6:32 AM
It's nice to start the new year in the throes of play by post RPGs as well as cataphracts. i forgot how wonderful it is to write for fun with friends! to make characters and play them out and have them make CHOICES!
Oh, sure! In that case let me point you at Sam Sorensen's Cataphract game, which is a wargame that really puts that time issue (and other fog of war issues) front and center.
@samsorensen.bsky.social and samsorensen.blot.im/cataphracts-...
@samsorensen.bsky.social and samsorensen.blot.im/cataphracts-...
Cataphracts Design Diary #1 - Sam Sorensen
Cataphracts commanders: there is no actionable intelligence in this post. Read on. About two months ago, I reread several series on military
samsorensen.blot.im
January 4, 2026 at 6:49 PM
Oh, sure! In that case let me point you at Sam Sorensen's Cataphract game, which is a wargame that really puts that time issue (and other fog of war issues) front and center.
@samsorensen.bsky.social and samsorensen.blot.im/cataphracts-...
@samsorensen.bsky.social and samsorensen.blot.im/cataphracts-...
@samsorensen.bsky.social's design diaries on Cataphracts were a delightful look into a game that plays with some really unique mechanics around time. I appreciate the vulnerability with which facilitating such a game is explained. A really unique wargame.
samsorensen.blot.im/cataphracts-...
samsorensen.blot.im/cataphracts-...
Cataphracts Design Diary #1 - Sam Sorensen
Cataphracts commanders: there is no actionable intelligence in this post. Read on. About two months ago, I reread several series on military
samsorensen.blot.im
January 1, 2026 at 6:07 PM
@samsorensen.bsky.social's design diaries on Cataphracts were a delightful look into a game that plays with some really unique mechanics around time. I appreciate the vulnerability with which facilitating such a game is explained. A really unique wargame.
samsorensen.blot.im/cataphracts-...
samsorensen.blot.im/cataphracts-...
Cataphracts or... Lizard Centaurs?! 😄
December 31, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Cataphracts or... Lizard Centaurs?! 😄
#ReliefWednesday
Sarmatian cataphracts depicted on Trajan's column, 2nd century CE
📸 Conrad Cichorius (1863-1932) CC BY-SA 4.0
#AncientBlueSky
Sarmatian cataphracts depicted on Trajan's column, 2nd century CE
📸 Conrad Cichorius (1863-1932) CC BY-SA 4.0
#AncientBlueSky
December 31, 2025 at 1:42 PM
#ReliefWednesday
Sarmatian cataphracts depicted on Trajan's column, 2nd century CE
📸 Conrad Cichorius (1863-1932) CC BY-SA 4.0
#AncientBlueSky
Sarmatian cataphracts depicted on Trajan's column, 2nd century CE
📸 Conrad Cichorius (1863-1932) CC BY-SA 4.0
#AncientBlueSky
I am aware of and have read the rascal report, but I'd like to hear more on-the-ground impressions. I'd especially like to hear from anyone who played in the game of cataphracts that over/under theoretically revolved around. www.rascal.news/thirty-days-...
Thirty Days of Bleed
Within a high-pressure, nonstop roleplaying game, denizens of Over/Under found it difficult to extricate their character’s emotions from their own.
www.rascal.news
December 30, 2025 at 3:08 PM
I am aware of and have read the rascal report, but I'd like to hear more on-the-ground impressions. I'd especially like to hear from anyone who played in the game of cataphracts that over/under theoretically revolved around. www.rascal.news/thirty-days-...
Thoughts: Cataphracts going through the centre against infantry are able to win but face a fight and are likely to be in trouble if not supported on their flanks. Massed archery is effective but again, needs flank support. With the special rules I’m trialing with the Cataphracts, I’m happy they…
December 28, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Thoughts: Cataphracts going through the centre against infantry are able to win but face a fight and are likely to be in trouble if not supported on their flanks. Massed archery is effective but again, needs flank support. With the special rules I’m trialing with the Cataphracts, I’m happy they…
Interesting! The Sasanians cataphracts are charging up the centre, dragging their infantry with them, although the Palmyrenes have proven surprisingly robust. Meanwhile while one Sasanian flank is protected by a desperate archer base whilst the other is screened by horse archers. Touch and go here!
December 28, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Interesting! The Sasanians cataphracts are charging up the centre, dragging their infantry with them, although the Palmyrenes have proven surprisingly robust. Meanwhile while one Sasanian flank is protected by a desperate archer base whilst the other is screened by horse archers. Touch and go here!
The Sasanian right has managed to turn the Roman left and destroy their medium cavalry. In the centre, the cataphracts have pushed back the Roman legion however, they’re now isolated… on the left, the Sasanian archers have successfully defended against more medium cavalry.
December 28, 2025 at 4:58 PM
The Sasanian right has managed to turn the Roman left and destroy their medium cavalry. In the centre, the cataphracts have pushed back the Roman legion however, they’re now isolated… on the left, the Sasanian archers have successfully defended against more medium cavalry.
These days I spend a lot of time on here talking about Cataphracts, which is a sort of real time, play by post, logistics oriented wargame with limited inter player communication invented in the last year by Sam Sorensen and already has a lot of new variants
December 27, 2025 at 8:51 PM
These days I spend a lot of time on here talking about Cataphracts, which is a sort of real time, play by post, logistics oriented wargame with limited inter player communication invented in the last year by Sam Sorensen and already has a lot of new variants
Cataphracts Rally Point: discord.gg/2wuS5RN39
There’s recruitment, discussion, folks are cool! I’m currently playing in Vanitera which might be the LARGEST but there are several others running like Vanguard, Eparchia, and 976
There’s recruitment, discussion, folks are cool! I’m currently playing in Vanitera which might be the LARGEST but there are several others running like Vanguard, Eparchia, and 976
Join the Cataphracts Rally Point Discord Server!
Place for Cataphracts players and GMs to gather and discuss ongoing or upcoming games. | 161 members
discord.gg
December 27, 2025 at 6:40 AM
Cataphracts Rally Point: discord.gg/2wuS5RN39
There’s recruitment, discussion, folks are cool! I’m currently playing in Vanitera which might be the LARGEST but there are several others running like Vanguard, Eparchia, and 976
There’s recruitment, discussion, folks are cool! I’m currently playing in Vanitera which might be the LARGEST but there are several others running like Vanguard, Eparchia, and 976
If you want to play in Cataphracts there are several active/open games and a discord server for folks who’re recruiting for games if you’re not in yet?
December 27, 2025 at 6:36 AM
If you want to play in Cataphracts there are several active/open games and a discord server for folks who’re recruiting for games if you’re not in yet?
10 TTRPGs I want to play/run in 2026
- ICRPG (currently using for my UVG game)
- Mythic Bastionland (currently playing)
- Silent Legions (to run a Quarcoxa game)
- Scum & Villainy (Space Monte Cristo)
- Stargrave
- Cloud Empress
- Something PbtA
- Electric Bastionland
- Cataphracts
- CORP BORG
- ICRPG (currently using for my UVG game)
- Mythic Bastionland (currently playing)
- Silent Legions (to run a Quarcoxa game)
- Scum & Villainy (Space Monte Cristo)
- Stargrave
- Cloud Empress
- Something PbtA
- Electric Bastionland
- Cataphracts
- CORP BORG
10 TTRPGs/STGs I want to play/run in 2026
- Night's Black Agents
- Mothership
- Numenera
- Home: The Haunted House
- Burning Empires
- Band of Blades
- Dolmenwood
- Technoir
- Traveller
- Night's Black Agents: Solo Ops
- Night's Black Agents
- Mothership
- Numenera
- Home: The Haunted House
- Burning Empires
- Band of Blades
- Dolmenwood
- Technoir
- Traveller
- Night's Black Agents: Solo Ops
10 TTRPGS I want to play/run in 2026 (other than Merryshire Detective Club, crowdfunding later in the year, plug plug)
- Terraforming Mars
- DIE
- Delta Green
- Tunnels and Trolls
- Mythic Bastionland
- Seven Part Pact
- Alice is Dead
- 13th Age 2nd edition
- DANDY
- SPACE LEFT FOR SERENDIPITY
- Terraforming Mars
- DIE
- Delta Green
- Tunnels and Trolls
- Mythic Bastionland
- Seven Part Pact
- Alice is Dead
- 13th Age 2nd edition
- DANDY
- SPACE LEFT FOR SERENDIPITY
December 27, 2025 at 6:29 AM
10 TTRPGs I want to play/run in 2026
- ICRPG (currently using for my UVG game)
- Mythic Bastionland (currently playing)
- Silent Legions (to run a Quarcoxa game)
- Scum & Villainy (Space Monte Cristo)
- Stargrave
- Cloud Empress
- Something PbtA
- Electric Bastionland
- Cataphracts
- CORP BORG
- ICRPG (currently using for my UVG game)
- Mythic Bastionland (currently playing)
- Silent Legions (to run a Quarcoxa game)
- Scum & Villainy (Space Monte Cristo)
- Stargrave
- Cloud Empress
- Something PbtA
- Electric Bastionland
- Cataphracts
- CORP BORG
Glad I decided to start with the minimal possible cataphracts to run because I'm already getting tempted by the siren song of scope creep
December 27, 2025 at 3:38 AM
Glad I decided to start with the minimal possible cataphracts to run because I'm already getting tempted by the siren song of scope creep