We’re thrilled to announce that our debut game, Sea & Steel: Columbus’ Voyages, is launching its Gamefound campaign preview! Get a sneak peek at our stunning final game box and a brief overview of this exciting new adventure coming soon in both English and Spanish editions. Each version will be housed in its own beautifully designed box.
This is just the beginning of our journey. We have more games in the pipeline, and we can’t wait to share them with you. Your support means the world to us! Help us spread the word and get ready to set sail with Columbus!
We’re excited to announce a new addition to our game collection! This title is still under development, but we expect to have it ready for publishing soon. Stay tuned for more information! Don’t forget to subscribe for updates.
🟥MODERN | STRATEGIC | 1-2 PLAYERS | DURATION 120-180′ GAME DESIGN: FRAN MARISCAL
All samples below are from playtest graphics, not final game art.
REBELLION & PUNISHMENT: WAR OF THE ALPUJARRAS
The path to the War of the Alpujarras (1568-1571) began with the conquest of the Kingdom of Granada by the Catholic Monarchs in 1492. Decades of tensions and the forced assimilation of the Moriscos culminated in the 1568 rebellion, aimed at reestablishing a Muslim kingdom in southern Spain.
In December 1568, Hernando de Valor, a descendant of the Umayyads, adopted the name Aben Humeya and was proclaimed king of the Moriscos. Despite attempts such as the uprising in the Albaicín district of Granada, the war spread rapidly throughout the former Nasrid kingdom.
“Rebellion & Punishment: The Alpujarras War” is a card-driven strategy game that recreates the war between the rebel Moriscos who attempted to re-establish the Muslim Kingdom of Granada and the Christian troops of the Kingdom of Spain who fought to prevent it.
Cards are played as Action Points or as Events, allowing players to advance across the terrain or perform actions specific to their faction.
The game map reproduces the entire territory of the former Nasrid Kingdom of Granada and includes the areas where uprisings and battles took place.
Among the Morisco troops are the Monfíes, Muslim bandits who did not accept the Nasrid surrender and had been waging a guerrilla war in the Sierra Nevada mountains for decades, and the Gandules, militias of young men who organized around the mosques. Later, they received help from Turkish Janissaries and Berber corsairs, and even Mujahideen arrived to fight in the Holy War against the Christians.
Meanwhile, fearing Ottoman expansion and a new Muslim kingdom, Philip II sent his half-brother, Don Juan of Austria, to suppress the rebellion. The conflict turned into a civil war that pitted Christians against Muslims, with the participation of Spanish tercios, Berber corsairs, and Ottoman soldiers.
Will you become Don Juan of Austria, defending Christian Spain for King Philip II? Or will you embrace the mantle of Aben Humeya, striving to restore a Muslim kingdom on the Iberian Peninsula? The fate of the Alpujarras rests in your hands.
Help Rebellion & Punishment succeed by signing up on our website and adding the game to your wishlist! This small act shows your interest and lets us know there’s excitement for this title.
It is time for the second chapter of a 4-part series on Spartacus: Rome Under Threat. If you haven’t read the first part you can check it out here: – Part 1
In the spring of 72 BC, the escaped slaves abandoned their winter camps and headed north towards Cisalpine Gaul.
Alarmed by the rebellion’s scale and the defeats of praetorian armies under Glaber and Varinius, the Senate dispatched two consular legions commanded by Lucius Gellius and Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus Clodianus. Initially triumphant, Gellius engaged around 30,000 slaves led by Crixus near Mount Garganus, decimating the rebels, and killing Crixus.
At this point, classical accounts diverge, reconverging only with Crassus’s involvement. Appian and Plutarch offer comprehensive, yet disparate narratives. Neither directly contradicts the other, but each presents unique events while omitting elements from the opposing account.
Appian’s Account Appian portrays the victory over Crixus as the prelude to a complex series of maneuvers nearly bringing Spartacus’s forces to Rome. Following Crixus’s defeat, Gellius pursued Spartacus’s main force towards Cisalpine Gaul, while Lentulus blocked their path. Spartacus defeated Lentulus, then turned to crush Gellius, scattering the Roman legions. Appian claims Spartacus executed 300 captured Romans, forcing them to fight to the death as gladiators, avenging Crixus.
With 120,000 followers, Spartacus rapidly pushed north, burning supplies, killing prisoners, and slaughtering pack animals to accelerate his advance. The defeated consuls retreated to Rome, while Spartacus’s army pressed on. Another consular defeat at Picenum followed. Appian suggests Spartacus initially intended to march on Rome but changed course due to inadequate armament and lack of allied cities, retreating to southern Italy. The rebels seized Thurii, plundered the region, traded for arms, and clashed with repeatedly defeated Roman forces.
Plutarch’s Account Plutarch offers a contrasting narrative. After Gellius’s victory over Crixus (described as “Germans”), Spartacus defeated Lentulus, seized Roman supplies, and advanced into northern Italy. The Senate recalled both consuls. Unlike Appian, Plutarch omits Spartacus’s engagement with Gellius and the Picenum battle. Plutarch details a conflict absent from Appian: Spartacus’s army advanced towards Mutina (modern Modena), where a Roman force led by Gaius Cassius Longinus was defeated. Plutarch then fast-forwards to Crassus’s initial clash with Spartacus in the spring of 71 BC, ignoring Appian’s Rome march and Thurii retreat. As Plutarch describes Crassus forcing Spartacus’s retreat from Picenum in 71 BC, it implies a winter withdrawal from Mutina to southern or central Italy. The reasons for this retreat, given the apparent opportunity to cross the Alps, remain unexplained.
Several theories suggest that Spartacus and his army may have reconsidered their escape route, opting for a return to the south rather than the perilous Alpine crossing. These possibilities include the daunting nature of the Alps, the intoxicating allure of conquering Rome after previous victories, or internal divisions within the rebellion that necessitated a change of plans.
Another month has flown by, and we’re ready to unveil more about our upcoming historical board games.
Mentions:
As a small, independent wargame publisher, we’re dedicated to creating exceptional gaming experiences. Our commitment to delivering high-quality games is driven by passion and hard work.
If you’ve discovered us through another blog, magazine, podcast, or YouTube channel, please let us know! We’d love to recognize their contributions.
Gamefound Crowdfunding Campaign:
We’re thrilled to announce that our first tabletop game is almost ready to set sail!
We’re launching a crowdfunding campaign for Sea & Steel: Columbus’s Voyages on Gamefound, the leading platform for tabletop game projects. This is a major milestone for our company, and we can’t wait to share more details with you soon.
We’re putting the final touches on the game and preparing our Gamefound page. Be on the lookout for exciting updates and the official campaign launch date before the summer ends!
INCOMING! Whislist
Support the games you’re most excited about by signing up and adding them to your wishlist. The most wishlisted titles will climb the development queue, meaning you have a direct impact on our release schedule!
Note: All images shown for upcoming titles are provisional. Final artwork will be revealed as the games progress to later development stages.
Now, let’s dive into the current status of each project, listed in order of wishlist popularity and development status. Remember, a project won’t be ready for a Gamefound campaign until it reaches 90-100% completion.
Development on our game is nearly complete at 90%, and we’re excited to announce that the Gamefound campaign is in the works! The solitaire system was enhanced in June, and with illustrations finalized, graphic design is now underway.
Initial Phase: Completed (15/15) Development Phase: In progress (60/60) Illustration/Graphic Design: In progress (15/15) Proof reading and final revision: Pending (0/10)
Development is progressing steadily as we refine our vision. Prototype version 3 is complete and undergoing internal playtesting throughout August. We’re excited to open up playtesting to the community in September!
Initial Phase: Completed (15/15) Development Phase: In progress (40/60) Illustration/Graphic Design: In progress (5/15) Proof reading and final revision: Pending (0/10)
The Vassal Module for online playtesting is complete. We’ll spend the summer refining the rulebook and making improvements. Playtesting resumes in September.
Initial Phase: Completed (15/15) Development Phase: In progress (40/60) Illustration/Graphic Design: In progress (0/15) Proof reading and final revision: Pending (0/10)
The designer is meticulously crafting the core mechanics through rigorous testing and adjustments. Our priority is a rock-solid gameplay experience. Stay tuned! Once the core mechanics are solidified, we’ll open the call for wargamers to join the playtesting phase.
Initial Phase: Completed (10/15) Development Phase: In progress (5/60) Illustration/Graphic Design: In progress (0/15) Proof reading and final revision: Pending (0/10)
Get ready to dust off your sandals and step into the heart of ancient Rome! Our game designer, José Manuel Neva, brings you the first chapter of a 4-part series on Spartacus: Rome Under Threat. Get ready to be immersed in this epic adventure through history!
Slavery was a cornerstone of the Roman economy, providing a vast, inexpensive labor force acquired through trade and conquest. The immense and oppressed slave population ignited multiple rebellions. While the First and Second Servile Wars in Sicily were significant disturbances quelled by Roman military might, they were not perceived as existential threats to the Republic.
This perception shifted with the Third Servile War. In the spring of 73 BC, a group of 74 to 78 gladiators staged a violent escape from Lentulus Batiatus’ gladiatorial school in Capua. Defeating a Roman force, they seized military equipment and, with growing numbers, established a base on Mount Vesuvius.
Led by Spartacus and his formidable lieutenants, Crixus and Oenomaus, the revolt and subsequent raids swiftly captured the attention of the Roman authorities. Initially dismissed as a large-scale criminal outbreak rather than a full-blown rebellion, the uprising among the enslaved population posed a direct threat to the elite’s cherished estates and vacation retreats.
By late that same year, Rome responded by dispatching a military force under the command of a praetor. Gaius Claudius Glaber assembled a hastily gathered militia of 3,000 men (ad tumultum), a far cry from the disciplined legions. Underestimating the severity of the situation, Rome viewed the conflict as little more than a banditry problem. Glaber’s strategy was simple: besiege the rebels on Mount Vesuvius and starve them into submission.
However, Spartacus and his followers proved to be a formidable adversary. Despite their lack of formal military training, they demonstrated remarkable ingenuity and tactical acumen. Utilizing the natural resources of Vesuvius, they fashioned ropes and ladders from vines and trees, enabling a daring escape down the mountain’s treacherous cliffs. Seizing the opportunity presented by Glaber’s lack of a defensive encampment, the rebels outflanked his forces, inflicting a crushing defeat.
A second Roman force, led by Praetor Publius Varinius, was subsequently dispatched to quell Spartacus’ rebellion. Inexplicably, Varinius divided his army, placing Furius and Cossinius in command of separate contingents. While Plutarch indicates Furius commanded approximately 2,000 soldiers, the overall size of the expeditionary force and its composition—militia or legionaries—remains uncertain. These Roman troops were decisively defeated by the rebel slaves. Cossinius was killed, Varinius narrowly escaped capture, and the Romans lost their equipment.
These victories propelled Spartacus’ army to new heights. Tens of thousands of additional slaves joined their ranks, as did numerous local herdsmen and shepherds. By the winter of 73-72 BC, the rebel force had swelled to an estimated 70,000 strong. This period was marked by intensive training, armament, and expansion of their territory, which now included the cities of Nola, Nuceria, Thurii, and Metapontum.
However, these triumphs were not without cost. Oenomaus, a prominent rebel leader, perished, presumably in battle when the slave armies were plundering cities and towns in the south of Italy.
In a new playtesting update, game developer Jack Polonka dives into a different scenario for Kursk.
“ACHTUNG! ACHTUNG! All you PANZERWAFFE dierollers of the Prokhorovka sector. The Assault continues with Neva’s upcoming Kursk, but it’s now July 11th (the day before) with Adolf’s Liebstandard Home Boys coming onto the map to clear it of the Red Army menace! All looks straight forward initially till The Anti Tank Ditch is reached. That is where the real fun/struggle begins. See the post picture, which is end of turn 3 of a 7 turns (or 8 turns…remember this is still a playtest….) game. Progress is being made on the flanks and the 1st Liebstandard Regiment is delpoyed for the assault on the main Ditch defense line. Who will win will depend on who has the last remaining reserves or reinforcements to throw into battle, a la Napoleon…. The situation sits on a fulcrum…. and the weather, which will bog things down, does not help either!
The photo in the comments page is the end game turn (turn 7) with the Liebstandard Home Boys in control of the ditch but not much else North of it….with additional objective victory hexes still in Red Army’s hands…. Two consecutive turns of down pouring rain mired operations.
More playtesting to be done now with new playtest reinforcments from our España compatriots! (From the Spanish Blue Division?)
Till then, Marche Forward!!”
We’re thrilled to announce that the Vassal Module for Kursk is nearing completion.
Prepare for Online Onslaught!
Get ready to unleash your tactical brilliance as online playtesting for Kursk will begin soon. Stay tuned for further updates!
Antonio Vaquera is back with the final chapter in our historical deep dive for Sea & Steel: Columbus’ Voyages. Catch up on the series here: Read part 1. Read part 2. Read part 3.
Map of the fourth voyage (Virtual University Miguel de Cervantes)
Fourth Voyage (1502-1504)
Columbus was 51 years old, which made him old for the time, and he suffered from gout and arthritis. He set sail with a fleet of two caravels and two ships. The monarchs agreed to finance the fourth voyage on condition that he never set foot on the island of Hispaniola again.
They departed from the port of Seville on April 3, 1502, and arrived in Santo Domingo, on the island of Hispaniola, on June 29. However, the new governor, Nicolás de Ovando, forbade them to disembark, following the orders of the monarchs. So, he sailed to Jamaica to resupply and then followed the coast of Cuba before heading west to the unexplored waters of the Caribbean.
Nicolás Ovando
They reached the coast of what is now known as Central America. On December 5, after having traveled practically the entire coast of Central America and with an exhausted crew, he abandoned the search for the western passage and headed for Veraguas, in present-day Panama, because the natives had told him that there was abundant gold.
Resigned to the fact that he could not establish a colony there due to the hostility and the bad weather, Columbus decided to start his way back. However, during the voyage through the Caribbean, all the ships were already affected by the broma (a wood-eating mollusk) and rotten, and they were beginning to sink, at the same time they were also affected by a hurricane.
In June 1503, the surviving ships of the expedition barely managed to reach the island of Jamaica, where they were beached by their crews.
Columbus embraces Diego Méndez in gratitude for his loyalty and bravery. File: Vida y viajes de Cristobal Colón, 1851
Columbus proposed to Diego Méndez to go by canoe to La Española to ask for help.
Finally, the governor of La Española, Nicolás de Ovando, sent a ship to Jamaica that anchored at a distance. Only the captain’s boat reached the shore, which brought Columbus a roasted pig, some wine, and greetings from the governor.
On June 29, a caravel sent by Diego Méndez finally appeared on the island. At this time, there were 110 members of the expedition left alive.
Hernando Columbus
On September 11, 1504, Christopher Columbus and his son Hernando embarked on a caravel to travel from La Española to Spain. They arrived in Sanlúcar de Barrameda on November 7 and from there traveled to Seville.
In Seville, illness kept Columbus bedridden. However, he was able to write his Book of Prophecies and write several letters in which he expressed interest in court affairs. On November 26, Queen Isabella died.
Tomb of Christopher Columbus in the Seville Cathedral. The inscription on the pedestal reads: “When the island of Cuba emancipated from Mother Spain, Seville obtained the deposit of Columbus’ remains, and its city council erected this pedestal.” Picture by Miguel Ángle Photographer.
On May 20, 1506, Christopher Columbus died in Valladolid without knowing that his explorations had led him to a continent unknown to the Europeans of his time, which would be called America, the result of an error in attributing its discovery to Amerigo Vespucci.
Antonio Vaquera (game designer) is back with the third part of the historical introduction of our game Sea & Steel: Columbus’ Voyages. If you haven’t read the previous parts: Read part 1. Read part 2.
Map of the third voyage (Virtual University Miguel de Cervantes)
Third Voyage (1498-1500):
February 6, 1498: Two caravels, under the command of Pedro Fernández Coronel, departed from Sanlúcar de Barrameda with provisions and at least 55 soldiers for Hispaniola. Columbus himself set sail from the same port of Sanlúcar on May 30, 1498, with eight other ships. This fleet had a crew of 226 people.
July 31, 1498: Columbus arrived at the island of Trinidad and explored the coast of Venezuela, becoming the first European to set eyes on mainland South America.
In August 1498 Columbus returned to Hispaniola and finds the colony in chaos due to mismanagement and conflicts. At this time, his brother, Bartholomew Columbus, was in command of the island. The capital of the island was Santo Domingo, a city that had been founded on the south coast of the island.
Bartholomew Columbus. Winsor, Justin – Narrative and critical history of America, Volume 2
From the island of Margarita, he sailed north to the island of Hispaniola and landed at Santo Domingo. There, a group of Spaniards, led by the mayor, Francisco Roldán, had rebelled against the authority of Bartholomew Columbus and had retreated inland.
Once in Santo Domingo, Christopher Columbus tried to negotiate with the rebels and in August 1499 all those who had rebelled were pardoned and allowed to return to Spain whenever they wished.
Complaints were also raised about the way the Columbus brothers were handling administrative affairs. On the other hand, the island of Hispaniola, instead of bringing money into the royal coffers, only demanded expenses. All of this reached the ears of the Spanish monarchs, who sent Judge Francisco de Bobadilla, who arrived in Santo Domingo on August 23, 1500.
Francisco de Bobadilla arrests Christopher Columbus in La Hispaniola island Benson John Lossing, ed. Harper’s Encyclopedia of United States History (vol. 2) (New York, NY: Harper and Brothers, 1912)
Columbus was arrested by Francisco de Bobadilla, who was sent by the Catholic Monarchs, and sent back to Spain in chains.
In November 1500, Columbus arrived in Spain and was released, but his titles and powers were revoked.
We’re back with more progress and news on our upcoming historical board games!
Mentions:
We were recently invited to Gostillian’s Twitch channel. Antonio Vaquera, the designer of “Sea & Steel: Columbus’ Voyages,” presented the game and showcased some gameplay. You can watch it on YouTube (the video is in Spanish, but you can enable subtitles). We’ll also be releasing video content about this game in English soon. (Youtube link to the video)
Gamefound Crowdfunding Campaign:
We’re thrilled to announce that we’re nearing the launch of our first campaign on Gamefound, a leading platform for tabletop game crowdfunding! This is a huge step forward for our company, and we’re excited to share some details about what you can expect.
We’re still putting the finishing touches on everything, but stay tuned – we’ll have exciting news coming this summer!
Wargames Conventions:
This June, we were thrilled to participate in the Vassal Forever Wargame Convention in Alcalá de Henares, Madrid! We showcased two of our exciting prototype games: Sea & Steel and Spartacus.
We want to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who came by our table and showed their support! It was fantastic to connect with fellow wargamers and share our passion for game design.
We were also incredibly impressed with the convention’s location in the heart of Alcalá de Henares. The city offered a wonderful atmosphere, and the organizers did a phenomenal job in making the event a true success.
INCOMING! Whislist
Support the games you’re most excited about by signing up and adding them to your wishlist. The most wishlisted titles will climb the development queue, meaning you have a direct impact on our release schedule!
Note: All images shown for upcoming titles are provisional. Final artwork will be revealed as the games progress to later development stages.
Now, let’s dive into the current status of each project, listed in order of wishlist popularity. Remember, a project won’t be ready for a Gamefound campaign until it reaches 100% completion.
Good news! Sea & Steel: Columbus’ Voyages is getting ready for the Gamefound campaing!.
Initial Phase: Completed (15/15) Development Phase: In progress (55/60) Illustration/Graphic Design: In progress (5/15) Proof reading and final revision: Pending (0/10)
Game Overall Status: 75%
The basic mode and the advanced mode are completed. The advanced solitaire system has been implemented successfully altough we are running a final round of playtesting to make sure everything is alright.
The illustration phase is almost completed and we are just starting with the graphic design.
Development is almost finished, paving the way for proofreading.
Initial Phase: Completed (15/15) Development Phase: In progress (35/60) Illustration/Graphic Design: In progress (5/15) Proof reading and final revision: Pending (0/10)
Game Overall Status: 55%
While we’re not rushing, development is moving along smoothly. We’re currently finalizing Prototype version 3 and gearing up for playtesting soon! Stay tuned for exciting updates in July, where we’ll share more about this fascinating project!
We’re putting the finishing touches on a new prototype with an updated map and counters. Get a sneak peek at the development process!
Initial Phase: Completed (15/15) Development Phase: In progress (35/60) Illustration/Graphic Design: In progress (0/15) Proof reading and final revision: Pending (0/10)
Game Overall Status: 50%
Stay tuned this summer for exciting news about this epic tile.
To create more engaging gameplay, the game’s scale has been adjusted. A single hex now represents a tighter range of 1-1.2 kilometers, allowing for more strategic decision-making.
Initial Phase: Completed (10/15) Development Phase: In progress (0/60) Illustration/Graphic Design: In progress (0/15) Proof reading and final revision: Pending (0/10)
Game Overall Status: 10%
The designer is meticulously crafting the core mechanics through rigorous testing and adjustments. Our priority is a rock-solid gameplay experience. Stay tuned! Once the core mechanics are solidified, we’ll open the call for wargamers to join the playtesting phase.
Antonio Vaquera (game designer) is back with the second part of the historical introduction of our game Sea & Steel: Columbus’ Voyages. If you haven’t read the first part you can do it by clicking this link: Read part 1.
Map of the second voyage (Virtual University Miguel de Cervantes)
Second Voyage (1493-1496): September 25, 1493: Columbus sets sail from Cádiz with a fleet of 17 ships and over 1,200 men.
November 3, 1493: Arrives at the Leeward Islands, discovering several islands, including Puerto Rico.
Upon returning to Hispaniola on November 27, 1493, Columbus found the Fort Navidad destroyed and the men he had left behind, dead. Although the exact circumstances are unclear, it is believed that there were conflicts with other Taíno caciques or internal disputes among the Spaniards. Columbus sought out Guacanagari to obtain explanations about what had happened. Guacanagari claimed that he had been attacked by other rival caciques and that he had been unable to protect the Spaniards. He showed wounds that he claimed were the result of these conflicts.
The Indians of Guacanagari explain to the Spaniards that the attack was the work of Caonabó, a warlike Taíno cacique.
After attending to his affairs in La Isabela, Columbus decided to explore the island of Hispaniola on March 12, ordering the construction of the Santo Tomás fortress there by Pedro de Margarit on March 17.
Part of a card from the game prototype
Caonabó attacks the Fortress of Santo Tomás and Alonso de Ojeda, according to Bartolomé de Las Casas, manages to capture him with only 15 men. He is then sent to La Isabela to meet with Columbus, who orders him to be sent to Spain to speak with the kings, considering him an important indigenous leader on the island. However, on the way the ship sinks and Caonabó dies. The Indians of four of the five chiefdoms of the island decide to attack La Isabela to rescue Caonabó and expel the Spanish. The cacique of Marién, Guacanagarí, remains at Colón’s side and alerts him of the attack, so Colón prefers to fight the battle outside. The Battle of La Vega Real will take place about 100 kilometers southeast of La Isabela on March 27, 1495, and will result in a Spanish victory, which will pacify the island.
The Founding of La Isabela Colony: Columbus chose a new site for the settlement in a natural bay on the north coast of Hispaniola, which offered a strategic location and access to the sea. This place was named La Isabela, in honor of Queen Isabella of Castile.
Starting in December 1493, the colonists began to build the settlement. La Isabela was designed with streets, squares, houses, warehouses, and a church. A port was also built to facilitate the unloading of supplies and future expeditions.
Caonabo Square (San Juan de la Maguana, Dominican Republic) Picture by MARCIAL FIGUEREO
Exploration of Cuba and Jamaica: In April 1494, Columbus set sail from Hispaniola with a fleet of smaller ships, leaving behind a base of operations in the newly established city of La Isabela.
Columbus reached the southern coast of Cuba on April 29, 1494. He began his exploration near what is now the province of Guantánamo and then sailed westward along the island’s southern coast.
Columbus and his crew had several encounters with the native Taino people of Cuba, who initially greeted them with hospitality. The Taino provided food and other supplies to the explorers.
Subsequently, he sailed south and arrived in Jamaica on May 5, 1494. He landed in a bay that he called Santa Gloria, today known as St. Ann’s Bay. They explored the north coast of Jamaica. They found the island rich in natural resources, with abundant vegetation and water resources. Unlike Cuba, no permanent settlements were established in Jamaica during this voyage.
Ridolfo del Ghirlandaio – Ritratto di Cristoforo Colombo
Columbus also had his first encounters with the Caribs. He landed on several islands, including Guadeloupe and Dominica, where they found signs of the presence of Caribs, such as canoes and structures, who showed hostility towards the Europeans, which led to armed clashes.
The Caribbean people raided other islands and aggressively defended their territories.
They used guerrilla tactics and took advantage of their knowledge of the terrain to oppose the Spanish. These tactics made it difficult for Columbus and his men to operate in the Caribbean islands.
June 11, 1496: Columbus returns to Spain to defend his actions before the Catholic Monarchs.
Jack Polonka (game developer) is back with an update:
“Playtesting is still ongoing for Kursk and it’s shaping up to be a historically accurate bloodbath, just like the real battle. By the end of turn two, the playtest map is littered with casualties, especially for the Red Army, mirroring the historical toll they suffered.
The 18th Tank Corps, supported by two Red Army infantry divisions, overwhelmed the Aufklärungs Abteilungen. A counter-attack with Tiger tanks helped stabilize the situation, but only just. Just as it happened historically, the anti-tank ditch manned by German forces served as a crucial defensive line, stemming the tide of the Soviet assault.
This is shaping up to be a fun and strategically challenging game that stays true to history. The game has been expanded to include the earlier engagement on July 11th, where the Liebstandarte division launches a fierce attack and nearly captures the town of Prokhorovka.“
Take a look at the new prototype counters we are preparing. Vassal Module for playtesting is comming up soon…
Set sail with us today as we delve into the historical world of Sea & Steel: Columbus’ Voyages! In this first of a four-part series, we’ll set foot alongside Antonio Vaquera (game designer) as he shares the historical background on Christopher Columbus’s first voyage.
Get ready to uncover fascinating facts and immerse yourself in the age of exploration!
Replicas of the three ships that participated in Christopher Columbus’s first voyage, located at the Muelle de las Carabelas (Palos de la Frontera, Spain). Author: Edward the Confessor
Summarizing the entire story of the Discovery and Conquest of the Caribbean Islands during the Four Columbian Voyages in just a few pages is a daunting task, given the vast amount of information that would need to be processed and condensed.
In any case, I want to make it clear that we are at the end of the first quarter of the 21st century and that it is very difficult – if not impossible – to understand with our current mentality the way of proceeding of both the so-called “Spanish” side in the game, and the “indigenous” side, for which reason we deliberately leave aside any judgment of the legal or moral type that inevitably accompanies this theme.
The following is a brief historical summary in which the most relevant events that took place during the years 1492 to 1503 are briefly recounted, covering Columbus’ Four Voyages to what was called the New World, focusing solely on the Caribbean Islands, since the occasions on which he “touched” land on the Continent were not so relevant.
Regardless of the ups and downs of Christopher Columbus’ life and the historical evolution of the Pre-Columbian Caribbean, we must focus on the date of October 12, 1492 (the moment the game begins). This is a significant date in history, as it marks the moment when Christopher Columbus, in the service of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, reached what is considered the New World. This event is commemorated as the discovery of America by Europeans. Columbus, who had sailed from Palos de la Frontera on August 3, 1492, with three ships – the Santa María, the Pinta, and the Niña – arrived at an island in the Bahamas that the natives called Guanahaní, which Columbus renamed San Salvador (Area 15 of the game map).
Image from the game prototype vassal module
This discovery opened the door to European exploration and colonization of America, initiating a period of exchanges, conflicts, and profound changes that altered world history. October 12 is celebrated in various countries of America and Spain, and receives different names depending on the place, such as Day of the Race, Day of Hispanity or Day of Respect for Cultural Diversity.
Map of the first voyage (Virtual University Miguel de Cervantes)
First Voyage (1492-1493): Columbus and his crew explored several islands in the Caribbean, including what we know today as Cuba (which Columbus called Juana) and Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic). Columbus had several encounters with the natives, exchanging goods and observing their customs. Columbus believed that he had reached islands near Asia, such as Cipango (Japan) and Cathay (China). Martín Alonso Pinzón, one of Christopher Columbus’s main collaborators and captain of the caravel Pinta, separated from the other two ships at some point in late November or early December 1492. The exact reason for this separation is not entirely clear and has been interpreted in various ways by historians.
On December 25, 1492, the ship called the Santa María was wrecked on Hispaniola. Guacanagari, a Taíno cacique from the region, came to the aid of Columbus and his men. He provided them with shelter, food, and assistance in rescuing the goods from the wrecked ship. The Taínos of Guacanagari showed hospitality and generosity towards the castaways. With the help of Guacanagari, Columbus decided to build a small fort called La Navidad using the remains of the Santa María. This was the first European settlement in the Americas. Columbus left 39 men in La Navidad under the command of an officer, trusting that Guacanagari would protect them. The Pinta and the Santa María were reunited on January 6, 1493, in Hispaniola, after several weeks of separation, and on March 15, 1493, Columbus returned to Palos de la Frontera, Spain, and was received with honors.
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Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
