Tag Archives: games

White Paper: The Psychology of Hierarchy and Card Passing in the Game Presidents

Posted on December 8, 2025 by nathanalbright

Executive Summary The card game Presidents—also known as Asshole, Capitalism, Kings, and other regional variants—contains a rule in which the highest-ranked players receive the best cards from the lowest-ranked players at the start of each new round. This mechanic creates … Continue reading →

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White Paper: Designing Historical Wargames of the Bronze Age

Posted on December 3, 2025 by nathanalbright

Executive Summary The Bronze Age (ca. 3300–1200 BCE) offers one of the richest yet least standardised eras for historical wargame design. This period’s combination of sparse but evocative textual sources, rapidly evolving military technologies, fluid political systems, and distinctive battlefield … Continue reading →

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The Sherman Antitrust Act and the Structure of American Sports

Posted on October 21, 2025 by nathanalbright

Executive Summary The Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 was intended to prevent monopolization and promote competitive markets across the U.S. economy. Yet in the world of sports, the Act’s influence has been paradoxical—sometimes shaping leagues into more equitable and competitive … Continue reading →

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White Paper: The Continuity of the Squaresoft Role-Playing Games

Posted on October 19, 2025 by nathanalbright

Abstract This paper examines the continuities that bind Squaresoft’s role-playing games (RPGs) into a coherent cultural and artistic lineage. While the company—now Square Enix—produced dozens of distinct franchises, its titles share structural, aesthetic, and philosophical throughlines that mark a unique … Continue reading →

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Some Thoughts On A Pinochle League

Posted on January 18, 2025 by nathanalbright

IYKYK: Setting up standings for a yearly invitational pinochle league involves several key decisions and steps. Here’s a detailed breakdown: 1. Determine the League Structure: 2. Choose a Scoring System: This is the most crucial aspect. Here are some common … Continue reading →

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Exploring Why FIDE Hates Blue Jeans

Posted on December 30, 2024 by nathanalbright

The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has garnered significant attention and criticism for its strict dress code policies, particularly its stance against wearing jeans at official chess events. This policy, highlighted by incidents involving high-profile players like Magnus Carlsen, raises questions … Continue reading →

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On The Storied History Of Pinochle

Posted on December 15, 2024 by nathanalbright

Pinochle emerged in the 19th century from the European card game bezique, itself a descendant of the older game sixty-six, which was popular in German-speaking regions. The name “pinochle” comes from the French word “binocle,” though it’s also known as … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Sunken Isles

Posted on September 30, 2023 by nathanalbright

Sunken Isles, by Eldermancy This particular book was part of a Kickstarter I participated in, and it is a 5E compatible campaign set in a group of islands that bears a strong resemblance to an apocalyptic vision of Hawaii if … Continue reading →

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Connection

Posted on June 21, 2023 by nathanalbright

Sometimes moments of connection come when one is simply in the right place at the right time, no matter how transient such a connection may be. As it happens, this morning I was at the front of the line of … Continue reading →

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Movie Review: The Super Mario Brothers Movie

Posted on April 10, 2023 by nathanalbright

It seems striking that this movie, of all movies, would spark so much in the way of discourse. Given the way that this movie has a functional plot (in that it is much like John Wick 4, which is no … Continue reading →

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