Alan E Paull (@BenthamFish) profile picture

Alan E Paull

@BenthamFish

Game designer, owner of games publisher Surprised Stare Games, husband of Charlie Paull. Player of games including card, board, freeform and wargames. (he/him)

 Warboys, Huntingdon, Cambs, UK
surprisedstaregames.co.uk/
Joined March 2009
  • Tweets567
  • Following75
  • Followers195
51Media
Photo by Alan E Paull (@BenthamFish)Photo by Alan E Paull (@BenthamFish)Photo by Alan E Paull (@BenthamFish)Photo by Alan E Paull (@BenthamFish)Photo by Alan E Paull (@BenthamFish)Photo by Alan E Paull (@BenthamFish)Photo by Alan E Paull (@BenthamFish)Photo by Alan E Paull (@BenthamFish)
Replying to @SurprisedStare @BenthamFish
You said the magic words, great solo Ill have to check it out
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El Cid (carta y "meeple") en "Guerra de los 3 Sanchos", juego creado por @mortispur, desarrollado por @BenthamFish (@surprisedstare), y distribuido por @2TomatoesGms y @FrostedGames . Abierta el micromecenazgo en @gamefound 🔗👇🏻 gamefound.com/projects/ssg/3…
Image from Asociación ego ruderico (@EgoRudericoAsoc)
Image from Asociación ego ruderico (@EgoRudericoAsoc)
Image from Asociación ego ruderico (@EgoRudericoAsoc)
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Alan E Paull retweeted
C J Eggett (@CjEggett) profile picture
C J Eggett@CjEggett19 Jul 2023
All of Alan’s games pack a whole lot of war into a tiny box, but this might be the most war per cubed inch. The war density in the box is off the charts.
Alan E Paull (@BenthamFish) profile pictureAlan E Paull@BenthamFish18 Jul 2023
Our latest game, War of the 3 Sanchos is now live on Gamefound! gamefound.com/projects/ssg/3… @SurprisedStare
War of the 3 Sanchos by Surprised Stare Games - Gamefound

War of the 3 Sanchos by Surprised Stare Games - Gamefound

Conflict Between Cousins in the Time of El Cid. War of the 3 Sanchos is the 4th game in our popular Pocket Campaigns series. You are 1 of 3 King Sanchos, fighting for control of castles and towers...

gamefound.com
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Help support a small British publisher that helped us along the way too. SSG make cracking games.
Alan E Paull (@BenthamFish) profile pictureAlan E Paull@BenthamFish18 Jul 2023
Our latest game, War of the 3 Sanchos is now live on Gamefound! gamefound.com/projects/ssg/3… @SurprisedStare
War of the 3 Sanchos by Surprised Stare Games - Gamefound

War of the 3 Sanchos by Surprised Stare Games - Gamefound

Conflict Between Cousins in the Time of El Cid. War of the 3 Sanchos is the 4th game in our popular Pocket Campaigns series. You are 1 of 3 King Sanchos, fighting for control of castles and towers...

gamefound.com
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A huge congratulations to all the #SdJ winners and nominees - it was such an incredible experience to meet you all and share a very special evening together. And thank you to @SpieldesJahres who continually work to make the event bigger and better, sharing games with all.
Image from Matthew Dunstan (@wisegoldfish)
Image from Matthew Dunstan (@wisegoldfish)
Image from Matthew Dunstan (@wisegoldfish)
Image from Matthew Dunstan (@wisegoldfish)
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I would like to offer some data, not as criticism of the SdJ org, but as a criticism of the PIPELINE. Something is wrong with a system that leads to these pictures: 🧵 1. Nominees for the SdJ since 1999: 5 women, 103 men (& no other gender ID AFAIK). No women in the last 2 yrs.
Bar chart titled Nominations for the Spiel des Jahres: over all the years since 1999, only 5 women have been nominated

ALT Bar chart titled Nominations for the Spiel des Jahres: over all the years since 1999, only 5 women have been nominated

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On BGG News, designer @BenthamFish details the creation of a new edition of Andrew McNeil's Kingmaker, a game now available at retail from publisher @Gibsons_Games: boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/1… —WEM
Cover of Kingmaker

ALT Cover of Kingmaker

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Alan E Paull retweeted
Bez (@stuffByBez) profile picture
Bez@stuffByBez17 May 2023
BBBB.999. Pondering Mechanics: Betting and Bluffing. ft. @BenthamFish Reading your opponents after bets are made. A series inspired by Building Blocks of Tabletop Game Design by @gengelstein & @KindFortress teapawt.net/i/broadcasts/1gqxvyVaY…
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Alan E Paull retweeted
Bez (@stuffByBez) profile picture
Bez@stuffByBez16 May 2023
Guests include a swathe of amazing & creative people: @lookingglassws @ryanestrada @ManOKentGames1 @QuakerDissent @BenthamFish @yungylek @nibcardgames @CardboardEdison @torylynn @Mmmmmmmercury @EllieDixTweets @AnyaynA @eric_lang @AmabelHolland @elizhargrave This Thursday! 2/2
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Alan E Paull retweeted
Bez (@stuffByBez) profile picture
Bez@stuffByBez6 May 2023
I am finding these chats with Alan so inspiring and thought provoking. I hope other people also get value from the chat. :-) @BenthamFish
Cardboard Edison (@CardboardEdison) profile pictureCardboard Edison@CardboardEdison6 May 2023
Auctions where players take turns until everyone else passes: games that use the mechanic and what it’s like for players (video) youtube.com/watch?v=tEccfO1u… via @stuffByBez @BenthamFish
BBBB.971. Pondering Mechanics: Auctions: Turn Order Until Pass. ft. Alan Paull.

BBBB.971. Pondering Mechanics: Auctions: Turn Order Until Pass. ft. Alan Paull.

BBBB.971. Pondering Mechanics: Auctions: Turn Order Until Pass. ft...

youtube.com
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Alan E Paull retweeted
Bez (@stuffByBez) profile picture
Bez@stuffByBez3 May 2023
BBBB.985. Pondering Mechanics: Automatic Resource Growth. ft. @BenthamFish Is this book-keeping necessary? A series inspired by Building Blocks of Tabletop Game Design by @gengelstein & @KindFortress teapawt.net/i/broadcasts/1YqKDoydZ…
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Alan E Paull retweeted
Bez (@stuffByBez) profile picture
Bez@stuffByBez30 Apr 2023
This is going to be my first thinky game from another publisher. Two players only. It’s a (hopefully) fascinating game with spatial reasoning and almost-perfect information. A tiny bit of potential for bluffing and some hidden power cards to add excitement.
This Post is from an account that no longer exists. Learn more
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Replying to @BenthamFish
My daughter took my copy into college this week and the history lecturers completely nerded out over it :D
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Alan E Paull retweeted
Bez (@stuffByBez) profile picture
Bez@stuffByBez8 Mar 2023
BBBB.929. Pondering Mechanics: Once Around Auctions. ft. @BenthamFish We continue examining the different auction systems. A series inspired by Building Blocks of Tabletop Game Design by @gengelstein & @KindFortress teapawt.net/i/broadcasts/1jMJgLoOk…
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Alan E Paull retweeted
Bez (@stuffByBez) profile picture
Bez@stuffByBez22 Feb 2023
BBBB.915. Pondering Mechanics: Multiple Lot Auctions. ft. @BenthamFish What are some ways we can approach multiple lot auctions? A series inspired by Building Blocks of Tabletop Game Design by @gengelstein & @KindFortress teapawt.net/i/broadcasts/1mnxeRVYa…
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Alan E Paull retweeted
Bez (@stuffByBez) profile picture
Bez@stuffByBez17 Feb 2023
Thanks all for the names. I think I found a few I really like. :-) kickstarter.com/projects/byb…
Bez (@stuffByBez) profile pictureBez@stuffByBez17 Feb 2023
Any ideas for good names for the following cards? 1. A gardener 2. Someone who loves keys 3. A sketch artist Puns, whimsy, silliness appreciated. This is for "A game about selecting seven cards, speedily searching for synergies."
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Alan E Paull retweeted
Bez (@stuffByBez) profile picture
Bez@stuffByBez8 Feb 2023
BBBB.901. Pondering Mechanics: Fixed Placement Auctions. ft. @BenthamFish Constraints that can force players to be more creative? A way of speeding things up? A series inspired by Building Blocks of Tabletop Game Design by @gengelstein & @KindFortress teapawt.net/i/broadcasts/1DXxyvVkg…
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Nice to see that Frank got to do this as he was determined to do
Richard Wheeler (@richard_kaputt) profile pictureRichard Wheeler@richard_kaputt3 Feb 2023
Frank Field was in the House of Lords this afternoon to retake the parliamentary oath of allegiance to the King. It was announced in 2021 that Lord Field of Birkenhead was terminally ill.
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Alan E Paull retweeted
Bez (@stuffByBez) profile picture
Bez@stuffByBez30 Jan 2023
A newsletter from @SurprisedStare @BenthamFish talks about a few things, including 'Last Bug Standing in the Circle of Doom'. A weird 2-player strategic game (designed by me), with 80s style art. 2376baaa-0065-4f42-a040-e4ab… Do you have thoughts on what the final title should be?
33%Last Bug Standing
0%Circle of Doom
67%full thing (LBSitCoD)
0%other (comment please)
6 votes • Final results
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Alan E Paull retweeted
Bez (@stuffByBez) profile picture
Bez@stuffByBez27 Jan 2023
Tested a new game today, inspired by chatting to @BenthamFish on Wednesday. Already fun enough that someone said they'd be excited to share with their regular play group! ^_^
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