Kimber VanRy
@brooklynwargaming
Friend, Dad, Backpacker, Historian, Sales Leader, Game Player, Miniatures Painter, President Metropolitan Wargamers in Park Slope, Brooklyn
Warriors of America from Compass Games and designed by Adam Starkweather has arrived in Brooklyn #americanrevolution #wargames
40 years ago in the late summer of 1986, I, my brother, my dad and his crew restored the tower and cupola of the Livingston County Courthouse in Geneseo, NY. I used the experience to write my college essay to apply to college in the fall of ‘86.
An enormous congratulations to my brother for winning Best In Theme at HMGS Historicon 2026 with their Battle of Long Island game which hosted over 50 players in 6 games over 3 days. #historicon2026
Thursday evening game at HMGS Historicon 2026 was the award-winning Battle of White Plains, Chatterton’s Hill #historicon2026
Thursday morning game at HMGS Historicon 2026 was the award-winning Battle of Brooklyn #historicon2026
All set up for the Battle of Brooklyn at Historicon 2026 — 6 games over the next three days #historicon2026
Turning off a narrow road and driving through a farm field and into the woods takes you back to Inverness Cemetery, the resting place of early 19th-century Scottish settlers in York, NY.
Leaders Boyd and Parker were marched 10 miles to Little Beards Town where they were tortured killed. The event represented the furthest west the Continental Army reached into NY State during the American Revolution. 2/2
Another 4th of July local history trip to the Groveland Ambuscade where a small scouting party from the 1779 Sullivan-Clinton campaign was ambushed by hundreds of Seneca and Loyalists from Butjers Rangers. 1-2
4th of July visit to the grave of Daniel Shays , leader of Shays Rebellion in 1786-87 against post-Revolution taxation. Following his rebellious actions in Massachusetts Shay settled in Western NY as was buried near my hometown in 1825.
Took a pre dinner stroll along the NY harbor in Red Hook, Brooklyn and the site of Fort Defiance, one of the many defenses constructed by George Washington in the lead to the Battle of Long Island in August 1776, 250 years ago next month. #georgewashington #battleoflongisland #americanrevolution
Great day with the online @sdhistcon.bsky.social 2026 AmRev convention with great teaches and conversation about games of the American Revolution and wider European colonial struggles of the 18th-century from designers, publishers and fellow gamers.
Fathers Day Liberty Or Death game from @gmtgames.bsky.social at @metrowargamers.bsky.social with three fathers and a marginal French victory
Painting night at @metrowargamers.bsky.social and I wrapped up a mule cart, oxen team and some French, all for the French and Indian War period. #historicalminiatues #miniatureswargaming #frenchandindianwar
Caught up with friends at @metrowargamers.bsky.social for a game of Cataclysm from @gmtgames.bsky.social after work with plenty of talk of books, games and history in the basement AC at the club.
Pulled off a shocking win this afternoon as the Private Sector in the 1970s in a four decade play of Cross Bronx Expressway from @gmtgames.bsky.social and @nbsp1618.bsky.social at @metrowargamers.bsky.social
Fantastic playtest of the Battle of Bernetz Brook July 6, 1758 at @metrowargamers.bsky.social today with a historic British victory against a hard fought French force using Muskets & Tomahawks rules #wargamming #historicalminiatures #frenchandindianwar #musketsandtomahawks
Set up at @metrowargamers.bsky.social for a Sunday game of the Battle of Bernetz Brook, July 6 1758, a prelude to the British assault on the French Fort Carillion. We’ll be playing with my favored Muskets & Tomahawks rules. #wargaming #historicalminiatures #frenchandindianwar #musketsandtomahawks
Bought a copy the Pulitzer-winning “We the People: A History of the U.S. Constitution” by Harvard historian Jill Lepore from Amazon and when it was delivered I found it’s a signed copy.
272 years ago today a young George Washington with 40 Virginians touch off a bloody skirmish at what is now known as Jumonville Glen. Been there many times, and it is a hauntingly peaceful place. #jumonvilleglen #fortnecessity #frenchandindianwar #georgewashington
All signed for a full weekend of American Revolution games at HMGS Historicon 2026 in mid-July historicon.org #hmgs #historicalminiaturesgamingsociety #historicon #historicon2026 #miniatureswargaming #wargaming #americanrevolution
On May 21st, 1980 I stood in line early in the morning for an opening weekend showing of The Empire Strikes Back. I’ve seen every Star Wars movie in its opening weekend for the 46 years since, so I was at a 10am screening today of The Mandalorian and Grogu.
Just registered for HMGS Historicon 2026 in Lancaster, PA in July #hmgs #historicalminiaturesgamingsociety #historicon #historicon2026 #miniatureswargaming #wargaming
Happy May the 4th to those who celebrated the secular Star Wars holiday today. I look forward to celebrating with all of you on the orthodox holiday on the 49th anniversary of the premier on May 27th.
Arrived home from a couple weeks of travel to my copy of Penitent — a solo game of 19th century US prison reform from @danbullock.bsky.social
Just returned from Scotland, visiting historic sites, castles and battlefields. By far my favorite find was this small book owned by Lt. Col. Sir Peter Halket who died at the Battle of the Monongahela July 9, 1755. Halket was part of the ill fated Braddock campaign with a young George Washington.
Ahead of the 250th anniversary of the campaign for New York this summer, “Trying Men’s Souls” from Against the Odds has arrived in Brooklyn where I’ll get it played on my table that sits right on the battlefield. #americanrevolution #wargames #battleofbrooklyn #battleoflongisland #america250