wonderful review of #crossbronxexpressway @gmtgames.bsky.social

my cousin passed this morning. i alluded to them in this piece for @sdhistcon.bsky.social
"The trauma of service does not end with service. It often extends through loved ones, leaving marks that might take generations to heal."
sdhist.com/history-is-p...

I can sympathize with @hypatian.org knowing and understanding the history, it is a lot. particularly in a modern context where the echoes of histories ignored still cause harm. but that's the reason I felt it important to bring it to the table. to feel those feels and reflect. thanks for playing.

Finally learned Cross Bronx Expressway and played it twice back to back and experienced the 40s-70s. What an awesome experience. My community interests lost both games (well everyone lost the second game). Bravo @nbsp1618.bsky.social for knocking it out of the park.

Cross Bronx Expressway - 3p Teaching, Play-through, & Roundtable Discussion by Heavy Cardboard YouTube video by Heavy Cardboard

over the weekend @heavycardboard.bsky.social did an amazing stream of #crossbronxexpressway
if you've been wondering how the game plays it's worth checking out.
www.youtube.com/live/YOs4qzb...
@gmtgames.bsky.social

in @heavycardboard.bsky.social studio watching the 4k sausage get made. tune in at noon et.

where i challenge everyone to talk to a librarian and challenge boardgaming to break the shackles of victory.

had a wonderful time chatting with @brendanmcleod.com and @nictringali.bsky.social about my work with @wehrlegig.games and for @gmtgames.bsky.social

december is for ortona.
on the 29th of the month.
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by the morning of December 29th the germans had fully evacuated and the battle of ortona was over. while unbroken, heavy casualties would impact future performance, while the candians sustained their effectiveness. a marginal victory for the first canadian infantry division.

december is for ortona.
on the 28th of the month.
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that evening the three rivers tanks redirect their efforts to the rear with a heavy attack on the germans that penetrated the line. they severely damage the tanks in the streets but are unable to eliminate all of the german defenders behind their line.

german artillery has the front line well spotted on December 28th and is able to slow the morning offensive, but the canadians are able to use their sheer numbers to push the line forward. the germans do find a weak spot on the right they exploit to create a gap in the line.

2026 is gonna be heavy.

december is for ortona.
on the 27th of the month.
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the offensive continues to move the german line back but canadian momentum slows. the royal canadians and the three rivers tanks are able to eliminate german armor on the left. but after engineers repair canadian tanks more take damage from a german night attack.

the canadians open December 27th with attacks on their flanks. an artillery strike weakens the german defense on the left while the ontario tanks converge on a strong point on the right with the royal 22nd. both attacks successfully force a german retreat.

december is for ortona.
on the 26th of the month.
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germans harass their positions into the evening. while the royal engineers try to repair ontario tanks damaged in the bombardment, the three rivers tanks are damaged in the night attacks. but infantry from the rear are able to make their way to the front ready for action.

the sound of german armor preempts canadian plans for an assault on the morning of December 26th. they manage to hold against it ahead of the artillery bombardments that rock their positions. more infantry is mobilized to strengthen their lines weakened by the counter.

thanks for the invite. let's figure out how to make this happen in 2026. have a wonderful holiday season.

The Expressway must keep Cross-Bronxing! First 2-decade game. Took around 3h30. Community won with 7 points, Public and Private both with 6. Next time we'll be playing with the objective cards. Great game @nbsp1618.bsky.social @gmtgames.bsky.social

december is for ortona.
on the 25th of the month.
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the flanking support of the three rivers tanks and west nova scotia regiment turn their attention to their left that evening for an attack that forces the germans back. the canadians, now we'll seated in ortona see the germans pull back slightly to regroup a holding defense.

canadian armor continues to try to get into ortona near the coast on December 25th with german artillery continuing to slow their progress. nevertheless in the town a combined arms assault is able to dislodge a german strong point, giving them a positional advantage.

december is for ortona.
on the 24th of the month.
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in the evening the three rivers tanks move their way to the front to support the infantry. canadian artillery pin the germans inland to give space to prepare. night attacks near the coast keep the pressure on the 22nd to hold their positions while the ontario tanks are repaired.

more armor makes it's way into ortona on December 24th as the royal engineers finally make their way up the coastal road where tanks have already been damaged by german artillery. in the town a barrage lands on the 22nd near the front ahead of an infantry attack.

december is for ortona.
on the 23rd of the month.
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the hasty p's and royal 22nd try to make their way into the town to support. the germans have all of the approaches well covered causing the infantry to suffer losses on their way in. the forces in town push the germans back strengthening their position in ortona.

elements of the royal canadian regiment spot another gun guarding the streets into ortona on December 23rd. they call in a bombardment to weaken the position while germans are able to spot and damage the ontario tanks near the coast.