The main topic: Board Games and WarPlay and war are deeply intertwined, linked by more than mere coincidence in time and space. They represent two dimensions of human competition and identity that counterbalance one another.

History also shows that war and military activity have often acted as catalysts for the development of games. Ancient sources attribute the invention of certain games to Palamedes during the siege of Troy. Likewise, the image of Ajax and Achilles seated and playing a game board became an enduring icon of Greek ethos, embodying strength and restraint, intelligence and ferocity. According to classical sources, board games were used both to train and entertain officers and soldiers during long periods between battles. They served to stir or soothe emotions, providing both provocation and relief. Beyond the battlefield, these games could also act as instruments of political elements and cultural practices, resulting in a unified language that transcends cultural and linguistic boundaries, thereby fostering inclusivity and diversity.

Some years ago (2021), the Archaeological Museum from Elche and the Department of Prehistory, Archaeology, Ancient History and Greek and Latin Philology (University of Alicante) organized the exhibition Iberian Warriors and Games, alongside the international conference Warriors at Play. Both initiatives emerged from the same line of research, aimed at exploring the figure of the pre-Roman Iberian mercenary and his connection to Mediterranean board games, linked to graves of high-status Iberian warriors. The findings were striking, revealing that this association recurs across multiple contexts and ancient cultures, and even extends into medieval and modern times.

The interplay between play and war is complex, and one that we are committed to investigating further. During the 28th edition of the Board Game Studies Colloquium our goal will be to identify new case studies in which individuals identified as warriors not only engage in warfare but also practise, collect, or represent themselves through the act of board gaming. Other related themes like how these aspects find themselves to be thematics of and mechanics within games modernly, or how play practice in war times persists are of relevance.