Dicing With Destiny

Games Britannia Part One:

Benjamin Woolley presented this series and began this video by telling us about his experiences growing up playing board games and some of his experiences and memories that came from it.

Benjamin himself is an Historian and began his quest looking at ancient games, one of which
was found during an excavation in Stanway. They discovered what looked like a board game and pieces close by. Since this finding there have been many discussions and theories on how the game was played.

Woolley then solicited the help of Irving Finkle. He came to the conclusion that this was some sort of war game played between two people. Banjamin started to inquire on how games that were played through history had some form of impact on cultures and religions around the globe.

We play games simply because we become bored so easily. We ply them to pass the time and enjoyment. He made a note about a church he visited and said that there were markings on the steps where people would play games while waiting. 9 Men's Morris, similar to Noughts and Crosses, has remained and have done so throughout the years.

Soon games involving dice started to circulate and along with that, gambling. It was disliked by many in the 18th and 19th century. Even the dice were manipulated in some way which paved the way for cheaters to gain an upper hand.

Gambling became an incredible hit with the upper class. Faro, a simple version of Roulette was popular among the rich and was played by all who could afford it. However in 1985, a Gaming Act was introduced to try and curb gambling. A man who was killed over a £300 debt was one of the reasons this was pushed and eventually introduced.


Goose was a new game introduced that focused on good morals by rewarding, or penalising the players. It was a game that was copied and brought forward the commercialisation and profit of board games. Soon, games companies were coming up with their own rules and taking ideas from all around the world and hoped it would work, and eventually, sold on to the masses. Games such as Chess and Snakes and Ladders are some examples.