Tom Scott vs Irving Finkel: The Royal Game of Ur | PLAYTHROUGH | International Tabletop Day 2017

KZbinr Tom Scott has flown drones through lightning, he’s taken on the first human-powered theme park, he’s even visited Penistone. But he’s never taken on a British Museum curator in the world’s oldest playable board game… UNTIL NOW!
For International Tabletop Day 2017, Tom Scott was challenged by British Museum Curator Irving Finkel to a round of the oldest playable board game in the world - The Royal Game of Ur - a game whose rules were rediscovered and deciphered by Irving himself.
Interested in other mysterious cuneiform tablets deciphered by Irving? Check out his book 'The Ark before Noah' to find out how he discovered the oldest account of the Ark myth: goo.gl/WV8ucs
How Irving deciphered the rules to the Royal Game of Ur: • Deciphering the world'...

[@RaidsEpicly]

I love that Irving Finkel looks EXACTLY like what I'd expect a british museum curator who has resurrected a boardgame from 2600 BC to look like

[@georgebowyer5170]

He also looks exactly like what youd expect a person called Irving Finkel to look like

[@kriegguardsman9117]

Like a Wizard Gamemaster

[@billdoster9415]

Like fully expect he was given a choice by a genie: Genie "You can choose only 1: The Ark of the Covenant with all the powers entailed, The Secrets of Stonehenge and it's control of the sun, or a Boardgame-" IF: "BOARDGAME!" Genie: "Hold on I offered-" IF: "DID. I. STUTTA???" *Everyone Liked That*

[@Lord_Drakostar]

And HIS NAME

[@kat41730]

blathers eyebrows :’D

[@MrAstrojensen]

"I'm rather intrigued to discover, that my opponent, who looks like a perfectly civilized person, is, in fact, mathematically capable."

[@Stoic_Zoomer]

You'd think it'd be the other way around

[@erickruckenberg8716]

Seemingly an insult and a compliment in one sentence. It is quite remarkable how often those two traits coincide.

[@eldradulthran6482]

Humanities against STEM, the ancient conflict.

[@og8263]

Dude was hilarious

[@regular0guy]

Irving gives me the same vibes as sir terry pratchet

[@timokampwerth1996]

This is what a History Scholar needs to be like. Living, breathing, infectious passion for a 4000 year old Boardgame.

[@odoggow8157]

I'm guessing u don't know who fink is! Probably the greatest living historian a d one of the all time greats! u can put him next to ppl like Einstein and artiistotil

[@giovannisantostasi9615]

I would totally take classes on anything from this type of scholar.

[@arno-luyendijk4798]

And that is exactly the reason why I play Senet and Hnefatafl with my daycare children. Getting them interested in history in a playful way'.

[@schizoposter1499]

I always hated history in school because it was mostly about memorizing dates and names in the context of historical events, but then in 10th grade I got a history teacher who was so passionate about history that it actually got me interested in the subject because it showed me how fascinating history truly is. This man is the type of person I'd love to have had as a teacher.

[@bronsonmartin4580]

I would spend days without eating or sleeping learning this game from this man!

[@johnr797]

Whoever edits these deserves a raise. Never thought the British museum could do such funny captions

[@ryanjones7681]

They had me laughing pretty good.

[@biosparkles9442]

Academics are either the funniest people in the world or have no sense of humour at all, there is no in between

[@tptallen4498]

Good old fashioned tight lipped British humour.

[@awildfilingcabinet6239]

Imagine being known thousands of years in the future, not because you were a famous astronomer or some other scientist, but because you texted your friends your house rules to monopoly

[@loocheenah]

Easy. 1. Live in 2500 BC. 2. Just text something that's uncommonly texted. 3.Oh, and store the text on a good storage device, like baked clay.

[@justajogger9517]

Lmao

[@ericlotze7724]

@@loocheenah Can clay tablets be set up in raid 0 ?

[@loocheenah]

@@ericlotze7724 yes of course, but you need N archeologists to read such RAIBCT (redundant array of baked clay tablets), where N is the number of tablets.

[@aryanmn1569]

WoW

[@generalchicken3385]

" I never use mathematics, or statistics, or calculation, or anything at all like that. Because I can't do it. So I just use magic" - The Archmage

[@torri776]

Finkel DOES resemble Athos from Fire Emblem 7, just with a glasses and he's British. Irony.

[@eggmeister6641]

no he uses rng manipulation

[@moahammad1mohammad]

I too hate mathematics. What a chap

[@xathron908]

This really sounds like an MTG flavortext

[@lucag6491]

Maybe the p-value has always been above 0.05? Who knows.

[@talamioros]

these three guys are absolutely fantastic. Tom, Irving, and the caption writer.

[@SadBrazilianNoises]

You can tell the caption writer was having an absolute blast working on this video.

[@therandomshow2375]

Whoosh signaling a deathblow

[@theurbanottoman2096]

"80's action film montage music. Think Top Gun, but the stakes are higher!"

[@MarkovChains223]

I have never loved a stranger more than I love this old man. Irving is an absolutely *wonderful* experience of a person

[@Glenn-F-Rice]

And the setting in which they played. A glass superdome

[@vjara94]

I share the same feelings, I would like he to be my grandpa.

[@shinigamae212]

"I can read cuneiform, but mathematics is completely out of my reach" that is a humble sentence yet enlightening at the same time.

[@Glenn-F-Rice]

@@shinigamae212 i cant read the language but i had to give it a try. I rolled out some clay with a soy sauce bottle and chiseled the end of a chopstick. It looked amazing

[@Glenn-F-Rice]

@@vjara94After seeing this video i checked into how they made the colors for the game. Semi precious stones were used

[@Syrange13]

"I'm intrigued to discover that my opponent who looks like a perfectly civilised person is in fact mathematically capable" this guy's fuckin hilarious 🤣🤣

[@stareagle5000]

@arcangelkrlos So what you saying is he succeeded at being British then?

[@TheRealNickG]

@@stareagle5000 epic

[@samhous7482]

Arrogant i would say

[@Syrange13]

@@samhous7482 of course, but tongue in cheek, because the insinuation - that is, anyone with a knowledge of maths is uncivilised - is so ridiculous it couldn't possibly be taken seriously (?)

[@twelvecatsinatrenchcoat]

@@stareagle5000 We've seen Love Island. You can't keep pretending you're all posh and clever any longer. We know about Essex now.

[@holysmokes4493]

"I'm still kind of astonished that there is something that old, just sitting there." That wasn't very nice of you, Tom.

[@Orome96]

Brutal

[@Anandgovender1]

The number of likes on op is Irving’s age

[@thanesgames9685]

Well standing for very long doesn't seem likely...

[@Fadilanse]

shit this is good

[@mynewaccount2361]

Ah, the ol' youtube switcharoo!

[@FreshpineapleJuice]

Really couldnt stop smiling from the interactions of those 2 people. 2 different generations coming together to enjoy a 4000 yer board game Wonderful!

[@Glenn-F-Rice]

I watched a documentary in which this game was found. Googled it and came and here they are. Amazing

[@caseyhamm4292]

this man is a veritable trove of information on ur. one might even call him a urologist

[@ChrisBri77on]

"I'm rather intrigued to discover that my opponent, who looks likes a perfectly civilized person, is in fact mathematically capable" Finkel throwing some serious shade

[@atomik7066]

McKendry2 hi hun x

[@definitelynotcharlie4001]

This is hilarious

[@talhatariqyuluqatdis]

This is genuinely one of the funniest jokes Ive ever heard but still maintains its classiness

[@N0LYF3]

"looks like"

[@justagamer3133]

Fuuckkk This is some matrix glitch shit I read this comment a second earlier when he actually said it.

[@hamstap85]

"I'm rather intrigued to discover that my opponent who looks like a perfectly civilized person is in fact mathematically capable..." So much shade thrown in such a deadpan sentence, I love it

[@SariusxX]

rather british behavior, or what I imagine it to be at least. love it too!

[@brandonhall1420]

😂

[@johnkingsize]

The shade was directed at the mathematics department, though.

[@-Fermium-]

Mathematicians aren't civilised people.

[@grimsladeleviathan3958]

And I feel like that shade was thrown at me lmao. I'm sorry Mr. Irving I'm still trying to learn it 😭

[@allyndrethprime]

Definitely think that the British Museum should make a replica of this again! I would surely purchase it.

[@michaelbenoit6048]

So would I With a drawer to organise-keep the dice and pieces

[@dlee9726]

There's a free online version, I love it!

[@whisped8145]

The most proper thing for the souvenir shop.

[@STaylor127]

I completely agree. My 18 yr old son would love it

[@DanteYewToob]

“I do hope you’re not taking this domination personally…” Well damn! I wasn’t until you said the word ‘domination’! Hahaha Irving is a monster… an absolute mad wizard!

[@connerallen642]

Me: KZbin: Here's a programmer and wizard playing a 4,500 year old board game

[@LordOfTheTermites]

Sorry will steal it for a writing prompt.

[@vampir753]

This sounds suspiciously like the fate of the universe depends on the outcome of this game.

[@connerallen642]

@@vampir753 You've guessed right my friend.

[@nikolaiblm1255]

Yes he does remind me of a wizard, not gonna lie

[@martinkurtz580]

this is what harry potter shouldve been

[@Bravo-Too-Much]

This guy can confirm it’s 4000 years old because he was 14 years old when the game first came out.

[@TeresaTabitha]

What do you expect from Merlin himself?

[@6canadian6winter6]

Come on guys that’s not nice ... he was probably closer to 7 years old back than

[@WeaponOfMyDestructio]

Real test is bring the game out of front of Keanu Reeves and see if he already knows how to play it

[@heisenbergkierkegaard3982]

Exactly my thought! haha

[@kwokkie]

He probably preordered the game it for early access too

[@Anastasis-is-here]

This is currently on Kickstarter and it managed to get founded. Soon this game will be in the shelves of board game stores all over the world once again.

[@Slick_Tails]

I just discovered this and backed it with mere hours to spare. Also comes with more advanced rulesets for added strategy. So happy to get to play this game!

[@NaomeK40]

I love everything about this video Irving Finkel Tom The editing The humor The game itself everything !

[@katiejohnson558]

I came here for Tom Scott and I'm staying for Museum Gandolf

[@dope7070]

same

[@radarlovedr]

Haha, yep

[@israelisntreal786]

Tolkien just casually rolling over in his grave

[@thornels]

Gandalf*

[@path1024]

@@thornels Thank you. A vein almost burst in my skull.

[@irvingfinkel7945]

Hello this is Irving Finkel Love all your comments!

[@britishmuseum]

Irv - how are you not subscribed to our channel yet? Too busy dreaming of open fields and yogurt?

[@hex2388]

Ahem, let me use this opportunity to say the following: I sent a month ago, as a contribution to this video, the spanish subtitles and, having waited what I believe to be a decent amount of time, they haven't been accepted nor activated. I apologize if I'm being kind of rude but I really want them to be available so my family, as well as all the other spanish speakers who don't understand english, can have access and enjoy this content that you, the british museum, took the effort to make. Thank you very much :D Edit: Great, they've been accepted. Thanks, much appreciated.

[@casparvoncampenhausen5249]

Is it available again?

[@bronsonfreeman7358]

Hello Dr Finkel. What do you think of using the name "Aasha" for the game, given that that is the name used by the Cochin Jews for their version and that it seems to be the only historically attested name that we have? Love the videos by the way.

[@Nathit76]

Not fooling me Merlin. I suspect you learned these rules direct from the Sumerians.

[@endlesswanderer1753]

Only halfway in, I had to play this myself. There's a nifty online version for free you can try out against computer or human opponents. Irving was totally right, that center spot on the board is almost always guarded by the high level opponents. Since you cannot land on an opponent who is on it, they are completely safe. And the moment you go four squares beyond them, you are their target, and the next piece in their army takes their place in the center square watchtower. Had a few games where that center spot seemed to be more important than getting pieces off the board. Very interesting game. Kinda surprised some board game company isn't selling boards, because this is funner to me than backgammon.

[@Tekni]

Irving Finkel is a treasure, what a character ! Also, love the humour of the edits and the subtitles

[@kaan1361]

White long beard and hair: ✓ Round glasses: ✓ Old age: ✓ British accent: ✓ Visible wisdom: ✓ Possession of forgotten arcane knowledge: ✓ The arrogance of a mage: ✓ The desire for a competition of somewhat equivalent intelligence: ✓ A tiny drop of madness: ✓ Yep. He's definitely a wizard

[@JetFalcon710]

He must absolutely love working in a museum, since he's surrounded with old objects and such

[@RelativelyBest]

Irving Finkel is obviously Dumbledore. He's not even trying to hide it.

[@gothicguy2138]

No caps

[@MrNicePotato]

@@JetFalcon710 He does not work at the museum. He IS the museum

[@harrisonma3137]

The only thing left is for to be named harry and he has a stick

[@diegodurancastillo7303]

"I never use mathematics or statistics or calculations or anything at all like that, because I can't do it, so I just hope for the best..." Irving is my spirit museum curator

[@Name-di3ku]

I laughed out loud, thank you

[@joshuarosen6242]

Except he does. It's all going on in that clever brain of his. He just doesn't see all the workings out.

[@JonatasAdoM]

+Joshua Rosen At least it works for him

[@ninototo1]

@@joshuarosen6242 True. Many people who claim to not be able to do math actually are perfectly capable and use it on a daily basis.

[@JoshSweetvale]

So much sass.

[@fluffyfour]

Whoever wrote the snippets of information is a GENIUS! They have bought the replicas back to buy but I have to say they should be made of mahogany and lapis lazuli for the price they charge!

[@tinkerstrade3553]

I think this could be made just by looking at the photos online of the gameboard. A translation of the rules for advanced gaming, and you've already seen how it's casually played. And there's no copyright!😂😂

[@poudink5791]

@@tinkerstrade3553 No copyright yet, you mean. Just watch those lobbyists extend it to author's death plus 5000 years.

[@MrSpruce]

@@poudink5791 Disney lawyers could, no doubt!

[@koskivaarak]

Greetings from Finland! I frist came across this video during the pandemic. We made a simple board, used lego bricks as pieces and icecream with sticks one side painted for dice. My teenage sons loved it and it very much helped us get through the lockdown whitout getting any crazier than we already are. 😆 My boys still take the game with them when they go camping, its part of their summer ritual. Thank you!

[@quickunit426]

"Sometimes it brings out violence, sometimes it brings out savagery" So basically the monopoly of ancient mesopotamia

[@JaxMerrick]

With rules fairly similar to Sorry.

[@sauwensvk7589]

@@JaxMerrick more like "Sorry not sorry, chap"

[@ihatetacocasa]

lol its more sorry

[@glitchwolf1384]

mesopotamopoly.

[@DrWhom]

backgammon more like

[@chrisrelhard]

oh my god, he is exactly who i'd imagine if you said "old man who hates maths, deciphered an ancient game's rules, and lures civilians into his lair to decimate them at said game". i love him.

[@goldenhearted603]

Isn’t that the plot of yu-gi-oh?

[@markuhler2664]

@@goldenhearted603 Only if Ancient Sumur had shadow games. Which they very much might have.

[@crystalm4324]

Here, here!

[@bethbartlett5692]

He's a *"find"* in his own right! ...and - (I wonder if he has a bit of Irish in his British...? - *the Sense of humor, of course* - but then the Jewish are actually the greatest Commedians, - Don Rickles comes to mind. ❤)

[@picotrains8064]

@@sockington1 Not that Finkle would know. He hates math.

[@charliekoekemoer5570]

Greetings from South Africa. I am fascinated by the ancient Sumerians. I love the way Prof Irving Finkel presents and talks. It could have only been the Lord Enki that gave humanity this game. Anunnaki made. Peace and love

[@diogeneslantern18]

Greetings from the 011

[@fromthebackseat4865]

You think gods were the only way humanity could’ve invented a board game? How little do you think of us?

[@GMawlawa]

I LOVE THIS! 21:44 he made this game and truly believes the best way to play the game is by playing it not running numbers and testing theories.

[@timpyrules]

somehow the British Museum managed to snare me to watch a 25min at 1:30 AM about a 4,500 year old board game played by an internet wizard and real life wizard

[@lsur5487]

Same, just at midnight. And man was it entertaining.

[@pablolopezgarcia7296]

12:39 My family has just went to sleep.

[@oranganewton]

1:40am for me

[@ThrashThrakis]

03:53

[@mikwar8885]

00:24am for me :P

[@NiallMor]

Prof. Dumbledore explains how to play a game.

[@exactzero]

@@pathdecair Ooh you know him that well huh. kinky

[@pathdecair]

@@exactzero Who r u to accuse Me?

[@exactzero]

@@pathdecair I'm someone who got you to delete your comment.

[@davecrupel2817]

@@exactzero i see his comments. So I'd say you're wrong about that one, chum.

[@exactzero]

@@davecrupel2817 Awesome burner account.

[@Eric_Peters]

This is so well done. The editing is amazing! Getting jokes out of editing like the "children are unaccounted for" and rock montage is so cool.

[@cr103]

Irving: I'm not going to play an aggressive strategy Also Irving when Tom picks up the dice for his turn "let me just distract you briefly by talking about the board"

[@sydneyburckert1016]

What I expected- intellectuals discussing history and math What I got- Irving Finkel throwing some sick burns at Tom Scott

[@adammullarkey4996]

IronManIsA Unicorn Why were you expecting math? They're English.

[@louisdackombe]

Awesome!

[@Crimsonedge1]

Yeah, but we can tell you're not English. It's called Mathematics. Only the North Americans call it math. We here in the UK shorten it occasionally to maths but math is North American.

[@adammullarkey4996]

"We here in the UK shorten it occasionally to maths." I've almost never heard anyone call it " mathematics" outside of a "math or maths" discussion. I think you can drop the "occasionally."

[@redwolf92]

Merlin teaching young Arthur on tactical warfare strategies - colourized

[@QuesoGr7]

I was thinkin wizard, too. lol

[@aaronmontgomery2055]

I'm thinking Merlin and a young official (like tax officer) of Arthur's court.

[@rickyhale5237]

That’s exactly what I was thinking! He reminds me of T.H. White’s Merlin.

[@meow97]

Its very unfortunate that you might be a furry.

[@Arglin]

Jev of poo It’s very unfortunate that no one bothered to point it out, *oh wait.*

[@Mainbusfail]

What an honor to play against Mr. Irving Finkel on the oldest board game ever. That was, hands-down, the best video I have watched on YT in a long long time. Thank you gentlemen for sharing this duel with us.

[@zenzn7284]

wow, so exciting to see you revealing this beautiful games from our ancient to the world...I'm Iraqi and I feel so happy and excited to watch you playing this game. as you said its pretty much like Ludo that we use to play. but watching you reminds me even when my dad and uncle play the Backgammon 😆. very enjoyable video

[@thereillyboy5907]

2:52 "im just astonished that theres something that old just sitting there" christ, dont hold back mate. hes only sat in front of you

[@henryjdw238]

I laughed so hard at this, 👌

[@tylerweek8551]

My head hurts now, and I can't breathe.😂

[@TanteEmmaaa]

i get the joke, but christ had nothing to do with that. ;)

[@josh10722]

@@TanteEmmaaa get correct Atheist, this is a christian minecraft server

[@iqbalnash5748]

@@TanteEmmaaa damn so much salt

[@FoxDren]

irvine Finkel "bring in a member of the public, I can't remember the chap's name".

[@Jimunu]

"I HAVE TO WIN"

[@reececrump8483]

Ascdren savage

[@darthkahn45]

What an exciting game. Thanks for figuring out how to play it Irving

[@ColCam]

How is this video 5 years old?!?! This is fantastic!

[@benjaminbrewer2154]

And Tom has retired, so now it is a collectable.

[@aceonfire11]

Little known fact: the Romans destroyed this game out of anger at the fact Summarians were trying to sell DLC on day one of launch.

[@sazger]

Lol

[@-A-c]

It was a bloody good racket for about 3000 years too...

[@kinnarawanderer]

Royal Game Of Ur = PUBG Backgammon = Fortnite

[@jakubjary9052]

Just one little factual note: Summerians and Romans never meet each other, because Summerians didnt exist when Romans found their empire.

[@XLHeavyD999]

Rofl ... good one. Where those Summarians not secretly from Sweden :)

[@creditsunknown7974]

This is the most calm wizard duel ever. Id also like to point out how Finkel and Scott are different opposites of the wizard spectrum

[@Metallica4Life92]

Finkel is definitely a warlock

[@tigerguy529]

lol, true! Scott is the kind of wizard that studied the arcane for decades through alchemy and sigils and understanding the metaphysical, whereas Finkle is that sort of Gandalf type wizard who speaks in riddles and says things like "magic cannot be learned, only experienced"

[@Metallica4Life92]

@@tigerguy529 i can totally imagine Finkel sitting pensively, smoking his pipe and muttering about the mysteries of mysticism.

[@deefman123]

Its how i imagine Archchancellor Mustrum Ridcully and Ponder Stibbons would play

[@fedyno4reviews]

Plucky Adept vs Master Wizard

[@dmuir1974]

We'll sell you the whole seat but you'll only need the edge! Such an engaging video!

[@Bev4Drawing]

Every year I come back to this. And every year it's still just as fun to watch as before!

[@shaneben8745]

Alternate title: Dumbledore teaches you ancient Wizard chess

[@levesteM]

It's more like Backgammon, really

[@Jake-rm4be]

No it guy with interesting things to say and dumbledore play an ancient bored game

[@noahstockheimer]

Teaches Sorry more like

[@deadlykiwi9289]

The fact his personal chess set was used in the movie makes this even better

[@De4thInc4rn4te16]

@@levesteM it's actually more like ludo

[@svfutbol20]

3000 Years from now, some guy is going to explain Magic the Gathering to a random person

[@jedisaber2able]

svfutbol20 I wish I could be there for that

[@airkami]

"Wow this game sucks. You can totally get mana screwed or mana flooded and then you just lose."

[@svfutbol20]

#playgreen

[@Cal97g]

Nope - that game is only for incels and virgins and will be of 0 historical significance.

[@PatrickCavanaugh0420]

@@Cal97g sorry to say but once a game has been around for as long as magic has it already has historical significance in a sense. But you missed the joke lmao or at least maybe I thought the OP meant because magic would be a bitch to try and teach someone a thousand years from now with only broken knowledge of the game.

[@neonblkhole]

"I _NEVER_ USE MATHEMATICS _OR_ STATISTICS _OR_ CALCULATIONS, OR _ANYTHING AT ALL _*_LIKE THAT,_* because I can't do it" 😹😹😹👌

[@flamingmuffin666]

About 2-3 years ago, this was the first Tom Scott video I ever watched.

[@nickbortone212]

this guy is literally eipc... "I'm going to literally wipe the floor with him, it's my game and I work at the british museum" hahahahaha he's great... give him a raise or something

[@Super_Boa]

Very, very eipc...

[@flowerofash4439]

The most eipc thing on earth

[@jangonauta]

you forgot the no funny business part

[@aumjayakishatriya2982]

@@jangonauta yeah, but, I'm still trying to do the math on this being a game out of Sumer, but he says it's his game. Didn't know Dumbledore was that old and had time to work at the British Museum and as headmaster of Hogwart's.

[@folkestrang2091]

I enjoyed your explenations and deductions during the game, I'd take one.

[@jamesgeorge7579]

I didn't know who this wonderful man was less than 20 minutes ago, he is the perfect combination of old man and aggressive fanboy.

[@SandraNelson063]

Dr. Finkel is a national treasure. Utterly brilliant, a total scholar, yet completely able to communicate to other human beings. We would have very little knowledge of ancient history without his efforts. He is a super hero to folks who love history and archaeology.

[@munendersingh5631]

7diid

[@NeuKrofta]

Guess you guys have never heard of David Fletcher .... Thats too bad

[@zebulundocallas]

You mean Gandalf? He is a museum wizard.

[@l4zz4]

genuinely one of the most entertaining, interesting and joyous videos I've ever watched.

[@ioofmoore5940]

I found this Mr. Finkel by accident and started looking for and watching any of his videos I could. Fascinating subjects, yes. But the humility, humor and the way he holds your interests is wonderful.

[@DanielMartin87]

The museum should definitely start selling the game again.

[@Herziahan]

We want it!

[@Joshlama]

+

[@katharinelord2702]

Yes!

[@dylanmeloy5161]

I'd buy it

[@MarceldeJong]

I need this game in my life. That was an intense end-game

[@maxfailmezger5219]

I believe the roll probabilities are as follows: 0 - 6.25% 1 - 25% 2 - 37.5% 3 - 25% 4 - 6.25% Edit: Shoot, they mention the probabilities later in the video

[@virg0_lem0nade]

god, now i just want to see the two of them have a TV show together where they tour the world lol.

[@PhantomSavage]

That may be the single most British man to have lived.

[@cOr3t3ecks]

Not Jeremy Clarkson? Look at his Bentley Continental GT review on top gear when drives it to Budleigh Salterton on Top Gear about umpteen years ago. He's my idea of the quintessential Britt. (combine him with co host James May and you have the anglogasm of Britterey. Words I made up but are self evident as to meaning) Probably what the last true Romans were like. Roman till the end. But you're right, Finkel is awesome.

[@Kraniumbrud]

Jacob Rees-Mogg?

[@n0denz]

Oswald Mosley

[@BSJDynasty]

i call false, no tweed.

[@araxiel569]

I was waiting for him to shout "you're a wizard, Tom!"

[@bobafettjr85]

15:06 "At the time of filming, Irving's children were unaccounted for..." Whoever wrote these blurbs deserves a raise.

[@darthsidious6380]

the blurbs are fantastic

[@TalynStormcrow]

"no belt ranking system has been discovered" got me.

[@1e1001]

"make that 8 times"

[@karenm8952]

I assume it was Irving.

[@Fab-n-dabKev]

They are super charging that cuneiform tablet with worship energy by playing that game right next to it lmao In all seriousness it's amazing they're playing a full game with the oldest rule book right next to them. I love our world.

[@CraigGilman]

I picked up a version of this game in a charity shop yesterday! I paid £4 for it. I hadn't heard of it before and I'm glad I did a KZbin search to find this video 😊

[@CCheukKa]

It's so funny when he says "This civilized person is mathematically capable"

[@4navyseal]

CCheukKa knowledge is power.

[@FirstnameLastname-kn5sw]

An /Apparently/ civilized person. The fact that he is mathematically capable makes him a Muggle... errr I mean a savage!

[@funkycosmonaut]

This is true tho, you might not use all the math you learn directly but the type of thinking and philosophy developed from solving such abstract problems and the breaking down of complex structures into its more basic components is what separates the bottom rung from the top. Its what separates leaders from followers, Abraham Lincoln reading Euclid was a watershed moment and many great people have such a moment in their life, and that's because Math is not about the numbers, its an extension of common sense and reason itself, a man who is not mathematically capable literally has the common sense and reasoning capability of a first century slave or a feral human. And its not a special talent either, its just a choice whether you want to work that already existing muscle in your brain or not. Even amongst creatives and artists the top performers are mathematically capable people, perspective, measurement, proportion etc.

[@D4n1t0o]

@@funkycosmonaut See, you write all of that and it sounds perfectly convincing, yet here is this wise old wizard who cannot count above ten on his own proving being good at maths is not everything!

[@lordgamer4810]

@@D4n1t0o counting does not mean you understand mathematics

[@souffrantdepine3762]

KZbin recommendations: "Hey, you wanna watch a wizard play a programmer in a 4,500 year old game?" Me: "You had my attention.. Now? Now you have my interest."

[@kristalcornwell]

no stay wild, best comment of my day lol

[@nikosoukkala2648]

The quote goes "Gentlemen you had my curiosity ... but now you have my attention". The way you put it doesn't make much sense since attention and interest would pretty much mean the same thing in the context of your comment. Not meaning to be a dick just wanted to point it out

[@NStripleseven]

"Wizard" lol

[@Earthboundmike]

@@nikosoukkala2648 Why? Attention doesn't mean interest. He was on youtube, youtube had his attention. Video caught his interest.

[@joaquimlopes257]

Fantasy movies be like

[@maryjones8741]

Thank you so very much! This is soooo excited to learn! Bless you both!

[@NetworkOverflow]

absolutely loving the office-style commentary

[@carlhamer3762]

I'm not sure why YT recommended Merlin playing an ancient board game to me but I'm not disappointed.

[@senaxionaria4732]

absolutely

[@EricGraise]

Tom Scott: "Why is no one still playing this game?" Me an Intellectual: "Isn't this just ancient Sorry?"

[@Sorrowdusk]

I feel the same

[@EmpressSerenityOfBrittany]

With Young King Arthur to boot

[@joeychev87]

I feel the same

[@pigpig252]

"How do you pick up these dice!?" "It's the wasted youth thing" That was such a blink and you'll miss it joke and I love it

[@Crystal2193]

I don't get it - can you explain?

[@sandrat9309]

@@Crystal2193 I think the joke is that he spent his youth gambling (and probably getting drunk and other delinquent things), and so wasted his youth

[@HiVizCamo]

I thought he may have had a persistent D&D problem in the 70s and 80s, like many did.

[@solderbuff]

@@HiVizCamo , exactly. Because Dungeons & Dragons includes a tetrahedral dice.

[@harmonic5107]

@@solderbuff if your team has a cleric. I would hope you use them every game 😄

[@KermitEFrog-nv7dv]

This is my first time stumbling across this particular video but I am very familiar with Dr. Finkel and his infectious enthusiasm. Gotta love it!

[@rajidahae4220]

This was amazing, loved every second of Irving! The game is very compelling, would love to learn more about the later versions of the rules.

[@bareakon]

I love Irving's attitude at the start, of "I'mma destroy this fool"

[@pardonAgain]

He said calmly .

[@oscargill423]

He's a full-on anime villain and it's kinda scaring me Edit: _Markiplier_ villain actually... it has that frantic, protect-your-dignity-at-all-costs energy

[@jorgegonzalez-larramendi5491]

but the tiny but was there ..

[@XXveny]

Maybe he invented this game...

[@adiangrovey]

Yeah me too.

[@Xeno426]

Irving Finkel is the kind of presenter that is sorely missed in many modern documentaries. So many celebrities that really don't have a deep understanding of what they are presenting rather than academics that know their shit.

[@ericmueller6836]

Xeno426 Finkel is just as witty in his books. Wonderful reads.

[@aapjew18]

Except, many of these academics aren't this good at presenting and talking about it in a way that's easy and understandable for the public, it's simply not their expertise. Which is why they often use celebrities or other professional show hosts to do it.

[@teethgrinder83]

Xeno426 I've seen him in quite a few modern documentaries-not as presenter but as contributor,especially on BBC4

[@alleeum]

He really is both interesting and charming. Very engaging.

[@readjordan2257]

1:07 that speech right there is speaking to my soul. Today, we are all Gentlemanly Stern British Man

[@zappababe8577]

It was great to see how Tom really got into the game! It was exciting and interesting all the way through! That board must have been a thing of beauty when it had just been made and the paint was fresh. When all the colours of the little symbols and the inlays were new and bright it must have been a very desirable object.

[@grampachampa-1901]

“Do not cite the magic to me, witch. I was there when it was written” but irl

[@Daszkal]

Epic reference

[@forgeflarion8362]

ASLAAAAAAAAANNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@williss1192]

Where is that line from??

[@grampachampa-1901]

williss11 from the chronicles of Narnia

[@o.knight-catalinete6934]

Epiccc m8!

[@Wraithninja1]

Playing a mysterious ancient game against a man who (by the look of him) is obviously a powerful wizard? I think your chances of winding up under a terrible curse are well above acceptable levels of risk.

[@cometmoon4485]

Here's a plot twist: Tom's playing with a future version of himself!

[@MouseGoat]

well Tom is clearly a wizard, can't argue against that :D

[@OnEiNsAnEmOtHeRfUcKa]

Not to mention it's four and a half thousand years old. If he's not careful, he'll end up in the Shadow Realm no doubt.

[@androth1502]

what's four and a half thousand years old, the game or the curator?

[@thehandthatfeedyou]

Androth both of them....

[@jazwilkinson8311]

I would really like to buy one of these boards! It’s looks like so much fun! Irving Finkel is such a wizard!

[@royschmidt675]

Fascinating ! Thank you much ! ❤️🌸🙏

[@alZiiHardstylez]

Irving clearly just went back in time with his magical wizard powers and stole this off little Sumerian children.

[@twelvecatsinatrenchcoat]

I would watch the hell out of that. "Irvin Finkel: Time Wizard" The weekly misadventures of Irvin Finkel's archeological quest through time -- stealing artefacts and beating Hammurabi at Ur.

[@bepisthescienceman4202]

@@twelvecatsinatrenchcoat maybe it's like yugioh were every problem is solved in a game of ur

[@shaderunner8220]

He might've even played a match with Gilgamesh while he was there lmao.

[@KHouli]

It was awfully merciful of Irving to go easy on Tom and not banish him to the Shadow Realm at the end.

[@lunarotimas]

Kevin Houlihan dying omg

[@joshuahadams]

It is conspicuously similar to Maximillion Pegasus and Duel Monsters, isn't it?

[@paulharvey2815]

You've activated my trap card

[@louisdackombe]

Haha! Would love to play a game with him !

[@cypherusuh]

thats because Tom believe in the hearts of dices

[@DearxMyxSongs]

Please make more of the game!! Absolutely would get one for my dad for Christmas! He’d love it, truly!

[@JulieWallis1963]

This game reminds me of a board game I played as a child. I’m 60 now but as I child I loved a game called *Sorry* that had a similar premise. I only discovered this channel last night, immediately subscribed and this morning find a collaboration with one of my favourite channel presenters. I adore Irving, he has so much personality.

[@dolorsitametconsectur]

It’s still a popular game, I’m still pretty young & played & still do play it every so often.

[@Kyrmana]

Mensch ärgere dich nicht but smaller and with a safe space

[@tatterz__]

the rules are literally written in stone.

[@hassanalasdy7056]

On mud I think

[@Tyranitar-hd6hi]

the rules really remind me of the game "sorry"

[@Codex_0613]

@@hassanalasdy7056 he even said "clay" during the explanation

[@haideral5104]

Yes, clay! Stones are rare in central and southern Iraq. And Ur was in south of Iraq

[@gfdia35]

@@haideral5104 well if its 4000 years old its stone now

[@peterlewerin4213]

Tom: "I'm still kind of astonished that there is something that old just sitting there in front of me." Rest of the room:

[@obliviousotterI]

Tom hes only sixty nine show some manners

[@f1r3hunt3rz5]

@@obliviousotterI Sixty nine? Nice.

[@Federico-mj3si]

Lol, good one

[@johnyepthomi892]

😆😆😆😆😆👍

[@nitex9938]

No joke as soon as I started to read the comment a second later the line Tom said started playing

[@TaintedBlood30]

This. Was. Incredible. Hands down my favorite content I’ve consumed this year, 2023. Thank you so much for your relentless passion about preserving history. This was so much fun to watch.

[@giovannisantostasi9615]

I love this man. You are so lucky to have him as your friend.

[@MannyMarvelous]

are we just gonna ignore the a++ tier meta british humor the editor of the British Museum put into the annotations that are sprinkled throughout the video? the going home kids one was crispy hahaha

[@ofrocks]

i could never see the annotations, even turning annotations on. What am i doing wrong? :/

[@Lasergurka]

@Shiber Yeah pretty sure Manny means annotation as in the word's definition, not the feature with the same name KZbin used to have

[@chadfreakinL]

I certainly did not. I took so many screenshots of this video. "Think top gun but the stakes are higher"

[@Funnyvideo-cb4dp]

Hy

[@loganferguson6921]

Just made you hit 1,000 likes, congrats

[@kagome2123]

Me: lets play the Royal Game of Ur! Friend: who's Ur? *you've fallen right into my trap*

[@TheStardel]

Dagoth Ur, obviously

[@u.v.s.5583]

A planet is named after Ur!

[@maxhaibara8828]

Ur mama

[@semi-useful5178]

@@TheStardel You must listen Dagothwave while you play the game, it is written.

[@masteraryon9792]

@@TheStardel DID YOU GET THE FALSE COPY OF THE ROYAL GAME OF UR? HAHAHA

[@heimvar]

This was more fun to watch than I originally thought it would be. Imma have to grab a copy of this

[@ghosted0352]

I really enjoy the tone of this video. It's like we are there as Tom, and Irving is teaching us. I like that.

[@stkrieschel1]

The trash talking at the beginning was just so perfect.

[@arg31ify]

I've never been so intimidated by somone so gentle 😂

[@LYLEWOLD]

and so British

[@guscox9651]

dumbledore is old but he can destroy you without needing a wand

[@aumjayakishatriya2982]

Even more so with how he kept talking with the guy so he didn't catch on to him cheating.

[@MUHNEED22]

Great Mesopotamiaaaa 🇮🇶🇮🇶🇮🇶🇮🇶🇮🇶

[@ddogbritt16]

I love his smack talk "I hope youre not taking this domination personally, it could happen to anybody."

[@ulvschmidt7174]

"this means WAR.”

[@igottasitdownforthisone7768]

He's talking wild shit 😂

[@bunyslayer]

Haha this whole video was fantastic! Irving Finkel sounds like a lovely man to play against in any game! The humor and the narration text was excellent.

[@justinmiller9169]

After watching this video, I’ve been playing this game all day! Love it

[@eyenuh300]

The Losing Strategy: Using statistics to figure out the most likely roll, look at all possible outcomes, then move accordingly The Winning Strategy: Don't irritate the Mesopotamian gods

[@missjoy47]

👍

[@lukenukem8028]

Well, he got the 3 he needed! LoL!

[@user-yc9cr1tm9m]

🤣🤣

[@greengrer]

That just made me laugh.

[@juanjuri6127]

protip no 1: Inanna was the patron goddess of Ur protip no 2: Inanna hated nerds

[@chayew4660]

" I NEVER USE MATHEMATICS OR STATISTICS OR CALCULATIONS OR ANYTHING AT ALL LIKE THAT because i can't do it so i just hope for the best"

[@snigdhajyotidas3057]

The "Because I can't do it" bit at the end made me laugh so goddamn hard....You'd think he'd say something like "I don't use probabilities because they need infinite trials" or "in my experience I have found out games of luck are not well adjusted to rational calculations" but the confession "I don't deploy maths because I can't count past ten" is just comedy gold

[@carmacksanderson3937]

For a Wizard, his INT stat seems rather low

[@greganator111]

@@carmacksanderson3937 Hes obviously a charisma caster

[@doktorwyvern2883]

@@greganator111 Or maybe a Wisdom caster, he seems wise.

[@snoppdeng2]

My spirit animal.

[@mchurka7707]

please make sure to release the board game!

[@markcrabtree1642]

Absolutely make more of this gam!

[@alecvalerie8749]

Irvings teacher: “You won’t amount to anything because you can’t count past ten without assistance.” Irving: *Reads Cuniform* Teacher: Oof

[@ADeeSHUPA]

@christopher snedeker uP

[@diarradunlap9337]

😆😁