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

[@britishmuseum]

It has been a long time in the making, but you can finally bring back the violence and savagery your family gatherings have been missing over the last few 1000 years. The Royal Game of Ur is now back in the shop! And for the first time in the last 2 millennia (not centuries!) you can play the ADVANCED rules. Also, we brought back the drawer! Buy it here: shorturl.at/Zahgw We will be making more videos about the game and how it was made in the future. Subscribe and hit the notification bell to make sure you don't miss out. Cheers for all your support.

[@BigDuke6ixx]

£99? Why so expensive?

[@lilypower]

Low volume I would guess, because it’s already out of stock! and it doesn’t seem that expensive if it’s actually stone pieces. If it’s plastic then yes.

[@bernardbadot7467]

Why is it so expensive (£99) and why is the stock available so small?

[@BigDuke6ixx]

@@lilypower well, it's not going to be a stocking filler at that price.

[@youalldisgustme]

I was surprised at the price too. Also that they're out of stock so quickly again. @TheBritishMuseum - any idea when this will be in stock again?

[@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.

[@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

many internet points to you Mr Kaan Nezih... you're name has a middle earth ring to it as well 🤓

[@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

[@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*

[@Lumegrin]

And HIS NAME

[@kat41730]

blathers eyebrows :’D

[@talamioros]

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

[@BrazilianAnarchy]

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!"

[@DrCruel]

Kudos to the unknown and long forgotten original inventor of this game.

[@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

[@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

[@Irregulargremlin]

Irving gives me the same vibes as sir terry pratchet

[@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.

[@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!

[@petraz.3812]

Would you please send me a link?

[@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.

[@katiejohnson558]

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

[@dope7070]

same

[@radarlovedr]

Haha, yep

[@professional_cynic98]

Tolkien just casually rolling over in his grave

[@thornels]

Gandalf*

[@path1024]

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

[@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!

[@bicarbonat1]

The flourishing existence of Irving Finkel, a man who energetically admits to being bad at math and making no use of statistics, is immensely encouraging.

[@AndreaSzabo7171]

He is pretending to be bad at mathematics To see what May or may not. happens next. 🔢 🤔

[@AndreaSzabo7171]

How stupid can you get. ? 🙄

[@AndreaSzabo7171]

🙄

[@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 😭

[@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.

[@TomScottGo]

This was such a joy to be part of! Thanks so much to everyone involved :)

[@kerplunc9192]

Tom Scott you played very well tom but you cannot beat the master at their own game

[@FM-to3gy]

Tom Scott and The British Museum best collaboration.

[@WouterWeggelaar]

Tom Scott thanks for sending me here Tom, fantastic game, good video. enjoyed every second. I would buy a replica!

[@_Egitor]

Fun people, fun game, fun video. Nice!

[@sope18]

Tom Scott it was a joy to watch too!

[@caseyhamm4292]

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

[@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.*

[@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.

[@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

[@s011dpineaple]

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

[@die-god-c]

"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.

[@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

[@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

[@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

[@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'.

[@bronsonmartin4580]

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

[@elderlyoogway]

​@@odoggow8157 artiisthrotilil*

[@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

[@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.

[@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!

[@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

[@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.

[@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

[@gadaniya_ot_Natalia]

👍

[@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

[@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!

[@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.

[@araxiel2051]

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

[@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.

[@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!

[@NaomeK40]

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

[@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

[@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....

[@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

[@ReroutedYearAD]

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

[@MUHNEED22]

Great Mesopotamiaaaa 🇮🇶🇮🇶🇮🇶🇮🇶🇮🇶

[@chennyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy]

I’ve watched all of Tom Scott’s videos or so I thought until I stumbled across this. This honestly feels like I just discovered a long lost treasure.

[@MannyBrum]

Add Irving Finkel to the list of people I want to play D&D with.

[@gubbikiller]

add any game at all. he would be rad at the warhammer table too. give the man a robe and we have the top DM for any tabletop

[@noahhughes2501]

He is the character

[@jimmymcgill2961]

No ways not unless you want a min-maxer who only wants combat. He’d be much better suited to Warhammer.

[@christianali5431]

Manny Brum not just play with, the guy could DM an amazing game all about a fantasy world a kin to Mesopotamia.

[@Void-cn6rn]

@@jimmymcgill2961 He was roleplaying *this* game. He decided it was better to appease the Sumerian gods than to calculate the probabilities. That's like the opposite of min-maxing.

[@ddogbritt95]

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 😂

[@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

[@EmpressTiffanyOfBrittany]

With Young King Arthur to boot

[@joeychev87]

I feel the same

[@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.

[@jaynepaige5702]

I loved watching this! I made my own board xx

[@AniMageNeBy]

Really weird KZbin's algorithm suggested this, but.. it's kinda right: I'm loving it! A young modern wizard against an ancient seasoned wizard, playing a game of 4500 years old.. Unfathomable, and yet so engrossing. I actually think they should bring this game to the market again.

[@chrislepera6541]

Just drew up the cuts I need for a wooden set

[@jebatman756]

They actually did, you can buy the replica on The British Museum's website...just found it.

[@Reverse-Isekai_Victim]

@@jebatman756 99 pounds is pretty expensive for a board game, though.

[@jebatman756]

Tzyca Tezischia true. But you can find the same design for much cheaper on Amazon. It’s just not gonna be “the official version from the British Museum”. Museum gifts are always overpriced anyway

[@Reverse-Isekai_Victim]

@@jebatman756 You have a very good point there. Though if you are a cheapskate like me, you can always make the board and pieces with home supplies, while using coins as analogues for the dice. In fact, that's exactly what I'm gonna do. Cheers mate.

[@MrMikado282]

A game thousands of years old still results in trash talk and salt, good to see we never change.

[@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

[@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.

[@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

[@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

[@humanoid144]

adults would have played it they didnt have tv

[@shaderunner8220]

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

[@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.

[@thlee3]

Intern?

[@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.

[@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

[@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

[@domesticcat1725]

"Sometimes it brings out violence, sometimes it brings out savagery" Seems like monopoly is older than we thought

[@Alaryk111]

XD indeed!

[@talhatariqyuluqatdis]

Lol haha

[@placeholder8768]

Dreamy Cat uno*

[@domesticcat1725]

@@placeholder8768 dos tres tacos

[@placeholder8768]

Dreamy Cat cinco, seis, scepter?

[@evantarracciano4211]

He’s like a grumpy Dumbledore with a sharp sense of humor. What a treasure.

[@NorthernChev]

OK, so, now let’s see a video where Irving explains the “more complex” version of the game he alluded too at the beginning.

[@jurgen4466]

I want that as well!

[@svenmencke9]

I really would like to see the complex rules either

[@giorgitsiklauri840]

*alluded to

[@orngjce223]

According to the Wikipedia page, if you pass over a rosette you put a token into a box, if you land on a rosette you take a token out of the box, and whoever has fewer tokens at the end of the night has to pay the bill.

[@Mrityunjay7]

@@orngjce223 That makes this so much more interesting

[@MrMMertKorkmaz]

Even his beard has its own beard. You cannot compete with that.

[@daroth7127]

I believe Lindybeige has him beat.

[@MurkyWaters677]

@@daroth7127 Irving has wizard beard. Nothing beats wizard beard.

[@prof.cecilycogsworth3204]

@@daroth7127 A game between those two would worth seeing.

[@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."

[@darthkahn45]

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

[@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 :)

[@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.

[@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 😄

[@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.

[@RBelmont007]

that was legitimately one of the most tense gaming moments I've watched in months

[@supremechaosbeing2696]

Forget little mac reverse 3-0-ing a joker, this shit hype

[@NateOnTheMicrophone]

As soon as I heard Irving talk I was like "I am immediately interested and I have to watch this entire video".

[@explorateur8159]

Same!! Literally what got me engaged

[@zenosebeth4173]

11:55 I am both impressed and disturbed at how quickly Irving went from quiet gentleman to Bane there

[@averongodoffire8098]

Irving knows 2 world ending spells and 4 ancient languages swear words older than most cities and is in constant struggle with his madness to not speak either

[@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.

[@NiallMor]

Prof. Dumbledore explains how to play a game.

[@exactzero]

@@puj71 Ooh you know him that well huh. kinky

[@puj71]

@@exactzero Who r u to accuse Me?

[@exactzero]

@@puj71 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.

[@zack4president]

I want a twitch channel that features Irving playing this game. Actually I just want more Irving, I dont really care what he does. I just find him incredibly charming and entertaining.

[@piecesofstarlight]

I would watch the hell out of this!

[@danielduncan6806]

Irving plays minecraft.

[@o.s.h.4613]

Take a look at his lectures at the Oriental Institute-they’re wonderful

[@lizzieyeehaw5016]

Absolutely hysterically funny

[@karleyyork9001]

More Irving!

[@BarelyNoticeable]

Literally two men with the heart and soul of a child play an ancient game against each other in an attempt to bring it back. Best form of modern electronic publicity EVER!

[@dry5778]

Thats... literally the Plot of yugioh

[@Friddle]

The most british thing ever

[@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

[@vinciere3594]

This is so good. Not just because Tom is great, but so is Irving. They are both legitimately entertaining people. Not to mention the editing is fantastic. Thank you The British Museum.

[@nickbortone3D]

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

[@ReroutedYearAD]

@@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.

[@irontiki551]

I have two complaints: 1. The curator was far more entertaining than he had any business being, someone should tell him that he's supposed to be stodgy and grumpy 2. The editing of this video was of a much higher quality and much funnier than it had any business being. Be sure that the appropriate managers hear these complaints and further know that I very much want to see this game in wider circulation (which might be to say any circulation at all!)

[@ugn669]

" I very much want to see this game in wider circulation" -- 30 bucks at amazon, yw.

[@cordeliav3055]

I just purchased from Amazon.

[@rex8255]

There are also several versions available for Android, don't know about iPhone.

[@Uncle-Shredder]

Ha! sarcasm conveyed through written words i applaud ye good sir

[@christianzinser4032]

I am an American living in Cairo now, my dream place since I was 10. Normally, I’d make cheeky comments about your collection of other people’s antiquities. However, you give me pause in my chiding because I find your teaching and delivery very digestible. I applaud you, good Sir. I am now a fan of yours and look forward to many more entertaining episodes. Thank you. 🧐❤️🤓

[@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.

[@AshtonCoolman]

Dr. Finkel is one of my new favorite human beings.

[@IllBeaAround]

JohnnyNismo its the beard isnt it

[@sirdeadlock]

JohnnyNismo Reminds me of Terry Pratchet.

[@birdkooistra1329]

I know ! I have been watching him all morning. (In-between doing stuff)

[@YodasPapa]

ikr, it only took him about one minute as well

[@Tichooon]

I´ll join this club

[@TheNeilBlack]

"To date, no belt-based system to indicate a player's skill has been found in any cuneiform text..." The humor in this video is on point.

[@dmuir1974]

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

[@sommelierofstench]

i didn't know who irving finkel was before this. he is an instant legend.

[@joshuarosen6242]

He is a great lecturer, witty and erudite. Look up some of his lectures on KZbin.

[@TheBlarggle]

I like that they kept the ancient artifact tablet on the tablet throughout the game. I guess just in case they needed to consult the rules.

[@salaltschul3604]

You know someone would refer to the rules!

[@k-leb4671]

Do you mean on the table?

[@ionarevamp]

@@k-leb4671 Well technically the tablet was on another tablet which was also on the table so

[@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

[@emilflarsen2]

I love how he deciphered the game but can't count to 11. Man, he's a textbook genius!

[@patrickwood5681]

I feel like most people would probably avoid playing a game where the opponent is the only one who can read the rules

[@JetFalcon710]

I'd still play, ngl

[@elivonk4311]

you clearly have never played Mao. It's a great game!

[@batu5180]

Not if you got charmed/mind controlled by a wizard

[@MarkusDarkess]

Watching 1 play through... it is just the game of sorry except actually higher chance of interacting with you opponent

[@papacrow.9980]

Note: as a result of this video, me and a dear old band mate of mine have made our own board by scratch, continued to play since then, and thus fallen in love with this game. We want to thank you for bringing this to our attention. We hope to beat either of you in person one day

[@arisadefazio7885]

Buy one from them so they can get a week deserved donation, shithead

[@degrind6496]

@@arisadefazio7885 why this language lmao

[@claudiu-mihaipuiu1221]

@@arisadefazio7885 You replied to a 7 month old comment just to be an asshole.

[@Yeeeeoooooooooooliiiiiiiiii]

@@arisadefazio7885 swearing doesn’t make you cool

[@jakeward3986]

@@arisadefazio7885 Dang, so rude.

[@Jonslondon]

He's straight out of a Terry Pratchett book

[@onthepalehorse]

Exactly what I thought!

[@zigorously]

Irving Finkel is 100% a Discworld name

[@Hubba404]

"If you say you want a four, the last thing the gods will give you is a four!" A follower of The Lady, it would seem!

[@saucyplebeian7901]

You are so right

[@zetanone7211]

This is definitely what Ridcully would look like.

[@Alfa-deer]

There’s something very beautiful about Tom, who has taught us all so much, being taught something new A pleasant and uplifting reminder that there’s always so much more out there to discover and share with one another xx

[@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.

[@shinigamae21]

"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]

@@shinigamae21 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

[@Babalooza]

this guy is somehow the most chill and most intimidating santa claus I've ever seen

[@_BangDroid_]

I'd love to sit on _his_ lap!

[@salaciousBastard]

Well, then he'd be Santa Balls. You never go full Santa Balls.

[@richardlitwin4046]

@@salaciousBastard He isn't intimidating, but he wears the best clothes.

[@flemaster12]

I love how Irving acts so competitive. It made the video much more enjoyable

[@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.

[@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.

[@niclas7955]

Wow, Mr. Irving as a Bond villain would be so awesome. Imagine a jolly, playful, yet super intelligent and interested man. He is not that intimidating but his whole plan is about releasing vulnerable historic documents about the royal family. It all comes down to him and Bond playing this game for decision. No violence, just him and Bond nerding in history and a villain, that you really like from your heart.

[@jeraldbaxter3532]

I can not help but wonder - did Dr. FinkeL decide to adopt the already established persona of an brilliant, eccentric, occasionally mildly irascible , professor, or did he create the role, and others are just imitating him? My vote is for the latter.

[@TheBadassTonberry]

I'd see him more of a Sherlock Holmes villain, tbh. Jolly, playful, polite to everyone around him, even Holmes, Dr. Watson and Scotland Yard, brilliant thief who bases his strategy on the game of Ur. He announces his heist, and the game begins.

[@niclas7955]

@@TheBadassTonberry Awesome aswell :D

[@Schattenfaust2]

Feel like Bond would just shoot him

[@brendonford3838]

I thought the video was sweet but this thread is awesome

[@IsaWitch]

When this video came out I ended up making my own set at home, because I wanted to play it SO BAD. I lost my board in a move a number of years ago. I found it today! I had to revisit this video to show my appreciation! Absolutely fantastic game! Everyone that I have introduced to this game is always skeptical that a game so old would be fun. By the end of their first game they are hooked and craving another round! Thank you for sharing! A game that my family and friends I will be playing for years to come❤️

[@enkelainen]

I'd definitely get it if it were at the British Museum again! This was fantastic. It was like watching Gandalf beat Frodo at boardgames.

[@MrPSyman3]

I'm impatient so I'll just make one myself. It's a simple structure and I got some tetrahedra lying around although I doubt I'll spend too much time on the authenticity of the look. It's just a really great game

[@art_lobe]

Irving seems like the wholesome grandpa that always has some wisdom to share with the main character during an ordeal. Like: "tea isn't just hot leaf juice!!!"

[@oscargill423]

"I'm going to wipe the floor with him because it wouldn't do at all for me, who discovered these rules, and after all it's my game and I work in the British Museum so, there, I HAVE TO WIN, so there's not gonna be any funny business..." With a consistently rising temper in his tone, I might add

[@hav5n]

of course te isnt just hot leaf juice, it has milk or oatmilk if your vegan

[@noahharden5894]

Iroh vs Irving - Greatest fight of the century

[@LeortisBooks]

Irving just completely dominates this whole video which surprised me since Tom is a pretty engaging presenter in his own right.

[@jerryfick613]

Tom is excellent presenter, he also displays excellent interview skills by deferring to the expert in any given field. Well this isn't an interview per se, he was invited on to help an expert show off very interesting artifact. So it makes sense that while Tom doesn't hold back his own skills in maths and logic, he does defer to the expert. Of course when your expert is a personality like Irving Finkel that's not hard to do.

[@ulfberht4431]

There’s just something Santa Calusy-like personality to Irving.

[@NaCl1252]

I disagree, Irving is chaotic neutral and Tom is lawful good

[@baoboumusic]

@Leortis I assume you already found out, but Irving Finkel is a hilarious presenter and his various talks (there are many on youtube) are an absolute joy with his infectious passion and slightly off-beat English sense of humour. The man is an absolute gem.

[@swaggleton]

@@ulfberht4431 just can’t put my finger on it