Sunday, July 31, 2016

Sunday Funnies - Beastly

Over on oglaf.com, give in to the beast here.


Also, on theonion.com, they explained "Mob Not Angry At Monster, Just Disappointed" here.


Finally, on sciencealert.com, they tell us "David Attenborough narrating Pokémon Go is everything you dreamed and more."  Discover it here.


Humor, often gaming-related,
to start the week with a chuckle.
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Saturday, July 30, 2016

Saturday Crowdfunding Roundup - Wargaming, Tablescapes, & Barnyards

Three from Kickstarter this week with the first being "Miniature Wargaming: The Movie" by Joseph Piddington here.


Also, have a look at "Tablescapes Dungeons - Modular RPG Dungeons by Secret Weapon" by Secret Weapon here.


Finally, checks out "Barnyard Roundup, Bluffing set collection card game! Ages 6+" by Druid City Games here.


Keeping an eye on those Kickstarter & IndieGoGo
projects plus other crowdfunding efforts.
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Friday, July 29, 2016

The Friday Grab Bag - Talkin Tolkien

Lots of big Tolkien news this week for fans and gamers alike.  Over on enworld.org, they ran a story this week titled "Middle-earth Comes to 5th Edition This Fall with Cubicle 7's Adventures In Middle-earth Player's Guide" here.


Also, on cubicle7.co.uk, you can get a bit more on the RPG from the horses mouth here.


Finally, on moviepilot.com, they tell us "The Silmarillion: Warner Bros. Multi-Film & TV Deal for J.R.R. Tolkien’s Classic!"  Get the details on that here.


Essentially, a clearinghouse for topics not covered
elsewhere or needing a particular focus.
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Thursday, July 28, 2016

Throwback Thursday - Stranger Things

By now you will probably have heard that the Netflix series Stranger Things doesn't simply makes a passing reference to Dungeons & Dragons but rather makes the game integral to the plot of the eight episode arc.  I've added three videos to the end of this post, the first two being trailers but the third being the first eight minutes of episode one which gives some idea of the tone of the series as well as how important D&D is to the story.  As you'll be able to tell, the series is set in the 1980s (with some admitted anachronisms) and hits some notes akin to E.T., The Goonies, and X-Files.  It is well-cast, well- acted, and well-written all the way from start to finish.  This will be one for the video collections of any gamer, young or old.


Also, on birthmoviesdeath.com, you can get a more in-depth understanding of the quality of this series from Scott Wampler by reading his article titled "Drop What You’re Doing And Watch STRANGER THINGS On Netflix Right Now" here.  He does a good job avoiding spoilers but steer clear of the comments section to be sure nothing is ruined if you have yet to watch the series.  After you have watched it, check out the polygon.com article "The real star of Stranger Things is Dungeons & Dragons" here.  You'll already know this but it's a good read anyway.


Finally, jump over to roebeast.blogspot.com for an interview with miniatures sculpture John Dennett.  He's the fella who sculpted the original Demogorgon from the Fantasy Lords line of Grenadier Miniatures in 1984.  The monster is referenced in the series beyond the early appearance of the miniature but the first showing of the figure makes a lasting impression.  The interview is here and John Dennett's own website, where he still shares his work today, is here.


And now, those videos I promised . . .








A look back at early tabletop hobby gaming
 or gaming-adjacent topics of the past.
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Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Events & Play Wednesday - Gary Gygax Day!

Now that Gary Gygax Day is upon us, let's all do our best to remember why we game: the friendships we make, the fun we share, and joy it brings to our lives.  If you have the chance, share some of your fond memories of gaming here or on the GM's Day page where Gary Gygax Day is also being celebrated here.  And don't forget that CMG is having a One Dollar sale to mark the occasion here.


Also, on multiverse.world, Timothy Connolly penned a wonderful article with d30 ways to enjoy your Gary Gygax Day here.


Finally, great thanks to Tim and the gamer-from-down-under Heath for spreading the word about this wonderful holiday.  You can visit Heath's The Antipodean d20 page here.


News of Conventions and Gamedays as well as pictures
from those I have attended and games I have played.
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Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Tech Tuesday - Once & Future Tech

Three from Science Alert this week with the first being "Elon Musk's new company is developing robots to do your housework" here.


Also, have a look at "Physicists just did the 'impossible' and created a quantum hologram" here.


Finally, check out "Computers will require more energy than the world generates by 2040" here.


News focused on Technology
as it might interest gamers.
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Monday, July 25, 2016

RPG Media Monday - Arthur, Kong, & Star Trek

We've got two films and a new series on the horizon that will probably be enjoyed by most RPGers and gamers of many stripes.  Over on the IGN YouTube channel, watch a trailer for the Guy Ritchie reimagining of Arthurian legend with the "King Arthur: Legend of the Sword Trailer" that was shared at Comic Con 2016.  Enjoy!



Also, on the Kong: Skull Island YouTube channel, shared at Comic Con 2016, check out the "Kong: Skull Island" trailer.  Fierce!



Finally, on the Star Trek YouTube channel, they give us a "First Look [at the] Test Flight of Star Trek's U.S.S. Discovery" though we still know nothing about casting details.  Teasers!



News for Movies, Television, and more
of gamer-relevant Media.
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Sunday, July 24, 2016

Sunday Funnies - Go, Find, & Face It

Over on uptofourplayers.com, they suggest we "Give It a Go" here.


Also, on mrlovenstein.com, they give us a lesson in finding treasure here.


Finally, on kotaku.com, they tell you to "Turn Your Human Face Into A Video Game Character" here.


Humor, often gaming-related,
to start the week with a chuckle.
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Saturday, July 23, 2016

Saturday Crowdfunding Roundup - Bon Appétit, Catapults, & Martians

Three from Kickstarter this week with the first being "Bon Appétit - A Fine Dining Frenzy" by Avant-Garde Games here.


Also, have a look at "Legendary Dice Throwers- the evolution of dice towers" by Drawlab here.


Finally, checks out "Martians: A Story of Civilization" by Krzysztof Wolicki here.


Keeping an eye on those Kickstarter & IndieGoGo
projects plus other crowdfunding efforts.
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Friday, July 22, 2016

The Friday Grab Bag - D&D & Business

Over on ucreative.com, Arthur Piccio gives us "10 Life and Business Lessons We’ve Learned From Dungeons and Dragons" here.


Also, on javaworld.com, Esther Schindler tells us "10 Business Lessons I Learned from Playing Dungeons & Dragons" here.


Finally, on medium.com, Rich Armstrong shares "Management Lessons from Dungeons & Dragons: The Gary Gygax School of Management" here.


Essentially, a clearinghouse for topics not covered
elsewhere or needing a particular focus.
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Thursday, July 21, 2016

Throwback Thursday - Sergio Aragonés

I first became aware of Sergio Aragonés through the pages of Mad Magazine.  He's a hard-working cartoonist who has been at it for more than half a century and is known as the world's fastest cartoonist.


He's even been going to conventions and helping them become popular for nearly that long.  Here's a look at a 1972 Comic Art Convention from his perspective


But I think many gamers will likely be aware of his comic characters from Groo the Wanderer, a humorous take on Conan the Barbarian and other pulp Sword & Sorcery characters since the early 1980s.


A look back at early tabletop hobby gaming
 or gaming-adjacent topics of the past.
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Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Events & Play Wednesday - Eldritch Moon MtG Events

Lake Geneva Games has a lot of release weekend Magic the Gathering events this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday starting with . . .


The first weekend we can use Eldritch Moon booster packs for our FNM Booster Draft.  This start at 6 pm so try to get there a bit early to be sure you don't miss out!  We'll follow that up Saturday and Sunday with 1 pm $15 Booster Drafts (3 booster packs, 3 rounds, +1 pack per round won plus Promos!).  Come in both days and play in these inexpensive drafts to build up your selection of Eldritch Moon cards and get used to the new set.  But the BIG event is Saturday evening starting at 6 pm.  It's a $20 Booster Draft for a Box!  It's an Eldritch Moon $20 Booster Draft (3 booster packs, 3 rounds, Minimum 8 players) and the winner gets a Sealed box of Eldritch Moon and all players get a promo!


Finally, on Sunday at 5:30 pm, we have the first week of our six-week Magic the Gathering League.  Each Sunday we play a Shadows Over Innistrad block constructed tournament, with the added deck building restriction of only 1 mythic.  The tournament each Sunday is free to league members, and only league members may play in it.  The cost to join the league is $10.  Each player finishing each tournament gets +1 pack, and there is a +1 pack per 4 players prize pool awarded to the first place player, or shared by those tied for first.  Each tournament is 3 rounds Swiss pairings.  Block Constructed is similar to Standard, except more restrictive.  Only cards from Shadows Over Innistrad and Eldritch Moon sets are legal in your 60 card deck and 15 card sideboard.  Further, there is a restriction of ONE mythic rare card in your library at the start of each game.  You may have more mythics in your sideboard, but only one mythic can be in your library at the start of each game.


News of Conventions and Gamedays as well as pictures
from those I have attended and games I have played.
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Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Tech Tuesday - More Space Tech

Three from space.com this week with the first being ab article telling us "One Year After Kickoff, OneWeb Says Its 700-Satellite Constellation is On Schedule."  Learn more here.


Also, they tell us the "Best Telescopes for the Money" here.


Finally, they inform us of "'Impossible' Space Tech That Might Actually Work" here.


News focused on Technology
as it might interest gamers.
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Monday, July 18, 2016

RPG Media Monday - Conan & More

Over on cnet.com, read how "Schwarzenegger confesses he was 'way too ripped' to play Conan" here.


Also, on vimeo.com, watch a "Conan Cinematic Teaser Breakdown" here.


Finally, on rehtwogunraconteur.com, check out part one here and part two here of "An Amazing Collection of Pulp and Fantasy Art!"


News for Movies, Television, and more
of gamer-relevant Media.
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Sunday, July 17, 2016

Sunday Funnies - Calvin and Hobbes

Calvin and Hobbes is one of the most enduring comics ever.


Books and merchandise for Calvin and Hobbes can be found in their store here.


But did you know that Calvin and Hobbes can make board games better too?



Humor, often gaming-related,
to start the week with a chuckle.
Please Like, Share, Plus, Tweet, Follow, and Comment!

Saturday, July 16, 2016

Saturday Crowdfunding Roundup - Bags, Minis, & Maps

Three from Kickstarter this week with the first being "Game-Night Bags" by John Wrot! here.


Also, have a look at "Whelps to Wyrms" by Michael Friesen here.


Finally, checks out "Gaming Paper Megadungeon 4 - Rooftops and Alleyways" by Erik Bauer here.


Keeping an eye on those Kickstarter & IndieGoGo
projects plus other crowdfunding efforts.
Please Like, Share, Plus, Tweet, Follow, and Comment!

Friday, July 15, 2016

The Friday Grab Bag - D&D

Over on cnet.com, they teach us "How to throw a Dungeons & Dragons-theme bachelor party" here.


Also, on portent.com, we're told "Everything I ever learned about marketing I learned from Dungeons and Dragons" here.


Finally, on gnomestew.com, they explore "D&D, Social Skills, and the Zen of Roleplaying Games" here.


Essentially, a clearinghouse for topics not covered
elsewhere or needing a particular focus.
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