The Friday Grab Bag - Going Dark

My blogs and Facebook will be (mostly) dark for the next couple of weeks.  This includes creativemountaingames.com, grymvald.com, and mfwars.com, all of which have extensive archives at this point to plumb for interesting tidbits.  Please explore them for nifty bits and bobs and we'll see you on the other side of the nebula!

Also, my Facebook pages will be going dark including my profile page, my Mark CMG author page, my Creative Mountain Games FB page, and the GM's Day FB page.

Finally, my Google Plus profile will go into sleep mode along with my Twitter feed.

The Friday Grab Bag on CreativeMountainGames.com 

Essentially, a clearinghouse for topics not covered

elsewhere or needing a particular focus.

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The Friday Grab Bag - Games on the Rise

Perhaps because of the run up to Gen Con, the success of Stranger Things, and the advent of Gary Gygax Day, games have been prominent in the news lately.  Over on hollywoodreporter.com, they tell us "Behind Hollywood's Closed Doors, A-List Stars Are Playing Dungeons & Dragons" here.

Also, on variety.com, they shared "Gary Gygax Estate Partners With ‘Transformers’ Producer Tom DeSanto" here.

Finally, on icv2.com, they mentioned that the "Hobby Games Market Nearly $1.2 Billion in 2015" here.

The Friday Grab Bag on CreativeMountainGames.com 

Essentially, a clearinghouse for topics not covered

elsewhere or needing a particular focus.

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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.

The Friday Grab Bag on CreativeMountainGames.com 

Essentially, a clearinghouse for topics not covered

elsewhere or needing a particular focus.

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Saturday Crowdfunding Roundup - Steve Russell

I often have three from Kickstarter most weeks but this week I am focused on a single crowdfunding effort.  Earlier this week, the RPG Publishing industry lost a fine fellow who was the head of Rite Publishing.  Steve Russell was a respected publisher, well-loved gamer, and family man expecting a new child this coming winter.  He was lost to us suddenly in a tragic car accident.  His wife and family will be looking at some expenses as a result during their time of grief and anything anyone can do to help them handle this burden will be appreciated.  To throw in your support, go to the GoFundMe page here.

Saturday Crowdfunding Roundup on CreativeMountainGames.com 

Keeping an eye on those Kickstarter & IndieGoGo
projects plus other crowdfunding efforts.

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The Friday Grab Bag - Boardgaming News

Over on toyland.gizmodo.com, they told us "Betrayal at House on the Hill Is Finally Getting Its First Ever Expansion" here.

Also, on multiverse.world, they suggest "Board Games Will Keep Us Together" here.

Finally, on boardgamemonthly.com, Issue Three is now available here.

The Friday Grab Bag on CreativeMountainGames.com 

Essentially, a clearinghouse for topics not covered

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The Friday Grab Bag - Open Positions

Over on wokq.com, they informed us that the Wolfman position is open at Clark's Trading Post.  Find out more here.

Also, on giftrepublic.com, you can "Become a Laird or Lady" here.

Finally, in recent days on company.wizards.com, they've posted over a half dozen new job listings here.

The Friday Grab Bag on CreativeMountainGames.com 

Essentially, a clearinghouse for topics not covered

elsewhere or needing a particular focus.

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The Friday Grab Bag - Brick & No-Moretar

Over on redkiteprayer.com, there is an article titled "Where Have All The Bike Shops Gone?"  It looks at the data of small bike shop closings and opens up a dialog about Brick & Mortar store closings.  I had another article on this that took a straight up side, one that suggested that it was simply the market culling the herd of bad businesses, but this one is more neutral on the subject and perhaps even sympathetic in many ways.  I don't disagree but I do wonder if small B&M businesses could be doing quite a bit more to help themselves out of the seeming-inevitable slide.  Anyway, check this one out here.

Also, some of the more recent fervor has been churned up by Privateer Press who has taken a stand on what is good for the portions of the gaming community that supports them the most.  In that regard, they got a surprising bit of pushback for recent support of B&M stores, at least in the headline from icv2.com with their article "ICv2: Privateer Axes Offending Online Retailers" here.

Finally, on linkedin.com, business author Jacob Lindborg discussed "The Evolution of Brick and Mortar" here.  He makes some very good points that retailers would be smart to follow.

The Friday Grab Bag on CreativeMountainGames.com 

Essentially, a clearinghouse for topics not covered

elsewhere or needing a particular focus.

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The Friday Grab Bag - March Fo(u)rth for GM's Day!

GM's Day! is March 4th. It is the day the RPGing community celebrates the hard work our GMs do. Like Mother's Day or Father's Day, it is a day of appreciation. You can pick up a gift for your GM or bake them a cake. Get them a nice card or finish that character background you promised. Or run a game for them! Just make sure you tell them how much you appreciate all the hard work they do running games for you.  Be sure to also Like and Share the GM's Day Facebook page here.

Also, let us not forget that on this day in 2008 we lost one of the greatest GMs of all time, and a founder of our hobby, Gary Gygax.  Let's remember him today and roll some dice in his honor.

As part of the GM's Day celebration, Creative Mountain Games, along with many other publishers, is offering a substantial discount off their wares at RPGNow.com here and Drive Thru RPG here.  Finally, if you happen to be at Gary Con VIII in Lake Geneva, WI, this weekend, seek me out and say "Hello!"  Maybe we will get the chance to throw some dice together!

The Friday Grab Bag on CreativeMountainGames.com 

Essentially, a clearinghouse for topics not covered

elsewhere or needing a particular focus.

Please Like, Share, Plus, Tweet, Follow, and Comment!

Saturday Crowdfunding Roundup - 5E Adventure, Edible Dice, & Game Success

Over on kickstarter.com, check out "Curse of the White Mine -A 5E adventure" by Lloyd Metcalf here.

Also, on kickstarter.com, have a look at "Swirled Chocolate and Gummy Dice" by Lunar Wolf Treats here.

Finally, on siliconangle.com, they tell us "Tabletop games raised twice as much as video games on Kickstarter in 2015" here.

Saturday Crowdfunding Roundup on CreativeMountainGames.com 

Keeping an eye on those Kickstarter & IndieGoGo
projects plus other crowdfunding efforts.

Please Like, Share, Plus, Tweet, Follow, and Comment!

Throwback Thursday - Dungeon Dwellers, People on Gygax, & Game Tables

Over on goingfaster.com, they have a retrospective on "Heritage USA’s “Paint ‘N’ Play” Sets" here.

Also, from Facebook and originally from People Magazine in 1980, here's a page from an article on Gary Gygax and the early success of Dungeons & Dragons.

Finally, also floating around social media, and originally in Table Top Talk magazine from May 1964, here's a clever article on "Where to Hide a War Game Table."

Throwback Thursday on CreativeMountainGames.com 

A look back at early tabletop hobby gaming

 or gaming-adjacent topics of the past.

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The Friday Grab Bag - Gen Con, Mearls, & Crawford

Over on polygon.com, they tell us that "Gen Con 2015 breaks records, doubles attendance from 2010" here.

Also, on merricb.com, Merric gives us a good summary here of The Tome Show interview with WotC's Mike Mearls that was released during Gen Con.

Finally, on gamer-goggles.com, they share a post-Gen Con interview with WotC's Jeremy Crawford here.

The Friday Grab Bag on CreativeMountainGames.com 

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

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The Friday Grab Bag - Ed Greenwood, Road Trips, & Games Workshop

Over on publishersweekly.com, we learn "Fantasy Writer Greenwood Launching Publishing Group" here.  "This fall, he is launching an unconventional publishing group of his own, called The Ed Greenwood Group (TEGG), where he will focus on titles—as well as games and art—involving newly created fantasy worlds."

Also, on atlasobscura.com, check out "The Obsessively Detailed Map of American Literature's Most Epic Road Trips" here.

Finally, on natfka.blogspot.com, they claim to have some dirt from Gen Con regarding Games Workshop here.

The Friday Grab Bag on CreativeMountainGames.com 

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

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Throwback Thursday - Fred Fields, 81 Dungeon Game Ad, & the Clarke-Asimov Flame War

Over on the blog of Dave Gross, he shares his brief interview with veteran game industry pro Fred Fields here.

Also, on battlegrip.com, Phil Reed shares a "1981 Dungeon Boardgame Ad from Boys’ Life" here.

Finally, on barnesandnoble.com, they discuss "The Decades-Long Flame War Between Arthur C. Clarke and Isaac Asimov" here (which was published on April 1st, so reader beware!).

Throwback Thursday on CreativeMountainGames.com 

A look back at early tabletop hobby gaming

 or gaming-adjacent topics of the past.

Please Like, Share, Plus, Tweet, Follow, and Comment!

The Friday Grab Bag - Social Media Myths, Perfect Presentations, & Book Awards for Self-Publishers

Toward the end of last year on entrepreneur.com, they shared "The 10 Biggest Social Media Myths for Small Businesses" here.

Also, on blogs.microsoft.com, they tipped us off to "10 tips to perfect presentation" here.

Finally, on selfpublishingadvice.org, they've compiled a list of "50 Book Awards Open to Self-publishers" here.

The Friday Grab Bag on CreativeMountainGames.com 

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

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Events & Play Wednesday - March Fo(u)rth for GM's Day! & Remember Gary Gygax

GM's Day! is March 4th. It is the day the RPGing community celebrates the hard work our GMs do. Like Mother's Day or Father's Day, it is a day of appreciation. You can pick up a gift for your GM or bake them a cake. Get them a nice card or finish that character background you promised. Or run a game for them! Just make sure you tell them how much you appreciate all the hard work they do running their game for you.  Be sure to also Like and Share the GM's Day Facebook page here.

As part of the GM's Day celebration, Creative Mountain Games, along with many other publishers, is offering 30% off the full catalog here on RPGNow.com here and Drive Thru RPG here.

Also, let us not forget that on this day in 2008 we lost one of the greatest GMs of all time, and a founder of our hobby, Gary Gygax.  Let's remember him today and roll some dice in his honor.

Events & Play Wednesday on CreativeMountainGames.com 

News of Conventions and Gamedays as well as pictures

from those I have attended and games I have played.

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The Friday Grab Bag - Old School, New School, & All Schooled

Toward the end of last year on entrepreneur.com, they discussed how "Old-School Games Get New Life" here.

Also, from that same time frame on onlyagame.wbur.org, they tell us "Do Not Pass Go, Do Not Collect $200 … Instead, Collect Ore" here.

Finally, on artery.wbur.org from then, Ethan Gilsdorf explains "How Dungeons & Dragons Became A Game Changer" here.

The Friday Grab Bag on CreativeMountainGames.com 

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

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The Friday Grab Bag - Escapist Awards Winners, D&D Strikes Back, & the Best Year Ever

Some of the finest games and such of the year were nominated and some won the Escapist Awards for 2014.  Find out which ones here.

Also, the Boston Globe had a flattering feature recently declaring that "Dungeons & Dragons strikes back" as it surged back into the limelight this last year.  Read more here.

Finally, Topless Robot outlined "21 Reasons 2014 Was the Best Year Ever for Tabletop Role-Playing Gamers" here.

The Friday Grab Bag on CreativeMountainGames.com 

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

Please Like, Share, Plus, Tweet, Follow, and Comment!