Sunday Funnies on CreativeMountainGames.com
Humor, often gaming-related,
to start the week with a chuckle.
to start the week with a chuckle.
Please Like, Share, Plus, Tweet, Follow, and Comment!
Sunday, August 10, 2014
Sunday Funnies - Air New Zealand Safety Video for Five Armies
Good new for those of us who enjoyed previous Air New Zealand's tie in to the LotR and Hobbit franchise films as it has been announced that they are working on a Safety Video to run around the time of the roll out for The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies film. Read more here, then enjoy a video from 2012.
Saturday, August 9, 2014
Saturday Crowdfunding Roundup - Barbarians, Jungles, and Dungeons
Less than a day to go for a couple of these being mentioned today, and three weeks for the other, but all of them are already funded. First up . . .
Barbarians of Lemuria: Mythic Edition by Filigree Forge is one I mentioned not long back as I figured it would appeal to the Old School crowd I know. It is scheduled to release before the end of the year.
Next, Canopy Walk by TF Verlag UG is a boardgame that let's you "build canopy walks in the Argentinian tropical jungle in search for the red diamonds!" Sounds like a new theme to me.
Finally, Dungeon Saga: The Dwarf King's Quest by Mantic Games looks like a nifty dungeon-crawling experience with some fun artwork.
Barbarians of Lemuria: Mythic Edition by Filigree Forge is one I mentioned not long back as I figured it would appeal to the Old School crowd I know. It is scheduled to release before the end of the year.
Next, Canopy Walk by TF Verlag UG is a boardgame that let's you "build canopy walks in the Argentinian tropical jungle in search for the red diamonds!" Sounds like a new theme to me.
Finally, Dungeon Saga: The Dwarf King's Quest by Mantic Games looks like a nifty dungeon-crawling experience with some fun artwork.
Keeping an eye on those Kickstarter & IndieGoGo
projects plus other crowdfunding efforts.
projects plus other crowdfunding efforts.
Please Like, Share, Plus, Tweet, Follow, and Comment!
Friday, August 8, 2014
The Friday Grab Bag - HobbyTown USA, Lake in the Hills (Crystal Lake), IL
It's been quite some time since I have seen a HobbyTown USA store that had much in the way of gaming stuff. I don't think it is typically problematic. In fact, the HobbyTown in Lake Geneva, WI, which just opened last year, purposefully keeps gaming stuff scant. It's not interest in trying to compete with Lake Geneva Games on games and doesn't want Lake Geneva Games competing with them on RC vehicles, model railroad offerings, etc. The Lake Geneva HobbyTown USA has a minimal amount of gaming products. It's the same stuff that might appear in many non-gamestores that carry a few non-traditional games and just a bit more: Catan, Munchkin, some dice and little else. I get the feeling each franchisee of HobbyTown gets some stuff suggested strongly to them and with the numbers these games do, cannot really say "No" to carrying them.
In any event, earlier this week I happened to be down in Crystal Lake, IL, on some other business and decided to swing by the local Lake in the Hills HobbyTown USA to see what they had. I was quite surprised at the variety for a store such as theirs. It may be the number of game stores in the area has declined enough to warrant adding more than the usual fare. I know that Games Plus all the way down in Mount Prospect, IL, gets plenty of traffic from Crystal Lake and beyond to their NW, though that can be attributed in large part to their excellent selection and service. But taking a look in the games section of the Lake in the Hills HobbyTown USA shows they do have a fair amount of stuff that hopefully is seen, picked up by hobbyists of other stripes, and help in their conversion.
So, if you are in the area and can't make it further to a store with more, this HobbyTown USA certainly can give you some boardgame choices.
In any event, earlier this week I happened to be down in Crystal Lake, IL, on some other business and decided to swing by the local Lake in the Hills HobbyTown USA to see what they had. I was quite surprised at the variety for a store such as theirs. It may be the number of game stores in the area has declined enough to warrant adding more than the usual fare. I know that Games Plus all the way down in Mount Prospect, IL, gets plenty of traffic from Crystal Lake and beyond to their NW, though that can be attributed in large part to their excellent selection and service. But taking a look in the games section of the Lake in the Hills HobbyTown USA shows they do have a fair amount of stuff that hopefully is seen, picked up by hobbyists of other stripes, and help in their conversion.
It's a wide, free-standing store and the far-right third of the building has a huge RC track within.
They devote about four shelving units to display their games and very little is faced out,
so that means they have quite a bit on those units.
so that means they have quite a bit on those units.
Moving past the chess and backgammon sets, they have some family games
like Yatzee, Bungo, and Farkle but not too much of this.
Plenty of Ticket to Ride, Axis & Allies, plus a modest amount of Magic.
Axis & Allies models.
Zombie Dice and some pre-painted minis.
Lots of Zombies and some variety.
A great deal of Catan.
I was actually quite impressed by the selection.
Their RPGing selection was weak at best.
So, if you are in the area and can't make it further to a store with more, this HobbyTown USA certainly can give you some boardgame choices.
The Friday Grab Bag on CreativeMountainGames.com
Essentially, a clearinghouse for topics not covered
elsewhere or needing a particular focus.
elsewhere or needing a particular focus.
Please Like, Share, Plus, Tweet, Follow, and Comment!
Thursday, August 7, 2014
Throwback Thursday - Fact-Checking Fight Books
There is a very neat article over on tameshigiri.ca showing some of the research on a study that is "Fact-checking fight-books: comparing historic injury patterns to strikes in modern European sword arts." See more here.
Polearm Strike Locations
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!
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
Events & Play Wednesday - New Pathfinder Campaign
As luck would have it, I have been asked by Brent Cunningham of Wishing Tree Games to join in his irregularly scheduled Pathfinder campaign. Seems that we will be starting off in the city of Magnimar, though my character is originally from Riddleport. For Brent's game, I've opted to fashion a Dwarf Cleric, a follower of Torag, who has Earth and Artifice as Domains. I've gone with Heal and Survival as my main skills and have chosen the Self-Sufficient Feat to enhance them. My character will have just recently traveled by land to Magnimar by way of Roderic's Cove, down the Fogscar Mountains, to Sandpoint, then finally on to Magnimar.
I've also chosen to do something a bit unusual with this character, to make him a zealot in regard to historical knowledge, and be dead wrong. Knowing a bit about the ancients and Runestones (though not really any more than most laypersons), my character Thoril Sunderstone has taken what little he learned from his father in Riddleport regarding the great arch and the ancient inscriptions they left on it, tied it together with general knowledge of the seven Runestones, and reached the erroneous conclusion that an eighth Runestone existed that used Divine magic rather than Arcane magic. This is why he has followed a Divine path, picked his two Domains, and seeks more information. Despite his excess of Wisdom, which serves him well in most other circumstances, he has a HUGE blind spot when it comes to his outrageous Runestones arguments. No matter the facts, he cannot be convinced he is wrong. Any information Thoril gains during the course of his PC life regarding Runestones will be twisted to fit his crackpot theory. He will dismiss any information that does not fit his own conception of "history" and the "facts." It's likely to get him killed.
Oh, and I've told Brent my Dwarf will be repulsed by most things plant-related. He hates boat travel and forests. He fears wooden construction in the form of buildings or bridges, thinking them decidedly unsafe. He will wear only things made of metal or animal hides or wool, but not anything made from plants directly. He doesn't care for Druids, Elves, and especially not creatures like Ents. Now that I think about it, it probably isn't the crackpot theory that will kill him so much as his irrational disgust for anything plant-based that isn't meant to be food. I look forward to playing him.
I've also chosen to do something a bit unusual with this character, to make him a zealot in regard to historical knowledge, and be dead wrong. Knowing a bit about the ancients and Runestones (though not really any more than most laypersons), my character Thoril Sunderstone has taken what little he learned from his father in Riddleport regarding the great arch and the ancient inscriptions they left on it, tied it together with general knowledge of the seven Runestones, and reached the erroneous conclusion that an eighth Runestone existed that used Divine magic rather than Arcane magic. This is why he has followed a Divine path, picked his two Domains, and seeks more information. Despite his excess of Wisdom, which serves him well in most other circumstances, he has a HUGE blind spot when it comes to his outrageous Runestones arguments. No matter the facts, he cannot be convinced he is wrong. Any information Thoril gains during the course of his PC life regarding Runestones will be twisted to fit his crackpot theory. He will dismiss any information that does not fit his own conception of "history" and the "facts." It's likely to get him killed.
Oh, and I've told Brent my Dwarf will be repulsed by most things plant-related. He hates boat travel and forests. He fears wooden construction in the form of buildings or bridges, thinking them decidedly unsafe. He will wear only things made of metal or animal hides or wool, but not anything made from plants directly. He doesn't care for Druids, Elves, and especially not creatures like Ents. Now that I think about it, it probably isn't the crackpot theory that will kill him so much as his irrational disgust for anything plant-based that isn't meant to be food. I look forward to playing him.
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.
from those I have attended and games I have played.
Please Like, Share, Plus, Tweet, Follow, and Comment!
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
Tech Tuesday - Mug, Fridge, & Lynda's Notes
First up, on Tech Tuesday, is a low-tech device with Old School charm to warm you on a chilly morning. You can explore new possibilities in warm beverages with a "Dungeon Crawl Mug."
But perhaps you have other beverage needs and have need of a place to store them and keep them cold. Looks no further than the "Borg Cube Mini-Fridge."
But on a more serious note, or maybe not since this last one is all about the notes, Lynda.com has added a new way to take notes while watching their tutorial videos for their online courses that look most convenient. Read more here.
But perhaps you have other beverage needs and have need of a place to store them and keep them cold. Looks no further than the "Borg Cube Mini-Fridge."
But on a more serious note, or maybe not since this last one is all about the notes, Lynda.com has added a new way to take notes while watching their tutorial videos for their online courses that look most convenient. Read more here.
Tech Tuesday on CreativeMountainGames.com
News focused on Technology
as it might interest gamers.
as it might interest gamers.
Please Like, Share, Plus, Tweet, Follow, and Comment!
Monday, August 4, 2014
Media News Monday - Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) has Heart
It shouldn't come as any surprise that the movie news following the weekend was mostly about Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) and this posting will be no exception. The movie has a lot of heart and it is easy to see that in the film and elsewhere. One of the stories that has come to light is regarding one of the co-creators of Rocket Raccoon, his predicament, and what the film folk did to honor him. Read more here and here about how "Bill Mantlo, Co-Creator Of Rocket Raccoon, Gets A Private Viewing Of Guardians Of The Galaxy, Courtesy Of Marvel."
Media News Monday on CreativeMountainGames.com
News for Movies, Television, and more
of gamer-relevant Media.
of gamer-relevant Media.
Please Like, Share, Plus, Tweet, Follow, and Comment!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
