by pdzoch

I have a series of questions I am cycling through at the moment and will get back to the suggested questions by the end of the month. Keep suggestions coming.

BTW, I will have an announcement about the QOTD at the end of the month, but I will probably post it in another thread.

by provence

An item RPG Item: Sigil & Shadow: A Roleplaying Game of Urban Fantasy and Occult Horror has been added to the geeklist Solo RPGs On Your Table - October 2026

by pdzoch

QOTD OCT 23: How do you communicate danger to players without telling them what to do?

by pdzoch

How do you communicate danger to players without telling them what to do?

Context for this question is more for horror, OSR, survival, and exploration campaigns where interpreting danger is an important player skill. Say the characters are approaching something far more dangerous than they realize. How do you warn them fairly while preserving mystery and their freedom to make bad decisions? What clues have actually worked?

Do you have a question you want asked as QOTD? Post here!
And if you want to find an old QOTD: The big QOTD Summary and Subscription Thread Volume 3

by wysire

Revisiting this too (for the 20th time). This is the best geeklist on the 'Geek, bar none.

by zangster

imbw267 wrote:

Indie Night Market is on Saturday Dec 5 at 7PM

https://www.newmillindustries.com/ignm

Will there be more pictures or pricing information available ahead of PAX?

by Rachel Carpenter

Happy 43rd Friday of 2026, everyone!! And as always on Friday, here are the current Friday links: 2026 Friday on Friday: Play Friday EVERY Friday of 2026 and Friday on Friday, October 2026.

Today was one fiasco after another.

I managed to get the Tabletop Simulator for Fighting Shadows about 3/4 of the way done. Then I had to shutdown and run some errands. So, I made the call to upload it (but not make it public just yet) before shutting down. Coming back... Steam wouldn't launch... I got annoyed, kept clicking, annoyed my laptop, then had to reboot. 3 times.

I finally get Steam to launch... and then I'm finally able to complete the workshop module. I update the workshop module. Successfully. Then I go into my Workshop and try to upload photos, insert a better description (including the link to the WIP thread here on BGG)... the photos took. The description failed. Access denied. ?!?!? I try again. Nope. I sign out of Steam. Reboot. Relaunch Steam. Sign in. Try again. Nope. Access denied. ?!?!?

Okay... let's try something innocuous. I edit the title for Monk's Cat (I remove the "The"- it needs to go anyway). Nope. And now, Monk's Cat's TTS is all locked up and apparently hidden to boot. I want to scream. I really just want to scream.

I have the teaser trailer done for Fighting Shadows but I don't want to post it on YouTube and link it back here because it references the TTS that may or may not actually exist at this point. Arghhhhh!!!!!!
Anyway, that's been my day. I hope yours was better.

At least I got to visit my favorite tropical island...

Hi, Level 5!

Well phooey! I died in the (early) Yellow Phase.

Here's a closer look at today's island folly.

My final score was an absolutely amazing -59 points (Can you feel the sarcasm?) : 9 points from Fighting Cards, -5 points from Aging Cards, 0 points from lifepoints, 0 points for defeating neither pirate, and -63 points from Unbeaten Hazards.

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Weekly Updates:


Challenge Updates:

:d10-1: 2023 Extreme Numerology Challenge / 2024 Extreme Numerology Challenge / 2025 Extreme Numerology Challenge: Wrapping up. Microbadges for 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 will be awarded, please stay tuned! 2026 is live: 2026 Extreme Numerology Challenge
:d10-2: Fire in the Library- Fall 2026 Solo Challenge!: is Wrapped! Stay tuned for a Harvest-Winter 2026 Challenge!
:d10-3: 2025 Challenge: 25 un(der)played in 25: is Wrapped! If you spot errors or make updates, please geekmail me!
:d10-4: 2026 Challenge: 26 un(der)played in 26: is Active!
:d10-5: A special note on the Friday on Friday challenges: ALL owed microbadges should be system-awarded THIS YEAR. ALL microbadge reimbursements complete! Update: Stay tuned for progress on microbadges!



Designer's Corner:


Published Games:
:d10-1: Charge the Circle: Post-Contest (Revised Edition) Web-published to BGG. 2nd Edition & 2nd Edition (PNP) & 2nd Edition (Altar Decks ONLY!) coming to The Game Crafter in 2026! You can follow along with the ongoing graphic development here: A new edition coming in 2026!.
:d10-2:Eight Elephants: 2nd Edition now available on The Game Crafter! 2nd Edition, Print & Play also available on The Game Crafter! Original WIP thread: here!
:d10-3: Fireworks for the 4th: Semiquincentennial Edition: Now available on The Game Crafter! Update: There is now a Print & Play of the Semiquincentennial Edition! You can find it on The Game Crafter for just $1.99! Revised (Post Contest) Edition remains available here!.
:d10-4: Pumpkin Spice & Everything Nice: 2nd Edition now available on The Game Crafter! 2nd Edition, Print & Play also available on The Game Crafter! Now just $2.99! Original WIP thread: here!
:d10-5: The United Cards of America: Now available on The Game Crafter! Update: There is now a Print & Play Edition! And you can find it on The Game Crafter for just $1.99!
:d10-6: Lincoln's Cat: Now available on The Game Crafter! Print & Play edition also available on The Game Crafter! New Playthrough Video has been filmed and I'm up to editing! Expect the new video before the end of the month!
:d10-7: Liberty, DEATH, or TAXES: Now available on The Game Crafter! Update: There is also now a Print & Play! And you can find it on The Game Crafter for just $1.99!
:d10-8: Eighteen Eggs: BGG page is live! And ALL 2nd Edition files are now available!


Active Projects:
:d10-1: Finders Keepers: No new progress.
:d10-2: Bears love bows: Beary Best edition: Didn't make it to the main round of the 2027 Hippodice Competition, sooooo now the PNP and TTS are available here on BGG for continued playtesting, development, and pitching. Head on over to the new WIP thread and check out what's been happening behind the scenes!

:d10-3: Really Retail: No new progress.
:d10-4: Barricade Brigade: No new progress.
:d10-5: The Boxcats of Meowazon : No new progress.
:d10-6: Read the Runes: Check out the updated TTS! I need playtesters to help me continue refining this one. I like the current art direction, but this will need more if I decide to go The Game Crafter route... There's also the drift problem... As much as I hate to say it, this might have to stay a print-and-play for now...
:d10-7: 10 Minutes to Midnight: THIS WILL BE COMING TO THE GAME CRAFTER IN 2026! I'm still having a spacing issue with 1 of my 2 custom fonts... and I may well end up having to do the card text as images... Not ideal, but it will work. Note that the free pnp files have been pulled in preparation for this change!
:d10-8: Surfboard Stealin' Sea Otters: Contest complete! #2 Best Family Game and #8 Best Overall Game! Woot! Video still on the docket. This will be a Game Crafter release in 2026! Rules revisions continue! I need to rejig the setup graphics and work on the new Solo Scoring Chart. Probably going to keep pitching, but Game Crafter is happening so that I can guarantee the game gets out there 🦦. Note that the free pnp files have been pulled in preparation for this change!
:d10-9: Tricky Treats: Game considered complete and officially Ready for Pitching! Video needed...
:d10-1::d10-0: Squirrelly (formerly Woodland Warriors) : Contest complete! #3 for Best Art! 2 mini expansions available! Ready for pitching! Video still on the docket... *sigh*
:d10-1::d10-1: Composer's Cat: 2024 In-Hand Game Design Contest: 5th Best Multiplayer Game; 6th Best Innovative Mechanic; 7th Best Use of Theme; and 4th Best Low-Ink Printing! Composer's Cat didn't make the main round of the 2027 Hippodice Competition... soooo the rules, PNPs, and TTS are all publicly available once again for further playtesting, development, and pitching. I'm currently in the process of revising and streamlining the original game AND also continuing work on the new version that nixes the Music Stand. I'm not giving up on this kitty just yet!
:d10-1::d10-2: Librarian's Cat: Pages & Paws : 2025 In-Hand Game Design Contest: Currently being re-worked for publication with The Game Crafter! This kitty is back and better than ever and I can't wait to share it with all of you! Note that the free PNP files have been pulled in preparation for this change!
:d10-1::d10-3: Elements: Coming to The Game Crafter in late 2026! New cards, done! New rules posted to the WIP thread, take a look and let me know what you think! Just waiting 'til I've got more proofs ready to order...
:d10-1::d10-4: Knick Knacks: Shaker Showdown : Contest complete! #3 Best Solo Game, #3 Best 2 Player Game, and #4 Best Family Game! Not bad, not bad at all, especially since I fell woefully behind on the comments... I do plan on addressing all of the feedback. And I do want to continue to refine and improve the game. No progress this week.
:d10-1::d10-5: Critter Calls: Ready for pitching! I'm happy with the TTS and sell sheet, but do want a video. Not a high priority for pitching, but if I see any calls for party games or icebreaker games I will 100% submit it for consideration :geek_grin:.
:d10-1::d10-6: Unlucky Spirits, Revised Edition: Uncooperative Spirits campaign in-progress. Revised Edition formally entered in 2026 Two-Player Game Design Contest, which is now complete. No wins for Unlucky Spirits , but that's okay. I'm keeping on keeping on. And that's why I need you, players to help me get this game off the ground! The PNP files are serviceable. The TTS is functional and up-to-date. I just need some players to help me put the base game through its paces while I continue to write the campaign! Update: If I can get this game in better shape, I might submit it for the 2027 Cardboard Edison...
:d10-1::d10-7: Abydos: Contest complete, game did not place... I'm disappointed, but I'm still committed to getting this game out there. And, yes, it is coming to The Game Crafter in 2026. I've figured out a way around the drift issue that works well for Abydos. Work continues. It's been slow, but the game is making progress. I'm still re-doing the labyrinth graphics... gah!
:d10-1::d10-8: Nine Tails: A Solitaire Game: I'll be putting in for the BGG page soon! This one will be coming to The Game Crafter! Art for full color edition done! Art for coloring book version done! Still working on the print-and-play files, revised rules, and boxes! Deluxe PNP will also include the original color & coloring book versions! It's more work for me, but this way, folks can choose! I'm happy and I'm excited.
:d10-1::d10-9: Put a bow on it! The new lease on life continues! The game got way too complicated for Bad Comet's Cozy Contest... not sure where this one is going to end up, but I'm excited to see it through!
:d10-2::d10-0: Monk's Cat: Book of [Pawprints]: The third game in the Cat Companion Card Game series, sequel to Composer's Cat and Librarian's Cat. Contest now complete! I'm happy! #1 Best Graphic Design for Visually Impaired Players; #8 Best Use of Theme; & #7 Best Low-Ink Printing! This will be coming to The Game Crafter! Currently being reworked alongside Librarian's Cat. I'm so excited for these 2! Note that the free pnp files have been pulled in preparation for this change!
:d10-2::d10-1: Caturday: WIP thread is live! Game is officially entered in the 54-Card Game Design Contest and is components ready to boot! Rulebook and Color PNP available! TTS available too!

:d10-2::d10-2: Elements 2: Sequel to Elements, draws on the setting/visuals/narrative of Elements and builds on the gameplay of Pumpkin Spice & Everything Nice with an added rock-paper-scissors-like overlap mechanic. This is probably moving to the backburner...
:d10-2::d10-3: Mugs of Madness: is Contest Ready! PNP, Low-Ink PNP, and TTS available and frozen until the end of the 2026 Solitaire PNP Contest. If you like Elder Sign, please check out my cozy Arkham game! Revised Trailer (with sound effects) now available:
Youtube Video
Playthrough videos coming soon!
:d10-2::d10-4: Last Leaves: old name, new game. This is a cozy, cute, Game-Crafter-friendly solitaire matching game that builds on Eighteen Eggs. The original Last Leaves may still happen down the road, but it'll need a new name because the name fits this little game better :geek_grin:. BGG page approved! Expect more details... soon.
:d10-2::d10-5: Fighting Shadows: WIP posted! Rules and PNP available! TTS... coming soon? Teaser Trailer... done but waiting on the TTS. *sigh* Playthrough video coming soon.

Early Development:
:d10-1: The 7th Seal : No new progress.
:d10-2: Gator Glory! Simmering.
:d10-3: So, you want to be a mage... No new progress.
:d10-4: Barricade Brigade: At the postern gate: A smaller version of the original. Similar story, setting, and mechanics, but more compact. No new progress.
:d10-5: Cartographer's Cat: [Pawprint] marks the spot! : The next cat game 🐱. Stay tuned!

On Hold/Backburner:
:d10-1: Contagion and Calamity: The Philadelphia Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793: formerly Philly Fever 1793
:d10-2: Rolling Runes
:d10-3: Defend your Dreams: (formerly Dreamcatcher Duty)
:d10-4: Trick or Treat
:d10-5: Last Leaves Needs New Name!: This was going to be my entry in the 2026 Children and Family Game Design Contest (family category), but I'm putting this on the back burner instead to concentrate on getting my shop pages up-and-running over on The Game Crafter. Development will continue later this year and you can expect to see this game in the 2027 Children and Family Game Design Contest.
:d10-6: Unnamed design: Involves the Titanic and Jenny the ship cat...
:d10-7: Nine Nopes
:d10-8: Book it!
:d10-9: History Heist
:d10-1::d10-0: Lost in the Labyrinth
:d10-1::d10-1: Dragon's Draw
:d10-1::d10-2: Push to the Peak
:d10-1::d10-3: Cardshop Caretaker
:d10-1::d10-4: Water always wins
:d10-1::d10-5: Sniper, take the shot!
:d10-1::d10-6: Puppy Pile: (formerly Dogpile)
:d10-1::d10-7: Compound It!
:d10-1::d10-8: My Little Fish Tank
:d10-1::d10-9: Knick Knacks: Lovely Lamps : Sequel to Knick Knacks: Shaker Showdown
:d10-2::d10-0: Triskell (or maybe Triskellion): name not final
:d10-2::d10-1: Cursed Cards (Traditional Deck Game)
:d10-2::d10-2: War of the Wilds
:d10-2::d10-3: Scratch-off
:d10-2::d10-4: Reverse the curse!/Witch's Cat
:d10-2::d10-5: Snow Squall: In the vein of Eight Elephants and Eighteen Eggs, but a bit bigger, no timer, and more Game Crafter-friendly art. I may be shelving this idea. Last Leaves really accomplished what I wanted to do here and the theme/art fits better as well. That said, I may reuse the name for another project... Officially shelved for now.
:d10-2::d10-6: Unnamed Puzzle Game: Working name/code name is Threshold. multi-level campaign puzzle game in the vein of Abydos, Read the Runes, and Charge the Circle. Fuzzball-inspired. Officially moved to the backburner.
:d10-2::d10-7: Nine Lives: I haven't heard anything, so I'm assuming this is a no-go. Still, I might revisit this idea down the road... Moved to the backburner.
:d10-2::d10-8: Who's ready for the owlidays?: Not for the 54-Card Contest. Plans change. Moved to the backburner.
:d10-2::d10-9: I sits!: Didn't make the FFF Contest. Moved to the backburner.
:d10-3::d10-0: Rachel's Spider Solitaire Project Life happened... and I decided to focus on Mugs of Madness and Caturday for now. The project will happen, but not for the 2026 Solitaire PNP Contest... Again, this is a strange little idea that I hope gets interest. It's an experiment. 3 games under 1 umbrella. All are unique twists on classic spider solitaire. The 3 games are 1) Out of time! [mini cards, real-time, bomb defusing theme, mechanically and graphically the simplest of the 3 and the easiest/smallest/simplest pnp build], 2) Vines of Nineveh [poker-sized cards, a bit more complex, more emphasis on art, the pretty one], and 3) Fate's Cat: Tangled Threads [poker-size cards, more complex gameplay, fun story/theme. This is a ridiculous and ambitious project and I don't know what the reception is going to be. Maybe 1 game takes off, maybe all 3 do. Maybe none of them find an audience or maybe this time next year all 3 are available on The Game Crafter. I just don't know. There's something here and I'm going to play with it. Components are done for Out of time!, graphics are about a 1/3 of the way there for Vines of Nineveh, Fate's Cat has nothing but a logo and some notes right now...
:d10-3::d10-1: A Walk on the Beach: Solo-only, play-through-the-deck set collection game.


Professional Projects:
:d10-1: Explosion in the Laboratory/Fire in the Library (2nd edition): Weird Giraffe Games: Campaign wrapped! Campaign fulfilled! Campaign complete!
:d10-2: Dreams of Yesterday: Weird Giraffe Games: Campaign wrapped! Campaign fulfilled! Campaign complete!
:d10-3: In the Shadows: Resistance in France 1943 - 1944: GMT Games: Complete! I still haven't managed to get this back to my table. Gah! In the meantime... see A Solo Sunday Salute - First Impressions - In the Shadows for a preview.
:d10-4: Crumbs!: The Sandwich Filler Game: Minerva Tabletop Games: Initial feedback in. First impressions and some extra crumbs: Solo Sundays- First Impressions: Crumbs!: The Sandwich Filler Game and Solo Saturdays - Continuing to make Crumbs. More formal review posted: Rachel Reviews It- Crumbs!: The Sandwich Filler Game. Campaign funded! Campaign ongoing. Fingers-crossed that Minerva Tabletop Games comes through... it looks like this is finally in the process of fulfilling...
:d10-5: Crystallo expansions and miniature edition: Light Heart Games: Initial feedback in. Previews and additional adventures shared: A crystal cavern at the garage aka mini Crystallo is here!, First Impressions: Crystallo: Untold Fortune, Solo Saturdays- First Impressions: Crystallo: Den of Dragons, and Solo Stories- Playing with all of Crystallo. More formal review posted: Rachel Reviews It- Crystallo: Untold Fortune and Crystallo: Den of Dragons. Campaign funded! Campaign ongoing... AND there's GOOD NEWS: Crystallo lives!- Crystallo's new Gamefound
Last month's photo shoot will feature heavily in a forthcoming comparison post (new vs old editions). I'm so happy that Gabe stepped in and now Liberty's awesome game is part of the Best With 1 Games family!
:d10-6: Lost Adventures: Belltower Games: First Impressions and continuing adventures shared: Two-Player Thursdays- First Impressions: Lost Adventures, Two-Player Tuesdays- Getting Lost with Mom, and Solo Stories - Lost Adventures. More formal review posted: Rachel Reviews It: Lost Adventures. Campaign wrapped! Campaign fulfilled. Campaign complete.
:d10-7: Quirky Bird Games: The zine campaign funded! That's a wrap! Congrats Beth and Angel! Fulfillment ongoing. Keep up the great work!

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Next up: Hopefully Steam resolves itself... Then videos, updates, logs, session reports, and Snooker and Friday-related stuff. Lots to do. (And the job hunt continues too...)

Happy Friday and happy playing!
-Rachel

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