by Rachel

Happy 7th 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, February 2026.

Hello, Level 4!

Whoops.

That's a Yellow Phase Loss...

My final score was -30 pts: 24 points from Fighting Cards, -15 points from Aging Cards, 0 points from lifepoints, 0 points for defeating neither pirate, and -39 points from Unbeaten Hazards. Next week, I'll be staying on Level 4. Which is fine. Plenty of year left to hit Level 5 🏝️.

---------------------------

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- Summer/Fall 2023 Solo Challenge- Extended!!: Done! Stay tuned for a new series of mini challenges that include some more Weird Giraffe-themed fan promos. COMING THIS SUMMER! (2026)
: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:
:d10-1: The 7th Seal : No new progress.
:d10-2: Finders Keepers: No new progress.
:d10-3: Charge the Circle: Ready for Pitching! & Currently re-working for self-publication via The Game Crafter in early 2026! Current timeline: I want this to be for sale by March 1st! Here's the sitch: the game is fine to pitch in its current form BUT needs quite a bit of work if I'm going to put this up on The Game Crafter and get the game noticed that way. The current art.. probably isn't enough to catch attention. I've got ideas... but I'm also open to ideas, so, if you've got anything you'd like to share or anything you'd like to see, please let me know! You can follow along with the ongoing graphic development and vote for your favorite versions here: A new edition coming in 2026!. Yes, there are currently some comments/feedback waiting for me that I haven't addressed. I will get there! Promise! I'm just juggling a lot of irons right now.
:d10-4: Bears love Bows: Merry Trashmas edition: Now pitching! Pitch still still ongoing??? No reply to my follow-up... Still working on a pitch video because at this point, it can't hurt... and I'm crap with video so the going is SLOW Also, Bow Tokens are now a thing!
:d10-5: Really Retail: No new progress.
:d10-6: Barricade Brigade: Price crunching, re-doing art, and maybe coming to The Game Crafter...
:d10-7: The Boxcats of Meowazon : No new progress.
:d10-8: Contagion and Calamity: The Philadelphia Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793: formerly Philly Fever 1793: No new progress.
:d10-9: Read the Runes: Check out the updated TTS!
:d10-1::d10-0: 10 Minutes to Midnight: I've still got feedback to address over in the WIP thread... *sigh* This has been lower on my priority list of late... that said, THIS WILL BE COMING TO THE GAME CRAFTER! Stay tuned!
:d10-1::d10-1: Eight Elephants: Ready for pitching! Coming to The Game Crafter in 2026! Woot!
:d10-1::d10-2: Surfboard Stealin' Sea Otters: Officially my entry in this year's 54-Card Contest! Contest complete! #2 Best Family Game and #8 Best Overall Game! Woot! Post-contest: expect some minor revisions in the next month or so, then I plan on pitching the otters and seeing if I can catch some waves...
:d10-1::d10-3: Rolling Runes Rules/components still in-progress. Game delayed to 2026 Roll and Write Contest.
:d10-1::d10-4: Tricky Treats: Video still in-progress. Game now considered complete and officially Ready for Pitching!
:d10-1::d10-5: Defend your Dreams: (formerly Dreamcatcher Duty): No new progress.
:d10-1::d10-6: Squirrelly (formerly Woodland Warriors) : Contest complete! #3 for Best Art! 2 mini expansions available! Ready for pitching!
:d10-1::d10-7: Trick or Treat : No new progress.
:d10-1::d10-8: Last Leaves : No new progress. Planning on entering this is the 2026 Children and Family Game Design Contest- family category.
:d10-1::d10-9: Fireworks for the Fourth: Ready for pitching! See :d10-5::d10-9: below!
:d10-2::d10-0: 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! Major revision complete, new video, AND officially entered in the 2026 Cardboard Edison! Print & Play Assembly Guide now available!
:d10-2::d10-1: Unnamed design: Involves the Titanic and Jenny the ship cat... No new progress.
:d10-2::d10-2: Nine Nopes: No new progress.
:d10-2::d10-3: Book it!: No new progress.
:d10-2::d10-4: Librarian's Cat: formerly Palm Library. formerly Littlest Library. 2025 In-Hand Game Design Contest: contest is complete... but I've got plenty of unfinished business to see to and I intend to see it all through! Please stay tuned! Sell sheet available.
:d10-2::d10-5: Elements: Ready for pitching! AND coming to The Game Crafter in 2026! Woot!
:d10-2::d10-6: 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. There's a decent little game here and it's worth pursuing. Still working on additional revisions, including some interesting new twists to the gameplay.
:d10-2::d10-7: History Heist: On hold.
:d10-2::d10-8: Lost in the Labyrinth. No new progress.
:d10-2::d10-9: Critter Calls: Ready for pitching! And TTS is live! Video still in-progress!
:d10-3::d10-0: Dragon's Draw: No new progress.
:d10-3::d10-1: Push to the Peak: No new progress.
:d10-3::d10-2: Cardshop Caretaker: No new progress.
:d10-3::d10-3: Unlucky Spirits, Revised Edition: Uncooperative Spirits campaign in-progress. Revised Edition formally entered in 2026 Two-Player Game Design Contest! Come on folks, take a look and help me get this game off the ground!
:d10-3::d10-4: Water always wins: Still ON HOLD.
:d10-3::d10-5: Sniper, take the shot!: No new progress.
:d10-3::d10-6: 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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Stay tuned!
:d10-3::d10-7: Nine Tails: Ready for pitching! And this is another game that might be a good fit for The Game Crafter...
:d10-3::d10-8: Puppy Pile: (formerly Dogpile). No new progress.
:d10-3::d10-9: Compound It!: No new progress.
:d10-4::d10-0: My Little Fish Tank: No new progress.
:d10-4::d10-1: Knick Knacks: Lovely Lamps : Sequel to Knick Knacks: Shaker Showdown. No new progress.
:d10-4::d10-2: Put a bow on it! No new progress.
:d10-4::d10-3: Gator Glory! No new progress.
:d10-4::d10-4: Eighteen Eggs: Contest complete, game did not place. *sigh*. Rain, Rain Mini Expansion and Player Aids available.
:d10-4::d10-5: Triskell (or maybe Triskellion): name not final: No new progress.
:d10-4::d10-6: Snow Squall: See Eight Elephants above.
:d10-4::d10-7: So, you want to be a mage...: No new progress.
:d10-4::d10-8: Cursed Cards: No new progress. Delayed until the 2026 contest. Again, I like this little game, but I need to concentrate my efforts elsewhere.
:d10-4::d10-9: Pumpkin Spice & Everything Nice: My entry in Button Shy's 18-Card Cozy Contest! Finalists announced- PS&EN didn't make the cut. *sigh* No Button Shy for me... yet. Current rules, components, sell sheet, and pitch video still available while the real work begins. I'm going to yank all references to the Button Shy Bed & Breakfast, fine-tune the rules and graphics, re-do the logo, and then... this game is coming to The Game Crafter!
:d10-5::d10-0: Monk's Cat: The Book of [Pawprints]: The third game in the Cat Companion Card Game series, sequel to Composer's Cat and Librarian's Cat. My entry in the 2026 In-Hand Game Design Contest! V3 Print & Play now available! Logo and art assets complete! Workshop Assembly Guide available at the end of V3 rulebook. TTS available and updated!

Outline

Illuminated
:d10-5::d10-1: War of the Wilds: No new progress.
:d10-5::d10-2: Unnamed Puzzle Game: multi-level campaign puzzle game in the vein of Abydos, Read the Runes, and Charge the Circle. Fuzzball-inspired. No new progress.
:d10-5::d10-3: Nine Lives: Pitch in Open Owl's court now. Maybe I'll hear something soon... even if it's a no.
:d10-5::d10-4: Who's ready for the owlidays?: No new progress.
:d10-5::d10-5: Scratch-off: No new progress.
:d10-5::d10-6: The United Cards of America (America 250 Edition): Art progressing. Playtesting in-progress.

State Card

Action Card
:d10-5::d10-7: Lincoln's Cat (America 250 Edition): Playtesting in-progress. Art on hold.
:d10-5::d10-8: Liberty, Death, or Taxes (America 250 Editon): General idea exists. Working on art while playtesting.
:d10-5::d10-9: Fireworks for the 4th: Semiquincentennial Edition: Game assets, art, and rules refinements in-progress.


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!.
: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!
---------------------------------------

I blew half the day on Mr. Beast's Puzzle Hunt. I thought I'd found a clever way to play with Mike Selinker's evil crossword puzzle... BUT... this is not a QR Code. And frankly, I can't take much more of SlackBot/BeastBot and re-watching YouTube videos. My head hurts.

I spent the other half of the day on Monk's Cat and I'm much happier with my progress there. The updated rulebook fixes and clarifies things. The new Cat Card is cute, solves a problem, and enables a fun twist. New rulebook, new PNP, new Low-Ink PNP. And the TTS is even updated! :geek_grin: That's significant progress and I'm happy with it.

Weekend Plans: More contest playtesting (my mandatory feedback for the In-Hand Contest may be done, but I want to get in some more playtesting) and I still have playtesting to do for the 2-Player Contest, but I can push that a bit. I do need to get the Uncooperative Spirits campaign for [i[Unlucky Spirits, Revised Edition together though. I've got ideas, a loose framework, plenty of background, and Cape Cozy is becoming quite a setting. But I need to start putting everything together. VGG Geek of the Week still needs handling. I've got to see a postmaster about a castle because certain quotes are quite ridiculous. Mom's amazingly not annoyed by the fact that Elder Sign: Omens of the Pharaoh is still on the kitchen table while Under Falling Skies sits on the chair (I'm counting my blessings, but do want both played over the weekend). And I still need to check my WIPs, check in on the 1PG card exchange, get caught up here on BGG, and so long as I fight the pharaoh, Mythic Mondays will be back on track :geek_grin:.

I'm juggling a lot, and probably will skip the 9-Card Contest this year. Getting my existing games homes that give me a return on investment is more important. The Game Crafter, LLC IS happening. But I need all of my little duckies in a row to debut with a bang. At least, that's the plan :geek_grin:.

Game Over On borrowed time...

Happy Friday and happy playing!
-Rachel

Thank you for reading my blog. If you liked it; then please click the green thumb [microbadge=23724] at the top of the page. If you really liked it; then please subscribe.

by Lux_Bux

SeaofStars wrote:

WoD, especially the old one, was always teetering on self-parody. Vampire players did not help with this perception.

Why, whatever do you mean?

by qwheeler

agguru wrote:

One of the biggest pains in the math trade is going through and creating your wantlist... so.many.clicks. I thought I would share my approach to make this easier. First I viewed the items I have listed in the trade

then I assigned a value to each of my items (I just used a dollar value to make it easy) This puts them all in order when you edit your want list. Highest value items will show up on the left and lower value on the right.
Then I went to this thread. https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/497378/article/15759929#157... and about halfway down is a post by David Gregg

I followed the instructions there. Once done when I am on the want list I can click the bookmark I created. When the JS runs I can click one box on the want list then click another and it will fill in all the boxes in between. So if have something I'd be willing to trade a 20 dollar game for I can quickly select it and everything below it.
Hope this helps someone, I know it helped me.

If you assign dollar values to your own items, you can also just assign values to your wanted items. Then the OLWLG will auto-check your entire grid to match those values in one click using the "How to assign values and auto-check boxes" section at the top of the grid page.

by klawton

Related Item: Alice is Missing: Silent Falls

I don't suppose you have the game itself that you could bring? I'd like to try to coordinate a game.

by sdonohue

An item RPG Item: The Big Adventure has been added to the geeklist Magical Kitties PBF Characters

by Forbidding

The PlayStation State of Play is an online presentation produced by Sony to showcase upcoming games on Sony hardware.

[hr]

Kena: Scars of Kosmora
Youtube Video

Ghost of Yōtei Legends
Youtube Video

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Youtube Video

4:Loop
Youtube Video

Pragmata
Youtube Video

Resident Evil Requiem
Youtube Video

Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered
Youtube Video

Dead or Alive 6 Last Round
Youtube Video

Brigandine: Abyss
Youtube Video

Control Resonant
Youtube Video

Crimson Moon
Youtube Video

Beast of Reincarnation
Youtube Video

Rayman: 30th Anniversary Edition
Youtube Video

Neva
Youtube Video

Yakoh Shinobi Ops
Youtube Video

Project Windless
Youtube Video

Star Wars: Galactic Racer
Youtube Video

007 First Light
Youtube Video

Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol.2
Youtube Video

Castlevania: Belmont‘s Curse
Youtube Video

Silent Hill: Townfall
Youtube Video

Rev. Noir
Youtube Video

Untitled John Wick Game
Youtube Video

Marathon (2026)
Youtube Video

Saros
Youtube Video

Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls
Youtube Video

God of War Trilogy Remake
Youtube Video

God of War Sons of Sparta
Youtube Video

by SeaofStars

While you can manage most tones with most games, it becomes more challenging with some. It is easier to make people afraid for the characters when their characters are fragile (see Call of Cthulhu or GURPS). It is much more challenging in games with high power levels (D&D was mentioned, superheroes are another).

I agree with Isaac that the WoD, especially the old one, was always teetering on self-parody. Vampire players did not help with this perception (no insult intended to any WoD players here of course).

by BardicSkaven

GrimoireOfJank wrote:

I feel like, to me, "dark" tones often become hilarious. Yes, Call of Cthulhu and such can be effective with horror and I love it dearly, I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about the absurdity of WoD, where it is so overly dark and oppressive and edgy that it just feels silly to me. Horror and Comedy, especially, are quite tied together in my mind.

I do think that most systems can, possibly, support whatever tone you're going for. Sometimes tweaks have to be made or limits set in place (no magic items, disallowing specific classes/subclasses/ancestries, giving a player a bonus to hp or some crazy magic items, etc). Of course systems made with something in mind will usually be better for that one thing and honestly there are so many good systems for whatever tone and world you want- so I don't usually think about it much.

I also agree with what Whymme said, basically.

God do I agree that wod tries way too hard to be edgy it borders on pathetic

by agguru

One of the biggest pains in the math trade is going through and creating your wantlist... so.many.clicks. I thought I would share my approach to make this easier. First I viewed the items I have listed in the trade then I assigned a value to each of my items (I just used a dollar value to make it easy) This puts them all in order when you edit your want list. Highest value items will show up on the left and lower value on the right.
Then I went to this thread. https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/497378/article/15759929#157... and about halfway down is a post by David Gregg

I followed the instructions there. Once done when I am on the want list I can click the bookmark I created. When the JS runs I can click one box on the want list then click another and it will fill in all the boxes in between. So if have something I'd be willing to trade a 20 dollar game for I can quickly select it and everything below it.
Hope this helps someone, I know it helped me.

by agramore

Not one I recognize, but I don't delve much in that realm. The one thing that strikes me, though, is it doesn't look like GW's style these days. I mean, it seems kind of simple and not spiky or slender or dynamic like a lot of their minis these days, you know? Of course, I could be wrong.

by SoundMerc

I will be muleing for AngryChef and luminous48

by Jlerpy

latindog wrote:

I'm not much of a videogamer but I have fond memories of playing Gauntlet at the arcade back in the day. I suppose they were inspired to create that game from D&D so we could reengineer right back to D&D but the GM would have to occasionally warn the players that "Wizard needs food, badly!" whenever their hit points run low.

*Inserts coins into the GM*