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Crawl Out Through the Fallout, Part 1 (S5E8)
Posted: Sat, 06 Dec 06:03:14
Posted: Sat, 06 Dec 06:03:14
A new episode has been added to the database:
Crawl Out Through the Fallout, Part 1 (S5E8)
Common Grounds: comedy and tragedy well brewed
Posted: Sat, 06 Dec 05:04:58
But Common Grounds is worth discovering.
Spoilers
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Spoilers
Spoilers
Spoilers
Spoilers
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Spoilers
The titular Common Grounds is a chain of doughnut shops that serve as a neutral ground for superheroes and supervillains, where they can meet and talk without violence. It’s an anthology, tiny slices of life, but forming an overall arc that we only see by the end.
More than anything else, Common Grounds reads like a love letter to Astro City. And, coming from me, that is a huge compliment. Superheroes as people is hardly new. That was the point of the Fantastic Four and an idea that Spider-Man elevated to darn near perfection. But Common Grounds does it really well.
Like Astro City, Common Grounds is a world of original characters that are built off of archetypes to the degree that you intuitively understand who they are. And you can picture the characters being able to hold down their own series.
While the core concept lends itself to comedy, and there is comedy to be sure, there is also drama and even tragedy. Sometimes in the same story. A reunion of goofy giant monsters from the 1950s has a total mood shift when they hear about a child’s death from domestic violence. ‘Who is the real monster?’ works when it’s done well.
And I don’t think that’s one of the stronger stories.
Little details and callbacks add up as the stories go on, culminating in the origin of the Common Grounds itself, rooted in tragedy and hope.
I wonder what an ongoing Common Grounds series could have been like. There was the potential for so many more stories. However, getting even these six issues and their cohesive vision is a delight.
Posted: Sat, 06 Dec 05:04:58
by Lowell Kempf
I stumbled upon Common Grounds by Troy Hickman over twenty years after it came out. A six-issue limited series, it is either obscure or I’m just an uncultured cad for having never heard of it.But Common Grounds is worth discovering.
Spoilers
Spoilers
Spoilers
Spoilers
Spoilers
Spoilers
Spoilers
Spoilers
The titular Common Grounds is a chain of doughnut shops that serve as a neutral ground for superheroes and supervillains, where they can meet and talk without violence. It’s an anthology, tiny slices of life, but forming an overall arc that we only see by the end.
More than anything else, Common Grounds reads like a love letter to Astro City. And, coming from me, that is a huge compliment. Superheroes as people is hardly new. That was the point of the Fantastic Four and an idea that Spider-Man elevated to darn near perfection. But Common Grounds does it really well.
Like Astro City, Common Grounds is a world of original characters that are built off of archetypes to the degree that you intuitively understand who they are. And you can picture the characters being able to hold down their own series.
While the core concept lends itself to comedy, and there is comedy to be sure, there is also drama and even tragedy. Sometimes in the same story. A reunion of goofy giant monsters from the 1950s has a total mood shift when they hear about a child’s death from domestic violence. ‘Who is the real monster?’ works when it’s done well.
And I don’t think that’s one of the stronger stories.
Little details and callbacks add up as the stories go on, culminating in the origin of the Common Grounds itself, rooted in tragedy and hope.
I wonder what an ongoing Common Grounds series could have been like. There was the potential for so many more stories. However, getting even these six issues and their cohesive vision is a delight.
Friday on Friday- December begins!
Posted: Sat, 06 Dec 02:28:17
Because yes, it's Friday and no matter what, that means Friday here on Herald's Call :D.
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Hello again, Level 5! My weekly nemesis :D.
/pic9268281.jpg)
I made it to the first pirate...
/pic9268279.jpg)
Not a bad start!
/pic9268278.jpg)
Wahoo! I vanquished the scurvy dogs :arrrh:!
/pic9268276.jpg)
Then moved on to the 2nd pirate battle...
/pic9268275.jpg)
A decent start, but I took things slow so as to not repeat last week's m8stakes.
/pic9268272.jpg)
Victory!!!! We have victory!!!!
/pic9268271.jpg)
And with 6 lifepoints leftover to boot!
My final score was 82 pts: 42 points from Fighting Cards, -5 points from Aging Cards, 30 points from lifepoints, 30 points for defeating both pirates, and -15 points from Unbeaten Hazards.
---------------------------
Weekly Updates:
Challenge Updates:
:d10-1: 2023 Extreme Numerology Challenge / 2024 Extreme Numerology Challenge : Wrapping up. Microbadges for 2022, 2023, and 2024 will be awarded, please stay tuned! 2025 is live: 2025 Extreme Numerology Challenge
:d10-2: 2023 Challenge: 23 unplayed in 23: Done.
:d10-3: 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.
:d10-4: 2024 Challenge: 24 unplayed in 24: is Wrapped! If you spot errors or make updates, please geekmail me.
:d10-5: 2025 Challenge: 25 un(der)played in 25: Active
:d10-5: A special note on the Friday on Friday challenges: ALL owed microbadges should be system-awarded soon-ish. ALL microbadge reimbursements complete! Update: Stay tuned for progress on microbadges!
Designer's Corner:
:d10-1: The 7th Seal : A bit of world-building and connecting on to Charge the Circle, Read the Runes, and 10 Minutes to Midnight :whistle:...
: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! 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!
:d10-4: Bears love Bows: Merry Trashmas edition: Now pitching! Pitch still still ongoing? maybe no news is good news??? STILL STRESSING! Still working on a pitch video because at this point, it can't hurt...
:d10-5: Really Retail: No new progress.
:d10-6: Barricade Brigade: Playing catch-up! Please stay tuned!
: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: Work on Inscriptions and Keystone Borders continues. 2.0 working rules and PNP files available. TTS is live! Sell sheet posted! Please stay tuned to Friday updates and the WIP thread for continuing developments :D.
: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 due to active contests...
:d10-1::d10-1: Eight Elephants: Ready for pitching! As much as I'd like this game to join Charge the Circle on The Game Crafter... the art pretty much disqualifies it. That said, I am looking into a re-skin/re-theme of either this or Eighteen Eggs. This may be an opportunity for Snow Storm/Snow Squall to evolve... Thoughts?
:d10-1::d10-2: Surfboard Stealin' Sea Otters: Officially my entry in this year's 54-Card Contest! Contest complete! #2 Best FamilyGameand #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 Formerly Color(a)Cross and Number Lock. Formerly Roll the Runes. Rules/components still in-progress. Game delayed to 2026 Roll and Write Contest.
:d10-1::d10-4: Tricky Treats: Rules, Scorepad, Solo Mode Player Aid, and Sell Sheet all new/updated! PNP remains the same! TTS unchanged. 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 : Didn't get to work on the pinecone this week...
:d10-1::d10-9: Fireworks for the Fourth: Ready for pitching! And still crunching the numbers/weighing my options
:d10-2::d10-0: Composer's Cat: New Year's Eve Concert: Lyricist reborn! 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 in-progress!
: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! Still crunching the numbers/weighing my options
: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 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: formerly Lucky 13: 2025 2-Player Print and Play Game Design Contest now complete. Game did not place. That said, I'm not giving up. New call for playtesters thread posted. New photos. Sizzle reel and ahort pitch video in-progress. Solo and Three-Player modes available! PNP available! TTS available! Come on folks, help me make this ouija-meets-jumanji game shine!
: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. Crunching the numbers and weighing my options, potentially coming to The Game Crafter...
: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*. I'm still planning on releasing the Rain, Rain Mini Expansion and Player Aids this coming week! I mean it this time! Really! :p
: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! Contest-Ready & Submitted! Rules, components, sell sheet, and pitch video available!
: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 forthcoming entry in the 2026 In-Hand Game Design Contest! Exciting! Some more progress this past week, but I really need to get the card functions sorted and the art started... Needs a WIP, rules, and components ready by January 1st.
:d10-5::d10-1: War of the Wilds : NEW : This is what happens when I revisit Barricade Brigade's files while thinking about Squirrelly :p. Looks like Squirrelly's original name of Woodland Warriors might be making a bit of a comeback in the language for this game. A potential entry in the 2026 Wargame Contest...
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...
: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... Deep Water Games/Friendly Skeleton is a right mess! I feel so bad for Liberty and hope that everything works out in the end. Crystallo is still one of my favorite games and the expansions are great! I just wish that things had worked out differently and I hope that everyone gets their games and expansions in the end. Such a shame.
: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!
---------------------------------------
On my to-do for the weekend: Check in on all of my active WIPs to address feedback, get the new rulebook and mini expansion up for Eighteen Eggs, get all of my Christmas cards written out, continue working on videos, and continue to experiment/crunch numbers on The Game Crafter. I'm aware that they'll be raising prices in January, but I want to get as close as I can to actual numbers.
On The Game Crafter front, I've decided to start out selling my games without boxes. Instead printable tuckboxes will be made available for free here on BGG (via individual game's WIP threads or potentially their BGG pages...). Yes, players will have to print and fold their own boxes and not everyone is going to want to do this, but the savings! for me and for players makes this (in my current thinking) the best way forward. This change allows me to focus on making the games and their components the best quality that I can while keeping costs down. I'd rather spend $4 for a rulebook than $6 for a tuckbox. Other folks might think differently, and that's fine! I'd love to hear your thoughts. Again, at this stage, nothing is set in stone :D.
And that brings me full circle to my very first "complete" game design: Charge the Circle. This is very likely to be my first game to make the jump to The Game Crafter. Here's my thinking:
1. The dice make the pnp a challenge for potential players. You need 46 dice for the full 2-player game!
2. 18 cards works out for printing BUT I should probably redo the graphics if I'm asking people to pay for the game. This also gives me the chance to make the game prettier/more eye-catching without breaking anyone's budgets.
3. 2 draw bags... could be included or could be supplied by the player... this gives me some extra wiggle room.
4. I want to do/keep the 2 custom double-sided position markers (tokens).
5. The 3 double-sided block tokens should also get a re-design. If I'm paying for chipboard tokens and asking my potential players to pay for them too, then they need to be worthwhile.
6. The game's rulebook needs a full overhaul and face-lift if I'm going to be serious about this. There's no discount for black and white printing. If I'm paying for a rulebook it needs to be both pretty and functional.
In other words, I do think Charge the Circle is the "right" game for me to start out on The Game Crafter, but I've got a lot of work to do before I hit "publish" :D.
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.
Posted: Sat, 06 Dec 02:28:17
by Rachel
Happy 49th Friday of 2025, everyone!! And as always on Friday, here are the current Friday links: 2025 Friday on Friday: Play Friday EVERY Friday of 2025 and Friday on Friday, December 2025.Because yes, it's Friday and no matter what, that means Friday here on Herald's Call :D.
Hello again, Level 5! My weekly nemesis :D.
I made it to the first pirate...
Not a bad start!
Wahoo! I vanquished the scurvy dogs :arrrh:!
Then moved on to the 2nd pirate battle...
A decent start, but I took things slow so as to not repeat last week's m8stakes.
Victory!!!! We have victory!!!!
And with 6 lifepoints leftover to boot!
My final score was 82 pts: 42 points from Fighting Cards, -5 points from Aging Cards, 30 points from lifepoints, 30 points for defeating both pirates, and -15 points from Unbeaten Hazards.
---------------------------
Weekly Updates:
Challenge Updates:
:d10-1: 2023 Extreme Numerology Challenge / 2024 Extreme Numerology Challenge : Wrapping up. Microbadges for 2022, 2023, and 2024 will be awarded, please stay tuned! 2025 is live: 2025 Extreme Numerology Challenge
:d10-2: 2023 Challenge: 23 unplayed in 23: Done.
:d10-3: 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.
:d10-4: 2024 Challenge: 24 unplayed in 24: is Wrapped! If you spot errors or make updates, please geekmail me.
:d10-5: 2025 Challenge: 25 un(der)played in 25: Active
:d10-5: A special note on the Friday on Friday challenges: ALL owed microbadges should be system-awarded soon-ish. ALL microbadge reimbursements complete! Update: Stay tuned for progress on microbadges!
Designer's Corner:
:d10-1: The 7th Seal : A bit of world-building and connecting on to Charge the Circle, Read the Runes, and 10 Minutes to Midnight :whistle:...
: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! 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!
:d10-4: Bears love Bows: Merry Trashmas edition: Now pitching! Pitch still still ongoing? maybe no news is good news??? STILL STRESSING! Still working on a pitch video because at this point, it can't hurt...
:d10-5: Really Retail: No new progress.
:d10-6: Barricade Brigade: Playing catch-up! Please stay tuned!
: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: Work on Inscriptions and Keystone Borders continues. 2.0 working rules and PNP files available. TTS is live! Sell sheet posted! Please stay tuned to Friday updates and the WIP thread for continuing developments :D.
: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 due to active contests...
:d10-1::d10-1: Eight Elephants: Ready for pitching! As much as I'd like this game to join Charge the Circle on The Game Crafter... the art pretty much disqualifies it. That said, I am looking into a re-skin/re-theme of either this or Eighteen Eggs. This may be an opportunity for Snow Storm/Snow Squall to evolve... Thoughts?
:d10-1::d10-2: Surfboard Stealin' Sea Otters: Officially my entry in this year's 54-Card Contest! Contest complete! #2 Best FamilyGameand #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 Formerly Color(a)Cross and Number Lock. Formerly Roll the Runes. Rules/components still in-progress. Game delayed to 2026 Roll and Write Contest.
:d10-1::d10-4: Tricky Treats: Rules, Scorepad, Solo Mode Player Aid, and Sell Sheet all new/updated! PNP remains the same! TTS unchanged. 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 : Didn't get to work on the pinecone this week...
:d10-1::d10-9: Fireworks for the Fourth: Ready for pitching! And still crunching the numbers/weighing my options
:d10-2::d10-0: Composer's Cat: New Year's Eve Concert: Lyricist reborn! 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 in-progress!
: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! Still crunching the numbers/weighing my options
: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 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: formerly Lucky 13: 2025 2-Player Print and Play Game Design Contest now complete. Game did not place. That said, I'm not giving up. New call for playtesters thread posted. New photos. Sizzle reel and ahort pitch video in-progress. Solo and Three-Player modes available! PNP available! TTS available! Come on folks, help me make this ouija-meets-jumanji game shine!
: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. Crunching the numbers and weighing my options, potentially coming to The Game Crafter...
: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*. I'm still planning on releasing the Rain, Rain Mini Expansion and Player Aids this coming week! I mean it this time! Really! :p
: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! Contest-Ready & Submitted! Rules, components, sell sheet, and pitch video available!
: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 forthcoming entry in the 2026 In-Hand Game Design Contest! Exciting! Some more progress this past week, but I really need to get the card functions sorted and the art started... Needs a WIP, rules, and components ready by January 1st.
:d10-5::d10-1: War of the Wilds : NEW : This is what happens when I revisit Barricade Brigade's files while thinking about Squirrelly :p. Looks like Squirrelly's original name of Woodland Warriors might be making a bit of a comeback in the language for this game. A potential entry in the 2026 Wargame Contest...
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...
: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... Deep Water Games/Friendly Skeleton is a right mess! I feel so bad for Liberty and hope that everything works out in the end. Crystallo is still one of my favorite games and the expansions are great! I just wish that things had worked out differently and I hope that everyone gets their games and expansions in the end. Such a shame.
: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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On my to-do for the weekend: Check in on all of my active WIPs to address feedback, get the new rulebook and mini expansion up for Eighteen Eggs, get all of my Christmas cards written out, continue working on videos, and continue to experiment/crunch numbers on The Game Crafter. I'm aware that they'll be raising prices in January, but I want to get as close as I can to actual numbers.
On The Game Crafter front, I've decided to start out selling my games without boxes. Instead printable tuckboxes will be made available for free here on BGG (via individual game's WIP threads or potentially their BGG pages...). Yes, players will have to print and fold their own boxes and not everyone is going to want to do this, but the savings! for me and for players makes this (in my current thinking) the best way forward. This change allows me to focus on making the games and their components the best quality that I can while keeping costs down. I'd rather spend $4 for a rulebook than $6 for a tuckbox. Other folks might think differently, and that's fine! I'd love to hear your thoughts. Again, at this stage, nothing is set in stone :D.
And that brings me full circle to my very first "complete" game design: Charge the Circle. This is very likely to be my first game to make the jump to The Game Crafter. Here's my thinking:
1. The dice make the pnp a challenge for potential players. You need 46 dice for the full 2-player game!
2. 18 cards works out for printing BUT I should probably redo the graphics if I'm asking people to pay for the game. This also gives me the chance to make the game prettier/more eye-catching without breaking anyone's budgets.
3. 2 draw bags... could be included or could be supplied by the player... this gives me some extra wiggle room.
4. I want to do/keep the 2 custom double-sided position markers (tokens).
5. The 3 double-sided block tokens should also get a re-design. If I'm paying for chipboard tokens and asking my potential players to pay for them too, then they need to be worthwhile.
6. The game's rulebook needs a full overhaul and face-lift if I'm going to be serious about this. There's no discount for black and white printing. If I'm paying for a rulebook it needs to be both pretty and functional.
In other words, I do think Charge the Circle is the "right" game for me to start out on The Game Crafter, but I've got a lot of work to do before I hit "publish" :D.
Happy Friday and happy playing!
-Rachel
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Riftlings EP 16, Aftermath Part II
Posted: Sat, 06 Dec 00:08:22
Posted: Sat, 06 Dec 00:08:22
A new episode has been added to the database:
Riftlings EP 16, Aftermath Part II
Hostile Solo | Into the Black: DSF Noctua Ep. 04
Posted: Sat, 06 Dec 00:08:22
Posted: Sat, 06 Dec 00:08:22
A new episode has been added to the database:
Hostile Solo | Into the Black: DSF Noctua Ep. 04
This Week in TTRPG (5th December 2025)
Posted: Sat, 06 Dec 00:08:18
Posted: Sat, 06 Dec 00:08:18
A new episode has been added to the database:
This Week in TTRPG (5th December 2025)
S3E11 - Speak Now...
Posted: Sat, 06 Dec 00:06:17
Posted: Sat, 06 Dec 00:06:17
A new episode has been added to the database:
S3E11 - Speak Now...
Smuggling Wyvonir Part 1 – Dragon Empire Prep Session 46
Posted: Sat, 06 Dec 00:04:23
Posted: Sat, 06 Dec 00:04:23
A new episode has been added to the database:
Smuggling Wyvonir Part 1 – Dragon Empire Prep Session 46
Movie Mastery – Remote (1993)
Posted: Sat, 06 Dec 00:04:18
Posted: Sat, 06 Dec 00:04:18
A new episode has been added to the database:
Movie Mastery – Remote (1993)
Critical Hit #811: Operation Wild Moon - Part 1 (LNRS01-E01)
Posted: Sat, 06 Dec 00:03:28
Posted: Sat, 06 Dec 00:03:28
A new episode has been added to the database:
Critical Hit #811: Operation Wild Moon - Part 1 (LNRS01-E01)
The Red Lion Hotel
Posted: Fri, 05 Dec 20:36:49
Posted: Fri, 05 Dec 20:36:49
A new rpg item has been added to the database:
The Red Lion Hotel
