A new episode has been added to the database: S2E87 - The I.D.I.O.T. Feature (with Scott Dorward)

by Rachel

Happy 47th Friday of 2025, everyone!! It's been another busy week. Announcing the 6th Annual 1 Player Guild Holiday Card Exchange - Signup Deadline: 11-27 is active, voting is still underway for the 2025 54-Card Game Design Contest, the 2025 Solitaire Print and Play Contest is a wrap, the 2025 People's Choice Top Solo Games (1-250) is now complete, and best of all it's Friday!

And as always on Friday, here are the current Friday links: 2025 Friday on Friday: Play Friday EVERY Friday of 2025 and 2025 Friday on Friday, November 2025.

Because yes, it's Friday and no matter what, that means Friday here on Herald's Call :D.

Hello again, Level 5! Let's see how far I get this week :p!

Dun, dun, dun...

That's a Red Phase loss this week.

My final score was -15 pts: 28 points from Fighting Cards, -10 points from Aging Cards, 0 points from lifepoints, 0 points for defeating neither pirate, and -33 points from Unbeaten Hazards.

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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 : No new progress.
:d10-2: Finders Keepers: No new progress.
:d10-3: Charge the Circle: Ready for pitching! Crunching the numbers and weighing my options, potentially coming to The Game Crafter...
: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! Crunching the numbers, experimenting, and weighing my options, potentially coming to The Game Crafter...
:d10-1::d10-2: Surfboard Stealin' Sea Otters: Officially my entry in this year's 54-Card Contest! Contest ready! Setup video available! Voting is underway!
:d10-1::d10-3: Roll the Runes Formerly Color(a)Cross and Number Lock. Rules/components still in-progress! Contest has started! I need to get the WIP up :p.
: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 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! Crunching the numbers and weighing my options, potentially coming to The Game Crafter...
: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! Crunching the numbers and weighing my options, potentially coming to The Game Crafter...
: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
:d10-4::d10-5: Triskell (or maybe Triskellion): name not final: No new progress.
:d10-4::d10-6: Snowflake Sorter:Snow Storm Snow Squall: New new name :p, slightly different direction, much happier with how this game is progressing :D
:d10-4::d10-7: So, you want to be a mage...: No new progress.
:d10-4::d10-8: Cursed Cards: No new progress. The Traditional Deck Game Contest is underway, so I really, really need to get this game BGG ready!
: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 progress this past week, but I need to get the card functions sorted and the art started...

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, post the new WIPs, more videos, more experimenting/number crunching on The Game Crafter (did you know that you can publish your games on The Game Crafter WITHOUT a box? I certainly didn't before today. And while it's a bit unorthodox, it might be just the solution needed to bring some of my games to life :whistle:). I'm also pleased to report that Monday's Mythic Monday Elder Sign report is already 100% done:D, so there's that to look forward to too!

Game Over On borrowed time...

Happy Friday and happy playing!
-Rachel

P.S.
The Ascension: Deckbuilding Game League IS coming back! Woot! Official Stone Blade Ascension Legends Cup! Starts Saturday, November 29th. Sign Up Now!!

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 Lowell Kempf

Earlier this year, I read the first two of the three volumes of Phonogram by Kieron Gillen, a comic book about music and magic. I finally got the third volume and finished reading the series. 

Upfront, the series absolutely peaked at the second volume, The Singles Club. But the Singles Club is a high water mark, one of those comic books you use to convince non-comic book readers to read a comic book and to prove that comic books are real literature. However, The Immaterial Girl was still a strong finish.

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Phonogram is set in a world exactly like ours, except some people are able to use music to perform magic. How much is it like our world? All of the literally hundreds of musical references are for real acts. Fortunately, there is also a detailed and snarky  appendix at the end of each volume, explaining all the references. That said. I honestly think the actual stories are clear and easy to follow, even if you don't know who 75% of the artists are.

The magic phonomancers use is much less flying and fireballs and much more about redefining yourself and influencing other people. Really, its really just describing how so many of us use music couched in magical terms. Heck, the Singles Club could be revised to remove all the phonomancy elements and still be just as strong.

The third volume focuses on reoccurring character Emily/Claire. She used phonomancy to basically split her personality in half, exiling the one half to a world of music videos. The conflict in the story is the banished half fighting back and  how the two halves ultimately reconcile.
 
And it's good plot. Like the first volume, it has some definite influences from Garthg Ennis's first run on Hellblazer but that is not a bad thing at all. But that's not what I took away from the Immaterial Girl.

Virtually every phonomancer is an arrogant, self-centered poser. More than that, that seems to be pretty much a requirement.  (The one exception is Kid-With-Knife, who is, at best, a phonomancer by association and who we only see use magic once. Honestly, I think the point of the character is that he's comfortable with who he is and doesn't have any need for phonomancy) The Immaterial Girl is about the passing of an era, the cyclic nature of social behavior and just plain growing up.

Gillen uses the death of Michael Jackson as a powerful end of an era moment. A point where the older characters realize that its time to start acting like a grownup. And when the younger characters start taking over and look to be doing the same darn thing. The moral of The immaterial Girl is kind of obvious, growing up is rough but it sure beats remaining an immature brat, but its still true and it does a good job telling it.

Now that I have seen Phonomancer as a whole piece, it’s good all the way through.

A new episode has been added to the database: Bonfire Walk With Me: 06 | Demon's Souls: Upper Latria and The Ivory Tower (3-2 & 3-3)

A new episode has been added to the database: 14 - The Asylum - Gone to Pieces

A new episode has been added to the database: (EOTE #124) The Inferno pt. 20 FINALE - Regroup and Report

A new episode has been added to the database: Critical Hit: Moon Generation Teaser

by SeaofStars

$44.99 for RPG Item: Rival Academies
Condition: New
Location: United States

by Bruce McG

No turkey this week, but here are a couple of Tawny Frogmouths. Please don't eat them.



New releases at your FLGS (sourced by Leisure Games)

ALIEN: The Roleplaying Game: Evolved Edition
:star: ALIEN: The Roleplaying Game: Core Rules Evolved Edition - Free League Publishing
:star: Alien RPG: Rapture Protocol Miniatures - Free League Publishing
:star: Hope's Last Day: Starter Set - Free League Publishing
:star: Rapture Protocol - Free League Publishing

New PDF releases @ DriveThru

5e Game System Product (D&D 5th Edition Compatible)
:star: Undead & Undead - JonnyDM

ALIEN: The Roleplaying Game: Evolved Edition
:star: ALIEN: The Roleplaying Game: Core Rules Evolved Edition - Free League Publishing
:star: Hope's Last Day: Starter Set - Free League Publishing
:star: Rapture Protocol - Free League Publishing

Curseborne
:star: Curseborne - Onyx Path Publishing

Four Against Darkness
:star: Swamps of the Slithering Snakemen - Ganesha Games

Generic / Universal
:star: The Book of Random Tables: Science Fiction NPCs - Dicegeeks
:star: Space Station Generator - Atelier Clandestin

Lewd Dungeon Adventures
:star: The Haunting of Blackwood Manor - Lewd Dungeon Adventures

Pathfinder 2E Compatible Product
:star: Solo Playbook - PPM

Retro-clones
:star: Fly Me to the Moon - Kabuki Kaiser

Shadowdark RPG
:star: Blacklight - The Scrying Dutchman

A new episode has been added to the database: Cthulhu Dark Ages: Branches of Bone #3

A new episode has been added to the database: The Old Ways Podcast - Mage: The Great Beyond - Season 2, Episode Four

A new episode has been added to the database: 374 | D&D TV Show, 4 New Realms Books, Auction for Tolkien's Desk