by Rachel Carpenter

The title sums up my day perfectly :shake:. That said, this Sunday we're getting a new VGGoTW (I'll post Saturday night, but Sunday's when it's "official") So excited!

And now for your regularly-scheduled Friday post:

Happy 15th 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, April 2026.

Hello again, Level 5! Will this be my week? I'm skeptical, given that my thoughts are mostly Game Crafter-centric at the moment...

Oh no!!! A Green Phase loss!!! I haven't been defeated this badly in ages! Looks like I was right to be skeptical :whistle:

My final score was a positively horrible -69 pts: 8 points from Fighting Cards, -5 points from Aging Cards, 0 points from lifepoints, 0 points for defeating neither pirate, and -72 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- 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:


Published Games (or soon-to-be published):
:d10-1: Charge the Circle: Post-Contest (Revised Edition) Web-published to BGG. 2nd Edition & 2nd Edition (Bring Your Own Stuff) 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: Coming soon to The Game Crafter! BGG page awaiting approval! Original WIP thread: here!
:d10-3: Fireworks for the 4th: Semiquincentennial Edition: Coming soon to The Game Crafter! BGG page awaiting approval! Revised (Post Contest) Edition remains available here!.
:d10-4: Pumpkin Spice & Everything Nice: 2nd Edition coming to The Game Crafter! Original WIP thread: here!
:d10-5: The United Cards of America: Coming soon to The Game Crafter!
:d10-6: Lincoln's Cat: Coming soon to The Game Crafter!
:d10-7: Liberty, DEATH, or TAXES: Coming soon to The Game Crafter!


Active Projects:
:d10-1: Finders Keepers: No new progress.
:d10-2: Bears love Bows: Merry Trashmas edition: Now pitching! Pitch still ongoing??? Bow Tokens are now a thing, but forward momentum has stalled. Reaching out to publisher-that-shall-not-be-named (NDA) again once I get the video done. Stay tuned for further developments.
:d10-3: Really Retail: No new progress.
:d10-4: Barricade Brigade: Tentatively coming to The Game Crafter in late 2026. Still needs a lot of work and a new coat of paint :geek_grin:.
: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! In fact, it's likely to be the main game in my 2nd batch of releases :geek_grin:.
:d10-8: Surfboard Stealin' Sea Otters: Contest complete! #2 Best Family Game and #8 Best Overall Game! Woot! Post-contest: expect some minor revisions over the summer, then I plan on pitching the otters and seeing if I can catch some waves...
:d10-9: Tricky Treats: Game considered complete and officially Ready for Pitching! I still need a video...
:d10-1::d10-0: Squirrelly (formerly Woodland Warriors) : Contest complete! #3 for Best Art! 2 mini expansions available! Ready for pitching! Could use a video when I get around to it... Family games are tricky to pitch and most are too kiddie for release on The Game Crafter...
: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! Major revision complete, new video live, Print & Play Assembly Guide now available, and while entered in the 2026 Cardboard Edison, it didn't place as a finalist. I got good feedback, but I'm not sure what's next for this kitty...
:d10-1::d10-2: 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, eventually. Please stay tuned!
:d10-1::d10-3: Elements: Coming to The Game Crafter in mid-2026! New cards, done! Now to re-jig the tuckbox and the rules (1 double-sided sheet would be amazing...)
: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. There's a decent little game here and it's worth pursuing.
: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! Come on folks, take a look and help me get this game off the ground! Yes, I'm behind on this contest. I've got to get the campaign done, but the game still isn't getting any traction and I feel like I'm once again wasting effort. Don't get me wrong: I love the game. I believe in the game. But BGG Design Contests are not helping it... The campaign will get done. I got my playtesting and feedback in by the deadline. I will see this current contest through. But I do need to pivot and figure out a better way forward for Unlucky Spirits. The Game Crafter isn't an option for this one. They can't make the current board (30×30) and don't have good options for the larger albeit modular original design either. This game has to find a home with a traditional publisher or it's not going to make it beyond my kitchen table... Made some additional progress this week on marketing/promo materials, the campaign, and a teaser video!
: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 mid-2026, provided that I can find a way to deal with the drift issue... I'm still having trouble with the Mural and cut margins... Charge the Circle poses similar problems, hence delaying both a bit to get a better feel for how best to get The Game Crafter to make them.
:d10-1::d10-8: Nine Tails: Ready for pitching! This one might come to The Game Crafter, but alignment issues are a concern. Plastic cards didn't solve anything, this might be a game for PNP Hero...
:d10-1::d10-9: Put a bow on it! Finally has a new lease on life! This is going to be for Bad Comet's contest! It's also no longer a 54-card game and it's getting a board!
:d10-2::d10-0: Eighteen Eggs: Contest complete, game did not place. *sigh*. Rain, Rain Mini Expansion and Player Aids available. The future of this little game... I don't know. It's cute, but it's too kiddie for The Game Crafter. Period. And I haven't come across any publishers looking for solo games for kids... That said, if you see a call for submissions, please let me know! Not writing it off, but pivoting to a more-Game Crafter-friendly design in my forthcoming Snow Squall- similar gameplay, but "prettier" and more geared to the "cozy solo" game trend.
:d10-2::d10-1: Snow Squall: In the vein of Eight Elephants and Eighteen Eggs, but a bit bigger, no timer, and more Game Crafter-friendly art. Not much progress this week.
:d10-2::d10-2: 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. Contest now complete! I'm happy! #1 Best Graphic Design for Visually Impaired Players; #8 Best Use of Theme; & #7 Best Low-Ink Printing! I've still got feedback to address and I'll get there- I promise! But, overall, I'm happy with the game, with its reception, and I'm looking forward to continue developing Monk's Cat... possibly for future publication on The Game Crafter... 😜
:d10-2::d10-3: Unnamed Puzzle Game: multi-level campaign puzzle game in the vein of Abydos, Read the Runes, and Charge the Circle. Fuzzball-inspired. Backburner. Tentative entry in this year's Solitaire Print and Play Game Design Contest...
:d10-2::d10-4: 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.
:d10-2::d10-5: Who's ready for the owlidays?: Will be my entry/one of my entries in this year's 54-Card Game Design Contest!
:d10-2::d10-6: I sits!: Forthcoming entry in the Fur, Feathers & Fun Contest on The Game Crafter. Stay tuned!
:d10-2::d10-7: Caturday @ the cattery: Not sure if this will make it in time for the Fur, Feathers & Fun Contest...
:d10-2::d10-8: Elements 2: Will be 1 of my entries in this year's Solitaire PNP Game Design Contest! 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. Stay tuned! WIP will go live sometime soon...
:d10-2::d10-9: Time's up! : NEW: My 2nd entry in this year's 54-Card Game Design Contest! The idea hit me late Thursday night and... already has enough notes to be playable! I'm really excited for this one! Stay tuned! WIP thread won't go live until July to preserve eligibility.


Early Development:
:d10-1: The 7th Seal : No new progress.
:d10-2: Gator Glory! Simmering.
:d10-3: So, you want to be a mage......
:d10-4: Barricade Brigade: At the postern gate: A smaller version of the original. Similar story, setting, and mechanics, but more compact.
:d10-5: Reverse the curse: NEW: My forthcoming entry in Button Shy's No Shuffle Challenge!


On Hold:
: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 : 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


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
: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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It looks like I'm skipping the Children & Family Game Design Contest this year... which makes me sad, but I need to prioritize self-publishing, and I don't want to rush an entry. That said, I'm still hopeful that I sits! will be ready for the April 19th deadline for the Fur, Feathers & Fun Contest on The Game Crafter. It's going to be close, but I think it's worth it.

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 Lowell Kempf

A little over a year ago, I decided that I should really try Clifford D. Simak again, after not being able to get through his books back in middle school or high school. And, while I don’t agree with all his conclusions, I now found him to be a really solid read.

I had meant to keep reading his work and realized that it had been a year so I picked up Ring Around the Sun.

Spoilers

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Set what was then the near future (and is now before a lot of folks reading this were born lol), the world is teetering on the edge of the Cold War becoming a hot war. Into this, a mysterious group is introducing major social changes with inexpensive food and household items that never wear out, up to and including actual houses.

The mysterious group turns out to be mutants, the next step in evolution. And their long term plan is to break the human race out of a self-destructive death spiral and create healthier cultures. This includes having folks emigrate to alternate time lines where the human race doesn’t exist so there’s a fresh Earth for them.

However, the 1% will do anything, up to and including nuclear war to keep the mutants from upsetting their world of money and power and privilege. In my limited reading, Simak leans on the idealism so it’s not a surprise that things work out okay.

While there are elements that are quite dated (a world changing innovation are razor blades that never wear out), the idea of the 1% willing to destroy the world to prevent a post scarcity society still seems pretty believe.

One thing that I did find interesting was Simak’s approach to pastoralism in Ring Around the Sun. He clearly disliked urban life and idealized rural living. And yet, he clearly and intentionally undercuts that in this book. Vickers, the protagonist, wants the rural Midwest to be innocent and harmless but it is clearly shown to not be. The other world has the transplanted folk living a rugged frontier life but it is clearly supported by industrial centers run by robots far enough away to be out of sight.

I felt like Simak was telling me that the fantasy of the pastoral life was important but only as a fantasy.

Every time I’ve gone to Simak, I’ve have found really strong writing and him presenting his case as an argument, not as a done deal. And good grief, his work is chock full of ideas. I read somewhere that John Campbell wanted authors to have their stories center around one idea but Simak not only has everything and the kitchen sink, he’s trying to find room for a second sink.

Somehow, Simak managed to write science fiction that is escapist and asks tough questions at the same time.

A new episode has been added to the database: 84. Family Reunion

A new episode has been added to the database: This Hour Has 22 Cryptids - Episode 2: Monkey Business

A new episode has been added to the database: Pathfinder 2e | Season of Ghosts: Ep. 01

by playr2

C$30.00 for RPG Item: Starfinder Core Rulebook
Condition: Very Good
Location:

by Bruce McG

As I wait for my ruby-throated hummingbirds to arrive, enjoy this bee hummingbird native to Cuba.



New releases at your FLGS (sourced by Leisure Games)

Call of Cthulhu (7th Edition)
⭐ Campfire Tales - Chaosium

Coriolis: The Great Dark
⭐ The Flowers of Algorab - Free League Publishing

Pathfinder Roleplaying Game (2nd Edition)
⭐ Hellbreakers - Paizo Publishing
⭐ Pathfinder Monster Core 2 (Pocket Edition) - Paizo Publishing

New PDF releases @ DriveThru

Alone against the Zone
⭐ Alone against the Zone - Ganesha Games

Curseborne
⭐ Accursed Adventures - Onyx Path Publishing

Delta Green: The Role-Playing Game
⭐ Owlshead Mountain - Arc Dream Publishing

Fighter Wizard Elf
⭐ Fighter Wizard Elf — My Rules for Bare Metal D20 Gaming - Tentacles Press

Generic / Universal
⭐ Fire, Blood & Teeth - Man Alone

Ker Nethalas: Into the Midnight Throne
⭐ Warren of the Ratkin - Blackoath Entertainment

Mythic Role Playing
⭐ Mythic Magazine (Volume 64 - March 2026) - Word Mill Games

Retro-clones
⭐ Horizon, the Endless City - Philip Reed Games

Shadows Over Sol 2e
⭐ Shadows Over Sol 2nd Edition - Tab Creations

Tales of the Village
⭐ Familiars of the Village - White Hare Games

Traveller (Mongoose 2nd Edition)
⭐ Ships of Charted Space, Volume 1: Q-Ships - Space Weasel Productions

by playr2

C$3.00 for RPG Item: Kids on Bikes Powered Character Cards
Condition: New
Location:

A new episode has been added to the database: 5 GMs Presents - The Crashed Gambit Ep. 1: The Fireball in Reno-12 (w/ Yuriandthebeast and Kendomakesfilms)

A new episode has been added to the database: Blade Runner RPG: Electric Dreams #6

A new episode has been added to the database: Legends of Mahl - Ep. 3: War-Bringer of Kiosk

A new episode has been added to the database: This Week in TTRPG (10th April, 2026)