A new episode has been added to the database: Week 4: everytime we touch

A new episode has been added to the database: Making Sense of the Digital Web

A new episode has been added to the database: LiveTwitch n°24 : La Citadelle, avec Antoine Foing

A new episode has been added to the database: Podcast Trip to Fly n°01 : Travail préparatoire autour d'une préquelle à Trip to Skye !

A new episode has been added to the database: D's Journal: Sailor Moon (Abridged Episode 40)

A new episode has been added to the database: Episode 41: Sailor Moon (Listeners' Choice)

A new episode has been added to the database: [DND3 Pg 114] Craft (cocktails) [Week 19]

A new episode has been added to the database: MYSTERIES (Remastered): Mastering Mind Games and Unlocking Secrets!

by Rachel

Happy 50th 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! I wonder how my trip will go this week :whistle:...

Well phooey, that didn't go well at all!

Here's a closer look.

My final score was -25 pts: 26 points from Fighting Cards, -15 points from Aging Cards, 0 points from lifepoints, 0 points for defeating neither pirate, and -36 points from Unbeaten Hazards. Definitely not one of my better performances. I just couldn't get the Destroy draws right to take out the Aging Cards and then they all showed up at once. Gah!

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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 : 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! In the meantime, here's a sneak peek at my latest experiments:

Option #1: Blue Glow Magic


Front (Element Side)


Back (Circle Side)


Logo


Option #2: White Glow Magic, Darker Stone Background


Front (Element Side)


Back (Circle Side)


Logo

Additional ideas/options:


Another possible logo, a compromise

I'd also like to try out a gold glow and a silvery glow. I'm partial to the darker stone background, but would welcome your thoughts! :D

: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 Family Gameand #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 either...
:d10-1::d10-9: Fireworks for the Fourth: Ready for pitching! And still crunching the numbers/weighing my options... it would be nice to get this on The Game Crafter before July 4th...
: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 ahead of possible entry into 2026 Cardboard Edison!
: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 in 2026...
: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! Pinkie swear... :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 : 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. Some progress this week, but still not playable. Definitely 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 the last of my Christmas cards sent out, continue working on videos, continue prepping to release a few of my games via The Game Crafter in early 2026, get the next Mythic Monday sorted :whistle:, and get caught up on blog comments :D.

The more I learn, the more I think I'm on the right path. Releasing my games without boxes and having printable tuckboxes will available for free here on BGG (via individual game's WIP threads or potentially their BGG pages...) is weird, but it feels right.

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.

A new episode has been added to the database: Afterlight - Chapter Three: Mosaic

A new episode has been added to the database: Blade Runner | Case File 01: Electric Dreams Ep. 02

by Krisse Tuominen

I want to give you my 2 cents on a few things: in playing and running RPGs, and creating RPG worlds. Somebody would call these pro-tips, but I ain't that kind of person.

MINIONS, lots of minions, and talking about the minions. Usually, when people talk about the minions and the swarm of the minions in the D&D sessions, they tend to start talking about loads and lots of kobolds. Like 80-100 kobolds to attack the characters' party. Especially when Dungeon Masters want to serve a big attack scene to higher-level characters, they start thinking of easy minions.


And naturally, then the conversation turns into swarming bandits of minion kobolds. On that point, I just love to mention the Minions. You know, the Minions from Disney: Pixar Studios' movies. I have my own reasons for that, and some folks just don't seem to get my point, which is fine by me. The Sense of humour doesn't always mix and match with other people. We can still get along just fine, and now I shall try to explain my thoughts to you all, who are reading this. Firstly, the Minions obviously are minions, and they probably are veeeeeeeery easy to fight with or against.

Secondly, a little bit of humor and laughter here and there usually makes people feel good, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. Thirdly, to be honest, how I see the lovely creatures called kobolds, to me, they are the Minions of the D&D. And I know there are quite a lot of peeps who like the way I see things. I mean, just look at them. Aren't they just incredibly cute-looking creatures? And to have them as minions who *try* to take over the world, with their limited skill-sets. Well, to me, that's a thought to embrace. With huge luuuv 'n' huugs.
Travelling: If you all want to just skip the travelling, it is ok to skip. If you want to have encounters, then have some. Sometimes, if players skip all the clues and just start to walk away to find something interesting, obviously, then it's a Genuinely Good Idea to spice things up with an encounter.
Sometimes, some of the group want an encounter, and the rest are neutral. Then you can have an encounter if you feel that way. Especially, if you have a cool encounter on your sleeve that you want to use, and players are open to it, go ahead and make your day awesome! But if no one wants to have to encounter, there's no need to have an encounter. So go with the flow and with your gut feelings.
Travelling part 2: When I am game moderating game sessions, where player characters are travelling, I really enjoy letting the players steer the wheel of the story machine. It’s a totally awesome feeling that I got to have a shared experience of mutually telling the story. The key to this kind of happiness is as easy as allowing your players to advance the story without rolling any dice.

“On your way to the next village, you encountered a problem. What was it?” The next player comes up with a solution and then presents another problem. You go around the table once, determining how and when you arrive.

You can use this for anything, to be honest. I find it helpful to keep the game moving. I find that just a perfectly normal way to do the deed. After all, role-playing is a lot of the GM just having conversations with the players. And yes, that is a good way, indeed. I am not saying that rolling encounters from the lists is bad, either, especially when the list is done with the players. Personally, I just tend to lean towards talking and role-playing, and less towards the dice-rolling.

The Lore and the world-building: I always like to make my own gaming worlds, and I tend to let players be active in world-making. In things like building their own house and decorating the guild-house. I love to let players talk about how their home village is and have them say how things are in the village. After all, it's their hometown. I obviously like to let people make flags and official stamps, and such.
Normally, players love to give their overflowing spicing skills to make the storytelling soup divine, if you just let them. Sometimes, I use some part of the lore as it is, if it fits the Thing/Attitude/Style/etc that we want to have on our gaming world. Mostly, I love to spice it up, bend it, blend it, twist it, grow it, and do whatever pleases me and the players.

I let players decide about the reality and the lore, and then we make decisions together. Of course, this usually needs some time between the sessions, but usually, all it takes is giving players small home "school" assignments. Like asking them to write down about the things in the gaming notebooks. Or to send the ideas to my Messenger box or e-mail. Or to have a private chat using Discord or WhatsApp. Sometimes, players bring great ideas and suggestions to the gaming table before the session starts. Sometimes it happens after the session. Creating together is fun :laugh:

The Major pop culture reference for GM to play a major character that would have recognisable characteristics. Personally, I would suggest using Mike Haggar's character from the Final Fight video games. He's literally a big character, and he can pretty much sweep the streets clean with his huge muscles. And with an even bigger ego!

Just take a look at that guy's physical build, how huge he is. Mike "the Major" Haggar has the same feel as all those really rough 'n' tough mayors in great old Italian wild west movies. And talking 'bout the rough mayors, You just can't leave the Haggar - "Respect the Pipe!" out of the count. Unless you want him to swipe the streets with your face 😎