by Bruce McG

From the June issue of Meeple Monthly... The following items have an August release date. Please remember, however, that everything is subject to change. MM represents a publisher's "best guess" from a few months ago. YMMV.

Thank you to [user=SteamCraft][/user] for finding this source!

Arc Dream Publishing
⭐ Delta Green: The Role-Playing Game: Grace Under Pressure

Beadle & Grimm's
⭐ Dungeons & Dragons: Dungeon Master's Guide: Premium Map Collection

Critical Kit
⭐ DedBoi
⭐ Folk Hero
⭐ Fox Curio's Floating Bookshop
⭐ Triple-O: The Player Character Emulator (Zine Version)

Darrington Press
⭐ Daggerheart: Class Pack: Bard
⭐ Daggerheart: Class Pack: Druid
⭐ Daggerheart: Class Pack: Guardian
⭐ Daggerheart: Class Pack: Ranger
⭐ Daggerheart: Class Pack: Rogue
⭐ Daggerheart: Class Pack: Seraph
⭐ Daggerheart: Class Pack: Sorcerer
⭐ Daggerheart: Class Pack: Warrior
⭐ Daggerheart: Class Pack: Wizard

Evil Genius Productions LLC
⭐ Everyday Heroes: Bridge to Nowhere

Free League Publishing
⭐ Dragonbane: Arkand: City of Waves and Flames
⭐ Dragonbane: Book of Magic
⭐ Dragonbane: Dragonbane Friends & Foes Standee Set

LokeBattleMats
⭐ Deck of Fateship

Marvel Entertainment
⭐ Marvel Multiverse Role-Playing Game: Secret Wars Expansion

Mongoose Publishing
⭐ Traveller (Mongoose 2nd Edition): Brushfires
⭐ Traveller (Mongoose 2nd Edition): Vehicle Handbook Update 2026

Monte Cook Games
⭐ The Cypher System: Character Rulebook
⭐ The Cypher System: Corebook Slipcase Set
⭐ The Cypher System: Game Master's Guide

Officina Meningi
⭐ Last Sabbath: The Witches RPG: Witch Pack
⭐ Totem: The Spirits' RPG: Tales from the Dark

Parable Games
⭐ Shiver: Asset Mismanagement Card Deck
⭐ Shiver: Corporate: Intern Survival Guide
⭐ Shiver: Workplace Hazards Card Deck
⭐ Sisterhood: Angel Dice Set
⭐ Sisterhood: Core Rulebook
⭐ Sisterhood: CROSS Combat Kit
⭐ Sisterhood: Demon Dice Set
⭐ Sisterhood: GM Screen
⭐ Sisterhood: Judgement Day
⭐ Sisterhood: Nun Dice Set
⭐ Sisterhood: Slipcase Collection
⭐ Sisterhood: The Five Horsemen

Pelgrane Press
⭐ Fear Itself: Fear Itself Shattered Veil Edition
⭐ Fear Itself: The Book of Unremitting Horror Shattered Veil Edition
⭐ Fear Itself: The Ocean Game
⭐ Swords of the Serpentine: Pillars Built on Sand

Pinnacle Entertainment Group
⭐ 5e Game System Product (D&D 5th Edition Compatible): Bukana Bestiary: A 5E WakeSong Supplement
⭐ 5e Game System Product (D&D 5th Edition Compatible): Bukana Bestiary: 5E Reference Cards
⭐ 5e Game System Product (D&D 5th Edition Compatible): Bukana Bestiary: 5E Pawn Set

Renegade Game Studios
⭐ Exodus RPG: Traveler's Handbook
⭐ Exodus RPG: Creature Catalogue
⭐ Vampire: The Masquerade (5th Edition): Courts of the Damned Sourcebook

Rowan, Rook & Decard
⭐ Heart: The City Beneath: Ways and Means

Troll Lord Games
⭐ Castles & Crusades: Engineering Names
⭐ Castles & Crusades: Engineering Towns

Two Little Mice
⭐ 5e Game System Product (D&D 5th Edition Compatible): Adventures in the Household: Journey to the Garden
⭐ 5e Game System Product (D&D 5th Edition Compatible): Adventures in the Household: Season Screen & Map of the Garden
⭐ 5e Game System Product (D&D 5th Edition Compatible): Adventures in the Household: Winter Never Ends
⭐ Household (2nd Edition): A Saga of the Long Winter
⭐ Household (2nd Edition): Season Screen & Map of the Garden
⭐ Household (2nd Edition): Household Volume II

Tuesday Knight Games
⭐ Fatherfog Zero Edition (0e)

A new episode has been added to the database: Episode 66: Sci-Fi Hörspiele aus der DDR

A new episode has been added to the database: Cult & Roses Chapter 4: A Sunken Temple

by Eric R.

You've got to know your chicken…
Youtube Video

by Bruce McG

The Diana Jones Award Committee has announced the finalists for the 2026 award:

⭐ Mischief Toy Store, a games store St. Paul, MN
⭐ Molly House, a board game by Jo Kelly with Cole Wehrle & Ricky Royal, from Wehrlegig Games
⭐ Price Johnson, a game company executive with Cephalofair Games
⭐ Rob Wieland, a game designer and journalist
⭐ Trench Crusade, a miniatures game by Mike Franchina, James Sherriff, and Tuomas Pirinen, from Factory Fortress

So there wasn't much in the RPG side of things this year.

The award will be presented July 29th in Indianapolis (the night before Gen Con starts).

For the twenty-sixth year in a row, the Diana Jones Award for Excellence in Gaming celebrates everything that’s the best about gaming. That can mean a game system or supplement, a magazine, a company, a designer, an event or convention, or any other entity that shows gaming at its absolute zenith.

The announcement of the Diana Jones Award winner is one of the first events at Gen Con Indy. During the months before the show, the Diana Jones Award Committee — a group of gaming professionals from around the world — begins discussions about the best and brightest from adventure gaming in the previous year. After discussion and voting, the committee’s nominations are whittled down to a list of finalists, which is the cue for more discussion and voting for a single winner.

For more information, check out their site here.

A new rpg item has been added to the database: Das Albtraumschiff

by The rwinder

Hello everyone,

This time around, my blog entry covers:
:nostar: The conclusion of my trial "Wide Ocean" campaign for Dragons Down
:nostar: The campaign "scoring"
:nostar: My thoughts on other games I have been playing like Scotland Yard and Arkham Horror: The Card Game
:nostar: Musings about the next make-as-you-play game or variant to consume my imagination

The Small Realms of the Fourth Age

In the last blog entry, I already noted how I had played on single terrain packages (Swamp then Mountain) for some of the campaign games, and as the map tightens, this becomes more likely as a possibility. Good thing I have enjoyed these smaller scale instances, even if they don't have as much variance as you get when you go for even two sets. There's enough difference in all that unfolds to make these new stories different than what, for instance, the very successful Falcon experienced.

Game #13: This had multiple heroes before the end...
:nostar: Ira Iceheart, the Halfling Witch
:nostar: Ranko, the Elf Burgess
:nostar: Storo, the Elf Trickster

A single biome (Caves) served as the landscape for this adventure, and I should have known it'd go bad, given past experience with the most dangerous and obnoxious enemy in the game: THE GIANT BAT! Case in point: Ira Iceheart dove fearlessly into the Catacombs, only to be killed by a bat on the second day before she could earn any loot.

Okay, but I am sure after that, I would learn my lesson, right? Well, rolling up an Elf Burgess doesn't seem so good for the caves. Nevertheless, this hero, Ranko, made the ill-advised journey to the cavernous isles, which put him at a disadvantage since the dwarves who lived there were suspicious of him. He never managed to hire anyone, but he did go to the catacombs, he did kill the Goblin King in support of a quest he had to do just that, and... he got killed by a bat. And yet we don't call this Bat Island??

Finally Storo entered the scene and was not one to dawdle, finding both sites, looting them nearly to depletion, and fiery chasming everyone who got in his way (except bats... those he fought with honor and lucky swings). He also returned to the mine and decided it was a nice place, and it'd be a shame if someone burned it down. No wait, it'd be a shame if someone didn't burn it down! So he fiery chasmed [1] the inhabitants and made it his private abode. And it only cost him 5 LPs as he retired, still getting him above the 20 legend point mark! It amused him to name the island Char.

The updated map:


Game #14: Featuring Jane Jackdaw, the Halfling Necromancer

Yes! Love the necromancer class, but despite great ambitions to fiery chasm everyone into being skeletons, Jane was rather unlucky with her sputtering spells for most of the game. Eventually she did blast the goblin king and his lackeys into some skeleton pals, hopping around her merrily as she solved the Goblin Blight. This followed her blasting some treants into ... skeletons too. [2] This earned her Tree Herder.

Jane also collected some coin for Banned Charts and Food and Ale but that was just to make ends meet as she wandered the twisted wilds.

Notably in this game, never has anyone had to enchant so much to get where she was going. The random board layout was really against any progress. Jane nearly became a spelunker but had to abandon the quest at the last minute because it was impossible to fulfill being one turn short!

The land ended up named Blightree... and I was left with room for one more teeny, tiny land left in this campaign!

The updated map:


Game #15: The game of ...
:nostar: Pelgo, the Elf Battlemage
:nostar: Pinki Rongport, the Dwarf Rogue

In another Mountains-only game, Pelgo wished to become as glorious as that stuck-up Half-Elf Falcon, and he gleefully uncovered an enticing crypt only to find it crowded by a lich and his pet dragons. Not to be deterred, he set about sneaking to loot, got caught and was unable to flee before being made into elf nuggets for the dragons.

About that time an already legendary mariner from game 20, none other than the illustrious dwarf rogue Pinki Rongport, appeared in the caves of the Barriers. [3] Pinki really cleaned up, even if no lost city was to be found. She became a noted Alpiner, made some New Maps, and was a celebrated Dragon Slayer as she frequently went toe-to-toe with one off juvenile dragons where she took successful gambles in a well placed axe strike.

Pinki also found the grave of the champion and the champion's blade, and handed a prophecy by a local mystic of a black follower of that lich from earlier, she set out to hand the legendary blade over to him, succeeding. [4] Pinki retired at the keep as a celebrated heroine. The land ended up named Black Blade for the champion's blade being handed over to the local Lich. Nice going, Pinki...

The final map!


Campaign Score of "Dragons Down: Wide Ocean" v0.1

After fifteen games, the score is
a) sum of all game legend points earned = 298
b) the number of landmasses = 6
c) the size of the largest landmass in different territories = 8
d) the length of all traveled sea hexes = 23

So... 335

In my "original guess" scoring thresholds this was better than the top threshold of 300... so maybe I need to increase it! I think of myself as a middling player, so this should be an average score, right?

I am pretty pleased with the map I got at the end, although I think this meta-game is not thematic enough. I am likely going to change the rules of how it gets scored next time I play it to make the ocean more aggressive and add a gold cost to traveling over the ocean. Gold accumulated might also be worth points at the end of the game, to encourage you to save up each game, but we'll see.

The real question is whether I grow laterally from this map as a seed or reset the world as we enter into "the Fifth Age" ... I kind of want the canonical map to follow the set rules I finalize, [5] but I also realize they might never get finalized, so why lose all this work.

What I Have Been Playing

Last week, I played a game of Scotland Yard for the first time with a group of four. This was a delightful, pared down game, muscular and confident in its nature. And actually, for its simplicity, quite dynamic, as it can go from feeling like nothing can stop the hidden escapee to him being surrounded and doomed to capture suddenly. Having played a couple other versions of this hidden movement game (like Fury of Dracula (Second Edition), I was impressed that it worked with quite a different set of rules of how the escapee's position gets revealed.

Also, in my last entry, I neglected to mention the games of Arkham Horror: The Drowned City and Arkham Horror: The Card Game that got played over the last few months. I finally wrapped up "The Drowned City" and enjoyed the campaign. I don't think I would rank it among my favorites, but every scenario on its own was enjoyable and distinctive. The overarching story and connective tissue seemed less interesting than the campaigns that impressed me most like The Forgotten Age or Path to Carcosa, but at least it was not as burdened with narrative and scenario busywork like Feast of Hemlock Vale or The Circle Undone, which have good qualities in spite of those problems. I look forward to replaying it.

I also had a go at the new "Chapter Two" campaign, and this was ... fine. I guess I'm not really the audience for this thing. It's more an obligation to get it on the chance that the new content will be as good as "Chapter One" (still in the top five games for me of all time, although at the moment lagging behind my favorite eurogame, Le Havre), but there was nothing that really wowed me here. Is it better than the original core set campaign? Maybe mechanically. I have only played it once, but I also don't feel a strong draw to replay it, even to try out other investigators. Indeed almost everything in the new core set feels familiar ... samey. Maybe I don't have as meticulous an imagination to see the subtle differences in player balance or the like? The only new elements so far this year that come across as fresh are the survivor heroes, but to be fair, I have only played a game with Daniela and Trish. Here's hoping Children of Blood injects something vital into the game, but they haven't yet stirred my enthusiasm by advertising re-playability through difficulty tweaking, although I expect some players will really appreciate that. [6] My main lingering concern is that the core design of Arkham (and how investigators evolve) was conceived for a long campaign being the typical case, so a three game campaign isn't going to afford the opportunity to both level up and feel the impact of cards that you might include and never see in game two or three. That said, these are the designers who kept "Chapter One" worthwhile in the last few years, so I hope they can meet the challenge this new approach has presented.

Making and Playing

I am at a pivot point for games that exercise the elements of make-as-you-play now that I hit a big milestone with my Dragons Down idea. I might dive into it again with new rules right away, or I might resume my solo-RPG idea, but that too has been sitting idle long enough that I thought of a rule change that would require a reset to the campaign that's ongoing and that is a big deal for me to consider at this point. I would probably not restart using Mythic Bastionland so as to keep it feeling fresh vs retreading similar territory.

I also might renew my attempt to devise a make-as-you-play knock-off of Marvel Champions: The Card Game that essentially has custom schemes and villains and consists largely of modulars (and has its own "ideas" of implementing the standard cards that doesn't require using them in the deck). The main issue there is that while some of the modulars (even the nemesis modulars included!) are really cool and interesting, they were never intended for this so figuring out how to make the game feel close to the correct experience is hard... maybe even beyond my skills at this point.

Most likely of all, I should return to my incremental playthrough of Deck Legends, so barring something grander, I expect my next post will be a few games of that, fleshing out cards with enough distance that I don't remember anything about the world anymore beyond what is written on them.

Endnotes

[1] Also, Storo started with fiery chasm and actually learned a second copy of the spell in game. He was very dedicated to this particular tactic.

[2] That seems weird, but that's magic, kid.

[3] Pinki Rongport was in my original "Lost Island" campaign, so it was fun to see that she was able to make a return here. If I recognize a pair of lineage + class that matches a previous survivor, I usually bring that hero back.

[4] It does seem questionable if "epic" and "legendary" weapons are the same, but they both get you legend points and fame, so I am going to rule it yes. Makes for a better tale.

[5] Or maybe I should take a page from Jerry and how he grows a map over decades with rules that he definitely is willing to change. This is one epic "Nomic"-like. I recommend you check it out: Artistic Map Project, which has the link to Quinns' "People Make Games" video.

[6] Actually, it strikes me that the difficulty adjustment (whether through card swapping or just increasing the chaos bag challenge) might be a way to make successions of 3 / 5 campaigns in either order. I'm surprised the designers didn't suggest this when conceiving of the official "epic mode" that expects a near-total-deck-reset so there might be a problem with the concept, even if it seems obvious to me as way to overcome the length for people who want length, encourage variability in playing, but also still let those who prefer shorter campaigns have a complete experience. I guess when we get two sufficiently long campaigns, I can try it out and see if it works. Then again, I had no problem taking Skids, Wendy, and Daisy on separate occasions through all the first four campaigns back to back (and the original two one-off scenarios). Yes, they were brittle gods by the end, but it was fun!

A new episode has been added to the database: [DND3 Pg 264] How To Rob A Nonexistent Bank [Week 44]

A new episode has been added to the database: Critical Hit #838: The Great Train Robbery - Part 1 (LNRS01-E23)

A new episode has been added to the database: [Ep. 261] Shadows of The Eclipse

by Bruce McG

I may have done the sugar glider before, but I'm not going to check. It would be worth a repeat...



New releases at your FLGS (sourced by Leisure Games)

Arkham Horror: The Roleplaying Game
⭐ Bestiary - The Thompson Files - EDGE Studio

Generic / Universal
⭐ Play Unsafe - Thieves of Time

Imperium Maledictum
⭐ Voll Adventures - Cubicle 7 Entertainment

The Laundry (2nd Edition)
⭐ Black Bag Jobs Reopened - Cubicle 7 Entertainment
⭐ Introduction to Applied Occult Computing - Cubicle 7 Entertainment
⭐ The Laundry: Operative's Handbook - Cubicle 7 Entertainment
⭐ The Laundry: Supervisor's Guide - Cubicle 7 Entertainment

Run from the Dark
⭐ Run from the Dark - WIRD Designs

Warhammer: The Old World Roleplaying Game
⭐ Allies & Antagonists Card Deck - Cubicle 7 Entertainment
⭐ Character Sheet Pad - Cubicle 7 Entertainment
⭐ Collector's Edition - Cubicle 7 Entertainment
⭐ Warhammer: The Old World Roleplaying Game Gamemaster's Guide - Cubicle 7 Entertainment
⭐ Grand Duchy of Talabec Dice Set - Cubicle 7 Entertainment
⭐ Warhammer: The Old World Roleplaying Game Player's Guide - Cubicle 7 Entertainment
⭐ Prayers and Miracles Card Deck - Cubicle 7 Entertainment
⭐ Spells Card Deck - Cubicle 7 Entertainment
⭐ Weapons and Armour Card Deck - Cubicle 7 Entertainment
⭐ Wounds and Conditions Card Deck - Cubicle 7 Entertainment

New PDF releases @ DriveThru

5e Game System Product (D&D 5th Edition Compatible)
⭐ Apocalyp5e - Darrin Drader Designs
⭐ Gallery of Puzzles & Traps - ND Hobbies

Advanced Fighting Fantasy
⭐ Cave Wars - Arion Games

Eclipse Phase (Second Edition)
⭐ Ego Hunter Resleeved - Posthuman Studios

Entity
⭐ ENTITY Advanced Expeditions - Candlenaut

Legends of Akeroth
⭐ Legends of Akeroth: Songs of a Lost Age - Crossed Paths

Modern War
⭐ Modern War: Vietnam - Zozer Games

Monster of the Week
⭐ Mystic Marginalia - Evil Hat Productions

Mothership
⭐ Life-Paths: A Mothership Supplement - Burning Light Press

Shadow of the Demon Lord
⭐ Return of the Witch-King 8: Old Bones - Schwalb Entertainment

Shadowdark RPG
⭐ Shadowspark Stranger Danger - Philip Reed Games

Shadowrun: Sixth World (6th Edition)
⭐ Québec: The Northern Lily - Catalyst Game Labs

USR (Unbelievably Simple Role-playing)
⭐ USR: 15th Anniversary Edition - Trollish Delver Games

by Rachel Carpenter

Happy 25th 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, June 2026.

Hello again, Level 5! After last week's victory, I wonder, can I do it again?

Nope! That's a Yellow Phase loss for this week 😜.

I didn't even get to face the pirates :arrrh::arrrh:.

C'est la vie.

My final score was -32 points: 30 points from Fighting Cards, -20 points from Aging Cards, 0 points from lifepoints, 0 points for defeating neither pirate, and -42 points from Unbeaten Hazards.

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

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 JULY! (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:
:d10-1: Charge the Circle: Post-Contest (Revised Edition) Web-published to BGG. 2nd Edition & 2nd Edition (PNP) & 2nd Edition (Altar Decks ONLY!) 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: 2nd Edition now available on The Game Crafter! 2nd Edition, Print & Play also available on The Game Crafter! Original WIP thread: here!
:d10-3: Fireworks for the 4th: Semiquincentennial Edition: Now available on The Game Crafter! Revised (Post Contest) Edition remains available here!.
:d10-4: Pumpkin Spice & Everything Nice: 2nd Edition now available on The Game Crafter! 2nd Edition, Print & Play also available on The Game Crafter! Original WIP thread: here!
:d10-5: The United Cards of America: Now available on The Game Crafter!
:d10-6: Lincoln's Cat: Now available on The Game Crafter! Print & Play edition also available on The Game Crafter!
:d10-7: Liberty, DEATH, or TAXES: Now available on The Game Crafter!


Active Projects:
:d10-1: Finders Keepers: No new progress.
:d10-2: Bears love bows: Very Merry Trashmas edition: now available for playtesting AND formally entered in Bad Comet's Cozy Game Design Contest here on BGG! Next up: video!
: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:. Work continues... lookin' like the play mat will be the way to go...
:d10-8: Surfboard Stealin' Sea Otters: Contest complete! #2 Best Family Game and #8 Best Overall Game! Woot! Video still on the docket. Then I do plan on pitching the otters and seeing if I can catch some waves... and ... in the meantime, yes I am now committing to a Game Crafter release in 2026! Rules revisions continue! Box almost done!
:d10-9: Tricky Treats: Game considered complete and officially Ready for Pitching! I still need a video... no progress on that project this week.
:d10-1::d10-0: Squirrelly (formerly Woodland Warriors) : Contest complete! #3 for Best Art! 2 mini expansions available! Ready for pitching! Video still on the docket...
: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... I did take some more video footage for the Cat last month.. and I'm still seriously considering re-jigging things to at least get the original starter set on The Game Crafter...
: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! New rules posted to the WIP thread, take a look and let me know what you think! Just waiting 'til I've got more proofs ready to order...
: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, which is now complete. No wins for Unlucky Spirits , but that's okay. I'm keeping on keeping on. And that's why I need you, players to help me get this game off the ground! The PNP files are serviceable. The TTS is functional and up-to-date. I just need some players to help me put the base game through its paces while I continue to write the campaign!
: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. I've figured out a way around the drift issue that works well for Abydos. There's still more work to do, but I'm actually happy with how this is going now. Work continues.
:d10-1::d10-8: Nine Tails: Ready for pitching! This one will be coming to The Game Crafter! Art for full color edition done! Now working on the coloring book version, print-and-play files, and box!
:d10-1::d10-9: Put a bow on it! The new lease on life continues! The game is getting bigger and maybe a bit too complicated for Bad Comet's Cozy Contest... we'll just have to see how this one continues to develop...
: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... see Last Leaves below!
: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. Again, not much progress this week. In fact, I'm putting this on hold for the moment and pivoting to a new take on Last Leaves...
: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?: Might be my entry/one of my entries in this year's 54-Card Game Design Contest! No new progress this week.
:d10-2::d10-6: I sits!: Didn't make the FFF Contest, but watch this space!
:d10-2::d10-7: Caturday @ the cattery: Didn't make the FFF Contest, but will still happen. Eventually. Again, watch this space!
: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 this month...
:d10-2::d10-9: Time's up! : Probably my 2nd entry in this year's 54-Card Game Design Contest. Playtesting has gone well, now I'm fine-tuning things, actually locking down the rules, and starting work on the graphics. WIP thread won't go live until July to preserve eligibility.
:d10-3::d10-0: Last Leaves: old name, new game. This is a cozy, cute, Game-Crafter-friendly solitaire matching game that builds on Eighteen Eggs. The original Last Leaves may still happen down the road, but it'll need a new name because the name fits this little game better :geek_grin:. Card done! Rules done! Box done! Now waiting with Elements for my next order of proofs.
:d10-3::d10-1: A Walk on the Beach: Solo-only, play-through-the-deck set collection game. Unsure if for Solo PNP Contest OR 54-Card Contest... Continuing to play around to figure out where this game needs to go.


Early Development:
:d10-1: The 7th Seal : A bit of progress :whistle:
: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.



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 Needs New Name!: 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
:d10-2::d10-4: Reverse the curse!


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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No new sales, I'm on top of my non-BGG socials, behind on BGG- including SGOYT: Solitaire Games On Your Table -- June 2026 (Don't forget to stop by and say "hi").

I also didn't get as much design work done as I wanted this month. Elements and Last Leaves are ready to send, but I've got a lot of work to do before ordering my next batch of proof copies... Life happens and sometimes computers don't cooperate. Sometimes you just have to go with it.

I've a few more session reports to write-up, but, as with last week at this time, Mythic Monday is ready to go for Monday :geek_grin:.

Amazingly, #SaveStargate is still going strong. I'm impressed. Twitter officially belongs to us right now and the flyover on the 16th was epic. I'm also massively entertained by the Tartan Army taking over Boston 🤣.

And that was my week. How was yours? Any plans for the weekend?

Happy Friday and happy playing!
-Rachel

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