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by ulithebison

My first project of 2026 will be a simulation/replay with LOGacta Chart Soccer as I mentioned in my introduction for this project.
The whole project covers the four top leagues in England in 2026: Premier League, Championship, League One, League Two. On top of that we'll be dealing with the League Cup, FA Cup, Champions League, as well as Euros and World Cup. Most of the time I'll only be talking about the Premier League and cup competitions though. If anything interesting happens in the lower leagues, I'll mention it.

[hr]The league matches through Week 12 are done. You can find the results here: LOGacta Chart Soccer - England - Week 9-12

The fourth round of the League Cup from Week 9 is also done. So today we'll look at the quarter-final draw and results. You can find the Round 4 results here: LOGacta Chart Soccer - England - League Cup Results - Week 9

Let's start with the draw again, this time the quarter-finals:

League Cup - Quarter Final - Draws

We've got several exciting ties in this round.
We find our giant-killers from the fourth division, Accrington Stanley (4), once again — this time up against Blackburn Rovers (2) from the Championship.
On top of that, Bristol Rovers (4) are another League Two side among the last eight. Bristol travel away to face Everton (1).
The only PL vs. PL match in the quarter-finals will be Leeds United vs. Crystal Palace.

I'll hide the results behind a spoiler again, so just click to reveal.

[o]
League Cup - Quarter Final - Results

Accrington Stanley (4) did everything they could to knock out yet another favourite and actually made it to penalties against Blackburn Rovers (2) after a 1-1 draw in regular time, but unfortunately went down 2-3 on penalties.

Also out are Bristol Rovers (4), who lost 3-0 away to Everton.

Surprisingly, Championship side Ipswich Town (2) won comfortably 2-0 against Aston Villa (1).

Bottom-of-the-table Leeds United (1) came through the only PL vs. PL match with a 4-2 win against Crystal Palace (1).

The teams through to the semi-finals are:
Blackburn Rovers (2), Ipswich Town (2), Leeds United (1) and Everton (1)

So we have a 2/2 split. Maybe we'll get the surprise of two lower-league clubs in the final.
[/o]

In the next blog post we'll take a look at the third Euro Cup matchday from Week 12.

Thanks for reading,

Uli

by sdonohue

Legendary Bestiaries: Swarms (PF1) is a 2025 release from Legendary Games. It has a large number of contributors in both the design and art. There are several different versions of this book for different systems; this review covers the version released for Pathfinder Roleplaying Game (1st Edition) and is part of the Legendary Bestiary series.

Presentation
This product is available in both pdf and softcover. The softcover is 86 pages with a sturdy cover and is perfect bound. The covers and the interior pages are all color and there are plenty of illustrations.

Content
This book is aimed at adding additional types of swarms and clarifying and expanding the rules for interacting with swarms. The introduction explains that and adds several lists of swarms. They are listed by Type and Sub-type, Challenge Rating, and swarms appearing in other bestiaries from both Paizo and Legendary Games.

Once we get past the introduction, the book moves directly into the monsters and their stat blocks. Most monsters get a full page description in two-column format. The monster pages each have a statblock, an illustration, and a brief explanation about their background and history. There are some variations from the typical stat block, mostly because of the potential mythic powers held by most of these creatures. There are about 80 different creatures here but some of them are the same entry with variations. Many of the swarms are typical creatures like bats, rats, and bugs, but some are more unusual like the Animated Silverware Swarm, Carnivorous Hamster Swarm, and the Tumbleweed Tangle. After the monsters, there's just the OGL declaration.

Evaluation
There are a lot of different swarms here and probably some that every GM would find useful in their games. Some of them seem a little silly based on their name like Carnivorous Hamster, but it would be easy to change the name and honestly, many of the players I know would get a kick out of these punny or funny names. Looking beyond the names, there are plenty of interesting and unique monsters.

I have to confess that I'm not a big fan of swarms -- to me they're just a screw the players kind of monster; I lump them in with rust monsters and disenchanters. They're hard to fight, immune to lot of damage types (and spells) and just generally a pain to deal with. Still, there are several here that are interesting enough that I might be tempted to use them. If you like throwing your players into situations where they have to use brains and muscle, then this is probably a great supplement for you. The CRs range from 1/4 to 21, so there's almost bound to be one that's appropriate for you game and which will give the players a run for their money.

by Biotech66

Originally posted at www.throatpunchgames.com - A new idea every day!

Product- DCC Day #3: Chanters in the Dark
System- DCC RPG
Producer- Goodman Games
Price- $6.00 here https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/395901/dcc-day-3-cha...
TL; DR- Good DCC up till the end. 90%

Basics- Who calls from below?! Chanters in the Dark is a one-shot adventure where the characters are drawn into a world of intrigue and subterranean threats. Will they be able to save everyone, or will the things from below eat them all?

Mechanics or Crunch: This adventure covers a lot of places, but fumbles a bit at the end. The bulk of the adventure is urban, as the players meet new people, possibly kill them, and then have to escape. The escape is the least fun. Basically, the characters have to run away. It's not as exciting as a final fight, but it does make thematic sense. 4.5/5

Theme or Fluff- This is a good mix of exploration, combat, and skills, but the end is less fun. The town the players explore and the religion they may attack are both fleshed out. It's a very meaty adventure for a book this size. The one issue is the end, as the players just run. Nothing else, but climb quickly. That diminishes the other parts. Not enough to not make it fun, but I saw some players lose some interest. 4.5/5

Execution: DCC polarizes some with its layout, and here it's a bit less troubling but still old-school. There are multiple pages of two columns. It reads more easily than the real old-school, but if you are annoyed by the basic layout, this will not win you over. I would like more art, but what’s here is solid. 4.5/5

Summary- This is a good adventure that fumbles in the last minutes. The bulk is lots of fun , but I’d like the end to be a bit more active than a few rolls. It works as a story, but a bit more would be fun. That said, I enjoyed it and suggest everyone check this one out. 90%

by Martin van Rossum

“Cat Saga is a cooperative, story-driven adventure game. Explore the world together and make decisions that impact your unique saga.”

In this Designer Diary, I will take you on the journey of creating Cat Saga. We have worked on this game for over four years and are very proud of the result. Hopefully, the design lessons will help other aspiring designers bring their games to life.

How the Game Works
Before we dive into the journey of creating Cat Saga, let’s briefly talk about how the game plays. As a team, you will make decisions that impact the story, engage in combat, and use your abilities to overcome danger. You will create a wonderful saga together attempt epic actions, get into fights, find valuable items, and level up.

There are no turns; players simply move through the story together, with different paths leading to different endings. To overcome obstacles, players must complete a Try or Fight, using dice, abilities, and items to achieve a good result.

The Vision (4 Years Ago)
I have always wanted to create a story-driven game. As a young kid, my dream was to become a writer first and a game designer second. It felt great to combine the two crafts. The idea started when I realized I couldn’t find a good story-driven game or RPG that my wife and son would enjoy.

We began working on different concepts for a game that mixed TTRPG and board game mechanics. Quickly, we struck a balance of complexity that we enjoyed and started the in-depth development. A key goal was to make a game that would also play well solo and allow the “forever DM” to experience a campaign as one of the players. So there is no DM in this game, but we still wanted an exciting story with different paths to explore.

From the start, I wanted a game that plays quickly (under one hour) and carries your progress over to the next chapter. We began by designing something as rules-light as possible while still capturing the feeling of a fantasy adventure game.

It really helps to define your vision and target audience up front. For example, it made sense to keep combat simple and limited, given the targets I had set and the family-friendly nature I wanted to achieve. There are plenty of games with a heavy focus on combat; there was no need for this game to try to be everything for everyone.

Setting
We decided to make a family friendly light-hearted game. And we wanted a twist on the classic fantasy tropes. As a family we were discussing at the time to bring a cat into our home. That is when the theme was decided. Cats are cute and loved by many. This was before we called games "cozy" but looking back, this was a decision to make the game look the way it plays: simple, accesible and friendly.

Early Prototyping
It was clear that this was going to be a very accessible game, so we decided to only use paper, pencils, and dice. Since dice are the randomizer, it was important to decide how they would be used. In one early prototype, we used classic RPG dice: 1d4, 1d6, 1d8, etc. But to differentiate from well-known games and keep the system accessible, we decided to use only the familiar d6.

Adding the numbers on the dice to reach a certain threshold felt familiar, but it did not offer enough options to mitigate the dice. After some testing, we landed on a system where each number is represented by a trait. This means that rolling a 6 is not always good, it might be great for a Strength Try, but useless for another type of challenge.

For players, this allowed us to add options like flipping a die, adding or subtracting one, and, of course, re-rolling. Testing showed that re-rolling abilities were far more fun. They added a push-your-luck element to the game. Will you use that potion now, or save it for later? When you don’t know the exact outcome, the decision becomes much more interesting.

Development & Artwork (2 Years Ago)
The game was in a good state, and we decided to commit to creating artwork. In the meantime, we focused on intensive online testing. Shortly after the art was completed, Lucky joined our family as a cute little kitten.

"When we took these photos two years ago, the game was 90% finished. We have now finished the other 90%, and after the campaign we will complete the final 90%."

Looking back, I remember thinking the game was almost done and that it was time to create the artwork and start more blind testing. But during that phase, an enormous amount of work was still ahead of us. And I know that even after the Kickstarter campaign there will still be plenty left to do.

At this stage we hired an editor. I am not a native English speaker and wrote most of the stories myself, so it was important to have them reviewed and improved. The artwork also grew beyond our initial scope, and we eventually hired several artists to create all the pieces for the game. And we moved into heavy blind-testing. Besides regular playtesting sessions where people played at the same time, we also did a lot of “play-by-post.” We used RoleGate and attracted many blind playtesters from the RPG side of the hobby. Since there are no turns in the game, it flows very well online players don’t all need to be active at the same time.

Now (2026)
Lucky is more than two years old and no longer a small kitten. As much as she matured, so did the game. And now it is finally time to share it with the world!

Lessons
- Create something YOU are missing in the market. A game you would love to play. Ultimately a lot of hours will go into a design, make sure you will enjoy it.
- Start with a clear vision for your game. Whenever you are unsure on which decision to make, going back to the vision and target audience will help you decide. Stating this up front is not a marketing method, it makes sure you end up with a game that hits the targets you set out to achieve.
- Tap into other communities. RoleGate was a great way of testing for this game. Perhaps the gameplay or theme can help you find new groups of playtesters.
- Games are never finished, but at one point they are printed. Yes be a perfectionist, but also work towards completing a project.

by Alexander Waiabasse

Online banking has totally transformed how we handle our cash. It's incredibly convenient and always accessible. You can instantly check balances, transfer funds, pay bills, and track spending from anywhere, skipping those bank visits.


Smart security, like extra login steps, gives you peace of mind, though the occasional tech snag can be annoying.

The mobile apps are super simple, making money management easy for anyone.
Features like instant alerts, budgeting tools, and digital statements boost your control over spending.

All in all, it’s a really practical, quick, and safe solution for modern banking, simplifying your daily financial life.

by Alexander Waiabasse

Mobile gaming has really grown up, offering amazing fun that's easy to get into, often rivaling what you'd find on bigger consoles.

There are loads of games, from simple puzzles to intense online battles, so everyone can truly find something they love. Being able to play anywhere, anytime, plus titles looking better and running smoother, makes phones and tablets a huge draw.

However, things like in-game purchases and those pesky ads can sometimes interrupt your game. Despite these little downsides, mobile gaming just keeps expanding fast, thanks to fresh ideas and its easy access for everyone globally.

It's a bustling and ever-changing place that really gives us a peek into where the future of gaming is heading.

A new episode has been added to the database: Pyramid Scheme - ep.1

A new episode has been added to the database: Episode 164 - What Will Be Enough?

by Steve

March 29

1886

- Austrian Wilhelm Steinitz wins first Chess World Championship [microbadge=16]

1955

- English actress Marina Sirtis [microbadge=29920]

1956

- American gymnast Kurt Thomas (Gymkata) [microbadge=6845]

1957

- American actor Christopher Lambert [microbadge=3670]

1968

- New Zealand actress and Warrior Princess Lucy Lawless [microbadge=8963]

1974

- Chinese farmers discover the 8,000 strong Terracotta Army guarding Qin Shi Huang's tomb (China's 1st emperor) [microbadge=20401]

March 30

1853

- Dutch artist Vincent Van Gogh [microbadge=5793]

1867

- 'Seward's Folly' US buys Alaska from Russia for $7.2M ($0.02/acre) [microbadge=1106]

1950

- Scottish actor Robbie Coltrane [microbadge=6212]

1984

- World's largest tip: NYPD detective Robert Cunningham offers waitress Phyllis Penzo half of $1 lottery ticket, next day they win $6M [microbadge=47]

????

- TomTi89

March 31

1596

- French philosopher René Descartes [microbadge=1926]

1889

- Eiffel Tower officially opens in Paris, at 300m high it was the tallest man made structure for 41 years [microbadge=4213]

1928

- Canadian NHL Hall of Famer Gordie Howe [microbadge=15169]

1943

- American actor Christopher Walken [microbadge=11695]

1971

- Scottish actor Ewan McGregor [microbadge=32319]

1999

- The Matrix opens in theaters [microbadge=44964][microbadge=4066][microbadge=23652][microbadge=7694][microbadge=23635][microbadge=23636]

April 1 - No Foolin!

1748

- Ruins of Pompeii are rediscovered by Spaniard Rocque Joaquin de Alcubierre [microbadge=302]

1926

- American sci-fi/fantasy author Anne McCaffrey [microbadge=30123]

1976

- Apple Computers founded in Cupertino, CA [microbadge=12864]

????

- JasperMeer (of course, while this day is appropriate it might also be a prank)

April 2

1805

- Danish fairy tale author Hans Christian Andersen [microbadge=18104]

1840

- French novelist Emile Zola [microbadge=23181]

1914

- English actor Sir Alec Guinness [microbadge=26608]

1925

- English author George MacDonald Fraser [microbadge=4049]

1968

- Kubrick & Clarke's 2001: A Space Odyssey premieres [microbadge=32124]

April 3

1783

- American author Washington Irving [microbadge=26150]

1860

- Pony Express takes up operation [microbadge=11914]

1868

- A Hawaiian surfs on highest wave ever - a 50-foot tidal wave [microbadge=34965]

1924

- American actor Marlon Brando [microbadge=11141]

1934

- English anthropologist Jane Goodall [microbadge=7350]

1973

- 1st portable cell phone call made in New York City [microbadge=42563]

2007

- A TGV V150 sets a new railway speed record at 574,79 km/h [microbadge=24414][microbadge=24415][microbadge=24416][microbadge=24417][microbadge=24418][microbadge=24417][microbadge=24418][microbadge=24417][microbadge=24418]

April 4

1581

- English explorer Francis Drake knighted for circumnavigation of the globe [microbadge=28279]

1932

- American actor Anthony Perkins [microbadge=3835]

1965

- American actor Robert Downey Jr [microbadge=13057][microbadge=17106]

1975

- Microsoft founded [microbadge=139]

1979

- Australian-American actor Heath Ledger [microbadge=6560]

2013

- Poecilotheria rajaei, a giant tarantula with a 20cm (8") leg span, discovered in Sri Lanka [microbadge=14511]

I'm sure this list can be improved. Feel free to offer suggestions for this and upcoming weeks. If you want your birthday included just add it to this geeklist: RPG Geek Birthday List

A new episode has been added to the database: Dice Funk S12: Part 61 - Nature vs. Nurture vs. Cymbeline