Finance And The Great Unknown (Tradecraft)

As my book was hitting the shelves, I had this sinking feeling as the store struggled. This would be my comeuppance, the game store owner who wrote a book and promptly went out of business. 2018 was the year we had an honest conversation about debt and finances and the various tricks used to get through a month. Cash flow in the beginning of 2018 was usually enough to cover a handful of days. Being a week behind on bills was normal. Worst of all, I didn't want to acknowledge it.

When our construction project was underway and the months slowly ticked by with its business disruption, I borrowed money to pay for the work, and the decline in business. Then I borrowed a little more. Then ... a little more. All in, it was over $100,000. Could I pay it back? There were no bank loan actuaries to put on the brakes and say I had enough debt. There was me, with a modest income projection, with a make or break project. If I stopped borrowing now, I would fail. There's not really a choice here. So I kept looking at the numbers I needed to achieve while in the back of my mind, laughing hysterically. Because I have a bit of imposter syndrome and part of that is never believing my own bullshit.

So in 2018, just a year ago, I took matters into my own hands and did what I said I would never do again, and took out a home equity loan. It's amazing anyone would give me one after flipping Citimortgage the bird, and re-negotiating my mortgage on my own terms, but it had been enough years, and all was forgiven. I refinanced one of my loans and infused extra cash into the business. The problems were finally acknowledged and as nobody else wanted to loan me money to do this thing, I did it myself, paying myself a reasonable interest rate, much to the chagrin of my investors.

I paid off a loan that had the most stringent terms, a security interest on my furniture, fixtures and equipment (which I am grateful for), with a loan from me, with the least stringent terms. Legally, as an owner, if the business fails, I am last in line to be paid. That's why my investors were reluctant to loan money. It's a crap position, as opposed to other personal lenders who took on senior positions, or security interests, or whatever made them comfortable.

The ironic thing is I get mail every day offering to loan me hundreds of thousands of dollars. None of my loans are on a credit report, they're all private. Sometimes I take the time to talk to lenders on the phone explaining, "Look, I don't need any more money. Money is cheap. I need revenue. Call me when you have a plan to increase my revenue." It amuses me because it's a large corporate position. Sears doesn't need another hundred million dollars, it needs a plan to be a better Sears. If you come up with one of those, well, you've got something they want to buy.

Coming up with a better Black Diamond Games is at the end of the day, my job. But for a while in 2018, I was looking around, hoping to maybe find someone who could take me up on that offer. The guy who wrote a book on starting a game store, looking for someone to do his job. That was 2018 in a nutshell. Thankfully, we're in much better shape in 2019, in all the ways possible. It's chaotic and stressful. Good material for a second book.

Scrum In Review: How Did Legion Do?

My last post was about going with Legion out of the three factions I have available, and I went into the last Scrum of 2019 in South Jersey to give them a run.



Not So Minor Complications

Legion was one of the main factions I played in MK2 and I hadn't really played or bought much for them in MK3. Most notably I didn't own what is considered the staple of competitive Legion lists in the current meta: Chosen, Rotwings, and a ton of Incubi to play Kallus1.

I did however have a friend who owned a ton of Incubi and a second unit of Grotesque Raiders that I wanted to test out and he was playing Minions, so I was able to borrow some models for the Scrum.

That all said, the lists I ended up making were largely based on over thinking the meta while I was taking a vacation and it became immediately apparent when I started the scrum that some mistakes were made in list construction:

Kallus1 - Ravens of War
- Succubus
- Ravagore
- Ravagore
- Golab
- Naga
2x Grotesque Raiders
2x Grotesque Assassins
2x Hellmouths
Forsaken
Deathstalker
Sorceress and Hellion

Fyanna 2 - Oracles of Annihilation
- Succubus
- Naga
- Scythean
- Seraph
- Neraph
- Neraph
2x Shepherds
Sorceress and Hellion
Incubus
Forsaken
Full Hex Hunters + Bayal
Throne of Everblight

Vayl1 - Primal Terrors
- Ammok
- Blight Bringer
- Raek
Warmonger War Chief
Full Warmongers + Gorag
2x Full Warspears + Chieftain
2x Hellmouths


How did I do?

I started playing again after a few months off the game at the beginning of August, the Scrum started in September and ended this week. After it all, I went 3-2, though one game was a concession so while I technically have a winning record it's not completely based on my skill.

My only wins came from using Vayl1 of all the lists, and in both games I basically stole the win - I used a Blight Bringer shot plus Vayl to get two boosted spells into their caster and in both cases I got the assassination. In the first game it was vs. Morvana1 where I was able to get boosted blast damage and two spells into her due to a slight misplay by my opponent. In my last game vs Gearheart I actually got enabled by luckily landing a crit stationary off Hoarfrost and then rolling well on my boosted damage rolls.

In both wins my army got utterly demolished on attrition the turn before, and I was able to just pull the win out.

I lost round one in a challenge to my friend who lent me the Legion models. It was Fyanna2 vs. Maelock with 4 units of Posse and two Wrastlers. I basically needed to win the dice roll to go first and try to jam him out of scenario, otherwise none of my lists had the hitting power to get through his feat turn.  I lost the roll and the game spiraled out of my control, though honestly I was on my back foot the entire game.

Second round I played into Iona + Tharn for the first time ever with Kallus. I actually was able to hold the game off a bit due to some key dice rolls going against my opponent and then I had a massive attrition swing - only to have Iona come from downtown to get some Wolf Riders and Deathwolves into her feat range who could then get onto my caster.  Really fun game even though I lost it.

Overall Thoughts

Once I started playing without having a big PT backup list, things felt kind of rough. Having a Kallus1 list with Chosen would have really helped vs. the Gators, and I felt a bit down on my lists as I looked into each matchup it became apparent I was going to be dropping a sub-optimal Vayl1 list that ended up working out due to her always having pocket assassinations. I'm sure there are decent non-Chosen/Rotwing based lists in Legion to play, I just didn't make them for this event and work needs to be done to find them.

I really enjoyed playing in the Scrum again, seeing old faces, meeting new people, and getting to push models around just made me happy in general. I'm definitely looking forward to playing in next year's Scrums when I can.

Going Forward

October to December is a very busy time of year for me and my family due to birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays - so my gaming time is going to be limited and far more casual. There's no way I'm getting out to any tournaments, though I'm hoping to get casual games in at least every other week and hopefully doing an Oblivion Campaign play through.

Later this month the Void Archon comes out which completely changes how Convergence as a faction is going to be played, and their CID is just around the corner, so I'm excited to play them again.

That said, a local player I just met for the first time during the Scrum was selling his Legion and gave me a great deal on all the key models I didn't own: Chosen, Rotwings, and Incubi, so I actually have a lot more tools to make more competitive Legion lists going forward as well. There's a lot I want to explore, and it doesn't necessarily involve just playing the near ubiquitous Kallus1 Primal Terrors list.

Nintendo's 8-Bit Obsession With Golf

Golf is popular in most parts of the world with any concentration of wealth.  It is rather popular in Japan, at least for those who can afford to play it.  Green fees and club memberships are extremely pricey in Japan, so it may not be any surprise that many people who enjoy the game may have to turn to less expensive alternatives to get 18 holes in.  Most video game systems have a golf game, or something intended to resemble golf, released for them.  When Nintendo was releasing early titles for its Famicom, a golf game was a natural addition to its sports library.  But Nintendo kept revisiting the sport with its 8-bit systems, so let's explore how its implementation of golf evolved throughout the 8-bit lifespan.

Read more »

You say "obsessed" as if it is a bad thing.

Frankenstein: A New Version Of It's Alive From Invedars

Hey guys. News about the game formerly known as It's Alive.

After the first prototypes, two editions of It's Alive from Reiver Games, and two versions of Hanukkah themed versions called Candle Quest by Victory Point Games and on The Game Crafter (still available), the game has been picked up by Invedars, returning to its original Frankenstein theme.

The new version is called Frankenstein and it looks amazing. New artwork, and a figurine and a new events expansion for Kickstarter backers.

The project is up on Kickstarter and reached its goal in only 24 hours. It is now many times above its goal.

They have already sent prototypes to reviewers for new reviews, for example:

Follow Invedars and progress about the game on Facebook.

Press Release: Announcing Succulent - A Beautiful Strategy Game! From Renegade Game Studios

Support me on Patreon!

Announcing Succulent - A Beautiful Strategy Game! Compete to find out who is the master horticulturalist!

We're thrilled to announce Succulent - a beautiful and strategic tile-laying game designed by J. Alex Kevern and illustrated by Anna Daviscourt. You are a gardener tasked with thoughtful selection, delicate pruning, and tireless care. You've earned a reputation as a master horticulturist. In Succulent, you compete against your peers for lucrative and prestigious projects that will cement your place as the community's premier succulent gardener.

The game is played over a series of turns where players collect succulent cuttings from their gardens along with water crystals and use them to complete projects which grant various benefits, including earning points. Optimize every turn to become your community's premier succulent gardener and earn the most victory points to win. Succulent is designed for 2-4 gardeners, ages 10+, cultivating their gardens in 45-60 minutes.

Lucky gamers will be able to catch an early release and demo day of Succulent at select friendly local game store on April 4th with Board Game Expo!

Find a local store and ask if they're participating in Board Game Expo!

Pre-order the Game Now!

Did you like this press release?  Show your support: Support me on Patreon!Also, click the heart at Board Game Links , like GJJ Games on Facebook , or follow on Twitter .  And be sure to check out my games on  Tabletop Generation.

Oceanhorn 2: First Gameplay Video And Screenshots!

Since many of you can't make it to the Nordic Game conference in Malmö, Sweden – we decided to capture a video of our demo! The video is unedited footage that is captured on an actual iPhone 7 Plus.

If you happen to be in Nordic Game, come visit us at Epic's booth and try out the demo yourself! I will keep it short and let the video and screenshots speak for themselves.

 

Oceanhorn 2's Hero lives near ancient structure called Beacon.

Try and catch me!

Home sweet home and trusty old training dummy

So this is why the treasure is still here!

Arne Village is the starting location of Hero's adventures

Hero can carry and throw all sorts of objects

Owru houses

Journey will take Hero around the world

Galactoss will not suffer fools. Watch out for your healthbar!

A Fear Of Flying They Call It

Image in Public Domain.

Being the easily impressionable student that I am, I decided to take on the collegiate tradition of studying abroad. It's a common cliche to hear alumni gush about how studying abroad changed their life, and will change yours, too. The salesmen sure know how to pitch, but I can't say I was completely sold.



I study Spanish, by the way. No, it didn't come out of a great passion for the language, or anything noble like that. In my freshman year of high school I had to select two electives. I chose Spanish and Wood Shop, since they seemed to be the easiest grades. Sure enough, they were. I intended to stay for only two years in Spanish, but stayed longer for the fiestas. Yes, I'm sleazy.

A few scholarships later, I found myself at the airport, ready to go. Well, not so ready. My proficiency in Spanish was crap. I'd only taken a cursory glance at the map, so I getting lost was inevitable. My destination was Santander, Spain. A city I'd never heard of before.

The luxurious plane trip did well to calm my nerves. I have always been pensive about flying, having heard the stories of cramped seats, crowded bathrooms, and crappy airplane food. I didn't worry too much about airsickness (since I'm not prone to vomiting), but I grasped my sick bag should Pazuzu suddenly feel the urge to possess me. I expected lifting off to be like riding on a roller coaster (did I forget mention I don't like those?) yet flying through the air hardly felt any different that riding in a car. Better even. My fears about airplanes were assuaged halfway between the in-flight movie and risotto. This was the Blackjack of Setzer Gabbani. Yet, alas, no flight lasts forever.

In the book of Exodus, Moses names his first son with Zipporah, "Gershon", while in exile from Egyptian royalty. In Hebrew, "Gershon" means "stranger in a strange land." In Spain, I thought my name was "Gershon", but in Spain, my name was "mud."

My problems started as soon as I landed in the Madrid airport. The place was a labyrinth and with no David Bowie to guide me, either. After studiously running around in circles for about two and a half hours, I finally found my plane...just about to take off! The flight crew had to stop the departure for me to get on. I scrambled into my seat, sweaty, delirious, and paranoid.

I took a taxi to my host mother's apartment, knowing my habit for getting lost. The Spanish was mostly basic, "Hola", "¿Que tal?", "Estoy bien", etc. I think those cheap formalities would've sufficed, but I overreached my hand and chewed off more than I could swallow. She gave me a slightly confused look. To this day, I wonder what it was that I said. A cat named Rita also lived there. Cats speak the same language in Spain.

I soon had to meet up with my classmates at "Ayuntamiento" which is Spanish for "town hall." I stepped into the streets nervously, my hands jammed into my pockets for fear of thieves. I tried desperately not to look a tourist, but that veneer faded as soon as I brought out my map of the city. I was lost for two hours. A fat lot of good the map did. At the end of my struggle, I gave in and searched out a taxi, but the cab driver nearly laughed me out the vehicle. It turns out that Ayuntamiento was only a few minutes away.

The next day was hardly any better. Classes began at 8:30, so I woke up at 6:00, knowing that there would be a long walk ahead of me. The school was somewhere on the other side of the city, and I had no idea what it looked like. I figured at the time that a university would be easy to spot. Well, you know what they say about assumptions.

The trek was tiring, to say the least. It often had me going uphill through the various neighborhoods and alleyways. I recalled watching The Flash on the plane. How I would've loved to have had Barry Allen's super-speed at the time. Though if I did, I might've missed out on many of the aesthetics. The shops and dwellings of Santander were melded to fit into the rising landscape. Laundry hung on clotheslines outside of the windows, while pigeons scurried on the grounds, pecking for bread crumbs. By the orange hues of sunrise, it all looked at times as if I had wandered into a painting. Though I doubt if a late student would get extra credit for cultural appreciation.

La Universidad de Cantabria was far smaller than I had anticipated, though I suppose that was for the best. If it had been any larger, I'd probably get lost there, too. The university, small though it was, would become something of a second home for me. The think with relish on the countless hours I would spend outside of the cafeteria, listening to quirky stories NPR, memorizing Spanish vocabulary, or eating what was left of my pig liver sandwich.

Perhaps it was the Sea of Cantabria that kept me (relatively) sane throughout all of that initial madness. My host mother had an apartment near the sea, so it sort of functioned as my North Star. I need only know where the sea is, and I'd (eventually) find my way home. It was a great, wide blue that glittered in the sunlight, its waves licking the shore.

I suppose there's something poetic in the sea, though I can't tell you exactly what it is.

GaryCon XII Prep - Moathouse Complete! Heist Complete! Seeking Playtesters!

The Moathouse for my "Rescue of Hommlet" game is complete!

First... picture time!

     

I am ECSTATIC at how it came out! I can't wait to get this on the table at GaryCon and see people play on it.

I am going to do a post after GaryCon of how I built it and lessons learned.

There is one more playtest for the rules. Members of NIFMA (Northern Illinois Fantasy Miniatures Association) are coming to play - there's room if you're in my local area!

Here's a link to the rules if you'd like to check them out. These are more delta's to OD&D/Chainmail than a coherent set that merges the two; guidelines and approaches for how we'll run the game. I've also created "character sheets" for the dramatis personae, here's a link if you'd like to see what I did.

---

With the moathouse and scatter terrain to represent the bog surrounding it completed, it was time to move to my AD&D game at GaryCon - "The Heist of the Century!"

It's an easy enough job: Get into the Royal Palace, steal the King's Secretary's Seal and return with it, for a reward worth ten years' wages. But nothing is ever simple, is it? Especially when you interrupt something far, far worse, and the opportunities may be far, far bigger. Come experience the world of Etinerra, a campaign ten years going!

The adventure is written, but if you're willing, would you please help me playtest it?

 

I'm looking to do online playtest sessions last week of February/first week of March. Ideally in the evening US Central time. If you're interested, especially if you're not coming to GaryCon, please reach out: chgowiz@gmail.com. Thank you!!

So why am I playtesting this particular adventure? It is like no other adventure I've written or run before!

Dungeon crawls? No problem, I've been writing/running those for years! Outdoor adventures? I'm your guy! In-town, social adventures? Uhhh.... (needle on the record scratching sound)

When I came up with the idea, I was picturing "Ocean's Eleven" or "The Italian Job" in AD&D. Sounds great, right? Then I sat down to write the damn thing and realized I had zero, zilch, nada experience at such an adventure! How should it be paced? How should I provide clues? How do I get the players to plan and execute a heist? So. many. questions!!!

So, I set out to do what I usually do - get inspiration (aka. steal) from good sources. I poked around on social media and got some great tips and pointers to modules, articles and what-not. And boy, inspiration was to be had!

I don't want to give too many spoilers away, but I focused on a couple of primary resources to help me and over the course of four days, roughly about 16 hours total, I banged this thing out.  Once I get past GaryCon, I intend on reviewing those primary resources and sharing how I came up with this adventure.

I'm excited! This adventure and the GaryCon session has HUGE POTENTIAL for affecting my campaign world! Obviously the blurb hints at that, but we'll see how it goes. I always have my one-shots affect my campaign world - it's been so much fun to see how the players react to a dynamic world.

Of course, after all is said and done, with trying to run a game style I've never run before, I may be tearing what little hair I have left out and cursing myself "what was I even thinking?!?" We'll see...

Brave Browser the Best privacy-focused product of 2020

Out of all the privacy-focused products and apps available on the market, Brave has been voted the best. Other winners of Product Hunt's Golden Kitty awards showed that there was a huge interest in privacy-enhancing products and apps such as chats, maps, and other collaboration tools.

An extremely productive year for Brave

Last year has been a pivotal one for the crypto industry, but few companies managed to see the kind of success Brave did. Almost every day of the year has been packed witch action, as the company managed to officially launch its browser, get its Basic Attention Token out, and onboard hundreds of thousands of verified publishers on its rewards platform.

Luckily, the effort Brave has been putting into its product hasn't gone unnoticed.

The company's revolutionary browser has been voted the best privacy-focused product of 2019, for which it received a Golden Kitty award. The awards, hosted by Product Hunt, were given to the most popular products across 23 different product categories.

Ryan Hoover, the founder of Product Hunt said:

"Our annual Golden Kitty awards celebrate all the great products that makers have launched throughout the year"

Brave's win is important for the company—with this year seeing the most user votes ever, it's a clear indicator of the browser's rapidly rising popularity.

Privacy and blockchain are the strongest forces in tech right now

If reaching 10 million monthly active users in December was Brave's crown achievement, then the Product Hunt award was the cherry on top.

The recognition Brave got from Product Hunt users shows that a market for privacy-focused apps is thriving. All of the apps and products that got a Golden Kitty award from Product Hunt users focused heavily on data protection. Everything from automatic investment apps and remote collaboration tools to smart home products emphasized their privacy.

AI and machine learning rose as another note-worthy trend, but blockchain seemed to be the most dominating force in app development. Blockchain-based messaging apps and maps were hugely popular with Product Hunt users, who seem to value innovation and security.

For those users, Brave is a perfect platform. The company's research and development team has recently debuted its privacy-preserving distributed VPN, which could potentially bring even more security to the user than its already existing Tor extension.

Brave's effort to revolutionize the advertising industry has also been recognized by some of the biggest names in publishing—major publications such as The Washington Post, The Guardian, NDTV, NPR, and Qz have all joined the platform. Some of the highest-ranking websites in the world, including Wikipedia, WikiHow, Vimeo, Internet Archive, and DuckDuckGo, are also among Brave's 390,000 verified publishers.

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