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Black Lives Matter

Black Lives Matter

At this site, we are anti-racist and believe that black lives matter. We stand in support of the protesters demanding reform. Demanding change. Demanding equality. As a country, we need to strive to defeat racism and systematic injustice based on race. Let’s make it stop.…

2019 almost in the books.

2019 almost in the books.

2019 is almost in the books. We’ll be anxious to see this year in the rear-view. It’s been a tough decade for us. 2020 is the start of a new decade and hopefully represents a turning point toward brighter horizons! Best wishes to everyone for…

Gen Con 2018

Gen Con 2018

Gen Con, the best four days in gaming, was held in Indianapolis Indiana on August 2-5, 2018. I attended all four days and Wendy joined me for the weekend.

I worked for CMON in their play-through area on Thursday and Friday, demoing RISING SUN to happy con-goers. I enjoyed working back there in the play-through area — it was slightly quieter and cooler than on the main show floor.

The crowd was large, smelly, and somewhat rude (as usual). I don’t understand the crowd mentality of stopping in the middle of the path to hold their discussions while impeding traffic. MOVE OFF TO THE SIDE, people! I also had to push foam-sword points away from my eyes FOUR TIMES since people carrying them don’t seem to understand the concept of POINT DOWN and were carrying them on their shoulder. Seven times people ran directly into me because they were staring at their phone screens.\

We participated in a play-through session of TOO MANY BONES, which accelerated our learning and comprehension of the game. Dave, our facilitator, did a great job.

Gen Con was good this year, but not great. Wendy’s comment was, “All the games look the same”. I didn’t notice too many stand-out games this time, though I did bring home a nice haul…

Shall we play a game? The obscured title is DUNGEON ALLIANCE.

We stayed at the Baymont Inn, which was acceptable (barely). Not sure I’ll stay there again.

Now, to find the time to learn and play all these games!

Joshua Bennett Vogel, October 27, 1964-December 20, 2017

Joshua Bennett Vogel, October 27, 1964-December 20, 2017

This is, without a doubt, the hardest news I have had to share. VOGEL, Joshua Bennett With great sadness, the family of Josh Vogel announces his passing on December 20, 2017 following a very brief illness. He is survived and remembered with love by his…

Board Game Compression Experiment

Board Game Compression Experiment

Reading about folks “compressing” their games in preparation for travel, I was inspired. We just returned from a weekend trip to Indianapolis (about 90 minutes from our home on the outskirts of Cincinnati, Ohio) with a bag full of games (in their boxes) in tow.…

Board Game Night, 2017-06-25

Board Game Night, 2017-06-25

For many months now, Wendy & I have been quietly hosting Board Game Nights at our house. We try to get folks together for “gaming unplugged” about once a week, though sometimes schedules get in the way and make it less often than we’d prefer.

But once we get folks together, phones are put away (except for the occasional rules clarification and recording of the game on BoardGameGeek.COM), and people begin to interact in meaningful ways, all facilitated by cardboard chits. Laughter happens, drama happens, game-based tensions rise and are resolved, and common experiences are experienced, real-time and together, around a table.

Last night, we had friends over for the first time to play games, and they brought their bright 7-year old daughter with them. Among other games, we played MYSTERIUM, which allows you to vote for or against the selections made by other players. The little girl was very anxious about voting against anyone because “they’re [my] friends!”, she said.

We talked about it with her at the table, helping her to understand that it’s just part of the game and “nothing personal”. While she was still a bit apprehensive about voting against her friends, she embraced the spirit (pun intended) of the game and fully participated.

I hope, if nothing else, that she enjoyed the game. But more so, I hope that she learned that games can be a ‘safe space’ that is non-damaging (and in fact healthy) to relationships. Even if you have to vote against a friend!

[UPDATED] Cincinnati Bell — STILL not complete!

[UPDATED] Cincinnati Bell — STILL not complete!

The Cincinnati Bell installation from February 28, 2017 still is not complete as of this writing (May 2, 2017). They have not buried the fiber in my yard. I’ve spent dozens of hours on the phone with Cincinnati Bell, trying to determine when this will…