Tariffs and Steve Jackson Games.

While we often use games in all forms to escape from reality, reality has encroached on gaming this past week.  

The original and reciprocal tariffs put in place to punish alleged unfair and uncooperative practices, impact the gaming industry, particularly the board game segment, which has exploded over the last twenty years thanks to inexpensive manufacturing in China.  

So much so the I found this message from Meredith Placko, CEO of Steve Jackson Games: 

An Important Message From Our CEO  Meredith Placko On April 5th, a 54% tariff goes into effect on a wide range of goods imported from China. For those of us who create boardgames, this is not just a policy change. It's a seismic shift. At Steve Jackson Games, we are actively assessing what this means for our products, our pricing, and our future plans. We do know that we can't absorb this kind of cost increase without raising prices. We've done our best over the past few years to shield players and retailers from the full brunt of rising freight costs and other increases, but this new tax changes the equation entirely. Here are the numbers: A product we might have manufactured in China for $3.00 last year could now cost $4.62 before we even ship it across the ocean. Add freight, warehousing, fulfillment, and distribution margins, and that once-$25 game quickly becomes a $40 product. That's not a luxury upcharge; it's survival math. Some people ask, "Why not manufacture in the U.S.?" I wish we could. But the infrastructure to support full-scale boardgame production – specialty dice making, die-cutting, custom plastic and wood components – doesn't meaningfully exist here yet. I've gotten quotes. I've talked to factories. Even when the willingness is there, the equipment, labor, and timelines simply aren't. We aren't the only company facing this challenge. The entire board game industry is having very difficult conversations right now. For some, this might mean simplifying products or delaying launches. For others, it might mean walking away from titles that are no longer economically viable. And, for what I fear will be too many, it means closing down entirely. Tariffs, when part of a long-term strategy to bolster domestic manufacturing, can be an effective tool. But that only works when there's a plan to build up the industries needed to take over production. There is no national plan in place to support manufacturing for the types of products we make. This isn't about steel and semiconductors. This is about paper goods, chipboard, wood tokens, plastic trays, and color-matched ink. These new tariffs are imposing huge costs without providing alternatives, and it's going to cost American consumers more at every level of the supply chain. We want to be transparent with our community. This is real: Prices are going up. We're still determining how much and where. If you're frustrated, you're not alone. We are too. And if you want to help, write to your elected officials. You can find your representative and senators' contact information at house.gov and senate.gov. Ask them how these new policies help American creators and small businesses. Because right now, it feels like they don't. We'll keep making games. But we'll be honest when the road gets harder, because we know you care about where your games come from – and about the people who make them. View email in browser Steve Jackson Games · 3735 Promontory Point Dr · Austin, TX 78744-1109 · USA  update your preferences or unsubscribe

It's going to be a not-fun ride as game manufacture adapt and probably scale back operations, while fighting inevitable rising prices.

(Painting) OG Mousling War Party by Reaper

 We're kickin' it old school for this week, and it only took a year and a half to finish these beloved figures. 

August 2023, I was picking up Magic commons for a Pauper League, when the daily searches scored some of the original Reapers, on what I believe are second generation cards.

Without further ado, most of the Mousling War Party.  

There's five in the eBay picture, and I'm not sure where that one disappeared to.  

My original Mouslings were from the first generation baggie/red placard line when I worked at New Frontiers in Philipsburg.  The Vermnites still show up on eBay, but are overpriced.  

My original Mousling Wizard, now long gone, has the distinction of being mounted on one of the figureless Reaper Scrye counters.  Same red robe this time, but slightly better job compared to 1995.

The original blister

Next:  Sci-Fi, Gnomes, Cultists, and Ducks

Project 350: Turning the previous trend, we're at 473 posts in the pipeline (297 drafts/176 scheduled posts) from 475 (301/174) .  I'm behind two Gamma World Actual Plays, one game AAR, and with no easy projects to lower the number for some time. If I get those caught one, there's a group of post around Easter.  

(Kickstarter) SagaBorn Dice: An Icosahedron D100

I love gimmicky dice, even if most Kickstarters are complete overkill.  SagaBorn Dice: An Icosahedron D100, now on Kickstarter, takes an old school staple and turns it up a few notches for a useful novelty.

What the heck is an Icosahedron D100?    In the somewhat early days of D&D, there was a d20, but it was numbered 0-9 twice.  The basic zero was considered a ten, but on the second group, there was a plus sign on them, denoting the die roll plus ten (0+ was twenty).

Thankfully, we got a properly numbered d20, but this campaign expands on utility and novelty.    

One these dice, one d20 is simply number 0-9 twice.  the second d20 is double number 00-90 for the tens place.  Price for these dice aren't any crazier than some I've seen, and for the games I play, the utility is certainly there. 

Donald Trump - Megalomaniacal Presidential Nilbog

It's not often that there's a gift that keeps on giving, but I should written this up in November....

Now, for the third time, I'm revisiting the current President, upgrading his stats using Risus: The Anything RPG.   He would have told you he had Boss-Level energy a decade ago.  Nowadays, it's a given.



 

Donald J Trump

Megalomaniacal Nilbog (see below)  (6)

Narcissistic Windbag Politician (5)

Pompous Reality TV Entrepreneur (2)

Cartographic Pioneer (2)

Mexican Structural Engineer (1) 

 

Equipment:  Cheap Blue Suit, Red Trucker Cap (Made in China), Hairpiece of Shift Blame, Always escorted by 1d8 Trump-lings, Golf Cart, Occasional South African Techo Chaos Imp.

 

Just in case you don't know what a nilbog is, here you go.  Everything makes sense if he's a nilbog.

Does a political nilbog need to be ended with an overabundance of silent kindness?  

And if you need a miniature for him, I've had him made appearances as "The Mayor" in my "Egypt" game with the girls for years.

The Don from Brigade Games

(Gamma World) This is Not a Test #70 - The Murder Hole

Our heroes, the De Facto Explorers,  are spending the winter scouting around KIA Academy.  They continue to encounter and at this time, befriend the blue-skinned Kirothians, and have offered to rescue some kidnapped villagers from a "wizard" and his "demons" 

================= 

Sneaky Pete: A mutated weasel scout.  Pete's telepathy and night vision take a backseat when he whips out his electrical powers.  

Sonny Helianthus: a sentient sunflower artifact examiner with trusted Restorationist ties. Knowledgeable,  but not a good one with device repairs or upgrades.  Very interested in a "Children's Alchemical Laser" he recently acquired.

Slitheran Wurmtail (aka Squiggles): a mutated earthworm scout, in impromptu power armor, looking for trouble, and finding it often.  Previously "gave birth" to a litter of sentient earthworm babies, but recently has been subject to genetic testing and developed super-human strength, a more human body, and a thick coat of shaggy white hair.

Lathar Bracken: A pure-strain human from River Bend.  He's got the muscle, the face, and a mount for most encounters.  Lathar's trusty beast of burden, No Name, travels wherever he does.  No Name has recently been fitted for a artillery device of the Ancients that chucks spears further than any human.  Looking for trouble in all the right places.  Former jousting champion of Fair-Town and has been awarded... a peacock he has named Chambray.  He's recently been struck by a weapon by a strange race of people and transformed into... something else... multiple times.

================================================================

The gigantic demonic-looking beast ascended from the pit in the center of the cavern, flaming sword in hand....   Sonny, trapped in his invisible box, could see it rising up.  His compatriots back in the side passage could barely see a odd glow through the blue Kirothians staked around the top of the pit.  Until they heard the roar, they just knew SOMETHING was coming. 

"Big Ugly"

Pete noted the terrifying roar, and focused three individuals atop a cliff, pulling out his blaster.  He wounded one of the individuals was disheartened that the person grew....  The others followed firing at those odd humanoid shaped creatures, only to injure them and forcing them to grow...Their weapons, which had vaporized a lesser demons only a short time ago, was far less effective against these individuals.

The Demon entity finally emerged from the pit, knocked some of the captured Kirothians down into the pit, and used the newly empty space to land.  

Hollis, the Kirothian youth wielding the Children's Alchemical Laser, lowered the device and the fired his only shot at the Demon.  The shot went far left and slammed into the cliff face.  Suddenly the underground cliff face became alive with lush, green vegetation.  

Hollis the Kirothian

Sonny had played around with the invisible force around him.  The sunflower carefully pressed against it with his dagger, sending visible ripples across the surface but not penetrating or breaking.    Watching his friends engage the demon and his cronies, with pending doom, Sonny panicked, digging deep and letting rip his Death Blossom.

Sonny was shocked by the power of all his seeds exploding, especially since it seemed like far more seeds than normal.  He felt like the closest the plant could feel nausea, The force of the blast seemed to eradicate the box, and most of the surrounding area in a massive explosion.  

Many of the trapped Kirothians were killed and  some of the odd humanoids.  Chubby little Hollis took a lethal hit, killing him and damaging the alchemical laster.  

When the seed cloud dissipated Lathar stared down the 30-foot demon... and ran back down the tunnel.

Squiggles was confused, watching the barbarian turn tail, "Where is he going???"

The demon unleashed a fiery torrent upon the party, setting Pete on fire. 

Squiggles tried to lay down covering fire and put out the flaming weasel.   Neither was initially successful.  Lathar recovered his senses, but turned to see Squiggles running backwards, and the weasal on fire, trying to put himself by rolling on the ground.  Sonny was nowhere to be seen.     He layed down a barrage of blaster fire, most of the distant shots hitting the demon, but not doing any apparent damage to it. 

"It's over man,  it's over!"

The last thing the guys saw before turning tale was the demon devouring the crispy body of Hollis, and extending his sword down the passageway to no avail.   Finally putting Pete out, they climbed out of the side shaft and wandered back through the snow towards the Kirothian's village.  

Sonny's fate was unknown.

GM Notes:  This encounter, and the fleeing Kirothians below the bridge are part of a series Savage World Rifts "One Sheets" under "A Fine Solution."    All special effects were Gamma World mutations out of the 4th Edition rulebook.   What would be "spells" in other games were actually draining mental mutations which no one in the party realized were slowly crumbling.  The powerful mutant actually passed out, their underlings recovering their body and retreating, leaving "Big Ugly" and the cronies to clean up the mess.  A proper sacrifice would need to be set up during the next full moon.  

All mental mutations seemed to increased exponentially, hence Sonny's "Death Blossom" change from going nova to triple super-nova.  

Next: #71 - The Fate of Sonny Helianthus

Hipster Wookies are Dead, Long Live the Clean Shaven Wookie!

(Fistful of Lead) Dead Birds

Months into the zombie apocalypse, there was considerable confusion about how the outbreak originated.  There were talks of fungi, molds, and infections, but almost all of the scientists and doctors were dead... or walking the earth trying to consume the living.  

But deep down, humanity knew there wasn't a logical explanation for everything... something otherworldly, maybe not voodoo or necromancy, but something that warped their reality into the hellscape they were living in.

The good news:  this apparently supernatural force could be killed my physical means. 

Kyle had a rap sheet a mile long for bar brawls, street fights, etc. He also liked the character Darryl Dixon from the Walking Dead, so when the real shit hit the fan, he found himself a leather vest, a machete, and a crossbow.  

Two problems:  a) he had never shot a crossbow in his life before then  and b) he was blind as a bat without his glasses, which he had lost early on.  

Just his look and demeanor was enough to have him join groups.  Somehow everything went wrong on his watch.  

Recently, things had gotten a little better.  After escaping a horde with just his trusty machete, and getting rid of the kids in their protection, the group moved faster.  The world before the apocalypse had created a generation of women who thought swords and silver could eliminate most evils.  He had run into a few overconfident ones, but Jelly, their current top dog, was the real deal.  

She had gotten info on a stash at a nearby farm, weapons, food, gold... it didn't matter what it was, but there were a few hiding spots to check out.  

They arrived at the farm, cleared out the outbuilding, and got some rest so they could better search in the morning.   Kyle took that last watch, and as the run began to rise, he noticed what the darkness had hid.  

The barn was right next to a large family cemetery, and somethings were wandering in from between the tombstones.

One looked like a ghost, the one behind it was definitely a zombie.  '

Turn One: 

Kyle banged on the wall to wake up his friends.  Then he picked up his crossbow, and took aim at the entity coming in and out of reality.

*click*

Nothing

The idiot, like always, forgot to load his crossbow.  

The older man everyone called Father, ran out first, firing a shotgun blast through the creature when it went incorporeal 

Jelly charged right at the entity, sword in one hand, and a "blessed" silver dagger in the other.  She may not have injured the specter, but their was a glancing blow.  

Mel, the machine gunner, looked in the opposite direction, counting three zombies coming right them.

And Old Man McGuckett? He took a bee-line to the old stone wall, one of the alleged hiding spots for the cache.  

Turn Two:  

Jelly slayed this graveyard wraith, a solid torso laying on the ground, with the arms and a flowing robes dissolving into the ground.  The zombie following met Jelly and it's head was quickly removed from it's body.  

Old Man McGuckett got to the wall, finding nothing, but another zombie shuffling in from the east.

Mel lowered her machine gun and actually incapacitated one of the zombies, but it would keep moving, so she wisely fell back. 

Zombie kills:  Jelly =2

Turn Three:

Mel continued her retreat, destroying the lone zombie from the west.   Kyle quickly dashed across from the building to the western fence.  

This left Father alone with two zombies, and another rising up and trailing them by a few steps.

Old Man McGuckett wasn't hopeful for his chances and high tailed it towards the south.  Jelly had search another spot as well, with no luck, except for another zombie! 

Turn Four: 

More zombies were appearing, but Kyle finally made it over the fence, and uncovered.... the cache!  He would pick it up and leave unmolested to the west. 

Jelly dispatched another zombie, but another one appeared from behind, throwing off her sword-fighting abilities.

Jelly Zombie Kills:  3

Father could handle himself, but his normal barrage of hits in the butt of his shotgun, seemed to barely hold off the two that were upon him.  Mel made sure he didn't have 3-1 odds by taking a zombie out, before trying to follow Jelly. 

Jelly: 2 Zombie Kills

In the end, Mel cowardly turned tail, watching a Jelly but the finishing touches on her four zombie kill of the afternoon. 

Jelly Zombie Kills:  4

At the end, it was a commanding 9-2 victory for the humans, although Father slowly succumbed to a wound, and then finally lethal damage.  There were still some bad rolls to start, but Jelly performed as expected, and a more experienced Mel kept the north flank at bay.  Kyle always rolls a 1 (out of ammo) with his first shot. 

This scenario is based off of  Dead Birds, a Flintloque scenario posted to one of advent calendars on Orcs in the Webbe. If I can acquire some Zombie Gnomes, I'd definitely pull this out for a Gnome Wars game.

(Kickstarter) Woodlander: An Animal Fantasy RPG

Woodlander, now on Kickstarter, is an Animal Fantasy RPG, covering the influences from Redwall to even Disney's Robin Hood cartoon.

Another Month of Gaming (April 2025)

The thing with the perusing a game distributor's monthly solicitation magazine is that they should be a magazine-sized advertisement for all the products they're pushing. Outside of cool cartoons, and regular columns like Painting Happy Lil Mins, the best submissions for Alliance's Game Trade Magazine are usually excerpts from a company's new book coming out.

Issue #302 has a introductory scenario for Star Trek: Into the Unknown that looks pretty sweet.   An exclusive scenario like this draws players to the world of solicitations, or the FLGS can use is for a demo. 

Issue #302 of GTM is available at your FLGS, or online in PDF format here. 

ViscountEric's Want List
Nothing

ViscountEric's Money-Is-No-Object Want List

Autarch Games
By the Axe: The Cyclopedia of Dwarven Civilization ........................ $45.00

The Imaginary Store List (The Pegleg Gnome)

Ares Games

Perfect Mismatch ......................... $29.95

The Army Painter

Warpaints Air: Most Wanted ............................... $72.99

Battle Systems

Battle Systems: Fantasy Dungeon ....................... $109.99

Battle Systems: Fantasy Dungeon - Crypts and Caverns Upgrade Pack ............. $44.99

Battle Systems: Vaults of Enveron ....................... $69.99

Maladum: Dungeons of Enveron - Starter Set ..... $109.99

Brotherwise Games

Super Boss Monster .............................................. $39.95

Calliope Games

Martian Dice ........................................................ $ 8.00

Catalyst Game Labs

Battletech: BFM - City/Lunar .............................. $149.99

Shadowrun RPG: Deadly Arts .............................. $49.99

Shadowrun RPG: Margin Calls ............................ $49.99

Chaosium

Age of Vikings RPG............................................ $59.99

Chessex

I am a man full of dice rants, and tend to use Chessex as a base line for pricing.  The new solicitations for "fancy" dice set polyhedral sets for $12,  "fancy normal sized" d6 blocks of 12 for $12, and the "fancy mini" d6 blocks of 36 for $16.

Compass Games

Burma 1942-45 ....................................... $55.00

Chaco Bolivia vs Paraguay 1932-35 ...... $65.00

Crowd Games

Arkham Travel Guide ............................. $20.00

Cryptozoic Entertainment

DC Comics DBG: Party/Starter Edition ..... $24.99

DV Giochi

Koi  ...................................... $39.99

Rumblebots .......................... $24.99

Samurai Sword ..................... $24.99

Fanroll

Pride Advent Calendar ........... $49.99

FASA Games

1879: Deathless on the Nile ................... $19.99

1879: Samsut Sourcebook ...................... $39.99

Interceptor Squadron - Allied Words Set ............... $39.99

Interceptor Squadron - Free Trade Directorate ...... $39.99

Carry Case  .............................................. $99.99

Interceptor Dice Sets ............................... $12.00 each

Goodman Games

DCC #111 - Grave Robbers of Thracia ................ $9.99

Fifth Edition Fantasy #29 - The Alabaster Tower of Thracia .......... $10.99

Greater Than Games

Medium: Testing Fate ........................................... $19.95

Homie & the Dude

Sky Zephyrs: A Guide to Airships (5e) ................. $59.99

The Wandering Tavern RPG: Setting Book .......... $54.99

Kobold Press

The Old Margreve HC .......................................... $49.99

Legendary Games 

Legendary Bestiary: Swarms ............................... $22.99 - $24.99

Available in 5e, Pathfinder 2nd, and Tales of the Valiant

The Dragons Hoard (5e) #48 ................................ $11.99

The Dragons Hoard (5e) #49 ................................ $11.99

The Dragons Hoard (5e) #50 ................................ $12.99

Lucky Duck Games

Critter Kitchen ..................................................... $40.00

Critter Kitchen: A La Carte Expansion ................ $25.00

The Dark Quarter ................................................. $60.00

The Dark Quarter: Lost to the Night .................... $35.00

Mantic Entertainment

Dungeon Saga: Daughters of Doom Expansion ..........$50.00

Dungeon Saga: Glimmer of Greed Expansion ............$50.00

Dungeon Saga: Mirrors of Malice Expansion .............$50.00

Terraincrate: Fantasy Forest ............................ $30.00

Terraincrate: Wild Woods ................................ $30.00

Terraincrate 44" x 60" Battle Mat: Hellscape ............. $80.00

Terraincrate 44" x 60" Battle Mat: Snowfield ............. $80.00

Terraincrate: 6' x 4' Battle Mats: Hellscape ................. $80.00

Terraincrate 6' x 4' Battle Mats: Snowfield ................. $80.00

Terraincrate: Deadzone Gaming Mats ......................... $40.00 each

Terraincrate: Objective Templates ............................... $25.00 each

Mongoose Publising

Traveller RPG: Merchant's Edition ............................... $19.99

The Moongrel

Cassette Dungeons! ...................................................... $15.00

Officina Meningi

Totem - The Spirits' RPG ............................................. $20.00

Paizo Publishing 

Pathfinder RPG:  AP - Shades of Blood 3 of 3 - To Blot Out the Sun ..... $29.99

Pathfinder RPG: Flip-Mat Remote Villas ..................... $19.99

Pathfinder RPG: Treasure Vault Remastered ................ $64.99

HC and Sketch Cover Editions.  Special Edition for $84.99

Pathfinder RPG: NPC Core Pocket Edition .................. $29.99

Pathfinder RPG: NPC Core Pawn Box ......................... $64.99

Pathfinder RPG: Lost Omens - Shining Kingdoms ...... $59.99

Special Edition for $79.99

Pine Box Entertainment

Doomtown: Whispers of War ...................................... $39.99

Renegade 

Axis & Allies: Battle of the Bulge ............................ $60.00

Hunter: the Reckoning - Apostates Sourcebook ...... $45.00

Vampire: In Memorium Sourcebook .......................  $45.00

Welcome to the Night RPG .....................................   $65.00

Roll & Play Press

The Game Master's Fantasy Toolkit ........................... $19.99

Roll for Combat

Battlezoo Dragons: Fairy Dragons .............................. $39.99

5e and Pathfinder Editions

Sirius Dice

Monster Mystery Pins Blind Box ................................ $12.00 each

I try to avoid the "Spotlight/Featured items listed in the solicitations, unless they list a release date, but I don't see this solicited previous months, and I've seen enough stores recently with strong presentation on this peripheral product.

Steve Jackson Games

Deadly Doodles 2nd Edition ....................................... $21.95

Tomb of Summoning

The Deck of Encounters (5e) ...................................... $25.00

WizKids

D&D Classics - Monsters U-Z Boxed Set .................. $79.99

D&D Book Tabs - 2024 Monster Manual ................... $9.99

D&D Gamelings - Mimics .......................................... $9.99

D&D Gamelings - Snowy Owlbear ............................ $4.99

D&D Icons of the Realms - Monster Manual 1 - Booster Bricks

D&D Icons of the Realms 36 - Underdark Expeditions - Booster Bricks

D&D Icons of the Realms - Remorhaz - Boxed Mini ............ $39.99

D&D Nolzur's Unpainted Minis - Baldur's Gate Series ......... $5.99 each

(Painting) Kerru, Mos Eisley Gotal by West End Games

I'm continuing to clean up random pieces off the painting table, in between the larger, longer, and more laborious projects.  

Despite being sorted into the Tatoonie/Bounty Hunter bag of my large Star Wars Minis acquisition at Fall-In!,  this Gotal kept falling in with the Jawas, begging to be painted.

This figure (Kerru SW84) was found in the Mos Eisley Cantina Boxed Set, as well as three figure blister, WEG 40443 Aliens of the Galaxy II Kerru (Gotal). 

Whether it's a character for Death Planet Iota or Rebel contact objective marker, I'll find a use for them.  

A reminder of who exactly the Gotals are can be found in Wookiepedia. 

Star Wars Minis:  71 out of the 146 from my flea market purchase are painted or refurbished.  

Next:  Cultists, Mouslings, Ducks, Gnome, sci-fi, and more Gnomes.  A slow and distracting process, hence the individual figures.

Project 350:   The scales are tipping up again to 475 (301 drafts and 174 scheduled posts) from 471 (299/172) last week. Since COVID, this time of year is when the backlog slowly rises again through Easter. I still haven't gotten anything major off my drafts, and obviously I've added a few more.    

(Painting) Ghost by Reaper Bones

 Perhaps it is the newness of opening up the blisters, but while my larger projects are moving at a grind, two out of the three blisters I randomly opened up last week on a whim?  They are finished. 

Today is just a Ghost from the original Reaper Bones line.

RPR 77007 - Ghost

I know exactly why I grabbed this one: a simple and quick paintjob a la my Irish Ghost Brigade for Gnome Wars.  

Easy-peasy, even if I should have double checked the flocking material for my graveyard pieces. 

Next: Star Wars, Gnomes, and Ducks!

OttoCon 2025

Children, there was a time when Historicon wasn't in Lancaster, stolen to Virginia.    It was then that "The Weekend" emerged, a small group of like-minded individuals putting together a no-frills convention with games people wanted to run, a snack table, and some running commentary on a horrible movie during the evenings.  

There was something endearing with the convention, originally in the basement ballroom of the Continental (now Cartoon Network hotel), intentionally set up there to be across the street from the Lancaster Host.  I attended once or twice, using the con rates to bring the family down for the weekend once.  They shopped and swam, I played games and hung out with guys who like history.  A win for everybody.

The original organizer, Otto Schmidt, passed away in 2019, but his cohort kept it going, and now it operates every summer out of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, as "Ottocon" in his honor.

Why all the reminiscing?  I did notice on TMP the announcement for this years Ottocon.

Copied and Pasted:

OttoCon 2025

It is time to announce (and prepare) for OttoCon 2025 to be held on the 27th and 28th of June 2025 at the Comfort Suites, 10 South Hanover Street, Carlisle, PA 17013.

OttoCon is a small, low-tech convention (I really did mean to get a FB page up and running this year) put on by the Society of Daisy, founded by the late Otto Schmidt, and is dedicated to the preservation and the advancement of humor, imagination, and fun in wargames.

There are no board meetings, membership meetings, or massive dealers area.

It's like a big game weekend where folks can relax and play miniatures games, board games, or decision driven card games.

Standard Daisy fare includes the return of Military Science Theater 2000, where we show a dog of a movie on Friday night and Saturday night, the infamous "Munchie Pit", the classic board game Divine Right, and the convention theme "Naval Games", which everybody ignores.

We've spoken with Walt Leech about running an ADLG tourney and we'll have the Bring and Buy Open Not Quite Flea Market, as well.

Other games being planned are ACW Naval Ironclads, Cod Wars modern naval action (it's all about the fish), and Western Gunfights (with or without Prairie Schooners….)

But we mostly ignore the theme.

Did we mention it was Naval Games?

Registration fee is $30 USD at the door for the whole weekend, or $20 USD for a single day.

There is a block of rooms available at the hotel. You can make a reservation by calling the front desk and 717-960-1000, then dial "0", and specify the "OttoCon" room block.

If you want to run a game or have any questions, then you may contact us at saxenviolets@gmail.com Ask for Tracy. He's still our Grand Poobah.

You can also contact me at epturner29 AT aol DOT com and I can get you in touch with Tracy.

Hope to see folks there.

I do have a tendency to stay on the eastern bank of the Susquehanna for cons, but that might be worth an extended day trip.  I'm certainly more excited at the prospect of going to this than Cold Wars, particularly the half-hour shorter drive each way. 

(Gamma World) This is Not a Test #69 - Nearing the Circle of Death

Our heroes, the De Facto Explorers,  are spending the winter scouting around KIA Academy.  They continue to encounter and at this time, befriend the blue-skinned Kirothians, while other, more powerful faction prowl the forests.

================= 

Sneaky Pete: A mutated weasel scout.  Pete's telepathy and night vision take a backseat when he whips out his electrical powers.  

Sonny Helianthus: a sentient sunflower artifact examiner with trusted Restorationist ties. Knowledgeable,  but not a good one with device repairs or upgrades.  Very interested in a "Children's Alchemical Laser" he recently acquired.

Slitheran Wurmtail (aka Squiggles): a mutated earthworm scout, in impromptu power armor, looking for trouble, and finding it often.  Previously "gave birth" to a litter of sentient earthworm babies, but recently has been subject to genetic testing and developed super-human strength, a more human body, and a thick coat of shaggy white hair.

Lathar Bracken: A pure-strain human from River Bend.  He's got the muscle, the face, and a mount for most encounters.  Lathar's trusty beast of burden, No Name, travels wherever he does.  No Name has recently been fitted for a artillery device of the Ancients that chucks spears further than any human.  Looking for trouble in all the right places.  Former jousting champion of Fair-Town and has been awarded... a peacock he has named Chambray.  He's recently been struck by a weapon by a strange race of people and transformed into... something else... multiple times.

================================================================

As the initial group of Kirothians they encountered settled in the warm cabins of the village of Paragould, the  Explorers continued to debate even helping the new villagers.  Pete was adamant they demand much more to help rescue the kidnapped Kirothians, including Hollis' Children's Alchemical Laser his portly frame was toting around.  Sonny continued to be the voice of reason, using 20% charitable acts, and 80% "Wizard Swag" as the basis to convince the others to continue.  

The rescue party would consist of Pete, Sonny, Squiggles, Lathar, the crazed guide Matthias, and Hollis and his CAL. 

Pete still pursed a different plan, perhaps just leave their found Kirothians in this Kirothian village.  They even dragged Elona into the mix, and she heartily demanded that the first Kirothians were going to make it to Fair-Town, and not possible starve in the middle of the woods, within a quick walk from a wizard and their demons.  

Pete ultimately made demands on the Thalindra and the others villagers, a small bit of food, and care of the first Kirothians until the Explorers returned

In the morning before they left, Sonny tried to befriend the chubby Hollis and perhaps get his insight on his style of use on the CAL.   Hollis appeared quite excited to "kills wizards and shit" but when it came to the use of his weapons, his language almost became incomprehensible, using terms such as "skibitty" and "rizz".  

The travel was brisk, with the tips of the hills being seen off to the distance.  Matthias was true to his word, leading them not to the obvious giant crack in the hillside, but an old mine shift, dropping diagonally into the earth.  

The heroes slid down with issue.  Squiggles took the lead ahead, his nightvision coming quite in handy.  Sonny lit a subtle light source so the rest could navigate behind him.  

Pete was incredibly fast but stealthy, when he almost ran into what must be a demon walking equally briskly from the opposite direction.

Just prior to the Wilhelm screen...

The entity did not observe the small weasel, even when Pete turned tail,   Turning back and firing, Pete's shot seemed to vaporize the thing with an echoing "ZOT"  

The others rushed up to help him, but they saw nothing in front of the weasel, and were only met by one word.

"Demon"

In the commotion, Pete just threw up his arms, "Shut up!"   No one heard anything, only Sonny, who sensed the ground shaking.  

The Explorers formed two lines in the shaft for maximum firepower.  They confirmed it was necessary when four bright red lights appeared on Pete's chest.   Various forms of gunfire erupted.  The humans down the way, dressed in some form of light armor of the Ancients, were firing slugthrowers far advanced from muskets, but regardless of their technology or rate of fire, failed to hit anyone, the bullets ricocheting off the rock walls.  Pete and Sonny had lucky opening shots that wounded one human and killed the other, but soon everyone's energy weapons failed to strike true, and worst yet, the energy cells were empty.  Numerous Near-priceless weaponry was dropped to the ground and replaced with old reliable flintlocks...  Finally, Sonny reloaded his ray-gun and dropped a human, then killed the injured one, Pete finally finishing off the last one.  

In the recovery they learned two pieces of tragic news.  First, they were already down to their final energy cells.  Second, and far worse, it appeared that Matthias was struck by a few ricocheted bullets and had died.  

Pete pressed further ahead, finally reaching a point where the shaft opened up into a natural cavern.  From darkness he could see a well lit cavern with rock formations perfect for a sacrifice.  More unsettling was a large pit of unknown depth in the center of the cavern... at least 40 foot across.  Around the pit, equidistant from each other, were the missing Kirothians, barely clinging to life, tied up against stakes in the ground.  

He beckoned the others forward.  He couldn't figure out what type of ambush or trap was laid, but who leaves sacrificial victims tied up to the obvious pit of their doom?    Pete could barely communicate with them telepathically, but they were still alive. 

Sonny tried to teleport over to them... but it didn't feel right.  He was completely surprised when he thought his mutant power failed, yet, there he was, standing in between two of the tied up Kirothians, a very dark and deep pit only feet from him.  

That's when things began to get weird.  Sonny reached out his frond, holding a knife to try to free the nearest Kirothian, but an invisible barrier preventing him from doing in.  After another two or three further attempts, he stepped backwards, into another invisible barrier behind him.  In a matter moments, Sonny ascertained that he was trapped in a clear box, barely bigger than himself. 

Pete still stood by the entrance of the shaft, feeling a presence trying to enter his mind. 

Pete: Stop with these charades!  Show yourself villain!

A single dark word entered the weasel's mind, "No...."

Sonny stared down to see a light at the bottom of the pit, to what was climbing out....

"Guys???  I think I found Big Ugly..."

GM Notes:  Yep, I completely forgot assault rifles in Gamma World can shoot single shot (+2), burst (+4), and full auto (+8 to hit).  The human mercenaries were more than enough to capture folks, but couldn't hit the broad side of a barn.  

Next: #70 - The Murder Hole

Wild Gnome Red

In a weekend where Maja had play practice, Millie travelled to watch their high school basketball team completely crash and burn in the state playoffs, and their mom handled all transportation, I had a free weekend, and.... a date. 

It was decided we would spend the Saturday afternoon in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania.  She had never been, and I had been with the complete family when the girls were younger. 

I won't go into full rant mode about the lack of street parking and the public parking monopoly that rewards hardcore tourists, but discourages casual and local foot traffic.   We were coming from two opposite directions, but next time I would drive down and take one car.  

Jim Thorpe has prided itself on the train rides downtown, and the Victorian architecture developed from the wealth of the Pennsylvania coal boon, the canals, and most certainly the railroads. The main tourist trap is maybe six square blocks, with cutesy shops, and a LOT of caffeine and alcohol.  

Curiosities Coffee and Ice House -  77 Broadway, Jim Thorpe, PA  - She was impressed so much the first pass that we came back for another round on the way back.   She gives it Five out of Five Cheshire Cats, for the drinks, the service, and an all-in Alice in Wonderland theme. 

Notch Eight Craft House - 107 Broadway, Jim Thorpe, PA - One reason not to visit with kids.  There is an alternate universe where I just sit at the bar and drink the Belgian Quad they were serving until the end of time.  The Japanese Burger I had was way out of my comfort zone and was still spectacular.  More importantly, SHE was wildly impressed, and she's quite picky about her alcohols.    Five out of Five gnomes, even if the senior citizens came in halfway through our meal and asked for Guinness and (Yuengling) Lager, despite being directed to the board for available brews.  I believe the craft beer samples they were provided may have generated the theme to 2001: A Space Odyssey.

At least they didn't ask for Coors.

Stonekeep Meadery - Also 77 Broadway, Jim Thorpe, PA - Another reason we went back for more coffee.  The building with Curiosities had multiple shops on two floors, full of shops of trinkets, plants, and what have you.... plus a small room serving mead and wine samples.   The two meads tasted like Yule and Summer, and I actually tried one wine and ended up buying a bottle.  

It was almost a requirement: 

It was described as a red and white blended wine with a red aftertaste.  I bought it without concern, but haven't cracked it open for a full review.

Final notes on a great day:  

It's just over twenty bucks for the train ride for an adult, actually a cheaper and longer excursion than Strasburg's down by Lancaster. 

If the bakery is set up in front of the train station, it's a much visit.  Yes, the eclair was a bit much for my delicate constitution, but it was worth every penny.  

Free RPG Day - June 21, 2025

 Free RPG Day is slated for June 21, 2025 this year, and I am stoked at the number of publishers already part of the annual event.  

Like its older cousin, Free Comics Day,  Free RPG Day works with top RPG publishers to create the can’t miss RPG event of the year at specialty game stores around the world.

Participating stores will have piles of exclusive new RPG adventures and other exciting new RPG related items!

Every store handles the event differently, hopefully with events, special sales.  

This year's participating publishers include, but are not limited to:

• 1985 Games
• Avantris
• Chaosium
• Don't Panic Games
• Exalted Funeral
• Free League
• Goodman Games
• Kobold Press
• Paizo
• Renegade
• WizKids

The Social Media #TTRPG List

 Hey, gentle readers, did you know I'm on Bluesky!   

@viscounteric.bsky.social 

As social media traffic goes, Bluesky is still a distant third in traffic than the Facebook and Twitter, but I 
am satisfied with the engagement. That brings up on those classic lists that sprung up on usenet, then aol, then message boards, and so on, and so forth.

My limited research credits Capricorn Iscariot‬ ‪@deaconblues1979.bsky.social‬ for this particular barrage, but I'll flesh out my answers here.

1.  First TTRPG you ever played? 

It's a frequent conversation during #RPGaDay, and comes with two answers.   My introduction to RPGs was a sit-down session of Car Warriors with my friend Charles, but my first sit-down session was actually a game of Paranoia.

2.  First TTRPG I ever ran?  

AD&D 2nd Edition, I started off easy, with T1-4 Temple of Elemental Evil

3. TTRPG I've played the most?

Since the questions differentiate between playing and running, I threw out a curveball.  I've been a full-time GM for all my groups since almost the beginning, and even though I lost (and recreated) by gaming data from 1989-2008, the winner is much more recent.  

D&D Fifth Edition, where I play Falgor the Mighty for nearly 70 sessions online, before the campaign fell apart, and I assumed my roll as full-time GM with our long-running Star Wars game. 

4. TTRPG I ran the most? 

Again,  AD&D 2nd Edition, the game of choice for the 90's, covering high school, the army, and college.  

5.  Favorite TTRPG? 

Hackmaster 4th Edition.  I had planned on transitioning my World of Georic fantasy campaign into something more cinematic, but Hackmaster appeared, and the cryptic nostalgic crunch won me over.  Personally, my current tastes in fantasy RPGs is either BECMI D&D for simplicity, but Hackmaster is still sitting on my shelf next to me, waiting for the bucket list relaunch of the Burning Trogs Rule! campaign. 

6.  Most Recently Played TTRPG?

This one completely surprised me, and upon further research, I realized I was wrong!  

At first glance I really thought it was a Call of Cthulhu con game, but it was the D&D 5th Edition campaign I played in.  

Then, in writing up this version, I had completely forgotten a con game of Dungeon Crawl Classics run by Cyrus Duane, author of The Mines of Misery.  It was great fun, I played with a number of friends I never get to play with, and my 1st level (?) cleric was cursed and banished by his god for having a player with inept die rolls. Good time.  

7.  Most Recently Run TTRPG?

My ongoing Gamma World 4th Edition campaign, nearing its 100th session!  (And almost 70 sessions posted on the blog!)  Session #97 involved an alchemically generated gravity well, which just happened to pull the pin out of... and the unexpected dropping on the floor of... this particular Treasure of the Ancients. 

(Painting) Androids in Bones Black by Reaper

In a search for some missing items, I fell upon some blisters of easy-to-paint figures. Although it's been years of "You don't need primer" for any variety of Reaper Bones, the only figure that has chipped and cracked that I've primed before was a large Bones figure that warped over the years. 

I'm still slapping on a quick coat of black primer, even if the figures are Bones Black link, just to help . 

Androids (2) RPR 49011

I have a bunch of worker bots, but androids/protocol droids, will be great objective markers, or (god forbid), someone wants one in their unit.

Next:  Cultists, more quick Reaper stuff, Ducks, Mouslings, Gnome, sci-fi, and more Gnomes

Project 350: We take a bump up to 471 (299/172) from 459 (296/163).  After the #CharacterCreationChallenge and #ZineQuest, it was time to reload some holiday posts and some new game concepts.  Right now, my mission is to play more zombie games and find my missing parts for the Pulp game.

Happy First Day of Spring 2025!

(Painting) General Balfas

It was an off weekend for once, I eschewed the demands of my painting queue, focusing on some easy to paint figures.  

I can't tell you what random line this figure is from, but I remember picking him up, missing arm and all, at one of the Historicons.  

(Edit 3/31/25) In my cleaning of the shelves, I uncovered a blister insert revealing the figure as Krieg the Relentless from Fantasy Flight's Descent. I am amused he is intentionally missing his left arms.)

I picture him as General Balfas, a ancient warrior that was originally part of my first D&D campaign, recollected in my Lost Dispatches of Feraso series.   

In the follow-up, they never completely destroyed the corpse, instead transporting the bones back to the village for a proper burial.  Even in the write-up of a this narrative adventuring party, I forgot some of the special ability of the General, particularly his regenerative powers.  

The blessing by Celeste was insufficient to break any such undead curse, so the good General has regenerated.  Eventually crawling out of his grave.   His sword, "The Betrayer" is long gone, as well as most of his fancy armor.  He acquired a weapon and a redirected vengeance on humanity.  After slaying the villagers, or forcing a few to flee, it's unsure exactly where he is....