(Gamma World) Don Sombra - Capybara Food Merchant and Wandering Philosopher #CharacterCreationChallenge

Day 21 of this year's #CharacterCreationChallenge, and I pull out a random picture from my Nightcafe account.  

I love Nightcafe, I use it for a number of reasons, and I fell in love with it again with a Beta Prompt Suggestions function.  About half the detailed prompts covered variations on recent artwork prompts I worked on, while the other half were suggested prompts for the daily challenges they have that the community can vote on.

I don't know what the original prompt was for the "Animals eating food," but I changed it enough to "Capybara eating tacos," and while I didn't win any awards, I've had the picture ready for this Challenge, and I'll admit, I let ChatGPT go wild

"Don Sombra" 5th Level Mutant Capybara Scout

“You find the trouble. I’ll bring the tortillas.”

---

Theme: Taco Vendor meets Desert Wasteland Philosopher

---

 Basic Stats

Attribute                             Score    Modifier Physcial Strength                 11              +0 Dexterity                               13              +1 Constitution                          16              +2 Intelligence                            10              +0 Mental Strength                   14               +1 Charisma                              17               +3 Sense                                      12               +0

HP:  51
AC: 17 (tough hide, + sombrero deflection bonus+Experence x2)
Speed: 9m walk / 12m swim

THAC Melee: 0

THAC Range: +1

Health: 12

Stealth +7

Robot Recognition 14

Remain Unseen: +5

Perception: 17

Detect Ambush/Trap   6

Hunting                      8

Navigate                    11

Tracking                      8

Wilderness Survival    9

Mutations

1. Spice Gland (Custom Mutation):  MR: 9

   • Emits calming pheromones that smell like fresh cilantro and lime.

   • Once per day, force all hostile creatures within 5m to make a Will save or become relaxed/confused for 1d4 rounds.

2. Digestive Furnace:

   • Can safely eat anything organic — rotten meat, radioactive roots, or tacos found under a tank tread.

   • 1/hour, convert a “meal” into 1d6 HP of healing.

3. Stone Hide Patches:

   • Dense, pebbled armor across shoulders and back gives +2 AC.

• Comically Large:

  • Sits as the size of a small bear — can’t fit in most vehicles, wears XXL armor only.

  • Enemies sometimes underestimate him because of his jolly waddling walk and stylish sombrero.

---

Gear 

Sombrero of +1 Swagger:

• • Stylish headwear that offers +1 to reaction rolls from friendly or neutral NPCs.

  • Can be thrown like a frisbee in emergencies (1d4 damage, returns after 1d6 rounds).

• Taco Bandolier:

  • Holds 1d8 taco-style items: real food, explosive spiced meat, or healing snacks.

• Ceramic Skillet (Improvised Weapon):

  • 1d8 bludgeoning

  • Bonus: "Cook up justice" once/day — disarm on nat 20.

• Spice Bag:

  • Used to blind enemies with a chili powder cloud (Dex save or -2 to hit for 1d4 rounds).

---

 Personality & Roleplay

• Always relaxed.

• Knows everyone’s name and favorite flavor.

• Keeps a running tab on who owes him tacos.

• Very serious about hospitality — insulting the taco is a declaration of war.

---

 Combat Strategy

• Leads with diplomacy.

• Uses pheromones and humor to defuse violence.

• Will fight to protect friends, food, or taco integrity.

• Prefers non-lethal solutions — but will swing a skillet if provoked.

(Kickstarter) Space Dwarves Auto Rifles by Macrocosm

Macrocosm's Space Dwarves line increases by a few figures with a small Kickstarter for six Space Dwarves Auto Rifles.

Minis are done in resin.  First pledge set is about $25 for a squad, $61 for three squads, withe extra squads added on for $21 or so. 

Shipping is not included until afterwards, and it is from the UK, but as a customer in America, they are my favorite international shipper.

(Star Wars d6) Lira Dane - New Republic Communication Trooper #CharacterCreationChallenge

Lira Dane - New Republic Scout/Communications 

Species: Human 

Character Type: Scout/Holonet Weathergirl (Arrogant Noble)

DEXTERITY: 3D+1

• Dodge 4D+1

KNOWLEDGE: 3D+1

• Planetary Systems 4D+1

MECHANICAL: 2D+2

PERCEPTION: 4D

• Hide 5D
• Persuasion 5D

STRENGTH: 2D +2

• Climbing 3D+2
• Jumping 3D+2

TECHNICAL: 2D

• Security 3D

Equipment:

Blaster (4D)

Vibroblade (5D+2)

Blast Helmet (+1 D Physical, +1 Energy) Head

Blast Vest (+1D Physical, +1 Energy) Torso

Recording Rod

Originally from Chandrila, Lira was a holonet weather girl, and a mildly popular one to boot.  One she started getting to report from the field, she started noticing what was occurring across New Republic.    She cut her hair shorter, finally reveling the left scar across her cheek, and willingly enlisted in the New Republic army.  She has an uncanny knack of avoiding trouble, but also has been known to distract guards and hoodlums with her journalistic persona.

Living with a Non-Gamer Spouse

Another Monday, another game night with the crew.  I've been blessed to keep my Monday nights pretty consistent that we play something 40-45 weeks out of the year.  It's a lot cheaper than a poker night, and I get to see my friends who live in four different states on a regular basis. 

All five in the current group have non-gamer spouses (ex in my case).  Thankfully Monday Night Football has been a bigger reason for guys not making it from time to time then the spouses scheduling something.  

(TWERPS) Lady Vespara - Anti-Paladin Fly-By-Knight #CharacterCreationChallenge

I’m well into the second half of the #CharacterCreation Challenge, and I realized I haven't broken out TWERPS "The World's Easiest Role-Playing System."  Using Fly-By-Knights and TWERPS Magic, here's a simple take on a mysterious character from my Gamma World camapign.  

Lady Vespara - Warrior of the Human Kingdoms

Noble Warrior 

Strength: 7 

Equipment: 

Sword (+1 to hit)

Lance (+1 to hit in mounted combat)

Plate Armor  (+3 defensive Strength)

Shield (+2 defensive Strength)

Spell: Harm 2

Mount: Giant Bald Eagle "Wingston the Bold"  Strength 6, +2 Movement, +1 Damage

With the world still collapsing around them, the human kingdoms are relying more and more on technology to survive.  Lady Vespara, one of the few surviving Knights of Genetic Purity, uses her noble rank, her magicks, and a big-ass bird to recruit more pure-strain humans to return to the human kingdoms, and defend them against any unnatural threat.    

Vespara acts like she's in good faith for all people, but she heavily relies on her Harm ability when under the pretense of healing the non-humans, and calling them out as not worthy if they die.  

Gnomes vs Rats by Irrational Number Line Games

One of the website I've always loved and need to be better at checking is Irrational Number Line Games.    

It's fitting that the organization of the website is lot like their name, but they did have a Gnomes vs Rats game that I missed.  I love the buildings and the set-up.

(Pew-Pew) Crasher - Black Wings Driver #CharacterCreationChallenge

Day 18 of the #CharacterCreationChallenge and here's the third and final attempt at a GI Joe-esque character from the world criminal organization, The Black Wings

Crasher - Black Wings Driver

Nightcafe

Drives:
Reputation
Causing Mayhem

Skills:

Drive/Pilot

Resilience 

Shooting

Technology

Equipment:

Blaster

Pocket Spy Droid

Scrambler

Driving Gloves

Vehicle:

The Thunder Talon

Blasters

Rear Smoke Screen

3 Gravity Implosion Mines  (360 Turret)

Shields  (3 uses) OOO

Vehicle Damage: 7 OOOOO OO

I used AI for the action figure image, a proper name for the behemoth of the vehicle he drives, and the edited toy packaging description below:

"Crasher tears across the battlefield with the unstoppable THUNDERTALON! Born on the streets and forged in the flames of demolition derbies and high-octane races, he’s the only driver crazy enough — and skilled enough — to unleash the fury of this thunder-charged behemoth! With a laugh louder than the engines he burns, Crasher crushes all in his path. The Black Wings call him a driver… but the world calls him an unmitigated disaster! "

Dragon Bait Miniatures Shuttering Operations

It's just recently that I noted the Assyrian Gnome (Dwarf) that Dragon Bait Miniatures posted on social media, and it's not that far in the past that they acquired the molds for Hinterland Miniatures.  

Alas, like all things with the hobby, the graying has claimed another good one, as they recently posted on their Facebook page that due to health issues, they'll be ceasing operations in the near future.  

For the next month or so, they'll be running a 15% off sale, as well as accepting inquiries for their various miniature lines.  

(Pew-Pew) Alanniz - Black Wings #2 #CharacterCreationChallenge

Day 17 of the #CharacterCreationChallenge and we go a bit deeper in the criminal organization known as the Black Wings.

Alanniz - Black Wings #2

Drives:

Reputation

Enjoying Herself.

Skills:

Combat

Shooting

Infiltration

Technology

Equipment:

Blaster Rifle with Under Barrel Laser Cutter 

Stealth Chameleon Mask

Hologram Projector

Grapple Hock

Vehicle:

Collapsible Rocket Board 

It's not quite sure as to the direct relationship between Alanniz and Black Wings leader Natraz.  It's been rumored to be ex-lovers, siblings, or she was simply recruited by Natraz when they tried to attempt the same heist at the same time.   No one wants to ask Natraz, and anyone asking Alanniz has ended up in the hospital, with fingers burned off by her laser cutter. 

The success of the Black Wings has as much to do with Natraz's ideas as it does Alanniz's logistics.  Despite her organziational skills, she still wants to participate in heists, not only using her chameleon mask, but establishing elaborate costumes and back stories.  

(Pew-Pew) Natraz - Black Wings Boss #CharacterCreationChallenge

Four years ago, I had some fun making up the GI Joe Character Low-Light, using the rules-light Pew-Pew system.  I basically had him go into a portal and emerge in the Pew-Pew Complicated Profession setting, where he couldn't tell who was the good guys or who were the bad guys because of the color lasers they were shooting... and the lasers were doing much more damage.  

I haven't had the time nor the energy to expand upon the concept, but this year I realized, I did not need to convert the Joes to sci-fi.  Why not just make up my own little batch of characters, use AI to make up mock-up action figures, and if I need a fill in game, we can just pull these out. 

Of course, let me introduce my faction of chaos, The Black Wings. 

Natraz, The Greatest International Criminal Infiltrator Out of New Zealand

Natraz may look like this... at least one time. 

Drives:
Profit
General Mayhem

Skills:
Combat
Shooting
Infiltration
Technology


Equipment:
Blaster
Stealth Chameleon Mask
Body Armor (two uses)


Vehicle:
The Rainbow Skink (Hover Bike)
Blasters
Camouflage
Shields (two uses)
Damage Levels: OOOO


Natraz is the most famous international crime boss to ever come out of New Zealand. A master of disguise, he has a network of low-level informants around the world, and his most trusted lieutenants, The Black Wings.

(Mall Kids) Tony "Pepperoni" Sordoni - Pizza Delivery Guy #CharacterCreationChallenge

Day 15 of the #CharacterCreationChallenge and here's my part two for the Mall Kids RPG 'zine by Matthew J Gravelyn.  

Character Name:  Anthony "Tony Pepperoni" Sordoni          Pronouns:  He/Him

Look:  Jeans & T-shirt, always a hat of 

Style:  Preppified Security Uniform, small backpack.

Where Do You Work?   Tony's Pizza and Subs (no relation), about a half mile from the mall.

Who are You?   Nobody

What do you Want?  Ask someone out

Cred:  4

Corporate: 2 

The sportos, the motorheads, geeks, sluts, bloods, wastoids, dweebies, dickheads - they all adore him. They think he's a righteous dude

The above quote from Grace Wheelburg describes Ferris Bueller to a T, but not Tony.   Rather, all those groups might consider Tony a "good dude"  maybe just "a dude," at worst "it's the pizza guy, he's decent."

Tony "Pepperoni" worked at the neighborhood pizza shop even before they began paying him under the table... and he's not even family!  He's worked up to deliveries, usually riding a very illegal moped, or his parent's very ancient Chevette when the weather's bad. 

He's a fairly likeable kid, never gets into too much trouble, and can attach himself  to just about any group... except the preps.  

He's trying desperately to attach himself to Sabrina Marks, edgy former preppy (?).  He's found himself wandering into the new scene-core/alt shop, the Velvet Alley, and purchased to many keychains, stickers, and other cheap random crap just to talk to her.  

He has moved up his imaginary totem pole of importance to her.  Doing little errands, grabbing her a drink, easily getting friend-zoned with the "lifesaver" descriptor.  He probably (and doesn't) have a shot, but it was better than just waiting around with the skaters until the next shift at the pizza joint.   

The influx of the preps at the store have made everyone uncomfortable, definitely the customers, but especially Sabrina.  Tony's too good to do anything illegal, but to get in Sabrina's really good graces, he'd do the teenage equivalent of burying bodies.

A little insight on Tony:  When I completed my first #CharacterCreationChallenge back in 2022, I swore I wouldn't do it again.  I did return for 2023, planning out things a little earlier in advance.  I actually made some great characters for 2024, but ran out of steam on day 13.  Last year, I planned a lot out much earlier, be it concepts or random AI art inspiration, with a healthy reliance on D&D 5e or Gamma World 4e.  

This year? I had about 13 days plotted out, but not statted out, by mid-year.  Tony was a little later, probably the end of summer, when I created a new blog draft with "Pizza Delivery Boy - #CharacterCreationChallenge."

I could use a bunch of systems, but remembered Mall Kids from last year.  Except *gasp* my concept for Tony doesn't perfectly line up with the 20-page 'zine.  A tiny nudge with concepts, a need for a second character, and voila, Sabrina Marks was created to fill that void.   

It's funny, I when I looked back for links to the previous years', and to remove the rose-colored nostalgia, I realized that the next couple days of characters will be an undertaking two years in the making, that keeps getting pushed back. 

I also must say I finally need to sign up for the Patreon for Ken and Robin Talk About Stuff.   I have a pile of scenario ideas from the podcast hiding in my drafts, inspiration for some obscure Gnome Wars units, but I also built about a Hackmaster character back in 2023 based entirely on Favomancy.  You can make nothing but D&D characters, or Star Trek, or Villains & Vigilantes, or the hottest indy RPG, all month long.  I do like a little flair and variance from mine, even if they're bean diviners or pizza guys. 

(Backerkit) Starbeards! for Savage Worlds

 I get a lot of emails from the the companies that I've backed Kickstarters for.  I always take a peak, and many times the newest campaign isn't for me.  

Initially I didn't add two and two together with Fainting Goats and their latest campaign for Starbeards! for Savage Worlds.

Then I saw the artwork. 

It's the Savage Worlds version of DAMNIT, damnit! 

DAMNIT (Dwarven Assault, Mining, Neutralization, and Interception Teams) are the elite teams handling security on the galactic frontier.   As a man who loves space dwarves (even if I convert them to the realm of Gnomish Space Marines), DAMNIT is a great RPG system.  I have it keyed up as my back-up to my Monday night Gamma World campaign.   

I'm certain the Starbeards! version is taking full advantage of the Savage Worlds system (as I type this they've met their initial goal and have raised half the money in a day that original DAMNIT raised in a month.  

(Mall Kids) Sabrina Marks - Edgy Cashier #CharacterCreationChallenge

Day 14 of the #CharacterCreationChallenge and I'm doing a two parter for the Mall Kids RPG 'zine by Matthew J Gravelyn.  

We're definitely more into a late 90's/early 00's as we move to the Rosecrest strip mall.   The CVS just moved into old regional chain pharmacy, the liquor store at one end is now a satellite office of the DMV and the Chinese restaurant at the other end that's been there since 1965 still hasn't remodeled, but changed it's name.

Character Name:  Sabrina Marks         Pronouns:  She/Her

Look:  Long black hair, more denim that is popular right now. 

Style:  a cleaner version of alternative, slight goth streak

Where Do You Work?   Cashier at the Velvet Alley, a scene-core/alt clothing store. 

Who are You?   A prep in disguise.

What do you Want? Quit, but wants to do it right, so she still gets that last under-the-table payday.

Cred:  2

Corporate: 4 

Sabrina is a prep, has always been a prep, but she HATES the other preps.  So when a position at the new clothing store Velvet Alley fell into her lap, so couldn't say no.   It's taken a bit to get used to the weirdos, freaks, dweebs, burnouts, and losers, but she throws on a vest, rotates wearing the "trendy alternative" earrings before they get too popular, and speaks a little of their lingo, and the customers don't give her any grief.  

But now the preps have discovered the scene, something has made the store popular in their eyes, and it's now the store is like every day in high school, but she's pulling minimum wage to to put up with it. 

She's ready to quit, and if she can get rid of the preps without burning the store to the ground (and still getting the last week's pay in cash), so be it....

Tomorrow :  Sabrina's "Shadow"

(Fistful of Lead) Sgt Turk Miguel - United Nations of Earth Recce Jump Trooper #CharacterCreationChallenge

Day 13 of the #CharacterCreationChallenge and this completes a full week of statting out my miniatures, and I'm going back a ways:  Sergeant Turk Miguel, UNE Recce Jump Trooper from Legions of Steel, adapted to my Death Planet Iota setting using Fistful of Lead.

Sgt Turk Miguel - United Nations of Earth Recce Jump Trooper  (Leader)

Shooting: d12  

Close Combat: d8

Traits: 

• Leader 
• Camouflage (-1 to hit if in cover)
• Flier (May ignore terrain penalties, may use movement vertically)
• Fearless (Ignore penalties for Shock markers on Recovery rolls)
• Ranged Fighter (Roll wounds for ranged hits on d12, roll wounds for close combat hits on d8)
• Unskilled (-1 to close combat rolls). 

Equipment: 

• Jetpack (Free under Flier)
• Submachine Gun (12"/24", Burst)
• 2x K-Pulse Grenade (d10+3",  Blast 3
• Light Armor (8+ save), 

Sgt Miguel is an NCO with the United Nations of Earth (UNE) as they battle the robot Machine hordes bent of conquering Earth and any other feasible alien worlds.  His particular unit, and American-dominant "Scorch Hounds", an elite force Recce Jump Troops and Fast Attack Vehicles (FAV) focus on scouting, sabotage, and sometimes securing entrances to Machine facilities, so the better armed/better armored Internal Assault Group can destroy the sites.  

On is last UNE mission, his group was ambushed by Machine Nightmares emerging from the sand and surrounding them.  It looked like they would be slaughtered to the man, but Turk saw a strange anomaly appear near him.... 

Call it a magic portal, a vortex, a warp hole, or whatever, diving in it was a better option than getting overwhelmed by the machine hordes. 

This place, lovingly referred by the "locals" as Death Planet Iota, is some sort of garbage world, taking the loose ends of not just different worlds, but different dimensions.  For Turk, he's happy there's plenty of food, plenty of ammo, and everyone seems to speak English.  He has also realized that some of these folks, good, bad, and ugly are bringing bigger guns and tougher armor than he could ever imagine.   He's going to keep his distance, avoid hand to hand, and try to make friends with all these human-looking aliens. 

The 90's were a rocking time.  So much so that I actually commissioned a unit of UNE Recce Jump Troops with a Fast Attack Vehicle for Legions of  Steel/Planetstorm.  Thirty years later, only the sergeant remains. 

(Planet 28) Crash Jordan - Saviour of Death Planet Iota - #CharacterCreationChallenge

Day 11 of the #CharacterCreationChallenge and we're back to statting out figures I painted over the last year.  Today I try to justify a figure I honestly did not enjoy painting, but in the game Planet 28, this might be fun...

Crash Jordan of Earth-1980   (307 points)
Agility:  7

Shooting: 7

Fighting: 6

Psyche: 3

Awareness: 5

Speed:  10cm

Hit Points: 20

Traits:  Fearless, Unshakeable

Abilities: Throw 

Equipment: 

Fists (1d4+1)
Laser Pistol (1d8, 15cm)

Partial Living Armor (At the start of the game, roll 1d10+10.  Those are the hit points of the leg armor. When hit, roll 1d10.  On a 6+, the leg armor takes the damage.  Once the living armor is destroyed, Crash must make a Psyche save or fall unconscious.  A successful Psyche check in subsequent turns can be made to regain consciousness.

RPR 49021 - Rand 

Everyone in the world knows famed quarterback for the New York Sharks, Randall "Crash" Jordan, as he set record after record in the West Side Stadium.  It was actually a close game for once, and he was about to drive the team down for the winning score when the sky opened up and sucked him through a portal to this world, a world of misfits from other realities. 

Something went wrong going through the portal.  He was missing his lower half when he landed on Death Planet Iota, he was sure to perish, if not for the help of a devious bunch of hooded little men, the Ou-tinni or something like that.  They were the kings of the junk heaps in this world, and they gave him a pair of new legs, encased in ceramic compound that's stronger than steel.   He's not stronger or faster, but it does seem to protect him, even if the new voices inside his head have convinced him to do some unsavory things, for some god he doesn't know, with a name he can't pronounce. 

Notes:  Crash was saved by Jawas, and the scavengers sewed the legs of a Chaos Space Marine onto his body.  Whether the legs of the perished Chaos warrior are still in the suit has not been confirmed.  

And Planet 28 is fun!  Go on WargamesVault and spend five bucks on it, it's worth it! 

Assyrian Gnomes... err... Dwarves from Dragon Bait Miniatures

 Friend of the Blog and Award Winning GM Mike Lung made me aware of an upcoming Kickstarter that was promoted by Dragon Bait Miniatures.  

They might be small, and it's only one sculpt by Dave Soderquiest, but the idea of Assyrian Gnomes tweaks my interest in the right way.  

If not for anything else, but the potential for puns at the table!

(DAMNIT) Colonel Avgas - Gnomish Pilot - #CharacterCreationChallenge

 Day 11 of the #CharacterCreationChallenge , and we're staying with D.A.M.N.I.T. 

Colonel Avgas with his trusted mechanic, Scurt

Colonel Lionel Avgas -  8th Level Pilot

Hit Points: 15

Attack Damage  3 (Ranged+1) , 2 (Melee+1)

Skills: Drive/Pilot +1, Brawl +1, Strength +1, Intimidation

Perk: Danger Sense

Equipment: Laser Blaster Pistol (1 dmg), Basic Leather Body Armor (+1 defense), Cryo Grenade, Stim Injection, Binoculars

* Runic Gauntlets of Sonikr

* Helm of Hurngir

*Surtr Flamethrower (2 damage)

*Medpack (heals 2d4)

Colonel Avgas should be a General right now in the Gnomish Space Marines.  Instead, he prefers to restore and maintain a fleet of terrestrial flyers. He's maintained a sense of trusting camaraderie amongst his command, and has gleefully submitted transfer orders to a superior location to award loyalty.

Another Month of Meeples (February 2026)

At the end of the year, I lamented the formal absorption of Alliance Games Distributors into Universal, and the apparent delay of the solicitations out of Game Trade Magazine #311.  

I was slightly wrong.  The pdf version of the monthly solicitations is available... through the paywall we know as DriveThruRPG as of 12/29/2025 ... for $3.99.  While I avoid the hefty price of a lot of mainstream RPG downloads, the idea of spending four bucks on what is essentially is a miniaturized gaming version of Previews is simply ridiculous.  I've refused to spend money on GTM for years, because it's supposed to be an item promoting products to both retail and direct consumers, with no other tangible benefit.  At least back in the day there was an attempt with promos and sample scenarios.  

So I'm experimenting with a copy of  ACD Distribution's Meeple Monthly.   It's a similar style monthly solicitation, and most items have a promotional blurb. It's not perfect, the hardcopies are $3.99 for 48 pages the the closest thing to a consumer copy is available as a flip book on their website.  I'm not impressed, but I'll give it a go.... 

There's going to be a learning curve going from one system to another, just like a retailer would.  I'm glad that ACD stocks all Osprey, not just the games, but they do NOT have Wizards of the Coast Product in the issue, or in their searchable SKU inventory... which is odd since they do stock a diverse variety of Hasbro products, including NERF. I'll investigate that further.

Originally I was just going to try to list the cool stuff in the issue... that also has prices attached. You'll almost see immediately so that failed.   Here are the (loose) rules I follow for everything.  

1) After over 30 years, not listing prices won't dissuade the hardcore fans/store owners, but that's that.  Plus it usually means your FLGS gets it at a lower discount, and I like stores paying employees and keeping the lights on.  I will only list unpriced product is it's CCG boosters and starters, or if I need to make some sort of comment. 

2) I may have changed the Imaginary Game Store from the Pegleg Gnome to Infinite Shelf Space Games & Hobbies, but that name  doesn't mean I list everything in the solicitations.  About 80% of what I pick is stuff I would stock in my store, within budget.  The other 20% is neat stuff at did attract my eye.  That's why you might see one listing for a new RPG or boardgame with all the bells & whistles & accessories and not the same for the other.  My imaginary store is not Games & Stuff with a huge storefront and a good online presence.  I also like to think that over 30 years of working in then watching the hobby, but previous posts like this have mentioned a bunch of potential stinkers... or store breakers... and I've been right. 

ViscountEric's Want List

Nothing.

ViscountEric's Money is No Object List
Sirius Dice
D&D Sirius Metal Miniatures 1977 Holmes Boxed Set ........... PI

I told your I wasn't going to list my possible want list, plus the "Money-Is-No-Object" list, but if Sirius is producing licensed D&D minis and not providing pricing, it deserves to be on this list. 

The Imaginary Store List (Infinite Shelf Space Games & Hobbies)

25th Century Games

Three Sisters Harvest Edition ...................................... $39.99

Adam's Apple Games

Tatsumi ....................................................................... $51.00

Arcane Wonders

Rass: A Dance of Love ................................................ $49.99

Asmodee

Marvel Champions LCG: Wonder Man Hero Pack .... $18.99

The Two Towers: Tricking Taking Game .................... $26.99

Big Potato Games

Battle Flips ................................... $15.69

Stomp, Stomp, Chomp ................. $15.69

Catalyst Game Labs

Battletech: Salvage Box: Visigoth Display (9) 

Kung Fu Panda Street Food Showdown .................. $19.99

Chaosium

Age of Vikings GM Screen Pack ............................. $24.99

Age of Vikings The Cursed Farm ............................ $4.95

Chronicle RPG Accessories

D&D 5e: Amberblight Sourcebook ............................... $49.98

Amberlight Boardgame .................................................. $79.98

CMON

Marvel Multiverse RPG: SHIELD Dossier ................... $27.99

Marvel Multiverse RPG: SHIELD Dossier X-Men ...... $27.99

Dranda Games

Crispy Critters ................................ $20.00

Mutagen Deluxe Edition ................ $70.00

Mutagen Playmat ........................... $20.00

Mutagen Metal Shard Fragments ... $20.00

Mutagen Upgrade Pack .................. $25.00

Mutagen Sleeves ............................ $12.00

Dryce Gaming

First to Worst Couples Connection .... $19.99

Drink Up ............................................ $19.99

Birdy Call ........................................... $14.99

Never Stop Dating .............................. $24.99

Exploding Kittens

Pickle Grab .......................................... $19.99

Free League Publishing

Coriolis - Adventure - The Flowers of Algorab ............ $49.99

Ghost Galaxy

Lord of the Rings: The Confrontation .......................... $54.99

Lord of the Rings: The Confrontation Deck Protectors (40) .... $14.99

GMT Games

Stalingrad '42 + Little Saturn ..................... $89.76

Seljuk  ......................................................... $110.9

Unconditional Surrender ............................ $40.18

Italy '43 ....................................................... $60.75

Italy '43 Box + Mounted Map .................... $31.81

Good Games Publishing 

Land vs Sea Uncharted ......................... $21.99

Bark Avenue Kings & Queens ................ $34.99

Goodman Games

Xcrawl Insider #2 .................................... $10.99

Kobold Press

Riverbank: Betweentimes & Haphazardly Cards ............ $24.99

Tales of the Valiant: Player's Guide 2 .............................. $49.99

Players Guide 2 Limited Edition $89.99

Konami Digital Entertainment

Yu-Gi-Oh! Burst Protocol Boosters 
Yu-Gi-Oh! Maze of Muertos Boosters 

Monte Cook Games

Old Gods of Appalachia RPG: All Your Gods Are Dead ............ $44.95

Mood Publishing

Goat Simulator: The Card Game .............. $35.00

Osprey Publishing

American MiG Pilot ................................. $30.00

French Navy 1939-42 ............................... $23.00

Siege of Kazan 1552 ................................ $25.00

Kokoda 1942-43 ....................................... $25.00

Byzantine Soldier vs Seljuk Warrior ........ $23.00

FW 190 Jabo Units in the West ................ $35.00

Coalition Aircraft vs Iraqi SAMs ............. $23.00

Warriors of Athena: Quests ....................... $35.00

Secret Warriors .......................................... $60.00

Bloody Skies ............................................. $32.00

Paizo Publishing 

Pathfinder - Battecry!  Pawn Box ............ $64.99

Pathfinder - Flip Mat - Boreal Forest ....... $19.99

Pathfinder - Dark Archive Remastered .... $64.99

Pathfinder - AP - Season of Ghosts .......... $79.99

Starfinder - Alien Core Token Box .......... $59.99

Starfinder - Alien Core Pocket Edition ...  $29.99

Ravensburger

Lorcana  Set 11 - Winterspell

Boosters, Illumineer's Trove Pack, Dragon Fire Playmat,  Ariel Sonic Warrior Playmat.

Renegade Game Studios 

Robo Rally Dice ...................................... $35.00

Heroscape: The Caverns of Valhalla Expansion .... $60.00

Heroscape: Army Painter Starter Set ..................... $45.00

The Vale of Eternity: Curse Expansion ................. $25.00

Heroscape: Premium Wound Markers .................. $15.00

Son of Oak Games

Legend in the Mist: Corebook .............................. $59.95

Legend in the Mist: Action Grimoire ................... $29.95

Legend in the Mist: Hearts of Ravensdale Setting Book ... $49.95

Legend in the Mist: Slipcase Set ........................... $129.95

Collector Slipcase Set $199.95

Legend in the Mist: Maps & Tokens .................... $24.95

Legend in the Mist: MC Screen ........................... $24.95

Legend in the Mist: Character Pack (16) ............. $24.95

Legend in the Mist: Theme Cards (40) ................ $24.95

Legend in the Mist: River Pebble Dice (8) .......... $19.95

Legend in the Mist: Cloth Map of the Dales ........ $24.95

Legend in the Mist: Fallen Leaf Tracking Cards .. $ 9.95

Legend in the Mist: Twilight Deck ....................... $24.95

Legend in the Mist: Leather Satchel w/ 6 Acorn Dice .......... $59.95

Space Penguin Ink

Troika! Down in Yongardy ..................................... $25.00

Steve Jackson Games

Brigand's Bluff .................................................... $34.95

Twogether Studios

Jerry Garcia's Cosmic Journey ............................ $24.95

Vallejo

Full Display: True Metallic Metal Complete Range w/ Rack ........... $3984.89

I'm not listing the carded product (4 paints packaged together), but I can appreciate posting the full retail price of a full display of paint.  I am an old fart that longs for the double shelf display of Ral-Partha paints we restocked monthly waaaaay back in the day.  Also, rent was cheaper, employees were paid $5/hr, and there weren't Youtube videos bashing anything that wasn't professional grade paint.   My Ral-Partha Aged Armor is still on my shelf, and performs better out of the jar than most fancy metallics I've tested.

(DAMNIT) Scurt Grimdark - Mechanic #CharacterCreationChallenge

 Day Ten of the 2026 #CharacterCreationChallenge and I finally delve into my demented world of the Gnomish Space Marines, using DAMNIT to stat out Scurt Grimdark.

D.A.M.N.I.T. (Dwarven Assault Mining and Neutralization Interception Team) is an RPG about Space Dwarves fighting back to defend their place in the universe.  It immediately hits the themes I've wanted for the Gnomish Space Marine figures I paint up (which in every other corner of the world, means Space Dwarf).  So I might as well use some of my odder figures, painted during COVID, to customize a character.

Scurt Grimdark - Mechanic/Engineer

Attack Damage (2 melee)

Skills: Repair, Technology, Brawl

Perk:  Serendipitous Discovery (Once per session)

Equipment:  Wrought Iron Baton (2 damage), Emergency Toolkit, Med Pak, Potion of Diamond Defense

Scurt is not one of the normal Engineers that are part of the teams, hacking system, splicing wires, and editing registries.  His training came from the hangers in airbases. His experience with complicated system seems to one of sheer luck, but it seems to work. 

Scurt's just as likely to grab a random object and hurl it at a general as he is to chuck it at the enemy.  

(Star Wars d6) Vindo Chass - Bith Bandleader #CharacterCreationChallenge

Day 9 of the #CharacterCreationChallenge and I'm still in the midst of statting out some painted minis I finished last year.

Vindo Chass – Bith Musician 

Species: Bith

Character Type: Musician

DEXTERITY: 3D

KNOWLEDGE: 4D

• Alien Species 5D
• Planetary Systems 5D
• Streetwise 5D

MECHANICAL: 3D+2

• Musical Instrument Operation 5D+2

PERCEPTION: 3D

STRENGTH: 2D 

• Brawling 3D

TECHNICAL: 3D

• Musical Instrument Repair 4D

Special Abilities (Bith):

Scent: Bith have well-developed senses of smell, giving them +1D to Perception skills when pertaining to actions and people within three meters.

Manual Dexterity: Although the Bith have low overall Dexterity scores, they do gain +1D to the performance of fine motor skills - picking pockets, surgery, fine tool operation, etc. - but not to gross motor skills such as blaster and dodge.

Equipment:

Kloo Horn

Datapad with sound slugs

Change of clothes

750 credits

Vindo Chass was a properly trained musician on Woegar, but a series of poor decisions and lousy business partners, have forced him and his band, Vindo Chass and the Modalities.  To play clubs and crime lord palaces in the outer rim. 

Touring brought success, but also debt. Vindo booked his band into a Outer Rim starport as  “legitimate” entertainment. Vindo signed a contract he didn’t fully read—typical of his overconfidence outside music. Suddenly, the Syndicate “owned” his band’s future earnings.

All that is moot now, because the Syndicate he was working working with were all taken out my the rival Dusk Blades, both sides mutually destroying each other in an after hours gunfight in the club.  That left the object of both gang's attention with no one to claim in.  Vindo and the club janitor,  a Shistavanen name Drogan have hidden it with a meditating Revwien named Zyrak and Vindo is looking to get all three, the stash, and his band off planet pronto. 

(Star Wars d6) Drogan Veyr - Shistavanen Janitor #CharacterCreationChallenge

Day 8 and the start of Week 2 of the #CharacterCreationChallenge and we continue with another character based off of a figure I painted last year.  

Shistavanen (Wolf-Man) Drogan Veyr is close to retirement, but he is the most knowledgeable and intuitive profession one can be...

Drogan  Veyr – Shistavanen Janitor

Species: Shistavanen 

Character Type: Janitor

DEXTERITY: 3D+2

• Dodge 4D+2
• Melee Combat 4D+2
• Melee Combat (Specialized - Mop) 5D+2
• Melee Parry 4D+2

KNOWLEDGE: 3D+1

• Bureaucracy 4D+1 

MECHANICAL: 2D

PERCEPTION: 2D

• Investigation 3D
• Search 3D

STRENGTH: 4D

• Stamina 4D+1

TECHNICAL: 3D

Special Abilities (Shistavanen):

Night Vision:  Able to see in darkness with no penalty.

Equipment:

Holdout blaster

Smuggler Vest
Battered datapad 
Lanyard of keys, keycards & ID badges (some skeleton keys/keycards)
A dented canteen of caf

Drogan just wanted to find a job and disappear when he arrive on the planet, and for almost twenty years, he fit in so perfectly no one at the facility knew he was there more of the time.  No one pays attention to the sanitation for housekeeping staff, so hess seen and heard just about anything, including the gang hit gone horribly wrong a most ago.  Drogan is well past 40, ancient in Shistavanen years, and just wanted to retire, but know he's in the middle of a gang war, he's holding on to a holdout blaster (which he's never fired) like it's the last line of defense for his life.  

He needs some friends to make the stash everyone is looking for, simply go away... and many a trip off planet, to some place he can certainly work incognito until he retires... or dies.

Force Point: 1

Dark Side Point: 1

(Star Wars d6) Zyrak Orlo - Revwien Tyia Adept #CharacterCreationChallenge

Day 7 of the #CharacterCreationChallenge , and we're staying  with Star Wars d6, specifically figures I've painted over the last year. 

So let's dive right into a character I've never seen at the table, or even as an NPC, a Revwien Tyia Adept

Zyrak Orlo – Revwien Tyia Adept

Species: Revwien

Character Type: Tyia Adept

DEXTERITY: 2D+1

• Dodge 3D+1
• Melee Weapon: 3D+1

KNOWLEDGE: 3D+1

• Languages 4D+1
• Survival 4D+1

MECHANICAL: 2D

PERCEPTION: 2D+1

• Investigation 3D+1

STRENGTH: 2D+2

TECHNICAL: 2D

• First Aid 3D

Special Abilities (Tyia) 

Control 2D

Sense 1D

Alter 1D  

Accelerate Healing

Hibernation

Emptiness

2 Force Points

Equipment:

Tyia Amulet 

250 credits

Zyrak was chosen to the study Tyia as a teenager, and it has been their focus for the last forty years.  He has been content to look within himself, and help out those locals near their temple.  

He left Tyia Prime after a crisis within his clan, their sacred monoliths, from a time before Tyia, were desecrated by a splinter faction seeking to exploit Tyia energy for personal gain. Tyrak finally has felt the pull of the galaxy beyond his homeworld.  He travels the Outer Rim, both in search of knowledge, the recovery of Tyia artifacts, and to protect the balance of Tyia energy wherever corruption threatens it.

(Star Wars d6) Kivren Taal - Twi'lek Gambler #CharacterCreationChallenge

Day 6 of the #CharacterCreationChallenge , and we're going to continue statting out some of the individual figures I've painted up over the last year. 

Kivren Taal - Twi'lek Gambler

Species: Twi'lek    

Character Type: Gambler

DEXTERITY: 3D+2

KNOWLEDGE: 3D

• Bureaucracy 4D
• Streetwise 4D
• Value 4D

MECHANICAL: 2D+1

PERCEPTION: 4D

• Con   5D
• Forgery  5D
• Gambling 6D

STRENGTH: 2D+2

TECHNICAL: 2D+1

Special Abilities (Twi'lek):

Head-tails: Twi'leks can use their head-tails to communicate in secret with each other, even if in a room full of others. The complex movement of the tails is, in a sense, a "secret" language that all Twi'leks are fluent in.

Equipment:

Personal Comm, week's worth of expensive clothes, datapad, 1,000 credits

The life of a gambler usually ends at the wrong end of a knife or a blaster, rarely are they staring down a cocktail on a pleasure planet.  

For Kivren, his talents at the sabacc table, as well as two dozen others, was good enough to attract the eyes of the casino owners, but never the muscle... until it did.  Pulled into the backroom, expecting the worse, Kivren was given a proposition:  you can take your gradual winnings for a year and then be asked to leave, or the casino would simply pay him as an administrator, day-to-day management, but also catching cheats, and knowing when to apply muscle.   The Twi'lek has never looked back, but if there was an unfortunate turnover within the crime bosses, and he was kicked out, Kivren would be wholly unprepared for the real galaxy. 

Force Points: 1

(My Little Pony) Apple Cider Vinegar - Holistic Pony #CharacterCreationChallenge

Let's be honest, this year's #CharacterCreationChallenge has a number of concepts that didn't make it to last years and I carried them over. 

I'm very happy the Apple Cider Vinegar is not one of them.  This is him statted out for My Little Pony: Tails of Equestria by River Horse Press, not just the best pony-based RPG, but one of the finest RPGs I've encountered in the past 40 years.  

Pony Name: Apple Cider Vinegar

Pony Type:  Earth Pony

Level:  4

Element of Harmony:  Honesty 

Body:   D6

Mind:   D8

Charm: D10

Stamina: 14

Talents:

Stout Heart   D12

Healing Touch D10

Pony of All Trades D8

Keen Knowledge:  Cooking  D6

Keen Knowledge:  Biology D4

Quirks:  

Overenthusiastic

Equipment: 

Cart containing an assortment of elixirs, poultices, and tinctures, as well as a small library of tomes.

Kit (Cooking supplies)

Yes, Friendship is Magic, but have you ever woken up after a night of wearing a chamomile mask laced with pine nuts?  THAT is truly magical.  

Apple Cider Vinegar is a pony always seeking alternative forms of medicine, beyond first aid, beyond magic.  You can regularly see hit pulling his cart, filled with herbs and "rare" substances that he uses to concoct his creations.  

And the crazy thing?  Nothing is harmful, and sometimes, just sometimes, it all seems to work.  And he's a Earth pony with Honesty as their Element of Harmony.  

At some point early one,  Apple Cider Vinegar somehow transferred his healing touch into one of his remedies.  He doesn't necessarily know how it happens, or how often, but he now can't use that talent without using the remedies as his vessel. 

(Hackmaster) Frizzia Nimblewhim - Gnome Illusionist #CharacterCreationChallenge

Day 4 of the #CharacterCreationChallenge, and I stick with statting out minis I've painted in 2025. 

This female gnome illusionist from the Hackmaster 4th Edition line was painted on a whim back in May.  There may not be much whimsy about her as a character, though. 

"Frizzia" Nimblewhim - 5th Level Gnome Illusionist

Age: 100   Height: 3'4"    Weight:  80 lbs  Handedness:  Right

Alignment: Chaotic Good

Social Class: UMC  Mother Deceased, Father Unknown

2nd Born, 3 Siblings (Male, Female, Female, all illegitimate)

Strength:            8/22

Intelligence       19/61

Wisdom              7/53

Dexterity           15/49

Constitution      10/94

Charisma            10/44

Comeliness:        9/26

Honor:                  20

Quirks and Flaws:  Strange Body Odor, Hemophiliac, Narcolepsy, Truthful 

Proficiency:  Dagger, 

Alignment: Chaotic Good

Spells Base:   6 - 2 - 1 

Talent: 
Freeze

Skills:  
Arcane Lore                      24

Art Appreciation: Painting (d20) 23
Artistic Ability (d6)          28

Botany (d8)                       24  

Culinary Arts                     18

Eye Gouge                         26

First Aid Skill Suite (d6)   41

Language: Dwarf  (d10)    21

Language: Gnome (d10)    23

Language: Common (d10) 27

Read/Write: Dwarf   (d6)   27

Read/Write: Gnome (d6)    25

Read/Write: Common (d6) 21

Shaving/Grooming             Auto

Slip Away in Shadows (d6) 46

Tumbling (d6)                     48  

Hit Points:  34

Armor Class:  8

Magic Item:

Rod of Beguiling (Opalescent white with a crystalline tip)

A variety of potions

Born in the gnome village of Brillibog Hollow, nestled under a canopy of singing mushrooms and sparkling firefly trees, Thistledrop Nimblewhim always had a talent for getting attention… and then disappearing when it got too real. From a young age, she entertained her friends with dancing lights, illusory fireworks, and spontaneous hair color changes (some intentional, some not). Her family were outsiders, running a traveling puppet show, but she often got bored of repeating scripts and would rewrite whole acts with illusory creatures  or talking goats to spice things up.  

She earned the nickname “Frizz” after an early magical mishap that turned her hair frizzy and created a permanent sparkle trail whenever she sneezed. Her hair  stuck. The sparkle mostly faded away by the time she reached 80 years old. Nowadays, if she turns quickly, in the right light, there’s still a shimmer that can be seen.  She considers it part of her brand.

Frizz left Brillibog not out of rebellion, but out of curiosity. She believes that illusions reveal truth as much as they hide it, and she’s out to find the line between what is real and what people only wish was real. She studies the minds of others the way a bard studies rhythm, watching how people respond to falsehoods, dreams, and phantoms with equal parts delight and fear.

Frizz should be a much more powerful illusionist, but her hemophilia has kept her further from the quests, dungeons, and adventures.  She normally supports herself by posing as a fortune-teller, glamor artist, or street performer, depending on the town. She avoids puppets like the plague.