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.
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