(Review) Zombie Planet Comics and Games, Albany, New York

 In my attempt to hit multiple stores in Albany before I drove home to Pennsylvania, I need to make one logistical adjustment to plan:  Zombie Planet Comics and Games closed at 5pm, and it was already 4:15pm where I was at. 

Greeting:  My latest pet peeve, and thus the box on my internal checklist. The staff was handling customers when I walked in, and I don't expect some muscle memory response when the door opens.  I was greeted by an employee after the customers were taken care of, as they walked past me in the role-playing section.  ✅

Cleanliness:  The ground floor is chock full of product, floor to ceiling with full shelves and somewhat tight spaces for a man of sizable girth.  That being said, everything was organized and dust-free.

CCGs:  Magic, Lorcana, Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh! Star Wars Unlimited, and Riftbound and one of the healthiest and concentrated spots for supplies.  

Board Games:  A great assortment of board and card games taking up more of the back of the store.

RPGs: This is hit hard, because it appeared to be the largest and most diverse selection of RPGs I've seen in a long while.   Although I was pressed for time, I forced myself to peruse the titles and realize that this might be the first time I've seen a number of these games in their physical form.  The biggest thing that made me grin? Multiple copies of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Transdimensional Adventures Redux Edition Hardcovers, from the recently fulfilled Kickstarter.  I had finally seen the GM screen at another store and snagged that up quickly, and I almost plopped down a credit card on the spot here.  

Miniatures:  A massive display of Games Workshop on the right wall, but the true treasure were in the back left of the store.  D&D minis, of course, but a beyond healthy display of figures and boxed sets: Star Wars Legion, Team Yankee, Heroscape, Battletech, even a number of the Song of Fire and Ice boxed sets.  Heck, I thought I was having a fever dream when I found Wargames Atlantic boxed sets, plus a small selection of discount minis! 

Comics:  I'll leave this spot empty, because I never got to go upstairs where the comics are!  

Other:  GW/Warhammer/Citadel and Army Painter paints and accessories. Solid dice selection.  The one thing here that made me smile?  Zap-a-Gap!  

Events:  No gaming on site, although it seems like they coordinate all tournaments, pre-releases, and the sort with Fortress of Gaming, which is more of an open-space games cafe, less than five minutes away.  Every event seems to have a great turnout.

In my visit to Albany, Zombie Planet Comics and Games is the most complete comic/game store in the area, and that's with me never making it to the comics section upstairs!  On the Gaming with the Gnomies Five-Gnome scale, they earn four and half gnomes!  

There's a very good chance that after subsequent visits, I may bump this up the half-gnome to the elite status they may deserve, but I need more than twenty minutes to soak in all in.

Zombie Planet Comics and Games is located at 1238 Central Ave, Albany, NY12205

(Review) Excellent Adventures, Ballston Spa

In my trip to Upstate New York to watch Maja's volleyball team actually win games, she had one request with some free time last weekend:  visit Excellent Adventures in downtown Ballston Spa.

It was a pretty easy request to fulfill, Ballston Spa has plenty of on-street, non-metered parking, so a half-block walk and I was at the door.

But first a story....

Around 25 years ago, I would often get out of my job at the newspaper around noon, and by friend Brian and I would grab lunch, then do a tour of the game stores in the Lehigh Valley.  Dreamscape, Cap's Comics, the Allentown Encounter were the usual spot. although we did take some road trips out to as far as Pastimes in Palmyra (and a Pennsylvania Dutch dinner on the way home).  

One of the local places we only stopped by once or twice a year was a shop nearing the western side of Allentown.  Decent location, lots of inventory... but between the gruff owner behind the counter and the ash tray on the counter, it was off putting.  

Thankfully it's a different world, because I walked into Excellent Adventures, and got the same vibe, but without the smell.  

With a downtown storefront and the interior filled with comics and collectibles, it is the perfect "hole-in-wall" store, and I sincerely mean that in a good way.   

Pulled directly off the store's Facebook page.  

I'll be honest, before I looked for pictures of the store, I had forgotten the swath of wall space for the new comics, because I was scanning every other square inch of cool stuff on the wall.

Gold/Silver/Bronze age back issues were on the walls and boxes, and I did survive the 90s, so the number of newer comics with chromium covers (or whatever the trend is now) was a bit unsettling, but I can't argue with them if they sell.  

The toys and collectibles made me smile, prices seemed fair.

I mostly went back around to mine the older $2 paperback shelf to mine for ideas for Monday nights.  

That being said, on the Gaming with the Gnomes Five-Gnome review system, I give Excellent Adventures two and a half gnomes out of five.

And I actively admit my biases.   Despite working in comics retail for nearly a decade, I've stopped collecting a long time ago and rarely read.  I'm more geared towards quality game stores than comic shops (You'll see that blatantly with future Albany reviews). 

Despite a cluttered and filled store front, I saw a few families during my stay.  Right there gives it my vote. 

And my daughter Maja, who actually lives up there, visits it regularly, so that means more than this old man. 

It's simple: If you live there, you go there. It's an essential piece of Ballston Spa

If I have time, I'll always stop in there first, then venture out to other shops.  

Excellent Adventures is located at 110 Milton Ave (Rt# 50) in Ballston Spa, NY.

How Many Hit Dice Does the Gilmore Girls Gazebo Have?

The air is getting colder, the leaves are falling, and most of the Halloween candy is starting to go on discount finally.

I certainly wouldn't disparage anyone announcing Christmas products this time of year, but I surprise myself promoting an item that has the words Hallmark and Gilmore Girls in it.  

The Hallmark 2025 Keepsake Ornament for the Gilmore Girls is a... gazebo? 

I don't know the show reference for the Gilmore Girls Star Hallow Gazebo Musical Ornament, and it is $30.99, but it's also 3.5"x 3.5"x 4.5" which is a pretty decent sized gazebo for your fantasy game.  

Of course, for the uninitiated, the gazebo is a formidable monster of unofficial D&D lore, credited largely to the story "Eric and the Gazebo" by Richard Aronson.  My personal favorite version of that is "Lair of the Gazebo" from Knights of the Dinner Table. 

Three more little tidbits, to make the post worth reading:

1) When Hackmaster 4th Edition was created, they included a house-sized doppleganger/mimic which I immediately turned into a Gazebo a few weeks into our first Hackmaster campaign.  (AKA "Purple Cephalopod)

2) Knights of the Dinner Table #1 is available online by Kenzer & Co for free.

3) Weird Pete Ashton in the comics is set five years younger than I am today.  Need to find me a monkey and a game store! 

(Review) Haven for Heroes - Port Jervis, New York

 So, the move of my ex-wife and kids to Upstate New York was semi-successful.  The house is still half-full of crap, the kids' social calendars for July are still in Pennsylvania, and one of the cats escaped during the move.  

Case in point:  Millie already had summer engagements and missed most of the moving brouhaha, so when the missing cat showed up at the house and Millie was ready to be shipped up north, we arranged a swap just before I reached the Newburgh exit of the Thruway.  And despite a full day of other tasks to take care of, that meant that after returning Millie and a cat,  I still had enough time to swing into Haven for Heroes in Port Jervis, New York. 

Haven for Heroes is the classic comic book shop of my youth, with all the good and the bad that comes with that.

The store is dominated by comics: long boxes, short boxes, wire racks, and wooden shelves. On the day I was there, it was the focus of all the customers, making it fairly busy. It was an amount of searching that I haven't seen in quite awhile, outside of actual comic conventions. Honestly, there's not too much related to gaming besides a display of mostly D&D 5e, dice, Magic, and Pokemon, but let's cover my normal format.

Location:  Front St is right in middle of downtown Port Jervis.  Street parking with no meters in sight (a huge plus!)  

And yes, since it was a hot-button issue on other reviews, I was greeted, simultaneously, by two staff in the store.  

Cleanliness: It's a cluttered mess, but its a clean cluttered mess.  There's just so much stuff that your classic Warhammer/Pokemon mom might be taken aback. 

But I'll give credit where credit is due, when your action figure case is clean, properly stocked and LIT, I have a bit more faith in operations. 

Miniatures:  Outside a few Warhammer novels, and some antique lead figures stuck away on a corner shelf, nothing. 

Board Games:  A bit surprised that I don't recall seeing any, but the classic shops of my youth grumbled getting Settlers of Catan and Apples to Apples back in the day.  

RPGs: A solid selection D&D 5e, some other random supplements, and an inordinate number of Mayfair DC Heroes modules, which  younger me would have gone ga-ga over. 

CCGs: A solid selection of Magic with a variety of singles, a full case of Pokemon singles as well.  

Accessories: A healthy supply of base level (re: inexpensive) dice, card sleeves, and CCG accessories.  

The Other Stuff: Thirty years ago in worked in a comic shop that did draw in considerable business with Used CDs, so diversification is key.  I just didn't expect this: 

Lord Vader finds your lack of bass disturbing...

Audio equipment, LPs, DVDs, and VHS had a prominent space in the back.

The video game section was quite impressive, running from current Playstation/xBox to Atari/Colecovision, to even older items. 

I forgot how much I missed me some Atari Bowling...

Comics: The bread and butter, is a little haphazard.  I figured out the new releases, but outside of the items on display behind the counter, I found very little priced and even unbagged back issues in the long boxes.

Events: There are a number of tables in the back, and a quick look at their Facebook page has Magic and even Lorcana events through the end of last year (and one Magic event this past May).  Funny thing is I swear I saw pictures of a full table use during an event, and now I can't find it.  

A deviation from what I normally talk about, but I will say this:  They had an honest to God decent sales while I was there, possibly drawing in some of the customers.  Huge fan of a properly organized and specified sale!

Since my blog is 95+% gaming, and since my modern sense of practicality overrides my heavy sense of nostalgia, I'll be force to give Haven for Heroes a solid three out of five gnomes.

Just the fact of having a store that sells games in a town, and does a considerable amount of Magic is a huge boon.  I love the diversification, I love the nostalgia.  But it has it's limits. 

Haven for Heroes is found at 34-36 Front Street - Port Jervis, NY.  Hours are 12-8 Tuesday-Saturday, 12-6 Sunday, closed Monday.   They are available online at Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube.

(Review) JAF Comics - Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Sometimes doing the right thing is the rare thing...

I've already posted about my experience with #FreeRPGDay this year.    My first two locations pushing off the event in lieu of other things, and those decisions led me to search the area again on the site and out JAF Comics was also participating.  

I've known about JAF for years, outside of Bethlehem in the Trolley Station Outlet Mall.  I haven't been into comics for about 15 years and Trolley Station is in that no-man's land between Bethlehem and Nazareth.  I believe things have changed drastically.

It seemed to be a sore sport for some past reviews, but in this case I was greeted not only once when I walked in the front door in the comics sections, but I was greeted going into the CCG section where #FreeRPGDay was being held.  Everyone was super awesome and friendly, and I was reminded of the connection between JAF and my previous employer, Nick at Dreamscape Comics.  

When Nick passed away in 2012, it was JAF that bought a lot of the comics backstock after the store closed.  The store had such an impact on the owner, when he decided to start publishing comics, he's using the Dreamscape Publishing moniker.  Bonus points for nostalgia. 

Location: The Trolley Station Outlet Mall on PA 191 is barely minutes north of US 22.  If I base it on how fast I can each a Wawa wrap I had just purchased, I needed to sit in my car outside the front doors to finish my lunch.  

What I believe was originally one small storefront in the mall now dominates the building.  One large area for comics and board games, two large areas for open gaming and CCG sales, with a few other rooms. 

Miniatures:  Not a miniature place, although, if you want action figures over in the comics area, they've got to you covered without being overwhelmed. 

Board Games:  An immense and diverse selection of board games. 

RPGs: It is amusing that the only store in the Lehigh Valley to participate in #FreeRPGDay only has a solid stock in new D&D product, including some of the "Official" D&D dice sets and such.  

Accessories: A healthy supply of dice, card sleeves, and CCG accessories.  I bought an inexpensive ($7.99) set of dice there, sort of my requirement if a store does want to support new gamers.

CCGs:  Magic, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Lorcana, Star Wars, One Piece, and a host of other CCGs.  One thing that might be a pain in the butt for staff but warms my heart was a guy pulling Magic commons out of a 5,000 count box.  Stores with only pull service never seem to have good results (I'm still waiting 3 years from a different store for about $10 in commons I had cash for that day.) 

Events:   A full calendar of events (see the right side of the calendar for the regular game days, D&D, etc). There were folks in both open gaming rooms when I visited.

Comics:  Not one of my normal categories, but JAF is certainly a geek mullet:  comic book/collectible shop in the front, game store in the rear.  I'm out of my element, but the shelves were full of new product, back issues, dollar boxes, $5 graphic novels, actions figures, a pull service, vintage graded stuff, etc.   Should cover each type of comics demographic that still exist. 

I came to JAF as a result of failure, and to be honest, there's a needs to be a bigger RPG section and a dabble into miniatures, but it's a much more convenient drive for me while I go down to visit my mother than the other stores in the valley. 

I'm happy to give JAF Comics four out of five gnomes on the Gaming with the Gnomies "Five-Gnome" scale. 

There's the aforementioned gaps in products that I'm looking for, but if you need a good comic/game store with an activity community and incredibly pleasant staff, check them out! 

JAF Comics is located at 224 Nazareth Pike, Bethlehem PA 18020.  It's open Monday-Friday 1pm-8pm, Saturday 11am-8pm, and Sundays 11am-4pm.

Free Comic Book Day, Cheap Gaming, and Ground-Level Therapy Sessions.

I already covered my disgruntled teen sports rant here. But the weekend was bookended by Millie's team playing in Lancaster so here we go...

I drove Millie down to Lancaster for 9am and 11am games.  I'm honestly surprised they split their games, not the fact that they won a game, but I expected the split to go the other way.  Millie had good play both games, plus a classic Millie strip of the opposing team's towering center, and going end-to-end for the score.  

By that time, Millie's mom arrived and took over custodial duties for the weekend, and I went the opposite end of the family tree and drove to my Mom's to cut her grass, and general maintenance. 

But first there was a side trek. 

Saturday was Free Comic Book Day, and the closest, safest Friendly Local Comic Shop was The Portal in Bethlehem.  I missed the morning rush, wandered to the back gaming room, picked out some books (plus one or two for the girls), and wandered the store for deals.   

None of the deals on comics and graphics seemed appealing, the customer base gave me flashbacks from 30 years ago when I worked behind the counter (a few more tattoos, piercings, gauges, and socially awkward moments, but not by much), and in an odd turn of events, they were phasing out their WizKids D&D minis in favor of... Reaper.  Up until a month I'd celebrate that move, but recent painting projects have let me to selectively favor the Wizkids figures. 

The fun part of the visit, was an oddly filled shelf labelled (Used Gaming .... $5 each).  It was a proper assortment of gaming magazines, gaming related trade paperbacks, some wargaming books and an odd assortment of old White Wolf and d20 sourcebooks and hardcovers.  

I picked up three odd items:  

AD&D 2nd Edition Character Sheets:  Pure Nostalgia.  Half of the character sheets were still in there, the dark rich green, which either denotes the original printings, or the tail end before 2nd Edition went with the black hardcovers.

Cosmic Odyssey - Pirates of the Starstream:  A 3rd party Starfinder supplement.  Not worth the $19.95 MSRP, but a $5 pdf, maybe, making a $5 hardcopy a worthwhile addtion.

The Frostgrave Folio:  A softcover book that collected a number of the online articles, include a few mini-campaigns. I dipped my toe in Frostgrave and left, so this may kindle some ideas for Brutal Quest (FrostQuest?  BrutalGrave?  BrutalFrost?)  It looks like I need about a dozen and a half minis for "The Granite Golem" and even few for the other games.  

Once I got to my mom's I knocked out a pretty thick lawn in 40 minutes (I seriously only missed one week) and proceeded to take a quick nap.  Rested, with the prospect of an evening of watching bad digital antennae TV, I dashed out to catch a showing of Thunderbolts at the local theatre.  

I honestly haven't been at the Regal Northampton Crossings in over 21 years.  The regular seats are all ripped out for recliners and the ticket price and a medium soda gave me sticker shock I normally get for regional national recruiting AAU tournaments.   Still, I had space and my feet appreciated it, after a day of driving without my orthotics.  

Some people complained that Captain America: Brave New World was a long episode of Falcon and the Winter Soldier with an FX budget (which I was fine with).  Thunderbolts is some of the great parts of Hawkeye (Yelena), enough tie-in with the Marvel TV and the second-tier movies, and enough of a teaser in the end credit trailer.  

Minor Gripe:  They had over a year in the flash-forward and they couldn't recruit anyone, even some nobodies?  

Content with my relaxation, I headed back to the Mom's house to catch the last hour of Mysterious Island on MeTV. Good times.  

Sunday was an excellent late morning breakfast with a particular lady friend, and a drive back to Lancaster for one, perhaps two games for Millie's team. 

Spoilers:  It was only one game.  I have many questions about experienced coaching, teenage girls who can't break, or assist in breaking traps, when I covered that stuff in 3rd grade rec league. 

I collectively made a verbal comment about everyone's passing equating to wilted celery, and the next time I opened up social media, this popped up first. 

And yes, it was Mysterious Island on MeTV, with Svengoolie.

(Kickstarter) Knights of the Dinner Table: CODEX OF MANY TALES by Kenzer & Company

I'll admit, I missed a lot a great chances to buy gaming stuff, but I did snag multiple copies of the Knights of the Dinner Table #1 when it came out. I had collected all the issues of Shadis, save the zine-quality ones and I was a faithful collector of the run for a good decade.  

After all the Tales from the Vault and Bundles of Trouble, it's nice to see the Codex of Many Tales, covering the first 25 issues in a classy hardcover.

I'm also old enough now to wince at the $100 price tag for the book, while appreciating the very real gimmicky pledge levels which some folks would decry... but those folks don't share the same creativity and grace of Gary Jackson and Hard 8 enterprises.  Name references in the comic?  You as a character?   I love it!

Diamond Comics Distributors Declares Chapter 11.

I was going to save this until after the #CharacterCreationChallange was over, but in three weeks time I could be lamenting a different part of this saga. 

Diamond Comic Distributors, who used to the 800-lb gorilla in the comic book marketplace in the 90's  has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. 

Diamond has suffered as the big two comic companies self-distribute, and other companies jump exclusive contracts for de facto self-distribution.  

While this affects a lot of independent comic publishers, my main concern is the fate of the subsidiary I mention once a month, Alliance Game Distributors.  While they aren't as dominant as the past, the company formed by the merger of Chessex and The Armory in the 90's is just about to celebrate the 300th issue of the monthly game solicitation magazine, Game Trade Magazine.  I review the monthly game solicitations from it every month, From Issue #1, when I still worked retail, and beyond, is was and still is, far and away the best solicitation form in the industry, 

It appears the Universal distributors out of Canada are making a bid for Alliance.   Universal deals with sports and non-sports cards, gaming, hobby, and manga, and manga-related products.  I really like the product transparency on their website, but it's also very 2002 internet formatting.    If everything goes forward the next few weeks, we'll see what changes are coming down the pike.

(Kickstarter) DC Heroes Role-Playing Game 40th Anniversary

For most of the Fall, I've complained about the social media marketing campaigns for some Kickstarters: long lead-in, the redundancy, the lack of transparency, even as a teasers.  

Cryptozoic certainly didn't over-advertised, and they definitely undersold the potential of their latest. 

When I saw the Kickstarter for a 40th Anniversary Edition of the DC Heroes RPG (Mayfair Games), I had hoped for a nice box-set, some premium add-ons, and reasonable stretch goals of a few classic supplements.

Not only are they reproducing the 1st Edition AND 2nd Edition boxed sets ($60 each), but they're reproducing every supplement and every module for both editions!  For $695 you get both sets, the other 50 or so books, and all the add-on accessories.   Somewhere in the middle, there might be a better solution for each fan of the game....

(Painting) Megatron by WizKids

It started this one a while back and I can finally say that  Megatron, as produced by WizKids is finished!  I can't remember when I got this one, probably on whim, like a candy purchase at checkout.  

The one thing I really appreciate about the WizKids Hasbro licensed lines is that the back of each card has a color palette.  It's worked well with the ponies, but for the life of me, I couldn't figure out where to paint him yellow.  It took a few videos from the 80's cartoon to realized he has a large yellow button tucked in where his upper torso meets his waist. 

In the Queue: Larger sci-fi terrain projects, Zulus, and perhaps, the Gnome Medical Militia.

Project 350: Another insignificant decline to 500 (310/190) from 502 (310/192).

(Kickstarter) Groo: The Card Game by Steve Jackson

When Steve Jackson Games isn't physically removing dust from recently discovered product in the warehouse, they're Kickstarting for long-out-of-print games.  

This month's nostalgia is  Groo: The Game.

(Risus) Squirrely from KODT - #CharacterCreationChallenge

Day 27 of the #CharacterCreationChallenge and I fill in the holes of the games I would normally use.  

There's already a talking chimp, Mister Bipp, in my Risus - Illuminati University game, but there's always room in Risus for the most famous chimpanzee in gaming, Squirrely from Knights of the Dinner Table.  Weird Pete Ashton game store sidekick is a scene stealer, but is a more importantly a fleshed out character.  

Squirrely
Hyper-intelligent Chimpanzee, formerly of a US Government research facility (4)

Full-time gofer at Weird Pete's Games Pit (3)
Chain-Smoking Role-Player for hire (3)

Adequate in a pinch long-distance driver (2)

Equipment: Carton of cigarettes, lighter, keys to Weird Pet's Volkswagen mini-van.

There is an ulterior motive for posting stats of an existing entity.  After nearly two months I'm almost moved in and comfortable in my apartment.  Expect some rantsm, and a quick little tour, once this challenge is over and while #Zinequest is in full swing in February, but I'll start by posting my only prestigious piece of artwork on the wall near my computer. 

This is Jolly Blackburn's original concept art for Squirrely.  I got it as a freebie during one of Kenzer & Company's holiday grab bags offers, many moons ago.  People who ordered the random grab bags sometimes got extra product, cool swag like dice Kenzerco staff's dice, and in the coolest of cool, some original artwork made it out.  It sat in my office at work for nearly a decade until I took it to my new place, where is gets a proper spot over the Greyhawk Adventures poster from Dragon Magazine, and the true gaming bookcase,  updated shelfie forthcoming.  

(Review) Cloud City Games , Palmer Park Mall, Easton, Pennsylvania

The weeks don't get any less rough, but there have been some peaks of sunshine through the doom and gloom.

This week has been numerous visits to my mom, who was dealing with a respiratory infection, then a serious bout of confusion which ultimately led to calling 911 and getting her admitted at the local hospital.  

In the midst of these issues, she actually fell asleep, which allowed me to run an errand for her, grab some lunch, and run into the local mall, which just happens to have Cloud City Games in it.

Disclaimer:  I spent way too much time of my visit next to this awesome display case of the pre-painted D&D dragons,  on the phone with my Mom's doctor's office, trying to get an appointment, a prescription, or any advice.  Spoilers: The actual doctor never returned my call, and the advice from the staff was woefully insufficient, hence my 911 call.  

This is one of the nicer displays of the Wizkids dragons I've seen, if you're not weird and and want to keep them mint in box.  

Between bringing family members on previous trips, and weird mall hours, I was last in their store pre-COVID, when they were in a smaller location two or three storefronts closer to the anchor store.    The new location is spacious, definitely with some room for a few miniature games, roleplaying, or a 16-player CCG tournament without impact to gameplay or shoppers. 

Cleanliness:  Immaculate.   Might have been the neatest looking store in the mall.  Now, people usually don't toss comic books and mini blisters around like sweaters at an American Eagle, but I've seen plenty of mall gaming stores where "Warhammer Moms" would fear to tread, and after some encounters with folks at a Panera across from the hospital, the Warhammer Mom potential is super-high here.

Ripped off of their Facebook page.  

CCGs:  Extremely well-stocked in Magic, some Yu-Gi-Oh! and if I wasn't pre-occupied with medical, I'd probably find some Pokemon.  A literal ton of singles, with ingenious storage behind the counter.  A good variety of singles in the case, with a few higher-priced vintage pieces, and some amusing 9.5 graded cards (see below).  Lots of accessories, supplies, mats, and other options for the CCG player.

Board Games:  While not immense and diverse, it was a good assortment of "holiday gift" games for folks who want to make the jump from toy store games to more complicated fare.  

RPGs: If you want the 800-lb gorilla of RPGs, then you are in luck.  Despite numerous visits to stores well-stocked in D&D, I don't think I fully appreciated just how much product has been released for 5th Edition.  A bit daunting for a new player, but after eight years, something to be expected.  Not exactly a place to pull a copy an indy-game, or even third-tier RPG game off the shelves.

Miniatures:  Classic GW assortment of boxed sets, armies, units, and individual figures.  Tons of the Wizkids D&D figures.  GW paints and accessories, along with a display from Monument Hobbies.  

Events:  D&D, GW (including a 40k Pauper league), numerous Magic pre-releases.

Staff: The two guys behind the counter checked on me while on the phone with the doctor's office, and then again when I was finally off the call.  They seemed friendly, nay jovial, and actually seemed happy to be doing work (breaking down a shipment).  It's surprising how many folks working/running game stores don't realize they're working in a game store.  

Comics:  Cloud City is a traditional comic book store with a pull list, etc.  Nice mid-grade Silver and Bronze age comics complimenting the usual modern stuff.  

I picked up some comics (the latest issue of Flash and the Shazam mini-series) as well as some dice.  As I anticipate more trips down to Easton in the foreseeable future, if I need anything mainstream, this is an obvious first stop for me.  I grew up two blocks from the mall.  I wasted so much money in the arcade there.  The closest thing to gaming in there was the Waldenbooks and a Kay-Bee Toys.  This is solid addition to a mall that trying not to die like the rest of them.  

Oh yeah, the $90 Antiquities Atog.

Given its location and the demographics of the area, I give the Cloud City Games Palmer Mall location four out of five gnomes.

My usual demand for an "Immense and Diverse" selection for 5-Gnome ratings is just not something a gaming store inside a mall can do... or should do for that matter.  Cloud City knows what sells and stocks that inventory well.  It's welcoming, it's got a community of gamers, and if you wanted something special ordered, I'm certain they'd be happy to take that order and get it in a prompt amount of time. 

Cloud City Games is located in the Palmer Park Mall, near the non-Boscov's anchor store.  Still haven't visited the location at the Lehigh Valley Mall, but you can contact both locations through Facebook here.

(Review) Alchemist's Cove Games and Comics, Schuylkill Haven, PA

It was another crazy weekend of local volleyball followed by a drive down to Lancaster for Millie's AAU tournament.  One guaranteed game led to another, and finally an unsatisfying championship, but at least we got that much basketball in before 2pm.  

A still-early departure from Spooky Nook left Maja and myself leaving early.  First stop, finding a Rita's Italian Ice that was still open post September 30th for Maja. (There aren't many, but there are a few to venture to).   For me, it was a much needed meandering trip to Alchemist's Cove Games and Comics before they closed. 

I followed the shop early on when they first opened, but there have been only rare occasions on the weekends to make the hour trip down to Schuylkill Haven, Pennsylvania.  Once I got there, I'm disappointed I didn't go earlier... and make multiple return trips.  

There was a time when every game store was hybrid, selling both comics/graphic novels, a full assortment of games, plus miniatures and wargaming products.  Technically, all three game stores I worked at during the 90s tried to fit that mold.  It was incredibly pleasant to not only see comics in their own dedicated space (more than some of the local comics-only shop), but a library of graphic novels and related books that surpassed Barnes & Noble, and might rival the "immense and diverse selection" that Dreamscape Comics of old..

But outside of some well-done Disney+ product, I've been done reading traditional comics for over 15 years... and mostly gamers that read the blog are interested in the gaming selection.  Still, I have a massive amount of respect for the comics selection 

I would have been quite satisfied with a "selection of magic cards, essential boardgames and a few personal favorites, and a sparse selection of miniatures/supplies that traditionally sell well.   Heck, that might automatically qualify a store for a 3 out of 5, but I figured this was going to be a bit more special.

Cleanliness:  Let's be honest, I had some bias visiting small town FLGS and their cleanliness going in.  Upon review, Alchemist's Cove might rival Games and Stuff and Pop's Culture Shoppe for cleanliness and organization.  Shelves were organized and dust-free, gaming tables were clean, heck, even the kid in the Pathfinder game from the garbage can for drink on the first attempt.  It is definitely a place to bring your friends, family, and non-gamers with zero hesitation.

CCGS:  It's a big part of the store walking in.  Separate display cases for Vintage, Modern, and Commander/Pioneer WITH PRICES!!!!   The back wall was dominated with most of the recent sets in the past few years, still reasonably price, with Pokemon/Yu-Gi-Oh! locked in the display case.    If I played Magic to any extent, I would have plenty of options for cards, packs, and accessories.    

Board Games: Yes, the best-selling board games have their own set of shelves, in case you want a Catan, or Ticket to Ride, but their selection and variety of games might exceed Pop's with the same small footprint in the store.  Better yet, I found custom made shelves that fit a number of small card games and the like, so they're not mixed in and lost amongst the larger boxes.  

RPGs:  Despite a Pathinder game going through some epic flavor text while I was there, I only found a rock-solid selection of 5e D&D books, accessories, and the various licensed D&D minis.    The owner did say he was more than happy to place custom orders for anything (using Southern Hobby Distribution... a new distributor to review monthly solicitations. )

Miniatures:  Classic GW assortment (with fully stock paint rack and overpriced spray paint/primer.  Much impressed!), Bolt Action, Mantic (Kings of War/Armada), and a more impressive selection of Warlord than some game stores with a "historical" interest.  Throw in a boatload of the licensed D&D minis in blisters and sets, and again, the inventory is staggering for a regular shop, much less a shop in a small town. 

Amenities:  Two area for gaming:  a large area that appeared to accommodate 32 folks for CCG tourneys and the like, and a separate area for RPGs.  Snacks and drinks seemed to appear from somewhere (and disposed of properly) but I didn't pay attention to specifics.  A Magic store that sold traditional trading card supplies (boxes, top loaders, and 9-count card sheets) in addition to the pricier Ultra-Pro products was even more refreshing.

Price tags on each jar of paint might seem excessive, but it makes up for lack of pricing over the last year at any other retailer.

Events:  Most CCGs pre-releases, regular tourney and league, plus not only D&D Adventurer's Guild material, but a program dedicated to the under-16 crowd.  

Staff:  The owner seemed personable, knowledgeable, with just the right amount of pride that he had constructed a gaming paradise for all ages in this town.  I know I couldn't prove him wrong , looking at every corner of the store.  

I picked up a few packs of Magic, some top loaders, and a copy Paper Girls for a sleepy Maja who wanted to stay in the car.  

I was going into the visit with high hopes that a store that opened in a small town, located a small strip mall off the main highway, and survived the entirety of COVID would be a solid FLGS, and Alchemist's Cove Games and Comics exceed every expectation.  On the Gaming with the Gnomies 5-Gnome rating system, I happy to score them with five out of five gnomes!

Alchemist's Cove is located at 25 W Main St, Schuylkill Haven, PA 17972.  If you're coming into town from PA 61 (most will), once you make the turn off onto PA 443 East, the strip mall entrance is just over the railroad tracks (If you see the The White Pear Formal Boutique on your left, you already passed the parking lot on your right, turn around!)

 I originally found them on Facebook here.

Happy Bill and Ted Day, Righteous Gamer Dudes!

So apparently, in addition to the traditional Bill & Ted Day (of Excellent Adventure fame), there's a comic book, Bill & Ted Roll the Dice, coming out next week.  

The reason the cover of issue #1 looks most triumphant (and familiar) falls in this quote from the original Gizmodo announcement: 

“For the first storyline, we wanted something that hadn’t been done in the comics before, that was a fit for the era yet still relevant today, and that had—as with all things Opus—a strong musical connection,” he said, “During those years, I spent many hours playing tabletop RPGs, and D&D has never been more popular than today. The ‘80s also spawned the Satanic Panic, when parents and religious groups railed against those games, and heavy metal music, of course.”

The biggest fact from the comic series that totally me is the fact that this mini-series (and any other series produced by Opus will be totally canon, and will take place during the 16 months after Bogus Journey where Future Bill & Ted got "awesome from practice."

(Kickstarter) GURPS: Girl Genius by Steve Jackson Games

I didn't expect any GURPS Kickstarters from Steve Jackson Games, and I certainly couldn't guess the Girl Genius Sourcebook and Roleplaying Game, if it weren't for some previous pre-orders awhile back

From the Kickstarter:

Adventure! Romance! Mad Science!

Imagine a version of the Victorian era in which the wildest dreams of early science-fiction writers are a reality. A talent known as the Spark inspires great, if not always sane, minds to reshape the world via technology. Noble houses jockey for influence and power while common folk keep their head down to avoid the crazed inventors and their crazed inventions.

#RPGaDay2020: Day 21 - Push

Day 21 of #RPGaDay2020 gives us "Push."  I'm sure there can be plenty of articles on pushing rolls or pushing actions and all that entails, but I could only think of the "big fight" scene from the series finale of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Every year one day of this turns down another path of geekdom.  I'm guessing today is that day for 2020.

I was quite content with the villain-of-the-week format for the first season, mixed in with a pinch of MCU tie-ins.  As the seasons progressed, the show varied like a comic series: stand-alone issues, references to over-arching storylines, and the occasional special guest to drum up sales (Ghost Rider, I'm looking at you!)

Agents of S.H.I.E.LD. was certainly uneven and clumsy at times, but it was the right amount of comic book fun.

One series that might be wearing thin for us a family is The Flash.  Let it be known, My family has binged-watched marathons of the Flash repeatedly since they were first put on Netflix.  My daughters know all the minor characters, and it launched a great discussion, "Daddy? What's a particle accelerator actually do?"

I've become tired of the series with the appearance of Devoe in Season 4, and I'm realizing that beyond the crossover episodes, the girls are going back to the beginning once the flying samurai makes his appearance. 

For me, the only saving grace of the last few seasons was Ralph Dibney, aka the Elongated Man.  With evidence that actor Hartley Sawyer was an insufferable idiot earlier in his life and with his subsequent firing, I fear we'll be regaling the wonders of those first three seasons (and crossovers).

The absolutely pleasant surprise has been Stargirl.  The teen-centric supers series has generated the early Flash enthusiasm in my house.  My girls love the characters (they already watched Brec Bassinger in Nickelodeon's Bella and the Bulldogs, so they expect her to be awesome.) and I'm geeking out over how they're integrating the JSA and the Seven Soldiers into a modern timeline.  I'm a huge fan of Golden Age DC comics and James Robinson's Starman is one of the few complete runs of comics that I still own.  The best part is that they're flipping things on their side canonically and I dig it. 

(Kickstarter) Life of the Party Volume 3 by Travis Hanson

February.  The evil month where aspiring creators prey on the unassuming fans who have already submitted their tax return and are awaiting their refunds.

Travis Hanson is at it again with his Kickstarter for his gaming cartoon collection, Life of the Party Volume 3.

Where No Gnome Has Gone Before...

Left without comment, because I can't think of one....  

The Final Memories of an Era

A few weeks ago, some of the evidence of my footloose and fancy-free 20's was erased from time.

In my teens in Dreamscape Comics in Easton was my weekly hang-out for comics and gaming.  Halfway through my "career" as a game store manager, I got the privilege of not only working there, but officially managing their Bethlehem location.

After my departure in 1997, the Easton shopped closed up, and the Bethlehem location a few doors down to the corner of Second Avenue and W. Broad St.   I had disagreements with the owner, Nick, as well as problems with special orders, but I always tried to swing in while I was in the Lehigh Valley.

With Nick's death, the very, very slow process of liquidating and closing began, and wouldn't be complete until the doors were shut for good in 2014.

Recently, Steel City Comics opened up in the same location, and with some of the old inventory from Dreamscape.   It was sparser, certainly cleaner and brighter, but the old Dreamscape sign still hung over the front of the store:

Like all good things, this too came to an end earlier this year, as the Steel City owners found an old Dreamscape customer willing to purchase it and give it a spot of honor it deserves.

 And now we wait to see what sort of mark Steel City will put in its place....