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.