![]() February 18, 2025: It Was 25 Years Ago Today . . .Well, not "today" today, probably, although anniversaries can be tricky to pin down. But way back in February 2000, I started doing stuff for Steve Jackson Games, releasing the first issue of Pyramid magazine I edited on February 18, 2000. I went on to edit Pyramid for . . . well, I still edit it when new issues come out (like the 2022 GURPS Pyramid Scheme). Pyramid won a few Origins awards along the way. During that time, I met Nikki Vrtis. She edits and lays out GURPS books (and has done so for 15+ years). We got married; we had a kid – who's now an adult. In the meantime I've done lots more stuff with GURPS, and anywhere I'm useful at the company. Nowadays, I also wrangle making the Fighting Fantasy books available for audiences in the United States. So, yeah, that first issue of Pyramid was kind of significant for me. If you want to check it out, you can pick up the 2000 year . . . [more] Share this post!February 17, 2025: An Awesome New Terrain System: LorescapeLast year, when I was at the UK Games Exposition, I stopped at a stand that was displaying brightly-printed hexagonal tiles that interlocked to build landscapes. You could use them in any scale, from laying out a continent to building a battle map with one character per hex. I asked how much they were, thinking my Melee demo set was about to get an upgrade. But woe is me! They were not on sale yet. "We plan to crowdfund next year," said the affable chap running the stand. All these beautiful tiles were just prototypes! Then I did something that I just don't do. I asked James (James Simonds, the mad genius behind Lorescape) if he was looking for startup money. Yes, that's how much I liked what I saw. And he said "Maaaaaaybe!" Fast forward. It's 2025. I am an investor and sort of "assistant brand ambassador" (the actual Brand Ambassador is the incomparable Felicia Day, . . . [more] Share this post!February 16, 2025: Today's Recommendation: Toffee!There's no wrong way or time to celebrate Valentine's Day, right? So you're not DONE with Valentine's even though it was a couple of days ago, right? Right. If you're looking to impress someone (or just indulge yourself!), I'd like to offer a treat that punches way above its weight class – seeming far too tasty and elegant for the amount of work it takes. Try toffee! This rich, buttery treat costs big bucks if you buy it from the store, but it's really easy to make if you have the time to devote your attention to it. The only strange equipment you need is a candy thermometer. Search around online for a recipe you like; I believe this one from AllRecipe is the one I've used most recently, but they're all pretty much the same: equal parts butter and sugar, some salt, and then however you wanna doctor it up (usually chocolate, often nuts). Toffee is a lot like the best games: Simple . . . [more] Share this post!February 15, 2025: Dungeon Zoology: An Evolutionary ApproachAt Pax Unplugged this past December, I had the privilege of presenting a panel on using evolutionary science as inspiration for tabletop roleplaying games. The lovely people at PAX have put the panel on YouTube, so now I can share it with all of you! If you've got an hour and want to learn a bunch of facts about birds, then here you go:
What's your favorite weird trait that animals have evolved? Have you ever used it in a roleplaying game? P.S. My charismatic co-panelist Astrid Lundberg creates content about dinosaurs, paleontology, and science history – if you enjoyed her here, you can find her on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Patreon! Share this post!February 14, 2025: Watch 50 Years Of Gaming History On Gen Con TV
Gen Con celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2017. As part of the festivities, Peter Addison and Jon Peterson organized a series of panels that celebrated the history of tabletop gaming and the people behind some of your favorite properties. Now those talks are available to view on Gen Con TV on Wednesdays and Fridays at 5:00 p.m. Pacific.
The list of episodes is impressive and covers everything from the origins of Gen Con itself to the prevalence of gaming accessories to tradable card games. (Look for our own Steve Jackson in In the Shadow of the Castle, which details the experiences of those outside the iconic 1980s Dungeons & Dragons castle on the Gen Con exhibition floor.) Whether you're interested in gaming history, gaming culture, or want an insider's perspective on the industry, this series is worth a look.
-- Katie Duffy Share this post! |
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