Kickstarter Projects

I've been exploring Kickstarter recently and it's interesting. Kickstarter is a website that was established in 2009 that is used to help creative projects get off the ground. Users submit their ideas and they are accepted or rejected. Once accepted, you set up a goal of how much your project needs, set up incentives, and start getting your project out there. Other users then can donate to your cause and help you meet your goal. Money only exchanges hands if the project is successful.

They have a good number of categories including gaming, technology, books, film, and others. I just came across this site and a few of my Twitter friends have used this with their games and other projects. I recommend checking this out whether you have a great idea and need funding or just want to check out and back some great projects.

Carnival Post: Cloud 9

Cloud 9 is a game I tried out at Gencon a few years ago and loved. I ended up buying it more for my family than friends. This is another card and board game hybrid, and very kid friendly.

The object of the game is to be the first to 50 points. Points are earned by staying in the balloon as it travels up and jumping out before in falls.When you decide to not risk it, just jump out and collect. Each level has a number of dice that need to be rolled. The die have colored and blank sides. Whatever colors are rolled must be matched by the pilot with the cards in their hand. If they can match it, the balloon soars. If they can't match the colors, the balloon falls to the lowest level.

This is a great game for family or if your group wants a relaxing game. I highly recommend this game. With Gencon right around the corner, Out of the Box might even have some deals for picking this up as well as other favorites such as Apples to Apples or new games like Pirate vs. Pirate.

Don't forget to click the links below and check out the rest of the games being featured by my fellow bloggers. Happy gaming.



<< List of blogs participating in the carnival     Next blog in the carnival: The ID DM >>

Blog Reconfiguration

I have ignored this blog long enough. The reason for it being that I had no idea what to write. I have decided it will be revived, but take on a new form. I am a gamer. Not just any gamer though. My interests lay in roleplaying games of the pen and paper sort, board games and card games. This with a mix of fantasy writing (both authoring and reading) will be the main focus of this blog. I will still visit my followers and comment back, but it won't be as regular as before.

I have no real plans for a schedule but plan on at least 3 times a week. Just wanted to let everyone know in case this is something you aren't interested in. You will be getting random posts still of dreams, thoughts, and some personal stuff. I hope you all stick around and can't wait to start again. No quote this time, sorry. :)

Resident Evil Deck Building Game

The Resident Evil Deck Building Game. This is right now my second favorite game (Dominion is a little better in my opinion). It is however the new thing so my group has been playing this more and more. Here is the requirements for the carnival real quick.

How many players it supports = 1-4
How long it takes to play = 30 - 60 minutes
Party or Strategy = Strategy

First off, if you don't enjoy complex games, this is not for you. It is a strategy game with a more mature theme. On top of that, it is for the more experienced game players. The rulebook doesn't help making it easy either. It introduces you to 3 different game modes, 4 in the case of the expansion. If you are a fan of the Resident Evil series, a fan of deck building games, or you experiment with different games, this game is worth taking a look at.

Onto the gameplay. The rules are simple and the cards are easy to understand. The part that this game gets complicated at is the mansion. Every turn you get 1 buy, 1 action, and 1 explore. Like all other deck building games, you buy cards to change the deck you are using. The goal is to collect the most decorations which you get by exploring and beating zombies. Zombies each come with health, damage, and decorations.

Defeating a zombie takes having enough damage to kill it, which is provided by weapons. Most weapons need ammo they need to be in your hand as well. This requires you to combo to win, at least with the number of plays we have had (10+). This does take away from the game a bit in my opinion. So this is a quick rundown and recommendation from me. The game offers different modes which does change the game and makes it more enjoyable then the basic story mode. For this reason, I do say it is a buy for more "hardcore" gamers.

Don't forget to click the links below and check out the rest of the games being featured by my fellow bloggers. Happy gaming.

<< List of blogs participating in the carnival     Next blog in the carnival: The ID DM >>

Old stuff

Sorry I have been away for so long. With the wedding coming up and all, I just haven't had time. I give you a gift. This was published in my college's literary magazine way back when. Titled in there as Last Goodbye. It's a short read, hope you enjoy.

“I can’t believe this happened.”

            A boy stood in a world unchanged. Everything was the same, except his own little world. People went on with their daily lives and pressed on to make honest money. Those same people pushed forward with their plans. Plans of growing up, graduating, finding their purpose in life. He had found his purpose through accident, and used it for the benefit of those around him who didn’t know the danger they were in.

            “How could you let this happen to yourself?”

            His eyes were on the horizon as it displayed the last light of the day. The sun crept down under a hill in the far distance. The colors radiated off, giving its viewers a wonderful show of purple red and orange glows. This sunset was different from the others he had witnessed. This one filled him with a great sorrow. He spoke once again seeming more grown up then the mere teenager he was.

            “What were you thinking?

            “I don’t know….” A meek voice responded. A girl stood behind him, the same age as him. Her posture differed greatly from his. Both stood atop a low hill. The boy stood as defiant and proud as ever. His arms rested as his side with his fists clenched. His eyes focused out to the horizon. His short brown hair rustled gently in the wind.

            The girl’s posture was conservative. She stood with her arms close to her body, one arm reaching across to hold her other. She stood less sure footed, using her right foot to dig into the earth with no progress. She hung her head, not daring to look up.

            “I want to know why you did this.” The boy continued looking forward as he spoke.

            “You don’t understand how it is.” She responded softly.

            “I know better than you do. What I am doing isn’t glamorous and I didn’t take any shortcuts. Most of the world will never know my name. The name Drajan only affects a small fraction of all people. And you know how many of those few are glad to hear it? Maybe ten people, if even that number.”

            “I’m glad to hear….”

            “You won’t be anymore, now that you have given yourself to the darkness in the world.” He interrupted her, giving his words a sharpness she had never heard.

            “It’s not like that.”

            “Yes, it is Nara. When you accepted that dark power, you became my enemy.”

            Nara fell to her hands and knees crying. “You don’t understand. I love you. This was for you. I wanted to be strong for you. You tell me you wish it wasn’t your responsibility all the time. I wanted to help, to be there for you. It was all for you.” She continued crying, being the only noise in the area.

            “I do wish I wasn’t the only one sometimes.” His words made her sobs grow softer; she grew anxious to hear his response. “You have made it easier on me too. Without you, and the others, I would not be here today. You all have played an important part of keeping this world safe.” He turned to face her, looking into her eyes.

            “I love you for that as well. But I can’t let you go on as you are. The power you have now corrupts. It may not happen right away, but you will eventually turn against me. The purity you possessed is gone.”

            “It’s not gone!” She cried out defensively. “I still hold that magic. I’m still the same Nara, but with new power.”

            “It is too dangerous. You should have ignored the calling. I told you how I have ignored it many times. I even told you exactly the things it would tell you. It was lying to you as it has lied to everyone else.’

            He turned his vision back to the horizon. “I will let you go. I never want to see you again though. Promise that we will never meet again, under any circumstance.”

            “I can’t.” She lowered her head again, allowing the pain on her heart to take hold once again.

            “It is the only way you will live past this day.” His mind still focused on the moment, but he let his memories gather of the lands he traveled.

            “Please, don’t. I love you so much Drajan. And it’s not Nara talking, it’s Mary. The person who you met and saw was special. The person who would watch this sunset with you everyday, no matter where we were. The person who wants to do anything they can to help you.”

            “Don’t make this harder than it is. This was brought on by you. You could have helped me by roughing it out, the same way I have. I learned with determination to shape the magic I control. I was handed nothing. And you took the easy escape. It isn’t even an escape. It’s a trap. A trap you fell into that some dark entity will use to take control of you. I am giving you this last chance, please just leave.”

            She began to cry out louder, pleading for a solution she knew she would never get. Her power gave in and she collapsed to the ground, covering her eyes. She lay there on the hill, the only sound in the area her pleas. “Don’t…….I can’t……….without you.” Her words got through her weeping disconnected. Her head lifted up, vision blurred through tears. She wiped her eyes with her hand and looked up.

            He was gone, leaving her sobbing harder and pounding her fist on the ground in a mix of hate and desperation.

Fluxx Review

Fluxx by Looney Labs. This is one of my favorite games. The rules are simple and after this next sentence, you know how to play. The rules are, you draw a card, and play a card. That's it. You can all now participate in a game of Fluxx. Games can last from 5 minutes to around 45 minutes. It's usually on the shorter side taking only 15-20 realistically. There is one community deck of cards and contains new rules (Draw 3 Cards, Play All, Hand Limit 2), Keepers (Milk, Cookies, The Sun), Actions (Do something and the card goes away), Goals (Milk and Cookies, Peace no War), and Creepers (War).

In the beginning, there is no way to win. A goal has to be set out to give players something to achieve. The most common one is have the two Keepers on the goal under your control. A Keeper is played out in front of you and stays with you until it is destroyed, stolen, or changes hands some other way. Creepers keep you from winning and Actions are fun.

If this game doesn't seem like it's for you, they have options. Zombie Fluxx, Pirate Fluxx, Monty Python and the Holy Grail Fluxx, Martian Fluxx, even EcoFluxx. Each one can be mixed with each other and the original.

This game is really fun and gets better as more people are added. It is really simple to learn and can keep your family and friends entertained for a good couple of hours (most likely longer). The only downside is it that it is very luck based. Sometimes you can't help but let other people win as well. An example of this is you draw 3 cards and have to play them all. If you have a goal that gives your opponent the win, that's the breaks. Definitely fun for the whole family and it's all contained in a box you can carry with you wherever. Now go get it, what are you waiting for?

Question: What are some of your favorite games?
Quote: "We are shaped by our thoughts;we become what we think." -Buddha

Character and why you should have it.

You love them and you hate them. Characters. Whether it is in the book you just picked up, movies you watch, or NPCs (non-player characters for non-gamers) that you encounter. At least, you should love them or hate them. I recently picked up a new book this weekend and had to put it down after three chapters. This happens with both authors I know and don't know, big and small names. I've had this happen with non-player characters too where I could care less if I help them or not.

This can happen for so many reasons. I want to talk about the positive though because that's who I am. My favorite part of creating characters is their quirks. This is not only flesh and blood or lack of blood people/creatures, but the setting as well. Settings should be given the same quirks and distinguishing marks as people. Maybe that meeting place for your characters has a chalkboard or bulletin board of some sorts where people from the town or travelers leave notes or are looking for help. Possibly there stood a building in an empty lot that if they look through, they can find small pieces of  what once stood there. For people, it could be scars, hair color, or even how perfect they seem (because no one is) that sets them apart.

Characters you make need to show emotion. This is easier when you game because you get to act out your characters. Recently in one of my gaming sessions, one of our players said something highly offensive to the only NPC who would talk to us. I had to actively seek out this NPC to get more information and he was not happy I still hung around with the other player. He reacted exactly as you expected someone who was offended would. I was honestly sad when I said bye to him too because we had gotten along so well.

The point is, he seemed real. He reacted the way the way I expected him too. A character devastated by loss might tear up when they think of the person who is gone. A character might unexpected lose their poker face when presented with an item they've been looking for all their life.

I've covered the description of a character, noting anything radical or out of place. This is one way your reader or players connect. Also covered is the way they act or behave that can make them likable or not. Your reader or players become engaged when they connect with someone or something in the story. If seeing the person they were rooting for succeed or destroying somewhere that they loved affected them, you have done a great job.

These are things that really help me connect and fall in love with not just the characters and setting, but the story just gets interesting.

Question: Anything else that helps you connect with characters or places?

Quote: "I postpone death by living, by suffering, by error, by risking, by giving, by losing." ~ Anais Nin