Saturday Crowdfunding Roundup - Tenkar's Tavern, Pyramid of the Lost King, & Empires: Age of Discovery

There are relatively few gaming bloggers as dedicated to their work as Erik Tenkar, the proprietor of the blog Tenkar's Tavern.  He's got a Patreon page set up to help him offset the costs of his phenomenal efforts here.  Join him!

Also, a couple of Kickstarters of note include, first, "Pyramid of the Lost King: Adventures in Basq" by Johua De Santo.  It's a modest adventure for Sword & Wizardry so jump on board here.

Finally, there is still time to get in on the juggernaut that is "Empires: Age of Discovery (Age of Empires III reborn)" by Eagle Games here.

Saturday Crowdfunding Roundup on CreativeMountainGames.com 

Keeping an eye on those Kickstarter & IndieGoGo
projects plus other crowdfunding efforts.

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The Friday Grab Bag - Pac-Man Restaurant, Godzilla Hotel, & Castle for Sale

Over on the dailyherald.com, they let us know that a "Pac-Man-themed restaurant opens at Woodfield" here.

Also, on comicbook.com, they may have topped that news by telling us a "Godzilla Hotel To Open In Japan" here.

Finally, pardon me if the headline was a bit misleading since what the Medievalists.net website mentioned last year was that a "Medieval Castle and Hamlet for Sale in Italy: Castello Izzalini" here.

The Friday Grab Bag on CreativeMountainGames.com 

Essentially, a clearinghouse for topics not covered
elsewhere or needing a particular focus.

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Throwback Thursday - D&D's CRPG Influence, Herron's Conantics, & a Raging DM

It was just last November when moviepilot.com took a look at "Dungeons & Dragons: How it Changed Video Games Forever!"  Read more here.

Also, on Don Herron's website, Up and Down These Mean Streets, he has republished an article from 1976 titled "Conan vs. Conantics" here.

Finally, on the Sword & Shield blog last October, C.R. Brandon put two and two together to uncover the D&D roots of Rage Against the Machine co-founder Tom Morello in an article titled "Rage Against the DM" here.

Throwback Thursday on CreativeMountainGames.com 

A look back at early tabletop hobby gaming

 or gaming-adjacent topics of the past.

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Events & Play Wednesday - Cons & Gamedays for March

Still running this weekend through the beginning of the month, February 27th thru March 1st, check out the information here on the Fire & Ice game convention.  It's also their 15th anniversary.

Some events locally include . . .

First up, Kris Herzog is organizing a gameday for Sunday, March 1st at 11 am to be held at Gregs Catering 3120 Roberts St, Franksville, Wisconsin 53126.  It's a short trip from the Milwaukee, Lake Geneva, and Kenosha areas, so stop on by for free gaming a great, reasonably-priced eats.  Join the event on its Facebook page here.

Lake Geneva Games is hosting a gameday this second Saturday, March 14th.  You can donate five dollars to the kitty if you want to partake of the pizza and snacks, soda machine on premises, or bring your own feast from the many restaurants right down the street.  check out more information on the Lake Geneva Games Facebook page here and the events page here.

The third Saturday and Sunday of March, and indeed almost every month, includes the Burlington Gameday on Saturday, March 21st which sets up events through the Burlington UCC Game Day group on Facebook here and A Gathering of Gamers on Sunday, March 15th, set up by the South Lakes Area Gamers here.  The former is in Burlington, WI at the Plymouth UCC space and is free taking place from approximately 11 am to 5 pm.  The latter takes place at the Pizza Ranch in Elkhorn, WI, and requires a $12 fee for the all you can eat pizza and fried chicken buffet (salad bar, soft-serve ice cream machine, etc.) plus unlimited soft drinks and coffee from 11 am to 8 pm.

Be sure to make your plans for March 19th, the "Thor'd Thors'day" of March, since it is the monthly Game Like a Viking Day!  It's a chance, no matter where you are, to break out your Viking-themed tabletop games and have at it.  See more of this ongoing monthly day of fun on the Facebook page here.

The third Saturday, March 21st at Games Plus in Mount Prospect, IL, the first Chicago EN World Gameday of 2015.  The event is organized on Warhorn.net here and features two game slots, the morning slot from 9:30 am to 2:30 pm, followed by a one hour break, then an afternoon slot from 3:30 pom to 8:30 pm (and sometimes later).  There are three of these events each year and this is the fortieth one of its kind, so join in for all the RPGing (and some times other games) they have to offer!

And lest we forget, Gary Con VII takes place March 26th to 29th in Lake Geneva, WI, and celebrates gaming old and new.  Four days with some of the finest gamer/designers in the business from all eras.  See more on their website here.

And farther away from the Lake Geneva, WI, area . . .

Don't forget that Cold Wars takes place March 5th thru 8th.  This year's theme is Civil War 1865 commemorating "150 Years" since that conflict began.  This is easily one of the top events held by the Historical Miniatures Gaming Society in the US, so if you want to get some wargaming in, head to the  Lancaster Host Resort & Conference Center in Lancaster, PA  Get more information here.

The Salt Con 2015 Board Game Convention happens the 12th, 13th, and 14th at the Davis Conference Center in Layton, UT, with more info here.  Conflagration 15 takes place March 13th-15th at the Sheraton Milwaukee Brookfield Hotel (375 South Moorland Road Brookfield, Wisconsin 53005) and more info is available here.  Then there's TwisterCon XII - 2015, March 13th thru 15th, which takes place at the The Sheraton Midwest City Hotel at the Reed Conference Center 5750 Will Rogers Road Midwest City, OK 73110, and more information can be had here.  March 14th is the MEGA Spring Meltdown for Green Mountain Gamers at the Morey Room, Lake Morey Resort, Fairlee, VT, so find out more here.  Don't forget that Gamestorm is happening March 19th to 22nd at The Vancouver Hilton 301 W. 6th St, Vancouver WA and you can see more here.

You can also find a whole list of gaming events all around the country on Warhorn.net here and they include:

2/27-3/1: Con Nooga 2015 in Chattanooga, TN
2/27-3/1: GottaCon 2015 in Victoria, BC
2/27-3/1: Pensacon 2015 Pensacola, FL
3/6-8: 3XP in Great Staughton, CAM, GB
3/6-8: AtomiCon 3 - Atomic Empire in Durham, NC
3/6-8: Ei Con in Leiden, ZH, NL
3/6-8: Plattecon in Platteville, WI
3/13-15: Cleveland Concoction 2015 in Cleveland, OH
3/13-15: Condor 2015 in San Diego, CA
3/13-15: Conquest Sacramento X 2015 in Sacramento, CA
3/13-15: Coscon XXVII 27 in Butler, PA
3/13-15: Genericon (Rensselaer Polytechnic) in Troy, NY
3/13-15: Madicon 2015 in Harrisonburg, VA
3/13-15: Planet Comicon Gaming in Kansas City, MO
3/14: Golaricon Brownsburg, IN
3/14-15: AthCon in Athens, GA
3/14-15: Farmageddon in Farmer City, IL
3/20-22: CoastCon 38 in Biloxi, MS
3/20-22: Concentric 15 in Itasca, IL
3/20-22: MidSouthCon 33 in Memphis, TN
3/20-22: Gem State Gaming Con in Boise, ID
3/21: MeepleCon in Las Vegas, NV
3/21: Spring Game Day in Winnipeg, MB
3/21-22: CarbonCON 2015 in Carbondale, IL
3/27-29: EvilleCon 2015 in Evansville, IN
3/27-29: PåskeCon in Sjælland, 015, DK
3/27-29: Påskefinder in Roskilde, 025, DK
3/27-29 Pathfinding in Stillwater, OK
3/28: WittCon XII in Springfield, OH
3/28-29: Go Play in Annerley, Brisbane, QLD, AU

Some of this information is from the excellent lists on upcomingcons.com/gaming-conventions, GameConventionCentral.com, HMGS (the Historical Miniatures Gaming Society), and  as well as many, many gamers on Facebook and Google Plus, to whom I am grateful for the help in this compilation.  Thanks so much and have a great game!

Events & Play Wednesday on CreativeMountainGames.com 

News of Conventions and Gamedays as well as pictures

from those I have attended and games I have played.

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Tech Tuesday - Beam, castAR, & Tomatan

Although I usually save Kickstarter mentions until Saturday, I've got a new one for Tech Tuesday as well as an update on one.  First up, check out "Beam: The smart projector that fits in any light socket"
by Beam Labs, Inc. here.

Also from Kickstarter, it seems that "castAR: the most versatile AR & VR system" by Technical Illusions is starting to ship.  Learn more here.

Finally, there is no other way to put it except in the words from the article, simple and straightforward, "A Japanese vegetable juice company has designed a new a wearable robot [code name: Tomatan!] that dispenses tomatoes for people to eat while on the go."  See more here.

Tech Tuesday on CreativeMountainGames.com 

News focused on Technology
as it might interest gamers.

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Media News Monday - Alien, Conan, & New Holmes

Variety spilled the beans last week that a "New ‘Alien’ Movie [is] Confirmed with Director Neill Blomkamp" here.

Also, on io9.com, they told us "Everything You Never Knew About The Making of Conan The Barbarian" here.

Finally, io9.com reports that you can "Read The Lost Sherlock Holmes Short Story Someone Found In An Attic."  Find out more here.

Media News Monday on CreativeMountainGames.com 

News for Movies, Television, and more
of gamer-relevant Media.

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Sunday Funnies - Easterhenge, Clay Yount, & Truthful CRPGers

Not sure where it originated but this little comic wound up on the Meta Picture website at some point then got passed around Facebook and elsewhere.  Enjoy!

Also, Clay Yount has some funny comics on his website and you can see more here.

Finally, the good folks at the Saving Throw YouTube channel put out a second part to their humorous "If RPG Video Game Characters Were Honest" video.  Laugh it up!

Sunday Funnies on CreativeMountainGames.com

Humor, often gaming-related,
to start the week with a chuckle.

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Saturday Crowdfunding Roundup - Wilderness Adventures, Conclave of Gamers, & The Great War

A few from Kickstarter this week that are winding down including Wilderness Adventures 28mm Scale Fantasy Gaming Terrain by Tom Tullis of Fat Dragon Games here.

Also, check out Conclave of Gamers 2015: Open Tabletop Gaming Convention by Chad Uecker who is trying to prime the pump for a Denver convention here.

Finally, utilizing the Command and Colors miniature rules from Richard Borg, take a look at The Great War by Will Townshend, PSC Games here.

Saturday Crowdfunding Roundup on CreativeMountainGames.com 

Keeping an eye on those Kickstarter & IndieGoGo
projects plus other crowdfunding efforts.

Please Like, Share, Plus, Tweet, Follow, and Comment!

The Friday Grab Bag - Blog Carnival: How and Where I Write and/or Game Prep

This month's Blog Carnival is being shepherded by Leicester's Ramble here and the topic is "How and Where I Write and/or Game Prep."  Folks can keep track of each new month and visit the archives for the Blog Carnival on roleplayingtips.com here.

Write Everywhere!  Sure, I have a primary place I write because I have a tower computer set up with a computer desk and it's where I am much of the time I am doing any writing at all.  However, I have an old laptop that I take with me much of the time when I think I'll have some time to sit with it.  Sometimes it is nice to take that laptop down to the library and get a change of scenery.  It's also my companion when I go to do laundry because I know I'll have two blocks of time a half hour long to really dive in.  But, that's not the limit of it.

Forge Studios Artist Maciej Zagorski

Like many folks, I have a computer in my pocket almost all the time these days.  When I have a new idea, even with no time to develop that idea, I open an email and dash it off to myself, while it is fresh.  I've tried using Windows Office on the phone, and that's good for longer pieces I am writing where I am continuing a process, purposefully springboarding from a previous work session.  However, sometimes I like the clean slate a blank email gives me.  It's quick and I don't second guess my immediate idea or try to adjust it to fit with something else I have previously written.  I can shape this clay to fit later, if necessary, during the editing session.  So, my modus operendi really is to be sure and be ready to . . .

Write Everywhere!

Black Hand Artwork by Tamás Baranya

The Friday Grab Bag on CreativeMountainGames.com 

Essentially, a clearinghouse for topics not covered
elsewhere or needing a particular focus.

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Throwback Thursday - Andre Norton, Creighton's Old School, & Wonderland @ 150

Since Tuesday was the birthday of the late Andre Norton, it reminded me that the first book of hers that I read was titled "Here Abide Monsters."  Though it recall it holding my attention well enough, it didn't make much of a lasting impression.  I recall vaguely that it was a mash up of a lot of tropes and a fish out of water tale.  It was the Mid-70s, though, so I don't doubt some of the material in the book influenced my GMing and worldbuilding at the time but I couldn't swear to any specifics.

Also, over on his blog, Raging Swan's Creighton Broadhurst penned a detailed examination titled "What Old School Means to Me" here.

Finally, this being the 150th Anniversary of the publication of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, here is a link to a sire with tons of information on events to mark the occasion.

Throwback Thursday on CreativeMountainGames.com 

A look back at early tabletop hobby gaming

 or gaming-adjacent topics of the past.

Please Like, Share, Plus, Tweet, Follow, and Comment!

Events & Play Wednesday - Lake Geneva Area Gaming, Late January through Late February

A couple of local gamedays and weekly gaming were in the offing this last month.  The Franksville Gameday took place on Feb 8th at Greg's Catering and should come around again in two months will be happening again March 1st!  Of course the third Sunday meant A Gathering of Gamers at the Pizza Ranch in Elkhorn, WI, but the Burlington Gameday won't happen until this Saturday, the third Saturday of the month, due to the month beginning on a Sunday.  Quite a bit of boardgaming at the Taco Bell on Tuesdays and Culver's on Fridays as well, and the weekly 1E AD&D game was going strong despite being down a couple of players for an extended period continuing into March.  Here are some highlight photos but the bulk of them can be found in a Facebook album here and on Google Plus here.

Events & Play Wednesday on CreativeMountainGames.com 

News of Conventions and Gamedays as well as pictures

from those I have attended and games I have played.

Please Like, Share, Plus, Tweet, Follow, and Comment!

Tech Tuesday - Tricorder, Lithium Ion Batteries, & Making a Compass

Over on cnn.com, they herald "Scanadu: The medical Tricorder from Star Trek" here.

Also, on scientificamerican.com, they explain how "Biology Inspires Idea for Improving Lithium Ion Batteries" here.

Finally, on the National Geographic YouTube channel they featured video titled "Making a Compass." Enjoy.

Tech Tuesday on CreativeMountainGames.com 

News focused on Technology
as it might interest gamers.

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Media News Monday - Marvel News

The Geek Twins have updated their "Visual Guide to Marvel Character Movie Rights" here.

And one of the reasons to make that update is because "It's Official! Spider-Man WILL Appear In The Marvel Movies" as told on io9.com here.

Finally, though this news is from late last month, since the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. series starts back up soon, here's that teaser they posted for Aftershocks.  Enjoy.

Media News Monday on CreativeMountainGames.com 

News for Movies, Television, and more
of gamer-relevant Media.

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