Three tons of him. - Kingdom Death Sunstalker review

As I sometimes do, this is a hybrid hobby article and review. 

In short, I have a love/...meh relationship with this expansion.

One: You Lock the Target / Two: You Bait the Line... - Kingdom Death Manhunter Expansion Review

The Manhunter is I believe Kingdom Death's smallest expansion (not counting ones without monsters). Appropriately, this will be one of my shortest reviews.

Pedomorphic Pachyderm - Kingdom Death Gorm Review

Who's a big boy? That's right! You're a big boy!

Time for a review of Kingdom Death's Gorm expansion.

Everybody Knows that the Bird is the Word - Codenames Review

I don't like "party games." I don't like yelling (or buzzers), interruptions, timers, or social stuff relying on poor information or hidden teams. That certainly doesn't mean I don't like having a good time in a social situation, and there are still plenty of times where I like things that become those things*, but what it actually comes down to is that I hate when those elements are essential to the game rules or the inevitable outcome, because I don't really like things that are that high energy.

So, when I had Codenames described to me as something along the lines of "There's lots of yelling and guessing who's the spy, and who doesn't like party games?!" I was skeptical, to say the least.  It basically sounded like the least enjoyable parts (most parts) of Taboo, Pictionary, and Bang!, rolled in to one mess, maybe with some Apples to Apples mixed in, where I'd tolerate a few rounds and then beg off.

Fortunately, that turned out to be a poor description of Codenames and, despite any reservations, in a few rounds, it became my favorite light-weight guessing game, which isn't saying a lot, but the fact that I actually bought a copy the next week does.

Given the game's popularity, I expect that party gamers are well aware of the game, but this strays well outside my normal interests and reviews as mostly a fan of strategy games and thematic games/RPGs, so is worth a review from a different perspective.

Before & After - Kingdom Death Aya Versions, and Analysis of the Kingdom Death Comic

 I really liked the little diorama of Beyond the Wall.

Dungeon Romp - Warhammer Quest Silver Tower Review

Silver Tower is, well, as the title suggests, a bit of a romp. It's certainly in the tradition of a dungeon crawl, but simple and easy enough that it's a very casual experience.

The Vanguard - Code Zero Anazi Dynasty Scouts (including review)

I had a lot of fun painting this unit from Garage Gaming's new Code Zero line. It's always pretty cool working with new lines others haven't already explored, and you can't get much newer than currently crowdfunding.

Going With the Flow (chart) - Glory To Rome Review

My relationship with Glory to Rome is defined by my experiences learning to play it, so my review's going to take a bit of a different form this time.

We've Got Movement - Space Hulk Review

When Games Workshop mentions cinematic, what they're talking about is some dumb randomizer or making up rules on the spot for a handicap, or taking as many fully painted models as possible, or conforming to some silly requirement, or being able to take an army of whatever hodgepodge you want to because it sells better, or ignoring the fact that even rough point values make better balancing mechanics than nothing.

What I think of when Games Workshop mentions cinematic is Space Hulk.

With the reprint here, I felt it was finally time to get some thoughts down on Space Hulk. Despite its typically overwrought Warhammer 40,000 stylings, I consider this game basically as close as one can get to a minimalist masterpiece while still being a wargame.

Money Ball - Guild Ball Union

My first foray into Guild Ball involved many hats.

Tough Love - A Follow-up Kingdom Death Review & Analysis

With the upcoming Kingdom Death: Monster Kickstarter and some sort of edition update, I've decided it's time to reflect.

Free Prize Inside! - Review of the New White Dwarf Format

So, this was my first White Dwarf issue purchase since, IDK, early high school?

I bought it because $9 for a magazine and a $30 model (that I could sell to make back the cost if I didn't like it), seemed completely risk-free. Plus, I do generally enjoy GW's board games and wanted to check that out.

Eye Spy(der) - Kingdom Death Spidiculese Review

A review of Kingdom Death's resident spider with a foot-wide footprint.

Lost Their Way - Lost Patrol 2016 edition review

So, this game's like Space Hulk's younger, lamer brother, much like the featured Blood Angels Scouts are Terminators'.

Something to Fight Over - Mats by Mars review

Having played a few games with Mats by Mars' vinyl, umm, mat, I've donned my reviewer cap again to talk about my first honest-to-goodness functional game board.

Early Signs of Infection - A Pandemic Board Game Review

Pandemic was the first co-op game I enjoyed.

Sword-of a Problem - Kingdom Death Hand and continued Seven Swordsmen campaign

Man, is this guy a jerk.

Exploring the Darkness, Adam & Anna, response to Kingdom Death Beta scenarios

I had a ton of fun with the freehand on Adam's shield, felt like if any place had the Phoenix design on it, it should be the game designer's overt reference (to the point where it's closer to a personal avatar).

You, and What Army? - Alexia Ciannor & co., plus mini-review

So, the Witchfire Trilogy for D&D 3.5 was actually the first RPG I ever GM'd.

Someone Else's Tale - Review of Megacon's Myth

The defining narrative Megacon put out, of a game of the players' experience, falls short.

With their rhetoric and rules gaps, it certainly didn't feel like much of a story, and definitely not my story.