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A Very Special Village Square (Part 1)

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villagesquare

To close out the year I’m taking a short break from the news to introduce some of my favorite writers from the board game community. It turns out there are too many fantastic writers to visit in one week so this will be a two part series. Look for part 2 next week!

[fifth width=”60px”]Portrait - Andrew[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Welcome visitors, thank you for spending part of your busy holiday schedule with us! Today the whole town has gathered together for a Very Special Village Square Spectacular! First up we have our brave band of local adventurers. They’re taking a well deserved break from exploring the Dragon’s Peak to mingle with our wonderful cardboard community.[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”65px”]Villager 3[/fifth][three_quarters][plain align=center]♫ ♪ We wish you a Merry Christmas
and a Happy New Year! ♪ ♫[/plain][/three_quarters][fifth width=”15px”][/fifth][fifth width=”50px”]Villager 2[/fifth][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Portrait - Andrew[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Bravo, now let’s go meet some of the townsfolk. Oh wait, they’re not done.[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”65px”]Villager 1[/fifth][three_quarters][plain align=center]♫ ♪ Good tidings we bring for you and your kin,
Good tidings for Christmas and a Happy New Year! ♪ ♫[/plain][/three_quarters][fifth width=”15px”][/fifth][fifth width=”50px”]Villager 4[/fifth][full][/full]

[fifth width=”60px”]Portrait - Andrew[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]It looks like I’m on my own for now. Here’s someone that’s not too busy singing.[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full]

Jamey Stegmaier (Stonemaier GamesCommunity (Avatar) - Stonemaier Games

[fifth width=”80px”][/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Hi, I’m Jamey Stegmaier, the president and lead designer for Stonemaier Games[/plain][/three_quarters][fifth width=”10px”][/fifth][fifth width=”50px”]Community (Avatar) - Jamey Stegmaier[/fifth][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Portrait - Andrew[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]What do you do around town?[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”80px”][/fifth][three_quarters][plain]I’ve run a few successful Kickstarter campaigns (Viticulture, Euphoria, Tuscany, and the Treasure Chest), and I write about my mistakes, insights, and lessons learned on our company blog.[/plain][/three_quarters][fifth width=”10px”][/fifth][fifth width=”50px”]Community (Avatar) - Jamey Stegmaier[/fifth][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Portrait - Andrew[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]What about visitors that don’t care so much for Kickstarter? Do you have anything interesting to share with them?[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”80px”][/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Over the last few months I’ve also been filming a weekly video series called “My Favorite Game Mechanism in…,” which is basically a 5-minute video about the best design choice in each of the games I own and love.[/plain][/three_quarters][fifth width=”10px”][/fifth][fifth width=”50px”]Community (Avatar) - Jamey Stegmaier[/fifth][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Portrait - Andrew[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Always a pleasure chatting with you Jamey, best of luck in the new year! Now, I wonder if those adventurers are done with their song yet.[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”65px”]Villager 3

Villager 1[/fifth][three_quarters][plain align=center]♫ ♪ O bring us some figgy pudding
and bring it right here!
And we won’t go until we’ve got some
so bring some out here! ♪ ♫[/plain][/three_quarters][fifth width=”15px”][/fifth][fifth width=”50px”]Villager 2

Villager 4[/fifth][full][/full]

[fifth width=”60px”]Portrait - Andrew[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Can someone please bring them some pudding? Are there any chefs in town?[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full]

Greg (3DTotal Games)

[fifth width=”80px”][/fifth][three_quarters][plain]I’m a psychology researcher who decided he’d rather be a games designer and has been cooking up a couple of things with 3DTotal over the past year.[/plain][/three_quarters][fifth width=”10px”][/fifth][fifth width=”50px”]Community (Avatar) - 3DTotal Games[/fifth][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Portrait - Andrew[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Cooking up some pudding?[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”80px”][/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Not exactly. My blog talks about my experiences in game design, various aspects of game design theory and only occasionally devolves into rants about culture, mathematics, politics or whatever else is on my mind that day.[/plain][/three_quarters][fifth width=”10px”][/fifth][fifth width=”50px”]Community (Avatar) - 3DTotal Games[/fifth][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Dragon Avatar[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Did someone say pudding?[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Portrait - Andrew[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Oh brother, now’s not a good time Kenith. I’d really rather not have anything set on fire today. Can’t you just go buy some with your hoards of treasure?[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Dragon Avatar[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]I spent all my money on goats, I need job.[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Portrait - Andrew[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]I know just the person to help…[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full]

Dr Wictz

[fifth width=”80px”][/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Come attend our lectures on board game design.[/plain][/three_quarters][fifth width=”10px”][/fifth][fifth width=”50px”]Community (Avatar) - Dr Wictz 2[/fifth][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Dragon Avatar[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Do I get a job?[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”80px”][/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Our education is about molding better board game designers.[/plain][/three_quarters][fifth width=”10px”][/fifth][fifth width=”50px”]Community (Avatar) - Dr Wictz 2[/fifth][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Dragon Avatar[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]So do I get job when I’m done?[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”80px”][/fifth][three_quarters][plain]We teach a liberal arts education in game design with majors in economics, engineering, and philosophy.[/plain][/three_quarters][fifth width=”10px”][/fifth][fifth width=”50px”]Community (Avatar) - Dr Wictz 2[/fifth][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Dragon Avatar[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]How much is tuition?[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”80px”][/fifth][three_quarters][plain]About 30 goats.[/plain][/three_quarters][fifth width=”10px”][/fifth][fifth width=”50px”]Community (Avatar) - Dr Wictz 2[/fifth][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Dragon Avatar[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]I ate the goats.[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”80px”][/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Sounds like you need to attend our lecture on barter, too bad you can’t pay for it.[/plain][/three_quarters][fifth width=”10px”][/fifth][fifth width=”50px”]Community (Avatar) - Dr Wictz 2[/fifth][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Dragon Avatar[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]You teach me, I won’t eat you.[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”80px”][/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Sounds like you will be an A student, I will see you in class.[/plain][/three_quarters][fifth width=”10px”][/fifth][fifth width=”50px”]Community (Avatar) - Dr Wictz 2[/fifth][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Portrait - Andrew[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Thanks Dr. Wictz, hopefully that will keep his mind off of pudding for a little while. Time to check in with our caroling adventurers.[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Villager 1[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]You’ve got to try some of Greg’s pudding.[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Portrait - Andrew[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]I didn’t think he was a chef.[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Villager 1[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Apparently a lot of folks around here have many talents. Take my buddy Matt for instance.[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full]

Matt Casey (Clever Move)

[fifth width=”80px”][/fifth][three_quarters][plain]I’ve been a professional journalist for a decade, with credits ranging from WGBH Radio to GEEK Magazine. I’ve been a gamer since I was 12 when I discovered Magic: The Gathering. I update CleverMoveGames.com daily with board game-related content.[/plain][/three_quarters][fifth width=”10px”][/fifth][fifth width=”50px”]Community (Avatar) - Clever Move[/fifth][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Villager 1[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Most impressive but that sounds pretty normal around here. What kinds of things do you do besides writing?[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”80px”][/fifth][three_quarters][plain]We’ve done photo collections, lists, reviews, videos, comics and articles — but there’s something new every day.[/plain][/three_quarters][fifth width=”10px”][/fifth][fifth width=”50px”]Community (Avatar) - Clever Move[/fifth][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Villager 1[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]That seems like a lot of work![/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”80px”][/fifth][three_quarters][plain]I don’t do this alone. My partner, Brian Serr, handles all the technical stuff.[/plain][/three_quarters][fifth width=”10px”][/fifth][fifth width=”50px”]Community (Avatar) - Clever Move[/fifth][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Villager 1[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Truly a team of many talents.[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full]

[fifth width=”60px”]Portrait - Andrew[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]That for sure, but Clever Move aren’t the only collaborators around here. There are many teams jam-packed full of great writers. Why here comes one of them right now. Hey guys![/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full]

Nicole Jekich (Across The Board GamesCommunity (Avatar) - Across The Board Games

[fifth width=”80px”][/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Hi Andrew and adventuring friends.[/plain][/three_quarters][fifth width=”10px”]-[/fifth][fifth width=”50px”]Community (Avatar) - Nicole Jekich[/fifth][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Villager 4[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]I’ll take it from here, she clearly wants to talk to a real adventurer.[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”80px”][/fifth][three_quarters][plain]I am Nicole Jekich from Across the Board Games. As one of the original founders of AtBG, I wanted to create a website that featured articles related to tabletop games. For my articles, I wanted to share my journey into more complex board games, talk about my favorite games and designers and share my perspective as an new generation of female gamers. [/plain][/three_quarters][fifth width=”10px”][/fifth][fifth width=”50px”]Community (Avatar) - Nicole Jekich[/fifth][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Villager 2[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Actually it sounds like she’d prefer a real lady adventurer. Please share some of your journey with us![/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”80px”][/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Lately, I’ve grown fond of supporting games by local and independent designers especially through Kickstarter, Seattle conventions and local game events (like our Unpub Mini event in July 2014).[/plain][/three_quarters][fifth width=”10px”][/fifth][fifth width=”50px”]Community (Avatar) - Nicole Jekich[/fifth][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Villager 2[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]I’ve never heard of Seattle. I’ll have to travel that way soon.[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”80px”][/fifth][three_quarters][plain]As adventurers, I’m sure you all know that you should never go alone on such any epic journey.[/plain][/three_quarters][fifth width=”10px”][/fifth][fifth width=”50px”]Community (Avatar) - Nicole Jekich[/fifth][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Villager 2[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Yeah, or else you might get your eyebrows singed by in a dungeon’s fire trap![/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”80px”][/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Exactly! So for the past two years of AtBG, I’ve been happy to share the XP and spoils with another of our co-founders and authors: Luke Turpeinen.[/plain][/three_quarters][fifth width=”10px”][/fifth][fifth width=”50px”]Community (Avatar) - Nicole Jekich[/fifth][full][/full]

[fifth width=”60px”]Villager 4[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Sounds like I better take over again. What do you bring to the table Luke?[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full]

Luke Turpeinen (Across The Board GamesCommunity (Avatar) - Across The Board Games

[fifth width=”80px”][/fifth][three_quarters][plain]For me, AtBG is a way to reach out to people who are new to the gaming hobby and induct them into ever higher levels of geekery. I guess you could call it nerd proselytizing or geek conversion (geek-version?). I also like to examine and critique the community from different angles, which I hope inspires geeks to be empathetic towards each other.[/plain][/three_quarters][fifth width=”10px”][/fifth][fifth width=”50px”]Community (Avatar) - Luke Turpeinen[/fifth][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Villager 4[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]What kind of gaming adventurers have you been on?[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”80px”][/fifth][three_quarters][plain]I was born the year the NES came out, so video games were huge for me. I got into Warhammer (fantasy and 40k) as a teen, at the same time I started playing Vampire the Masquerade. I went down the rabbit hole with board games starting in 2010.[/plain][/three_quarters][fifth width=”10px”][/fifth][fifth width=”50px”]Community (Avatar) - Luke Turpeinen[/fifth][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Villager 4[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Are there any wise elders that have inspired you across the years? Or perhaps you’ve uncovered some board game treasures?[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”80px”][/fifth][three_quarters][plain]I dislike the idea of having “favorite” designers, to be honest. My favorite games right now are Krosmaster Arena and Viticulture. They might seem very different, but I like bright colors and tactical combat as well as complex worker placement games. I’m just waiting for someone to mix those things together.[/plain][/three_quarters][fifth width=”10px”][/fifth][fifth width=”50px”]Community (Avatar) - Luke Turpeinen[/fifth][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Villager 4[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]I’m sure a hardened adventurer and scholar like yourself has plenty of battle scars. But the real questions is would you ever get a gaming tattoo?[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”80px”][/fifth][three_quarters][plain]I have many tattoos already, but I don’t think I’ll get a board game tattoo any time soon. Board game designers just haven’t come up with a setting, symbol or element that resonates enough with me that I’d want to get it put on my body forever. This is something I’d love to change, as I feel like that level of dedication is important for the long term growth of the hobby. And no, I’d never get a Meeple. I don’t care that it’s our site’s logo, haha.[/plain][/three_quarters][fifth width=”10px”][/fifth][fifth width=”50px”]Community (Avatar) - Luke Turpeinen[/fifth][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Portrait - Andrew[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Alright, I think it’s about time we give them a break! Before you go though, what are your plans for the future?[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”80px”][/fifth][three_quarters][plain]We are looking forward to 2015 to bring more focus to indie designers and work on creating a game of our own![/plain][/three_quarters][fifth width=”10px”][/fifth][fifth width=”50px”]Community (Avatar) - Nicole Jekich

Community (Avatar) - Luke Turpeinen[/fifth][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Villager 3[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Teams are great and all but a real adventurer know how to go it alone. That’s right, I’m talking about Batman.[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full]

Batman

[fifth width=”80px”][/fifth][three_quarters][plain]I made a promise on the grave of my parents that I would rid this city of the evil that took their lives.[/plain][/three_quarters][fifth width=”10px”][/fifth][fifth width=”50px”]Village Square (Avatar) - Batman[/fifth][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Portrait - Andrew[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]I think you might be talking about a different city.[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full]

[fifth width=”80px”][/fifth][three_quarters][plain]And as the sun, that had been too afraid to show its face in this city, started to turn the black into grey, I smiled. Not out of happiness. But because I knew… that one day, I wouldn’t have to do this anymore. One day, I could stop fighting and play board games.[/plain][/three_quarters][fifth width=”10px”][/fifth][fifth width=”50px”]Village Square (Avatar) - Batman[/fifth][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Portrait - Andrew[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Wait, did you say board games?[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”80px”][/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Today is that day.[/plain][/three_quarters][fifth width=”10px”][/fifth][fifth width=”50px”]Village Square (Avatar) - Batman[/fifth][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Portrait - Andrew[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]So… do you want to play some DC Deckbuilding Game?[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”80px”][/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Yes.[/plain][/three_quarters][fifth width=”10px”][/fifth][fifth width=”50px”]Village Square (Avatar) - Batman[/fifth][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Portrait - Andrew[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Sweet! You guys can take it from here.[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Villager 3[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Hmmm, I wasn’t really expecting Batman to show up. We’ll have to go with my plan B, Isaac-man.[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full]

Isaac Childres (Cephalofair Games)

[fifth width=”80px”][/fifth][three_quarters][plain]I’m an independent board game designer/publisher currently working on fulfilling my first Kickstarter project.[/plain][/three_quarters][fifth width=”10px”][/fifth][fifth width=”50px”]Community (Avatar) - Cephalofair Games[/fifth][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Villager 3[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]I heard you are a fellow scholar too.[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”80px”][/fifth][three_quarters][plain]I love writing as much as I love designing games, though, so I also spend time blogging about board games I like or mechanics that catch my interest – pretty much whatever I’m thinking about.[/plain][/three_quarters][fifth width=”10px”][/fifth][fifth width=”50px”]Community (Avatar) - Cephalofair Games[/fifth][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Villager 3[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Apparently Batman plays board games, what kind of game do you like?[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”80px”][/fifth][three_quarters][plain]I love heavy, brutal Euro games, but I’m open to trying anything once.[/plain][/three_quarters][fifth width=”10px”][/fifth][fifth width=”50px”]Community (Avatar) - Cephalofair Games[/fifth][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Villager 3[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]I once heard an ancient story about a designer who became so obsessed with his creation that he started living out his game. It was hard to tell whether his life inspired the mechanic or the rules now controlled his very life.[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”80px”][/fifth][three_quarters][plain]I wear a mask. And that mask, it’s not to hide who I am, but to create what I am.[/plain][/three_quarters][fifth width=”10px”][/fifth][fifth width=”50px”]Village Square (Avatar) - Batman[/fifth][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Villager 3[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Aaah![/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Portrait - Andrew[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]It’s your turn Batman.[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”80px”][/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Gotta go.[/plain][/three_quarters][fifth width=”10px”][/fifth][fifth width=”50px”]Village Square (Avatar) - Batman[/fifth][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Villager 3[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]That guy really scares me. And speaking of someone who could be a Batman villain…[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full]

Ryan Sanders (The Inquisitive Meeple)

[fifth width=”80px”][/fifth][three_quarters][plain]My name is Ryan, lover of “gateway games” and the guy behind The Inquisitive Meeple.[/plain][/three_quarters][fifth width=”10px”][/fifth][fifth width=”50px”]Community (Avatar) - Inquisitive Meeple[/fifth][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Villager 3[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]What is this Inquisitive Meeple?[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”80px”][/fifth][three_quarters][plain]How inquisitive of you![/plain][/three_quarters][fifth width=”10px”][/fifth][fifth width=”50px”]Community (Avatar) - Inquisitive Meeple[/fifth][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Villager 3[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Why thank you, I ask the hard questions. Tell me more.[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”80px”][/fifth][three_quarters][plain]It’s a blog that can be found on Board Game Geek, that is dedicated to interviewing board game designers. Learning the stories behind the creation of games. It was established this year in February and we already have close to 90 interviews. It seems while curiosity may have killed the cat, inquisitiveness is good for the meeple![/plain][/three_quarters][fifth width=”10px”][/fifth][fifth width=”50px”]Community (Avatar) - Inquisitive Meeple[/fifth][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Villager 3[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]How long have you been the man behind the meeple?[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”80px”][/fifth][three_quarters][plain]It was established this year in February and we already have close to 90 interviews. It seems while curiosity may have killed the cat, inquisitiveness is good for the meeple![/plain][/three_quarters][fifth width=”10px”][/fifth][fifth width=”50px”]Community (Avatar) - Inquisitive Meeple[/fifth][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Dragon Avatar[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]That reminds me, I want to inquire about that amazing pudding that I’ve been hearing so much about.[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Villager 4[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Sorry we ate it all.[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Dragon Avatar[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWRRRR!!!!![/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full]

[fifth width=”60px”]Villager 4[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Oh no, time to call in our local fire breather![/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full]

Drew (Giant Fire Breathing Robot)

[fifth width=”80px”][/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Hey! I’m Drew and I’m the head board game contributor over at the Giant Fire Breathing Robot where I post as GeekInsight.[/plain][/three_quarters][fifth width=”10px”][/fifth][fifth width=”50px”]Community (Avatar) - Giant Fire Breathing Robot[/fifth][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Villager 4[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]What firey topics do you cover?[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”80px”][/fifth][three_quarters][plain]I do news, reviews, board game thoughts, and recaps of board games over there.[/plain][/three_quarters][fifth width=”10px”][/fifth][fifth width=”50px”]Community (Avatar) - Giant Fire Breathing Robot[/fifth][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Villager 4[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Surely a Fire Breathing Robot is capable of so much more![/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”80px”][/fifth][three_quarters][plain]The site also touches on comics, movies, TV, conventions, and video games. All things geek related.[/plain][/three_quarters][fifth width=”10px”][/fifth][fifth width=”50px”]Community (Avatar) - Giant Fire Breathing Robot[/fifth][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Villager 4[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]I was thinking battling dragons but I guess we’ll find someone else to take on Kenith.[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Dragon Avatar[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Where’s my pudding???[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Villager 3[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Perhaps a battle of wits is in order.[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Dragon Avatar[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]I accept.[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Villager 3[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]I summon Keith Burgun, the smartest man alive![/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full]

Keith Burgun

[fifth width=”80px”][/fifth][three_quarters][plain]I’m a game designer and author from Westchester, NY. I’ve been designing games for most of my life, and in the past five years I’ve been extremely inspired by boardgames; particularly designer European boardgames.[/plain][/three_quarters][fifth width=”10px”][/fifth][fifth width=”50px”]Community (Avatar) - Keith Burgun[/fifth][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Villager 3[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]How have they influenced you?[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”80px”][/fifth][three_quarters][plain]They are a big part of what inspired me to come up with a whole paradigm for game design called Clockwork Game Design, which I wrote a book about, which will be out March 2015.[/plain][/three_quarters][fifth width=”10px”][/fifth][fifth width=”50px”]Community (Avatar) - Keith Burgun[/fifth][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Villager 3[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Are you working on any ingenuous designs yourself?[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”80px”][/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Currently, I’ve only ever released commercial digital games (100 Rogues, Empire: The Deck Building Strategy Game, and Auro: A Monster Bumping Adventure), but I have several boardgames in the works at any given time, and hope to commercially release my first one in 2015.[/plain][/three_quarters][fifth width=”10px”][/fifth][fifth width=”50px”]Community (Avatar) - Keith Burgun[/fifth][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Villager 3[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Impressive, what else do you do?[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”80px”][/fifth][three_quarters][plain]In addition to my game design articles at keithburgun.net and at Gamasutra, I also started a game design program on YouTube called “3 Minute Game Design” which has been pretty successful so far. I’m also the moderator for reddit’s /r/gamedesign subreddit, which has grown to nearly 15k subscribers in the last year alone.[/plain][/three_quarters][fifth width=”10px”][/fifth][fifth width=”50px”]Community (Avatar) - Keith Burgun[/fifth][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Dragon Avatar[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Woah, that guy sounds smart. I change my mind, I’m going to go back to burning everything down.[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Villager 4[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Then our last choice is to unleash the Troll![/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full]

[fifth width=”60px”]Villager 2[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]The one that we keep in the corner?[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full]

[fifth width=”60px”]Villager 4[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Yeah, that one.[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full]

Ben (Troll in the CornerCommunity (Avatar) - Troll In The Corner

[fifth width=”80px”][/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Hi there! Troll in the Corner started off back in 2008 as a personal blog mostly about role playing games. Over time I’ve had a number of editors and authors come and go and the focus has changed more towards board and card games, both the love of playing them and the art of creating them.[/plain][/three_quarters][fifth width=”10px”][/fifth][fifth width=”50px”]Community (Avatar) - Ben ~Troll in the Corner[/fifth][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Villager 2[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]What qualifications do you have to bring down a rampaging dragon?[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”80px”][/fifth][three_quarters][plain]We review games, I talk there about my game development process and we do several charity events too.[/plain][/three_quarters][fifth width=”10px”][/fifth][fifth width=”50px”]Community (Avatar) - Ben ~Troll in the Corner[/fifth][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Villager 2[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]I’m not sure that’s going to be very helpful in this situation.[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”80px”][/fifth][three_quarters][plain]In addition to the site, I occasionally host the podcast Indie Talks and I run the 12k strong Board Games community on Google Plus.[/plain][/three_quarters][fifth width=”10px”][/fifth][fifth width=”50px”]Community (Avatar) - Ben ~Troll in the Corner[/fifth][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Villager 2[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Now 12,000 trolls might do the trick.[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Dragon Avatar[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]I’m hungry![/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”80px”][/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Enough! I have been to too many funerals. You can have my pudding.[/plain][/three_quarters][fifth width=”10px”][/fifth][fifth width=”50px”]Village Square (Avatar) - Batman[/fifth][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Dragon Avatar[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Thanks, you’re the best Batman![/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”80px”][/fifth][three_quarters][plain]I am.[/plain][/three_quarters][fifth width=”10px”][/fifth][fifth width=”50px”]Village Square (Avatar) - Batman[/fifth][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Villager 2[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Did he just pull that pudding out of his utility belt?[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”80px”][/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Yes he did.[/plain][/three_quarters][fifth width=”10px”][/fifth][fifth width=”50px”]Community (Avatar) - The Political Gamer[/fifth][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Villager 2[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Hey, who are you?[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full]

The Political Gamer

[fifth width=”80px”][/fifth][three_quarters][plain]I guess that image says that I’m the political gamer, and we all know that avatars on the internet are nothing but precise representations of reality.[/plain][/three_quarters][fifth width=”10px”][/fifth][fifth width=”50px”]Community (Avatar) - The Political Gamer[/fifth][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Villager 2[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Political? That sounds awful. Games are so fun and politics is so yuck. Do you not love games?[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”80px”][/fifth][three_quarters][plain]I do love games. In fact, I am fairly obsessed with games: not just with playing them but also with collecting them, analyzing them, ranking them, arguing about them and so forth. In short, I’m like most people in the board gaming community.[/plain][/three_quarters][fifth width=”10px”][/fifth][fifth width=”50px”]Community (Avatar) - The Political Gamer[/fifth][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Villager 2[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]You got me there. But you still haven’t said why you have to bring politics into all of this.[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”80px”][/fifth][three_quarters][plain]I guess I’m a little obsessed with politics as well, and the blog seemed like the natural way to bring these two obsessions. But more to the point, it’s just a space that not many people who write about games enter into. If games are – as I see them – serious artistic creations and meaningful cultural artifacts, surely they have content with political significance. And on the other hand, if you apply the tools of political analysis to games – you learn some interesting things. So when I talk about political analysis, I’m not as interested in either the theme or the mechanics, but rather how these two come together to form the relationships between players, and specifically about power relations. It’s about how people treat each other in the course of the game.[/plain][/three_quarters][fifth width=”10px”][/fifth][fifth width=”50px”]Community (Avatar) - The Political Gamer[/fifth][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Villager 2[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]I guess… Well, I guess I’ll have to read what you write. Because if  you ruin my favorite game with your political stuff… well, then it won’t be my favorite game anymore.[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”80px”][/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Then maybe it shouldn’t?[/plain][/three_quarters][fifth width=”10px”][/fifth][fifth width=”50px”]Community (Avatar) - The Political Gamer[/fifth][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Villager 2[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Don’t push it.[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”80px”][/fifth][three_quarters][plain]You’re right, I’m sorry.[/plain][/three_quarters][fifth width=”10px”][/fifth][fifth width=”50px”]Community (Avatar) - The Political Gamer[/fifth][full][/full]

[fifth width=”60px”]Portrait - Andrew[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]After all this excitement maybe I should try to find someone a little more normal. Hey Artem, you’re not secretly Batman are you? What’s your origin story?[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full]

Artem Safarov (Altema GamesCommunity (Avatar) - Altema Games

[fifth width=”80px”][/fifth][three_quarters][plain]I always loved games of all sorts but managed to safely suppress that love until I was in my thirties.[/plain][/three_quarters][fifth width=”10px”][/fifth][fifth width=”50px”]Community (Avatar) - Artem Safarov[/fifth][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Portrait - Andrew[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Then what happened?[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”80px”][/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Recently it broke through and manifested itself in a board game I designed – it’s called Cauldron – a game of competitive potion brewing.[/plain][/three_quarters][fifth width=”10px”][/fifth][fifth width=”50px”]Community (Avatar) - Artem Safarov[/fifth][full][/full] [fifth width=”60px”]Portrait - Andrew[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]What are your plans for Cauldron?[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full] [fifth width=”80px”][/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Preparing it for Kickstarter has been quite a journey – one of the most rewarding aspects was getting to know the board game community and meeting all the great people who share my hobby.[/plain][/three_quarters][fifth width=”10px”][/fifth][fifth width=”50px”]Community (Avatar) - Artem Safarov[/fifth][full][/full]

[fifth width=”60px”]Portrait - Andrew[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]That’s what we’re all gathered here for! But it seems like we’ve run out of time. Make sure to check back next week to meet more of the folks around town.[/plain][/three_quarters][full][/full]

— Continued next week in Part 2! —

 

Dragon Slayer Roundup

[fifth width=”30px”][/fifth][fifth width=”70px”]Portrait - Wolfie[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Twilight Imperium 3rd Edition - Thumb Session Report: Twilight Imperium[/plain][/three_quarters] [full][/full] [fifth width=”30px”][/fifth][fifth width=”70px”]Portrait - Meghan[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Sherlock Holmes - Thumb Review: Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective[/plain][/three_quarters] [full][/full] [fifth width=”30px”][/fifth][fifth width=”70px”]Portrait - Jason[/fifth][three_quarters][plain]Article: The Trouble with the Pop-o-Matic Bubble[/plain][/three_quarters] [full][/full]

I love optimization and engine games with tableau builders and card driven ones being my favorite. This usually means medium-heavy euros and medium-light card games.

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