Greetings, Gamers!
I just got the email notice for Zine Quest 2024. If you’re not familiar with Zine Quest, it’s an event that Kickstarter runs each year (well, since 2019, I think) that encourages content creators to create zines. It’s actually how I got started in writing my own zines. It runs through February, so be on the lookout for it. I’m not 100% certain what I’ll be offering this year, but I will have something… I’m always doing one-off zines, so maybe something new? Or maybe a follow-up like airlock 002 (my airlock 001 was a zine created for sci-fi RPGs like Mothership, Alien RPG, etc.)
During the month of February, I’ll try to share with you some of the zines that have grabbed my attention. But until then… let’s take a look at some fun stuff.
RPGs
Scotty McFarland, aka DM Scotty of TheDMsCraft YouTube Channel is releasing his latest RPG in his EZD6 series called Wasted World. I reached out to Scotty for some more info, and here’s what he provided:
The World Gets Wasted The end is nigh! I’m excited to share my latest project, the first playset for EZD6 ... Wasted World! We’ve got creepy mutants, deadly guns, formidable tech, warped psychers, blood-pumping vehicle battles, and ferocious creatures... all beneath a ravaging demon sky. What is a Playset? A playset is an alternate setting for EZD6. This one’s called Wasted World; a post-apocalyptic world set in the not too distant future where something freakadelic has changed the surface and sky as well as meddled with the D.N.A. of life on the planet. Can you dig it?
It will be released straight to DrivethruRPG “soon.” I’ll let you know in an upcoming newsletter when it lands. Good luck with it, Scotty!
WARGAMING
I got to host a sci-fi wargame last night for my youngest son (far left in image) and three of his friends. He had been wanting to introduce them to wargaming, and long-story-short… they loved it. I started them with Space Weirdos, an extremely simple game to learn but with lots of variations for more advanced warbands. I limited them to two minis each (2v2 game) so they could learn the rules, but next week they want to go full warband, so 4 each (8 per team). My local gaming store, Titan Games & Comics, reserved the wargame table for us and I ordered us pizza for the full effect.
I cannot recommend Space Weirdos enough — simple rules, inexpensive PDF ($5) and then print as many as you need (only needs 8 double-sided sheets, black and white… about $2 at Kinkos). Miniature agnostic, so play whatever you have. Fun game.
If you’re into wargaming, we’ve gotta keep this hobby alive and kicking… host a game for your kids or for friends. Videogames are great, but they can’t compare to the social aspect of a face-to-face game with lots of dice rolling.
TERRAIN
I’ve recently purchased a new 3D printer after donating my old one to a friend who was just getting into 3DP. We tend to print what we need (as gamers), so right now I’m in need of some good sci-fi terrain… and that caused me to dive into my STL collection I store in Dropbox. I pulled out some of my WarLayer stuff and am beginning to print it - this caused me to then go look into what WarLayer (and owner Andrew Askedall) are currently up to. Take a look at this screenshot - awesome! A balcony and staircase system! Andrew designs in Blender, and I love the WarLayer aesthetic. You can check out more of WaryLayer’s stuff here. I’ll share some of my new prints in an upcoming newsletter.
SPEEDPAINTING
Painter Gareth Lee used The Army Painter Speedpaints to get his orcs looking like the one on the HeroQuest card. Primed using the slapchop method. Turned out great.
CROWDSOURCING
This one ends on January 17, so don’t wait too long — some really nice village ruins 3D STL files. For just $10! And the best part? The files release this month, after the project ends. You don’t see that often. Check out The Ruined Village Kickstarter here.
CONVENTIONS
If you know of a local and/or independent gaming convention, email me at jimsworkshop@fastmail.com to get it listed. (If the list gets too long, I’ll break them into groups and cycle them on/off in every week’s newsletter.)
Farmageddon - April 19-21 Farmer City, Illinois - Farmageddon is an annual game convention held in Farmer City, Illinois at the Farmer City American Legion. We feature an atmosphere that is more like a game night with friends than a standard convention. We have a full kitchen and full bar on site with a relaxed, sound-controlled room that allows you to hear your GM and socialize without disturbing games.
MoMoCon - May 24-27 Atlanta, Georgia - MomoCon brings together fans of Japanese Anime, American Animation, Comics, Video Games, and Tabletop Games to celebrate their passion by costuming / cosplay, browsing the huge exhibitors hall, meeting celebrity voice talent, designers, and writers behind their favorite shows, games, and comics and much much more over this 4 day event.
Southern Fried Gaming Expo - July 19-21, Atlanta, Georgia - The Southern-Fried Gaming Expo features more than 300 arcade & pinball machines, dozens of new and retro console systems, a massive tabletop library, RPGs, wrestling, music, tournaments, a vendor expo, exciting panel sessions, guest speakers, and so much more.
LOVECRAFT MYTHOS
Aconyte Books is releasing the Arkham Horror Poster Book in mid-April 2024. From the announcement: Now, for the first time, 24 of the most iconic pieces of Arkham Horror art are brought together in an oversized 11” x 16” poster book. Featuring a specially selected mix of box covers, game art and unique poster designs, the 24 sheets are lightly bound so they can be easily removed from the book and mounted or framed for use as high-quality posters or art prints.
You can pre-order here.
GASLANDS VEHICLE OF THE WEEK
This week’s amazing toy car conversions for Gaslands is a collection shared by Pierre Vendel on the Gaslands Facebook group! 11 players in all. I’m really loving the one up front towing the trailer.
SCOOBY-DOO CHALLENGE
Just a quick update on my current challenge to walk 50 miles in under a month. In 10 days, I’ve done 3 miles per day so I’m 3/5 of the way to the end. Along the way, I’ve uncovered 3 of 7 digital postcards, 4 of 8 character cards, 2 of 5 clues, and 4 of 5 locales.
Does this kind of exercise-gamification work? Well, for me, I would say yes. So far. I like that it tracks my progress and gives me teases of what’s to come. And, of course, there’s the end of the event unmasking of the villain and the medal that the Conqueror company sends to me when the challenge is over. I do think if I do this again I’ll pick a challenge with a longer trail length… 50 miles seemed like a lot, but I’m killing it. Maybe 100 miles next time… (FYI - I only use my FitBit and track my actual exercise walking, NOT my day-to-day stuff like stairs, walking to the mailbox, etc.)
YOUTUBE
I found this cool little tutorial on making some fantasy buildings. The designer did a good job of keeping them simple and every step is covered. Very well done!
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Finally getting into a roll and getting some projects started, including new game play videos. I’ve got one crafting project that I’m filming and hoping to release over at The Tabletop Engineer YouTube channel soon. It’s looking good and I cannot wait to drop it on the table in an upcoming wargame.
I’m currently working on a schedule that is doable for me… trying to figure out how many videos I can release per week (or per month) and still not get swamped with my real work. I’ve got my first Kickstarter of 2024 launched now, and although the zines are mostly completed, there’s still a lot of writing for the next two issues. I’m happy to be able to make a living doing stuff related to my gaming hobbies, but I have to remind myself all the time that it’s a job and treat it as such. This newsletter, for example, is one of those things that I have added to the REQUIRED list - things that must get done each week. And that list is getting longer! No complaints, though, and I do hope you’re still enjoying my weekly dose of “This looks cool! Let me share it!”
See you next week.
Jim
TO MY SUBSCRIBERS
If you know of a local and/or independent gaming convention, email me at jimsworkshop@fastmail.com to get it listed.
You can find my zines and laser-cut terrain at thetabletopengineer.bigcartel.com - 10% off to newsletter readers with code RPGWGNEWS.
Digital copies of all my zines can be found on DrivethruRPG.
My game play-through videos can be found here.
The YouTube Channel name is The Tabletop Engineer Plays