DiXit:The Cure for the Common Party (Game)
Excerpt from The Everygeek’s Guide to Happy Gaming*: Party game (n) expletive: 1) Board/card game dug out from the depths of the game closet and dusted off when there is a congregation of 6 or more people consisting of over 50% females and/or close family members; 2) game of any sort within easy reach and easily understandable by the masses while intoxicated that would not ordinarily be tolerated by dedicated, hardcore gamers. See: Apples to Apples; Uno; Win, Lose or Draw; Beer Pong. As can easily be seen from the excerpt above, the term party game is, essentially, a four-letter word amidst most serious boardgaming circles. For all intents... Read More
It’s Cthulhu Tuesday
Hello gentle readers! I have two very Lovecraftian selections for you all today: First, I’ve officially opened the Dice Hate Me store! Inside you will find the first of many designs to come, as my archivists have uncovered a rare advertisement from an obscure purveyor of fine tonics and elixirs. Yes, it’s an old ad for Miska-Tonic! It’s necrilicious. Check it out here and select your favorite – a t-shirt or tote. Buy two, they’re small! Second, in honor of that rare eldritch find, I have prepared a review of The Stars are Right, by Steve Jackson Games. This card/tile-pushing puzzle game is challenging, a lot of fun,... Read More
High Noon: Lunchtime!
In my office we’re lucky enough to be able to sneak in a quick game of some sort just about every day around lunchtime. Recently, my coworkers and I have been slinging bullets at each other in the wild west card game Bang! For those unfamiliar with this charming and addictive card game, you should read more about it, and I would highly recommend picking up a copy. Unfortunately, until you play a couple of times, the rest of this article isn’t going to make much sense. One of the great things about Bang! is that once players are comfortable with the rules, the game is flexible enough to allow for quick and easy house rules without disrupting... Read More
The Pros and Cons of Cons
Ah, Summer. Tis the season of spray-on tans, silicon, shiny smiles and sparsely-clad young sprites – all crammed into hundreds of ten-foot cubicles, peddling the geekiest things on the planet. Yes, people, tis the season of the booth babe, and thus the season of the Cons. With Comic-Con kicking off its 40th year of grandiose festivities, I thought it was the perfect time to take a look at the good, the bad and the ugly of some of geek culture’s greatest yearly conventions. Consider this a primer for the uninitiated. Feel free to clip and save, people. Origins (late June) You'd better hope you roll high on your plague saving throw... Read More
The Horror in the Clay
Great Cthulhu has never looked so good. Or hideous. Whatever. Fantasy Flight Games is set to release this new sculpted domain marker for use in the Call of Cthulhu CCG in the fall. As anyone can clearly see, it is very choice. I love that he is looming over the ancient city of R’lyeh. I would say pick up a few for your games, but the release page on FFG’s site states that they will be sold one per pack, and retail for $19.95. That’s a bit steep for one domain marker. I’d love to have one just to decorate my desk, but 20 bucks for one marker when three are required for use in the CCG is excessive. Fantasy Flight has been... Read More
Shenanigans on a Sinking Sub
It’s dark and cold on the old sub, and the sides creak from pressure while a bulkhead springs a leak. Fire spreads in the engine room and the crew scrambles, snuffing it as the reactor heats up. Hope seems lost until a hand cranks the emergency release and the sub surges along, peaceful for a moment – and for just a moment, the gnomes on board celebrate. Yes, gnomes. Red November is a delightful, cooperative board game from Fantasy Flight Games that pits you and up to seven of your companions in a frantic race for survival aboard a sinking sub with a gnomish crew. The whimsical theme and quality components bring levity to hectic and often... Read More
