Okay, the flood of KublaCon photos has reached its peak, and all are now neatly contained in OgreCave’s KublaCon 2017 photo gallery (over at our Facebook page). Final attendee count was reportedly 3,321 – a good sized show! See if you can spot yourself in our gallery, or rather, see if you got spotted by our photo crew.
We’re working on a few things behind the scenes, but as soon as we have goodies to share, we’ll serve them up. In the meantime, enjoy the pics, and tell us what you loved about this year’s KublaCon.
Those of you who follow OgreCave’s Facebook page have already heard, but in case you missed it, the first half of OgreCave’s KublaCon 2017 photo gallery is up and running. Have a look, comment, like, and see if you got spotted at last weekend’s KublaCon Game Convention. We’ll have the other half added to the gallery in a couple of days, so check back early next week. Share and enjoy.
We’ll have more site news soon, so check back for that as well. Much to do.
At Gen Con 2016, the winner of this year’s Diana Jones Award for excellence in gaming has been announced as prolific and impressive game designer Eric M. Lang. Lang is known as the man behind Chaos in the Old World, the Living Card Game versions of A Game of Thrones and Star Wars, and more recently for the elegant Ragnarok-themed board game Blood Rage. Other nominees this year were ConTessa, an organization; Fall of Magic, a story-game by Ross Cowman, published by Heart of the Deernicorn; Larpwriter Summer School; and Pandemic Legacy published by Z-man Games. OgreCave congratulates all the nominees, and Eric Lang for his award this year.
Diana Jones Award press release follows:
THE WINNER OF THE 2016 DIANA JONES AWARD IS ERIC M. LANG
To say that Eric Lang is a prolific game designer is the punchline of a joke hilarious in its understatement. This year’s Gen Con, for example, sees the release of no fewer than four new Lang designs or co-designs: Bloodborne: The Card Game, The Others: 7 Sins, Arcane Academy (with Kevin Wilson), and HMS Dolores (with Bruno Faidutti).
A small sampling of Lang’s past designs include Blood Rage, Dice Masters (with Mike Elliott), 2010 Diana Jones nominee Chaos in the Old World, and Living Card Game designs for A Game of Thrones, Star Wars, and Warhammer 40,000.
And these games are not sausage, vomited from an assembly line and rushed to market carelessly undercooked. Rather, Lang’s games are perennial inhabitants of lists that laud both evergreen sales and – in the parlance of BoardGameGeek – “Hotness.”
The variety and quality of Lang’s co-designers speak to the joy of collaborating with him. It’s telling that those who’ve worked with him in the past would not hesitate to do so again, whatever the project. The top-shelf media properties that Lang has adapted for the tabletop demonstrate the trust that publishers put in Lang’s insight, skill, and ability to deliver.
Lang’s ludography is worthy of celebration on its own, but Eric’s sincere love for games, gamers, the gaming hobby, and the art of game design are exemplars not only for his immediate peers, but for those who strive in literally any field of endeavor. If you ran marathons, or raised children, or played heavy metal music with the same spirit that Eric brings to game design, you would exemplify the best spirit of those callings, and the world would be better for it.
It is the opinion of the Diana Jones Award Committee that Eric Lang exemplifies excellence in gaming. We are proud to award him our trophy for this year.
Because we got some great footage at KublaCon 2015, we’re doing our best to ambush you with some of it (Flashback Friday, anyone?). We’ve included a general look at parts of the convention, but also managed to talk with Joseph Goodman of Goodman Games, as well as James Ernest of Cheapass Games. Some of what we discussed has hit game stores by now, but Joe and James both reveal some plans for the future. In particular, Joe describes new features of Dungeon Crawl Classics and his plans for Fritz Leiber’s Lankhmar setting, while James tells us about the Kill Doctor Lucky Kickstarter campaign (which just started and runs until November 13th – check it out).
Around the Cave these past few months, Real Life (TM) has been busy, so gaming has suffered. But even hibernating ogres need to stretch, wake up, and hunt for good gaming now and then. To facilitate a good hunt for everyone, we have a new(ish) video from CelestiCon (going on this weekend in Fremont, CA. Okay, yeah, this is from the 2014 show – we’re way behind on posting this). Get a glimpse of this great convention for game enthusiasts of all varieties, listen to Luke Laurie from the League of Gamemakers talk of the League’s mission and CelestiSpiel, a haven for game developers to test game prototypes, and come out to the show this weekend if you can.
Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel, or listen to our large library of audio podcasts. There’s more hibernating goodies dislodging every time the Cave Dwellers manage to wrestle them into submission.
We’ve got a lot to say in the latest OgreCave Audio Report episode. First, we talk of DunDraCon 2015, wherein Allan describes some of the things he saw at the show. Then we hit Kickstarter hard, describing a variety of projects, both completed and upcoming, while voicing thoughts on what the crowdsourcing site should really be used for. Finally, one particular volunteer at PAX East is making the entire organization look bad, so they’d really better get a handle on the situation ASAP – and not by simply ignoring it.
Click here for show details and to listen to the new episode. Watch here soon for DunDraCon 2015 pictures, and everything else we’re up to as well.
In our first show of the new year, we’re already covering a lot of ground. In just the first half of the podcast, we go from Allan’s first impressions of Dungeons & Dragons: Fifth Edition to Mike’s obsession with space games, and back around to enjoying Magic: The Gathering after many years of abstinence. Then we drag out a pair of surprise gaming artifacts, speak of upcoming conventions, and more.
Click here for show details and to listen to the new episode. As always, share and enjoy. We’ll have a report on the happenings at DunDraCon 2015 in our next episode.
For the Cave dwellers, the start of convention season is heralded by DunDraCon. Now that the annual gaming event and its impending awesomeness are nearly here, this seems like the time to premiere our DunDraCon promo video. Take it away, Sparky! (Be sure to subscribe on YouTube to see all of OgreCave’s video goodness.)
We’re back, and ready to talk all things gaming. To wrap up the year and prepare for new things, we have a brand new episode of our long-dormant (hibernating?) podcast show, the OgreCave Audio Report. Now redubbed 2.0, the relaunch episode has Mike and Allan talking of the holidays, Kickstarter goodies, interpersonal issues in game groups, and GamerGate, among other things.
A more complete write-up will follow, but for now, enjoy the new episode, and happy holidays!
If you haven’t already heard our other podcast show, OgreCave’s Gaming News Update, click through and have a listen – we’ve cornered quite a few game industry luminaries over the years.
In our final KublaCon 2014 video, we manage to grab a few minutes with Japji Khalsa, Executive Producer and founder of KublaCon. In this video, we learn about the CCG-derived origins of the convention, how game designers use the show for their own nefarious ends, and some of the latest improvements to the overall KublaCon experience. You’ll get a small tour of Hyatt amenities, a few words from this year’s exhibitors about the convention, and glimpses of other KublaCon activities, between segments. In all, if you haven’t figured out KublaCon is “The Khan of Cons” yet, you simply haven’t been paying attention!
Have a look at all six KublaCon videos, and be sure to subscribe on YouTube to get all our upcoming video coverage. We’ll have some new things soon. No, really.
The KublaCon 2014 coverage is continuing on OgreCave’s new YouTube channel with three more interviews. This time we sit down with Jason Topolski of Ameritrash Games to hear about Camp Grizzly, the ’70s horror movie board game. Then we speak with referee Brian Denmark about the Star Wars: X-Wing tournament he’s running to see what’s involved in running a competitive convention event. We eventually find Vern Roberts, a member of KublaCon’s staff, preparing to oversee the carnage of the Megadungeon crawl, a massive player-versus-player Pathfinder tournament which uses over $10,000 of Dwarven ForgeMasterMaze miniature scenery. You’ll catch glimpses of other KublaCon activities between these interviews.
Have a look, and be sure to subscribe on YouTube to get all our upcoming video coverage, including some new things we’re working on.
The KublaCon 2014 coverage is continuing on OgreCave’s new YouTube channel with a short look at gamer apparel. In this installment, we talk with Phil Lacefield Jr. of JBM Press about the t-shirts he sells at dozens of conventions. Then we speak with Derek Cochran of Knitnut By JL to learn about the hot trends in knitted caps and accessories. To round things out, we get another perspective on t-shirts and gamer tastes from David Inman of Nerd Kung-Fu. Bits and pieces of other KublaCon activities are interspersed between these interviews.
Have a look, and be sure to subscribe on YouTube to get all our upcoming video coverage.
We’re continuing to fill OgreCave’s new YouTube channel (which you should totally subscribe to) with great footage from KublaCon 2014. In the latest installment, we talk with Buddy Wagner of Dire Ninja Media about P.E.R.K. – the Pretty Easy Roleplaying Kit. Then we take a look at the DiceShield from Andy Rothfusz and Questo Gizmo LLC. Finally, Mac Senour tells us about GameRustlers and how it keeps the gaming flowing at conventions. You’ll catch glimpses of other KublaCon activities between each interview as well.
Have a look, and be sure to subscribe on YouTube to get all our upcoming video coverage.
As the long weekend looms on the horizon, OgreCave is continuing to celebrate the launch of our new YouTube channel with another great interview from KublaCon 2014. This time we talk with Josh Qualtieri of Zombiesmith, and learn all about a variety of projects: War of Ashes: Shieldbash; a still-unnamed War of Ashes novel; his partnership with Flytrap Factory, and multiple Flytrap/Zombiesmith joint ventures; the War of Ashes: Fate of Agaptus RPG coming late 2014 from Evil Hat Productions; and the figures for Camp Grizzly, a cool new board game from Ameritrash Games.
Have a look, and be sure to subscribe to get all our upcoming video coverage.
The 40th annual Origins Awards were given out Saturday night. The details of said nominees and winners are a bit hard to find, so we thought we’d compile them for you here. Or all the ones we could find, at least.
2014 Origins Awards nominees and winners:
Best Roleplaying Game 13th Age – Pelgrane Press FATE Core System – Evil Hat Productions, LLC Mummy: the Curse – White Wolf Game Studio Numenera – Monte Cook Games Shadowrun: Core Rulebook – Catalyst Game Labs
WINNER: Numenera (Monte Cook Games)
FAN FAVORITE: Shadowrun: Core Rulebook (Catalyst Game Labs)
Best Roleplaying Supplement DC Adventures Universe – Green Ronin Publishing Heart of the Wild – Cubicle 7 Entertainment Transhuman – Posthuman Studios Night’s Watch – Green Ronin Publishing Eternal Lies – Pelgrane Press
WINNER: Night’s Watch (Green Ronin Publishing)
FAN FAVORITE: DC Adventures Universe (Green Ronin Publishing)
Best Board Game Trains – Alderac Entertainment Group Time n Space – Stronghold Games Space Cadet: Dice Duel – Stronghold Games Krosmaster Arena – Japanime Games City of Iron – Red Raven Games
WINNER: Trains (Alderac Entertainment Group)
FAN FAVORITE: Trains (Alderac Entertainment Group)
Best Collectible Card Game Pokemon Black & White: Legendary Treasures – The Pokemon Company, Intl. Pokemon Red Genesect Collection – The Pokemon Company, Intl. Yu-Gi-Oh! Battle Pack 2 – Konami Digital Entertainment Yu-Gi-Oh! Super Starter V for Victory – Konami Digital Entertainment Yu-Gi-Oh! Legendary Collection 4: Joey’s World – Konami Digital Entertainment
WINNER: Pokemon Black & White: Legendary Treasures (The Pokemon Company, Intl.)
FAN FAVORITE: Pokemon Black & White: Legendary Treasures (The Pokemon Company, Intl.)
Best Traditional Card Game Love Letter – Alderac Entertainment Group DC Comics Deck-Building Game – Cryptozoic Entertainment Boss Monster – Brotherwise Games Clubs – North Star Games Marvel Legendary: Dark City – Upper Deck
WINNER: Love Letter (Alderac Entertainment Group)
FAN FAVORITE: DC Comics Deck-Building Game (Cryptozoic Entertainment)
Best Children’s, Family, Party Game Walk the Plank – Mayday Games Three Little Pigs – Iello My Happy Farm – 5th St. Games ROFL – Cryptozoic Entertainment Choose One! – Looney Labs
WINNER: Three Little Pigs (Iello)
FAN FAVORITE: Walk the Plank (Mayday Games)
Best Game Accessory Krosmaster: Fire & Ice – Japanime Games Shadowrun GM Screen – Catalyst Game Labs Fate Dice – Evil Hat Productions, LLC Space Gaming Mat – HC+D Supplies Pathfinder Battles: Skull and Shackles – WizKids Games
WINNER: Space Gaming Mat (HC+D Supplies)
FAN FAVORITE: Pathfinder Battles: Skull and Shackles (WizKids Games)
Best Miniature Figure Rules Marvel HeroClix: Avengers Vs X-men Starters – WizKids Games Battletech Alpha Strike – Catalyst Game Labs Judge Dredd – Warlord Games
WINNER: Marvel HeroClix: Avengers Vs X-men Starters (WizKids Games)
FAN FAVORITE: Marvel HeroClix: Avengers Vs X-men Starters (WizKids Games)
Best Historical Miniature Figure/Line Fife & Drum: Revolutionary War – Fife & Drum Highlander Force – North Star Military Figures Fate of a Nation: Arab Israeli Wars – Battlefront Miniatures Red Army: 28mm Russian Infantry – Wargames Factory Devil Dogs and Dragons – Empress Miniatures
WINNER: Fate of a Nation: Arab Israeli Wars (Battlefront Miniatures)
FAN FAVORITE: ? – still looking for this info
Best Historical Board Game SOS Titanic – Ludonaute Navajo Wars – GMT, designed by: Joel Toppen Freedom: The Underground Railroad – Academy Games 1775: Rebellion – Academy Games Francis Drake – Eagle Games
Best Historical Miniature Rules Supplements SAGA: Varjazi & Basileus – Gripping Beast Flames of War: Fate of a Nation – Battlefront Miniatures Force on Force: Classified – Osprey Publishing
WINNER: ? – still looking for this info
FAN FAVORITE: ? – still looking for this info
Best Historical Miniature Rules Fields of Fire 2nd Edition – Proving Ground Games Fire and Sword – Wargamer Chain of Command – Too Fat Lardies
WINNER: Fields of Fire 2nd Edition (Proving Ground Games)
FAN FAVORITE: Fire and Sword (Wargamer)
Best Miniature Figure Line Malifaux: The Guild’s Judgement – Wyrd Miniatures HeroClix: Wolverine and the X-men – WizKids Games MERCs Mini’s (Shock Trooper, Spy, Eagle, Beacher) – MegaCon Games
WINNER: Malifaux: The Guild’s Judgement (Wyrd Miniatures)
FAN FAVORITE: HeroClix: Wolverine and the X-men (WizKids Games)
Best Game Related Publication Khan of Mars – Evil Hat Books Fire for Effect – Catalyst Game Labs ICv2 – Editor: Milton Griepp Dork Tower – Editor: John Kovalic TableTop – Wil Wheaton, Felicia Day/Geek & Sundry
As usual, it’s a great list of game products, and OgreCave extends hearty congratulations to all the nominees and winners.
As you can see, a few details are missing (and if you’ve got them, please, let us know in the comments). Why? Mainly because this is cobbled together from a variety of sources, but not from GAMA’s Origins Award page. As of this post, the GAMA site had neither the nominees nor winners listed. Now, GAMA has been quoted before as not wanting to become the Oscars of tabletop gaming (funny, since it’s an academy that puts forth the nominees), but not advertising your awards on your own site? That’s just shooting yourself in the foot.
I say, if fans and publishers want to build up your brand for you, give them the tools to do so – or at the very least, don’t sabotage the process. But maybe that’s just me.
Board Games
Okay, the flood of KublaCon photos has reached its peak, and all are now neatly contained in OgreCave’s KublaCon 2017 photo gallery (over at our Facebook page). Final attendee count was reportedly 3,321 – a good sized show! See if you can spot yourself in our gallery, or rather, see if you got spotted by our photo crew. 
Those of you who follow 
We’ve got a lot to say in the 
The 40th annual Origins Awards were given out Saturday night. The details of said nominees and winners are a bit hard to find, so we thought we’d compile them for you here. Or all the ones we could find, at least.