Well, Essen's here, so I should look at some games.

For those not in the know, the Essen toy fair is a huge game con open to the public in Germany, with an attendance around 150k. Yes, it dwarfs GenCon. Germany also is still home to the most concentrated gaming culture. As there will be several new things out there, I'm going to go through the preview list on BoardgameGeek. I will not be listing anything that was at GenCon, though it's still likely new to many, and certainly to the European market. A few came close to getting on here, but I was trying to speed through the 31 page geeklist at one go.

The Exiled: Siege- This is the second edition of an interesting coop game, fighting against the hazards of a fantasy medieval wilderness. The new edition adds a one vs. all mode as well, and the campaign sounds pretty cool. I did not back it on KS, but I did come close.

Peak Oil- You better believe there's some "clean energy" worship going on here. That said, there appear to be some good game ideas, and I'd still be interested in playing. But, I'd want to play before buying this one.

Secret Weapons of the Third Reich- Unfortunately, the art is getting redone on this one. But, it's part coop, part drafting, part worker placement. And, one might become a traitor as the allies advance and possibly take the technologies you worked so hard for.

Outlive- This is a post apocalyptic worker displacement game. There's occasionally a fight over goods, you have a shelter to rebuild, and there's other cool ideas here as well. I did back this game when it was on KS.

Empires: Galactic Rebellion- Well, it's a "sequel" to Empires: Age of Discovery, which a lot of folks really liked. I was not a big fan of the game, but this looks like it has more paths available, which might mean more victory options, addressing my biggest qualm. I'd personally want to see it played, and it has some potential.

Cottage Garden- Because Uwe Rosenberg does interesting things with "dull" topics. Agricola, Mercator, Glass Road, The Gates of Loyang, and his money machine Bohnanza(to name a few). He wants to do things with polyominos? Let me see it.

Great Western Trail- A game about a cattle run? With buildings to use/build and workers to hire? Show me more.

Gentleman's Deal- I'm not one for party games generally, but this looks worthwhile. Mostly due to the fact that there's some game theory involved. The Dealer offers an amount to each player, they vote simultaneously on accepting, and the Dealer gets the rest if accepted, or loses a turn if not.  There's a bit more here, and I'll likely watch for it. 5-9 player games that are good are rare.

The Arrival- This is an Irish themed reimplementation of Martin Wallace's Mordred. Reading my way through Skelos issue 1, I think I might like the idea of this version better. A combination of resources, corruption, and fighting the Formori.

Not Alone- Big scaling possibilities(2-7), asymmetric play, and the only drawback is the generic SF theme? Just pretend it's The Thing, and you're characters are in Antarctica. Soundtrack by Mr. Carpenter recommended.

Drachenturm- Yeah, it's from German publisher HABA. Yes, it's a kid's coop game. Just take a look and you'll see there's some great kid's games out there. In fact, just look at HABA's games period. Lady Richmond, Meduris, Hamsterbande, and Lumina all look like a lot of fun.

TZARR- I was going to avoid any two player abstracts, but a GIPF project reissue? Too good to pass. Also, ZERTZ.

Snowblind: Race for the Pole- A press your luck game about racing back from the South Pole. At least, that's what the list says, maybe they have it backwards. The weather is against you as you try to balance speed, supplies, and health of you expedition.

Key to the City- London- This has a LOT in common with Keyflower. I'm more than alright with that. Some streamlining, but some new elements, too. So, I look forward to having a chance to someday play this one.



When you play Social Justice, the world loses.

Aren't we like that?

In my new job, one of the "perks" is that we get to listen to popular radio. I have not needed a reminder as to why I hate top 40, nor did I desire confirmation, but I have it nonetheless. Drek.

This morning, of course the debate was mentioned and talked about, but not in a substantive manner, nor were the rhetorical points covered.  Then the script turned into a 20 minute white knighting segment against the "Trump tape".  They said things along the lines of "I don't know anyone who would...:" "I've never heard....", and "My boys and husband would never..."

WHAT LIES. I've spent two weeks listening to your drivel you consider music. You must not have any clue as to how many songs your station plays about sex, confusing and conflating it for love. I guess nobody can finish this line "The Internet is really really great".  Nobody watched Sex in the City, The L Word, Californication, Red Shoe Diaries, or Inside Amy Schumer. (I could believe the last one.)  People bought, but didn't read 50 shades of Grey, or watched the "film"? The White House didn't recently host the gun control group "Cocks not Glocks"?  And I guess John Ringo never won that award for Ghost. Attention, everyone: Rule 34 is just a myth.Glad we cleared that up.

Unlike the media, I am willing to acknowledge the sin around me, some of which I must admit to partaking of. I've worked as a cab driver, I've driven railroad crews, I've sweated along in a  plumbing company. I've done more than this, and I know there are others with a more diverse spread of occupations than I've had. My point is that I don't live in a bubble, and I know for certitude, that people of all sorts will make course jokes and tell stories. I've heard stories that would make some puke.

Do I defend what Mr. Trump said? No, I'm not a playboy, nor do I admire the type, not in reality. That said, it was 11 years ago, and I'm willing to believe that he has grown and changed. Until I've seen proof otherwise. I mean, his wife RickRolled the RNC and wore a "pussy bow" blouse at the debate. (I thought that was a joke when I first saw the words.) Is he brash, a bit of a loudmouth, and willing to push to get his way? Yep. Maybe we need that at this point.

Russia's been prepping for war, drilling it's civilians and moving it's arms. The USA has broken it's word in dealing with Russia and the Syrian "rebels". Our arms have been getting into the hand of ISIS as if by design. IF we are to be working on those problems, we need to do so with clear objectives, and not be possibly seen as the bad guys. That's our current problem in foreign policy: we are too easily seen as the bad guys. Maybe we have been. Perhaps it's time to repent of this foreign policy, among other sins.

If you'll excuse me, I need to pray.

When you play Social Justice, the world loses.

Music blog: Marty Stuart

Time for some current comics talk.

I haven't written about comic books recently, and there's been some interesting new books, and yes some of these interest me enough to write about. Please note, most of these are not kid friendly, and I will note ones that are.

Lake of Fire from Image- Here's an interesting medieval tale during the crusades. By the way, there's aliens, or possibly demons, I've slept since reading issue one. I'm not certain where the Catholicism angle will be ultimately taken, and I'm a touch leery of that, but otherwise, the story's got my attention.

Frostbite from Vertigo- Since Chuck Dixon isn't printing any Winterworld right now, this might be a decent substitute. Another frozen apocalypse, this one has a unique illness, revenge, promises, and, at least in the first issue, hope. I will be reading, at least until they inflict a bad idea on me.

The Land That Time Forgot from American Mythology- Yep, an Edgar Rice Burroughs comic not from Dynamite or the estate. Two issues in, I have to say this feels pretty good. I have not read the books, though, so I'm not the best judge, but I'm willing to keep on with it. Kids can read this pretty safely.

Moonshine from Image- Azzarello and Risso stretch their legs away from DC/Vertigo, so I had to check it out. This takes place during Prohibition, and promises to be a criminal's violent descent. No, it's not uplifting, it's a crime book, and half the fun will be all the stuff you couldn't film.

Future Quest from DC- Yes, this is the only book I'm reading with "DC" on it. Take the old Hanna-Barbera characters and put them all into one well written story. Space Ghost, Johnny Quest, Herculoids, etc. Yes, your kids can read this.

Green Valley from Skybound/Image- I saw a preview somewhere, and thought I should try it. I need to wait another issue or two to be sure, but I think I was right. There's a lot of potential going on in the opening chapter of this story, and I hope it fills that. I'd say this was safe for some teens, but not all.

Rough Riders from Aftershock- The story's still good, in fact, it just got a bit surreal. Action, interesting takes on historical characters, and some cool looking tech. A bit steampunkish, but not all over the place.

Triggerman from Titan/Hard Case Crime- Honestly, this book made this week's trip to the shop for me. I've not read the novel this is taken from, but between the story so far, the art, and HCC's collection of novels, and the fact that there's at least one more book coming means Vertigo might need to shape up. Crime comics might have a new king pretty quickly, and they at least have a good home. Nudity and violence not inappropriate to the story. DON'T LET KIDS READ THIS.

Onto a couple of books I should note, because they have "name" creators, and one of them is consistently interesting.

Shipwreck from Aftershock- Warren Ellis wrote this. I should find there to be something interesting here to keep me going. Phil Hester did the art, and it looks right for the story. Unfortunately, this gets a reject from me. I wanted to like it, but there's stuff here that put me way off. And I like crime comics and some horror books. Sorry, Warren, just no.

Captain Kid from Aftershock- Mark Waid scribes this wish fulfillment book, and I'm just not sure it's worth it. There's some interesting time travel stuff with one character, but that really feels like it weakens the book. I will give at least another go, but I'm not invested.

You likely noticed a lot from Aftershock here. That's mostly because they're new and trying a lot of stuff at once. Some I won't even give a try(Animosty), some won't be gotten again. The Daring Eagles story from them was really good, and I only like Garth Ennis in a war comic. I quit the main hero books altogether during DC's New 52, and doubt I'll get back in issues ever.

When you play Social Justice, the world loses.

Well, there went the week.

This week got away from me pretty easily. I will have something up in a bit, and try to have another one tomorrow. For the future, I'll try to have some content on Tuesdays, as my Wednesdays are taken up.

In the meantime, in case you missed it, here's my appearance on Declan Finn's Catholic Geek Radio from this last Sunday. I largely rambled for two hours, but a couple folks let me know they enjoyed it. Will return, I had fun.

When you play Social Justice, the world loses.

Music blog: King's X

Some from the early stuff.

Not linking to videos because lame.

When you play Social Justice, the world loses.

Injustice Book Review: The Cunning Blood by Jeff Duntemann

Cower not, fierce reader! Today we have a tale of adventure, secret societies, paranoia, and deception. Thankfully, our author is NOT Dan Brown, but rather, the able writer Jeff Duntemann, in his first novel(he has a sizable non-fiction catalog and several short stories). Unfortunately, due to many of the crimes being tightly bound to the plot, be forewarned, there will be spoilers in this review. Onward to the charges of Darkness in this world of SocJus and it's  light!

Our first charge today is against the world and governance thereof. The Governor General is a megalomaniac. There's a judge early on that believes all men to be mad. Most criminals end up removed from Earth, in the name of elimination of violence genetically.

Which brings us to the next charge. This place of exile is a planet known colloquially as Hell. Yes, it does have another name, but that is what everyone outside the government calls it. Hell has no electricity by design. That does not mean no technology; there are other ways, and electricity is but one. Thus, this charge is two sided: First, the invocation of religion, and second, the questioning of the established methods of technology.

Hell is of course, bent on revenge. There are plans, and a religious aspect to the avocation for revenge. Mr. Duntemann went so far as to include a new set of lyrics to an old tune(see below my usual stop for details), in the fine Western music tradition of plundering earlier sources. The charge is advancing the awareness of a Western culture.

The next charge involves one of the characters. This character has taken vows against killing and the carnal knowledge of women. The first is mostly against his society, but truly, the second would be properly seen against any society of man and his fallen nature. The charge is presenting man as more than an animal.

There are more charges perhaps that could be laid before this tome, but I believe this sufficient to our purposes. This story is very well done, and I congratulate Mr. Duntemann the craftsmanship of his adventure. I find this merits 8 of 10 Fell Deeds.

When you play Social Justice, the world loses.