How's everyone doing? Are you having a good holiday?
Yesterday was the first day that I actually had any energy since catching covid three weeks ago, so that was good. Other than that it was pretty chilled. Ended up with Knives Out and Mario Kart (1 and 8) taking up most of the day. I did get a nice wee game controller for my phone which also works as an x-box controller. I'm thinking it will also be good for playing Dreamcast and PS2 RPGs on my phone.
Merry Christmas ya filthy animals.
Spent the day eating, mostly. A post-Christmas dinner game of Carcassonne with the family followed by a viewing of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Good festive fare all round.
Gameswise I got a copy of Marvel’s Midnight Suns which I played for an hour or so this morning before everyone else got up and it looks pretty good so far.
Glad you’re feeling better, Bri - we’ve dodged Covid somehow this Christmas but not quite sure how we’ve managed it.
I've come down with something – thankfully tested negative for Covid, so far – so I spent more of yesterday snoozing on the sofa than I'd've liked, but it was a pretty relaxed day. Spent a fair bit of time building Lego with the kid, fell asleep during the traditional Muppet Christmas Carol rewatch (I missed all of the Spirits of Present and Future), and went to bed quite early.
We had a Christmas day visit to the walk in centre, UTI diagnosed for one of our twins, so third course of antibiotics for her this winter so far. Yay. Other than that, pretty quiet and (touch wood) no covid for any of us. Present-wise, nothing game-related - a few books and some cash. Thinking of using the cash towards a steam deck…
I made the mistake in life to be that guy known for 'liking Bailey's a LOT' so that's pretty much all anyone buys me for anything now, but I treated myself to a wee upgrade of a Retroid Pocket 2 PLUSSSSSSSSS and Sonic Frontiers. :)
We're visiting Norn Iron this year, so much of the presentage has been left at home, pending our (triumphant?) return. So far, I've had a bunch of chocolate (all eaten), and a really nice Deck of Many Things, which I'm trying to decide if I dare using with any of my D&D groups…
Just tell everyone to generate a high level character then start the game deep in a dungeon, low on resources and having just found the deck. It might be very short game, it might be the start of something amazing!
I bought my son a D&D starter set after he watched Stranger Things and was asking lots of questions about it. He’s a big board game player but has no concept of TTRPGs at all. I haven’t played D&D since I was 12. Neither of us have the slightest idea where to start!
Well the starter set is as good a place as any. If you have any specific questions give us a shout, but I suspect you'll be able to figure it out no problem. One thing to consider if you really can't get your head around it, buy a fighting fantasy gamebook for your son to play but instead of giving it to him to play solo, read it to him and have him make the decisions. That's basically how RPGs work and it'll give you both a good idea of what to expect.
If you have any specific questions give us a shout, but I suspect you'll be able to figure it out no problem.
Seconded - it can seem daunting, but any TTRPG is really just a framework for telling a story together. If I can help, I will. 
Which starter set is it, by the way? There are four of them now.
Just tell everyone to generate a high level character then start the game deep in a dungeon, low on resources and having just found the deck. It might be very short game, it might be the start of something amazing!
Yeah, I'm thinking it would be fun to drop in a one-shot.
This Christmas has been an absolute fucking wash for many reasons, and I can't wait for it to be over. Currently in Belfast right now visiting with my partner's family, and she's already had enough. Flying home to Germany on Friday, so that'll be a blessing.
Roll on the new year, I say.
Continuing the theme of illness. I was ill for what felt like at least 3 weeks in the run-up to Xmas, now we are on day 5 or 6 of my missus and little one feeling pretty awful to needing to just have an extended sleep in the middle of the day.
Xmas itself has been nice and we had my (future) father-in-law with us and we all had a nice time, but the cold weather seems to have worsened our roof issue and so now we are getting water into one of the bedrooms (only very slight amounts) every time it rains, so am mainly now just waiting for life to resume and one of the many roofers I have contacted to return to work and have a look, it's annoying mainly as I discovered this issue when it was dry and we moved in, but the roofer I contacted and pointed out what the work was that is needed, has seemingly just vanished. He was meant to sort it mid to late September and has just ignored all messages and calls since.
I made the mistake in life to be that guy known for 'liking Bailey's a LOT' so that's pretty much all anyone buys me for anything now, but I treated myself to a wee upgrade of a Retroid Pocket 2 PLUSSSSSSSSS and Sonic Frontiers. :)
Where did you get the Retroid? I have been torn between getting the new Plus 3 or the Plus 2. I had been looking at Droix which was recommended to me.
I used Droix and they were really good. They let me change the colour of my order when they got new stock in and delivered the next day.
Ah cool, I might grab one latter on when back home from the City Centre then, as they have the 2 plus on sale.
the cold weather seems to have worsened our roof issue and so now we are getting water into one of the bedrooms (only very slight amounts) every time it rains, so am mainly now just waiting for life to resume and one of the many roofers I have contacted to return to work and have a look, it's annoying mainly as I discovered this issue when it was dry and we moved in, but the roofer I contacted and pointed out what the work was that is needed, has seemingly just vanished. He was meant to sort it mid to late September and has just ignored all messages and calls since.
Are you still in Sheffield? If so, I'll send you the number of the bloke who we used just before Xmas, he's a really nice guy
Yes mate! Up Meersbrook way S8. Closing in on having lived in Sheffield. That would be amazing cheers.
Bloody hell, so plenty of us were ill over the festive period then?
I started to feel ropey on the Monday before Christmas, am only just approaching feeling “normal” now. Probably flu, I think. I carried on working because we’re swamped, ended up having a couple of days where all I did was work (from home) or sleep. Also didn’t eat for a few days, so I’m also 4kg down on what I was before Christmas, which is just wrong.
On the plus side, I’m finally with it enough to game again now, so I had a quick look at a few GOTY lists (and sales) in the last few days, picked up a couple of bits that appealed (Norco, Citizen Sleeper), will push on with Midnight Suns, and maybe finally start BotW.
(On Midnight Suns, I’m enjoying it, despite some issues with the pacing, what with the various extracurricular activities, but had intended suggesting to Gar that he look at it at some point, as if anyone I know is going to really like it it’s probably him, so I was genuinely happy to see he’d been bought it.)
(On Midnight Suns, I’m enjoying it, despite some issues with the pacing, what with the various extracurricular activities, but had intended suggesting to Gar that he look at it at some point, as if anyone I know is going to really like it it’s probably him, so I was genuinely happy to see he’d been bought it.)
I'll probably do a longer post on this as part of January's PWB but I'm a few hours in to Midnight Suns and yes I'm really enjoying it. It really is Fire Emblem: Three Houses Marvel Edition, it has almost exactly the same balance between strategy battles and social stuff and like that game it seems slightly imbalanced to begin with but I think it will balance out. The actual strategy part is excellent so far, too.
Hi all. I haven’t been sick, but my brother and his family were, so my Xmas holiday in Ireland was cut short.
No gaming gifts, but did get myself a new Apple Watch strap.
I bought a starter set of DND for my niece last year, she’s not touched it, but I’d feel mean taking it back! Anyway I have my The One Ring session every two weeks, which, because of Sallys death last year, only just got the Starter Set done before Christmas and have started the Star In The Mist last week. I certainly enjoy prepping for the game on Roll20.
I’ve had Red Dead 2 in the PS5, but I’m not enjoying it, so about to swap it out for Elden Ring.