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The State of Games: August 2015

Things always change, and occasionally I like to share how things are going, what things are going, and what things just aren't going.  Welcome to the state of games.

As a player, I am looking for a game now.  I quit my Sunday game.  The GM moved the game back because players were always late, so they all started showing up even later.  The GM let it slide.  I got fed up, after the last game was starting 45 minutes late, and quit.  Sunday night games are bad for my sleep for work anyway.  The lesson I learned is that pushover GMs are pushovers.

As an online GM, my Wednesday game is going strong, albeit with continuous changes in cast.  Real life pulls a lot of players away.  I am starting a 5E Horror game on Saturdays, which should have its first session this week.  I think it is going to be a lot of fun.

As a live GM, I tried to get a Tuesday game going at the local game store, but it crashed and burned.  The two players, besides my daughters, that showed up seemed to think they knew how to play and even GM, but didn't seem to have any clue on game rules.  They ignored my character creation rules, so I just stopped it.  I left an open invitation for my daughters to start a weekend game with their friends, and I will leave it at that for now.  Once I start commuting to the "big city" again, I may try to start a game there.

As a creator and hopeful publisher, I am procrastinating on pulling together the 2.0 version of my Cyber Path rules.  The new version is going to be a lot simpler and prettier.  I am seeing at least the Core and 2 to 3 other books coming out of the material.  I am just waiting for motivation and inspiration to catch up to my to do list right now.  I have no idea how to release them, and they are in desperate need of artwork.  Currently I am using properly licensed clipart.  It is sad.  Maybe when I get them finished they might be worthy of a Kickstarter.  Maybe I should do a 5E version first.

As a miniature painter, I am making good progress.  I am completing a couple of miniatures a week on average.  That means I should have all my miniatures painted in only 4 years!  Yeah, I have a huge kickstarter backlog of minis.  The good news is that my skills are improving, and I getting happier and happier with the outcome.  The bad news is that I need to see an eye doctor soon.  Near vision is becoming more challenging -- typical for my age, I am told.

As a collector, I am waiting to get back to work to have extra money for collecting.  Too bad too, since I found a copy of Rappan Athuk the other day for half off.  My biggest project when things settle again will be building a set of rustic bookshelves for the collection.  I think I might put wooden shingles over them as a rustic roof.  If will both improve my game room feel and protect the volumes in the case that a leaky pipe or some other disaster sends moisture into my gaming dungeon below.

So overall, things are good.  My gaming hobby is getting reshaped for me to go back to work at some point.  I am having a lot of fun.  I am spending time what I enjoy.  What more can a person ask for, from a hobby.

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