Sherlock Holmes Playing Cards on Kickstarter? It’s Elementary…

The Sherlock Holmes Playing Card Deck (Baker Street Edition) by Jackson Robinson

The Sherlock Holmes Playing Card Deck (Baker Street Edition) by Jackson Robinson

     Your man here is a HUGE Sherlock Holmes fan.  Back in 1989, my then-girlfriend got me The Complete Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle for a birthday present and I was hooked. Of course, when I say, “got,” I later learned that she most likely shoplifted it. Turns out, when your girlfriend asks you to pick her up from her community service, it may not be for a speeding ticket even if that’s what she claims. Yeah, that shoulda probably been a red flag. But I digress.

     As a long-time fan of the world’s most famous detective, I was pretty excited to get an e-mail last week from Jackson Robinson announcing his new Kickstarter project–a Holmes-inspired playing card deck.

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Mars Attacks-The Miniatures Game on Kickstarter

Mars Attacks Miniatures Game by Mantic Games

Mars Attacks Miniatures Game by Mantic Games

     If this was a podcast, I’d be squealing like a little schoolgirl.  To say I loves me some Mars Attacks is like saying Rebel Wilson prefers a gunny sack of Krispy Kreme donuts to a bean sprout salad with a light vinaigrette. It’s an understatement. And before anyone accuses me of hating on the fat people, I’d be right there with Rebel choking down chocolate covered creme-filleds and slamming a 2 liter Mountain Dew.

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Podcasts For Nerds 2–Electric Boogaloo

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     Six months ago, I posted about some of the podcasts I listen to at work in my tomb-like windowless office. Since then, I’ve spotlighted some of my favorites as Podcasts of the Month.  But in my neverending quest to spread the nerd gospel, I thought I might just go ahead and post the playlist from my office computer.

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More Kickstarter Goodness–Dice & Call of Cthulhu

Floating Face Metal Dice

Copyright K. Sorensen, 2013

      In case you’re sitting around with a wad of cash burning a hole in your pocket, I’m back with some suggestions upon which you might spend it.

      Lately, with the coming of summer, I’ve been drafted into grilling something almost every night.  My wife is a big fan of grilled corn, which is great, but it takes 30 minutes to cook.  So I often find myself sitting there on the back patio, all alone with iPhone in hand.  What better way to pass the time than checking out what’s shaking on Kickstarter? As a service to you, my loyal readers, I sift through the crap so you don’t have to, and bring you two gotta-have projects from the always mouth-watering “Tabletop Games” category.

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Podcast of the Month: Hex Encounter

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     What’s going on my people?  If you’re a wargamer (I’m kinda in that mode these days), listen up, because I’m back with a podcast you need to add to your bookmarks or iTunes playlist.  I’m talking about the Hex Encounter wargame podcast.

     Currently up to thirteen episodes, H.E. has been around for a little while.  However, I think they recently changed hosts/updated their website, so the publish dates listed aren’t necessarily accurate.  However long they’ve been doing it, they’re doing it well.

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Growing a Grognard–The Seed Has Sprouted

I need to get those counters clipped, but this is a real page turner.

I need to get those counters clipped, but this is a real page turner.   

Grog • nard  (noun)  1. An old soldier 2. Someone who enjoys playing board wargames, particularly the counter-heavy strategy games from the 1970’s & 80’s. 

     I’ve probably mentioned before how my son has embraced the gaming hobby full force.  He’s all about military stuff and thus, war games are right up his alley. He’s been tearing up the iTunes App Store looking for strategy games for his iPod Touch.  I honestly think I could break out Advanced Squad Leader and he’d be, “OK Dad, infantry and armor is great, but when do we get to the Off Board Artillery rules?”

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Welcome to Kickstarter–Lincoln’s War

Lincoln's War by Multi-Man Publishing

Lincoln’s War by Multi-Man Publishing

     I’ve mentioned that I’m something of a “late-adopter” when it comes to new technology.  Often, my worldview can be summed up by the saying, “I fear change.” But sooner or later, when I can’t ignore the chatter about something, I’ll go check it out.

     Such is the case with Kickstarter. If you’re not familiar with the website, it’s basically a site set up to allow “crowd funding” of a huge variety of creative projects. It’s pretty simple–you find a project that appeals to you, then you pledge a certain amount of money. The more you pledge, the more you get. IF the project meets the minimum funding requirement set by the creator(s). There’s also something called “stretch goals” which is bonus swag and/or content if a project get’s funded beyond the original goal.

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Rainy Sunday Afternoon? Bring on the Zombies!!!

Zombies!!! by Twilight Creations

Zombies!!! by Twilight Creations

     Last Sunday, which happened to be Easter, was cold and rainy where we live. Maybe it was the sugar crash from too many jelly beans and marshmallow Peeps, but nobody wanted to watch TV or read.  My son said, “Hey Dad, can we play that zombie game you got the other day?”  Easter, candy, zombies…”Why not?”  So we broke out Zombies!!! from Twilight Creations.

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