October Update
I’m thinking a lot about everyone I know in Appalachia right now. Here’s a vetted list of on-the-ground organizations who could use help after Hurricane Helene.
In this update:
Game news: Undergrove, Tussie Mussie, and other projects
Upcoming events: Movie screening, Pax Unplugged
Miscellaneous media
Critter of the month: Hen of the Woods
Game News
Undergrove
All of the copies of Undergrove that were ordered on Kickstarter have now been sent out. The brick-and-mortar retail release is this Friday, October 4. That’s followed by online availability on October 18.
If you’ve had a chance to play, it’s a help if you leave a rating on Board Game Geek. (Sign in, then click on the row of stars under the credits.)
I’ve had a few local events where I’ve taught people to play, including at the Smithsonian last week. It’s such a joy to see a game get out into the world, and even more fun to see 9 or 10 tables going at once.
Tussie Mussie
My 18-card game Tussie Mussie is now available in Barnes and Noble, in a box — and with expansions that make it more than 18 cards (that’s the “Complete Collection” part). Feels like a step up from the little vinyl wallet!
Other projects
I’m actively playtesting the next Wingspan expansion, and also some other projects I’m not talking about yet. It’s going to be a busy fall!
Upcoming Events
I’m in a movie: The Hobby is a documentary about boardgames and why we play them. It’s screening at the New/Next Film Festival in Baltimore. The director, cinematographer, and I will all be there. Sunday 10/6 at 5:45.
Congress of Gamers: I’ll be at this small local convention in Rockville, MD on Saturday October 12. Probably a combo of playtesting and teaching Undergrove. Maybe I’ll get to just play some games, too!
Pax Unplugged: I’m a special guest at this big convention in Philadelphia, December 6-8.
Miscellaneous Media
Keep an eye on NPR’s Short Wave podcast and Margaret Roach’s gardening column in the NY Times in the next few weeks!
I was on a panel at People’s Book in Takoma Park, MD with game designers Connie Vogelmann, Tory Brown, and Alexi Sargeant. You can listen to the audio here.
Jamey Stegmaier posted a video with his favorite mechanism from Undergrove.
He also did a blog post on why he thinks Wingspan has been so successful.
Speaking of Board Game Geek ratings (as mentioned above, please rate Undergrove!) — this was a fascinating article exploring the bias in those ratings. After adjusting for the fact that complex games have higher ratings on BGG, Wingspan’s rank jumps from #30 to #16. But when you take out the bias toward more recent games, it falls to #69. It’s a good reminder not to take any ranking system too seriously.
Critter of the Month: Hen of the Woods
Hen of the Woods (Grifola frondosa, aka maitake) is a wood-decaying mushroom and mild parasite that specializes in oak trees. It’s a delicious edible mushroom — I had some for breakfast. (Please don’t try to forage without someone knowledgeable!) I love that most mushrooms have seasons, just like plants do. Where I live, this one is a reliable sign that autumn is on the way.
Grateful to be warm and dry —
❤️
Elizabeth