@PSchweig86@dice.camp
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PSchweig86

@PSchweig86@dice.camp

Writer, Game Designer, Gamer, Husband, Dad
I've been writing and playing roleplaying games for 40 + years. I also dabble in board and wargames, including a few designs of my own geared toward kids and newcomers to the adventure gaming hobby. I share bits about my gaming activities as well as other interesting bits from my life.

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PSchweig86, to random
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Had kind of a Squirrelpalooza going on by our bungee corn feeder this morning. Four squirrels, mostly getting along, jumping around, feasting on corn. Got some nice close-ups and a few of them hanging off the shepherds hook or even the suspended corn itself. Share and enjoy.

Gray squirrel swinging on the dangling corn cobs feasting away at kernels.
Four gray squirrels lurking around a white shepherds hook holding a bungee cord from which hangs two cobs of dried corn. Most sit nibbling corn, though one’s sniffing another’s butt.
Gray squirrel hanging on to the vertical shepherds hook shaft and clinging to the dangling corn cobs with its sharp little claws as it chews away at corn kernels.

PSchweig86, to random
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Early wargamers used two play styles, “rigid” and “free,” each reflecting a certain reliance on either detailed rules or intuitive judgment. During their evolution most modern games rely on the “rigid,” rules-focused style, though many players still exercise their creativity adjusting such procedures to craft a more satisfying game experience.

https://hobbygamesrecce.blogspot.com/2024/03/rigid-or-free.html

PSchweig86, to random
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I had “help” with my Skirmish Kids photography last week...Natasha likes nestling in my terrain tray, scratching up my flocked foam slopes, and knocking over figures. Cats and boxes, I guess.

PSchweig86, to random
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Last night cooked carnitas recipe from Pati Jinich for tacos. Then tonight made pork burritos with her recipe for guacamole. Even halved the carnitas lasts long enough for nachos and quesadillas. Very tasty, very versatile. It’s become a family favorite and a reliable dish in my menu rotation.

https://patijinich.com/carnitas/

PSchweig86, to random
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I reflect on that time in high school my English teacher let me run the (awful) nuclear war card game I designed...and consider the lessons I learned all those years ago

https://hobbygamesrecce.blogspot.com/2024/02/learning-from-classroom-game.html

PSchweig86, to random
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This past weekend’s trip to the regional used bookstore revealed this ancient wonder from @SJohnRoss and @muskrat_john priced a full dollar less than a used copy of Savage Worlds 50 Fathoms. The horror! Obviously collectors pricing, despite the game-book shelves looking extremely lean.

PSchweig86, to Hololive
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How often do we suggest someone else indulge in entertainment we love? Or someone else suggests we immerse ourselves in their favorite fandom? While it’s great to try new things, we should also feel free to pass and say “It’s just not for me.” Likewise we should respect when others say “No, thanks,” when we enthusiastically promote our own passions.

https://hobbygamesrecce.blogspot.com/2024/02/say-respect-its-just-not-for-me.html

PSchweig86, to random
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Took this a few weeks ago and never got around to posting it. Our youngest cat Natasha in my office window; she was enjoying the sun and cleaning herself, but by the time I grabbed the camera this is all I got. She’s a sweetheart but is jealous of her undisturbed alone time in the window.

PSchweig86, to random
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During my 40+ years of roleplaying gaming my tastes have changed, moving from reveling in multifaceted complexities in my game rules to a more elegant, streamlined approach reflecting my far more limited time and energy as well as an urge to make the hobby more accessible to newcomers.

https://hobbygamesrecce.blogspot.com/2024/02/complexity-fatigue.html

PSchweig86, to random
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I’m slowly rehabilitating the minis I painted way back in high school. Took photos of the latest ones, Grenadier skeletons. I usually just touch up the paint job, drybrush highlights, and give them a dark wash before sprucing up the base. These I stripped and started over from scratch since I wasn’t satisfied with the job young-me had done.

A crowd of undead skeltons in various bits of armor and helmets with assorted weapons, 25mm fantasy miniatures from Grenadier Dragon Lords box set 2019 Royal Guardsmen of the Undead Legion. A tomb entrance lurks in the wooded background.
image/jpeg

PSchweig86, to random
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I reminisce about how dictionaries used to have importance in our analog world, now replaced by far more accessible and constantly updated online references we can use to improve our communications and even find some inspiration.

https://hobbygamesrecce.blogspot.com/2024/01/the-lost-reference-library.html

PSchweig86, to random
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Jennell Jaquays, who passed away last week, left behind a rich legacy of gaming inspiration in both and computer games. But an oft-overlooked piece of her artwork inspired my own gaming adventures in a galaxy far, far away.




https://hobbygamesrecce.blogspot.com/2024/01/jaquays-mos-eisley-map.html

PSchweig86, to random
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Sad to hear Jennell Jaquays passed away. Her amazing full-color, double-sided map of downtown Mos Eisley and the infamous cantina from first adventure Tatooine Manhunt inspired me for years. Already working on a longer appreciation for next week’s post. Wishing “Clear skies!” to one of gaming’s earliest luminaries.

PSchweig86, to random
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I’m back to writing features, news, and missives about games in the new year after a short reprieve. The yuletide holidays offered a break from blogging, so now I return to that – and several other game writing projects – with some refreshed focus and energy.

https://hobbygamesrecce.blogspot.com/2024/01/new-year-blues.html

PSchweig86, to random
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Posting this before holiday festivities overtake me....

As some folks prepare to celebrate Christmas, my cat Natasha reminds us to always find the light in the darkness at this time of year, however you celebrate it. May the light illuminate your holiday season; I hope it leads us to better and wonderful things in the new year.

PSchweig86, to random
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This yuletide* holiday baking project has most of my time today.

  • Alas, I’m a bit late for the Election Day holiday....

A cluttered kitchen countertop with (left to right) a bowl with flour, a stand mixer with dough, a measuring cup half filled with flour, a plate with sliced butter, a bowl with rum-soaked raisins and candied cherries and some slivered almonds, a spatula, and some eggs in a carton. A neglected toaster oven and coffee maker lurk on the counter background with other kitchen clutter.
A flexible pastry mat dusted with flour on which I’ve spread out two rectangles of stollen dough brushed with melted butter and sprinkled with granulated sugar.

PSchweig86, to random
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Walked by the living room window around noon today and noticed the feeder was busy with titmice and chickadees having lunch.

A black, white, and gray chickadee perched on a bird feeder with a black oil sunflower seed in its beak.
A gray and white tufted titmouse perched on a bird feeder staring directly at the camera is if outraged someone is taking its photo while it eats.
A gray and white tufted titmouse perched on a bird feeder filled with black oil sunflower seeds.

PSchweig86, to random
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I’m fascinated how games can help inform aspects of our lives. I take a brief look at imperfect information, how it affects our view of an unfolding game experience, and how it can help prepare us to deal with such uncertainties in real life...notably constant and often changing developments in “current events.”

https://hobbygamesrecce.blogspot.com/2023/11/imperfect-information.html

RPBook, to worldwarshistory
@RPBook@historians.social avatar

This review from @PSchweig86 has me very interested in this free solo game about , and I'm going to back the Kickstarter too.
http://hobbygamesrecce.blogspot.com/2023/09/solo-games-battle-cards.html


@militaryhistory @worldwarshistory

PSchweig86,
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@RPBook @synlogic @militaryhistory @worldwarshistory

The two known games are Malaysia (1941-42) and Moro River (1943-44). I'm not familiar with the Italian campaigns, so this one will be a treat. I know Malaysia is a challenge. I'm looking forward to seeing how the designers customize the rules and rationale to fit the individual campaigns. Can't wait to see what the other three games cover.

RPBook, to worldwarshistory
@RPBook@historians.social avatar

My cover designer sent me the attached earlier, with the following question. "Why use a real cover designer when you can create masterpieces like this using AI?"

For those that don't know, the attack on Pearl Harbor was carried out by the Japanese. The planes on the cover are German Fw190s.

I've blurred the author name because I have no desire to cause a pile-on.


@militaryhistory @worldwarshistory

PSchweig86,
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@RPBook @militaryhistory @worldwarshistory
It may be apocryphal, but supposedly Harry Turtledove wrote Guns of the South because an artist sent his publisher a history book cover illustration with Robert E. Lee holding an AK-47....

This book, obviously, is not alternate history science fiction, though it's nice to see the Fw190 get some love.

PSchweig86,
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@RPBook

I have a vague memory of hearing it from Turtledove himself at a convention ages ago (20 or so years), but it sounds cool.

Yes, bad enough when a human artist gets it wrong, but AI, well, I just expect it. Good for a laugh and some "what if?" inspiration.

PSchweig86,
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@RPBook

Quite true. I understand as an author, as I'm sure you do, too, that artwork and graphic design costs money. Finding some way to work around that's fine, but you're right: known your AI prompts. AI seems like a cheap alternative, but it can easily go so wrong....

RPBook, to RPG
@RPBook@historians.social avatar

Day 12. Old game you STILL play.
The oldest we play (we have some older that still get played occasionally) is .

Apparently it was first published in 1993, although I didn't discover it until about the mid 2010s.

PSchweig86,
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@RPBook I still have a (c) 1998 print copy @SJohnRoss handed me at a convention around that time. One of my prized RPG possessions (along with most of his other work, notably Pokethulhu).

LHaasis, to earlymodernmaritimestudies
@LHaasis@historians.social avatar

! Any reading recommendations for the American War of Independence? Since beach season doesn't seem to be coming, my current holiday plan is to just jump into a sea of books instead.

@histodons @historikerinnen @earlymodernmaritimestudies

PSchweig86,
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@daszeiserl @LHaasis @histodons @historikerinnen @earlymodernmaritimestudies

Bloody Mohawk by Richard Berleth (Black Dome Press, 2009) includes the war in New York State, but foregrounds it in early settlement (including Palatine Germans), the French and Indian War, and then the Revolution. Major focus on the tribes of the Iroquois nations and their relationship with Indian agents, settlers, Loyalists, and Patriots. Shows how earlier issues affected the Revolution.

gamingthepast, to random

A vacation Sunday friends! That means it's high time to: ASK ME ANYTHING about or ! Come on: wouldn't you like to talk about history & games & history education, or any part or intersection of those 3?!?! Never know; could be fun; maybe even interesting!?!?!?

PSchweig86,
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@alessa_ed @gamingthepast

Do you think the reliance on and growth/popularity/ease of electronic gaming will eclipse analog games as practical alternatives in the classroom?

Do you plan, in your book, to offer some free, ready-made or easily adaptable games as examples or instant lessons? (I'm thinking of some of the excellent CNA micro-games at https://www.cna.org/centers-and-divisions/cna/ow/gaming-and-integration)

I'm no educator -- just an amateur advocate for games and learning -- but your book sounds fascinating.

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