What A Year
What. A. Year. [Insert Deep Sigh Here]
Look at me, sneaking back in just shy of a full year’s absence. It would be nice to say that my silence was due to immersing myself in my hobbies, but much of my year was spent stressed, depressed, and staring blankly off into space as I tried to summon up the will find interest in much of anything.
Phew! Starting this off on a foot, for sure. The right one? Probably not. I did say much of my year though. Things improved as 2025 raced on. I moved to an awesome new place. It is closer to work, closer to my hobby centers, and really, just did a lot to improve my mental health.
I started get out of the house with friends and taking more pictures.
One goal for the new year has to be to get out and do more photography. It is something I tend to be lax on because analog is expensive and, let’s be honest here, I am extremely lazy.
Speaking of expensive hobbies that I’m not particularly good at, I also got into painting miniatures shortly after my move!
I now have an entire tray of base-coated miniatures I need to paint, even though I haven’t touched this hobby in close to six months. Will I get back to it this year? Potentially.
Most of my time since last October has been spent visiting my Friendly Local Game Shop and the Friendly Local Game Cafe attached to it to play TTPRGs with strangers! I posted some time ago about approaching this hobby as a person with anxiety and, let me tell you, it was fucking rough.
BUT!
I have met a ton of great folks since I started going to the FLGS/C and even started running my own games. They are a supportive bunch and I am so happy to play at their tables and have them at mine. I feel welcome in this community and that is something I very much appreciate. The anxiety that has been such a hindrance to me for so long is becoming less and less an of issue every day.
No, the real issue is how many games I am playing and running these days. I am afraid I may have approached this in the same way my dad taught me how to swim in the redneck days of yore: I have thrown myself out the boat without a life jacket.
Here’s what I am playing these days:
Mythic Bastionland - Frankly, the best version of Bastionland.
Dolmenwood - The fear of death is real, but I am a baaahdass goat knight so whatevs.
Black Powder & Brimstone - I’m a witch who is really only effective when murdering people via self-harm and I couldn’t be happier.
Delta Green - Perhaps my favorite TTRPG.
Pirate Borg - The best of the borgs.
The One Ring - Certified LotR hater, but I’m digging it. Will forever hold a grudge against it for making me add up a handful of dice. Some of us math bad, okay?
Brindlewood Bay - I’m a birdwatching biker granny and possibly the real DB Cooper.
Coriolis: The Great Dark - Somehow most of the things is character says comes across as suggesting my crewmates do horrible things to people.
Here’s what I am running, what is coming soon, and what is probably on the horizon:
Metro :Otherscape - I decided to dip my toes in the water with a system I had no experience in and ended up running the starter scenario, Strings Attached, for three groups. Tried to be safe. Dove in. It has been an interesting experience seeing how different groups approach the scenario! Only one group actually made it through in one session, so the story is ongoing for two tables.
Trophy Dark - Upcoming. Again, running for three different groups. I didn’t expect so many people to be interested, but I’ll take it! I am looking forward to running more Trophy Dark and seeing how the folks at the FLGC handle it. Play to lose can be tricky, but if the players accept it, it can really sing.
Tokyo :Otherscape - Upcoming. Doing an actual one-shot for a single group. I am looking forward to running more :Otherscape, but I feel odd not running for multiple groups. Do… do I crave stress?
Trophy Gold - Horizon. I had originally planned to bring this to the FLGC first, but got sidetracked by my absolute adoration of :Otherscape. I think it could work really well as an open table, so I want to work towards making that happen.
Lex Arcana - Horizon. X-Files in an ancient Rome that never fell. Reading now. I am into it. I’m for sure getting it to a table sooner rather than later.
There, that is a hodge-podge of an update that covers the past year and present. A lot was left out, too much was said. Here’s hoping 2026 has less disassociation. I’ll try to stop in and give updates along the way.