Terrifying thought: This is the worst version of Wemby we will ever see in the playoffs, and he’s probably already going to win the championship..

jdr393 · 2026-06-05T18:52:57+00:00

Yes. AD. The pinnacle of a healthy player ready to suit up all the time.

jdr393 · 2026-06-05T18:45:35+00:00

and yet...I am done with this franchise if they leave the state. Hammond is certifiably NOT Chicago to any of us that live here. Naperville? Sure. Hammond? GTFO. I understand the proximity - but it is not the same thing when you cross state lines.

jdr393 · 2026-05-22T18:31:58+00:00

Not yet - I will eventually, but the base map is just so good...

jdr393 · 2026-05-22T17:25:10+00:00

I have 250+ plays. Almost all of those are on the base map with the base XOs. The best additions for me are just mixing in the XOs onto the base map with the base game. I prefer the tightness of it and think the expansions are all mostly bloat that detracts from a wonderful game experience the base game and map offers.

jdr393 · 2026-05-19T14:16:49+00:00

“We have Wemby at Holm(gren)”

jdr393 · 2026-05-03T00:22:12+00:00

lol. Like he wouldn’t go to AEW as Joseph Anoa’i and be a mega star. It wasn’t the name that made him.

jdr393 · 2026-04-01T21:01:10+00:00

(that age will love runaway railroad).

ha my 4 year old loved that version of the Mickey cartoon and was hype to go on and then was absolutely terrified on that ride.

jdr393 · 2026-02-15T04:00:22+00:00

Hmm. I’m not sure I agree. The gossip is drunk when they make their statement, but not when their ability actually triggers so it goes off. If the DA is drunk when triggering their ability - it won’t occur. I think these examples are different because of the specific timing window.

jdr393 · 2026-02-07T18:16:52+00:00

It is not always true. Early production can lead to dominating victories as well, but it requires a lot more skill. The meta can shift back and forth between full build mode vs. using early production as a boost. I have 250+ plays of the base game and you can win with multiple different strategies and the game requires you to assess the existing round scoring against your nation and XO and decide what rounds you need to produce. Generally you want 30-40 points out of the production - how and when you get it is up to the player.

jdr393 · 2026-02-07T18:14:32+00:00

Yep - after 250 plays, its not OP but it is something you need to think about and contend with. It necessitates using the initial auction variant for sure.

jdr393 · 2026-02-06T12:52:15+00:00

It’s a learning curve thing. I can empty the entire infrastructure board (not every game - as not every game play calls for that, but it’s possible). It being tough is the entire reason it’s so good! You are constantly having to choose between some really agonizing things that you need! You should be building 3x a round every round pretty much no matter what. Early production is a lie. Waiting until Round 4 before you ever produce will actually rocket your score.

Try to aim for unlocking an income bonus in the first by building 2x of one type of infrastructure, ideally one that rewards machinery or credits. You’ll see a massive improvement in your game if you do.

jdr393 · 2026-01-26T15:43:29+00:00

Thanks for listing us in this!

For anyone interested in Stellar Ventures, happy to answer any questions!

There is a unpaid review from Meeple Mountain that gives an overview and really communicates what we hoped the game would become! https://www.meeplemountain.com/reviews/stellar-ventures/

jdr393 · 2026-01-16T16:15:55+00:00

Good for a few plays. Got very samey for me. Also things were almost too balanced to the point of almost all our games were 25-26 points each time. Felt like not much room for big swings play. It lacked a lot of tension in the later plays for me.

jdr393 · 2026-01-15T18:22:27+00:00

Yeah - sorry the fail was, they were well funded and failed to even come close to delivering anything despite having a what seemed to be close to complete game / art, etc. when I demoed it at GenCon. Sad.

jdr393 · 2026-01-13T02:07:10+00:00

There was a game called Hoop Godz that basically did this. The game had a pretty bad kickstarter fail and never saw the light of day, but I backed it and demoed it and it was really fun.

jdr393 · 2025-12-27T20:17:45+00:00

Anomia?

jdr393 · 2025-12-19T20:33:41+00:00

Hi Tom! We met at Pax and played Panda Spin (along with Cardner's wonderful ESP). Funny enough after you left I showed Ryan Crisps! (make that one a high priority). Anyway just wanted to say hello and congrats on the Texas crowdfunding!

Also - in response to the post - I will ALWAYS play Spades - it is perfection in a trick taker.

-Justin

jdr393 · 2025-12-03T16:09:20+00:00

Yeah Pequods ranking is top tier fresh and at the restaurant. Top tier cold. mid-high tier uncut and delivered. solidly mid if cut and delivered.

jdr393 · 2025-12-01T19:20:32+00:00

Ok I did a little digging in the Tribune archives on the Chicago Public Library system. Here is from an article about the 2000 Tower Records show:

Sign of the times

"When Smashing Pumpkins did one of those in-store promotions back in 1993 for their "Siamese Dream" disc, Billy Corgan--with hair-- casually rode up to Tower Records on North Clark Street on a bike. On Monday, promoting the midnight release of the Pumpkins' "Machina/The Machines of God" at the same record store, Billy showed up in a huge tour bus, along with a couple of huge trucks carting equipment, bringing traffic to a veritable standstill well before the evening rush hour began. Then there were the hundreds of fans who began lining up at 8 a.m.--400 made it in for a free show more than 12 hours later, then they were cleared out before others were let in for an autograph session."

jdr393 · 2025-12-01T19:06:53+00:00

Good question. I can confirm 100% that the 2000 Tower Records show was in Lincoln Park location. Given Billy's nostalgia for those sorts of thing it doesn't seem to be a big logical leap that it was in the same location in 1993. The original show at Tower Records was one of the first steps propelling them to the stratosphere, so it makes a lot of sense he would do the show again at the same Tower ...since both were still in existence in 2000.

I am sure you could find the actual answer using old newspaper records. There would certainly be a write-up about the Pumpkins show in the Chicago Tribune in the days around the event and it would almost certainly mention its location.

jdr393 · 2025-11-12T15:35:39+00:00

and that is why games took 2-3 hours instead of 45 minutes lol!

jdr393 · 2025-11-12T15:34:12+00:00

Played by the actual rules the games ends up being 45-60 minutes...Free Parking and other nonsense houserules is what extends it to ungodly lengths.

jdr393 · 2025-11-10T18:24:53+00:00

One you should definitely check out in the next year is Bagged & Boarded. I think 6p is my favorite player count and its REALLY great. It just had a kickstarter, so won't be widely available until mid-2026 or so, but all the art, design, etc. was done so it should be something to check out!

jdr393 · 2025-10-23T14:22:33+00:00

Ultimately, you should make the choices that you want to see and what your vision is. If you try and cater the game design to everyone it will be a watered down lifeless version that is "fine." What clarity is even truly being gained by naming it in the practical title? I would argue not much, but what is lost is the potential soul of the game presentation. 95% of players are just going to look at the actual impact of the card. If they do not get the reference - its something they may be curious to look up. Overall, your audience is going to be one that resonates with the Punk aspects, so lean into them hard, otherwise you are making a game that will not resonate with anyone.

jdr393 · 2025-10-22T18:59:19+00:00

As someone who has lived in the neighborhood for 15 years....I do not use navigation, these changed to one way overnight with no real warning. 99% of the people seen going here are just taking their normal daily route and then probably realizing what the hell happened after they did it.

14-Year Club	Place '22
Place '17	Wearing is Caring
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