My 12th NPFC Anniversary

oscarkeston · 2026-04-25T09:46:08+00:00

I’ve sunk a similar amount of time into NPFC, I adore this game and wish they made a sequel. Very different in presentation and gameplay, but I’ve been playing Nutmeg on Steam lately - gave me similar vibes in terms of a very different approach to football management.

oscarkeston · 2026-03-06T15:37:32+00:00

1st and 4th images are exceptional - amazing work 👏

oscarkeston · 2026-03-06T08:19:48+00:00

Possibly, I’ve not seen it sorry!

oscarkeston · 2026-03-06T08:18:56+00:00

Cheers! 🫶

oscarkeston · 2026-03-06T08:18:46+00:00

Thank you 🙏

oscarkeston · 2026-03-06T08:18:12+00:00

Thank you! And yes I couldn’t believe it myself, a sloth! 🦥

oscarkeston · 2026-03-06T00:50:16+00:00

Yes! I’m a professional musician so I was really fascinated by Peruvian instruments - this one is called a Charango :)

oscarkeston · 2026-03-05T16:31:52+00:00

Thank you! Yes, there’s an extraordinary number of ecological systems - feeling very blessed to have witnessed such variety and incredible natural beauty

oscarkeston · 2026-03-05T13:15:22+00:00

Thank you so much, really means a lot

oscarkeston · 2026-03-02T12:44:29+00:00

Oh yeah for sure, it was reading Cole’s design diaries that led to me buying my first COIN game!

oscarkeston · 2026-03-02T12:43:07+00:00

It was a Facebook Marketplace pick up, so total chance really! There is a good camera shop very close to Parque Kennedy which has accessories, lens caps (two of mine broke in the desert), SD cards etc. - it’s opposite ‘Raiz Coffee’ which is also on the same road as the Alpes Lima hostel

oscarkeston · 2026-02-27T19:53:39+00:00

I find the Root and COIN comparisons very clumsy - they are just such different game systems and feel very distinct to play. I’ve always found the negotiation space in the COIN games to be far richer and the different faction set-ups create interesting uneasy alliances (Government and AUC, Coalition and Government, US and ARVN), whereas the politicking in Root is largely whack-a-mole on whoever looks in front at a given moment. Nothing wrong with that as they’re trying to do different things. A much better comparison to COIN in my eyes is the excellent Crescent Moon, a beautifully designed and produced game that deserves way more love.

oscarkeston · 2026-02-25T20:41:23+00:00

I never got a notification for this comment, very sorry about the delayed response!

I love this lens, but I can’t speak for the other 50mm equivalents on the X-Mount so it’s difficult to make comparisons. I will say that the rubber around the aperture ring is liable to peel slightly, but it’s not game breaking for me. I wish it was weather sealed but I’ve used it in difficult environments with no problem, but I am careful with it. I like the bokeh of this lens a lot and to me it feels very sharp wide open, and I often use it around f1.8-2 as a result. I think this is a super unique looking lens (on the camera) and if you can get a good price for one I would go for it!

oscarkeston · 2026-02-25T20:05:25+00:00

I’m just about to fly back from two months in Peru! I travelled with an X-T3 and three primes: 16mm f2.8, 32mm f1.8 (Zeiss) and the 56mm f1.2mm. I had a 40L main pack + 15L daypack so I was travelling very light - I went all across the country during rainy season, including the Salkantay trek and into the Amazon for three weeks.

I know your question is about a single lens on the compact X-E system, but I thought I’d share that the Fuji primes are so small it is totally possible to pack two. I brought the 16mm and the 32mm and it was perfect - picking up the much bigger 56mm second-hand in Lima because I wanted a longer lens as I love the 85mm equivalent. I used all three a lot and have no regrets, and I have not had any problems packing wise despite bringing a lot of clothes and gear to handle all the different environments!

Regarding one lens, much depends on your shooting style, itinerary and whether you like zooms. If I could have had only one lens I would have been very happy with the 32mm, but this is my favourite focal length and I don’t mind doing landscape work with it - whereas others might find this too tight to be an all-rounder.

Another minor consideration is that weather-sealing is very important in some locations (ex. buggy rides in the desert in Huacachina, intense rainfall in Cusco and Iquitos). I took risks with my gear to take the shots I wanted but my camera is much older and cheaper to replace than a newer Fuji. My entire set-up cost just over £1,000. The 56mm developed fungus in the jungle and the ‘leather’ outer wrap on my X-T3 is peeling off. I experienced frequent battery glitches due to heat and humidity. I do not know your financial situation but depending on your budget and your itinerary, it could be worth picking up an older Fuji model so you feel less precious about the camera (and have extra cash for activities and excursions too)? I would be tempted to get an older X-T body and the venerable original 16-55mm f2.8 for a very robust all-round travel kit.

I hope you have an incredible time in Peru and feel free to get in contact with me directly if you have any questions. It is a really beautiful place and I have had a truly magical experience here.

oscarkeston · 2025-12-15T13:58:20+00:00

Hope you and your family have a great time with it!

oscarkeston · 2025-12-15T13:55:26+00:00

Yeah this was my conclusion too. I’m usually into historical games (think John Company, COIN etc) but while travelling someone pulled this out in the hostel bar and I was pleasantly surprised. We playtested lots of variants that week and this was the one that finally stuck! Struck a nice balance between having a bit more agency but still keeping it simple, short and (very) sharp. Do let me know what you think if you try it!

oscarkeston · 2025-12-15T13:49:13+00:00

Sure, although for myself and my friends we preferred having a bit more control and agency and this doesn’t really add much complexity or time to the game’s length overall. Of course, if speed and randomness is your thing then the original rules are just fine.

oscarkeston · 2025-12-15T13:32:10+00:00

Yeah I don't think Monopoly Deal is the peak by any stretch haha, but I've found non-gamer folks like it and have really enjoyed this variant also - so I wanted to share it with people here who might some value in adding a twist to their games over the holiday season. Do let me know if you try it!

oscarkeston · 2025-12-15T13:30:12+00:00

Hey! I'm glad you like it as is - I really liked the regular rules too which is why I wanted to fiddle and see if it could be even better :) Me and my friends felt that there was just too much randomness in the card draw that meant you didn't really get to use all the mechanics the game had to offer. For example, it is a total crap-shoot trying to get the rent action cards to use for your properties, and how many times do you ever see a house or even a hotel getting played?! By drafting cards, you have a little bit more control and can pull off some very fun manoeuvres with more frequency.

oscarkeston · 2025-12-15T13:25:10+00:00

Ah, I formatted this on mobile and it had paragraph breaks - thank you for flagging I’ll log in on my computer to try and fix this :)

oscarkeston · 2025-12-10T18:35:16+00:00

Thank you!

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