The Robgoblin

The Kickstarter Fairies have been kind this month. Off the back of Kavango the other week, the latest arrival at the Goblinhole is Mycelia, the self-described Strategic Mushroom Game from Split Stone Games . We got the Deluxe edition, because we're suckers for upgraded stuff, and it's nice to support independent artists and designers. In technically unrelated news, the Common Descent podcast has also just begun a three-part series on the palaeontology and evolution of fungi. What can I say, goblins like mushrooms. Even if they are freaky and weird. Anyway, the Goblinette (Goblette?) and I have only played through once, but here's some initial impressions. First off the bat, the name has caused some confusion. Evidently, a large publisher created a game with the same name at virtually the same time. This is the moody, earthy independent game, not the light and whimsical family game. Apparently a good  game, just not the one I'm talking about. Anyway. This one hits you w...

I've been meaning to explore some thoughts about injuries, wounds, and character death in adventure games for some time. In doing so, I've inevitably had to tackle the subject of Hit Points. In the past, I've considered that obviously  hit points correspond to actual wounds. The key arguments here being the effect of armour, and the existence of poisoned weapons. This argument often goes hand-in-hand with the idea that a combat round is six to ten seconds, and that a single attack roll reflects a single swing of a sword. The contrary view is that obviously  hit points reflect endurance, stamina, and will to live. The arguments here being that no mere mortal could expect to endure multiple wounds, and that an 'attack' merely represents the cumulative effect of swordplay over a round lasting a minute or so. This was the interpretation favoured by Gary Gygax et al , seeking to replicate the duel between Robin Hood and the Sheriff of Nottingham in the 1938 Errol Flynn m...

What's been happening in the Goblinverse since I last wrote. Or at least, wrote like I meant it. New Acquisitions New board games this month: Mazaza Games 's Kavango, of which more later. New roleplaying games stuff: Ben Milton 's The Waking of Willoughby Hall Blackwell Games 's For Small Creatures Such As We, Delve, and Rise Lost Pages 's Beyond the Pale. MacGuffin & Company 's From Hell's Heart I Stab At Thee The Merry Mushmen 's Nightmare over Ragged Hollow, Raiding the Obsidian Keep, and The Horrendous Hounds of Hendenburgh, as well as Knock! #2 and #3. Twelve Pins Press 's The Witch Of The Westmoreland Yochai Gal 's Cairn 2e Players Guide.  Some or all of these may or may not be reviewed. Some may already be inspiring things. D&D 5th Edition Nominally, I've been playing in a monthly D&D 5e game at my local game store. I say 'nominally', because I've probably missed more sessions than I've attended. Not a terri...