Precinct Omega

Precinct Omega Podcast - Design Discussion #4 - Random Number Generators

I spend an hour mostly talking about dice.  I spend as little time as possible looking at the numbers and probability curves (but have to spend some time talking about them) and then go on to talk about how those apply, how dice can strip agency from players and how to avoid that happening.  I also do a big breakdown of what you can do with playing cards and why, sometimes, you shouldn't.

 

I touch upon a lot of games, including Under Falling Skies, Warhammer 40,000, Savage Worlds, Dystopian Wars, D&D in its various incarnations, Aristeia!, Infinity Defiance, and Malifaux.

 

These unscripted episodes get long.  Hope you're all cool with that.

Precinct Omega Miniatures News #29 - 2020 News Round-Up

In this episode, I do a round-up of news from 2020, looking at Asmodee Games's handling of Fantasy Flight, new edition releases of flagship games from GW and Corvus Belli, the end of a flagship game at Steamforged Games, big money still struggling to make an impact at Privateer Press and Para Bellum, and more besides.

 

This episode is dedicated to the memory of Walt Langhan and all our fellow wargamers who didn't make it to the end of 2020.

Precinct Omega Podcast - Design Discussion #3 - Cyberpunk

I TOTALLY FORGOT TO PUBLISH THIS EPISODE ON MONDAY!

So you get two episodes close together.  There'll be a new episode out on Monday with my round up of news from 2020.

 

*

 

After seeing all the hype about Cyberpunk 2077, and also watching the Tabletop Minions video about wargaming cyberpunk, I thought the subject deserved a deeper analysis of the challenges involved in designing tabletop cyberpunk experiences.

I also take the opportunity to wax just a little bit philosophical about the year we've all had, and why I think there's reason, on this day of all days, to be optimistic about the future.

 

Wishing all of my patrons a very merry Christmas, wherever you are.  This extends to those who've had to drop off for whatever reason.  I appreciated the support you felt you could give more than words can say.

 

The fact is that, despite - to some extent, one might say, because of - the chaos that gripped the world this year, Precinct Omega has enjoyed an incredibly successful year and at least some of the credit for that goes to you, my patrons.  Your support has kept up my morale, your feedback has encouraged my productivity and your ideas have stimulated my imagination.

 

I remain humbled and astonished that so many people are so interested in my work as to pay for the chance to see behind the curtain.

 

For those for whom 2020 has not been a good time, I wish you a far better year in 2021.  I, for one, am looking forward to the convention season that looks like it might still take place from mid-2021 onwards in the UK.  And if things continue to improve at the rate that they are, I have ambitions to visit the US in 2022 to get to see my American friends and supporters face-to-face.

Weekly Miniatures News #28 - The Tabletop/Digital Hybrid, with Dr Tomas Rawlings

Bernard's back!

This week's episode is a longer one, stretching out to just shy of an hour, but I was absolutely stoked to welcome Tomas Rawlings of Auroch Digital (and a patron), who brought me news of emerging devices for hybrid tabletop/digital gaming that I found absolutely fascinating, and it was terrific to get Tomas's insight into how these could transform our tabletop experience.  I start as a skeptic, but really found my enthusiasm growing as Tomas explained what could be done with products like these.

The news items this week covered:

The Square One 

The Gameboard-1 

The Tilt Five 

2D6 Wargaming and 6mm Sengoku Jidai 

GCT Studios, Bushido and The Brotherhood

Additional listening on the topics discussed can be found here:

Dr Alice Bunn talking about Mars Horizon and connecting games to the real world

 

More about Mars Horizon and real world space exploration

 

Digital Tabletop Fest

Weekly Miniatures News #27 - Adverts and Advertisers

First of all, my deepest apologies for my recent absence.  If you follow Precinct Omega on Facebook or are a Patron, then you'll be aware that I had some problems getting my hands on a part to effect a straightforward repair on my laptop.  But it arrived this morning, so I'm back, baby!

However, while things weren't working, after radio silence for a few weeks, I finally gave in and recorded an episode on my smartphone.  So, no Bernard.  No music.  No special effects.  Just me, talking.

This week's podcast looks at:

Takkure

Wargames Atlantic

Games Workshop (you don't need a link to them!)

and, later on,

Miniature Wargames magazine

Para Bellum Wargames 

 

This week, I'm thinking about advertising and how and why the world of miniatures wargames is forced to approach the issue differently to conventional manufacturers and retailers.

Precinct Omega Podcast - Games Design #2 - Rambling about Stats

Having forgotten to upload the script to the last design episode, I decided to embrace it, this week, and just no bother with the script.  The result is more rambling and less structured and possibly less coherent.  But hopefully still interesting.

Let me know in the comments: stick to unscripted (and maybe do a video version as well) or go back to scripting and the hours-long preparation each episode demands... Can you tell my heart's not in it?

Miniatures News #26 - Stuff vs Good Design

Apologies for the late posting.  I had a bit of a burn-out and needed to take a day off.  Back to normal service!

 

Back to the news, we look at

 

Knight Games's Harry Potter: Catch the Snitch Kickstarter 

Privateer Press's Warcaster: Neo-Mechanika: Collision Course Kickstarter 

Firelock Games's Blood & Plunder: Raise the Black Kickstarter 

 

and, because why stop when you're on a roll,

 

Blacklist Games's Dire Alliance: Horror Kickstarter 

 

And I take a look at why we are so often fooled into thinking that more "stuff" in a game makes it better, why that's probably not true and how players and designers can think differently about the integration of components with the gaming experience.

 

Incidentally, if you listen carefully, you'll hear my son's piano practice in the background.  I usually record while they're at school but, for some reason, this week my entire first recording was plagued with a mysterious background distortion, so I had to re-record it later.  There's also a door slam at some point.  I'm not sure, but it might have been the same son being told to stop playing the piano while his Dad is recording....

Precinct Omega Podcast - Games Design #1 - Conceptual & Physical Efficiencies

In the first in the new series, I start by talking about conceptual efficiencies and physical efficiencies - what are they, and why do large game companies like physical efficiencies so much?*

Link to the panel.

*Answer: because they make them more money.

Weekly Miniatures News #25 - Will Stargrave Be the Death of Me?

So Osprey announced that 2021 would see the release of Stargrave, the much-anticipated sci-fi twist on Joe McCullough's smash-hit, Frostgrave.

 

What does that mean for smaller indy publishers and their sci-fi skirmish properties like, y'know, Horizon Wars: Zero Dark?

Weekly Miniatures News #24 - 16th October 2020 - Will The Big Bang Theory Blow Up Knight Models?

Knight Models released the cast of The Big Bang Theory in their Justice League Halloween costumes this week, to an extremely polarized response.  But what lies behind this decision, and why is the anger of a good portion of their players so great?

 

In this episode, I look at the history of Knight Models, their relationships with their licensors, and their (lack of) good customer service, quality management and business strategy and ask if there's any way back for them.