CAR-PGa Newsletter January 2022

 CAR-PGa NEWSLETTER

Vol. 31, No. 1

An international network of researchers into all aspects of role-playing games

January 2022

David Millians, Editor

Paideia School, 1509 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, Georgia 30307 USA

millians.david@paideiaschool.org

LETTER FROM THE CHAIR

When the Board was discussing future guests for our virtual panels, we brainstormed who would be our dream interview. Steve Jackson was at the top of the list so, taking a chance, I sent him a note. Much to our delight, he accepted!

Steve Jackson needs no introduction, but if you're not familiar with his work, he's responsible for many, many tabletop games, including but not limited to GURPS, Car Wars, and Munchkin. He leads a 30-year-old company named after him, Steve Jackson Games. As I told him in the interview, Steve’s company is single-handedly responsible for over half of my childhood gaming. I suspect I’m not alone.  

I wrote for Pyramid Magazine's spinoff, D20 Weekly, many years ago, and the fact that Steve Jackson Games was willing to support the Open Game License movement (which was popular at the time) is emblematic of the company's philosophy as a whole. Steve knows how to capitalize quickly on trends and his commitment to transparency with the company’s stakeholder report demonstrates just how much the company cares about the industry. It's a tribute to his leadership and ability to pivot that the company is thriving despite the pandemic and supply chain disruptions.

In this interview, Steve begins and ends with one phrase: "We won!" We discuss everything from crowdfunding trends (Kickstarting Girl Genius, which made over ten times its goal) to the future of 3D-printing (Kickstarting STL Miniatures for Fantasy Trip), from the diversification of gamers to the diversification of gaming. Yes, we won ... so now what? In this video, Steve shares his wisdom on how far we've come and how far we have to go. 

Interviewing Steve is a fitting capstone to the year. Slowly but surely, the CAR-PGA is growing again, one interview at a time. Our YouTube subscribership numbers continue to increase, as does our LinkedIn group and Facebook page. And our interview with Steve was our most highly attended to date. I’m confident those numbers will only continue to grow in 2022. 

Speaking of growth, with our larger membership comes an opportunity to reset. Steve’s commitment to transparency with his company is an inspiring example for us to follow, and we’ll share our successes and failures in the next annual report at the end of January. On the heels of that report, we’ll hold a vote for both Board membership and the role of Committee Chair. If you are interested in holding either of those positions (and yes, that means potentially replacing me!) I encourage you to submit your name for consideration. At the very least, be sure to make your voice heard by voting.

But that’s all to come. For now, I wish you a safe and happy holiday. Recharge, relax, and get ready: we’ve set a high bar and I’m hoping in 2022 we’ll clear it!

Sincerely,

Mike Tresca

Committee Chair

NEW MATERIAL

FROM DAVID MILLIANS

Cohen, Akiva (2021 Dec 9) TSR v. Wizard of the Coast lolsuit. https://twitter.com/AkivaMCohen/status/1468990118287577091. Litigation Disaster Tour Guide examines the new TSR’s latest.

Girdwood, Andrew (2021 Dec 14) The other best selling fantasy RPGs of 2021. https://www.geeknative.com/137624/the-other-best-selling-fantasy-rpgs-of-2021. Based on sales.

Harford, Tim (2021 Dec 10) The life-saving magic of board games. https://www.ft.com/content/f5fe507c-e7d7-4a30-a15e-ff9ba5e543c0?fbclid=IwAR2Hlj8zokzQoO8YbP5RP_ejU7XrAddxMJvjhcBtIrH2UfMtfsuPQM7T-0c. Flow and mindfulness through games to endure Lockdown.

Hazel, Andy (2021 Nov 29) ‘A safe haven’: how Dungeons & Dragons is slaying social anxiety. https://www.theguardian.com/games/2021/nov/30/a-safe-haven-how-dungeons-dragons-is-slaying-social-anxiety. Post-lockdown anxiety amelioration and longer term possibilities.

Jarvis, Matt (2021 Dec 16) “A slap in the face”: Tabletop creators wrestle with the cost of departing Kickstarter in wake of crowdfunding site’s crypto plans. https://www.dicebreaker.com/companies/kickstarter/news/kickstarter-blockchain-crypto-reaction-designers-publishers. Concerns of creators and few alternatives.

Kasberg, Brad (2021 Dec 17) Reimagining the Myaamia Storytelling Tradition. https://beltmag.com/storytelling-reimagination-myaamia-story-dungeons-dragons. Using Dungeons & Dragons to explore one’s own people and traditions.

Livingstone, Ian (2021 Dec 31) Entertainment New Years Honors. https://twitter.com/ian_livingstone/status/1477051870090776576?fbclid=IwAR15UFkPssFEfk8ZzXm_uGo8y_nLwsjUpl-OYs5GHlhdZLgkwyMOQS674h8. Games Workshop’s Ian Livingstone knighted in the UK.

Partlow, Emma (2021 Dec 22) Dungeons & Dragons in 2021: Essential evolution makes the RPG bigger and better than ever, but work remains. https://www.dicebreaker.com/games/dungeons-and-dragons-5e/opinion/dnd-2021-in-review. Another year of virtual gaming and changing play culture by publishers and players.

Prewitt, Alex (2021 Dec 7) Role Players: Myles Garrett and His Teammates Have Embraced Dungeons and Dragons. https://www.si.com/nfl/2021/12/07/nfl-cleveland-browns-dungeons-and-dragons-daily-cover. D&D in the NFL.

Reid-Cleveland, Keith (2021 Dec 14) Dungeons & Dragons brought us closer when the world said to keep our distance. https://www.dicebreaker.com/games/dungeons-and-dragons-5e/opinion/d-and-d-brought-us-closer-when-world-said-keep-distance. #runDnD, BIPOC nerds and gamers, and making community in Covid Times.

© Copyright 2022 by the Committee for the Advancement of Role-Playing Games (CAR-PGa), ISSN 1071 7129. The CAR-PGa Newsletter is a monthly publication. For more information contact David Millians, Editor, Paideia School, 1509 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, Georgia 30307 USA, phone (404) 808-1070, fax (404) 377-3491, e-mail millians.david@paideiaschool.org. Back issues are available. Contributions of material from the membership are urged, and the byline is responsible for content. Deadline is the last weekday of the month, email preferred. Permission is granted to copy anything in the Newsletter, provided we get a credit line in the publication copying it, and it doesn't have someone else's copyright on it. Information, including details on joining CAR-PGa, can be obtained on the Internet at car-pga.org.