How’s the Kingdom kickstarter going? Pretty swimmingly, I must admit. But there’s still a long way to go and there’s still a lot of people out there who haven’t even heard of Kingdom. Back when I was getting ready to launch I debated what would make good stretch goals. I mean, yeah, I could make […]

If you want a game where you make a community together, fight over what it’s for and then (perhaps) weep as it burns to the ground, this is your lucky day, because the Kingdom kickstarter is live: If you like the game, or just like the idea of the game, spread the word. Tell your […]

“Hey, you haven’t talked about Kingdom in a while. What’s up with that?” Good question, caller. Imagine a cave. A dark cave. In a swamp. Lit only by the intermittent glow of fireflies. Now in the cave put a figure. A figure facing a wall of rock. Solid rock. Rock from the heart of the […]

She looked me dead in the eye and uttered two words: “Santa. Kingdom.” A lot of the time we play serious, challenging games; dramatic examinations of life, society and the human condition. But sometimes you know you need a break and some surefire ace-in-the-hole fun. And in a situation like that you might just decide […]

Calling all Kingdom playtesters! The playtest has been going great but I think we’re ready to wrap it up. Your deadline to send in feedback is December 20. I’ve gotten lots of feedback already. It’s sitting in a giant iron pot that hums and glows and occasionally shudders with the wails of the damned. It […]

After careful deliberation, painstaking revision, and piles of fantastic feedback from players around the globe, the new version of Kingdom is ready to come out and play. Is it hot? Yes it’s hot. But it needs playtesters, playtesters to slake its savage fires and tame its molten heart. That could be you. If you gave […]

Sneak peak from a Kingdom playset I’m working on: Starfall, weapons-smith to the galaxy. A hidden world-clave of scientists and technocrats, Starfall is the ultimate arms dealer to the planets. Humble and discrete, they are both corporation and independent nation-state, the kingmakers of all interplanetary affairs. Starfall’s weapons have no equal in known space. They […]

The one lesson I’ve learned from game design is that when I have doubts about a game I’m working on, sooner or later I should stop thinking and play it more. Sooner, actually. To wit: I had a pretty fantastic time playing Kingdom at GoPlayNW. Playing more immediately clarified some questions I had. Combined with […]

Kingdom playtest. Sanctuary of Arcadia, game 2. The elders want to revive the old tradition and send Heralds out into the world to do good works in the name of the sequestered wizards of Arcadia. Karadin comes from the outside world and knows it isn’t the idyllic haven the Arcadians are used to. It’s a […]

Only two more weeks to playtest Kingdom and send your feedback. Less than fourteen days for you to change the Kingdom or be changed by it. If you’re a playtester you should have already gotten an email with guidelines for providing feedback. I’ve already gotten some great feedback but I’m always greedy for more.

If you’re a Kingdom playtester, you should have already gotten the notice that we’re going to wrap up this phase of the playtest on June 6, six weeks from now. Make sure to send in your feedback before then. Until then your mission is clear: play Kingdom. Have fun.

After much internal play and revision, Kingdom is ready for the next step, and that next step is you taking it for a spin. The basics: it’s a role-playing game for 3-5 players. There’s no GM and no prep. You can play one-shot or multiple sessions. I’m looking for people who can play and provide […]

Groups are stronger than individuals. A Kingdom can accomplish things no individual could. But the Kingdom makes demands on you too. If you’re part of it, you’re pressured to do what it thinks is right. If you believe in what the Kingdom is doing, you’re fine. But if you don’t, or if the Kingdom starts […]

Just playtested the latest revision of the Kingdom rules. The result? Definite win. I am pleased. Which means it’s time for me to clean up the text and get it ready for the public playtest. I think all this fine-tuning is definitely going to make the playtest a lot more fruitful. It may even be […]

It has been decided. Internal playtesting of my next game starts in two weeks. Which is about time, since I started working on it in November. What can I say? Releasing Microscope has been very distracting. In a good way. More later.