"The secret, I don't know... I guess you've just gotta find something you love to do and then... do it for the rest of your life. For me, it's going to Rushmore." — Max Fisher, Rushmore (1998)

Why 31 Blitz?

Just for the record: I didn't design this game.

In fact, it isn't particularly popular on BGG. The prototype cards were generated with ChatGPT. So what exactly am I contributing here?

Mostly, I'm curating, refining, and sharing a game that I think deserves more attention.

I first played 31 Blitz with a group of Austrians in a hostel bar a few years ago. During that trip, I spent a surprising amount of time playing card games in hostel bars. Looking back, it's funny how universal that experience seems to be: card games, pool, and conversations with complete strangers.

Because of that experience, I was surprised to see that 31 Blitz wasn't rated more highly on BGG. I had a great time with it and kept thinking about it years later. I've been looking for a small-box card game project, and this feels like a perfect fit—especially if I can pair it with high-quality card art, a nice box, and, if everything goes according to plan, metal coins.

What Did I Do?

The first thing I needed was a good-looking deck.

For the prototype, I used ChatGPT to help generate artwork. Before anyone panics, this isn't production artwork—it's strictly for prototyping.

I started with a simple prompt:

I want some images of German-suited playing cards for a new card game I'm designing. Help me create a prompt to create them. If possible I want it to generate 36 images for the card faces as well as a card back.

After a few rounds of follow-up questions and refinements, I ended up with a surprisingly solid prompt. I opened a new chat, generated the images, and was impressed by the results.

There were a few inconsistencies. For example, the face cards didn't include suit symbols, so I had to add those manually in InDesign. I also generated a card back and a coin design. Once everything was assembled, the prototype started to look surprisingly professional.

Rules

I already had a working rule sheet, but I felt there was room for improvement.

So yes—I fed it into ChatGPT and asked for editing suggestions. I reviewed the feedback, kept what I liked, ignored what I didn't, and gradually refined the rules.

Eventually, I asked it to make the rules "more compact and easier to understand," which is something I think many modern rulebooks could improve.

A few weeks ago, I played a game called Animal Kingdom at a gaming convention in Cheyenne. One section explained how to resolve a tie in an area-majority contest. The rule itself was incredibly simple: each player reveals a card, the highest card wins, and a 1 beats an 8. Yet that explanation somehow stretched across an entire page.

Why?

Another example is 1846: The Race for the Midwest (2005). To be fair, it's a complex game. But the rulebook consists of 24 pages of dense text with very few illustrations. Surely there are better ways to teach a game than asking players to work through a miniature textbook.

Good rules don't just explain a game—they teach it efficiently.

That's the philosophy I tried to follow while editing 31 Blitz. The goal wasn't to change the game, but to make learning it as painless as possible. I think the final rule sheet turned out excellent.

Tabletop Simulator

I also created a Tabletop Simulator version of the game.

There isn't much to say about that process. I exported the card sheets, uploaded everything into a table, added the coins, and made sure the game was playable online.

Simple, but effective.

"If there's nothing wrong with me... maybe there's something wrong with the universe." - Doctor Beverly Crusher

This past week, I designed a new game titled Rust. The current version is completely unplaytested, so I’m sure there’s still a lot that needs to be adjusted and tweaked. That said, I’ve gotten to the point where I can usually tell if a game will at least function on a basic level.

The first game I ever designed was called Settlers of the Cosmos. It was supposed to be Cosmic Encounter, but with a map and resources. Needless to say, it was completely busted and barely functioned. My second game, Gorbino’s Quest, actually worked, but it had problems of its own — mainly that games could last around four hours. Over time, though, I managed to refine it into something I was genuinely proud of.

RIP Gorbino’s Quest. It’s still disappointing that I couldn’t get it published or run a successful Kickstarter for it.

Where Rust Is — And Where It Needs to Go

Right now, I have a board that includes a map, stock market, season tracker, and a few other systems. I’ve made 50 mine cards, 52 train cards across seven train types, some tokens, a rough prototype box, and a set of reference cards that roughly contain the rules. I also uploaded everything to Tabletop Simulator.

The next step is getting playtests in and seeing if the game actually works. I need to adjust costs, rebalance the stock market, tweak how stock values change, and probably rework a few other systems as well. I’m also considering making a larger version of the game with 100+ mines and a corresponding expanded map.

I also need to think about whether the stock market should behave differently depending on player count. Honestly, after typing all this out, I can already see there’s still a lot that needs tweaking.

Once the gameplay reaches a good place, I can hire a map artist and graphic designer to make everything look professional.

After that, I could start building interest for a Kickstarter campaign. Maybe I’d run ads, attend conventions, and hand out business cards with links to a pre-launch page. Marketing and drawing attention to my games has always been the part I struggle with most.

Then, after all of that — and ideally after building a decent following for the pre-launch page — I could finally launch the Kickstarter. Of course, I’d still need to actually make the Kickstarter page too.

I think that’s the plan, anyway. But who knows if I’ll even want to go through with publishing it. It’s a lot of work.

edited by chatGPT

DUNE

In the DUNE universe—tens of thousands of years before the events of the books—humanity fought a Terminator/Matrix-like war against robots and machines. After their victory, “thinking machines” were outlawed for two reasons:

1. They had enslaved parts of humanity.
2. They had taken away the most essential human trait—the ability to think and reason for ourselves.

Back to Reality

Fast forward to today: something eerily similar feels like it’s happening. Humanity has created large language models (LLMs), and they’re getting better fast. When ChatGPT first appeared, it was decent at conversation, okay at generating images, but not very good at fantasy writing or code. Now, after years of training and development, it’s clear those weaknesses are shrinking.

For example, I recently asked GitHub Copilot Agent to build me a simple Pokémon API application. I’d tried something similar with Claude before, but the results were disappointing. This time, Copilot Agent nailed it—so well, in fact, that it left me a little uneasy about the future of software development. Of course, Pokémon APIs are extremely well-documented, with countless student projects on GitHub, so it had a clear advantage in that case.

Are We Screwed?

That seems to be the key: if a task is well-defined and well-documented, AI performs impressively. But when the task is open-ended, creative, or ambiguous, AI still tends to produce… slop. Examples of this include AI generated videos, AI assisted video games development, creative writing (this is why AI novels seem super generic and fan-fic-esque).

In conclusion: LLMs excel at structured, well-defined work—but they still fall flat when it comes to true creativity. And that’s why there will always be creative work left for humans.

Oh look what the cat dragged in...

RIP Gorbino’s Quest

Hey, it’s been a while. Sadly, Gorbino’s Quest didn’t meet its Kickstarter goal. I don’t think it will ever see the light of day, but I still want to design games in the future.

I’ve been tinkering with a train game inspired by Silverton, currently titled Rust. Only time will tell if it grows into a full project or ends up in the ever-growing “abandoned ideas” pile.

style.css

If things look a little different around here, that’s because I added the Catppuccin color palette to the site. It brings a lot more vibrancy while also tying everything together with a consistent look.

Coding Temple

Unfortunately—or maybe fortunately, depending on how you look at it—it’s time to “get a real job.” After a string of failed interviews and plenty of ghosting (a familiar story for anyone job-hunting in today’s economy), I signed up for a coding bootcamp called Coding Temple.

Back in 2020, I went through a different bootcamp, Revature. That led to a role at Infosys, where I was contracted to Nike to work on their warehouse management system. I spent about a year and a half there before moving back home. With some savings and free time, I dove headfirst into board games and board game design—that’s how Gorbino’s Quest came to be.

Fast forward to today, and I’m cruising through the Coding Temple curriculum thanks to my prior experience. Fingers crossed it leads to a fulfilling career.

"Daddy, what do taxes pay for?" "Why, everything! Policemen, trees, sunshine-- and let's not forget the folks who just don't feel like working, God bless 'em!"

Next Steps

We've made incredible progress this past year and are finally ready to relaunch in late August or early September. The files have been sent to Magicraft, and I have approved the e-proofs. I'll attach these below, though the final versions will include some minor changes, such as adding more cards to fill the pages and updating the rules and box to reflect these additions.

Reviewers and Ads

So far, we have one confirmed influencer, BoardGameTikTok, recommended by Joe and Friendly Bee Company. He has a significant following and will be a great asset to our campaign. However, I believe we need a second paid reviewer and possibly one or two free ones. The campaign will run throughout September, with the BoardGameTikTok video being released at launch and the second reviewer's video being released as soon as possible afterward. Given the time it can take to produce these videos, it might be the end of September before it's ready. Although I don't want to run ads, it's a possibility. If we do, we will feature BoardGameTikTok's video.

Board

Box

Cards

Punchboard

Rulebook

patch 2.234, long time since my last update

Board

Cards

Rules

For the latest rules, click here

Play Testing

We've hit over 30 playtests now, with only a handful under the current rule set, but the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive!

Play Gorbino's Quest on Tabletop Simulator today & thoughts on relaunch

Tabletop Simulator

🔗 TableTop Simulator

Failed Kickstarter and Plans for a Relaunch

I initiated a Kickstarter campaign with an ambitious goal of $49,000, but the experience revealed areas that still require refinement in Gorbino's Quest. Looking ahead, I am considering a relaunch, tentatively scheduled for January, with a more modest funding target. The plan is to distribute additional copies through platforms such as Amazon or other board game websites. Despite the challenges encountered during the board game development process, I remain committed to the project. Recently, a new game concept, tentatively titled Spirit Bath House, took shape. Inspired by the bathhouse in Spirited Away, this game will feature worker placement mechanics with influences from Viticulture and Caylus. Players will be tasked with giving the correct baths to spirits, potentially involving the creation of specific bath tokens using various resources. Additionally, the game will incorporate the construction of buildings that other players can utilize, akin to Caylus. One of the primary actions will involve fulfilling orders with bath tokens, resembling the mechanics found in Viticulture. While I'm enthusiastic about this new idea, I plan to keep it on the back burner until Gorbino's Quest reaches completion.

Embark on a journey behind the scenes of Gorbino's Quest and explore the meticulous process of designing captivating cards.

Acquiring Artistic Brilliance

To breathe life into Gorbino's Quest, I scoured Reddit's Starving Artist forum, a haven for creative minds. Initially drawn to the enchanting watercolors of Shawnasaur (Instagram), budget constraints led me to discover the exceptional talents of Amanda Corona (Instagram) and Artistic Yomii (ArtStation). Over a few weeks, these artists masterfully crafted 48 pieces of art, bringing the game to life.

Crafting Card Perfection

PandaGM recommended Adobe InDesign for finalizing card files. Despite a fleeting attempt to circumvent Adobe's subscription fees, I ultimately succumbed and subscribed for a brief period. InDesign proved to be an intuitive and enjoyable tool, culminating in a satisfying design for all the cards. Here's a glimpse of one:

Charting the Course Ahead

As I prepare for the Kickstarter launch, a 'ToDo' list becomes my guiding star. Here's a snapshot of the essential tasks:

Next Steps Checklist

1. Create BGG page
2. Finalize board with help of artist
3. Finalize box art with help of artist
4. Finalize punchboard art
5. Use blender to render box art
6. Finalize Kickstarter page details
7. Create a beautiful graphics for KS page
8. Setup banking details
9. Launch Kickstarter

Maybe Should Do List

• Find free reviewers for game
• Find paid reviewers for game
• Advertise
• Play test a few more times and tweak rules

With these lists in hand, I'm ready to navigate the exciting path ahead, ensuring Gorbino's Quest receives the attention it deserves. Stay tuned for more updates on this epic adventure!

One night in Bangkok and the world's your oyster

Part 1: Munich

September 1st: Arrived, found hostel, drank with some people, karaoke

2nd: BMW museum with Indian guy, learned card game, karaoke

3rd: Went to Olympus park alone, lazy day

4: German science museum (Deutsches Museum), learned other card games

5: Partied at hostel, Irish pub, dance club with Mia and Isabella, spent too much money

6: Laundry, slept, traveled to fathers house

7: Pilgrimage day 1, slept on farm

8: Pilgrimage day 2, got to Church of Our Lady Altötting, Germany, could not walk at end, limped everywhere

9: Summer fest with church

10: Church, let feet heal (were full of blisters from Pilgrimage)

Part 2: Prague

11: Traveled to Prague

12: Prague National museum - Praha - Národní muzeum

13: Walked around Prague castle, took 35mm photos, drank with some polish people and smoked hookah

14: Hostel booked for Vienna, train booked, Last night in Prague

Part 3: Vienna

15: Train to Vienna, was with two French chicks, one was a midwife, the other a doctor. Asked them some questions about birth, but stopped because I was embarrassed. Went to hostel bar, met a few people, went to a club, felt guilty after because I spent about 100 euros during the night.

16: Was sad about spending so much the night before so I stayed in bed until 2 the next day. Went to common area around 6. Netherlands girl (berberrrtje) sat next to me, 4 others joined (Canadian Girl, Australian that had been traveling 7 months). Started drinking around 9, went to bed around 1. Met the same people from the night before.

17: Wandered Vienna, took pictures, drank about 4 beers that night, won pool for the 3rd night in a row

18: Made travel reservations during the day, at night wandered for a few hours, found a chess club by the side of a subway, played against a New Yorker who kicked my butt (in chess).

Part 4: Budapest

19: Traveled to Budapest, ate some weird fried pizza called a Lagos, didn't like it. Played pool with some pros, played werewolf with some ceramics students

20: Took pictures of women with my 35mm camera all day, looked at backpacks since the strap on mine broke, tried to play pool with some random, some gypsies tried to sell me a (lady), saw some girls I met in Vienna (Mia and Isabella) went to a German bar, met a girl and two guys, played chess with one of them, he had his own board and I lost, girl wrote “do you want me to get them to leave?” On a piece of paper. Two more (ladies) tried to get with me.

21: Walked around around the city and took photos during the day. Ate cheaply. Didn’t drink because I had so much the night before.

22: Went to cafe_Analóg and developed my 3 rolls of film. At night drank with like 3 groups of people in the ruins bar. At the end of the night they started kissing and I felt singled out, lonely and depressed.

23: Didn’t feel like doing anything but my roommates invited me to the hot baths. It was super relaxing. Switching between the hottest and coldest bath felt great. Went to the rooftop bath and fell asleep in it. Breathtaking view. Afterwards we went to a fancy restaurant.

24: About ready to go home, just spent the day eating at restaurants and cafes before my overnight bus trip back to Munich

25: Got to the hotel, slept for an hour, ate at durum with some German guys, went to the Wombat hostel for one more night

26: Plane back at 10am

or... how I designed this website in less than a week

Prerequisites

Before diving into the development process, ensure you have a GitHub account for version control and a domain registration account with a service like Google Domains or GoDaddy.

Essential Tools

Make use of GitHub Desktop, a vital tool that simplifies tasks such as pushing, pulling, and committing code changes. For code editing, leverage the capabilities of Visual Studio Code (VScode).

Simplified Workflow

Here's an overview of the steps involved in creating the website without delving too deep into each one.

1. Select a Bootstrap Template: Begin by obtaining a Twitter Bootstrap template. I personally chose one from bootstrapmade.com, but you can find numerous options by searching "bootstrap templates" or "twitter bootstrap templates." Opt for a template with a theme similar to what you have in mind. This template will serve as your starting point.
2. Create a Github Repository and clone it using Github Desktop. I used Github Desktops default location which was in documents folder.
3. Copy the template you downloaded to the base of the repo you just cloned.
4. Commit and push to origin using Github Desktop. Your website will now be saved to github. This may take a few minutes to take effect.
5. On github.com, click on your repo, go to settings >> Pages >> change your Source to main. It will now give a link to you site (example: https://joeyvigil.github.io/squeakincgames/). Video tutorial of this step
6. Purchase a domain through a domain service like Google Domains or GoDaddy. Configure the DNS settings accordingly. Video tutorial of this step
7. Employ VScode to edit and fine-tune your website. While this phase can be challenging, remember that resources like Chat GPT are available to assist you in generating content if you encounter difficulties.
8. Celebrate Your Success: With your website polished and ready, take a moment to celebrate your achievement in developing a functional website in such a short span of time.

By following this streamlined approach and using the recommended tools, you can efficiently create and deploy a website within a week. Remember that while speed is a priority, maintaining the quality and functionality of your website should not be compromised.

This was generated by chatGPT, I ended up not even using it

Welcome to the realm of Eldoria, a fantastical world where magic and mystery intertwine with the tapestry of reality. In the beginning, there was only the Void, a vast expanse of nothingness. But from the depths of the Void emerged the First Deities, ancient and powerful beings of pure energy and consciousness. These Deities were the architects of creation, and they sought to shape a world of wonder and beauty.

The First Deities were three in number:

Aetharion, the Shaper

Aetharion possessed the gift of creation and imagination. He shaped the lands, mountains, and oceans. Every landscape was a canvas for his artistic prowess, and his touch brought life and form to the once-empty realm.

Lunara, the Enchantress

Lunara was the embodiment of magic and mysticism. She wove the threads of arcane energy throughout Eldoria, infusing it with the power of the elements and the weave of reality itself. Her presence granted the world its inherent magic.

Thaldir, the Guardian

Thaldir was the stalwart protector of all living things. He forged the laws of nature and established the balance between life and death. His watchful gaze ensured that harmony reigned within Eldoria.

Together, Aetharion, Lunara, and Thaldir brought the world into existence. Aetharion's creative fervor shaped the continents and landscapes, while Lunara's arcane energy gave birth to the skies, the seas, and the magical currents that flowed through the world. Thaldir's guardianship ensured that life flourished, and death played its role in the eternal cycle.

The First Deities willed it to fill the world with beings to appreciate its beauty and to safeguard its wonders. So, they crafted the mortal races:

Elvenkind

Born from the whispers of Lunara's magic, the Elves were bestowed with longevity and an innate connection to the arcane forces. They became scholars and keepers of ancient knowledge.

Dwarvenkind

Forged from the heart of the mountains by Aetharion's careful hands, the Dwarves were blessed with craftsmanship and determination. They mined precious gems and metals, crafting magnificent cities below the earth.

Humanity

Thaldir breathed life into the Humans, granting them adaptability and the desire to explore. They settled across the world, forming diverse cultures and societies.

Goblinkind

From the mischievous spark of Aetharion's imagination, Goblins emerged as a race of clever and curious beings. Small in stature but big in heart, Goblins possess a natural affinity for invention and ingenuity. Their towns, nestled in the heart of forests and among the roots of towering trees, are bustling hubs of activity where gadgets and contraptions are crafted.

Orcish

Orcs, forged in the heat of Thaldir's protective spirit, are a rugged and resilient race. Though often misunderstood as brutish warriors, Orcs are fiercely loyal to their clans and possess a deep connection to the land. They have a unique bond with nature and hold a reverence for the spirits of the earth, often practicing shamanic rituals to communicate with these ancient forces.

Halflings

Halflings, born of Lunara's whimsy and Aetharion's warmth, are a small, joyful, and light-hearted race. They embrace life with open hearts and find pleasure in the simple pleasures of good food, music, and camaraderie. Despite their diminutive size, Halflings possess a remarkable courage and an adventurous spirit that often leads them on journeys to discover new lands and cultures.

But, as with all tales of creation, there must also be a force of darkness to challenge the light. From the depths of the Void, a shadowy being known as Zarothar emerged. Zarothar rejected the harmony of creation and sought to plunge Eldoria into chaos. A great struggle between the First Deities and Zarothar ensued, resulting in a cataclysmic clash of energies.

In the end, the First Deities managed to seal Zarothar within a prison of pure magic, bound by the combined strength of Aetharion, Lunara, and Thaldir. But the battle left its scars on the world, giving rise to regions of wild magic and mystical anomalies.

To this day, the First Deities watch over Eldoria, ensuring that the balance is maintained. The mortal races flourish, discovering ancient artifacts of power left behind by their divine creators. Yet, whispers in the wind speak of Zarothar's impending return, and heroes must rise to protect the realm from the looming darkness.

And so, the saga of Eldoria continues, a tale of creation, magic, and the eternal struggle between light and shadow.