Overland Gamer

05/31/2026

True. So very true.

Hobbyists explain why they love tabletop games so much during the 2026 UK Game Expo in Birmingham.

05/26/2026

I'm doing more research into “games doing more good” and I thought why not share what I find.

Fallout For Hope Charity Initiative (https://lnkd.in/d_kHmt6V)

I am a huge Fallout fan. The video games, the worldbuilding, the tabletop RPG, the board games, the strange mix of retrofuturism, survival, satire, and found-family storytelling. Fallout has always been one of those settings that sticks with me.

I'm also a Dad. I'm thankful and prayerful that every day my son stays healthy. I'm prayerful for those who have not been as lucky and need the resources of medical professionals to help them through tough times. Folks like St. Jude Children's Research Hospital are so valuable to those who need them.

Which is why Fallout For Hope stands out so much.

On the surface, Fallout is about surviving the wasteland. It is about broken worlds, hard choices, strange communities, and people trying to build something meaningful out of what remains.

Fallout For Hope takes that spirit and turns it outward.

The initiative brings together Fallout fans, streamers, creators, volunteers, and community members to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and other causes. Since 2020, the community has raised over $1 million through charity events, streams, campaigns, and fandom-driven support.

That is powerful. Fallout For Hope shows what can happen when a community asks:
“What can we do with the love we already have for this game?”

That question matters. Game communities are already gathering spaces. We build friendships there. We tell stories there. We share jokes, characters, screenshots, campaigns, minis, bad dice rolls, and ridiculous moments that somehow become lifelong memories.

So when a community decides to point even a fraction of that energy toward helping others, it becomes something bigger than fandom. It becomes proof that games can create more than entertainment.

They can create belonging.
They can create momentum.
They can create hope.

In the case of Fallout For Hope, they can help support children and families through St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

As someone who loves Fallout, especially the tabletop RPG and board game side of the franchise, this is the kind of community impact that inspires me. It makes me think differently about what game design, game communities, and fandom spaces can do when they are built around generosity.

The wasteland may be fictional.
The good being done is not.



Do you know of a company, developer, organization, game stores that are doing more good in their community? Share them in the comments so I can add them to these posts.

05/14/2026

Today feels like the perfect day to talk about Ascension.

Ascension: Deckbuilding Game is one of those games that helped define modern deck-building for a lot of players. Fast turns, constant card combos, monster hunting, and that satisfying feeling of your deck finally “clicking” together.

Players: 1–4 players (higher with some expansions)
Play Time: Around 30–60 minutes
Mechanics: Deck-building, card drafting, tableau building, engine building, variable setup

One of the coolest things about Ascension is how many different versions and themes exist. From the original Chronicle of the Godslayer to Dreamscape, War of Shadows, and my personal favorite… Skulls & Sails

Skulls & Sails brings a pirate adventure vibe to the system with treasure, maps, and some really fun nautical fantasy flavor.

If you don’t have space on the table? There’s also a digital app version available on mobile and PC, making it super easy to get a quick game in during lunch breaks or late-night gaming sessions.

If you’ve played Ascension before:
What’s your favorite set or expansion?

04/30/2026

Are their game master workshops in your area that you participate in?
Would this kind of workshop be of interest to folks?

04/20/2026

Big thank you to all the game stores out there. Double thank you to the amazing owners and staff who keep them running.

You create spaces where communities grow, friendships form, and unforgettable moments happen around the table. Whether it’s teaching a new player, hosting events, or just recommending that *perfect* game. What you do matters more than you know.

We want to start exploring more of these incredible spaces and grow our local game store knowledge base.

Drop your friendly local game store in the comments!
There’s a good chance we’ll swing by. When we do, we might just add a new dice set to our dice wall.

Let’s celebrate the places that keep this hobby alive.

04/20/2026

Incredible... Not too far away from Lincoln... And my dice wall is longing for new friends.

04/20/2026

What did you play this weekend???

We played
Dark Gothic a deck builder from flying frog games
Arkham Horror LCG from Fantasy Flight Games
Trash card game (deck of cards game)
Call to Adventure Epic Origins chapters 1 and 2 of the campaign mode. From Brotherwise Games
Overboss also from Brotherwise Games.

What did you play???

04/12/2026

All set up for day 3 of Great Plains Gaming Project Great Plains Game Festival 2026.

Running demos of Market Fresh from Avalon Hill Games today. Special thanks to for allowing the opportunity.

04/11/2026

Goals

04/11/2026

Setting up for day 2 of Great Plains Gaming Project Great Plains Game Festival 2026 in Lincoln Nebraska. Running 2 games this weekend both from Avalon Hill.
Sanibel is a shell collecting game where 2-4 players walk along the beach collecting treasures to fill their bag. Each shell type scores differently, along with special tiles you can score from. The person with the biggest score at the end wins. From designer Elizabeth Hargrave.
Market Fresh will have 1-4 players running a market stall. Collect tile crates, stack them properly, and progressively score as you go. This one has great components and is easy to learn. From designers Michael Kiesling and Wolfgang Kramer.

Looking forward to another fantastic day at the convention.

Special thanks to and Avalon Hill for helping us get into the convention and letting us help you demo these games.