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For anyone who knows me or follows this blog, it will be no secret that J.R.R. Tolkien’s work has had a certain impact on my interpretation of all things fantasy. There are many artists, writers and creators who have guided my own development as a fan but also as an artist and a storyteller in my own right. My journeys in the lands of Arda started around the age of 10 when I first read The Hobbit. I discovered a whole new world full of wonders, that I could vividly visualize through the words of the author. Yet, my vision...

Back in my early days of playing tabletop games, I always felt compelled to make custom character sheets for the various games we played. Without knowing it, I was taking my first steps into the world of graphic design. When I introduced D&D to my kids last summer, I designed custom character sheets that were designed to suit our needs and gave them a bit more room to accommodate their larger handwriting.Now, purely as a stylistic exercise, I have made character sheets for Adventures in Middle Earth which uses D&D's Open License to take us into the world of J.R.R....

Fearsome and often depicted as bringers of dread, dragons have played a big part in bringing fantasy worlds to life. From Tolkien’s Smaug to Dungeons & Dragons's chromatic and coloured species, they can be at the heart of an adventure or be used as looming threat that never comes into the limelight.But for many - myself included -, dragons have been, literally, the stuff of legends for much longer than fantasy has officially existed as a genre. They have been part of myth and folklore the world over, for centuries. Before concentrating on the European varieties and how they have...

Board games and role-playing games procure many benefits all while allowing us to spend quality time with friends and family. They can teach us many valuable skills as children and as adults: strategy, patience, math, logic, history, empathy and much more. They give us opportunity to connect through a shared interest, make new friends or learn more about them.

Sometimes we have time to indulge in these pastimes but no one to play with. Other hobbies can fill that gap. They exist to provide what some call “me time”. Reading, writing, running, gardening, painting are futile for some and necessary for others. Certain people like to look for additional hobbies that relate closely to their passion for games. Fun things that they can ultimately integrate into their gaming sessions. Things like painting small figurines with small brushes and lots of patience. It sounds challenging but it is also very relaxing!

A fancy name for something really quite straightforward. Yet, turn based strategy games often offer tremendous depth, all on the basis of simple rules. Two opponents face off, often with an equal number of pawns at their command. Taking turns, they each perform one move at a time. In the end, only one can be left standing. The premise and goal of turn based strategy games can vary but the core concept is identical in all its many forms. It has been around for centuries and has fascinated gamers for just as long. Let’s have a look at a few,...