I watched the quicklook for DeathSpank and it looks fun - sort of a Diablo/Torchlight-lite. I might get it if it goes on sale, but I'm buried in those damn Steam games.

Might go see Inception tonight, glad you said it's good!

Played a bunch of games of Lost Cities with my mom last night and she loved it, ha. I love how some of these board/card games are SO simple, but don't make you feel like you're playing a kids game or something.

Last night I picked up DeathSpank for XBLA and I'm totally hooked. Normally I'd hold off since I just got all those games on Steam, but this is Ron Gilbert's first game since he did Monkey Island I and II back in the day, so this was sort of a no-brainer. Much different type of game (hack n' slash) but the writing is so good.

Tonight I caught Inception. Really good. A little long, but in more of an epic way than a bad way.

| MAN

-con.

Yes -- maybe it's just the stress of the current days talking, but I would strongly like to do a Man-Con this year. Probably shortly after Labor Day, when hotel rates are a bit cheaper, but the weather is still decent.

What I'd actually like to do if we do this is continue the 4th ed D&D game we played at the last two Man-Cons. Not to spoil anything, but I think the idea is sort of cool, and one that would keep us going with our episodic play style for at least 25 more years of Man-Con, so right after everybody's kids have graduated college, right before Mike and Aaron die of old age.

As of tomorrow, I've got 11 business days left before my "layoff"/departmental transfer, and 16 days until the wedding. Aieee!

Check this site out:
http://www.thegamecrafter.com/
It's sorta like Cafe Press, but instead of making shirts, you make your own board games. Kinda ridiculous but kinda cool too. I'm roughly trying to work out an idea I have (it's about Mystery Cults in Rome!) so if it comes together I'm gonna make it through these guys and force you all to play it.

Edit: For Jael's birthday next year, I propose we colab on the rules to Drug Wars 2011 and then present it to him as a group gift. THAT would be hot.

| Awww :(

I was searching the itunes store for podcasts about boardgaming and ours comes up :( the memories!

| ManCon

Good to hear from you Myke. I have gone ahead and fertilized all of your potted plants. The place kind of smells, but that's because I ate Indian food the night before fertilizing. Also, you will be happy to know your water bill will be real low since I have been bringing all of my own body fluids for watering your plants.

We definitely need a ManCon this summer/fall. I suspect it would have to be at least after jr0n's wedding, situated outside of the Honeymoon and after Myke's successful return from fingering Mt. Vesuvius. jr0n, I forget, when are you and the special lady friend going on the Honey Moon?

D>M>

"...And Blankets"

Glad the murder-clans haven't gotten you yet, Mike! Beware the Black Hand. I got a bunch of my family into euro-games recently and they love it. I just bought a weird one called DiXit, so interested in seeing how it plays out - unfortunately all my extended play-worthy family have left for the summer :( Any cons, man- or otherwise coming up?

| Greetings from Pompeii

Hello Action Team! I've always wanted to post a message from Pompeii, and now I finally get the chance. The season is going well, we have spent much time processing and analysing our results from last year in the hopes of getting the material ready for publication before we leave. I keep trying to write another line, but it all sounds uninteresting... so maybe I'll just have to tell you all in person. One of the team sayings is "aaand blankets..." which I thought might amuse at least some of you. Oh, and we're playing Incan gold, and some other Euro-type games that Eric would hate.
See you soon.
M