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ConkliOdd – Donuts, Games and Life

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  • Pre Exhaustion

    We have a big week next week.  A lot of my year culminates in going to Gen Con, and participating like a madman there. I get to see friends, meet with companies and designers and this year I get to take my kids for the first time. I’ve known about this for a year and I’ve had all that time to plan ahead. Here we are, a few days from leaving, and I have pre-exhaustion.

    Pre-exhaustion is what I am calling the feeling of being exhausted ahead of this type of big event. So much planning and mental weight goes into making the schedule and making things make sense for any type of large scale activity. For me, I am combining this planning for Gen Con along with the large scale of things I’m doing for work. The amount of things to do in advance is staggering. For me and my mental state, they get overwhelming and hard to deal with.

    Part of the reason is that I can visualize all the different things needed to do in advance of next week. Preparing what I need to do at the event, preparing what needs to happen when I am away at work, preparing how my house will run while I am gone, and just preparing for afterward. My brain allows me to see all of these moving parts, which is an advantage. Seeing them though and knowing how much there is can make an overwhelming desire to go inward and mentally tire myself. 

    Having a mental spicy brain, I think I struggle more with this issue. I’ve been able to define it more as an adult, but just because I can sense it doesn’t mean I can instantly cure it. I am a Completionist so when there is things to do, I beat myself up not doing them. That’s not fair and I know it because I know there’s no way I can do everything. Unfortunately, it does not lessen the blows as they come in.

    That’s where I found myself last night. Feeling down by the number of things on the checklist. Those feelings manifested as a struggle to get started. I can have a to do list but being able to get to it feels like a mountain to climb. I’ve written previously that I always schedule a lot of things and take on a lot. This is where it becomes a downside, and I’ve actively worked on how that manifest in the space. I know my schedule is crazy, and in turn the to-do list is crazy.

    What did I do? I talked to my partner. I went to sleep. I got myself rested and try to work it out the next day. Sometimes that’s all you can do. Things will still be there when you wake up, but you’re taking time to get your body and brain in the best place. It can be to be prepared. Pre- exhaustion like any exhaustion means you must rest in order to make it decrease. You have to do the things that will help you energize, including sleep, eating right, and some time on other things. The following day as I eased back into it, I got a few things done, but then played D&D to recharge my brain. Knowing that helps me means I made it the priority.

    Being a planner means there can be a lot of exhaustion on any side. I recommend you take time for yourself to rest. Prioritizing and scheduling means prioritizing your rest and scheduling yourself time to do so. Plan that rest so you can check another box that makes you feel good. Now, if you excuse me, I have a lot to do.

  • Rating Logic – Game Edition

    Avoiding a “Catastrophe”

    Being in the space of reviewing and rating means that you have to have a system. There’s no basis of comparison without actually saying that you’re comparing things on a scale that makes sense. In the video format that is not easy. There is no simple system to show what you are thinking about games comparatively based on the software or the display models within the videos. I have struggled with this over the last couple years because of two personal views that conflict. First, my videos are positive focused, though offer constructive criticism based on gameplay and experience. Second, being honest and rating genuinely is important to me which can portray a negative. Where does that leave us?

    I’ve gotten to the point I’ve needed to decide exactly what goes into my ratings to provide an actual analysis alongside what I’m reviewing. There is a person for every game, and my videos keep that positive focus even when I share the rating. In this industry there are already rating systems established with the scale of 10, including BoardGameGeek and other sites. Going forward I’m going to start using that scale, but I’m going to quantify the complete understanding of how we got there. My brain and my need need this, and after deliberation I’ve come to a system that matches me. With that in mind, here is how games will rank with me when you hear me use something out of 10.

    1 Point Game Art- I know this is subjective to my own tastes, but I love many games based on the art.

    1 Point Components – Are a game’s components made well with quality and understandable?

    1 Point Container – Is a game organized well in its container and is the container something interesting? This includes putting it back after its first time being played.

    1 Point Instructions – Are the instructions laid out well for you to understand the game with plenty of examples or visuals? If you don’t need them, then this is not a factor, but if you find yourself needing them during the game, those instructions are truly important.

    1 Point Gameplay: Pickup Ability – There’s a lot to be said about a game you can pick up and play quickly. It means you and your group have a fun time faster. This does not mean mastering the game, but means getting the general sense quickly.

    1 Point Gameplay: Satisfaction – Does taking a move or making a step in the gameplay mechanics, feel satisfying? Making gameplay feel good translates across the experience. When playing with others I rely heavily on their experience in this as well since I know not every mechanic is made for me.

    1 Point Gameplay: Replay Value – Does the game make you want to come back and play it again? Can you come back and play it again without it feeling repetitive or stale?

    1 Point Solo or Group Feel – For solo games do you feel like you were able to experience the game well by yourself? For groups, did it make a good group dynamic at the table? Did people enjoy the game?

    1 Point Story and Lore – I’m a sucker for a game with a good story. Stories don’t have to be War and Peace, but something that makes me feel like there is a setting, a character, and a world fills my cup.

    1 Point Wow and Wonder – My last point goes to things that make me marvel at a game and what it’s doing. This can be an interesting topic, new gameplay mechanic, or tie in of some type. That “it” factor.

    This is how I’m going to lay out the numbers around my game reviews, and I feel content. Providing this explanation gives you a window to my process, and I hope you see it as straightforward and consistent. Consistency to me is key. I may use a half a point from time to time depending on what the game is but that will indicate maybe they tried but failed in that area, but at least I have a basis of where I’m coming from. 

    In the wrestling world, there is an example of where consistency stopped in a rating system. Dave Meltzer is known as one of the foremost wrestling reviewers and reporters. For many years, he gave matches up to five stars based on their quality. In the last 10 years, though he has broken his own system, giving certain things six and seven stars. This made the consistency of that system coming to question across so many different platforms and to me is a huge mistake. I came here to make a system and not break a system, and that’s what we are doing. Whether or not my rating matters to anyone else, I feel good about making it something for me.

  • Everywhere, All at Once, All of the Time

    Once Finger Lakes

    Today a friend told me “ how do you do it? It seems like a different city every time I talk to you.” In some ways this sounds like praise but in my mind it is a moment to take a break and really evaluate what the hell I’m doing. When that happens, you need to take a moment and think.

    Let’s dial it back a bit in time. Since working in admissions began, I found myself traveling often. I excelled at going places and seeing new people everywhere. Admissions work naturally comes with chaos, but I took to it like a duck to water. As an extreme extrovert, I find myself getting energy everywhereI go with new people and experiences. That has always translated in the videos I make as well as getting to know people over the Internet. 

    At the same time, I realize I had to become a creature of schedule. Without keeping a tight handle on where I was supposed to be at what times I would always find myself drifting or being late. Earlier in my professional and family life, I found myself regularly being the one referred to as the guy who is late. It always bothered me, but I really took control of it when entering enrollment work years ago. These days I have a finely tuned schedule, that also builds in extra time where I know things can go wrong. I know myself better and what it takes to keep me on time.

    I’m also the type of person that likes to go everywhere and do everything. One of my college professors when I graduated quoted saying that if he let me volunteer for everything then I would. I like to see things get done and I like to be a part of things, so I also have a scheduled it’s rather full. Growing as a professional has meant that I had to learn what to say no to, what to delegate, and what it took for me to get tasks done in measured time. It’s never an easy feat, and outside of the office factors with family and kids mean you have to be fluid. Though I do not aim to be perfect,I do feel better about the systems I have created, and the level I communicate in order to make a schedule work.

    With all this in mind this past weekend is a great example. I found myself for two days doing a wedding three hours from my house. I drove in the opposite direction to Massachusetts to pick up Scouts from Scout camp. I visited with my sister, niece and father four hours from home for a day. Are all of these easy? Not in the slightest. Do I feel good about all the things I did this weekend? 100%. I may be walking in on Monday morning tired but feeling fulfilled in many ways. 

    My partner says I run on a different speed than others and that’s what allows it. I’m not good at taking a break and relaxing either, so it comes with downsides. Part of my journey is to continue growing, and to take time and bask in accomplishment. To have a slow down when it’s needed. I’ve been able to find more of that and it feels nice. This is a reminder of what my schedule is and looks like to those who don’t live it. I don’t think I’d have it any other way.

  • Otter by Charming Games Collective Game Review

    Otter by Charming Games Collective

    This game came across our feed with Capybara Crush. We were immediately intrigued by the cuteness of the art and how it just seemed like something cozy. They were nice enough to send us a review copy and upon getting both games I could see the appeal.

    First, these are small and easy to travel boxes. For anybody looking to play these as a family, you could take them on trips and to different areas to play with a group. The art itself displays a cute family aesthetic that can draw different age players.

    I showed the games to my wife and she chose to play Otter along with a dinner date night together. There is just something nice about sitting down to play a game while snacking on charcuterie. 

    Opening up the game it’s easy to set up the organization on the table. By using the tops and bottoms of the otters they naturally set themselves up in the line the game wants you to make. The diagrams inside the instructions also allow you to understand the set up. 

    One area of improvement needed is the organization of the instruction manual. We did not find the manual easy to follow or in an order that was easy to explain. Since we were doing a dinner, we did not have a moment to upload the instructional video which I do believe would have done a better job setting us up to play. I feel like it’s something you wanna sit down with more to make sure you know the order of operations in the manual so you’ll understand the game.

    When it comes to playing, we had a lot of fun. The ability to string cards together at one time to empty your hand and try to get the lucky stone was a very good experience. The game offers a mandatory low tide and optional high tide game mechanic that you use to play. Doing it with two player we firmly believe you need to play with both modes for optimum gameplay. The low tide only mechanic works best with many different people around the table who can do things. Also, low tide only is good with more people since there would be less shuffling due the deck emptying with more draw.

    The mechanics of high tide also were interesting because it allowed you to change the otter conditions for placing cards with a risk versus reward by having to draw cards. It felt like both a nice strategic challenge as well as a way to have fun with the other players.

    We found ourselves playing a couple different times and I am sad to say I didn’t win a single one of them. It’s a running gag that my wife does not play games often but every time she does, she is automatically amazing. This was no different and she took to it very well. I enjoyed both the complexity as well as the fun that happened along with the play.

    I can see this being a great transition game but beyond that also just a fun repeatable experience.  There is a definite draw as a family title and is something we will get back to the table. Thank you to Charming Games Collective for providing a review copy. We cannot wait to see some Capybaras in action next.

    Otter on Backerkit

  • Dunkin Orange Vanilla Donuts Review

    You would think as a person who eats a lot of donuts that I spend a lot of time with Dunkin’ Donuts.

    There’s not really a joke there because you’d be absolutely correct. I spend way too much time on the yummy snacks and carbohydrates that I can get from there. In a professional sense though, I don’t record while being at Dunkin or other national chains very often. It’s because, as a national chain, they don’t need additional press when they’re just living their best donut life.

    However,  I do stop and review seasonal and new donuts when they come along. I think it’s important to recognize when national chains go in a new different direction in the name of progression. Sometimes they’re a win and sometimes they’re not, but I do acknowledge the effort to make a new and different donut experience.

    Today that brought me to a trip in the Adirondacks after conducting a wedding. I found myself at the Dunkin’ Donuts in Boonville, New York. While there I noted that we now have an orange, vanilla seasonal doughnut, new to the rotation. We could not help ourselves, but take a moment with it and see how it tasted.

    I primarily wanna talk about flavor, but of course you should know that a cake donut that has been sitting through the afternoon can get a bit dry. I try to give an allowances to that, but when I have help in my reviews from my children, they do not hold back the truth in their taste buds. This is not something done in error because also Dunkin sells drinks. Like a lot of them. A donut with a coffee is exactly the right decision in any of these situations.

    This cake doughnut had both glaze as well as a bit of drizzle on top to work with the orange colored and flavored donut inside. Orange vanilla gives a cream sickle flavor in any form, and that was the same in this donut. I found the flavor to be on point for what you’re looking for and how it’s named. These days I prefer something more complex with an orange flavor, but I do respect that for something that is set up to be made in massive amounts that it is something that probably remains consistent.

    All in all, I recommend this pastry over a few other flavors we have seen from Dunkin’ Donuts. Someday I will recount the vivid horror that was the watermelon doughnut, but that is a doughnut for another day. 

    Last thought; Dunkin if you are reading this, please get help to those folks working in Boonville. Tremendously pleasant and great to talk to you, though the three of them were totally out, paced by the high demand in that area. They were great, but you need more like them for that shift.

  • I Know How To Train My Dragon

    There is a tidal wave out there. From the depths of classical cartoon nostalgia comes a tsunami of live action remakes. From The Lion King to Little Mermaid you see cartoons of your past come to life. I say that tongue in cheeks since most of it is digital art everywhere, but I digress. As each of these has come along, I have found myself in a place and wonder if others are as well. I just don’t need to see it.

    I’m not necessarily offended by the idea of doing these. I may take a slight jab here and there, but overall, if the art can be done differently, then who is to say that is wrong to do. In the worst view these are totally a cash grab by studios where the art has been created mostly and they are only investing slightly in a way that is less risky for them. People will come to the box office based on nostalgia, as well as new fans who never got to see the older versions. That is where I found myself today sitting next to my daughter watching. “How To Train Your Dragon”. 

    I know how to train my Dragon. I’ve watched four films and several specials on the topic that had excellent storytelling and voice actors I felt connected with. I am not ashamed as a storyteller to say, I like cartoons and kids stories. There is a space for that feeling and how well done dialogue is woven for both adult and kids alike. Did I need to see this? No and I’m okay with that. Did my daughter want to relive her nostalgia and watch it with me? Yes and that really is the story.

    I’m not going to take away any amazing new story beats from this movie. I’m going to take away a memory of the laughter from my daughter, a few jabs with a couple comments, and handing over some Twizzlers with a smile. With my children being teenagers, it is time that I know that is fleeting and I have to savor while I have it. I may be busy and I may have a lot going on, but taking these moments to spend time is really matters. If live action cartoon movies take us there so be it. 

    I will say all the way back in the day that Gerard Butler was inspired casting and still is today. He is exactly the right fit in his role just as he was with his voice being used previously. Here is someone I look forward to seeing in any role to this day.

    Final note for live action: do not change a major story beat lightly. I did not make it to Lilo and Stitch but my children have described it to me. Knowing they changed some of it in the end it really did get to me. I’m not a fan. I cannot tell you how much I’m going to avoid that movie, but Ohana means Family and it means no one gets left behind.

  • Offshoots: Game Review

    A Tree of Balance

    I first encountered Offshoots walking around Origins Game Fair during the GAMA media event. There were many tables, but I found myself looking across them at what appeared to be a pretty tree built up. I was immediately drawn from far away and that pulled me right in.

    Walking up I found many other content creators I know we’re already experimenting with the game. Everyone was smiling as they placed leaves on the tree, trying hard not to let it fall. You could see the fun from everyone’s perspective and I could not wait to put on a leaf myself.

    Offshoots is a game of kinetic potential. Just like other dexterity games, such as Jenga or Kerplunk you are trying hard to put something in place without disturbing the entire system. What makes it stand out is that the tree that you are forming looks like something beautiful and a kind of natural. As you are balancing the tree, it’s filling out leaves much like a tree fills out leaves in a forest. It’s natural to make some things symmetrical and balanced as you put this together up against others building alongside you.

    The materials of this game also feel high-quality. A simple artistic design of leaves means meets the theme, and the tree trunk is three-dimensions of connections. I did not get a chance to confirm the material but it is something I think that will be sturdy through a lot of gameplay. Light enough to maneuver, but heavy enough to make you wary of where you will put a leaf.

    I also listened to other content creator friends talk about the possibilities for expansions or personalization. You can make a Christmas tree. You can add weighted apples. You can make a fall version. This is a game that will have tremendous possibilities in the future.

    Imagine walking into a bar and instead of somebody having Jenga out on a table you see this. It will immediately draw people in and that is the beauty of this game. It’s quick to pick up, easy to explain and has a straightforward goal to reach. Listening to its creator Dan, who was previously a toy designer, it makes perfect sense from their sense of artistic functional design. There is beauty in the simplicity, but also in the possibilities.

    I’m happy to report that according to Dan the game sold out at Origins game fair. I am not at all surprised and it is why I had to get myself a copy. I can see this game going some great places and I cannot wait for it to happen. Find out more about it and get your own copy at Offshootsgame.com (when it’s back in stock).

  • Live Your Summer

    Sunset

    When I look at the calendar, everything tells me that we are in the summer. We’ve hit the summer solstice, and if you look outward, the weather has gotten nicer. Beyond that the heat waves or a clear sign that boy it is the warm time with the sun. But many days I don’t feel like it’s summer.

    In our past, summer was marked by a genuine break of our regular schedule. I still see it now with my kids and what they are doing as they are now out of school. Taking that time for themselves to let all the stress of the entire school year leave them. For others that breaking schedule can come from a planned regular vacation. Many folks plan to go similar places or the same time of year each year to make a marked change to their schedule. In other industry tasks can slow down at certain points of the year which make you feel that level of break in your regular schedule.

    For me and what I am doing now in education, there is not a break. The cycle is year long. Students enter community college when it feels right to them and typically can enter right before the start of the term. This means each summer we are working hard with students right up until the time of the first day of classes. With that in mind, it’s hard to recoup and find that time to recharge going into the next year.

    Starting my third summer in this position, I find that it’s important to plan a real break even when it’s hard. I can feel guilty when I take time from work because I know all the things that need to be done. Beyond that complicated things happen when I’m not there. The wheel keeps spinning, even when we’re not there to help it turn. One of the first steps of avoiding being ground down by that wheel is to recognize that.

    My former father-in-law told me that his key to success was training people to do what his job was meant to do so that when anybody took time, including himself that there was a plan and people capable of success. That is the game plan to live your summer. Train or help the people around you to fill in the blanks. Fill in the blanks for them when you can. Recognize that some things cannot be filled and then have to wait for your return. Each of these might be a different balance based on where you work, but by doing this, you set yourself up to take a break. Live your summer no matter the time of year that is going to happen. Gain ground and recharge. Use it to put yourself in the position that you want to be to succeed when you come back. 

    I care a lot about avoiding burnout and making sure the people around me avoid it too. That includes anyone in the eyes of this space. Make a plan to live your summer and get help if it’s hard to do so.

  • What Makes A Good Donut?

    The Donut Pub NYC

    I have come across so many different types of donuts in my time I get the question often “What is a good donut ?”. From those who are getting gourmet delights to those who are grabbing a bag from the county fair, everyone has a perspective on what makes a good donut. Everything is to taste when it comes to food, and donuts are subjective and varied by those who make them, the regions they come from, and the nature of those eating them.

    This is what makes traveling for donuts exciting. You don’t know what a shop or a person specializes in until you get a chance to check their donuts out. You get to learn more from reviews like mine or from your friends who have been there, but your taste buds are your own. As an example, I am allergic to chocolate these days. Gone are the fond memories of eating chocolate as a child and it has been replaced with the 40-year-old who gets a headache when he eats it. My pallet does not want a chocolate doughnut. That does not make my taste any better or worse than anyone else, just different.

    The better question to ask then what makes a good donut is to ask what do you love about donuts.  You and your mouth are looking for something very specific every time you bite into a doughnut. I’m sure you understand because you’ve have had donuts in your lifetime that just didn’t fit with what you were hoping they would. Listening to your pallet in any food is important to understand yourself and what you like. Each donut will tell you about about themselves in a bite, and that’s where the connection to it being good.

    That is the homework.  In this blog I’ll be telling you what I find great about donuts that I like. What makes the donuts I tried to be great. I encourage you to test that for yourself. There may be a big difference between a cake donut and a yeast donut to your mouth feel. You might not like a certain kind of sprinkle. It’s all about getting out there and trying the donuts and seeing how you feel. Remember when it feels good. Those donuts are awesome.

  • Everyone Needs an Origins Type Convention

    Origins game fair created some really great memories for me as a first time convention attendee. I was very stressed about the idea of only attending one full day of the convention and if I would get the real feeling out of being there. I quickly found that my fears were unfounded, and I met both friends and new friends having such a good peaceful convention.

    The vibe for anybody who’s never been is tremendously calm and open.  I was told that in advance, but when you come to the Columbus Convention Center and see it for yourself you find that you have space. Space to sit down, space to relax, and space to travel all over to see things. There is a wide variety to see and do at the convention while easily walking around.

    First, the food is amazing. Having North Market within the block just makes your options for food automatically great. There was a line sometimes at lunch, but nothing too dramatic. I was able to try the donuts, Indian cuisine and classic Polish food, which made amazing flavors ready to eat quickly. The coffee also is not too shabby. The only improvement I could see would be opening the drink and dining options inside the convention center open longer during the convention. I didn’t want to go so far for a coffee when I would’ve been happy to buy it inside the building.

    Let’s talk games. I was able to go to the media mixer the night before the convention started, and I found myself in some really great looking games. Starting with some small box options, Envy Born Games has put together a beautiful solo game with Hercules and the 12 Labors. The mechanics as well as the art are superb with real complexity of game play. Similarly, I found the game Cats Versus Cucumbers to have delightful whimsy as it’s coming soon to Kickstarter. It is designed by Ammon Anderson, designer of Gnome Hollow, who I got to see many times during my limited stay at origins. He is easily becoming a favorite designer with his work on another great game with All Play; Twinkle Twinkle.

    The game makes charting a beautiful starry sky beautifully designed to earn yourself points and play a game style of drafting with strategy. We were taught the game directly by Ammon and you can easily see his passion for the games being created. Definitely someone to watch out when games are released.

    The game of the convention to me was  The Game Makers by Bezier. This game is the most in-joke for the board game community ever, but also has solid gameplay in multiple mechanics. You have an inherited factory that you were going to turn into your dream board game assembly line. Every person at any convention and in many stores will feel this as their dream. Seeing it being played, you can find so much value in the different mechanics between worker placement and rotation of resources. Also, it’s using forklift meeples. We love a good forklift, but this game goes beyond that. This is going to be a staple for board gamers easily, and it makes me crave to play a heavier game than I typically do. That draw right there is the sign that it’s going places.

    Looking towards TTRPG‘s, I also found some really unique opportunities. Specifically I met with Eerie Games and discussed their finalist for the best core rulebook. Para is a unique tarot based RPG that allows you to feel a level of unique play versus dice. The story setting itself inside a teenage character in their angst era also makes it very relatable for a lot of different play groups. I also want to shout out their game Once Upon a F!!!!!!!! Time that takes you into the fantasy world like Alice in Wonderland, but subverted to turn everything against you. This company definitely can go places that I feel strongly ties a narrative story to a unique gameplay. Definitely worth checking out. 

    Origins also hosts Columbus in Darkness, a live play group set in the World of Darkness canon. Seeing folks set up for both dressing up and for live play made me want to take time in the future to enjoy this type of experience. It may not be sparkly vampires, but it draws those with a gothic nature into its web of intrigue. 

    Overall, I hope to find my way back to origins again someday.  I won’t make it there next year because of conferences and graduation, but I see it some other time in my future. If you are looking for a chill convention, then you should find it in your future too.

    Twinkle Twinkle