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  • For Everything There is a Season: The Origin Story of Combat Commander: Vietnam – InsideGMT


    Note: All of the images depicting game components in this article show early concept or playtest art.

    A Time to Plant.

    It was 18(!!) years ago that Chad and I started talking about designing a Combat Commander: Vietnam game together. Of course, Chad was the master crafter of Combat Commander and knew the CC design a bazillion times better than I did, but he didn’t really know anything about Vietnam. I probably know more about that war/period than I know about any other in military history, and I love Combat Commander, so a co-design with Chad and myself seemed like a good fit. But we both were really busy with other projects, so we decided to work on CC: Vietnam in the margins, not caring if it took even a decade to get to our game tables in finished form.

    So we went slowly but had a ton of great conversations as we crafted the project—and I learned even MORE about the genius of Chad Jensen when he sent me his master CC spreadsheets to adapt for CC: Vietnam. Wow. Over time, we honed the design document, unit spreadsheets, and scenario scope, and I finally put together a very ugly test CC: Vietnam map that we used to maneuver and “fight” our imaginary battles. Here you can see both that original map and Chad’s enormously better version of that map at right, which depicts mountainous jungle terrain that we envisioned as a base map for an “Assault on a US Fire Base” scenario, Marine defenses of a hilltop position, and US assaults (mini-Hamburger Hills) on dug in NVA/PLF forces.

    Gene’s playtest map (left) vs. Chad’s playtest map (right). Yeah, I know… 😊

    As most of you know, Chad’s design plate was continually busy during those years. There wasn’t a time I can remember when Chad didn’t have a couple games on our P500 list and a few more in his head. Here’s an ad we did back around 2015 that showed just a few of the Family Games that Chad had completed or in the works:

    So Chad was busy. And starting around 2014, I got into serious development and testing on the game I’d wanted to do forever, Mr. President. So both of our design time for CC: Vietnam was minimal, but we kept honing the design document and both thought it was coming together and that we’d do it “someday.”

    A Time to Weep. 

    Sadly, we were wrong. Even 5 ½ years later, I still have trouble thinking and talking about that incredibly heart-wrenching period of Chad’s sickness and passing. I lost a good friend, Kai lost the love of her life, and the gaming world lost an absolute rock star designer. So gaming-wise inside GMT, everything Chad-related just stopped while we all grieved his passing. 

    A Time to Build Up.

    Probably a year later, allowing some time to pass and the hard edges of grief to soften a bit so we could get through a phone conversation without crying, Kai and I began to talk about finishing Chad’s unfinished or unpublished designs. And he had a bunch of them. Honestly, I didn’t think at that point that CC: Vietnam would be one of them because, frankly, I didn’t want to design it without Chad (and there was STILL Mr. President dominating my design time). And so we did other games instead—games that either Kai or I had a team in place or recruited to finish. Of all those games we talked about and have worked on, I’m especially happy that John Butterfield volunteered to finish Downfall with Kai. And it won the CSR Game of the Year last year! What a tribute to Chad, and to John, a forever friend to Chad and Kai.

    In 2022, Kai and I began to seriously discuss the Combat Commander series and agreed to create an Anniversary Edition of the CC: Europe/CC: Med. games which was packaged as Chad originally intended, in one big box. And we had designers ask us about taking the CC game to other theatres and periods. But no movement for CC: Vietnam. Until there WAS!!!

    A Time to Seek.

    Two of our newer GMT designers whose work I’m really excited about are Non-Breaking Space (NB) and Stephen Rangazas. NB created Cross Bronx Expressway (nearing heading to the printer now) and Stephen designed The British Way. Both have other designs on P500 now and also on the design table. Well, in the fall of 2023, NB came to our Weekend at the Warehouse and showed a couple games to Jason, Kai, Rachel, Mike Bertucelli, and me. I liked his games, but more importantly, I liked HIM. After the weekend, we were all excited about working with NB—I heard several “he fits with us” comments (and he DOES!)—on various projects. And Stephen’s The British Way and The Guerrilla Generation demonstrated both his design skill and the depth of research that he puts into game design. I was particularly impressed with the way he engages with customers online: he communicates clearly and humbly and is open to feedback and other interpretations while being committed to making the best product that he can. 

    So, at that warehouse meeting, being really impressed with NB, I mentioned in passing that I’d really love to find a team to get the Combat Commander: Vietnam project moving forward. NB surprised us with “I need to make a phone call.” That call was to Stephen (they often work together in a design partnership). NB has since told me that it was Stephen’s background in Vietnam research that prompted the call. Stephen’s design of Sovereign of Discord, the expansion to our hit COIN game Fire in the Lake, already benefited from his depth of knowledge (and I would note here that your work has to be pretty impressive to get Mark and Volko to sign off on doing an expansion for one of their best-selling games!). After the call, NB told us something along the lines of “We’re interested, but it’s a divergence from the path we are on right now. So we need to take some time to think about it and discuss it in depth before we give you an answer.”

    Fast forward to January of 2024. NB contacted me and Jason and let us know that he and Stephen were definitely interested in working on a Combat Commander: Vietnam game! We had an online meeting a week later where they walked us through a slide show of how they intended to move forward with the design, assuming we approved it. Here are a few of the slides from that meeting:

    Stephen and NB’s scoping of the Factions that they proposed including in the game.
    NB and Stephen’s early overview of Faction Deck Force Composition and Timelines

    It was a really good meeting. We had a lot of questions, and NB and Stephen answered them with skill, honesty, and transparency and were not shy to share what their research showed. I liked that when they hadn’t figured something out yet, they said so. It was clear to me that they had the chops to research, design, and deliver a new Combat Commander: Vietnam that aligned with Chad’s and my vision for the game but was not limited by it. I left that meeting IMPRESSED. And we gave them the go ahead to push forward into the “create the physical game” stage, which they proposed to have to show us by the Fall 2024 Weekend at the Warehouse.

    A Time to Dance.

    We didn’t hear much from Stephen and NB from January to September. We just left them alone, knowing that what they were creating was a huge task. Occasionally they’d have a question, but mostly they just worked away on their own, sculpting what we all hoped would become a masterpiece.

    Then, just before the Weekend at the Warehouse, NB sent us the image below and told us he’d have the playtest kit ready for the Weekend. We were so excited!

    At the Weekend, we were all really happy about where the design was and ready to move forward to getting it ready for P500. I was thinking it might be ready to go on the P500 list in a year. Then NB said, “Please give us a deadline. We work better that way.” So I said, “April 2025.” NB didn’t blink, so that was our target date.

    Then, in January, Stephen and NB informed us that they had EIGHT maps (pictured below) they were now testing on and anticipated they’d double that within a month. 

    They also included a Map of Vietnam with a Scenario and Reference guide for all the planned Battles (below). 

    And then they COMPLETELY blew me away. They built a campaign system! WHAT??!!??

    Campaign Scenario Generator (left) and the CC: V scenario it generated (right)

    They then noted that they thought they’d be ready for a MARCH P500 addition instead of April. Looking at the quality and completeness of their work (I’ve shown just a fraction here), I had no problem giving them the March slot. So here we are, with Combat Commander: Vietnam hitting the P500 list with this week’s customer newsletter. I hope you’ll order yours now!

    I hope this article gives you all some insight into how Combat Commander: Vietnam has come to exist. What a long journey this has been. I am HUGELY excited about what NB and Stephen have created and how they’ve taken Chad’s system and our vision and combined it with their own research and added so much that we probably wouldn’t ever have thought of. I still can’t believe we’re going to have a Campaign System for CC: Vietnam!!!!!!

    I believe (and hope) that the Combat Commander community will be blown away by how cool this game is and by the amount of value they’re going to get in this big box of Combat Commander love. And I know Chad would be SO happy to see this game that we planted the seeds for finally come to fruition. As with everything in the Combat Commander world, every time I play this, I’ll be thinking of Chad. And I’ll always be thankful that NB and Stephen took up this challenge and have honored Chad with the care, attention to detail, and general awesomeness that they’ve created for us to enjoy as we play Combat Commander: Vietnam.

    – Gene




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  • Causing an opponent to cause you to discard?

    Causing an opponent to cause you to discard?


    Some abilities, such as Nullhide Ferox, like to be discarded by a spell or ability an opponent controls. I am seeking ways to proactively cause these abilities to trigger. A few ideas I had are…

    • In Yu-Gi-Oh!, there are cards similar to this, and there are text-changing effects obviously designed to pair with them. I have found some text-changing in MTG, but nothing related to discarding yet.
    • Exchanging control to an opponent of Siren of the Silent Song or Deadbridge Shaman, or similarly exchanging control of spells, but these combos require three specific cards to be drawn and are clunky.
    • Controlling an opponent…while they already have a discard option available, but they would have likely used it anyhow.
    • An ideal card might be something like an X-and-a-green Instant with an effect "search your library for creatures with the same name as each other with mana value X and put one of them onto the battlefield under each player’s control." This could grab, i.e., Acquisitions Expert. I thought something like this might exist, but I couldn’t find anything.

    Are there sensible (i.e., at most two drawn cards and four mana) strategies to use these abilities proactively, or are they only good for the sideboard? I am mostly interested in Pioneer format options.



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  • Dress to Impress codes April 2025

    Dress to Impress codes April 2025


    April 19, 2025: Get your unique new DTI code for the Easter update by following the steps below.

    What are the new Dress to Impress codes? Look no further if you want to strut your stuff on the catwalk with all the latest fashion accessories. The latest DTI codes grant you the hottest cosmetics to add to your ensemble and create a stunning new look, and it’s as simple as entering a code or two.

    As the name suggests, Dress to Impress is all about fashion, collecting new clothes, and trying out different styles. Unlike most Roblox games, these DTI codes permanently unlock a set of items to add to your wardrobe. If you’re looking for extra freebies, we also have codes for some of the other best Roblox games such as Blox Fruits codes to help you get an edge on the competition. Alternatively, you can check out our list of Dress to Impress outfit ideas.

    New Dress to Impress codes

    Here’s a list of all the active Dress to Impress codes to redeem right now:

    • DTI Easter 2025 code – Spot the emojis and numbers in the map and use the emoji sequence above the leaderboard to decode your unique DTI Easter 2025 code (NEW)
    • BADDIES4LIFE – April Fools item
    • HAPPYNEWYEAR – Hanfu
    • YEAROFTHESNAKE – Snake Jewellery
    • LNY2025 – Cheongsam Dress, Tang Suit
    • 1CON1CF4TMA – Dress
    • B3APL4YS_D0L1E – Doll
    • MEGANPLAYSBOOTS – Shoes
    • CH00P1E_1S_B4CK – Street-style outfit (shirt, shoes, and skirt)
    • D1ORST4R – Star-themed bag & hair bow accessory
    • S3M_0W3N_Y4Y – Gold-handled axe with a red jewel
    • UMOYAE – Blue corset-tutu dress
    • M0T0PRINCESSWAV – Gold red tiara with red jewels
    • KITTYUUHH – Caseoh’s kitty cat
    • KREEK – Kreekcraft’s hat
    • BELALASLAY – Off-shoulder jacket
    • C4LLMEHH4LEY – Free item
    • CHOOPIE10K – Free item
    • M3RM4ID – Free item
    • ITSJUSTNICHOLAS – Free item
    • LANATUTU – Skirt item
    • SUBM15CY – Necklace and eyelashes
    • LABOOTS – two pairs of boots
    • LANA – a new outfit (frilly pants, ruffed crop top, and legwarmers)
    • TEKKYOOZ – a handbag with a black bow.
    • LEAHASHE – Leah hoodie and Ashe pants.
    • LANABOW – Bow accessory

    Expired codes

    • Player-specific Flamethrower code
    • CUPIDSCLOUD
    • M0T0PRINCESSWAV
    • FASHION – Sabrina’s Met Dress
    • SWEETHEART
    • 4BILLION
    • NY2025
    • THEGAMES
    • REWARD4CLASS1C

    The Dress to Impress codes redeem screen.

    How to redeem Dress to Impress codes

    To claim the active Dress to Impress codes, you need to:

    • Go to the official Dress to Impress Roblox page and open the game.
    • Click the button with three stars on the left side of the screen.
    • Enter the code and click the tick button to redeem.

    This will permanently unlock the associated fashion accessory, which you can wear at any point from then onward. To wear the item, click its icon on the code redeem screen, and your character should automatically put it on.

    You can then tinker with the item’s color by using the color wheel on the screen’s right-hand side. You can take it off by clicking the hat icon on the right-hand side and then clicking the X underneath the item you wish to remove.

    How to find more Dress to Impress codes

    The easiest way to get more Dress to Impress codes is to bookmark and keep checking this page for when the next batch appears. This saves you from needing to sign up for any services and gets you new accessories as soon as they become available.

    However, if you don’t mind going to get them from the source, your best bet is to sign up to the Discord server, which you can find a link to via the Dress to Impress Roblox page and by looking at the announcements tab. This will require you to watch some YouTube videos of previous developer streams to get the codes, and it can take a while to get to the point where you learn the codes, so it’s probably best to leave that busy work to us.

    And with that, we’ve come to the end of our Dress to Impress codes guide. If you want more clothing that works across all Roblox games, feel free to check out our list of Roblox promo codes. We also have a list of Roblox music codes to claim now if you fancy spicing up the soundtracks to your favorite experiences.



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  • 2025 Spring Sale Buyer’s Guide – InsideGMT


    Many of you told us how much you appreciated us giving you a Buyer’s guide to our 2024 Fall Sale, so as we approach our Special Spring Sale that starts on Tuesday, April 1, Rachel and I have updated this Buyer’s Guide to try to give you some of that information to help out with your buying choices. We encourage you to use this information and the links below to build your sale carts on the GMT website between now and Tuesday when the sale begins. I hope you find this Buyer’s Guide useful.

    Where Can You Find ALL the Eligible Sale Items?

    We’re trying to make things a little easier for all of you this year, so  can find all of the games you can buy in the sale in one department on the GMT Website. Just click Spring Sale 2025 (or choose it from the left side menu on any page in the “Browse by Series/Type” section except the front page on the GMT website) to see a list of every item that you can buy with the 40% off sale discount.

    Which Games are Close to Going Out of Stock?

    Here’s an alphabetical list of our lowest-stock games, with current quantities on hand for all games with less than 200 copies currently in stock:

    Almoravid – 34

    Charioteer – 180

    Commands & Colors Napoleonics Expansion #5: Generals, Marshalls, and Tacticians – 109

    Commands & Colors Napoleonics Exp: The Spanish Army – 129

    Gallipoli, 1915 – 90

    Grand Prix – 97

    Here I Stand, 500th Anniversary Edition – 76

    Paths of Glory, Deluxe Edition – 149

    Sovereign of Discord – 174

    Tanto Monta – 30

    The Last Hundred Yards Volume 2: Airborne Over Europe – 93

    Thunder Alley – 193

    Thunder in the East – 21

    Urban Sprawl – 56

    NOTE: The following games have been “OUT OF STOCK” on our website for a while, but in our latest physical inventory, we’ve found some copies in the warehouse (quantities noted below). Good while stocks last:

    Note that some of the games pictured may already be out of stock now (updated 4/1)

    Brandywine -24

    C&C Napoleonics: The Russian Army – 11

    Crown of Roses – 16

    Golan ’73: FAB #3 – 14

    The Last Hundred Yards Volume 3: The Solomon Islands – 60

    This Accursed Civil War (Musket & Pike series) – 66

    Which Games in the Sale have the highest retail prices?

    Here’s a descending order list of our highest retail priced games, for those of you looking to optimize value. Price listed is BEFORE your 40% sale discount:

    A Time for Trumpets – $163

    Panzer North Africa – $152

    Pacific War – $135

    Thunder in the East – $125

    Conquest and Consequence – $125

    Great Battles of Julius Caesar, Deluxe Edition – $125

    Gallipoli: Churchill’s Greatest Gamble – $115

    Gathering Storm – $115

    Great Battles of Alexander, Deluxe Edition, 2nd Printing – $115

    Storm Over Asia – $115

    MBT, 2nd Printing – $108

    Here I Stand, 500th Anniversary Edition, 2nd Printing – $104

    Red Dust Rebellion – $104

    Virgin Queen, 2nd Printing – $101

    Which of GMT’s 2024 Best-Sellers are in stock for the sale?

    Commands & Colors Medieval: Crusades Expansion

    Here I Stand, 500th Anniversary Edition, 2nd Printing

    Next War: Iran

    Panzer North Africa

    Red Dust Rebellion

    Twilight Struggle Deluxe Edition, 8th Printing

    Virgin Queen, 2nd Printing

    Wolfpack

    Which of GMT’s All-Time Best-Selling Games are in Stock?

    In Stock Games from GMT's List of All-Time Bestsellers (Out-of-Stock Bestsellers not pictured here)
    In Stock Games from GMT’s List of All-Time Bestsellers (Out-of-Stock Bestsellers not pictured here)

    Twilight Struggle Deluxe Edition, 8th Printing

    Battle Line, 12th Printing

    Dominant Species, 6th Printing

    Paths of Glory, Deluxe Edition, 2nd Printing

    Sekigahara, 5th Printing

    Labyrinth: The War on Terror, 5th Printing

    Fire in the Lake, 3rd Printing

    Great Battles of Alexander Deluxe Edition, 2nd Printing

    Here I Stand, 500th Anniversary Edition, 2nd Printing

    Imperial Struggle, 2nd Printing

    Cuba Libre, 4th Printing

    Churchill, 3rd Printing

    Thunder Alley

    Which of GMT’s Card-Driven Games (CDGs) or Related Products are In Stock?

    1989, 2nd Printing

    CDG Solo System

    Fort Sumter

    Here I Stand 500th Anniversary Edition, 2nd Printing

    Labyrinth, The War on Terror, 5th Printing

    Labyrinth: The Awakening, 2nd Printing

    Labyrinth: The Forever War

    Paths of Glory, Deluxe Edition, 2nd Printing

    Tanto Monta: The Rise of Ferdinand and Isabella

    Twilight Struggle, Deluxe Edition, 8th Printing

    Virgin Queen, 2nd Printing

    Washington’s War, 3rd Printing

    Which of GMT’s Euro/Family/Strategy Games are In Stock?

    Battle Line, 12th Printing – Reiner Knizia

    Charioteer – Matt Calkins

    Dominant Species, 6th Printing – Chad Jensen

    Dominant Species Marine, 2nd Printing – Chad Jensen

    Grand Prix – Jeff & Carla Horger

    Grand Prix New Track Pack – Jeff & Carla Horger

    Leaping Lemmings – Rick Young & John Poniske

    SpaceCorp, 2nd Printing – John Butterfield

    SpaceCorp Ventures Expansion – John Butterfield

    The Barracks Emperors – Brad Johnson & Wray Ferrell

    Thunder Alley – Jeff & Carla Horger

    Urban Sprawl– Chad Jensen

    Welcome to Centerville – Chad Jensen

    Which Games in GMT’s most popular series are In Stock?

    Here’s a list alphabetically from several of our best-selling long-running series:

    18XX Series

    18 India

    1846

    1848: Australia

    1862: Railway Mania in the Eastern Counties

    Battles of the American Revolution Series (Mark Miklos and Friends)

    Brandywine

    Rhode Island

    Battle of White Plains

    Combat Commander (Chad Jensen and Kai Jensen)

    Combat Commander Pacific Battle Packs:

         Combat Commander Battle Pack #4: New Guinea

    Combat Commander Europe Battle Packs:

         BP #3: Normandy, 2nd Printing

         BP #5  Fall of the West, 2nd Printing

         BP #6: Sea Lion, 2nd Printing

         BP #7: Tournament Battle Pack

    COIN Series (Volko Ruhnke and Friends)

    Volume II: Cuba Libre

    Volume IV: Fire in the Lake

         Fire in the Lake Expansion: Fall of Saigon

         Fire in the Lake Expansion: Sovereign of Discord

         Fire in the Lake Tr’ung Bot Update Pack

    Volume V: Liberty or Death

    Volume X: All Bridges Burning

    Volume XI: People Power

    Volume XII: Red Dust Rebellion

    Fields of Fire Series (Ben Hull, Colin Parsons, and Andrew Stead)

    Fields of Fire: The Bulge Campaign

    Great Battles of the American Civil War (GBACW) Series (Richard Berg, Dick Whitaker, and Friends)

    Battles for the Shenandoah: A Death Valley Expansion

    Great Battles of History (GBoH) Series (Richard Berg, Mark Herman, & Alan Ray)

    Great Battles of Alexander Deluxe Edition, 2nd Printing

    Great Battles of Julius Caesar, Deluxe Edition

    Great Statesman Series (Mark Herman)

    Churchill, 3rd Printing

    Versailles, 1919

    Levy & Campaign Series (Volko Ruhnke and Friends)

    Volume II: Almoravid

    Volume III: Inferno

    Men of Iron Series (Richard Berg, Ralph Shelton)

    Volume V: Norman Conquests

    Musket & Pike Series (Ben Hull)

    This Accursed Civil War, 2nd Printing

    Next War Series (Mitchell Land and Gene Billingsley)

    Next War: Iran

    Next War: Poland, 2nd Edition

    Next War: Vietnam

    Next War Supplement #3

    Panzer Series (James Day)

    Panzer, 3rd Printing

         Panzer Expansion 1: The Eastern Front

         Panzer Expansion 2: Final Forces on the Eastern Front

         Panzer Expansion 3: 2nd Front; Drive to the Rhine

    Panzer North Africa

    Simonitch 1940’s Operational Series (Mark Simonitch)

    Normandy ’44, 4th Printing

    North Africa ‘41

    Stalingrad ’42 Expansion

    The Last Hundred Yards Series (Mike Denson)

    The Last Hundred Yards, Volume 2: Airborne Over Europe

    The Last Hundred Yards, Volume 3: The Solomon Islands

         The Last Hundred Yards Mission Pack #1

    Thunder Alley Racing Series (Jeff & Carla Horger)

    Thunder Alley

    Grand Prix

    Grand Prix: New Track Pack

    Can I buy GMT’s counter trays and 2″ and 3″ White Boxes during the sale?

    Yes!

    Counter Trays

    2″ White Boxes

    3″ White Boxes


    We hope you find this Buyer’s Guide useful and that you all get some 40% off games in the sale that will bring you many hours of enjoyment! – Gene & Rachel



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  • This July In Shut Up & Sit Down!

    This July In Shut Up & Sit Down!


    Tom Brewster

    Tom: Hello Gamers; big and small and wide and tall. This is going to be a very brief ‘This Month In’ because July is, to quote myself right now, ‘Popping Off’! Let’s GET TO IT!

    The big event early this month is that we’ll be spilling every single bean on all our future plans in a summer update video and newsletter. The video itself will give you the rough idea; but if you’re a donor to the site the next newsletter in your inbox will be absolutely rammed with details about all the new plans we’re going to tinker with in the near future.

    Videos! We’re actually recording a bunch of reviews for the future, so you might see a small dip in the pace we’ve been setting recently, and a surge of content when the games we’re chatting about actually release. We will have a video very soon, though, for a game you couldn’t possibly predict! We’re also hoping to have recorded a bit of a convention report whilst we’re at RopeCon in Helsinki; so expect no video that week whilst we’re busy getting beaten by the Finns, and a bruised and bloody report soon after.

    Podcasts! We’ll be chatting about Golem, we’ll be rambling about My Island, we’ve got further thoughts about Iki, we’ve entered My Gold Mine, we’re taking on the Great Machine, and we’ve… Zoo Vadis’ed? So many games, lots of them good, and we’re jazzed to tell you more about them all. We’re also trying to record more in-person pods – they’re lovely for energy and ease and so I think, perhaps, going back to them might be the way forward.

    Streams we’re running will be kept continually pretty chill and inconsistent, as per usual. It’s fun to hang out exactly when I’ve the energy for it, and so far the slightly pottering pace has been perfect!

    That’s all for this month! Plenty to come very soon…

    What have you been up to, everybody?



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  • Official Beaks Trello and Discord

    Official Beaks Trello and Discord


    Beaks is a Roblox game where you explore different environments and use a dart gun to safely collect birds by putting them to sleep. It shares similar mechanics with Fisch, focusing on tracking, aiming, and building up your collection. As you progress, you’ll discover new bird species and upgrade your gear to become a better collector. This Official Beaks Trello and Discord guide will help you join all the community HUBs

    Beaks Trello and Discord Guide

    A man aiming a gun at a Flamingo in the Beaks Roblox experience
    Hunt them all!

    Here are all the links you need to start your Bird gallery:

    Sadly, Beaks doesn’t have a Trello board at the moment, and the developers haven’t shared a link yet. Since many Roblox games use Trello for FAQs and updates, there’s a good chance one might be added later. If not, a Beaks Wiki will likely be available instead.

    The Discord server is a good place to start instead. You can ask specific questions in the Questions channel and get insights from Testers and experienced players. It’s also a nice spot to share cool moments in the Media channel and connect with the community. Here is all the information you can find on the Discord:

    • General Game Information
    • Links and Socials
    • Community Updates
    • All Birds
    • Community Rankings
    • Future Updates
    • Regular Developer Notes

    It’s also a great place to keep up with the game’s progress. The announcements channel shares news about updates, and the sneak peeks give you a look at what’s coming next. You’ll also find occasional updates presented by NEKAMI. On top of that, it’s the best spot to find the latest codes.

    That is all for our Beaks Trello and Discord guide. Check out our Beaks Codes article for some freebies that can help you progress through the game with ease.


    The Escapist is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy



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  • 20 of Our Most Anticipated Board Games in 2025

    20 of Our Most Anticipated Board Games in 2025


    At the start of each year, we take a look at what games are coming in the next twelve months. Some of these will inevitably slip into the next year and we’re really basing this on the publishers timelines. So, here are twenty games that we’re excited about that are slated for release this year.


    Galactic Cruise

    Publisher: Kinson Key Games
    Designer: T.K. King, Dennis Northcott, Koltin Thompson
    Release Window: Q1 2025
    Excitement Level:
    Nominated by: Everyone

    Galactic Cruise is a game that we’ve seen for almost 3 years as the team at Kinson Key Games has polished every part of this project. The final game will arrive to Kickstarter backers in Q1 and it’s pretty amazing. Players are building space cruises as they attract clients for out of this world travel.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2lfjX05Xfc

    The artwork and iconography from Ian O’Toole really makes this game shine. Galactic Cruise is a game that is on everyone’s radar for good reason. Thankfully, the wait is almost over and I get most of the year to play this gem.

    Wine Cellar

    Publisher: 25th Century Games
    Designer: Andrew Stiles
    Release Window: Q2 2025
    Excitement Level:
    Nominated by: Ric and Bob

    As trick-taking games become more and more popular, it’s good to see those that add solid creative twists. I’m a fan of the auction sub-genre, where the trick results impact the acquisition of different assets. That’s what you’ve got with Wine Cellar, a game originally designed by Andrew Stiles for an 18-card design contest. In this game, you’ll all be working to create the best wine collection, and each bottle scores differently based on its “age”… that is, its location in your collection.

    Wine Cellar Preview

    The little wine bottle cards aren’t everyone’s thing, but I love them. I like the look when they’re all lined up at the end of the game, ready for scoring. It also plays up to 8 people, and more people don’t necessarily stretch the game too long or too thin. With easy-to-learn rules and quick gameplay, I think this will end up as one of the more versatile titles in my collection.

    Deep Regrets

    Publisher: Tettix Games
    Designer: Judson Cowan
    Release Window: Q2 2025
    Excitement Level:
    Nominated by: Ryan

    This dark and unsettling fishing game really impressed us when we previewed it in 2024. The artwork for Deep Regrets pulls you in as you try and balance your mental state during your time at sea. Players have to find ways to mitigate regret cards while still finding wild creatures at sea.

    Deep Regrets - depth levels

    This is Tettix Games second design and even at the prototype level, the game was really well made. Deep Regrets is a game that I understood better each time it hit the table and I’m itching for more. You can learn more in my preview from 2024.

    Azul Duel

    Publisher: Next Move Games
    Designer: Michael Kiesling
    Release Window: Q2 2025
    Excitement Level:
    Nominated by: Ryan and Erin

    Do we need another version of Azul? Possibly. Azul Duel is built for a 2-player focused experience and we’re hearing good things from people who have played it. Azul (and its board game siblings) are pretty solid at most player counts. I’m not 100% sure that this game is necessary but it could surprise me.

    Azul Duel - image from Next Move Games

    Azul is a game that has made its way into so many game shelves. If Next Move Games can shake up the formula enough to stand out, Azul Duel may be a great purchase for Erin and I. Our 2-player focused selection of games is growing and we’ll be watching for this release before summer.

    Lairs

    Publisher: Kids Table Board Gaming
    Designer: Christopher Westmaas
    Release Window: Q3 2025
    Excitement Level:
    Nominated by: Ryan and Bob

    Lairs is a unique take on dungeon crawling for 2-players. Each player builds out the dungeon that their opponent has to move through. Using traps and monsters, players are trying to keep the other player from easily grabbing the loot and finding the exit. Erin and I had a great time trying the game out at Origins last summer prior to the Kickstarter campaign launch.

    Lairs by KTBG

    What makes Lairs so cool is that after playing the game, you’ll start opening new content that makes dungeons more dangerous and introduces new features. This game builds on itself the more you play. Lairs is a fun time and the KTBG crew has a great game on their hands as we head into 2025.

    Luthier

    Publisher: Paverson Games
    Designer: Dave Beck, Abe Burson
    Release Window: Q2 2025
    Excitement Level:
    Nominated by: Ric

    I’m quite tired of fantasy, space and even nature-themed games. So it’s always nice to see a game asking me to do something I haven’t really done before. That’s what I’m seeing in Luthier. You’re a crafter of instruments, and you must manage your shop so that you build the strongest reputation.

    I haven’t gotten to dive into the rules and gameplay as much as I would like. However, from what I’ve seen, it provides the opportunity for those chain reaction decisions I love so much, where a choice lets you do something, which leads to another thing, and so on.

    The only thing holding me back from more excitement is the price. You’re getting a lot in the box, but $75 for retail is generally outside of my price range, no matter what I do. Here’s hoping I can find a good deal and/or unclaimed bag of cash in the near future…

    Speakeasy

    Publisher: Eagle-Gryphon Games
    Designer: Vital Lacerda
    Release Window: Q3/Q4 2025
    Excitement Level:
    Nominated by: Ryan and Bob

    One of my favorite gaming experiences of 2024 was playing Speakeasy with family and friends. This Vital Lacerda game quickly climbed my list of favorite games after just a single play. Players will align themselves with mobsters as they take over parts of Manhattan during the Prohibition Era.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NFdymh6MKA

    Speakeasy has artwork from Ian O’Toole, incredible player boards, and a sprawling city to take over. The way Lacerda ties this game to the real world mobsters of the 1920’s brings so much depth to this game. Look for Speakeasy to hit a game table near you before the end of the year.

    Camping Season

    Publisher: SweaterBear Games
    Designer: Casey Mattes, Zoey Mattes
    Release Window: Q3/Q4 2025
    Excitement Level:
    Nominated by: Ryan

    I love the idea of managing a campground where people are going to adventure and make memories. Camping Season is a game that is supposed to simulate running the facilities where campers are choosing to vacation. I love the look of the game and just the idea of managing reservations and facilities sounds super fun to my messed up brain.

    The couple behind SweaterBear Games seems to love the great outdoors and the Kickstarter did really well back in October. I’m hoping this game can be found at retail after they fulfill orders to backers later this year. This is a game that is definitely on my radar going into the fall.

    Scoville 2nd Edition

    Publisher: Trick or Treat Studios
    Designer: Ed Marriott
    Release Window: Q1 2025
    Excitement Level:
    Nominated by: Ryan

    This game made my 2024 most anticipated list but it looks like it will show up one more time before the game arrives. Scoville is a pepper farming game that I’ve always wanted to play but with it being out of print, I wasn’t willing to pay the inflated price.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvmdMtztvfM

    Scoville is getting a brand new release from Trick or Treat Studios (Halloween, Blood Orders) and it has artwork from Vincent Dutrait. I’m so pumped to finally play this game and cannot wait for this new edition with its previously released expansion already in the box. Hopefully it will show up early in the year so that I get loads of time with the game in 2025.

    House of Fado

    Publisher: Eagle-Gryphon Games
    Designer: Vital Lacerda, João Quintela Martins
    Release Window: Q1 2025
    Excitement Level:
    Nominated by: Ric

    When we played Speakeasy with Ryan, I was definitely a fan. However, I know that I will rarely be able to get a game that complex and that lengthy onto the table with my friends and family. It’s just not in the cards for me these days. Or the dice. Or the meeples.

    So that’s why I’m excited about the release of House of Fado from Eagle-Gryphon Games. Even before I knew it was a Lacerda co-design, I was drawn in by the artwork and concept, as was my wife (which is likely more important if I’m wanting the chance to play). There seem to be plenty of important choices to make as you control your restaurant, hoping to feature the best music to attract the most customers.

    A small box with big decisions and cool artwork? These days, that’s my sweet spot.

    Unmatched Adventures: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

    Publisher: Restoration Games
    Designer: Lots of people
    Release Window: Q3 2025
    Excitement Level:
    Nominated by: Ryan and Ric

    You know that Unmatched has to show up on this list somewhere. Unmatched Adventures was a big hit for us in 2023 and when you throw the Ninja Turtles into the mix, oh snap! I’m excited to see how each of the turtles play against other Unmatched fighters. Restoration Games does such a great job of creating a co-op experience, and this time you’ll go toe-to-toe with Shredder and Krang.

    Unmatched: TMNT - image from Restoration Games

    TMNT is a license that so many people are excited for. It’s not often that an 80’s kid and their 19 year old kid are excited about the same game. Unmatched Adventures: TMNT should be arriving to Kickstarter backers at the tail-end of summer. Look for this to hit retail around fall of 2025.

    ULTRAMASSIVE

    Publisher: Studio Unknown
    Designer: Alex Greenberg & Jacob Phillips
    Release Window: Q3 2025
    Excitement Level:
    Nominated by: Phil

    I had the pleasure of being introduced to ULTRAMASSIVE at One Board Day and am quite eager to get this on the table at home. This strategy game invites you to take the role of a fledgling black hole with one simple goal: get BIGGER! This is carried out by manipulating two tracks on your player board, adding matter or antimatter and delivering it to the center to fuel your growth.

    Ultramassive from Studio Unknown

    Incorporating drafting, engine building and clever manipulation of player boards via wormholes and gravity, ULTRAMASSIVE presents itself as an excellent introduction to strategy gaming with enough complexity to keep veterans puzzling out new strategies. What I saw in my demo session seemed like a perfect match of theme to mechanics and I look forward to the final product.

    Botswana

    Publisher: 25th Century Games
    Designer: Reiner Knizia
    Release Window: Q3 2025
    Excitement Level:
    Nominated by: Ryan

    About 6 years ago, Bob Crowell introduced me to Quandary, an out of print game by Milton Bradley from Reiner Knizia. My immediate reaction was “how come this is out of print?!”. Eagle-Gryphon Games brought back the game under the title Botswana, then Wildlife Safari. This summer, 25th Century Games is bringing Botswana back into print with completely new artwork from the phenomenal Weberson Santiago.

    Botswana - image from 25th Century Games

    This is one of Reiner’s more simple designs with players placing an animal card and drafting one of the animal types from the center of the table. Once the cards of one animal type are all on the table, the game ends. Players get points based on the top card value for each animal type that they have. This is such a great filler game and with the new artwork, I cannot wait to introduce the family to Botswana.

    Power Creep

    Publisher: PNP Arcade Publishing
    Designer: Jason Greeno, Jason Tagmire
    Release Window: January 2025
    Excitement Level:
    Nominated by: Ric

    Print-and-play games are becoming the main thing I purchase on Kickstarter these days. They’re significantly cheaper, they take up way less room, and they often provide just as strong of a gameplay experience.

    Dungeon Pages stood out back in 2023 with its unique approach and solid gameplay. A fun recreation of a classic dungeon crawler, you used dice to help you navigate around, defeat enemies, and collect items. The base game came out with a few maps and characters, which you could mix and match together to your liking. Dangerous Space used the same format with some extra bells and whistles. I’ve played through both, and while they kicked my butt several times, I kept coming back to the games, hoping a better approach or character choice would improve my chances. 

    Power Creep promises to take the best parts of both games and make an even better overall experience. Plus, the creators are continuing with their year-long support option in which they’ll release a new map every week of 2025, along with a new character every month. I’ve not tried this out with the other titles, so I’m excited to start playing once the content begins delivering in January. 

    Spooktacular

    Publisher: Level 99 Games
    Designer: D. Brad Talton Jr.
    Release Window: Q2 2025
    Excitement Level:
    Nominated by: Ryan

    Last summer I got to play a digital version of Spooktacular with a member of the Level 99 team. This game puts players in the role of monsters that are haunting a movie theater in the 80’s. Each monster has unique abilities and powers that will help you terrorize the patrons of the theater.

    Spooktacular from Level 99 Games

    Each monster has a movie poster tied to them and is a throwback to a movie monster from the past. I loved the flow of this game and was really impressed with the amount of player choices that come in the box. Level 99 Games has a hit on their hands and I’m ready to check out the final product when it becomes available later this year.

    Popcorn

    Publisher: iello
    Designer: Victor Saumont
    Release Window: Q2/Q3 2025
    Excitement Level:
    Nominated by: Ryan

    I love the theme of running a movie theater and trying to find the right movies to fit the audience. Popcorn is a bag building game where players will build their theater, then draw audience members from their bag to pair them with the right experience.

    Over nine rounds, players are building and even stealing patrons from other players using advertising. If this game is as fun as it sounds, this might be a “must buy” for us this year. It sounds a little like the tableau building game Funfair which is another favorite of mine.

    Eternal Decks

    Publisher: Hiroaki Yamamoto (self-published)
    Release Window: Q1 2025
    Excitement Level:
    Nominated by: Ric

    I sometimes get sucked into scrolling through Kickstarter for an hour or two, seeing if I can find something awesome I’ve never heard of. That’s what happened with Eternal Decks. I didn’t see or hear ANYTHING about this title, but I’m hopeful it catches some attention once it hits tables early next year.

    Eternal Decks - beta version

    What you’ve got is a cooperative card-playing game in which you’re all working together to complete different stages. Along the way, you’ll have the chance to unlock an Eternal, which will add more cards to a player’s deck.

    I’m hopeful that the challenges will increase as you go from stage to stage, and that you’ll have to make important choices as to who gets what cards and when. I feel like there’s a lot of opportunity here for a special game built on an easy-to-learn rules set. We’ll get to find out early next year!

    Don’t Starve: The Board Game

    Publisher: Glass Cannon Unplugged
    Designer: Rafał Pieczyński
    Release Window: ?? 2025
    Excitement Level:
    Nominated by: Ryan

    My kids and I spent so many hours playing Don’t Starve on Playstation over the years. I’m really intrigued with how this game will play out as a tabletop experience. They have a solid track record of bringing video game content to the board game space which is promising.

    Don’t Starve: The Board Game should launch any time now on Kickstarter. I have some concern that we may not see this project on the table this calendar year. If you’re a fan of this digital game, chances are that you’ll be watching this project like we are.

    RA and Write

    Publisher: 25th Century Games
    Designer: Reiner Knizia
    Release Window: Q2 2025
    Excitement Level:
    Nominated by: Ryan and Erin

    Last year, we were excited to see a flip and write game associated with the classic bidding game RA. This new game from Dr Knizia is such a streamlined experience that is still rooted in the original game. RA and Write was one of our favorite games we played in 2024 and we’re excited to have the fully published game this coming year.

    RA and Write - Nile line

    While I’m (Ryan) a big fan of the original RA, Erin absolutely adores RA and Write. The bidding mechanic is removed and players are choosing their path from the cards that are rolled out each turn. Flipping out the third RA card will end the era, triggering scoring for that portion of the game. RA and Write should be here before the summer which means that this is probably the game you’ll see on our table all summer long.

    The Dark Quarter

    Publisher: Lucky Duck / Van Ryder Games
    Designer: Evan Derrick
    Release Window: Q1 2025
    Excitement Level:
    Nominated by: Ryan

    Way back in the year 2022, Lucky Duck and Van Ryder Games combined forces to create a game called The Dark Quarter. This narrative driven game brings players into the dark and seedy underbelly of New Orleans in the 1980’s. Raising over a million dollars through Kickstarter, this is a game that I’m excited to see finally arrive on the game table.

    The Dark Quarter box art

    Backers of the game will be receiving the game at the start of the year, with the game hitting retail later in the year. Lucky Duck has a proven track record with creating immersive experiences using a digital companion (Chronicles of Crime, Destinies). We’ll definitely be sharing our experience once this game finally hits our hot little hands.



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  • In Battlestar Galactica can a character use actions from cards while in the brig?

    In Battlestar Galactica can a character use actions from cards while in the brig?


    In Battlestar Galactica can a character use actions from cards while in the brig or is the sole action available to the character, during his turn, is to try to get out? Also can other action cards that have effects on rolling, crisis resolution, etc. be used? Thanks in advance for the help!



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  • Rebel Raiders Still Lives! – InsideGMT


    Some weeks ago, an enterprising YouTuber, Andrew Choong, with his delightful British accent, posted several videos singing eloquent praise of GMT’s Rebel Raiders on the High Seas: a seminal game of the American Civil War at sea and the major rivers of North America by Mark McLaughlin (Mark and I enjoyably teamed together on several GMT games over the years).

    First, readers should know that while Rebel Raiders on the High Seas is currently out of print and unavailable for purchase directly from GMT, the game remains available via the “after-market” and, most conveniently and importantly, can be electronically obtained for play via Vassal!

    Yes, the talented Joel Toppen, who most recently assisted Mark and I by creating a wonderful Vassal Module for Ancient Civilizations of the Middle East, authored a fine Rebel Raiders on the High Seas Vassal Module. Here’s the link to access it: Category:GMT Games – VassalThen there’s Joel’s detailed description of how the Module works: Rebel Raiders on the High Seas – Inside the Game

    Furthermore, Joel so enjoyed the game that he did this interesting and entertaining Review /Description /Retrospective After Action Report (of a December 1864 clutch Union win, “snatching victory from the jaws of defeat”, as Joel incredulously puts it) of playing the physical game: Rebel Raiders – Inside the Game

    Ah, but if the preceding entices you, dear reader, here are links to what Andrew Choong more recently released via YouTube!

    First is his two-part review of Rebel Raiders on the High Seas: Rebel Raiders on the High Seas – Introduction & Rebel Raiders on the High Seas ‐ Final thoughts.  Additionally, Andrew did a well-made TWO PART example of Rebel Raiders on the High Seas play: Rebel Raiders on the High Seas – One turn example of play (part 1) & Rebel Raiders on the High Seas – One turn example of play (concluding part)

    Not enough?  Well, here’s ANOTHER video from Andrew with his portrayal of an historic ACW naval engagement using Rebel Raiders on the High Seas: Ships of War – Episode 19, USS Hartford (1858) vs CSS Tennessee (1864)  

    Thank you Andrew and Joel for these video creations which so well show-case the game as well as your respective articulate, enthusiastic presentation skills, skills that could hopefully rekindle the GMT family’s interest in Rebel Raiders on the High Seas!




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  • Oddities: A Peculiar Card Game Preview

    Oddities: A Peculiar Card Game Preview


    Odd creatures are lurking in the woods. Your job is to collect these creatures and out score your opponents in this cutthroat card game from Twisted Branch Games. Let’s get to know these odd little creatures that make up this game.

    An Odd Collection

    Players are creating a tableau of cards from the carious woodland creatures they find during the game. Each round of Oddities is marked by a Season card which dictates which creatures they can collect in that round. Simple oddities are common and are the most common card that you’ll come across. Rare oddities have unique magical abilities that will help strengthen your collection.

    Oddities - card types

    At the start of your turn, draw the top card off the deck, adding a new card to your hand. Then, play a single action on your turn. You can “search” by drawing another card, “strengthen” by playing a card into your collection, “sabotage” lets you play a misfit oddity into another players collection, or you can “strike” which lets you play a quirk card.

    A players collection sits in front of them, scoring a single point for each oddity. Specific oddities give additional points and misfits will add a wrinkle to your collection. The sabotage action adds some “take that” to the game. Ultimately, players are racing to be the first one to have six points in their collection.

    Oddities - player hand

    Watch Out for the Misfits

    Oddities gameplay is a quick teach and easy to understand. Each card has an icon designation that makes it easy to recognize the card type. There are four different seasons in the game that get drawn at the start of the round. During the Winter season, only oddities with the Winter icon, or the “any season icon” can be played. Keeping a variety of oddities in your hand gives you the flexibility to play into your collection across the various rounds.

    Misfit cards can be played in any season and will target another player at the table. These cards are mostly inconvenient but can be removed through various rare oddity abilities or quirk effects.

    Oddities - quirk card

    Quirk cards are effects that immediately take place when they are played. Some of these cards can be down right mean when they wreak havoc on your collection. Some quirk cards can also protect your collection from your opponents.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tIcQZ7bRIs

    Final Thoughts

    Oddities is a solid card game for families who are looking for a game that everyone can play. The cards are pretty straight-forward and the game supports up to eight players. Erin and I both enjoyed the game at two players, but noticed some balance issues. The team at Twisted Branch Games is addressing this by modifying the deck at that player count.

    Oddities - season cards

    I really enjoy the whimsical look of the creatures in Oddities. The game is cute and even my daughters remarked on the art throughout the game. We had the most fun with Oddities at three to five players (we didn’t play at the highest count). Since misfit and quirk cards can target your opponents, it was nice having a couple options when choosing who to target.

    If you’re looking for a fun easy to teach card game with charming artwork, Oddities is a game you should definitely check out.

    Oddities is being funded through Kickstarter by Twisted Branch Games. Check out the campaign that launches on February 2, 2025.

    A prototype of the game was provided for this coverage. Components and rules covered in this preview are not finalized. Read more about our preview policies at One Board Family.



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