Gabz was talking to his dadz the other day, and it goes like this a lot. At root, his father was party to the manufacture of a creature whose most ordinary mode of operation is completely alien to a person like himself, one who excelled in the doing of useful things.

It was important to us that we get a print and play out so that folks could check out the game. I was nervous about this because while I felt like the mechanics were solid, the art still had a long way to go. I’m glad that people have been downloading the print and play and enjoying the game but it’s also important to me that you all get an idea of what I intend for the final game to actually look like. Thornwatch is designed to feel like you’re playing through a graphic novel and so obviously the artwork is going to be a huge part of the experience. With that in mind I wanted to show you some behind the scenes stuff as I work on the storyboards.

I think they might have seen Tycho Tries over at Ubisoft, because they came through and asked us if we wanted to do something similar on a sponsored stream featuring For Honor - we'd done it once before, and I thought it was pretty fun, because I love talking. Essentially, did we want to talk to the developers, get questions answered, check out the factions, that kind of thing? Yes. I would have done this anyway, but I'm happy to do this type of stuff as long as everybody knows it's "sponsored" in capital letters.

I don't have any space in my life for Titanfall CCG, but that doesn't mean I won't get it and play it. It just means that something else will have to go, something useless that I can probably get by without.

I thought I'd be able to make a psychic meal out of some maritial strife over at Gabe's house, but the whole thing was distressingly ordinary and I derived zero nutrition. I unfurled my proboscis for nothing.

During one of our Q&A’s at this most recent PAX, we talked about how Tycho has never read any of the books I have recommended to him. We’ve been friends for 22 years now and in that time I have read countless books he has suggested, but not once has he cracked the cover on one of my recommendations. During that Q&A he told me to pick a book and he would remedy this situation. I have a book in mind but I don’t think just reading it is enough. I also think he should have to do a book report on it.

As happens so often at a PAX, a game gets lodged in Gabriel's mind like a seed in a pavement crack and then all hell breaks loose.

I did not win my Gears of War 4 match, even though I should have, and the stars were right and there was a grand conjunction etcetera. So now I'm on the prowl for a game that leverages the substantial delta in our relative physical strength. And while I might not have won in the traditional sense, I did win in another sense and maybe that's the most important thing.

This was a huge show for fans of the Eyrewood. The first thing we announced was the Thornwatch Kickstarter. I'd like to thank everyone who has supported the Kickstarter. If you are on the fence about the game I would encourage you to grab the print and play. It's a great introduction to the mechanics and the setting. I do want to make it clear that while the game plays great I still of a lot of work to do on the art side of it. The process of taking the sketches and rough paintings you're seeing now, to what I would consider final art is something I plan on sharing through the Kickstarter. When all is said and done, I want you to feel like you're playing through a massive, lavishly painted Thornwatch graphic novel.

I don't know. Occasionally, when I garb myself as Ominifis Dran, war cleric of Tymora, I can't orient the events of my life in a linear fashion.

Well it finally happened. We launched the Thornwatch Kickstarter just a couple hours ago. The number one question I’ve gotten over the years is “when can I buy it”. Well now you can!

There is a lot of stuff going on this weekend, holy shit.

There's only one way this ends:

You never know one hundred percent what's gonna happen when you sit down to play whatever Josh has installed for the First 15; sometimes it is a game where you move a ball around. We have been surprised to learn just how omnipresent these balls are. You might also be exposed to Captain Forever Remix, which we seized with our pedipalps and palpably enjoyed.

Hey there! Another PAX looms and we've been hard at work creating a colorful array of products for you. We'll have two locations again. Merch Main will be in its usual spot in the Atrium Lobby. And Merch Lite will have a new, browsable format in the secret caves accessed via the Sheraton lobby. We'll have signs. And probably a line. Come see us.

Tycho and I will battle at Gears of War 4 in just a few days. Let me introduce you to the team that will win.