iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

SpielMas ⛄️ festival ➡️ Dec. 26-31 @spielmas.com · 22/09/2026

Spent the evening in Santa Cruz CA helping @themisplay.com promote their upcoming release “Under One Sky.” Follow on Kickstarter: www.kickstarter.com/projects/the... Hosted by @courtneylasch.bsky.social through her Game Night Collective (gamenightcollective.com). #boardgames

Courtney at the table with games and flyers.

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SpielMas ⛄️ festival ➡️ Dec. 26-31 @spielmas.com · 01/09/2026

Over at @haoleboygames.com I’m working to publish a combustive solo adventure for @gamemarketwest.bsky.social called Pōpoki. So I snuck in some ads for the annual #SpielMas ⛄️ festival on the box art. #Popoki 🐈 #boardgames

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SpielMas ⛄️ festival ➡️ Dec. 26-31 @spielmas.com · 18/08/2026

Got to camp at Limekiln State Park in Big Sur CA. It’s been closed for three years due to slides on Highway One. Played DNUP, Mojo, Knarr, and Waypoints. #boardgames

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SpielMas ⛄️ festival ➡️ Dec. 26-31 @spielmas.com · 06/08/2026

Crafting! Bottom template will include some marketing for #SpielMas ⛄️. For the rest of the design, check @haoleboygames.com for my upcoming solo game about a feral cat who walks across an active lava flow field in Hawai’i. #Popoki 🐈 #boardgames

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SpielMas ⛄️ festival ➡️ Dec. 26-31 @spielmas.com · 02/08/2026

First time teach/learn for all four players in SETI took SIX hours, but it was glorious. It’s the most I’ve committed to game in a long time. And yes, I did stare directly at the (LED) sun. #boardgames

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SpielMas ⛄️ festival ➡️ Dec. 26-31 @spielmas.com · 29/07/2026

My GenZ daughter is finding her love of #boardgames again while in college but on her own terms. It means sewing your own board, collecting found objects, and playing outside with friends. GenX approves!

A homemade backgammon board of cloth and buttons.

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SpielMas ⛄️ festival ➡️ Dec. 26-31 @spielmas.com · 15/06/2026

Got to visit The Well Played Café in Asheville NC. Learned to play Sail, Kites, and Hanamikoji. What a cool spot! #boardgames

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SpielMas ⛄️ festival ➡️ Dec. 26-31 @spielmas.com · 25/05/2026

We played Hot Streak with new gamers, and it was a romp of a good time! #WhatDidYouPlayMonday #Boardgames

Initial card draw in the second round, before everyone has thrown in their card.

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SpielMas ⛄️ festival ➡️ Dec. 26-31 @spielmas.com · 03/05/2026

I feel like we should have played “Deep Regrets” from @tettix.bsky.social at this restaurant. #boardgames

THE FUEL DOCK
WOODWARD
MARINE MARKET
RESTAURANT
MOSS LANDING CA

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SpielMas ⛄️ festival ➡️ Dec. 26-31 @spielmas.com · 25/04/2026

Love Letter is back on Board Game Arena! ✍🏼👸🏻 #boardgames

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SpielMas ⛄️ festival ➡️ Dec. 26-31 @spielmas.com · 14/04/2026

Picked up “Otter” from @dylancoyle.bsky.social of Charming Games Collective at @gamemarketwest.bsky.social and couldn’t be more pleased after several three-person games. #boardgames BGG: boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/42...

Mid-game of Otter with three players. Three otters are in the middle, each with a stack of cards between their head and tail.

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SpielMas ⛄️ festival ➡️ Dec. 26-31 @spielmas.com · 06/02/2026

What game would you play with friends or family this weekend if you weren’t watching the big HandEgg 🏈 game? #boardgames #SpielMas

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SpielMas ⛄️ festival ➡️ Dec. 26-31 @spielmas.com · 05/02/2026

Got to play “In The Footsteps of Darwin” by @sorrywearefrench.bsky.social at a game night this week, and loved it. Fast teach, quick to play, lovely art. But the mechanism of sailing the HMS Beagle around a 3x3 grid was so good. Can wait to get back out to sea again! #boardgames

End-game with my board nearly filled because of two filled columns and rows.

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SpielMas ⛄️ festival ➡️ Dec. 26-31 @spielmas.com · 01/02/2026

I got to play a four-person demo of Sanibel by @elizhargrave.bsky.social while at @gamesantacruz.bsky.social. Lovely to look at, very fun to play, and a part of the world unfamiliar to me. It’s what #boardgames should do: Take you away for 45 minutes to discover something novel!

Mid-game with a bad half full of shells as player moves the pawn along the beach in Florida.

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SpielMas ⛄️ festival ➡️ Dec. 26-31 @spielmas.com · 28/01/2026

Played 7 Wonders Dice on #BoardGameArena and loved it. Very fast, although the details of the board are difficult to see in mobile. It felt like “Welcome To…The Wonders!” #boardgames

Beginning screen of the game with nothing crossed off in the different buildings.

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SpielMas ⛄️ festival ➡️ Dec. 26-31 @spielmas.com · 26/01/2026

Tried out the Duel mode for Symbiose and instantly wanted to improve on the randomness of the face-down cards in the river. We ultimately liked this “consult” variant: boardgamegeek.com/thread/35389... #boardgames

Two-person Symbiose with an IPA from Other Brother Brewery in Seaside CA.

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SpielMas ⛄️ festival ➡️ Dec. 26-31 @spielmas.com · 22/01/2026

Got to play Tokaido and Harmonies at my first IRL game night of the new year. All in preparation for the next #SpielMas ⛄️ festival! #boardgames

Mid game of Tokaido (near) and Harmonies (far) at a local cafe in Seaside CA.

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SpielMas ⛄️ festival ➡️ Dec. 26-31 @spielmas.com · 12/01/2026

Because of the generosity of Rio Grande Games during #Spielmas ⛄️, I have six sets of these titles to donate to a game group in the SF Bay Area to add to their library. Let me know if I can drive to your cafe/brewery where you play! #boardgames

How it’s going: I can donate six sets of nine titles valuing $564.55 (MSRP) including:

Coloretto
Zooloretto
Tobago
Dice Realms
Woodcraft
Shipyard
Concordia
Pictures
Beyond The Sun

How it started: 68 games, 10 titles, total of $4,296.60 (MSRP). All because of a post I made on Instagram that got their attention.

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SpielMas ⛄️ festival ➡️ Dec. 26-31 @spielmas.com · 31/12/2025

As we close out the sixth-annual #SpielMas ⛄️ festival on Day 6, I hope you had fun. Take your celebrations and carry them into 2026. Make new connections with family and friends. And discover games all year long you’ll want play again during next year’s festival. Thank you for spreading your joy!

My 2024 celebration using the River and Stone deck of playing cards designed by @bethsobel.bsky.social. We’re playing a variant of Palace I designed exclusively for her deck.

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SpielMas ⛄️ festival ➡️ Dec. 26-31 @spielmas.com · 25/12/2025

Six Days of #SpielMas ⛄️ but with @stonemaiergames.com instead! Visit www.spielmas.com/blog/six-day... for more verses but with @catan.com #DaysOfWonder and #RioGrandeGames! #boardgames

On the sixth day of SpielMas, my true love gave to me…

Six painted landmarks. (Tapestry)

Five unlocked crates! (Charterstone)

Four eggs to lay. (Wingspan)

Three sand timers. (Pendulum)

Two jugs of wine. (Viticulture)

And a mech in a snowy field of trees. (Scythe)

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SpielMas ⛄️ festival ➡️ Dec. 26-31 @spielmas.com · 25/12/2025

One more day until the #SpielMas ⛄️ festival! Print your display: www.spielmas.com/displays #boardgames

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SpielMas ⛄️ festival ➡️ Dec. 26-31 @spielmas.com · 24/12/2025

We’ll probably play another game of Samurai with my mother-in-law, and then I’ll start reading rules for one of the games I’ll unbox for the start of the #SpielMas ⛄️ festival on Friday. Join the celebration at SpielMas.com

Rice, helmet, and Buddha tokens on a map of Japan.

From bottom to top:

Diatoms
Deep Regrets
Knitting Circle
Isle of Cats Duel
Kabuto Sumo
Roll in One

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SpielMas ⛄️ festival ➡️ Dec. 26-31 @spielmas.com · 23/12/2025

It’s not too late to print your #SpielMas ⛄️ display at SpielMas.com/displays #boardgames

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SpielMas ⛄️ festival ➡️ Dec. 26-31 @spielmas.com · 22/12/2025

Does your #boardgames cafe or store plan to promote a day to purchase and/or play a game for the #SpielMas ⛄️ festival starting this Friday 12/26?

The game library at Peoples Coffee in Santa Cruz CA.

Close up of a promotional poster for the SpielMas festival within the shelves of the game library at Peoples Coffee in Santa Cruz CA.

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SpielMas ⛄️ festival ➡️ Dec. 26-31 @spielmas.com · 21/12/2025

“How do I #SpielMas ⛄️?” It’s easy…just play a game and celebrate! Share this “I’m Celebrating” graphic as a post or story to encourage more people to join the celebration. Find out more below…🧵 #boardgames #tabletopgames

I'M CELEBRATING SPIELMAS

USE #SPIELMAS TO SHARE YOUR GAMES!

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SpielMas ⛄️ festival ➡️ Dec. 26-31 @spielmas.com · 19/12/2025

Can you #SpielMas ⛄️ solo? Yes! There’s a whole world of #boardgames that play 1 or more or were designed exclusively for solo play. Waypoints is one of many @postmark_games print-and-play games you could play solo or with lots of people. But yes, the struggle to find others to play with is real!

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SpielMas ⛄️ festival ➡️ Dec. 26-31 @spielmas.com · 17/12/2025

2025 Great Game That’s Better In-Person More challenging: Libertalia: Wings of Galecrest ( @stonemaiergames.com ) - You can play the original game on BGA, but when you play this in-person with people who love pirates, it gets real…fast.

2025 Great Game That’s Better In-Person: Libertalia: Winds of Galecrest

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SpielMas ⛄️ festival ➡️ Dec. 26-31 @spielmas.com · 17/12/2025

2025 Great Game That’s Better In-Person Runner Up: The Gang ( @thamesandkosmos.bsky.social ) - Not available to play online, but in-person it’s amazing. You actually learn from your mistakes and become a better poker player.

2025 Great Game That’s Better In-Person: The Crew

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SpielMas ⛄️ festival ➡️ Dec. 26-31 @spielmas.com · 17/12/2025

Want a great online game that’s better to play in-person for the upcoming #SpielMas ⛄️ festival? Try: The Crew ( @thamesandkosmos.bsky.social ) - I brought a bunch of games to a weekend gathering, and we ended up playing The Crew more than any other game. Runners-up... 🧵 #boardgames

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SpielMas ⛄️ festival ➡️ Dec. 26-31 @spielmas.com · 15/12/2025

Learned how to play Waypoints from @postmarkgames.bsky.social. Got in the air and the water. Snow on the second day slowed me down. Made it to the 1000m at the right time. Didn’t drink enough water! #boardgames

Finished game with 112 points (solo, hard).

Full, finished map of Whistling Water National Park.

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SpielMas ⛄️ festival ➡️ Dec. 26-31 @spielmas.com · 15/12/2025

2025 Great Game That’s Better With An Variant Runner Up: Lucky Numbers ( @tikieditions.bsky.social ) - Once you get the hang of the base game, add Bruno’s variant and play in a tournament. So much better!

2025 Great Game That’s Better With An Variant: Lucky Numbers (Bruno's variant)

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SpielMas ⛄️ festival ➡️ Dec. 26-31 @spielmas.com · 15/12/2025

2025 Great Game That’s Better With An Variant Runner Up: 6 Nimmt/Take 5 ( @amigogames.bsky.social ) - We play the “professional” version; you can add a card to a row on the left or right. Also known in our group as “6 Nimmt of Death.”

2025 Great Game That’s Better With An Variant: 6 Nimmt/Take 5 (professional)

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SpielMas ⛄️ festival ➡️ Dec. 26-31 @spielmas.com · 15/12/2025

Want a great game that’s better with a variant you could learn for the upcoming #SpielMas ⛄️ festival? Try: Can’t Stop ( @eaglegryphon.bsky.social ) - The second official variant is the best; it’s called the “forced movement requirement” on Board Game Arena. Runners-up... 🧵 #boardgames

2025 Great Game That’s Better With An Variant: Can't Stop (forced movement)

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SpielMas ⛄️ festival ➡️ Dec. 26-31 @spielmas.com · 14/12/2025

Excellent game night! My host taught us Endeavor: Deep Sea. I then taught Knarr. I ran a playtest of my unofficial 2p variant of Take 5. We finished with my first IRL play of Faraway after multiple plays on Board Game Arena. #boardgames

Near the end of Endeavor: Deep Sea with the yellow player left with three moves in a region explored down to the Abyssopelagic Zone, nearly the deepest part of the ocean.

Near the end of Faraway, with six of the eight cards placed and several Sanctuary cards above.

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SpielMas ⛄️ festival ➡️ Dec. 26-31 @spielmas.com · 13/12/2025

2025 Great Game That’s Better With An Expansion More challenging: Parks ( @keymastergames.bsky.social ) - We still have the first edition of Parks, which we always play with the Nightfall and Wildlife expansions. The second edition is available on BGA, and the artwork is stunning.

2025 Great Game That’s Better With An Expansion: Parks (second edition)

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SpielMas ⛄️ festival ➡️ Dec. 26-31 @spielmas.com · 13/12/2025

2025 Great Game That’s Better With An Expansion Runner Up: Mountain Goats ( @allplay.bsky.social ) - Use the Big Mountain expansion. In the base game, you quickly lament you can’t use some of your goats when tokens run out, so getting to add them back in gives new life to a great game.

2025 Great Game That’s Better With An Expansion: Mountain Goats

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SpielMas ⛄️ festival ➡️ Dec. 26-31 @spielmas.com · 13/12/2025

2025 Great Game That’s Better With An Expansion Runner Up: Skulls of Sedlec ( @buttonshy.bsky.social ) - When we first played this, our host added a bunch of new “skulls” and we loved the variety. Pick up one of the expansion collections to make this game even more rewarding!

2025 Great Game That’s Better With An Expansion: Skulls of Sedlec

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SpielMas ⛄️ festival ➡️ Dec. 26-31 @spielmas.com · 13/12/2025

Want a great game that’s better with an expansion you could learn for the upcoming #SpielMas ⛄️ festival? Try: Sea Salt & Paper ( @bombyx.bsky.social ) - Definitely add the Extra Salt and Extra Pepper expansions! Runners-up... 🧵 #boardgames

2025 Great Game That’s Better With An Expansion: Sea Salt & Paper

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SpielMas ⛄️ festival ➡️ Dec. 26-31 @spielmas.com · 13/12/2025

There’s always two extra cards in a Theory 11 deck, and Star Trek does it right. #boardgames

Two cards put together. One is the lid of a communicator. The other is the base of a communicator.

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SpielMas ⛄️ festival ➡️ Dec. 26-31 @spielmas.com · 10/12/2025

2025 Frosties: Great Game With Only 18 Cards Runner Up: Skulks of Sedlec ( @buttonshy.bsky.social ) - This is a great game that just got added to our Pub Bag. Lots of replay, and the theme is very strong.

Great Game With Only 18 Cards: Skulls of Sedlec

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SpielMas ⛄️ festival ➡️ Dec. 26-31 @spielmas.com · 10/12/2025

Want a great game with only 18 cards you could learn for the upcoming #SpielMas ⛄️ festival? Try: Shallow Regrets ( @buttonshy.bsky.social ) - A fun, awkward game of fishing gone wrong. Can’t wait to dive into its base game, Deep Regrets. Runners-up... 🧵 #boardgames

Great Game With Only 18 Cards: Shallow Regrets

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SpielMas ⛄️ festival ➡️ Dec. 26-31 @spielmas.com · 08/12/2025

2025 Frosties: Great Game for 7-8 Players More challenging: Welcome to… (Blue Cocker Games) - The role-and-write that forces you all to build a subdivision is great with lots of players. Its variants are good, too, and check out the sequel Welcome to the Moon for six players!

Great game for 7-8 players: Welcome To...

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SpielMas ⛄️ festival ➡️ Dec. 26-31 @spielmas.com · 08/12/2025

2025 Frosties: Great Game for 7-8 Players Runner Up: Martian Dice (Tasty Minstrel Games) - This filler gets played a lot in our online group. Hilarious and random all at the same time!

Great game for 7-8 players: Martian Dice

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SpielMas ⛄️ festival ➡️ Dec. 26-31 @spielmas.com · 08/12/2025

Want a great game for seven to eight players you could learn for the upcoming #SpielMas ⛄️ festival? Try: Hugo (@amigogames.bsky.social) - We have played this for the last two Halloweens, but unlike other “holiday” games it keeps coming out in November and December. Runners-up... 🧵 #boardgames

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SpielMas ⛄️ festival ➡️ Dec. 26-31 @spielmas.com · 05/12/2025

2025 Frosties: Great Game for 5-6 Players More challenging: Challengers! Beach Cup (@1moretimegames.bsky.social) 1-8 players - Last year, I gave the base game its “more challenging” award, but Beach Cup is a stand-alone sequel. It’s just as much fun to discover new ways to win.

2025 Frosties: Great Game for 5-6 Players - Challengers! Beach Cup

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SpielMas ⛄️ festival ➡️ Dec. 26-31 @spielmas.com · 05/12/2025

2025 Frosties: Great Game for 5-6 Players Runner Up: Sushi Go Party! (@gamewrightbuffalo.bsky.social) 2-8 players - Always a quick way to fill the game night, especially if you need up to eight players. Love the art work!

2025 Frosties: Great Game for 5-6 Players - Sushi Go Party!

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SpielMas ⛄️ festival ➡️ Dec. 26-31 @spielmas.com · 05/12/2025

Want a great game for five to six players you could learn for the upcoming #SpielMas ⛄️ festival? Try: Pixies (@bombyx.bsky.social) 2-5 players - This game’s artwork is so striking, but cozy goes out the window when you start to play. Very fast and fun! Runners-up... 🧵 #boardgames

2025 Frosties: Great Game for 5-6 Players - Pixies

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SpielMas ⛄️ festival ➡️ Dec. 26-31 @spielmas.com · 03/12/2025

Want a great game for three to four players you could learn for the upcoming #SpielMas ⛄️ festival? Try: Harmonies (Libellud) A beautiful game that plays well on BGA and sparkles in-person. We gave a copy to a host while on vacation! Runners-up... 🧵 #boardgames

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