Your gaming track in a box

Yesterday was Smofcon 37¼. Not much of general interest happened, but I was struck by a comment in a Zoom chat from someone who had yet to go to a virtual con this year that handled gaming well. Dedicated gaming cons have had the easiest transition of all to the online world, so for anyone struggling with this problem, here are the basic tools:

• Schedule & signups: If your con is already using Grenadine, I believe it can handle game signups. Otherwise, the current standard is Warhorn. Individual accounts are free and allow users to view schedules adjusted to their time zone.


• Voice chat: This is what Discord was originally created for! Set up a section for gaming with voice channels for each gaming table, and note which table to use in your event listing. Warhorn will allow you to put a direct link to Discord in every listing.


• Virtual tabletop & text chat: Allow GMs to use whatever they're comfortable with, but make sure the game listing is clear about how much setup players need to do. For instance, Tabletopia and Board Game Arena just need new users to sign up for a free account on a Web site, whereas Sovranti requires a download, and Tabletop Simulator is a paid app that only runs on top of Steam.

Interregnum, week 4

While the drama goes on at the top, the lower ranks of the government are getting on with the business of vaccine distribution. Yay! Not that I personally plan to be vaccinated soon. I mean, I'm all ready to be, but being under 50, working from home, and not having heart disease or diabetes, I realize I'm not a high-priority target. I can wait my turn while the healthcare workers and high-risk groups get theirs.

The feeling of doom from last week has eased a little. lydy got away with very mild symptoms. My co-worker was feeling a lot better last Monday, though he hadn't regained his sense of smell or taste yet.

Things are a little bit Christmas-y here now. I have an advent calendar in the shape of a wreath of candy (just pictures of it, not one of the ones with actual chocolate every day). The SO has both the LEGO Star Wars and City advent calendars set up on the dining table. No tree yet, since we don't usually get a tree until mid-December.