Squarehex 2021 Review and 2022 Plans

2021 Review

Considering the the ongoing impact of Covid, I'm pretty pleased with how things went in 2021. Sales of The Black Hack were solid, but we ran out out of print copies in June and so funded a reprint with a Kickstarter campaign. Stock of The Black Hack will go back on general sale in early January 2022 and we should have enough stock to last another 18-24 months. The Black Hack in PDF form clicked up enough sales to become a DriveThruRPG Adamantine best seller, which is quite an achievement when you consider that only 136 other titles have managed to reach the same status.

We ran 2 other Kickstarters during 2021. The first was an intentionally small project to print some Dungeon Geomorph mapping pads. The second (Dungeon Master's Little Black Book) was also intended to be a small project. However, it smashed its goal and went on to get over 1800 backers, which is more backers than we've had for any previous project. The welcome success of that project generated a lot of extra work. I did have another small project ready to go, but I had to shelve it to focus on The Black Hack reprint.

2021 saw a tentative return to conventions. Squarehex had a stand at both the UK Games Expo in August and Dragonmeet in December. We were anxious about returning the the shows, but thanks to the rules in place we felt safe at them. It also helped being part of an island block of stands with our friends at All Rolled Up and Patriot Games.

2022 Plans

The first job of the New Year is to put The Black Hack books and boxed sets back on general sale. At the same time I'll attempt to tidy the Squarehex webstore up a little. There's also a fair bit of admin work I'd like to do including a full stocktake and reorganising our storage, show stock, and getting new convention signage.

We'll be back with more Kickstarters. My list of potential projects now runs to several pages, and there are at least 8 that could potentially be selected to run this year. In no particular order they are:

• Another dungeon geomorph project
• The Lichway
• The Black Hack Classic Characters book
• A small notebook project
• A Black Hack adventure/s
• Another Little Black Book
• A game box project
• 2.5D Dungeons

I expect that we'll run 2 or 3 from that list and there's always a chance that something else will come along that manages to jump the queue. I'd also like to print some more mapping paper pads, but the rising cost of Overseas postage is making it increasingly hard to distribute them.

Italian fans of The Black Hack will be interested to learn that we have signed a license deal for an Italian Edition of the game. I'll share more details about it when it's ready to launch.

If they run, we'll be back at conventions in 2022. We've booked a stand at the UK Games Expo in June already. We also hope to be at Continuum (local to us in Leicester) in August, and Dragonmeet in December.

Thank you to everyone that supported our work in 2021, I hope we can tempt you back with something new this year.

UK Games Expo

It's the UK Games Expo this Weekend at the Birmingham NEC. The Black Hack 2nd Edition has been shortlisted as Best New RPG. We're up against Runequest and Forbidden Lands. There's a Judges' Award and one voted for by the public. It would be great if we could win an award and if you'd like to support us you can do so by downloading the UK Games Expo App (Google or Apple) and voting for us. While you're on the app please lend your support to Paul Baldowski of Just Crunch Games whose Cthulhu Hack adventure Valkyrie Nine has also been shortlisted. It would be great to see one or both of these awards go to us small press publishers.

If you're going to the show please stop by and say hello. We're in Hall 1 Stand#256 (we're near LotFP, All Rolled Up, Melsonian Arts Council, Patriot Games and all the other best indy exhibitors).

In other news we've just had a small batch of mugs created featuring Karl Stjernberg's cover art images from the main rule book. The mugs will be released at the Expo and will cost £6 each. I've also held back a few that I shall add to the Squarehex site next week. Along with the mugs we should have button badges and plectrums if they arrive in time.

UK Games Expo Price List

Squarehex will have a stand at the UK Games Expo this weekend (Stand K24). Here's a copy of our price list flyer. We've got a wide range of items and some of them are limited to just one or two copies. We can't reserve items so if you want something very badly please get to us early.

UK Games Expo Price List

Squarehex will have a stand at the UK Games Expo this weekend (Stand D29). Here's a copy of our price list flyer. We've got a wide range of items and some of them are limited to just one or two copies. We can't reserve items so if you want something very badly please get to us early.

UK Games Expo Report

We had a very busy three days in Birmingham last weekend. This year we had a 50% bigger stand than in 2014, but we gave up the corner location we had last year so the extra space only cost about 30% more. I'm delighted to report that it was a worthwhile upgrade as sales were up almost exactly 30% too.

Although about 50% of our takings were from sales of miniatures, we sold lots of OSR books and more paper pads, notebooks and mapping sheets than we have at any show to date. We also sold lots of Cthulhu posters from the test print-run for the Kickstarter.

The stand was so busy that it was the first year that I didn't get a chance to do a quick walk around the show. Lots of previous customers and kickstarter backers stopped by to say chat though, and they all seemed to be really enjoying the show.

Next year the Expo trade halls move to the NEC. I'm a bit wary about that as the gaming component of the show will remain in the hotel some 10 minutes walk away. However, it remains the most important gaming show in the UK so I'm sure we'll be back.

Squarehex UK Expo Pricelist

I've printed a price list for the last couple of UK Games Expos. This year's is the biggest yet. There's lots more of our own products, but there's still room for plenty of OSR, Savage Worlds, Miniatures, and a few board and card games.

We'll be re-stocking the stand every day,but a few of the items are limited to just 1 or 2 copies. If you spot something you particularly want get to us as early as you can. If you can't see something on the stand please ask as I'm not sure they'll be room to display everything.

Cthulhu Book Posters Project is Live!

I've just launched my 13th Kickstarter project. This time I'm funding a print run of two posters, each featuring the full text of a H.P.Lovecraft story. 

The first poster is A2-sized (420x594mm/16.5x23.4inches) and contains the entire text of The Call of Cthulhu. The second poster is A1-sized (594x841mm/23.4x33.1inches) and contains the entire text of At the Mountains of Madness.

Here's a link to the project page:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1730454032/cthulhu-book-posters

If you are at the UK Games Expo in Birmingham (29th-31st May), then you can take a look at them on the Squarehex stand. I'll also be selling my very limited test print-run stock of the posters at the show.

UK Games Expo 2014

We had a great weekend in Birmingham. Sales were good, and it was a great chance to meet some of our Kickstarter backers and customers in person.  This year we took a mix of boardgames, miniatures, RPGs and our own printed pads. We also had a fresh batch of Random Dungeon posters which were once again one of our bestsellers. We'll certainly be back next year.

Later this year we will also have stands at Continuum in Leicester, Derby World Wargames, and possibly Dragonmeet in London. There's a couple of other shows I have in mind but I need to do some more research on them.

UK Games Expo 2014

I'm busy packing lots of games, books, pads and figures to take along to the Expo this weekend.  This year the Squarehex stand is in the Library suite.  We had a great show last year, and I think this year we've got a much better selection of products to tempt customers old and new.

I've also created a new Squarehex logo, which I'm quite pleased with.  Our stand will have signage with the new logo so we should be easy to spot.

Derby World Wargames Show

I've booked a small stand at the Derby World Wargames show. It takes place at the Castle Donington Exhibition Centre on Saturday/Sunday 28th/29th September. As the title suggests it's a show for wargamers rather than RPGs. However, as the stand wasn't expensive, and it's only a 20 minutes drive away, I figured I'd give it a go. It looks like a fairly large event. I'll be taking all my own publications and pads, and whatever else I can find that will fit in the car. My biggest worry is being tempted by what other traders are pedaling and coming back with more stuff than I take to sell. Details of the show may be found at:

www.worldwargames.co.uk

I was very pleased with our takings at the 2013 UK Games Expo earlier this year. I plan to be there again in 2014. I've also penciled in a stand at Con-Quest which is another Derby show. If sales continue to grow I'll look at shows further from home.

UK Games Expo Round-up

We had a great weekend at the UK Games Expo.  Having attended the show as visitors for the the last two years, we decided to put together a stand for the 2013 show.  During the last two days, we have chatted to some of our Kickstarter backers, OSR fans and lots of other gamers which was both enjoyable and illuminating.  We also made a profit which was gratifying.  We will almost certainly be back next year.  Our best-selling items were our own PoGI pads, the Random Dungeon posters and the Labyrinth Lord books.

Our stand was next to Leisure Games, which was handy as they are one of the major retailers at the show.  On the other side of us were Grublin Games who are running a Kickstarter for a very cool boardgame - Cornish Smuggler - which we've backed.  LotFP had a stand just across from us, and Jim said he'd had a good show (his Pay-What-You-Like Pricing Policy was rewarded by honest Gamers offering decent payment).  Otherwise there wasn't much old school gaming, although Chronicle City did have print copies of Dungeonslayers on their stand.

Here below are the pictures we took:  A shot of our stand.  A photo of Grublin Games's Henry and Jeremy - two great lads of a team of three who were also excellent neighbours during the show.  And a photo of Jim and his wife at their LotFP stand.  All in all, a great weekend.

UK Games Expo Flyer

Oubliette/Squarehex has a stand at this weekend's UK Games Expo.  We will have for sale copies of Oubliette and various OSR publications, including some that are tricky to find in the UK.  We will also have lots of PoGI pads and accessories, plus, if they are printed in time, our new A3 and A5 pads.  Our stand is number P39 in the Palace Suite.  If you're at the show please drop by to say hello.

I put together a small A6 flyer/price list for the show just for fun.  It reminds me of some of the adverts in gaming magazines from the 80s.

Lego Brush Stand

A couple of weeks ago I received my brushes from the Games & Gears Kickstarter.  I've not tried them out yet, but will post a review when I get round to them.  However, I did get a chance to make a Lego brush holder, inspired by the Samurai brush holder that Games & Gears will be shipping in the next couple of months.  If anyone missed the Kickstarter and wants to get a set of the Pro Studio brushes, I'll have a few sets to sell on the Oubliette stand (P39 in the Palace Suite) at the UK Games Expo next weekend.

PoGI Kickstarter Delivered on Time!

All the rewards for the PoGI Kickstarter have now been posted.  Going by my schedule I actually finished a day early.   I've already had some great feedback from backers that received their pads today.

I'm now going to start work on getting the squarehex.co.uk website ready for launch.  I've ordered small test print runs of A3 hex and grid pads, and A5 hex pads, which I intend to release for sale on the site as soon as they are delivered.

In two weeks time, I shall be at the UK Games Expo in Birmingham (Stand P39 in the Palace Suite).  I'll have a healthy stock of pads, copies of Oubliette and a few other OSR gaming bits for sale.  If any readers/backers are attending the show, please drop by and say hello.

As one Kickstarter Campaign closes, it's time for another to begin.  Here's a preview link to my Officially Licensed Savage Worlds Character Sheet Pad Project.  Starts tonight at 8pm.

Last but not least, I'll be cracking on with Oubliette Issue 9.

UK Games Expo 2012 Report

Had a great day on Saturday at the Expo in Birmingham.  Seemed busier than last year, but the numbers seemed to thin out by mid-afternoon, thanks to the mini heatwave the UK is currently enjoying.  The stands and format seemed to be pretty much the same as last year.  It's a great show to visit if you are a boardgame fan with money in your pocket.

I had it in mind to pick up a copy of Stars Without Number.  Unfortunately, they had sold out by the time I got to the Mongoose stand.  There was also no sign of Dungeon Crawl Classics, but it may be a little too hot off the press for the UK distribution copies to have hit.  However, I was happy to come away with a Slayer's guide for one pound, to add to my collection from the ever popular bring-and-buy stand, and a bargain figure storage case from Chessex (of which I really should have bought two or three).

The highlight of the show for me, was a game of Living Munchkin, which is a semi-LARP version of the card game and was great fun.  We also sat in on Ian Livingstone and Steve Jackson's TopTen Games seminar where they each listed their top 10 games.  They both opted to put D&D in the number 1 slot, and had on display a very rare original boxed set signed by both Gygax and Arneson.

Here's a list of the other games from their lists.  They are not in order and I'm missing about five of them as my recorder ran out (if anyone was there and can add to the list please do so):

•Ticket to Ride
•Puerto Rico
•Acquire
•Can't Stop
•Small World
•The Great Dalmuti
•Lost Cities
•1829
•Balloon Cup
•Diplomacy
•The Warlord
•Caylus
•Civilization???

Ian Livingstone also announced a new Zombie-themed Fighting Fantasy book, which will be released in August this year to mark the 30th Anniversary of the series.

Overall, a great day was had by all.  It will be interesting to see how the show does next year in its new, bigger venue.

UK Games Expo 2011 Report

We had a great day out on Saturday at the UK Games Expo in Birmingham. I've attached some photos but they only show a few of the things the show had to offer. For the UK it's quite a big event, although it leans a little more towards skirmish games and board games than RPGs.

The OSR was represented by a small stand cleverly pitched opposite Otherword Miniatures. They had copies of Vornheim, which they said were selling well, along with numerous adventures and a couple of Fight On! Compilations. Leisure Games had a selection of OSR publications for sale; including the Oubliette Compilation which was nice to see. However, I didn't see a single Labyrinth Lord book and, come to think of it, I'm not even sure there was a copy of The Dungeon Alphabet either.

We reminisced with one of the guys running Talisman demos - a game we used to play as teenagers in First Edition form. We also played a cracking Gun Fight at the OK Corral game using 90mm figures and a giant scratch-built model of the town. The OK Corral game played out using some rules the guy had made up. It worked really well. He had a pack of cards with the names of characters on and he turned them over, one card at a time, and gave that character a single action. The more important the character, the more cards with their name in the deck.

We also sat in on a RPG seminar featuring; Lew Pulsipher who was good in a Grognardy sort of way, a OTT Finnish guy who was nuts but OSR friendly (it wasn't Raggi but he might have been cast from the same mould), and then a couple of others - one who'd written a setting that he really wanted to be a novel, and a lady from Cubicle 7, who had worked on Call of Cthulhu and a load of other stuff. They wasted a bit of time talking about what's great about RPGs and how kids today don't have the attention span to pick them up. They didn't talk that much about the industry, but the two publishers agreed that new products these days only have print runs of 500-1000 books.

I came away from the day full of ideas and with a bag full of goodies (mostly board games) to play with. However, I couldn't help feeling that, as far as the UK is concerned, there's a big OSR shaped gap in the hobby. Nealy all the OSR products I've picked up over the last year have come from the States, and it's not until you visit a convention that you realise the lack of representation by the UK in the OSR.

I'm planning on visiting a few more UK shows this year, but I'm already starting to formulate ideas for a stand to promote Oubliette and other OSR products at the UK shows next year.