Last Minute Christmas Gifts

It is Christmas Eve and you haven’t finished (or started) your shopping.

 

DON’T PANIC!

 

You can still get meaningful gifts for the gamers in your life.  Below are some suggestions from small businesses where possible.  Please note, some links may be affiliate links.  That means it doesn’t cost you anything extra to click on them, but we may receive a bonus from the retailer.  This has NOT influenced our decision to include a link to them.

 

  • Things From the Basement is offering 10% off with code X-MAS.  They sell MDF gaming kits, Gamer’s Grass, and Stoessi’s Heroes.  You can’t go wrong with any of the kits.  The Feudal Japan, Captain William Smith House, and Livestock Buildings are some of our favorites.
  • Alyssa Faden creates beautiful maps.  They’re perfect for gaming needs and as art to enrich your life.  Get digital ones from DriveThruRPG (affiliate link).. Some of our favorites are Brycshire (affiliate link) and Summerfort (affiliate link).  Or, get her maps printed on archival quality canvas, microwave & dishwasher safe mugs, and t-shirts at NobleDwarf.com.  We just received her Lightharbor map and it is gorgeous.  Until the end of 2020, NobleDwarf is giving free shipping in the US.
  • Jay Parker, our dear friend, has numerous RPG products you’ll enjoy.  He did work for R. Talsorian’s Cyberpunk RED (affiliate link) that inspired the hit video game Cyberpunk 2077.  Jay has entire lines of beloved RPGs through his company Dilly Green Bean Games (affiliate link).  You’re sure to find something you’ll like.
  • Ben Gerber of Troll in the Corner (affiliate link) has numerous gaming products for sale on DriveThruRPG.  In particular, Argyle and Crew (affiliate link) is a delightful sock puppet collaborative storytelling RPG.
  • TotalCon is going fully virtual for 2021!  You can get all 4 days of gaming fun for just $10.  Get badges at TotalCon 35.  We’ve gone just about every year since we first discovered this convention.  They do a fantastic job of running New England’s largest tabletop gaming convention.  Don’t miss out!
  • Henry Hyde is a celebrated author, game designer, podcaster, and gentleman.  Buy his Wargaming Compendium wherever you can.  It can be found at local book stores and of course online at Amazon.  Here’s a link to the Kindle edition (affiliate link).  He has a bunch of digital product available at Gladius Publications.  We LOVE his Wars of the Faltenian Succession.
  • Joseph Piddington directed Miniature Wargaming the Movie.  This award-winning documentary sheds a spotlight on the miniature wargaming hobby.  Joseph does a great job with this film.  It is a perennial favorite.  You can digitally get the film through numerous sources such as Apple TV, Google Play, VUDU, Vimeo, Amazon (affiliate link), and others.
  • Dwarven Forge makes beautiful tabletop terrain.  Intended for RPGs, they’ve begun to branch into wargaming terrain.  There’s SO MUCH to choose from.  Your best play may be a Gift Card.
  • The Wargaming Company has a 30% off sale on a variety of products.  You can snag a Killing Field battle mat, ESR box sets for some Napoleonics wargaming, and Noch trees at great prices.  Our personal favorites are their Noch trees.
  • Leadbear’s Tufts are my absolute favorite for sprucing up terrain and minis bases.  They’ve been a game changer ever since I first discovered them.  Barry Leadbear makes them on his wife’s kitchen table down in Australia.  They’re priced great, he ships globally, and he has a variety of styles. They look so organic and realistic.  Reach out to him on his Facebook page or via e-mail at .
  • Peter Bryant designed a fun chess variant named Rogue Chess.  It uses cards to provide alternate movement and abilities for your chess pieces.  It is a lot of fun for chess enthusiasts and any who like to have a blast.  You won’t regret getting this.
  • TSR Games has a bunch of cool products for you.  Grab The Hunt Overtime edition by Leo Normington Jr (base game and expansion), Cosmology of RPGs poster (as seen in Gygax Magazine #1) by Alyssa Faden and James Carpio, or a Top Secret NWO covert mug that changes design when filled with a warm beverage.
  • The Hobby Bunker is an amazing game store focused on historical miniatures, terrain, and toy soldiers.  They have or can get just about anything you can imagine.  They also sell online and will ship just about anywhere.  They’re a foundation of the local gaming scene and community.  You can buy tons of stuff from their online store (or call or e-mail or even I think fax them).  For ease, you may want to consider a gift certificate.

We hope these suggestions help you with your last-minute shopping.  Although some of the items listed above won’t arrive in time, you can always print out a photo of the item and make it look like a gift certificate.  Remember, the sentiment and love behind the present matters most.

This year has been tough on so many individuals and especially on small businesses.  Many of the above recommendations benefit small businesses.  Please consider shopping with them.