Derek A. Kamal's Blog

I. Love. A tabletop game with a small footprint. It’s just so cozy and nice and fun. If it’s one small deck you can fit in your pocket, all the better.

Stumbling into the realm of games utilizing only a deck of standard cards led me straight to Scoundrel; a free rule set that lets you simulate a dungeon dive using just some regular old playing cards.

The novelty struck harder because I realized, after a quick gander, that this directly inspired the game Card Crawl, which I’ve admired for a...

I love the crafting side of the tabletop hobby, but I struggle to know where to land when it comes to terrain. What’s best for me and my gaming needs?

Sculpted plastic terrain always looks fantastic (especially Warhammer terrain) but it’s expensive as hell and a lot of work to paint. Paper terrain is cheap and easy to make, but does not lend itself well to the immersive quality of miniature gaming I crave. So let’s do a cost-benefit analysis and see what kinds of compromises I need to make wi...

I’m quite proud of the fact that I have been keeping up with this blog (however infrequently) for a long time now.

Perusing the DAKs of ages past, writer’s block and the general creative struggle have been a topic of some frequency over the years. What I am experiencing now feels slightly different.

In the past, I found I was somehow able to make myself sit down and write. Whether or not I had something to write about was largely irrelevant for I was in the habit of building the habit. Th...

Among the strangest of Orruk warclans, at least in the realm of Hysh, are Mork’s Mad-Eyez. These fanatics, Kruleboyz in the main, flock to the banner of a Swampcalla Shaman named Mugruk Da Watcha; but not all callers are acceptable for his gang. Mugruk and his lieutenants only allow in those especially called by Mork, having been marked by the loss of at least one eye.

One would think that such extreme prerequisites might drive away most comers, but in this case the requirements have given th...

I love trashy mobile games. They’re like delicious junk food: scarf them down and toss out the wrapper and enjoy the seratonin. Sometimes mobile games stick, though. This list is quite short for me, but the current game topping said list these days is Fortress Saga by Burger Monster games.

Full disclosure, the only reason I gave this game a try is because the algorithm sent it my way when they were running a crossover with my beloved Delicious In Dungeon.

I assumed that once I had gacha’d ...

Siege Studio lit a nice little dumpster fire on their Instagram by posting a clip of their podcast in which the lads discuss the “value” of Warhammer. The comments were as you’d expect: by and large consisting of people foaming at the mouth and calling them industry plants or simps, with a few more thoughtful comments about the real cost of adult hobbies and the subjectivity of all claims of monetary value.

Instead of pouring fuel on said fire and debating with people in a comments section, I...

I’m consistently amazed by how creatively inspiring wee plastic toys can be. Inspired Modulorka’s latest release, I wanted to see what it would be like to have Ironjawz on flying mounts. This little story is the result

Far to the north, in the most mountainous lands of Rondhol, are da Sky Stompaz. They are an Ironjawz warband of da Choppas clan who keep a very peculiar habit: they breed and ride the largest bat-squigs in the Realms. 

To the average Ironjaw Orruk, such husbandry would b...

As I continue to learn about and process what it means to live life with my particular flavor of ADHD, I find myself coming back to this here blogo as a good space into which I may regurgitate these thoughts.

Most on my mind of late has been the notion of “intrusive sleep.”

I honestly don’t know how official this particular symptom is, but having learned about it through an Instagram reel I am a little bit suspicious. However there seems to be some professional research done on the subjec...

Been a while. What have I been up to? Warhammering, mostly, and keeping my head firmly in the sand during this latest election cycle.

To that end, I feel compelled to express a few things before going as far away as possible from this impossibly stupid situation.

We have two ancient beings running for election to the highest office in the land. Both are unfit to serve as Walmart greeters, much less as president of this republic. However, I will grit my teeth and vote for Biden because even...

‘Now Binky, I is going to need you to — ow!’ The lanky orruk jumped back from whatever it was he was talking to. Hammahed couldn’t see it through the foliage, but the noises and context allowed him to work his finkin’ muscles and deduce that it was likely a troggoth. 

‘That is one propa idiot.’ Kolmurk crouched to Hammahed’s immediate left. He was patiently shushed by his boss.

‘There’s a good Binky. Ol’ Naz won’t hurt ya,’ their target continued.

Hammahed leaned silently to his left, n...