It's easy to understand why role-playing games have become so immensely popular among contemporary gamers. By their very nature, these games are intensely immersive activities, with players experiencing various risks, rewards and social interactions all within the relatively consequence-free space of the game. This analytical study takes a deeper look at the world of role-playing games, providing a theoretical framework for understanding their more acute psychological and sociological functions. Although mainstream media channels often dismiss involvement in role-playing games as escapist and potentially dangerous, role-playing actually encourages creativity, self-awareness, group cohesion and ""out-of-the-box"" thinking--all valuable cognitive and social skills that remain useful in the real world. The study also offers a detailed participant-observer ethnography on role-playing games, featuring insightful interviews with 19 participants of table-top, live action and virtual role-playing games.

Although it was a global conflict, for many WW1 is synonymous with the war in the trenches of the Western Front. For anyone wargaming these battles a good trench system is a must. Douglas Hardy is a very experienced wargamer and terrain modeller and a member of the Western Front Association who has walked the battlefields many times. From the initial choice between stand-alone pieces on a mat or a fixed, bespoke layout, through to final detailing, he shares his experience, giving practical advice on building your own trench system. He considers the differences between British, German and French trenches, which differed in design and construction, as well as developments in defences through the phases of the war. A trench system is not just the trench itself of course, but also the dugouts, barbed wire entanglements, sandbags, gun emplacements and pillboxes. Shell holes and shattered forests are also covered. Each element is explained in step-by-step detail, illustrated with numerous colour photos and there are also reference photos of real trenches.

Rock, Paper, Scissors is a collection of creative, fun, sense-stimulating things you can do with very simple materials: stones, paper and scissors. From land art to science experiments, with a pinch of geology, and a sprinkling of magic, these easy-but-inspiring and thrifty activities will keep your family occupied all year round. Rock, Paper, Scissors is packed with activities to do indoors and outdoors, in the city, at the beach, in the countryside – wherever you might be. Perfect for parents who are keen to turn walks and day trips into exciting experiences, this activity book will have universal appeal for families who want to reduce their screen time and encourage kids to conjure up adventures from almost nothing both indoors and out.

Expert instruction you need to take your skills from kook to boss

Author John Robison uses hundreds of pictures-- comical, cartoon-like drawings--to clearly illustrate every aspect of surfing: wave dynamics, riding techniques, etiquette, logistics, and more. This entertaining, easy-to-understand visual presentation makes it easy for you to pick up his techniques and use them on the waves.

Robison covers every aspect of the sport, from paddling out through the surf zone and catching and riding that first wave to nose riding, acrobatics, shortboard riding, and to equipment repairs.

Chosen Men is a set of fast-action skirmish rules detailing the bloody skirmishes between light troops in the Napoleonic Wars. The primary focus of the game is on soldiers and NCOs in light 'flank' companies, as they scout ahead of larger forces and take part in man-to-man actions against enemy skirmishers. Although the game allows for the formation of accurately sized companies of light infantry and cavalry if you wish, these formations are broken down into small groups of up to a dozen men. For the most part, officers are not swashbuckling super-heroes, but staunch commanders who rally and direct their men to achieve the battlefield objectives. Although the game uses an alternating action turn sequence, officers can use their influence on multiple units at the same time in an effort to steal the initiative. With all rolls resolved using standard 6-sided dice, this game combines a classic wargaming feel with modern wargame mechanics.

Making slime is magical. Combine a few ingredients, mix by hand and suddenly a smooth (or fluffy, depending on the recipe) semi-solid, incredibly pliable but not-sticky goo appears. It begs to be touched. Poke, knead, pull on the toffee-like substance to achieve a calm state of mind. That's the meditative part of slime; it taps into the pleasure centres of the brain. Slime is also a visual feast: add food colouring, metallic paints, beads, glitter, even tiny toys to it. The result can look like ice cream or butter (don't eat it!); unicorn rainbow or galaxy goo; clouds, a fishbowl, Nutella--anything is possible. The Zen of Slime is a visual immersion into the sublime that is slime. Divided into themed chapters--air, water, fire and earth--the book features the Instagram artists who make and sell slime. They share their favourite photographs, recipes and tips. There's an endless variety of add-ins and different combinations of ingredients. Keeping track of this is as much fun as making slime, so notebook pages are included for jotting down potions. This is the next level of slime; sophisticated and artistic, for visionaries who recognise the special nature of this incredible stuff. (Or just enjoy looking at pictures of it).

Le Grimoire d'Askaryl est une saga epique qui se deroule dans le monde d'Hamnasya. Il y a deux cents ans, un des derniers descendants de la race des Dalahars ecrivit un grimoire afin de sauvegarder les sorts magiques les plus puissants jamais crees en Hamnasya. Son nom etait Askaryl. Vous etes Edhan, un jeune barbare astucieux, encore un peu impulsif, qui a ete adopte par Kaeld, l'un des membres du Conseil des Grands Sages. Votre premiere aventure a travers les terres du Metrinir vous a permis de lever le voile sur les ambitions de l'Archimage Asylus. Dans ce second volet, vous allez devoir commencer par vous rendre au plus profond du Temple des Larmes, afin d'empecher les sbires d'Asylus de s'emparer de la Jarre Maudite de Yorghash. Et, si vous survivez a cette premiere epreuve, votre quete vous conduira ensuite dans les contrees du sud d'Hamnasya, la ou se situe le fief de l'Archimage.

Razones personales y una pronta emigracion en 1974, me hicieron perder practicamente el contacto con el mundo damistico de competicion. Fue el gran maestro Harm Wiersma, quien me sugirio introducir el juego universal en Espana. Este proyecto supuso para mi un autentico revulsivo de trabajo, y asi comence a estudiar en primer lugar las caracteristicas propias del juego espanol. La primera y principal particularidad es que se juega en el tablero de 64 casillas, el mismo empleado para la practica del ajedrez, lo que le confiere una particularidad propia Comprobe igualmente, la no existencia de clubes deportivos de damas, y finalmente que la aficion por el juego estaba desapareciendo. Ante esta situacion preferi, mas que introducir el juego universal, intentar salvar la variedad espanola del juego de damas. Surge por tanto la necesidad de una obra sencilla y atractiva para la juventud, que permita conocer el juego y facilitar de este modo el desarrollo de la capacidad intelectual del joven.

Step by step, fully-illustrated building instructions for seven LEGO train models including a coal gondola, milk tanker, open hopper, depressed flatcar, passenger coach, powered box car, and diesel locomotive. Design alternatives suggest ways to customise the train cars, improve an existing LEGO train collection, or even pair the models in this book with an official LEGO train set.

What are the insider tricks and secret skills that make a LEGO Certified Professional's builds so awe-inspiring? How do you show action, intrigue and drama? How do you make your build move, glow - or even explode? This comprehensive, behind-the-scenes guide from the star judge of LEGO Masters Australia shows you how to scope any LEGO project, large or small. All the key skills are covered - from settling on a design, prototyping and considering size, scale and structure, to harnessing pro techniques like SNOT (studs-not-on-top) and 'jumping off the grid', as well as adding awesome action features that will bring your build to life. Packed with fascinating insider tips and illustrated examples of each skill, and featuring one of Brickman's own builds as a case study to reinforce the key techniques, this book is a backstage pass to your most impressive LEGO creation yet. 'If I had a copy of this book when I started out, it would have saved me learning the hard way!' Ryan McNaught, Brickman

Join the global movement and challenge your family to match screen time with outdoor time-with hundreds of fun, fresh-air ideas. Did you know that the average child in the UK spends more than 1,000 hours a year in front of a screen? And that outside play can boost children in every area of development? This book has everything you need to reset the balance and swap screen time for outdoor fun! Challenge your family to spend 1,000 hours outside this year with this collection of games, crafts, and activities, organised by season to help you find something you can do every day. Play leaf pile games, take a hot chocolate hike, make corn husk dolls, go on an animal home hunt, and much more with hundreds of ideas for all ages, abilities, and family types. No matter how busy you are, this book gives you all the ideas, photos, activity instructions, and inspiration you need to get outdoors with your family all year round.

A fantastic floral adventure and the latest sensational coloring book from bestselling artist Johanna Basford

This book invites you to travel the world and beyond into fantastical realms, discovering exotic blooms and extraordinary plants along the way. From floating gardens of water poppies in South Africa to delicate cosmos in Japan, and from fanciful toadstools to enchanted fairytale gardens, an abundance of fascinating florals awaits, ready for you to bring to life in color.

Join “colorist queen” (New York Magazine) Johanna Basford in her World of Flowers on a dazzling floral adventure of fantasy and imagination, filled with countless new blooms and blossoms to discover.

From Anchor Hocking's Manhattan pattern to Carder and Teague designs for Steuben, all of the major American companies who made Art Deco glass during the Depression Era-Cambridge, Consolidated, Duncan, Fostoria, Heisey, Libbey, Morgantown, Tiffin, and many others-are presented in this long-awaited book. With more than 350 color photos of both popular and rare examples, informative captions with values, plus patent drawings, company information, a bibliography, and a detailed index, this book will delight anyone interested in this highly collectible American glassware or in the Art Deco style.