Got some sample boxes for Community Cats and I think these will work! Any feedback?
Manda Shafer
@mandashafer.bsky.social
She/her. Boardgame Designer, Cat Fanatic, and Wannabe Recluse
Authors, when your books go for sale on Bookshop.org for very cheap, am I helping or hurting by buying it? I usually get it from the library and rarely buy digital books unless they are under $5.
My game's setup in the rule book only has 9 steps. Do I make up another so I don't drive people crazy?
I think I solved the problem of the board for Community Cats. It always felt clunky and unnecessary, except I had to have individual colonies labeled. So trying out this idea of having wood indicators that go on top of the colony tiles. They match the other wooden components. What do you all think?
I remembered to take exactly one picture at Harrisburg Board Game Day. Here are some fine folks playing (and breaking) Harrisburg 1878.
What would you do? I'm working on an engine-builder roll and write. Right now it's more of a multiplayer solitaire, but that means any number of players. I do have a way to make it more competitive with dice drafting, but that makes it more like a 1-4 player game and longer time.
Folks, we've got an awesome line up of designers coming to Harrisburg Board Game Day. I'm most looking forward for a chance to pick their brains on some mechanics I'm struggling with, and playing their games of course!
Greg Loring-Albright (he/him)@gregisonthego.bsky.social · 2w agoI’ll be there too, playtesting “Negative Space,” my small-box homage to big-box space conquest & negotiation games, and a storytelling game about community and adventure. (also We Are Mushrooms is very cool and good and you should get it).
In case my subscribers thought I died, I finally updated it. I said weeks late, but it's actually months. Oops. open.substack.com/pub/mandasha...
“Monthly” Update
The one where Manda didn’t update her newsletter for weeks
open.substack.com
We are in local paper TheBurg Harrisburg Board Game Day to return this weekend with play, connection - TheBurg share.google/mZ4VZSMkWPME...
Harrisburg Board Game Day to return this weekend with play, connection - TheBurg
It’s your move. Harrisburg Board Game Day will return to Strawberry Square this weekend for a full day of play as a community. “Harrisburg Board Game Day is about giving people a reason to come togeth...
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The coolest part of making Community Cats myself is the custom tokens I can make!
Harrisburg Board Game Day is coming soon - August 29 10:00 am - 8:00 pm Strawberry Square, Harrisburg, PA Check out games from local designers like @gregisonthego.bsky.social @spookyghostgames.bsky.social and @exeunt.press featured in this video! www.abc27.com/good-day-pa/...
Harrisburg Board Game Alliance – Harrisburg Board Game Day August 29
The Harrisburg Board Game Alliance is fostering a dynamic and inclusive community around the joy of board games. Harrisburg Board Game Day is a fun upcoming community event, whether you’re ne…
abc27.com
Had an awesome time taking to Jared of 20 sided gamified podcast. I'm too shy to listen to it so you all have to and tell me how I did podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
Episode #133: Building a Game Community: Manda Shafer of the Harrisburg Boardgaming Alliance
Podcast Episode · 20 Sided Gamified Podcast · August 14 · 57m
podcasts.apple.com
So excited that Community Cats was chosen for the Indie Games Night Market. Busy months ahead of me. 😳
Daniel Newman // New Mill Industries@dnlnwmn.bsky.social · last mo.The vendors for the 2026 Indie Games Night Market have been decided on! www.newmillindustries.com/ignm
Does anyone have experience using waterproof copy paper to create game mats or player boards? Looking for some opinions on it. www.riteintherain.com/duracopy-wat...
Rite in the Rain Waterproof Printer Sheets, 8.5 x 11, No.6511
In underwater conditions, what you print or write won’t rub off these tear-resistant copier sheets. 100 synthetic DuraCopy sheets. Not for inkjet printers.
riteintherain.com
Looks like I can fit all the tiles on a single sheet of paper for Community Cats, which means much easier production
Didn't get to see Lestat in concert but still getting my vampire fill in NYC
Almost forgot I'm supposed to keep this Substack thing updated... So let's do a retrospective/introduction open.substack.com/pub/mandasha...
A look back at The Establishment
How I got my start in game design
open.substack.com
Had fun trying out some custom meeples. I think the taller ones are probably too light.
We were glad to have you! There's plenty of other opportunities for BMG all around so hopefully you can make it to more.
Exeunt Press 💀🎲@exeunt.press · 4mo agoWent to my first local @breakmygame.com event!* Had a really good time testing out a card-based roleplaying game by @gregisonthego.bsky.social. It hit that perfect balance of working for both first-time and experienced players. Hope I can attend another BMG in the future. * Not including MEPACON.
Got a playtest in at Break My Game yesterday of Community Cats. Some word choice issues I have to look at. Also worried the intro might be too easy. Got to try it on a few more people..
For today's Space-Cast!, I was joined by Greg Loring-Albright to discuss his recent Keep the Faith, the board game / RPG crossover about a religion in transition. Come for the games, stay for the trauma! A nice light chit-chat for the whole family. Listen here: spacebiff.com/2026/05/20/s...
Space-Cast! #56. Keep Your Shirt Tucked In
Ever wanted to play a game that would make you feel strange feelings about your childhood religion? Heyo, Greg Loring-Albright’s Keep the Faith is the title for you! In this conversation, Gre…
spacebiff.com
Duo tone acrylic is kind of awesome. Now considering doing acrylic time tokens for Community Cats.
I doubt I'm going to hit the majority of the audience that really needs to hear this on this page, but you should read it anyways. Great points from great minds in the industry. www.wargamer.com/board-games/...
Tabletop sexism, hidden women, and the myth of the 'wife board game'
Board games are bigger and more welcoming than ever, but women still face an uphill battle for the right kind of representation.
wargamer.com
Had a great time selling local game designers at Harrisburg Board Game Yard Sale.
Today is the day! Board game yard sale! Join us at Second City Church 12-3!
I'm looking to create a small DIY run of my newest game. Looking for opinions on using coin envelopes instead of plastic bags to hold/separate tokens: www.grainger.com/product/BUSI...
If you are around the Harrisburg area next Saturday and want some good deals on used board games, check out our Yard Sale! It all helps a good cause too.
