Role-playing, war games and fantasy sports Books

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Book SynopsisTwelve mind-blowing Minecraft builds to spark your imagination.Epic Inventions contains twelve incredible builds to inspire you to construct the most inventive builds in Minecraft. There's an intergalactic space station, an ancient temple, a kawaii waterways course, a giant meeple bedroom, an animal sanctuary, plus many more. Each build is presented to you by its builder—a construction expert eager to share their tips with you. As well as learning how to choose blocks and construct amazing builds, you'll also learn some excellent pro builder tips like how to terraform the landscape.

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsIntroduction/ Army List/ Theatre Selectors

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Book SynopsisUncover the rich history of the legendary dragons of Azeroth with this official, lavishly illustrated guide from the iconic game World of Warcraft. With over 50 never-before-seen illustrations, World of Warcraft: Dragonflight Codex (A Definitive Guide to the Dragons of Azeroth) is the ultimate WoW fan’s guide to everything dragons.Journey across Azeroth and beyond with this comprehensive guide, highlighting the magnificent dragons of the video game World of Warcraft. With this immersive in-world field guide written by Archmage Khadgar of the Kirin Tor, get an in-depth look at draconic species and the newly awakened dracthyr, along with the magical abilities of World of Warcraft’s dragonflights, proto-dragons, and more! After enduring years of hardship, the dragons of Azeroth must reclaim their legacy, and it is more important than ever to learn about their vast history and incredible abilities. Though the Dragon Isles stood dormant for 10,000 years, now the Watcher has reawakened, the beacon has been lit, and the dragons have come home—called to be Azeroth’s protectors once more. The New Age of Dragons has begun in World of Warcraft: Dragonflight. From the untamed northlands of Azeroth, fans of World of Warcraft will be able to follow the history of the dragons from their origins as elemental drakes to the present day dragonflights in this new, all-inclusive dragon codex. This fully illustrated, comprehensive guide will highlight the creatures’ magical abilities, outline a chronological evolution of the dragons, and map out enchanting new zones. World of Warcraft: Dragonflight Codex (A Definitive Guide to the Dragons of Azeroth) is a must-have companion piece to the latest expansion, World of Warcraft: Dragonflight. 50+ ALL-NEW ILLUSTRATIONS: This in-depth bestiary features breathtaking all-new art from the latest expansion, World of Warcraft: Dragonflight IN-GAME CONCEIT: This guide to everything on the dragons of Azeroth is written by the wise wizard Khadgar, who fills the book with his insightful annotations COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE: World of Warcraft: Dragonflight Codex (A Definitive Guide to the Dragons of Azeroth) is packed with lore about the powerful creatures who hail from the northlands? LEARN ABOUT THE DRAGON ISLES: Discover new corners of Azeroth in full-color illustrations of the zones from latest expansion, World of Warcraft: Dragonflight OFFICIALLY LICENSED: Created in collaboration with Blizzard Entertainment COMPLETE YOUR COLLECTION: A is for Azeroth: ABC’s of Warcraft, World of Warcraft: New Flavors of Azeroth: The Official Cookbook, and World of Warcraft: The Official Cookbook are also available from Insight Editions

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Book SynopsisEnter the expansive world of The Elder Scrolls Online and discover how to survive the wilds of Tamriel!Based on the award-winning Elder Scrolls Online, The Elder Scrolls Online: The Official Survival Guide to Tamriel is the ultimate guide to surviving the harsh and stunning landscape of Tamriel. This deluxe volume features incredible tips, tricks, and information to not only help you make your way through Tamriel, but provide solid advice in the real world as well. · Everything you need to know. Tamriel is a harsh world, with many, many dangers. Find the tips and tricks you need to survive the perilous encounters there...and in the real world. · Don’t cut your adventuring life short! Learn how to dress a wound, how to survive encounters with wildlife, and even how best to pack for the adventuring life. · A stunning addition to your collection. Featuring exclusive artwork and packed ful

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Book SynopsisWorld War II was truly a ‘world’ war, and many nations joined the fight against Germany and the Axis. This latest supplement for Bolt Action covers the armies of France, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Norway, Holland and Belgium that stood against the German Blitzkrieg, as well as the resistance forces that sprung up in the aftermath of occupation.Table of ContentsIntroduction /Army Lists /Theatres

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Book SynopsisTwo armies prepare for war. Thor, surrounded by crackling lightning, leads the assault of a horde of Viking berserkers. Preparing to receive this charge stands a wall of grim-faced, determined Spartan hoplites, commanded by Ares himself… Of Gods and Mortals is a skirmish wargame that gives players the opportunity to command the greatest heroes, warriors and monsters of legend – and the gods and goddesses that ruled over them. Whether you want to lead the forces of Greek, Egyptian, Celtic or Norse mythology to battle, or build your own pantheon, Of Gods and Mortals presents everything you need. Each player takes control of a god, a handful of legendary characters and a number of mortal troops, forming a warband that must work in harmony to succeed. Although the gods are incredibly powerful, they are only as strong as the faith of the mortals who follow them – if their worshippers are cut down, gods become weaker, and if a deity is vanquished in combat, its followers may flee the field of battle. Success lies in employing a strategy that uses all your troops, from the mightiest to the most humble, as effectively as possible.Table of ContentsIntroduction/ Rules/ The Pantheons

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Book Synopsis Meet your new Petit Pal, Tilly the Tortoise from Petit Collage!Ready to be cuddled and cared for, Tilly loves exploring the outdoors and foraging for her favorite food: strawberries! When the day’s adventures are done, it’s time to settle Tilly down under her heat lamp for a snooze. This adorable mini wooden play set develops fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination and encourages emotional awareness and independent play. Perfect for ages 3+, Tilly’s house includes six chunky wooden pieces: a strawberry, a carrot, a salad leaf, a water bowl, a heat lamp, and, of course, the sweet tortoise herself! Made using recycled FSC wood and FSC paper, this product is plastic-free.

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Book Synopsis Swing, slide, and spin with At the Park Wooden Play Set from Petit Collage!Take a trip to the park with your three animal friends, Fox, Bear, and Bunny. Fly up high on the swing, swoop down the slide, spin round and round the merry-go-round, and sway side to side on the seesaw. This sweet wooden set improves fine motor skills, deepens the understanding of cause and effect, develops emotional awareness, and encourages independent play. Perfect for ages 12mo+, there are four fun park rides to enjoy including a merry-go-round, seesaw, and combined swing and slide set, as well as three wooden animal characters.   Made using FSC wood and FSC paper, the packaging is printed using 75% recycled materials and is fully recyclable.

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Book SynopsisSet off with your adventuring party to gather 25 days' worth of gifts from the world of Dungeons & Dragons! Collect dozens of little treasures inspired by the Forgotten Realms in this official Dungeons & Dragons countdown calendar. Your party may have all the weapons they need, but this engaging gift calendar is filled with dozens of items you'd never think to bring on a quest. With mini books, stationery, buttons, tech accessories, and more, you can celebrate your love for the game with this countdown calendar featuring a monstrous assortment of presents!

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Book SynopsisBonnie Ruberg presents twenty interviews with twenty-two queer video developers whose radical, experimental, vibrant, and deeply queer work is driving a momentous shift in the medium of video games.Trade Review“In their new book, Bonnie Ruberg introduces and documents the provocative, playful, and occasionally weird world of queer game-making. The Queer Games Avant-Garde provides a compelling collection of interviews from many of the designers who dance at the edges of what games can be. This book is recommended reading for designers, artists, researchers, and anyone who takes play seriously.” -- Carly A. Kocurek, author of * Brenda Laurel: Pioneering Games for Girls *“Bonnie Ruberg and twenty-two incredible game makers give voice to a game revolution. The queer games avant-garde isn't just pushing at the boundaries of the medium, it's exploding what games can be into millions of multi-colored worlds where we can all play! An exuberant and essential exploration of the personal, political, and playful.” -- Colleen Macklin, Associate Professor of Media Design at Parsons School of Design"The queer game makers who operate from marginalised subject positions, making their voices heard in and through games, form an important and timely topic for a book. For a European reader, The Queer Games Avant-Garde offers a fascinating glimpse of contemporary North American realities and the anxieties around doing creative work in the current political climate." -- Tanja Sihvonen * Times Higher Education Supplement *"This is a special book. . . . The world of video games is so much bigger and more spectacular than the AAA marketing cycle would have you believe. Ruberg’s conversations are a reminder of the breath of the medium, and also the steps we must take collectively for a healthier, safer, and more vibrant future." -- Sharon Ross * Report Door *"The book’s 20 chapters run the gamut of queer desire and representation, intimacy (rather than empathy), community, intersectionality, influences, and queering games beyond representation. . . . [I]t’s accessible for those who aren’t scholars including game makers, gamers, games journalists, and anyone interested in the present and future of queer and indie games." -- Naseem Jamnia * Bitch *"Given both its fascinating subject and its approach to the subject, The Queer Games Avant-Garde is a fresh and fascinating peek into an underexplored area of video games, as well as a highly relevant exploration of the ways in which these games both draw from and give back to their creators and players.… All in all, The Queer Games Avant-Garde will provide an interesting and accessible read for a wide range of readers interested in the creation and theorization of video games." -- Maria Alberto * Information, Communication & Society *"The Queer Games Avant-Garde is a generous and generative book; it is approachable, accessible, teachable, and complements Ruberg's other books and projects.… But most importantly, the book offers radical possibilities, both practical and playful." -- Edmond Y. Chang * American Journal of Play * "Queer Games Avant-Garde is a superb teaching tool across game design, digital arts, queer studies, and digital humanities classrooms that will be sure to spark numerous meaningful debates, both critical and practical. . . . It will also be an excellent resource for scholars seeking to reimagine what academic knowledge production looks like and who counts as a contributor to knowledge." -- Daniella Gati * Information and Culture *“Venkat’s storytelling is absorbing. He appears a writer who finds joy in crafting prose, sometimes imbuing it with a playfulness that lands most aptly. . . . This is a meticulously crafted book, but it is nowhere stilted or overworked. It performs deep conceptual labor with a jargon-free lightness of touch that academic writing would do well to emulate.” -- Zahra Hayat * Medical Anthropology Quarterly *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments ix Introduction. Reimagining the Medium of Video Games 1 Part I. Queer People, Queer Desires, Queer Games 1. Dietrich Squinkifer: Nonbinary Characters, Asexuality, and Game Design as Joyful Resistance 33 2. Robert Yang: The Politics and Pleasures of Representing Sex between Men 42 3. Aevee Bee: On Designing for Queer Players and Remaking Autobiographical Truth 51 Part II. Queerness as a Mode of Game-Making 4. Llaura McGee: Leaving Space for Messiness, Complexity, and Chance 63 5. Andi McClure: Algorithms, Accidents, and the Queerness of Abstraction 73 6. Liz Ryerson: Resisting Empathy and Rewriting the Rules of Game Design 81 Part III. Designing Queer Intimacy in Games 7. Jimmy Andrews + Loren Schmidt: Queer Body Physics, Awkwardness as Emotional Realism, and the Challenge of Designing Consent 93 8. Naomi Clark: Disrupting Norms and Critiquing Systems through "Good, Nice Sex with a Tentacle Monster" 102 9. Elizabeth Sampat: Safe Spaces for Queerness and Games against Suffering 113 Part IV. The Legacy of Feminist Performance Art in Queer Games 10. Kara Stone: Softness, Strength, and Danger in Games about Mental Health and Healing 125 11. Mattie Brice: Radical Play through Vulnerability 134 12. Seanna Musgrave: "Touchy-Feely" Virtual Reality and Reclaiming the Trans Body 143 Part V. Intersectional Perspectives in/on Queer Games 13. Tonia B****** + Emilia Yang: Making Games about Queer Women of Color by Queer Women of Color 153 14. Nicky Case: Playable Politics and Interactivity for Understanding 162 15. Nina Freeman: More Than Just "the Women Who Make Sex Games" 171 Part VI. Analog Games: Exploreing Queerness Through Non-Digital Play 16. Avery Alder: Queer Storytelling and the Mechanics of Desire 183 17. Kat Jones: Bisexuality, Latina Identity, and the Power of Physical Presence 192 Part VII. Making Queer Games, Queer Change, and Queer Community 18. Mo Cohen: On Self-Care, Funding, and Other Advice for Aspiring Queer Indie Game Makers 205 19. Jerome Hagan: Are Queer Games Bringing "Diversity" to Mainstream Industry? 215 20. Sarah Schoemann: The Power of Community Organizing 223 Afterword. The Future of the Queer Games Avant-Garde 233 Appendix. Queer Indie Games to Play at Home or in the Classroom 245 Notes 257 Bibliography 265 Index 271

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Book SynopsisHow gaming intersects with systems like history, bodies, and code Why do we so compulsively play video games? Might it have something to do with how gaming affects our emotions? In Playing with Feelings, scholar Aubrey Anable applies affect theory to game studies, arguing that video games let us “rehearse” feelings, states, and emotions that give new tones and textures to our everyday lives and interactions with digital devices. Rather than thinking about video games as an escape from reality, Anable demonstrates how video games—their narratives, aesthetics, and histories—have been intimately tied to our emotional landscape since the emergence of digital computers.Looking at a wide variety of video games—including mobile games, indie games, art games, and games that have been traditionally neglected by academia—Anable expands our understanding of the ways in which these games and game studies can participate in feminist and queer interventions in digital media culture. She gives a new account of the touchscreen and intimacy with our mobile devices, asking what it means to touch and be touched by a game. She also examines how games played casually throughout the day create meaningful interludes that give us new ways of relating to work in our lives. And Anable reflects on how games allow us to feel differently about what it means to fail.Playing with Feelings offers provocative arguments for why video games should be seen as the most significant art form of the twenty-first century and gives the humanities passionate, incisive, and daring arguments for why games matter.Trade Review"Playing with Feelings traces a compelling intellectual history and uses affect theory to rethink some core game studies debates. Aubrey Anable’s insights on casual, indie, and art games are particularly important at this historical moment in game studies. This is the book many humanistic game scholars have been waiting for."—Adrienne Shaw, author of Gaming at the Edge"Playing with Feelings is one of few works to deeply engage with the theory of affect as developed in media philosophy, sociology, and information studies relative to video games. Written with an eye to the canonical concerns circulating in the lucrative and vibrant field of game studies, the book balances engagement with familiar themes and issues in the game studies and game theory world."—Lisa Cartwright, University of California, San Diego"Playing With Feelings breaks down some fairly weighty themes and theories to create an engaging exploration of how a person’s feelings are influenced by gaming." —The GuardianTable of ContentsContentsIntroduction: Video Games as Structures of Feeling1. Feeling History2. Touching Games3. Rhythms of Work and Play4. Games to Fail WithConclusion: Affective ArchivesAcknowledgmentsNotesIndex

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Book SynopsisFor many, the words “Dungeons & Dragons” conjure a fuzzy image, most likely of teenage boys in a dim basement hunched over a tabletop game. In Welcome to Dragon Talk, Shelly Mazzanoble, Greg Tito, and their surprising guests bring a different image into focus, offering: What if those boys were girls? Were famous actors? Were educators, therapists, and politicians? After nearly five decades, Dungeons & Dragons is more popular than ever and has drawn together a community that defies stereotypes. In this collection, the hosts of Dragon Talk, the official D&D podcast, recount some of the most inspiring stories from their guests. All use the core tenets of the game in their everyday life. Actor Joe Manganiello defends D&D by baring his soul (and his ripped abs). A teacher in a disadvantaged district in Houston, creates a D&D club that motivates students to want to read and think analytically. Writer and streamer Tanya DePass shows how D&D–inspired communication skills break barriers and empower people of color. Readers will see how D&D has given this disparate and growing community the inspiration to flourish in their careers and spread some of that in-game magic in real life—and how you can too.

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Book SynopsisDread Trident examines the rise of imaginary worlds in tabletop role-playing games (TRPGs), such as Dungeons and Dragons. With the combination of analog and digital mechanisms, from traditional books to the internet, new ways of engaging the fantastic have become increasingly realized in recent years, and this book seeks an understanding of this phenomenon within the discourses of trans- and posthumanism, as well as within a gameist mode.The book explores a number of case studies of foundational TRPGs. Dungeons and Dragons provides an illustration of pulp-driven fantasy, particularly in the way it harmonizes its many campaign settings into a functional multiverse. It also acts as a supreme example of depth within its archive of official and unofficial published material, stretching back four decades. Warhammer 40k and the Worlds of Darkness present an interesting dialogue between Gothic and science-fantasy elements. The Mythos of HP Lovecraft also features prominently in the book as an example of a realized world that spans the literary and gameist modes.Realized fantasy worlds are becoming ever more popular as a way of experiencing a touch of the magical within modern life. Reworking Northrop Frye’s definition of irony, Dread Trident theorizes an ironic understanding of this process and in particular of its embodied forms.Trade Review'Dread Trident sets a novel and rewarding precedent for future research that melds literature studies and game studies... [It] is an impressive investigation into embodiment, play, and posthumanism, in order to synthesize previously understudied connections at work in TRPGs. Carbonell expertly moves between fields of study, from discussions of transhumanism and posthumanism, to literary theory, to game studies, and even between genres even within analog games.' Adrianna Burton, Analog Game Studies‘Dread Trident offers a theoretically rigorous and informative exploration of its focal gametexts and the use of game archives to critically explore how the modern fantastic as a genre evolves in them over time. Carbonell’s approach to theorizing these gametexts as using digital and analogue tools to generate realized worlds… is innovative and compelling.’ Clare Wall, SFRA ReviewTable of Contents1. Introduction: Theorizing the Modern Fantastic2. The Posthuman in the Schismatrix Stories and Eclipse Phase3. Dungeons and Dragons' Multiverse4. Worlds of Darkness: From Gothic to Cosmic Horror5. Lovecraft's (Cthulhu) Mythos6. Warhammer 40,000: A Science Fantasy Epic7. Beyond Borders with Miéville, Wolfe, and Numenera8. Conclusion

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Book SynopsisMarvel at Minecraft’s greatest creations and meet the builders who have taken the game to new levels.Packed with stunning illustrations, Minecraft: Master Builds showcases the creations that have taken the game to new levels, and introduces the builders behind them.  Explore all the possibilities of Minecraft, from stunning underwater sculptures to impressive space panoramas, or travel through time to visit grand medieval towns and futuristic cityscapes. Each colossal creation is shown in beautifully rendered illustrations to highlight the painstaking details that make these builds masterful. The exclusive interviews with the builders shed light on the creative forces and processes behind each build. Whether you’re marveling at the wonders that Minecraft’s greatest builders have to offer, or searching for inspiration to become one yourself, your tour begins here.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisCosplayers: Gender and Identity is an examination of identity practices in cosplay, as expressed by cosplayers themselves. It challenges the assumed correlation between cosplay and cosplayer identity and considers the lived experiences of cosplayers engaging in the fan practice of sartorial performance. Through a series of chapters covering the blurring lines of gender, sexualized fantasy in real spaces, and nostalgia, the author argues that observational data run the risk of affirming normative expectations of identity in the absence of cosplayer narratives, and produce misreadings that generalize. The work develops and builds an understanding of a complex cultural system of art, engaging with multiple methodologies to make identity, fandom, and critical analysis on the parts of participants and observers alike. This is an accessible and innovative study suitable for scholars and students in gender studies, cultural studies, sexuality studies, sociology, and Table of Contents1 All the Con’s a Stage: A Study of (Cos)Players; 2 Man Describes Not Me, Nor Woman Neither: Cosplayers and the Fiction of Gender; 3 On Bodies and Boundaries: Regulating Fantasy in Real Spaces; 4 Manning the Gates: Minority Identities and Gatekeeping in Cosplay; 5 The Cosplay’s the Thing

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Book SynopsisDesigning Dungeons is as easy as A, B, C!The Dungeon Alphabet compiles inspirational tables on classic dungeon design elements to assist the game master in creating subterranean challenges. This fifth printing adds a new topic for a total of forty-four tables of inspirational materials. A is for Altar, B is for Books, and C is for Caves: the Dungeon Alphabet has advice, hints, and randomized tables that bring new life to your adventures. Suitable for any rules system, the entries are accompanied by outstanding art from classic fantasy illustrators.

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