It’s that time of the year again! On November 7th, 2015, Extra Life is hosting their annual 24 Hour Gaming Marathon Fundraiser: Game Day! What is Game Day? It’s a challenge event ran by the Extra Life organization allowing individuals to raise money for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals by, as may be obvious, gaming over the period of 24 hours. My participation is specifically supporting Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare! The gaming can be any form, whether PC, console, board games, etc. As long as participants are gaming in some fashion they are adhering to the very loose rules involved in the challenge. For the most part, it works on the honor system.

Last year was my first year partaking in the challenge, and even though I didn’t get involved until almost the day of, it was still a blast. I had friends join in at different points throughout the time frame I chose (Midnight Friday/Saturday to Midnight Saturday/Sunday), played a variety of games, and raised my initial goal of 100$. It was a great experience and I wasn’t going to pass up the opportunity to participate again.

This time around I tried getting a head start. I posted some information on social media outlets last week, and now hopefully this blog post will reach the eyes of people who may not be aware of the fundraiser. I set a modest goal of 200$, believing I’d be able to successfully double down on last year’s mark. I’m proud to announce that we have already reached the halfway point! Currently, people have donated over 100$, and the main event is yet to begin! That’s awesome and I am beyond grateful for everyone who has taken the time to research the fundraiser, share, and/or donate to the cause of helping children in need!

Check out my Extra Life Profile!

There you will find the proposed gaming sessions I may (or may not) engage in. I’d like to play both board and video games again this time around. I will even try to activate my Twitch feed, which I did briefly last year, if anyone would like to follow along live. This may be easiest when playing on my XBOX ONE, since I believe there is an app to create a direct streaming video. I’m also hoping to get together with family and friends, the more the merrier!

If you happen to be local and are curious about gaming together during the event (or anytime!), but aren’t sure about creating a profile and participating yourself, feel free to contact me and maybe we can work out a schedule.

If on XBOX, let’s get in touch and swap Gamertags.

Most importantly, if you feel so inclined, like/share this blog entry and/or donate! Any and all help and encouragement is much appreciated!

A Little Something Special

After I set up my new profile for this year’s event, I had the urge of running a raffle nagging at me. I thought it may be fun to offer prizes to potentially give something back to those who decided to help donate on my behalf. I’ve been stewing on the idea for a while, running it across some people, and believe I would like to stick to my intuitive desire to have giveaways. It’s just something that got me even more excited about this fundraiser. Plus I love buying and giving gifts...

NOTE: Please note that the giveaway list will grow as more items are added, so remember to check back now and again between now and the end of the year!

Naturally, almost all of the items will be gaming related. There’s a theme with this fundraiser after all! I currently have two items, which I will list below, and another two or three I plan to add as soon as I know I can get the product in my hands (and some possibly donated by others). I just happen to already have the first prizes ready to go.

I’m tentatively leaving the giveaway open to only those in lower 50 States, due to shipping charges. I’m pretty much winging this, and I want to make sure I’m not paying an arm and a leg trying to ship these items out, especially overseas. I realize this may leave out and upset some people, but I’m just playing it safe. And I’d rather not have to start a fundraising campaign event to be able to ship the prizes! That being said, however, if it’s possible to find an inexpensive method to do so, I’d love to try to make that work as an option. I’d rather this all be as inclusive as possible for everyone involved!

So without further ado, the (potentially expanding) list of prizes for the Giveaway!

The Cryton Chronicles Game Day Giveaway

Dying Light (Xbox One)

Players: 1 (2-5 on Xbox Live)
Ages: Mature (17+)
Synopsis: Dying Light is an action survival game presented in first-person perspective. The game is set in a vast and dangerous open world. During the day, you roam an urban environment devastated by a mysterious epidemic, scavenging for supplies and crafting weapons to help you defeat the hordes of mindless, flesh-hungry enemies the plague has created. At night, the hunter becomes the prey as the infected grow in strength and aggression - but even more lethal are the nocturnal, inhuman predators that leave their nests to feed. You will need to make use of all your skills and any available means to survive till dawn.

I've been waiting to finally get the chance to play this and picked up a copy for myself too! Perhaps we can team up and attempt to survive?

Good Night. Good Luck.

Fluxx (Monty Python)

Players: 2-6
Ages: 13+
Time: 10-40 Min

Whether a fan of Fluxx or Monty Python (why aren’t you both?!), this simple, ever-changing card game should be right up your alley! For those unfamiliar with Fluxx, it’s a very light card game where players are dealt three cards and then on their turn, draw a card and play a card. By doing so, you are able to change the rules of the game and how the game is won, which naturally you are trying to achieve in your favor!

This version of Fluxx has many iconic characters and references from Monty Python and the Holy Grail as well as some others, like Flying Circus. I can’t claim to be a die-hard Monty Python fan, but I love Holy Grail to death, and if you haven’t ever seen the movie, I can’t recommend it enough!

The Hobbit

Players: 2-5
Age: 10+
Time: 45-60 Min

Playing the role of a Dwarven companion, you must assist Bilbo Baggins in his journey to the Lonely Mountain. Along the way, you will compete among your fellow brethren to raise your personal stats (Cunning, Initiative, and Strength — each providing unique bonuses), completing challenges, and accruing treasure before Smaug descends upon Laketown!

You do this by blind bidding for Initiative (choosing a numbered Dwarf card from your hand, which are revealed at the same time — turn order being lowest to highest) to move Bilbo along the track, being mindful of trying to outmaneuver the other players, landing on the spaces you want (resulting in gaining and/or losing stats or resources) and engaging Adventures along the path to Lonely Mountain.

Failing an adventure may result in the loss of stats, resources, and/or Smaug moving closer to Laketown. Adventures can be passed on, if a player doesn't think they can complete it, offering it then in Initiative order to others who may make the same choice. Doing so, though, forfeits your chance at the treasure the Adventure awards and allows others the opporunity to collect it. Also, if every player passes on an Adventure, Smaug automatically moves one space closer to his destination.

If Smaug reaches Laketown before the journey is over, everyone loses as a team, so make sure to keep your greed, and cowardice, in check!

Just Desserts

Players: 2-5
Ages: 8+
Time: 10-40 Min

A slew of hungry guests have arrived at your swanky restaurant and it's up to you to be the best waiter, serving them the desserts they crave!

Cards are shuffled into two decks, a Dessert deck and a Guest deck. Each player is dealt 3 Dessert cards and the game begins with three Guest cards turned face up in the middle of the play area. The Guest cards represent the current costumers seeking to have their cravings satisfied (of which is indicated on their card, along with foods they refuse to eat, favorite dessert choice, and which colored "suit" they belong to), while the Dessert cards represent combinations of tastes/flavors they can satisfy.

Each turn consists of the active player drawing a Dessert card, drawing and placing a Guest card, and taking one of three available actions: Serving (and claiming) up to two Guests by discarding Dessert cards matching their individual cravings, but not including ingredients they dislike (if you give a Guest their favorite dessert you get a tip — drawing a card from the Dessert deck), drawing another Dessert card, or dumping (discarding) as many Dessert cards as you want from your hand and drawing that many from the Dessert deck.

At the end of their turn, the active player chooses and discards one of any group of Guests that share a colored "suit" in play (there can only be one of each "suit" at any given time). However, the Guest on the top of the discard pile is considered "waiting at the door" and still counts as a customer to be served during a player's turn.

A player wins once they have served/claimed three Guests of the same "suit" or five Guests, each of a different "suit"!

Star Realms

Players: 2 (+2 for each addition base set)
Ages: 12+
Time: 20 Min

Star Realms is a fast paced, space combat, deck-building game where players attempt to acquire a vast array of ships and bases in order to overwhelm and crush their competition!

To do this, players will play cards from their hand that allow them to accrue Trade and Combat Resources. Trade allows you to acquire ships and bases available in the Marketplace (Trade Row), which grant a variety of enhancements (Outposts, for example, offer temporary defense against incoming attacks). Acquired cards are placed into your discard pile and are eventually shuffled into your deck, making it stronger over time.

Combat allows you to attack opponents (depleting their Authority) and/or their bases.

There are four different factions in Star Realms, each focusing on different strategies, that you can acquire ships and bases for. While there's no restrictions to which factions you collect over the course of the game, many cards have Ally abilities that trigger only if you've played a card sharing it's matching faction during your turn. These abilities can be very powerful, especially if chained!

Eliminate a player by depleting all of their Authority. Last player remaining wins!

Timeline (Inventions)

Players: 2-8
Ages: 8+
Time: 15 Min

If you're an avid board gamer, whether hardcore or casual, you’ve likely seen, played, or already own one of the many iterations of Timeline. It’s a great party game focusing on trying to figure out what year certain inventions were created. Once players are dealt cards (kept face down in front of them, so the date is hidden), dictated by the number of players, a card from the main deck is placed date-side up to create the “timeline” used for the game. You then take turns, picking cards from your hand and placing them before, after, or eventually between the cards in the timeline. You flip the card to the date side and if it falls in chronological order it stays in place, but if not, you discard it and draw another card. The first player to get rid of all their cards wins! It’s as simple as that!

NOTE: Remember to keep checking back for newly posted items! I’ll continually try to remind readers that this is hopefully a list that grows over time. As mentioned above, I have a few other games in mind to add already.

NOTE: If wanting to donate/offer a prize for this giveaway, please contact me so we can work out the details and I will add the item to the prize list!

Rules and All That Jazz

Ugh! And now for the boring part of the Cryton Chronicles Game Day Giveaway!

NOTE: Some of these may change between now and the end of the year, as I’ve had multiple ideas on how to run the giveaway, but any changes made will be focused on making it more fair and fun for those who decide to participate. Given this is a bonus event to a fundraiser, I don’t think many people will make a fuss, but just wanting to make it known.

Giveaway Ends: 11:59pm CST 12/31/2015

To Qualify: Anybody donating 10$ or more will be qualified for a chance at winning one of the prizes.

How It Works: Between now and the end of the year, whenever you submit a donation through my Extra Life profile page of an amount of 10$ or more (or have already done so), you will be allowed an Entry to win one of the prizes listed. The more you donate, the more Entries you’ll receive. To elaborate a bit more, I’ll post the current Entry scaling:

If you Donate 10$: You receive 1 Entry.
If you Donate 25$: You receive 3 Entries.
If you Donate 50$: You receive 7 Entries.
If you Donate 100$: You receive 15 Entries.

NOTE: Just to clarify... If you were to donate 20$, you would get 2 Entries (1 for each 10$ increment). If you donated 35$, you would receive 4 Entries (3 for reaching the 25$ mark and another 1 for the additional 10$ increment reached). And so on...

When you receive an Entry, you can use that to place a ticket towards one of the prizes available throughout the giveaway. You can put any number of Entries divided however you choose among any number of prizes. So for example (with the current prizes listed), if you donate 25$ you will receive 3 Entries. You can then place all of them towards Timeline (Inventions), or split them up, 2 Entries toward Timeline (Inventions) and 1 toward Fluxx (Monty Python). The choice is yours!

Furthermore, you can either detail how you want your Entries processed as you donate, mentioned in the donation comment/emails sent once submitting, here on the blog, or contacting me some other way via social media. I will be keeping a spreadsheet of participants, their Entry totals, and Entry placement among the prizes.

NOTE: Since this list may expand periodically, I will allow participants to change where and how they want to place their Entry submissions until the end of the giveaway, 11:59pm CST December 31, 2015, but not after.

Once the giveaway's submission period ends, I will gather Entries for each item independently from one another and draw a winner randomly from among them. It’s possible I could record and/or live stream this process (if I can figure out Twitch) if there’s interest in me doing so. I’m hoping to do this within the first week of the new year. From there, I plan to get the prizes shipped out (or hand delivered) to the winners.

I feel this method is fair and allows people to specifically place Entries into the prizes they are most interested in!

Shipping: Any prizes needing to be mailed will be sent via USPS (Ground Delivery).

Restrictions: Again, just wanting to stress this point, that I am currently only able to ship to the lower 50 States at this time.

Wrapping Up

So there it is! Hopefully I covered everything, but if not, please feel free to ask questions. I will try to update this post with any new information as quickly as possible, especially additional prizes added to the giveaway!

Join me in support of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals (Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare) on Nov 7th, 2015!

NOTE: If donating something to the giveaway, but no one wins the item(s), naturally you can get back/keep your item, I can save it for next year’s Extra Life Game Day (or another similar event like National Tabletop Day), or it can be donated to a specific location I have access to of your choice. Just let me know!

Keep checking back, like/share, and participate in any way you can or feel comfortable with. I’m excited to once again be a part of this event and look forward to connecting with some of you along the way.

Thanks for all your time and encouragement!

Have you participated in the Extra Life Game Day Fundraiser before? If so, what was your experience like? If not, does it sound like something you’d enjoy? What are some of your favorite board games? Video games?

How do the details about the giveaway sound? Any advice or tips? Especially with shipping maybe? lol Are there changes I could make or keep in mind for next year?

Thanks again to all of you making this possible!