mana-junkie

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This Week in Gaming: Star Wars, Side Quests, and the Wasteland Beckons

There’s something comforting about falling into a weekly rhythm of gaming. Whether it’s digital or tabletop, the joy of slipping into another world—laser blaster or mutant mole rat in hand—is a pleasure I never take for granted. This week has already shaped up to be a solid blend of both: some PlayStation 5 action, some RPG reading, and a tabletop session on the horizon. On the PS5, I’ve been…

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"A Long Time Ago in a Game Far, Far Away…"

Back in the late ’80s, when West End Games released their Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game, I was living in North Bay, Ontario. It should’ve been a no-brainer purchase. After all, this was Star Wars—blasters, lightsabers, hyperspace jumps, and the infinite adventures of a galaxy teetering on the edge of rebellion and tyranny. But the truth is, I didn’t pick it up at the time. Not because I wasn’t…

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My Mount Rushmore of Role-Playing Games

Every gamer has their own personal Mount Rushmore—the iconic four that shaped their love for table top role-playing games, defined eras of imagination, and anchored friendships around the table. These are the games that left an imprint on the way we tell stories, build characters, and explore fantastical worlds. For me, the granite faces carved into my gaming monument are Advanced Dungeons &…

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Blasters, Banthas, and Being a Player Again

The past few days have been a blast—pun fully intended. I’ve been diving headfirst into Star Wars Outlaws on the PS5, and let me tell you: it’s everything I wanted in a Star Wars open-world game and more. From swoop bike chases across dusty backwater moons to shootouts with gangsters in neon-lit cantinas, the game really captures that gritty, smuggler-side-of-the-galaxy vibe I love. Playing as…

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Trouble in Mos Shuuta – A Star Wars Edge of the Empire Adventure

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A Galaxy Far, Far Away—and Right on Time

I’ve been playing Star Wars Outlaws lately, and I have to say—it’s everything I wanted in a scoundrel’s tale set in the Star Wars universe. Blaster fights, swoop bike getaways, tense standoffs in smoky cantinas—it hits that perfect rogue fantasy beat. It’s like slipping into a Han Solo jacket that actually fits. After the grind and flash of Stellar Blade, which let’s be honest—was no walk in the…

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Tuesday Finds in Arnprior – A Bag Swap and a Few Treasures

Sometimes the best little adventures start with a mistake. Tuesday was supposed to be a quiet day, but fate had other plans—namely, a duffel bag mix-up that sent me on an impromptu trip to Arnprior, Ontario. Monday, I’d somehow ended up with the wrong duffel bag. Don’t ask me how—I blame a tired brain. But by Tuesday, it was time to set things right, so we made plans to meet the bus at the stop…

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What’s On My Gaming Plate This Week

This week’s gaming plate is a mix of frustration, excitement, and a dash of hopeful space opera redemption. Let’s start with the console corner. Stellar Blade—yeah, still stuck on that damn Demoncrawler boss. I’ve tried dodging, parrying, and unloading every last ounce of Eva’s arsenal, but I just can’t seem to crack the rhythm. It’s like dancing with a chainsaw—one wrong step and I’m toast. So…

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Back to the Stomping Grounds – A Quiet Week with a Touch of Dice

Last Monday, I took a much-needed holiday and headed up to my old stomping grounds to stay with my Mom for the week. It was a bit of a break from the usual day-to-day bustle and, by extension, the gaming table too. Sometimes it’s good to step away from the screen, the dice, and the session notes, and just recharge in the company of family and old familiar places. That said, “very little on the…

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A Galaxy Far, Far Away (From D&D): Brad Runs Star Wars Edge of the Empire

Last night’s break from our usual Dungeons & Dragons campaign turned into a hyperspace jump into something entirely different: Star Wars: Edge of the Empire. With Brad taking the helm as Game Master, we stepped away from elves, dwarves, and magic missiles and dove headfirst into a galaxy of bounty hunters, scoundrels, and shady deals in dusty cantinas. This time, I got to kick back on the player…

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Rolling the Dice with the Saturday Night Crew

There’s something about Saturday nights that still feels sacred to me. Maybe it’s the years of tradition, the rolling of dice, the laughter around the table, or maybe it’s just the sense of belonging that comes from gathering with people who understand the pull of storytelling and imagination. The Saturday Night Crew—my core group of adventurers, troublemakers, and dice-jockeys—got together this…

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55% Into Stellar Blade and on the Brink of Rage Quitting

I’m currently 55% of the way through Stellar Blade, and let me tell you—this game does not let up. Right now, I’m deep in the Wasteland, trying to activate the damn Solar Tower. Sounds simple enough, right? Flip a few switches, maybe fight off some mid-tier grunts, and bask in the post-apocalyptic glow of success? Wrong. There’s a monster guarding that Solar Tower that’s absolutely feral. I’ve…

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Exploring New Worlds with the Saturday Crew

Every now and then, even the most immersive fantasy worlds need a breather. Our Saturday night Dungeons & Dragons crew has been deep in the Eldermoor Campaign for some time now—untangling ancient prophecies, slaying beasts, and navigating noble politics with the kind of energy that only a solid tabletop crew can bring. But after a long run of back-to-back high fantasy sessions, we decided it was…

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What’s On My Gaming Plate This Week

In memory of Rory This week didn’t go as planned. I had intended to run a one-shot, convention-style tabletop RPG tonight—something I’d prepped and was excited to share. But life had other plans. I lost my dog, Rory. And right now, everything else feels quiet. If you’ve ever loved a pet, you understand. Rory wasn’t just a dog—he was a companion, a constant, a piece of home. I’m taking some…

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Adding Rory to Future Campaigns: A Tribute Across Realms

Today, I said goodbye to my dog, Rory. He was more than a pet—he was my shadow, my midnight companion, my steadfast friend. Cancer came fast and cruel, and though we did all we could, it was his time to cross the Rainbow Bridge. But Rory won’t be gone from my world. Not really. I’ve decided to carry him with me, not just in memory, but into every game I run from this day forward. Rory, my loyal…

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The Allure of the Skyrealms: Remembering Jorune from the Pages of Dragon Magazine

Back in the heyday of Dragon Magazine, when each issue felt like a glimpse into hundreds of new universes waiting to be explored, there were always those tantalizing ads that caught the eye and stirred the imagination. One that always lingered in my memory was Skyrealms of Jorune. If you read Dragon during the mid-to-late ’80s, chances are you saw those ads too. They were moody, atmospheric, and…

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Simmering Ideas in the Skyrealms and Blades Among the Stars

Every now and then, I find myself caught between worlds—literally and creatively. Recently, I cracked open some old notes and found myself diving headfirst into the wild, alien wonder that is Skyrealms of Jorune. It’s one of those role-playing settings that never truly leaves your imagination once it’s been introduced. It’s rich, strange, immersive—and demands a particular kind of narrative…