This weekend I got to go to the Newberg Game Con and demo Junkyard Juggernauts, and the Con continues to be a good experience for not only meeting more people in the board gaming hobby, but getting more exposure to JJ.

Saturday

My son and I arrived at the con at about 7:40, got set up in the annex (a key difference between this year and prior where I was typically set up in the main gaming hall). Since we were going to be apart for parts of the day I gave my son some of the bookmarks I had made for JJ to give out to people he played games with in the main hall, hoping that they may draw people over to the annex.

Not sure how well the bookmarks worked, but JJ did end up getting way more people demoing the game than it had in past cons. On that note thank you to Kendrick, Kevin, Mark, Megan, Natalie, Scott, Sydney, and Zed, for trying JJ, as well as a huge thank you to Justin for playing a whole game!

It was also great to meet some fellow designers and content creators: Brian from Fat Bottom Games showing his abstract game Otani, Zed who is making the game Goober Garden, and Ryan from How I Roll on YouTube.

So great first day, but then there was Sunday…

Sunday

Having attended the con three times prior, I can certainly attest to Sunday being a slower day than Saturday, and this year was no exception. However, being in the annex made this slow down very acute, with only a handful of people making it over to the demo area of the Con. Brian from Fat Bottom wisely decided to have demos set up in the main Con area. My friend Brian S. who came down Sunday to help me (thank you Brian S.!) and I tried to follow suit but every attempt was met with all the tables occupied in the main gaming space 😔. This lack of traffic did give Brian and I a chance to play Zed’s game Goober Garden, and got to play a full game of JJ.

I did ask a couple of the organizers about why demos weren’t in the main game hall like previous years (big props to Paul and Glen for putting on the Con) and the main reason was the limited space/fire code for the main gaming area, which given the Con more than doubled in size over last years, makes sense.

All in all, glad to have attended the Newberg Game Con, and hope to be back next year, perhaps with copies of JJ to sell. Speaking of…

Junkyard Juggernauts Crowd Sale

There is just over two weeks left in the Crowd Sale for Junkyard Juggernauts

Reminder that in a Crowd Sale, every 10 copies that are backed, the bigger the discount on the game’s price that all backers will receive, and we are 7 away from the next discount. Not to mention, if you back you won’t just be hoping to get a copy some day, you will get a copy of JJ if you back. The Game Crafter’s current estimate is shipments starting June 2, 2026.

Take me to the Crowd Sale

If you read this far, thank you and will remind you that I am not the Warlord!

Godspeed Mageineers.

• 00:00:00 - FRIDAY

• 00:00:44 - Ken’s BRASS backstory

• 00:05:10 - Francisco’s BRASS backstory

• 00:11:03 - The Cabin

• 00:13:55 - Quacks

• 00:16:59 - Azul

• 00:21:24 - Oldest board games we own

• 00:22:29 - Discworld

• 00:27:15 - SATURDAY

• 00:30:03 - The Crew

• 00:39:45 - Junkyard Juggernauts (1st play)

• 00:38:17 - BRASS’s scheduled game events

• 00:38:51 - Catch!

• 00:42:55 - Junkyard Juggernauts (2nd play)

• 00:47:25 - Magical Athlete

• 00:51:31 - SUNDAY and Prestige

• 00:53:46 - Meals at BRASS

• 00:56:01 - Expeditions

• 01:01:46 - Final Thoughts on BRASS

Read the original post with some of the pictures from the video:

Take me to the Crowd Sale

Go to the page and click on the Remind Me button so that you don’t miss it and let’s see how many Mageineers answer the call to rescue Galmenni!

First off, I had a great time at BRASS!

I had been to Men’s Retreats before, and I have gone on a board game weekend trip with guys in my church small group, but having those experiences mashed together was fantastic.

The dozen people I interacted with most (of the 20-30 people at the retreat) ranged from friendly to very welcoming, with people always willing to teach the games they knew. In fact because of this, Junkyard Juggernauts, Prestige, and Guillotine were the only games I had played before, while I got experience for the first time:

• The Quacks of Quedlinburg

• Azul

• The Crew: Mission Deep Sea

• Catch (prototype fishing-themed engine building game)

• Discworld

• Magical Athlete

• Expeditions

However, since most of the people at the retreat knew each other, but I was new to everyone except my friend who was also there (appreciated you being there Ken!!), I had to work to get over my awkwardness in asking new people to play Junkyard Juggernauts.

“Hey you don’t know me, but do you want to play this game you have also never heard of, for 3-5 hours, instead of a game you know, with people you already like”
- My internal dialogue

I thankfully didn’t experience anyone who was snotty or stand-offish, and a handful of generous people that gave JJ a shot and said it was fun. Another guy there, Ben, was playtesting his game Catch at BRASS and it was awesome that we were able to exchange plays.

Thank you to Aaron, Dave, Jordan, and Ryan for putting this on, and I am hoping to go back next year!

Order Junkyard Juggernauts >

TGC will print your copy of Junkyard Juggernauts when you order it and ship it as soon as it is done. Click here to see an estimate of when an order will ship if you were to purchase your copy today.

Finally if you are a Fire Joy Studios supporter then you should have received an email this morning with your discount code to get 10% off!

Godspeed Mageineer, and I look forward to seeing and hearing about your adventures in Galmenni!

P.S. Please leave a comment on this post if you have any questions about ordering Junkyard Juggernauts.

After two years of design and development, Junkyard Juggernauts is going to be available for purchase through The Game Crafter, starting September 25, 2025.

Price will be $119.99+Shipping, however FJS supporters will get a coupon code for $10-off.

If you were hoping for a lower price than ~$120, fear not as I am planning to run a Crowd Sale in Q1 of 2026, where every 10 copies backed, lowers the price a bit for every backer.

Thank you to everyone who has been rooting for this game and I am very excited that you will get to play it soon!

Good day Mageineers!
I am trying to discern whether or not it makes sense to run a Crowd Sale now (it's The Game Crafter version of crowdfunding), or if I should wait. I am thinking:

• Now would be in hopes of getting JJ out to you by the end of the year. (🧡)

• Waiting would be to gather more interest in the game and have a potentially larger Crowd Sale next year (👍)

Given this, I think if 20 of you are committed to being part of the Crowd Sale now, then I will push to make it happen ASAP, otherwise I am going to wait.

Pricing would start at $110 (not including shipping) and every 10 people that participate in the Crowd Sale, reduces the price for everyone.

Vote in the poll above and let me know when you think you will back JJ, so I can make plans. (And if you vote for backing now, please also like this post so that if you vote on social media, I don’t double count you.)

Thank you and Godspeed Mageineers.

Enhance your Junkyard Juggernauts play experience by adding the included laser-cut chipboard pieces to your playmat to keep your game pieces secure and organized, in the same way a dual-layer board would. This simple upgrade ensures your cubes stay in place, even if the table gets bumped during gameplay. Here is the step-by-step process of transforming your playmat into a dual-layer-like board. Let’s dive into the three main steps: Punching Out, Cleaning, and Gluing.

What You’ll Need

Before starting, gather these materials:

• Laser-cut chipboard (included with your Junkyard Juggernaut game, typically in a bag with four different boards for each Juggernaut)

• Corresponding playmat (e.g., Gemm playmat for the Gemm torso chipboard)

• Small bowl of water

• Q-tips

• Paper towel or washcloth

• Super glue

Punching Out

The first step is to carefully punch out the components of your laser-cut chipboard. Here’s how to do it:

1. Start with the outer frame: Gently push out the outer sections of the chipboard. Apply steady, light pressure to avoid tearing. The pieces should pop out easily with minimal force.

2. Remove inner components: Next, punch out the inner parts, such as the name piece and the tracks for attack strength and speed. Use your thumbnails to gently push these out, working slowly to ensure clean separation. Some chipboards may include small square boards in the arm areas—these are player aids for the game and can be set aside for later use.

3. Discard excess: Once you’ve removed all necessary pieces, you can throw away the leftover chipboard frame.

Cleaning

Laser-cut chipboards often have soot or residue from the cutting process, which can get on your hands and the playmat if not cleaned. Follow these steps to clean your chipboard:

1. Clean the outer edges: Dampen a paper towel or washcloth with water (it should be lightly damp, not soaking wet). Gently wipe the edges of the chipboard to remove the laser-cut soot. You’ll notice the cleaned areas appear more brown, while uncleaned areas have a darker shade.

2. Clean the inner sections: Use a damp Q-tip to clean the inner cutouts where the cubes will rest. Spin the Q-tip gently inside these areas to remove soot. You don’t need to be overly meticulous—just clean what can be reached with the Q-tip. Switch to a clean side of the Q-tip as needed.

3. Final wipe-down: Give the entire chipboard a final light wipe with a clean section of the paper towel. Avoid applying too much pressure, as paper towels can catch on the chipboard’s ridges.

Gluing

Now it’s time to attach the chipboard to your playmat. This step requires careful alignment and a steady hand:

1. Align the chipboard: Place the chipboard on the playmat to get a sense of where it will sit. Ensure the cutouts align with the numbers on the top of the playmat and the name in the center. You can also use the arm connection points as a guide for alignment. It doesn’t need to be perfect, but aim for a close fit. Note: Avoid placing the chipboard below the fold line of the playmat to keep it functional.

2. Apply super glue: Lay the chipboard flat and set the playmat aside. Apply small blobs of super glue along the dashed lines on the back of the chipboard (these are marked as guides). Work carefully to avoid using too much glue, which can create a mess. Start at one end (e.g., the left side if you’re right-handed) and move around the edges.

3. Attach the chipboard: Carefully flip the chipboard over, holding it by the edges to avoid touching the glue. Align it with the playmat, starting with the leg sections for easier placement. Gently press it down, adjusting quickly if needed before the glue sets. Press firmly to ensure a strong bond.

4. Check the result: Verify that the numbers and name on the playmat are visible through the chipboard cutouts. If it’s slightly off but still functional, it’s usually fine. Test the alignment by placing power cards in the designated slots—they should socket in neatly.

Tip: Work quickly but carefully when placing the chipboard, as super glue sets fast. If you’re slightly misaligned, it’s often not worth redoing as long as the key elements are visible and functional.

Enjoy Your Upgraded Playmat!

Congratulations—you’ve created a custom Junkyard Juggernaut playmat with a chipboard overlay! While this step isn’t required to enjoy Juggernaut, it’s a quality-of-life improvement that many players find worthwhile. Now repeat these steps three more times and then save the land of Galmenni from the evil Warlord (which Francisco is not!)

Godspeed Mageineers!

It’s not what I was hoping for, but this is definitely not the end

First off, if you backed Junkyard Juggernauts on Kickstarter, I am so truly thankful to you for believing in this game and how it would help Fire Joy Studios grow!

And for those who shared the project over and over again with your friends on social media, I imagine we would not have gotten to the support we did without that 🥰

So where do we go from here?

Here is the roadmap for Junkyard Juggernauts through the end of 2025:

1. The first hurdle JJ has to clear now is to getting a passing score on a Sanity Test from The Game Crafter, which I plan to submit the game to again this coming week. The game was not successful in it’s first attempt, and with the feedback received from that test, I have updated the rules to a place where I think they are even more polished and clear (let’s hope TGC agrees 😅). Once this test is passed JJ a few things will happen.

2. I will be purchasing a new proof copy and if it looks good opening up the shop page for purchase of the deluxe game at it’s retail price of $120.

3. This proof copy will then become a review copy to send out to several reviewers that let me know they were interested in covering JJ while the Kickstarter was happening. (Quick shout out to Christian Geek Central, Geeks Plus Media, and One Board Family for their previews - if you haven’t checked out their content, please do and give the videos/articles some love.)

4. Toward the end of September 2025 I am hoping to have at least two more reviews, but regardless, this will be the latest I will be running a Crowd Sale on The Game Crafter:

   Crowd Sales are a form of crowd funding. Instead of stretch goals, backers get a cheaper price for the game for every 10 copies sold, no matter when in the campaign they back.

   And regardless of how many copies are backed, everyone who backs will get a game, hopefully by Christmas time 🤞

5. In parallel with the above I have begun brainstorming an expansion to JJ that can be played stand-alone as well as added into the main game. The current idea is that it would feature the Mageineer’s tutor Dobern, and be a dungeon crawler of sorts. The rule book illustrator Paul J. Powers and I also have to talk about possibly still releasing an art book for JJ.

Best ways to stay involved

If you want to make sure you don’t want to miss announcements for the game, make sure to Subscribe here to Fire Joy Studios:

I will also post various content on Instagram and X(Twitter), and you can join the Facebook Group if meta is more your speed.

Thank you again Mageineers and Godspeed to our next chapters together.

Play as 1 of 4 heroes building a mech with your elemental magic, from the cards you draw, in this fantasy adventure board game. Will your mech be able to defeat the evil Warlord who has invaded? And what if you or another player has joined the Warlord's side?

Check out the Kickstarter and rewards for backing, some of which won’t be available after the campaign is over!

Yes, June 30 as in 2025.

[Reposted from JJ Journal Newsletter]
Reading that probably brings to mind a couple questions, depending on the type of person you are:

That is crazy soon, and I haven't seen any ads or anything. Is this really ready? What if it fails?

Or

Awesome! How can I help this succeed?

And yes for those keeping score that is technically three question 😅 so let's address them.

Q1: "Is this really ready?"

A1: 99% I believe that given the extensive play testing and work put into JJ, it is ready for this Kickstarter. There are some odds and ends that still need to be sorted out, like making print and play files, and implementing into the rule book the final art from our amazing illustrator Paul Powers and updates from our thorough editor Mike Fraley; but the game itself is complete.

And with really no marketing budget (outside of sending a couple copies to reviewers), you won't be seeing the typical Facebook ads that usually preempts a Kickstarter launch. But this is where you can help...

Q2: "How can I help?"

A2: Right now the best way is to share the website with your board gaming friends so that they can get a sense for themselves if it is a game they may like (as well as signing up to this newsletter):

junkyardjuggernauts.com

My plan is to send out a few more emails that are sharable, as well as posting on social media to get the word out. If you want to actively help in these ways and others, reply to this email with "Street-team me" or something to that effect, and we can work to overcome the Warlord (aka social media algorithms) together! For example, sharing video's like this one from Christian Geek Central, that give overviews of the game:

Q3: What if it fails?

A3: Well it's not an option I would like to see, but even if the Kickstarter fails, the game won't. Since the game is being printed through The Game Crafter, it will be available to purchase there, regardless of the successfulness of the Kickstarter. (Kickstarter is a site more people are familiar with so has a better chance of raising awareness, and is a better mechanism for doing things like stretch goals.)

That's all for now. Hope you are ready to...

Go to the Kickstarter

I will be sharing the actual launch date shortly on the JJ newsletter and tomorrow here on FJS. But suffice it to say, after a lot of work (and still more to come) Junkyard Juggernauts is on Kickstarter!

Go to the Kickstarter Prelaunch Page

🕓TIMESTAMPS🕓

• 01:01 Setting up Junkyard Juggernauts

• 10:57 First Salvage Phase

• 13:28 Second Salvage Phase

• 20:40 Building a Juggernaut

• 26:44 Establish Player Order

• 28:32 Travel and C.A.M.P.ing (aka Adventuring)

Original music by Marllon Silva (xDeviruchi)

🕓TIMESTAMPS🕓

• 01:58 How Juggernaut Build affects Specialization abilities and Barbarian Specialization

• 14:16 Sage Specialization

• 20:05 Mystic Specialization

• 28:26 Rogue Specialization

• 35:37 Warden Specialization

• 43:07 Witch Doctor Specialization

• 50:36 Commodore Specialization

• 55:24 Pirate Specialization

Original music by Marllon Silva (xDeviruchi)

🕓TIMESTAMPS🕓

• 01:24 How to get Charges

• 03:40 Applying Positive Charges (aka boosting your Juggernaut)

• 07:52 Applying Negative Charges (aka status effects)

• 10:00 Burned Status Effect

• 11:16 Rusted Status Effect

• 12:56 Envenomed Status Effect

• 14:52 Shocked Status Effect

• 16:46 Blood Charges for the Warlord/Junk Golems

Original music by Marllon Silva (xDeviruchi)

🕓TIMESTAMPS🕓
01:06 - Play Mat Overview
05:55 - Passive abilities for the four Torsos
14:35 - Building a Juggernaut

Original music by Marllon Silva (xDeviruchi)

Original music by Marllon Silva (xDeviruchi)

Original music by Marllon Silva (xDeviruchi)

Thank you everyone who watched live and XtianNinja for the Twitch raid at the end!

Have any questions about the game? Leave a comment below.

Godspeed Mageineers!