I’m sure I’ve mentioned it before, but I like board games. I play a fair number of them, I have a very large collection, and for about a decade I worked in a Friendly Local Game Store.

For the most part, good times. The holidays were a little hard, no surprise, and working during COVID was a challenge, but for the most part I really enjoyed my time there. Good people on both sides of the counter.

Recently, a video board game reviewer (technically a pair of them, a husband and wife team) put out a video asking for more subscriptions in order to get a raise, basically. I have cut almost all of my Patreon outwards-support, but I figured I could throw a few dollars at these two because:
1. They do really, really good work. Great editing, solid writing, insightful reviews.
2. They’re creatives who are struggling to make ends meet. Their ambition outstrips my ambition (they want to get studio space, and I couldn’t ever DREAM of having studio space for my own projects!), but at the core, it’s two talented people who want to make a living doing something they are both good at and passionate about.

Of course, I don’t have enough money to support myself, but part of the reason I chose to support them (at the lowest tier possible because, yes, I am mostly broke) is because I have to believe that talented creatives are allowed to make a living. I need to believe that, because if that’s not true then what am I even doing?

So I now support two board game review channels: Shut Up and Sit Down (who I have supported for 14 years now? For as long as they’ve accepted any form of donation, significantly earlier than Patreon has existed) and No Pun Included. My two outwards Patreons are slightly less than the amount I currently receive from Patreon, so I guess at this stage I’m just sharing the love a little. I hope it helps.

Hope everyone out there is staying safe and healthy!