Haugesund is a small municipality, only 73 km². The population is 34,619, giving the municipality a population density of 509 people per km².

The town is situated on a strategically important sound through which ships could pass without traversing heavy seas. In the early years the coastal waters off Haugesund were a huge source of herring, and the town grew accordingly. Despite being barely a village back then, King Harald Fairhair lived at Avaldsnes, very close to…

OK, let’s face it. I never heard about Haugesund and I don’t know anything about this city. And yet, I am about to go there this week!

***

It all began at Essen 2014. Bunch of cool guys from Norway gave me a tshirt with their club logo and took a picture with me. I was recognizing them from previous years, this was bunch of loyal gamers who were  visiting Portal Games every year.

They told me they do convention in Norway and that would be cool if I visit them some day.

'When is it organized?’ I asked.

'February’ they said.

'You must be kidding me! Norway in February? Do I look like a fan of freezing temperatures?’ I replied.

'It’s called MidWinter con. But trust us, it’s not that cold in Norway in February!’

I was rolling with laughter.

'Guys we stay in touch, but chances that I’ll come are low. Just like temperatures in Norway in February.’ I said.

***

And here we are 3 months later – tomorrow I have flight to Haugesund. Flight is on 6 AM, I will have to get up 2 AM to get to airport. Doesn’t sound like fun. Low temperatures in Norway doesn’t sound like fun neither.

And yet, I am going to Haugesund.

Super cool gamers convinced me that this will be hell of a fun weekend. Believe it or not, I am sure, they are right. It’s gonna be fun. Norway, I am coming!

Portal Games is a company and as you guys know I am CEO of this company. I do business and I try to become billionaire. But besides that, besides trying to make huge money every day, I am trying to have fun. And I have to admit that this part about having fun is much more successful so far.

So once a while I try to make jokes, mock players whom I like (and know that they have sense of humor and won’t feel  offended). Like yesterday, when I was making fun of Tony from Rolling Dice and Taking Names who said that he sold his copy of Robinson Crusoe, because the game was all about problems with food, with wood, with wounds and beasts and that there is no moment of break from overhelming despair. So I designed a card for him.

Hello Tony! I don’t now how you’ll do it, but you better undone that deal… @DiceAndNames #episode57 pic.twitter.com/azvSgaO3or

— Portal Games (@trzewik) January 29, 2015

I mention this as an introduction to the joke I made to Willie Hung at BGG.con 2014. And since Willie mentioned this in his yesterday’s blog post I think it is a great moment to read about his adventures with Portal Games and him dealing with me…

• First part of the story
• Second part of the story
• Third part… ok, there is no third part. But you never know, you know… Maybe someday… 😉

Players sometimes ask me what soundtrack I recommend to listen to when they play one of my games, like Stronghold or Robinson Crusoe. I am known as thematic designer, my games are all about story and engagement of players and soundtrack seems like obvious choice.

Well, it is not.

I don’t play with soundtrack.

When I was playing RPG games I was all about building atmosphere and building tension and I was using music like a madman (or rather like DJ). I was changing songs and CDs all the time, I was playing slow music, fast music, epic music, depending on scene, depending on scenario I had everything earlier prepared – whole OST with different songs for each part of scenario. I was crazy.

Today when I play board games, I don’t use any music, I just focus on rules, games mechanism and I don’t want to be distracted by any soundtrack. OK, except the moment when I play X-Wing. You just can’t play it without OST, right?

Being that said…

Last week I watched Ricky Royal video dedicated to Voyage of the Beagle. And I have to say, little, subtle trick Ricky did struck me like a bolt. Ricky did not use a soundtrack. He used sound effects.

Play from 5:18 to see what I am talkin’ about. In a split of a second the theme is build. The same trick in his second video. Watch at 3:06

I think I am still not for soundtrack and music when I play board games. But such a special effects here and there… That would be freaking awesome. Watching these movies, hearing these sounds I felt like I was there. It was just a subtle touch, but hell, it worked!

It was November. Dallas. I was standing in the line at the airport for boarding. I tweeted something like: „8 hours flight. What podcast do you recommend?” HyperboleGrant quickly replied: „Serial”

I did not managed to download it in time for boarding, but I hit 'Subscribe’ button. I will check it when I reach Poland, I decided.

I reached Poland. I forgot about Serial.

***

I started listening Serial few weeks ago. First episode, second episode, third… And then all of them just in one weekend. It was a crazy ride. I couldn’t stop. The story was so engaging, so complicated, everything was so tense and jumbled. The way podcast was produced was brilliant. With great soundtrack, with fragments from actual court scenes or interrogations rooms.

Serial is a masterpiece.

Best storytelling piece I heard for years. Perhaps even the best storytelling piece I heard in my life.

It was an amazing experience.

And yet, HyperboleGrant will not hear 'Thank you, man’

And yet, HyperboleGrant should not be proud of his recommendation.

And yet, HyperboleGrant is the last person I will ask for advice next time…

***

Since the day I listened last episode of Serial I never listened to other podcast. I look at Podcasts icon on my Iphone screen and I sight with longing.

For the past month I haven’t listen to any board games podcasts (with 2 small exceptions).

I miss Anthony and his loooong Cardoard Jungle. I miss Tony and Marty and their Rolling Dice. I miss The Secret Cabal crew…

It’s all because Serial. I can’t accept it’s over. I can’t get over it. It’s your fault man. Shame on you HyperboleGrant!