<![CDATA[GAMES BY JUDITH - Blog]]>Thu, 02 Apr 2026 10:59:59 -0400Weebly<![CDATA[Dungeon Reset at Awesome Con 2026!]]>Sun, 22 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.gamesbyjudith.com/blog/dungeon-reset-at-awesome-con-2026Are you curious what kind of trouble we got up to at Awesome Con? Well here is a recap of what we got up to when our Boss ordered us to Reset the Dungeon!
Two loyal servants of the fearsome Dread King — Ike, a mage of modest ambition, and Muggsley, a toymaker of considerable ingenuity — found their hard-earned vacation cut tragically short. Summoned before their dramatic employer, who delivered the grim news from atop a personal stage beneath a spotlight, they learned that adventurers had ransacked the dungeon they had worked so hard to build. With liability waivers signed, maps in hand, and the Dread King's parting gift of a single flower drifting to the floor behind them, the two minions descended into the depths aboard a lift serenaded by the worst fairy band in recorded history.

What they found below was a dungeon in shambles. Spikes stolen, fires reduced to a faint warmth, puzzle doors solved and left swinging open, boulders rearranged with a passive-aggressive sticky note, and a mirror maze barely holding its illusions together. Undeterred — and arguably inspired — Ike and Muggsley set about rebuilding each trap with considerably more creativity than before. Legos and thumbtacks replaced the missing spikes. A giant Easy-Bake Oven of melting army men took the place of the dying flames. Unsolvable fake locks and a philosophically satisfied sentient door guarded the puzzle hall. Sticky, judgmental Mr. Potato Head boulders now roamed their chamber with slow menace. And the mirror maze was repurposed into a mimic-staffed dating game show, complete with stage lighting, a grease trap, and a ticking timer for maximum existential dread.

But perhaps the most unexpected discovery lay at the dungeon's heart — a black box theater, occupied by none other than the Dread King's own daughter, performing to an empty house and nursing a complicated relationship with her father. With equal parts flattery and creative misdirection, the minions convinced her that her theater was an exclusive venue, enchanted a sign to compel adventurers inside, and even delivered her a first audience member: a bored halfling, freshly mesmerized by a fidget spinner. With a hot dog vendor staffed by a fire elemental — serving slightly spoiled wares — installed in the Hall of Fire as a parting touch, the two minions ascended back to the surface. Their report was met with the Dread King's theatrical approval, a quiet moment of fatherly feeling regarding his daughter, and the reward of three additional days of vacation. The dungeon, once ruined, now stood more deviously dangerous than ever. And the hot dog stand had yet to even open for business.
]]><![CDATA[Wreck the Ball at Awesome Con 2026!]]>Tue, 17 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.gamesbyjudith.com/blog/wreck-the-ball-at-awesome-con-2026Are you curious what kind of trouble we got up to at Awesome Con? Well here is a recap of what we got up to when our Boss ordered us to Wreck the Ball!
The Anti-Fairy Godmother, consumed by paranoia and ambition, gathered her unlikely band of miscreants and set them loose upon the royal ball with one singular, chaotic mandate — ruin everything, and , if you can, make sure the Fairy Godmother takes the blame. Into the grandest ballroom in the kingdom she sent them: Gleep, the green and unfortunate confectioner with a talent for culinary sabotage; Mek, the trap-setting mechanic with a gift for hiding in places no one should hide; Garth, the magpie-brained ranger with an obsession for anything that glitters (particularly shoes); and John, the mercenary who needed only the promise of gold and a stolen suit to feel right at home among royalty. Through a combination of forged credentials, a well-timed distraction involving a missing earring, and one very overwhelmed party planner named Deb, the crew infiltrated the ball and set their plan into devastating motion. Allergen-laced hors d'oeuvres left half the guests weeping and sneezing. A fake rat on a string sent the crowd into a stampede. A strategically knocked candelabra ignited the curtains, and in a stroke of catastrophic genius, well-meaning guests hurled drink after drink onto the flames — every glass of alcohol turning a manageable fire into a spiraling, unnatural vortex. A knight named Frank was emotionally dismantled piece by piece, the Prince was buried face-first in a twelve-foot cake, and Garth made off with enough stolen shoes to open a boutique.

And then — the Fairy Godmother herself arrived. One look at the carnage was all it took before the minions were upon her, biting, wrestling, and hurling backpacks in a desperate struggle for her wand. In the end, it was Gleep who delivered the killing blow (figuratively): a living, wriggling grub on a stale cracker, shoved directly into her open mouth. She bit down. She felt it move. And she was forever changed, never to be quite the same again. With the wand claimed and their enemy thoroughly broken, the minions vanished into the night. They returned to the Anti-Fairy Godmother with the greatest prize she had ever held. She looked at that wand, declared the kingdom far too small a conquest, and promoted her generals on the spot. And so, with quadrupled pay, a collection of stolen shoes, and the whole wide world suddenly on the table...what could possibly come next.
]]><![CDATA[Minions are Making News!]]>Mon, 16 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.gamesbyjudith.com/blog/minions-are-making-news
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Minions Making News!

What a week! Did you know that Minions was written about in a blog review? It was so kind and thoughtful. They asked great questions about how I made the game and my advice for future creators. Check out their article about Minions!
Read the Full Article Here
]]><![CDATA[Minions are Coming to AwesomeCon!]]>Sun, 01 Mar 2026 05:00:00 GMThttps://www.gamesbyjudith.com/blog/minions-are-coming-to-awesomecon
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I'll be running Misunderstood Minions in the Board Game Room on March 14th, 2026! I was invited by Game Kastle to share my games at Awesome Con!

Did you know conventions are the perfect place to sit down with new players, run chaotic adventures, and talk about storytelling and game design.

If you’re attending AwesomeCon 2026 where I’m running games, come say hello!

At conventions, you may be able to:
  • Play a game in a live session
  • Purchase physical copies of the games from Game Kastle’s booth
  • Get books signed (if that interests you)
  • Ask questions about game design and storytelling (when I’m not running games)
  • Meet the designer behind the chaos

I'll be running two sessions from the book: Dungeon Reset and Wreck the Ball! If you find yourself in the DC area and want to join me at the table you can sign up here!
]]><![CDATA[Final Call for Surveys! Let’s Get Those Books Delivered!]]>Tue, 14 Oct 2025 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.gamesbyjudith.com/blog/final-call-for-surveys-lets-get-those-books-deliveredHey there, my many minions!
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We’re this close to finishing fulfillment, there are just a few surveys left to complete before I can send out every last physical copy of Misunderstood Minions! If you haven’t filled out your BackerKit survey yet, please do so as soon as possible so your book can make its grand escape from the lair and find its way to you!
For digital-only backers:
Your digital rewards can be found right in your BackerKit survey downloads. If, for any reason, your files aren’t showing up, don’t panic! Message me ASAP, and I’ll make sure you get your copies.
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And there’s a bonus!
Included in your digital goodies is a special one-page TTRPG called Camp Catastrophe! — created in honor of Free RPG Day 2025 and distributed in a few lucky DC-area game stores. Now you get your very own copy to enjoy!
Thank you again for your patience, excitement, and minion-level enthusiasm! You’re helping make this chaotic little game’s world even bigger. 

Now… back to plotting the next round of mischief!
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— Judith & The Overseer
]]><![CDATA[Minion Mayhem Hits the Airwaves!]]>Sat, 20 Sep 2025 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.gamesbyjudith.com/blog/minion-mayhem-hits-the-airwavesGuess what, boss? I escaped the lair for a bit and snuck onto SideQuests!

I had a fantastic time chatting with the Paladins of Podcast! We talked all about Misunderstood Minions, the wild ideas that inspired it, the chaos that happens at the table, and why TTRPGs are the perfect excuse for shenanigans (and sometimes where we can learn to grow as people). It was such a fun conversation, and I think you’ll really enjoy it if you love hearing game creators geek out about tabletop stories.
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Listen to the episode here or check them out on their website, so you can find them wherever your pods are cast!
Go give it a listen, share it with your minion crew, and then report back to base so we can plan our next ridiculous scheme together!
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]]><![CDATA[Packaging has BEGUN!!!]]>Fri, 12 Sep 2025 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.gamesbyjudith.com/blog/packaging-has-begunThank you all! The time is HERE!!!!! Surveys are sent, and packages are being created! Soon everyone who filled out their Backerkit survey will be getting a notification that their order is shipping SOON!!!

The Overseer has been watching as I package all of your rewards to ensure that they are up to snuff.

If you haven't filled out your BackerKit survey yet, please make sure that you do it soon, so you don't miss out on the first wave of shipments! If you don't see it, check your spam filter, just in case.
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Don't forget that you can still share the fun with friends who missed the Kickstarter campaign!
PreOrder Here!
I can't wait for you all to have your Minion Adventures!
]]><![CDATA[The Grand Reveal! Surveys Are Starting and Books Have Arrived!]]>Mon, 25 Aug 2025 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.gamesbyjudith.com/blog/the-grand-reveal-surveys-are-starting-and-books-have-arrivedAre you ready… because I don’t think you’re ready. I know I wasn’t ready!
BOOKS. ARE. HERE. Feast your eyes on the final cover below! I’ve been sitting on this like a dragon hoarding shiny things, and it feels SO good to finally show it off.
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Late Pledges: Closed

Late pledges are now officially closed—huge thanks to everyone who jumped in, even at the last minute. You helped us up the quality and get everything moving smoothly into fulfillment.

Preorders: Now Open on BackerKit

Missed the campaign or want an extra copy for your lair? You can still join the mayhem through the BackerKit Preorder Store. Share it with a friend who’d love a chaotic crew of minions:
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➡️ https://misunderstoodminions.backerkit.com/hosted_preorders

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What Happens Next

I'm double-checking books and packing supplies while I wait for your surveys to start rolling in.

PLEASE KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR YOUR SURVEYS. I'M STARTING TO SEND THEM TODAY.

Once you have filled out your survey, I can begin fulfilling your rewards!

What Happens After I Fill Out My Survey?

Once I have begun receiving the majority of my surveys back, I will be able to start sending your rewards to you!
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I’ll post another update when the first wave leaves the nest.

From the bottom of my villainous heart: thank you for believing in this game and for cheering all the way through production. I can’t wait to hear about your first capers.
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]]><![CDATA[Big News – Rewards Are Here!]]>Mon, 18 Aug 2025 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.gamesbyjudith.com/blog/big-news-rewards-are-here
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​Hi everyone! I have some very exciting news to share with you:

All Add-Ons Have Arrived!

​The stickers, dice, and character sheet notepads are finally here—and they are absolutely BEAUTIFUL! I can’t wait for you to see them in person.
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​Game Books Are Done Printing!
The books are officially finished at the printers and are on their way to me NOW. I’ll admit, I was so excited when I got the message they were ready to ship that I teared up. This project has been such a dream to bring to life and it is so CLOSE!

A Surprise Bonus Adventure!
While finishing the book layout, I realized I had two options: shorten the book by a few pages…or write something new. So, congratulations! You’re getting a bonus! Instead of three adventures, the book now includes four quickstart adventures. I have felt so inspired by all of you and your support, that it was a no brainer to give you all a little something extra.

Upgraded Quality
In working with the layout designer and printer, I made some decisions to improve the overall quality of the book (as well as add some pages). These choices did end up costing a little more than originally planned, but I’m so glad I made them. The result is a game book I am truly proud of, and one that I think you’ll love, even if it means I went over budget.

BackerKit Surveys Coming Soon!
Keep an eye on your inbox! Soon, you’ll receive an email with a special link to your BackerKit survey. It’s important to respond to your survey as quickly as you can since I need this information to fulfill your rewards. You don’t need to create a BackerKit account to fill out your survey. When you receive the email with the survey, click the survey link to respond. You don’t have access to this survey link yet, but it will be available soon via email! In the survey, you will:
  • Receive your digital copy of the game (if you selected that option).
  • Provide your mailing address so I can ship your rewards.
  • Pay for shipping costs to receive your physical rewards.
  • Add on any extra items you may have missed during the campaign.

I'll send you another update when the surveys are out and the books have arrived! I can’t wait to start bundling everything up and sending these rewards your way. Thank you again for your patience, excitement, and support! It means the world to me.

​We’re so close now! 💖
]]><![CDATA[A Day of Incredible Updates!]]>Sun, 27 Jul 2025 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.gamesbyjudith.com/blog/a-day-of-incredible-updates
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Oh my goodness! So many updates all at once! For starters I am so sorry I haven't been able to update recently, summer jobs, chaotic life, plus minion mania has kept me on my toes all summer!

Our art is now 100% complete! Huzzah! I I was so excited to see the art all done that I even shed a tear or two of excitement and joy! All of the art has been sent off to an incredible layout designer to swap out the line art images with the colored! The first two rounds of layout design are complete as well! Now we just await the final document with the art to make sure that everything still looks the way we hope with the final art, and make any last minute tweaks before sending it off to the printer.
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Add Ons! Our dice have arrived!!!!! The original dice that I had selected for Misunderstood Minions at the start of this campaign were sadly not able to fulfill the quantity that we needed for all of our backers who decided to get a dice with their game (Thank you for the support!). But rest at ease, because the dice that we got are WONDERFUL! They are somewhat transparent, with purple ink injected into it, with some interesting blue specks scattered inside, and blue numbers! Take a look!
​Since our art and character sheets are complete I will be able to send off the character sheets and art for their end of Add On fulfillment so that our character sheet notepads, and sticker sheets are ready for all of you!

I am so excited to bring this update to you all! Once the files have been sent off to the printer, I am going to be sending a major update via a pledge manager to you all where you will be able to tell me where you would like to have your pledges sent, where you will pay for your shipping (if you have physical items), and where you can add on anything else you need to make sure that your gaming experience is perfect for you.
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Until next time!
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Meet our cover minion! He can't wait to get you started on your first minion adventure!
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