July 2018

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 LOTS OF NEW STOCK IN THE LYG SHOP - MANY PRICES REDUCED

For the first time in a while, I have lots to talk about...

Back from CSW Expo in Tempe, Arizona. Had a good time as always though not as great as usual simply because I had little scheduled. I normally have some of my own designs to play test - but not this year. That said, I did do a little playtesting on Red Sash Games' 'Army of Flanders' and Gina Willis's 'A Glorious Chance' to be published by Legion. I enjoyed both - something as of a surprise in relation to 'Glorious' as I am not normally a solitaire fan. 

I was also invited to play Toulon. Several attendees commented on how much they enjoyed the game - which was very nice to hear. I've not played in a long time and it was funny to find myself asking one of those watching, who had been complimentary about it, if they could remember a particular rule and so help us out with our game.

The fact that I didn't get the same 'buzz' from this year's convention is probably a good thing as it is the last time I'll be attending for some time - it could even be my last. So, this way, I am let down gently. The principle reason this could be my last CSWE is that I now want to spend the time (& money) on the house in France. 

Knowing I'll miss CSWE, I am now seriously thinking of trying to organise an visit to the Paris convention, in September 2020, with a number of my international friends.

Talking of international friends, meeting friends old and new is always the best part of CSWE and this year was no exception.

One of the many old friends was Dana Lombardy of Lombardy Studios (and, previously, L2). I have a number of copies of his Napoleon Magazine/Journal DVDs for posting to European customers. A I have them here in the UK, he can discount the postage and so is able to offer the DVD at the same price as paid by U.S. customer - $36. That is a $6 saving.

The DVD contains all 17 copies of the magazine, published between 1996 and 2000, in searchable PDF format.

Interested?

If you are, I also have 6 hardcopies of Issue 17 (the final issue) that I will send, free of charge, to the first 6 people requesting a copy. I will even cover the UK postage and discount overseas postage. There are just two conditions:

1. Please only request a copy if you are seriously considering ordering the DVD
2. Please show the magazine to any friends you feel may be interested in the DVD.

Compliance with these conditions is completely on a trust basis of course.

To go right ahead and purchase the DVD, simply click Dana's advertisement in the right-hand column of this page. Mention LYG to get the special discount.

What else is new?

Well I have to tell you I came close to shutting LYG down this month - I received the hosting company's renewal quote and it had tripled to almost $500 - an amount I simply wasn't prepared to pay. I was hoping they would discount when I contacted them - but they weren't shifting a cent. I next looked into moving to a new company but taking a pre-move backup was problematic and I had mixed messages about my intended new host.

Due to the backup issues I contacted the current host again. The news on the backup was less than ideal - but they have given me some rather manual processes to try and apply. The good news, however, is that this time I was able to negotiate a decent discount (no idea why it worked this time and not last). As a result, I am signed up for the next 3-years and so LYG should be around until at least 2021.

What happens then may well be up to you.

I doubt the hosting company will discount again and I hope to take early retirement that year. If these two things do occur than I won't be forking out what will probably be over $500 by then - unless the financial support I get from visitors increases significantly. The generous support I've had from the patrons has been great and there has been some support from others too - but at current levels I simply won't be able to afford the next renewal in 2021.

So, we should be fine till 2021. If you want LYG to be around beyond then, and you're not already a patron, then I need your support.

On that note, I'll close for this month - thanks for reading if you got this far.

See you next month.

BREXIT & Our EU Friendly Shipping

Despite the UK vote to leave the European Union, our EU Friendly Shipping Service is unlikely to be affected for several years. Remember that we offer EU Friendly Shipping Service to all of our sponsors. It reduces their costs as well as saving you money related to VAT charges. Please get your favourite publisher to talk to us about how we could work with them.

And finally...

My thanks as always to our sponsors, advertisers, contributors and visitors.

Limey.