Christmas is coming and there is a stupid elf knocking around messing up people’s houses. But not in this house! Oh no, that elf is banned!!!

This house is a right mess without help from a soft toy, that has apparently become traditional over the last decade. That’s not a tradition, that’s still just a bad habit. “Baa Humbug” I hear you cry – well that’s not unjustified if I’m honest – but not for that dumb elf.

In this house we have the tradition of an Advent Calendar*. This year has got a little extreme** but I thought I’d try and share my advent calendar journey this year because 2023’s Advent Calendar is a gaming calendar!!! (Last year’s was a Q-Workshop dice calendar)

Mantic Games have produced an Advent Calendar which builds up into a mini game called Bar Room Brawl. At the time of writing there are still some available at Goblin Gaming if this jingles your bells.

The box lid becomes the game mat, the playing pieces etc are behind the doors. The rules are behind the door trays, so you have to wait till the 24th before it all comes together. So what’s behind door number 1 ?

The bar!

I realise it’s now the 2nd and I could open door 2 but that’ll wait until the morning – and hopefully the delivery of Legions Imperialis The Horus Heresy.

Thanks for reading. Here’s the usual affiliated link section. Go buy your loved ones (or yourself – I’m not judging) some hobby presents this Christmas. Use the link and I’ll get a small kick back from your shopping. Element Games (get double element crystals using code DAV615).

* Advent Calendars being around since the 19th century according to Wikipedia, whereas Elf on the Shelf is 2005.

** ok so things have gone a little over the top in our house this year. There are three traditional picture calendars ( Katie, Josh & Lillie), two Barbie calendars (K&L), a Lego Star wars calendar (J), and a Gruffalo calendar (L), and of course my BarRoom Brawl calendar .