Initial Contact

Intro
Good morning fellow cardboard pasters, card cutters and chits and bits re-users (or really anyone), Welcome to.... my blog about the Journey into board game design.  My name is Jeffery Allen MacDonald (JAM) and I recently started having a bunch of thoughts and designs invade my brain.  I've decided to try my hand at creating some games.  My goal is to bring these games to life and get them published or kickstarted.  However, these designs may never be published and may only be created for my own enjoyment.  The inspiration to document my journey through a blog, was Jamey Stegmaier's blog about kickstarter. That inspired me to blog about Breaking into Board Games. Please join me as I enter the Ground Floor of game design to see if I can make it.

Background
I currently spend my days at work as an electrician.  Although I was not always an electrician. In previous editions of my life I used to be an Auditor for a Helicopter company and before that, I was a Customer Service manager.  I've spent years trying to deluxify myself through higher learning.  I hold University Diploma in Business, a Canadian Securities Certificate and completed two years of the CGA program.  So just like in games I have several iterations of my life.

History
So how did I get here. Growing up my family always played the Usual Suspects: Monopoly, Risk, Game of Life, etc.  Around 2013, my brothers and I played a game of Merchants and Marauders. This was the first designer board game we ever played.  Not knowing that I was about to be overcome, I started into the hobby.  Games, games and more games.  Now in 2019 with close to 1000 plays of around 275 unique games I've not only discovered my gaming style but now I have been invaded with ideas of games I want to create.  This led me to podcasts on board game design.  My number one influencer is the Board Game Design Lab with Gabe Barrett.  Other board game related podcasts I listen to are Ludology (design), Draft Mechanic (info and reviews), Board Game Mechanics (fun and reviews), Blue Peg Pink Peg (fun and reviews), Board Game Insiders (industry info) and Breaking into Board Games (info on going professional).