Last night (March 18, 2020), I mentioned to my patrons on Patreon, that I am not dependent upon their backing. I suggested that they consider backing the Patreons of creatives who rely on their Patreons to pay their bills. I then shared that across my social media.

I also mentioned that I had gotten too wrapped up in trying to keep up with what is going on with COVID-19. It was a huge, distracting time sink. It also fouled my mood. I need to step away from that.

[My prostate cancer diagnosis derailed my focus and I never published this way back in the early weeks of the pandemic. Since the pandemic isn’t over, it isn’t too late to share these thoughts. I’m not sure I’ll do anything with my list unless a lot of people indicate an interest in a certain topic.]

What Can I Do?

As I thought more about it, ideas of what else I can do to help more broadly than boosting my patronage of a few Patreons. I thought of all the things I know how to do that can add some variety to what I can share. As I thought, one other thing that occured to me was that I should challenge others to make their own lists of things they can share.

This is not limited to parlor games, board games, and Table Top RPGs. I’ve seen my YouTube channel have a huge increase in people suddenly searching for help getting started with Roll20 so their in person group can still play. I’ve had people seek assistance getting started so they can prep for their Virtual Gary Con games.

I will still talk about games on the blog, podcast, YouTube & Twitch channels. But I want to do more. So I am sharing my list of things I’ll list to talk about, and will share if there is interest.

There won’t be soup lines in this one, so those who have will need to share.

I encourage all tiny Patreons to encourage their followers to go support the Patreons of creators who rely on their Patreon to pay the bills.

My List

I know how to do a lot of different things and have some skills that some may want to know about.

• The obvious RPG & Gaming stuff.
• Sharing how to use Roll20 & other VTTs and resources to game online.
• Opening up a new online game for new players. By that, I mean new players looking to learn how to play RPGs.
• I’m leaning towards releasing the card game to both DriveThruCards [Affiliate Link] and GameCrafter with the free art to get it out. I don’t have the mental and emotional bandwidth to run a Kickstarter during a pandemic. I can do a Kickstarter later with the new art. This will give my artist more time to produce it.
• Suggest little things we can do to assist and encourage one another.
• Share my knowledge & experience with a world ill prepared for everyone staying home.
  • How to cook. I’ve got a back burner project that was a joke in college, but with serious practicality, The Bachelor’s Guide To Home Cooking. My parents taught me how to cook. I may have some tips others will find helpful.
  • How to clean. It’s amazing how many don’t seem to know how to do this.
  • How to do laundry. Maybe not, but some adults don’t know how to do this.
  • I was a volunteer firefighter/EMT way back when. All my licenses and certifications are long expired. I don’t have many good stories.
  • Life hacks. I don’t have many, but some may find them helpful.
• Be a listening ear on a live stream. It’s amazing how many need someone to listen. Now more than ever as we are isolated, or confined with family or roommates, we need a variety of others.
• I have a BA in History. I focused on the ancient near east, the Greco Roman period, middle ages, and Europe up to WWII. I’ve also studied colonial North America, the American Revolution, Civil War, and westward expansion.
• Genealogy. I find it fascinating to identify when and where my ancestors were in a given time frame and relate that to historic events. I started a genealogy blog several years ago, and did the A to Z blogging challenge on that blog and this blog simultaneously.
• I have had many comments on the sound of my voice. Many find it soothing. I have ideas to go along with that.
  • Reading a public domain short story or poetry. Maybe even something I’ve written.
  • Hypnosis or a Calming Voice. (No, I’m not starting an ASMR channel.)

What Can All Of Us Do?

-OR-

What can I do to help others in an isolation or quarantine scenario?

• I suggest we all make a list of what we can do.
• Order something for your elderly, disabled, or poor neighbors from an online retailer or restaurant, since you can’t go there in person.
• Leave a note of gratitude for the mail carriers and delivery people.
• Cheer on the healthcare, janitorial, and sanitation workers you know. Not just the ones among your family and friends.
• Be kind to those who work in retail. Especially those at grocery stores.
• Keep your house clean and organized to maximize the living space and minimize the things you have to worry about.
• The sudden inability to do things is a lesson that we should always do things at the time they are needed. Don’t put off the laundry, if you use a laundry mat. Don’t put off grocery shopping because you hate it. Don’t put off visiting your aging relatives as you never know when you’ll see them again.
• Take this time to figure out what is truly important to you.
• If you are out of work and money is tight or non-existent, don’t be too proud to share your need. I’m sure food banks, houses of worship, and other non-profits will soon be out of resources until the supply chain catches up.
• If you are blessed with a surplus of cash or other resources, share as you are able.
• If you’re worried about the long-term food situation, now is the perfect time to be planning a garden. You can lay out cardboard in your yard to kill off the grass to make it easier to work it. Research methods that take little water. There’s a lot of good stuff on YouTube.