Getting in touch
Ways to get in touch with me online, in order of preference:
Email: r.eric.reuss@gmail.com. If you have a question that needs a reply, contact me here. It is likely to take me a few days to reply.
BoardGameGeek: R. Eric Reuss – if you just want to drop me a quick note that doesn’t require a reply, BGG is great. If you’d actually like an answer, email tends to be better.
BlueSky: @rericreuss.bsky.social – it seems like boardgame Twitter is migrating here more than elsewhere? I’ll be delighted if you follow me, but I may not follow back if I don’t know you in person.
Mastodon: @REricReuss@ohai.social – I tried moving here from Twitter, and *love* the concept of federation, but find some of Mastodon’s design decisions push me so hard away from engaging that I don’t check it super often.
Reddit: EricReuss – Not a great way to get in touch – it can take me months to notice DMs on Reddit, even without technical glitches.
Facebook / Messenger: Eric Reuss – Facebook is basically terrible; the only reason I use them is because everyone else is there, and it’s the only contact-point I have with a number of old friends. I’ll probably notice messages or mentions at some point, but sometimes it’ll be *literally* years.
Twitter: @REricReuss – deprecated.
I do exist at other places on the internet, but they either aren’t associated with my professional life, or aren’t great places to get in touch with me for one reason or another.
Can you autograph my game?
Sure! I’m always flattered to sign games for folks.
The best way is to find me at a convention. I try to always have a Sharpie on hand, and under most circumstances I’m 100% happy to do a quick signing. (If I’m in the middle of a game, please wait until it’s not my turn so we’re not holding up the rest of the table.) And unless I’m in the middle of something else, I’m usually happy to chat! (Or not, as you’d prefer.)
Cons I’m at most often are Geekway, Origins, BGG.CON, and PAX Unplugged. If you want to get notified more specifically, you can subscribe to my low-bandwidth newsletter (link at the top of the right column). If you contact me ahead of time with “I’m hoping to get something signed, here’s a textable number” I will try to get in touch at least once with “hey, I’ll be around $place at $time”, though I can’t give guarantees – cons are distraction machines!
Can I mail you something to autograph?
I’ve done this a handful of times, and it can end up being a surprising amount of hassle? I’m still willing to do it, but I’ll need you to follow the steps below:
- Package up three things: the card or panel to be signed (no game boxes please!); a short note indicating that you would like it signed / any requests for the signing (eg, where on the panel); and a self-addressed, stamped/prepaid envelope in which I can put the signed item to get it back to you without me having to perform any additional steps like waiting in line at the post office.
- Items can get bent in transit, or forced into my PO Box even if they don’t quite fit – you may wish to include a stiffener such as a piece of cardboard, and/or write “FRAGILE – DO NOT BEND” on both envelopes.
- Mail it to Lightning Heart Games LLC; PO Box 1342; East Arlington, MA 02474.
- Email me at r.eric.reuss@gmail.com to let me know that you’ve sent something to sign, so I know to keep an eye out. (Sometimes the post office fails to notify me about envelopes that don’t fit in the PO Box.) If the item you’ve sent is fan-made, you MUST also follow the instructions on “Creating your own Game Elements”.
- If it’s been 2 or more months since you mailed it and emailed me, feel free to send me a second email checking in.
I cannot guarantee any particular timetable; that items won’t get lost or damaged; or that I will sign it in exactly the way that you want.
Please don’t ask me to update the mailing address on the return envelope because you’ve moved. If you might be moving in the coming seasons, consider addressing the return envelope to a friend who can receive it for you.
Please don’t ask me to buy postage for which you will then reimburse me, or to do anything with the game item other than “sign it, put it in the envelope you provided, and drop that envelope at the post office”. This may mean international mailing isn’t possible, for which I apologize.
Again, if the item to be signed is fan-made, your email to me must follow the instructions given in “Creating your own Game Elements”.
Sending more than one item to be signed is fine, but keep it reasonable. (Your playgroup’s 4 favorite Spirits, sure. All the Spirits, no.)
If any of the above instructions aren’t followed, I will only reach out to try and get things on track if I have time and energy to spare, which is not super likely. The point of this whole process is to decrease the attention cost of signing by mail, so I can continue doing it for folks who want it!