Welcome to Through Gamer Goggles & Through Wargaming Goggles

A Lifetime at the Table

My journey into tabletop gaming began in the third grade when I was first introduced to Dungeons & Dragons. By sixth grade, I wasn’t just playing games—I was building them, writing and designing my own homebrew RPG called Time Warp.

Throughout middle school and high school, my friends and I spent our weekends immersed in tactical battlefields, espionage, superhero showdowns, and post-apocalyptic futures. Classics like Top Secret, James Bond 007, Boot Hill, Twilight: 2000, TSR’s Marvel Super Heroes, and Mayfair’s DC Heroes sat right alongside Palladium staples like Rifts, Palladium Fantasy, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles & Other Strangeness, and Ninjas & Superspies, plus heavy-hitters like GURPS, MechWarrior, and BattleTech.

After a brief hiatus, the spark caught fire again during my time at Malone College, where endless sessions of Magic: The Gathering and Rifts brought me right back into the fold. By the early 2000s, that passion evolved into community leadership as I stepped up to become an official judge and tournament organizer for just about every tabletop, card, and miniatures game imaginable.

Over the decades, I’ve owned and operated a local game and hobby shop, managed retail operations, coordinated regional qualifiers, and built active play spaces from the ground up. To me, tabletop gaming isn’t just a pastime—it’s a lifelong culture anchored in strategy, worldbuilding, and real human connection.

The View Through the Goggles

In 2012, I founded Through Gamer Goggles (and later expanded into Through Wargaming Goggles) with a simple goal: to give gamers, painters, and worldbuilders an authentic, experienced, and no-nonsense look at the tabletop industry.

Whether we’re analyzing TTRPG system mechanics, or bringing live media coverage and publisher interviews directly from the floors of Gen Con, AdeptiCon, and Origins our content is built on hands-on experience. We don’t just look at games on a shelf—we play them, test them, and break down what makes them work so you know what’s worth bringing to your own table.

Deep Experience Across Systems

Our reviews, tactical guides, and coverage draw from decades of hands-on experience across every major gaming genre:

Roleplaying Games: Every edition of D&D, Pathfinder (1e & 2e), Dungeon World, Pirate Borg, Free League’s ALIEN RPG (including the Evolved rules), indie gems like Rotted Capes, and decades of class systems and universal engines.
Collectible & Trading Card Games: Extensive experience playing, judging, and running competitive events for Magic: The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh!, and the Vs. System.
Miniatures & Wargaming: From classic rank-and-flank and skirmish to sci-fi battlefields—Warhammer 40k, Warhammer Fantasy, Kings of War, Mage Knight, HeroClix, Alpha Strike, Dark Age, Void 1.1, Frostgrave, Star Wars: X-Wing, and Star Wars: Legion.

The Person Behind the Mic

A great gaming table is made up of diverse experiences, and mine extends well beyond the grid map:

14+ Years in Digital Media & Journalism: Founder and lead editor managing brand strategy, video production, written reviews, and publisher relationships to bring the community honest, veteran insights.
A Passion for the Culinary Arts: With 12 years of culinary experience and a Pastry Certificate from the Western Reserve School of Cooking, I look at game-night planning and community hosting through the lens of a craftsman (because good food makes every session better).
30+ Years of Martial Arts: Practicing and instructing martial arts since age 14 has shaped my discipline, focus, and approach to mentoring others—qualities that transfer directly to sportsmanship and community leadership at the table.
A Foundation in Theology & Trades: Supported by a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology, years of retail supervision, and hands-on maintenance and remodeling experience, I’ve always believed in building things to last—whether that’s a custom terrain board, a local community, or a digital media platform.

What You’ll Find Here

In-Depth Reviews & Previews: Honest, practical evaluations of component quality, rule design, and game flow—evaluated through the eyes of a veteran player and former judge.
Tactical & Rule Deep Dives: Army composition breakdowns, tactical guides, and mechanical analysis across RPGs, miniatures, and card games.
On-The-Ground Industry Coverage: Trade show reporting, publisher showcases, and behind-the-scenes insights straight from major conventions.
A Home for Hobbyists: A welcoming space where whether you’re rolling up your first character sheet or fine-tuning a competitive tournament army, you’ll find insight, inspiration, and camaraderie.

Grab a Seat

At its heart, gaming is about gathering around a shared space and creating unforgettable stories together. Thank you for making Through Gamer Goggles and Through Wargaming Goggles a part of your hobby journey.

Pull up a chair, roll for initiative, and let’s see where the dice take us next.