Abigail Shannon
After graduating with a BA in English and Sociology, I followed the great Irish tradition of emigrating immediately. Nine months into a retail position at CeX, while lost in the deeply meditative process of cleaning gamer gunk™ off an Xbox 360 controller, it occurred to me that there had to be a better way to make a living from my love of nerdy guff.
And so began my freelance writing journey. And so it continued until I finally landed the fabulous role of Tabletop & Merch Writer here at GamesRadar+.
As someone who is as artsy-craftsy as they are tabletop-gamey, I love tending to the fine details of miniature painting just as much as I love roleplaying crushing my foes in combat. So, expect coverage of Dungeons & Dungeons, Magic: The Gathering, Warhammer, and heaps more as I find new hobby rabbit holes to fall down.
Latest articles by Abigail Shannon
![Disney Lorcana boxed game and Frosthaven box to either side of a Prime Day deals badge](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oSPLimUsanyP6whKr2r5BG-320-80.jpg)
Early Prime Day board game deals 2024: all the best offers so far
By Benjamin Abbott last updated
Prime Day The early Prime Day board game deals have begun, so we've rounded up the best discounts so far
![Wrymspan and Skaventide boxes either side of a best deal badge](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AKzxVG9vkgWtJq6oLNKsiR-320-80.jpg)
Board game deals July 2024: This week's best discounts
By Benjamin Abbott last updated
Deals We've rounded up the very best of today's board game deals from across every price range
![Lego Piranha Plant and Rocket alongside a best deal badge](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ANFBvWJeuJ24RVs9THPYNA-320-80.jpg)
Best Lego deals July 2024: all the must-have offers in one place
By Benjamin Abbott last updated
Deals Lego deals can get you a good slice of cash off must-have sets, so we've rounded up the most tempting offers
![opossum playmat from Daria Aksenova](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WdMBiaLuS8xC3uPkeY94Nb-320-80.jpg)
After years of playing MTG, attending MagicCon finally convinced me to buy a playmat – these early Prime Day deals might just give me an excuse to get another one
By Abigail Shannon published
Prime Day My experience at MagicCon converted me to a playmat fan, just in time for these pre Prime Day MTG playmat deals
!['Reluctant Role Model' card art showing a young man with dark hair and glasses holding a weapon, he looks off the the left. In the distance, to his right, a shadowy figure hangs from the ceiling, its eyes glow green and it has pointed teeth.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/T2uAiwEZUXuFSsHYayY4YD-320-80.jpg)
MTG Duskmourn is like if Cabin in the Woods was a card game: "We were very inspired by horror media from the last 30 or 40 years."
By Abigail Shannon published
Interview Senior Art Director, Ovidio Cartagena discusses the eclectic influences behind MTG Duskmourn: House of Horror
![art of Mabel, a mouse warrior facing against a large wolf Calamity creature](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CMm8Pdx6U5mNShZbRaWZTd-320-80.jpg)
Everything we know about MTG Bloomburrow
By Abigail Shannon published
Guide We’ve got the lowdown on everything you should know about MTG Bloomburrow, including its story, release date, mechanics, and spoilers
![Art from Invoke Despair Magic The Gathering, a purple wave washes over a city](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7smxYBsmcVzGF6s7btm7kn-320-80.jpg)
Magic: The Gathering ban list June 2024
By Abigail Shannon last updated
Guide Here's an updated list of MTG cards banned in each format, including the complete ban list for Standard, Vintage, Commander, and more.
![Hues and Clues and Gloomhaven Buttons and Bugs in a collage image](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yqq3osHRWrW5d3GMP88bxn-320-80.jpg)
I review board games and these are the 5 tabletop deals I’m looking out for this Prime Day
By Abigail Shannon published
Prime Day With Amazon’s summer sale event on the way, here are the Prime Day board game deals you should be keeping an eye out for
![D&D orc looks confused at map with their fellow adventurers](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oEuJrCQMfgbjhUVv2c9LgE-320-80.jpg)
New D&D character sheet makes understanding skills easier (and also somehow much harder)
By Abigail Shannon published
Opinion First look at the 2024 D&D character sheets shows a change to skills that benefits some players and challenges others
![jurassic world: legacy of isla nublar box on purple background with the gamesradar logo and a best deal badge](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tFUUSbWv43KeCFDADkC4x8-320-80.jpg)
Jurassic World: The Legacy of Isla Nublar is currently $50 off, totally trampling on its previous lowest-ever price
By Abigail Shannon published
Deal Co-op board game Jurassic World: The Legacy of Isla Nublar is seeing a hefty discount with 42% off its MSRP
![D&D bastion art of trollskull manor with birds flying across the frame](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dCnvhFu239riEkwmDguAf6-320-80.jpg)
New D&D core rulebooks finally give your player character a house (yes, you can decorate it)
By Abigail Shannon published
News Dungeons and Dragons' new set of core rulebooks for 2024 brings base building to D&D
![Ajani from MTG Modern Horizons 3](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/aVozuYXmyCdnbXXorWTRoi-320-80.png)
Everything we know about MTG Modern Horizons 3
By Abigail Shannon last updated
Guide Here's the full rundown on everything MTG Modern Horizons 3
![Eldrazi titan terrorises townsfolk](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jEn7tg8ZL2vj7fnFVMcsXb-320-80.jpg)
MTG Modern Horizons 3 Commander decks ranked
By Abigail Shannon published
Guide Wondering which Modern Horizons 3 precon deck to buy? Here’s a rundown of the strengths and weaknesses of each Commander deck.
![art of a barbarian adventurer and elf with sword on mountainous background](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XU9QL9xWMjp7THCVkn9AJT-320-80.jpg)
New HeroQuest starter set is like Avalon Hill’s answer to Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion
By Abigail Shannon published
News Big Avalon Hill reveals include Talisman co-op expansion, a new HeroQuest quest pack, and a lighter HeroQuest starter set
![Prince John - Gold Lover card art showing Prince John lying in bed with piles of gold](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YHarCQMVkf6QSVMa6Dya7o-320-80.jpg)
Exclusive: Upcoming Disney Lorcana and Disney Villainous crossover is pure gold
By Abigail Shannon published
News We've got the scoop on a special Disney Lorcana card that's only available in Disney Villainous: Introduction to Evil
![Lupercal's War and Ghoulslayer covers on a purple background with a big savings badge](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rZz4wS8whLWcuzfb4m5SYV-320-80.jpg)
Warhammer book bundle can score you a $277 loredump for just $18
By Abigail Shannon published
Deal Pay as little as $1 for a treasure trove of Warhammer 40k and Age of Sigmar novels and short stories
![MTG Modern Horizons 3 eldrazi key art](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8xyGbaC3CJiY5xSVuz34RV-320-80.jpg)
MTG Modern Horizons 3 Commander decklists - Eldrazi Incursion, Tricky Terrain, and more
By Abigail Shannon last updated
Guide These full MTG Modern Horizons 3 Commander decklists will tell you everything you can expect to find in a MTG MH3 Commander deck
![Divinity: Original Sin the board game dice and dice bag](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zYnr4ZSFGNwp5ME3mntn8D-320-80.jpg)
Divinity Original Sin: The Board Game plunged Larian into development hell … and it’s all the better for it: “We’ve made the kind of game that we would love”
By Abigail Shannon published
Interview Larian Studios' Kieron Kelly talks Divinity Original Sin: The Board Game
![Ajani roaring and jumping to attack](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WBSefRD8uoCqnYnMcRiuC3-320-80.jpg)
Forget the Dragonstorm arc, MTG Modern Horizons 3 is a prequel
By Abigail Shannon published
News MTG Product Architect Mike Turian explains why Modern Horizons 3 brings us back to pre-spark Planeswalkers
![Image on the box for Marvel Zombies Heroes' Resistance](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ECak7qnTLA3BWyTCiBzmDg-320-80.jpg)
Marvel Zombies: Heroes' Resistance review - "A good mix of simplicity and low-stakes edge"
By Abigail Shannon published
Review
![Lego Minecraft Crafting Table on a shelf, a diorama of multiple Minecraft biomes can be seen inside the crafting table](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/W4KzG8xTfYfJRGbWNhwr5E-320-80.jpg)
Upcoming Lego Minecraft Crafting Table fits an entire world into an itty bitty box
By Abigail Shannon published
News New Lego Minecraft Crafting Table packs 12 biomes, 8 microfigures, and a whole lot of charm into the familiar cube
![deals image on purple background with pathfinder beginner box and fantasy grounds logo](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CSoNNYedjxic4Ek44Hb7aA-320-80.jpg)
Looking to save $707 on Pathfinder 2e? Humble has you covered
By Abigail Shannon published
Deal A limited-time offer on Humble is delivering unbelievable savings on Pathfinder 2e books and resources, alongside VTT software Fantasy Grounds to enjoy the RPG to the fullest