The Pack

The Pack
An award-winning psychiatrist, Dr. Ballon brings over two decades of experience in providing innovative experiential education in the public, private and academic realms. Dr. Ballon works with industries involved in technology and games, to better understand their impact on people’s lives. He has created games dealing with mental health issues that have garnered awards from the Games Manufacturers Association and other international literary and academic associations (Chaosium, Wizards of the Coast etc.) Collaborating with professional illusionists around the world, Dr. Ballon is an illusionist whose performances educate the public about mental health issues (including giving performances at the Stratford Festival and Canada Stage). He has written books for children, parents, and the general public dealing with mental health and addiction issues. In the role of Media Consultant, he has helped create accurate portrayals of psychiatric elements (including television (e.g. Degrassi), films (e.g. Assault on Precinct 13), plays, fiction books etc.).
Explanation: Some of the above came about due to Bruce buying a TSR boxed set of Dungeon and Dragons in the late 1970s. During he DMing a run of the Village of Hommlet, a player’s character was absorbed by a falling green slime… that player had nightmares for weeks after. The concept of immersive experiences and the power of simulation was realized by Bruce at that time! That, and a steady diet of reading Philip K. Dick, Richard Matheson, Ray Bradbury mixed with TV shows like Twilight Zone and The Night Stalker, formed his path: the exploration of reality and illusion as his life’s pursuit. He, of course, gravitated to Chaosium’s CALL OF CTHULHU when it launched, and over the years, eventually helped with the SANity rules, as well as contribute other materials such as UNSEEN MASTERS (which won not only an Origins Award at GAMA but was the first game supplement to be awarded a Psychiatry Award as well as be nominated for a Bram Stoker Award). Bruce has blended all his pursuits to help synergize his offerings. This led also to working with illusionists and mentalists across the globe, as well as creating various theatrical devices and effects for magic performances. He has now moved into board game creation, appreciating the amazing quality and scope that such a medium can provide: he has been a regular supporter of crowdfunded launched games that have demonstrated amazing innovation and imagination.
For Academics, some sample credentials if it matters [CLICK HERE]
Visual Artists
PROJECT: GAZE FROM THE ABYSS, ARCANA CARCOSA, TWILIGHT GALLERY, ALL MANNER OF MYSTERIES, IMPS OF THE PERVERSE
“I doodle. I doodle a lot. I also have a superpower. This superpower goes by the name of Asperger’s Syndrome. As a result of this unusual gift, I get to doodle almost all day, every day. It is a joy, and I get to indulge in my passion and subsequently am a most content individual for all the hardships attached to life ‘out there’.” – from ArtStation
PROJECT: THE MYTHODOGICAL DECK, GROTTOS OF THE MOSAIC. PHALANX OF SILVER
Batubara studio aka Bondo, makes t-shirt artwork, album cover, poster, and logos. He also does portraits, landscapes and anime/cartoon illustrations.
PROJECT: BEAST OF GÉVAUDAN
Zohar Shachak is a Canadian illustrator and animator working in digital media from Toronto Canada.He graduated from OCADU with a BFA in Drawing and Painting: Digital Painting and Expanded Animation. Zohar makes fantasy and sci-fi themed illustrations and animations in order to emphasize and promote the use of escapism as a coping mechanism for stress, bullying and dealing with mental illnesses.
PROJECT: DEATH KNIGHT IN HEAVEN
Cortes Flavio, born in Argentina, has lived and exhibited his paintings in Denmark and Italy as an oil painter, with the recognition of professionals from the Brera Academy and Pinacoteca in Milan. A film, short and documentary filmmaker, he is currently finishing his sci-fi short film “The Perfectionist”. He has been working as an illustrator for years, exclusively with Europe and North America. As a cartoonist he is currently in contract negotiations with publishers in the US and UK.
PROJECT: H&J X-Card
Walter was born and raised in southern California. He received his BFA from Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles and graduated with “Great Distinction.” There he found the traditional approach to drawing and painting that he desired. That discipline, combined with an emphasis on the human figure remains central to his art today. Following graduation from Art Center, he worked as a free-lance book and magazine illustrator in the New York area for twenty-one years.
PROJECT: MEAD & SKITTLES
Max lives in Brazil and is a digital artist and a character designer.
Music Artists
PROJECT: THE MYTHODOGICAL DECK
Videographer, photographer, filmmaker and music composer; proficiencies and experience in audiovisual arts and film. He has directed multiple short films and independent feature length films, as well as having scored many of these projects himself.
PROJECT: THE MYTHODOGICAL DECK
Nekton from Italy is a project born in 2014 with the intent of mixing metal and ethnic musical genres with ancient Egyptians themes and spirituality.
PROJECT: MYTHODOGICAL DECK
Ivan is a composer and Yamaha keyboard specialist. He also consider himself as a bard who creates magical worlds and tells adventure stories through the music. “Walking through the fantasy – the only way to get inspired.”
PROJECT: BEAST OF GÉVAUDAN
Natif d’Arles, dans les Bouches du Rhône, Gael Hemery grandit en Camargue, où sa famille travaille dans l’exploitation du sel. Très jeune, il commence à coucher sur le papier la fascination et la prégnance qu’exercent sur lui les paysages et les ambiances de Camargue.
Poetry & Prose Artists
PROJECT: MYTHODOGICAL DECK, ARCANA CARCOSA
His interest in magic began at age 9 , with Mysto and Sneaky Pete magic sets. That interest continues to this very day. Ron began as a rope worker, then moved to coins; but now delves into the realm of Storytelling and Bizarre Magic. Ron also has a long abiding fondness for anagrams. They have a magic all their own. He has written over three dozen of magic books and invented scores of marketed effects. He illustrated many of his books as well. His writing is often laced with poems to enhance their feel.
Technical Artisans
PROJECT: BEAST OF GÉVAUDAN
Simon Strike provides writing, editing, and proofreading services to the tabletop industry. His blog, Board Game Yarns sprang from his love of board games and his wife’s love of yarn. Simon and Fran live just outside Nottingham, UK with their two Cockapoos, Monty and Zelda.
PROJECT: BEAST OF GÉVAUDAN
Nathan D. Paoletta is a graphic artist, game designer and independent publisher hailing from Chicago, IL. He publishes his own games, including the award-winning World Wide Wrestling RPG, in addition to helping other creators make their visions a reality.
Valiant Volunteers
PROJECT: BEAST OF GÉVAUDAN
Anthony Smiderle is an aspiring videogame developer with a love of board games. While he is mainly a programmer, he is always looking to push his design abilities further. Above all, he loves making fun games for people to enjoy.
IF YOU LIKE WHAT YOU SEE
We are always happy to have people volunteer on our projects to promote mental health!
PROJECT: BEAST OF GÉVAUDAN
Giulia Santin is a video game developer with a love for storytelling. and design. She wants to create games that focus on social impact and gameplay, that help to bring people together.
The Chamber of Scoobini
Click on the wind to find a list of all the mystery/magic/mentalist/illusionist artists who have been involved with various H&J projects
The Advisory Board (The Brains Behind the Scenes)

Cy Agamemnon Ballon

Monty and Zelda Strike

O'Henry Paoletta
OTU CAPSTONE PROJECT: BEAST OF GÉVAUDAN
Hounds & Jackals was fortunate enough to be chosen in 2020 to host a Capstone Team from the Ontario Tech University. This team helped with reviewing and suggesting ways for growing our thriving community!
Special thanks to Kevin Pelech, Daniel Drysdale | Shan Rai, and Krutarth Shah for their advice!