I dunno. Maybe the military would have been a check against this at some point in the past. Maybe not. But the point of systemic purges is that we never find out, and that so many people are culpable that any kind of repercussions will be impossible to implement.

So, the betting pools will start soon on whether Mexico or Cuba is next, and two days before it happens, a new crypto wallet will appear on those sights and place millions of dollars of bets, as if they have foreknowledge of what’a about to happen. Just like happened this time.

There is zero reason not to impeach.

A lot of people are going to preface tu-tutting tweets with variants on the theme of "Maduro was no angel" and it's very important to have the moral clarity to understand that these people are the lowest form of coward imaginable

Perhaps now people will stop wishcasting about the US military refusing illegal orders. That's not a thing that happens. The 100% compliance rate with using civilian boats for target practice was a bit of a tell.

Today we’re launching Jayce’s Fighting Ships of Wolf 359 A project that began as an idea and became something much bigger: a community-run act of creativity. The book is now public. It’s yours. tranquility.press/jayces-fight...

It is 2026! It is our New Year, New Game special 20% off all Starter / Learn to Play sets for #RPGs through 31st January 2026! Try something new this year! #TTRPGs #FRPGs #DnD #SFRPGs #Numunera #L5RRPG #CyberpunkRPG #Pathfinder #RQ #CoC #AthensGA

This is a great thread, on a topic I've talked about, but something niggled at me until I realized I would split it a little farther, and in doing so, perhaps shed a light on some of the value in "Idea People".

A reminder that I've a book illustration course starting in a couple of weeks in the Irish Writers Centre. You only need basic drawing skills; illustration is a form of communication first, and an art second.

it's been a while since i've added any new work to my collection of CC by 4.0 licensed art, mainly because it's a big backlog and i am very exhausted by everything, however, i can assure you a very big drop of "exquisite" work will be added in the very near future, so stay tuned… jnbutler.art#ccla

When I was a kid, they had these neat books where the page would have an illustration on it with a big empty spot in the middle, and the idea was it was a window or telescope or some such, and the prompt was to draw what you saw there. I think they have a lot in common with what makes RPGs work.

I am thankful that #TachyonSquadron was still getting played and streamed in 2025. Good hunting for 2026, pilots.

My very first newsletter just went out! Thanks to everyone who's subscribed so far! Read it on the web here (& then sign up to get it in your inbox, pretty please 🥰): pencilbooth.com/posts/7087cc...

So, I do meal prep for my own sanity, and I like to make stuff to freeze or later, so Youtube has decided I need to see a lot of videos with "Super Cubes" ("Souper" maybe?) and I'm trying to determine if this is a clever idea or a gateway to madness.

It only just occurred to me that I view “being a storyteller” and “telling a story” to be VERY SEPARATE IDEAS, and that is probably a big part of my stance on stories and RPGs.

If they tried harder they could get some some thoria inserts in there for VITALITY.

This Upton Sinclair quote never misses “It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it.”

My main hope for 2026 is that I do not wake up as congested as I go to sleep. Small goals. Happy new year, nerds. See you in the morning.

Spent time down a Youtube hole. I’m finding myself more sympathetic to people who get stressed out by the “pro” GMs. I don’t AGREE with the “and therefore they’re bad!” Conclusion from there, but I definitely understand the emotion.

Like a dork I posted this very late last night US time but anyway it’s the final Gyro Shooter post tor 2025. I’ve been having so much fun designing this game in front of my patrons. Joining is free (but I appreciate any and all subs).

This set of observations is produced by my scrolling Reddit and otherwise listening to people talk about "how to write." A) there is no requirement that any of your characters has any sort of "arc" let alone a redemption. B) there is also no requirement that your fiction has a plot.

Ok, cold meds have now reached the “I just read a post as saying the EXACT OPPOSITE of what it said AND THEN REPLIED” stage, so I am getting the fuck offline and gonna go watch anime or something. Have a fantastic New Year, folks.

Zohran Mamdani Refuses To Share Plan For Making Rich Richer https://theonion.com/zohran-mamdani-refuses-to-share-plan-for-making-rich-richer/

I had not heard of this 5 minutes ago and I am already getting anxiety about the danger of missing it when it comes out.

You can grab hardcover copies of Sanction and softcovers of the present Dee Sanction in the massive sale at @allrolledup.bsky.social Sanction is a toolbox upon which Dee Sanction and other genres are built. And you can make your own or grab one... www.allrolledup.co.uk/product-tag/...

Critical Role expected Daggerheart to do well, but they didn't expect it to do 2500% more than their projections. Details: www.thepopverse.com/gaming-criti...

When my kid was born, we wanted a ton of art for his room, but didn’t want a bunch of brands. At the time, @tkingfisher.com was “that person who made Digger”, and she had all these wonderful prints of her art. So, we bought 20-something of them, put them in cheap IKEA frames, and covered the walls

This is a great read from the always awesome Sarah Jeong.

oh no there’s another one coming

Another legend passes. Vale, Tim Kask. Rest well.

Happy new year from me! I hope your 2026 won't suck! Here's to good food, good friends and good fortune!

Yes, the work of @shirachess.bsky.social and @sparklebliss.bsky.social and also @ericrosenfield.bsky.social's essay on how gender bias produced modern video-game culture have been quite influential on how I frame the social history of our medium. literatemachine.com/2020/11/20/d...

Random question for the nerds: Did Clinton ever open up or re-release Paladin? It’s a design that still occupies space in my mind as an illustration of some really *interesting* principles, and I think it would serve a modern audience very well.

One post's worth of my favorite worldbuilding games: Exquisite Biome by @seaexcursion.itch.io A City of Shining Stars by @ehronlime.bsky.social CANON/EYES by @jeffstormer.gobirds.online A Land Without Magic by @vidityavoleti.bsky.social Grasping Nettles by @adambell.games

Have a great new year and gaze into the fist of Dredd.

I am not sure if I’m less surprised that it exists or that it’s fucking Ettin, because OF COURSE IT IS (in case you lack context, this is because @ettin.itch.io makes weird, awesome games in sufficient volume that it is unsurprising, not any complaint about him)

I lack the brain to really unpack this, but it feels like a useful thing to hold in the mind next to @guyintheblackhat.bsky.social and other’s observations about the removal of ”feminine” play from the history of gaming.

Here's a really easy New Year's Resolution: If you're sick with something contagious, you will stay home if your circumstances allow. If you can't stay home, you will mask around others until there is no possibility you are contagious. By making these choices, you will literally save lives.

Okay so yeah that time I ruined Dracula, which is also peripheral to the story of that time I was phone interviewed by Xeni Jardin for an NPR story. The latter: www.npr.org/2006/02/01/5... Anyhow I got a "fan" remark somewhere and somewhen that informed me I ruined Dracula forever. You're welcome!

A SWAT team threw 30+ grenades into an innocent man’s business while chasing a suspect. L.A. left him with a $60,000 bill. His livelihood was destroyed. A federal court says he’s entitled to $0. Whatever your politics, that’s a travesty. reason.com/2025/12/29/i...

Regular reminder that none of us in the TTRPG space are in competition with one another. We are ALL in competition with obscurity, uncertainty, confusion, and other ways to spend your time. And sometimes D&D.

Physical copies of Griot Anthology were available at PaxU, and we sold most of them! I am working with a few places to get physical copies stocked, so anticipate that in the new year.

New! A Land Once Magic A Land Once Magic (bag set) Ex Novo Thieves of the Tome Undoing Ruin www.indiepressrevolution.com/xcart/

"What a year for the ultra wealthy. The world’s 500 richest people added a record $2.2 trillion to their collective fortunes in 2025’s… booming markets, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. And about a quarter of this year’s gains went to just eight billionaires.” — Bloomberg Morning Brief

Who likes free soulslike pirate themed ttrpgs farirpgs.itch.io/boundless-ti...

In case you don’t know what this is and are curious (you should be). thoughtcrimegames.itch.io/griot-anthol...

There has not ever, in my knowledge, been a collection of new and established black TTRPG designers like the Griot Anthology. The industry has largely not given a shit. I expect the same for Five Fires. This was going to be a rare whining post, but actually? Fuck that. Instead: Thank you

Accurate!

GAME STUDIES STUDY BUDDIES closes out the month, and the year, with a discussion of another documentary--this time following the twisty passages of history and medium with 2010's text adventure doc GET LAMP. rangedtouch.com/2025/12/31/8...