Also, I think trying to read stuff you don't like and then really thinking about *why* you don't like it goes a long way to cultivating an informed sense of taste/aesthetics. And reading broadly helps you understand the quirks of your favorite genres (so you're not too blinkered when reading it).

RPGs aka Rollin’, Pretendin’, Gabbin’

it is your DUTY as a parent to be basic and cringe. if your child says "6-7" and you do not say, loud enough for their friends to hear, "8-9?", causing profound silence and intense discomfort, you are neglecting your responsibilities. being cool is for kids. your days of being laughed WITH are over

reading each post, taking a long breath, and repeating "i just don't think this needs to involve me"

I wrote a blog post! www.technicalgrimoire.com/david/2025/1... Trying to get back in the habit of creativity.

this particular inclination — that one must always be Condemning, otherwise one is Endorsing — is dubious but plausible when talking about institutions but patently ridiculous when applied to someone's social media posts. We've learned the hard way that social media is real life but also: Chill out!

Giving myself free smarty points by commenting on every post I agree with with a nitpicking non-correction. Soon everyone will love me

ME: yeah could i get the impossible burger with cheese. THE VIZIER WHO'S BEEN ADVISING ME: ahh, an excellent choice sire. an imitation of the genuine article. there are some "friends" of yours to whom it bears a passing similarity ME: you want anything VIZIER: [chuckles] what i want is of no import

If you are a TTRPG Actual Play creator who records in-person & would be willing to share your setup (photo/video or me observing in-person*), I’d love to hear from you as I finish the book. (Comments, DMs or [email protected]) *In-person: - Atlanta/AL/GA - Philly area - DC area - Bonn - UK

You don't have to listen to these professional liars who are barely trying. 9 months ago they were saying they were powerless to return a man they illegally sent to an El Salvador gulag because it would violate that country's national sovereignty

Bro, the pipes and drapes lookin like backstage at the wrestling event. They’re in the Gorilla Position. They’re piping in applause.wav. They’re waiting to see how much heat Cena has tonight. Goofy fucking evil empire. bsky.app/profile/soci...

I don’t love you and I’m not holding your hand: call your Senator and tell them that the must shut down the government on January 30th until this ends, a thing that Democrats have the hard power to do at this very moment.

if you are talking today about how bad maduro was and were alive, at all, during the run-up to the iraq war you are potentially the dumbest person to ever live

“Venezuela reserves the right to exercise legitimate self-defense to protect its people, its territory, and its independence. We call upon the peoples and governments of Latin America, the Caribbean, and the world to mobilize in active solidarity against this imperialist aggression.”

Just woke up even angrier. Impeach, convict, remove. Draft articles now. Either we have a representative government or we don’t. Do not shut up about this until there’s a vote.

No war in Venezuela.

Really starting to feel like part of this is Trump and Hegseth and co. wanting their own “we got him” moment. Expecting war room photos like the bin Laden strike ones to hit CBS by noon.

No matter what the fuck happened here the minimum demand here is that Trump needs to be immediately impeached and removed from office and everyone involved in this needs to be hauled in front of a tribunal Moreover, ICE must be destroyed

Now is the time to get on board the Shelved by Genre train! We've got a few of these recorded already and let me tell you, they're good as hell

Here's some fun data on The Bloggies' after 24 hrs: Best Series: 33 entries Best Debut Blog: 61 Best Blog Post: 372 - Theory: 132 - Advice: 117 - Gameable: 70 - Critique: 53 The nominations process is going to be tough. That said, I would like to see some more critique and series.

New blog post: How to be a better ttrpg player. The answer seems simple but is a common problem with teaching new improvisors, too. You also learn how to absolutely wreck one of the workshops I run at Gen Con. publish.obsidian.md/improvgm

It feels so paradoxical to me that videogames have such a huge recency bias problem while also frequently getting years of expansions, patches, tuning and refinement. So many are only at their best long after release.

Oh I forgot to properly shout out the Survivor/Two Rooms and a Boom inspired Discord game I mentioned in this - Factions, by @doougle.net and co.

despite liking pop culture i do try very hard not to form parasocial attachments to celebrities. but i do find myself thinking quite often of chester bennington. he died almost ten years ago but every once in a while i'll find myself listening to old linkin park and just feeling profoundly sad.

one hope is have for 2026 is that more folks join Paper Cult Club, an indie tabletop-focused forum i truly adore papercult.club

The Bloggies 2026 submissions are now open! Submit your favorite posts, series, and debut blogs via the official Bloggies page between now and Jan 31st! Please share this around. I'll be making regular Bloggies-themed announcements throughout the month. www.explorersdesign.com/bloggies-2026/

my one plea as we ring in the new year with Zohran being sworn in as mayor is to take some fucking wins he’s not going to be perfect, there will be setbacks and disappointments, but take some joy and some pride in the good that comes out of this good things are more durable when we celebrate them

I've already submitted my favorite posts. And I'd love if you submitted one of my posts. For both, see the 🧵👇 Also, if you have a favorite *series* or wrote one yourself, please submit it! I would love to see more series, not just in the bloggies but more generally. One post is rarely enough!

Three Kingdoms is one of the best recent total wars. If have any interest in strategy games, big recommendation to get it for free!

YOU CANNOT KILL ME IN ANY WAY THAT MATTERS

my 2025 year in review

man, all you EST nerds, there's a reason it's called CENTRAL standard time because it's the most important one

It’s 2026, the problems are still here, but so are we. Wishing fortitude, connection, and defiant joy for your year ahead.

Remember, if your art impacts only one person (even if that person is you) then your work is changing the world.

I'm proud of the Golden Age video, but I much prefer video essay style pieces. If you are interested in my other work, here's my 5 best videos from this year: Arguably my best writing of the year is my video on Titanomachy's "NIGHTHAWKS," where I talk about how its relationship to Edward Hopper

Whole lotta game designers simply wouldn't need to work again. I dont think I could spend it better than that.

I’ll be making a series of a ‘guide to making actual play’ videos on YouTube. I’m looking for collaborators among friends and peers :) please holler at me if you’d like to provide any form of support, advice, collab Here’s to many more more wonderful actual plays to come!

Hello I have played more TTRPG systems on-mic than any performer in the history of TTRPGs and Actual Play, and more TTRPG systems than most players period, AMA www.partyofonepodcast.com

COMIC ANNOUNCEMENT Comrades, in Neo Sarajevo you have a right to leisure. But when a group of friends meets at a goth club MORG to relax, the topic of work keeps coming up. Should KDP and Varya just ignore it when the Internet they work with gets stricken with more censorship? #neosarajevo#webcomic

people are arguing about the cultural impact of avatar, and yet this image is one of the funniest things i’ve ever seen

quick someone make lyric games 2

Right on the heels of @aavoigt.bsky.social’s excellent video essay, I answer a question about “historically important Storygames!” It’s like a prequel episode! www.tiktok.com/t/ZTrof8AR1/

I've been running a "TTRPG School" for a while now and this post seems relevant now, since people keep digging up these hatchets. www.patreon.com/posts/ttrpg-...

I remember thinking “why would they open Jurassic Park again? All those people died!” Or “why would they have another summer camp at Crystal Lake after Jason killed all those people for seven consecutive movies?” but it’s gotten to the point with things where it’s like yeah they’d do that for money