I've still got the original playtest document for 'Those Dark Places' from 2009 - it was a totally different beast back then, far removed from the streamlined version I ended up writing. I'll have to make it available, it's a full sci-fi TTRPG in itself.

I once designed a 15mm minis skirmish game for Those Dark Places. You could use your RPG characters at a push but the basic rules were the same as the TTRPG CASE system, except Charisma was replaced with a different stat for movement. It was a grab-the-resource-first game for use with graph paper.

Incredibly sad to hear about this. I came to Clannad via Robin of Sherwood and they've been a big part of my musical life since. Irish musician Moya Brennan dies aged 73. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

I wrote two standalone science fiction #ttrpg books in the same dark industrial sci-fi universe. Those Dark Places is about surviving the dangers of dystopian space travel, with a simple system. Pressure is about having a fighting chance against that same danger, with a more detailed system.

I've spent some time trying to figure out how to #ttrpg 2001: A Space Odyssey, or at least create a game that emulates those huge themes. One issue is the enormity of the core concept and how the event would be the game itself. Alternatively, the game could be about the fallout of the huge event.

I just watched the first double episode of #Stargate SG1, one of my favourite TV shows ever, but do I commit and watch the entire show, possibly followed by Atlantis and Universe? It's been a looooong time since I last travelled the network. What do you reckon, Bluesky?

Raistlin Majere? I got your Raistlin Majere right here, buddy. (Still from the Castle Rat 'Wizard' video) youtu.be/iWKmiTwjjHA?...

Alex North composed the original OST for '2001: A Space Odyssey', and apparently he didn't know it had been rejected until he first saw the movie and was furious. I get it, it wouldn't have suited, but it's a good soundtrack and should have been used elsewhere.

Okay. First game: Red Box D&D Basic May 1984. Last game: Mongoose Traveller February 2026. Longest Game: WEG Star Wars D6 1st Edition, 10 years, 1987 to 1997. Favourite Game: WEG Star Wars D6 1st Edition. Favourite Mechanics: D6 System. Favourite Art: Angus McBride MERP.

There were two adventure modules released by TSR for the movies 2001 and 2010 and from what I can gather you just follow the events of the films. If they'd included some setting and tech background to enable groups to create their own adventures I'd get it, but this is just a cool curiosity.

'2001: The Making of a Myth' is an excellent documentary. If you get the chance, seek it out and have a look. The impact this film had can't be underestimated. www.imdb.com/title/tt1014...

Nice - this is the good stuff.

This is the original model for the Discovery in 2001 A Space Odyssey. The original propulsion design was a series of nuclear detonations against a shield - like Project Orion - but that idea was dropped for a nuclear-powered magnetoplasmadynamic drive. Could have been interesting, though.

Hi new followers! I'm Jonathan Hicks and I'm FARSIGHT GAMES: tinyurl.com/7bntfjsk I'm a TTRPG writer; Those Dark Places, Pressure, ALIEN RPG, Fireteam, Deep Space, Advanced Fighting Fantasy, Against the Darkmaster, TinyD6, Warlock! & Dragon Warriors. I mainly chat games and game ideas, so welcome!

Hold on - there's a BOARD GAME?!?

Thank you, Artemis II, for the absolutely fantastic selection of desktop wallpapers and mobile telephone lock screens.

It's one o'clock in the morning. I've had a drink. LET'S FUCKING GO

The last five minutes of For All Mankind Season 5 Episode 3 just fucking broke me.

Another favourite miniature of mine is the Corbelan IV starship from the movie ALIEN Romulus. It's a massive model and it looks fantastic, and it ranks up there as one of my favourite starships. It looks amazing on screen and I appreciate the longer shots of it as a set and in flight.

As a TTRPG designer the universe built for this series - Moon, Mute and Madi - is fertile ground for roleplaying sessions. It was Moon and Dead Space that guided me to design 'Those Dark Places' the way I did, along with ALIEN and Outland; a focused location/situation with a small set of characters.

Wow - this is the set built for the Narcissus miniature at the end of ALIEN. It's amazing just how huge it is.

Just ask someone for directions... JESUS CHRIST, I TOLD YOU I KNOW WHERE I'M GOING TOM!

I don't collect Funko, but I was bought this ALIEN Ripley In a display box as a thank you gift and I bloody love it.

So, here's some other movie models I love. '2001: A Space Odyssey' has an amazing moon lander and a landing bay which is just stunning on film. It was also the only model to survive Kubrick's purge when he had all the models destroyed.

Duncan Jones released a superb movie called 'Moon' back in 2009 (you should seek it out and watch it right now) and what drew me to it was the model work, old-school miniatures filmed on set. They're superb. I always wonder what happened to the models after filming. Are they on a desk somewhere?

It turns out that human beings can be pretty fucking amazing. youtu.be/DYzyn5T5-Aw?...

Look at that beautiful rocket launch. Towering sci-fi rockets are my favourite.

Example fiction and pitch sent. Deep breaths. I dislike this part of the pitch process. The waiting. I know what I want to do but it's not about *convincing* the potential publisher, it's about *aligning* with them. This is their IP and therefore their playground and I've got to follow their rules.

Jesus Christ.

Check out these awesome minis from the Rapture Protocol miniatures set, painted by the uber-cool MikePaintsMinis. It's fantastic to see them all ready for action.

Depluralize a movie Alien

I'm really enjoying listening to the Artemis crew describe their observations as they approach the moon, but there's a part of me that wants one of them to say, "Wait... there's movement."

I'm not a fan of found footage films but I like the movie "Apollo 18". It was a good idea and suitably creepy. It was written by Brian Miller and directed by Gonzalo López-Gallego and I think they did a pretty good job. The entire cosmonaut sequence was excellent.

Jones: *jumps onto my keyboard while I work* I HALP Me: I'm okay, Jones, I've got a lot to do... Jones: NO, I HALP Me: Well, okay sure, I could do with some help. Jones two minutes later:

"X: The Unknown" is another Hammer classic that was almost a Quatermass movie but Nigel Kneale wouldn't release the rights. You can see the similarities - especially the main scientist Dr. Royston having some similarities to Bernard Quatermass - and it might have worked. A good movie regardless.

I've got two-for-one tickets, who's with me?

Let's go. I think the Hammer movies Quatermass and the Pit is my favourite Quatermass. Andrew Keir was a fantastic Bernard and this version was sheer entertainment from beginning to end. It captured a wonderful atmosphere and is quite honestly one of the creepiest movies I've ever seen.

Could a Quatermass TTRPG work? I think the GUMSHOE system would be a good fit, but how would you make it work?

HE'S BEHIND YOU!

This photo was taken by Commander Wiseman; they'd just completed the translunar injection burn. The Artemis II is on her way!

One of my original ideas for a Those Dark Places setting was near future, kind of 2001 ASO-style, but the allure of ALIEN and Outland was too much. I was going to create a supplement for it but the upcoming PIONEER TTRPG has got it covered. Still, a one-off campaign based off this show would work.

If you want some awesome inspiration for a near-future science fiction setting check out 'Space Odyssey: Voyage to the Planets'. There's some great stuff in there. Especially with the new Pioneer RPG from @mongoosepublishing.bsky.social coming out.

I'm not sure about this nightclub, guys.

In my experience, the more I tried to emulate the GMs I admired the less time I spent focusing on what I was capable of. Once I just 'did my own thing', gaming was so much better.

It's actually really nice to wake up and read news that puts a bit of positivity into life, how we're doing something to further our knowledge and understanding of where we are in the universe. No orange shitballer on the front page. Bliss for just a little while. www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c4...

I have a strange desire to play Fairlight on my Spectrum 128+

Excellent launch! I'm looking forward to rewatching the launch from different angles and deciding which shots I'm using for inspiration. Fair winds and following seas!