I had a great time with @joedewhurst.bsky.social discussing the research that went into The Pure Land, forthcoming from GMT. youtu.be/BCG_wPNKy0s

Heading to Texas to hang with my parents, couldn’t have chosen a better time. Be safe out there, neighbors.

Less than one day remains, a mere 20 hours to be exact. Here is @jmstar.bsky.social and @beyondsolitaire.bsky.social discussing good #RPG design and the new edition of The Blue Way, forthcoming from Central Michigan University. #TTRPGs #RPGs #larp #gaming youtu.be/4j3G1U03sHI

I know I have fully assimilated to my new home in Minnesota because I am sitting in an ice rink in a t-shirt. (Watching Da Beauty League.)

I am very excited to show this game to people.

More fun from SDHistCon North. :) A delightful game of Crisis 1914 with the marvelous @beyondsolitaire.bsky.social, @djackthompson.bsky.social, @pushingcardboard.bsky.social, and @lukeevison.bsky.social. @sdhistcon.bsky.social

We're nearly ready! We'll be live in about 10 minutes!

The kickstarter page for Rebels Against Rebellion is now up: www.kickstarter.com/projects/mar...

A personal #SDHistConNorth2026 recap- Day 1 Morn: We kicked off in the stately (and mercifully well-cooled) Union Depot, with @ryanschneider.bsky.social manning the greeting desks. I sat in on an immediately spicy Night Witches demo from @beyondsolitaire.bsky.social, who pulled no punches! (pt1...)

Had an awesome time at @sdhistcon.bsky.social North. Demo’d Night Witches with @beyondsolitaire.bsky.social, Undaunted 2200 Revolution, and Rebels Against Rebellion. @ospreygames.bsky.social @fortcircle.bsky.social

Learning Crisis: 1914!

Demoing Root Homeland at SDHist North! #boardgames

Demoing Night Witches with @djackthompson.bsky.social at SDHistCon North! @fortcircle.bsky.social

This weekend is the first-ever SDHistCon North, right here in Saint Paul! Yesterday, we had the best pre-convention activity ever. @ryanschneider.bsky.social helped organize a tour of Civil War artifacts that included a viewing of the flag the 1st Minnesota took at Gettysburg. Incredible.

New on the HGN blog today! PopHistoryETS discuss the development of an urban card game exploring memories of the Italian Resistance in World War II. The game was designed to encourage exploration of the physical heritage in Lugo. www.historicalgames.net/codice-lugo-...

In the Twin Cities with my bestie (@beyondsolitaire.bsky.social) for @sdhistcon.bsky.social North!

I picked the one that represents how I feel most days. (Red Panda Surprise)

I had a great time chatting with @downtowntbrown.bsky.social about the historical inspiration for Votes for Women, her game from @fortcircle.bsky.social! youtu.be/6vMafgfDzKA

How I feel knowing I get to game with some of my favorite people tonight, including my bestie @djackthompson.bsky.social

Learning Robo Rally to cap off the day.

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My first ever set of designer copies! 🥰

Stuff I plan to read this week! SDHistCon North is coming this weekend, so I'm probably being too ambitious, but that's not a sin. ;)

I hear America singing.

Welp, I just posted the longest, weirdest, and by far most political piece I’ve ever written for The Looking Glance. So, here’s “A Gamer’s History of the US,” my thought experiment in using game design to show how our 250-year democratic experiment went wrong. #boardgames

Happy 4th! www.youtube.com/watch?v=AePC...

Yes, finally some headlines I can actually enjoy!

This is just to say I have massacred The troops Who were charging Up the hill And who You were probably Intending To capture it Forgive me There was so much artillery And your plan Was so bad

Guess I became a Civil War enthusiast after all.

My first game of Container!

100% accurate.

Foxes & Lions is going to be awesome--but it's because a lot of research has gone into it. @paulusborgia.bsky.social and I go into some of the best books behind the game! youtu.be/8sdAxxZhZ1M

Thinking about the 1st Minnesota today. They suffered massive casualties at Gettysburg, most of them during a desperate charge on the afternoon of July 2. Hancock wrote of them, "there is no more gallant deed recorded in history."

Happy “liberal arts professor helps save the Union” day to all who celebrate

My life has improved drastically since finding a book club that meets at 7:30 AM on Thursdays. Finally, weirdos like me!

22 years ago today I released Salad Fingers.

TFW you get a shipping notice for the designer copies of your first game to make it to print. (Queen of Spies w/ @djackthompson.bsky.social, from @saltandpeppergames.bsky.social!)

“Sometimes a disturbing game closet is just a disturbing game closet.” My favorite: “Run!” www.nytimes.com/2026/07/01/c...

Excited to have this cool new game arrive today. I had the privilege to help playtest it some and it was a lot of fun. Finished product really looks great. If you enjoy a good solo game check this one out. @beyondsolitaire.bsky.social @djackthompson.bsky.social @saltandpeppergames.bsky.social

Had an unexpected surprise waiting for me when I got home - can't wait to dive in! @beyondsolitaire.bsky.social

I've read a bunch of great books this year, and these are the very best so far! youtu.be/Wm6DS0j9mLc

“I have done all of the things that one is supposed to do to earn a tenure-track position. And I have done approximately 85% of them by typing prompts into a large language model and then moderately editing the output.” 🤣🤣🤣 brilliant 👌🏽 open.substack.com/pub/inprepar...

@eizebasa.baby is sick of me already.

Another Inside GMT piece about Foxes & Lions! insidegmt.com/who-the-hell...

Lunch today involved an in-depth evaluation of the BTS Oreos.

I really enjoyed Desperation, as did the Leder Games crew! Here's a video about what makes this role-playing system both accessible and a damn good time. @bullypulpithq.bsky.social youtu.be/GISgiKP7Cew

I'm sure a lot of you will be watching The Odyssey next month, but in the meantime, you should read Ithaka by C. P. Cavafy. It is a very fine poem that I come back to often. www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/51296/...

I've been enjoying a lot of solo journaling RPGs recently. Here is my overview of Letters to Sandra, in which you correspond with a loved one who has left your small town and gone off to college. youtu.be/gBexmulvpgk

What a wonderful long weekend exploring the North Shore! Lake Superior is gorgeous, and the Devil’s Kettle, a waterfall that drops into a hole with no visible exit point, was worth the hike. (Including the ca. 200 stairs.)