Rascal News
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Independent, Worker-Owned TTRPG Journalism | Subscribe to us at rascal.news
“In those days, the only way I had to work out the disagreement was to make a game where we could disagree." Emily Zhu (朱保敬) tells us about the cyberpunk wuxia of Ten Thousand Days For The Sword, and why genre alone fails to capture the RPG's belief that violence can be beautiful and liberatory.
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Fighting for justice in the cyberpunk city of Ten Thousand Days For The Sword
Where cyberpunk and wuxia collide.
https://www.rascal.news/fighting-for-justice-in-the-cyberpunk-city-of-ten-thousand-days-for-the-sword/
about 5 hours ago
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Today marks the publication of the final installment of the
#Over/Under
diaries. All 28 entries, recalling 30 days of an intense 24/7 emergent play-by-post @mothership.bsky.social-inspired larp laid over a megagame, is available to read, for free, on Rascal.
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over/under diaries - Rascal News
Rascal is a tabletop roleplaying game and culture outlet striving to sustainably publish voicey journalism that is compelling, deeply-reported, and fearlessly honest. We’re also a little cheeky
https://www.rascal.news/tag/over-under-diaries/
2 days ago
0
13
1
#over/under
Day 30: Yesterday, Over/Under ended. Today we sign each other's yearbooks, open up AMAs, and many go to new play-by-post Discord games. All of us pull away, slowly, from the Dream. A bittersweet end to a game that became exactly what the players wanted it to be.
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Over/Under Diary: Day 30
I am still Dreaming
https://www.rascal.news/over-under-diary-day-30/
2 days ago
0
14
4
#over/under
Day 29: The Dream comes to an end... after nearly 30 days of scheming, backstabbing, assassinations, cover-ups, and selling more sycorax than we knew what to do with, the game is over. The Discord shuts down. The channels go dark. And it ends, like all comedies, with a wedding.
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Over/Under Diary: Day 29
A comedy always ends with a wedding
https://www.rascal.news/over-under-diary-day-29/
3 days ago
0
6
1
“People sometimes feel embarrassed of acting in Arabic, so they try to act in English. I'm trying to encourage them to roleplay in Arabic, but sometimes [even] I feel a little bit shy." Members of an Iraqi tabletop club discuss growing, teaching, and the oddities of RPG cultural barriers.
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An RPG community in Iraq takes their first steps outside D&D
Rascal talks to 3 Iraqi players about the good stuff.
https://www.rascal.news/an-rpg-community-in-iraq-takes-their-first-steps-outside-d-d/
3 days ago
3
319
102
reposted by
Rascal News
Chase Taylor-Carter
3 days ago
This is hands down one of our funniest episodes, and it's because Thomas and Caelyn relentlessly hound me for over the littlest things (complimentary).
add a skeleton here at some point
0
14
3
reposted by
Rascal News
Indie Game Reading Club
4 days ago
I wrote a thing for Rascal about YZE games. Came out pretty good I think!
add a skeleton here at some point
1
52
14
Rascal Radio Hour brings back three members of the team to discuss licensed games, the Neopets RPG's seeming death, and ribald bits about a certain Nazi-killing Blazkowicz.
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Attempted Aura Farming
BJ Fans and NIPL Games.
https://www.rascal.news/attempted-aura-farming/
3 days ago
0
15
2
#over/under
Day 28: Otso's scheming, prophesizing, and general meddling pays off: cybercowboy Big Dog Beefstink proposed to Solarian Church boss, Metropolitan Sampsa. The church begins one last big push for conversions as we near the end of the game, less than 24 hours away.
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Over/Under Diary: Day 28
Successor
https://www.rascal.news/over-under-diary-day-28/
4 days ago
0
8
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Curse of Strahd was published ten years ago, and I6: Ravenloft thirty-three years before that. Why is this classic adventure so influential, and why does it endure?
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Concerning Ravenloft - the original horror adventure module
Him, Strahd.
https://www.rascal.news/concerning-ravenloft-the-original-horror-adventure-module/
4 days ago
2
43
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reposted by
Rascal News
Contributor Paul Beakley takes the long view on the Year Zero Engine and RPGs that rest on the crossroads of resource management and pushing one's luck.
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Why the Year Zero Games Are My Favorite Type of Trad
It's all about pushing, resource management, and more pushing.
https://www.rascal.news/why-the-year-zero-games-are-my-favorite-type-of-trad/
5 days ago
2
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#over/under
Day 27: The new Pontiff ruffles some feathers, but Otso and Sampsa keep everyone calm. Otso asks Beef is he wants to marry Metropolitan Sampsa in exchange for a cardinalship, and he says yes. But there's a complication: Beef already has a girlfriend.
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Over/Under Diary: Day 27
Moving with intention
https://www.rascal.news/over-under-diary-day-27/
5 days ago
0
10
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Contributor Paul Beakley takes the long view on the Year Zero Engine and RPGs that rest on the crossroads of resource management and pushing one's luck.
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Why the Year Zero Games Are My Favorite Type of Trad
It's all about pushing, resource management, and more pushing.
https://www.rascal.news/why-the-year-zero-games-are-my-favorite-type-of-trad/
5 days ago
2
49
9
#over/under
Day 26: A new Pontiff is elected. The Dream Foundation is finally dissolved with the help of a cardinal who snuck out of conclave. And the Bratva is revealed to have been behind the death of Union Prez Sanyang, at Union Secretary Thatch's request.
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Over/Under Diary: Day 26
The church lies bleeding
https://www.rascal.news/over-under-diary-day-26/
6 days ago
0
8
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Three stories of licensing media for tabletop RPGs -- and the people who make it happen -- shed light on this increasingly popular practice.
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How do the deals for licensed games happen?
A License to Kill column about brokers, lawyers, and merch.
https://www.rascal.news/how-do-the-deals-for-licensed-games-happen/
6 days ago
0
50
15
#over/under
Day 25: After a successful Vote of No Confidence, eighteen cardinals head into conclave; a narrative sequestration where they must argue, bribe, and vote for the next Pontiff. The Dream Foundation is forcibly dismantled. Otso begins to hear wedding bells.
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Over/Under Diary: Day 25
Sequestration turns Cardinals into wolves
https://www.rascal.news/over-under-diary-day-25/
7 days ago
0
7
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Hasbro's CEO seems allergic to mentioning Dungeons & Dragons in public unless it helps his brand or attracts outside studios. Forgotten or ignored, it leaves the venerable RPG difficult to discuss.
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Dungeons & Dragons has disappeared
Out on the town having the time of my life with D&D. It’s just out of frame, laughing, too.
https://www.rascal.news/dungeons-dragons-has-disappeared/
7 days ago
3
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The latest episode of the Rascal Reading Club is now out! We round out our discussion of Apocalypse World with readers' responses and input from guests Lin Codega and Luke Jordan.
www.rascal.news/talkback-apo...
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Talkback: Apocalypse World
You asked for more voices so here's some!
https://www.rascal.news/talkback-apocalypse-world/
7 days ago
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Rebellion Unplugged is bringing one of the oldest RPGs bang up to date with Tunnels & Trolls: A New Age.
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Rebellion Unplugged vows to make Tunnels & Trolls: A New Age more approachable than ever
Built on archival assets, dramatic dice, and a respect for its predecessor.
https://www.rascal.news/rebellion-unplugged-vows-to-make-tunnels-trolls-a-new-age-more-approachable-than-ever/
10 days ago
0
24
13
reposted by
Rascal News
Our second crossword will wyrm its way into your brain. Stop dragon your feet, and get in here!
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Rascal Crossword 2: Wyrm Edition
I heard you like dragons?
https://www.rascal.news/rascal-crossword-2-wyrm-edition/
14 days ago
2
27
10
reposted by
Rascal News
"Messy lesbians, toxic power dynamics, giant robots fighting eldritch horrors, oppression, and hard choices." Impressions of Isabelle Ruebsaat's Girl Frame, with some insights from the designer herself.
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Girl Frame confidently stomps its way into a niche mecha genre
Ast-Hound-ing
https://www.rascal.news/girl-frame-confidently-stomps-its-way-into-a-niche-mecha-genre/
13 days ago
2
346
127
reposted by
Rascal News
The Neopets Team claims Geekify Inc. broke the terms of its licensing agreement by publishing a public playtest document in February, which led to criticism, ridicule, and one internal allegation of payment problems on the design team.
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Neopets terminates license with Geekify over troubled RPG development
“We are continuing to explore alternative options to bring a high quality TTRPG gaming experience to the fan base”
https://www.rascal.news/neopets-terminates-license-with-geekify-over-troubled-rpg-development/
12 days ago
2
135
55
reposted by
Rascal News
Children of Time: The Roleplaying game, from
@rowanrookanddecard.bsky.social
, adapts
@aptshadow.bsky.social
's book series into a tabletop RPG spanning both tense moments and yawning eons. You won't have to include the uplifted spiders.
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Children of Time: The Roleplaying Game puts the fate of two civilizations in players’ hands
Your own personal "facsimile Adrian" Tchaikovsky.
https://www.rascal.news/children-of-time-the-roleplaying-game-puts-the-fate-of-two-civilizations-in-players-hands/
11 days ago
4
111
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Children of Time: The Roleplaying game, from
@rowanrookanddecard.bsky.social
, adapts
@aptshadow.bsky.social
's book series into a tabletop RPG spanning both tense moments and yawning eons. You won't have to include the uplifted spiders.
loading . . .
Children of Time: The Roleplaying Game puts the fate of two civilizations in players’ hands
Your own personal "facsimile Adrian" Tchaikovsky.
https://www.rascal.news/children-of-time-the-roleplaying-game-puts-the-fate-of-two-civilizations-in-players-hands/
11 days ago
4
111
52
The Neopets Team claims Geekify Inc. broke the terms of its licensing agreement by publishing a public playtest document in February, which led to criticism, ridicule, and one internal allegation of payment problems on the design team.
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Neopets terminates license with Geekify over troubled RPG development
“We are continuing to explore alternative options to bring a high quality TTRPG gaming experience to the fan base”
https://www.rascal.news/neopets-terminates-license-with-geekify-over-troubled-rpg-development/
12 days ago
2
135
55
"Messy lesbians, toxic power dynamics, giant robots fighting eldritch horrors, oppression, and hard choices." Impressions of Isabelle Ruebsaat's Girl Frame, with some insights from the designer herself.
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Girl Frame confidently stomps its way into a niche mecha genre
Ast-Hound-ing
https://www.rascal.news/girl-frame-confidently-stomps-its-way-into-a-niche-mecha-genre/
13 days ago
2
346
127
Our second crossword will wyrm its way into your brain. Stop dragon your feet, and get in here!
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Rascal Crossword 2: Wyrm Edition
I heard you like dragons?
https://www.rascal.news/rascal-crossword-2-wyrm-edition/
14 days ago
2
27
10
The crew is joined on the podcast by
@joeparlock.bsky.social
from new TCG website
@boosterpacksite.bsky.social
. They talk about the cardboard-exclusive side of the tabletop hobby. There's plenty discussion of the week's news and what's hit our table recently, as well!
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Printing Popularity
Crackin' turtles and ripping ponies.
https://www.rascal.news/printing-popularity/
17 days ago
0
11
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An update on where Rascal stands regarding finances, site redesign, the next zine, and more as the team heads into year three.
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State of the Rascal: March 2026
Year 3 begins.
https://www.rascal.news/state-of-the-rascal-march-2026/
17 days ago
1
63
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#over/under
Day 24: The cardinals of the Solarian Church issue a Vote of No Confidence against Pontiff Kuutar. As Stratemeyer is disassembled (again) Otso prepares for the Conclave, where 18 cardinals will be narratively sequestered to one Discord Channel until they elect a new pope.
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Over/Under Diary: Day 24
The hungry Conclave
https://www.rascal.news/over-under-diary-day-24/
18 days ago
0
8
0
Wizards of the Coast has officially settled on 5.5e as the name for the 2024 update of Dungeons & Dragons, as it updates labels on D&D Beyond for clarity. Caelyn shares her thoughts on the change and why it took so long.
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Dungeons & Dragons 2024 is now officially D&D 5.5e, still isn’t a new edition
RIP D&D 5.52024OneE
https://www.rascal.news/dungeons-dragons-2024-is-now-officially-d-d-5-5e-still-isnt-a-new-edition/
18 days ago
5
75
24
#over/under
Day 23: The Jovankabots reveal their evil plans, and Otso finally gives in and agrees to an assassination -- the only time in the game when he agrees to have a player be forcibly deoxed. Beef starts a campaign for Cardinal, but he doesn't realize what it will cost him.
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Over/Under Diary: Day 23
One million credits is a rounding error
https://www.rascal.news/over-under-diary-day-23/
19 days ago
0
6
0
“First off, I don’t know what a ‘Nintendo’ is." The creator of Pokémon-meets-OSR game, Into the Oddish, is serious about parody and won't let legal threats cramp creativity.
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Into the Oddish is a brazen, perhaps brave, parody of Pokémon and Into the Odd
Its creator thinks the threat of cease and desist letters shouldn't discourage art.
https://www.rascal.news/into-the-oddish-is-a-brazen-perhaps-brave-parody-of-pokemon-and-into-the-odd/
19 days ago
1
80
20
#over/under
Day 22: Jovanka Diouf, former CEO of the Stratemeyer Syndicate comes back with a vengeance, blurring narrative and mechanic as she attempts to revive her faction with new branding and under the control of the AI-hivemind, Monarch. Otso sighs. Leaving enemies alive is a delaying tactic.
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Over/Under Diary: Day 22
Leaving enemies alive is a delaying tactic
https://www.rascal.news/over-under-diary-day-22/
20 days ago
0
6
0
More than just a collection of tools and advice, How to GM Romance tackles the perennial (and often taboo) issue of flirting, dating, and sex at the RPG table.
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Fifty Ways To Love Your (Roleplay) Lover
"How to GM Romance" is rules, advice, and some stuff in between.
https://www.rascal.news/fifty-ways-to-love-your-roleplay-lover/
20 days ago
0
70
28
reposted by
Rascal News
kheehoon chan Needs Work
20 days ago
For the tabletop folks, designers and publishers, especially if you're not based in the US - do you have thoughts about attending Gen Con later in July/Aug, given the state of geopolitical affairs? Would you be attending, or would you be giving it a miss? Let me know!
[email protected]
11
47
20
#over/under
Day 18: In a desperate bid to prevent war, the military leader of the Bratva, Vor Veljko Tamunafili, elects to die in ritual combat. Otso arrives in the shestroyka to witness the death of the man he loves. He becomes the only man to leave the shestroyka twice.
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Over/Under Diary: Day 18
The death of a mountain
https://www.rascal.news/over-under-diary-day-18/
24 days ago
0
10
4
Crossposted from our friends at
@boardgamewire.bsky.social
: Ryan Dancey's comments about AI's potential in board games cost him his job and fits into a longer history of the former Alderac COO shooting from the proverbial hip.
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Tabletop industry veteran Ryan Dancey loses Alderac COO job after saying AI can generate game ideas as good as some of his company’s designs
"The idea that [AI] could not be used to generate ideas on the level as those embodied by those three games is already demonstrably false (in my opinion)."
https://www.rascal.news/tabletop-industry-veteran-ryan-dancey-loses-alderac-coo-job-after-saying-ai-can-generate-game-ideas-as-good-as-some-of-his-companys-designs/
24 days ago
1
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Four members of
@kickstarterunited.org
who played an active role in the November 2025 labor strike have been laid off, with one member forced out of the bargaining unit. The union has filed unfair labor practice charges against Kickstarter, alleging anti-union retaliation.
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Several Kickstarter United members have been laid off three months after labor strike
The union alleges that this is an act of retaliation by Kickstarter management.
https://www.rascal.news/several-kickstarter-united-members-have-been-laid-off-three-months-after-labor-strike/
24 days ago
1
87
50
#over/under
Day 17: The union president is killed in what the Dream is told was an "internal dispute." Veljko remains at the sanctuary for a few more hours before the conflict between Tempest and the Bratva pulls him away. Otso gets Beef stupid high while the Dream teeters on the brink of war.
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Over/Under Diary: Day 17
A war diverted across sacrificial lines
https://www.rascal.news/over-under-diary-day-17/
25 days ago
1
12
0
A little late, but D&D Beyond's team makes good on promises of increased transparency with a development roadmap and reprioritization.
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Wizards of the Coast set to rebuild D&D Beyond, add more features
The team is also promising more open communication with users.
https://www.rascal.news/wizards-of-the-coast-set-to-rebuild-d-d-beyond-add-more-features/
25 days ago
0
29
7
#over/under
Day 16: After a whirlwind of activity yesterday, denizens of the Dream attempt to find peace, stability, solid ground. Hard to find on a space station, but in the Church's garden, Otso reunites with an old flame. Too bad he's a violent cyber-Orlok with a penchant for suicidal ideation.
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Over/Under Diary: Day 16
Violent men in quiet times
https://www.rascal.news/over-under-diary-day-16/
26 days ago
0
8
1
Defending everything you love from a kaiju incursion is more fun and dramatic with a plus one. Home - Mech x Kaiju's interesting dramatic engine falls a little flat in solo play.
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Losing everything in HOME - Mech x Kaiju is better with friends
This mapmaking RPG revealed that I am not drift compatible with myself.
https://www.rascal.news/losing-everything-in-home-mech-x-kaiju-is-better-with-friends/
26 days ago
1
48
9
reposted by
Rascal News
Explore the art and artists that created Trudvang — from the children's illustrations of John Bauer, one of Sweden's most recognizable painters, to the work of modern fantasy icon, Paul Bonner.
www.rascal.news/the-dark-art-of-dragonbane-trudvang/
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The Dark Art of Dragonbane Trudvang
A brief history of some beautiful images.
https://www.rascal.news/the-dark-art-of-dragonbane-trudvang/
27 days ago
0
32
7
#over/under
Day 15: The game leans heavy on roleplaying as tensions heat between the Union and the Mob. Otso has conversations that create ripple effects throughout the game, and the game ramifications of story coalesce around a throwaway line in a background barfight between NPCs.
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Over/Under Diary: Day 15
Everybody matters or else nobody matters
https://www.rascal.news/over-under-diary-day-15/
27 days ago
0
13
4
Explore the art and artists that created Trudvang — from the children's illustrations of John Bauer, one of Sweden's most recognizable painters, to the work of modern fantasy icon, Paul Bonner.
www.rascal.news/the-dark-art-of-dragonbane-trudvang/
loading . . .
The Dark Art of Dragonbane Trudvang
A brief history of some beautiful images.
https://www.rascal.news/the-dark-art-of-dragonbane-trudvang/
27 days ago
0
32
7
#over/under
Day 14: A calm day on the Dream meant the Bosses got to have some fun. For some of us - Otso, Sampsa, Sylvana - that meant going to a gallery opening and blowing absurd amounts of money on mustachioed paintings. For the Union, it meant plotting to undermine our new, tentative peace.
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Over/Under Diary: Day 14
The Dream spins and spins and spins
https://www.rascal.news/over-under-diary-day-14/
28 days ago
0
6
0
In the latest Rascal 7 series, Luke Jordan talks about their new game — a Hadestown-inspired mythohistorical drama.
www.rascal.news/heaven-in-the-dust-sees-greek-gods-suffer-very-human-tragedies/
28 days ago
1
15
8
reposted by
Rascal News
The career of Cyberpunk steward Mike Pondsmith gets weird and fascinating when we travel away from Night City and into the decade between 1985 and 1995.
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Mike Pondsmith's Other Games
Looking at the work minus the mirrorshades.
https://www.rascal.news/mike-pondsmiths-other-games/
about 1 month ago
5
114
44
#over/under
Day 13: After a frustrating day of not-answers from the mods, the game started with an apology and a promise to do better... and honestly, that's what the bosses really wanted. The game was fun. It was good. We just wanted better communication. We kept playing: the Dream never sleeps.
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Over/Under Diary: Day 13
Apologies in sequence
https://www.rascal.news/over-under-diary-day-13/
29 days ago
1
4
1
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