Without even getting into the ethics of AI art in general, I can tell you that it's a bad idea to put placeholder AI art in your board game prototype you're pitching to publishers. You're trying to sell them a playable game framework, not art direct their final product for them.

With UK Games Expo behind us, may I please put out a call for questions about tabletop conventions? I do a podcast with @ava.foxfort.net & @giantbrain.co.uk called But Why Vikings? where we answer listener questions about all things tabletop as agony aunts/pundits. We'd love yours for a con special!

Are there any UK-based boardgame reviewers (in any format) around here who might be interested in having a crack at a cute, family weight game that came out last year but hasn't had a lot of coverage? The publisher has a few copies available, so feel free to DM me if you want to discuss.

I wrote a piece about attending the UK Games Expo last weekend, about feeling bad, stupid & worthless, about taking my 9 year old daughter for the first time, about the values of the market, & about pointless games. It's called 'Stupid Games, Stupid Prizes': www.timclarepoet.co.uk/stupid-games...

Posted this over on Instagram, thought I’d post it here too. I hope UKGE see this and hear us.

🚨DR UK's Statement on the EHRC's New Code of Practice "We are appalled at implications that an adequate workaround is trans people using Disabled toilets instead. We will not be used as a loophole in the wider erosion of trans rights." Full statement👇 www.disabilityrightsuk.org/news/disabil...

#UKGamesExpo 2026 is over. It was wonderful to see so many of you, and apologies to anyone I didn't say hello to. It was exhausting, but also so very fulfilling and recharging. I will write about the whole event very soon, but in the meantime, here are the games I brought back. #UKGE2026

You know what, I'm incredibly grateful for the Playtest UK team! It's full of great people who volunteer, and it helps facilitate the development of games by some incredibly creative and talented people. If you ever get the opportunity to check them out, test a game, please do!

This totally made my day - and it was a good day already

Good times at #UKGamesExpo in the @playtestuk.bsky.social zone. 2 more days of this, but first I'm having a bit of a lie-down.

Just about set up for @playtestuk.bsky.social at #UKGamesExpo, kicking off tomorrow. Come and see us at the playtest zone in hall 2

Attending UKGE? Interested in game design? Like print and play games? Come along to a free Q+A session with Postmark co-founder Rory Muldoon! Alley Cat Games stand 3-902 Friday 29th May 3PM

The glamorous side of board game design. No AI here. 😁 🎲✂️

Top tips for #UKGE next week. 🌻 Be patient with yourself and others. You may not be able to see, buy or try everything - that's okay! 🌻 Be kind to event/booth staff. It's a busy tiring show. 🌻 Take breaks. Refill that water bottle. Find a place to sit outside. Breathe. 🌻 Remember to have fun!

Here’s something a little lighter from the folk singer of our age.

Yay! I got a review copy of Grab Bag Jungle by @harperrob.bsky.social and @mikeharrisonwood.bsky.social from Gibsons Games with art by Lauren Heywood-Law, a real-time grab bag game of a thing. Sounds exciting! 😀👍 #boardgames #RealTimeGames

It's only a matter of time. I can understand the temptations of using generative AI. The shortcuts you can take. Suddenly being able to visualize ideas instead of spending valuable time with tasks you are not able to do yourself or pay someone to do for you. 🧵...

Had a good morning with @mikeharrisonwood.bsky.social, thrashing out some ideas for our game with the working title Dice Cream Chaos. As a result, I am feeling confident enough to actually make some custom dice for the game. Two more colour sets to go... 🎲✂️

Thanks to everyone involved for a great event at a spectacular location. I got to play games of Écorcheurs, Romance of the Perilous Land, and Daggerheart - all were a lot of fun and superbly run.

I know it's a month away but here's one for your UK Games Expo diary: Saturday, 10am, 'Rolling in the Aisles: Humour in RPGs', wherein Allen 'Paranoia' Varney, Chris 'Kobolds Ate My Baby' O'Neill, Gareth ‘The Laundry, Merryshire Detective Club, DIE: Metadungeon’ Hanrahan and I will discuss funny.

This Is Just To Say I have turned off the AI features that were in the update and which you were probably hoping to monetize Fuck you they were stupid so unnecessary and so annoying

Self-promotion... It's been a little over a year since my first commercially published game, Grab Bag Jungle (co-designed with @mikeharrisonwood.bsky.social), was launched. If you have bought it or played it, please would you do us a favour and rate/review on BGG or wherever you bought it. Thanks ❤️

This is a really odd argument because I think at the heart of it, there is a deep misunderstanding about what writing is for. I write to communicate my thoughts and ideas, and to bring people along with me, which AI cannot do for me because it isn't me.

Ive seen seen with menus saying “we don’t cater for coelaics”. This is much better than a “ask me about alergens” sign which normally means 10 mins queues being being told there is a risk of cross contamination. This is keeping me safe.

I have a Character Demo Reel! Check it out! youtu.be/Gmi0S3LTDsw For more info, find out more at mikeharrisonwoodva.carrd.co

Thanks to @spaceship47.bsky.social for joining @alcannon.bsky.social and I for a playtest of The Artificers. About 45 minutes for a brisk 3-player game, leaving me lagging behind in scores as is often the case! 😅 🎲✂️

I've just come up with an amazing idea...maybe, if we ever get the chance, we should try and create a political environment where a Donald Trump-style regime can't thrive.

I've been really lax about blogging lately, so in an attempt to get going again, here's the latest on the game I am working on with @alcannon.bsky.social... 🎲✂️ firsttakesomedice.blogspot.com/2026/03/intr...

Dear IOC, Please explain, for the record: *the advantage kids on blockers from age ten have over their cis peers *the relevance of gender in any way to curling, shooting, etc. *how exclusion aligns in any way with the vision of the Olympic Charter. I'm all ears. Alao, fuck you.

Thanks to the lovely folk at this evening's @playtestuk.bsky.social Oxford meetup I got to see the latest iteration of The Artificers (co-designed with @alcannon.bsky.social) played by 4 folk who weren't me for the first time. Some useful feedback and observations there, so I'm very happy.

me when the AI bubble bursts

Big Pasti's latest video, entitled "The 7 Deadly Sins of Board Game Design", had a real effect on me, and today's video is a response to his. I think there is a better way we can talk about game design. youtu.be/BY7TeikZcBw 🎲✂️

lads, don't repost screenshots of ai summaries as sources of information. especially when they're hallucinations. even if they align with how you'd like the world to be. this is how the world burns.

I'm currently chugging through old episodes of the @beyondsolitaire.bsky.social podcast (I'm realising how overdue this it - it's always great!) and was just floored by this joyous discussion about art and jigsaw puzzles... ❤️ Go listen! beyondsolitaire.buzzsprout.com/1091807/epis...

NO LONGER CORRECTING TYPOS - THEY ARE ARTISINAL PROOF OF HUMANITY.

In today's video I push back on the advice that new designers should expect their first creations to be bad, and what can be missed if you follow this advice. youtu.be/eB6ln4buwxg 🎲✂️

#tabletop Bluesky people! We're organizing a small print run board game market, hosted at UKGE this year (think Night Market at PAX). If you've got a small, original production that you'd like to get in front of people, we'd love for you to apply at market.bastiongames.co.uk Please share!

There are few hot takes I agree with more than this. - too many hobbyists take rules complexity as a proxy for depth, which it isn't. - too many hobbyists play simple games, don't understand the strategy but assume they do, and conclude "shallow". It's hubris.

Neurospicy, Neurosweet, Neurosour, Neurobitter and Neuroumami. The five neuroflavors.

Playtesting The Artificers in person with @alcannon.bsky.social - great to get the game to a physical table again

Inside every designer are two wolves: One leads the pack, charging toward possibility, One gnaws at the back of your brain, begging you not to risk failure ...wait where did all these other little wolves come from? NEW ideas?! Now?! No! Shoo! I need to focus! ... damnit

I finally playtested the game and it was terrible. Irredeemably so. Time well spent. I regret nothing. 🎲✂️

The autistic spectrum has been stretched to breaking point. Being autistic used to mean you were either a) a young boy who only communicates in six-digit primes & is the sole witness to a terrible murder b) Dustin Hoffman Now they've grandfathered in ladies, folk with *zero* Sonic OCs, the Dutch etc

We've just had several days in a row when it didn't rain. This was confusing to me. It is raining again now and the world feels like it is back to a semblance of normality. Or what passes for normality this year.

Security vendors have discovered AI. So have the attackers. Every booth at RSA will say "AI-powered". Ask any of them what they're doing about prompt injection or context poisoning and watch the subject change. Compliance theatre got a software update.

Convention Organizers: If you have invite a guest from a minority demographic 👏Invite👏them👏to👏participate👏in👏more👏than👏just👏the👏diversity👏panel👏 PLEASE AND THANK YOU

❤️ Very timely message to game designers from Matthew...

Time again for one of the greatest videos in board game history. www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjHa...