Second playtest of "Rules of Law" (a game about laws, duh), rocked just as much as the first. Why do we forbid people from going into the fields at night? Is it because they'll speak to the dead? Or do witchcraft? No. It's all the sex. They're having so much sex in the fields. #summerlab

And what do we say to the God of Playtest Fails? Not today, Fail… #summerlab

So true, and I think something people recommending games don't recognize enough

Our #ttrpg group has used Microscope to build our last two campaign game worlds. Great for that or any night you want a fun storytelling one off.

"This terrifying statement was the starting gun for our Microscope: Chronicle game." Making notes for the next update: always start with a terrifying statement!

Is this my regular brand of coffee? Is it a full moon? Where are all these game design ideas coming from today??? #summerlab

You know what really helps the brain get things done? A mantra. A rallying cry. Ours is summerlab arsludi.lamemage.com/index.php/48...

The power of a good name to make a good game arsludi.lamemage.com/index.php/48...

decided to roll randomly for our topic and we could not have gotten a more fun result In This World: HERALDRY! #gmless

I'm making a big chunk of a game that you don't play. Is that weird? It feels like it might be weird. #summerlab

Is it gauche to carry the same protest signs twice? Is it like wearing the same outfit to another party??? Somebody tell me before October 18 #nokings www.mobilize.us/nokings/?tag...

real Microscope player confirmed

Weren't we just talking about GMless + diceless games? Case in point…

"Which would you rather play, a GMless or a diceless RPG" To which I say, "why not both" To which you say, "examples please" Leaving out (checks notes) every single one of my games, let me throw out a few. If I miss your favs, chime in!

Been thinking about these posts about the "star pattern" of conversation in games because this diagram is identical to one we use when talking about pedagogy. the question is the same: how do you get the people in a room talking to each other instead of seeking approval from a central authority?

Not gonna lie, you are not wrong Now I want a game based on the idea of getting constant wishes and slowly changing the entire world to suit your desires. It's not world-building, it's world-rebuilding

Not entirely on-topic, but sometimes I just think if I go to every DM and say “you are enough just as you are, and you don’t have to make anyone love you” the entire DM/GM Industrial Complex would collapse.

Modern star-problems require modern star-solutions arsludi.lamemage.com/index.php/48...

"Why not both??"

I'm avoiding watching this until I finish the second part but I am very curious what Sean has to say!

Be still my heart!!!

Trying to finish up part 2 of the star-pattern but real life keeps getting in the way. Why, Real Life, why???

The latter star summons better demons.

"Wait, Ben Robbins is posting GMing advice? What year is this???" arsludi.lamemage.com/index.php/48...

It is genuinely so nice to hear people who really loved the game they played. They had a special experience all their own, which is really the best any of our games can do.

We're live with Pt 2 of our Microscope Chronicle 2e short shot! Join @billoftheforest.bsky.social, @pbplaysinside.bsky.social, @praxthebard.bsky.social, and me as we explore the chronicle of the mysterious Horizon's Seat! And look at this amazing art by @voidsmoker.bsky.social! twitch.tv/TrooperSJP

Dracharium, game 5: Our unexpectedly good Kingdom of merchants is going strong. In our first Crossroad we veered into questionable business practices, and our second Crossroad leans hard into that: Drought has made a valuable dye rare. Do we sell a cheap counterfeit to our clients..? #gmless

Friday means more Chronicle of Horizon's Seat, our #Microscope short shot on @troopersjp.bsky.social. As promised here is my Playlist for this game, so far. Join @billoftheforest.bsky.social @pbplaysinside.bsky.social @troopersjp.bsky.social &me Friday open.spotify.com/playlist/4Oy...

This is coming right up in like… an hour?

A: "Here's a cool character mechanic I came up with for a very specific situation" B: "Looks to me like you came up with a cool character mechanic that could work for *lots* of situations" A: *galaxy-brain unfolds* #summerlab game design chats being as fruitful as an orchard

"Did you know Ben Robbins has a second edition of Microscope Chronicle in open playtest?" Wait, I did know that! Check this out, tomorrow night…

The truth is, I only created In This World so I could talk about pets. Everything else I said about it was a ruse. pets pets pets pets pets arsludi.lamemage.com/index.php/47...

Not a single one of my games requires or is based on violence. So I figured I better fix that.

I love the smell of consequences in the morning. Thank you, @dragoncon.org

Conservatives don't realize this is how we've been spreading the indie/GMless/story game virus all along: MARRIAGE

"I got a fix for that!" "No, I've got a fix for that!" #summerlab

Fresh comment on my blog after the @criticalrole.bsky.social announcement. "Ben Robbins did not create West Marches.  What is this stupidity?" Awesome. Never change, 2025

*Apparently* I've been publishing gaming stuff for 20 years, which simultaneously feels like a long time but also like no time at all… arsludi.lamemage.com/index.php/47...

Microscope + Kingdom?? I believe we refer to that as "the holy grail" campaign…

Thank god. Can you imagine if you waited ten years and it was a disappointment??? This is my relieved-designer face.

I'll admit, this was not on my bingo card…

When I see anything someone ran through AI: If you didn't bother to write it, why should I bother to read it?

"Microscope. The most fucking wild game I got on here." No notes

Microscope: "Where killing someone doesn’t matter" This is why context is so important 😂

"doin some God Damn Space Opera" Microscope player confirmed

"Never hand @chobbs.bsky.social a loaded Polaris" I tried to warn them…

People teaching games are heroes. Support them!

Work continues on my current project, a versatile archaeology world-building game currently titled “More to Explore”. Got an awesome session in at Go Play NW and now it’s back to the workbench for tinkering! 🔧 ⚙️ #trrpg #gamedesign

I cannot disagree. I've played Kingdom soooo much, with so many different vibes. I could not be happier that I did a 2nd edition to clean up all the text and let it be the game that was always hidden inside.

I've got a big ask. I need a TTRPG that 1. Is fairly easy to play out of the box, or with just a little prep/learning 2. Is good for three players 3. is GM-less