Nathan Savant
@baldsavant.bsky.social
Actions Speak Louder Than Words
✍️ Systemic Narrative Designer
🧭 Quest designer and world builder
🧠 Psychology and Sociology in #GameDesign
Currently @ Unemployed
Coming Soon in 2026 from CRC Press: "Quest Giving"
✍️ Systemic Narrative Designer
🧭 Quest designer and world builder
🧠 Psychology and Sociology in #GameDesign
Currently @ Unemployed
Coming Soon in 2026 from CRC Press: "Quest Giving"
Pinned
Nathan Savant
@baldsavant.bsky.social
· Oct 10
Systemic Narrative: A How-To Guide
After my last blog post on Donkey Kong Bananza, I threatened to take what I’d learned and tell you how to do that for yourself. Well here I am, looming in the shadows with the knife of knowledge in my hand. Waiting just for you.Now you may look at this blog title and think to yourself “But Nathan, Bananza doesn’t really have a systems-driven narrative, why are you talking about that topic?!” and to you I would say “welcome to my unhinged corner of the internet, you must be new here!”. Donkey Kon
www.nathansavant.com
NEW BLOG POST!
This time I'm talking about systems-driven narrative design and how YOU can tell a story with your gameplay, whatever that gameplay happens to be. We start from Bananza and build into a systemic approach anyone can use.
www.nathansavant.com/post/systemi...
This time I'm talking about systems-driven narrative design and how YOU can tell a story with your gameplay, whatever that gameplay happens to be. We start from Bananza and build into a systemic approach anyone can use.
www.nathansavant.com/post/systemi...
It's kinda funny to read this cause I spent the whole time I was playing Blue Prince screaming at my screen "OMG THIS IS TOO MUCH GAME!!!"
After working 80 hour weeks for eight years, Blue Prince creator says next game probably won't be quite as ambitious
aftermath.site/blue-prince-fi...
aftermath.site/blue-prince-fi...
February 18, 2026 at 10:33 PM
It's kinda funny to read this cause I spent the whole time I was playing Blue Prince screaming at my screen "OMG THIS IS TOO MUCH GAME!!!"
The Good Dinosaur.
Mad to the point that my next birthday was Good Dinosaur themed and I cut my cake with a DVD of the film just to make sure no one could ever watch it
Mad to the point that my next birthday was Good Dinosaur themed and I cut my cake with a DVD of the film just to make sure no one could ever watch it
fun question: what’s the maddest you’ve ever been leaving a movie theater? not necessarily worst movie you’ve seen, but the one that just pissed you off the most. mine is Batman v Superman
February 18, 2026 at 10:15 PM
The Good Dinosaur.
Mad to the point that my next birthday was Good Dinosaur themed and I cut my cake with a DVD of the film just to make sure no one could ever watch it
Mad to the point that my next birthday was Good Dinosaur themed and I cut my cake with a DVD of the film just to make sure no one could ever watch it
Reposted by Nathan Savant
Animation reference of the gods.
Oh my god she uploaded a slow motion video and it's amazing. He's just like me fr running as best he can and still going backwards over and over!
January 13, 2026 at 7:24 AM
Animation reference of the gods.
Hell yeah, bring on the data crystals! I am ready for my 90s sci fi future tech!
arstechnica.com/science/2026...
arstechnica.com/science/2026...
Microsoft's new 10,000-year data storage medium: glass
Femtosecond lasers etch data into a very stable medium.
arstechnica.com
February 18, 2026 at 7:21 PM
Hell yeah, bring on the data crystals! I am ready for my 90s sci fi future tech!
arstechnica.com/science/2026...
arstechnica.com/science/2026...
Reposted by Nathan Savant
And fellas, feel free to deploy any of these when we hear creepiness directed at someone else.
I firmly believe that half of where we are with people saying quiet parts out loud is because people were met with awkward silence instead of polite but firm accountability and felt emboldened.
I firmly believe that half of where we are with people saying quiet parts out loud is because people were met with awkward silence instead of polite but firm accountability and felt emboldened.
Due to recent discussions: when I worked at a library, I was trained on how to politely but directly respond to unwanted sexual comments. Unfortunately commonly-marketed fantasies about librarians mean it happens a lot.
Rehearse these. Be comfortable saying them forcefully, but politely.
Rehearse these. Be comfortable saying them forcefully, but politely.
![Cordial but Firm Anti-Creep Phrases
”This is a [professional space] and I’d really appreciate it if you’d act accordingly.”
“I’m not interested in discussing my personal life.” AND/OR “I keep my personal and professional life separate, thanks.”
“I really don’t think that’s appropriate behavior/to say at a [professional conference]. Is there something else we can discuss?” OR phrase it as a rhetorical question: “Do you think that’s an appropriate thing to do/say at a [professional conference]?”
“That is not what I’m here for. Let’s change the subject.”](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:gnlyxexo7tg446kglieyvwit/bafkreih76h3uc7lysc3rkpvf3ospgjxs4v3p673iulkqd6is3pm3o7jjjy@jpeg)
February 18, 2026 at 5:47 PM
And fellas, feel free to deploy any of these when we hear creepiness directed at someone else.
I firmly believe that half of where we are with people saying quiet parts out loud is because people were met with awkward silence instead of polite but firm accountability and felt emboldened.
I firmly believe that half of where we are with people saying quiet parts out loud is because people were met with awkward silence instead of polite but firm accountability and felt emboldened.
Reposted by Nathan Savant
Don't underestimate the power of a "what the fuck, man". The status quo depends on the silence of bystanders.
Women in the games industry already have to put up with a lot, but we shouldn’t have to do it alone. Men in the industry: if you see one of your fellow men doing behaving this way towards a woman at a professional conference, please speak up and tell them to CUT IT OUT.
I hope things in our industry change for the better in the future. I will not allow anyone to feel this way again.
February 18, 2026 at 6:14 PM
Don't underestimate the power of a "what the fuck, man". The status quo depends on the silence of bystanders.
I just want her back
February 18, 2026 at 7:31 AM
I just want her back
Reposted by Nathan Savant
Humble Bundle is doing a Discworld bundle to benefit an Alzheimer's organization that supports both families and research.
These are the books we need in times like these.
www.humblebundle.com/books/terry-...
These are the books we need in times like these.
www.humblebundle.com/books/terry-...
Humble Book Bundle: Best of Humble Bundle: Terry Pratchett's Discworld by HarperCollins Encore 2026
Experience Sir Terry Practchett’s beloved Discworld series! Get 35+ books covering all corners of this comic fantasy universe and help support Room to Read!
www.humblebundle.com
February 18, 2026 at 6:02 AM
Humble Bundle is doing a Discworld bundle to benefit an Alzheimer's organization that supports both families and research.
These are the books we need in times like these.
www.humblebundle.com/books/terry-...
These are the books we need in times like these.
www.humblebundle.com/books/terry-...
I have always and will always be of the opinion that old games did get it right in that in-game tutorials were minimal.
That should continue. We just also need to replace the instruction manual.
Cause old games were also unclear as hell just like constantly.
That should continue. We just also need to replace the instruction manual.
Cause old games were also unclear as hell just like constantly.
I'm older than you so I can confirm that they came with a little book that had the tutorial in it and you read it on the way home
February 18, 2026 at 3:33 AM
I have always and will always be of the opinion that old games did get it right in that in-game tutorials were minimal.
That should continue. We just also need to replace the instruction manual.
Cause old games were also unclear as hell just like constantly.
That should continue. We just also need to replace the instruction manual.
Cause old games were also unclear as hell just like constantly.
Reposted by Nathan Savant
I think making up little guys is good for your mental health, everyone should make up characters and then spend time daydreaming about them
February 17, 2026 at 8:05 PM
I think making up little guys is good for your mental health, everyone should make up characters and then spend time daydreaming about them
I am deeply curious about what one does with dynamic terrain destruction in a Diablo.
www.kickstarter.com/projects/moo...
www.kickstarter.com/projects/moo...
Darkhaven - An Action RPG with Dynamic Worlds
A new ARPG featuring dynamic, destructible, buildable worlds, made by many of the original creators of Diablo & Diablo II.
www.kickstarter.com
February 18, 2026 at 12:20 AM
I am deeply curious about what one does with dynamic terrain destruction in a Diablo.
www.kickstarter.com/projects/moo...
www.kickstarter.com/projects/moo...
Join me in taking gifted kid psychic damage from this logic chart!!
Raise your hand if you were a Millennial labelled "gifted" by your school and their "answer" to that was to occasionally take you out of class to do these in the cafeteria.
February 17, 2026 at 10:21 PM
Join me in taking gifted kid psychic damage from this logic chart!!
Absolute all-timer for me! I have been thinking about Avowed nearly every single day since I beat it, if you haven't given it a chance yet DO YOURSELF A FAVOR.
This is how we forge our destiny. Avowed is now available on PlayStation 5 globally. bit.ly/4sykDoi
February 17, 2026 at 6:55 PM
Absolute all-timer for me! I have been thinking about Avowed nearly every single day since I beat it, if you haven't given it a chance yet DO YOURSELF A FAVOR.
Me, seeing this quiz: "Should I even do it, it's just gunna give me Flying type"
The results:
The results:
February 17, 2026 at 5:27 AM
Me, seeing this quiz: "Should I even do it, it's just gunna give me Flying type"
The results:
The results:
Reposted by Nathan Savant
I have a very simple and straightforward two-step plan to Save The Video Game Industry:
Step 1: Globally eliminate the concept of a classed society and redistribute all surplus resources among the populace, permanently enshrining social ownership of the means of production.
Step 2: Ridge Racer 8.
Step 1: Globally eliminate the concept of a classed society and redistribute all surplus resources among the populace, permanently enshrining social ownership of the means of production.
Step 2: Ridge Racer 8.
February 16, 2026 at 12:47 AM
I have a very simple and straightforward two-step plan to Save The Video Game Industry:
Step 1: Globally eliminate the concept of a classed society and redistribute all surplus resources among the populace, permanently enshrining social ownership of the means of production.
Step 2: Ridge Racer 8.
Step 1: Globally eliminate the concept of a classed society and redistribute all surplus resources among the populace, permanently enshrining social ownership of the means of production.
Step 2: Ridge Racer 8.
Reposted by Nathan Savant
TEETH. TEETH. TEETH.
Reject medical neo-futurism. Refuse compliance.
I Will Not Grow The Third Set.
I Will Not Grow The Third Set.
February 15, 2026 at 10:18 PM
TEETH. TEETH. TEETH.
Reposted by Nathan Savant
Become ungovernable
February 14, 2026 at 10:12 PM
Become ungovernable
Just recently hit 500 in PoE 2!
February 15, 2026 at 8:59 AM
Just recently hit 500 in PoE 2!
Seems we're speed running the "why would I play something no one bothered to make" debate by offering up the answer of "you won't!"
SpaceMolt is a new AI-driven space MMO where players aren’t actually needed
#SpaceMolt
#SpaceMolt
SpaceMolt is a new AI-driven space MMO where players aren’t actually needed
massivelyop.com
February 15, 2026 at 3:40 AM
Seems we're speed running the "why would I play something no one bothered to make" debate by offering up the answer of "you won't!"
Reposted by Nathan Savant
We're going to start training people to be Mentats after the bubble pops.
lol this is gonna burst so fucking hard
February 15, 2026 at 1:35 AM
We're going to start training people to be Mentats after the bubble pops.
Reposted by Nathan Savant
if you’re seeing this it was meant to find you today
February 14, 2026 at 6:05 PM
if you’re seeing this it was meant to find you today
Reposted by Nathan Savant
for all you map-porn loving nerds
February 14, 2026 at 2:44 AM
for all you map-porn loving nerds
You ever have that moment where you're watching someone treat you the way you want to learn to treat others?
Like suddenly, bam! Role model!
I had an interview today like that. No idea I was searching for new interview techniques, but I absolutely found them.
Like suddenly, bam! Role model!
I had an interview today like that. No idea I was searching for new interview techniques, but I absolutely found them.
February 14, 2026 at 6:50 AM
You ever have that moment where you're watching someone treat you the way you want to learn to treat others?
Like suddenly, bam! Role model!
I had an interview today like that. No idea I was searching for new interview techniques, but I absolutely found them.
Like suddenly, bam! Role model!
I had an interview today like that. No idea I was searching for new interview techniques, but I absolutely found them.
I unironically want all tech to look like this.
Why does the Toughbook look so much cooler than a Mac?
So much swaggering ruggedness…
So much swaggering ruggedness…
February 13, 2026 at 8:53 PM
I unironically want all tech to look like this.