Allen Varney
@bundleofholding.com
Writer and game designer (PARANOIA XP, Mongoose Publishing 2004). I operate the Bundle of Holding (bundleofholding.com). Currently in Reno, Nevada. allenvarney(at)Gmail.
Never heard anything like Verse 2 of OJ the Alien's 2023 space-gangsta-rap-comedy track "Wiseguys on Mars":
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgIA...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgIA...
OJ The Alien (Feat. Dr. Dazzle) - Wiseguys On Mars
YouTube video by Patrick’s Crazy Channel
www.youtube.com
November 12, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Never heard anything like Verse 2 of OJ the Alien's 2023 space-gangsta-rap-comedy track "Wiseguys on Mars":
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgIA...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgIA...
Last horcrux finally destroyed.
November 4, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Last horcrux finally destroyed.
"How I View the US After 13 Years Living in Europe" (Evan Edinger, 06 Oct 2025):
www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1Qv...
/1.7M views, 13.6K comments, all supportive
www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1Qv...
/1.7M views, 13.6K comments, all supportive
How I View the US After 13 Years Living in Europe
YouTube video by Evan Edinger
www.youtube.com
October 18, 2025 at 9:29 PM
"How I View the US After 13 Years Living in Europe" (Evan Edinger, 06 Oct 2025):
www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1Qv...
/1.7M views, 13.6K comments, all supportive
www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1Qv...
/1.7M views, 13.6K comments, all supportive
"It feels incredible to return to [Montreal] where my career began in 1999, back when the gaming industry was just taking off.” Ah yes, that primordial epoch of 1999, the misty glimmering dawn of computer games. (Variety):
variety.com/2025/gaming/...
variety.com/2025/gaming/...
Magic: The Gathering Maker Wizards of the Coast Opens New Game Studio in Montreal
Wizards of the Coast has opened its new game development hub in Montréal, Canada, operating as Wizards of the Coast Studios Inc.
variety.com
October 1, 2025 at 9:20 AM
"It feels incredible to return to [Montreal] where my career began in 1999, back when the gaming industry was just taking off.” Ah yes, that primordial epoch of 1999, the misty glimmering dawn of computer games. (Variety):
variety.com/2025/gaming/...
variety.com/2025/gaming/...
The supermarket music system started playing "Never Gonna Give You Up," and reflexively I looked around, checking to see if I'd been pranked into visiting the wrong store.
September 26, 2025 at 9:42 AM
The supermarket music system started playing "Never Gonna Give You Up," and reflexively I looked around, checking to see if I'd been pranked into visiting the wrong store.
On Tues 23 Sept I'm doing a Reddit r/rpg AMA about my 28-year freelance career, the Bundle of Holding, and my new D&D sourcebook "Manse Magnificent":
www.reddit.com/r/rpg/commen...
www.reddit.com/r/rpg/commen...
From the rpg community on Reddit: Allen Varney (Bundle of Holding, Paranoia XP, Manse Magnificent) - AMA 23 Sept 2025
Explore this post and more from the rpg community
www.reddit.com
September 22, 2025 at 3:38 PM
On Tues 23 Sept I'm doing a Reddit r/rpg AMA about my 28-year freelance career, the Bundle of Holding, and my new D&D sourcebook "Manse Magnificent":
www.reddit.com/r/rpg/commen...
www.reddit.com/r/rpg/commen...
Mark Rein-Hagen did well enough at White Wolf to buy a painted-lady landmark house in San Francisco. Of course he was both designer and publisher. Can't think of any RPG just-designers who made serious bank off a game published by others.
I think that's worth noting. I know zero creators who've gotten "wealthy" via the selling of any TTRPG.
August 22, 2025 at 12:03 AM
Mark Rein-Hagen did well enough at White Wolf to buy a painted-lady landmark house in San Francisco. Of course he was both designer and publisher. Can't think of any RPG just-designers who made serious bank off a game published by others.
Reposted by Allen Varney
Not to add to the discourse, but…
It’s ‘toe the line,’ not ‘tow the line.’
It’s ‘free rein,’ and not ‘free reign.’
It’s ‘eke out,’ not ‘eek out.’
It’s ‘sleight of hand,’ not ‘slight of hand.’
It's ‘Anchors aweigh,’ and not ‘Anchor's away!’
It’s ‘toe the line,’ not ‘tow the line.’
It’s ‘free rein,’ and not ‘free reign.’
It’s ‘eke out,’ not ‘eek out.’
It’s ‘sleight of hand,’ not ‘slight of hand.’
It's ‘Anchors aweigh,’ and not ‘Anchor's away!’
August 18, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Not to add to the discourse, but…
It’s ‘toe the line,’ not ‘tow the line.’
It’s ‘free rein,’ and not ‘free reign.’
It’s ‘eke out,’ not ‘eek out.’
It’s ‘sleight of hand,’ not ‘slight of hand.’
It's ‘Anchors aweigh,’ and not ‘Anchor's away!’
It’s ‘toe the line,’ not ‘tow the line.’
It’s ‘free rein,’ and not ‘free reign.’
It’s ‘eke out,’ not ‘eek out.’
It’s ‘sleight of hand,’ not ‘slight of hand.’
It's ‘Anchors aweigh,’ and not ‘Anchor's away!’
"In 1994 Italian physicist Cesare Marchetti suggested people have always endured commutes of 1 hour/day, 1/2 hour each way, on avg. Improvements in urban planning and transport haven’t shortened travel time; they’ve just permitted us to live further afield."
www.futilitycloset.com/2025/07/31/m...
www.futilitycloset.com/2025/07/31/m...
Marchetti's Constant - Futility Closet
Here’s a depressing idea: In 1994, Italian physicist Cesare Marchetti suggested that people have always endured commutes of an hour a day, half an hour each way, on average. Improvements in urban plan...
www.futilitycloset.com
July 31, 2025 at 10:14 PM
"In 1994 Italian physicist Cesare Marchetti suggested people have always endured commutes of 1 hour/day, 1/2 hour each way, on avg. Improvements in urban planning and transport haven’t shortened travel time; they’ve just permitted us to live further afield."
www.futilitycloset.com/2025/07/31/m...
www.futilitycloset.com/2025/07/31/m...
Reposted by Allen Varney
The other day I drew a subway-style map for The Hobbit, and it was very well received. Some of you asked if I could do one for LoTR, so I have!
Forgive the eel watermark; I'm working on making these something you can buy, if you like.
Forgive the eel watermark; I'm working on making these something you can buy, if you like.
July 21, 2025 at 11:26 PM
The other day I drew a subway-style map for The Hobbit, and it was very well received. Some of you asked if I could do one for LoTR, so I have!
Forgive the eel watermark; I'm working on making these something you can buy, if you like.
Forgive the eel watermark; I'm working on making these something you can buy, if you like.
Reposted by Allen Varney
Just updating the data fueling my games industry layoff tracker dashboard and noticing we just hit another grim milestone. I now know of as many layoff waves happening in 2025 so far as I know of from 2023 in its entirety. It is currently July 8.
Tell me again who said this was getting better?
Tell me again who said this was getting better?
July 8, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Just updating the data fueling my games industry layoff tracker dashboard and noticing we just hit another grim milestone. I now know of as many layoff waves happening in 2025 so far as I know of from 2023 in its entirety. It is currently July 8.
Tell me again who said this was getting better?
Tell me again who said this was getting better?
95 untold cases Sherlock Holmes or Watson allude to without explanation (Arthur Conan Doyle Encyclopedia - via Futility Closet):
www.arthur-conan-doyle.com/index.php/Ca...
www.arthur-conan-doyle.com/index.php/Ca...
Category:Untold Stories - The Arthur Conan Doyle Encyclopedia
www.arthur-conan-doyle.com
June 10, 2025 at 6:53 PM
95 untold cases Sherlock Holmes or Watson allude to without explanation (Arthur Conan Doyle Encyclopedia - via Futility Closet):
www.arthur-conan-doyle.com/index.php/Ca...
www.arthur-conan-doyle.com/index.php/Ca...
Reposted by Allen Varney
Let's dig into Ironsworn: Lodestar pay-what-you-want numbers!
After 1 day, Lodestar is presently sitting at #2 on the DTRPG bestselling list, bookended by Daggerheart. Not bad for a PWYW product! How does that break down, though? ... 🧵
After 1 day, Lodestar is presently sitting at #2 on the DTRPG bestselling list, bookended by Daggerheart. Not bad for a PWYW product! How does that break down, though? ... 🧵
June 4, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Let's dig into Ironsworn: Lodestar pay-what-you-want numbers!
After 1 day, Lodestar is presently sitting at #2 on the DTRPG bestselling list, bookended by Daggerheart. Not bad for a PWYW product! How does that break down, though? ... 🧵
After 1 day, Lodestar is presently sitting at #2 on the DTRPG bestselling list, bookended by Daggerheart. Not bad for a PWYW product! How does that break down, though? ... 🧵
Dutch weather forecaster accuses Belgian wind farms of stealing Dutch wind (Brussels Times):
www.brusselstimes.com/1595046/belg...
www.brusselstimes.com/1595046/belg...
Belgians accused of ‘stealing wind’ from the Dutch
A Dutch weather expert says Belgian wind farms have an important advantage over those of their Dutch neighbours.
www.brusselstimes.com
May 31, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Dutch weather forecaster accuses Belgian wind farms of stealing Dutch wind (Brussels Times):
www.brusselstimes.com/1595046/belg...
www.brusselstimes.com/1595046/belg...
Patrick Stewart, the actor, canonically exists in the Star Trek future, and Jean-Luc Picard is aware of him (Ironic Sans):
ironicsans.ghost.io/proof-that-p...
/via Jason Kottke
ironicsans.ghost.io/proof-that-p...
/via Jason Kottke
Proof that Patrick Stewart exists in the Star Trek universe
And other insane Star Trek facts you didn’t know
ironicsans.ghost.io
May 30, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Patrick Stewart, the actor, canonically exists in the Star Trek future, and Jean-Luc Picard is aware of him (Ironic Sans):
ironicsans.ghost.io/proof-that-p...
/via Jason Kottke
ironicsans.ghost.io/proof-that-p...
/via Jason Kottke
Reposted by Allen Varney
We’re excited to announce the four winners of this year’s Diana Jones Award Emerging Designer Program!
May 14, 2025 at 10:34 PM
We’re excited to announce the four winners of this year’s Diana Jones Award Emerging Designer Program!
"People who actually left the US, are you happy?" (Reddit r/AmerExit, 28 April):
www.reddit.com/r/AmerExit/c...
www.reddit.com/r/AmerExit/c...
From the AmerExit community on Reddit
Explore this post and more from the AmerExit community
www.reddit.com
April 30, 2025 at 8:49 PM
"People who actually left the US, are you happy?" (Reddit r/AmerExit, 28 April):
www.reddit.com/r/AmerExit/c...
www.reddit.com/r/AmerExit/c...
A loyal citizen reports his experience playing FIASCO using the ALPHA COMPLEX playset by @crisperthanthou.bsky.social based on Paranoia. Thread includes a download link to the free playset.
I’ve now played a couple of games of Fiasco with my modified copy of the Alpha Complex player, updated to work with card-based Fiasco.
April 28, 2025 at 9:51 PM
A loyal citizen reports his experience playing FIASCO using the ALPHA COMPLEX playset by @crisperthanthou.bsky.social based on Paranoia. Thread includes a download link to the free playset.
"For 25 years [at Vanity Fair], I was contracted to produce three articles a year, long ones, typically ten thousand words. For this, my peak salary was $498,141. That's not a misprint -- $498,141, or more than $166,000 per story." (Bryan Burroughs, Yale Review):
yalereview.org/article/burr...
yalereview.org/article/burr...
Bryan Burrough on Graydon Carter's Memoir and Vanity Fair’s Golden Era
Lavish budgets, high-society gossip, and headline-making journalism— Vanity Fair under Graydon Carter was the last great magazine empire. Bryan Burrough…
yalereview.org
April 12, 2025 at 9:33 PM
"For 25 years [at Vanity Fair], I was contracted to produce three articles a year, long ones, typically ten thousand words. For this, my peak salary was $498,141. That's not a misprint -- $498,141, or more than $166,000 per story." (Bryan Burroughs, Yale Review):
yalereview.org/article/burr...
yalereview.org/article/burr...
Reposted by Allen Varney
In 1856 Andrew Scott Waugh, British Surveyor General in India, measured the height of Mt Everest at exactly 29,000 ft. But he publicized the figure as 29,002 ft so it wouldn't look like an estimate.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_E...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_E...
Mount Everest - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
April 2, 2025 at 7:43 PM
In 1856 Andrew Scott Waugh, British Surveyor General in India, measured the height of Mt Everest at exactly 29,000 ft. But he publicized the figure as 29,002 ft so it wouldn't look like an estimate.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_E...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_E...
Actor Keye Luke, who had hundreds of film-TV roles in a 50-year career, started as a professional illustrator. He broke into acting by drawing ads for film studios. (Silver Scenes, March 2015):
silverscenesblog.blogspot.com/2015/03/the-...
silverscenesblog.blogspot.com/2015/03/the-...
The Art of Keye Luke
Keye Luke, who is best known for his portrayal of Number One son Lee Chan in the 20th Century Fox Charlie Chan series, was one of the fir...
silverscenesblog.blogspot.com
February 23, 2025 at 5:26 AM
Actor Keye Luke, who had hundreds of film-TV roles in a 50-year career, started as a professional illustrator. He broke into acting by drawing ads for film studios. (Silver Scenes, March 2015):
silverscenesblog.blogspot.com/2015/03/the-...
silverscenesblog.blogspot.com/2015/03/the-...
#Project2025 Tracker - check how far they've got, what's next - currently 34% complete:
www.project2025.observer
/via Jason Kottke
www.project2025.observer
/via Jason Kottke
Project 2025 Tracker
Track the progress on Project 2025
www.project2025.observer
February 20, 2025 at 5:00 AM
#Project2025 Tracker - check how far they've got, what's next - currently 34% complete:
www.project2025.observer
/via Jason Kottke
www.project2025.observer
/via Jason Kottke
FixTheGulf.com - Google Chrome plugin that fixes "Gulf of America" on Google Maps
Fix the Gulf
FixTheGulf.com
February 16, 2025 at 5:59 AM
FixTheGulf.com - Google Chrome plugin that fixes "Gulf of America" on Google Maps
Reposted by Allen Varney
TTRPG freelancers, please make your email easy to find, ideally in your bio 😭
February 6, 2025 at 10:40 PM
TTRPG freelancers, please make your email easy to find, ideally in your bio 😭