Cat Manning
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catacalypto.bsky.social
Cat Manning
@catacalypto.bsky.social
22K followers 1.2K following 15K posts
narrative director at Firaxis. emergent/systemic storytelling. nominated for awards and things. lit PhD. awful at Greek. better profile coming soon.
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catacalypto.bsky.social
Cat Manning @catacalypto.bsky.social · Nov 11
Hi to new people leaving the other place!

I’m Cat Manning, currently narrative director on Civ 7. Worked at Riot and on some indie games previously (most notably Pathologic). I have a Lit PhD and a background in classics.

Here I talk about emergent narrative, games, poetry, possums, and perfume.
Reposted by Cat Manning
danlehner.bsky.social
what are you gonna do with a degree in Demiurge Studies anyway
@earthdistance Just zoned out thinking about how Diddy Kong has "Nintendo" written on his hat. What a beautiful thing. It'd be like you or I unknowingly wearing a hat with the true form of the demiurge on it
January 6, 2026 at 3:22 PM
Reposted by Cat Manning
brunodias.bsky.social
I'm wrapping up a major contract this month, so: hire me! I'm a writer/narrative designer/systems designer with a decade of industry experience and a lot of experience taming the complexity of intricate systems. Let me build your storylet system or write disquieting prose for you!
Mask of the Rose Pathologic 3: Quarantine Skin Deep Neo Cab
January 6, 2026 at 3:31 PM
Reposted by Cat Manning
roodypatooti.bsky.social
Wish I could internalize this
brightwanderer I think a lot about how we as a culture have turned "forever" into the only acceptable definition of success. Like... if you open a coffee shop and run it for a while and it makes you happy but then stuff gets too expensive and stressful and you want to do something else so you close it, it's a "failed" business. If you write a book or two, then decide that you don't actually want to keep doing that, you're a "failed" writer. If you marry someone, and that marriage is good for a while, and then stops working and you get divorced, it's a "failed" marriage. The only acceptable "win condition" is "you keep doing that thing forever". A friendship that lasts for a few years but then its time is done and you move on is considered less valuable or not a "real" friendship. A hobby that you do for a while and then are done with is a "phase" - or, alternatively, a "pity" that you don't do that thing any more. A fandom is "dying" because people have had a lot of fun with it but are now moving on to other things. I just think that something can be good, and also end, and that thing was still good. And it's okay to be sad that it ended, too. But the idea that anything that ends is automatically less than this hypothetical eternal state of success... I don't think that's doing us any good at all.
October 30, 2025 at 1:34 PM
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raccoonhourly.bsky.social
An adorable raccoon.
January 6, 2026 at 8:00 AM
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laikahyacinth.bsky.social
we should make cats eusocial now. there needs to be a queen cat in a big hive that lays eggs.
January 6, 2026 at 7:19 AM
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mikecaulfield.bsky.social
I just want people to remember that what this was was transparently obvious at the time and universally condemned. Hold on to that fact and don't let people change it under you.
walterolson.bsky.social Walter Olson @walterolson.bsky.social · 12h
Five years ago.
Front pages of American newspapers after Jan. 6, 2021, with headlines like "Capitol Chaos," "Assault on Democracy," "Pro-Trump mob storms Capitol."
January 6, 2026 at 7:17 AM
Reposted by Cat Manning
sharonk.bsky.social
this is not a moral way to think
sharonk.bsky.social Sharon @sharonk.bsky.social · 9h
genuinely wild how like, this is just a step away from even worse things being suggested
January 6, 2026 at 6:30 AM
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onedayinjune.bsky.social
Like if you sincerely have any ethical or religious framework beyond bloody tribalism and the rule of matsya-nyaya the sheer abhorrence of this should leap out at you
January 6, 2026 at 6:35 AM
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captainfubar.bsky.social
Probably not good how thoroughly this sentiment is proliferating
January 6, 2026 at 5:18 AM
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lauralorson.net
Ok.
--astronomical charts from the 1700s
--knitting with minimally-processed wool
--besoms
--moisturizers
--making cheese bread
--Paracelsus
--classic chypre perfumes
--Pools of Light jewelry
--the trend for absurdly large scarves
isabel.kim Isabel J. Kim @isabel.kim · 17h
u heard sharon, everyone post about their esoteric interests right fucking now. for the good of the community, we need to be hyperfixationmaxxing.
sharonk.bsky.social Sharon @sharonk.bsky.social · 18h
i think this site really needs to figure out how to grow the non-politics verticals (the baseball moment was a good thing!) because i suspect a lot of the bad clusters come out of the political clusters driving 95% of ENG-lang posts
January 6, 2026 at 6:33 AM
catacalypto.bsky.social
sims update: you know, if I were an 80 year old woman who was dying, I might stay high on MDMA for the whole time too
January 6, 2026 at 6:34 AM
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danwaterfield.bsky.social
Email from Alan Tarica
queenoliviaiii.com Queen Olivia III @queenoliviaiii.com · Oct 12
In honour of spooky month, share a 4 word horror story that only someone in your profession would understand.

“The tapes wouldn’t start”
zaichishka.bsky.social Eleanor G @zaichishka.bsky.social · Oct 12
In honour of spooky month, share a 4 word horror story that only someone in your profession would understand.

“Translate 'yoroshiku onegai shimasu'”.
October 13, 2025 at 10:55 AM
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desiderratum.bsky.social
Thomas Kyd is the author of the anonymous late 16th century play "The True Tragedy of Richard III". Also, "Der Bestrafte Brudermord" quite clearly contains vestiges of his pre-Shakespearian "Hamlet" play; no way did some traveling player tack that profoundly Kydian prologue on
mdruker.app Michael Druker @mdruker.app · 15h
This place needs some Innocuous Discourse pronto. Quote this with a take that’s not political or aggressive
January 6, 2026 at 6:28 AM
catacalypto.bsky.social
this would probably get me. I need to reevaluate my life.
maris.bsky.social Maris Kreizman @maris.bsky.social · 12h
This is one of the best of these I’ve seen. It really almost got me.
Text message from sender not in my contact list: Ayooo guess who got drama
January 6, 2026 at 6:29 AM
Reposted by Cat Manning
maris.bsky.social
This is one of the best of these I’ve seen. It really almost got me.
Text message from sender not in my contact list: Ayooo guess who got drama
January 6, 2026 at 3:11 AM
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yungdreyfusard.bsky.social
forget who said this but thinking about the maxim that the thing that makes star wars great is throughout andors entire run time all of its characters had a higher than zero chance of running into jar-jar binks
January 6, 2026 at 5:43 AM
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captainacab.airbud.website
the annoying little jokes will continue until morale improves, and then keep going after that too
January 6, 2026 at 2:25 AM
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jonbois.bsky.social
haven't posted any pictures of chuck in a while so here you go. he and my 15-month-old son have become best buddies. they play with each other constantly and whenever he takes a spill chuck is always first on the scene to give him kisses and make sure he's okay
chuck, a 20-pound mutt with a brindle coat, sitting on the couch with his toy alligator chuck holding the alligator in his mouth and asking to play fetch
January 6, 2026 at 5:49 AM
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thedoorthedoor.bsky.social
Bismuth is the coolest looking element.
mdruker.app Michael Druker @mdruker.app · 15h
This place needs some Innocuous Discourse pronto. Quote this with a take that’s not political or aggressive
January 6, 2026 at 5:19 AM
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olliecragg.bsky.social
sharing Patrick Dane's sister's post Instagram with her permission. if anyone would like to share memories and tributes (so many have said such kind things on here) please let me know in a DM and I can share Katie's email.
On December 27th, our family’s world changed forever. My brother Patrick, my dad John, and my step-mom Valerie were involved in a devastating car accident, and Patrick passed from this world far too soon. My dad and Valerie have miraculously survived. They remain in critical condition in ICU, but they are making the small steps forward each day. Patrick was a beautiful soul. He was gentle, curious, passionate, and deeply kind. Every person I have spoken to has spoken about his kindness. It was something everyone felt in his presence. I am endlessly proud of the person he became and of the quiet way he supported and cared for others. Over this past week, I keep finding myself returning to memories of him as a child, full of laughter, humour, and light. I was so lucky to spend Christmas Day with him, with my dad and Valerie, and I will treasure those moments forever. Patrick was the happiest I had seen him in a long time, and I truly believe that matters. I will carry that with me always. I have had the honour of speaking with some of Patrick’s closest friends and hearing beautiful stories about his gaming, his loyalty, and the support he gave to so many people. One friend described him as a “guardian of light,” and that feels deeply true. It is something I will hold close to my heart forever. Patrick, you are so loved and so deeply missed. There will always be a space in our family shaped exactly like you. Thank you for the love you gave us and the light you brought into our lives. The love, prayers, and kindness we have received have carried us through the darkest days, and we are so grateful. Please continue to hold my dad and Valerie in your thoughts and prayers as they continue to fight so hard. I truly believe Patrick is with them, guiding and protecting them. Rest in power, my beautiful brother. We love you always On December 27th, our family’s world changed forever. My brother Patrick, my dad John, and my step-mom Valerie were involved in a devastating car accident, and Patrick passed from this world far too soon. My dad and Valerie have miraculously survived. They remain in critical condition in ICU, but they are making the small steps forward each day. Patrick was a beautiful soul. He was gentle, curious, passionate, and deeply kind. Every person I have spoken to has spoken about his kindness. It was something everyone felt in his presence. I am endlessly proud of the person he became and of the quiet way he supported and cared for others. Over this past week, I keep finding myself returning to memories of him as a child, full of laughter, humour, and light. I was so lucky to spend Christmas Day with him, with my dad and Valerie, and I will treasure those moments forever. Patrick was the happiest I had seen him in a long time, and I truly believe that matters. I will carry that with me always. I have had the honour of speaking with some of Patrick’s closest friends and hearing beautiful stories about his gaming, his loyalty, and the support he gave to so many people. One friend described him as a “guardian of light,” and that feels deeply true. It is something I will hold close to my heart forever. Patrick, you are so loved and so deeply missed. There will always be a space in our family shaped exactly like you. Thank you for the love you gave us and the light you brought into our lives. The love, prayers, and kindness we have received have carried us through the darkest days, and we are so grateful. Please continue to hold my dad and Valerie in your thoughts and prayers as they continue to fight so hard. I truly believe Patrick is with them, guiding and protecting them. Rest in power, my beautiful brother. We love you always
January 5, 2026 at 5:54 PM
Reposted by Cat Manning
bimbo.phd
More game developers should study the visual language and techniques used in opera scenery and opera staging
mdruker.app Michael Druker @mdruker.app · 15h
This place needs some Innocuous Discourse pronto. Quote this with a take that’s not political or aggressive
January 6, 2026 at 4:49 AM
Reposted by Cat Manning
quinnae.com
The thing that's really hilarious about this is that Valens is apparently being harassed for being too pro-furry while Malloy was harassed for appearing anti-furry.

It lends credence to the "trans women can do no right" thesis.

But also, folks, we're doing this to ourselves.
katelynburns.com Katelyn Burns @katelynburns.com · 11h
if this continues, you're going to wake up with no trans journalists because you've chased them all off.
January 6, 2026 at 4:49 AM
catacalypto.bsky.social
you can also do this for me; I’m on often but inconsistently (and hoping to reduce the former) so I do miss things
bretdevereaux.bsky.social "Online Rent-a-Sage" Bret Devereaux @bretdevereaux.bsky.social · 14h
And if you are a history account and have a cool history deep dive thread, @ me on it, both because I love that stuff and also because I love retweeting (or whatever we do in place of that word) that stuff.
January 6, 2026 at 4:11 AM
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bretdevereaux.bsky.social
Doing my best to do more history On Here.
sharonk.bsky.social Sharon @sharonk.bsky.social · 18h
i think this site really needs to figure out how to grow the non-politics verticals (the baseball moment was a good thing!) because i suspect a lot of the bad clusters come out of the political clusters driving 95% of ENG-lang posts
bartekzech2.bsky.social Bart @bartekzech2.bsky.social · 18h
I'd be happy with big non politics accounts.
January 6, 2026 at 12:51 AM
Reposted by Cat Manning
jordanshiveley.bsky.social
Humbled to have my story We Are The Feast that was published in @neonhemlock.bsky.social ‘s Crawling Moon anthology listed in @datlow.bsky.social ‘s Best Horror of the Year 17 Recommendations List

ellendatlow.com/category/news/

You can find the anthology here

www.neonhemlock.com/books/the-cr...
January 5, 2026 at 10:15 PM