Chase Taylor-Carter
@chasecarter.bsky.social
Co-owner of Rascal News. Tabletop and internet culture journalist. Avoiding unhealthy use this time around.
✉️: chase@rascal.news
https://www.rascal.news/
✉️: chase@rascal.news
https://www.rascal.news/
Another @crapstacular.bsky.social banger on the intersection of fan work, cultural differences in games, and the limits of good intentions.
Fan work is transforming the Kuei-jin, Vampire: The Masquerade's Anglocentric attempt at an East Asian clan, into something representative and celebratory.
Asian vampires in Vampire: the Masquerade have been getting an unofficial facelift
Fans are fixing the stereotypes of this clan through their own books.
www.rascal.news
January 6, 2026 at 3:14 PM
Another @crapstacular.bsky.social banger on the intersection of fan work, cultural differences in games, and the limits of good intentions.
Reposted by Chase Taylor-Carter
For my first newsletter of the new year, I wrote about how the millennial generation has been ravaged by endless wars as Trump threatened to launch military operations against a half dozen countries over the weekend. www.burnsnotice.com/the-generati...
The Generation Lost to War
Millennials have been sacrificed on the altar of capitalist boomer greed, we must not let Gen Z get used for this as well.
I'm so sick of fucking war. I turned 18 in 2000, graduated high school the f...
www.burnsnotice.com
January 5, 2026 at 4:32 PM
For my first newsletter of the new year, I wrote about how the millennial generation has been ravaged by endless wars as Trump threatened to launch military operations against a half dozen countries over the weekend. www.burnsnotice.com/the-generati...
Reposted by Chase Taylor-Carter
anyway it's a new year, a year in which we plan* to release 4 (+ actually) issues, and so for the fifth year running I am on my hands & knees begging people to try sending us info about what they're working on, ideally 2-3 months before release
our inbox for all press releases is press@wyrd.science
our inbox for all press releases is press@wyrd.science
January 5, 2026 at 1:09 PM
anyway it's a new year, a year in which we plan* to release 4 (+ actually) issues, and so for the fifth year running I am on my hands & knees begging people to try sending us info about what they're working on, ideally 2-3 months before release
our inbox for all press releases is press@wyrd.science
our inbox for all press releases is press@wyrd.science
I'm back from a restful winter holiday, which included looking at bluesky as little as possible. What a great decision.
Another great decision: subscribing to my website today before this absolute steal of a discount is retired!
Another great decision: subscribing to my website today before this absolute steal of a discount is retired!
Today is the final day you can grab two months of a Rascal subscription at $1/month! Strap in for another year of tabletop journalism once the team returns tomorrow.
Help us continue growing and biting even more ankles in 2026!
www.rascal.news/yippee-ki-ya...
Help us continue growing and biting even more ankles in 2026!
www.rascal.news/yippee-ki-ya...
Rascal News
Rascal is a tabletop roleplaying game and culture outlet striving to sustainably publish voicey journalism that is compelling, deeply-reported, and fearlessly honest. We’re also a little cheeky
www.rascal.news
January 5, 2026 at 11:25 AM
I'm back from a restful winter holiday, which included looking at bluesky as little as possible. What a great decision.
Another great decision: subscribing to my website today before this absolute steal of a discount is retired!
Another great decision: subscribing to my website today before this absolute steal of a discount is retired!
Reposted by Chase Taylor-Carter
From @newmadras.bsky.social; a look back on his work over the past year, and gives us a peek on the kind of work he wants to focus on in 2026.
The Year Ahead: Thomas Manuel
Couldn't get worse at least, right? Right?
www.rascal.news
December 24, 2025 at 2:47 AM
From @newmadras.bsky.social; a look back on his work over the past year, and gives us a peek on the kind of work he wants to focus on in 2026.
Reposted by Chase Taylor-Carter
We're literally ONE member away from 2500 paid subscribers in 2025!! Will you be the one to help push us over the edge?
December 23, 2025 at 3:25 PM
We're literally ONE member away from 2500 paid subscribers in 2025!! Will you be the one to help push us over the edge?
Reposted by Chase Taylor-Carter
The Rascals are hibernating, but we prepared our now-traditional end of year articles for you. Join us as we look back at 2025, and ponder the year ahead.
First up, it's Caelyn!
First up, it's Caelyn!
The Year Ahead 2025: Caelyn Ellis
We catch up with Caelyn before she gets too lost in the nog.
www.rascal.news
December 22, 2025 at 4:09 PM
The Rascals are hibernating, but we prepared our now-traditional end of year articles for you. Join us as we look back at 2025, and ponder the year ahead.
First up, it's Caelyn!
First up, it's Caelyn!
Reposted by Chase Taylor-Carter
Come listen to me getting increasingly drunk while I talk tabletop games and all sorts of other bollocks with @chasecarter.bsky.social and @lincodega.com
Holiday Special 2025
Clearing out the Question Dungeon, Part I of ???
www.rascal.news
December 22, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Come listen to me getting increasingly drunk while I talk tabletop games and all sorts of other bollocks with @chasecarter.bsky.social and @lincodega.com
Reposted by Chase Taylor-Carter
Contributor CJ Shearwood examines how the UK wargaming landscape has transformed in recent decades, and the clear connections to austerity politics.
Austerity Killed Narrative Wargaming (And, Statistically, Your Nan)
How politics impacts play.
www.rascal.news
December 18, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Contributor CJ Shearwood examines how the UK wargaming landscape has transformed in recent decades, and the clear connections to austerity politics.
Reposted by Chase Taylor-Carter
Board game publishers Stonemaier, CMYK and Eurydice Games on how they’re utilising – and paying to include – fan designs in their releases:
boardgamewire.com/index.php/20...
Thanks to @stonemaiergames.com @jacksonpope.bsky.social and @cmyk.games for taking part!
boardgamewire.com/index.php/20...
Thanks to @stonemaiergames.com @jacksonpope.bsky.social and @cmyk.games for taking part!
December 18, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Board game publishers Stonemaier, CMYK and Eurydice Games on how they’re utilising – and paying to include – fan designs in their releases:
boardgamewire.com/index.php/20...
Thanks to @stonemaiergames.com @jacksonpope.bsky.social and @cmyk.games for taking part!
boardgamewire.com/index.php/20...
Thanks to @stonemaiergames.com @jacksonpope.bsky.social and @cmyk.games for taking part!
Reposted by Chase Taylor-Carter
Traveller's life path system becomes a potent character creation tool for any RPG when you add some good ol' fashioned blame into the mix.
My one-shot character trick is asking “why is this your fault?”
What’s in a blame?
www.rascal.news
December 17, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Traveller's life path system becomes a potent character creation tool for any RPG when you add some good ol' fashioned blame into the mix.
Reposted by Chase Taylor-Carter
I've been helping out at The Guardian's games team this year with edits and other support - thanks @mackeza.bsky.social for the opportunity, and to the (brilliant) freelancers I've worked with these past few months.
A reminder if any sites in 2026 need an additional editor during busy periods, HMU!
A reminder if any sites in 2026 need an additional editor during busy periods, HMU!
December 17, 2025 at 11:58 AM
I've been helping out at The Guardian's games team this year with edits and other support - thanks @mackeza.bsky.social for the opportunity, and to the (brilliant) freelancers I've worked with these past few months.
A reminder if any sites in 2026 need an additional editor during busy periods, HMU!
A reminder if any sites in 2026 need an additional editor during busy periods, HMU!
Reposted by Chase Taylor-Carter
GAMA's interim executive director, Zaria Davis, has sparked some optimism from the trade organization's DEI committee. Members told us they want to see her focus on internal stability and more diversity among staff.
GAMA appoints new interim executive director, Zaria Davis, with a background in advocacy and restorative practice
The search for the next executive director goes on.
www.rascal.news
December 16, 2025 at 5:06 PM
GAMA's interim executive director, Zaria Davis, has sparked some optimism from the trade organization's DEI committee. Members told us they want to see her focus on internal stability and more diversity among staff.
Reposted by Chase Taylor-Carter
I am not immune to propaganda.
Caelyn finds herself enamoured with the teaser for WARLOCK, the upcoming D&D video game recently announced at The Game Awards.
Don't worry, she's disappointed in herself too.
Don't worry, she's disappointed in herself too.
Double teamed by Goth Mommy and TOOL at The Game Awards: A personal tragedy
WARLOCK isn’t just Wizards of the Coast’s newest video game project, it’s also my lesbian kryptonite.
www.rascal.news
December 16, 2025 at 3:05 PM
I am not immune to propaganda.
Ambitious is the best word to describe MCDM's plan for developing Crack the Sun. Props for the ostensible honesty regarding its crowdfunding goal, but there's a lot of manufacturing and shipping unknowns between now and 2027.
Crack the Sun, the first major supplement for the Draw Steel RPG, is a production doozy. If you're curious about MCDM's project, which might span the next two years, @crapstacular.bsky.social delved into what we know.
Draw Steel studio says Crack the Sun will be an epic campaign about a worldrending conquest
Five acts, two villains, and one gigantic campaign.
www.rascal.news
December 15, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Ambitious is the best word to describe MCDM's plan for developing Crack the Sun. Props for the ostensible honesty regarding its crowdfunding goal, but there's a lot of manufacturing and shipping unknowns between now and 2027.
25(00) by the end of (20)25!
If you subscribe to Rascal News and help us grow, I promise to work on my promotional slogan game!
If you subscribe to Rascal News and help us grow, I promise to work on my promotional slogan game!
We now have 2468 paying subscribers! That's just 32 away from our goal of 2500 by the end of 2025. You can get access to almost two years of amazing tabletop games journalism for just $1 right now! Be one of those 32 absolute heroes!
New subscriptions to Rascal News will be rising by $1 in 2026. If you've been waiting to support us, we're currently running a holiday sale where the first two months of our entry tier is only $1/month!
Independent journalism on the cheap? Yippee-Ki-Yay, Anklebiters!
Independent journalism on the cheap? Yippee-Ki-Yay, Anklebiters!
December 12, 2025 at 5:06 PM
25(00) by the end of (20)25!
If you subscribe to Rascal News and help us grow, I promise to work on my promotional slogan game!
If you subscribe to Rascal News and help us grow, I promise to work on my promotional slogan game!
Reposted by Chase Taylor-Carter
Root and Arcs publisher Leder Games has axed its next Kickstarter campaign just a few weeks before its expected launch, after the game’s creator abruptly left the publisher and took his design with him:
boardgamewire.com/index.php/20...
boardgamewire.com/index.php/20...
December 12, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Root and Arcs publisher Leder Games has axed its next Kickstarter campaign just a few weeks before its expected launch, after the game’s creator abruptly left the publisher and took his design with him:
boardgamewire.com/index.php/20...
boardgamewire.com/index.php/20...
Reposted by Chase Taylor-Carter
This was a nice surprise 👀 As always, Rascal and Chase continue putting out great articles and thoughtful takes.
FWIW the pessimism in the design of Revolt! is both intentional and convenient given the legacy design I wanted to lean into. 👑 🐸
I hope more people check out the game!
FWIW the pessimism in the design of Revolt! is both intentional and convenient given the legacy design I wanted to lean into. 👑 🐸
I hope more people check out the game!
Amidst Revolt!'s fantastical politcal arena, which are evocative and entertaining, is a missed opportunity to dig deeper into what follows a tyrant's fall.
Revolt! interrogates power but falters in conversation
Telling stories about violent regime change is cathartic and entertaining, and maybe that's all it needs to be.
www.rascal.news
December 11, 2025 at 5:58 PM
This was a nice surprise 👀 As always, Rascal and Chase continue putting out great articles and thoughtful takes.
FWIW the pessimism in the design of Revolt! is both intentional and convenient given the legacy design I wanted to lean into. 👑 🐸
I hope more people check out the game!
FWIW the pessimism in the design of Revolt! is both intentional and convenient given the legacy design I wanted to lean into. 👑 🐸
I hope more people check out the game!
I really enjoyed @alwayscheckers.bsky.social's Revolt! and its collaborative stories about cyclical power and corruption. But a lack of follow through on imagining something, anything else creates a narrative hole that might be either intended pessimism or limited vision.
Amidst Revolt!'s fantastical politcal arena, which are evocative and entertaining, is a missed opportunity to dig deeper into what follows a tyrant's fall.
Revolt! interrogates power but falters in conversation
Telling stories about violent regime change is cathartic and entertaining, and maybe that's all it needs to be.
www.rascal.news
December 11, 2025 at 5:38 PM
I really enjoyed @alwayscheckers.bsky.social's Revolt! and its collaborative stories about cyclical power and corruption. But a lack of follow through on imagining something, anything else creates a narrative hole that might be either intended pessimism or limited vision.
It's so cool to hand @crapstacular.bsky.social an idea, a fancy, a whim, and then they come back with a full-ass interview and smart copy.
Anyway, I think this is an interesting trend within the RPG designer ecosystem. Transparency helps everyone!
Anyway, I think this is an interesting trend within the RPG designer ecosystem. Transparency helps everyone!
Tabletop designers such as @byodinsbeardrpg.com are making a habit out of post-convention transparency through post-mortem reports. Their hope is to inspire others and turn event tabling into a science.
The trials and tribulations of tabling at conventions
Colin Le Sueur discusses his post-mortems and why he writes them.
www.rascal.news
December 11, 2025 at 3:07 PM
It's so cool to hand @crapstacular.bsky.social an idea, a fancy, a whim, and then they come back with a full-ass interview and smart copy.
Anyway, I think this is an interesting trend within the RPG designer ecosystem. Transparency helps everyone!
Anyway, I think this is an interesting trend within the RPG designer ecosystem. Transparency helps everyone!
Reposted by Chase Taylor-Carter
If you are a comic artist or writer that wants to talk to me, on or off the record, about the Disney OpenAI deal, shoot me a line. Gita@aftermath.site
December 11, 2025 at 2:47 PM
If you are a comic artist or writer that wants to talk to me, on or off the record, about the Disney OpenAI deal, shoot me a line. Gita@aftermath.site
Reposted by Chase Taylor-Carter
Jason Carl departs White Wolf and parent company Paradox Interactive after just six months resurrecting the publisher of World of Darkness RPGs.
Jason Carl announces his departure from Paradox Interactive after an eventful decade
This is in the midst of one of Paradox’s most tumultuous periods, and World of Darkness’ active revival.
www.rascal.news
December 10, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Jason Carl departs White Wolf and parent company Paradox Interactive after just six months resurrecting the publisher of World of Darkness RPGs.
Reposted by Chase Taylor-Carter
Who has takes about how the (social media) internet ruined fandom?
December 10, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Who has takes about how the (social media) internet ruined fandom?
The complete collapse of Mythic Games should be framed as a cautionary tale against treating crowdfunding as a reliable business model.
Instead, people will likely blame COVID-era greed. And like, yeah. That's part of it, but do not be tempted by the easy scapegoat.
Instead, people will likely blame COVID-era greed. And like, yeah. That's part of it, but do not be tempted by the easy scapegoat.
Mythic Games, formerly one of the most successful crowdfunding-focused board game publishers of all time, has officially been liquidated after a financial collapse which left it unable to fulfill millions of dollars-worth of Kickstarter projects:
boardgamewire.com/index.php/20...
boardgamewire.com/index.php/20...
December 10, 2025 at 1:25 PM
The complete collapse of Mythic Games should be framed as a cautionary tale against treating crowdfunding as a reliable business model.
Instead, people will likely blame COVID-era greed. And like, yeah. That's part of it, but do not be tempted by the easy scapegoat.
Instead, people will likely blame COVID-era greed. And like, yeah. That's part of it, but do not be tempted by the easy scapegoat.
Calling out the AI voice to text in Arc raiders will apparently set a "dangerous precedent" and result in "unethical AI practices." Businesses are too scared to disclose the truth
As if we're talking about people living with addictions and not hypercapitalist ghouls who hate paying people for work!
As if we're talking about people living with addictions and not hypercapitalist ghouls who hate paying people for work!
December 10, 2025 at 10:51 AM
Calling out the AI voice to text in Arc raiders will apparently set a "dangerous precedent" and result in "unethical AI practices." Businesses are too scared to disclose the truth
As if we're talking about people living with addictions and not hypercapitalist ghouls who hate paying people for work!
As if we're talking about people living with addictions and not hypercapitalist ghouls who hate paying people for work!