Phil. A. Ménard (AKA The Chatty DM)
@chattydm.bsky.social
Dynamically-priced Gen X Gamer Dad. 40 years as a GM, 2.8 years sober. Full-time narrative designer@VibrantStudios (D&D: The Immersive Quest, Transformers (in creation)). Retired award-winning freelance #TTRPG designer. He/Him. FR/EN
True story: when I wrote a series of "letters" about the discovery and use of DNA in the Abstergo Employee Manual, I made a direct reference to Dr. Franklin's work, hinting that my character (Dr. Rosenberg) had gotten her work leaked like it ahd been to the other two scientists.
Raise a glass for Rosalind Franklin tonight and honor her memory and scientific contributions
NYT obituary of Jim Watson.
A long and fairly balanced view of a complicated man who participated in one of the greatest discoveries in biology.
[Gift Link]
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/s...
A long and fairly balanced view of a complicated man who participated in one of the greatest discoveries in biology.
[Gift Link]
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/s...
November 8, 2025 at 12:20 AM
True story: when I wrote a series of "letters" about the discovery and use of DNA in the Abstergo Employee Manual, I made a direct reference to Dr. Franklin's work, hinting that my character (Dr. Rosenberg) had gotten her work leaked like it ahd been to the other two scientists.
I just backed Apocalypse World: Burned Over on @kickstarter.com www.kickstarter.com/projects/lum...
I have been a PbtA fan from day one. The engine is so compatible with my gamer brain that it's become second nature to me to borrow from it when I run other games.
I have been a PbtA fan from day one. The engine is so compatible with my gamer brain that it's become second nature to me to borrow from it when I run other games.
Apocalypse World: Burned Over
The 3rd edition of the groundbreaking original.
www.kickstarter.com
November 6, 2025 at 4:50 PM
I just backed Apocalypse World: Burned Over on @kickstarter.com www.kickstarter.com/projects/lum...
I have been a PbtA fan from day one. The engine is so compatible with my gamer brain that it's become second nature to me to borrow from it when I run other games.
I have been a PbtA fan from day one. The engine is so compatible with my gamer brain that it's become second nature to me to borrow from it when I run other games.
Cancelled this week D&D game. SAD (or the bipolar equivalent) makes it too hard to plan a game or think about hosting a game. Giving myself the space to recupertate. I know I'll get better. They understand. I'm blessed. Thanks guys!
#NoGuilt #BipolarType2 #SeasonalAffectiveDisorder
#NoGuilt #BipolarType2 #SeasonalAffectiveDisorder
November 5, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Cancelled this week D&D game. SAD (or the bipolar equivalent) makes it too hard to plan a game or think about hosting a game. Giving myself the space to recupertate. I know I'll get better. They understand. I'm blessed. Thanks guys!
#NoGuilt #BipolarType2 #SeasonalAffectiveDisorder
#NoGuilt #BipolarType2 #SeasonalAffectiveDisorder
Office colleague: Your English is perfect
Me: Thanks but I still struggle with words with 3 or more sylables... Well except sylables.
Me: Things like opportunity and unobtrusivness give me a hard time.
I blame that last word on @kevinkulp.bsky.social (YOU KNOW WHY!)
Me: Thanks but I still struggle with words with 3 or more sylables... Well except sylables.
Me: Things like opportunity and unobtrusivness give me a hard time.
I blame that last word on @kevinkulp.bsky.social (YOU KNOW WHY!)
November 4, 2025 at 11:36 PM
Office colleague: Your English is perfect
Me: Thanks but I still struggle with words with 3 or more sylables... Well except sylables.
Me: Things like opportunity and unobtrusivness give me a hard time.
I blame that last word on @kevinkulp.bsky.social (YOU KNOW WHY!)
Me: Thanks but I still struggle with words with 3 or more sylables... Well except sylables.
Me: Things like opportunity and unobtrusivness give me a hard time.
I blame that last word on @kevinkulp.bsky.social (YOU KNOW WHY!)
This panel was our way to say "we see you, we hear you" and like you say, dear friend ,"you are not alone".
And so if you feel like shit, and you know the logic is a mess, but you still feel like shit, know you are not alone.
I used to do a panel with @chattydm.bsky.social and others about mental health and gaming. We had professionals offer to be on the panel, but the goal was always just talking
I used to do a panel with @chattydm.bsky.social and others about mental health and gaming. We had professionals offer to be on the panel, but the goal was always just talking
November 4, 2025 at 10:06 PM
This panel was our way to say "we see you, we hear you" and like you say, dear friend ,"you are not alone".
This is something I struggle deeply with being both neurodivergent and an addict.
November 3, 2025 at 2:54 PM
This is something I struggle deeply with being both neurodivergent and an addict.
Discworld Marathon recap:
Back in December 2024, I gave myself a challenge, read all of Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels (some for the 3rd time, others for the 1st) in one year.
Why? Many reasons:
1) A pilgrimage through his body of work
2) An homage to his strentgh, breavery, and anger
Back in December 2024, I gave myself a challenge, read all of Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels (some for the 3rd time, others for the 1st) in one year.
Why? Many reasons:
1) A pilgrimage through his body of work
2) An homage to his strentgh, breavery, and anger
November 1, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Discworld Marathon recap:
Back in December 2024, I gave myself a challenge, read all of Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels (some for the 3rd time, others for the 1st) in one year.
Why? Many reasons:
1) A pilgrimage through his body of work
2) An homage to his strentgh, breavery, and anger
Back in December 2024, I gave myself a challenge, read all of Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels (some for the 3rd time, others for the 1st) in one year.
Why? Many reasons:
1) A pilgrimage through his body of work
2) An homage to his strentgh, breavery, and anger
Reposted by Phil. A. Ménard (AKA The Chatty DM)
October 30, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Hey @amutepiggy.bsky.social how about we write a workplace comedy about LA based PTSD-treating therapists that need to moonlight as gogo dancers.
We'd call the show "Male Neurotic Dancers"
We'd call the show "Male Neurotic Dancers"
October 30, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Hey @amutepiggy.bsky.social how about we write a workplace comedy about LA based PTSD-treating therapists that need to moonlight as gogo dancers.
We'd call the show "Male Neurotic Dancers"
We'd call the show "Male Neurotic Dancers"
An Otyugh with big Pupper energy.
@soryane.bsky.social preparing stickers for an upcoming party-crafter's fair.
@soryane.bsky.social preparing stickers for an upcoming party-crafter's fair.
October 30, 2025 at 3:52 PM
An Otyugh with big Pupper energy.
@soryane.bsky.social preparing stickers for an upcoming party-crafter's fair.
@soryane.bsky.social preparing stickers for an upcoming party-crafter's fair.
At an IAMX show with my ex, it's fun to groove with an old friend (I mean we were together about 8 years)
October 30, 2025 at 1:01 AM
At an IAMX show with my ex, it's fun to groove with an old friend (I mean we were together about 8 years)
Reposted by Phil. A. Ménard (AKA The Chatty DM)
Working on the AW3rd kickstarter (T minus 6 btw) and I notice that listed under Meg's and my name it says "11 created • 347 backed."
Okay first of all, 347 backed, wowie.
But of those 347, probably around 300 have been PbtA. That's a lot to be confronted with on a Tuesday morning.
Okay first of all, 347 backed, wowie.
But of those 347, probably around 300 have been PbtA. That's a lot to be confronted with on a Tuesday morning.
Coming soon: Apocalypse World: Burned Over
The 3rd edition of the groundbreaking original.
www.kickstarter.com
October 28, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Working on the AW3rd kickstarter (T minus 6 btw) and I notice that listed under Meg's and my name it says "11 created • 347 backed."
Okay first of all, 347 backed, wowie.
But of those 347, probably around 300 have been PbtA. That's a lot to be confronted with on a Tuesday morning.
Okay first of all, 347 backed, wowie.
But of those 347, probably around 300 have been PbtA. That's a lot to be confronted with on a Tuesday morning.
Bought myself an IKEA rising desk this weekend. The amazing @soryane.bsky.social assisted me in lugging it to my 2nd floor duplex appartment and building it.
It's so amazing:
It's so amazing:
October 27, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Bought myself an IKEA rising desk this weekend. The amazing @soryane.bsky.social assisted me in lugging it to my 2nd floor duplex appartment and building it.
It's so amazing:
It's so amazing:
The year is 2046, Stranger Things is in its 25th Season. Gen Xer realize they still can't play D&D because of having had kids and struggling to make mortgage payments on the last homes their generations and the following could afford.
October 24, 2025 at 6:44 PM
The year is 2046, Stranger Things is in its 25th Season. Gen Xer realize they still can't play D&D because of having had kids and struggling to make mortgage payments on the last homes their generations and the following could afford.
Today I learned that Sex Therapists can help people deal with long distance relationships. I'm actually happy there's a professional that can help with those, as people near me are struggling with just that. And no they don't say "Well, just find someone nearer"
October 22, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Today I learned that Sex Therapists can help people deal with long distance relationships. I'm actually happy there's a professional that can help with those, as people near me are struggling with just that. And no they don't say "Well, just find someone nearer"
Temporal Shrimps: When the words of a child opens new creative avenues.
But what is a temporal shrimp? One that comes pre-digested? One that haunts your Wednesdays?
But what is a temporal shrimp? One that comes pre-digested? One that haunts your Wednesdays?
Sponsor-A-Critter 21 - "Temporal" Shrimp for my kids
Story about about how this came to be in the comments 😁
#SponsorACritter #critter #doodle #inkdrawing #NotReallyInktober #shrimp #tempurashrimp
Story about about how this came to be in the comments 😁
#SponsorACritter #critter #doodle #inkdrawing #NotReallyInktober #shrimp #tempurashrimp
October 21, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Temporal Shrimps: When the words of a child opens new creative avenues.
But what is a temporal shrimp? One that comes pre-digested? One that haunts your Wednesdays?
But what is a temporal shrimp? One that comes pre-digested? One that haunts your Wednesdays?
Reposted by Phil. A. Ménard (AKA The Chatty DM)
Everytime I can show people Leverage, or Smallville’s drama rules, or Cortex Prime anything, it blows their mind. We just gotta keep never shutting up about why they’re so cool.
October 20, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Everytime I can show people Leverage, or Smallville’s drama rules, or Cortex Prime anything, it blows their mind. We just gotta keep never shutting up about why they’re so cool.
In the last few weeks, I dusted my Raspberry Pi 4, turned it into a NAS by plugging in ageing 2 TB external drive, I moved 13 GB of TTRPG PDFs I'd accumulated over the years from my Google Drive to it.
Also made a Pi-Hole server and WireGuard VPN.
Quite happy with that!
Also made a Pi-Hole server and WireGuard VPN.
Quite happy with that!
October 20, 2025 at 2:54 PM
In the last few weeks, I dusted my Raspberry Pi 4, turned it into a NAS by plugging in ageing 2 TB external drive, I moved 13 GB of TTRPG PDFs I'd accumulated over the years from my Google Drive to it.
Also made a Pi-Hole server and WireGuard VPN.
Quite happy with that!
Also made a Pi-Hole server and WireGuard VPN.
Quite happy with that!
Last call for Vee's critters! 4 slots left!
Critters Last Call, I have only 4 days left to grab!
DM me to claim a slot while they're still available!
Sponsor-a-Critter gallery can be found here: soryane.weebly.com/sponsor-a-cr...
#SponsorACritter #critter #doodle #inkdrawing #NotReallyInktober
DM me to claim a slot while they're still available!
Sponsor-a-Critter gallery can be found here: soryane.weebly.com/sponsor-a-cr...
#SponsorACritter #critter #doodle #inkdrawing #NotReallyInktober
October 20, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Last call for Vee's critters! 4 slots left!
Reposted by Phil. A. Ménard (AKA The Chatty DM)
#candelaobscura
#darringtonpress
#ttrpg
#ttrpgsupplement
#unofficialexpansion
#BeyondTheLighthouse
#crowdfunding
#horrrorttrpg
#ttrpgmodules
#candelaobscuramodule
#darringtonpress
#ttrpg
#ttrpgsupplement
#unofficialexpansion
#BeyondTheLighthouse
#crowdfunding
#horrrorttrpg
#ttrpgmodules
#candelaobscuramodule
Do you play Candela Obscura? Do you want to stretch beyond the bounds of Newfaire and Hale? Beyond the Lighthouse expands the lore & world of Candela Obscura, exploring three new countries with their own unique connections to Bleed tied to the Great Cataclysm of 0CE
www.backerkit.com/c/projects/l...
www.backerkit.com/c/projects/l...
Beyond the Lighthouse: a Candela Obscura™ Compatible project
An unofficial supplement that will take you far beyond the boundaries of Hale. You will explore three brand-new countries, and take the role of new factions confronting the supernatural in 20 ready-to...
www.backerkit.com
October 16, 2025 at 8:40 AM
I woke up with this phrase bouncing in my brain: "Leave space for science..."
October 18, 2025 at 11:07 AM
I woke up with this phrase bouncing in my brain: "Leave space for science..."
It's a COO!
Sponsor-A-Critter 17 - Highland Cow
I still have days available, hit me up if you'd like to sponsor your own critter this month!
#SponsorACritter #critter #doodle #inkdrawing #NotReallyInktober #highlandcow #bovine #cow
I still have days available, hit me up if you'd like to sponsor your own critter this month!
#SponsorACritter #critter #doodle #inkdrawing #NotReallyInktober #highlandcow #bovine #cow
October 17, 2025 at 2:22 PM
It's a COO!
Proud to be the 84th backer 😎 on @BackerKit Crowdfunding for Beyond the Lighthouse: a Candela Obscura™ Compatible project! www.backerkit.com/c/projects/l...
Beyond the Lighthouse: a Candela Obscura™ Compatible project
An unofficial supplement that will take you far beyond the boundaries of Hale. You will explore three brand-new countries, and take the role of new factions confronting the supernatural in 20 ready-to...
www.backerkit.com
October 16, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Proud to be the 84th backer 😎 on @BackerKit Crowdfunding for Beyond the Lighthouse: a Candela Obscura™ Compatible project! www.backerkit.com/c/projects/l...
I mean look at this Anglerfish and her lil' man!
:)
:)
Sponsor-A-Critter 15 - Anglerfish for Marianne
I still have days available, hit me up if you'd like to sponsor your own critter this month!
#SponsorACritter #critter #doodle #inkdrawing #NotReallyInktober #Anglerfish #DeepSea
I still have days available, hit me up if you'd like to sponsor your own critter this month!
#SponsorACritter #critter #doodle #inkdrawing #NotReallyInktober #Anglerfish #DeepSea
October 15, 2025 at 2:24 PM
I mean look at this Anglerfish and her lil' man!
:)
:)
When your life bleeds into your partner's. I was playing Balatro yesterday while @soryane.bsky.social was cooking dinner.
Me: Oh I'm fucked, I'mma lose this round for sure.
Her: Maybe him skill issue?
Me:...
Her (goblin giggling)
(Narrator voice: @soryane.bsky.social does not play Megabonk)
Me: Oh I'm fucked, I'mma lose this round for sure.
Her: Maybe him skill issue?
Me:...
Her (goblin giggling)
(Narrator voice: @soryane.bsky.social does not play Megabonk)
October 14, 2025 at 1:25 PM
When your life bleeds into your partner's. I was playing Balatro yesterday while @soryane.bsky.social was cooking dinner.
Me: Oh I'm fucked, I'mma lose this round for sure.
Her: Maybe him skill issue?
Me:...
Her (goblin giggling)
(Narrator voice: @soryane.bsky.social does not play Megabonk)
Me: Oh I'm fucked, I'mma lose this round for sure.
Her: Maybe him skill issue?
Me:...
Her (goblin giggling)
(Narrator voice: @soryane.bsky.social does not play Megabonk)