Fred Hicks
@deadlyfredly.bsky.social
President of Evil Hat (I publish Fate, Blades in the Dark, Monster of the Week, Thirsty Sword Lesbians, &c). Liberal in politics, reposting, & use of the block button. Be advised, I limit parasociality when I can. Permanently in AMA mode (so ask).
Pinned
Fred Hicks
@deadlyfredly.bsky.social
· Oct 25
And perhaps most importantly, there is no "right" level of appetite for risk. It's something you'll have to come to on your own and, should circumstances change, possibly revise.
The thing you *shouldn't* do is find someone successful and emulate their posture.
The thing you *shouldn't* do is find someone successful and emulate their posture.
The fact that I am here and able to share numbers and give looks under the hood is because we’ve survived.
Survivor bias is in effect. If you’re not also learning from companies that failed you’re ignoring a ton of relevant data.
Survivor bias is in effect. If you’re not also learning from companies that failed you’re ignoring a ton of relevant data.
Reposted by Fred Hicks
Do I dare to skeet "impeach"?
January 3, 2026 at 2:32 PM
Do I dare to skeet "impeach"?
Reposted by Fred Hicks
Good example of what every elected Dem and candidate should be saying loudly right now:
Tonight, the President of the United States has launched an unconstitutional war of aggression, dooming another generation to spill their blood for oil, and lay waste to a sovereign nation.
I demand that Congress exercise its power, halt this conflict, and impeach this war criminal president.
I demand that Congress exercise its power, halt this conflict, and impeach this war criminal president.
January 3, 2026 at 1:52 PM
Good example of what every elected Dem and candidate should be saying loudly right now:
Reposted by Fred Hicks
Also we could have just believed 1000 women instead of going to war with Venezuela. That was an option.
January 3, 2026 at 9:30 AM
Also we could have just believed 1000 women instead of going to war with Venezuela. That was an option.
Reposted by Fred Hicks
I am so tired of being embarrassed by American presidents. All my life.
January 3, 2026 at 2:22 PM
I am so tired of being embarrassed by American presidents. All my life.
Reposted by Fred Hicks
From the Swiss ski club fire. It's haunting how these people filmed the fire for social media instead of running out of grabbing a fire extinguisher.
Also, it's always the foam soundproofing. It's what caused the Rhode Island night club fire. That stuff should never be allowed in bars or clubs.
Also, it's always the foam soundproofing. It's what caused the Rhode Island night club fire. That stuff should never be allowed in bars or clubs.
January 3, 2026 at 1:31 AM
From the Swiss ski club fire. It's haunting how these people filmed the fire for social media instead of running out of grabbing a fire extinguisher.
Also, it's always the foam soundproofing. It's what caused the Rhode Island night club fire. That stuff should never be allowed in bars or clubs.
Also, it's always the foam soundproofing. It's what caused the Rhode Island night club fire. That stuff should never be allowed in bars or clubs.
Reposted by Fred Hicks
The whole "Grok admits" "Grok apologizes" thing reminds me of the famous IBM presentation quote that evidently everyone has forgotten. And I do think representing your brand on social media counts as a "management decision".
January 2, 2026 at 11:54 PM
The whole "Grok admits" "Grok apologizes" thing reminds me of the famous IBM presentation quote that evidently everyone has forgotten. And I do think representing your brand on social media counts as a "management decision".
Reposted by Fred Hicks
January 2, 2026 at 3:36 AM
Reposted by Fred Hicks
"Slop producer confuses dumbing down of humanity with 'cognitive amplifier tools.'"
January 3, 2026 at 1:23 AM
"Slop producer confuses dumbing down of humanity with 'cognitive amplifier tools.'"
Reposted by Fred Hicks
Reposted by Fred Hicks
welp
BREAKING: OpenAI is predicted to buy Pinterest, $PINS, in 2026, per the Information
January 2, 2026 at 8:45 PM
welp
Reposted by Fred Hicks
Woof. Just did the year wrap on 2025, so I leafed through reading the weekly summaries and intermittent daily entries - we were fucking IN IT January through June, eh? Time dulls it naturally, but the sheer volume and intensity of that shit was amazing. No wonder everybody is Like That.
January 2, 2026 at 8:22 PM
Woof. Just did the year wrap on 2025, so I leafed through reading the weekly summaries and intermittent daily entries - we were fucking IN IT January through June, eh? Time dulls it naturally, but the sheer volume and intensity of that shit was amazing. No wonder everybody is Like That.
Reposted by Fred Hicks
When I've talked to deepfake victims, both public figures and everyday people, I've heard horror stories about police laughing them out the door, girls getting expelled for reporting their classmates, and lawyers advising them that suing would just make it worse. This is abuse culture in action.
January 2, 2026 at 7:55 PM
When I've talked to deepfake victims, both public figures and everyday people, I've heard horror stories about police laughing them out the door, girls getting expelled for reporting their classmates, and lawyers advising them that suing would just make it worse. This is abuse culture in action.
Reposted by Fred Hicks
When I was a kid, they had these neat books where the page would have an illustration on it with a big empty spot in the middle, and the idea was it was a window or telescope or some such, and the prompt was to draw what you saw there.
I think they have a lot in common with what makes RPGs work.
I think they have a lot in common with what makes RPGs work.
January 2, 2026 at 5:03 PM
When I was a kid, they had these neat books where the page would have an illustration on it with a big empty spot in the middle, and the idea was it was a window or telescope or some such, and the prompt was to draw what you saw there.
I think they have a lot in common with what makes RPGs work.
I think they have a lot in common with what makes RPGs work.
Reposted by Fred Hicks
Do you have a New Years resolution to play more #ttrpgs?
Next Wednesday evening I'm running a one shot of #ThirstySwordLesbians called Queer Diva Monster Slayers. I also loved Kpop Demon Hunters but what if it was GAY? Let's gay it up together this year
startplaying.games/adventure/cm...
Next Wednesday evening I'm running a one shot of #ThirstySwordLesbians called Queer Diva Monster Slayers. I also loved Kpop Demon Hunters but what if it was GAY? Let's gay it up together this year
startplaying.games/adventure/cm...
Join Queer Diva Monster Slayers (All Experience Levels, 18+) - Google Meet - Thirsty Sword Lesbians | StartPlaying Games
You are a music sensation, who also has been trained from a young age to fight evil the wickedness of the world. Recently you have received confusing visions of a dire threat approaching, and so you h...
startplaying.games
January 2, 2026 at 4:15 PM
Do you have a New Years resolution to play more #ttrpgs?
Next Wednesday evening I'm running a one shot of #ThirstySwordLesbians called Queer Diva Monster Slayers. I also loved Kpop Demon Hunters but what if it was GAY? Let's gay it up together this year
startplaying.games/adventure/cm...
Next Wednesday evening I'm running a one shot of #ThirstySwordLesbians called Queer Diva Monster Slayers. I also loved Kpop Demon Hunters but what if it was GAY? Let's gay it up together this year
startplaying.games/adventure/cm...
Reposted by Fred Hicks
Reposted by Fred Hicks
I am thankful that #TachyonSquadron was still getting played and streamed in 2025. Good hunting for 2026, pilots.
January 2, 2026 at 4:36 PM
I am thankful that #TachyonSquadron was still getting played and streamed in 2025. Good hunting for 2026, pilots.
Reposted by Fred Hicks
So...there's such a thing as "DNA salt," which if I understand this correctly is DNA exposed to sodium ions which when precipitated with alcohol become solid clumps of DNA in salt rock form.
There doesn't seem to be an agreed-upon adjective to describe what DNA salt tastes like.
Anyhow. My point.
There doesn't seem to be an agreed-upon adjective to describe what DNA salt tastes like.
Anyhow. My point.
January 2, 2026 at 5:04 PM
So...there's such a thing as "DNA salt," which if I understand this correctly is DNA exposed to sodium ions which when precipitated with alcohol become solid clumps of DNA in salt rock form.
There doesn't seem to be an agreed-upon adjective to describe what DNA salt tastes like.
Anyhow. My point.
There doesn't seem to be an agreed-upon adjective to describe what DNA salt tastes like.
Anyhow. My point.
Reposted by Fred Hicks
This is a great thread, on a topic I've talked about, but something niggled at me until I realized I would split it a little farther, and in doing so, perhaps shed a light on some of the value in "Idea People".
This year I saw stark difference between Idea People vs Doer People. The Idea people were generally used to being managers. They would talk and talk about what SHOULD be done, but when asked the plan for DOING it w/resource constraints, would hem and haw and throw up hands and say it was impossible
January 2, 2026 at 5:08 PM
This is a great thread, on a topic I've talked about, but something niggled at me until I realized I would split it a little farther, and in doing so, perhaps shed a light on some of the value in "Idea People".
Reposted by Fred Hicks
If that’s not someone’s book’s epigraph (with fucking citation) by 2030 I’ll eat my hat.
they saw arab spring and went 'hell no'. they saw gamergate and said 'hell yes' and now here we are
January 2, 2026 at 2:05 PM
If that’s not someone’s book’s epigraph (with fucking citation) by 2030 I’ll eat my hat.
Reposted by Fred Hicks
Another reason to research/relearn old school tactics.
they successfully destroyed the organizing locations online
January 2, 2026 at 2:07 PM
Another reason to research/relearn old school tactics.
Reposted by Fred Hicks
This Upton Sinclair quote never misses
“It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it.”
“It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it.”
But can anyone tell me what this bit means? “For too long, those fluent in the good grammar of civility have deployed decorum to mask agendas of cruelty.”
January 2, 2026 at 1:56 PM
This Upton Sinclair quote never misses
“It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it.”
“It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it.”
Reposted by Fred Hicks
Thinking this is wrong is not radical.
Thinking it isn’t is.
Thinking it isn’t is.
January 1, 2026 at 9:33 PM
Thinking this is wrong is not radical.
Thinking it isn’t is.
Thinking it isn’t is.
Reposted by Fred Hicks
This is me being interviewed in detailed on the nuts and bolts of writing technique.
Very interesting interview of @aptshadow.bsky.social . As an amateur want-to-be sci-fi author, I’ve found so many great insights about writting good sci-fi. Concept of One Big Lie is a very useful thing, for example.
youtu.be/LO0qHnhpkDs?...
youtu.be/LO0qHnhpkDs?...
How to Write Great Science Fiction — Adrian Tchaikovsky
YouTube video by David Perell
youtu.be
January 1, 2026 at 8:22 PM
This is me being interviewed in detailed on the nuts and bolts of writing technique.
Ah yes, the post-holiday reckoning of being the solo guy handling Bits & Mortar tickets and seeing just how embarrassingly long it's been since I last had a chance to pay attention to the ticket queue...
January 1, 2026 at 8:08 PM
Ah yes, the post-holiday reckoning of being the solo guy handling Bits & Mortar tickets and seeing just how embarrassingly long it's been since I last had a chance to pay attention to the ticket queue...
Reposted by Fred Hicks
Happy 2026 #TTRPG 'sky! My first goal for the New Year is to get as many interested people as possible following the Kickstarter for the fourth edition of Mutants & Masterminds, launching this month! Please share and follow the campaign if you're interested in checking out what's new!
Coming soon: Mutants & Masterminds 4th Edition
A new edition with updated and streamlined game systems, new options, and an all-new look!
www.kickstarter.com
January 1, 2026 at 4:04 PM
Happy 2026 #TTRPG 'sky! My first goal for the New Year is to get as many interested people as possible following the Kickstarter for the fourth edition of Mutants & Masterminds, launching this month! Please share and follow the campaign if you're interested in checking out what's new!