Flintlock but scary or something dunno not feeling it this year
@flintlock.bsky.social
stupid people think it's cool, smart people think it's a joke, also cool
"Mrs Brown's Boys viewers criticise 'woeful and unfunny' Christmas special "
The Cure concert attendees criticise "dark and depressing" setlist.
The Cure concert attendees criticise "dark and depressing" setlist.
December 26, 2025 at 7:34 PM
"Mrs Brown's Boys viewers criticise 'woeful and unfunny' Christmas special "
The Cure concert attendees criticise "dark and depressing" setlist.
The Cure concert attendees criticise "dark and depressing" setlist.
Vampire is an odd beast, because I do think that a lot of its reputation for being good at political/intrigue play came first and foremost from the LRP, even with groups that didn't participate outside the tabletop.
It was the LRP that had much more extensive social rules, for example.
It was the LRP that had much more extensive social rules, for example.
I agree with the desire for more nuance when talking about ttrpgs. I do think there is a reason to still use "System X supports Y style of play."
I've been meaning to start more long form blogging for awhile and this is a start.
publish.obsidian.md/improvgm/Imp...
I've been meaning to start more long form blogging for awhile and this is a start.
publish.obsidian.md/improvgm/Imp...
December 26, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Vampire is an odd beast, because I do think that a lot of its reputation for being good at political/intrigue play came first and foremost from the LRP, even with groups that didn't participate outside the tabletop.
It was the LRP that had much more extensive social rules, for example.
It was the LRP that had much more extensive social rules, for example.
Back when I was on dating sites, someone went to the effort of doing a line by line parody of my profile. And I'm overly verbose at the best of time. I applaud anyone who hates me with that level of effort.
What's an insult you'll never forget?
December 26, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Back when I was on dating sites, someone went to the effort of doing a line by line parody of my profile. And I'm overly verbose at the best of time. I applaud anyone who hates me with that level of effort.
Contractors! Why not make Christmas extra special by putting the concept of "pay per word" in the dustbin where it belongs. Pay by hour if you fucking *must*. Pay by project if you don't want 70% of writers to secretly despise you.
December 26, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Contractors! Why not make Christmas extra special by putting the concept of "pay per word" in the dustbin where it belongs. Pay by hour if you fucking *must*. Pay by project if you don't want 70% of writers to secretly despise you.
My partner adopted an Orangutan for me for Christmas. She knows me so well. They sent us a cuddly Orangutan toy. She is hoping that by the end of the year I have got bored of holding it up next to her and claiming I can't tell the difference. (I will not get bored of doing this).
December 25, 2025 at 6:41 PM
My partner adopted an Orangutan for me for Christmas. She knows me so well. They sent us a cuddly Orangutan toy. She is hoping that by the end of the year I have got bored of holding it up next to her and claiming I can't tell the difference. (I will not get bored of doing this).
While this article is right that a) Monopoly is not actually a good game and b) people make it much worse with house rules, the reasons it gives for it being bad are way off kilter.
"It encourages deals and trades, which provokes sulks. "
This is also the other major thing that stops it dragging.
"It encourages deals and trades, which provokes sulks. "
This is also the other major thing that stops it dragging.
Monopoly might be a bad game, but you’re making it much worse by playing it wrong.
A Christmas declaration of war, from me, in @thenewworldmag.bsky.social
www.thenewworld.co.uk/james-ball-w...
A Christmas declaration of war, from me, in @thenewworldmag.bsky.social
www.thenewworld.co.uk/james-ball-w...
We've all been playing Monopoly wrong
The board game shouldn't go on forever if you stick to the real rules
www.thenewworld.co.uk
December 25, 2025 at 10:21 AM
While this article is right that a) Monopoly is not actually a good game and b) people make it much worse with house rules, the reasons it gives for it being bad are way off kilter.
"It encourages deals and trades, which provokes sulks. "
This is also the other major thing that stops it dragging.
"It encourages deals and trades, which provokes sulks. "
This is also the other major thing that stops it dragging.
The issue with the US is not that they're an unusually bad people. (That's theological bollocks). It's that they are the only superpower and have an undue influence. And that's not really the fault of the US per se; it's the fault of geopolitics in general.
December 24, 2025 at 8:36 PM
The issue with the US is not that they're an unusually bad people. (That's theological bollocks). It's that they are the only superpower and have an undue influence. And that's not really the fault of the US per se; it's the fault of geopolitics in general.
Just got off the phone with my nephew. My magical trick for not having younger members of the family cutting off contact with me? Not being a prick to them.
Yeah, no thanks.
Stop guilting people about being estranged from family members. It someone is they likely have personal reasons for being so.
Stop guilting people about being estranged from family members. It someone is they likely have personal reasons for being so.
December 24, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Just got off the phone with my nephew. My magical trick for not having younger members of the family cutting off contact with me? Not being a prick to them.
I'm no fan of the Lib Dems but I have to give Davey credit for being willing to acknowledge the US are a hostile power out loud, while Starmer continues to do his appeasement act.
December 24, 2025 at 3:58 PM
I'm no fan of the Lib Dems but I have to give Davey credit for being willing to acknowledge the US are a hostile power out loud, while Starmer continues to do his appeasement act.
I've noticed that a lot of people are posting lots of games they want to run/play in 2026, but I've found increasingly I want to run a longform campaign (at least 9 months) which doesn't leave time.
December 24, 2025 at 2:27 PM
I've noticed that a lot of people are posting lots of games they want to run/play in 2026, but I've found increasingly I want to run a longform campaign (at least 9 months) which doesn't leave time.
Join me for more history next week when I launch my new theory about the early days of D&D being an extended fanfic war.
December 24, 2025 at 1:11 AM
Join me for more history next week when I launch my new theory about the early days of D&D being an extended fanfic war.
The theater kid hijacking of RPGs actually happened in 1876 when General Verdy looked at Kriegsspiel and went "what's with all this rules shit?". Then he accused Reisswitz of "ruleplaying not roleplaying" and the rest is history.
December 24, 2025 at 1:10 AM
The theater kid hijacking of RPGs actually happened in 1876 when General Verdy looked at Kriegsspiel and went "what's with all this rules shit?". Then he accused Reisswitz of "ruleplaying not roleplaying" and the rest is history.
For my next Wednesday campaign I'm deciding between Delta Green, The Laundry and Rivers of London.
It's lovely, because they are all so similar, while at the same time being so incredibly different in worldview.
It's lovely, because they are all so similar, while at the same time being so incredibly different in worldview.
December 24, 2025 at 12:18 AM
For my next Wednesday campaign I'm deciding between Delta Green, The Laundry and Rivers of London.
It's lovely, because they are all so similar, while at the same time being so incredibly different in worldview.
It's lovely, because they are all so similar, while at the same time being so incredibly different in worldview.
I am honestly far less animated about the fact that if I go talk at a university I might get some students calling me a "cunt" than the fact I can't actually say my views on the PKK out loud without risking arrest.
December 23, 2025 at 7:16 PM
I am honestly far less animated about the fact that if I go talk at a university I might get some students calling me a "cunt" than the fact I can't actually say my views on the PKK out loud without risking arrest.
I do think that the left has made quite a serious tactical mistake by vacating this space for grifters like Toby Young to slime their way in. It's why "free speech" discourse is now focused on students saying meen fings to terfs rather than state bans.
This kind of legal action against universities will chill the free speech of all who advocate for the rights of minoritised peoples. This was the bill’s intent. Lobbyists are already using it to shut down speech they don’t like.
Unless universities stand up strongly for ALL freedom of expression…
Unless universities stand up strongly for ALL freedom of expression…
Total gaslighting. Anti-trans activist; chooses to speak in person, provoking students who want to protect trans rights; they exercise their freedom of speech to tell her she isn't wanted; she gets to speak anyway; the BBC dutifully platforms her again; and now she threatens to sue everyone.
December 23, 2025 at 7:07 PM
I do think that the left has made quite a serious tactical mistake by vacating this space for grifters like Toby Young to slime their way in. It's why "free speech" discourse is now focused on students saying meen fings to terfs rather than state bans.
I think linked to this is the way that women's involvement in what are seen as men dominated genres is frequently overlooked. The way that megagames (at least in the UK) have shifted from 98% older men to a much more diverse hobby is fascinating and largely overlooked outside the scene.
If you read enough hagiographical work about very specific men gamers in the 1970s and couple it with a lifetime of people dismissing your (freeform larp / "storygame" / Erzählspiel) game tradition as "not really games" in part due to their community's gender, then you see where I'm coming from.
Indeed. The purchaseable *product* we call the TTRPG begins in the 1970s with Western Gunfight, Chainmail, and D&D.
Yet role-playing "parlor games," simulations, and similar are centuries old and draw from a well that resembles all the positive stuff about D&D.
Parlor games were feminized...
Yet role-playing "parlor games," simulations, and similar are centuries old and draw from a well that resembles all the positive stuff about D&D.
Parlor games were feminized...
December 23, 2025 at 2:11 PM
I think linked to this is the way that women's involvement in what are seen as men dominated genres is frequently overlooked. The way that megagames (at least in the UK) have shifted from 98% older men to a much more diverse hobby is fascinating and largely overlooked outside the scene.
I see the Zak apologists are running around again, so let us stick to the facts and only the facts. This is what a court found to be true.
As the Zak Sabbath fanboys/socks are starting to run cover again, a reminder of what a court has found to be true about Zak. (CW for abuse).
1. Zak expected an ex girlfriend to be "at his beck and call for sex at any time"
1. Zak expected an ex girlfriend to be "at his beck and call for sex at any time"
December 22, 2025 at 9:52 PM
I see the Zak apologists are running around again, so let us stick to the facts and only the facts. This is what a court found to be true.
Look, I love Nicola Coughlan as much as you do (and she's repeatedly stuck her neck out on politics) but Bridgerton's "George III established racial equality and now PoC get to be aristocrats too!" is absolutely pro empire/pro royalist propaganda.
December 22, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Look, I love Nicola Coughlan as much as you do (and she's repeatedly stuck her neck out on politics) but Bridgerton's "George III established racial equality and now PoC get to be aristocrats too!" is absolutely pro empire/pro royalist propaganda.
Yeah, like, you don't need to have them center stage but I give the sideeye to people that would run games in the American Civil War period but remove slavery entirely. You've just reinvented the Lost Cause Myth from first principles. Well done.
im pro using of "lines and veils" in TTRPGs but i do admit to finding it odd when people want to use a historical setting *and* use these tools to hide every part of these societies that were extractive and exploitative
it strikes me as taking the propaganda of these societies at face value
it strikes me as taking the propaganda of these societies at face value
December 22, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Yeah, like, you don't need to have them center stage but I give the sideeye to people that would run games in the American Civil War period but remove slavery entirely. You've just reinvented the Lost Cause Myth from first principles. Well done.
So farewell Chris Rea. As a child I always got you mixed up with Chris de Burgh. Despite the fact that you were driving to hell and he was just shagging the nanny.
December 22, 2025 at 4:16 PM
So farewell Chris Rea. As a child I always got you mixed up with Chris de Burgh. Despite the fact that you were driving to hell and he was just shagging the nanny.
This is true of TTRPGs as well I think. Not only that, but the take on Catholicism sometimes feels dangerously close to something that could have been lifted directly from an 18th century tract on the "Papist conspiracy".
Yeah like why is the church in Dragon Quest very clearly Catholic from the outfits clergy wear to the design of the buildings? “I dunno it looks cool”. Not like it has anything to say about the church either way other than “well this exists”
December 21, 2025 at 5:35 PM
This is true of TTRPGs as well I think. Not only that, but the take on Catholicism sometimes feels dangerously close to something that could have been lifted directly from an 18th century tract on the "Papist conspiracy".
Reposted by Flintlock but scary or something dunno not feeling it this year
Periodical reminder that Noora Rose was ousted from this industry under false plagiarism accusations by Marcia B, involving texts that we ran thru anti-plagiarism academic software that found no instances of it, and nobody has retracted from what they did to her.
October 17, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Periodical reminder that Noora Rose was ousted from this industry under false plagiarism accusations by Marcia B, involving texts that we ran thru anti-plagiarism academic software that found no instances of it, and nobody has retracted from what they did to her.
Let's see if any YIMBY organisations speak out against this use of their arguments by the government. If not, they can fuck off and die as far as I'm concerned.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
Disabled people in England ‘betrayed’ by cuts to new-build accessibility targets
Campaigners decry plan to reduce requirement for improved standards from 100% down to 40% of new homes
www.theguardian.com
December 19, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Let's see if any YIMBY organisations speak out against this use of their arguments by the government. If not, they can fuck off and die as far as I'm concerned.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
People being genuinely surprised by the Walliams allegations on here (and to be clear I'm not having a go at people for that) is a reminder of quite how different my 'theater people adjacent' social circle actually is to the ones most people move in.
December 19, 2025 at 5:26 PM
People being genuinely surprised by the Walliams allegations on here (and to be clear I'm not having a go at people for that) is a reminder of quite how different my 'theater people adjacent' social circle actually is to the ones most people move in.