FriendlyFiend
@friendlyfiendish.bsky.social
Telly writer, story editor and geek. This is my account for the geeky stuff, especially TTRPGs. You may know me from my other roleplaying accounts, @FriendlyFiend on Mastodon, GeorgeP on assorted Discords, or from telly things I write/story edit.
Reposted by FriendlyFiend
It is a shame this TTRPG is tucked away in a board game campaign! We review the Batman: Gotham City Chronicles Quick Start. The Exploit Points system is a perfect fit for superheroic action.
Review: Batman Gotham City Chronicles - Quick Start
Is the Batman: Gotham City Chronicles RPG a hidden gem? We explore the Ethics system and the A Hostage for a Duel adventure in our latest review.
www.geeknative.com
December 30, 2025 at 3:04 PM
It is a shame this TTRPG is tucked away in a board game campaign! We review the Batman: Gotham City Chronicles Quick Start. The Exploit Points system is a perfect fit for superheroic action.
Reposted by FriendlyFiend
Seems like a good provocation to share this analysis of AD&D combat by Ron Edwards, particularly attending to initiative, based on both a close analytical reading and actual play.
youtu.be/Y4f9J47X-E0?...
youtu.be/Y4f9J47X-E0?...
Advanced D&D combat
YouTube video by Ron Edwards
youtu.be
December 29, 2025 at 6:16 AM
Seems like a good provocation to share this analysis of AD&D combat by Ron Edwards, particularly attending to initiative, based on both a close analytical reading and actual play.
youtu.be/Y4f9J47X-E0?...
youtu.be/Y4f9J47X-E0?...
Reposted by FriendlyFiend
And so does 2025 begins its own pilgrimage to the shadows of the dark, dank ossuary of yesteryears
December 27, 2025 at 4:19 PM
And so does 2025 begins its own pilgrimage to the shadows of the dark, dank ossuary of yesteryears
Reposted by FriendlyFiend
Thanks to @thegrognardfiles.bsky.social for Dirk’s Dossier, which has seen me through the Christmas washing up nicely.
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
Dirk’s Dossier – More Gladiator Chat and more
Podcast Episode · The GROGNARD Files · 24/12/2025 · 54m
podcasts.apple.com
December 25, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Thanks to @thegrognardfiles.bsky.social for Dirk’s Dossier, which has seen me through the Christmas washing up nicely.
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
Reposted by FriendlyFiend
Lulu and the mistletoe on Christmas Eve. Louise in Pandora’s Box (1929):
December 25, 2025 at 5:33 AM
Lulu and the mistletoe on Christmas Eve. Louise in Pandora’s Box (1929):
Reposted by FriendlyFiend
And Tiny Tim, WHO COULD NOT DIE, crawled on under the glare of the dying sun
December 24, 2025 at 10:56 AM
And Tiny Tim, WHO COULD NOT DIE, crawled on under the glare of the dying sun
10 TTRPGS I’d really like to play/run in 2026.
- Ten Candles
- Delta Green
- Raven
- Dead Air: Seasons
- Tainted Grail
- Triangle Agency
- Otherscape
- Neon City Outlaws
- Liminal
- Cold City
- Ten Candles
- Delta Green
- Raven
- Dead Air: Seasons
- Tainted Grail
- Triangle Agency
- Otherscape
- Neon City Outlaws
- Liminal
- Cold City
10 TTRPGs I want to play/run in 2026.
- Tacklebox
- Blades 68
- Triangle Agency
- Grail (🤞)
- One Ring
- Teeth: False Kingdom
- Ex Tenebris
- Coriolis: The Great Dark
- The Scions
- First Among Equals (🤞)
- Tacklebox
- Blades 68
- Triangle Agency
- Grail (🤞)
- One Ring
- Teeth: False Kingdom
- Ex Tenebris
- Coriolis: The Great Dark
- The Scions
- First Among Equals (🤞)
10 TTRPGs I want to play/run in 2026:
- The Walking Dead
- TEETH
- Nimble TTRPG
- SPINE (Solo)
- Coriolis: The Great Dark
- TERMINUS (using Delta Green)
- Doomsong
- Slugblaster
- His Majesty The Worm
- One More Song (Solo)
- The Walking Dead
- TEETH
- Nimble TTRPG
- SPINE (Solo)
- Coriolis: The Great Dark
- TERMINUS (using Delta Green)
- Doomsong
- Slugblaster
- His Majesty The Worm
- One More Song (Solo)
December 24, 2025 at 8:41 PM
10 TTRPGS I’d really like to play/run in 2026.
- Ten Candles
- Delta Green
- Raven
- Dead Air: Seasons
- Tainted Grail
- Triangle Agency
- Otherscape
- Neon City Outlaws
- Liminal
- Cold City
- Ten Candles
- Delta Green
- Raven
- Dead Air: Seasons
- Tainted Grail
- Triangle Agency
- Otherscape
- Neon City Outlaws
- Liminal
- Cold City
How I'm turning up to the Bluesky Christmas party.
December 24, 2025 at 8:45 AM
How I'm turning up to the Bluesky Christmas party.
Reposted by FriendlyFiend
You will be visited by three spirits
December 23, 2025 at 10:44 PM
You will be visited by three spirits
A ridiculously useful blog on running Session Zero.
How I actually run Session Zero these days: what we talk about, how I handle safety tools, and why skipping it has bitten me more than once (especially online). blog.monkeyx.games/2025/12/23/h...
How I Run Session Zero
There was a time when my “session zero” was about fifteen seconds of nervous throat-clearing followed by, “Right, you’re all being hunted / fighting some gobbos / on a job for BigCorp. Go.
blog.monkeyx.games
December 23, 2025 at 9:39 PM
A ridiculously useful blog on running Session Zero.
Reposted by FriendlyFiend
One of my absolute favourite RPGs and an outrageous bargain at this price.
Klaxon! New on Bundle of Holding is our own DIE RPG - the award-winning core book, plus the three scenario books and the quickstart for $15. Purchasing also includes a 15% off voucher for buying the physical books from @rowanrookanddecard.bsky.social. #ttrpg #indiettrpg
DIE RPG Bundle
Adventurer! This new DIE RPG Bundle presents DIE, the tabletop roleplaying game from Rowan, Rook, & Decard based on – rather, created in parallel with – the DIE Image Comics series (20 issues, 2018-21...
bundleofholding.com
December 23, 2025 at 8:25 AM
One of my absolute favourite RPGs and an outrageous bargain at this price.
Reposted by FriendlyFiend
One final seasonal RPG scenario recommendation: if what you really want is a classic ghost story taking inspiration from the works of M. R. James, A Winter Haunting should be just the thing. Written for Cthulhu Dark, and adaptable to other horror games.
www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/4...
www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/4...
A Winter Haunting - Savage Spiel | DriveThruRPG
“For most, Christmas is a time of good cheer and merrymaking, and the sight of decorations and the smell of mulled wine brings joy and delight. But I find that after one particular Christmas I find it...
www.drivethrurpg.com
December 21, 2025 at 4:50 PM
One final seasonal RPG scenario recommendation: if what you really want is a classic ghost story taking inspiration from the works of M. R. James, A Winter Haunting should be just the thing. Written for Cthulhu Dark, and adaptable to other horror games.
www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/4...
www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/4...
Reposted by FriendlyFiend
Right, back to it. Bit more on stats, suspect reason for using 3-18 is partly tradition, partly to allow for gradual increases over levels. Not a fan. Arrays are default, but there are point buy and rolling options in an appendix. Which also largely duplicates p25. Filling empty space probably
11/
11/
Into chargen, good intro here. There are NO DUMP STATS! The lowest any can be is 12. So if you want to be stupid or weak or frail, that's a roleplaying choice not a chargen consequence. Not sure how I feel about that - tho it's a great way to avoid minmaxing.
10/
10/
December 20, 2025 at 9:27 AM
Right, back to it. Bit more on stats, suspect reason for using 3-18 is partly tradition, partly to allow for gradual increases over levels. Not a fan. Arrays are default, but there are point buy and rolling options in an appendix. Which also largely duplicates p25. Filling empty space probably
11/
11/
Reposted by FriendlyFiend
Play School (19th December 1977). Chloe Ashcroft and Johnny Ball are getting ready for Christmas.
December 19, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Play School (19th December 1977). Chloe Ashcroft and Johnny Ball are getting ready for Christmas.
Reposted by FriendlyFiend
A tip of the hat never hurt anyone or being thankful.
I am deeply touched that others think Honorbound was worth it to at least get on the list. We have no delusions of winning but if you have an extra vote laying around...
www.enworld.org/threads/its-...
The #raspyraven bump is real!
I am deeply touched that others think Honorbound was worth it to at least get on the list. We have no delusions of winning but if you have an extra vote laying around...
www.enworld.org/threads/its-...
The #raspyraven bump is real!
It's Time to VOTE for your MOST ANTICIPATED TTRPG of 2026!
As we do every year, it's time to vote for the most anticipated tabletop roleplaying game of the coming year! Here is last year's Top 10 (spoiler: the winner was Legend in the Mist). Previous winners ...
www.enworld.org
December 19, 2025 at 2:59 PM
A tip of the hat never hurt anyone or being thankful.
I am deeply touched that others think Honorbound was worth it to at least get on the list. We have no delusions of winning but if you have an extra vote laying around...
www.enworld.org/threads/its-...
The #raspyraven bump is real!
I am deeply touched that others think Honorbound was worth it to at least get on the list. We have no delusions of winning but if you have an extra vote laying around...
www.enworld.org/threads/its-...
The #raspyraven bump is real!
Reposted by FriendlyFiend
If you are a writer, and you need an AI image to explain to an artist what you have envisioned, you need to quit your job.
Anyone who supports this is an embarrassment. "Instead of typing it out they'll generate their idea"? Are you insane?
Call yourself whatever you want but you aren't creatives, that's for sure.
Call yourself whatever you want but you aren't creatives, that's for sure.
December 18, 2025 at 6:02 PM
If you are a writer, and you need an AI image to explain to an artist what you have envisioned, you need to quit your job.
Reposted by FriendlyFiend
Sometimes the dice rolls don't go your way... Tune in this Saturday for an Unconventional GMs session of @chaosium.bsky.social #Pendragon recorded live in Kyiv. Will our bold knights be able to bring The Knight Without Pity to justice? Let's play to find out! #ttrpg #ttrpgs
December 18, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Sometimes the dice rolls don't go your way... Tune in this Saturday for an Unconventional GMs session of @chaosium.bsky.social #Pendragon recorded live in Kyiv. Will our bold knights be able to bring The Knight Without Pity to justice? Let's play to find out! #ttrpg #ttrpgs
Reposted by FriendlyFiend
Here is my #TTRPGYearInReview 2025
Coriolis: Third Horizon
Cosmic Dark
Dragonbane
Liminal
Liminal Horror
Pressure
Questworlds
Swords of the Serpentine/Bosphorus
Tales of the Old West
The Dee Sanction
The Electric State
The Silt Verses
The Terror Beneath
The Yellow King RPG
Trail of Cthulhu
Troika
Coriolis: Third Horizon
Cosmic Dark
Dragonbane
Liminal
Liminal Horror
Pressure
Questworlds
Swords of the Serpentine/Bosphorus
Tales of the Old West
The Dee Sanction
The Electric State
The Silt Verses
The Terror Beneath
The Yellow King RPG
Trail of Cthulhu
Troika
Here's my #TTRPGYearInReview 2025.
Outgunned (played & GMed)
Paranoia
The Troubleshooters (GMed)
Romance of the Perilous Lands
Shiver
Trail of Cthulhu
Against Time and Death
The Skeletons
The Hunted
Liminal Horror
Gallows Corner
DIE
Goblin Market
Outgunned (played & GMed)
Paranoia
The Troubleshooters (GMed)
Romance of the Perilous Lands
Shiver
Trail of Cthulhu
Against Time and Death
The Skeletons
The Hunted
Liminal Horror
Gallows Corner
DIE
Goblin Market
Here's my #TTRPGYearInReview 2025.
Pathfinder 2e (played)
Hyperborea (ran)
Achtung! Cthulhu 2d20 (ran)
Dragonbane (played)
DCC (played)
Twilight 2000 (played)
Cy/Borg (played)
Tales of the Old West (ran)
Dolmenwood (played)
Gamma World 1e (played)
A Quiet Year (played)
Pathfinder 2e (played)
Hyperborea (ran)
Achtung! Cthulhu 2d20 (ran)
Dragonbane (played)
DCC (played)
Twilight 2000 (played)
Cy/Borg (played)
Tales of the Old West (ran)
Dolmenwood (played)
Gamma World 1e (played)
A Quiet Year (played)
December 18, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Here is my #TTRPGYearInReview 2025
Coriolis: Third Horizon
Cosmic Dark
Dragonbane
Liminal
Liminal Horror
Pressure
Questworlds
Swords of the Serpentine/Bosphorus
Tales of the Old West
The Dee Sanction
The Electric State
The Silt Verses
The Terror Beneath
The Yellow King RPG
Trail of Cthulhu
Troika
Coriolis: Third Horizon
Cosmic Dark
Dragonbane
Liminal
Liminal Horror
Pressure
Questworlds
Swords of the Serpentine/Bosphorus
Tales of the Old West
The Dee Sanction
The Electric State
The Silt Verses
The Terror Beneath
The Yellow King RPG
Trail of Cthulhu
Troika
Here's my #TTRPGYearInReview 2025.
Outgunned (played & GMed)
Paranoia
The Troubleshooters (GMed)
Romance of the Perilous Lands
Shiver
Trail of Cthulhu
Against Time and Death
The Skeletons
The Hunted
Liminal Horror
Gallows Corner
DIE
Goblin Market
Outgunned (played & GMed)
Paranoia
The Troubleshooters (GMed)
Romance of the Perilous Lands
Shiver
Trail of Cthulhu
Against Time and Death
The Skeletons
The Hunted
Liminal Horror
Gallows Corner
DIE
Goblin Market
Here's my #TTRPGYearInReview 2025.
Pathfinder 2e (played)
Hyperborea (ran)
Achtung! Cthulhu 2d20 (ran)
Dragonbane (played)
DCC (played)
Twilight 2000 (played)
Cy/Borg (played)
Tales of the Old West (ran)
Dolmenwood (played)
Gamma World 1e (played)
A Quiet Year (played)
Pathfinder 2e (played)
Hyperborea (ran)
Achtung! Cthulhu 2d20 (ran)
Dragonbane (played)
DCC (played)
Twilight 2000 (played)
Cy/Borg (played)
Tales of the Old West (ran)
Dolmenwood (played)
Gamma World 1e (played)
A Quiet Year (played)
What's your #ttrpg years in review look like?
December 18, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Here's my #TTRPGYearInReview 2025.
Outgunned (played & GMed)
Paranoia
The Troubleshooters (GMed)
Romance of the Perilous Lands
Shiver
Trail of Cthulhu
Against Time and Death
The Skeletons
The Hunted
Liminal Horror
Gallows Corner
DIE
Goblin Market
Outgunned (played & GMed)
Paranoia
The Troubleshooters (GMed)
Romance of the Perilous Lands
Shiver
Trail of Cthulhu
Against Time and Death
The Skeletons
The Hunted
Liminal Horror
Gallows Corner
DIE
Goblin Market
Oh dear, sweet heaven! This sounds utterly unmissable.
Hey, new announcement for DIE RPG. Next year, @rowanrookanddecard.bsky.social will be crowdfunding DIE RPG: THE METADUNGEON - a huge dungeon where each level is explicitly about a different period of RPG history.
@mytholder.bsky.social has gone berserk. Sign up!
www.backerkit.com/call_to_acti...
@mytholder.bsky.social has gone berserk. Sign up!
www.backerkit.com/call_to_acti...
Get Ready for DIE: Metadungeon
From Rowan, Rook and Decard - Get Ready for DIE: Metadungeon
www.backerkit.com
December 18, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Oh dear, sweet heaven! This sounds utterly unmissable.
Reposted by FriendlyFiend
whoever is writing reality lately is really getting heavy-handed with it. no subtlety at all
WATCH: Replica of the Statue of Liberty topples due to strong winds in Guaíba, Brazil
December 15, 2025 at 11:25 PM
whoever is writing reality lately is really getting heavy-handed with it. no subtlety at all
Reposted by FriendlyFiend
I love Call of Cthulhu’s idea of chases way more than I love running the actual rules at the table. So I stole some tricks from other systems and boiled it down to one simple track and two rolls that actually keep things moving.
blog.monkeyx.games/2025/12/16/c...
blog.monkeyx.games/2025/12/16/c...
A Simple Call of Cthulhu Chase System
I like Call of Cthulhu’s chases in theory. On the page, they’re clever: abstract locations, hazards, vehicles, movement rates. At the table, though, I always hit the same snag: I can’t remember the…
blog.monkeyx.games
December 16, 2025 at 1:11 PM
I love Call of Cthulhu’s idea of chases way more than I love running the actual rules at the table. So I stole some tricks from other systems and boiled it down to one simple track and two rolls that actually keep things moving.
blog.monkeyx.games/2025/12/16/c...
blog.monkeyx.games/2025/12/16/c...
Reposted by FriendlyFiend
It seems that bsky has turned off the setting that some people had on to remind us all to add ALT TEXT - you might want to check and see if yours has been switched off, then you can switch it on again 🥰🔥🙏
Why is it suddenly a trend to stop using ALT text?
I know some people have their own issues that make it hard to add it, but when I see folks who were using it all the time suddenly stop.. it just seems like it was performative / fake before and now it's off trend Disabled people don't matter?😳😢
I know some people have their own issues that make it hard to add it, but when I see folks who were using it all the time suddenly stop.. it just seems like it was performative / fake before and now it's off trend Disabled people don't matter?😳😢
a close up of a man 's face with the words sugar-by-the-spoonful.tumblr below it
Alt: loki looks sad and crying and says please use alt text, please
media.tenor.com
December 14, 2025 at 12:14 PM
It seems that bsky has turned off the setting that some people had on to remind us all to add ALT TEXT - you might want to check and see if yours has been switched off, then you can switch it on again 🥰🔥🙏
Reposted by FriendlyFiend
this field biologist does a great job highlighting the insidiousness of AI editing
these one-click AI edit buttons are incredibly appealing to many photographers, amateurs and professionals alike, and are framed as innocuous
this is worth sharing and educating people about
these one-click AI edit buttons are incredibly appealing to many photographers, amateurs and professionals alike, and are framed as innocuous
this is worth sharing and educating people about
December 15, 2025 at 2:21 AM
this field biologist does a great job highlighting the insidiousness of AI editing
these one-click AI edit buttons are incredibly appealing to many photographers, amateurs and professionals alike, and are framed as innocuous
this is worth sharing and educating people about
these one-click AI edit buttons are incredibly appealing to many photographers, amateurs and professionals alike, and are framed as innocuous
this is worth sharing and educating people about