Ian Cooper
@icooper.bsky.social
Principal Engineer, speaker, gamer, geek. Tattooed, pierced, and bearded. The 'guv' on https://github.com/BrighterCommand Line Editor at Chaosium for QuestWorlds: https://github.com/ChaosiumInc/QuestWorlds
#Tech - tech posts
#TTRPG - rpg posts
#Tech - tech posts
#TTRPG - rpg posts
As 2025 ends, we have started to think about Brighter's roadmap for 2026. V11 would be DEC 2026 at earliest (we don't like to do major version changes more frequently than that) but there is a lot we have planned for V10.
Brighter Roadmap for 2026 · BrighterCommand Brighter · Discussion #3958
Introduction As its new year, I thought it might be worth talking about our roadmap for 2026. Some of this is under construction, some no one has looked at yet. The earliest we would release a V11 ...
github.com
December 31, 2025 at 3:15 PM
As 2025 ends, we have started to think about Brighter's roadmap for 2026. V11 would be DEC 2026 at earliest (we don't like to do major version changes more frequently than that) but there is a lot we have planned for V10.
Reposted by Ian Cooper
Happy Twixmas!
We hope you’re enjoying some well-earned time off. If you're craving a little quiet though, why not make a start on your proposal? Our CFP is open til 9th Jan so you’ve still got time. But remember, the more people you show it to, the better!
Submit here ➡️ devoxxuk26.cfp.dev
We hope you’re enjoying some well-earned time off. If you're craving a little quiet though, why not make a start on your proposal? Our CFP is open til 9th Jan so you’ve still got time. But remember, the more people you show it to, the better!
Submit here ➡️ devoxxuk26.cfp.dev
December 29, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Happy Twixmas!
We hope you’re enjoying some well-earned time off. If you're craving a little quiet though, why not make a start on your proposal? Our CFP is open til 9th Jan so you’ve still got time. But remember, the more people you show it to, the better!
Submit here ➡️ devoxxuk26.cfp.dev
We hope you’re enjoying some well-earned time off. If you're craving a little quiet though, why not make a start on your proposal? Our CFP is open til 9th Jan so you’ve still got time. But remember, the more people you show it to, the better!
Submit here ➡️ devoxxuk26.cfp.dev
I think that a simpler question is: what are rules for? After all we can role-play without them, and often did as children.
The simple answer might be that rules arbitrate outcomes where we want uncertainty to create tension.
The simple answer might be that rules arbitrate outcomes where we want uncertainty to create tension.
This is a good post on a topic near and dear to my heart, and I agree with the emotion of it, but I’m kind of a jerk and also gonna niggle a bit.
But most critically, the key point that treating ideas like “support” as binaries is bullshit? 100% spot on. But I think there’s some use in it.
But most critically, the key point that treating ideas like “support” as binaries is bullshit? 100% spot on. But I think there’s some use in it.
I've been thinking a lot about Batfam headcanons, cozy roleplay in D&D, and what it means to assert whether or not a game supports a certain kind of play. So I wrote down my thoughts and turned them into an inaugural post on my new itch blog! seraphim-seraphina.itch.io/my-blog/devl...
December 26, 2025 at 3:56 PM
I think that a simpler question is: what are rules for? After all we can role-play without them, and often did as children.
The simple answer might be that rules arbitrate outcomes where we want uncertainty to create tension.
The simple answer might be that rules arbitrate outcomes where we want uncertainty to create tension.
Reposted by Ian Cooper
I'm often baffled by some folk's antipathy to X-Cards, Session Zero and other things that can make games better
"For me, safety tools are not about wrapping the game in bubble wrap. Rather, they create enough trust that everyone feels free to play hard, knowing there’s a brake pedal if needed."
"For me, safety tools are not about wrapping the game in bubble wrap. Rather, they create enough trust that everyone feels free to play hard, knowing there’s a brake pedal if needed."
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 11:17 PM
I'm often baffled by some folk's antipathy to X-Cards, Session Zero and other things that can make games better
"For me, safety tools are not about wrapping the game in bubble wrap. Rather, they create enough trust that everyone feels free to play hard, knowing there’s a brake pedal if needed."
"For me, safety tools are not about wrapping the game in bubble wrap. Rather, they create enough trust that everyone feels free to play hard, knowing there’s a brake pedal if needed."
Reposted by Ian Cooper
I would like to wish everyone a Very Merry "things published in 1930 will enter the public domain in 6 days."
itch.io/jam/gaming-l...
itch.io/jam/gaming-l...
Gaming Like It's 1930
A game jam from 2026-01-01 to 2026-02-01 hosted by Randy Lubin & Copia Gaming. A new year means new material entering the public domain! Starting January 1st 2026, works from 1930 are free to use and ...
itch.io
December 25, 2025 at 4:00 PM
I would like to wish everyone a Very Merry "things published in 1930 will enter the public domain in 6 days."
itch.io/jam/gaming-l...
itch.io/jam/gaming-l...
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 Ian Cooper
⚔️SOMETIME LOFTY TOWERS, our first ever novel, is out now! ⚔️
Featuring gorgeous cover art by @azuremeraki.bsky.social, interior illustrations, calligraphy drop caps, and 🩸crimson spray edges🩸, this traditionally printed paperback is a pleasure to hold!
👉 newedgeswordandsorcery.com/product-cate... 👈
Featuring gorgeous cover art by @azuremeraki.bsky.social, interior illustrations, calligraphy drop caps, and 🩸crimson spray edges🩸, this traditionally printed paperback is a pleasure to hold!
👉 newedgeswordandsorcery.com/product-cate... 👈
December 8, 2025 at 1:28 PM
⚔️SOMETIME LOFTY TOWERS, our first ever novel, is out now! ⚔️
Featuring gorgeous cover art by @azuremeraki.bsky.social, interior illustrations, calligraphy drop caps, and 🩸crimson spray edges🩸, this traditionally printed paperback is a pleasure to hold!
👉 newedgeswordandsorcery.com/product-cate... 👈
Featuring gorgeous cover art by @azuremeraki.bsky.social, interior illustrations, calligraphy drop caps, and 🩸crimson spray edges🩸, this traditionally printed paperback is a pleasure to hold!
👉 newedgeswordandsorcery.com/product-cate... 👈
Reposted by Ian Cooper
Here it is. The final 24 hours. You've helped coax banked embers into a steady flame. Tell me, what is one thing you'll bring with you into What-Comes-Next? Seeds? Thread? A good kitchen knife? What will you make of what's left? Together, let's light up the world.
www.kickstarter.com/projects/lum...
www.kickstarter.com/projects/lum...
Apocalypse World: Burned Over
The 3rd edition of the groundbreaking original.
www.kickstarter.com
December 19, 2025 at 4:47 AM
Here it is. The final 24 hours. You've helped coax banked embers into a steady flame. Tell me, what is one thing you'll bring with you into What-Comes-Next? Seeds? Thread? A good kitchen knife? What will you make of what's left? Together, let's light up the world.
www.kickstarter.com/projects/lum...
www.kickstarter.com/projects/lum...
Reposted by Ian Cooper
#GOTOpodcast, @icooper.bsky.social, @davidwhitney.co.uk & Hannes Lowette talk about how architecture really works at scale:
• sustainable vs “slash-and-burn” systems
• emergent design vs intentional design
• why cargo-cult patterns hurt more than they help
🎧 gotopia.tech/podcas
• sustainable vs “slash-and-burn” systems
• emergent design vs intentional design
• why cargo-cult patterns hurt more than they help
🎧 gotopia.tech/podcas
December 19, 2025 at 1:01 PM
#GOTOpodcast, @icooper.bsky.social, @davidwhitney.co.uk & Hannes Lowette talk about how architecture really works at scale:
• sustainable vs “slash-and-burn” systems
• emergent design vs intentional design
• why cargo-cult patterns hurt more than they help
🎧 gotopia.tech/podcas
• sustainable vs “slash-and-burn” systems
• emergent design vs intentional design
• why cargo-cult patterns hurt more than they help
🎧 gotopia.tech/podcas
Reposted by Ian Cooper
When you drift through some unheralded point in your 40s, you start accumulating actuarial risks.
The odds of illness, heart attack, or the chances losing of a parent go up.
But there is another risk- particularly acute for men.
There is a risk you will lose your capacity for joy.
The odds of illness, heart attack, or the chances losing of a parent go up.
But there is another risk- particularly acute for men.
There is a risk you will lose your capacity for joy.
December 14, 2025 at 8:50 AM
When you drift through some unheralded point in your 40s, you start accumulating actuarial risks.
The odds of illness, heart attack, or the chances losing of a parent go up.
But there is another risk- particularly acute for men.
There is a risk you will lose your capacity for joy.
The odds of illness, heart attack, or the chances losing of a parent go up.
But there is another risk- particularly acute for men.
There is a risk you will lose your capacity for joy.
The other day, I forgot my phone at home. I was in an area I knew had access to funds. No biggie.
And it was good to think, in idle moments, overconsumed.
What struck me, though, was my inability to look up answers to the questions my thoughts created.
And it was good to think, in idle moments, overconsumed.
What struck me, though, was my inability to look up answers to the questions my thoughts created.
December 14, 2025 at 10:09 AM
The other day, I forgot my phone at home. I was in an area I knew had access to funds. No biggie.
And it was good to think, in idle moments, overconsumed.
What struck me, though, was my inability to look up answers to the questions my thoughts created.
And it was good to think, in idle moments, overconsumed.
What struck me, though, was my inability to look up answers to the questions my thoughts created.
A tragedy that we have allowed hate to triumph at the BBC. The damage to the brand is coming from within the house.
A good man, who stood on principle.
A good man, who stood on principle.
Very sad that I felt I had no choice but to resign from The Infinite Monkey Cage - a victory for the transphobes and other bigots - I did it because so much of the media has chosen to believe the kind and empathetic people are a fiction - they are real and so often unrepresented.
December 13, 2025 at 10:27 AM
A tragedy that we have allowed hate to triumph at the BBC. The damage to the brand is coming from within the house.
A good man, who stood on principle.
A good man, who stood on principle.
For those of you still on V9 of Brighter, our bug fix release 9.9.13 fixes an issue where the stale offset sweeper was not running and clearing stale offsets. (Fix also in 10.0.3)
December 11, 2025 at 11:30 AM
For those of you still on V9 of Brighter, our bug fix release 9.9.13 fixes an issue where the stale offset sweeper was not running and clearing stale offsets. (Fix also in 10.0.3)
I scroll through social media, and I see someone talking about advice for prepping - and I naively think, oh, someone with some tips on how to get ready for their weekly D&D game.
And then, after investigating, I discover they are talking about the end times...
And then, after investigating, I discover they are talking about the end times...
December 11, 2025 at 9:19 AM
I scroll through social media, and I see someone talking about advice for prepping - and I naively think, oh, someone with some tips on how to get ready for their weekly D&D game.
And then, after investigating, I discover they are talking about the end times...
And then, after investigating, I discover they are talking about the end times...
Brighter team meeting is live: www.youtube.com/live/396IugH...
Brighter Catch Up
YouTube video by Ian Cooper
www.youtube.com
December 10, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Brighter team meeting is live: www.youtube.com/live/396IugH...
We have pushed 10.0.3 of Brighter. Mostly bug fixes, but includes support for TickerQ as a scheduler, and EF integration for the MongoDb Outbox. Thanks to all our existing and new contributors: www.nuget.org/packages/Par...
Paramore.Brighter 10.0.3
The Command Dispatcher pattern is an addition to the Command design pattern that decouples the dispatcher for a service from its execution. A Command Dispatcher component maps commands to handlers. A…
www.nuget.org
December 9, 2025 at 11:00 AM
We have pushed 10.0.3 of Brighter. Mostly bug fixes, but includes support for TickerQ as a scheduler, and EF integration for the MongoDb Outbox. Thanks to all our existing and new contributors: www.nuget.org/packages/Par...
Reposted by Ian Cooper
Liminal from @thetweedmeister.bsky.social
The Dee Sanction from @paulbaldowski.bsky.social
Swords of the Serpentine from @pelgranepress.bsky.social & @kevinkulp.bsky.social
Questworlds: Pioneer Space from @chaosium.bsky.social & @icooper.bsky.social
The Dee Sanction from @paulbaldowski.bsky.social
Swords of the Serpentine from @pelgranepress.bsky.social & @kevinkulp.bsky.social
Questworlds: Pioneer Space from @chaosium.bsky.social & @icooper.bsky.social
If you wanted to run say, four different games that weren't Dungeons & Dragons in hopes of showing people the breadth of the TTRPG hobby, what games would you run for them? Assume that they are sort of familiar with 5E.
December 6, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Liminal from @thetweedmeister.bsky.social
The Dee Sanction from @paulbaldowski.bsky.social
Swords of the Serpentine from @pelgranepress.bsky.social & @kevinkulp.bsky.social
Questworlds: Pioneer Space from @chaosium.bsky.social & @icooper.bsky.social
The Dee Sanction from @paulbaldowski.bsky.social
Swords of the Serpentine from @pelgranepress.bsky.social & @kevinkulp.bsky.social
Questworlds: Pioneer Space from @chaosium.bsky.social & @icooper.bsky.social
Reposted by Ian Cooper
Currently dorking out over this graph about child mortality with my brother. Just mind boggling to take in.
December 2, 2025 at 5:00 AM
Currently dorking out over this graph about child mortality with my brother. Just mind boggling to take in.
Look, we also voted for Brexit, and Boaty McBoatface, but my faith in the wisdom of the British people has been given a lift:
www.theguardian.com/film/2025/de...
www.theguardian.com/film/2025/de...
British public’s verdict is in: Die Hard is not a Christmas movie
Survey also reveals Britons’ favourite festive film, views on tear-jerkers and family cinema trips
www.theguardian.com
December 1, 2025 at 11:37 PM
Look, we also voted for Brexit, and Boaty McBoatface, but my faith in the wisdom of the British people has been given a lift:
www.theguardian.com/film/2025/de...
www.theguardian.com/film/2025/de...
Reposted by Ian Cooper
Barely a day left in this thing, which means I'll be shutting up pretty soon, one way or another!
November 30, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Barely a day left in this thing, which means I'll be shutting up pretty soon, one way or another!
Catching up on Mystery of Aaravos S4, whilst doing laundry.
It appears that in order to let us know that Claudia’s Elf boyfriend annoying they have made him…
Australian.
It appears that in order to let us know that Claudia’s Elf boyfriend annoying they have made him…
Australian.
November 30, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Catching up on Mystery of Aaravos S4, whilst doing laundry.
It appears that in order to let us know that Claudia’s Elf boyfriend annoying they have made him…
Australian.
It appears that in order to let us know that Claudia’s Elf boyfriend annoying they have made him…
Australian.
November 29, 2025 at 9:43 AM
For those asking, we will have hardback QuestWorlds at Dragonmeet, and I will be signing copies
November 28, 2025 at 6:46 PM
For those asking, we will have hardback QuestWorlds at Dragonmeet, and I will be signing copies
Reposted by Ian Cooper
New on the blog this week!
Our experimental archaeologist @experimentalkearns.bsky.social has shared a highlight from her recent trip to Italy, where she came face to face with the Copper Age legend himself, Ötzi the Iceman... ❄️
www.butserancientfarm.co.uk/blog/2025/11...
Our experimental archaeologist @experimentalkearns.bsky.social has shared a highlight from her recent trip to Italy, where she came face to face with the Copper Age legend himself, Ötzi the Iceman... ❄️
www.butserancientfarm.co.uk/blog/2025/11...
Frozen in Time: Coming Face to Face with Ötzi the Iceman — Butser Ancient Farm
This week, our Experimental Archaeologist Therese Kearns shares a highlight from her recent trip to Italy, where she came face to face with Ötzi the Iceman.
www.butserancientfarm.co.uk
November 28, 2025 at 10:30 AM
New on the blog this week!
Our experimental archaeologist @experimentalkearns.bsky.social has shared a highlight from her recent trip to Italy, where she came face to face with the Copper Age legend himself, Ötzi the Iceman... ❄️
www.butserancientfarm.co.uk/blog/2025/11...
Our experimental archaeologist @experimentalkearns.bsky.social has shared a highlight from her recent trip to Italy, where she came face to face with the Copper Age legend himself, Ötzi the Iceman... ❄️
www.butserancientfarm.co.uk/blog/2025/11...
Reposted by Ian Cooper
Hey all, do I have any UK based concept artists following me (or who knows anyone) who would be up for a long term 22 month contract working on Dragonwilds at Jagex? Remote with a very occasional day in office in Cambridge. Development experience and fantasy genre work is a must. Mid level role.
November 27, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Hey all, do I have any UK based concept artists following me (or who knows anyone) who would be up for a long term 22 month contract working on Dragonwilds at Jagex? Remote with a very occasional day in office in Cambridge. Development experience and fantasy genre work is a must. Mid level role.