Joey Haeck
@jamesjhaeck.bsky.social
ENnie Award-winning game designer. Freelance Writer & Editor for: Wizards of the Coast, Critical Role, Darrington Press, MCDM, Ghostfire Gaming.
(They/them)
(They/them)
Pinned
Omg try heating TJs gyro meat and then pan-toasting chickpeas in the rendered fat 👀👀👀
January 1, 2026 at 11:51 PM
Omg try heating TJs gyro meat and then pan-toasting chickpeas in the rendered fat 👀👀👀
Reposted by Joey Haeck
2026 is going to be my year and that is a threat
(I listened to Hopes and Dreams on repeat making this)
(I listened to Hopes and Dreams on repeat making this)
December 31, 2025 at 2:34 PM
2026 is going to be my year and that is a threat
(I listened to Hopes and Dreams on repeat making this)
(I listened to Hopes and Dreams on repeat making this)
December 31, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Reposted by Joey Haeck
my favorite pieces from 2025
December 17, 2025 at 10:49 PM
my favorite pieces from 2025
Reposted by Joey Haeck
I have a lot of respect for the Knives Out movies just as an exercise in people making solid B+ level entertainment where everyone seems to be enjoying the experience without it needing it to win Oscar’s or make 3 billion dollars. It’s like going to a good steakhouse.
December 29, 2025 at 9:34 PM
I have a lot of respect for the Knives Out movies just as an exercise in people making solid B+ level entertainment where everyone seems to be enjoying the experience without it needing it to win Oscar’s or make 3 billion dollars. It’s like going to a good steakhouse.
Reposted by Joey Haeck
the first time in history this shit has happened. first time and it's on camera. what a privilege
another robot highlight for 2025: man wearing humanoid mocap suit kicks himself in the balls
December 27, 2025 at 6:33 PM
the first time in history this shit has happened. first time and it's on camera. what a privilege
Reposted by Joey Haeck
If you’re a fan of TTRPGs and are coming from Twitter, first off congratulations for leaving this aweful platform.
Second, the community here is great so here’s a nice starter pack of great TTRPG content creators to follow on Bluesky
Welcome!
go.bsky.app/BrCdFvX
Second, the community here is great so here’s a nice starter pack of great TTRPG content creators to follow on Bluesky
Welcome!
go.bsky.app/BrCdFvX
December 27, 2025 at 3:54 AM
If you’re a fan of TTRPGs and are coming from Twitter, first off congratulations for leaving this aweful platform.
Second, the community here is great so here’s a nice starter pack of great TTRPG content creators to follow on Bluesky
Welcome!
go.bsky.app/BrCdFvX
Second, the community here is great so here’s a nice starter pack of great TTRPG content creators to follow on Bluesky
Welcome!
go.bsky.app/BrCdFvX
Reposted by Joey Haeck
Happy Christmas y'all. Shit's fucked but a better world remains possible.
December 24, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Happy Christmas y'all. Shit's fucked but a better world remains possible.
Reposted by Joey Haeck
Created a new horizontal composition of this image of Gandalf on the Bridge of Khazad-dûm to use for gaming playmats (newly available and they look great!)
Love how the Balrog is now suggested with a swirl of the whip!
You Cannot Pass!
Original oil painting 30" x 24", 2007
Love how the Balrog is now suggested with a swirl of the whip!
You Cannot Pass!
Original oil painting 30" x 24", 2007
December 24, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Created a new horizontal composition of this image of Gandalf on the Bridge of Khazad-dûm to use for gaming playmats (newly available and they look great!)
Love how the Balrog is now suggested with a swirl of the whip!
You Cannot Pass!
Original oil painting 30" x 24", 2007
Love how the Balrog is now suggested with a swirl of the whip!
You Cannot Pass!
Original oil painting 30" x 24", 2007
Reposted by Joey Haeck
𝕹𝖆𝖎𝖆𝖉 💧
From 'Beyond The Fields We Know: An Almanac or Midwestern Prairie Spirits.'
From 'Beyond The Fields We Know: An Almanac or Midwestern Prairie Spirits.'
December 23, 2025 at 5:55 AM
𝕹𝖆𝖎𝖆𝖉 💧
From 'Beyond The Fields We Know: An Almanac or Midwestern Prairie Spirits.'
From 'Beyond The Fields We Know: An Almanac or Midwestern Prairie Spirits.'
Reposted by Joey Haeck
I saw the GenAI creep in the studios I worked for this year. Everything from the initial concept art phase to finished assets. This is why teams who care about human work is going to be so important to the future of our industry.
NEW: I spoke to Larian boss Swen Vincke about their ambitions for their new RPG Divinity, cutting down development time, pressures from Baldur's Gate 3, why BG3 wouldn't have happened without Tencent, how Larian uses generative AI, and much more www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...
‘Baldur’s Gate 3’ Maker Promises ‘Divinity’ Will Be ‘Next Level’
‘I think this one is going to be way better’ than ‘Baldur’s Gate 3,’ Larian CEO Vincke says
www.bloomberg.com
December 20, 2025 at 12:11 AM
I saw the GenAI creep in the studios I worked for this year. Everything from the initial concept art phase to finished assets. This is why teams who care about human work is going to be so important to the future of our industry.
Reposted by Joey Haeck
We live in a weird time. It’s only right to get weirder yourself
December 20, 2025 at 5:56 AM
We live in a weird time. It’s only right to get weirder yourself
Reposted by Joey Haeck
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 Joey Haeck
Techbros seem to love Tolkien, so here's an analogy to help you understand what genAI is.
GenAI is The One Ring. You think your use is justified, b/c you don't have evil in your heart.
But it came from evil, it is intended for evil purpose, & anything you do with it will be twisted to that end.
GenAI is The One Ring. You think your use is justified, b/c you don't have evil in your heart.
But it came from evil, it is intended for evil purpose, & anything you do with it will be twisted to that end.
December 17, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Techbros seem to love Tolkien, so here's an analogy to help you understand what genAI is.
GenAI is The One Ring. You think your use is justified, b/c you don't have evil in your heart.
But it came from evil, it is intended for evil purpose, & anything you do with it will be twisted to that end.
GenAI is The One Ring. You think your use is justified, b/c you don't have evil in your heart.
But it came from evil, it is intended for evil purpose, & anything you do with it will be twisted to that end.
AI imitations of creative work (art, writing, etc.) aren't bad because it's "ugly". They already look "good enough" to satisfy most people. AI is bad because it's laundering plagiarism of real human artists AND making us ever-more dependent upon trillion-dollar tech companies.
December 18, 2025 at 5:57 AM
AI imitations of creative work (art, writing, etc.) aren't bad because it's "ugly". They already look "good enough" to satisfy most people. AI is bad because it's laundering plagiarism of real human artists AND making us ever-more dependent upon trillion-dollar tech companies.
Reposted by Joey Haeck
A new Table Talk Interview is out today! In this episode, I chat with @jamesjhaeck.bsky.social, former lead writer for DnDBeyond, lead writer and GM for Dungeons&Cabins, and co-host of @ghostfiregaming.bsky.social's Eldritch Lorecast, and discuss running large scale events and finding creative muses
Table Talk - Interview with James Haeck — DnDark Podcast
Interview with James Haeck
www.dndarkpodcast.com
December 17, 2025 at 1:10 PM
A new Table Talk Interview is out today! In this episode, I chat with @jamesjhaeck.bsky.social, former lead writer for DnDBeyond, lead writer and GM for Dungeons&Cabins, and co-host of @ghostfiregaming.bsky.social's Eldritch Lorecast, and discuss running large scale events and finding creative muses
Reposted by Joey Haeck
I feel like starting a fight I won’t finish.
Which is the primary purpose of a ttrpg rule book? (You can choose A or B, you can’t say both.)
A) To teach readers the rules
B) To be a reference guide for the rules
Which is the primary purpose of a ttrpg rule book? (You can choose A or B, you can’t say both.)
A) To teach readers the rules
B) To be a reference guide for the rules
December 17, 2025 at 8:51 PM
I feel like starting a fight I won’t finish.
Which is the primary purpose of a ttrpg rule book? (You can choose A or B, you can’t say both.)
A) To teach readers the rules
B) To be a reference guide for the rules
Which is the primary purpose of a ttrpg rule book? (You can choose A or B, you can’t say both.)
A) To teach readers the rules
B) To be a reference guide for the rules
It's my birthday today! Please roll a die and tell a tall tale, and I'll raise a glass to you!
December 16, 2025 at 8:53 PM
It's my birthday today! Please roll a die and tell a tall tale, and I'll raise a glass to you!
Reposted by Joey Haeck
An old journal comic repost to remind myself that the time is now and I’m not stuck
December 15, 2025 at 4:57 PM
An old journal comic repost to remind myself that the time is now and I’m not stuck
I can't be the only one who sees it 💀
December 15, 2025 at 10:44 PM
I can't be the only one who sees it 💀
Reposted by Joey Haeck
I think the fundamental gap here is that non-creative people think that creative people make things for the end product, when in fact it’s the act of creation and not the end point that makes it worthwhile.
I have grown to believe that excessive wealth does something to your brain that is analogous to a serious head injury
December 15, 2025 at 6:26 AM
I think the fundamental gap here is that non-creative people think that creative people make things for the end product, when in fact it’s the act of creation and not the end point that makes it worthwhile.
Reposted by Joey Haeck
Sea of Cortez Research Center - Mazatlan, Mexico (2023) r/brutalism
December 15, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Sea of Cortez Research Center - Mazatlan, Mexico (2023) r/brutalism
Reposted by Joey Haeck
So in my book Violent Triangles I take game artists back to fundamentals of game art so you understand what is going on under the hood of your game engine and the tricks to exploit it, all presented in clear visual diagrams.
Stuff like rasterisation, anti-aliasing, overdraw, texture memory etc.
Stuff like rasterisation, anti-aliasing, overdraw, texture memory etc.
December 13, 2025 at 12:47 PM
So in my book Violent Triangles I take game artists back to fundamentals of game art so you understand what is going on under the hood of your game engine and the tricks to exploit it, all presented in clear visual diagrams.
Stuff like rasterisation, anti-aliasing, overdraw, texture memory etc.
Stuff like rasterisation, anti-aliasing, overdraw, texture memory etc.
Reposted by Joey Haeck
I’m happy to share that I’m stepping into the role of Game Design Director for the Dungeons & Dragons TRPG. I'm immensely grateful to my team, my mentors, and everyone who has supported my career along the way.
A short 🧵 below!
A short 🧵 below!
December 11, 2025 at 8:12 PM
I’m happy to share that I’m stepping into the role of Game Design Director for the Dungeons & Dragons TRPG. I'm immensely grateful to my team, my mentors, and everyone who has supported my career along the way.
A short 🧵 below!
A short 🧵 below!
Reposted by Joey Haeck
"You shouldn't make art for the money" buddy I'll take it one step further and say we shouldn't have to labor for capital at all but in the meantime pay an artist
December 11, 2025 at 7:02 PM
"You shouldn't make art for the money" buddy I'll take it one step further and say we shouldn't have to labor for capital at all but in the meantime pay an artist