Aaron Marks
@levelonewonk.bsky.social
The 'Level One Wonk' of Cannibal Halfling Gaming: https://cannibalhalflinggaming.com/
Writer, cyclist, energy analyst. Lead instigator of New Wonk Media (https://newwonkmedia.com/)
Writer, cyclist, energy analyst. Lead instigator of New Wonk Media (https://newwonkmedia.com/)
Pinned
Aaron Marks
@levelonewonk.bsky.social
· Nov 1
A manifesto for wonky storytelling
Storytelling is primary to being human, to being human here and now in the 21st century. Telling stories helps us understand who we are, what's going on around us, and how to imagine a better world. Storytelling is also what separated the roleplaying game from the wargame, and why the former has exploded in popularity as people were finally able to watch game sessions from the comfort of their own homes.
newwonkmedia.com
I'm starting New Wonk Media, a site for fiction and more narrative exploration of RPGs. This first post, for myself as much as for any audience, is attempting to explain why.
Apropos of absolutely nothing, while I enjoy reading many of the long threads on here no amount of eyeballs will convince me to jump on that train. I write better in paragraphs and I'm at my best with 2000 word mini-essays.
February 19, 2026 at 10:22 PM
Apropos of absolutely nothing, while I enjoy reading many of the long threads on here no amount of eyeballs will convince me to jump on that train. I write better in paragraphs and I'm at my best with 2000 word mini-essays.
Interesting thread. I'm not sure I'm ever going to be completely convinced about the positive effects of the OGL, especially given the timing. The Forge started in 1999, RPGNow in 2001. BTRC started in 2003, arguably the first PDF-only TTRPG designer. Did the OGL create growth or just capture it?
Dancey’s impact was really interesting to me, because I am intimately familiar with how opening up an RPG was prior to the OGL. It was flawed, but it was light years ahead of other options (creative commons wasn’t yet suited, and most other open licenses were software specific).
Sometimes you give Dancey the benefit of the doubt because OGL created an industry boom in the '00s.
But you have to remember he did it for Machiavellian reasons, and successfully killed any number of young RPG publishers.
Late-era capitalism is probably the theme the runs through his history.
But you have to remember he did it for Machiavellian reasons, and successfully killed any number of young RPG publishers.
Late-era capitalism is probably the theme the runs through his history.
February 19, 2026 at 7:45 PM
Interesting thread. I'm not sure I'm ever going to be completely convinced about the positive effects of the OGL, especially given the timing. The Forge started in 1999, RPGNow in 2001. BTRC started in 2003, arguably the first PDF-only TTRPG designer. Did the OGL create growth or just capture it?
Reposted by Aaron Marks
Pre-Ryan-Dancey, D&D worked to split up its own fan base among incompatible worlds and sub-worlds. Post-Ryan-Dancey, D&D consolidated its fan base—and a fair portion of everyone else's fan base to boot. 1/2
As Ryan Dancey discourse is crossing the timeline, a reminder of what the OGL was *actually* supposed to achieve. It wasn't some benevolent gift to the community; Dancey was trying to drive system competitors out of the market.
February 18, 2026 at 6:04 PM
Pre-Ryan-Dancey, D&D worked to split up its own fan base among incompatible worlds and sub-worlds. Post-Ryan-Dancey, D&D consolidated its fan base—and a fair portion of everyone else's fan base to boot. 1/2
Ten promising Zine Month projects still looking for that final push over the finish line. Check it out.
Crowdfunding Carnival: Zine Month 2026
Welcome back to Crowdfunding Carnival! We’re more than halfway through February, and Zine Month is still going strong. As I covered a couple of weeks ago, Kickstarter’s Zine Quest and Backerkit’s Zinetopia are the key leaders of the month, with Kickstarter’s…
Welcome back to Crowdfunding Carnival! We’re more than halfway through February, and Zine Month is still going strong. As I covered a couple of weeks ago, Kickstarter’s Zine Quest and Backerkit’s Zinetopia are the key leaders of the month, with Kickstarter’s…
Crowdfunding Carnival: Zine Month 2026
Welcome back to Crowdfunding Carnival! We’re more than halfway through February, and Zine Month is still going strong. As I covered a couple of weeks ago, Kickstarter’s Zine Quest and Backerkit’s Zinetopia are the key leaders of the month, with Kickstarter’s event currently a little more than double the size of Backerkit’s. Still, you’d be making a mistake if you didn’t check out both.
cannibalhalflinggaming.com
February 18, 2026 at 3:11 PM
Ten promising Zine Month projects still looking for that final push over the finish line. Check it out.
Reposted by Aaron Marks
Sometimes you give Dancey the benefit of the doubt because OGL created an industry boom in the '00s.
But you have to remember he did it for Machiavellian reasons, and successfully killed any number of young RPG publishers.
Late-era capitalism is probably the theme the runs through his history.
But you have to remember he did it for Machiavellian reasons, and successfully killed any number of young RPG publishers.
Late-era capitalism is probably the theme the runs through his history.
I think the damage was largely done back in 2000 when Ryan Dancey (then in charge of RPG development in WotC) came up with the OGL, with the explicit intention of driving all other systems out of the market. By opening up D&D, it enticed other publishers to support D20, and forget their own stuff.
February 18, 2026 at 8:12 AM
Sometimes you give Dancey the benefit of the doubt because OGL created an industry boom in the '00s.
But you have to remember he did it for Machiavellian reasons, and successfully killed any number of young RPG publishers.
Late-era capitalism is probably the theme the runs through his history.
But you have to remember he did it for Machiavellian reasons, and successfully killed any number of young RPG publishers.
Late-era capitalism is probably the theme the runs through his history.
I just backed Murker of Mörks! Omni-Compatible Borg Adventure! on @kickstarter.com www.kickstarter.com/projects/art...
Murker of Mörks! Omni-Compatible Borg Adventure!
A twisted tournament that spans the whole Borg-Verse!
www.kickstarter.com
February 17, 2026 at 8:13 PM
I just backed Murker of Mörks! Omni-Compatible Borg Adventure! on @kickstarter.com www.kickstarter.com/projects/art...
Reposted by Aaron Marks
Is Tunnels & Trolls actually the second-ever RPG? I have a whole box on that in Designers & Dragons: The Lost Histories, and it turns out that the answer is pretty arbitrary and depends on your criteria.
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It's time...🧌 Tunnels & Trolls: A New Age 🧙
A bold reimagining of the world's *second* ever roleplaying game.
Coming to @Kickstarter March 17th. Follow now! ➡️ ttps://bit.ly/4qqYW7F
Begin your quest and download the 🆓 Quickstart Rules today! 👉 https://bit.ly/4aAFQXN
A bold reimagining of the world's *second* ever roleplaying game.
Coming to @Kickstarter March 17th. Follow now! ➡️ ttps://bit.ly/4qqYW7F
Begin your quest and download the 🆓 Quickstart Rules today! 👉 https://bit.ly/4aAFQXN
February 16, 2026 at 7:28 PM
Is Tunnels & Trolls actually the second-ever RPG? I have a whole box on that in Designers & Dragons: The Lost Histories, and it turns out that the answer is pretty arbitrary and depends on your criteria.
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As I contemplate writing more TTRPG business posts, I feel the need to state outright: How good a game is has almost no effect on how much money it makes, and how big a company is has almost no effect on how good their games are. The main reason players should care about revenue is game survival.
February 16, 2026 at 5:31 PM
As I contemplate writing more TTRPG business posts, I feel the need to state outright: How good a game is has almost no effect on how much money it makes, and how big a company is has almost no effect on how good their games are. The main reason players should care about revenue is game survival.
My last Cannibal Halfling post has been read by several thousand people, which means I'm Being Perceived. Here I try to reflect on that a bit.
Being Perceived
I’m in my tenth year of ‘writing on the internet’ at Cannibal Halfling; although I’ve arguably been writing on the internet since I had a LiveJournal in high school, joining forces with Seamus and attempting to have a consistent mission and editorial stance marked the addition of something my writing never really had before: Readers. Now, for good or ill, other people actually read my work and I have to contend with the continual stress of Being Perceived in addition to, you know, just trying to write and make it coherent.
newwonkmedia.com
February 16, 2026 at 3:54 PM
My last Cannibal Halfling post has been read by several thousand people, which means I'm Being Perceived. Here I try to reflect on that a bit.
It was a balmy 40 degrees in Boston today, meaning I was able to take a 20 mile ride on my newest project bike. 'Newest' is extremely relative: The frame is, from all I've been able to research, going to turn 40 before I do.
February 14, 2026 at 8:28 PM
It was a balmy 40 degrees in Boston today, meaning I was able to take a 20 mile ride on my newest project bike. 'Newest' is extremely relative: The frame is, from all I've been able to research, going to turn 40 before I do.
Reposted by Aaron Marks
This is a special message to King Coal and his fossil fuel executive sponsors.
The fossil fuel industry knew 114 years ago, what we all know today.
These executives are all accomplices in the deliberate destruction of the world headed by King Coal.
The fossil fuel industry knew 114 years ago, what we all know today.
These executives are all accomplices in the deliberate destruction of the world headed by King Coal.
February 14, 2026 at 7:35 AM
This is a special message to King Coal and his fossil fuel executive sponsors.
The fossil fuel industry knew 114 years ago, what we all know today.
These executives are all accomplices in the deliberate destruction of the world headed by King Coal.
The fossil fuel industry knew 114 years ago, what we all know today.
These executives are all accomplices in the deliberate destruction of the world headed by King Coal.
Reposted by Aaron Marks
Weekend Update: 2/14/2026
Welcome to the Cannibal Halfling Weekend Update! Start your weekend with a chunk of RPG news from the past week. We have the week’s top sellers, industry news stories, something from the archives, and discussions from elsewhere online. DriveThruRPG Top Sellers for…
Welcome to the Cannibal Halfling Weekend Update! Start your weekend with a chunk of RPG news from the past week. We have the week’s top sellers, industry news stories, something from the archives, and discussions from elsewhere online. DriveThruRPG Top Sellers for…
Weekend Update: 2/14/2026
Welcome to the Cannibal Halfling Weekend Update! Start your weekend with a chunk of RPG news from the past week. We have the week’s top sellers, industry news stories, something from the archives, and discussions from elsewhere online. DriveThruRPG Top Sellers for 2/14/2026 Cyberpunk RED: Interface RED Volume 5 ICRPG Power Tools: Game Mastery Book Halls of Arden Vul: The Thicket…
cannibalhalflinggaming.com
February 14, 2026 at 2:00 PM
Weekend Update: 2/14/2026
Welcome to the Cannibal Halfling Weekend Update! Start your weekend with a chunk of RPG news from the past week. We have the week’s top sellers, industry news stories, something from the archives, and discussions from elsewhere online. DriveThruRPG Top Sellers for…
Welcome to the Cannibal Halfling Weekend Update! Start your weekend with a chunk of RPG news from the past week. We have the week’s top sellers, industry news stories, something from the archives, and discussions from elsewhere online. DriveThruRPG Top Sellers for…
Reposted by Aaron Marks
How interesting a game seems to play is far more of a gating factor than the complexity of its rules.
February 13, 2026 at 4:23 PM
How interesting a game seems to play is far more of a gating factor than the complexity of its rules.
Reposted by Aaron Marks
I don't know who keeps doing this but you have to stop I'm begging you
February 13, 2026 at 2:21 AM
I don't know who keeps doing this but you have to stop I'm begging you
www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/...
Couple interesting points in this video:
- Cocks says the company is aiming for 70-80% focus on gaming/collector markets, implying WotC products primarily.
- Magic: the Gathering cards for US sales are mostly printed in the US. That's huge for price protection.
Couple interesting points in this video:
- Cocks says the company is aiming for 70-80% focus on gaming/collector markets, implying WotC products primarily.
- Magic: the Gathering cards for US sales are mostly printed in the US. That's huge for price protection.
Watch 'Magic' Game Helps Turn Around Fortunes of Hasbro - Bloomberg
Hasbro's turnaround is gaining momentum, powered by the game "Magic: The Gathering." Revenue from the popular card game more than doubled in the fourth quarter. Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks joins "Bloomberg...
www.bloomberg.com
February 12, 2026 at 5:00 PM
www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/...
Couple interesting points in this video:
- Cocks says the company is aiming for 70-80% focus on gaming/collector markets, implying WotC products primarily.
- Magic: the Gathering cards for US sales are mostly printed in the US. That's huge for price protection.
Couple interesting points in this video:
- Cocks says the company is aiming for 70-80% focus on gaming/collector markets, implying WotC products primarily.
- Magic: the Gathering cards for US sales are mostly printed in the US. That's huge for price protection.
Random weird trivia, but I was looking into Hasbro historical filings to see if I could find any info about D&D revenues around edition turnovers (so 2008 and 2014). I did not, but in 2015, Hasbro's reported categories were Boys, Girls, Games, and Preschool. How times have changed.
February 12, 2026 at 3:46 PM
Random weird trivia, but I was looking into Hasbro historical filings to see if I could find any info about D&D revenues around edition turnovers (so 2008 and 2014). I did not, but in 2015, Hasbro's reported categories were Boys, Girls, Games, and Preschool. How times have changed.
Over and over again, I'm shown that my writing about RPGs garners the most attention and positive feedback when I utilize my 'day job' skills. I've been a technical, economic, and policy analyst for years in the energy space, starting in electricity and moving to renewables.
February 12, 2026 at 12:58 PM
Over and over again, I'm shown that my writing about RPGs garners the most attention and positive feedback when I utilize my 'day job' skills. I've been a technical, economic, and policy analyst for years in the energy space, starting in electricity and moving to renewables.
Reposted by Aaron Marks
Five Tiers of RPG Publishing
Hasbro’s annual earnings came out this week, so I took a look. It is truly staggering how much Wizards of the Coast has changed the company since they were acquired; when looking at unadjusted earnings the Wizards of the Coast and Digital Games division was the only…
Hasbro’s annual earnings came out this week, so I took a look. It is truly staggering how much Wizards of the Coast has changed the company since they were acquired; when looking at unadjusted earnings the Wizards of the Coast and Digital Games division was the only…
Five Tiers of RPG Publishing
Hasbro’s annual earnings came out this week, so I took a look. It is truly staggering how much Wizards of the Coast has changed the company since they were acquired; when looking at unadjusted earnings the Wizards of the Coast and Digital Games division was the only one that turned a profit in the entire company. Not only that, but Wizards is responsible for roughly 47% of the entire company’s revenue and over 90% of all revenue growth over the last year.
cannibalhalflinggaming.com
February 11, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Five Tiers of RPG Publishing
Hasbro’s annual earnings came out this week, so I took a look. It is truly staggering how much Wizards of the Coast has changed the company since they were acquired; when looking at unadjusted earnings the Wizards of the Coast and Digital Games division was the only…
Hasbro’s annual earnings came out this week, so I took a look. It is truly staggering how much Wizards of the Coast has changed the company since they were acquired; when looking at unadjusted earnings the Wizards of the Coast and Digital Games division was the only…
Harry Potter wanted nothing more than to grow up and become a wizard cop, which I think always said a lot.
Long before other horribleness was revealed, I had a bad intuition that things were going to take a terrible turn when I realized that the tremendously popular wizard fantasy books that had broken containment *looked* like nerd books, but were really jock books
I'm reminded of this far too often
I'm reminded of this far too often
February 10, 2026 at 6:02 PM
Harry Potter wanted nothing more than to grow up and become a wizard cop, which I think always said a lot.
Proud to be the 73rd backer 😎 on @BackerKit Crowdfunding for Blades '68! www.backerkit.com/c/projects/e...
Blades '68
Blades ’68 is an official supplement for Blades in the Dark, moving the timeline forward 100 years to the swinging 60s.
www.backerkit.com
February 10, 2026 at 4:09 PM
Proud to be the 73rd backer 😎 on @BackerKit Crowdfunding for Blades '68! www.backerkit.com/c/projects/e...
Reposted by Aaron Marks
That's right, you can now try Intergalactic Bastionland in a very early, messy state.
www.bastionland.com/2026/02/inte...
www.bastionland.com/2026/02/inte...
Intergalactic Bastionland Public Playtest
Intergalactic Bastionland is now ready for public playtesting. Go here to find everything you need . We're a way off the Kickstarter yet, ...
www.bastionland.com
February 9, 2026 at 3:05 PM
That's right, you can now try Intergalactic Bastionland in a very early, messy state.
www.bastionland.com/2026/02/inte...
www.bastionland.com/2026/02/inte...
My main gaming group loves callbacks to old games and old PC cameos. They especially love 'Nexus' games where all the old games are mushed together. How can I harness that nostalgia and group mythology when I'm writing my next game?
We sure do love our cameos
Every once in a while our gaming group has what we’ve been calling a ‘Nexus’ campaign. In essence, an excuse to revisit old characters and inject some nostalgia and fun callbacks into our games. I like these games because they provide a good release valve for the desire to recall old characters and old events; we have a lot of callbacks in all of our games, and outside of our yearly Beach Weekends where reminiscing is an important part of the experience, I find callbacks and cameos in an otherwise unrelated game to be a bit annoying.
newwonkmedia.com
February 9, 2026 at 9:05 PM
My main gaming group loves callbacks to old games and old PC cameos. They especially love 'Nexus' games where all the old games are mushed together. How can I harness that nostalgia and group mythology when I'm writing my next game?
Reposted by Aaron Marks
Weekend Update: 2/7/2026
Welcome to the Cannibal Halfling Weekend Update! Start your weekend with a chunk of RPG news from the past week. We have the week’s top sellers, industry news stories, something from the archives, and discussions from elsewhere online.
Welcome to the Cannibal Halfling Weekend Update! Start your weekend with a chunk of RPG news from the past week. We have the week’s top sellers, industry news stories, something from the archives, and discussions from elsewhere online.
Weekend Update: 2/7/2026
Welcome to the Cannibal Halfling Weekend Update! Start your weekend with a chunk of RPG news from the past week. We have the week’s top sellers, industry news stories, something from the archives, and discussions from elsewhere online.
cannibalhalflinggaming.com
February 7, 2026 at 2:00 PM
Weekend Update: 2/7/2026
Welcome to the Cannibal Halfling Weekend Update! Start your weekend with a chunk of RPG news from the past week. We have the week’s top sellers, industry news stories, something from the archives, and discussions from elsewhere online.
Welcome to the Cannibal Halfling Weekend Update! Start your weekend with a chunk of RPG news from the past week. We have the week’s top sellers, industry news stories, something from the archives, and discussions from elsewhere online.
Reposted by Aaron Marks
Everyone watch out, @levelonewonk.bsky.social broke out a GRAPH for this one. His consultant is showing - BE AFRAID!
Or check out some cool #ZineMonth projects. You know, either one.
Or check out some cool #ZineMonth projects. You know, either one.
Crowdfunding Carnival: February, 2026
Welcome back to another Crowdfunding Carnival! It’s not just any Crowdfunding Carnival, though…it’s February. And that means it’s time for Zine Month! And this is a big deal, because for the first time since 2022, it’s actually time for Zine Month, not just…
Welcome back to another Crowdfunding Carnival! It’s not just any Crowdfunding Carnival, though…it’s February. And that means it’s time for Zine Month! And this is a big deal, because for the first time since 2022, it’s actually time for Zine Month, not just…
Crowdfunding Carnival: February, 2026
Welcome back to another Crowdfunding Carnival! It’s not just any Crowdfunding Carnival, though…it’s February. And that means it’s time for Zine Month! And this is a big deal, because for the first time since 2022, it’s actually time for Zine Month, not just Zine Quest. Backerkit has stepped into the ring and it looks like they’re going to stand toe to toe with…wait, I’ve just gotten word that Backerkit’s Zinetopia event is capped at 63 projects?
cannibalhalflinggaming.com
February 5, 2026 at 1:49 AM
Everyone watch out, @levelonewonk.bsky.social broke out a GRAPH for this one. His consultant is showing - BE AFRAID!
Or check out some cool #ZineMonth projects. You know, either one.
Or check out some cool #ZineMonth projects. You know, either one.
Reposted by Aaron Marks
Crowdfunding Carnival: February, 2026
Welcome back to another Crowdfunding Carnival! It’s not just any Crowdfunding Carnival, though…it’s February. And that means it’s time for Zine Month! And this is a big deal, because for the first time since 2022, it’s actually time for Zine Month, not just…
Welcome back to another Crowdfunding Carnival! It’s not just any Crowdfunding Carnival, though…it’s February. And that means it’s time for Zine Month! And this is a big deal, because for the first time since 2022, it’s actually time for Zine Month, not just…
Crowdfunding Carnival: February, 2026
Welcome back to another Crowdfunding Carnival! It’s not just any Crowdfunding Carnival, though…it’s February. And that means it’s time for Zine Month! And this is a big deal, because for the first time since 2022, it’s actually time for Zine Month, not just Zine Quest. Backerkit has stepped into the ring and it looks like they’re going to stand toe to toe with…wait, I’ve just gotten word that Backerkit’s Zinetopia event is capped at 63 projects?
cannibalhalflinggaming.com
February 4, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Crowdfunding Carnival: February, 2026
Welcome back to another Crowdfunding Carnival! It’s not just any Crowdfunding Carnival, though…it’s February. And that means it’s time for Zine Month! And this is a big deal, because for the first time since 2022, it’s actually time for Zine Month, not just…
Welcome back to another Crowdfunding Carnival! It’s not just any Crowdfunding Carnival, though…it’s February. And that means it’s time for Zine Month! And this is a big deal, because for the first time since 2022, it’s actually time for Zine Month, not just…