🍁 Levi Kornelsen
@levikornelsen.bsky.social
Canadian maker of tabletop RPG bits and assorted weirdness.
Most of my things are at: https://levikornelsen.itch.io/
Most of my things are at: https://levikornelsen.itch.io/
Pinned
Having reached a thousand followers here (!), it's clearly time for me to do a big ol' self-promo thread of "Here's the parts of my TTRPG work I think you should know about!".
So here we go:
#ttrpg
So here we go:
#ttrpg
Shot and chaser.
February 19, 2026 at 4:44 PM
Shot and chaser.
Second note:
Many TTRPGs are written for solo learning (you learn by reading the book), not as collaborative learning (group goes through material together). This implies everyone should have and read a copy; they often do not and won't.
Many TTRPGs are written for solo learning (you learn by reading the book), not as collaborative learning (group goes through material together). This implies everyone should have and read a copy; they often do not and won't.
First note:
Extended character creation IS a system tutorial (though often a weak one); truncating it to get into play quickly means *you're skipping that tutorial.*
Extended character creation IS a system tutorial (though often a weak one); truncating it to get into play quickly means *you're skipping that tutorial.*
Aaaaand now I'm reading three different books about instructional design and making notes.
Just once, I would like to control where my fucking brain goes, but noooooo.
Just once, I would like to control where my fucking brain goes, but noooooo.
February 19, 2026 at 4:13 PM
Second note:
Many TTRPGs are written for solo learning (you learn by reading the book), not as collaborative learning (group goes through material together). This implies everyone should have and read a copy; they often do not and won't.
Many TTRPGs are written for solo learning (you learn by reading the book), not as collaborative learning (group goes through material together). This implies everyone should have and read a copy; they often do not and won't.
First note:
Extended character creation IS a system tutorial (though often a weak one); truncating it to get into play quickly means *you're skipping that tutorial.*
Extended character creation IS a system tutorial (though often a weak one); truncating it to get into play quickly means *you're skipping that tutorial.*
Aaaaand now I'm reading three different books about instructional design and making notes.
Just once, I would like to control where my fucking brain goes, but noooooo.
Just once, I would like to control where my fucking brain goes, but noooooo.
February 19, 2026 at 3:54 PM
First note:
Extended character creation IS a system tutorial (though often a weak one); truncating it to get into play quickly means *you're skipping that tutorial.*
Extended character creation IS a system tutorial (though often a weak one); truncating it to get into play quickly means *you're skipping that tutorial.*
Aaaaand now I'm reading three different books about instructional design and making notes.
Just once, I would like to control where my fucking brain goes, but noooooo.
Just once, I would like to control where my fucking brain goes, but noooooo.
February 19, 2026 at 3:22 PM
Aaaaand now I'm reading three different books about instructional design and making notes.
Just once, I would like to control where my fucking brain goes, but noooooo.
Just once, I would like to control where my fucking brain goes, but noooooo.
Reposted by 🍁 Levi Kornelsen
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.
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 19, 2026 at 4:51 AM
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).
This is the correct opinion.
I don’t want to see another bullshit fantasy rpg with pictures of different kinds of swords, I want all the battle beast weapons
February 19, 2026 at 3:22 AM
This is the correct opinion.
Lenses thing:
Instructional design is 100% a lens for looking at a text...
theplayreports.com/posts/instru...
Instructional design is 100% a lens for looking at a text...
theplayreports.com/posts/instru...
The Play Reports
TTRPGs Need Instructional Designers
theplayreports.com
February 19, 2026 at 3:10 AM
Lenses thing:
Instructional design is 100% a lens for looking at a text...
theplayreports.com/posts/instru...
Instructional design is 100% a lens for looking at a text...
theplayreports.com/posts/instru...
In fascist America, secretary of health is worried you have too much of it.
In fascist America, "Your kids are going to meet the president" is a threat.
In fascist America, bank robs you.
In fascist America, the pharmaceutical industry regulates the government.
In fascist America, television watches you.
In fascist America, you sound like LLM.
In fascist America, the pharmaceutical industry regulates the government.
In fascist America, television watches you.
In fascist America, you sound like LLM.
February 18, 2026 at 6:03 PM
In fascist America, secretary of health is worried you have too much of it.
In fascist America, "Your kids are going to meet the president" is a threat.
In fascist America, bank robs you.
In fascist America, the pharmaceutical industry regulates the government.
In fascist America, television watches you.
In fascist America, you sound like LLM.
In fascist America, the pharmaceutical industry regulates the government.
In fascist America, television watches you.
In fascist America, you sound like LLM.
February 18, 2026 at 5:14 PM
In fascist America, "Your kids are going to meet the president" is a threat.
As a reference point on the lenses thing:
The "cycles and loops" zines I did were intended to be a lens; looking at the entirety of how a game is built from a flow-of-play viewpoint. It's not a total view; it's something you put on, examine the game, and then move on.
levikornelsen.itch.io/cycles
The "cycles and loops" zines I did were intended to be a lens; looking at the entirety of how a game is built from a flow-of-play viewpoint. It's not a total view; it's something you put on, examine the game, and then move on.
levikornelsen.itch.io/cycles
February 18, 2026 at 3:42 PM
As a reference point on the lenses thing:
The "cycles and loops" zines I did were intended to be a lens; looking at the entirety of how a game is built from a flow-of-play viewpoint. It's not a total view; it's something you put on, examine the game, and then move on.
levikornelsen.itch.io/cycles
The "cycles and loops" zines I did were intended to be a lens; looking at the entirety of how a game is built from a flow-of-play viewpoint. It's not a total view; it's something you put on, examine the game, and then move on.
levikornelsen.itch.io/cycles
As the last time it went around, I need no likes to deliver my unhinged takes, and refuse to confine them to a single thread.
February 18, 2026 at 7:46 AM
As the last time it went around, I need no likes to deliver my unhinged takes, and refuse to confine them to a single thread.
Reposted by 🍁 Levi Kornelsen
Everybody's talking TTRPG theory blurbs and manifestos lately. And I didn't have a lot of focus for other stuff and I was bored. So read the SNAP! inspired The Strange Confession. Feel free to hate it with the fire of 1000 suns. As long as you write yours too!
thoughtpunks.com/the-strange-...
thoughtpunks.com/the-strange-...
February 18, 2026 at 6:26 AM
Everybody's talking TTRPG theory blurbs and manifestos lately. And I didn't have a lot of focus for other stuff and I was bored. So read the SNAP! inspired The Strange Confession. Feel free to hate it with the fire of 1000 suns. As long as you write yours too!
thoughtpunks.com/the-strange-...
thoughtpunks.com/the-strange-...
After all this division, it is time for the greater TTRPG community to come together and drag the shit out of Ryan Dancey.
February 18, 2026 at 5:08 AM
After all this division, it is time for the greater TTRPG community to come together and drag the shit out of Ryan Dancey.
Reposted by 🍁 Levi Kornelsen
Unironically, I think if I've learned anything from being on this site it's that the ttrpg world is strangely understudied for how literate, and culturally-visible, it is! There really aren't people discussing established schools of thought, except maybe "OSR" in a vague sense?
Errybody wants to be Diogenes, nobody wants to be Plato.
February 18, 2026 at 2:30 AM
Unironically, I think if I've learned anything from being on this site it's that the ttrpg world is strangely understudied for how literate, and culturally-visible, it is! There really aren't people discussing established schools of thought, except maybe "OSR" in a vague sense?
In fascist America, bank robs you.
In fascist America, the pharmaceutical industry regulates the government.
In fascist America, television watches you.
In fascist America, you sound like LLM.
In fascist America, the pharmaceutical industry regulates the government.
In fascist America, television watches you.
In fascist America, you sound like LLM.
February 18, 2026 at 2:10 AM
In fascist America, bank robs you.
In fascist America, the pharmaceutical industry regulates the government.
In fascist America, television watches you.
In fascist America, you sound like LLM.
In fascist America, the pharmaceutical industry regulates the government.
In fascist America, television watches you.
In fascist America, you sound like LLM.
Reposted by 🍁 Levi Kornelsen
Small things coming, y'all
Miniscule things, like you won't even be able to tell they're here
Miniscule things, like you won't even be able to tell they're here
rpg designers will be like "big things coming" and it's actually the biggest, most sprawling thing they've ever done. all-consuming. blotting out the sun and the sky
February 17, 2026 at 10:09 PM
Small things coming, y'all
Miniscule things, like you won't even be able to tell they're here
Miniscule things, like you won't even be able to tell they're here
Okay, serious face, though:
If we actually do want to move the way we talk about TTRPGs "forward" on the theory front, develop that more beyond the bounds of academia, here's what we need to do:
Start treating clarified views of gaming as distinct lenses you can put on and take off.
1/
If we actually do want to move the way we talk about TTRPGs "forward" on the theory front, develop that more beyond the bounds of academia, here's what we need to do:
Start treating clarified views of gaming as distinct lenses you can put on and take off.
1/
February 17, 2026 at 4:09 PM
Okay, serious face, though:
If we actually do want to move the way we talk about TTRPGs "forward" on the theory front, develop that more beyond the bounds of academia, here's what we need to do:
Start treating clarified views of gaming as distinct lenses you can put on and take off.
1/
If we actually do want to move the way we talk about TTRPGs "forward" on the theory front, develop that more beyond the bounds of academia, here's what we need to do:
Start treating clarified views of gaming as distinct lenses you can put on and take off.
1/
A helpful meme for the next time this comes around:
February 17, 2026 at 3:10 PM
A helpful meme for the next time this comes around:
Also, because I gotta:
The problem with attempts to bring rigour to TTRPG thinking is that they also often bring mortis along for the ride.
The problem with attempts to bring rigour to TTRPG thinking is that they also often bring mortis along for the ride.
February 17, 2026 at 2:40 PM
Also, because I gotta:
The problem with attempts to bring rigour to TTRPG thinking is that they also often bring mortis along for the ride.
The problem with attempts to bring rigour to TTRPG thinking is that they also often bring mortis along for the ride.
This cartoon makes me think about game pacing.
February 17, 2026 at 2:25 PM
This cartoon makes me think about game pacing.
(Yes, including me, though I'm much better on this than I once was.)
You can tell TTTRPG theory is working properly when the user is excited by things it illuminates from a new angle, and that it's failing bad when people drag it into unrelated discussions as grounds to be judgy.
February 17, 2026 at 2:17 PM
(Yes, including me, though I'm much better on this than I once was.)
A clear promise of play:
February 17, 2026 at 6:00 AM
A clear promise of play:
No shocks here; my (biased) summary:
When rules get collapsed down, anything that *feels* like fiddly tracking or bean-counting is likely to get chucked.
Character personality traits, archetypes, and broad-utility system components are most likely to stick (with reduced fiddliness).
When rules get collapsed down, anything that *feels* like fiddly tracking or bean-counting is likely to get chucked.
Character personality traits, archetypes, and broad-utility system components are most likely to stick (with reduced fiddliness).
Let us say you're playing some TTRPG casually (pick one you have, if any) to the point of ignoring 90% of the rules.
1. What vanishes *first?*
2. What *never* goes away?
(For me, encumbrance goes first, and noted character motives / personality traits / morality never leave).
1. What vanishes *first?*
2. What *never* goes away?
(For me, encumbrance goes first, and noted character motives / personality traits / morality never leave).
February 17, 2026 at 5:36 AM
No shocks here; my (biased) summary:
When rules get collapsed down, anything that *feels* like fiddly tracking or bean-counting is likely to get chucked.
Character personality traits, archetypes, and broad-utility system components are most likely to stick (with reduced fiddliness).
When rules get collapsed down, anything that *feels* like fiddly tracking or bean-counting is likely to get chucked.
Character personality traits, archetypes, and broad-utility system components are most likely to stick (with reduced fiddliness).
Reposted by 🍁 Levi Kornelsen
I'm so bad at self-promo that I forgot to mention we released the Final Alpha for Dungeon World 2. It's been receiving a lot of love so, if you wanna add your voice and help @primarchspencer.bsky.social & I create the best possible game, this is your chance! 😊🖤 www.dungeon-world.com/the-final-al...
The Final Alpha is here!
The Dungeon World 2 Final Alpha is now out! See it for yourself. There is a PDF of the rules (this time in horizontal layout), plus a digital Character Keeper and GM Screen.
The Final Alpha adds a lo...
www.dungeon-world.com
February 17, 2026 at 2:59 AM
I'm so bad at self-promo that I forgot to mention we released the Final Alpha for Dungeon World 2. It's been receiving a lot of love so, if you wanna add your voice and help @primarchspencer.bsky.social & I create the best possible game, this is your chance! 😊🖤 www.dungeon-world.com/the-final-al...