Prof Murder, Your Host
@profmurder.bsky.social
AKA Adrian Berk
English Prof 25+ yrs
#TTRPG Plotter and Player 40+ yrs
Decidedly from NJ 50+ yrs
He/Him
English Prof 25+ yrs
#TTRPG Plotter and Player 40+ yrs
Decidedly from NJ 50+ yrs
He/Him
Pinned
“For, while the tale of how we suffer, and how we are delighted, and how we may triumph is never new, it always must be heard. There isn't any other tale to tell, it's the only light we've got in all this darkness.”
James Baldwin, Sonny's Blues
James Baldwin, Sonny's Blues
(I’m not inclined for hot takes but why not, given the amusing discourse on bsky today.)
Hot Take: Any James Bond stories not written by Ian Flemming are fan fiction, which isn’t disqualifying. If anything it should be freeing.
Hot Take: Any James Bond stories not written by Ian Flemming are fan fiction, which isn’t disqualifying. If anything it should be freeing.
November 11, 2025 at 7:19 PM
(I’m not inclined for hot takes but why not, given the amusing discourse on bsky today.)
Hot Take: Any James Bond stories not written by Ian Flemming are fan fiction, which isn’t disqualifying. If anything it should be freeing.
Hot Take: Any James Bond stories not written by Ian Flemming are fan fiction, which isn’t disqualifying. If anything it should be freeing.
Where my head is at for Veteran’s Day.
Any King's Shilling
YouTube video by Elvis Costello - Topic
youtu.be
November 11, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Where my head is at for Veteran’s Day.
Any campaign that does not have an ending by its nature will just petter out eventually. I think the siren call that some people feel for a multi year campaign that just chugs along with no end goal is part of the issue that goes unaddressed. One Fix: Run tighter, shorter, planned campaigns.
November 10, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Any campaign that does not have an ending by its nature will just petter out eventually. I think the siren call that some people feel for a multi year campaign that just chugs along with no end goal is part of the issue that goes unaddressed. One Fix: Run tighter, shorter, planned campaigns.
No way this can go wrong.
November 9, 2025 at 10:32 PM
No way this can go wrong.
Post a non-religious photo you think of as holy
November 9, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Post a non-religious photo you think of as holy
Worth your time. Fascinating.
Every Fallout Fan Knows These Drinks – I Actually Made Them | How to Drink
YouTube video by How To Drink
www.youtube.com
November 9, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Worth your time. Fascinating.
Where my head is at:
Chumming the Ocean
YouTube video by Archers of Loaf - Topic
www.youtube.com
November 9, 2025 at 4:57 AM
Where my head is at:
#Metatopia was a good time but I feel I could have done more and made more connections. Goals for next year.
November 9, 2025 at 1:23 AM
#Metatopia was a good time but I feel I could have done more and made more connections. Goals for next year.
Strike question: Would it be crossing a picket line to get coffee from a hotel bar that is Starbucks brand coffee? Please understand as a rule I won't willingly and knowingly cross a picket.
November 7, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Strike question: Would it be crossing a picket line to get coffee from a hotel bar that is Starbucks brand coffee? Please understand as a rule I won't willingly and knowingly cross a picket.
Swinging by #Metatopia tonight to pick up my badge, then enjoying some diverse playtesting tomorrow. Good times.
November 7, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Swinging by #Metatopia tonight to pick up my badge, then enjoying some diverse playtesting tomorrow. Good times.
So as someone who is both an educator and has introduced numerous new people to the hobby over the years, definitely some interesting thoughts here. IMO, the answers are complex. As always I feel the best way to introduce new people to gaming or to a new game for them, offer to run it.
My experience has been that newbies are like sponges and roll with new TTRPGs better than a lot of old-timers. What's been your experience? How open have you found new people to the hobby?
thoughtpunks.com/the...
#TTRPG #TTRPGThoughts
thoughtpunks.com/the...
#TTRPG #TTRPGThoughts
Great TTRPG Newbie Paradox (they're easier to teach)
Novice TTRPG Players and Simple Guidance
One of the great paradoxes I've noticed in TTRPGs is that newer players don't always need the extensive examples and explanations that seasoned gamers often request. It's fascinating how the learning process can differ so much depending on experience lev
thoughtpunks.com
November 6, 2025 at 4:01 AM
So as someone who is both an educator and has introduced numerous new people to the hobby over the years, definitely some interesting thoughts here. IMO, the answers are complex. As always I feel the best way to introduce new people to gaming or to a new game for them, offer to run it.
Please note this is not a response to the post below or it's author, it's more a response to the sentiment.
Instead of waiting for the industry of gaming to find a means to better market and draw more people into the hobby, answer this question.
How you do draw people in?
Evangelize.
Instead of waiting for the industry of gaming to find a means to better market and draw more people into the hobby, answer this question.
How you do draw people in?
Evangelize.
TTRPG Question of the Day
What do you think keeps more people from playing TTRPGs?
It's be said that TTRPGs are in the spotlight more than ever before. They're referenced frequently in shows. There are movies & TV series based on them. Some have become video games. So why don't more people play?
What do you think keeps more people from playing TTRPGs?
It's be said that TTRPGs are in the spotlight more than ever before. They're referenced frequently in shows. There are movies & TV series based on them. Some have become video games. So why don't more people play?
November 6, 2025 at 1:44 AM
Please note this is not a response to the post below or it's author, it's more a response to the sentiment.
Instead of waiting for the industry of gaming to find a means to better market and draw more people into the hobby, answer this question.
How you do draw people in?
Evangelize.
Instead of waiting for the industry of gaming to find a means to better market and draw more people into the hobby, answer this question.
How you do draw people in?
Evangelize.
The vote is cast, officially purchasing my right to complain about whomever wins for another cycle.
November 4, 2025 at 4:54 PM
The vote is cast, officially purchasing my right to complain about whomever wins for another cycle.
A reminder for me as much as anyone: When you hear a stranger opine that “it’s getting hot in here” do not reflexively offer that they should “take off all your clothes.”
November 4, 2025 at 4:45 PM
A reminder for me as much as anyone: When you hear a stranger opine that “it’s getting hot in here” do not reflexively offer that they should “take off all your clothes.”
Real talk: If a rule doesn’t have impact on your game, you can likely do without it. But be mindful of knock on effects, as some rules are secretly load bearing.
Call me new-fashioned, but I’m done counting grid squares in D&D and tracking every pound of gear like some accountant for encumbrance rules.
Let’s skip the suck and get to the good parts of the adventure, the ones that actually matter.
Let’s skip the suck and get to the good parts of the adventure, the ones that actually matter.
November 4, 2025 at 5:07 AM
Real talk: If a rule doesn’t have impact on your game, you can likely do without it. But be mindful of knock on effects, as some rules are secretly load bearing.
Election day tomorrow. Voting is once again triage for me which is disappointing, but you use all the arrows in your quiver.
November 4, 2025 at 4:37 AM
Election day tomorrow. Voting is once again triage for me which is disappointing, but you use all the arrows in your quiver.
All events for Metatopia 2025 booked. Looking forward to it.
November 3, 2025 at 1:41 AM
All events for Metatopia 2025 booked. Looking forward to it.
Destination Wedding.
November 3, 2025 at 1:39 AM
Destination Wedding.
A movie you've seen more than seven times with a GIF
November 2, 2025 at 11:33 PM
A movie you've seen more than seven times with a GIF
Very pleased with how my Halloween game was received and went overall.
November 1, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Very pleased with how my Halloween game was received and went overall.
Reposted by Prof Murder, Your Host
Hasbro's GIJoe Classified Series Legacy Action Police Officer is an incredibly versatile figure that you can plug in to just about any action figure display.
October 31, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Hasbro's GIJoe Classified Series Legacy Action Police Officer is an incredibly versatile figure that you can plug in to just about any action figure display.
For today's Halloween horror game:
"The dead seed na'er grows yet strives t' grasp the sun."
"The dead seed na'er grows yet strives t' grasp the sun."
October 31, 2025 at 5:26 PM
For today's Halloween horror game:
"The dead seed na'er grows yet strives t' grasp the sun."
"The dead seed na'er grows yet strives t' grasp the sun."
Amen.
Anyway, I don't know who needs to hear this right now but faculty, grades are NOT there to take students down a peg, put them in their place, or determine a student's value
They should reflect student learning, if they must be given at all
They should reflect student learning, if they must be given at all
People spend way time worrying about whether students are getting too many A's and not enough time considering the possibility that people who busted ass so hard that they got into a place like that might be the kind to be high achieving
Too many FACULTY think grading is about breaking people, too
Too many FACULTY think grading is about breaking people, too
October 31, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Amen.
The reason for the season.
(The Crow, 1994) "Devil's Night is upon us again"
YouTube video by Prodigal Revanchilist
youtube.com
October 30, 2025 at 6:31 PM
The reason for the season.