Not a real doctor
@simonb.bsky.social
Lapsed-writer, ex-DJ, erstwhile larper, wants to be an academic again (is, in fact a real doctor) , old goth, larp designer, neurodiverse like light through a prism, poet before sunrise. Poster-child for burnout (Complex, Brooding, Challenging)
Pinned
Not a real doctor
@simonb.bsky.social
· Nov 20
“Don't bend; don't water it down; don't try to make it logical; don't edit your own soul according to the fashion. Rather, follow your most intense obsessions mercilessly.” (Kafka)
▶️larp
➡️Nordic
➡️Theory
➡️Writing
➡️Blockbuster
➡️Art
➡️Old-school UK system heavy base 6
▶️larp
➡️Nordic
➡️Theory
➡️Writing
➡️Blockbuster
➡️Art
➡️Old-school UK system heavy base 6
Who on my feed shall I see at Knutpunkt in Gothenburg? If I do not know you already, do you want to say hello?
February 15, 2026 at 7:05 PM
Who on my feed shall I see at Knutpunkt in Gothenburg? If I do not know you already, do you want to say hello?
Yesterday we released the teasers for our pre-written characters for the larp B Movie, which is the story of a low budget film being made in Hollywood in 1954. We went through a design phase - identifying character archetypes and concetps - and then wrote a brief (300 word) Blurb about each one.
February 15, 2026 at 6:36 AM
Yesterday we released the teasers for our pre-written characters for the larp B Movie, which is the story of a low budget film being made in Hollywood in 1954. We went through a design phase - identifying character archetypes and concetps - and then wrote a brief (300 word) Blurb about each one.
Researchgate keeps checking if I am human. The imposter syndrome is real.
February 6, 2026 at 12:24 PM
Researchgate keeps checking if I am human. The imposter syndrome is real.
What is new and dangerous in Nordic Larp Theory? I have a programme item at Knutpunkt where I need a couple of extra people to come and share their ideas with an audience playing the role of potentially malevolent supernatural entities; The session is planned to take place at night, by candlelight.
February 1, 2026 at 6:59 AM
What is new and dangerous in Nordic Larp Theory? I have a programme item at Knutpunkt where I need a couple of extra people to come and share their ideas with an audience playing the role of potentially malevolent supernatural entities; The session is planned to take place at night, by candlelight.
My typing speed this morning has reduced. I can’t work out why. Perhaps I am just tired?
January 31, 2026 at 7:00 AM
My typing speed this morning has reduced. I can’t work out why. Perhaps I am just tired?
In January 2009, in the days before Emjois had entered the mainstream (outside of Japan, obvs) , I invented the Real World Mood Icon. Here is a rare photo from that time.
January 28, 2026 at 7:51 AM
In January 2009, in the days before Emjois had entered the mainstream (outside of Japan, obvs) , I invented the Real World Mood Icon. Here is a rare photo from that time.
[27th January 2004] I went to an osteopath, I can't remember the cause of the injury but it was probably something to do with falling off a horse.
January 27, 2026 at 6:29 AM
[27th January 2004] I went to an osteopath, I can't remember the cause of the injury but it was probably something to do with falling off a horse.
A day talking about larp and TRPG design with my friends and comrades, an evening of good conversation, and a full night of sleep. This morning I got up early to do some writing. Outside there is snow in the spruces; inside there are words and coffee. And post-it notes. We are very analogue.
January 25, 2026 at 8:03 AM
A day talking about larp and TRPG design with my friends and comrades, an evening of good conversation, and a full night of sleep. This morning I got up early to do some writing. Outside there is snow in the spruces; inside there are words and coffee. And post-it notes. We are very analogue.
I am in a remote cabin with members of Avalon larp studio. The security camera feed picked up a wolf outside! There is a wall covered in post-it notes og things to talk about. Halfdan made pancakes for breakfast. Coffee. Today needs more coffee
January 24, 2026 at 10:08 AM
I am in a remote cabin with members of Avalon larp studio. The security camera feed picked up a wolf outside! There is a wall covered in post-it notes og things to talk about. Halfdan made pancakes for breakfast. Coffee. Today needs more coffee
I have been using Gmail as my aggregator for 13 years; all of my emails coming in from across several different accounts in one place. Today they have announced that they are deprecating the ability to do this. So I need a new, cloud based, email client.
This change will happen 'in January'
This change will happen 'in January'
January 22, 2026 at 3:56 PM
I have been using Gmail as my aggregator for 13 years; all of my emails coming in from across several different accounts in one place. Today they have announced that they are deprecating the ability to do this. So I need a new, cloud based, email client.
This change will happen 'in January'
This change will happen 'in January'
The museum (and the exhibition) are great - super interesting. AND you can play the original button-only coin-op Defender
Our team was deployed to Museocon in Vapriikki museum last weekend! We had the absolute pleasure to set up a small Odysseus simulation for the con guests, and to talk about our project. Odysseus - Story of a larp exhibition is still there until 25.1, if you haven’t seen it and happen to be around!
January 20, 2026 at 6:49 PM
The museum (and the exhibition) are great - super interesting. AND you can play the original button-only coin-op Defender
The wonderful people at NotOnlyLarp in Spain are re-running L'Inconscience. Thematically Westworld meets Musketeers, but mainly a piece that interrogates humanity and free will.
January 18, 2026 at 6:24 PM
The wonderful people at NotOnlyLarp in Spain are re-running L'Inconscience. Thematically Westworld meets Musketeers, but mainly a piece that interrogates humanity and free will.
The maximum word count for this article, including all references, footnotes, and the abstract is 7,000 words. This is one of those moments where I think real world Achievement badges should pop up
December 28, 2025 at 8:14 AM
The maximum word count for this article, including all references, footnotes, and the abstract is 7,000 words. This is one of those moments where I think real world Achievement badges should pop up
I have had the simple joy of spending most of the weekend writing and/or editing the work of really smart people. With a small break for tea with @pennyred.bsky.social and a slightly longer one to watch @saracenswomen.bsky.social .
Suddenly it is Monday and I am in the office looking at a photo
Suddenly it is Monday and I am in the office looking at a photo
December 22, 2025 at 8:07 AM
I have had the simple joy of spending most of the weekend writing and/or editing the work of really smart people. With a small break for tea with @pennyred.bsky.social and a slightly longer one to watch @saracenswomen.bsky.social .
Suddenly it is Monday and I am in the office looking at a photo
Suddenly it is Monday and I am in the office looking at a photo
Thinks: I am just finishing up a paper on ludonarrative hegemonies; am I one of the baddies?
is this a safe space to admit that a large part of the reason I tune out of RPG theory stuff is because I'm pretty sure a lot of it makes me worse at designing games
RPG Theory Guy: Oh, you're having fun playing games? *cracks knuckles* Check out the latest batch of problems I've invented. Don't worry; I can make it sound real intellectual. I'll throw in a few "ludo-narrative dissonances" for free. Wanna get rid of those problems? Buy my games. *salesman grin*
December 19, 2025 at 7:16 AM
Thinks: I am just finishing up a paper on ludonarrative hegemonies; am I one of the baddies?
Watching @lucyworsley.bsky.social squeeze some meat (which is not a phrase I was ever expecting to type) - Happy Birthday!
December 18, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Watching @lucyworsley.bsky.social squeeze some meat (which is not a phrase I was ever expecting to type) - Happy Birthday!
"we have decided to reduce the word limit for articles in this edition"
(FX: sounds of screaming)
"this limit now inlcudes the references"
(FX: screaming replaced with sobbing)
"and the abstract"
(FX: strange chanting and smell of burning. Demonic entities arrive)
(FX: sounds of screaming)
"this limit now inlcudes the references"
(FX: screaming replaced with sobbing)
"and the abstract"
(FX: strange chanting and smell of burning. Demonic entities arrive)
December 18, 2025 at 2:32 PM
"we have decided to reduce the word limit for articles in this edition"
(FX: sounds of screaming)
"this limit now inlcudes the references"
(FX: screaming replaced with sobbing)
"and the abstract"
(FX: strange chanting and smell of burning. Demonic entities arrive)
(FX: sounds of screaming)
"this limit now inlcudes the references"
(FX: screaming replaced with sobbing)
"and the abstract"
(FX: strange chanting and smell of burning. Demonic entities arrive)
There are — quite correctly — two spaces after each full stop in the image below.
(As a part of the SoMe around the larp B Movie we're releasing odd snippets of text like this; I am rather fond of this one.)
(As a part of the SoMe around the larp B Movie we're releasing odd snippets of text like this; I am rather fond of this one.)
December 16, 2025 at 6:13 AM
There are — quite correctly — two spaces after each full stop in the image below.
(As a part of the SoMe around the larp B Movie we're releasing odd snippets of text like this; I am rather fond of this one.)
(As a part of the SoMe around the larp B Movie we're releasing odd snippets of text like this; I am rather fond of this one.)
An error this morning led to me taking a walk through sunrise London whilst on a call with my friend Martine who was taking a walk through early morning Oslo. We arrived at our respective coffee shops at the same time. The London Barista was confused by me saying "dagens kaffe, tusen takk"
December 11, 2025 at 9:09 AM
An error this morning led to me taking a walk through sunrise London whilst on a call with my friend Martine who was taking a walk through early morning Oslo. We arrived at our respective coffee shops at the same time. The London Barista was confused by me saying "dagens kaffe, tusen takk"
I need a word that describes an implicity and empathic understanding, an academic equivalent of knowing something in your bones. Once upon a time I might have used Heinlien's Martian word ' grok; for this, but that is no longer available. Does a suitable word exist in another Earth language?
December 5, 2025 at 9:56 AM
I need a word that describes an implicity and empathic understanding, an academic equivalent of knowing something in your bones. Once upon a time I might have used Heinlien's Martian word ' grok; for this, but that is no longer available. Does a suitable word exist in another Earth language?
I went to Dragonmeet for 24 minutes. Even with Noise Cancelling on it was too much input to even be able to focus on objects. There were many objects. I came away none the wiser.
November 29, 2025 at 1:51 PM
I went to Dragonmeet for 24 minutes. Even with Noise Cancelling on it was too much input to even be able to focus on objects. There were many objects. I came away none the wiser.
A photo taken at Conscience. It was a difficult larp for me to play but I learned so much from it. (There's pretty much a chapter on it in my thesis.) It contained one of the best and one of the worst scenes of my 40+ year larping career.
November 19, 2025 at 10:03 AM
A photo taken at Conscience. It was a difficult larp for me to play but I learned so much from it. (There's pretty much a chapter on it in my thesis.) It contained one of the best and one of the worst scenes of my 40+ year larping career.
This weekend the incredibly talented team at @wonderlarp.bsky.social are running Convention of Thorns
which I hope everyone in the larpospehere already knows about. A crossing of streams between VtM and the Nordic form
www.conventionofthorns.com
which I hope everyone in the larpospehere already knows about. A crossing of streams between VtM and the Nordic form
www.conventionofthorns.com
Convention of Thorns | Vampire the Masquerade larp in Poland
Convention of Thorns is a licensed Vampire the Masquerade larp (live action role play) in Poland set in the World of Darkness. It is an official Paradox Interactive event created by Wonderlarp. Partic...
www.conventionofthorns.com
November 13, 2025 at 8:31 AM
This weekend the incredibly talented team at @wonderlarp.bsky.social are running Convention of Thorns
which I hope everyone in the larpospehere already knows about. A crossing of streams between VtM and the Nordic form
www.conventionofthorns.com
which I hope everyone in the larpospehere already knows about. A crossing of streams between VtM and the Nordic form
www.conventionofthorns.com
This was where I learned the fundamentals of the form. Writing meaningful linears ("Dungeons") week after week and somtimes getting through two characters in a single day while playing
Labyrinthe LARP, 1987.
Lady waiting at the bus stop looks familiar in a 1980s way...
Lady waiting at the bus stop looks familiar in a 1980s way...
November 11, 2025 at 1:18 PM
This was where I learned the fundamentals of the form. Writing meaningful linears ("Dungeons") week after week and somtimes getting through two characters in a single day while playing
