Amanda 🏳️⚧️💜
@subsurfaceamy.bsky.social
Board gamer, designer and trans mom. I blog about game design on SubsurfaceGames.ca
She/Her
She/Her
Reposted by Amanda 🏳️⚧️💜
Public transit doesn't exist to make a profit, it is a public service. If you make it crappier so it doesn't meet people's needs, then charge more for it so fewer people can pay for it, *then* complain when fewer people use it, that shows a pretty fundamental lack of comprehension.
October 29, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Public transit doesn't exist to make a profit, it is a public service. If you make it crappier so it doesn't meet people's needs, then charge more for it so fewer people can pay for it, *then* complain when fewer people use it, that shows a pretty fundamental lack of comprehension.
My latest tattoo!
October 28, 2025 at 1:39 PM
My latest tattoo!
Reposted by Amanda 🏳️⚧️💜
There's a point where a board game prototype becomes "fun enough" that play testing it is not a burden or a favor; it's just playing a fun but incomplete game.
I think getting to that point should probably be the initial goal of #BoardGameDesign, well before content, balance, or aesthetics.
🎲✂️
I think getting to that point should probably be the initial goal of #BoardGameDesign, well before content, balance, or aesthetics.
🎲✂️
October 6, 2025 at 12:58 PM
There's a point where a board game prototype becomes "fun enough" that play testing it is not a burden or a favor; it's just playing a fun but incomplete game.
I think getting to that point should probably be the initial goal of #BoardGameDesign, well before content, balance, or aesthetics.
🎲✂️
I think getting to that point should probably be the initial goal of #BoardGameDesign, well before content, balance, or aesthetics.
🎲✂️
Reposted by Amanda 🏳️⚧️💜
I've been listening to "Think Like A Game Designer", insightful game designer interviews by @justingary.bsky.social .
Every so often I find myself writing down quotes, which I'll be sharing in this thread:
🎲✂️
Every so often I find myself writing down quotes, which I'll be sharing in this thread:
🎲✂️
July 14, 2025 at 9:40 AM
I've been listening to "Think Like A Game Designer", insightful game designer interviews by @justingary.bsky.social .
Every so often I find myself writing down quotes, which I'll be sharing in this thread:
🎲✂️
Every so often I find myself writing down quotes, which I'll be sharing in this thread:
🎲✂️
Reposted by Amanda 🏳️⚧️💜
If you ever run into a game that very clearly uses LLMs on @boardgamegeek.com, the best way to combat it is to tag it under “Family” as “AI Generated Illustration”
It would be great if we had a category for generalized LLM usage—but at the least we can kick all of the garbage to the same space. 🎲✂️
It would be great if we had a category for generalized LLM usage—but at the least we can kick all of the garbage to the same space. 🎲✂️
August 27, 2025 at 2:44 AM
If you ever run into a game that very clearly uses LLMs on @boardgamegeek.com, the best way to combat it is to tag it under “Family” as “AI Generated Illustration”
It would be great if we had a category for generalized LLM usage—but at the least we can kick all of the garbage to the same space. 🎲✂️
It would be great if we had a category for generalized LLM usage—but at the least we can kick all of the garbage to the same space. 🎲✂️
Reposted by Amanda 🏳️⚧️💜
this is about how some ttrpg designers see board game designers but is also, depressingly, about how many board game designers see board game designers
it's changing, albeit slowly, and gosh I'm glad for that
it's changing, albeit slowly, and gosh I'm glad for that
i have a lot of empathy for my sisters in board games who struggle to have their artistic vision appreciated in a substantially more publisher-strangled world while simultaneously being dismissed by other designers who dont engage w the scope of their creative practixe
August 28, 2025 at 10:01 AM
this is about how some ttrpg designers see board game designers but is also, depressingly, about how many board game designers see board game designers
it's changing, albeit slowly, and gosh I'm glad for that
it's changing, albeit slowly, and gosh I'm glad for that
Reposted by Amanda 🏳️⚧️💜
I think at some point board gamers are gonna have to reckon with the fact that the Dice Tower is a menace. Legitimately a homogenizing force being imposed on board game design.
🎲✂️
If something detracts from your hook, maybe cut that thing. Your hook will be what sets your game apart.
If something detracts from your hook, maybe cut that thing. Your hook will be what sets your game apart.
September 4, 2025 at 12:16 AM
I think at some point board gamers are gonna have to reckon with the fact that the Dice Tower is a menace. Legitimately a homogenizing force being imposed on board game design.
Reposted by Amanda 🏳️⚧️💜
September 10, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Reposted by Amanda 🏳️⚧️💜
A shitty thing made 100% of the way is infinitely superior to the perfect thing abandoned partway.
The more things I've made, the less I've been interested in publicly criticizing the things that other people make, because once you make a few things you start to understand what a miracle it is that anything gets made at all
August 24, 2025 at 7:58 PM
A shitty thing made 100% of the way is infinitely superior to the perfect thing abandoned partway.
Reposted by Amanda 🏳️⚧️💜
🎲✂️
High Society is a great example - explain the theme and all the rules just make sense (especially that end-game twist which excludes the poorest player). Change the theme and it would lose its magic.
High Society is a great example - explain the theme and all the rules just make sense (especially that end-game twist which excludes the poorest player). Change the theme and it would lose its magic.
August 20, 2025 at 1:08 PM
🎲✂️
High Society is a great example - explain the theme and all the rules just make sense (especially that end-game twist which excludes the poorest player). Change the theme and it would lose its magic.
High Society is a great example - explain the theme and all the rules just make sense (especially that end-game twist which excludes the poorest player). Change the theme and it would lose its magic.
Reposted by Amanda 🏳️⚧️💜
Invaluable is a trading game I've had in my pocket for YEARS. Players are museum curators, buying and selling artifacts. It has this fun closed economy that tightens like a noose as the game goes on.
I'm doing a limited print run of this, probably available from the end of August. Stay tuned! 🎲✂️
I'm doing a limited print run of this, probably available from the end of August. Stay tuned! 🎲✂️
August 15, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Invaluable is a trading game I've had in my pocket for YEARS. Players are museum curators, buying and selling artifacts. It has this fun closed economy that tightens like a noose as the game goes on.
I'm doing a limited print run of this, probably available from the end of August. Stay tuned! 🎲✂️
I'm doing a limited print run of this, probably available from the end of August. Stay tuned! 🎲✂️
Reposted by Amanda 🏳️⚧️💜
Reposted by Amanda 🏳️⚧️💜
CLARIFICATION :
The Trevor Project's hotline will still be live. But basically this means LGBTQ people can no longer be connected to it through the US national 988 suicide prevention hotline.
They will need to be contacted DIRECTLY
So spread this around
They can be texted. They can be called.
The Trevor Project's hotline will still be live. But basically this means LGBTQ people can no longer be connected to it through the US national 988 suicide prevention hotline.
They will need to be contacted DIRECTLY
So spread this around
They can be texted. They can be called.
June 18, 2025 at 5:48 PM
CLARIFICATION :
The Trevor Project's hotline will still be live. But basically this means LGBTQ people can no longer be connected to it through the US national 988 suicide prevention hotline.
They will need to be contacted DIRECTLY
So spread this around
They can be texted. They can be called.
The Trevor Project's hotline will still be live. But basically this means LGBTQ people can no longer be connected to it through the US national 988 suicide prevention hotline.
They will need to be contacted DIRECTLY
So spread this around
They can be texted. They can be called.
Reposted by Amanda 🏳️⚧️💜
« J’ose espérer que la considération des droits humains va avoir préséance sur toute forme de politisation et d’attaque sur la communauté ».
Citation d’une entrevue que j’ai donnée pour @pivot.quebec :
pivot.quebec/2025/06/12/q...
Citation d’une entrevue que j’ai donnée pour @pivot.quebec :
pivot.quebec/2025/06/12/q...
Quels risques pose le rapport du Comité de sages sur l’identité de genre? – Pivot
Il lui est reproché un manque de crédibilité scientifique et une perspective hostile aux femmes trans, faisant désormais craindre des interventions politiques dans plusieurs domaines.
pivot.quebec
June 12, 2025 at 11:52 PM
« J’ose espérer que la considération des droits humains va avoir préséance sur toute forme de politisation et d’attaque sur la communauté ».
Citation d’une entrevue que j’ai donnée pour @pivot.quebec :
pivot.quebec/2025/06/12/q...
Citation d’une entrevue que j’ai donnée pour @pivot.quebec :
pivot.quebec/2025/06/12/q...
Reposted by Amanda 🏳️⚧️💜
The vast majority of people I remember ringing the alarms about Project 2025 a year ago were transgender people. It didn't get any kind of coverage until well into the campaign.
We used to be oracles and seers for a reason.
And now so many centrists and moderates act like there was no warning. 🙄
We used to be oracles and seers for a reason.
And now so many centrists and moderates act like there was no warning. 🙄
Deploying the military on U.S. soil against Americans was on page 555 of Project 2025.
This was always their plan, and people voted for it anyway.
America failed an open book test.
This was always their plan, and people voted for it anyway.
America failed an open book test.
June 10, 2025 at 2:52 AM
The vast majority of people I remember ringing the alarms about Project 2025 a year ago were transgender people. It didn't get any kind of coverage until well into the campaign.
We used to be oracles and seers for a reason.
And now so many centrists and moderates act like there was no warning. 🙄
We used to be oracles and seers for a reason.
And now so many centrists and moderates act like there was no warning. 🙄
Reposted by Amanda 🏳️⚧️💜
Healthcare for seniors is *not* waste, fraud, or abuse.
Food for hungry kids is *not* waste, fraud, or abuse.
A $45 military parade for a draft dodging felon *is* waste, fraud, and abuse.
Paying the National Guard to attack US citizens *is* waste, fraud, and abuse.
Food for hungry kids is *not* waste, fraud, or abuse.
A $45 military parade for a draft dodging felon *is* waste, fraud, and abuse.
Paying the National Guard to attack US citizens *is* waste, fraud, and abuse.
June 8, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Healthcare for seniors is *not* waste, fraud, or abuse.
Food for hungry kids is *not* waste, fraud, or abuse.
A $45 military parade for a draft dodging felon *is* waste, fraud, and abuse.
Paying the National Guard to attack US citizens *is* waste, fraud, and abuse.
Food for hungry kids is *not* waste, fraud, or abuse.
A $45 military parade for a draft dodging felon *is* waste, fraud, and abuse.
Paying the National Guard to attack US citizens *is* waste, fraud, and abuse.
Reposted by Amanda 🏳️⚧️💜
I’m throwing in my hat as a member of the @ttgda.bsky.social advisory board! 🎲✂️
Best of luck to everyone who is running!!
If you’re a voting member of the association, come out for the vote! 🗳️
Best of luck to everyone who is running!!
If you’re a voting member of the association, come out for the vote! 🗳️
May 20, 2025 at 2:38 AM
I’m throwing in my hat as a member of the @ttgda.bsky.social advisory board! 🎲✂️
Best of luck to everyone who is running!!
If you’re a voting member of the association, come out for the vote! 🗳️
Best of luck to everyone who is running!!
If you’re a voting member of the association, come out for the vote! 🗳️
Reposted by Amanda 🏳️⚧️💜
An area majority for two players? With a solo mode? There’s no way that can work well!
Turns out you can achieve a lot if you’re equipped with a smile & a gun
Turns out you can achieve a lot if you’re equipped with a smile & a gun
May 15, 2025 at 9:04 PM
An area majority for two players? With a solo mode? There’s no way that can work well!
Turns out you can achieve a lot if you’re equipped with a smile & a gun
Turns out you can achieve a lot if you’re equipped with a smile & a gun
Reposted by Amanda 🏳️⚧️💜
.....No? Look, I write all of my books for literally three people and if anyone else likes or even reads them, that's pretty neat, but I want people "debating" my stories about as much as I want to eat a lightbulb.
May 12, 2025 at 8:12 PM
.....No? Look, I write all of my books for literally three people and if anyone else likes or even reads them, that's pretty neat, but I want people "debating" my stories about as much as I want to eat a lightbulb.
Reposted by Amanda 🏳️⚧️💜
To all the trans moms, I wish a Happy Mother's Day! 💐💝
Your motherhood is valid. Let's celebrate!
Your motherhood is valid. Let's celebrate!
May 11, 2025 at 2:18 PM
To all the trans moms, I wish a Happy Mother's Day! 💐💝
Your motherhood is valid. Let's celebrate!
Your motherhood is valid. Let's celebrate!
To all the trans moms, I wish a Happy Mother's Day! 💐💝
Your motherhood is valid. Let's celebrate!
Your motherhood is valid. Let's celebrate!
May 11, 2025 at 2:18 PM
To all the trans moms, I wish a Happy Mother's Day! 💐💝
Your motherhood is valid. Let's celebrate!
Your motherhood is valid. Let's celebrate!
Reposted by Amanda 🏳️⚧️💜
If you call him Pope Leo XIV then you can stop dead naming the trans people in your life.
BREAKING: Cardinal Robert Prevost, who was born in Chicago, has been elected the new pope, the Vatican just announced.
Could Cardinal Robert Prevost, originally from Chicago, become first American pope?
Prevost has spent much of his time serving in Peru, and holds nationality in both the U.S. and Peru.
www.cbsnews.com
May 8, 2025 at 5:28 PM
If you call him Pope Leo XIV then you can stop dead naming the trans people in your life.