Mark Kinney
@tashkal.bsky.social
Late of podcasting (All Games Considered, Gutter Skypes, etc) and dabbling in creating games, nerdcore hip hop, among other things. He/him
Pinned
Mark Kinney
@tashkal.bsky.social
· Nov 12
My name is Mark. Once upon a time I was part of what I like to believe were well regarded tabletop gaming podcasts. Real life overwhelmed, as it does.
Now? I have several half-finished game projects, and I just might try to finish one or more. Currently enjoying Traveller/Cepheus, Fate, 2400, etc
Now? I have several half-finished game projects, and I just might try to finish one or more. Currently enjoying Traveller/Cepheus, Fate, 2400, etc
Reposted by Mark Kinney
🚨THE LORD WEIRD SLOUGH FEG IS BACK🚨 youtu.be/5Qe4sg_NHwQ?...
Knife World
YouTube video by The Lord Weird Slough Feg - Topic
youtu.be
March 10, 2025 at 10:23 PM
🚨THE LORD WEIRD SLOUGH FEG IS BACK🚨 youtu.be/5Qe4sg_NHwQ?...
Reposted by Mark Kinney
Time for the quarterly reminder:
When recommending a TTRPG to someone, first determine if they're even looking for a new TTRPG to try or if they're unhappy with their current one. If they're unhappy with their current one, tell them how this new TTRPG fixes that particular problem.
1/3
When recommending a TTRPG to someone, first determine if they're even looking for a new TTRPG to try or if they're unhappy with their current one. If they're unhappy with their current one, tell them how this new TTRPG fixes that particular problem.
1/3
March 17, 2025 at 11:29 PM
Time for the quarterly reminder:
When recommending a TTRPG to someone, first determine if they're even looking for a new TTRPG to try or if they're unhappy with their current one. If they're unhappy with their current one, tell them how this new TTRPG fixes that particular problem.
1/3
When recommending a TTRPG to someone, first determine if they're even looking for a new TTRPG to try or if they're unhappy with their current one. If they're unhappy with their current one, tell them how this new TTRPG fixes that particular problem.
1/3
I decided to try plotting out the unit movements in the Clan Invasion, as given by Sarna.
I had no idea what I was getting myself into.
I had no idea what I was getting myself into.
February 2, 2025 at 12:19 AM
I decided to try plotting out the unit movements in the Clan Invasion, as given by Sarna.
I had no idea what I was getting myself into.
I had no idea what I was getting myself into.
Reposted by Mark Kinney
I don’t understand GMs who brag about killing player-characters. Nothing’s simpler & lazier. “You meet in a tavern. Suddenly the planet is struck by a meteor the size of Mount Rushmore. You all die.” See? Easy. The real skill to GMing, is knowing how to *challenge* the PCs. Not just kill ‘em. #ttisg
January 31, 2025 at 9:50 PM
I don’t understand GMs who brag about killing player-characters. Nothing’s simpler & lazier. “You meet in a tavern. Suddenly the planet is struck by a meteor the size of Mount Rushmore. You all die.” See? Easy. The real skill to GMing, is knowing how to *challenge* the PCs. Not just kill ‘em. #ttisg
Reposted by Mark Kinney
What I'm working up for a hopeful con game (waited until almost the last minute)...
January 18, 2025 at 5:48 PM
What I'm working up for a hopeful con game (waited until almost the last minute)...
Reposted by Mark Kinney
one thing i’m stuck on is this idea that “masculine” energy means license to act like a chud in public, as opposed to more traditional notions of public masculinity, such as those that put a premium on the performance of integrity, honesty, honor and generosity.
January 16, 2025 at 8:21 PM
one thing i’m stuck on is this idea that “masculine” energy means license to act like a chud in public, as opposed to more traditional notions of public masculinity, such as those that put a premium on the performance of integrity, honesty, honor and generosity.
Reposted by Mark Kinney
In an attempt to write another serviceable GM guide, I have instead resorted to writing down all the gamesmastering styles I can think of and letting people come to their own conclusions
December 16, 2024 at 11:44 AM
In an attempt to write another serviceable GM guide, I have instead resorted to writing down all the gamesmastering styles I can think of and letting people come to their own conclusions
Another game I played this weekend, Level 7 Invasion. It's a fairly complex co-op game, elevator pitch is something like Pandemic Risk. I like it and how all the interplay works.
November 25, 2024 at 4:40 PM
Another game I played this weekend, Level 7 Invasion. It's a fairly complex co-op game, elevator pitch is something like Pandemic Risk. I like it and how all the interplay works.
If you see this, post your first console.
I loved the potential of this thing, even if I was a little upset I didn't get a 2600 like everyone else I knew. Still love it, though.
I loved the potential of this thing, even if I was a little upset I didn't get a 2600 like everyone else I knew. Still love it, though.
November 25, 2024 at 4:32 PM
If you see this, post your first console.
I loved the potential of this thing, even if I was a little upset I didn't get a 2600 like everyone else I knew. Still love it, though.
I loved the potential of this thing, even if I was a little upset I didn't get a 2600 like everyone else I knew. Still love it, though.
Reposted by Mark Kinney
Twitter used to bring in up to 30% of KS funding. KS itself was another 30 or so. The rest, from wherever.
This is a meteoric drop.
This is a meteoric drop.
November 25, 2024 at 2:19 PM
Twitter used to bring in up to 30% of KS funding. KS itself was another 30 or so. The rest, from wherever.
This is a meteoric drop.
This is a meteoric drop.
Last night I ended up putting thought into what a Battletech themed Panic game might look like. Might even prototype something even though it can never ever go anywhere, just for the practice designing.
November 25, 2024 at 1:50 PM
Last night I ended up putting thought into what a Battletech themed Panic game might look like. Might even prototype something even though it can never ever go anywhere, just for the practice designing.
This is a fascinating article, and I'd love to try a Decio one of these days, ancient Roman or not.
I've been doing a bit of research (actually quite a bit of research) into ancient Roman #apples: how many varieties were recorded, what they were called, and whether any of them might actually have survived to the present day...
Details on the blog:
orchardnotes.com/2024/11/17/a...
#orchard
Details on the blog:
orchardnotes.com/2024/11/17/a...
#orchard
A Few Notes on Ancient Roman "Apple" Varieties | Orchard Notes
I've been looking into Roman fruit varieties, and the possibility that one or two apples might actually have survived to the present day.
orchardnotes.com
November 24, 2024 at 4:57 PM
This is a fascinating article, and I'd love to try a Decio one of these days, ancient Roman or not.
Reposted by Mark Kinney
He's making a list. He's checking it twice. He's trying to remember whether he should put a period at the end of each list item. He removes the *&%^#!* AP Stylebook from the nice list.
November 24, 2024 at 4:48 PM
He's making a list. He's checking it twice. He's trying to remember whether he should put a period at the end of each list item. He removes the *&%^#!* AP Stylebook from the nice list.
Five authors I've read five or more books by:
Margaret Weis/Tracy Hickman
Harry Turtledove
Mike Stackpole
Dean Koontz
Robert Heinlein
Margaret Weis/Tracy Hickman
Harry Turtledove
Mike Stackpole
Dean Koontz
Robert Heinlein
Five authors I've read five or more books by:
Ben Aaronovitch
Craig Alanson
Clive Barker
William Gibson
Elmore Leonard
Ben Aaronovitch
Craig Alanson
Clive Barker
William Gibson
Elmore Leonard
Five authors I've read five or more books by (starting with books closest to me):
Rumiko Takahashi
Kenneth Hite
Jennell Jaquays
Robert Asprin
Clive Cussler
Rumiko Takahashi
Kenneth Hite
Jennell Jaquays
Robert Asprin
Clive Cussler
November 24, 2024 at 4:05 PM
Five authors I've read five or more books by:
Margaret Weis/Tracy Hickman
Harry Turtledove
Mike Stackpole
Dean Koontz
Robert Heinlein
Margaret Weis/Tracy Hickman
Harry Turtledove
Mike Stackpole
Dean Koontz
Robert Heinlein
Reposted by Mark Kinney
Daily gaming biz/creation advice: Look outside of gaming for inspiration and guidance. @montecookgames.com (before there was a "games" always on the end of his name... ;) ) used travel/tourist guides for inspiration, for example.
November 23, 2024 at 8:36 PM
Daily gaming biz/creation advice: Look outside of gaming for inspiration and guidance. @montecookgames.com (before there was a "games" always on the end of his name... ;) ) used travel/tourist guides for inspiration, for example.
Spending the weekend with friends doing gaming stuff. So far we've defeated the Genestealers. Looking at Fallout at present.
November 23, 2024 at 9:30 PM
Spending the weekend with friends doing gaming stuff. So far we've defeated the Genestealers. Looking at Fallout at present.
And here we go, my actual list. In no particular order...
Over The Edge
In Nomine
Fiasco (especially 1st edition)
Traveller
Spirit of the Century etc
Over The Edge
In Nomine
Fiasco (especially 1st edition)
Traveller
Spirit of the Century etc
OMG we're doing all the intro posts but not our own niche! So:
Introduce yourself with your top 5 #TTRPG picks.
Changeling: The Lost
In Nomine (English + French editions)
Secrets of Cats
Sailor Moon Role-Playing Game
Over The Edge
Too many choices really! Already 2nd guessing my list.
Introduce yourself with your top 5 #TTRPG picks.
Changeling: The Lost
In Nomine (English + French editions)
Secrets of Cats
Sailor Moon Role-Playing Game
Over The Edge
Too many choices really! Already 2nd guessing my list.
November 21, 2024 at 2:31 AM
And here we go, my actual list. In no particular order...
Over The Edge
In Nomine
Fiasco (especially 1st edition)
Traveller
Spirit of the Century etc
Over The Edge
In Nomine
Fiasco (especially 1st edition)
Traveller
Spirit of the Century etc
Reposted by Mark Kinney
OMG we're doing all the intro posts but not our own niche! So:
Introduce yourself with your top 5 #TTRPG picks.
Changeling: The Lost
In Nomine (English + French editions)
Secrets of Cats
Sailor Moon Role-Playing Game
Over The Edge
Too many choices really! Already 2nd guessing my list.
Introduce yourself with your top 5 #TTRPG picks.
Changeling: The Lost
In Nomine (English + French editions)
Secrets of Cats
Sailor Moon Role-Playing Game
Over The Edge
Too many choices really! Already 2nd guessing my list.
November 19, 2024 at 8:56 PM
OMG we're doing all the intro posts but not our own niche! So:
Introduce yourself with your top 5 #TTRPG picks.
Changeling: The Lost
In Nomine (English + French editions)
Secrets of Cats
Sailor Moon Role-Playing Game
Over The Edge
Too many choices really! Already 2nd guessing my list.
Introduce yourself with your top 5 #TTRPG picks.
Changeling: The Lost
In Nomine (English + French editions)
Secrets of Cats
Sailor Moon Role-Playing Game
Over The Edge
Too many choices really! Already 2nd guessing my list.
Instead of the first #TTRPG you played or bought, how did you find out about them?
This is an easy one. The D&D article in Dynamite magazine.
This is an easy one. The D&D article in Dynamite magazine.
Instead of the first #TTRPG you played or bought, how did you find out about them?
My dad used to go to a bookstore called The Magic Door and would take me with him. They had the OG D&D books, and later Runequest, Traveller, and the first basic set. /1
My dad used to go to a bookstore called The Magic Door and would take me with him. They had the OG D&D books, and later Runequest, Traveller, and the first basic set. /1
November 20, 2024 at 10:16 PM
Instead of the first #TTRPG you played or bought, how did you find out about them?
This is an easy one. The D&D article in Dynamite magazine.
This is an easy one. The D&D article in Dynamite magazine.
Reposted by Mark Kinney
Something I think the indie RPG community would really benefit from is a database of public-domain works which contain lists of things. People have always loved making big stupid lists, and big stupid lists are eminently suitable to being stolen and adapted as big stupid tables.
November 20, 2024 at 2:24 AM
Something I think the indie RPG community would really benefit from is a database of public-domain works which contain lists of things. People have always loved making big stupid lists, and big stupid lists are eminently suitable to being stolen and adapted as big stupid tables.
Redoing this both to spread it and because I can't answer right now but want to come back to it later.
OMG we're doing all the intro posts but not our own niche! So:
Introduce yourself with your top 5 #TTRPG picks.
Changeling: The Lost
In Nomine (English + French editions)
Secrets of Cats
Sailor Moon Role-Playing Game
Over The Edge
Too many choices really! Already 2nd guessing my list.
Introduce yourself with your top 5 #TTRPG picks.
Changeling: The Lost
In Nomine (English + French editions)
Secrets of Cats
Sailor Moon Role-Playing Game
Over The Edge
Too many choices really! Already 2nd guessing my list.
November 20, 2024 at 12:07 PM
Redoing this both to spread it and because I can't answer right now but want to come back to it later.
Reposted by Mark Kinney
WRITING TIP FOR TODAY
Sale racks at bookstores. I'm dead serious.
Buy reference books when they are practically giving them away and build a little library. I cannot explain the difference between a book and the ENTIRE WEB.
A good reference book will give you a dozen ideas in the first chapter.
Sale racks at bookstores. I'm dead serious.
Buy reference books when they are practically giving them away and build a little library. I cannot explain the difference between a book and the ENTIRE WEB.
A good reference book will give you a dozen ideas in the first chapter.
November 15, 2024 at 2:10 PM
WRITING TIP FOR TODAY
Sale racks at bookstores. I'm dead serious.
Buy reference books when they are practically giving them away and build a little library. I cannot explain the difference between a book and the ENTIRE WEB.
A good reference book will give you a dozen ideas in the first chapter.
Sale racks at bookstores. I'm dead serious.
Buy reference books when they are practically giving them away and build a little library. I cannot explain the difference between a book and the ENTIRE WEB.
A good reference book will give you a dozen ideas in the first chapter.
Reposted by Mark Kinney
Please, if you are able, support Independent bookshops.
They are the literary & social hubs of our high streets and communities.
Without their continued support, we simply wouldn't be around to publish .
Thank you.
They are the literary & social hubs of our high streets and communities.
Without their continued support, we simply wouldn't be around to publish .
Thank you.
November 15, 2024 at 1:08 PM
Please, if you are able, support Independent bookshops.
They are the literary & social hubs of our high streets and communities.
Without their continued support, we simply wouldn't be around to publish .
Thank you.
They are the literary & social hubs of our high streets and communities.
Without their continued support, we simply wouldn't be around to publish .
Thank you.
Stuff on my plate:
* A Fate based love letter to the Street Fighter RPG
* Something with my "Urban Fantasy Supers" setting (WaRP, maybe)
* A "spiritual-edged sci-fi cinematic universe" RPG, probably using 2400
* A matrix game about the Bronze Age Collapse
There is more, but these are the biggest.
* A Fate based love letter to the Street Fighter RPG
* Something with my "Urban Fantasy Supers" setting (WaRP, maybe)
* A "spiritual-edged sci-fi cinematic universe" RPG, probably using 2400
* A matrix game about the Bronze Age Collapse
There is more, but these are the biggest.
November 15, 2024 at 1:21 PM
Stuff on my plate:
* A Fate based love letter to the Street Fighter RPG
* Something with my "Urban Fantasy Supers" setting (WaRP, maybe)
* A "spiritual-edged sci-fi cinematic universe" RPG, probably using 2400
* A matrix game about the Bronze Age Collapse
There is more, but these are the biggest.
* A Fate based love letter to the Street Fighter RPG
* Something with my "Urban Fantasy Supers" setting (WaRP, maybe)
* A "spiritual-edged sci-fi cinematic universe" RPG, probably using 2400
* A matrix game about the Bronze Age Collapse
There is more, but these are the biggest.