Keith Ammann
@themonstersknow.com
ENNIE-winning author of The Monsters Know What They're Doing and other stuff. Humanist, antifascist, curmudgeon. Teeth on the board. ✶✶✶✶
Home: spyandowl.com
Blog: themonstersknow.com
Newsletter: onefootinfairyland.com
Mastodon: dice.camp/@KeithAmmann
Home: spyandowl.com
Blog: themonstersknow.com
Newsletter: onefootinfairyland.com
Mastodon: dice.camp/@KeithAmmann
Pinned
Christmas and Chanukah are coming up on us as fast as a bin'azg! Sprinkle some holiday cheer into the life of your favorite GM: Give them a copy of Making Enemies or How to Defend Your Lair. (Or both!)
Buy Making Enemies: bookshop.org/a/511/978166...
Buy HTDYL: bookshop.org/a/511/978198...
Buy Making Enemies: bookshop.org/a/511/978166...
Buy HTDYL: bookshop.org/a/511/978198...
Reposted by Keith Ammann
Decided to get started on I Who Remains while inspiration is running high. Been sitting on this idea for a while because I was stuck on how to approach it.
It’s a solo/2 player game about being a long lived species we often see after the great adventure has ended and the world has moved on
It’s a solo/2 player game about being a long lived species we often see after the great adventure has ended and the world has moved on
December 25, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Decided to get started on I Who Remains while inspiration is running high. Been sitting on this idea for a while because I was stuck on how to approach it.
It’s a solo/2 player game about being a long lived species we often see after the great adventure has ended and the world has moved on
It’s a solo/2 player game about being a long lived species we often see after the great adventure has ended and the world has moved on
Reposted by Keith Ammann
My child has asked for handwriting samples from the adults to compare to a hypothetical note from Santa.
Upon leaving a bag of cookies with a signature line, I heard her say to herself, “I’m coming for you, Santa!”
Upon leaving a bag of cookies with a signature line, I heard her say to herself, “I’m coming for you, Santa!”
December 25, 2025 at 12:22 AM
My child has asked for handwriting samples from the adults to compare to a hypothetical note from Santa.
Upon leaving a bag of cookies with a signature line, I heard her say to herself, “I’m coming for you, Santa!”
Upon leaving a bag of cookies with a signature line, I heard her say to herself, “I’m coming for you, Santa!”
Reposted by Keith Ammann
they don’t tell you when you buy a christmas tree at the christmas tree farm that you could take it home, decorate it, and then be relaxing in your living room seven nights later when A BAT suddenly flies out and starts CRASHING AROUND YOUR HOUSE
December 24, 2025 at 11:43 PM
they don’t tell you when you buy a christmas tree at the christmas tree farm that you could take it home, decorate it, and then be relaxing in your living room seven nights later when A BAT suddenly flies out and starts CRASHING AROUND YOUR HOUSE
10 TTRPGs I want to play/run in 2026:
Deathmatch Island
Triangle Agency
Orbital Blues
Blades in '68
Dragonbane
Haunted West
Flabbergasted!
Brindlewood Bay
The Last Caravan
Dialect
Number of these I'll probably get to play/run:
1 (maybe 0)
😭
Deathmatch Island
Triangle Agency
Orbital Blues
Blades in '68
Dragonbane
Haunted West
Flabbergasted!
Brindlewood Bay
The Last Caravan
Dialect
Number of these I'll probably get to play/run:
1 (maybe 0)
😭
10 TTRPGs I want to play/run in 2026 (other than Haunted West):
-Black Company (Arc Dream)
-Shadowrun 2E
-One Ring
-Necroscope
-3.5 Forgotten Realms
-Beyond the Mountains of Madness
-Godlike
-[REDACTED]
-Traveller
-Delta Green
-Black Company (Arc Dream)
-Shadowrun 2E
-One Ring
-Necroscope
-3.5 Forgotten Realms
-Beyond the Mountains of Madness
-Godlike
-[REDACTED]
-Traveller
-Delta Green
10 TTRPGs I want to play/run in 2026 (other than Call of Cthulhu):
-Monsterhearts
-Thirsty Sword Lesbians
-Delta Green
-Kult
-10 Candles
-Cosmic Dark
-Tales from the Loop
-Monster of the Week
-Haunted West
-They Came From
-Monsterhearts
-Thirsty Sword Lesbians
-Delta Green
-Kult
-10 Candles
-Cosmic Dark
-Tales from the Loop
-Monster of the Week
-Haunted West
-They Came From
December 24, 2025 at 2:03 PM
10 TTRPGs I want to play/run in 2026:
Deathmatch Island
Triangle Agency
Orbital Blues
Blades in '68
Dragonbane
Haunted West
Flabbergasted!
Brindlewood Bay
The Last Caravan
Dialect
Number of these I'll probably get to play/run:
1 (maybe 0)
😭
Deathmatch Island
Triangle Agency
Orbital Blues
Blades in '68
Dragonbane
Haunted West
Flabbergasted!
Brindlewood Bay
The Last Caravan
Dialect
Number of these I'll probably get to play/run:
1 (maybe 0)
😭
Reposted by Keith Ammann
Beside a sprawling city rise the ridges of an ancient volcano. Within this 3,500-foot-wide, 760-foot-tall encircling wall of stone is the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency.
This is Diamond Head, known as Lēʻahi in Oʻahu.
#ttrpg #writing #dnd #art #writingcommunity
📷️: Elliott Chau & Eric Tessmer
This is Diamond Head, known as Lēʻahi in Oʻahu.
#ttrpg #writing #dnd #art #writingcommunity
📷️: Elliott Chau & Eric Tessmer
December 23, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Beside a sprawling city rise the ridges of an ancient volcano. Within this 3,500-foot-wide, 760-foot-tall encircling wall of stone is the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency.
This is Diamond Head, known as Lēʻahi in Oʻahu.
#ttrpg #writing #dnd #art #writingcommunity
📷️: Elliott Chau & Eric Tessmer
This is Diamond Head, known as Lēʻahi in Oʻahu.
#ttrpg #writing #dnd #art #writingcommunity
📷️: Elliott Chau & Eric Tessmer
Reposted by Keith Ammann
😻 Caribbean Reef Octopus 🐙 Hand sculpted from clay and lovingly painted 🎨
#ArtAdventCalendar #ArtYear #Art #ArtGallery #Sculpture #Octopus #MarineLife #CoralReef #ArtSale #BSNM #Invertebrates 🦑🐡
#ArtAdventCalendar #ArtYear #Art #ArtGallery #Sculpture #Octopus #MarineLife #CoralReef #ArtSale #BSNM #Invertebrates 🦑🐡
December 23, 2025 at 7:08 AM
😻 Caribbean Reef Octopus 🐙 Hand sculpted from clay and lovingly painted 🎨
#ArtAdventCalendar #ArtYear #Art #ArtGallery #Sculpture #Octopus #MarineLife #CoralReef #ArtSale #BSNM #Invertebrates 🦑🐡
#ArtAdventCalendar #ArtYear #Art #ArtGallery #Sculpture #Octopus #MarineLife #CoralReef #ArtSale #BSNM #Invertebrates 🦑🐡
Oh, look, it's Shadowrun.
With the 60 minutes leak, the many recent Epstein releases, etc., I think we are seeing the future of government accountability under authoritarianism:
Leaks, hacks, data dumps, releases of big document caches.
Journalists and the public will have to learn how to digest this stuff. 🧵
Leaks, hacks, data dumps, releases of big document caches.
Journalists and the public will have to learn how to digest this stuff. 🧵
December 23, 2025 at 4:08 AM
Oh, look, it's Shadowrun.
Awww. Seven years old, and the Oobit just had her first data breach incident! I'm so proud. 🙃
December 22, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Awww. Seven years old, and the Oobit just had her first data breach incident! I'm so proud. 🙃
Reposted by Keith Ammann
How many of us just.. refusing to update next Daylight Savings Time would it take to actually stop it?
Even though my state legislature almost universally wanted to get rid of DST a couple years ago, they devolved into petty fighting about whether to stay one hour forward or back.
Even though my state legislature almost universally wanted to get rid of DST a couple years ago, they devolved into petty fighting about whether to stay one hour forward or back.
December 22, 2025 at 8:54 PM
How many of us just.. refusing to update next Daylight Savings Time would it take to actually stop it?
Even though my state legislature almost universally wanted to get rid of DST a couple years ago, they devolved into petty fighting about whether to stay one hour forward or back.
Even though my state legislature almost universally wanted to get rid of DST a couple years ago, they devolved into petty fighting about whether to stay one hour forward or back.
Reposted by Keith Ammann
this map for Disco Elysium Final cut is i believe the most time consuming jobs i've done
was super fun
was super fun
December 8, 2025 at 3:43 PM
this map for Disco Elysium Final cut is i believe the most time consuming jobs i've done
was super fun
was super fun
Reposted by Keith Ammann
0% risk of being sent to Whamhalla when you do your Christmas shopping at Goblin Market
December 22, 2025 at 3:53 PM
0% risk of being sent to Whamhalla when you do your Christmas shopping at Goblin Market
Calling all inkies
Strange research question, but... For people with tattoos, does your designs have finer details? Like cross-hatching or pointillism? Do those fade quickly and have to be retouched?
December 22, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Calling all inkies
Reposted by Keith Ammann
Had a terrific talk recently with the hosts of That RPG Podcast. Hear me talk about avoiding COVID at cons, what makes monsters monsters, humanizing orcs, the origin of the Calavazo, ingenious player solutions to difficult problems, taking PC death in stride, cranberry chutney and "doing voices."
Interview with Keith Ammann, Author of Making Enemies & The Monsters Know What They're Doing
YouTube video by Advanced Old School Revival
www.youtube.com
December 15, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Had a terrific talk recently with the hosts of That RPG Podcast. Hear me talk about avoiding COVID at cons, what makes monsters monsters, humanizing orcs, the origin of the Calavazo, ingenious player solutions to difficult problems, taking PC death in stride, cranberry chutney and "doing voices."
Reposted by Keith Ammann
now seems like a good time to remind you all to support independent, worker run, billionaire free, and/or reader funded news how and where you can.
December 22, 2025 at 12:09 AM
now seems like a good time to remind you all to support independent, worker run, billionaire free, and/or reader funded news how and where you can.
Reposted by Keith Ammann
Now seems like a swell time to point out that Frontline just released this excellent 11-minute mini-documentary about what happened inside CECOT.
Surviving CECOT (full documentary) | Deported to a Maximum-Security Prison | FRONTLINE + ProPublica
YouTube video by FRONTLINE PBS | Official
m.youtube.com
December 21, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Now seems like a swell time to point out that Frontline just released this excellent 11-minute mini-documentary about what happened inside CECOT.
Reposted by Keith Ammann
Waking up at 5am with the "Mary had a little lamb" playing on loop in your brain BUT to the tune of in the hall of the mountain King is no way to go through life I tell you
December 21, 2025 at 11:11 AM
Waking up at 5am with the "Mary had a little lamb" playing on loop in your brain BUT to the tune of in the hall of the mountain King is no way to go through life I tell you
The Oobit got a bunch of glow sticks in a birthday party goodie bag, and this is what she did with them
December 21, 2025 at 1:42 PM
The Oobit got a bunch of glow sticks in a birthday party goodie bag, and this is what she did with them
Reposted by Keith Ammann
Beatriz Bernal, a 16th-century Spanish novelist, wrote a fantasy novel about a female knight - with dragons, sorcerers, and a giant - decades before Don Quixote appeared.
A children's adaptation, devised by children's author Diego Arboleda, is forthcoming!
#fantasy #renaissance #earlymodern 💙📚
A children's adaptation, devised by children's author Diego Arboleda, is forthcoming!
#fantasy #renaissance #earlymodern 💙📚
'Though completely eclipsed by Don Quixote, Cristalián de España, which was first published in 1545, has a unique claim to fame. Its 800 pages, bristling with swords, sorcerers, dragons and damsels, make up the earliest known work by a female Spanish novelist.' 1/2
‘From her pen sprang unforgettable females’: 16th-century Spanish author’s knight’s tale given reboot
Beatriz Bernal’s pioneering novel features brave, chivalrous women who ride dragons and her adapter wants his illustrated version to reach young readers
www.theguardian.com
December 20, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Beatriz Bernal, a 16th-century Spanish novelist, wrote a fantasy novel about a female knight - with dragons, sorcerers, and a giant - decades before Don Quixote appeared.
A children's adaptation, devised by children's author Diego Arboleda, is forthcoming!
#fantasy #renaissance #earlymodern 💙📚
A children's adaptation, devised by children's author Diego Arboleda, is forthcoming!
#fantasy #renaissance #earlymodern 💙📚
Reposted by Keith Ammann
Y algunas cositas que salen hoy. Muchas gracias por el esfuerzo que se que haceis comprando a negocios peques. No podemos competir con el todo rápido y barato que ofrecen los negocios grandes, pero el trato va a ser siempre directo y honesto, y la comunicación, humana.
Folktalesmarket.com
Folktalesmarket.com
December 19, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Y algunas cositas que salen hoy. Muchas gracias por el esfuerzo que se que haceis comprando a negocios peques. No podemos competir con el todo rápido y barato que ofrecen los negocios grandes, pero el trato va a ser siempre directo y honesto, y la comunicación, humana.
Folktalesmarket.com
Folktalesmarket.com
Reposted by Keith Ammann
"concept artists can experiment with AI to make their lives easi-"
wrong
I smack you with Claire Hummel's immaculate and detailed understanding of costume design, which she got by studying historical references, which made her strong, which you will not become by relying on AI
get good
wrong
I smack you with Claire Hummel's immaculate and detailed understanding of costume design, which she got by studying historical references, which made her strong, which you will not become by relying on AI
get good
December 18, 2025 at 9:39 PM
"concept artists can experiment with AI to make their lives easi-"
wrong
I smack you with Claire Hummel's immaculate and detailed understanding of costume design, which she got by studying historical references, which made her strong, which you will not become by relying on AI
get good
wrong
I smack you with Claire Hummel's immaculate and detailed understanding of costume design, which she got by studying historical references, which made her strong, which you will not become by relying on AI
get good
J: "I have never smashed 'Add to Wish List' so fast."
Can't blame her. This is AMAZING animation. S-tier.
Can't blame her. This is AMAZING animation. S-tier.
Coven of the Chicken Foot - Announcement Trailer
YouTube video by Wildflower Interactive
www.youtube.com
December 18, 2025 at 9:48 PM
J: "I have never smashed 'Add to Wish List' so fast."
Can't blame her. This is AMAZING animation. S-tier.
Can't blame her. This is AMAZING animation. S-tier.
Reposted by Keith Ammann
Need a gift for your DM? Check out Keith Ammann's MAKING ENEMIES, the latest in The Monsters Know What They’re Doing series! 🎲✨ @themonstersknow.com
awfulagent.com/ebooks/makin...
awfulagent.com/ebooks/makin...
December 18, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Need a gift for your DM? Check out Keith Ammann's MAKING ENEMIES, the latest in The Monsters Know What They’re Doing series! 🎲✨ @themonstersknow.com
awfulagent.com/ebooks/makin...
awfulagent.com/ebooks/makin...
After the demolition of Twitter, the OGL kerfuffle, the plague of generative AI, the release of D&D 5E24 along with several upstart competitors, and a mass migration to video, I ponder the future direction of the blog I've been writing for—cripes, NINE YEARS. #DnD
The Monsters Are Unsure What to Do Next - The Monsters Know What They’re Doing
At the end of 2025, your sometimes humble, occasionally entertaining, hopefully informative blogger finds himself at a crossroads.
www.themonstersknow.com
December 17, 2025 at 10:44 PM
After the demolition of Twitter, the OGL kerfuffle, the plague of generative AI, the release of D&D 5E24 along with several upstart competitors, and a mass migration to video, I ponder the future direction of the blog I've been writing for—cripes, NINE YEARS. #DnD
How many more millennia of literature do we need to remind us that magic shortcuts lead to failure, if not outright tragedy?
The step after "Sell your soul" may be "PROFIT!" but there's always a step 3.
The step after "Sell your soul" may be "PROFIT!" but there's always a step 3.
People say AI is a magic shortcut to creativity & success. I’ll tell you the real secret and it’s voraciously reading, being interested in everything, being diligent in the pursuit of learning, paying attention to the interior lives of others & keeping a heart open to the world.
December 17, 2025 at 3:02 PM
How many more millennia of literature do we need to remind us that magic shortcuts lead to failure, if not outright tragedy?
The step after "Sell your soul" may be "PROFIT!" but there's always a step 3.
The step after "Sell your soul" may be "PROFIT!" but there's always a step 3.
You will lose me as a user FOREVER if you turn Firefox into an "AI browser," @mozilla.org. I have Vivaldi already installed as a backup browser on my PC, and this stupid shit, if it happens, is all the impetus I'll need to delete Firefox and make the switch.
Thunderbird, too. It'll ALL go.
Thunderbird, too. It'll ALL go.
Mozilla has a new CEO and he just announced that Firefox will evolve into a modern AI browser. This is a good example of how management doesn’t understand its own user base and why they go out of their way to install Firefox on Windows, Android, iOS and other devices blog.mozilla.org/en/mozilla/l...
December 17, 2025 at 4:46 AM
You will lose me as a user FOREVER if you turn Firefox into an "AI browser," @mozilla.org. I have Vivaldi already installed as a backup browser on my PC, and this stupid shit, if it happens, is all the impetus I'll need to delete Firefox and make the switch.
Thunderbird, too. It'll ALL go.
Thunderbird, too. It'll ALL go.