Chris Stewart
@cs-himself.bsky.social
Sometimes I play TTRPGs, more often I run them, less often I write them.
Responsible for inflicting 'Pop Goes The Weasel' for Call of Cthulhu on the world, with Rewind - A 1980s Anthology also now available
Responsible for inflicting 'Pop Goes The Weasel' for Call of Cthulhu on the world, with Rewind - A 1980s Anthology also now available
That cover art is fantastic
November 29, 2025 at 10:37 AM
That cover art is fantastic
That's the key. Its a framework, not a script. I don't think I've ever run anything exactly as written, and it's not a negative or a criticism of the work, but just part of the GMing creative process.
September 17, 2025 at 7:19 PM
That's the key. Its a framework, not a script. I don't think I've ever run anything exactly as written, and it's not a negative or a criticism of the work, but just part of the GMing creative process.
Its a very lovely thing, that starter set. I've run it a few times, and every time has been an absolute classic
August 24, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Its a very lovely thing, that starter set. I've run it a few times, and every time has been an absolute classic
If you haven't tried Blade Runner yet, its sublime
August 24, 2025 at 7:53 AM
If you haven't tried Blade Runner yet, its sublime
Isn't that just 'most American board games' though?
August 10, 2025 at 7:17 AM
Isn't that just 'most American board games' though?
Destroyer of Worlds was bananas. Just totally unhinged stuff throughout. Loved it
August 5, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Destroyer of Worlds was bananas. Just totally unhinged stuff throughout. Loved it
UHT #5. The writer of a scenario has no say in how you run it. At all. Make any changes you want to maximise player enjoyment. Even if the writer might see your playthrough. ESPECIALLY if the writer might see your playthrough. Drive it like you stole it
August 3, 2025 at 1:13 PM
UHT #5. The writer of a scenario has no say in how you run it. At all. Make any changes you want to maximise player enjoyment. Even if the writer might see your playthrough. ESPECIALLY if the writer might see your playthrough. Drive it like you stole it
UHT #4. There is nothing wrong with deciding a great work is not right for you and/or your players in terms of tone. Plunder the best parts and transplant them into something that does suit you.
August 3, 2025 at 1:13 PM
UHT #4. There is nothing wrong with deciding a great work is not right for you and/or your players in terms of tone. Plunder the best parts and transplant them into something that does suit you.
UHT #3. Hinged part: As a GM, under and over prepping for a game are both bad. Unhinged part: over prepping is the 'more bad' of the two
August 3, 2025 at 1:13 PM
UHT #3. Hinged part: As a GM, under and over prepping for a game are both bad. Unhinged part: over prepping is the 'more bad' of the two
Unhinged thought #2. While the instinct can be to feel a little cheated in buying a system that is also a self contained campaign, the notion that all systems MUST support ongoing player generated campaigns isn't sound. Somethings are only good at their specific thing and that can be great
August 3, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Unhinged thought #2. While the instinct can be to feel a little cheated in buying a system that is also a self contained campaign, the notion that all systems MUST support ongoing player generated campaigns isn't sound. Somethings are only good at their specific thing and that can be great
Unhinged thought #1. Safety tools, and especially the X Card, are the Con GM's best friend. Not for their primary goal, but rather, anyone expresses a negative reaction to mere mention of them is someone worth a watching
August 3, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Unhinged thought #1. Safety tools, and especially the X Card, are the Con GM's best friend. Not for their primary goal, but rather, anyone expresses a negative reaction to mere mention of them is someone worth a watching
What does it say about me that i think pretty much all of these are decidedly hinged?
August 2, 2025 at 8:58 PM
What does it say about me that i think pretty much all of these are decidedly hinged?
<silently gives a thumbs up>
August 2, 2025 at 6:20 PM
<silently gives a thumbs up>
Well, he was up to no good. But so was one of them so it balanced out. Balanced out further after a duel involving a harpoon gun and a fire extinguisher.
August 2, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Well, he was up to no good. But so was one of them so it balanced out. Balanced out further after a duel involving a harpoon gun and a fire extinguisher.
Best part was when they all came back in and sat down smugly. Had to say 'guys, anything your GM should know about your chat?' Then had to order the company man out of the room so they could tell me (their chat: they didn't trust the company man)
August 2, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Best part was when they all came back in and sat down smugly. Had to say 'guys, anything your GM should know about your chat?' Then had to order the company man out of the room so they could tell me (their chat: they didn't trust the company man)
I loved it. My favourite moment came when 2 of the roughnecks left the room to have a private chat. Came back in to get the pilot. Came back in to get the ship captain. Leaving me and just the company man sat at the table. Opined that maybe possibly they were plotting against him 🤔
August 2, 2025 at 6:01 PM
I loved it. My favourite moment came when 2 of the roughnecks left the room to have a private chat. Came back in to get the pilot. Came back in to get the ship captain. Leaving me and just the company man sat at the table. Opined that maybe possibly they were plotting against him 🤔
Really managed to inject myself as a voice of paranoia amongst them
August 2, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Really managed to inject myself as a voice of paranoia amongst them
No, despite how I made things sound, I was still firmly in a GM role, but was much more subtle than usual. When the current encounter served its time, I could drip feed in the next plot point and gently guide it along
I was also very much playing as a silent voice, lots of notes being passed to me
I was also very much playing as a silent voice, lots of notes being passed to me
August 2, 2025 at 5:51 PM
No, despite how I made things sound, I was still firmly in a GM role, but was much more subtle than usual. When the current encounter served its time, I could drip feed in the next plot point and gently guide it along
I was also very much playing as a silent voice, lots of notes being passed to me
I was also very much playing as a silent voice, lots of notes being passed to me
My session was my regular group, we had been playing for years (between 2 of us GMs) and we were on our annual weekend away in a country cottage in January so we had whisky, no time limit and no interruptions from the real world. Was an utterly epic session that I know I will probably never top
August 2, 2025 at 5:44 PM
My session was my regular group, we had been playing for years (between 2 of us GMs) and we were on our annual weekend away in a country cottage in January so we had whisky, no time limit and no interruptions from the real world. Was an utterly epic session that I know I will probably never top
What a cool initiative. Definitely need to be paying a visit
June 16, 2025 at 1:57 PM
What a cool initiative. Definitely need to be paying a visit