KA Winch
@kawinch.bsky.social
Exploring Tabletop games, Classic Style!
Currently playing: Castle Xyntillan using Swords & Wizardry
https://substack.com/@kawinch
Currently playing: Castle Xyntillan using Swords & Wizardry
https://substack.com/@kawinch
'Mythic Francia' - the setting of my Castle Xyntillan campaign
open.substack.com/pub/kawinch/...
open.substack.com/pub/kawinch/...
Mythic Francia
The Europe of storybooks and legendary tales...
open.substack.com
January 27, 2026 at 1:33 PM
'Mythic Francia' - the setting of my Castle Xyntillan campaign
open.substack.com/pub/kawinch/...
open.substack.com/pub/kawinch/...
Worldbuilding: Do you start with the inspirational, or do you start with the functional?
Creating a small guide for the world of my Castle Xyntillan campaign, and I’m thinking about the divide between what is interesting for me to create, and what is useful for the game. #d&d #OSR #worldbuilding
Creating a small guide for the world of my Castle Xyntillan campaign, and I’m thinking about the divide between what is interesting for me to create, and what is useful for the game. #d&d #OSR #worldbuilding
January 27, 2026 at 12:58 PM
Worldbuilding: Do you start with the inspirational, or do you start with the functional?
Creating a small guide for the world of my Castle Xyntillan campaign, and I’m thinking about the divide between what is interesting for me to create, and what is useful for the game. #d&d #OSR #worldbuilding
Creating a small guide for the world of my Castle Xyntillan campaign, and I’m thinking about the divide between what is interesting for me to create, and what is useful for the game. #d&d #OSR #worldbuilding
Session 2: Massacre in the Menagerie
A treasure paid in blood...
open.substack.com
January 18, 2026 at 8:17 PM
This is exactly why the 'Clubhouse' model of Classic TTRPGs is the best way to structure our games. Everyone has responsibilities to manage their Character in-and-out of session, everyone has responsibility to track rules, and the GM functions as a neutral 'referee' NOT as a 'storyteller'.
The "traditional" structure of TTRPGs puts an enormous amount of pressure on the GM to learn/refine & very little on the players.
Which is somehow seen as more reasonable than spreading the load of learning/contribution across the whole table.
Broader implications about community in there, y'all.
Which is somehow seen as more reasonable than spreading the load of learning/contribution across the whole table.
Broader implications about community in there, y'all.
January 12, 2026 at 9:26 AM
This is exactly why the 'Clubhouse' model of Classic TTRPGs is the best way to structure our games. Everyone has responsibilities to manage their Character in-and-out of session, everyone has responsibility to track rules, and the GM functions as a neutral 'referee' NOT as a 'storyteller'.
Session 1: Into the Castle!
Meeting the world, and the first Character death! #d&d #ttrpg #osr open.substack.com/pub/kawinch/...
Meeting the world, and the first Character death! #d&d #ttrpg #osr open.substack.com/pub/kawinch/...
Session 1: Into the Castle
Meeting the world, and our first Character death...
open.substack.com
January 11, 2026 at 10:16 PM
Session 1: Into the Castle!
Meeting the world, and the first Character death! #d&d #ttrpg #osr open.substack.com/pub/kawinch/...
Meeting the world, and the first Character death! #d&d #ttrpg #osr open.substack.com/pub/kawinch/...
January 11, 2026 at 10:14 PM
Why Castle Xyntillan?
Is this the best dungeon ever written? #OSR #ttrpg #D&D substack.com/@kawinch/not...
Is this the best dungeon ever written? #OSR #ttrpg #D&D substack.com/@kawinch/not...
Why Castle Xyntillan?
Gameable, gameable, gameable!
substack.com
January 11, 2026 at 6:58 PM
Why Castle Xyntillan?
Is this the best dungeon ever written? #OSR #ttrpg #D&D substack.com/@kawinch/not...
Is this the best dungeon ever written? #OSR #ttrpg #D&D substack.com/@kawinch/not...