Ben Robbins
@lamemage.com
game designer, made Microscope, Kingdom, West Marches, this that and the other thing. I blog at arsludi.lamemage.com
Pinned
Ben Robbins
@lamemage.com
· Apr 23
Microscope 2025
Hello, world. It's 2025 and we all need some joy. What could be better for what ails us than using our brains and being creative together with other humans?
So I give you the new Microscope: Chronicl...
arsludi.lamemage.com
I heard you were having a pretty rough time in 2025 and could use some human brain fun. I got you.
Microscope: Chronicle, a fractal game of histories and people. Public playtest downloadable right now. GMless as hell.
arsludi.lamemage.com/index.php/45...
Microscope: Chronicle, a fractal game of histories and people. Public playtest downloadable right now. GMless as hell.
arsludi.lamemage.com/index.php/45...
Well to be fair we used a lot of other words (some of them curses) but none that stuck
Generations of game designers tried their best but the only word they could muster was “GMless”
November 15, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Well to be fair we used a lot of other words (some of them curses) but none that stuck
This is also your periodic reminder that the original Predator movie (1987) is a perfectly crafted work of art.
A finely-tuned Swiss watch of a movie.
A finely-tuned Swiss watch of a movie.
November 13, 2025 at 5:31 AM
This is also your periodic reminder that the original Predator movie (1987) is a perfectly crafted work of art.
A finely-tuned Swiss watch of a movie.
A finely-tuned Swiss watch of a movie.
I came down with some kind of cold, so of course I have been treating it with heavy doses of game design?
#summerlab
#summerlab
November 12, 2025 at 9:04 PM
I came down with some kind of cold, so of course I have been treating it with heavy doses of game design?
#summerlab
#summerlab
Second playtest of "Rules of Law" (a game about laws, duh), rocked just as much as the first.
Why do we forbid people from going into the fields at night? Is it because they'll speak to the dead? Or do witchcraft?
No. It's all the sex. They're having so much sex in the fields.
#summerlab
Why do we forbid people from going into the fields at night? Is it because they'll speak to the dead? Or do witchcraft?
No. It's all the sex. They're having so much sex in the fields.
#summerlab
October 30, 2025 at 3:11 AM
Second playtest of "Rules of Law" (a game about laws, duh), rocked just as much as the first.
Why do we forbid people from going into the fields at night? Is it because they'll speak to the dead? Or do witchcraft?
No. It's all the sex. They're having so much sex in the fields.
#summerlab
Why do we forbid people from going into the fields at night? Is it because they'll speak to the dead? Or do witchcraft?
No. It's all the sex. They're having so much sex in the fields.
#summerlab
October 27, 2025 at 10:49 PM
So true, and I think something people recommending games don't recognize enough
That's perhaps putting it a little tongue in cheek, but it points to the real problem: Once you have internalized a game, it becomes hard to judge how it might appear to others.
Not sure there's a fix for this. But I'm Xmas shopping, so it's on my mind.
Not sure there's a fix for this. But I'm Xmas shopping, so it's on my mind.
October 26, 2025 at 11:13 PM
So true, and I think something people recommending games don't recognize enough
Reposted by Ben Robbins
Our #ttrpg group has used Microscope to build our last two campaign game worlds. Great for that or any night you want a fun storytelling one off.
I just wrote an article on my experience playing the collaborative storytelling game Microscope: Chronicle. It's written by @lamemage.com and is in playtesting now!
drosmir.com/blog/microsc...
drosmir.com/blog/microsc...
Drosmir: Microscope: Chronicle
Thoughts on the story game Microscope: Chronicle
drosmir.com
October 26, 2025 at 10:59 PM
Our #ttrpg group has used Microscope to build our last two campaign game worlds. Great for that or any night you want a fun storytelling one off.
"This terrifying statement was the starting gun for our Microscope: Chronicle game."
Making notes for the next update: always start with a terrifying statement!
Making notes for the next update: always start with a terrifying statement!
I just wrote an article on my experience playing the collaborative storytelling game Microscope: Chronicle. It's written by @lamemage.com and is in playtesting now!
drosmir.com/blog/microsc...
drosmir.com/blog/microsc...
Drosmir: Microscope: Chronicle
Thoughts on the story game Microscope: Chronicle
drosmir.com
October 26, 2025 at 10:55 PM
"This terrifying statement was the starting gun for our Microscope: Chronicle game."
Making notes for the next update: always start with a terrifying statement!
Making notes for the next update: always start with a terrifying statement!
Is this my regular brand of coffee? Is it a full moon? Where are all these game design ideas coming from today???
#summerlab
#summerlab
October 22, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Is this my regular brand of coffee? Is it a full moon? Where are all these game design ideas coming from today???
#summerlab
#summerlab
You know what really helps the brain get things done? A mantra. A rallying cry.
Ours is summerlab
arsludi.lamemage.com/index.php/48...
Ours is summerlab
arsludi.lamemage.com/index.php/48...
Summerlab: Because Lab is Experimental and Summer is Fun
I want to tell you about a new thing we've been doing that's got our engines firing on all cylinders. A thing we call… summerlab.
Summerlab is our game design support group / experimental design spac...
arsludi.lamemage.com
October 21, 2025 at 7:25 PM
You know what really helps the brain get things done? A mantra. A rallying cry.
Ours is summerlab
arsludi.lamemage.com/index.php/48...
Ours is summerlab
arsludi.lamemage.com/index.php/48...
I'm making a big chunk of a game that you don't play.
Is that weird? It feels like it might be weird.
#summerlab
Is that weird? It feels like it might be weird.
#summerlab
October 9, 2025 at 7:03 PM
I'm making a big chunk of a game that you don't play.
Is that weird? It feels like it might be weird.
#summerlab
Is that weird? It feels like it might be weird.
#summerlab
Is it gauche to carry the same protest signs twice? Is it like wearing the same outfit to another party???
Somebody tell me before October 18
#nokings
www.mobilize.us/nokings/?tag...
Somebody tell me before October 18
#nokings
www.mobilize.us/nokings/?tag...
No Kings June 14 · No Kings on Mobilize
Find events, petitions, volunteer opportunities, fundraisers and more with No Kings.
www.mobilize.us
October 7, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Is it gauche to carry the same protest signs twice? Is it like wearing the same outfit to another party???
Somebody tell me before October 18
#nokings
www.mobilize.us/nokings/?tag...
Somebody tell me before October 18
#nokings
www.mobilize.us/nokings/?tag...
real Microscope player confirmed
If we could skip to the part of the Microscope game where we add a light period that would be great.
October 5, 2025 at 10:30 PM
real Microscope player confirmed
Weren't we just talking about GMless + diceless games? Case in point…
We had an amazing time playing Microscope from @lamemage.com for this month's Midnight Rollers at Giga-Bites Cafe. How we tied everything together was so organic and blew us all away.
youtu.be/TsouFWkAkIo?...
youtu.be/TsouFWkAkIo?...
Microscope
YouTube video by GigaBites TV
youtu.be
October 4, 2025 at 12:55 AM
Weren't we just talking about GMless + diceless games? Case in point…
"Which would you rather play, a GMless or a diceless RPG"
To which I say, "why not both"
To which you say, "examples please"
Leaving out (checks notes) every single one of my games, let me throw out a few. If I miss your favs, chime in!
To which I say, "why not both"
To which you say, "examples please"
Leaving out (checks notes) every single one of my games, let me throw out a few. If I miss your favs, chime in!
October 3, 2025 at 9:57 PM
"Which would you rather play, a GMless or a diceless RPG"
To which I say, "why not both"
To which you say, "examples please"
Leaving out (checks notes) every single one of my games, let me throw out a few. If I miss your favs, chime in!
To which I say, "why not both"
To which you say, "examples please"
Leaving out (checks notes) every single one of my games, let me throw out a few. If I miss your favs, chime in!
Reposted by Ben Robbins
Been thinking about these posts about the "star pattern" of conversation in games because this diagram is identical to one we use when talking about pedagogy. the question is the same: how do you get the people in a room talking to each other instead of seeking approval from a central authority?
October 1, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Been thinking about these posts about the "star pattern" of conversation in games because this diagram is identical to one we use when talking about pedagogy. the question is the same: how do you get the people in a room talking to each other instead of seeking approval from a central authority?
Not gonna lie, you are not wrong
Now I want a game based on the idea of getting constant wishes and slowly changing the entire world to suit your desires.
It's not world-building, it's world-rebuilding
Now I want a game based on the idea of getting constant wishes and slowly changing the entire world to suit your desires.
It's not world-building, it's world-rebuilding
Give them a wish. You can go nap for at least an hour while they talk to each other.
October 1, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Not gonna lie, you are not wrong
Now I want a game based on the idea of getting constant wishes and slowly changing the entire world to suit your desires.
It's not world-building, it's world-rebuilding
Now I want a game based on the idea of getting constant wishes and slowly changing the entire world to suit your desires.
It's not world-building, it's world-rebuilding
Reposted by Ben Robbins
Not entirely on-topic, but sometimes I just think if I go to every DM and say “you are enough just as you are, and you don’t have to make anyone love you” the entire DM/GM Industrial Complex would collapse.
September 30, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Not entirely on-topic, but sometimes I just think if I go to every DM and say “you are enough just as you are, and you don’t have to make anyone love you” the entire DM/GM Industrial Complex would collapse.
"Why not both??"
A "would you rather" styled question we're curious to know how you'd all answer. Bonus points if you give examples of #ttRPGs so we can check them out.
September 29, 2025 at 2:53 PM
"Why not both??"
I'm avoiding watching this until I finish the second part but I am very curious what Sean has to say!
GM Star Problem?
Topic originating from @lamemage.com
This and rpg news, crowdfunders, and new releases.
LIVE Saturday at 8am CT
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ocvr...
Topic originating from @lamemage.com
This and rpg news, crowdfunders, and new releases.
LIVE Saturday at 8am CT
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ocvr...
GM Star Problem - GM Therapy (Group Screaming Starts at 8am CST)
YouTube video by RPG Sean
www.youtube.com
September 28, 2025 at 5:44 PM
I'm avoiding watching this until I finish the second part but I am very curious what Sean has to say!
Be still my heart!!!
Saturday morning with a student in which we played "In This World" by @lamemage.com and discussed a bunch of other RPGs.
If only every meeting could be like this. ❤️✍🏻
Link to the game (an excellent choice to play in class - easy to explain and modular/quick to play): www.lamemage.com/inthisworld/
If only every meeting could be like this. ❤️✍🏻
Link to the game (an excellent choice to play in class - easy to explain and modular/quick to play): www.lamemage.com/inthisworld/
September 28, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Be still my heart!!!
Trying to finish up part 2 of the star-pattern but real life keeps getting in the way.
Why, Real Life, why???
Why, Real Life, why???
September 28, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Trying to finish up part 2 of the star-pattern but real life keeps getting in the way.
Why, Real Life, why???
Why, Real Life, why???