Matthijs Holter (Hyperfictive)
@matthijs1000.bsky.social
Game designer and writer. Creator of Draug, Archipelago, and Society of Dreamers. Organizer of Den Nye Våren, a festival for new and experimental tabletop RPGs. Building Hyperfictive.
Reposted by Matthijs Holter (Hyperfictive)
New Yorkers scream out each officer’s lawsuits against them for excessive force and more upon their city, right to their faces while protesting.
June 13, 2025 at 6:00 PM
New Yorkers scream out each officer’s lawsuits against them for excessive force and more upon their city, right to their faces while protesting.
There is a lot of hate posting about Aella. I fail to see why. I've been reading her surveys and posts for years; they are eye-opening, insightful and clear.
June 12, 2025 at 9:39 AM
There is a lot of hate posting about Aella. I fail to see why. I've been reading her surveys and posts for years; they are eye-opening, insightful and clear.
Spill fjorårets suksess Saqaliba på Arcon!
I en vakker, sinnssyk verden hvor friheten er en drøm; hvor imperiet i øst har all makt, og Europa bare er en fotnote. Spill elitesoldat, konkubine, smugler, gatebarn - eller en av mange andre roller!
www.spillfestival.no/ar-event/saq...
I en vakker, sinnssyk verden hvor friheten er en drøm; hvor imperiet i øst har all makt, og Europa bare er en fotnote. Spill elitesoldat, konkubine, smugler, gatebarn - eller en av mange andre roller!
www.spillfestival.no/ar-event/saq...
Saqaliba
Det Osmanske Riket var en av vinnerne i den Store Krigen i 1918, sammen med sin allierte, Tyskland. Storbritannia og europeiske kolonimakter sto kuet igjen etter tapet. De neste hundre årene gjorde Os...
www.spillfestival.no
June 1, 2025 at 6:25 AM
Spill fjorårets suksess Saqaliba på Arcon!
I en vakker, sinnssyk verden hvor friheten er en drøm; hvor imperiet i øst har all makt, og Europa bare er en fotnote. Spill elitesoldat, konkubine, smugler, gatebarn - eller en av mange andre roller!
www.spillfestival.no/ar-event/saq...
I en vakker, sinnssyk verden hvor friheten er en drøm; hvor imperiet i øst har all makt, og Europa bare er en fotnote. Spill elitesoldat, konkubine, smugler, gatebarn - eller en av mange andre roller!
www.spillfestival.no/ar-event/saq...
VERDENSPREMIERE PÅ ARCON: Første offentlige spilling av Avgrunnen!
Avgrunnen er et rollespill satt i H. P. Lovecraft sitt mythos-univers, hvor personlig drama møter kosmisk horror. Vanlige mennesker forsøker å nå sine mål - mens verden rundt dem blir sinnssyk.
www.spillfestival.no/ar-event/avg...
Avgrunnen er et rollespill satt i H. P. Lovecraft sitt mythos-univers, hvor personlig drama møter kosmisk horror. Vanlige mennesker forsøker å nå sine mål - mens verden rundt dem blir sinnssyk.
www.spillfestival.no/ar-event/avg...
Avgrunnen
Avgrunnen er et spillederløst rollespill satt i H P Lovecrafts Mythos-setting. Det er et dramatisk spill, med fokus på rollenes liv; deres streven, deres relasjoner, oppturer, nedturer - og hvordan de...
www.spillfestival.no
June 1, 2025 at 6:20 AM
VERDENSPREMIERE PÅ ARCON: Første offentlige spilling av Avgrunnen!
Avgrunnen er et rollespill satt i H. P. Lovecraft sitt mythos-univers, hvor personlig drama møter kosmisk horror. Vanlige mennesker forsøker å nå sine mål - mens verden rundt dem blir sinnssyk.
www.spillfestival.no/ar-event/avg...
Avgrunnen er et rollespill satt i H. P. Lovecraft sitt mythos-univers, hvor personlig drama møter kosmisk horror. Vanlige mennesker forsøker å nå sine mål - mens verden rundt dem blir sinnssyk.
www.spillfestival.no/ar-event/avg...
Reposted by Matthijs Holter (Hyperfictive)
Turns out, the way to experience the mature themes you want to see in TTRPG is shutting up and playing home games with the homies.
May 19, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Turns out, the way to experience the mature themes you want to see in TTRPG is shutting up and playing home games with the homies.
Thinking about C. Thi Nguyen’s idea of striving games — where the real joy is in the striving, not just the winning.
Thought: for fans of striving games, reading thick rulebooks is itself a form of striving — before you even play.
The rulebook is the first boss fight.
Thought: for fans of striving games, reading thick rulebooks is itself a form of striving — before you even play.
The rulebook is the first boss fight.
April 6, 2025 at 12:53 AM
Thinking about C. Thi Nguyen’s idea of striving games — where the real joy is in the striving, not just the winning.
Thought: for fans of striving games, reading thick rulebooks is itself a form of striving — before you even play.
The rulebook is the first boss fight.
Thought: for fans of striving games, reading thick rulebooks is itself a form of striving — before you even play.
The rulebook is the first boss fight.
📝 Sometimes I wonder: Why do we default to heroes? Why not ordinary people, or even people in too deep, trying to survive?
💬 What kinds of protagonists do you enjoy playing most?
💬 What kinds of protagonists do you enjoy playing most?
April 2, 2025 at 7:21 AM
📝 Sometimes I wonder: Why do we default to heroes? Why not ordinary people, or even people in too deep, trying to survive?
💬 What kinds of protagonists do you enjoy playing most?
💬 What kinds of protagonists do you enjoy playing most?
📝 I think Session Zero should be about more than safety tools. What about emotional depth? Vulnerability? How far we want to go, not just what to avoid?
💬 Do you talk about intensity when starting a campaign?
💬 Do you talk about intensity when starting a campaign?
April 1, 2025 at 7:21 AM
📝 I think Session Zero should be about more than safety tools. What about emotional depth? Vulnerability? How far we want to go, not just what to avoid?
💬 Do you talk about intensity when starting a campaign?
💬 Do you talk about intensity when starting a campaign?
Step 1: Don't go.
Crossing into the United States has become increasingly dangerous for digital privacy.
Here are a few steps you can take to minimize the risk of Customs and Border Protection accessing your data.
Here are a few steps you can take to minimize the risk of Customs and Border Protection accessing your data.
How to Enter the US With Your Digital Privacy Intact
Crossing into the United States has become increasingly dangerous for digital privacy. Here are a few steps you can take to minimize the risk of Customs and Border Protection accessing your data.
www.wired.com
March 31, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Step 1: Don't go.
Reposted by Matthijs Holter (Hyperfictive)
Remember that side eyeing baby? This is her today. Feel old yet? #TheWhiteLotus
March 31, 2025 at 3:43 AM
Remember that side eyeing baby? This is her today. Feel old yet? #TheWhiteLotus
📝 Some of my most intense game moments came in short, focused scenes — not long quests or battles. Just one moment that cracked open something.
💬 Do you prefer deep, short scenes — or sprawling narratives?
💬 Do you prefer deep, short scenes — or sprawling narratives?
March 31, 2025 at 7:21 AM
📝 Some of my most intense game moments came in short, focused scenes — not long quests or battles. Just one moment that cracked open something.
💬 Do you prefer deep, short scenes — or sprawling narratives?
💬 Do you prefer deep, short scenes — or sprawling narratives?
📝 I keep thinking about power in RPGs. Not “how strong you are” — but how it isolates you, or twists your character. What if power made things worse, not better?
💬 What kinds of stories do you like around power?
💬 What kinds of stories do you like around power?
March 30, 2025 at 7:21 AM
📝 I keep thinking about power in RPGs. Not “how strong you are” — but how it isolates you, or twists your character. What if power made things worse, not better?
💬 What kinds of stories do you like around power?
💬 What kinds of stories do you like around power?
📝 I’ve been wondering: What does your game system teach, whether intentionally or not? Trust, hierarchy, chaos, competition?
💬 What values are built into your favorite system’s mechanics?
💬 What values are built into your favorite system’s mechanics?
March 29, 2025 at 8:21 AM
📝 I’ve been wondering: What does your game system teach, whether intentionally or not? Trust, hierarchy, chaos, competition?
💬 What values are built into your favorite system’s mechanics?
💬 What values are built into your favorite system’s mechanics?
📝 Do you think we overuse the idea of ‘player agency’? Sometimes I feel like structure and limits can be far more powerful — because they generate drama.
💬 Where’s the balance for you?
💬 Where’s the balance for you?
March 28, 2025 at 8:21 AM
📝 Do you think we overuse the idea of ‘player agency’? Sometimes I feel like structure and limits can be far more powerful — because they generate drama.
💬 Where’s the balance for you?
💬 Where’s the balance for you?
📝 Sometimes I wonder if we rely too much on setting lore to carry our games. What happens when we shift the focus from worldbuilding to dramatic moments between characters?
💬 What makes a world stick with you — the history, or the heartbreak?
💬 What makes a world stick with you — the history, or the heartbreak?
March 27, 2025 at 8:21 AM
📝 Sometimes I wonder if we rely too much on setting lore to carry our games. What happens when we shift the focus from worldbuilding to dramatic moments between characters?
💬 What makes a world stick with you — the history, or the heartbreak?
💬 What makes a world stick with you — the history, or the heartbreak?
📝 I’m curious — do you still enjoy XP and leveling systems, or have you drifted toward other ways of showing character growth?
💬 What kind of development feels most meaningful in your games?
💬 What kind of development feels most meaningful in your games?
March 26, 2025 at 8:21 AM
📝 I’m curious — do you still enjoy XP and leveling systems, or have you drifted toward other ways of showing character growth?
💬 What kind of development feels most meaningful in your games?
💬 What kind of development feels most meaningful in your games?
📝 I keep coming back to characters who are messy, vulnerable, and deeply human. Competence is fine — but I want tension, regret, bad decisions.
💬 Anyone else feel this way about character play?
💬 Anyone else feel this way about character play?
March 25, 2025 at 8:21 AM
📝 I keep coming back to characters who are messy, vulnerable, and deeply human. Competence is fine — but I want tension, regret, bad decisions.
💬 Anyone else feel this way about character play?
💬 Anyone else feel this way about character play?
📝 I’ve been thinking about GMless games lately. Not just as a format — but as a different way to build trust and share responsibility at the table.
💬 Have you had a GMless experience that really stuck with you?
💬 Have you had a GMless experience that really stuck with you?
March 24, 2025 at 8:21 AM
📝 I’ve been thinking about GMless games lately. Not just as a format — but as a different way to build trust and share responsibility at the table.
💬 Have you had a GMless experience that really stuck with you?
💬 Have you had a GMless experience that really stuck with you?
Reposted by Matthijs Holter (Hyperfictive)
Six of Hounds (Me and @lizziestark.bsky.social) is looking for folks to playtest a small activism game called Slow Walk. It's for 2-9 participants/1-2 hours and requires in-person play. We need some external testing. Let us know if you are interested!
February 27, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Six of Hounds (Me and @lizziestark.bsky.social) is looking for folks to playtest a small activism game called Slow Walk. It's for 2-9 participants/1-2 hours and requires in-person play. We need some external testing. Let us know if you are interested!
Reposted by Matthijs Holter (Hyperfictive)
Have you been asked, as a federal worker, to do something you don't want to do? But they won't put it in writing?
DON'T DO IT.
If they're going to punish you? MAKE THEM PUT IT IN WRITING. ALL OF IT.
Document, document, document.
Act confused. Be confused! Go slow. Require clarity. Lots. Document
DON'T DO IT.
If they're going to punish you? MAKE THEM PUT IT IN WRITING. ALL OF IT.
Document, document, document.
Act confused. Be confused! Go slow. Require clarity. Lots. Document
February 6, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Have you been asked, as a federal worker, to do something you don't want to do? But they won't put it in writing?
DON'T DO IT.
If they're going to punish you? MAKE THEM PUT IT IN WRITING. ALL OF IT.
Document, document, document.
Act confused. Be confused! Go slow. Require clarity. Lots. Document
DON'T DO IT.
If they're going to punish you? MAKE THEM PUT IT IN WRITING. ALL OF IT.
Document, document, document.
Act confused. Be confused! Go slow. Require clarity. Lots. Document
Reposted by Matthijs Holter (Hyperfictive)
ICE Agent Decides He Wants Kids After Seeing Incredible Love And Devotion Of Parents Begging Him Not To Take Their Child
theonion.com/ice-age...
theonion.com/ice-age...
January 31, 2025 at 4:00 PM
ICE Agent Decides He Wants Kids After Seeing Incredible Love And Devotion Of Parents Begging Him Not To Take Their Child
theonion.com/ice-age...
theonion.com/ice-age...
Reposted by Matthijs Holter (Hyperfictive)
I've been dying to get back to working on the art for "Avgrunnen" (English title: the abyss). @matthijs1000.bsky.social's card based, lovecraftian horror game putting human interactions and drama in the foreground. I've been working on these using pen and ink + my arsenal of letraset dry-transfers!
January 26, 2025 at 10:25 AM
I've been dying to get back to working on the art for "Avgrunnen" (English title: the abyss). @matthijs1000.bsky.social's card based, lovecraftian horror game putting human interactions and drama in the foreground. I've been working on these using pen and ink + my arsenal of letraset dry-transfers!
Reposted by Matthijs Holter (Hyperfictive)
I'm love rituals of play: activities or procedures you do in a game, often at the beginning, in order to set a certain tone or expectation for the play session. I learned their power by playing things like The Society of Dreamers, which has a strong, slightly uncomfortable, ritual component. (1/)
January 16, 2025 at 4:10 PM
I'm love rituals of play: activities or procedures you do in a game, often at the beginning, in order to set a certain tone or expectation for the play session. I learned their power by playing things like The Society of Dreamers, which has a strong, slightly uncomfortable, ritual component. (1/)
Reposted by Matthijs Holter (Hyperfictive)
Today's spicy 🌶️ #ttrpg take is that rules-lite & minimalist ttrpgs are NOT good for beginners.
Beginners requires scaffolding & support that rules-lites systems simply can't offer.
Most experience players and designers have been at this so long they've forgotten what it was like to be a beginner.
Beginners requires scaffolding & support that rules-lites systems simply can't offer.
Most experience players and designers have been at this so long they've forgotten what it was like to be a beginner.
January 3, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Today's spicy 🌶️ #ttrpg take is that rules-lite & minimalist ttrpgs are NOT good for beginners.
Beginners requires scaffolding & support that rules-lites systems simply can't offer.
Most experience players and designers have been at this so long they've forgotten what it was like to be a beginner.
Beginners requires scaffolding & support that rules-lites systems simply can't offer.
Most experience players and designers have been at this so long they've forgotten what it was like to be a beginner.
A fun session using a friend's world with my new GM-less game system.
blog.indre-auge.studio/2025/01/02/n...
blog.indre-auge.studio/2025/01/02/n...
No GM? No dice? No problem!
In October last year I was so lucky as to experience a one-shot “remix” of my sci-fi game-in-progress Different Suns. My rather vague, space opera-like setting was adapted by Matthijs H…
blog.indre-auge.studio
January 2, 2025 at 12:37 PM
A fun session using a friend's world with my new GM-less game system.
blog.indre-auge.studio/2025/01/02/n...
blog.indre-auge.studio/2025/01/02/n...