Christopher Hutton --> PAX Unplugged
@newsnerd.bsky.social
Journalist. 32. Pro DM. Autistic. Diet Coke Addict. I write about the TTRPG industry and the creative people behind it.
https://www.ttrpginsider.news
Email me with tips, scoops at ttrpg.insidernews@gmail.com. Discord also available.
PFP by Silky Noire.
https://www.ttrpginsider.news
Email me with tips, scoops at ttrpg.insidernews@gmail.com. Discord also available.
PFP by Silky Noire.
Pinned
Want to stay on top of the TTRPG news beat and see what new indie creators are up to? Make sure to subscribe to TTRPG Insider. Three emails a week, often with interviews and features at the head. ttrpginsider.news
Reposted by Christopher Hutton --> PAX Unplugged
This is Asimov AF…
Fortunately, I already figured out the plots of the next several Toy Story films
November 12, 2025 at 1:38 AM
This is Asimov AF…
Reposted by Christopher Hutton --> PAX Unplugged
The far right is obsessed with Lord of the Rings and Musk keeps posting about "hobbits" because modern scientific racism owes more to fantasy worlds and gaming systems than genetic science, and they see both as effective mediums for right-wing propaganda www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Why Elon Musk Needs Dungeons and Dragons to Be Racist
The fantastical roots of “scientific racism”
www.theatlantic.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:42 PM
The far right is obsessed with Lord of the Rings and Musk keeps posting about "hobbits" because modern scientific racism owes more to fantasy worlds and gaming systems than genetic science, and they see both as effective mediums for right-wing propaganda www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
NEW FROM TTRPG INSIDER: We spoke with @bynightstudios.bsky.social about Darkness Emergent, the "TTRPG to LARP pipeline" and how their community has evolved in the last few years. www.ttrpginsider.news/p/taking-a-d...
Taking a Deep Bite: Darkness Emergent and the 'TTRPG Player to LARP' Pipeline
We spoke with the people behind some of the largest Vampire: The Masquerade events and the growing community of players who have joined the undead.
www.ttrpginsider.news
November 11, 2025 at 3:02 PM
NEW FROM TTRPG INSIDER: We spoke with @bynightstudios.bsky.social about Darkness Emergent, the "TTRPG to LARP pipeline" and how their community has evolved in the last few years. www.ttrpginsider.news/p/taking-a-d...
Reposted by Christopher Hutton --> PAX Unplugged
Probably a great time to remind up and coming people making or writing things about games... social media is not your primary audience.
It was true on the old site and it's true on this site too.
It was true on the old site and it's true on this site too.
November 10, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Probably a great time to remind up and coming people making or writing things about games... social media is not your primary audience.
It was true on the old site and it's true on this site too.
It was true on the old site and it's true on this site too.
The AMAZING DIGITAL CIRCUS cast is playing D&D in-character on-stream. www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_Od...
The Amazing Digital Circus: Digital Dungeon Danger
YouTube video by Vixen the Reindeer
www.youtube.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:33 AM
The AMAZING DIGITAL CIRCUS cast is playing D&D in-character on-stream. www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_Od...
Fantasy Grounds, one of the more prominent VTTs on the ma rket, announced this weekend that it is now completely free to play. www.youtube.com/watch?v=o27n... The system previously required a $50 license or a monthly fee.
Fantasy Grounds - Free to Play - All of the Power - None of the Cost
YouTube video by FANTASY GROUNDS VTT
www.youtube.com
November 10, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Fantasy Grounds, one of the more prominent VTTs on the ma rket, announced this weekend that it is now completely free to play. www.youtube.com/watch?v=o27n... The system previously required a $50 license or a monthly fee.
The weekly TTRPG INSIDER roundup is up! Godzilla, Cosmere and Moonbeams? A lot going on. www.ttrpginsider.news/p/news-round...
News Roundup: Godzilla, Cosmere and Moonbeams
This week's TTRPG news roundup features the kaiju getting a TTRPG, a one-shot set in Roshar featuring Hollywood actors and the shutdown of a TTRPG-focused Twitch alternative.
www.ttrpginsider.news
November 9, 2025 at 1:24 PM
The weekly TTRPG INSIDER roundup is up! Godzilla, Cosmere and Moonbeams? A lot going on. www.ttrpginsider.news/p/news-round...
This is my horror show. Drop this in a dungeon. Watch your players squirm.
World's biggest spiderweb discovered inside 'Sulfur Cave' with 111,000 arachnids living in pitch black.
www.livescience.com/animals/spid...
www.livescience.com/animals/spid...
November 9, 2025 at 1:07 AM
This is my horror show. Drop this in a dungeon. Watch your players squirm.
I dunno, it might become a thing? Altho the cycle of Dark Sun speculation is unending some days.
November 8, 2025 at 11:00 PM
I dunno, it might become a thing? Altho the cycle of Dark Sun speculation is unending some days.
Reposted by Christopher Hutton --> PAX Unplugged
Reposted by Christopher Hutton --> PAX Unplugged
The Dungeons of Drakkenheim: Daggerheart Kickstarter just crossed the $250k mark, which means we'll be writing a brand-new adventure site for the book!
Next: at $300k, we'll add even *more* adversaries. <3
www.kickstarter.com/projects/dun...
Next: at $300k, we'll add even *more* adversaries. <3
www.kickstarter.com/projects/dun...
Dungeons of Drakkenheim: Daggerheart
The ENNIE Award winning adventure redesigned for Daggerheart. Levels 1-10 eldritch horror Campaign where Hope dies and Fear reigns.
www.kickstarter.com
November 8, 2025 at 2:49 PM
The Dungeons of Drakkenheim: Daggerheart Kickstarter just crossed the $250k mark, which means we'll be writing a brand-new adventure site for the book!
Next: at $300k, we'll add even *more* adversaries. <3
www.kickstarter.com/projects/dun...
Next: at $300k, we'll add even *more* adversaries. <3
www.kickstarter.com/projects/dun...
A profile of a Colorado professor and how he thinks games like D&D are used to help people emotionally grow and heal. www.colorado.edu/asmagazine/2...
Players roll the dice on the healing power of collaborative fantasy
At the D&D table, says CU Boulder humanities scholar and gaming podcast host Andrew Gilbert, everyone has a voice.
www.colorado.edu
November 8, 2025 at 1:36 PM
A profile of a Colorado professor and how he thinks games like D&D are used to help people emotionally grow and heal. www.colorado.edu/asmagazine/2...
More deets on that event.
Meet the former airline captain hoping to create the Gen Con of Dubai with launch of the Middle East’s first dedicated board game convention.
This, and all the week's most important board game industry news, in the latest, just-released BoardGameWire newsletter:
buttondown.com/boardgamewir...
This, and all the week's most important board game industry news, in the latest, just-released BoardGameWire newsletter:
buttondown.com/boardgamewir...
November 7, 2025 at 11:23 PM
More deets on that event.
So I had not known that there is a tabletop convention in Dubai or the Middle East. Tabletop.me is the first one there, apparently. And there's big vendors.
Honestly, Dubai is going all out to try and attract Western interests as of late. Will be curious to hear what comes out of the event.
Honestly, Dubai is going all out to try and attract Western interests as of late. Will be curious to hear what comes out of the event.
November 7, 2025 at 11:22 PM
So I had not known that there is a tabletop convention in Dubai or the Middle East. Tabletop.me is the first one there, apparently. And there's big vendors.
Honestly, Dubai is going all out to try and attract Western interests as of late. Will be curious to hear what comes out of the event.
Honestly, Dubai is going all out to try and attract Western interests as of late. Will be curious to hear what comes out of the event.
Reposted by Christopher Hutton --> PAX Unplugged
To be clear: if we are talking about audiences for AP being outstripped by the number of participants, that was a convo half a decade ago.
It remains true that AP has always been made for many reasons, & for that reason cannot be understood as a single scene, industry, or community of practice.
It remains true that AP has always been made for many reasons, & for that reason cannot be understood as a single scene, industry, or community of practice.
November 7, 2025 at 5:13 PM
To be clear: if we are talking about audiences for AP being outstripped by the number of participants, that was a convo half a decade ago.
It remains true that AP has always been made for many reasons, & for that reason cannot be understood as a single scene, industry, or community of practice.
It remains true that AP has always been made for many reasons, & for that reason cannot be understood as a single scene, industry, or community of practice.
Matt Mercer to appear alongside Jeremy Crawford and the Acquisitions Incorporated crowd at PAX Unplugged. Might just be me, but this feels close to confirming earlier reports that Acq. Inc. might start playing Daggerheart instead of 5e. But we will see!
November 7, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Matt Mercer to appear alongside Jeremy Crawford and the Acquisitions Incorporated crowd at PAX Unplugged. Might just be me, but this feels close to confirming earlier reports that Acq. Inc. might start playing Daggerheart instead of 5e. But we will see!
Reposted by Christopher Hutton --> PAX Unplugged
Airlines cancel more than 700 US flights as FAA-ordered, Trump shutdown cuts begin… www.cnbc.com/2025/11/07/a...
Airlines cancel more than 700 U.S. flights as FAA-ordered shutdown cuts begin
The cuts were ordered as air traffic controllers have missed their paychecks due to the government shutdown, now the longest in U.S. history.
www.cnbc.com
November 7, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Airlines cancel more than 700 US flights as FAA-ordered, Trump shutdown cuts begin… www.cnbc.com/2025/11/07/a...
New from TTRPG Insider: One of those questions I've been asking myself is about how 'big' Actual Play content can get. There are a lot of folks who are really excited to create in this space. But are there too many shows already? www.ttrpginsider.news/p/are-there-...
Are There Too Many Actual Plays?
An in-depth exploration of the actual play phenomenon: Are we witnessing an oversaturation of TTRPG performances, or just the beginning of a vibrant content landscape?
www.ttrpginsider.news
November 7, 2025 at 2:41 PM
New from TTRPG Insider: One of those questions I've been asking myself is about how 'big' Actual Play content can get. There are a lot of folks who are really excited to create in this space. But are there too many shows already? www.ttrpginsider.news/p/are-there-...
if you’re going to Pax Unplugged, might be worth checking your flights in the coming days. Philadelphia International Airport is one of the 40 airports being affected by cancellations due to lack of pay for flight controllers and TSA staff.
November 6, 2025 at 11:31 PM
if you’re going to Pax Unplugged, might be worth checking your flights in the coming days. Philadelphia International Airport is one of the 40 airports being affected by cancellations due to lack of pay for flight controllers and TSA staff.
Reposted by Christopher Hutton --> PAX Unplugged
The SHIFT Kickstarter is now over! Thank you for helping us hit $100K! The superhero World Spark will be available as a PDF and included in the core SHIFT RPG rulebook. If you missed out on the campaign, late pledges are open now! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/shiftrpg/shift-rpg?ref=65ozro
November 6, 2025 at 9:05 PM
The SHIFT Kickstarter is now over! Thank you for helping us hit $100K! The superhero World Spark will be available as a PDF and included in the core SHIFT RPG rulebook. If you missed out on the campaign, late pledges are open now! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/shiftrpg/shift-rpg?ref=65ozro
This is the new Half-Life 3 meme.
We’ll now get
• Supergirl
• Minions 3
• Toy Story 5
• The Odyssey
• Scary Movie 6
• Coyote vs ACME
• The Social Network 2
• Spider-Man: Brand New Day
• The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping
• The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender
before GTA 6
• Supergirl
• Minions 3
• Toy Story 5
• The Odyssey
• Scary Movie 6
• Coyote vs ACME
• The Social Network 2
• Spider-Man: Brand New Day
• The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping
• The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender
before GTA 6
November 6, 2025 at 10:03 PM
This is the new Half-Life 3 meme.
Free League is releasing a Saruman themed anthology of adventures for its ONE RING/5e-based series of LOTR content, where the players will decide whether to serve or subvert the White Wizard before he turns evil.
November 6, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Free League is releasing a Saruman themed anthology of adventures for its ONE RING/5e-based series of LOTR content, where the players will decide whether to serve or subvert the White Wizard before he turns evil.
There's some good replies to this that hit the core. Time, cost, etc.
I'm gonna add a third variable: A diminishing number of locations to do so. The easiest and ideal way to play is with friends, but the other option is playing at third places like FLGSes, bars or libraries.
I'm gonna add a third variable: A diminishing number of locations to do so. The easiest and ideal way to play is with friends, but the other option is playing at third places like FLGSes, bars or libraries.
TTRPG Question of the Day
What do you think keeps more people from playing TTRPGs?
It's be said that TTRPGs are in the spotlight more than ever before. They're referenced frequently in shows. There are movies & TV series based on them. Some have become video games. So why don't more people play?
What do you think keeps more people from playing TTRPGs?
It's be said that TTRPGs are in the spotlight more than ever before. They're referenced frequently in shows. There are movies & TV series based on them. Some have become video games. So why don't more people play?
November 6, 2025 at 2:32 AM
There's some good replies to this that hit the core. Time, cost, etc.
I'm gonna add a third variable: A diminishing number of locations to do so. The easiest and ideal way to play is with friends, but the other option is playing at third places like FLGSes, bars or libraries.
I'm gonna add a third variable: A diminishing number of locations to do so. The easiest and ideal way to play is with friends, but the other option is playing at third places like FLGSes, bars or libraries.
Reposted by Christopher Hutton --> PAX Unplugged
I was thrilled to talk with Teos and Shawn at @masteringdnd.bsky.social this week. We talked about Designers & Dragons: Origins, of course, but dug into some nice history too: Greyhawk's dungeons, Jack Fred, Palace of the Silver Princess! (The show is nicely indexed, so you can hear what you want!)
Shannon Appelcline and Designers & Dragons Origins! (MD 265)
YouTube video by Mastering Dungeons
www.youtube.com
November 6, 2025 at 2:16 AM
I was thrilled to talk with Teos and Shawn at @masteringdnd.bsky.social this week. We talked about Designers & Dragons: Origins, of course, but dug into some nice history too: Greyhawk's dungeons, Jack Fred, Palace of the Silver Princess! (The show is nicely indexed, so you can hear what you want!)