Carl Hess
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Carl Hess
@original-carl.bsky.social
Software Engineer, TTRPG Enthusiast
Yay! I love seasonal Sunday comics.
December 7, 2025 at 4:26 PM
I watched Ad Astra (James Gray) last night in a double feature with Sunshine (Danny Boyle).

👍🏻👍🏻

Great sci fi gaming material in both, in my opinion. Borrow from the best, they say.
December 5, 2025 at 9:25 PM
You better watch out.
December 5, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Here’s some new alterna-Traveller for Cepheus! I hope you sell a ton, Adam.
HARD VACUUM 11: Massacre Moon:
The PCs must roll skill checks to investigate what happened to a missing science team. And pilot a combat drone to fight mercs and raiders trying to cover up a deadly conspiracy. #CepheusEngine #TravellerRPG
#SelfPromotionSaturday
www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/5...
November 22, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Riding the Hyperlite is my blog about developing my own sci fi role-playing adventure game. You can read my latest post here: hyperlite.bearblog.dev/the-adventure/
The Adventure
, the module, has 4 adventures in it. I would need 1 for ArcaneCon, and I wanted one that wouldn't involve a lot of tactical play. I wanted social over co...
hyperlite.bearblog.dev
November 21, 2025 at 11:23 PM
I drew some heads.
November 19, 2025 at 1:10 PM
It has been many, many years since I blogged anything. I have some technical skills to improve.

Bearblog has a great aesthetic. I love lightweight platforms like this. I’ll write for a month and if I still like it I’ll pay for it.

Probably going to pay for it. 🐻
November 14, 2025 at 6:04 PM
I run a modified Traveller game for some friends far away and it’s been really good. I get to test out stuff that I’ve been holding onto for years.

I’m running a hex crawl for them at the moment. It’s a classic module and has some fun bits, but I need to streamline the game loop. More to come.
November 14, 2025 at 2:55 AM
I ran a Traveller game at ArcaneCon Saturday that was one of the best games I’ve ever run. Like, top 10 of my life, I think.

Everyone was so happy and energized when we concluded. I’m going to carry that with me for a while.

ArcaneCon was 10/10 this year. 🤘🏻
November 9, 2025 at 2:29 PM
@arcanesword.bsky.social the West Hartford Tabletop Game Club is on our way to the greatest independent tabletop game convention in central New England!

www.arcaneswordpress.com/arcanecon
ArcaneCon | Arcane Sword Press
www.arcaneswordpress.com
November 8, 2025 at 11:47 AM
DCC is a brutal game. Failure is punished severely and risk is difficult to evaluate when everything in a scenario potentially can come alive and kill your character.

However, in group of seven in the right mindset it can be hilarious.
November 6, 2025 at 11:15 PM
It’s been a minute!

I’ll be at ArcaneCon (hosted by @arcanesword.bsky.social ) in North Hampton, Mass on Saturday.

At 1pm, I’m running Traveller ‘77 to showcase and demo the greatest sci fi role-playing game ever made, in my opinion.

I can only hope I deliver the session it deserves!
November 4, 2025 at 4:04 AM
My mother-in-law’s favorite holiday season was Halloween. I miss you, Ginger. 😿
A great #Halloween comic by Dami Lee dami-lee.com
October 2, 2025 at 3:36 PM
I do enjoy a good rat. Banksy is a big fan, too. They’re survivors and I admire that.
A sudden attack of inspiration has me slapping together a quick Mork Borg supplement.

And of course, it needed a cover image.

I bring you

"Scavenger"
Black & Yellow digital piece.
Oct 1, 2025
Dyson Logos
October 2, 2025 at 1:29 AM
So metal!
If you are looking for hand-cast dice in brass, bronze, copper, silver, or gold in time for the holidays, you can order them from my shop at:
thangs.com/designer/Mad...
They'll be made in and ship from Eindhoven, in the Netherlands.
#dice #metal #luxury #dnd #rpg
September 30, 2025 at 12:42 AM
My second-ever DCC funnel sheet. Innis lived. He is now Innis Tawinnis “the bandit” a first level warrior/fighter. First game as a level 1 next Tuesday.
September 30, 2025 at 12:13 AM
Are you in or around Hartford, CT? Tomorrow afternoon at 1pm, I and a few other members of the WHPL Game Club will be at Parkville Market tomorrow at 1pm trying out Pirate Borg for about 3 hours.

Reply if you’re interested in joining!
September 21, 2025 at 12:53 AM
Sage advice. Dungeons ducks don’t make great dates.
September 17, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Spot on review. 👇🏻
I've been replaying FTL every 3 months for 13 years. A difficult but truly effective game, which you can learn to master as you go. One of my favorite games, ever.

And @benprunty.bsky.social 's soundtrack is so good. 👌
September 14, 2025 at 7:46 PM
I love this piece. I heard it was originally intended as back glass for D&D pinball table.
« Dungeon Masters Screen », 1979

by David A. Trampier (American artist, 1954–2014)
Illustration for #AdvancedDungeonsAndDragons "Dungeon Masters Screen", TSR Inc., 1979

#vintagefantasyart #fantasyart #fantasyillustration #davidtrampier #DMScreen #roleplaying #adnd #ttrpg #frpg #DungeonMaster #DAT
September 6, 2025 at 5:18 PM
I support this sentiment. Hack your game, whatever you’re playing. Make it your own.

I’m about to hack #PirateBorg which is nearly perfect in its implementation! This is irrelevant to me! I will make it my own!
September 4, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Reposted by Carl Hess
Turned in name change paperwork.
Day 1. It’s happening.

Want to help me be me? Give. Share. RT widely! My goal is $1K by October. Every bit helps break the past and lights up the future! Thank you! ko-fi.com/penofsmiting
Buy +1 Pen Of Smiting a Coffee
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ko-fi.com
August 28, 2025 at 11:28 PM
This Saturday is game day, and for the first time since I started the club, I won’t be running a game or a demo. Instead, I’ll be playing a #PirateBorg game run by a fellow club member and friend.

I’m excited to play.
a man with a beard is wearing a pirate costume and laughing .
Alt: Movie star and living cultural icon Tim Curry wearing a beard and a pirate costume and laughing.
media.tenor.com
August 28, 2025 at 12:22 AM