Tom Francis
@pentadact.com
Designer/writer/coder on Gunpoint, Heat Signature, and Tactical Breach Wizards. More on those and other things I write or do or be: https://www.pentadact.com/
Just an absolute cat pretzel. At my *funeral* I won't be this relaxed.
October 16, 2025 at 3:33 AM
Just an absolute cat pretzel. At my *funeral* I won't be this relaxed.
"OK, we've got nothing to brag about on quality or price, so what's our selling point?"
...
...
"Well, if you're standing right outside..."
...
...
"Well, if you're standing right outside..."
October 2, 2025 at 4:22 AM
"OK, we've got nothing to brag about on quality or price, so what's our selling point?"
...
...
"Well, if you're standing right outside..."
...
...
"Well, if you're standing right outside..."
In this Columbo ep, he hassles a chess champ enough for the guy to lose one of his 10 simultaneous games. Fair enough, happens to the best of us when we done a bad murder.
On closer inspection though, he lost in 2 moves, the literal worst moves possible in chess, and a comedy own-goal.
On closer inspection though, he lost in 2 moves, the literal worst moves possible in chess, and a comedy own-goal.
September 28, 2025 at 3:12 PM
In this Columbo ep, he hassles a chess champ enough for the guy to lose one of his 10 simultaneous games. Fair enough, happens to the best of us when we done a bad murder.
On closer inspection though, he lost in 2 moves, the literal worst moves possible in chess, and a comedy own-goal.
On closer inspection though, he lost in 2 moves, the literal worst moves possible in chess, and a comedy own-goal.
Finally starting to click with The Bazaar. There was really no stopping this build once I screwed a Silencer onto my Dog.
August 31, 2025 at 1:59 AM
Finally starting to click with The Bazaar. There was really no stopping this build once I screwed a Silencer onto my Dog.
The scamps both turned 2 today. They have no concept of why they got their favourite stinky fish treats or were allowed to play with The Forbidden Strawberry (a beloved choking hazard I have to watch them closely with) - but they had a lovely time.
August 30, 2025 at 4:10 AM
The scamps both turned 2 today. They have no concept of why they got their favourite stinky fish treats or were allowed to play with The Forbidden Strawberry (a beloved choking hazard I have to watch them closely with) - but they had a lovely time.
A seagull will repeat itself if you ask nicely.
August 16, 2025 at 6:15 PM
A seagull will repeat itself if you ask nicely.
Hi, I'm at WorldCon! The only thing I'm doing is a low key hangout type thing with only 6 spots - if you wanna join for that, register for it in the next hour!
You can register at room 326 or here: seattlein2025.org/program-and-...
You can register at room 326 or here: seattlein2025.org/program-and-...
August 15, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Hi, I'm at WorldCon! The only thing I'm doing is a low key hangout type thing with only 6 spots - if you wanna join for that, register for it in the next hour!
You can register at room 326 or here: seattlein2025.org/program-and-...
You can register at room 326 or here: seattlein2025.org/program-and-...
Yeah I guess you could say I live in a rough area.
August 13, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Yeah I guess you could say I live in a rough area.
If I ever get up in the night, both my scamps go nuts for what they believe is the fabled Second Biscuit Time - a thing that has never happened.
June 26, 2025 at 2:26 PM
If I ever get up in the night, both my scamps go nuts for what they believe is the fabled Second Biscuit Time - a thing that has never happened.
I have a question for folks who know more about Dune lore than I do, and my question is this:
Chairdog?
Chairdog?
June 24, 2025 at 3:27 AM
I have a question for folks who know more about Dune lore than I do, and my question is this:
Chairdog?
Chairdog?
Gunpoint, and the Defenestration Trilogy, are 12 today!
store.steampowered.com/curator/3463...
Gunpoint also just hit 10k reviews, so our 5 games now have a total of 34k reviews, averaging 97% positive. 😳
So grateful to the players & proud of the teams 💙💚💛
store.steampowered.com/developer/su...
store.steampowered.com/curator/3463...
Gunpoint also just hit 10k reviews, so our 5 games now have a total of 34k reviews, averaging 97% positive. 😳
So grateful to the players & proud of the teams 💙💚💛
store.steampowered.com/developer/su...
June 3, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Gunpoint, and the Defenestration Trilogy, are 12 today!
store.steampowered.com/curator/3463...
Gunpoint also just hit 10k reviews, so our 5 games now have a total of 34k reviews, averaging 97% positive. 😳
So grateful to the players & proud of the teams 💙💚💛
store.steampowered.com/developer/su...
store.steampowered.com/curator/3463...
Gunpoint also just hit 10k reviews, so our 5 games now have a total of 34k reviews, averaging 97% positive. 😳
So grateful to the players & proud of the teams 💙💚💛
store.steampowered.com/developer/su...
May 14th 2025: the first Fun has been had with the next game. 🔊
youtu.be/Hla3gWrV4TA
Trying Godot for this, I like it a lot so far! GD Script warms my GameMaker-trained soul, so much less boilerplate and legwork than C# and Unity.
youtu.be/Hla3gWrV4TA
Trying Godot for this, I like it a lot so far! GD Script warms my GameMaker-trained soul, so much less boilerplate and legwork than C# and Unity.
May 15, 2025 at 12:31 AM
May 14th 2025: the first Fun has been had with the next game. 🔊
youtu.be/Hla3gWrV4TA
Trying Godot for this, I like it a lot so far! GD Script warms my GameMaker-trained soul, so much less boilerplate and legwork than C# and Unity.
youtu.be/Hla3gWrV4TA
Trying Godot for this, I like it a lot so far! GD Script warms my GameMaker-trained soul, so much less boilerplate and legwork than C# and Unity.
I've only just started Lone Star, but this is already the funniest thing a videogame enemy has ever said while exploding.
April 13, 2025 at 8:35 PM
I've only just started Lone Star, but this is already the funniest thing a videogame enemy has ever said while exploding.
In the emerging genre of roguelikes that actually try to explain why they Be Like That, Blue Prince comes in hot with "it was your great uncle's dying wish for you to play this like it's a roguelike."
April 13, 2025 at 5:44 PM
In the emerging genre of roguelikes that actually try to explain why they Be Like That, Blue Prince comes in hot with "it was your great uncle's dying wish for you to play this like it's a roguelike."
In a career of being nominated for things we know we can't win, I don't think I've ever been more sure of not winning something than the IGF for Excellence in Design last night. Somehow, it was also the first time I've been wrong.
Properly stunned, hugely grateful, deeply confused.
Properly stunned, hugely grateful, deeply confused.
March 20, 2025 at 11:16 PM
In a career of being nominated for things we know we can't win, I don't think I've ever been more sure of not winning something than the IGF for Excellence in Design last night. Somehow, it was also the first time I've been wrong.
Properly stunned, hugely grateful, deeply confused.
Properly stunned, hugely grateful, deeply confused.
I love alt+ctrl+GDC. I have no further questions about this.
March 19, 2025 at 1:02 AM
I love alt+ctrl+GDC. I have no further questions about this.
Well, that was a hell of a GDC.
March 18, 2025 at 11:33 PM
Well, that was a hell of a GDC.
A delivery order is a series of interesting decisions.
March 5, 2025 at 1:56 AM
A delivery order is a series of interesting decisions.
Hello, I'm giving a talk at GDC about writing Tactical Breach Wizards, called How to String a Joke Out for 15 Hours.
schedule.gdconf.com/session/inde...
It's on Monday at 4.40pm, and it features things like this shot, illustrating why our tactical wizard generator did not produce anything useable.
schedule.gdconf.com/session/inde...
It's on Monday at 4.40pm, and it features things like this shot, illustrating why our tactical wizard generator did not produce anything useable.
March 3, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Hello, I'm giving a talk at GDC about writing Tactical Breach Wizards, called How to String a Joke Out for 15 Hours.
schedule.gdconf.com/session/inde...
It's on Monday at 4.40pm, and it features things like this shot, illustrating why our tactical wizard generator did not produce anything useable.
schedule.gdconf.com/session/inde...
It's on Monday at 4.40pm, and it features things like this shot, illustrating why our tactical wizard generator did not produce anything useable.
Weirdly I just watched the movie for the first time, which is fun for a) baaaaaaby Christian Slater, and b) radically altering my Ten Worst Haircuts I Have Ever Seen list.
March 3, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Weirdly I just watched the movie for the first time, which is fun for a) baaaaaaby Christian Slater, and b) radically altering my Ten Worst Haircuts I Have Ever Seen list.
The numbers were... not sensible.
February 26, 2025 at 5:51 AM
The numbers were... not sensible.
Well well well, looks like some suckers tried to win the Wildfrost daily by making smart decisions quickly.
The actual strat was to let the Razorhogs punch your Lupa in the face over 100 times to boost their own Gobling's payout, while using your heals to keep it alive so you can stab it more.
The actual strat was to let the Razorhogs punch your Lupa in the face over 100 times to boost their own Gobling's payout, while using your heals to keep it alive so you can stab it more.
February 26, 2025 at 5:47 AM
Well well well, looks like some suckers tried to win the Wildfrost daily by making smart decisions quickly.
The actual strat was to let the Razorhogs punch your Lupa in the face over 100 times to boost their own Gobling's payout, while using your heals to keep it alive so you can stab it more.
The actual strat was to let the Razorhogs punch your Lupa in the face over 100 times to boost their own Gobling's payout, while using your heals to keep it alive so you can stab it more.
Creme brulee donut is an object of power.
(49th Parallel)
(49th Parallel)
February 11, 2025 at 1:08 AM
Creme brulee donut is an object of power.
(49th Parallel)
(49th Parallel)
49th Parallel: the theme this festival has been The Actual Hot Chocolate Is Extremely Normal. Good, tho, and the donut was amazing: delicious caramel coating, delicious earl grey filling. 8/10
February 3, 2025 at 10:31 PM
49th Parallel: the theme this festival has been The Actual Hot Chocolate Is Extremely Normal. Good, tho, and the donut was amazing: delicious caramel coating, delicious earl grey filling. 8/10
Smoky marshmallow hot choc from Beaucoup. Intense, sweet smoke in the cream, subtler in the drink so it's not too much. Marshmallow is half molten by the time you're done and a delicious finisher. Truffle is rich and squidgy. Fantastic all round, first 9/10
February 3, 2025 at 4:57 AM
Smoky marshmallow hot choc from Beaucoup. Intense, sweet smoke in the cream, subtler in the drink so it's not too much. Marshmallow is half molten by the time you're done and a delicious finisher. Truffle is rich and squidgy. Fantastic all round, first 9/10