Inalso hate designing actual printable paper character sheets. But I DO build unnecessarily robust spreadsheets that do basically all the math for every game I make.

...I really like spreadsheets, ok

it's actually very problematic for you not to let this guy wander into your home to shit on your floor

Do you have any advice on how to navigate this? The games I make are absolutely very setting-heavy, and I'm always worried I'm leaning too hard towards either the story elements or the mechanics elements to the detriment of the other.

It's important to note that this is only really effective towards the *end* of the intro, because you want to lead with the core concept of the game. The touchstones are just to help someone who might be on the fence make the decision on if they're vibing with what you're showing them.

A good adjustment to this that I've been seeing a lot (and implementing in my own work) is including a list of "touchstones" as oart of your intro. Less a "Jaws in Space" and more of a "If you like Jaws and you like Alien, this is probably a game you'll like." Less about content, more about vibes

It's phenomenal and was my teenaged introduction to Cronenbergian style horror.

I also would rec 'Ghost of Chance' for being beautifully weird and horrifying with the surprising moral of conservation of the lemurs of Madagascar.

'My Education: A Book Of Dreams' is also great.

'Junky' has always been my favorite, but I also love 'Queer', and of course 'Naked Lunch' which is his most well-known. The film of Naked Lunch is by David Cronenberg and is *literally* a mesh of the book itself and Burroughs' life— including the circumstances of his wife's death.

If you've never read them, I highly recommend basically all of William S. Burroughs' books. There are some that are just straight memoirs, but the majority of his work is kinda like fictionalized retellings of real experiences of his. There's a lot of surrealist horror stuff in there, too.

Eeesh.

"I hope he's remembered for calling the president the n-word, not just for trying to murder his wife in public"

Omfg these are glorious

Oh wow! I love the motion in the chain and waves!

GROSS!! TERRIBLE! EUGH!