Rich Stokes
@tacticalbacon.bsky.social
GenX nerd.
Thinks he's funny, but isn't.
If you care about what I think, you probably shouldn't. I'm an idiot.
Look, I'm just here to talk about RPGs. And sometimes Industrial music and videogames or movies.
Also sometimes comics. More of a DC guy, sorry.
Thinks he's funny, but isn't.
If you care about what I think, you probably shouldn't. I'm an idiot.
Look, I'm just here to talk about RPGs. And sometimes Industrial music and videogames or movies.
Also sometimes comics. More of a DC guy, sorry.
I dunno, might be too soon for another Scottish Bond.
November 11, 2025 at 12:53 PM
I dunno, might be too soon for another Scottish Bond.
That was bad, and you should feel bad.
November 10, 2025 at 4:15 PM
That was bad, and you should feel bad.
Yeah, there's that whole thing of having more dimensions to cards than to dice. Like, suits, special instructions on cards, options to easily alter the deck based on various things, stuff like that.
It's a pretty rich design space and it's been explored a fair bit in various games.
It's a pretty rich design space and it's been explored a fair bit in various games.
November 9, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Yeah, there's that whole thing of having more dimensions to cards than to dice. Like, suits, special instructions on cards, options to easily alter the deck based on various things, stuff like that.
It's a pretty rich design space and it's been explored a fair bit in various games.
It's a pretty rich design space and it's been explored a fair bit in various games.
I mean, I'm flattered and all...
November 9, 2025 at 11:57 AM
I mean, I'm flattered and all...
Basically that. I enjoyed the first couple of episodes, I think it has potential to be overall a good series, but I'm not convinced it's the best thing I've ever seen and not certain it's going to survive Apple's terrible renew/release schedule.
November 9, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Basically that. I enjoyed the first couple of episodes, I think it has potential to be overall a good series, but I'm not convinced it's the best thing I've ever seen and not certain it's going to survive Apple's terrible renew/release schedule.
If you're playing a style where scenes or broader conflicts are resolved mechanically rather than tasks, this is WAY less of an issue. 1 random check every few minutes. Dealing the cards can build tension, the anticipation of what's going to come up can be fun.
November 9, 2025 at 10:29 AM
If you're playing a style where scenes or broader conflicts are resolved mechanically rather than tasks, this is WAY less of an issue. 1 random check every few minutes. Dealing the cards can build tension, the anticipation of what's going to come up can be fun.
In my experience, this is generally only a significant problem when there's a lot of what we used to call "points of contact" involving randomisation.
If it's the kind of play where a GM is asking for skill checks every 20 seconds then you're going to get bogged down in card logistics.
If it's the kind of play where a GM is asking for skill checks every 20 seconds then you're going to get bogged down in card logistics.
November 9, 2025 at 10:29 AM
In my experience, this is generally only a significant problem when there's a lot of what we used to call "points of contact" involving randomisation.
If it's the kind of play where a GM is asking for skill checks every 20 seconds then you're going to get bogged down in card logistics.
If it's the kind of play where a GM is asking for skill checks every 20 seconds then you're going to get bogged down in card logistics.
I think there's also the handling time of cards. Which is a positive and a negative.
Rolling a handful of dice is generally pretty fast. Dealing or drawing cards generally takes longer. Shuffling adds time as well. So all in, it's slower.
Rolling a handful of dice is generally pretty fast. Dealing or drawing cards generally takes longer. Shuffling adds time as well. So all in, it's slower.
November 9, 2025 at 10:29 AM
I think there's also the handling time of cards. Which is a positive and a negative.
Rolling a handful of dice is generally pretty fast. Dealing or drawing cards generally takes longer. Shuffling adds time as well. So all in, it's slower.
Rolling a handful of dice is generally pretty fast. Dealing or drawing cards generally takes longer. Shuffling adds time as well. So all in, it's slower.
It's ok to admit you were benching a copy of Ptolus.
November 8, 2025 at 6:33 PM
It's ok to admit you were benching a copy of Ptolus.
Yeah, that's exactly what we were doing back then.
November 8, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Yeah, that's exactly what we were doing back then.
It mattered a lot that everyone doing the demos had played and loved all the games. We practiced the demos. Zero in on the bit which made the game sing, skip straight to that, let everyone see how it worked in practice. Not regular sessions, not full games but just a clip-show best-of trailer.
November 8, 2025 at 1:05 PM
It mattered a lot that everyone doing the demos had played and loved all the games. We practiced the demos. Zero in on the bit which made the game sing, skip straight to that, let everyone see how it worked in practice. Not regular sessions, not full games but just a clip-show best-of trailer.
Huh, I only just found out it's a popular breed of crab from the US east coast.
Shows what I know!
Shows what I know!
November 8, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Huh, I only just found out it's a popular breed of crab from the US east coast.
Shows what I know!
Shows what I know!
It's a small village in south Kent, about as far from Aberdeen as possible (while still being in the UK)!
Also has a nuclear power plant iirc, so...
Also has a nuclear power plant iirc, so...
November 8, 2025 at 10:19 AM
It's a small village in south Kent, about as far from Aberdeen as possible (while still being in the UK)!
Also has a nuclear power plant iirc, so...
Also has a nuclear power plant iirc, so...
Can confirm. GOAT.
November 7, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Can confirm. GOAT.
Definitely 30 AF!
November 7, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Definitely 30 AF!
But, also other reasons.
1) Books get resold. The PoD version may end up on a bring and buy or in a 2nd hand store. Same retail experience as for the book going into distro.
2) If the PoD is different to the "real" book, doesn't that devalue the PoD offering?
1) Books get resold. The PoD version may end up on a bring and buy or in a 2nd hand store. Same retail experience as for the book going into distro.
2) If the PoD is different to the "real" book, doesn't that devalue the PoD offering?
November 7, 2025 at 12:09 PM
But, also other reasons.
1) Books get resold. The PoD version may end up on a bring and buy or in a 2nd hand store. Same retail experience as for the book going into distro.
2) If the PoD is different to the "real" book, doesn't that devalue the PoD offering?
1) Books get resold. The PoD version may end up on a bring and buy or in a 2nd hand store. Same retail experience as for the book going into distro.
2) If the PoD is different to the "real" book, doesn't that devalue the PoD offering?
I'm not sure why you wouldn't make the back cover the same for all versions?
Again, if I print it and bind it myself, I'll need something on the back. If you're creating a back cover anyway, why wouldn't it be included in a pdf?
Again, if I print it and bind it myself, I'll need something on the back. If you're creating a back cover anyway, why wouldn't it be included in a pdf?
November 7, 2025 at 12:09 PM
I'm not sure why you wouldn't make the back cover the same for all versions?
Again, if I print it and bind it myself, I'll need something on the back. If you're creating a back cover anyway, why wouldn't it be included in a pdf?
Again, if I print it and bind it myself, I'll need something on the back. If you're creating a back cover anyway, why wouldn't it be included in a pdf?
The card explicitly said we couldn't speak. Literally used that word.
It made the everyone want to not play any more.
It made the everyone want to not play any more.
November 7, 2025 at 11:49 AM
The card explicitly said we couldn't speak. Literally used that word.
It made the everyone want to not play any more.
It made the everyone want to not play any more.
This is absolutely true.
Do they mean:
A product as published?
A specific game as they perceive it's generally played?
Just the system part of a published product?
An experience they have at the table?
A vague categorisation of gaming?
A set of social rules and expectations?
Do they mean:
A product as published?
A specific game as they perceive it's generally played?
Just the system part of a published product?
An experience they have at the table?
A vague categorisation of gaming?
A set of social rules and expectations?
November 7, 2025 at 10:57 AM
This is absolutely true.
Do they mean:
A product as published?
A specific game as they perceive it's generally played?
Just the system part of a published product?
An experience they have at the table?
A vague categorisation of gaming?
A set of social rules and expectations?
Do they mean:
A product as published?
A specific game as they perceive it's generally played?
Just the system part of a published product?
An experience they have at the table?
A vague categorisation of gaming?
A set of social rules and expectations?
Because ultimately the data wasn't really hidden.
November 7, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Because ultimately the data wasn't really hidden.
Had a similar experience with a player in El Grande decades ago.
He wanted to play with an open castle, so he could see how many of who's blocks were in there.
Said he'd just take notes if we didn't, which kinda made the whole hidden data thing seem pointless.
He wanted to play with an open castle, so he could see how many of who's blocks were in there.
Said he'd just take notes if we didn't, which kinda made the whole hidden data thing seem pointless.
November 7, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Had a similar experience with a player in El Grande decades ago.
He wanted to play with an open castle, so he could see how many of who's blocks were in there.
Said he'd just take notes if we didn't, which kinda made the whole hidden data thing seem pointless.
He wanted to play with an open castle, so he could see how many of who's blocks were in there.
Said he'd just take notes if we didn't, which kinda made the whole hidden data thing seem pointless.
(in the case of that specific game, it didn't say we couldn't write notes, so all it achieved was slowing things down in a completely non fun way)
November 7, 2025 at 10:25 AM
(in the case of that specific game, it didn't say we couldn't write notes, so all it achieved was slowing things down in a completely non fun way)