It's Topher Winward! ✌️
@topher.io
Joy finder && software developer.
Accessibility, videogames, webdev, cloud, gardening, birding, gratitude.
he/him 🏳🌈🌎
Working at @Rare.co.uk on @SeaOfThieves.com and beyond~
https://topher.io
Accessibility, videogames, webdev, cloud, gardening, birding, gratitude.
he/him 🏳🌈🌎
Working at @Rare.co.uk on @SeaOfThieves.com and beyond~
https://topher.io
⚖️ Laws, Research, Cabinet, Parliament and more
These are the major sweeping choices that will have a huge impact on your country. You almost definitely want to make these choices yourself.
But, you might find it overwhelming, or simply don't want to due to other game goals. Automate away!
These are the major sweeping choices that will have a huge impact on your country. You almost definitely want to make these choices yourself.
But, you might find it overwhelming, or simply don't want to due to other game goals. Automate away!
November 10, 2025 at 3:49 PM
⚖️ Laws, Research, Cabinet, Parliament and more
These are the major sweeping choices that will have a huge impact on your country. You almost definitely want to make these choices yourself.
But, you might find it overwhelming, or simply don't want to due to other game goals. Automate away!
These are the major sweeping choices that will have a huge impact on your country. You almost definitely want to make these choices yourself.
But, you might find it overwhelming, or simply don't want to due to other game goals. Automate away!
🏢 Buildings
Like with trading, you can tell the game "If I have a surplus of gold, build what you think makes sense for me."
This means that small countries and deliberate decisions can be controlled by you, but large empires don't need micromanaging.
Like with trading, you can tell the game "If I have a surplus of gold, build what you think makes sense for me."
This means that small countries and deliberate decisions can be controlled by you, but large empires don't need micromanaging.
November 10, 2025 at 3:49 PM
🏢 Buildings
Like with trading, you can tell the game "If I have a surplus of gold, build what you think makes sense for me."
This means that small countries and deliberate decisions can be controlled by you, but large empires don't need micromanaging.
Like with trading, you can tell the game "If I have a surplus of gold, build what you think makes sense for me."
This means that small countries and deliberate decisions can be controlled by you, but large empires don't need micromanaging.
🪖 Army / navy generals
Choosing the best individual to head your army units can provide subtle bonuses, such as better blockading, or cheaper maintenance.
Min-maxers will want to choose these carefully, most of us can automate away a "good enough" choice.
Choosing the best individual to head your army units can provide subtle bonuses, such as better blockading, or cheaper maintenance.
Min-maxers will want to choose these carefully, most of us can automate away a "good enough" choice.
November 10, 2025 at 3:49 PM
🪖 Army / navy generals
Choosing the best individual to head your army units can provide subtle bonuses, such as better blockading, or cheaper maintenance.
Min-maxers will want to choose these carefully, most of us can automate away a "good enough" choice.
Choosing the best individual to head your army units can provide subtle bonuses, such as better blockading, or cheaper maintenance.
Min-maxers will want to choose these carefully, most of us can automate away a "good enough" choice.
💹 Trade
Trading is incredibly complex, and the best rewards come to those who plan ahead.
You can choose "Automate 80% of my trading for me to get the best immediate deal, I'll manually choose the other 20% to follow my strategy" (say you want paper for your printing presses to increase literacy)
Trading is incredibly complex, and the best rewards come to those who plan ahead.
You can choose "Automate 80% of my trading for me to get the best immediate deal, I'll manually choose the other 20% to follow my strategy" (say you want paper for your printing presses to increase literacy)
November 10, 2025 at 3:49 PM
💹 Trade
Trading is incredibly complex, and the best rewards come to those who plan ahead.
You can choose "Automate 80% of my trading for me to get the best immediate deal, I'll manually choose the other 20% to follow my strategy" (say you want paper for your printing presses to increase literacy)
Trading is incredibly complex, and the best rewards come to those who plan ahead.
You can choose "Automate 80% of my trading for me to get the best immediate deal, I'll manually choose the other 20% to follow my strategy" (say you want paper for your printing presses to increase literacy)
🪙 Balance.
Most of the time, the "best" (least-worst) strategy is to pay all your estates (clergy, burghers, peasants) the smallest amount possible to keep them from being actively unhappy.
This number changes every month. Hitting the cog ensures it's always at just that right level.
Most of the time, the "best" (least-worst) strategy is to pay all your estates (clergy, burghers, peasants) the smallest amount possible to keep them from being actively unhappy.
This number changes every month. Hitting the cog ensures it's always at just that right level.
November 10, 2025 at 3:49 PM
🪙 Balance.
Most of the time, the "best" (least-worst) strategy is to pay all your estates (clergy, burghers, peasants) the smallest amount possible to keep them from being actively unhappy.
This number changes every month. Hitting the cog ensures it's always at just that right level.
Most of the time, the "best" (least-worst) strategy is to pay all your estates (clergy, burghers, peasants) the smallest amount possible to keep them from being actively unhappy.
This number changes every month. Hitting the cog ensures it's always at just that right level.
Europa Universalis 5 has a brilliant feature that I've not yet seen them talk about as cognitive #accessibility, though it definitely is.
⚙️ Automation. EU5 is desperately deep and complex, but lets you granularly automate most aspects of the game. This lets you bring in complexity on *your* terms 🧵
⚙️ Automation. EU5 is desperately deep and complex, but lets you granularly automate most aspects of the game. This lets you bring in complexity on *your* terms 🧵
November 10, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Europa Universalis 5 has a brilliant feature that I've not yet seen them talk about as cognitive #accessibility, though it definitely is.
⚙️ Automation. EU5 is desperately deep and complex, but lets you granularly automate most aspects of the game. This lets you bring in complexity on *your* terms 🧵
⚙️ Automation. EU5 is desperately deep and complex, but lets you granularly automate most aspects of the game. This lets you bring in complexity on *your* terms 🧵
Ensuring access to all services and experiences for all people is so important - everyone has the right to enjoy their lives!
And to answer everyone's burning questions; yes, I *did* get waffles, beers, and chips while exploring Belgium 🧇 Bruges is stunning, I can't recommend it enough!
And to answer everyone's burning questions; yes, I *did* get waffles, beers, and chips while exploring Belgium 🧇 Bruges is stunning, I can't recommend it enough!
October 20, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Ensuring access to all services and experiences for all people is so important - everyone has the right to enjoy their lives!
And to answer everyone's burning questions; yes, I *did* get waffles, beers, and chips while exploring Belgium 🧇 Bruges is stunning, I can't recommend it enough!
And to answer everyone's burning questions; yes, I *did* get waffles, beers, and chips while exploring Belgium 🧇 Bruges is stunning, I can't recommend it enough!
Last week, @xanderashwell.bsky.social and I had the great privilege of sharing @seaofthieves.com's accessibility journey with all the fine folks at the European Accessibility Summit in Brussels, run by @microsoft.com and @myedf.bsky.social!
We learned so much from real experts there - 1/3
We learned so much from real experts there - 1/3
October 20, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Last week, @xanderashwell.bsky.social and I had the great privilege of sharing @seaofthieves.com's accessibility journey with all the fine folks at the European Accessibility Summit in Brussels, run by @microsoft.com and @myedf.bsky.social!
We learned so much from real experts there - 1/3
We learned so much from real experts there - 1/3
Happy World Standards Day! Which, hilariously, is not actually observed on the same day by all standards organizations
![Though World Standards Day is officially 14 October, the date of observance varies by standards organization. The American National Standards Institute celebrated the day on 12 October in 2023 and 14 November in 2024.[6] The World Trade Organization and the Standards Council of Canada observe it 14 October, as intended, though the Standards Council of Canada celebrated on 12 October in 2012.[7]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:r5pr7nwk6ul573bwa26ldjp7/bafkreighvmmut5deafqjqotx53bcwrbitqim2siwvcjyjllb3ocp5swlt4@jpeg)
October 14, 2025 at 9:44 AM
Happy World Standards Day! Which, hilariously, is not actually observed on the same day by all standards organizations
Here is a handsome Egyptian goose
October 13, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Here is a handsome Egyptian goose
One thing I've changed recently - instead of using "visual", "audio" etc, I now prefer Microsoft's Touch / See / Hear / Speak.
It makes it clear that you're talking about the user.
e.g. does "audio accessibility" refer to those who have sight or hearing needs?
It makes it clear that you're talking about the user.
e.g. does "audio accessibility" refer to those who have sight or hearing needs?
October 1, 2025 at 12:21 PM
One thing I've changed recently - instead of using "visual", "audio" etc, I now prefer Microsoft's Touch / See / Hear / Speak.
It makes it clear that you're talking about the user.
e.g. does "audio accessibility" refer to those who have sight or hearing needs?
It makes it clear that you're talking about the user.
e.g. does "audio accessibility" refer to those who have sight or hearing needs?
Kestrel about to dive
September 19, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Kestrel about to dive
I've not birdposted in a while, but I have a super cool update. After searching for this gorgeous Ruff for 3 hours yesterday and finally finding her, I can officially declare:
I have now seen ✨ 150 species of bird ✨ worldwide in 2025!!! 🐦
I have now seen ✨ 150 species of bird ✨ worldwide in 2025!!! 🐦
September 8, 2025 at 8:56 AM
I've not birdposted in a while, but I have a super cool update. After searching for this gorgeous Ruff for 3 hours yesterday and finally finding her, I can officially declare:
I have now seen ✨ 150 species of bird ✨ worldwide in 2025!!! 🐦
I have now seen ✨ 150 species of bird ✨ worldwide in 2025!!! 🐦
Here is a polite baby robin
July 26, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Here is a polite baby robin
Welp, that's it. The Outer Wilds is one of the best games I've ever played, and I'll never get to play it again. 10/10, would highly recommend.
Reminds me of titles like Subnautica, Myst, or Spore - go play it, and for goodness sake do *not* look up the plot or gameplay before-hand!
Reminds me of titles like Subnautica, Myst, or Spore - go play it, and for goodness sake do *not* look up the plot or gameplay before-hand!
July 18, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Welp, that's it. The Outer Wilds is one of the best games I've ever played, and I'll never get to play it again. 10/10, would highly recommend.
Reminds me of titles like Subnautica, Myst, or Spore - go play it, and for goodness sake do *not* look up the plot or gameplay before-hand!
Reminds me of titles like Subnautica, Myst, or Spore - go play it, and for goodness sake do *not* look up the plot or gameplay before-hand!
Absolutely brilliant day. No notes
July 11, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Absolutely brilliant day. No notes
En route to #SoTFest25 to talk all things accessibility! Let's have a kickass day (and for goodness sake stay hydrated! ☀️)
July 11, 2025 at 9:29 AM
En route to #SoTFest25 to talk all things accessibility! Let's have a kickass day (and for goodness sake stay hydrated! ☀️)
Look like crows to me! Easiest tell is by the sound they make - jackdaws sound a bit more like a squeeze toy!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jigf...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jigf...
July 5, 2025 at 10:23 AM
Look like crows to me! Easiest tell is by the sound they make - jackdaws sound a bit more like a squeeze toy!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jigf...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jigf...
Got kicked out of Wetherspoons for saving a sick pigeon yesterday, happy Friday x
June 27, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Got kicked out of Wetherspoons for saving a sick pigeon yesterday, happy Friday x
Thrilled that Sea Of Thieves picked up the MCV Develop Accessibility Innovation Of The Year award!
We put a lot of love, effort, and compassion into making games as inclusive as we can - and we've got more on the way! 🫡
Love to anyone and everyone advancing #accessibility - you're kicking ass 🎉
We put a lot of love, effort, and compassion into making games as inclusive as we can - and we've got more on the way! 🫡
Love to anyone and everyone advancing #accessibility - you're kicking ass 🎉
June 25, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Thrilled that Sea Of Thieves picked up the MCV Develop Accessibility Innovation Of The Year award!
We put a lot of love, effort, and compassion into making games as inclusive as we can - and we've got more on the way! 🫡
Love to anyone and everyone advancing #accessibility - you're kicking ass 🎉
We put a lot of love, effort, and compassion into making games as inclusive as we can - and we've got more on the way! 🫡
Love to anyone and everyone advancing #accessibility - you're kicking ass 🎉
Here is a good luck lapwing just for you!
June 22, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Here is a good luck lapwing just for you!
