I haven't written a lot of opinion pieces recently. I would like to get back to that style of writing. Over the next 3 days I am looking back at pieces I wrote on some of the more loaded terms in tabletop criticism. Let's start with balance.

A matter of Balance - The Giant Brain

Balance is a loaded term that is thrown around like it is the be all and end all of game design. What does this term really mean?

giantbrain.co.uk

My wife wrote a beautiful piece on how we support, and fail, our friends after her experiences at Tabletop Scotland in 2025.

To be a better human, be a gamer? - The Giant Brain

My wife Catherine Dolliver gives us a beautiful piece on how we support/fail our friends and her experience at Tabletop Scotland

giantbrain.co.uk

State of the Rascal: August 2026 www.rascal.news/state-of-the...

Criticism is an umbrella term for a variety of writing. From time to time I have written an editorial or two regarding various subjects in the tabletop hobby. At the start of the year I posted about how you can make your TTRPG just a little bit more accessible.

RPG Resolutions - The Giant Brain

It is the early days of 2026 a time for resolutions and new habits. I have some ideas for you on how to make RPGs a little more accesible.

giantbrain.co.uk

Somehow I've managed to keep Punchboard running for six years now. I had a little dig through and pulled together a few interesting numbers and thoughts, and posted them to my supporters. Maybe you should be one too? Have a look either way - ko-fi.com/post/Six-Yea...

Final Day of Gen Con! Stop by Booth 2945 on your way. HUGE thanks to our players and GMs of our Slugblaster MEGAGAME yesterday! What an absolute riot!! 🎉🙌😱🤩❤️‍🔥

This is a great course. I didn't fully get on with His Majesty the Worm, but I really enjoyed designing a dungeon for it. Check it out!

Rise Up Comus@riseupcomus.bsky.social · 4d ago

I'll reiterate the real honor was just to be nominated, but of course I'm enormously happy to have won. Thanks everyone for all your support. If you haven't seen what the fuss is about, check out the course. It's free! dungeons.hismajestytheworm.games

It's #CityOfEspersRPG Thursday, and I'm hosting a mini painting/art jam until the campaign in September! Create your own Esper OC with these roll tables, and I'll share your work on air! Kitbashing miniatures was an early inspo for the game, dope to make it an event! @threesailsstudios.bsky.social

My latest newsletter is out now wherein I talk a bit about mental health and what is likely upcoming for me over the next month. You can sign up for free to get most what I write, with a little behind the scenes for paying folk. www.patreon.com/thegiantbrai...

The Giant Brain: Latest newsletter is out and I talk about mental health

Latest newsletter is out and I talk about mental health

patreon.com

We're heading into the final 2 days of the Master of Coin Kickstarter, thank you all for support so far! We've released some details of the second sheet for the game, as always we aim to support our games with new content, all included in the initial purchase! www.kickstarter.com/projects/pos...

Update 5: New challenges in Era II + 3D printable coins! · Master of Coin

In Era II, Salt & Silver, the Queen has ordered you to expand the Kingdom’s horizons and establish new connections to the neighbouring islands. Starting at your Home Port in the centre of the map, you...

kickstarter.com

On 'But, Why Vikings?" we have done the occasional themed episode. Here @ava.foxfort.net and @timclare.bsky.social talk about their experiences at @ukge.bsky.social and how to cope with such a large event. Send us your questions for future episodes!

A Massive Aura

Podcast Episode · But Why Vikings? · 19 June · 1hr 6min

podcasts.apple.com

Three hosts works really well for us and gives us a different dynamic depending on which pair of us is on the cast or if all three of us can make it. Here is @timclare.bsky.social and I talk about analysis paralysis and helping family with games. Send us your questions for future episodes!

Meet people where they are

Podcast Episode · But Why Vikings? · 5 June · 54min

podcasts.apple.com

The blues set in as I'm back from @the-kraken.bsky.social I can at least reflect on all the games and good times. Played: 13th Age in Glorantha CyBorg Delta Green Feng Shui Over the Edge Royal Blood Two Sides to the Coin Ran: AGON Barbarians of Lemuria Pendragon Savage Worlds Vaesen

Hope I've peaked your interest in "But, Why Vikings?". Here is @ava.foxfort.net and @timclare.bsky.social discussing the role of Boardgame Arena in the current tabletop gaming landscape. Send us your questions for future episodes!

The tyranny of structurelessness

Podcast Episode · But Why Vikings? · 23 January · 1hr 4min

podcasts.apple.com

If you want to start a podcast and keep a schedule I really recommend having 3 hosts. Means work can still continue if someone is away. Our second episode was just @ava.foxfort.net and I discussing democracy in board game choices amongst other topics. Send us your questions for future episodes!

People Can't Hear Faces

Podcast Episode · But Why Vikings? · 14 November 2025 · 55min

podcasts.apple.com

I seem to have a habit of falling into podcasts. I put together @ava.foxfort.net and @timclare.bsky.social for a creative endeavour but wasn't going to get involved myself. So much for that! Here is where it all started . Send us your questions for future episodes!

Deranged in my Promiscuity

Podcast Episode · But Why Vikings? · 31 October 2025 · 1hr 34min

podcasts.apple.com

(Also this other bad boy is on the way soon, too…STAY TUNED!!!!)

Duke University Press@dukepress.bsky.social · 2w ago

In "How Dungeons & Dragons Changed the Way We Play," @aarontram.bsky.social reveals how popular culture influenced the design of the iconic tabletop game and how the game’s legacy, in turn, influences game design today. Read the intro for free: buff.ly/jLA2ctp

Why should you hop aboard the hype train for Bloodthirst, my vampire #LUMEN #ttrpg? - 6 archetypes let you choose your favourite vampire vibe - Modular base building means nearly limitless ways to build your Sanctuary - Beautiful art by Vagelio Kaliva www.backerkit.com/c/projects/s...

Bloodthirst: fast-paced vampire roleplaying

The vampires' world is in chaos and it's up to you to sort it out! Fast-paced LUMEN mechanics keep the dice rolling and blood flowing as players face down vampires, hunters and more with the unique po...

backerkit.com

Nottingham area TTRPG designers / publishers (or able to work with a Nottingham-based partner) - are you interested in paid work on a project using RPGs as a learning tool? Available over the next few months? If you are interested, drop me a line here gavthorpe.co.uk/contact/

RPG friends. Help me out. I'm looking for a d&d adjacent game a friend of mine can play with their son, 11, in a duet mode. Any thoughts?

The collection of stretch goal material for Blades '68 grew so large that it has exploded from the Palace Dossier into THE BLUE FILES. It's almost 60 pieces, from an amazing array of contributors.

One of the guarantees of Cult of the Old is that all the hosts have played the game, at least once. I had the pleasure of teaching a favourite from my younger years to @sanildefanso.bsky.social and it allowed us to talk about the UK success that is Games Workshop.

Cult of the Old - Blood Bowl

Cult of the Old · Episode

open.spotify.com

This is a very good point. I've been reading more on an ereader recently and a lot of rulebooks are downloaded from drivethru or similar with just "rulebook" as the filename

Starshine Scribbles@starshinescribbles.bsky.social · 2w ago

TTRPG peeps, I'm begging you. If you release TTRPGs digitally, make sure your document file names contain the game's title (at minimum). It makes it really hard to keep track of the games I have and find the ones I'm looking for when the documents are called stuff like GAME DRAFT.pdf

TTRPG peeps, I'm begging you. If you release TTRPGs digitally, make sure your document file names contain the game's title (at minimum). It makes it really hard to keep track of the games I have and find the ones I'm looking for when the documents are called stuff like GAME DRAFT.pdf

We don't shy away from talking about the controversies around different titles on Cult of the Old. Puerto Rico is infamous for its themeing and we dove deep in our episode on the title.

Cult of the Old - Puerto Rico

Cult of the Old · Episode

open.spotify.com

I’d written a much longer thread about this topic but short version: I think making creative photos of your miniatures using some scenery and backdrops, and doing as much as possible “in camera” is very satisfying, authentic and wholesome. There's something about things you can hold in your hand.

Bad Squiddo Games (Annie)@badsquiddogames.bsky.social · 2w ago

Just some of the scenes you can take with a camera phone, some terrain and a @handiworkgames.bsky.social backdrop book. 🦋 No generative AI nonsense. 🦋 And it's fun to do! And [all the bad things about AI] aren't happening! Hooray!

Did you know that Intergalactic Bastionland has a follow page already? www.kickstarter.com/projects/bas...

Coming soon: Intergalactic Bastionland RPG - Beyond Into the Odd

Rules light roleplaying amongst the living stars of Bastionland.

kickstarter.com

Ok now I wish I backed the physical edition. That's beautiful

Tom G of Tabletop Bookshelf@tomg.tabletopbookshelf.com · 2w ago

Oh my @montfordtales.com 😍🤯

I wrote lots of content for a few years in the early 2010s. But I am the most proud of the work we've done over at Cult of the Old. I love working with @giantbrain.co.uk and @mattthr.bsky.social to do our bit to be historians for a hobby with a short memory. This episode is about my favorite game!

Cult of the Old - Cosmic Encounter

Cult of the Old · Episode

open.spotify.com

Not many designers have been mentioned multiple times on Cult of the Old but we just recorded a season 4 episode where he turns up for the 3rd time! A versatile designer and favourite of the team. Here we cover him for the first time and our first real-time game.

Cult of the Old - Galaxy Trucker

Cult of the Old · Episode

open.spotify.com