might open an off-the-books cantina in the dead chili’s down the road
justin achilli
@jachilli.bsky.social
Founder and Chief Creative Officer at Studio Hermitage | ex-WoD, ex-Ubi, ex-etc. | shoe enjoyer | he/ him
I try not to think too deeply about things like this, but… if Highclere Castle is Downton Abbey in Downton Abbey-world, does actual Highclere Castle not exist in Downton Abbey-world? Similarly, if I’m playing in a modern Call of Cthulhu scenario, can I buy a copy of CoC in-game? batmobile flat tires
LaTia is recovering from Gen Con, oh god@latiajacquise.com · 2h agoTIL that Highclere Castle, which serves as the titular Downton Abbey, was also Misselthwaite Manor in The Secret Garden (1993)
The perils of Too Much Metaplot™. Game continuities has a tough path to tread. They need to establish a living world that players can touch and affect, while also not invalidating the assertions of the title that establishes the world-state, because that's the point by which most players enter.
Claudio Pozas — Commissions Open@claudiopozas.bsky.social · 9h agoI can't overemphasize how chaotic the 2e Dark Sun rollout was. The original boxed set presented a status quo, the very first novel dramatically changed that status quo, and the first adventure (this one) happened around the events of the novel. And from there on out, the boxed set was outdated.
Clothing brands still trying to sell summer sweaters and outerwear while it’s 762 degrees outside, “This breathable linen sweater evokes a windswept savanna” no it’s like wearing a wool blanket into the depths of a sulfur swamp while being strangled.
Kashana@kashana.blacksky.app · 11h agoAmazed lifestyle people haven’t incorporated climate change into their fall coverage. “The perfect fall bikini” “seven skimpy Halloween costumes for when it’s 90 in the shade” “cool salads for another hot Thanksgiving”
Brussels sprouts, specifically. Today’s Brussels sprouts are delightful.
Constantine@ajaxsinger.bsky.social · yesterdayFood, man. Food is so much better than it was in 1986. All of it. Poor-people food, restaurant food, fresh food, frozen food. Food is just a hell of a lot better.
If you live near Spokane, please consider your yard a wildlife corridor for animals pushed out of the forest by wildfire. Give them space and place large water bowls or buckets or a baby pool on your property for them. This photo was taken by my friend Stephani near Colville National Forest.
If you've followed me for any length of time, you'll know that I frequently cite discovery as games' biggest challenge, whether in tabletop hobby games or in computer games.
GamesIndustry.biz@gibiz.bsky.social · 2d agoThe industry makes great games, but nobody can find them. Algorithms built to surface content are increasingly rewarding volume, familiarity, and short-term engagement over quality or originality. https://bit.ly/44VFYO9
I wish there were a way to preemptively block those posts with a sassy GIF that says THIS with someone pointing up, as if at the post above it .
I realize the Europeans have largely gone to bed, but: I got bitten by a dog yesterday and had a bad reaction to it and ended up throwing up all night last night. My wife made me go to the emergency room; I've gotten IV fluids and an abdominal ultrasound. This is what I had to pay. I have insurance.
The best story worlds, esp. in interactive media, are those that construct those worlds as containers of stories rather than looking at them as traditional one-way media. An inordinate amount of detail for many IPs exists solely to "add lore" of no particular value other than populating a wiki.
Jarrett P.@notcrucial.bsky.social · yesterdayHalo has me thinking a lot about how to bring legacy IP forward. I think in order to be successful, a studio needs to be confident and brave, but many of these IP holders operate out of a place of fear. (THREAD🧵)
Every time a company has a title like "SVP of Innovation" it's that person's job to come up with stuff like this.
BMW Is Showing Commercials On Their Car's Dash Screens And They Want You To Think It's A Treat - The Autopian
You know what would be terrible? Terrible in a sort of dystopian, capitalism-run-amok sort of way? Imagine buying a brand-new, fancy, premium-grade car. From an automaker with a respected name. Like, ...
theautopian.com
For the longest time, I had planned my funeral so that an empty, open casket would rest on the bier for the viewing. Looping endlessly at the wake would be that skeletal thousand-minute drums-and-bassline opening to "Bela Lugosi's Dead" and then when it came time to actually perform the service...
"What are your qualifications for this Communications Director role?" "I will refuse to communicate with people." "You are hired."
The policies of the party of fear will cause delays, some of them hugely destructive, in addressing the most important issues of our time. But in the long run, change is coming. ncnewsline.com/2026/08/04/n... (commentary) #ncpol
North Carolina continues to be ruled and held back by the party of fear • NC Newsline
The policies of the party of fear will cause delays, some of them hugely destructive, in addressing the most important issues of our time. But in the long run, change is coming.
ncnewsline.com
PEIPolitical 🇨🇦@peipolitical.bsky.social · 3w agoMiller: "It's not a coincidence that when you look at these violent Antifa demonstrations not one of the people that is demonstrating looks like a normal person. Not one looks normal. They're all deformed in some way in their appearance, in their dress, in their mannerism." #cdnpoli
I tell you what, though, I've GMed every game I've ever run without AI, and my experience is that the more you do it, the better you get at it, so maybe don't foist off the creative endeavor onto the slurm faucet.
This is relevant to a lot of undesired situations, including everything from manufacturing consent to creating artificial demand. Well, "undesired" based on whether you're a person who has to live in the world as compared to a special interest.
Josh Sternberg@joshsternberg.com · 3d agoThere are 7 PR people for every journalist in the US. www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...
Carville’s thing was never that he was a one-in-a-billion insightful strategist who was indispensable to getting elected. His thing was that he’s a Dem consultant married to a Republican consultant.
One time my wife’s car was stolen from the driveway and the police came by two hours later and and scolded us: “You live in the hood.” A month later while we were both out of town the towing company called us and told us we owed them $2K because they found it totaled and hauled it to impound.
Em, midly@lefttheprairie.bsky.social · 4d agoIt’s so funny when people are like “sure you’re an abolitionist now but wait until you’re the victim of a property crime.” Buddy, the most useful thing the police have ever done for property crime is put the form you need to submit to your insurance online.
Hindsight may be 20/20, but I think we can reasonably say that any country that produced Crocs would inevitably produce multiple Trump presidencies.
Coming soon… AGE OF SORROWCHORD: roleplaying in a world where Train never recorded that “hey soul sister” song
At one of the GenCons in the 90s, when it was still in Milwaukee, there was a condemned building across from the convention center and I joined an “adventuring party” with Rich, Josh, and Bates and we “explored the dungeon” in the pitch dark and almost died by falling through the floor.
In response to the unprecedented number of game developers laid off this year, we have created a bundle on itch to benefit a Game Industry Hardship Fund, managed by @videogameworkers.bsky.social. More than 100 games for 10+ bucks! Please share widely and donate generously! itch.io/b/3802/game-...