Absolutely delectable to watch my LinkedIn feed bemoan the slop-dependent, brainless “meat proxies” that pass for coworkers in 2026.
James Pianka • EM|NCD
@jamespianka.bsky.social
Narrative systems designer for video games (TMNT: Splintered Fate, State of Decay 2). Publishing indie analog games as Empty Mountain (Nothing Can Die). SHRINES v1.0.0: https://emptymountain-ncd.itch.io/shrines Opinions my own. He/him.
![Q: A couple years ago at IDFA, I saw this movie "About a Hero," which is this partly Al-generated hybrid documentary that tries to recreate the atmosphere of your films.
A: The intention of this young filmmaker was never to remake any [of my films], but making something in the spirit. And I immediately said, "You will fail. It is such a stupid idea. It's phenomenally, abysmally stupid. I will not take part in it." He wanted me to explain things and have my voice in it.
I said, "You are alone. There's such a thing as free speech, which I respect. So go ahead and fail." And it is a failure, period.
It's so standardized that Al can step in because there's not real storytelling. It's mimicry of something that has happened before. And I welcome Al to replace all the idiots who are into nothing but repeating, repeating, repeating until it's ad nauseam.
When it's ad nauseam, please, please, please let Al step in and do the job.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:v5vphilwcf6nunioeyrpxw6g/bafkreibeadpx66jtqlttglhgbgkew6g65haxqngz5yt6p3ybwyi5zney54)
I don't want to be nostalgic anymore. I'm tired of being catered to. I don't want to forever hear the same artistic voices I heard in my youth, now amplified, slowed and reverbed for dramatic effect. I want new worlds. I want new stories. I want new voices. Please!
The science illiteracy of chuds and crunchies alike makes me want to round up the entire American populace for forced re-education (school).
You honor me ❤️
JayAck@jjackerknecht.com · 4w agoDnD is okay. I like Critical Role! But there are a ton of cool, weird options out there. Lancer, Mork Borg, Candela Obscura, and Shrines (shout out to @jamespianka.bsky.social ). TTRPGs have such a wide scope that it seems a shame to limit yourself to any one of them.
Head down as I work on the illustrations for PONDUS. (idk why i always save illustrations for last, it's the part that always gives me most pause as I'm a slow artist and don't wanna redo anything) THE MAP is a big focus in pondus. It's backdrop. it's the table. It's revealed as you play.
Hinokodo@hinokodo.com · 2mo agowww.kickstarter.com/projects/mim... My next game PONDUS will fund in October 2026! Part of Kickstarter's witchstarter event. Might put that on tabletopia soon actually, y'all help me perfect it. Then after that delivers, Elseware Express will be on the table. Y2K trains. It's fun!
I’m kinda agnostic on speed cameras in that dangerous US driving culture enrages me AND we also know US law enforcement constantly abuses surveillance data in bigoted, dangerous ways (and we barely have data protection laws). also, also, “People should be allowed to speed” is a shit argument.
NEW IN THE SHOP: Shrines: Sites of Reverence & Power by @jamespianka.bsky.social A Tibetan Buddhism-inspired, system-neutral compendium of sacred magical places. Use in the fantasy game of your choice! Find: art, lore, tables, mechanics, and theory. Brilliant art, gold foil cover, and it's SQUARE
research shows that women are named Eufondia Gracely whereas men are named Beamis B. Bristle
NEW: Shrines: Sites of Reverence & Power brings new sacred architecture, devotional practice, and mystical magic to any fantasy tabletop campaign, gathered together in a stunning riso-printed softcover book. From @jamespianka.bsky.social
At Gen Con, we loved running into friends, CMU alumni, and even editorial board members at our booth. We also met lots of new folks interested in our games and Press! Thanks to @uofmpress.bsky.social, Good Games Indianapolis, and the amazing staff of Gen Con for a fantastic 2026 convention!
Be the mushroom you always wanted to be. We are Mushrooms arrived from the printer and will be ready for sale this week. It's a bit of a smaller print run than usual, so watch omnes.exeunt.press for the announcement. It's a chill game. And the book includes a crochet pattern!
Ishvraeneqor V'saln, Battle Biospectromage of The Kodrianthir Hierarchy 2023
BACK IN STOCK! Sanctum by @jamespianka.bsky.social A tidy storytelling zine about dungeons - GMless, diceless, needs no pen and paper at all! Use improv principles to build on ideas. If you’ve got 30 min, you can exercise your imagination and collaborate with your friends on a classic fantasy tale
Sanctum - Knave of Cups
Designed for bonfire circles, car rides, and second bottles of wine. Got a road trip coming up? Maybe you wanna get cozy by the fireplace at your favorite TTRPG bar. With three acts and an optional…
knaveofcups.com
Game designers, check out these gorgeous circular maps! 🎲✂️
The Public Domain Review@publicdomainrev.bsky.social · 2mo agoArchie G. Norcross’ 360-degree circular maps (1918–22) to be used in mountaintop fire tower stations to help locate forest fires in the surrounding landscape: publicdomainreview.org/collection/m...
Need a volume of wild world building? Try Shrines by @jamespianka.bsky.social (system neutral sacred magical places + tables, mechanics, theory +more) 100 Strangers from @adamstation.bsky.social with art by @roqueromero.bsky.social (a hundred illustrated misfits to spice up your scifi campaign)
Ahh! It cometh!
Knave of Cups@knaveofcups.com · 2mo agoARRIVING FRIDAY! Shrines: Sites of Reverence & Power by @jamespianka.bsky.social A system-neutral compendium of sacred magical places for use in the fantasy game of your choice. Also find: tables galore, game mechanics, and theory. Brilliant art, gold foil cover, and it's SQUARE
@tarinoi.bsky.social Hi! Could you please tell me how your tool handles systemic narrative structures? I.E. selecting narrative responses to gameplay triggers from a pool of options based on context/conditional checks? I’m always looking for good support there!
Ethical art is art that treats everyone involved in the process (from materials to production to creative labor) fairly and with respect—not art that adheres to a specific set of content guidelines. Don't confuse genre trappings or marketing buzzwords with the real obligations we have to each other.
Supporting small creators means your money goes directly to an actual person who handmakes everything with care!! No middlemen, no corporations, just me in my garage making cute stuff
What if we told a story about a dungeon adventure but didn't use any dice? Looking at Sanctum this week at Skeleton Code Machine. Subscribe to read it Tuesday: www.skeletoncodemachine.com
Ok saw that bluesky has some blogging options now and I tried one out. Do you vibe with wandering wizards on the hunt for the orbs of power? Boy if so do I have a game for you! In this post I document the spark and process to where the game is at now. pckt.blog/b/hinokodo/p...
PONDUS - 00 - The Game District
It's 2022 and I thought I could figure out Roll & Move. The idea was this: And it's fine. But it's really random. Dice tend to be that way.
pckt.blog