A friend asked me what makes a good GM. It’s a personal question as difficult to answer as “what makes good art?” I don’t have the definitive answer, but I do have an answer. A good GM invests in the characters and shows how their actions change the world, e.g @juddthelibrarian.bsky.social

After many years of having it on my bucket list, I finally started the Great Pendragon Campaign. @stillisgaming.bsky.social is GMing and we started our first session doing character creation, being knighted, and going on our first excursion. seannittner.com/the-great-pe...

I hear the book on the top right is pretty good #buymybook

Indie Press Revolution@ipr.bsky.social · 5d ago

15/18 And we reach the end of our tour with Evil Hat Productions including Blades in the Dark: Deep Cuts, Girl by Moonlight, and Stewpot by Takuma Okada, author of Alone on a Journey.

Lovejoy! - Said in my best Lady Jane voice.

Fewer Than Jake 🇵🇸🏴@almightybob.bsky.social · 5d ago

it's the freakin weekend baby

Got back from @goplaynw.bsky.social this week and I finished my AP reports, so I‘m treating myself to boba tea. That’s how it works right? Go Play was a mix of very good times, donut math hi-jinx, and a little bit of putting up boundaries to protect those good times. Here’s the skinny.

Since posting this I’ve heard of several other house cons that have happened in the last year or are happening soon. I love this so much. So happy people are making time and space to play games with friends.

Sean Nittner@seannittner.bsky.social · 2w ago

Since stepping down as steward of Big Bad, I’ve focused on small events, what I call housecons. No flights, no hotel, communal meals, and scheduling that is either very loose (let’s play some games) or fully scheduled in advance (welcome to SeanCon, here’s your itinerary). My thoughts.

Tim's design sensibilities and skills are incredible. Each one of these stretch goals is getting a bespoke layout. It is amazing.

Tim@olddog.games · 4w ago

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.

🕙🕥🕚Today is the FINAL DAY for this charity bundle supporting designer Rae Nedjadi after a serious illness and extended hospital stay. Get over $285 worth of games for just $25! A terrific collection of TTRPGs, and 98% of each purchase goes directly to Rae. www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/5...

I am unbelievably touched that @dropout.tv titled my @dimension20.dropout.tv Adventuring Academy episode “A Duty of Care”

I’m overwhelmed today, but I want to circle back in a while to share the links to everyone & everything I cited. More soon.

A Duty of Care (with Dr. Emily Friedman) - Season 7 - Dropout

Dr. Emily Friedman joins Brennan to discuss the history of actual play and the best gaming system. Content Warning: Misophonia (Crunching) - [throughout 54:37-1:01:03]

watch.dropout.tv

Update. We're pushing back 30 min. Starting around 6PM Pacific. See you in the North Hook.

Sean Nittner@seannittner.bsky.social · 7d ago

Tonight at 5:30 PM Pacific (ish), @juddthelibrarian.bsky.social and I are returning to Doskvol as Crown tries to infiltrate the Spirit Wardens at the behest of the Unseen. She's also got ties to the head of the Bluecoats and the Blackcoats. What could go wrong? www.twitch.tv/actualplay

Y'all if you haven't already bought this please do. Medical emergencies are death on the finances and the soul. If you can't buy it, that's fine. Signal boost it.

Evil Hat@evilhat.bsky.social · last wk.

Just 🔸2 days🔸 left to snag this TTRPG bundle and help designer Rae Nedjadi pay down the expenses incurred by a long hospital stay. Over $285 worth of games for just 25 bucks, and 98% of your donation goes directly to Rae. Act now, the bundle vanishes on Aug 1st! www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/5...

Tonight at 5:30 PM Pacific (ish), @juddthelibrarian.bsky.social and I are returning to Doskvol as Crown tries to infiltrate the Spirit Wardens at the behest of the Unseen. She's also got ties to the head of the Bluecoats and the Blackcoats. What could go wrong? www.twitch.tv/actualplay

The irony is that I’m sending this just before heading to Seattle for @goplaynw.bsky.social. Hah! I haven’t abandoned cons, I just realize I don’t need the glam of Pax to spend a weekend gaming with friends!

Sean Nittner@seannittner.bsky.social · 2w ago

Since stepping down as steward of Big Bad, I’ve focused on small events, what I call housecons. No flights, no hotel, communal meals, and scheduling that is either very loose (let’s play some games) or fully scheduled in advance (welcome to SeanCon, here’s your itinerary). My thoughts.

Since stepping down as steward of Big Bad, I’ve focused on small events, what I call housecons. No flights, no hotel, communal meals, and scheduling that is either very loose (let’s play some games) or fully scheduled in advance (welcome to SeanCon, here’s your itinerary). My thoughts.

Going live with @juddthelibrarian.bsky.social. Join is for Crown of Doskvol, a story of one criminal just out of Ironhookm returning to a home she doesn't recognize. www.twitch.tv/actualplay

ActualPlay - Live on Twitch

Crown of Doskvol | Streaming talk shows & podcasts.

twitch.tv

One day left! 🤘🏾 Free yourself!

PsiRun Second Edition

Whoever was holding you captive, you're free, for now. You have superpowers & amnesia. You know they're after you. What could go wrong?

kickstarter.com

Tim’s layout + stretch goal creators’ content = dopest ass shit imaginable.

Tim@olddog.games · 4w ago

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.

Rarely does writing AP reports give me such satisfaction as when I can capture an entire campaign. We played 26 nine-hour sessions of Mask of Nyarlathotep to bring this epic adventure to its conclusion. Thank you @stillisgaming.bsky.social for running an amazing game. seannittner.com/tag/masks-of...

NEW: A special TTRPG charity bundle to help designer Rae Nedjadi offset their medical expenses after serious illness and a month-long hospital stay. Includes Apocalypse Keys plus a terrific selection of other games. Get over $285 in games for just 25 bucks! 👇 www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/5...

What does a con who is fresh out of Ironhook do when she finds her old crew has scatted to the winds while she put away? Join @juddthelibrarian.bsky.social and I to find out in Crown of Doskvol. Starting in at 7PM-ish. www.twitch.tv/actualplay

Let's GO! The project is LIVE! #PsiRun2e #ttrpg #PBTA #SuperPowers

PsiRun Second Edition

Whoever was holding you captive, you're free, for now. You have superpowers & amnesia. You know they're after you. What could go wrong?

kickstarter.com

Tomorrow night, a little after 5:30 PM PST, @juddthelibrarian.bsky.social and I are playing a Blades in the Dark duet. My scoundrel went into Ironhook in the days of Blades and came out in the time of Deep Cuts, his old crew is scatted to the wind. Tune in to learn his fate www.twitch.tv/actualplay

An epic session of Metal Showcase 11pm by @jmstar.bsky.social! It was (guitar) neck and neck with Black Ibis but in the end we shredded our way to victory 🤘🤘🤘

I about to eat one-forth of this. @ktwelves.bsky.social is amazing.

Lot of very worthy nominations here but notably I believe this is the first time the DJAs could potentially grant a posthumous award. Glad to see Rob Wieland recognized with a nom. Rob, man. Miss you buddy. You worked hard at the thing you loved and we are all grateful for that effort.

The Diana Jones Award@dianajonesaward.org · 2mo ago

• Rob Wieland, a game designer and journalist • Trench Crusade, a miniatures game by Mike Franchina, James Sherriff, and Tuomas Pirinen, from Factory Fortress

I played The Blue Way years a couple of times in 2019 and both of them were heartbreaking stories. I can only imagine how much @jmstar.bsky.social has improved it (read: made it more devastating) since then! www.backerkit.com/c/projects/c...

The Blue Way: A Game of Lost Stories Launch Party

Get excited about The Blue Way: A Game of Lost Stories on BackerKit - come join!

backerkit.com

Slammed. Crushing it. Top Dog. This is peak level distillation of the paragon rules wrapped in the sexiest turbocharged action movie genre. FUCKING LOVE IT.

John Harper@johnharper.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Ride or Die challenges are (usually) resolved with one-roll, ranking all the participants' outcomes before each player narrates their action and consequences in the challenge.

Surfacing for a moment to share this. Rae is an incredible game designer and dear friend. If you haven't already played his games, pick one up today. If you have them already, spread the word.

Open Hearth Gaming Community@openhearthrpg.bsky.social · 3mo ago

We're also working to support designer Rae Nedjadi, who has recently been released from the hospital. If you've enjoyed any of their games (like Apocalypse Keys, Once More into the Void, Our Haunt, etc.) you can support or donate at patreon.com/swordqueenga... or ko-fi.com/matthewarcilla

Listen to me and @seannittner.bsky.social from @evilhat.bsky.social discuss everything from mechanics vs narrative, play testing, and effective habits for making and publishing games. On all platforms and here: open.spotify.com/episode/3O7O...

Your game, reforged! One week from today we launch Blades in the Dark: Deep Cuts. This expansion by creator @johnharper.bsky.social puts more lore, technology, and backgrounds at your fingertips. Streamline your game with alternate rules and mechanics! Sign up here: www.backerkit.com/call_to_acti...