iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Aaron A. Reed @aaronareed.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Due to a fun error at the book printer I've ended up with some identical pairs of Subcutanean, WHICH DEFEATS THE WHOLE PURPOSE. Resourcefully, I've now put up a product page for "Non-unique Subcutaneans" at a discount price, in case you don't mind being a twin. aaronareed.net/store/produc...

aaronareed.net

Non-Unique Subcutanean – Aaron A. Reed

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Aaron A. Reed @aaronareed.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

This #TTRPG looks awesome! First edition had been on my to-play list for a long time, so rad to see a revamped and polished take coming out.

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Aaron A. Reed @aaronareed.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

I wrote some words for this lovely game, out now! Assemble a team of misfits for doomed missions into weird underworlds. Interesting choices, gorgeous art, super replayable... fans of Fallen London and inkle games take note! Congrats to @radiofreelunch.bsky.social and @kitfoxgames.com on release 🎉🎉🎉

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inkle @inkle.co · 08/09/2026

Narrative heist game Thousand Hells is out now, and we're happy to say it's bundled with Heaven's Vault in the "Heaven's and Hells" bundle!

store.steampowered.com

Save 5% on Heavens and Hells on Steam

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Aaron A. Reed @aaronareed.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

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Kate Compton @galaxykate.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

In the meantime, I have something I haven't had in a while: free time. If you'd like me to visit your classroom, research lab, maker space, or tech company, please reach out. Danish law means I can't take payment for this, but I'm always happy to travel and talk.

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Kitfox Games 🦊 @kitfoxgames.com · 25/08/2026

14 Days until release!! 🎉 Mark your calendars and wishlist now! Thousand Hells: then Underworld Heists is a tactical narrative adventure! 📑 Many timelines. ⚒️ Deep Lore. 💰️ Vaults to Heist. store.steampowered.com/app/3794210/...

"Thousand Hells: The Underworld Heists" title over a hooded, horned, robed figure with a single red eye seated on a throne in a dark, cavernous underworld temple, tentacle-like robes and a lava glow at left creating an ominous, infernal mood.

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Kitfox Games 🦊 @kitfoxgames.com · 24/08/2026

The princes have been murdered and now I must go to hell to bring them back... 🤴 Watch 29 minutes of Thousand Hells gameplay: youtu.be/4vAWmoy9a7Y

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Aaron A. Reed @aaronareed.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

I wrote something like 100K words of weird underworld content for this gorgeously illustrated "tactical narrative" game from the creator of King of Dragon Pass, and that's only a fraction of the content... definitely worth a wishlist.

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Aaron A. Reed @aaronareed.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

I know international shipping has gotten mad expensive in the last few years. I've worked out a slightly cheaper shipping solution for orders outside the US, so if that's you & you're craving a Subcutanean or Downcrawl swag, small orders are now $19 to ship to most of the world. aaronareed.net/store

aaronareed.net

Aaron A. Reed – Stuff

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Clarkesworld @clarkesworldmagazine.com · 09/06/2026

Between now and October (our 20th anniversary issue), we're running a subscription drive and dedicating all new revenue toward improving pay for our staff, writers, artists, and contractors. Details on how to subscribe can be found here: clarkesworldmagazine.com/subscribe/

clarkesworldmagazine.com

Subscribe to Clarkesworld Magazine

Clarkesworld Science Fiction and Fantasy Magazine and Podcast.

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Dr. Miko Charbonneau @drmikachu.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

Just got out of Backrooms and if you like that vibe I MUST AGAIN RECOMMEND you read Subcutanean by @aaronareed.bsky.social! One of the best book club experiences I ever had because no two copies are the same! Brilliant. subcutanean.textories.com #horror #conversationpitsareweirdlyscary

subcutanean.textories.com

Subcutanean: A Novel Where No Two Copies Are the Same

A horror novel that's different for every reader. A queer coming-of-age story about yearning for possibilities.

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Kitfox Games 🦊 @kitfoxgames.com · 06/05/2026

For #WishlistWednesday, may I offer you a game that's been to hell and back 😈 store.steampowered.com/app/3794210/...

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Aaron A. Reed @aaronareed.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

OK, this is incredible. Mad genius @samplereality.bsky.social has created a web tool for exploring Subcutanean (my novel where each copy is unique) across every axis you can think of: source code, 25 diffed versions, VR projections(!), bubble viz(!!) & a lot more. (1/2) subcutanean.fugitivetexts.net

subcutanean.fugitivetexts.net

Subcutanean Variorum

Compare textual variations across unique editions of Aaron Reed's novel Subcutanean.

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Ben Robbins is launching M2 @lamemage.com · 16/04/2026

Unboxing challenge: I'm looking for more GMless games that you can play together without any reading in advance. Games you can just pick up and follow the instructions cold Show me what you got!

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Aaron A. Reed @aaronareed.bsky.social · 14/04/2026

I made a new (short) #TTRPG ! It's a two-player storytelling game where one player is a mechanical fortune-teller who only knows the future, and the other a lost and lonely seeker who only knows the past. (yes I stole the title from Blue Prince) aareed.itch.io/dropping-coin

aareed.itch.io

I Awaken at the Sound of a Dropping Coin by Aaron A. Reed

A roleplaying game for two players about the future and the past

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Kitfox Games 🦊 @kitfoxgames.com · 18/03/2026

Ocean's Eleven meets Dante's Inferno with a mythological twist! 👯 Build the best team for the job 🔥 Dynamic narrative where your choices matter 🎮 Highly replayable 🖌️ 100s of hand-painted illustrations Wishlist on Steam now: store.steampowered.com/app/3794210/...

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Aaron A. Reed @aaronareed.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

Go Play NW is an incredible annual event for fans of storytelling roleplaying games, and a wonderful community of kind and generous human beings. They could use a little help getting over the finish line for their annual fundraising drive this year!

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Aaron A. Reed @aaronareed.bsky.social · 23/02/2026

Still available for one more week!

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Aaron A. Reed @aaronareed.bsky.social · 16/02/2026

Downcrawl 2E and Skycrawl are this week's Bundle of Holding! Get both #TTRPG games and ALL supplements at tremendous savings while you can. Explore weird and wondrous environments in pointcrawl adventures through forgotten labyrinths and skyborne kingdoms... bundleofholding.com/presents/Dow...

bundleofholding.com

Downcrawl-Skycrawl Bundle

Adventurer! This new Downcrawl-Skycrawl Bundle presents Downcrawl and Skycrawl, twin toolkits from designer Aaron A. Reed that help you create spontaneous tabletop roleplaying adventures in the Deep, ...

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Aaron A. Reed @aaronareed.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

If you're like me, you can't get anything done without emotional support tea. I am deeply soothed by the ancient ritual of boiling the water, choosing which tea to get down from the cabinet, letting it steep on the desk beside me, and then completely forgetting about it until the following evening

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Andrew Plotkin @eblong.com · 26/01/2026

Here we go... Announcing the Visible Zorker Project and Patreon! Remember how I did Visible Zork 1 and 2? I'm going to do Zork 3, and then continue through Infocom's entire canon -- in chronological order, one per month. blog.zarfhome.com/2026/01/the-...

blog.zarfhome.com

The Visible Zorker Project (and Patreon)

Announcing the Visible Zorker Project and Patreon. The plan: deconstruct every Infocom game, one per month, and make the source code explorable.

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Aaron A. Reed @aaronareed.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

Rain falls deep beneath the earth, and will not stop. How will you survive a damper, slimier, flooded underground? Can the Godswimmer be found? Will an Aquaeon Conclave be called? Sink or swim in... The Drizzle Depths Downcrawl Adventure Zine #3 #ttrpg www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/5...

Cropped cover for "The Drizzle Depths" showing woodcut art of a flooded Victorian street, rain drizzling down and faint stalactites dimly visible on a distant roof above.

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Aaron A. Reed @aaronareed.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

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Kitfox Games 🦊 @kitfoxgames.com · 24/12/2025

On the night before Christmas, your party encounters the bones of a reindeer... Traverse the Midnight North in Thousand Hells: The Underworld Heists. 🎁 Wishlist now: store.steampowered.com/app/3794210/...

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Aaron A. Reed @aaronareed.bsky.social · 23/12/2025

I understand Christmas is a nice time for some people. If that's you, I hope you have a wonderful week. If it's not, remember you're not alone.

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Aaron A. Reed @aaronareed.bsky.social · 25/10/2025

Roguelike Celebration is happening today and my awesome friend Johnathan is giving this inspiring talk (gonna be a great time). www.roguelike.club

Wait, No, Hear Me Out: Simulating Encounter AI in Slay the Spire with SQL.

Bring your best warding potions, safety sigils, and blessings: this talk is a light dip of some cursed queries to show how to simulate Slay the Spire's encounter AI with nothing more than SQL (and a lot of free time). Along the way, we'll go over some basic data structures for simulation, declarative vs imperative programming and how (with a little probability) even simple systems can lead to memorable, complex AI.

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Jacob Garbe 💀 @logodaedalus.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

Nice! Looking forward to reading a deep dive on a tough design space many designers engage with.

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Ben Robbins is launching M2 @lamemage.com · 03/10/2025

"Which would you rather play, a GMless or a diceless RPG" To which I say, "why not both" To which you say, "examples please" Leaving out (checks notes) every single one of my games, let me throw out a few. If I miss your favs, chime in!

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Sam Barlow 🔥 @mrsambarlow.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

Hey it's #SteamSale! You can get 🔥 IMMORTALITY for $9.99 👁️ TELLING LIES for $4.99 ☕ HER STORY for $4.99 & wishlist Project C and Project D whilst you are there... It's a good time to play good games in the present and wish for good games in the future! ✨ store.steampowered.com/developer/Sa...

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Aaron A. Reed @aaronareed.bsky.social · 10/09/2025

Wow, Alien Earth started out so strong but has sure gotten real dumb the last couple episodes...

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Noah Wardrip-Fruin @n-w-f.bsky.social · 09/09/2025

It’s an honor to help launch this series with @anasalter.bsky.social

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Aaron A. Reed @aaronareed.bsky.social · 10/09/2025

⬇️ 🚨🚨Heads up, this sale ends tonight!🚨🚨 This is a _rare_ occasion when my physical books are on sale as well my digital stuff (probably increasingly rare if the tariff situation continues to worsen).

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Dr. Nic Junius @quakefultales.bsky.social · 07/09/2025

I cannot recommend Aaron's books enough, they are fantastic games and 50 years of text games is an amazing dive into the history of games that has largely been left out of the popular consciousness

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Aaron A. Reed @aaronareed.bsky.social · 07/09/2025

Reminder: my #BookSale this weekend includes: 🚪 Subcutanean, spooky novel that changes for each reader: subcutanean.textories.com ⚔️ Downcrawl 2E, #TTRPG of underworld exploration: www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/5... 💾 50 Years of Text Games, history of interactive fiction: if50.textories.com

drivethrurpg.com

Downcrawl 2E - Aaron A. Reed | Downcrawl | DriveThruRPG

Explore cursed mazes. Build stalactite cities. Get addicted to mushrooms. Welcome Down. Downcrawl is a tabletop roleplaying toolkit that helps you build and explore a weird, wondrous underworld so far...

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Aaron A. Reed @aaronareed.bsky.social · 05/09/2025

ReSkies or NuBlues or whatever they're called on here much appreciated 🙏

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Aaron A. Reed @aaronareed.bsky.social · 04/09/2025

#Downcrawl2E Adventure Zine #2 is here (and ON SALE for launch week)! Explore a new underworld region clinging to an endless roof over bottomless void, in the legendary place Where The Rock Stops. #ttrpg #hexcrawl #DriveThruRPG www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/5... and SPEAKING OF SALES... (1/2)

Cover art for Where the Rock Stops, a Downcrawl adventure zine, showing black-and-white woodcut-style art of a zeppelin floating beneath a rocky ceiling with huge dangling stalactites.

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meghna jayanth @meghna.bsky.social · 21/08/2025

our game about DEAD GODS and TAKING BILLIONAIRES TO COURT FOR THEIR CRIMES is in the graun!! thx @yourkyotowife.bsky.social for a thoughtful write-up touching on our complex conversational systems & how joy + rage power transformation 🔥 @allwillrise.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/games/2025/a...

theguardian.com

All Will Rise, the game empowering players to tackle real-world problems

With its rousing card game about activism, indie studio Speculative Agency hopes to inspire players to engage with issues such as pollution and the climate crisis

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Aaron A. Reed @aaronareed.bsky.social · 14/08/2025

I hiked the 211-mile John Muir Trail #JMT in the Sierra Nevada this summer, and made a video montage of thirty-second clips from each day of my trip: youtu.be/KXIiEFTvQ64

youtu.be

30 Seconds a Day on the John Muir Trail (JMT)

YouTube video by Aaron Reed

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Tanya X. Short @tanyaxshort.bsky.social · 07/08/2025

Look, some of you are sickos banging on the window at night, saying YES to more games like King of Dragon Pass and YES to kaleidoscopic psychopomp journeys into underworlds so you gotta say YES to Thousand Hells, it's the law

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Aaron A. Reed @aaronareed.bsky.social · 07/08/2025

Lucky enough to be one of the writers involved in bringing this wild stygian world to life! If you've ever wanted to barter with a dead swan god or infiltrate the fortress where souls go to be flensed, wishlist this game...

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Aaron A. Reed @aaronareed.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

About to fulfill a long-time dream by hiking the John Muir Trail through the Sierra Nevada. If you need me, I'll be back in August. 😎🌲🏔️

Selfie of Aaron in his kitchen wearing a backpacking pack and a slightly nervous smile.

Map of the John Muir Trail showing it starting in Yosemite National Park, passing through Ansel Adams Wilderness, Devil's Postpile National Monument, the John Muir Wilderness, and King's Canyon and Sequioa National Parks, and finishing at Mount Whitney.

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Aaron A. Reed @aaronareed.bsky.social · 16/06/2025

Great coverage of #Downcrawl2E from The Dungeon Dive with this video walkthrough explaining the game in detail and playing through a few moves as Bartok the Brother Botanist! #ttrpg youtu.be/_zuQYhMwTgs?...

youtu.be

Keeping it Underground - Downcrawl 2e - overview with game play

YouTube video by The Dungeon Dive

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Jacob Garbe 💀 @logodaedalus.bsky.social · 01/06/2025

The cool conference: narrascope.org Link to toss them some $$ to keep the lights on: iftechfoundation.org/give/ This is a great org and event! If you support narrative in games, every little bit helps!

iftechfoundation.org

Give to IFTF

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Aaron A. Reed @aaronareed.bsky.social · 27/05/2025

Biggest things I liked about Arc: * Not having to care abt the difference between tab/bookmark/history (there's just pages, some starred, some active) * Different workspaces 4 diff sets of pages * Auto-pruning old tabs (I used to use an extension for this) Any recs for similar browsers/workflows?

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Aaron A. Reed @aaronareed.bsky.social · 27/05/2025

Pour one out today for the Arc browser, which elegantly solved a number of web surfing frustrations using clever human design ingenuity. Officially discontinued today in favor of an AI clownshow. Getting so goddamn sick of this hypewagon paving over everything beautiful and useful.

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Aaron A. Reed @aaronareed.bsky.social · 27/05/2025

Traditional post-#TTRPG con list of characters I played this weekend: * speedy cartoon ferret * post-apocalyptic battle twink * sad vampire from 1600s China * high school friend who moved away * avenging bard with violin crossbow * changeling troll This is objectively the best hobby

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