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Aaron Trammell

@aarontram.bsky.social
1.3K followers 262 following 114 posts

Anyone who ever had a heart, they wouldn't turn around and break it. Anyone who every played a part, they wouldn't turn around and hate it.

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Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · 11m
HA!!!!!
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deptofmeteors @deptofmeteors.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
this is an excellent book about how using classification and quantification to stake out a world risks fencing in what is possible. highly recommended for any TTRPG or MLIS folks, came a few days early and absolutely tore through it.
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Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
It’s out tomorrow!!!! If you were ever curious about the origins of the alignment table, here they are. I love how they got these charts to sit so perfectly side by side 😻
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Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Happy Monday!! Amazing little piece by @edmondchang.bsky.social about what he calls ludofatigue…or the kind of play that happens when games are no longer fun. www.gamerswithglasses.com/features/the...
gamerswithglasses.com
The Summer without Games, or, Living with Ludofatigue — Gamers with Glasses
Don’t you sometimes just feel…tired? Edmond Y. Chang discusses “ludofatigue,” how it feels to live with the persistent sense that play just isn’t fun anymore, and the perennial relevance of Candleman ...
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Dr. Emily Friedman @ecfriedman.com · 14/09/2026
@aarontram.bsky.social new book on the impact of D&D on the shape of gaming is timely in this way.
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Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
♥️🔥♥️🔥♥️🔥♥️🔥♥️🔥♥️🔥♥️ ITS HERE!!!!! This book is about how game design on a whole, counterintuitively, became less imaginative because of Dungeons & Dragons. We often talk about Dungeons & Dragons as the ultimate fantasy. A pure domain of imagination where absolutely anything is possible.
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MIT Press @mitpress.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
"Unfortunately, not all play begins or ends in fun and freedom: play can also be quite dangerous. [... ] As scholar @aarontram.bsky.social writes, 'play is often hurtful, toxic, and haphazard… play is not always constructive; it can also be oppressive and traumatic.'"
walkerart.org
In Defense of the Playful Dangers of Drag
In an area when drag is under attack, Lil Miss Hot Mess explores drag as a creative and imaginative form of play that utilizes dress-up to envision and enact new worlds as well as build community…
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Dr. Emily Friedman @ecfriedman.com · 07/09/2026
Associated reading: lareviewofbooks.org/article/who-... And @aarontram.bsky.social HOW DUNGEONS & DRAGONS CHANGED THE WAY WE PLAY from @dukepress.bsky.social dukeupress.edu/how-dungeons...
lareviewofbooks.org
Who Owns Dungeons & Dragons? | Los Angeles Review of Books
Emily Friedman writes about intellectual property and Dungeons and Dragons.
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Cassie aka Lamia @intersectionscch.blacksky.app · 06/09/2026
This is important, so buckle up. This is about to be a free mini-lesson on intentional design for a gaming space. I've said before and I'll say it again. The #PAX Intersection Space and Programs were INTENTIONAL. They were created and stewarded by people of the identities they were for. 🧵 1/9
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Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
I’ll be chatting more about this book in the weeks ahead, but right now I’m just damn excited that it’s coming out!!!!!
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Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
So proud of Marc and Scott for getting this book on Pathfinder out. Our humble series on tabletop grows just a little bit bigger. Grab your copy now 🤩
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Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
This was an amazing opportunity to talk RPGs. The other speakers in this series are a home run as well. Please give a listen.
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Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
It’s here!!!!! Please give a listen to learn more about the upcoming D&D book!!!!
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Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · 26/07/2026
It’s always great to chat with Liz!
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The Diana Jones Award @dianajonesaward.org · 07/07/2026
Gen Con just posted an article about our Emerging Designer Program, interviewing @aarontram.bsky.social, Adrianna Burton, and @forbeck.com! gencon.blog/2026/07/06/m...
gencon.blog
Peek Inside the Pyramid: Meet the Crew Behind the Scenes of The Diana Jones Award Program – The Official Gen Con Blog
We’ve unlocked access to Matt Forbeck, Aaron Trammell, and Adrianna Burton for the inside scoop on the Diana Jones Award Emerging Designers Program, their best tips for game designers, and who’s on th...
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Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · 26/07/2026
(Also this other bad boy is on the way soon, too…STAY TUNED!!!!)
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Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · 26/07/2026
❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️ Haven’t been on here in a minute, but I wanted to share that Jenny Stoever, Liana Silva, and I (plus many many other amazing authors) finally finished the SO! Reader.
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Tess is Surviving the Horrors @mothmother.com · 14/11/2025
So very excited that one of my last remaining PhD students, Mikael Sebag, successfully defended his dissertation—titled "The Magic Systems of Modern Games"—today! I'm so proud of him and so thrilled that people are finally going to get to read this work!
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, 
IRVINE     
The Magic System in Modern Games   DISSERTATION   
submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree of   
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY  
in Informatics   
by   
Mikael D. Sebag 
      
Dissertation Committee: 
Professor Aaron Trammell, Chair 
Professor Katie Salen Tekinbaş 
Dr. Theresa Jean Tanenbaum     
2025ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATION  
The Magic System in Modern Games 
by 
Mikael D. Sebag 
Doctor of Philosophy in Informatics 
University of California, Irvine, 2025 
Professor Aaron Tramell, Chair   

Magic systems are the subsystems of fantasy games that regulate the player’s ability to cast spells. These systems set the rules for what magical feats are mechanically and diegetically possible in the gameworld, how often they can be performed, at what cost, and by whom. While magic systems are often central to how players experience fantasy games, the values encoded within the design and behaviors of these systems have gone critically unexamined. Using Pinch and Bijker’s theory of the social construction of technology, this dissertation traces a history of the magic system as a sociotechnical artifact across three distinct periods of its development. In this narrative, the dominant relevant social group of each period—fantasy novelists, tabletop roleplaying game designers, and early computer game programmers—progessively rationalized the idea of magic in order to address problems they each encountered in representing magic within their respective mediums. Through historical method and the close reading of systems-as-texts, this dissertation analyzes short stories, novels, printed rulebooks, and early computer roleplaying games between the years 1932 and 1986 to argue that modern magic systems have rationalized magic not solely in games but through them—a process that I have termed ludic disenchantment.
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Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · 08/11/2025
Hssssss
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Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · 07/11/2025
Jonathan’s amazing book on Catan is out now!!!! The best part is that you can read it for free online, too. Spread the word and if you like it, why not grab a copy, too.
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Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · 16/10/2025
Want to read it? It’s free!
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Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · 16/10/2025
🎉🔥🎉ANNOUNCEMENT 🎉🔥🎉DAY🎉🔥🎉 Jonathan Rey Lee’s book on CATAN is almost out. It’s the first in the Tabletop Gaming series that Paul Booth and I have been hard at work editing this past three years. Anyway, the book is fantastic. Please consider it and share with the right people.
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Elliot Davis | Pre-Save To Feel Your Warmth @moreblueberries.bsky.social · 14/10/2025
The Time We Have: A Conversation Between Brothers is NOW AVAILABLE A tragic two-player zombie roleplaying game played on opposite sides of a closed door. A game about what it means to be a brother. Want to learn more about the game? It's time for a megathread ⬇️
A mockup of The Time We Have packaging surrounded by floating door cards. The cover features two brothers sitting on opposite sides of a door with a purple flower motif
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Pam, Godkillingway v.2026, Patch "Even Eepier" @thedovetailor.bsky.social · 11/09/2025
Hello folks, I am in need of non-fiction recommendations for: + Indigenous histories (esp from Canada & the Philippines) + Black history + Black Studies + Queer histories (esp from Canada and the Philippines) + Radicalization + Critical Race Theory Signal boost pls.
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J. Rey Lee @jreylee.bsky.social · 03/10/2025
Can cultural criticism convince cardboard consumers to challenge colonialism and capitalism in Catan? Find out in my newest design diary. CU there! #boardgames @pbooth81.bsky.social @aarontram.bsky.social @uofmpress.bsky.social @beyondsolitaire.bsky.social @nopunincluded.com @stonemaiergames.com
lookingglance.com
Design Diary 3: The ‘C’ Words
Controversy.  Love it or hate it, it’s become inescapable.  These days, it’s not just a handful of hot-button issues—almost any topic can become polarizing in a heartbeat.  Clearly, …
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Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · 11/09/2025
Wish I was there with everyone this week!!!! Also stay tuned for my awesome chat with Chris!!!!!
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Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · 11/09/2025
BOOM!!!!
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Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · 19/08/2025
Had an amazing conversation with @rowanzeoli.bsky.social @rascal.news during Gen Con! Thanks for hosting me and asking such interesting questions ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️
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Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · 02/08/2025
More great stuff on Jonathan’s upcoming book!
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Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · 31/07/2025
It’s true!!! Hope to see some of y’all here!!!!
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Analog Game Studies @analoggamestudies.bsky.social · 02/07/2025
Come PUNK with us!! July 17th is Generation Analog 2025 "PUNK" with keynotes by @aarontram.bsky.social and @gamefiend.bsky.social A full day of analog games scholarship and design thinking from around the world. Register NOW: www.eventbrite.com/e/generation...
eventbrite.com
Generation Analog 2025 "PUNK"
Generation Analog is an annual online tabletop games and education conference.
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Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · 28/06/2025
Had so much fun chilling with Mandi! I hear you can catch the episode on YouTube if you missed it. Thanks for having me!!!!
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Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · 27/06/2025
Looking forward to chatting with @saltandsass.bsky.social about the origins of analog game studies. Please come join if you’re at all interested in how tabletop games fit into the academic world.
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Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · 11/06/2025
analoggamestudies.org/about/analog... Curious about where to start with Analog Game Studies? We’ve got a handy guide you can check out now. If we missed your book or article please DM. This is just a start and we intend to update it moving forward!!!!
analoggamestudies.org
Analog Game Studies 101 | Analog Game Studies
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Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · 05/06/2025
🔥🔥🔥
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Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · 04/06/2025
I don’t post much these days but I wanted to share the good news. Was just promoted to Full Professor at UCI!!!! Thanks to all of the colleagues and friends who supported me along the way. I love you all and promise that I won’t let this make me crappy ;) ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️
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Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · 16/05/2025
Jonathan writes some great stuff!!!! I'm looking forward to many more excellent posts on his site.
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Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · 12/04/2025
Hands down the best critical analysis of CATAN I've ever read! I'm really excited to see Jonathan's book hit the shelves!!!!
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Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 I had a wonderful time talking to the Pop and Play team on their podcast!!! It’s hot off the presses—-please listen in .
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Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · 24/01/2025
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 Are you talented and up and coming game designer looking to figure out how to get your work out there? Please submit to this year’s DJA Emerging Designer Program. We want you!!!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
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Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · 15/01/2025
Such a pleasure to read this!!!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥
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Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · 28/12/2024
Really good.
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Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · 28/12/2024
Hey sickos!!! Generation Analog is back and we’re all in on punk. Send us your best talk ideas, we want to hear from YOU!!!!
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Elizabeth Hargrave @elizhargrave.bsky.social · 12/12/2024
As of this weekend, this Geeklist broke 900 games. And I bet there are some newer ones missing. Can you think of any that should be on here? (To check if something is already there, click the "901 items" button under the description and it will pull up the full list in searchable format.)
boardgamegeek.com
Games by Women & People of Marginalized Genders
There are several other geeklists that limit themselves in some way (one game per designer, noteworthy games). What if we tried to make a list that has all the games we know of that have at least one ...
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Karin West-Weekes @karinww.bsky.social · 11/12/2024
Nicely done, New Jersey! 📖 publishingperspectives.com/2024/12/usa-...
publishingperspectives.com
USA: A New State ‘Freedom To Read Act’ Bans Bannings of Books
A gradual effort to block book bannings in the United States gets another boost as New Jersey’s new anti-banning bill is signed into law. By Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief | @Porter_Anderson Murphy:...
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Unpub @unpub.org · 10/12/2024
We'll be announcing the 2025 Mentorship Session dates in early January! Our email newsletter is the best way to stay up to date: www.unpub.org/newsletter-s... (Thanks Suzanne for the shout-out ♥️ 🎲✂️)
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The Video Game Library 📚 @thevideogamelibrary.org · 08/12/2024
451. BLACK GAME STUDIES: AN INTRODUCTION TO THE GAMES, GAME MAKERS & SCHOLARSHIP OF THE AFRICAN DIASPORA 👉 www.thevideogamelibrary.org/book/black-g... #GameStudies #Gaming #Booksky @aarontram.bsky.social @professorgrace.bsky.social @lamontharrell.bsky.social #GameDev #GameHistory
Black Game Studies introduces the work of game makers from the African diaspora through academic scholarship, personal narratives and a catalog of works.


It aims to provide a foundation from which researchers, designers, developers, game historians and others can draw an understanding of patterns, present practice, and a potential afro-future. Its works to make more visible, through aggregation and showcase, the creative contributions of Black game makers. It is an effort to meet the need to diversify the game-making community by not only highlighting the work of Black people, but in creating an enduring archive of such work.
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Dave Parisi @daveparisi.bsky.social · 01/12/2024
Oh yessssss!
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Dr. Emily Friedman @ecfriedman.com · 02/12/2024
Available Open Access (FREEE) from @mitpress.bsky.social which is having a great week in TTRPG Nerd Media.
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Noah… @noahspringer.com · 04/12/2024
Listening to @ckunzelman.bsky.social and @ztul.bsky.social talk about the work of @aarontram.bsky.social just reminds me of how much I loved this book so much when I first read it! Read OA now and forever mitpress.mit.edu/978026254527...
mitpress.mit.edu
Repairing Play
A provocative study that reconsiders our notion of play—and how its deceptively wholesome image has harmed and erased people of color.Contemporary theorist...
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