iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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RPG Roots @rpgroots.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Also, one of our great speakers @aarontram.bsky.social has a new book out wiht @dukepress.bsky.social - go get a copy of "How Dungeons and Dragons Changed the Way We Play"! www.dukeupress.edu/how-dungeons...

dukeupress.edu

How Dungeons & Dragons Changed the Way We Play

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Reposted by Aaron Trammell

J. Rey Lee @jreylee.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

As much as I love writing on #boardgames, I don't want my love of the written word to prevent me from exploring other media. So, I've started re-releasing my essays as new and (debatably) improved *video* essays.🎬 See where it all started . . . now with moving pictures!

youtube.com

Through the Looking Glass?

YouTube video by The Looking Glance

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Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Blame Gygax!!!!! 🤣🤣🤣

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Reposted by Aaron Trammell

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

Descend into the depths of your imagination!!!!!

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Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

From the archival…Gygax responds to a fan’s questions…

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Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

And that the press indulged be by including lots and lots of images!

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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

Oooo…you’ll be psyched when Forest’s book comes out next year then. www.dukeupress.edu/gaming-exhau...

dukeupress.edu

Gaming Exhaustion: Reclaiming Play from Late Capitalism

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Reposted by Aaron Trammell

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

You don’t know the half of it!!!! 😻😻😻

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Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Thanks, Shelly 🎲🎲🎲❤️❤️❤️

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Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Thanks, Alyssa!!!! We have an important anthology of books to help explore his heritage…

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Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Bonus points to anyone who knows where I am here!

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Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

And so many, so many others!!!! I think I got you all by name in the acknowledgements, but rest assured, I appreciate all of your help and support everyone!!!! ♥️🔥♥️🔥♥️🔥♥️🔥♥️🔥♥️🔥♥️

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Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Also to the all the amazing folks at @dukepress.bsky.social! You went over and above with this one. Thank you!!!!!

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Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Also of course to the AGS crew! @guyintheblackhat.bsky.social @shellyjones.bsky.social @emwalz.bsky.social @edmondchang.bsky.social and Megan Condis!!!! Without your help and support, this book would have been far longer and far worse 🤣🤣🤣🤣

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Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Huge thanks to my developmental editor @aschrock.bsky.social who worked word by word with me for this whole book. Can't believe this puppy is actually out in the world!!!!

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Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

I hope you like it! You can get it now wherever you get your books, or straight from the publisher here: tinyurl.com/5xwrrf45

tinyurl.com

How Dungeons & Dragons Changed the Way We Play

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Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

I’ve been slowly but surely developing this book this last ten years, to tell a new story about Dungeons & Dragons. A story which contends with both the good and bad as it measures what the game has contributed to game design today.

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Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

These mechanisms were largely the developmental contribution of the infamous Gary Gygax, who brought together esoteric mysticism, social science, and wargaming into the game we know and love today.

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Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

What’s left after you remove the make believe is the crunch…the tables, charts, dice rolls, and more which have inspired generation after generation of game designers.

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Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

While I think this is true to an extent, it’s also true of make believe, which is really the mechanical structure from which Dungeons & Dragons cribs its permissiveness.

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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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Reposted by Aaron Trammell

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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Reposted by Aaron Trammell

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

If you’re looking for a unique take on the topic, this is it!

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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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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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