iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Adam Thornton @adamxt.bsky.social · 15/12/2025

QAV #1: “Wings Over America.” 3 LPs of live Wings. Great Hipgnosis gatefold. All the hits, big on “Venus & Mars” which I love. Sort of sterile. Big stadium rock sound. It pulls in the middle with maudlin Beatles tracks. Best when it rocks. Keep for now.

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Adam Thornton @adamxt.bsky.social · 19/11/2025

I used to go to Vital Lacerda to find a super-crunchy game, but now I go to the South Tigris trilogy, especially due to the brilliant solo bots. Here’s “Scholars of the South Tigris” with the expansion. Holy crap. 8 games in and it’s finally clicked. Love it! @garphillgames.bsky.social

An overhead view of the very complex board for “Scholars of the South Tigris,” mid-play.

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Adam Thornton @adamxt.bsky.social · 03/11/2025

Danielle and I caught “Goblins: Oedipus” on Halloween night! Part of the fun was the impromptu chorus of unlucky men up on stage. If these Goblins ever come to your town, see them!

A stage production of Oedipus Rex performed by three actors dressed as goblins. Behind them is a group of audience members dressed in masks and robes.

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Adam Thornton @adamxt.bsky.social · 27/10/2025

Berry, thinking deep dog thoughts.

A dog of unknown breed, head resting on a pillow, looking through an unseen window.

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Adam Thornton @adamxt.bsky.social · 28/09/2025

If real racing was as fun as Formula D with four players, everybody would drive race cars.

A closeup of the Formula D game board, with six little model cars clustered around two tight corners.

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Adam Thornton @adamxt.bsky.social · 16/09/2025

A return to the lovely, sweet Alien game, preparing to flush the bigger out of the airlock.

The “Alien” game board showing Ridley being menaced by the alien, with Ash in the foreground.

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Adam Thornton @adamxt.bsky.social · 21/08/2025

I can’t tell whether the smiley face is to acknowledge the incorrect spelling of “fries,” or if it’s just to point out that a meal with fries is always happy.

A take-out box with a handwritten note that says “Frise” with a smiley face.

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Adam Thornton @adamxt.bsky.social · 11/08/2025

Two amazing games of Innovation Ultimate with Beams and Todd! And it just so happens my civilizations were better than theirs. ;) @InnovationUltimate @asmadigames.bsky.social

The cards from the game “Innovations Ultimate” near the end of a session, with three player tableaus visible.

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Adam Thornton @adamxt.bsky.social · 21/07/2025

Beach, dogs, keeping the world running from far away.

A woman on her cell phone next to dogs on the beach.

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Adam Thornton @adamxt.bsky.social · 20/07/2025

I am slightly sunburned, Berry is avoiding the camera, Danielle is loving the lake view, and Chai is sticking her tongue out at you. What a glorious morning!

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Adam Thornton @adamxt.bsky.social · 18/07/2025

Oh, beloved cottage, we’ve needed you.

An island in a lake, seen through trees. Adirondack chairs and beach supplies are also visible.

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Adam Thornton @adamxt.bsky.social · 04/07/2025

@regmartin.bsky.social and I decided to try a lighter game this time, and it was great: Explorers of the North Sea from @garphillgames.bsky.social !

The tiles from Explorers of the North Sea set up on a table, showing the game in progress.

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Adam Thornton @adamxt.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

Chai shows her wild side: muddy, defiant, and very slightly miffed.

A very dirty dog looks defiantly up at you.

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Adam Thornton @adamxt.bsky.social · 23/06/2025

Chai has no problem telling us when it’s too hot to walk.

A cocker spaniel dog lying on its back in the grass, looking very lazy.

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Adam Thornton @adamxt.bsky.social · 17/06/2025

The long journaling road ahead, thanks to @garphillgames.bsky.social and “Wayfarers of the South Tigris!” With @regmartin.bsky.social

The game board stretching out across the table.

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Adam Thornton @adamxt.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

A “Dominion” hand that feels simultaneously awesome and rage-inducing. @regmartin.bsky.social

A hand of 5 cards from the game “Dominion,” containing 4 Provinces.

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Adam Thornton @adamxt.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

Fox tracks and Lake Huron. Good for the soul.

Snow and trees, with fox footprints crossing right to left, Lake Huron in the distance.

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Adam Thornton @adamxt.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

Our third game of Paladins of the West Kingdom! We brought priests (and soldiers) to the masses, while @regmartin.bsky.social hoarded debts like a wacky squirrel. @renegade-games.bsky.social

The Paladins of the West Kingdom game board, showing priests and garrisons spreading out across the landscape. There is a deck of Debt cards above it.

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Adam Thornton @adamxt.bsky.social · 23/02/2025

Lake Huron used to be here somewhere.

A snow-covered beach with the water frozen and jutting up like waves into the far distance.

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Adam Thornton @adamxt.bsky.social · 19/02/2025

Snow rake or telescoping squeegee? This is the winter of improvisation.

A squeegee leaning against a closed window, overlooking a snowy roof that has been “raked” with the squeegee.

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Adam Thornton @adamxt.bsky.social · 14/02/2025

I’ve finally discovered how much fun “Raiders of Scythia” is. Now that I’ve gotten the hang of the worker placement ebb and flow, the crew handling, and the tug of war between raiding and quests…whooo! I’ve only played solo so far but I’m sure my multiplayer day will come.

The game board and player board of “Raiders of Scythia,” showing crew cards and worker meeples.

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Adam Thornton @adamxt.bsky.social · 14/02/2025

When dogs learn how cute they are. Sweet sweet Chai!

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Adam Thornton @adamxt.bsky.social · 02/02/2025

Shadi Torbey makes some of the best solo games around! I’ve finally opened “Stellarion” and it is, as usual, a brain-puzzling conundrum with a bunch of included expansions. Even the base game is rich enough for the price and the minimal setup time. Also, fabulous illustrations by Elise Plessis!

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Adam Thornton @adamxt.bsky.social · 01/02/2025

Scanning the solar system — and exploiting whatever we found — in the excellent “S.E.T.I.”! Very fun at 3 players, and very thematic for a point salad. Would definitely play again!

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Adam Thornton @adamxt.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

Jennifer stands in the code room while Emmet & Sarah toss her puzzle clues, and even though she has enough info to keep them alive…she’s out of actions. Failure. Bruce, meanwhile, plays an idle game of Russian Roulette. “Room 25,” you’re awesome!

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Adam Thornton @adamxt.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

Morning coffee, snuggled dog, amazing book by @jeffvandermeer.bsky.social .

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Adam Thornton @adamxt.bsky.social · 29/01/2025

Move to a snow belt and shovel our own snow, I said.

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Adam Thornton @adamxt.bsky.social · 25/01/2025

Almost done my re-reading of The Southern Reach Trilogy by @jeffvandermeer.bsky.social , eagerly anticipating the fourth book. My skin is already crawling.

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Adam Thornton @adamxt.bsky.social · 24/01/2025

Thank you, @regmartin.bsky.social , for giving “Paladins of the West Kingdom” a go last night! I had no idea Mr. Martin was wallowing in corruption that much.

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