iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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Cassandra Khaw @casskhaw.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

I am not always Horny on Main but in this essay, I admit to being really into the Mimics in Edge of Tomorrow

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Grant Howitt @gshowitt.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Gemelli has played a lot of Hollows. More than me, that’s for sure. So that’s why you should have a bash on his thorough (and, admittedly, glowing) review of our game:

Sometimes things veer into record-keeping, breaking out rulers and cone templates. Sometimes you just don't feel the sense of danger right out of the gate.
Enter the Hollows grid system, which wrestles these problems to the ground and makes them squeal:

[image of the hollows tactical grid]

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alex v @alexvalente.fyi · 01/10/2026

i think @wildwoodsgames.bsky.social has a full purchase on my game soul, and i want to scream it from the rooftops birdmilk wrote most of this, i edited and tweaked, and got to dip back into more creative writing for the stasima games - as always - are so very good

birdmilkcafe.com

Heaven in the Dust

Greek tragedy in the American Great Depression.

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The Norwich Radical @thenorwichradical.com · 30/09/2026

In times like these, platforms for radical writing are essential, no matter how small. Consider supporting us with a monthly or annual donation on our Steady page. steady.page/en/norwichra...

steady.page

The Norwich Radical

The Norwich Radical is an independent, not-for-profit online publication that platforms progressive analysis of politics and the arts.

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alex v @alexvalente.fyi · 30/09/2026

this one is a brief but poignant issue, especially eve hilton's piece about the new insidious forms of medical misogyny and ableism give us a read, drop us a line, pitch something to us for next issue!

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alex v @alexvalente.fyi · 30/09/2026

your irregularly scheduled reminder that if you criticise canada and its imperial machine the government will send CSIS to intimidate you and "just ask questions" about your citizenship intentions (hi greg, hi alexandra!)

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alex v @alexvalente.fyi · 29/09/2026

did you know porridge is made of other residents? and that the nurses have been replaced with automata piloted by Big Pharma? and that no one actually dies of old age, they just swap you out with a younger body? all of these rumours might be true... in Green Oaks! come play at @raincity.games

raincity.games

In-Store RPGs - Vancouver - Wandering One-Shots

Wandering One-Shots is a series of self-contained, single-session adventures exploring different roleplaying game systems - with no prior experience required. We provide all the materials; all we need...

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Matthew Ayers @matthewayers.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

I just released the first ashcan of my upcoming game, Deadlift the Devil. Use powerlifting to shame demons into defeat, NSR-style! quadaygames.itch.io/deadlift-the...

quadaygames.itch.io

Deadlift the Devil by Matthew Ayers

A rules-light TTRPG about using powerlifting to shame demons into defeat!

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Harsha Walia @harshawalia.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Weaving Our Worlds is all volunteers who has also taken up call for settlers to redistribute TRC Day stat pay to Indigenous-led efforts. We pooled & redistributed $4200 in stat pay to Sacred Earth, Stqeeye’ Learning Society, and Clan Mothers Healing Society. Hopefully others can also consider this 🧡

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Harsha Walia @harshawalia.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

With horrific residential school denialism, incl yesterday when white nationalists came to Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc, let us all show up in a good way to honour Survivors on TRC Day Compilation of TRC gatherings in the lower mainland and resources for all ages www.weavingourworlds.ca/truth-and-re...

weavingourworlds.ca

Truth and Reconciliation Day 2026

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is observed annually on September 30 to honour residential school survivors, their families, and the children who never returned home. TRC Day was establi...

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alex v @alexvalente.fyi · 28/09/2026

i don't even know what to do with myself right now after playing @wildwoodsgames.bsky.social Heaven in the Dust, i am buzzing with story energy, and these are things are feral, they snarl and bite, and this one's running wild in my head playpretend.fyi/aphrodite/

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alex v @alexvalente.fyi · 26/09/2026

i got to read this one in the editing stage, and it's a really intriguing mapping that zhen does of the two modes of storytelling!

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Rob Donoghue @rdonoghue.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

I was shocked to discover I didn’t back this campaign, because I will normally throw money at anything @gshowitt.bsky.social puts his name on without a second thought. Looking back at the dates, this one happened to hit in a very bad window. So, I guess it’s time to rectify that.

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Chant Evans @exstasisgames.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Oh shit @gshowitt.bsky.social, he's rumbled us. Alex has gazed long and deep into the abyss, and it has gazed back. And Alex and the abyss have found communion, and now I think they're teaming up and this is exactly how I was hoping people would think about Hollows.

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alex v @alexvalente.fyi · 26/09/2026

there's a secret, horrifying magic trick at the heart of Hollows - imminent from @gshowitt.bsky.social and the @rowanrookanddecard.bsky.social team - that has been gnawing at me since 15.46 on 12th december 2025, and i needed to scream it at people good thing i got a blog now huh

playpretend.fyi

Hollows

Hollows by Chris Taylor & Grant Howitt

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gemelli23.bsky.social @gemelli23.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Alex is one of the very best GMs you could ask to take you through this uniquely unhinged system. If I was local I’d grab a seat in a heartbeat.

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Emily | Odds & Ents @oddsandents.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

* Bonds Between * Trash to Treasure * The Peddler's Prize * Campanions * The Bottle Episode (and all @sccreatives.bsky.social work)

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Dr. Emily Friedman @ecfriedman.com · 16/07/2026

* Suburban consumption of the monstrous * Jiangshi * Revenant Society * Dead after dinner * Godkiller * Last Train to Bremen * I’m sorry did you say street magic * Hunt/ed * No thank you evil

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Dr. Emily Friedman @ecfriedman.com · 16/07/2026

* A Mending * Thirsty sword lesbians * iHunt * Fellowship * Threadbare * Flying Circus * ARC: DOOM * You will die in this place. * I have the high ground * Anamnesis * Death of the Author * Outliers (…more…)

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Dr. Emily Friedman @ecfriedman.com · 16/07/2026

* Magus * Bird Oracle * Forgery * Nobilis * Chuubo’s * Wanderhome * Wickedness * 1001 nights * Bluebeards bride * Bubble gum shoe * Damn the man save the music * Dream Askew * Romance Trilogy * Good Society * OG Ravenloft module * Monsterhearts (There’s more…)

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Dr. Emily Friedman @ecfriedman.com · 16/07/2026

Games Not (Only) By Cis-Dudes 🧵 (list in progress I keep on my phone & pasting here) * Apocalypse World * For the queen * The quiet year * Yazeba’s bed and breakfast * Seven part pact * Kagematsu & A single man * Tales of the Fisherman’s Wife * Steal Away Jordan * A Mending * Field guide to memory

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Playtest Material Magazine @playtestmaterial.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

A serious one today. "This is a call to our readers and future readers: please, consider before scrolling away, if you think our magazine is worth £18+postage. It is not just an investment in a bundle of paper, but in meaningful critique in the ttrpg space." playtestmaterial.org/playtest-mat...

playtestmaterial.org

Playtest Material launches its first ever subscription drive

Playtest Material needs 75 subscribers to break even — one of those could be you.

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alex v @alexvalente.fyi · 24/09/2026

finally also got round to @superdillin.bsky.social's All's Fair and - is anyone allowed to be this good in the gamespace? feels a little unfair to everyone else that one person is this good at it also, @seaexcursion.itch.io's art and the layout by @brianflaherty.bsky.social make it sing so loudly

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alex v @alexvalente.fyi · 24/09/2026

hello! alex v, he/him, bilingual bisexual britalian, translator of novels and TTRPGs from and into italian, currently living on xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and səlilwətaɬ land i exist mostly in two places online: alexvalente.fyi - for my translation work playpretend.fyi - for games writing

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alex v @alexvalente.fyi · 24/09/2026

very pleased to hear A Fool's Errand being played on @oneshotpod.bsky.social, and can't wait to catch up the second ep - i'm still kicking myself for not having made it to one of j's games at gencon, and the book is *stunning*

yesnogoodbye.itch.io

A Fool's Errand by Yes No Goodbye, B Marsollier

will you deny these jealous gods?

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alex v @alexvalente.fyi · 23/09/2026

i cannot be stopped: another review (of sorts), this time of a TTRPG i've had a lot of fun with but does not yet exist in english - with a lot of comparisons to some that do! PRISM, by @fumblegdr.bsky.social

playpretend.bearblog.dev

PRISM

PRISM by Fumble GDR

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Quinns @itsquinns.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Rounding out my Summer Reading posts on Quinns Quest with an absolutely electric final brace of releases. I've been reading Infinite Revolution, City of Espers, Asher's Ridge and Girlframe. They are all SO GOOD. www.patreon.com/qquest/posts...

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j strautman @yesnogoodbye.ca · 22/09/2026

It's a damn good game

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alex v @alexvalente.fyi · 22/09/2026

Rise, Wizards! by @captainkrail.bsky.social has a mabinogion reference on the front cover/main art, and that is all you need really and THEN it gets into the art (h. santana) and layout work ( @yesnogoodbye.ca ) too?! if you didn't back it, you should pick it up as soon as you can, boyo

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Rain City Games @raincity.games · 18/09/2026

Green Oaks is a pleasant little roleplaying game in which you play as seniors at an elder care facility... saving the world from Eldritch monstrosities emerging from the depths. We're hosting a limited run of Green Oaks games at our Vancouver store - join us!

raincity.games

In-Store RPGs - Vancouver - Wandering One-Shots

Wandering One-Shots is a series of self-contained, single-session adventures exploring different roleplaying game systems - with no prior experience required. We provide all the materials; all we…

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Andrea Mack @wisdomcheck.ca · 18/09/2026

Go play TTRPGs with awesome game master and skins human being @alexvalente.fyi . He will make you feeeeeeel things.

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Avery Alder, Buried Without Ceremony @lackingceremony.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Really love this breakdown of what makes Going For Broke work, especially the focus on the juice you can squeeze out of an opening credit sequence. 💸🏚️

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alex v @alexvalente.fyi · 16/09/2026

i think i like this format of "TTRPG review" i have landed on, as it allows me to zero in on something that may not be the main part of a game but the part that made me squeal with delight the most this time, it's Going for Broke, by @lackingceremony.bsky.social!

playpretend.bearblog.dev

Going for Broke

Going for Broke - by Avery Alder

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sage the anagogue @anagogue.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

FUCK IT WE BALL PRAISE THE HAWKMOTH KING HAS RETURNED TO ITCH DOT IO FOR NOW 140 PAGES OF HORNY EROGURO TTRPG BULLSHIT anagogue.itch.io/praise-the-h...

anagogue.itch.io

PRAISE THE HAWKMOTH KING by Sage The Anagogue

The gonzo dark eroguro TTRPG about teenage zombies killing devils

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alex v @alexvalente.fyi · 15/09/2026

TICKETS ARE IN FACT UP AND READY (just really slowly, you know how my knees are these days) FOR THREE - THREEEEE - GAMES OF GREEN "THAT ONE INSTAGRAM REEL TTRPG" OAKS NEXT MONTH! i'm not yelling, you're just all very far away

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alex v @alexvalente.fyi · 14/09/2026

tickets aren't up yet at @raincity.games, but come October, i am running three sessions of recent internet TTRPG algorithm sensation GREEN OAKS and i'm using the PROPER CARDS and RULES for it, not like you whippersnappers and your tikkytoks

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Dillin Apelyan - Bob the Builder's #1 Guy @superdillin.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Rowan said "Dillin shitpost game but wait it's actually good Apelyan" and I think that the ENNIES should consider a new category

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alex v @alexvalente.fyi · 10/09/2026

NOVA did something really special to my TTRPG journey, tonthe point that i wrote about it in my *second ever* ttrpg review: playpretend.bearblog.dev/reviews/nova/ i can't wait for what Spencer will do next with it!

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alex v @alexvalente.fyi · 01/09/2026

this caused me to set up an entirely new site, explore my own relationship with games as play pretend (going back to 2001-2002), and then eventually succumb to the inevitable DIE RPG review (i might have two more in me, if september is kind enough)

playpretend.bearblog.dev

Die RPG

DIE RPG - Quinn's Quest Knowledge Knight Review Jam

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alex v @alexvalente.fyi · 09/09/2026

i think i've found a way to talk to people about things that excite me about RPGs without exhausting said people: writing about them! after the inevitable DIE review, here's the first in a new format i have in mind for these thoughts: NOVA, from @gilarpgs.bsky.social and The Really Good Bit

playpretend.bearblog.dev

NOVA

NOVA - by Gila RPGs

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Grant Howitt @gshowitt.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Art by @hulkhoquinn.bsky.social from the RRD server. I like how actionable this one is

Image of a seven-fingered hand that’s become a sort of hydra creature. It has been run through with pencils. Text reads “DEATH TO AI, KILL IT WITH HUMAN HANDS”

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alex v @alexvalente.fyi · 08/09/2026

came across a reddit post asking for help with an RPG; "i even asked gr*k but it wasn't working" everyone else is being way too kind and trying to help, i will keep shaming for using a scraping machine that produces child p0rnography before asking people who read, play, and run RPGs

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Ruby (ft. Jimin) @lapsedbard.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

CANADIANS, this petition to regulate data centers in Canada is open until September 24, please sign! www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en...

ourcommons.ca

Petition e-7550 - Petitions

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