iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Doolin Digital @doolin-digital.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Bitch, I already said no thanks. Just like I said No Thanks yesterday. We now have adversarial relationships with our technology and devices. It may be time for a Lite Phone or something.

A sceeenshot of Google Photos double checking that I really don't want to use Gemini right after I just tapped the "No Thanks" button

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Doolin Digital @doolin-digital.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

I love that aesthetic so much. I mentioned it in another thread but here's the PiDP-1 finally finished and fully operational.

PiDP1, a replica of the DEC PDP-1. A blue vintage style computer panel with flashing white LEDs and rows of toggle switches.

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Doolin Digital @doolin-digital.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Isn't it beautiful? I've added another member to the vintage computer replica family. The PiDP-1 now joins the 10 and 11. Man, computers back then had style.

A small replica of a DEC PDP-1 console panel with lots of switches and LEDs indicating the contents of registers, memory and the CPU instruction among others.

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Doolin Digital @doolin-digital.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

You can run the power supply through a hole in the back, or get a surface mount internal adapter (the option I went with).

Back of the PiDP11 computer replica, showing a USB C power cable plugged in.

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Doolin Digital @doolin-digital.bsky.social · 04/03/2026

We need the return of Blinkenlights, rotary knobs and key switches.

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Doolin Digital @doolin-digital.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

Modern computers are mostly pretty boring, so I'm tapping into the glory of the 1970s minicomputer. This is a PiDP-11, powered by a #RaspberryPi but running an accurate simulation of the PDP-11/70. It's currently running 2.11 #BSD #retrocomputing #unix

A replica front panel of a PDP-11/70 minicomputer from the mid 1970s. It has a white outer case and the front panel shows a row of purple and red switches below a series of blinking red LEDs, like any good computer should have.

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Doolin Digital @doolin-digital.bsky.social · 23/12/2025

I never noticed that the halfling on Jeff Dee's cover art on The Village of Hommelet is wearing bell bottoms. At least not until Professor DM pointed it out on today's new video. Halflings wearing bell bottoms is now part of my head canon. #DnD #OSR #TTRPG

A sword welding halfling wearing a conical helmet and tan bell bottoms.

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Doolin Digital @doolin-digital.bsky.social · 02/12/2025

In a world where tech giants are constantly gathering your information and trying to sell you something on every available surface, I find my peace using a 14 year old netbook running #OpenBSD without a GUI. I now get most of my creative work done in this private, distraction free environment.

A 2011 ASUS netbook. A small laptop with black case and black keyboard. On the screen is an OpenBSD Unix command line login prompt.

A simple and austere command prompt with only the word "serenity", which serves as the laptop's hostname.

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Doolin Digital @doolin-digital.bsky.social · 25/12/2024

Merry Christmas from our excited kitteh Ridley to all of the new friends and acquaintences here on Bluesky.

An Orange cat with murder face peering out from under a brightly lit Christmas tree surrounded by gifts.

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Doolin Digital @doolin-digital.bsky.social · 25/12/2024

This was a fun Christmas gift. My wife is supporting my BECMI #DnD fixation, though she's one of the players, so the way I see it, it's a gift for her too. Right? I'm really looking forward to running these adventures.

Three BECMI adventure modules (B6 - The Veiled Society, B5 - Horror on the Hill and B10 - Night's Dark Terror) and the supplement AC10 - Bestiary of Dragons and Giants.

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Doolin Digital @doolin-digital.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

I learned something new today, thanks! It would appear that I have the revised Expert.

Statement of New Edition in this copy of Mentzer Expert D&D.

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Doolin Digital @doolin-digital.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

I have added to my BECMI #DnD collection once again. I got PDFs of all the BECMI books, but I really missed having an actual book in my hand, so the local hobby shop gave me a good deal. The Expert book is very well used, but that's ok. I just needed the book.

The BECMI Basic and Expert boxed sets. Also known as Red Box Basic and it's successor in the blue box, featuring magnificent artwork by Larry Elmore.

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Doolin Digital @doolin-digital.bsky.social · 13/12/2024

After a few weeks away, I'm finally back behind the #DnD DM screen. Tonight will be our first session with full BECMI rules. The players will enter the dangerous Orc Lair of cave B. You can see my one page dungeon prep sheet that has everything I need. I technically don't need the module book.

Behind the DM screen. The Rules Cyclopedia, Keep on the Borderlands module, a players map of the Caves of Chaos, some dice and a page of stats for NPCs.

A one page 3d map of the Orcs Lair (cave B) of Keep on the Borderlands. It shows all necessary details, including the monster stats and treasure.

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Doolin Digital @doolin-digital.bsky.social · 12/12/2024

The Duchy of Karameikos in the Mystara setting is roughly the same size and similar shape of the state of Ohio. Lawrence Schick & Tom Moldvay were college students in Ohio at the time they started developing what would become Mystara. Coincidence? What say the historians? @bruceheard.bsky.social?

A map of the Grand Duchy of Karameikos in the Mystara setting. It is roughly the size and shape of the state of Ohio.

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Doolin Digital @doolin-digital.bsky.social · 12/12/2024

I'm pretty old school, so here's the rule I use. No short or long rests, just getting back to safety and healing wounds. It leads to down time, increases the value of healers and adds tension.

The Healing rules from Moldvay Basic D&D. A full day of rest gives back 1-3 HP, plus any spells. It's tough, but so is the dungeon.

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Doolin Digital @doolin-digital.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

While I have several sets, the one pictured here is my very first set, purchased in the early 90s, playing 2e #DnD. To this day I use them for most games, whether player or DM. We've been through a lot together.

A set of clear crystal polyhedral dice from the 90s, yellowed with age, sitting atop a 2e AD&D character sheet.

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Doolin Digital @doolin-digital.bsky.social · 08/12/2024

And to top it off, they got me my first miniatures. Apparently they've noticed that I'm looking at Ultimate Dungeon Terrain.

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Doolin Digital @doolin-digital.bsky.social · 08/12/2024

My wife and son made me the coolest birthday dinner this evening. Everything is from the Hero's Feast #DnD cookbook: Castle Amber Onion Soup, Gurdats, Dragon Salmon, Black Pudding and Elven bread.

Castle Amber French Onion Soup, with a crostini and gruyere topping.

Gurdats: mushrooms stuffed with shallots, cheese, breadcrumbs and herbs.

Dragon Salmon, with a shallot and red wine reduction.

Black Pudding: a coffee, kahlua and chocolate pudding.

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Doolin Digital @doolin-digital.bsky.social · 08/12/2024

When I'm not DM, I'm usually a player in my friend's 2e adventures. I'm Cialech. A former soldier who survived a hanging. Sick of everyone's shite, and ready to find some treasure and find a good place to retire.

2e D&D players handbook next to a character sheet and a set of clear dice, yellowed with the passing of decades.

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Doolin Digital @doolin-digital.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

I've been looking forward to this one. I admit I have a tendency to use a lot of tropes for NPCs, and they could be a lot more interesting. I think this book by @caspi.bsky.social will be a big help.

The book "Whats My Motivation?" by Runic Press.

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Doolin Digital @doolin-digital.bsky.social · 30/11/2024

A question for the 2e #DnD scholars: my wife and I each have our own copy of the PHB, same 1989 printing with the Jeff Easley cover. This is the exact same page number, but each shows a different ability for the same "Set Snares" NWP. Which is correct? Anyone else ever notice this?

Warrior non weapon proficiency table showing that Set Snares is an Intelligence skill.

Warrior non weapon proficiency table showing that Set Snares is a Dexterity skill.

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Doolin Digital @doolin-digital.bsky.social · 30/11/2024

I expanded the #BECMI collection today with the Book of Marvelous Magic (items). There are so many fun magic items in here that are not all +1 weapons or stored spells, that could be used very creatively. And of course more wonderful cover art by Clyde Caldwell.

The Book of Marvelous Magic (items), showing a serious looking woman in a blue dress holding a raised silver rod aloft in her right hand and lightning coming from her raised left hand. She is surrounded by a miscellany of items, including scrolls, a candle, cards, boxes, feather pen, books, and what looks like a tiny bluish green dragon.

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Doolin Digital @doolin-digital.bsky.social · 30/11/2024

If you see this, post a #TTRPG cover that you love.

The cover of the Principalities of Glantri Gazetteer. Foreground right is a long haired wizardress in a green dress with lightning and sparks emitting from her hand, foreground left is a mysterious wizard standing confidently with a hand on hip and holding a staff firmly planted on the ground. Filling background center is a mysterious looking man with a Mongolian visage, long mustache and thin beard, red eyes with cat pupils and a bronze skull cap with fur rim and flared sides.

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Doolin Digital @doolin-digital.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

Looking for opinions. As many of you know, I'm fully embracing the world of Mystara for my current gaming groups. However, none of them know of Aleena and Bargle. GAZ1 mentions the possibility that the DM may not include the events of the Basic adventure. What should I do? (continued in reply)

The artwork of Bargle the magic user firing a magic missile at Aleena the cleric in the Mentzer Basic players book. A robed and bearded wizard points to a beautiful long haired woman wielding a mace. There is a magic arrow hovering in front of the wizard. Artwork by Larry Elmore.

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Doolin Digital @doolin-digital.bsky.social · 23/11/2024

Early bestiaries described them as dog-like and scaly, but not as reptilian or at all like little dragon creatures.

The Rules Cyclopedia description of Kobolds, mentioning that they are dog-like.

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Doolin Digital @doolin-digital.bsky.social · 23/11/2024

Here's a #DnD debate. Are kobolds reptiles or dogs? In my world they are both! Inspired by this very debate, I think of them as bipedal therocephalians (see image), which are an evolutionary bridge between reptiles and mammals. Bonus: there's evidence that some of them may have been venemous.

Therocephalian therapsids. They look like a cross between reptiles and mammals, particularly canines.

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Doolin Digital @doolin-digital.bsky.social · 23/11/2024

Ooh, my DTRPG order was delivered! The Creature Catalog and four more Gazetteers. I don't have a problem. I know what I'm doing. I can quit any time I want. The #Mystara setting is absolutely engrossing.

Five books from the BECMI Dungeons and Dragons line. The Creature Catalog bestiary, and four Gazetteers. The emirates of Ylaruam, the Elves of Alfheim, the Dwarves of Rockhome and the Five Shires.

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Doolin Digital @doolin-digital.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

I added something fun to the collection today. Blackmoor is technically the ancient past of #Mystara, so it even contributes to my recent enthusiasm for the setting. And thanks to @alexkammer.bsky.social for clearing up a misunderstanding that prevented me from picking it up.

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Doolin Digital @doolin-digital.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

One of the shortcomings of the PoD copies of the #Mystara Gazetteers is the lack of large foldout maps. They're on separate pages, so are less useful. Today I had printed one of the excellent recreations available on mystara.thorf.co.uk. This will eventually grace the wall of my Creative Space.

A hex map of the Grand Duchy of Karameikos, with the corresponding Gazetteer in front of it. It is 8 miles per hex and shows the mountainous northern region of Karameikos and the forested and coastal southern regions. Also shown is the Sea of Dread to the south.

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Doolin Digital @doolin-digital.bsky.social · 16/11/2024

Look what arrived in the mail today. My POD copies of Gazetteers 1 and 3. I'm diving headlong into #Mystara as my new go-to setting for #DnD adventures. If you aren't familiar, this rich and detailed setting is well worth your consideration, and the Gazetteers are incredibly well done.

Gazetteer 1, The Grand Duchy of Karameikos. A knight on horseback, a female warrior and a mysterious woman's portrait with a small castle to the right.

Gazetteer 3, The Principalities of Glantri. A hooded wizard on the left, a female magic user preparing a spell, with lightning bolts arching from her left hand, and looming large in the background is the face of a red eyed wizard with long, thin mustache and goatee and a Mongolian style headgear.

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Doolin Digital @doolin-digital.bsky.social · 05/11/2024

This was difficult, but I think it was Defender on the Atari 2600.

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Doolin Digital @doolin-digital.bsky.social · 30/10/2024

Spotted at the local hobby shop. This is tempting. So very tempting, but man, I just can't justify it. #DnD #TTRPG

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Doolin Digital @doolin-digital.bsky.social · 29/10/2024

These are my "core" #DnD books that I use for preparing #TTRPG adventures. I have several others, including digital resources, but these are the main ones. Repost with yours!

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Doolin Digital @doolin-digital.bsky.social · 23/10/2024

My newest acquisition. While I primarily use the Knave 2e rules, this is probably the closest that the official D&D rules get to what I enjoy most. All of my currently running adventures are from Basic, so this should be really fun.

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Doolin Digital @doolin-digital.bsky.social · 19/10/2024

I have three #TTRPG groups that I game with, and these are the three adventures I'm currently running, and the rulebook. What are you running? Homebrew? Old school #DnD? Modern? Indie? Let's hear about it!

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