iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

T.R. Grimm @empathicgrimm.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

I, like all pseudointellectuals that believe the words that they say might mean something, have decided to make a Substack. If you're someone who enjoys essays that focus more on encouraging thought over answers and varied topics please take a look. open.substack.com/pub/theempat...

open.substack.com

Welcome to the Grimm's Abandoned Churchyard

Come and sit among the graves, The Ghosts always have something to say.

000

T.R. Grimm @empathicgrimm.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

For those of you that need some philosophy in your day come and join an absurdist and a perspectivist as they discuss the drive of life to persevere and how rude it is that a pile of rocks can make you cry as they discuss Phil Lord's Project Hail Mary over @ twitch.tv/coziesttraua...

twitch.tv

Twitch

Twitch is the world's leading video platform and community for gamers.

010

T.R. Grimm @empathicgrimm.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

@lostguidegames.bsky.social and I are talking what it means to be monsters as we discuss Sinners come and have a listen if you'd like to hear our thoughts on this fantastic movie: twitch.tv/coziesttraum...

twitch.tv

coziesttraumacorner - Twitch

In Medias Res: Sinners

010

T.R. Grimm @empathicgrimm.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

Need a co-working stream with pauses to talk about mental wellness and finding the motivation to keep working in the modern world, Join us over for our first official episode of Talking Between the Beats, two mental health professionals working and yapping with music twitch.tv/coziesttraum...

twitch.tv

coziesttraumacorner - Twitch

Welcome! Get cozy and comfy! Here in the CTC we focus on the deeply human collaborative nature of storytelling. Role-playing games to Tabletop, boardgames to creative writing, all of it connects us to...

041

T.R. Grimm @empathicgrimm.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

Come and join us Dearest Gentle-Viewers, you are invited to join the continued adventures of the Valiant Rangers as they deal with the next threat, as if a Dragon breaking the Parliament building wasn't bad enough. Starting at 9:30 ET/8:30 CT @ twitch.tv/coziestTraum... We're live NOW!

000

T.R. Grimm @empathicgrimm.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

Greetings Dearest Gentle-Viewer, you are invited to join the Valiant Rangers as they continue to attempt to plan their way around the rules of the Great Game. They have the seeds of a plan Join us at our home @: twitch.tv/coziesttraum... Starting at 9:30 ET/8:30 CST

020

T.R. Grimm @empathicgrimm.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

If you need a work along on this Thursday afternoon, @lostguidegames.bsky.social and I are going to be talking about Memory and Existence while playing 'a Gentle Rain' by Kevin Wilson over at twitch.tv/coziesttraum...

twitch.tv

coziesttraumacorner - Twitch

Playing with Care || Psychology, Philosophy & Games || Memory and Existence with

010

T.R. Grimm @empathicgrimm.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

Those of you who need some Sentai in your life, please come and join us on our new home at twitch.tv/coziesttraum..., where we're having the Valiant Arcana Rangers return from their trip incognito from Germany to unknown changes

twitch.tv

coziesttraumacorner - Twitch

Hello! We've switched from screams to cozy with ttrpg live plays and coworkers streams. Squidsy is still here and active, but Grimm will be running ttrpgs and other such content as well. Come do some ...

010

T.R. Grimm @empathicgrimm.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

If you need more Sentai in your life you are invited dearest gentle-viewers, to enjoy the (mis)adventures of the Valiant Rangers as they dig deeper into secrets of families past and fortunes stolen. Sentai & Sensibility Season II: Episode 9 || A Rhapsody of Change @ twitch.tv/corrosivesquid

twitch.tv

Twitch

Twitch is the world

000

T.R. Grimm @empathicgrimm.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

Come and join @lostguidegames.bsky.social and I over @ twitch.tv/corrosivesquid where we're talking about Carrier-Bag theory in relation to both psychology, and philosophy. JOin us for good conversation, chilled beats and easy times.

twitch.tv

corrosivesquid - Twitch

Co-Working Stream || Various Conversation Topics

010

T.R. Grimm @empathicgrimm.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

Come and Join me and the Valiant Rangers over on twitch.tv/corrosivesquid as they stand in the ashes of the first ball of the social season. Join us Gentle-viewers for Sentai & Sensibility: An Affair of Arcana | Season 2 | Episode 8 | There was Once a Town called Meung

twitch.tv

corrosivesquid - Twitch

Sentai & Sensibility: An Affair of Arcana Season 2 || Episode 8|| There was Once a Town called Meung

000

T.R. Grimm @empathicgrimm.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

Please come and join me and @lostguidegames.bsky.social for our weekly stream, this time we're playing Godling by Skyler K. Swift. I'll be playing the mortal, a washed up gambler who stumbled across a nascent godling played by Squidsy. Come and join us on twitch.tv/corrosivesquid

011

T.R. Grimm @empathicgrimm.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

No Jokes here, but plenty of quips. Please come and join dear gentle-viewer as the Valiant Rangers as we go live on twitch.tv/corrosivesquid Come and watch this week's Sentai & Sensibility || episode 7 of season 2 || A Bang Up Ball

twitch.tv

corrosivesquid - Twitch

Hello! We've switched from screams to cozy with ttrpg live plays and coworkers streams. Come do some storytelling with us under a blanket of starlight.

000

Reposted by T.R. Grimm

Thought Punks 🎲 TTRPGs + Punk 👩‍🎤 @thoughtpunks.com · 01/04/2026

thinking disparate ideas of ttrpg crunch and trying to nail down the ideas and my terms for: - breadth (how many moving parts and variations) - depth (how deep the rules, how fine-grained) - load (complexity and cognitive load, average across rules, biased by peak) Something like that. Thoughts?

10212

T.R. Grimm @empathicgrimm.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

I am a bias creature though, and I'm a mechanic's guy at the end of the day. So take this, and all of my thoughts with an exceptionally large grain of salt.

000

T.R. Grimm @empathicgrimm.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

System/Narrative Cohesion is how well the two parts of the game's story telling interact, sometimes the mechanic's have just as much to show in the storytelling as the narrative aspect does. Even complex systems feel smooth when the game's style and storytelling bolster those choices.

110

T.R. Grimm @empathicgrimm.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

Fudgability is how much the GM can hand wave or shift the odds to the player's favor before the hand of the author starts to show, this can be either on the mechanical, or the narrative side of the game. USSUALLY this shows up easier in 'smooth' games with a higher focus on narrative than mechanics.

000

T.R. Grimm @empathicgrimm.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

High Tunability: Lancer FATE Games Most d20 Modern games Low Tunability: Goblins Grabbed my Dice! Honey Heist Most 1/2 page games

000

T.R. Grimm @empathicgrimm.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

Tunability, how much freedom does a player have in the mechanics to do their own thing. This rides along with role complexity but the player buy-in and feelings with it are different. Role complexity is the mechanic depth for the player, tunability is the breadth of options a player has to work with

100

T.R. Grimm @empathicgrimm.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

Intelligibility how self explanatory the game is. I break this down into levels of familiarity with the hobby. Someone who plays multiple systems, a single system player, and someone new to the hobby all have different understandings of how games work and will take different things reading a game

000

T.R. Grimm @empathicgrimm.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

High Role Complex games: Most FATE Games Triangle Agency Medium Role Complex games: Most PbtA Games ARC Doom Low Role Complex games: Most multiplayer INDIE games go here, anything where the difference between classes is minimal accept maybe the numbers in each stat

010

T.R. Grimm @empathicgrimm.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

Role Complexity is more specific, how much does a single player have to keep running in their head in order to play the game as intended. How each individual character's powers and abilities intersect with other systems. Things like spell lists, connected and nested abilities and unique mechanics.

110

T.R. Grimm @empathicgrimm.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

Examples of Rules Heavy complex games Shadowrun Gurps Examples of Rules Light Complex game Fate any of the Borg derivites Rules heavy non-complex games 13th Age Worlds without Number Rules light non-complex games Honey Heist Fuck! It's Dracula

000

T.R. Grimm @empathicgrimm.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

Operational Complexity is what most people THINK they mean when they ask how crunchy a game is, its how many moving parts that are active at any one time. This can mean either a tight set of rules that carry over to everything, or a large amount of single use rules that don't interact.

100

T.R. Grimm @empathicgrimm.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

Some examples of High Load games: Shadowrun Ars Magica Wrath and Glory (Most GURPS derivates and Complex d20 Modern) Medium Load: CyberPunk RED Lancer (Most FitD/PbtA games, lighter d20 Modern, and FATE) Light Load: Honey Heist Three goblins in a trench coat (Narrative Indie games)

000

T.R. Grimm @empathicgrimm.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

Mental load: The overall amount of cognitive strain to play a game, this isn't a judgement of the game itself, I've played games with a super high mental load that have been fantastic, and low load games that are awful, and vice-versa. A lot of the vibes of a game can be found in it's Load.

100

T.R. Grimm @empathicgrimm.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

When I look at a game from the designer's point of view I break down the idea of 'crunch' into 7 parts I have them listed here and will follow up on each with examples: - Mental Load - Operational Complexity - Role Complexity - Intelligibility - Tunability - Fudgability - System/Narrative Cohesion

700

T.R. Grimm @empathicgrimm.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

Today for #W.I.P.Wedensday I'm working on an ongoing project for Ouroboros Counseling on a solo-TTRPG workbook that is designed to help people work on goal setting (SMART goals), Value Exploration, Mindfulness and Self-Kindness. Feel free to share your #W.I.P.Wedensday projects below. #TTRPG

000

T.R. Grimm @empathicgrimm.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

Looking for a work along with discussions on Second Chances Shakespeare & Freud by Stephen Greenblatt and Adam Phillips over @ twitch.tv/corrosivesquid come and join us for cozy-co-working and discussions of the philosophy and ethics of change and growth

twitch.tv

corrosivesquid - Twitch

Come Sit and Chat With Us! Topic: Second Chances and other Philisophical Means

011

T.R. Grimm @empathicgrimm.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

For those of you who need more Sentai in their life, please answer our cordial invitation to watch the Valiant Rangers finally attend a ball! www.twitch.tv/corrosivesquid

000

T.R. Grimm @empathicgrimm.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

Come and join @lostguidegames.bsky.social and I over at twich.tv/corrosivesquid for a game of Badger and Coyote, by @pandiongames.com where she's playing as the Carefree Coyote, and I'm the Ornery Badger.

twich.tv

010

T.R. Grimm @empathicgrimm.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

For those of you who need more Sentai in your life, you are cordially invited to join the Valiant Rangers of Sentai and Sensability: An Affair of Arcana Season 2 over at twitch.tv/corrosivesquid, this time: ASCENDING ASEERTATIONS ATTRIBUTE TO ABSOULTE ABSOLVTION OF AMBIANT ANIMOSITY

twitch.tv

corrosivesquid - Twitch

Hello! We've switched from screams to cozy with ttrpg live plays and coworkers streams. Come do some storytelling with us under a blanket of starlight.

000

T.R. Grimm @empathicgrimm.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

For those of you who need more Sentai in your life and a flair of the Regency, you are cordially invited to join the Valiant Rangers of Sentai and Sensability: An Affair of Arcana Season 2 at: twitch.tv/corrosivesquid Wednesdays 9:30 PM Eastern Tonight's Episode: On the Subject of Superstitions

twitch.tv

Twitch

Twitch is the world

000

T.R. Grimm @empathicgrimm.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

I'm not going to promise that I'll stay on top of it but I'm going to try and start doing WIP Wednesdays, sharing what I'm working on and encouraging others to do the same, #WIPWednsdays #INDIETTRPG #TTRPG #Sologames I'm currently working on polishing off a 1-page (f/b) Solo-TTRPG, Suncatcher

The Sun-Catcher Tree from Suncatcher, it's a tree with 6 Roots and a crown of branches with 16 leaves. The Quote above the tree reads "Together, we can catch the Sun." and on either side of the tree is 'Failures Cut Roots', and the other side has 'Success Fill leaves'

000

T.R. Grimm @empathicgrimm.bsky.social · 26/02/2026

If you need someone to work along with please come join @lostguidegames.bsky.social and I over @ twitch.tv/corrosivesquid as we have a cozy co-working stream, we'll be using a 20/10 pomadoro timer and can't wait to see you there!

twitch.tv

corrosivesquid - Twitch

Sentai and Sensabilities

011

T.R. Grimm @empathicgrimm.bsky.social · 26/02/2026

For those of you who need more Sentai in your life, you are cordially invited to join the Valiant Rangers of Sentai and Sensability: An Affair of Arcana Season 2 over at twitch.tv/corrosivesquid PERILOUS PROMENADE OF PONDEROUS PERFUNCTION! AN EQUITABLE EXCHANGE ESCALATES INTO EFFUSIVE EXPLOSITIVES!

twitch.tv

corrosivesquid - Twitch

Sentai and Sensabilities

000

T.R. Grimm @empathicgrimm.bsky.social · 19/02/2026

Come one, come all to enjoy the continued adventures of the Valiant Rangers in Sentai & Sensibility: An Affair of Arcana Season 2. As the mystery deepens how will our dear Rangers know who to trust? Live at twitch.tv/corrosivesquid, Wedesndays 9:30 PM Eastern / 6:30 PM Pacific #TTRPG #ActualPLay

T.R. Grimm @empathicgrimm.bsky.social · 12/02/2026

If you're looking for some chill times or need some people to work along-side, we are going live for a co-working stream, hit us up over @ twitch.tv/corrosivesquid we have lofi beats, spicy takes and sometimes even philosophical debates on the validity of spray cheese.

twitch.tv

corrosivesquid - Twitch

Coworking Stream!! Come write some Therapeutic Nerdy stuff with us!

010

T.R. Grimm @empathicgrimm.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

To all Gentlefolk who have missed us, rejoice. Come one, come all to enjoy the continued adventures of the Valiant Rangers in Sentai & Sensibility: An Affair of Arcana Season 2. Live at twitch.tv/corrosivesquid, Wedesndays 9 PM Eastern / 6 PM Pacific @9thlevelgames.bsky.social #TTRPG #ActualPLay

twitch.tv

Twitch

Twitch is the world

010

T.R. Grimm @empathicgrimm.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

I just pushed live a game for a Jam that I think is very important in times like this, it's a GMless game using a deck of cards to talk about rebuilding community after collapse: grimmpathic-games.itch.io/even-after Please also check out the Mutual Aide Game Jam as well: itch.io/jam/mutual-a...

grimmpathic-games.itch.io

Even After by T.R. Grimm

Even After the smoke settles, we endure.

020

T.R. Grimm @empathicgrimm.bsky.social · 05/02/2026

If you're bored and could use a laugh, @lostguidegames.bsky.social and I are over on twitch.tv/corrosivesquid we're playing Wastecrawl by Austin Holm, it's a post-apocalyptic map builder that is going to get.... ridiculous

twitch.tv

corrosivesquid - Twitch

2 Mental Health Professionals, 1 TTRPG: Wastecrawl

010

T.R. Grimm @empathicgrimm.bsky.social · 05/02/2026

To all Gentlefolk who have missed us, rejoice. Come one, come all to enjoy the continued adventures of the Valiant Rangers in Sentai & Sensibility: An Affair of Arcana Season 2. Live at twitch.tv/corrosivesquid, Wedesndays at 9 PM Eastern / 6 PM Pacific @9thlevelgames.bsky.social #TTRPG #ActualPLay

twitch.tv

corrosivesquid - Twitch

Hello! We've switched from screams to cozy with ttrpg live plays and coworkers streams. Come do some storytelling with us under a blanket of starlight.

020

T.R. Grimm @empathicgrimm.bsky.social · 02/02/2026

COME ONE COME ALL, A new Social Season is starting in the Capital and the Rangers have returned after two years in diaspora. Sentai & Sensibility: An Affair of Arcana Season 2 Premiers on Wednesday, February 4th @ 8pm CST. Streamed first on twitch.tv/corrosivesquid @cozytraumacrew.bsky.social

twitch.tv

Twitch

Twitch is the world

010

T.R. Grimm @empathicgrimm.bsky.social · 02/02/2026

I have not posted on this application regularly, something that will be changing very shortly, I have a lot of upcoming projects that I'm excited to be rolling out as we slip into the new year. BUT, before we get to the fun stuff, this is an important announcement. FASCISTS AREN'T WELCOME HERE.

000

T.R. Grimm @empathicgrimm.bsky.social · 12/12/2025

Something is coming... as the new year dawns... there's whispers of the realms chosen re-donning their masks after two years away... catch up on Season One of Sentai & Sensibility: An Affair of Arcana on ZealZaddy's YouTube now. Our new home is to be announced soon. www.youtube.com/watch?v=ho8h...

000

T.R. Grimm @empathicgrimm.bsky.social · 04/08/2025

This is a really great breakdown of part of why I as a mechanics gremlin love more mechanically inclined systems. The drive of mastery as a player as well as the narrative implications of the character represented by that mastery hits at such a deep level that I can't get with a rules lite game.

061

T.R. Grimm @empathicgrimm.bsky.social · 04/08/2025

Wildsea from @felixisaacs.bsky.social is a favorite of mine, it always has the effect for players of experiencing the idea of fantasy for the first time.

030

T.R. Grimm @empathicgrimm.bsky.social · 04/08/2025

Sentai &Sensibility is a Polymorph System game from Bug Boll and @9thlevelgames.bsky.social. Please check out this and other great games from them!

020

T.R. Grimm @empathicgrimm.bsky.social · 04/08/2025

This Friday, you Gentleviewer, are invited to the premiere of the second table of @tfttstudios.bsky.social's AP of Sentai & Sensibility, Of Magic and Mystery. 80 years after the Hunt for the Shadow King, a new threat appears. A new band of knights answers the call. Never to Falter, Never to Fail.

141