iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Iain McAllister

If you'd like to listen to our boardgame agony aunt podcast, But Why Vikings?, all the episodes are up on Boardgamegeek - you can just click & listen. Also we are always in need of questions: dilemmas, questions about our game experiences, recommendation requests: boardgamegeek.com/boardgamepod...

boardgamegeek.com

But Why Vikings?

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Dicevaders @dicevaders.bsky.social · 14h

DICEVADERS IS OUT NOW! 👽 Roll the dice, build your alien army, and break the game. Play now!: Steam: tinyurl.com/2t3d9p8f Nintendo Switch: tinyurl.com/yrauhn93 Watch the trailer: youtu.be/eZRlAwco398 #dicevaders #roguelike #deckbuilder

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Iain McAllister @giantbrain.co.uk · 28/09/2026

If you enjoyed the latest episode of 'But, Why Vikings?' with @ava.foxfort.net and @ecfriedman.com then know that we are always on the lookout for new questions. We want to help you have a better tabletop gaming life, so fire your questions to us here, or via DM (website coming soon!).

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Sam / ceefox @ceethefoxrun.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Was at Tricks of the North con today, a one day event from Wigan Pies & Dice, of trick-takers, imports and other weird games. Was blessed by the company of @ava.foxfort.net and got to share some wonderful games including Sliced Anglerfish, Sosogisugi Sakazuki, Nokosu Dice and Create Camp #boardgames

Sliced Anglerfish. An incredibly janky yet endearing handmade monkfish.

Sosogisugi Sakazuki. A player is pouring wooden sake tokens from a can into a ceramic cup.

Nokosu Dice. A hand of suited cards, with suited dice waiting to be drafted on the table.

Create Camp. Artwork made from assorted gubbins, following a given prompt.

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Iain McAllister @giantbrain.co.uk · 26/09/2026

A new take on our format for 'But, Why Vikings?' as @ava.foxfort.net gets our first guest agony aunt on in @ecfriedman.com. A share and a rating on your podcast host of choice really helps us out! podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/d...

podcasts.apple.com

Dr. Emily Friedman - Teacher at Large

Podcast Episode · But Why Vikings? · 25 September · 1hr 26min

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Iain McAllister @giantbrain.co.uk · 26/09/2026

I am looking for a new messenger bag. Needs to hold a laptop some pens and paper and not much else. Anyone got any recommendations?

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Iain McAllister @giantbrain.co.uk · 25/09/2026

@ava.foxfort.net presents a new episode of "But, Why Vikings?" with very special guest host @ecfriedman.com They discuss community building and using games in an educational environment. Please share! Dr. Emily Friedman - Teacher at Large share.google/nCgL8Nnt7vO2...

share.google

Dr. Emily Friedman - Teacher at Large

Podcast Episode · But Why Vikings? · 25 September · 1hr 26min

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Hayley G - Good Society 2E on Kickstarter now! @storybrewersroleplaying.com · 09/09/2026

🎩🍰Call for tea and biscuits as Good Society 2nd edition is live upon the Kickstarter! 🍰🎩 We're back with more romance, scandal, and drama than ever. Come visit upon us and take a look at this Jane Austen rpg 💌 www.kickstarter.com/projects/sto...

kickstarter.com

Good Society: A Jane Austen RPG – 2nd Edition

Navigate the pitfalls of romance, reputation, manners, and marriage in the sumptuous new edition of this award-winning regency rpg.

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Dr. Emily Friedman @ecfriedman.com · 24/09/2026

Never hurts to repost (and maybe get a few more recommendations)

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Laurie O'Connel (is looking for ttrpg work (in Dublin)) @laurieoc.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Hello, this is a big deal! And the culmination of a lot of very hard work by people that have amazing stuff to say about TTRPGs. And so I am politely asking my more famous friends and mutuals to repost.

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Iain McAllister @giantbrain.co.uk · 21/09/2026

The latest episode of Cult of the Old is out now. @mattthr.bsky.social, @sanildefanso.bsky.social and I make as few fart jokes as possible as we discuss Bohnanza. open.spotify.com/episode/5DKs...

open.spotify.com

Cult of the Old - Bohnanza

Cult of the Old · Episode

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Nate O. @sanildefanso.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Having recorded this a long time ago, my comment about the weird longevity of the original Bohnanza artwork aged badly by just a couple weeks. With the new Pandasaurus version we are getting new artwork! This is a good episode. I'm so thankful for both @giantbrain.co.uk and @mattthr.bsky.social.

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Iain McAllister @giantbrain.co.uk · 21/09/2026

The latest episode of Cult of the Old is out now. @mattthr.bsky.social, @sanildefanso.bsky.social and I make as few fart jokes as possible as we discuss Bohnanza. open.spotify.com/episode/5DKs...

open.spotify.com

Cult of the Old - Bohnanza

Cult of the Old · Episode

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

Oh dear... is that somebody leaking (part of) the table of contents for issue one of playtest material? Thank goodness we were able to contain it before they managed to launch a subscription drive.

Regular table of contents
Editorials & Thematic Essays
David Blandy–Laurie O’Connel–Karen David
Storytelling and the Stage
Kayla Dice–Nicholas Orvis–D. “Zhen” C.
Reviews & Case Studies
Stephen Wilds–Luka Brave –Miriam Jackel-Dewhurst–Philippa Mort
Experimental Writing & Art

Tori Truslow–Anna Simpson–Milo Cassidy
Playing With Words

Irving Benitez–Benjamin Klug–Amelia Stephen–Noa Chazan
Opinion & Events

Evan Torner–Ian Badcoe–Iain McAllister–John Lee Brougher

ToC: Storytelling and the stage

Sitting Down and Telling Stories: learning TTRPG skills from Rakugo
D. “Zhen” C.
Pages 11-23

Determining a Melodramatic Sensibility in Tabletop Role-playing Games
Kayla Dice
Pages 24-29
Spectating play: theatre, rpgs and critical spectatorship
Nicholas Orvis

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ndp 🔥 ndpdesign 🦄 Unwritten Earths Symposium @ndpdesign.com · 16/09/2026

one of the GOATs tbh, always a pleasure to catch up with Gregor!

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Jon at Handiwork Games @handiworkgames.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Hey it's my birthday so the corebooks PDFs for FiveEvil, a|state, Maskwitches and BEOWULF are all $4.99 for the day. Enjoy! Corebooks? Scorebooks more like amirite www.drivethrurpg.com/en/publisher...

An image that shows the covers to BEOWULF, a|state, Maskwitches and FiveEvil

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Paul VX2: Back GRIDSHOCK on Gamefound @letsdamage.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

GRIDSHOCK Zero Edition is LIVE and open for backers on Gamefound. A new, standalone TTRPG of superpowered resistance on the run, powered by Free League Publishing's acclaimed Year Zero Engine. Fight to restore hope to a world its heroes failed to save. gamefound.com/en/projects/...

gamefound.com

GRIDSHOCK Zero Edition by Paul Vermeren | VX2 - Gamefound

You are a new breed of heroes, fighting to restore hope to a warped world in the grip of villainy. A new, standalone tabletop roleplaying game of superpowered resistance on the run, powered by the Yea...

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Niall Harbison @niallharbison.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

This time tomorrow I’ll start trying to run 3 marathons in 24 hours. It’s all to build a hospital for street dogs. If you would like to support me you can sponsor me here… www.happydoggo.com/tinas-hospit...

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Scott - Minerva 🦉 @minervatabletop.co.uk · 11/09/2026

Playtesters are the most important part of any playtesting event. I run weekly playtesting sessions which are almost exclusively attended by designers, so Playfest London is a fantastic opportunity for games to be tested by members of the public. But how do we encourage it? We make everything free.

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Steve Jackson Games @sjgames.com · 11/09/2026

Steve Jackson will be stepping down as CEO to focus on game design and development. Please help us congratulate longtime SJ Games staff member Sabrina Gonzalez on her new role as CEO! Managing Editor Allison Page has become our COO.

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Iain McAllister @giantbrain.co.uk · 11/09/2026

This is fucking awful behaviour. When we were doing Brainwaves we frequently quoted Boardgamewire but we're extremely upfront about it and had a great relationship with Mike because of it. Nothing wrong with second hand reporting, just be honest.

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Matt Thrower @mattthr.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

My CHRONICALLY UNFIT daughter is training for a HALF MARATHON to raise money for a charity that helped her mum, my wife, survive a potentially life ending illness. If you've got a spare quid, could you encourage her please? www.justgiving.com/page/jasmine...

justgiving.com

Jasmine's fundraiser for Aortic Dissection Awareness UK & Ireland

Help Jasmine Thrower raise money to support Aortic Dissection Awareness UK & Ireland

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RP @rpdeshaies.farirpgs.com · 10/09/2026

I'm chasing orphaned words; wish me luck.

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Iain McAllister @giantbrain.co.uk · 09/09/2026

Great episode and a wee shout out to the work we do on But Why Vikings. Thanks @ecfriedman.com!

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Iain McAllister @giantbrain.co.uk · 08/09/2026

Well since the campaign here quotes @ava.foxfort.net on But, Why Vikings, I think I may be honour bound to back it!

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Iain McAllister @giantbrain.co.uk · 06/09/2026

Had a blast with @unmech.bsky.social and @jamsandwich.bsky.social on the last day of tabletop Scotland. Highlights were running the quiz, seeing loads of cool RPGs and getting this photo of the final Brainwaves line up + @werenotwizards.com.

Jamie, Oliver, iain and Richard from left to right looking to camera and smiling

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Iain McAllister @giantbrain.co.uk · 05/09/2026

Huge thanks to everyone who came to the pub quiz at @tabletopscot.bsky.social. @jamsandwich.bsky.social and I had a blast running it. Best one yet.

A piece of paper with mysterious bugs drawn on it.

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Iain McAllister @giantbrain.co.uk · 04/09/2026

This weekend I'll be posting a lot about Tabletop Scotland but before we get there I wanted to tell you about @playtestmaterial.bsky.social a new magazine that I've written a piece for coming out in October. RPG focused magazine and subscriptions are open now! playtestmaterial.org

playtestmaterial.org

Playtest Material

publishing critical writing about roleplaying games

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Iain McAllister @giantbrain.co.uk · 02/09/2026

My August Newsletter is out now. Mostly just free updates for folk as to what I've been getting up to, playing etc. Little bit of behind the scenes for paying patrons. You can sign up for free for this monthly update that has links to all my work. www.patreon.com/posts/168424...

patreon.com

August 2026 Newsletter | The Giant Brain

Hello everyone, I hope you are all well. As summer closes out, the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh is winding down, and as a consequence the pr

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Dr. Emily Price @emilyprice.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

My planned columns about women and the games industry return; this time I’d like to talk to women who review video games about their experiences landing and writing reviews, especially recently. If this is you, reach out via DM or eaprice.work@gmail.com

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Tabletop Scotland @tabletopscot.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

And it begins. You got your ticket yet? tabletopscotland.co.... #TTS2026 #BoardGames #RPG #TTRPG

Photo of Dave inside the Highland Hall getting setup underway

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Sean McCoy @sean.tuesdayknightgames.com · 01/09/2026

Applications for the Mothership #Jump-9 Writers Grant are now open. Deadline is September 30. www.tuesdayknightgames.com/pages/mother...

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Iain McAllister @giantbrain.co.uk · 31/08/2026

I really enjoy looking at what are considered more family/ mainstream games on Cult of the Old. This season we look at the tumbling tower of blocks that is Jenga a game that isn't as folk as it feels. Cult of the Old - Jenga - Cult of the Old - Apple Podcasts share.google/evTg2iJZeYeD...

share.google

Cult of the Old - Jenga

Podcast Episode · Cult of the Old · August 31 · 1h 3m

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Iain McAllister @giantbrain.co.uk · 31/08/2026

I take a look at Wages of Sin from Tuesday Knight Games, a supplement so good it made me want to take another crack at running Mothership. giantbrain.co.uk/2026/08/31/w...

giantbrain.co.uk

Wages of Sin - Skim Read - The Giant Brain

Wages of Sin is a bounty hunter supplement for the Mothership RPG. I have really enjoyed flicking through it. Let's go on the hunt.

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Matt Thrower @mattthr.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Please help my daughter get fit AND give money to a charity that helped to save my wife's life! Two good deeds for the price of one www.justgiving.com/page/jasmine...

justgiving.com

Jasmine's fundraiser for Aortic Dissection Awareness UK & Ireland

Help Jasmine Thrower raise money to support Aortic Dissection Awareness UK & Ireland

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Andrew Doull @andrewdoull.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

I've made a new thing and now I have to stare at the spelling mistake until the RSS feed updates some time this century. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a...

podcasts.apple.com

All Systems Nominal

Games Podcast · Updated Monthly · All Systems Nominal is a podcast about science fiction tabletop roleplaying games, focused on smaller independent TTRGPs.

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Iain McAllister @giantbrain.co.uk · 30/08/2026

The @tabletopscot.bsky.social pub quiz is all snug and safe in its travel box. Will now be under 24 hour surveillance to assure no cheating. It's going to be our best yet. Hope to see you there!

A box filled with Manilla Envelopes, trophies, pens, and boards for the Tabletop Scotland Pub Quiz

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Iain McAllister @giantbrain.co.uk · 30/08/2026

The @tabletopscot.bsky.social pub quiz is all snug and safe in its travel box. Will now be under 24 hour surveillance to assure no cheating. It's going to be our best yet. Hope to see you there!

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Indie Game Reading Club @indiegamereadingclub.com · 28/08/2026

Hey friends, Been threatening this almost from the beginning, so more than a decade later we're finally getting to it! We've posted the first episode of the Indie Game Talk Club, a monthly (for now) podcast. If you know IGRC you'll dig it. Huge thanks to our friend @olddog.games for the sick logo!

indiegamereadingclub.com

Welcome to the Indie Game Talk Club

We’ve been threatening to do a podcast for years. That time has finally come. Let us know what you think: email us at hello@indiegamereadingclub.com. Meet your hosts, Paul Beakley and Dusey (…

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John Harper @johnharper.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Strong premise, player driven, impactful choices.

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DC Bradshaw @dcbradshaw.com · 29/08/2026

LITTLE BUT FIERCE HARDBACK: Arriving in 2027 If you didn’t see the announcement yesterday, behold the new cover for the Little but Fierce hardback edition, crowdfunding next year. @catarinaeusebio.art did a wonderful job! For updates, join the mailing list: dcbradshaw.com/lbf

A hardback book. The cover says Little but Fierce and shows four child-sized heroes fighting a T-Rex

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Iain McAllister @giantbrain.co.uk · 29/08/2026

It's coming down to it sports fans. The most important event in the UK tabletop gaming calendar: the @tabletopscot.bsky.social pub quiz! Only 16 tickets left. Come along and be perplexed, entertained, and perhaps win some fabulous prizes! tabletopscotland.co.uk/product/the-...

tabletopscotland.co.uk

The Giant Brain Presents: The Tabletop Scotland Quiz – Tabletop Scotland

20:30 – 22:30

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Tabletop Scotland @tabletopscot.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

When you order tickets online, you get an email with a PDF attached and a QR Code will be in the email and PDF. You need that to get through the turnstiles. Can't find the email or the PDF? Login to the website, go to "My Account" and then the "Tickets" menu.

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Matt Thrower @mattthr.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

My daughter is running a half marathon to raise money for a charity that's really close to our hearts as a family. If you might find a buck, it'd be hugely appreciated www.justgiving.com/page/jasmine...

justgiving.com

Jasmine's fundraiser for Aortic Dissection Awareness UK & Ireland

Help Jasmine Thrower raise money to support Aortic Dissection Awareness UK & Ireland

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