iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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PbtA fans, here's my challenge to you. For the next 12 months, when somebody asks how PbtA works, tell them that normally a 10+ is a critical hit, a 7-9 is a hit, and a 6- is a compromise, but that unusually challenging or dangerous situations can bump itdown.

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lumpley @lumpley.bsky.social · 16h

Why didn't these kinds of moves— Pick 3, pick 2, pick 1 Pick 2, pick 1, pick none Exceptional success, success, compromise — become "how PbtA works"? Like I say, I think it's obvious why, but choosing one move to be "how PbtA works" at all was the first mistake.

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Ishmael, The Transition will be Live @comrade-ishmael.bsky.social · 22h

Not how PBTAs work and I do not think we need to take this criticism seriously. I've been GMing PBTAs for years and every single one of them has a Principle that says "be a fan of the PCs" and explains that means not fucking them on mixes. If a GM is acting in bad faith, game design can't help

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Mikel L. Matthews Jr. @improvgm.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Gotta be honest, I’ve never understood the “an experience that will later be told as a story” thing. If you mean it feels closer to a polished narrative when you edit parts out…..I mean….sure, but that doesn’t make it not a story as it’s happening.

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Mikel L. Matthews Jr. @improvgm.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Slots are open for Alien: The Draconis Campaign and The One Ring: The Darkening of Mirkwood via startplaying. We're seeing the Shadow return to Mirkwood in The One Ring. In Alien, they've found a distress signal. Things are starting to go wrong. startplaying.games/gm/improvm

Ad for Alien: The Draconis Cycle and The One Ring: Darkening of Mirkwood games on startplaying. The Darkening of Mirkwood is a campaign where the players try to stem the rise of the Shadow in Mirkwood after the Necromancer had been driven from the forest.

The Alien: Draconis Campaign is the cinematic campaigns for the Alien ttrpg. From space truckers (where we're currently at with Chariots of the Gods) to Colonial Marines, Scientists on the edge of a black hole, and more, we'll be going through Free League's excellent adventures.

https://twitch.tv/improvgm

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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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Mikel L. Matthews Jr. @improvgm.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

The Last Jedi is a movie I thought was….fine… but I’ll defend it because the critics are so wrong about it. Dungeon Crawler Carl is a series I love but I’ll defend takes that don’t like it because the fandom handles critiques poorly and is bad at knowing what a good critique is.

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The Rude Pundit @rudepundit.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

I feel like we are so used to living in a time of madness that we can't grasp just how insane the Kennedy Center dispute is. Trump took something that was running just fine and destroyed it because he couldn't put his name next to the murdered president whose memorial it is. That's completely nuts.

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Mikel L. Matthews Jr. @improvgm.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

I gave up on D&D: Honor Among Thieves about 30 minutes in No one cares about anything, what they want to be jokes aren't. Not an ounce of subtext in writing or performance. Just stating exposition It wants to be an adventure comedy but won't commit to the first and isn't good at the second.

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Stella Sacco @antlervel.vet · 25/11/2025

ME POSTING: Good pussy sound like the Silent Hill radio ME AFTER I NOTICE A FAMOUS PERSON JUST FOLLOWED ME: More than ever it is so inportant to be apprised of all that is to be and furthermore to learn of all that could in the best manner we are able as this is the true delight of Life

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Matt Caulder (They/He) @mattcaulder.com · 17/09/2026

You know, I've been saying it for a long time, but it's great to hear Rick Scott say he's useless with his own mouth

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Juan (he/she/they). @mrrodriguez89.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Like holy shit dude right now the republicans are dragging around a corpse as they wage a forever war we’re losing all while they unleash a not-so-secret police on our friends and neighbors if they don’t pledge allegiance to the flag in just the right racist way.

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Oliver Darcy @oliverdarcy.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Bari Weiss has plunged CBS News into ratings calamity. —"Evening News" has posted worst ratings of 21st century —"CBS Mornings" has posted worst ratings of 21st century —And now "60 Minutes" has posted worst ratings of 21st century More in @status.news: www.status.news/p/60-minutes...

status.news

Bari’s ‘60’ Bust

Bari Weiss blew up “60 Minutes," ostensibly to create a better show. Instead, her revamped premiere just suffered its worst debut ratings of the 21st century—what one longtime TV executive told Status...

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Joanne Freeman @jbf1755.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Hey folks: I’ll bet you feel REALLY represented now. They’re going home to serve themselves. NOT us. The ultimate accountability dodge. Elections are accountability. Let’s prove it.

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Alex Zalben @azalben.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

BREAKING: Remmick will no longer be opening for Ed Sheeran

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Mikel L. Matthews Jr. @improvgm.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

As a player? Make strong choices. In improv, we have to teach people to stop making milquetoast decisions and to care strongly about what’s happening in the scene. I see so many players making decisions where nothing happens You’re playing people who go out and do things. So go out and do things.

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Adam Makey @darkestadam.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

The evergreen pass the spotlight around. And something I learned from a @improvgm.bsky.social video a while back: be willing to invite another character to do stuff as a duo or the like. Also, if possible don't slow the game down for stuff that can be resolved later.

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Alexander the Fine @alexrineh.art · 13/09/2026

Sunlight breaks through the clouds, birds chirp as if for the first time. The smell of hope fills the air.

Comment on itch.io
I am new to TTRPGs, what is 5e?

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John Harper @johnharper.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Y'all, @scenefour.bsky.social is doing *the work* with short form videos in the #ttrpg trenches -- posting truly insightful commentary while parrying and riposting a barrage of nit-pickers every day. Massive respect and glory to his name! Check him out here: www.youtube.com/@scene_four or on Insta.

youtube.com

Sean Foer

I'm Sean, a professional Game Master and designer, writer and editor of tabletop RPGs!

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Mikel L. Matthews Jr. @improvgm.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

David Corenswet's Superman is a fucking dork. That's a high compliment, btw.

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Mikel L. Matthews Jr. @improvgm.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Watching Supergirl and what's frustrating is that you can see the better film that's here if they would just commit to the stakes they've laid out. Mamoa should feel like a cartoon. Lobo gives him that permission and Alcock could kill it in this movie if they'd let it get dark.

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Mikel L. Matthews Jr. @improvgm.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Youtube review for Wield by Gillian Fraser and John Wick. I did this as a part of the Quinns Quest discord's review jam. www.youtube.com/watch?v=13W2...

youtube.com

Why Have The One Ring When You Can Play It? Wield ttrpg review

YouTube video by Improv GM

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Flintlock. Why do all these nerds follow me? I'm not a nerd. @flintlock.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

I have previously suggested that people who only play D&D only have worthwhile contributions to make when talking about D&D design as that's the game they understand. I would like to retract that statement.

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Mikel L. Matthews Jr. @improvgm.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

A friend of mine started sticking more strongly to D&D's game design (5 or 6 encounter day, etc) and suddenly, they had a lot more fun with the game. It's almost like if you use a system the way it's designed, you're going to find it works better More people should play the game they're playing.

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Toby Buckle @polphilpod.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

so the exact scenario all of us opposing this have warned about for the last 2 years

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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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Jacob Geller @jacobgeller.com · 10/09/2026

I'm begging you guys to ask for more than "it literally functions"

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Jared Yates Sexton @jysexton.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

There are already articles circulating trying to rewrite history and say America was great after 9/11 and united and thoughtful and just a reminder that that period was marked by intense and insanely racist hatred, paranoia, and a frothing desire for unhinged violence and oppression.

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Mikel L. Matthews Jr. @improvgm.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

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Mikel L. Matthews Jr. @improvgm.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Legends of the Wulin, which is the successor to this, is one of my favorite games. We switched to Wrapons of the Gods to save time for combat. There are tons of cool ideas in these games

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Jax Romana, Bimbo Reprobate ✨🌹🌈 @rufflejax.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

My entire Following feed is @plusoneexp.bsky.social reposting about Stonetop (a very good game!) so I'm here to remind you that they also carry my solo game about your nice three thousand square foot house in a nice suburb with a nice family and also you torture a girl in your basement

plusoneexp.com

Bear Witness

Your eldest daughter got a speeding ticket. Your middle son has tennis practice at the same time the twins have ballet. Your youngest child is a pirate today and will not be persuaded otherwise. You’r...

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Olivia Hill @machineiv.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

People asked where they can get #iHunt. This is the RPG. But if you follow through to our Itch page there, you can find all the novels, other games, and the 30+ #iHunt zines. And if you cannot afford it, I am glad to give you a copy. File sharing is file caring.

machineage.itch.io

#iHunt: The RPG by Machine Age Dreams

Killing Monsters in the Gig Economy

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Jack Panic | DNGN CLUB @dngnclub.itch.io · 03/09/2026

New #daggerheart Heartbreaker: Cinematic Initiative. Inspired by the initiative system from Cubicle 7's Doctor Who games its add a soft structure to elevate the drama in a scene & create a conflict where words are as effective as weapons. in color (hotdog or hamburger style) and printer friendly.

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Charles Pulliam-Moore @charlespulliam.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Seen a lot of people responding to this with “I’m just going to pirate the show,” and I want to gently remind everyone that the central idea in this piece is that there’s no way to engage with the Potter franchise in any capacity that doesn’t benefit Rowling and her bigotry

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Mikel L. Matthews Jr. @improvgm.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

In The One Ring tonight, they forced marched themselves to escape orcs that an evil spirit had sent after them. Took down a would-be assassin/traitor, managed to stop orcs from assassinating the lord of Mountain Home and then interrupted Radagast arguing w squirrels to bring word of the Shadow.

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Thought Punks 🎲 TTRPGs + Punk 👩‍🎤 @thoughtpunks.com · 02/09/2026

Come discover the game that had grogs saying it ruined Vampire the Masquerade before V6. 🙏😂

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Aaron Lim 林家丰 @ehronlime.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

If Rule of Cool is “oh yeah that should be allowed to happen”, Rule of Convenience is “shut up we are not arguing about that right now, KEVIN”

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Seraphina Garcia Ramirez 🔜 PaxU @seraphina.diceexploder.com · 31/08/2026

Sam has created something magical with Dice Exploder- it was the impetus for my passion for games blossoming. I'm so thankful for all the work he's put in. I'm stoked to carry the show forward! Great season coming up, and I'm thrilled to show you all what I have brewing for the future of the show

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Ken Lowery @kenlowery.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

It's cool how buying a new video game now feels like attending the wake of the people who made it

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Mikel L. Matthews Jr. @improvgm.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Looking over games to run the old FASERIP Nightmares of Futures Past campaign (Sentinel America) and I really think FASERIP might be the system that's best for it. It's rule system would give us the desperation we'd need with kitbashing being possible but difficult without being a burden.

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USMC Vet M-3-7/MarineBarracks, NAS Alameda 🇺🇦 @usmarinevet.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

This is f'ing outrageous! 1.2 million is the number I read. They have suspended 1.2 million registrations in Texas! These two Texans only found out about this because they checked their voter registration.

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Mikel L. Matthews Jr. @improvgm.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Ars Magica s2e15: The Ladies of Thessaloniki Sunday 6pm Central The Legion of Mithras discovers that Xander has joined an old version of the cult. They send someone to enlist Xander on an investigation of the holy Covenant of Thessaloniki, suspected of interfering with mundanes twitch.tv/improvgm

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Mikel L. Matthews Jr. @improvgm.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Just because a mechanic helps your character make a decision or you take time to work on making strong decisions in a ttrpg doesn't mean you're being inauthentic. You're not playing wilting violets who stay at home doing nothing.

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Sin Archbishop of Sloth Kendo D. Smith @kendomakesfilms.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

I’m always honored whenever anyone asks me to voice a character for their show. It gives me just a taste of voice acting since I’ve been too lazy to genuinely take the plunge into it for real!

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Mikel L. Matthews Jr. @improvgm.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

startplaying.games/gm/improvgm Got some slots open for The Darkening of Mirkwood and Alien: The Draconis Cycle. Darkening of Mirkwood chronicles the return of the Shadow to Mirkwood after the Necromancer was driven off. Alien takes us through the Draconis Cinematic Campaigns.

Ad for The One Ring: Darkening of Mirkwood game (Wednesday at 7pm) and Alien: The Draconis Cycle game (Sunday at 1pm) on Startplaying.games/gm/improvgm. 1-2 slots available for each.

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Dragon Cobolt @dragoncobolt.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

also, notably, spellcheck for some services have gotten noticeably worse because they're putting LLM tech into it

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