iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Mike Mearls

Jaws Slayer 🎃 @jesawyer.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Might be worth mentioning Japanese game dev salaries are shockingly low (on average).

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Mike Mearls @mearls.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Interesting! That’s a great perspective on things. Looking forward to it.

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Mike Mearls @mearls.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Yes! It’s from 5+ years ago. Interestingly, groups would typically start a new game right after ending the old one

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Mike Mearls @mearls.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

It is easy to overlook the value of aesthetically pleasing surroundings.

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Mike Mearls @mearls.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

Finally, I am on the D&D discord under my name so feel free to tag me in on discussions if it's helpful. Bear in mind I have not worked on D&D for six years or at Wizards for three, but I still run lots of D&D and hack the rules all the time.

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Mike Mearls @mearls.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

OTOH, you could just embrace the Rogue-friendly nature of the feat and change buffering strike to "the damage inflicted with a weapon attack" and make rogues very happy. That combo'ing with Uncanny Dodge could make for a fun, resilient rogue. I think the dwarf rogue in my FR campaign takes that.

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Mike Mearls @mearls.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

If a designer handed me Tactical Combatant, I'd change "the weapon's damage dice" to "5 + your level". I don't understand on a narrative level why using a dagger or a great sword matters for this ability, and it forces you to divide your damage dice.

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Mike Mearls @mearls.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

Longer Answer: I am not crazy about dicing* up damage in such detail. It forces players to track where dice come from. IME, that's the sign of a system that is trying too hard to introduce design space by subdividing itself up far too finely. *Pun intended.

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Mike Mearls @mearls.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

Short Answer: I don't think my original answer stands. Thinking about it now, it's probably better for interoperability between subsystems if the damage die expression given for a weapon is its "damage dice". This approach means other systems can look at weapon damage and use them without worry.

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Mike Mearls @mearls.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

LOL! Yeah, our budget was so small back then that we couldn't afford PR people. Thank goodness you joined the team.

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Mike Mearls @mearls.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

You quote me using the word bullshit twice! Man, when working on D&D was fun it was super fun.

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Mike Mearls @mearls.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

It is WILD that at one point someone working on D&D could talk like that to the press. I'm reading my own quotes and it's amazing contrasting that with the paranoia and concern trolling that some people on the team turned into their weapons of choice

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Reposted by Mike Mearls

Chaosium @chaosium.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

Our Call of Cthulhu #TTRPG release The Sutra of Pale Leaves - Twin Suns Rising is the 2026 Origins Awards Roleplaying Game Supplement of the Year!

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Reposted by Mike Mearls

This Effin’ GM @thiseffingm.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

I used to think you had to be special to write TTRPGs. I was right. I just misunderstood which aspect you had to have that was special. It’s not boundless creativity. I always struggled, feeling not creative enough. It’s the ability to sit down and commit words to paper. That’s the big hurdle.

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Reposted by Mike Mearls

Chaosium @chaosium.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

What's happening with RuneQuest: Roleplaying in Glorantha? A lot, as Brian, Rick and MOB explained today. This Chaosium Con UK 🇬🇧 panel was recorded and will appear on our YouTube channel in due course.

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Reposted by Mike Mearls

Nick Brooke @moonbroth.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

The #RuneQuest: Roleplaying in #Glorantha road map, shared earlier today at Chaosium Con UK: Sep 26: Sartar Book Q4 26: Apple Lane Campaign Q1 27: Revised Core Rulebook Q2 27: Welcome to Glorantha Q2 27: GM Screen Q3 27: Return to Snakepipe Hollow Q4 27: On the Royal Road Q4 27: Gods of Darkness

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Mike Mearls @mearls.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

Next time say, "What eyepatch?"

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Reposted by Mike Mearls

The Abominable Jonathan L. Howard @jonathanlhoward.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

Hello! This gig has gone live for a Narrative Designer at Rebellion. A good part of it is implementation rather than writing, but there's some of that, too. Also, HUGE BONUS, you get to be on the same team as me! Hey, where are you going? apply.workable.com/rebellion/j/...

apply.workable.com

Narrative Designer - Rebellion

We want you to #JOINTHEREBELLION! For 30 years we’ve been independently developing and publishing incredible video games at our multiple studios founded by Jason & Chris Kingsley, but Rebellion is mor...

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Mike Mearls @mearls.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

First, compliments on the very nice, vintage playmat. Second, imagine where D&D would be today if it had the same sustained, continual accumulation of design knowledge and culture of playtesting that Magic had. It's wild to consider.

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Reposted by Mike Mearls

Daði Einars @mysticartsdm.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

We made a FREE starter dungeon for 5th Edition #dnd! It's got a built in tutorial that explains to new GMs how to run the game as you go along! Complete with factions, statblocks, multiple paths and choices, and a hook into a future adventure we're releasing soon! Go check it out!

patreon.com

Free Dungeon for 5E Beginner GMs | Mystic Arts

Free Dungeon for 5E Beginner GMs by Mystic Arts on Patreon. Join Mystic Arts's community for exclusive content and updates.

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Mike Mearls @mearls.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

Gaming Outpost: We Never Lost a Billion Dollars!

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Mike Mearls @mearls.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

Even his crimes are dumb and irritating. Stealing a chair from Staples by running out the door with it! What a mastermind!

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Mike Mearls @mearls.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

Eyman is probably the most annoying human being in history. The guy is just relentlessly irritating.

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Reposted by Mike Mearls

Jonathan Tweet @jonathantweet.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

Fighter Wizard Elf: My Rules for Bare Metal d20 Gaming is now available by PDF, and you're hearing it here first. A print run of 20 physical copies has released for attendees at @the-kraken.bsky.social, and another, larger print run is planned. #ttrpg #DnD www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/5...

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Mike Mearls @mearls.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

I had to deal with evil people way back when I worked in tech. That at least made sense to me. They stood to make massive amount of money. Running into those same people in gaming always feels so weird. There's so little benefit to it, but there they go. I think they just get off on it.

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Mike Mearls @mearls.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

I think it's one of the most exploitative sites on the internet. I locks what looks like useful job prospects behind a paywall. Ghoulish.

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Mike Mearls @mearls.bsky.social · 12/02/2026

Dude, I also want an ALAN shirt. That's amazing.

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Mike Mearls @mearls.bsky.social · 10/02/2026

Roleplay in toy speak is dress up, costumes, accessories, etc.

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Mike Mearls @mearls.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

In 8th grade, I tried to wear something interesting and settled on red Chuck Taylors. I wore them once. Since then I am a strictly "Gimme seven of those shirts and some jeans" guy.

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Reposted by Mike Mearls

Jaws Slayer 🎃 @jesawyer.bsky.social · 02/02/2026

There are a lot of roles in game dev where someone bad in a role can do damage, but a bad producer can be so unbelievably damaging that it truly would be better to have no one in the role at all. Just as good producers are force multipliers, bad producers are like throwing sand into a gearbox.

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Mike Mearls @mearls.bsky.social · 24/01/2026

I can't think of a reason NOT to go.

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Mike Mearls @mearls.bsky.social · 11/01/2026

We just had a new player join on Friday. I added his PC to an encounter, saw his HP total, confirmed his Con 8, and started composing the “Hey man, go ahead and bump your Con to 12” email right after the session.

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Mike Mearls @mearls.bsky.social · 11/01/2026

Caleb Williams lead blocking has pleased the football gods. Marke my words - the Bears win this game!

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Mike Mearls @mearls.bsky.social · 11/01/2026

For Baldman Games, I'd check their web site for contact info. For Chris, not sure if he is active on social media. I think he is on Facebook and LinkedIn

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Mike Mearls @mearls.bsky.social · 11/01/2026

Great question! I cannot recall exactly who wrote it, but I can give you some next steps to check in with: Dave Christ at Baldman Games might know, since his company managed Gen Con events for Wizards. Chris Tulach might know, since he managed D&D organized play at the time.

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Mike Mearls @mearls.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

That's fantastic to hear. Congrats on the hard earned success!

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Reposted by Mike Mearls

Chaosium @chaosium.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

In Call of Cthulhu, we remember librarians are the heroes! #ttrpg

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Mike Mearls @mearls.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

Anyone who looks at LinkedIn and says, "I need to spend more time on this site," literally does not have a soul.

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Mike Mearls @mearls.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

Like if LinkedIn was really about getting you a job, they'd make money by cashing in when you get a job through the site. They don't do that. Instead, they charge for access to information that is probably not going to help you, but creates the sense that you need it.

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Mike Mearls @mearls.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

No, LinkedIn is designed to do exactly that. When I was looking at a job, my game design brain figured out that it the site is optimized for making you feel like you are one spin of the scroll wheel away from an amazing new job. It's the worst social media site.

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Mike Mearls @mearls.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

Unfortunately the video games are what move the needle for the stock price. If he spent a lot of time talking TTRPGs, it might actually hurt the stock (analysts could take that as a sign of a lack of progress on the digital side).

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Mike Mearls @mearls.bsky.social · 01/01/2026

It’s so convenient that the New Years drop at the same time as new Wordle, Connections, and Strands come online, at least here in the PNW. Hat tip to whoever arranged that.

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Mike Mearls @mearls.bsky.social · 17/12/2025

(This is going to be awkward when the PCs find out who was working with the orcs.) Last week they decided to talk to a Red Wizard mummy who casually devours people's souls. They're working for him now! They fed his traitorous apprentice to him! So I think chaos is their MO. Which is typical.

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Mike Mearls @mearls.bsky.social · 17/12/2025

(The Zhents charmed the troll and set it loose to attack caravans that were not part of the "Trade Guild", a cross-Dales trade org secretly run by the Zhents. The guy hiring the party to murder orcs and goblins "to keep trade flowing" is the local Zhent king pin.)

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Mike Mearls @mearls.bsky.social · 17/12/2025

They were hired to track down a marauding troll. They corner it and try to talk it down, nat 20 on a Charisma check before the troll can do anything, and get the entire Zhentarim secret plan to dominate the Dales. At least, the version of the plan that a troll could grok.

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