iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Brandon (Optimal Play) @optimalplay.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

I've got Apocalypse right where I want him in a Marvel Champions game and this art is excellent

Apocalypse white knuckling the arms of his throne to keep himself from spilling out of it

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Brandon (Optimal Play) @optimalplay.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Hiking with my corgis and the old man got tired

Corgi with derp face riding in a backpack of a blue-haired man

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Brandon (Optimal Play) @optimalplay.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Always funny when #hearthstone cards just do not even remotely say what they do in the text.

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Godfather Kazakus
Battlecry: Plot a custom sham trial! Then choose the trial's length.
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Brandon (Optimal Play) @optimalplay.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Things seem to be going well over at youtube today

Which of the following have you experienced on your YouTube homepage today?
• 'Don't recommend channel' menu option doesn't work
• Videos don't change when I refresh the page
• 'Not interested' menu option doesn't work
• I can't customize my feed well
• Other problem

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Brandon (Optimal Play) @optimalplay.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

Hittin' all the biggest animated movie premieres this year somehow

A wide photo from my seat at the Minions and Monsters premiere in the Dolby Theater in Hollywood.

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Brandon (Optimal Play) @optimalplay.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

Lending Captain's Chair to Ben may have been a mistake

Text from optimal play regular Ben: Captains Log, Star Date 202606.22;
We've had two further encounters with Ensign Picard and Shran.
Despite their formidable appearance, they failed to pose much of a threat and were easily handled. Further evaluation will be required

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Brandon (Optimal Play) @optimalplay.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

Dodgers scoreboard as of the 7th inning stretch. Couldn't they have manufactured some drama for pride night?

A scoreboard showing the least eventful baseball game possible

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Brandon (Optimal Play) @optimalplay.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

First I have to change my Google search for a recipe twice to stop just getting AI recipes and recommendations, than when I finally find an interesting recipe it looks like this. The internet sucks now.

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Brandon (Optimal Play) @optimalplay.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

The Queen's Dilemma has really increased the number of icons, as any good sequel must

A spoiler-free photo of the symbol appendix in the Queen's Dilemma board game rulebook. It covers upwards of forty symbols and icons.

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Brandon (Optimal Play) @optimalplay.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

I might have to buy some of that final/canceled set of Altered just to get this card to hang on the game room fridge.

A full-art version of the Altered TCG card, Cuddly Corgi

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Brandon (Optimal Play) @optimalplay.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

There is no way this orthodontist featured in my previous dentist office's newsletter is a real person.

A screenshot of the bio of a supposed Orthodontist named Dr. Sham Pizza

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Brandon (Optimal Play) @optimalplay.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

Lol this is a solid way to describe a game @pickpocket.games. Excited to try Thieves Market soon!

Web site banner declaring Thieves' Market is "LIKE SPLENDOR MEETS WHITE ELEPHANT!"

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Brandon (Optimal Play) @optimalplay.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

This is adorable. In Flip Voyage you get your final solo score in the form of a sea shanty. #boardgames

A photo of the rulebook with a sea shanty rubric

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Brandon (Optimal Play) @optimalplay.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

A little Dragons of Etchinstone aboard the bullet train from Osaka to Tokyo

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Brandon (Optimal Play) @optimalplay.bsky.social · 29/03/2026

Also I was 10 feet from Shigeru Miyamoto as he gave a short speech about Mario's 40th anniversary. I was fanboying over him way more than the actors. Childhood me would have lost his mind to know I'd see Miyamoto in Japan someday.

Jack black, keegan Michael key, and Donald glover

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Brandon (Optimal Play) @optimalplay.bsky.social · 28/03/2026

Literal front row at the Super Mario Galaxy Movie premiere in Kyoto Japan, nbd.

Two men wearing red and green in the lobby for the Super Mario Galaxy Movie premiere

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Brandon (Optimal Play) @optimalplay.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

First time in Japan and my cab from the airport had three cats in it. I'm told this is not common here but still felt like a good way to kick off the trip.

Two cats on the dashboard of a Tokyo taxi

One more cat lounging in the passenger seat.

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Brandon (Optimal Play) @optimalplay.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

So suddenly I'm going to the Super Mario Galaxy premiere in Kyoto next week?!

Mario riding yoshi on the stars with the text "let's-a-go!"

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Brandon (Optimal Play) @optimalplay.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

How Forgotten Waters is meant to be played. (My phone just served up this memory from 2021)

Five grown-ass adults in pirate hats with blue tropical cocktails, playing pirate-themed board game Forgotten Waters.

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Brandon (Optimal Play) @optimalplay.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

Sorry, Badgers from Mars and @sketchgoblin.bsky.social, I refuse to put these back in the mission boxes as instructed. These good boys are now on the game room fridge.

Two cards featuring dogs from Regicide Legacy, stuck to a fridge with small magnets.

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Brandon (Optimal Play) @optimalplay.bsky.social · 08/03/2026

The new Bazaar character Karnok seems very good, based on my getting 10 wins with a different build on every run with him so far. But even once he’s nerfed he'll still have a cool mechanical hook, and great art and fun darker vibe. My fave expansion character by a lot!

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Brandon (Optimal Play) @optimalplay.bsky.social · 07/03/2026

Finally learned and played Sniper Elite: The Board Game by @rebellionunplugged.bsky.social and it lived up to the hype! Shooting with line of sight creates a very smart hidden movement game puzzle. I got caught quick and then the next sniper player outwitted us by hiding in one place for 6 turns 😂

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Brandon (Optimal Play) @optimalplay.bsky.social · 14/02/2026

Got Arcs back to the table this week, trying to get everyone in the group experienced so we can play the campaign soon. The story of the game for me was repeatedly identifying narrow routes to victory and then totally blowing it on the execution.

The board game Arcs in progress on the table

A photo I took of my hand of cards in the final round where I absolutely needed to declare the number 3 and 4 ambitions to possibly win.

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Brandon (Optimal Play) @optimalplay.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

Screenshot from our Barkham Horror playthrough, coming next week to the channel. I cannot overstate the chaos of this moment when it's in motion.

Three dudes with three dogs at a game table

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Brandon (Optimal Play) @optimalplay.bsky.social · 05/02/2026

Boooo I've always hated the community lingo "cluever" for someone who focuses on clues in Arkham, and FFG's "new player" article now codified it. 🤢

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Brandon (Optimal Play) @optimalplay.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

12:01am on Ryan's birthday. Day seems to be off to a good start.

A birthday (human) boy at the bottom of a pile of three corgis

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Brandon (Optimal Play) @optimalplay.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

Also played Kanban EV, which was my first Lacerda game! The late game felt like a standoff as we waited to snatch up a red car and complete our collection whenever someone made one. But then the winner was actually determined by who had the most valuable upgrades at the end - a bit anticlimactic

A photo of the board game Kanban EV, mid-way through the game.

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Brandon (Optimal Play) @optimalplay.bsky.social · 30/10/2025

Asked ChatGPT to identify this weird mushroom thing I've noticed growing in my yard and it insisted it was just a discarded piece of bread.

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Brandon (Optimal Play) @optimalplay.bsky.social · 13/10/2025

This Welcome to the Moon board has got to be a world record.

A screenshot of a completed board from Welcome to the Moon played on board game arena, with a final score of 184.

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Brandon (Optimal Play) @optimalplay.bsky.social · 15/08/2025

You have all failed me, how did no one alert me that there is a corgi-bot in the newest Magic set

An image of the Magic the Gathering card Chrome Companion

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Brandon (Optimal Play) @optimalplay.bsky.social · 25/07/2025

Lol, I can hardly believe this is real. And it goes on like this

Deal the Flip 7 cards
Each player is dealt a hand of cards. Typically, you'll want to deal about five cards to each player, depending on how many people are playing. If you're playing with a larger group, you may wish to adjust the number of cards dealt to keep the game balanced.

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Brandon (Optimal Play) @optimalplay.bsky.social · 05/07/2025

Ya'll pair your cocktails with your hair too right?

Me with green hair holding up a midori-based green cocktail.

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Brandon (Optimal Play) @optimalplay.bsky.social · 26/06/2025

There has never been a better time, to like and subscribe 😬

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Brandon (Optimal Play) @optimalplay.bsky.social · 19/06/2025

LOL. Come on NPR, this is year ten of this idiot dominating the news and the "two weeks" thing has always been a lie. Why would you interrupt my day with this.

NPR
now
JUST IN: Trump to decide on Iran action 'within two weeks,' White House says

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