iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Rindis @rindis.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

At the end of 1986/beginning of 1987, TSR published a new intro adventure, which later became incorporated into the Forgotten Realms. It's a very good adventure, with the unique premise of taking ordinary 'level 0' people up to level 1. #FR #ForgottenRealms #D&D Review: www.rindis.com/blog/9336

Cover of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons adventure module N4 "Treasure Hunt", by Aaron Allston. It is labeled as for character levels 0-1, but the point is to start with level 0 characters, who will reach level 1 a bit before the climax of the adventure.

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Rindis @rindis.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

The Civil War of 1812 shouldn't be mistaken for a history of the War of 1812. There's a lot Alan Taylor doesn't touch on. But, it is an excellent history of the US/Canada border before there was a large divide there. #booksky Review: www.rindis.com/blog/9332

Cover of The Civil War of 1812: American Citizens, British Subjects, Irish Rebels, & Indian Allies by Alan Taylor. This is the usual cover used for all but a couple audio editions.

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Phillip M Jackson @jollyjack.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Spear & Fang, from "Primal". Doodle request from my fine patrons - patreon.com/collectedcur...

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The Delver (He/Him) @delver.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Ken St. Andre, creator of Tunnels & Trolls, has announced on Facebook that he is terminally ill. He has perhaps a few months to live. Ken is an unsung titan of the gaming industry, and Tunnels & Trolls was a shot across the bow of the then-nascent D&D juggernaut. T&T was the first game to look at

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secondlina // Lord of Crows @secondlina.com · 04/10/2026

💡Oh my gosh, brainstorm.💡

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Rindis @rindis.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Gillian Bradshaw is my favorite historical author, and Render Unto Caesar did not disappoint. A good cast of characters, debt collection that turns into political crisis, and lots of quiet moments that occasionally break into violence. #booksky Review: www.rindis.com/blog/9321

Cover of Render Unto Caesar, a historical novel by Gillian Bradshaw. This seems to be the general cover used in all English editions of the book.

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Rindis @rindis.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

My reading attention has gotten scattered over the last month. Here's everything I'm currently going through, starting with what I'm spending the most time/effort on: #booksky

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Rindis @rindis.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Ironclad, a 1973 set of ACW naval miniatures rules is now available in PDF on Wargame Vault! #GuidonGames #wargames www.wargamevault.com/en/product/5... www.rindis.com/fox-den/iron...

Cover for Ironclad, a set of ACW naval miniatures rules by Tom Wham and Don Lowry. Originally published in 1973 by Guidon Games, it has now been republished by Fox Den.

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lauren @lauren.rotatingsandwiches.com · 24/09/2026

ME: So I can't put anything else on the scale? ANUBIS: No. Just your heart ME: No money, no good deeds? ANUBIS: No ME: What about steam points? I've got a ton of steam points ANUBIS: The point is to be lighter than the feather ME: I was just hoping to finally do something with the steam points

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Rindis @rindis.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Supplement 21 goes with Traveller Adventure 14: Secret of the Ancients' Kitchen.

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Rindis @rindis.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

After one fight on the border, the Klingons start moving into the interior of the Federation. Y163 of my solo campaign would see five active battles. First, both sides brought new ships into the theater, and assign fleets. #StarTrek #SFB #wargame www.rindis.com/blog/9313

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UR1 Federation vs Empire Y163 – Rindis.com

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Rindis @rindis.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

The next year (more like five months), H2 was released, which went back to a large, tough, dungeon in a standard module. There are fragments of a possible sequel BattleSystem campaign, but the printed version doesn't support it. #FR #ForgottenRealms #D&D Review: www.rindis.com/blog/3230

Cover AD&D adventure module H2 The Mines of Bloodstone, taken from the PDF version (I never scanned my original cover). The Parkinson cover is of the climatic encounter in the dungeon, and, as I recall, had been featured in an earlier TSR calendar.

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Rindis @rindis.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Patch and I recently played SFB scenario SH56 "Surprise Package". I thought I had him, but a well-timed HET kept him out of short range after his disruptors collapsed the forward shield. #StarTrek #SFB #wargame Session report: www.rindis.com/blog/9304

Turn 3, Impulse 2 of SH56 "Surprise Package". IKV Devastation has just done a High Energy Turn to evade overload range of USS Kublai, and getting into effective plasma torpedo-F range.

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Rindis @rindis.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Privateer (the old name) was a standby of my group until the beat up box let all the contents slip out during a move.

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Rindis @rindis.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Tom Holland's third book on the history of Rome is very good as usual, though time does get away from you as the transition from 5 years in three chapters to 70 in four chapters goes nearly unnoticed. #booksky Review: www.rindis.com/blog/9298

Cover of Pax: War and Peace in Rome's Golden Age by Tom Holland. It largely shows part of Trajan's Column, but with red mottled background. It is the better of the two covers I see used for the book, but seems to be less common.

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Rindis @rindis.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Published two years before the Grey Box, module H1 Bloodstone Pass would get absorbed into the Forgotten Realms, making this miniatures war adventure the earliest product released for the realms. #D&D #ForgottenRealms #FR Review: www.rindis.com/blog/3216

A closeup of part of the back of AD&D module H1, Bloodstone Pass. It shows all the papercraft buildings that came with the set, and a few of the fold up "facades" to depict more of the village, and a few counters.

The setup is good for the photo but bears no relationship to how the village would be set up for a miniatures battle. I forget how many facades the set came with, but I recall more than 5. Also, there was a full sheet or two of counters to depict peasant levies and various monster types, so the six shown isn't even very representative.

Sadly, I've never seen a photo of the papercraft actually in use.

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Rindis @rindis.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

About... thirteen years ago (poof, another hundred grey furs), Neverwinter got me going through my Forgotten Realms materials, and I started reviewing the early products. Since they're available in PDF/POD, I think they're relevant. #D&D #FR #ForgottenRealms Gray Box: www.rindis.com/blog/1909

A replica of the original TSR map of the Forgotten Realms as presented in the 1987 Gray Box set, using the first printing colors.

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Rindis @rindis.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Re-examining which sources to trust in an analysis of an ancient battle is good; I'm not sure that the history-buff (as opposed to academic) facing Osprey Campaign line is the place for it. Still, it's an informative account. @ospreypublishing.bsky.social #booksky Review: www.rindis.com/blog/9287

Cover for Leuctra 371 BC by Murray Dahm; Osprey Campaign #363. The image is from a larger color plate showing the death of Spartan King Cleombrotus (bottom center) as the Theban Sacred Band clashes with his bodyguard.

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Rindis @rindis.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

So, K-F5, F-DW, O-CR, and L-LN.... I hope that's an F5C or -W, because my instinct (without checking any BPVs) says that F5 is outmatched... Hope everyone had fun!

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Rindis @rindis.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Mark and I played SL278 "Foxes in the Henhouse" recently. It's meant to show off the light monitor, but I learned a lot about the Romulan Snipe. #Trek #wargame #SFB Session report: www.rindis.com/blog/9282

About two turns into Star Fleet Battles scenario SL278 "Foxes in the Henhouse", Romulans approach a Gorn colony. A War Eagle is about to launch and enveloping plasma torpedo at the defending Light Monitor, while a Snipe is also uncloaking. A second Snipe stays cloaked while a Battle Hawk runs after getting crippled during its attack. Two Gorn Frigates are at the top, too far away to help.

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Elle Cordova @ellecordova.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Rough Draft vs Final Draft

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Rindis @rindis.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Issue #8 (ca. March 1974) of Lowrys Guidon magazine is now available in PDF on Wargame Vault! #LowrysHobbies #wargames www.wargamevault.com/en/product/5... www.rindis.com/fox-den/lowr...

Cover of Lowrys Guidon #8 from around March 1974. Upper portion has the return address and the bulk rate postal notice with a space for an address. The rest of it is art of a Sturmgeschutz III by Don Lowry.

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Smudge @smudgedragon.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Night Drinks - done last year but finally able to post it to Bluesky directly. Art/animation/music by me. #Utawarerumono #Hakuowlo #NoAI

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Rindis @rindis.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

*Awareness* of the differences between them started minimal, but slowly grew over time. I'd think we stuck with whichever we were playing, but were never rigorous about it, using general knowledge of D&D to fill in gaps, but still going to the "proper" tables, etc, which were known to be different.

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Rindis @rindis.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

The post-high school "campaign that never was" would have been 1e AD&D, applied a little more rigorously, but still without the more esoteric rules (weapon speed, et al), but using Unearthed Arcana. (~1989-90) 4/4

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Rindis @rindis.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

D&D was fairly rare in the HS RPG club, but there were a couple of AD&D sessions, generally without things like weapon speed, etc. I wasn't DMing, so I can't say for sure, and we were fairly loose. There was also one B/X session, that was probably Mentzer Expert (going through X12). (1984-88) 3/4

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Rindis @rindis.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

I got Moldvay Basic shortly afterwards, and DMed that for a bit before moving on to Gamma World, Star Frontiers, and plenty of non-TSR games. (1982-84) 2/4

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Rindis @rindis.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

My initial play was guested into an ongoing campaign with a friend of my Dad's. I do not know which exact system it was, but probably OD&D + supplements. (~1980.) Not long afterwards I saw part of a session with neighbors that was probably Holmes Basic (they were certainly going through B1). 1/4

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Rindis @rindis.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

I've only been reading R.A. MacAvoy relatively recently. She's good, and the historical fantasy side of this was nicely done, but it wasn't so much my thing. I think because I'm more plot-centered than this book is. #booksky Review: www.rindis.com/blog/9280

Cover for Damiano by R.A. MacAvoy. This version is part of a set done by Open Road Media for their eBook/Kindle versions.

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Rindis @rindis.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Jason came over a little bit ago, and we tried one of the bigger scenarios for Last Hundred Yards. Lack of pre-planning slowed us down, but we had a good time with the first chunk of the situation. #wargame #LHY @gmtgames.bsky.social Session report: www.rindis.com/blog/9273

Setup for Last Hundred Yards scenario 11, "Desperate Measures". The counters at the top left are reinforcements waiting for later. The Americans are set up bottom right, reading to head up against a fortified point, and left towards a couple platoons of Germans (and hidden 88).

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Rindis @rindis.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Island No. 10 is gone today, but for a few months it was a major road (river?)-block to Union control of the Mississippi River. Bock and Daniel's book on the campaign is somewhat short but very informative on a generally ignored campaign. #booksky #ACW Review: www.rindis.com/blog/9265

Cover for "Island No, 10: Struggle for the Mississippi Valley" by Larry J. Daniel and Lynn N. Bock. The cover isn't nearly as good in person, as it is printed with a shiny silver ink that reflects, and the image washes out to a flat gray field at most angles.

The image itself is from a Courier & Ives print (yes, *that* Courier & Ives).

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Rindis @rindis.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Hmm. The main fighter-centric monster scenario is SM12 "Starswarm" (J1), but it's actually a two-player scenario. Maybe you could adapt SM13 Banshees (K)? The main point of them is fast and numerous, so fighters have a shot; probably want to slow the banshees down from 32 (depending on year).

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Rindis @rindis.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Y162 merely saw one skirmish as a pair of Federation cruisers take on a Klingon squadron. Both ships ended up damaged and sitting out the next year in drydock, but they did manage to eliminate the D6 Desecration. #StarTrek #SFB #wargame Session report: www.rindis.com/blog/9260

Region 1.4, Y162: A Federation command cruiser (USS Kongo) and heavy cruiser (USS Defiance) take on D7 IKV Devastator and D6 IKV Desecration in the middle of an asteroid field.

Nearby, a set of four shuttles make their way through a cluster of asteroids (two of them are suicide shuttles), and off to the left, a pair of Klingon E4s are headed into the action.

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Rindis @rindis.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

The second Teutonic Knights Fortress book lacks the unique brick castles of the first, but does have a bit more on the earlier timber forts. @ospreypublishing.bsky.social #booksky Review: www.rindis.com/blog/9257

Cover of Osprey Publishing Fortress #19: Crusader Castles of the Teutonic Knights (2): The Stone Castles of Latvia and Estonia 1185-1560.

Cover is of Peter Dennis' color plate showing the castle of Riga ca 1515.

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Rindis @rindis.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Long ago, there was a great Star Fleet Battles campaign reported on their forum. I've been unable to get an opponent for such a high-lift project, so I've been soloing my way through, and have posted the start of a Federation vs Klingon campaign/war. #StarTrek #SFB #wargame www.rindis.com/blog/9248

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UR1 Federation vs Empire Y162 – Rindis.com

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Will Burrows 🖖🥖🥀 @reforest-kelley.bsky.social · 24/03/2025

I thought the premise was lovely.

Post by bitchydragondoodle:
Y'know what I LOVE about the Star Trek fandom? It's ANCIENT. I had a talk with a nice old lady at the old persons home that my great grandma is in and she noticed my Spock shirt and was like "oh I love that show I thought the premise was lovely" and you all know THE PREMISE is trekspeak for spirk and I was like "do you accept the premise because I do* and she looked at me with the eyes of someone who is reliving their otp moments and she said "the premise is all I wrote about, dear"' and we just talked about spirk for a hella long time and I just love how age doesn't matter in this fandom you can be ninety and still be the biggest spirk bitch ever how rad is that

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Rindis @rindis.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Given how the break had somewhat odd timing, I had wondered if that was the case. I remember C.J. Cherryh talking about her second Chanur story getting broken up into three books in her intro for Chanur's Homecoming, so I'm not surprised.

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Rindis @rindis.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

What? "Leave them wanting more," wasn't deliberate? ^_^

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Rindis @rindis.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

My reading schedule will take me ages to get to book 2 (despite the big 'to be continued' w/Roundabout playing) of Jane Lindskold's portal fantasy adventure series, but it's a fun adventure, that I definitely recommend. @janelindskold.bsky.social #booksky Review: www.rindis.com/blog/9245

Cover of Library of the Sapphire Wind by Jane Lindskold; book 1 of Over Where. This particular cover seems to be used for all but the audio versions.

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Rindis @rindis.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Sotium, from C&C:Ancients Ex 2, has an unusual set up which makes it a lot of fun. Patch and I recently did a round where the Romans won both times, bu the first was a surprise comeback. @gmtgames.bsky.social #wargame #CCA Session report: www.rindis.com/blog/9239

End position, Battle of Sotium, from Commands & Colors: Ancients Expansion #2. I had been doing well as the Gauls, but Patch managed to get his last two banners right before I finished him off.

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Rindis @rindis.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Got ASL Journal 17 in today. Looks good, interested in going through the Twilight of the Reich notes. Surprised by the big map with 1.4" hexes just for one (four page!) scenario. @multimanpublishing.bsky.social #wargame #ASL

Picture of the components of ASL Journal 17. Poster-size map (representing part of 1945 Berlin) with 1.4" hexes is spread out under it all. The Journal is to the left, and the included scenario cards are fanned out in the middle foreground.

To the right is my Kotobukiya Twilight Sparkle statue.

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Rindis @rindis.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Sears' book on the leadership of the Army of the Potomac felt wanting to me. He's keeping track of too large a cast of characters and dissolves into lists of the dead after major battles. But he does pay attention to the employment of cavalry and artillery. #booksky Review: www.rindis.com/blog/9235

Cover of Stephen W. Sears' Lincoln's Lieutenants: The High Command of the Army of the Potomac. (Mine is the Mariner Books Kindle edition, but this same cover has been used for just about every edition so far.)

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Rindis @rindis.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

I've read 29 books so far this year. Authors include May Barros, C.J. Cherryh, Doris Kearns Goodwin, N.K. Jemisin, Miya Kazuki, Jane Lindskold, R.A. MacAvoy, Vonda McInytre, Shirley Rousseau Murphy, Ada Palmer ...and yeah, the others were guys.

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Rindis @rindis.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Patch and I recently played the final scenario from Hatten in Flames. Patch had a slow attack, but finally got past my defenses in the last turn, at the cost of four Shermans. @multimanpublishing.bsky.social #wargame #ASL Session report: www.rindis.com/blog/9204

VASL screenshot showing the situation and early movement in Advanced Squad Leader scenario HF8 "Fahrenheit 352".

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Rindis @rindis.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

I started contemplating them doing an elaborate skit with lots of bit parts fueled by Elliot's abilities, and assistance from Tedd. And then the online consternation from people seeing all the credits for the bit parts alternating between "Elliot" and "Susan"....

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Rindis @rindis.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Osprey's book on the castles of Prussia is well-done and informative in a small space. I'd love to see more technical detail on actual layouts and the like, but there is plenty to start with, including lots of good photography. @ospreypublishing.bsky.social #booksky Review: www.rindis.com/blog/9196

Cover of Crusader Castles of the Teutonic Knights (1): The Red-Brick Castles of Prussia 1230-1466. It features a reconstruction of Marienwerder by artist Peter Dennis, and the usual gray-blue trade dress of the Fortress series.

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Rindis @rindis.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

Designing Wargames is available in PDF on Wargame Vault! This collection of essays from nine wargame designers was written in 1976 and published in 1978. #wargames www.wargamevault.com/en/product/5... www.rindis.com/fox-den/desi...

Cover for Designing Wargames, a collection of essays originally written in 1976 by Richard Berg, Tom Dalgliesh, John Hill, Don Lowry, Mike McGuire, Al Nofi, John Prados, Randy Reed, and Lou Zocchi; edited by Dana Lombardy and Don Lowry.

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Rindis @rindis.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

Okay... as in, a second Excelsior-class ship? Disbelief, for one. This is a couple months after STIII, and still NX-2000. So, the idea of another one being completed already.... Excelsior itself? Mixed. DC had already done a good run with Kirk & Ex, and IV had much better angles for the model.

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melyn 🌱 @melynart.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

📦; don't forget to pack the cat! ⊹ ˖ֹ #pokemon #pokemonart #cats #fanart #illustration

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Rindis @rindis.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

In the middle of my Danger Forward game with Mark, I introduced Jason to BCS with the same scenario in a FtF day. @multimanpublishing.bsky.social #wargame #BCS Session report: www.rindis.com/blog/9189

Battalion Combat Series; Danger Forward. This shot is at the end of July 10 from the Axis perspective (looking south). Americans are making headway, and PG KG was completely immobilized by a failed SNAFU roll.

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