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Mollie Russell

@spookysyntax.bsky.social
573 followers 303 following 366 posts

Editor at Wargamer. Autistic. South Wales poet and facilitator. Nerd for gaming, horror, music, and literature. She/Her.

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Mollie Russell @spookysyntax.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
IT'S OCTOBER! Every year I watch 31 horror movies I've never seen before. 1/31 isn't really a horror movie, but it's pure schlock and this is my list so I can do what I want. Velocipastor made me laugh so hard I couldn't see the screen at times. This is exactly my taste in cinema.
Movie poster for The Velocipastor.
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Chris Hutton - TTRPG Insider @newsnerd.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
New D&D adventure was previewed called Project Lamordia, a reference to a Domain of Dread from the Ravenloft setting. www.wargamer.com/dnd/project-... @spookysyntax.bsky.social
wargamer.com
D&D teases a bizarre, Control style spin-off of a popular Ravenloft setting
Dungeons and Dragons apparently has big Halloween plans, and they involve mind-bending scifi remakes…
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Cole Wehrle @colewehrle.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
In today's diary, I get into one of my favorite subjects: agency in historical games. Did the Opium Wars have to happen? Were the player's historical counterparts in a position to prevent them? It's a big subject, and a place where the 2e differs sharply from 1e. boardgamegeek.com/thread/37746...
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BoardGameWire 🔜 Spiel Essen @boardgamewire.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Ukrainian board game studio Boardova has broken into US hobby distribution, four years after its launch by two volunteers who met while supporting refugees and Ukraine’s army in the wake of Russia’s invasion: boardgamewire.com/index.php/20... (Hat tip @wargamer.com for excellent background info)
Three wooden board game meeples in purple, green and red, on a series of nine hexagonal tiles with illustrations of various terrain types, such as mountains and a river. The purple and red meeples resemble humans, while the much larger green meeple is a strange-looking humanoid with horns. Aridnyk board game from Ukrainian publisher Boardova.Two cards, one being showing the word Directive and lots of instructional writing underneath, the other in a deep red/brown with Directive and Ministry of Truth visible in white writing. Cards from the board game 1984: Unperson from Ukrainian publisher Boardova.
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Mollie Russell @spookysyntax.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
I'm going to my first Essen this year! Keen to hear which gaming pals are attending and what you're looking forward to
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Mollie Russell @spookysyntax.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Saturdays are for drinking scotch and arguing about The Queen's Dilemma
Fantasy map from the board game The Queen's Dilemma
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Mollie Russell @spookysyntax.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
My first week as Wargamer Editor is over. Tired, but feeling very fulfilled. Ended my week with a cheeky board game review, too:
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Geek Native @geeknative.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
UK Games Expo has banned generative AI art, text, and merchandise across all NEC exhibition halls, bringing the convention in line with broader British tabletop standards. Standholders face removal or bans if their products aren't made by humans. #UKGE
geeknative.com
UK Games Expo bans generative AI art and text across all trade halls
UK Games Expo has introduced a mandatory policy prohibiting generative AI art and text across all NEC trade halls, requiring exhibitors to sell only human-made games.
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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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Chase Taylor-Carter @chasecarter.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Neither Wargamer nor EN World received preview details about the World of Warcraft D&D book. Instead, everything is being filtered through YouTube influencers and WotC's Dungeon Masters AP series. Covering previews is dubious work anyhow, but journalists were seemingly left out of the first push.
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Mollie Russell @spookysyntax.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
They're all cozy games! Honest!
A My 9 Games collage of game covers showing: Left 4 Dead 2, Papers Please, Stardew Valley, The Sims, Silent Hill 4, Bioshock, Baldur's Gate 3, Inscryption, and Fallout New Vegas
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Joey Haeck @jamesjhaeck.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Running Classic WoW to research every nook and cranny of its dungeons for D&D: WoW, then translating them to D&D was my favorite part of this book's initial design. Excited by how happy people have been so far with the first previews :D
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PCGamesN @pcgamesn.com · 21/09/2026
"Hypnotically haunting, Silent Hill: Townfall is a credit to the series." Check out our 10/10 Silent Hill: Townfall review. www.pcgamesn.com/silent-hill-...
pcgamesn.com
Silent Hill: Townfall review - hauntingly perfect
Silent Hill: Townfall is a haunting new entry in the iconic series, and it may have just become one of my favorite horror games of all time.
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Rascal News @rascal.news · 21/09/2026
It's not just AI-generated art anymore. Now, Agentic AIs are in our emails, and they really really want us to buy their D&D "module." If AI can so easily subvert spam safeguards, it's the beginning of the end for our inboxes.
rascal.news
An “AI Agent” is begging us to buy their D&D module
iLands has been inundating the inboxes of journalists and publications… and now it’s Rascal’s turn to take out the trash.
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Mollie Russell @spookysyntax.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Life update! I am no longer a staff writer at Wargamer. I am the editor of Wargamer.
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Mollie Russell @spookysyntax.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
The new Resident Evil movie nails that one moment in a horror game where you see something nasty in the distance and mutter 'oh what the fuck is that'
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Mollie Russell @spookysyntax.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
I'm 29 today. Having a very quiet birthday by myself, and it's been nice to switch off from the world for a day.
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Chris Hutton - TTRPG Insider @newsnerd.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Dang! @spookysyntax.bsky.social spoke with Dan Ayoub about the OGL controversy and a lot more. Honestly a great interview that helps understand the man informing D&D the most. www.wargamer.com/dnd/dan-ayou...
wargamer.com
D&D head Dan Ayoub on listening and learning from the OGL: "We lost sight of what was important"
WotC's Head of Dungeons and Dragons Dan Ayoub tells us about his "new direction, new voice, and new spirit and energy behind D&D".
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Mollie Russell @spookysyntax.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
"Playthings' unusual rules capture a moment perfectly. That moment is childhood, and the awesome, terrifying freedom that defines it." My last review before a week of rest - enjoy: www.wargamer.com/playthings/b...
wargamer.com
Playthings is the strangest board game I've ever played (and that's a compliment)
I don't even know what to call this genre of board games - Playthings defies expectations in ways I've never experienced.
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Pazuzu's Monster @pazuzuonline.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
25 Years ago today, Jigsaw trapped two men in a bathroom and then laid on a floor for like six hours
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Mollie Russell @spookysyntax.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Having depression when you're a writer is just saying this in the mirror every day
static.klipy.com
Ben Wyatt: Delusion Losing
ALT: Ben Wyatt: Delusion Losing
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Marceline Leiman is Racing Dinos @marcelineleiman.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
“Dino Racer is a superb, streamlined racing game packed into a small, affordable box. Don't let its small size fool you, though; the quick-playing party game is packed with personality.” 🏁 🦕 🦖 Thanks so much Mollie Russell of @wargamer.com for this detailed review of Dino Racer!!
wargamer.com
Dino Racer is the hottest board game you haven't played, and it deserves the hype
It's been a good year for chaotic racing board games that make you shout 'What the hell was that?! Let's play again immediately.'
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Mollie Russell @spookysyntax.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Was feeling a bit down today, but then I watched Return to Silent Hill. Nothing like a complete piece of ass garbage media to brighten your day
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Tim Clare @timclare.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Really good tabletop journalism takes a frankly deranged amount of time. Just knowing which games to cover requires hunting down & playing swathes, then once you've found one worth writing about, the more you play it the better the final piece is likely to be. The effort-to-words funnel is brutal.
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Aftermath @aftermath.site · 02/09/2026
Video game companies keep trying to bait and switch us with AI, and it sucks aftermath.site/1666-amsterdam...
a 1666: amsterdam character looking thievishly at a table of food
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Phil Gross @mistergross.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
It was an honor to talk to @spookysyntax.bsky.social about The Monolith. She asks the best questions and got me to spill my guts about all the gut-spilling.
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Mollie Russell @spookysyntax.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
This went down a STORM with my friends. A blast to review.
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Cat Bussell @catbussell.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Hey folks, Though freelancing helped somewhat, I've now burnt through my redundancy money and savings trying to find stable, full-time work. I literally have no cash, and plagiarism robots took my last job, so things are about to get /exciting/. Please share if you're so inclined.
ko-fi.com
Buy Cat a Coffee
Become a supporter of Cat today!
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Mollie Russell @spookysyntax.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Today we're thinking real hard about overtourism! Also, shock horror, Reiner Knizia is very good
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Chris Hutton - TTRPG Insider @newsnerd.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
SOURCE REQUEST: I’m looking to talk with sensitivity readers or experts about what that looks like for TTRPGs. If you’ve done that sort of work or know someone, let me know! Working on a piece to contextualize what that means and how it helps.
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Chris Hutton - TTRPG Insider @newsnerd.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
Over at Wargamer, @spookysyntax.bsky.social .bsky.social actually did a deep dive with the designers of the controversial Vampire: the Masquerade BOUND BY BLOOD D&D 5e supplement. www.wargamer.com/dnd/vampire-...
wargamer.com
D&D now has a Vampire the Masquerade class, but does it actually work?
"The subclasses don't necessarily make sense on paper", the Dungeons and Dragons creatives at Ghostfire Gaming tell us - but hear them out.
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Mollie Russell @spookysyntax.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
I'm very lucky that I get to spend so much time trying new games. But games deserve love and attention even when they aren't brand-new and trendy.
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Mollie Russell @spookysyntax.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
Had a weekend with zero obligations, and it's the first one I've had for probably 3 months. It's been refreshing. The last couple of weeks I've been so head-down putting out Gen Con coverage, I've been forgetting to share my writing! So here's a thread 🔗
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💀 Rue Morgue 💀🗡️❤️‍🔥 🔜 Nightmare Weekend Raleigh 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈 @ilananight.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Thrilled to see a callout for 13 Omens in here—I'm unbelievably proud of the game we're making!
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Iain McAllister @giantbrain.co.uk · 06/08/2026
Depth is an often overused and misunderstood term. What do we want from a game that we can explore for a long time, and does a game need to be complex in order to achieve that? giantbrain.co.uk/2022/07/14/t...
giantbrain.co.uk
The Complexity of Depth - The Giant Brain
I look at the concept of depth in games and ask whether it is always tied to complex games or is it more subtle than that?
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Mollie Russell @spookysyntax.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Back at my desk after my first Gen Con. It was incredible to catch up with the writers, designers, and publishers that make tabletop such an interesting place. I was never going to see everything, but I want to shout about the games I did get time to enjoy:
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Chase Taylor-Carter @chasecarter.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Some radical transparency: we may only have a year left at our current pace. If you'd like to help us survive to reach our full potential, consider subscribing, donating, or buying a gift subscription.
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Mollie Russell @spookysyntax.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
No selfie on the return trip to Gen Con, but have a Starfinder show recap I wrote up after the convention halls closed: www.wargamer.com/starfinder/r...
wargamer.com
Starfinder's biggest year yet starts now, and I might finally start playing
With beginner-friendly products, crossovers, and rich setting guides, Paizo is all about onboarding new Starfinder players in 2027.
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BoardGameWire 🔜 Spiel Essen @boardgamewire.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
The Ukrainian publisher of board games including Catan and Exploding Kittens is fighting for its existence after a Russian missile strike destroyed its warehouse, wiping out its entire stock of about 200,000 games: boardgamewire.com/index.php/20...
A fire engine outside a burnt out warehouse, with a burnt out van outside. Smoke and steam are still rising from the destroyed building. Photo shows damage to Ukrainian board game publisher Rozum's warehouse following a Russian missile attack on August 1. Photo Credit: Rozum.
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Mollie Russell @spookysyntax.bsky.social · 02/08/2026
Day 4 of Gen Con! Yesterday was a bit of a whirlwind, wasn't it? I am so tired but there is so much interesting stuff left to do.
A white woman with a shaved head takes a mirror selfieClose up of a vampire the masquerade playtest character sheetGollum token from Lord of the Rings Circle of ConflictCharacter cards from the board game Escape the Dark Forest
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Mollie Russell @spookysyntax.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
As a Brit in the US for the first time, everyone seems remarkably unphased by there being a tornado
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Dan Arndt @danarndtwrites.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
Gen Con Tornado let's gooooooo
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Mollie Russell @spookysyntax.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
Gen Con Day 3! Yesterday was a sightseeing day more than a writing day, but there's a lot to talk about when I can get time on my laptop.
A white woman with a shaved head taking a mirror selfieA Dracula card from the TCG HellbreakNeil Newbon and Devora Wilde speaking at a D&D panelThe Kingdom Come Deliverance board game
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Jason Keeley @herzwesten.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Can't wait to tell you what the OTHER ancestries in Tome of Dungeons are going to be...
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Mollie Russell @spookysyntax.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Gen Con day 2! Indianapolis is so big and clean and friendly. Here's a quick rundown of what Wargamer got up to yesterday:
A white woman with a shaved head takes a selfie in a bathroom mirror.
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Mollie Russell @spookysyntax.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Yes, the D&D Gen Con keynote was interesting, but the REAL surprise was a last-minute appearance by Bubbles the Chihuahua.
Bubbles the Chihuahua being held up by his Dad, Joe Manganiello
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Mollie Russell @spookysyntax.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
Gen Con let's gooooo
A white woman with a shaved head in a black band tee and vinyl skirt taking a mirror selfie
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Mollie Russell @spookysyntax.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
Not long before the longest flight of my life to Gen Con. Excited, but also a bit nervous about the new sensory experience of spending prolonged time on a plane.
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Mollie Russell @spookysyntax.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
What a delightful little game that made me think way too much about the housing crisis
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Mollie Russell @spookysyntax.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
Basically spent an entire month travelling around the UK for live music. Loved every second, but now it's time for my next adventure. I'm going to my first #GenCon in a few weeks! Excited to explore some new games and see creative pals in person - shout if you want to catch up!
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