iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Simon Burley 🔜 Furnace @squadronuk.bsky.social · 4h

Looks good. I’d repost it but there are far too many crowd funding projects out there ATM IMHO.

010

Simon Burley 🔜 Furnace @squadronuk.bsky.social · 5h

I really, really like this. This might prompt me to design a whole new convention scenario.

110

Simon Burley 🔜 Furnace @squadronuk.bsky.social · 7h

He dug a pit they fell into on the way.

110

Simon Burley 🔜 Furnace @squadronuk.bsky.social · 7h

* Finest Hour Terror Firma Going for Gold Hunters Superfrance Megavillains The Long Minute Et al But I don’t think I can be arsed. Sorry.

000

Simon Burley 🔜 Furnace @squadronuk.bsky.social · 7h

Ta for the kind words. There’s no work in leaving SqUK up on drivethru. The work would be in writing a new edition using better publishing software (I wrote in it turn of the century MS word) & far better image handling protocols. & converting SqUK v.1 materials and unpublished GH materials to it.*

110

Simon Burley 🔜 Furnace @squadronuk.bsky.social · 8h

Beat me to it! Great minds think alike but you thunk it first.

100

Simon Burley 🔜 Furnace @squadronuk.bsky.social · 8h

“Rehearsals” I LIKE that! I have a superhero scenario where the PCs are supposed to practice fighting a mega-villain in their danger room over and over again until they’ve honed their tactics. You can rehearse a scene to see what works before doing it “for real”.

110

Simon Burley 🔜 Furnace @squadronuk.bsky.social · 11h

…info from the previous day’s games. After the event they get emailed the final edition covering the climax to the weekend’s campaign. I can fantasise, eh? Who’d volunteer to do all that work?

000

Simon Burley 🔜 Furnace @squadronuk.bsky.social · 11h

Some people volunteer to come along not to play but specifically to write and publish a newspaper. As people arrive on Friday they’re given an edition containing all the info leading up to the weekends games. The Saturday and Sunday morning they wake up to a printed edition containinG stories and…

100

Simon Burley 🔜 Furnace @squadronuk.bsky.social · 11h

…newspaper mock-up. They’d’ve had to pay an artist to draw one. And even with today’s technology, I’m not sure I’d want to produce 3 or 4 papers per week - with classifieds - as Saxman suggested. I DO still have my fantasy of someone coming to “SuperCon” a weekend long Supherhero convention.

100

Simon Burley 🔜 Furnace @squadronuk.bsky.social · 11h

…in the news. Its use back then producing the actual papers was extremely difficult. Games Workshop had a single Word Processor (they called it a typesetter) which was used to produce White Dwarf in the daytime and Golden Heroes in the evenings. It wouldn’t have been able to easily handle a…

100

Simon Burley 🔜 Furnace @squadronuk.bsky.social · 11h

Great idea! Can I refer the honourable gentleman to Superhero ‘44 (1977) where Donald Saxman suggests the campaign runner publishes several newspapers (of different political bents) complete with classified ads every week. And also Golden Heroes (1984) where the scenario lists the major stories…

110

Simon Burley 🔜 Furnace @squadronuk.bsky.social · 11h

Oh, I was just using it as an excuse to muscle in on someone else’s thread and maybe gain a new follower or two.

110

Simon Burley 🔜 Furnace @squadronuk.bsky.social · 11h

12 Could we tie it in with those? Or could we given every player one commercial break per game? When things are looking very bad, the player calls a commercial break. This gives a pause in the game and gives the players a chance to reframe the current situation. Waddya think? 12/fin

530

Simon Burley 🔜 Furnace @squadronuk.bsky.social · 11h

11 …and other quirks in the game this was just one too many layers away from traditional dice-driven play. But that’s one idea for your game - Product Placement. B) Commercial breaks. I haven’t used this one yet or even worked out how to do it. We call “comfort breaks” in convention games. 11

110

Simon Burley 🔜 Furnace @squadronuk.bsky.social · 11h

10 I wasn’t sponsored or anything, it was just a good eclectic list.) If a player managed to work their given product into a scene, they received a plot twist as a bonus. Product placement - Truman Show style. I don’t recall it adding anything to the game. On top of the plot twists… 10

120

Simon Burley 🔜 Furnace @squadronuk.bsky.social · 11h

9 …this reward includes an instant plot twist. It gives players a reason to engage with the narrative and push it forward. In the Alien: Earth game I dealt people random sub-plots as usual. But I also dealt them a random consumer product. (I actually printed out a list of Unilever products. 9

130

Simon Burley 🔜 Furnace @squadronuk.bsky.social · 11h

8 These are wonderful. It’s like the GM giving sweeties to the players. So it’s good when players get them. In the rules, each player gets a sub-plot for their character (eg. “You think you’re infect with an alien virus”) When they resolve that sub-plot they get a reward. In con games… 8

110

Simon Burley 🔜 Furnace @squadronuk.bsky.social · 11h

7 Naturally I used my 2d6 shenanigans rules - The Code of the Sapcelanes in this case, it being SciFi. www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/1... As most of you know, in these rules when you roll a double you get to choose from a list of plot twists - save a re roll, change the plot etc. 7

drivethrurpg.com

The Code of the Spacelanes | Simon Burley Productions | Simon Burley Productions | DriveThruRPG

THE CODE OF THE SPACE-LANES is the latest Science Fiction Adventure Role-playing game. Specifically designed to focus upon the Heroes, their Adventures and the Dilemmas they face - rather than spendin...

110

Simon Burley 🔜 Furnace @squadronuk.bsky.social · 11h

6 A) A few months ago I ran some “Alien: Earth” scenarios at conventions - well one scenario run several times. Remember “Alien: Earth”? Streaming. Come. Gone. Despite all my work and the game being fun, there’s not much point in offering it now there series has come and gone. 6

200

Simon Burley 🔜 Furnace @squadronuk.bsky.social · 11h

5 * I bet most of my reader won’t get either of these references. Film getting stuck in the gate and burning? How does that relate to Monty Python? Is there any mileage in building this meta-framework into a game? I point 2 possibilities (which you will understand, I promise). 5

100

Simon Burley 🔜 Furnace @squadronuk.bsky.social · 11h

4 - Instead of healing you “refresh your make-up”. - If it looks like you;re going to get hurt or killed you “call in the stunt double”. - in a dire situation, PCs can club together and escape anything because the film gets caught in the gate and burns - Monty Python style.* 4

220

Simon Burley 🔜 Furnace @squadronuk.bsky.social · 11h

3 ..and brining in some meta elements? The poster child for this is “It came from the late, late, late show” TTRPG. You play through plots from old-time horror, monster, SciFi movies but you’re simultaneously playing the character and the actor portraying that character. Things like: 3

Cover for IT CAME FROM THE LATE LATE LATE SHOW TTRPG by Stellaer Games. Plain white cover with red text and a B&W illustration of a zombie couple on the sofa watching something which scares them on an old type TV set.

110

Simon Burley 🔜 Furnace @squadronuk.bsky.social · 11h

2 …people living out their fantasies of writing, producing, directing or starring in a Hollywood blockbuster. There’s so much Mothership a round ATM. That’s just ”Alien” right? So, if we’re making our own film or TV series anyway, is there any mileage in stepping out, breaking the forth wall… 2

100

Simon Burley 🔜 Furnace @squadronuk.bsky.social · 11h

#TTRPGTHOUGHTS 1 Is there any mileage in introducing the meta-infrastructure of media into TTRPG sessions? I see a LOT of faux movie posters advertising APs. Bless ‘em. They’re living out their fantasies of being Hollywood superstars. But many TTRPG game sessions are basically… 1

110

Simon Burley 🔜 Furnace @squadronuk.bsky.social · 12h

…a better gaming experience than poor people. Some people at conventions are well off. Some have very little spare cash.

110

Simon Burley 🔜 Furnace @squadronuk.bsky.social · 12h

Look. All I said was I want to SEE the die rolls because of the communal cheers when things go good. Fudging was mentioned as an ASIDE. Don’t blame me for the discourse. As for FUNDING. I was at a convention where you could BUY and re roll for 20p. For charity. Hated it. Rich people buying…

210

Reposted by Simon Burley 🔜 Furnace

Paul @spookshow71.bsky.social · 12h

the artefact on planet 12 #digitalart #scifi #rpg

Beneath two distant planets, a strange vaguely cylindrical floating rock structure or mechanism, its interior lit by a billowing blue fire. Three tiny observers look on from below,

411022

Reposted by Simon Burley 🔜 Furnace

Savage Spiel @savagespiel.bsky.social · 22h

While I'm not a dice company, shout out to Roll 4 Initiative who make larger than average dice with nice big numbers on. While I can't recommend all their designs, they have plenty with excellent contrast. role4initiative.com

role4initiative.com

Role 4 Initiative | DnD Dice & TTRPG Accessories for Every Game Event

Shop quality, affordable TTRPG products, including DnD dice, polyhedral dice, Dungeon Tiles, miniatures, DM screens, and more. Perfect for your next adventure, business, or event. Bulk and wholesale o...

171

Simon Burley 🔜 Furnace @squadronuk.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Much better was the episode about the Garden of Gethsmene which is a fantastic treatise of the REAL costs of forgiveness. Stay for the very last scene.

040

Reposted by Simon Burley 🔜 Furnace

James Morton @glesga-grognard.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Ownership of this car in the UK requires that you change your name by deed poll to either Commander Straker, Captain Scarlet or Jason King

5151

Reposted by Simon Burley 🔜 Furnace

Paul @spookshow71.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

strange house #digitalhouse #rpg #D&D #fantasy

A strange structure of roofs and rails and structures atop a pinnacle of rock

410623

Simon Burley 🔜 Furnace @squadronuk.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

I’m always grateful when people engage with my threads. I value and agree with every response. I TRY to engage back in case it discourages future engagement. But you clearly haven’t played in one of my games of The Black Hack. Everyone’s rolling attack or defence all at the same time.

110

Simon Burley 🔜 Furnace @squadronuk.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Everyone is different but…. …why do you think I referee so much? I find playing and waiting my turn very difficult.

110

Simon Burley 🔜 Furnace @squadronuk.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

“Edited”⁉️❓ What evidence do you have more making this preposterous assertion❓

120

Simon Burley 🔜 Furnace @squadronuk.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

To a certain extent,yes. But repositioning and complex tactics can be announced between rounds. TBH and Td6H et al tend more towards “Theatre of the Mind” than tactical figures and playmats anyway. (Don‘t ask me how they handle RANGES,,,,,)

000

Simon Burley 🔜 Furnace @squadronuk.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

…thoroughly at every level❓ You got me. Watch my sales plummet now.

210

Simon Burley 🔜 Furnace @squadronuk.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

I’ve honestly never played TBH or Td6H to higher levels.* Could be true but I suspect not. It’s only the to hit and to defend rolls that are rolled simultaneously. Damage rolls are rolled in turn as normal when people say “I’m hit” or “I’ve been hit”. * What⁉️ You sell a game you haven’t tested…

110

Simon Burley 🔜 Furnace @squadronuk.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

…interested in hearing more. Unless you’re sick and tired of explaining yourself.

200

Simon Burley 🔜 Furnace @squadronuk.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Thanks for reading. The “should” was probably a bit strong. The communal watching of the rocks rolling is behaviour the evolves organically and something I enjoy, Byr it’s not something I enforce. You’ve probably posted about “wondering attentions spans” before. But I for, one, would be…

120

Simon Burley 🔜 Furnace @squadronuk.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

9 …to the end of my daily threads. 9/fin

060

Simon Burley 🔜 Furnace @squadronuk.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

8 (80% of the complaints about D&D play - gone!) No. It’s about the communal moment where everyone sees YOUR dice add complications or come up trumps. Dice companies please place links to your easy read dice here and we’ll report them. Won’t we guys? It’s a good test to see if anyone reads… 8

450

Simon Burley 🔜 Furnace @squadronuk.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

7 …I have everyone make their attack rolls simultaneously. We don’t need to go around the table in turn every single round seeing if each PC hits their particular goblin or not. Everyone rolls at the same time and just announces if they hit. It’s fast, furious and fun. 7

230

Simon Burley 🔜 Furnace @squadronuk.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

6 And of the ones that are likely to “fudge” a result (we even have ways to make cheating sound nice - mmmmm fudge) they’re as likely to fudge to lose as to succeed. (Go figure.) When I run games like The Black Hack (or my own d6 Hack) www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/3... I have… 6

drivethrurpg.com

The d6 Hack - the full rules | Simon Burley Productions | Simon Burley Productions | DriveThruRPG

A Complete Fantasy Table-Top Role-Playing Game. Specially designed for Beginners. Plays just like the most popular games making in the perfect introduction to the hobby. Wizards, Warriors, Dragons, Du...

120

Simon Burley 🔜 Furnace @squadronuk.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

5 Apart from the fact that spinners takes longer than dice, we then have to wait for you to read & announce the results. Seconds for each roll, maybe, but it gets tedious real fast. This isn’t about trust. I trust you. Unless you give me reason not to. 99% of TTRPG players are about the game. 5

170

Simon Burley 🔜 Furnace @squadronuk.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

4 Several things work against this: - dice fetishists that buy exotic dice which are difficult to read. - promotional do’s where the 1 or the 6 (it isn’t consistent) is replaced by a funky symbol. - dice apps on phones. - device which replaces dice. The one below is what prompted this thread. 4

Steampunk/Keyring style machine allowing you to spin to get results instead of throwing a dice.

340

Simon Burley 🔜 Furnace @squadronuk.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

3 No Referee screen. “Things are looking bad….oh no! I rolled a success!” Really? But the one I’m writing about today is DICE. The Referee & player need to roll dice that can be easily read & understood by everyone at the table. As soon as those rocks hit the deck I want to know what happens. 3

350

Simon Burley 🔜 Furnace @squadronuk.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

2 Everybody should be watching as their comrades and the Referee roll their dice and cheering or booing at the outcome. It’s a fun communal experience. A vital part of the game IMHO. Especially when it’s a vital roll and/or a critical success/failure comes up. Several things follow. 2

180

Simon Burley 🔜 Furnace @squadronuk.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

#TTRPFTHOUGHTS 1 I want to able to read your dice from the other side of the table. If you’re in game involving die-rolling in the spotlight, taking turns, everybody should be watching the person/people rolling. No phones, to talking away from the events at the table, v. Little rule-checking. 1

4110