iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Brian Stauber @staubington.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

If you didn’t go to the world’s biggest Costco, did you even go to Utah?

Me in the freezer section of the world’s biggest Costco. It was too big

Brian Stauber @staubington.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Legendarium in Salt Lake City was incredible, if not only for these drink names. I got the “Long Way to a Small Angry Nut”

000

Reposted by Brian Stauber

Plotweaver RPG @plotweaver.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Want to explore the sci-fi world of Splinterlight? Our GM ambassadors, the Plotweaver Envoy Team, have volunteered to run games for interested players on the weekend of 9/25-9/27! Just fill out this Google Form by 11:59 PM EST, September 20th. All details are on the form! ow.ly/5Ieu50ZNzEe

Text reads: Splinterlight Alpha Weekend 9/25-9/27. Art of a short, humanoid bunny-like creating known as a frinn has a bionic arm and one bionic eye and holds what looks to be a glowing hand grenade in her outstretched bionic hand. She has a crazed look in her eyes.

21713

Brian Stauber @staubington.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Slide has one of my favorite gameplay loops of all time.

110

Brian Stauber @staubington.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Apparently back in the day they didn’t even wrap said gum, it immediately disintegrated in my mouth. @notjenyesjen.bsky.social lasted longer than me

010

Brian Stauber @staubington.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Did you even go to Cooperstown if you didn’t eat a 38 year old piece of gum?

A pack of 1988 baseball cards of which I ate the gum.

120

Brian Stauber @staubington.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Now that is some good mail. Can’t wait for the physical release!

040

Brian Stauber @staubington.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Got to play tons of Omens at GenCon and it’s such a blast!

010

Brian Stauber @staubington.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Mighty Ducks, but the one where they were actual anthropomorphic ducks who fought aliens with hockey gadgets!

040

Brian Stauber @staubington.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

The visual art is so rad, same with the mechanical design of each shard to match their place in the Cosmere. Odium not having 10’s, Preservation’s many 8 cards, so many winks and nods to the lore.

060

Brian Stauber @staubington.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

The team and cast knocked it out of the park with both mechanical adaptions of Kids in Brooms and understanding how to use those rules create a story that shows the emotional tension and release that comes with processing grief and burnout.

010

Brian Stauber @staubington.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

In preparation for my NASAGA session on how game can be designed to evoke and help process grief, I wrote up a blog post on the recent Gladlands season of @dimension20.dropout.tv. TLDR: The adaption of Kids in Brooms plus expert improvised storytelling made me cry www.nasaga.org/blog/evoking...

nasaga.org

Evoking Burnout and Grief through Mechanics in The Gladlands — NASAGA

Editor’s Notes: This is the first in a series of articles previewing presentations slated for NASAGA 2026. Register now to attend ! Also, this blog post contains minor spoilers for the Gladlan...

130

Brian Stauber @staubington.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Just hit my second Tornado Warning after two weeks in the Midwest. Now to return to my new regular weather pattern: Sun and Fog

010

Reposted by Brian Stauber

Rowan Rook and Decard @rowanrookanddecard.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Not to be a terrible bother but we would be awfully appreciative if you could check out Children of Time before it closes? If you wouldn't mind? No worries if not! bit.ly/3R1XMUu

a pangolin photo where a thought bubble shows him dreaming of the children of time alian pangolin art with the dialogue I'm terribly anxious to go to space

413448

Brian Stauber @staubington.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Shocked the Frankfurt airport doesn’t have a board game cafe, yet

120

Reposted by Brian Stauber

Kienna is making Erstwild @kiennas.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Erstwild open alpha is live ✨right now✨ So very proud of what I, @anarisis.dylangrinder.com, and the rest of the @plotweaver.bsky.social team has pulled together, and I can't wait to see what folks do in our setting 💖 Join the playtest here: discord.gg/jgqZWwcmHm

A spiritfolk (a person with an inky void-like body and a mask for a head) crouches in front of a trio of people approaching an ancient mural. Text reads, "Erstwild Open Alpha"

17331

Brian Stauber @staubington.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

The more important question is who do you stop following once you need to go higher!

110

Brian Stauber @staubington.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Games have such an amazing ability to bring people together. There were so many times where I was able to witness complete strangers bonding over game design or saw the moment where mechanics clicked into place for someone.

010

Brian Stauber @staubington.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

GenCon felt like a return to summer camp this year. Meeting so many incredible applied play folks I’ve only ever met online, demoing games with the all-star @hachettebgusa.bsky.social crew, and spending a week bunking with @jstaal.bsky.social was such a thrill.

120

Brian Stauber @staubington.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

If you didn’t play a pizza-based game while waiting for pizza, did you even go to GenCon?

Jon playing Leaning Tower of Pizza, a game using little white pizza tables to balance paper pizza slices in a tall stack.

020

Brian Stauber @staubington.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

Love their wild mechanics! Honk Daddy with its piece of bread one last year was a favorite. Grabbed Bean Wizardz this year for a coffee-based one.

010

Brian Stauber @staubington.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

We tucked away under the stadium tunnel escalator and were invited into a quick Magic draft by our hovel mate. For tornados, I give it pretty high marks

010

Brian Stauber @staubington.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

Having a young one to pass off their imagination to an algorithm at an early age is hampering them from strengthening their own creative association abilities. It’s also wild because they are sooooo many amazing analogue tools to help kiddos practice this ethically!

030

Brian Stauber @staubington.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

The physical space itself was amazing and these people did their best to make it special. Quality smells, as well. However, Wizards could have done so much more to celebrate their fans through immersive programming and personal touches. I left with all of my ~feelings~ about the company validated.

000

Brian Stauber @staubington.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

That being said, entire thing was a hodgepodge of contracted event staff who either signed NDAs with no knowledge of what they would be doing, people who showed up for catering work and were handed outfits, and vendors who were stuck in empty halls that guests weren’t allowed to enter.

100

Brian Stauber @staubington.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

Best part of the GenCon DnD Wizard Tower was the dragon puppeteers Cari’s Creatures! Their Such charming and adorable puppetry!

Me, a smiling shaved head white guy with a friend, two actors, and a fox dragon!

110

Brian Stauber @staubington.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Remember Alf? He’s back. In card-drafting form! @hachettebgusa.bsky.social

Photoshopped screenshot of the Simpsons with Milhouse holding the Alf card from Mythologies

The Alf card from Mythologies on top of a pink pile of card, all below the game’s box

010

Brian Stauber @staubington.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

All I hear is that you have a new mouse-themed push-your-luck game coming soon

030

Brian Stauber @staubington.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Indianapolis the Monday before GenCon is the most liminal space I’ve encountered. All of the skywalks and parking garages between the Marriotts are straight eerie without cars or people.

010

Brian Stauber @staubington.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

So excited to back this one! This little guy has been jamming on nature documentaries lately and I go straight to “these penguins are fine, but what if they were uplifted by a virus into a space-faring penguin society?” Now there’s a game for that.

051

Brian Stauber @staubington.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

Finally getting some solo play in of Kronologic before running demos with @hachettebgusa.bsky.social in a couple weeks at GenCon. My mind usually sputters out during complex logic puzzles but being able to visualize them geographically and temporally is so helpful and flow-inducing!

Kronologic: Cuzco 1450 setup for solo play.

110

Brian Stauber @staubington.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

Pangolem > Pangoinglem > Pangonelem Baseball Warrior Pangolin?

110

Brian Stauber @staubington.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

Sky Team still stands as my favorite game to show how they can be used for self-understanding, specifically nonverbal communication and risk tolerance. Solstis is such a cozy and fun two-player game, and my go-to for a quick game with a friend over coffee.

010

Brian Stauber @staubington.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Also, such a change in player behavior from the summer camp sessions I subbed in for last week. While much of that had to do with the age of players, setting expectations at session start and the mechanics of Daggerheart really push players to live out their characters and actually collaborate.

031

Brian Stauber @staubington.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Ran the inaugural game of Daggerheart from @darringtonpress.bsky.social at Ember Rest’s new space in Martinez last night. I always love showing players who have only touched DnD the joy of indie TTRPGs. Such a blast to have them build the world with me while sitting in a room with such vibes.

Character sheets and accessories on a table in a dimly lit, fantasy themed room

Bookshelf with glowing potions and a galaxy projection against a perpendicular wall

Tome displayed on a table with glowing cloud decorations behind it

190

Brian Stauber @staubington.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

So jealous! Gotta make a statement when desanguinating Nazis.

010

Brian Stauber @staubington.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

Just added two sessions of @landofeem.bsky.social to the calendar at @gamesofberkeley.bsky.social! The first is an introductory adventure on July 15 and is live for registration! Come get into some Jim Henson-style hijinks with me! All ages are welcome. gamesofberkeley.com/products/eve...

gamesofberkeley.com

Products — Games of Berkeley

011

Brian Stauber @staubington.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

East Bay Board Gang has been one of the best parts of moving to Berkeley. So happy to find an immediately welcoming and warm group of tabletop gamers. Got immediately pulled in to Call To Adventure tonight, making it a real @brotherwisegames.bsky.social themed week of gaming.

The components of the game Call To Adventure on a table with the box displayed. Wine barrels and chairs in the background.

041

Brian Stauber @staubington.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

Portable Wingspan! The addition to the Span cinematic universe I didn’t know I needed!

021

Brian Stauber @staubington.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

Parappa the Rapper, but that might be all in the mind.

110

Brian Stauber @staubington.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

Amazing resource for pre-session warmups for younger players! I found the games to really help them practice collaborative storytelling and serve as point of reference during the main game.

010

Brian Stauber @staubington.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

My theory: Everyone who loves Particle Man is watching the Tiny Toons short featuring the song.

020

Brian Stauber @staubington.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

Quick build before breakfast: A harbor that serves as a tomb for a famous, ancient architect and city builder. Once a majestic port, it’s now a haven for thieves and pirates who use the waterlogged catacombs for their nefarious deeds.

A story cluster. On bottom: Harbor that is a Tomb or Prison of Someone Powerful. The side include the phrases: Frequented by hunters or smugglers; Extensive subterranean features; sealed or quarantined by a faction, Gang.

010

Brian Stauber @staubington.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

The loss of conversions pits with round couches is a tragedy about which I will forever be bitter.

020

Brian Stauber @staubington.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

Just opening up the @storyenginedeck.bsky.social’s Lore Master Sampler from Free RPG Day, I’m nerding out about the design. Such a cool way to use the packaging to tell a story - what is this game and how do you play it- and hammer home the importance of intentionality in your craft.

Lore Master’s Deck Sampler from The Story Engine

Opening the first flaps, revealing information about the activity

Opening the other two flap and removing the cards to reveal full cards instructions

252

Brian Stauber @staubington.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

Law and Obligation was a hoot. Players got the Skybreaker to reject their oath thanks to my d20 deciding that “1” was the number of the day.

020

Brian Stauber @staubington.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

Two amazing adventures from @darringtonpress.bsky.social and @brotherwisegames.bsky.social ready to go for Free RPG Day! Hanging out with Game Kastle Fremont this morning before rolling back to my FLGS @gamesofberkeley.bsky.social this afternoon!

1101

Brian Stauber @staubington.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

I brought copies of Naptime, Sweet Phone by @stickydoodler.bsky.social to a facilitation this week and was so thrilled by the results: sleepy phones, tucked away in beds and out of folks' hands. It was such a fun way to begin the session and declare "We're focus on humans on the room, not screens."

A smart phone tucked away in a cute paper bed on top of two laptops, all sitting on a chair.

A smart phone tucked away in a cute paper bed on top of a laptop, all sitting on a chair.

A smart phone tucked away in a cute paper bed on top of a laptop, on top of a table with LEGO bricks on it.

120