iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

StrangerSide @strangerside909.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

Saw a video on "the illusion of player agency in TTRPGs" where the first 20 seconds made it abundantly clear that all examples were going to be drawn from Actual Play (Dimension 20) and... yikes bro. I don't even need to hear your argument to know you don't know what you're talking about.

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StrangerSide @strangerside909.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

Brilliant middle-of-the-night-wakeup realization I'm going to share without fully unpacking: a games claims about the mechanics present in the game are itself game mechanics. These are very often actual tools you can use as a game designer.

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StrangerSide @strangerside909.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

I'm not ready for bluesky man. Realized today that the guy I was talking to about a thing awhile ago was the creator of said thing. I didn't say anything stupid but still feel silly.

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StrangerSide @strangerside909.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

Have a pretty challenging math problem for a game design, while trying to find time to write up a solver in Python I sent it out to my friends and they've generated pages and pages of work for me and they've had a blast riffing off it and getting stuck. This is what LLMs want to take from us.

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StrangerSide @strangerside909.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

TTRPG folks: Trying to figure out why people are so hostile towards roll under (and to a lesser extent, bell curved dice mechanics). I have some pretty good hypotheses, but any insight would be appreciated.

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StrangerSide @strangerside909.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

There's a guy who's whole science job was "Yo does this sugar water taste spicy to you?" and he got a thing named after him and everything.

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StrangerSide @strangerside909.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

I'm so nervous all the time that this TTRPG won't really work and could use a developmental editor, but those people deserve to be compensated for their time and Stranger does not have enough. Money can't buy you happiness but it sure as hell can remove obstacles between you and happiness. 😞

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StrangerSide @strangerside909.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

Looking forward to removing a mechanic from my game next time I get to sit down and write 😁

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StrangerSide @strangerside909.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

My swipe type has twice put in "Bratislava" when I went to call my wife beautiful and now I wanna know who out there even used the word enough times to get that into the model.

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StrangerSide @strangerside909.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

It's very funny to me that part of Silverquill's visual identity is that more than half the cards from that college have gray or graying hair. English degree does that to you I guess?

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StrangerSide @strangerside909.bsky.social · 12/04/2026

Anyone know any cool places for TTRPG designers to chat? I want to find a community on a site actually designed for it but I don't know enough people to start that on my own Discord thing.

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StrangerSide @strangerside909.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

Wishing I knew how to make my idea sparkle on the page the way it sparkles in my head.

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StrangerSide @strangerside909.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

If you never had to consult the Online Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences for a game design thing, what are you even doin' man?

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StrangerSide @strangerside909.bsky.social · 04/04/2026

*Me, brainstorming how to appeal to PbtA players* what if... just twice as many bulleted lists?

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StrangerSide @strangerside909.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

I know I have something good going, I know that thing has some ideas I'm in love with that might hurt the success of the good thing. I wish I had more discernment to know what's not gonna work.

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StrangerSide @strangerside909.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

Born to make fun game Forced to call customer service for multiple hours to get furniture delivered. 😔

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StrangerSide @strangerside909.bsky.social · 29/03/2026

I think impatience is, in a sense, virtuous for designers. You need to be irritated by what doesn't work in order to be really motivated to see it made better. Being content with the status quo doesn't lend itself to innovative change.

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StrangerSide @strangerside909.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

The problem with how avante-garde some of these TTRPGs are is it makes it hard to evaluate whether there's a typo or not. Bonus points for anyone who figures out how to use the rain as a resolution mechanism.

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StrangerSide @strangerside909.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

A wonderful looking resource collection from the designer of one of my favorite board games. Game designers of all stripes, take note.

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StrangerSide @strangerside909.bsky.social · 21/03/2026

Trying to find reasons to keep writing the TTRPG book despite my mental health struggles and today I saw a picture so beautiful I know who I want to create the cover art. Hoping when I'm done I can capture more than just my own beautiful ideas but show off some incredible pieces I'll commission.

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StrangerSide @strangerside909.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

New dumb headcanon: Lurrus is this one. That's why this one is on both arts.

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StrangerSide @strangerside909.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

Debating entering into a jam because prompt brain go brrrrr but at the same time if I lose I spoil my 100% win streak. 🤣

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StrangerSide @strangerside909.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

Debating a submission that's just a few decontextualized threads from a forum. Two nerds arguing the rules. Someone's homebrew class getting shredded for being unbalanced and lore-breaking. Someone debating switching from 2e to 3e.

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StrangerSide @strangerside909.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

Most game designers over here mulling over details of their worldbuilding or layout and I'm over here like "Today's thing to think about: 3d4? Is this a good one? Is it too weird? Makes a very distribution-shaped distribution."

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StrangerSide @strangerside909.bsky.social · 14/03/2026

Maybe this is a really, really stupid thought: How could a system designer fix this? How could they support the content designers and make it more of a group community-building effort, without necessarily operating inside a contractual framework with each individual designer?

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StrangerSide @strangerside909.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

I was debating writing up my own "manifesto" about how I approach game design, but ultimately decided nothing I had to say was that different or insightful. Common sense, I thought. Then I saw this one someone else made floating around and I was like "Oh, yeah, I'm the opposite of this actually."

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StrangerSide @strangerside909.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

Step one is to believe in yourself. To know that your ideas and your unique perspective matters, and that you are capable of seeing the thing through and making it reality. I am really bad at step one. But I'm going to keep trying.

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StrangerSide @strangerside909.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

Techbros: Liberals don't get excited by technology! Me, operating my new barrel cheese grater for the first time: 🤯 This is so cool.

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StrangerSide @strangerside909.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

There are plenty of people who would be better served by another system and should definitely open their mind to what all is out there. But, for more people than you would imagine, DnD is exactly the game for them. And despite the oxygen it takes up, it did bring some awesome people into the hobby.

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StrangerSide @strangerside909.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

And it was still hungry... for battle!

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StrangerSide @strangerside909.bsky.social · 04/03/2026

My new overly reductive TTRPG take is that if playing as a children's entertainer isn't a thing in your TTRPG, I don't want to play it. Adventurer can be my side hustle or whatever but I have to lead sing-a-longs as my day job.

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StrangerSide @strangerside909.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

Happy Birthday Luna! May your almonds be full of milk and your enemies fall before your mental prowess.

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StrangerSide @strangerside909.bsky.social · 02/03/2026

TMNT prerelease went well despite only 4 players. The set runs like butter and had plenty of really great games. Packs were fun to open too, lots of extra goodies beyond the deck. Gonna build Pizza Face soon.

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StrangerSide @strangerside909.bsky.social · 26/02/2026

People out here "Write the game you want to play" and "Your rulebook should be authoritative." But, guys. That's the game I always wanted. A book that supplied tools and let me build rulesets on the fly. I want to build my system to empower people. Sometimes that is as simple as granting permission.

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StrangerSide @strangerside909.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

Chirugeon Roustabout Alchemist Capo

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StrangerSide @strangerside909.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

Broke my back mid January, on pain meds to make recovery bearable. Caught a stomach bug, having problems keeping pain meds down. Hahahaha I'm in danger.

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StrangerSide @strangerside909.bsky.social · 22/02/2026

"Leaf slathered in oil" gotta be one of my favorite food genres. Pesto. Chimmichurri. Caesar salad with extra dressing. Mmmmmm yummy oil leaf.

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StrangerSide @strangerside909.bsky.social · 22/02/2026

Why TTRPG writing speaks to my mathematical soul: "Technology" in terms of game design is literally just words and how you use them. My game's character creation system is cool and novel but it's absolutely 100% equivalent to other things, just approached a certain way. That makes it unique tech.

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StrangerSide @strangerside909.bsky.social · 22/02/2026

What if a TTRPG had your character sheet on deck of cards you built as you played? What if this deck was also your conflict resolution mechanism? Sounds like an interesting hypothetical. Maybe it would end in... Disaster. 🤔 strangerside.itch.io/disaster-dec...

strangerside.itch.io

Disaster Deck - Cardbuilding TTRPG by StrangerSide

A TTRPG system where characters are decks of cards you build as you play!

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StrangerSide @strangerside909.bsky.social · 21/02/2026

Everyone posting about MTGxTMNT: This art makes me physically want to vomit. This set is horrible and disgusting. I wanna rip up my collection. Me: I had no idea TMNT was this cool. I have several great Commander adds and maybe a new deck? Should I get into the comics or is that too much?

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StrangerSide @strangerside909.bsky.social · 19/02/2026

And just like that, they fired him. Trust in AEG restored, kudos to the CEO for taking a strong stance. Hey guys, next time you head up to your FLGS snag a copy of Sheepy Time, it's a great press your luck game that oozes with an adorable theme. Drop your favorite AEG game in the comments.

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StrangerSide @strangerside909.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

Holy shit! Ryan Dancey, AEG's COO just went full mask off pro-exploitation techbro moron. Sad to see the leadership of a company that published games I love be so disrespectful to the human talent that makes those games possible. Really sour end to a bad day I've been having.

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StrangerSide @strangerside909.bsky.social · 17/02/2026

Didn't get any of the reading/ writing I wanted to get done on my day off, but I got good rest and made a good meal (chimichurri tacos). It's hard to stay motivated to create but taking care of myself is a win and sometimes that's the only one I get.

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StrangerSide @strangerside909.bsky.social · 16/02/2026

Tell me what you guys would think if you opened a TTRPG book and the page borders be doing this shit.

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StrangerSide @strangerside909.bsky.social · 16/02/2026

Okay bluesky's algorithm lost track of my cool TTRPG people and I need it back on track. Ummmm Dragon Game bad. System matters (unless it doesn't). Ummmm rules matter (but homebrew also good). Now some keywords... ludonarrative dissonance diegetic mechanism fictional positioning. Discourse. There.

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StrangerSide @strangerside909.bsky.social · 16/02/2026

Do you like Slay The Spire and daily word puzzle games, but wish Slay The Spire constantly inundated you with deviously tricky word puzzles? Holy cow is that a specific request but do I have the game for you! store.steampowered.com/app/3531630/...

store.steampowered.com

Save 20% on Tomb of the Bloodletter on Steam

Tomb of the Bloodletter is a strategic word roguelike where your keyboard becomes your arsenal. Use your wit to unleash deadly words through tactical combinations of your letters to defeat the denizen...

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StrangerSide @strangerside909.bsky.social · 15/02/2026

Question for TTRPG folks: I'm starting a section in my big system rulebook for "Inclusive Gaming" for stuff like safety tools, addressing disability, and respectfully addressing sensitive topics. Do you feel this content is important to address? Why or why not? Any good examples I might draw from?

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StrangerSide @strangerside909.bsky.social · 12/02/2026

Nikki Case's "The Evolution of Trust" slots in nicely after the video here to let us think about why modern societal behavior evolved this way: ncase.me/trust/ I did like what she added about us not replacing third spaces (like church) with anything. We lack community building places.

ncase.me

The Evolution of Trust

an interactive guide to the game theory of why & how we trust each other

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StrangerSide @strangerside909.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

Debating writing a TTRPG but realizing that the source material very much ignores a litany of serious ethical questions that I'm beholden to address *somehow* in the text and not sure how to crack it. Wish I could afford a crack team of sensitivity consultants and maybe a philosopher 🤣

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StrangerSide @strangerside909.bsky.social · 10/02/2026

TTRPG Thought: Killing PCs isn't a bad idea because players get attached, killing players is often bad because the GM-antagonist is trying to thwart character goals, and death isn't the coolest way to do that (unless the goal is just "survive"). Don't aim at the PC. Aim at what matters to them.

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