iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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The Weekly Scroll @theweeklyscroll.com · 11/10/2026

Just added a mobile friendly version of this, for those that don't have a printer/prefer your phone/whatever reason you like.

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C is for Crombil @zhenwa40.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

Happy birthday! I’ve known you for over a third of life! It’s been a privilege to be involved in over a quarter of your life. I hope to share in it for as long as I can.

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Rascal News @rascal.news · 08/10/2026

Playtest Material is for the writers www.rascal.news/playtest-mat...

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C is for Crombil @zhenwa40.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Oh, right, my most salient reaction to the experience was: “it’s like a MC/GM giving player prompts to build a dungeon for them, which then the MC has to run through with the players acting as the GM.”

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Sparky @sparkybee.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

This truly means the world to hear. MCing Under Hollow Hills has been a magical experience, and I wanted to do that feeling justice, but to have Vincent Baker read my review and say this about my writing has simply floored me.

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C is for Crombil @zhenwa40.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Other highlights include numerous drama with summoning the Mice Clans: 1. Calling on a Panther whomst attacked the groom of a wedding, putting ‘em in danger 2. Summoning violent mousey clans & their animals, which reqiees circus powers to corral them into an animal act. Honest magic in UHH.

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C is for Crombil @zhenwa40.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

I played in that game as Button! @sparkybee.bsky.social is an incredible MC, allowing so much creative freedom for Operation Scrooge to convince Father Winter to not freeze humanity in an eternal Winter. Button as Jacob Marley laughed evilly before falling through a trap door (w/ a bruised side).

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Sparky @sparkybee.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

You can buy words of mine straight from Tuesday Knight Games now! A year ago I never would have even imagined this as a possibility. Thanks to Quinns Quest, Sean McCoy, Over/Under, my C/O Labs crew, and everyone I've ever played with for leading to this! www.tuesdayknightgames.com/products/sub...

tuesdayknightgames.com

Subarktic

Navia refuses to be terraformed. Rare elements stay locked beneath its icy crust. Team after team has disappeared thanks to the violent weather, which strikes with frightening speed, and eerie precisi...

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MeatCastle GameWare @meatcastlegameware.com · 01/10/2026

I finished all of Big Walk last night and can't stop thinking about the game's best design bits and how I could use them at my TTRPG tables. You can read my thoughts in this FREE post over on Patreon: www.patreon.com/MeatCastleGa...

patreon.com

Learning From Big Walk To Run Better TTRPG Sessions | MeatCastle GameWare

I completed the entirety of Big Walk last night. It’s an incredibly special game, and I can’t stop thinking about how I could bring some of

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Playtest Material Magazine @playtestmaterial.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

This is a huge achievement for everyone involved but special thanks has to go to all of the writers: Amelia Stephen, Anna Simpson @selenedijon.bsky.social , Benjamin Klug @silkandstone.itch.io , D. Zhen C. @zhenwa40.bsky.social , David Blandy @davidblandyrpgs.bsky.social ,

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C is for Crombil @zhenwa40.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Sorry to read that - I’ve always enjoyed your work, and clear and identifiable it is. No pressure, but I’ll be looking forward to your return.

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alex v @alexvalente.fyi · 28/09/2026

a month ago five of us played Harvest, by @wildwoodsgames.bsky.social; four of us joined forces to write about it enter @glaedth.bsky.social @zhenwa40.bsky.social @joao.omg.lol as we begin our little play...

playpretend.fyi

Was it all worth it? A narrative review of Harvest

A play in three acts, a review in four voices.

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C is for Crombil @zhenwa40.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Alex was a star in proofreading - helped me sharpen up ideas, particularly my conclusion to deliver with more punch.

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alex v @alexvalente.fyi · 26/09/2026

i got to read this one in the editing stage, and it's a really intriguing mapping that zhen does of the two modes of storytelling!

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C is for Crombil @zhenwa40.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

I also gotta thank @laurieoc.bsky.social for allowing me to keep most of the content of the piece. Honestly a touch embarrassed to be the biggest article by page number side-to-side with folks I admire.

Contents page for Playtest Material issue 1, section: Storytelling and the Stage. Image: Cover Detail by Tori Trusiow.
- “Determining a Melodramatic Sensibility in Tabletop Role-playing Games”. Kayla Dice.Pages 12-18
- “Spectating Play: Theatre, RPGs, and Critical Spectatorship”. Nicholas Orvis. Pages 19-25
Sitting Down and Telling Stories:
- “TTRPGS and Rakugo”. D "Zhen" C. Pages 26-36

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C is for Crombil @zhenwa40.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

I am grateful for the opportunity as a humble fan of TTRPGs to write for @playtestmaterial.bsky.social. I went into this writing with serious academic rigour, and the editing experience was really helpful in trying to make is parseable. It’s also just fun to be able to use quotes like this:

The audience for this game was a single session game (a “oneshot”) featuring players who had never played the game before. A feature of Mythic Bastionland is the “weirdness” of the setting and open interpretation of the gameworld. This is exemplified, for example, by the entry of the Screaming Seer, whose details are replaced with “RAAAAAARGH!” and “YAAAAAAAAAARRRHG!!” respectively, a reading which can be comic or tragic depending on specific interpretation by the GM and players.

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Emily✨ @emilyoram.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Always a treat to be reminded of an old friend

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Bethany Brookshire @beebrookshire.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Today in a thing I cannot believe I have to do... I basically had to set up 2-Factor Authentication. On MYSELF. On my work. Because people are out there impersonating science journalists to take their work. Yes really. brookshire-team-trash.beehiiv.com/p/2-factor-a...

brookshire-team-trash.beehiiv.com

2-Factor Authorification

I hate that I even have to do this.

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Playtest Material Magazine @playtestmaterial.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Thank you all so much for such an impressive subscription drive so far! We are at 49/75 subs: Nearly two thirds of the way to what we need, and we've more than quadrupled our original subcriber base in less than 24 hours.

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Playtest Material Magazine @playtestmaterial.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

A serious one today. "This is a call to our readers and future readers: please, consider before scrolling away, if you think our magazine is worth £18+postage. It is not just an investment in a bundle of paper, but in meaningful critique in the ttrpg space." playtestmaterial.org/playtest-mat...

playtestmaterial.org

Playtest Material launches its first ever subscription drive

Playtest Material needs 75 subscribers to break even — one of those could be you.

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Laurie O'Connel (is looking for ttrpg work (in Dublin)) @laurieoc.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Hello, this is a big deal! And the culmination of a lot of very hard work by people that have amazing stuff to say about TTRPGs. And so I am politely asking my more famous friends and mutuals to repost.

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Playtest Material Magazine @playtestmaterial.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Oh dear... is that somebody leaking (part of) the table of contents for issue one of playtest material? Thank goodness we were able to contain it before they managed to launch a subscription drive.

Regular table of contents
Editorials & Thematic Essays
David Blandy–Laurie O’Connel–Karen David
Storytelling and the Stage
Kayla Dice–Nicholas Orvis–D. “Zhen” C.
Reviews & Case Studies
Stephen Wilds–Luka Brave –Miriam Jackel-Dewhurst–Philippa Mort
Experimental Writing & Art

Tori Truslow–Anna Simpson–Milo Cassidy
Playing With Words

Irving Benitez–Benjamin Klug–Amelia Stephen–Noa Chazan
Opinion & Events

Evan Torner–Ian Badcoe–Iain McAllister–John Lee Brougher

ToC: Storytelling and the stage

Sitting Down and Telling Stories: learning TTRPG skills from Rakugo
D. “Zhen” C.
Pages 11-23

Determining a Melodramatic Sensibility in Tabletop Role-playing Games
Kayla Dice
Pages 24-29
Spectating play: theatre, rpgs and critical spectatorship
Nicholas Orvis

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Playtest Material Magazine @playtestmaterial.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

New on the site: "From itchio to Paizo, you can feel cultures of play changing, people poking at the edges of things, tuning engines, hacking codes, patching broken hardware and seeing what this baby can do" @davidblandyrpgs.bsky.social @laurieoc.bsky.social playtestmaterial.org/role-playing...

playtestmaterial.org

Role-playing Games Are Raucous and Transformative

Introductions from the editors to the first issue of Playtest Material.

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Crimson Adder Curiosities @crimsonaddergames.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

I have a solo/co-op RPG on Gamefund. Myco//Drift is a biopunk RPG in which players take on the roles of genetically altered pilots bonded to skyscraper-sized fungal bio-mechs fighting Kaiju mutant bugs! gamefound.com/en/projects/... #ttrpg #indieRPG #ttrpgcommunity #biopunk

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C is for Crombil @zhenwa40.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

‘Tis a thing I aspire to in my works/GM’ing - make an meaningful experience in & out of the table. Also, Toy Story is my favourite film series of all time. 🤘

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C is for Crombil @zhenwa40.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

[Setting semi spoiler] I adore how the theme is used to talk about dealing w/heartbreaking family situations. I believe expressing conflict that balances talking about “the real” wrapped around “the cosy” creates an experience transcending the barriers of the magic circle, which is very special.

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C is for Crombil @zhenwa40.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

@dimension20.dropout.tv’s new season has arrived in a timely manner! I’ve been reading the works of Charles Causley & A. A. Milne as a means of studying 20th century British writing themes & aesthetics. Conflict in such works, while mundane & simple, is very important in being well understood IMO.

Image of two books - one of “Winnie the Pooh the complete collection” and another “Collected Poems for Children, Charles Causley”.

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Dr. Emily Friedman @ecfriedman.com · 16/09/2026

One of the great things about being in the same city as my grad school bestie is driving around with her & her telling me this and me FLAILING LIKE A MUPPET in the passenger’s seat.

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🪼Ghost Jellyfishlines 🔜 PaxU🪼 @jellyfishlines.itch.io · 12/09/2026

Mom shattered her toe and can’t work for a little bit. She’s a waitress and the main breadwinner of the home. Anything helps if you can spare. ko-fi.com/jellyfishlin...

ko-fi.com

Support Jellyfishlines

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Bat Terror @mattthr.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

My CHRONICALLY UNFIT daughter is training for a HALF MARATHON to raise money for a charity that helped her mum, my wife, survive a potentially life ending illness. If you've got a spare quid, could you encourage her please? www.justgiving.com/page/jasmine...

justgiving.com

Jasmine's fundraiser for Aortic Dissection Awareness UK & Ireland

Help Jasmine Thrower raise money to support Aortic Dissection Awareness UK & Ireland

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Playtest Material Magazine @playtestmaterial.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

hello proofreaders, early readers and artists. We are putting the final touches on issue one in the next two weeks. If anybody would like to spare some time to proofread or early read a few articles, or provide an editorial illustration, we are looking for volunteers. Please get in touch!

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Thomas M, Full-time Rascal @newmadras.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

This is one of the first stories I pitched at Rascal when I joined in 2024. I did the reporting then but didn't write it then for complicated reasons. Earlier this year, I ran the game again. When I sat down to write, I had a lot to say and it all came pouring out.

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paisley ghostlywhispers @nerdywhispers.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Send me your character sheet and use code CHARACTERSHEET for a 25% discount on TTRPG Characters! #dnd #commissions #opencommissions #illustration ko-fi.com/nerdywhispers

TTRPG (Tabletop Roleplaying Game Character) Commission Sale! Send me your Character Sheet for a discount. 25% off on full-body fantasy/sci-fi illustrations starting at $25usd. I will do OCs (Original Characters), no reference-image requests, NSFW, and horror material.

I take payments through Ko-fi, PayPal, and Venmo.

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C is for Crombil @zhenwa40.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

While Wanderhome, one of my fav games of all time, would not exist without BoB: I want to give a shout out to The Quiet Year. I played it into the night with one of my oldest friends while he polished copper jewellry he made me. I hope he has the map still.

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Bethany Black @bethanyblack.bsky.social · 17/01/2025

One of the greatest line reads of all time. Tim Curry for Command And Conquer, clearly it was a one and done and he could barely stop laughing at the ridiculousness of the line. Perfection

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Quinns @itsquinns.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Adolescence is amazing because it really makes it a game about *change*. Tons of games have casts of characters that you fall in love with. Exocolonist makes you fall in and out of love, then back in again

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Laurie O'Connel (is looking for ttrpg work (in Dublin)) @laurieoc.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Only available in print: The Rat Line is a new solo roleplaying game by Laurie O'Connel. Using a pack of playing cards and your own wits, play as an investigative reporter looking into the secret rat-line of arms operated by the CIA and MI6 during the Syrian Civil War (2012-15).

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C is for Crombil @zhenwa40.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

[insert Friedemann Friese throwing out his entire design document for a feather collecting board game]

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Matthew SlAyers @matthewayers.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

The physical version of Blightfall is now available for purchase! quadaygames.com/products/bli... It includes all of the PDFs, as well as PDFs for the new bonus class, The Palace--which released today!

quadaygames.com

Blightfall Corebook - Physical + PDFs

Blightfall is a dark fantasy TTRPG for a GM and 3-5 players. Doomed villagers infected with darkness sacrifice shreds of their humanity for the power to protect their home. A unique system featurin...

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Afraid of Encounters (He/Him) @isaacisafraid.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

THE INDONESIAN TTRPG SCENE IS GROWING DAY BY DAY

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John Scalzi @scalzi.com · 13/08/2026

Reminder: 1. You don't need to have an opinion on everything, especially stuff you don't know enough about 2. You don't need to have a PUBLIC opinion on everything 3. It's okay to focus on one or two things and let others take up the slack elsewhere 4. It's okay to take a break when overwhelmed.

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C is for Crombil @zhenwa40.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

I’ve been wondering if antagonistic GM are at the root of OD&D? Tomb of Horrors, the classic meat-grinder dungeon, literally has a part where the module instructs you to lie to your players, feigning being defeated when players escape with the “treasure” from a fake final room.

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Dr. Emily Friedman @ecfriedman.com · 08/08/2026

To encounter the right poem at the right time — whew. “I want a word that means okay and not okay, more than that: a word that means devastated and stunned with joy. I want the word that says I feel it all all at once.” [Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer, “For When People Ask”]

For When People Ask
Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer
I want a word that means okay and not okay,
more than that: a word that means
devastated and stunned with joy.
I want the word that says I feel it all all at once.
The heart is not like a songbird singing only one note at a time, more like a Tuvan throat singer
able to sing both a drone and simultaneously
two or three harmonics high above it—
a sound, the Tuvans say, that gives the impression of wind swirling among rocks.
The heart understands swirl,
how the churning of opposite feelings weaves through us like an insistent breeze
leads us wordlessly deeper into ourselves,
blesses us with paradox. so we might walk more openly into this world so rife with devastation, this world so ripe with joy.
@thelitarchives

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