Art by UK artist Tim White (1952 - 2020)

I wish to make all my fellow #D&D players aware that @oakthorne.bsky.social and I have determined, through intense discussion (read: brief Messenger chat), that the proper collective noun for a group of owlbears is a "whobernation."

A miniature tower for RPGs.

The inside of a miniature battle diorama for RPGs, featuring the player characters and an ooze monster.

A diorama battle for a tabletop RPG, prominently featuring Noxious Needlers.

The final battle of an RPG session, filled with monsters and furniture.

It’s been a minute! Here, have some pictures of terrain I made (or printed, or bought…it’s a mix).

Yes I misread the instructions, but I stand by it.

Amadeus vs. Predator.

Holy crap would I watch that.

I’m not sure why, but few things bring me as much joy as watching my husband scratch his back on a corner in the house like an actual literal bear.

I love him very much.

D&D winter village setup.

Writing an entire intro RPG scenario just because I forgot how great it is to run the first game for people.

Literally threw together an (1) singular encounter last weekend in like five minutes, and their fun was like a drug. I need that energy.

One thing TTRPG designers and producers often forget is that players/GMs have a limited budget of time and attention to give to their play experiences. It's certainly possible to create content that might convince players to willingly increase their time and attention.

From the rest of the country: thank you.

GenCon was amazing. Amazing. And I really like OGoA, but its scope is so different from other RPGs, and it’s so specific that I’ll really need to play it to get a great sense of how it actually plays out.

The read-through is very promising though.

I’ve played it once, and even though I also have it, yeah. It’s a bit much. But the Cypher system does a really good job of both being simpler and getting the point across.

Every time I pick up a new Cypher System book, I’m reminded how every one of them is an absolute masterpiece of tone and art.

I cracked open the Old Gods of Appalachia book that I picked up at Gen Con and was just…instantly transported.

I have purchased not one, but two supers games at this GenCon. I believe I will be doing a deep dive soon on several.

Supers is a hard genre to do right, and while Mutants and Masterminds is the masterclass in some parts, it’s not for everyone.

In Indy. Exhausted. Two IPAs was perhaps one too many, but hey. Vacation mode.

Ooooh! Those are nice!

the

real image of my D&D prep after like six hours

This time tomorrow we will be well on our way to GenCon. Still doesn’t feel like it though. This year feels weird and surreal and…thin, I guess?

Because it needs to be said again

4e did so, so many things so right. It truly doesn’t get a fair shake. It wasn’t perfect, but no game is.

If Baldur's Gate 3 is going to be an authentic recreation of D&D then you shouldn't be able to play until you've spent months exchanging emails with your companions to find two hours when everyone's available

Loveeeeeee that game.

Seriously same energy as “I can’t count past 12, so thank goodness there aren’t any numbers higher than that!”

Imagine living your whole life with the belief “God wouldn’t make people that complex.” Staggering.

Maybe start them with 5e and offer OSE later. I might be trying some DCC at GenCon this week, which is not OSE, but close? I think?

That would literally be living the workplace dream.

Okay, RPG peeps: any recommended online sources for developing character voices? Like accents, speech, etc.?

Everything I’m finding is for voiceover acting in general, which is fine, just not what I’m going for.

I just want to make funny voices for my players.

My dog loudly barking at the dogs in a black and white monster movie from the 40s and me trying to explain to her that’s the equivalent of me getting like violently pissed at Emperor Charlemagne.

Aahhhhh! The hits keep coming; the DesiQuest folks are also doing a meet & greet at GenCon. This is going to be *amazing*!