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Darran (writes games)

@dbnolan.bsky.social

17 followers 22 following 94 posts

Body horror enthusiast, tea drinker, maker of noise and RPGs. Autistic, XVX, and a proud forever GM.

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Darran (writes games) @dbnolan.bsky.social · Aug 26

Lute the Body: A necromantic musical odyssey for 1-4 players and a GM

A one page TTRPG in which the players take control of spirits that pilot the corpse of a recently slain bard through the awesome power of singing.

Think Octodad meets The Voice
(free/pwyw) dbnolan.itch.io/lute-the-body

Darran (writes games) @dbnolan.bsky.social · Sep 11

- A list of ancient, (occasionally comical) misdemeanors that was kept and added to by the staff
- A set of keys on a ring, one of which seems in suspiciously good condition for its age
- Ancient, well loved dog toys.

Darran (writes games) @dbnolan.bsky.social · Sep 8

We all had a 'ripping' good time in the end.

And an AI slop regurgitating Saturn (of Devouring his Son fame) was executed for Fair Gold, which was nice.

Darran (writes games) @dbnolan.bsky.social · Sep 7

For my part in this (GM), session intro (thank you, Therapy Vulture), and will be indulging in some of the tropiest of tropes. For satire, of course.

And our Emotion Knight has a classic Valley Girl accent "on stream", but is actually from Wigan and no one knows. So that will be fun.

2/2

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Darran (writes games) @dbnolan.bsky.social · Sep 7

Today we are playing @kierongillen.bsky.social and @rowanrookanddecard.bsky.social 's Die TTRPG.

Our personas are attempting to start an actual play of Die, pretending they're all good friends who happened to have a game together already, rather than the cynical bandwagon jumpers that they are

1/2

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Darran (writes games) @dbnolan.bsky.social · Sep 6

I've explained "it's simple, you just..." and then trailed off into minutiae because I've forgotten I've had an idea or system squatting in my brain for ages more times than I'd like to admit.

Keep it simple is good advice, so is learning the difference between simple and familiar.

Darran (writes games) @dbnolan.bsky.social · Sep 6

The puzzle game I've been doing narrative stuff for has a little trailer. Expect fiendish slidey puzzling and
[L O R E] galore #gamedev #indiegames

Hypnic Jerk @hypnic.jerk.software · Sep 6

New demo focusing on the new mine zone mechanics, along with some hidden stuff.

hypnic-jerk.itch.io/slips

#GodotEngine #puzzle #trailer

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Darran (writes games) @dbnolan.bsky.social · Sep 5

She has recently taken to bringing me her toys in the morning. She's very sure of what she wants out of life.

Darran (writes games) @dbnolan.bsky.social · Sep 5

She's a little bit bigger now, but this is Pib.

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Darran (writes games) @dbnolan.bsky.social · Sep 4

I'm one half of a duo making a sliding puzzle game with unnecessarily deep lore and a story with big existential themes.

It's like those pokemon puzzles, but a whole game and sad.

Darran (writes games) @dbnolan.bsky.social · Sep 4

I can't believe it is real

Darran (writes games) @dbnolan.bsky.social · Sep 4

Happy Silksong Release Day to everyone who celebrates.

Darran (writes games) @dbnolan.bsky.social · Sep 4

Fancy sharing this weird d20 of yours? I too would like a punishment shovel.

Darran (writes games) @dbnolan.bsky.social · Sep 4

What have I been up to, I hear you ask? I've been writing fake ad-reads for the fake Actual Play that is the framing devices for my game of Die this Sunday.

This post is brought to you by Therapy Vulture: pick your psyche clean and use my referral code ThisCantCarrion for 10% off your first month.

Darran (writes games) @dbnolan.bsky.social · Sep 4

1. They often solve a problem without providing a solution (tyrant king: dead, no plan for succession, gives our loot and we'll skedaddle)

2. Goddamn it, I learnt Fireball, so I 'm going to solve this problem using Fireball.

I think proper signposting of in-game consequence solves both of these.

Darran (writes games) @dbnolan.bsky.social · Sep 4

As a teacher (and autistic myself), it really seems that no decisions are made with any consideration of downstream consequences for anything other than the spreadsheet. Especially when it comes to SEND provision.

I hope a solution that works for your son and for you is found soon

Darran (writes games) @dbnolan.bsky.social · Sep 3

If you're up for something daft and different, I have a chaotic one page that you can play for free here:
dbnolan.itch.io/lute-the-body

If not me, then Spire: the City Must Fall is pretty great for one shots

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Darran (writes games) @dbnolan.bsky.social · Sep 3

Great game this, everything about it is gorgeous and considered.

That is to say, I was going to suggest this too!

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Darran (writes games) @dbnolan.bsky.social · Sep 3

A bunch of years ago, I wrote a song about a particular intersection of my autism and my mental health. While I am very proud of it, I wish it weren't still relevant to me.

It's a screamy (screamo / skramz), song.

We're getting around to our next record, slowly. Life, as it does, gets in the way

Doused in Petrol and I'm Holding a Match, by Charlotte Light and Dark

from the album Postcards from Anhedonia

charlottelightanddark.bandcamp.com

Darran (writes games) @dbnolan.bsky.social · Sep 3

- We have an agreed day that is the same every week.
- We will play our main campaign if 1 player is missing.
- We will play a one shot in a different system if 2 players are missing
- The whole group shouldn't be punished because someone can't make it.
- FOMO is a great attendance driver.

Darran (writes games) @dbnolan.bsky.social · Sep 3

As long as they're clear that, however the clock moves forward, time will continue to pass - it should be fine.

Even better if the challenge at time up is still accessible but ultimately much harder if resource collection has been neglected.

Darran (writes games) @dbnolan.bsky.social · Sep 3

It's fine, as long as the players are on board. Time pressures naturally preclude a lot of sidequests and "for the sake of it" explorations.

This is a double edged sword of a streamlined game that risks feeling flattened and possibly samey as the nature of the deadline drives behaviour.

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Darran (writes games) @dbnolan.bsky.social · Sep 3

The job application dilemma:

1. Declare that I am autistic, invariably do not receive a response.

2. Do not declare that I am autistic, more often than not receive an invitation to interview that I cannot attend because one of my reasonable adjustments for access is enhanced notice of interview.

Darran (writes games) @dbnolan.bsky.social · Sep 3

It should always be used in conjunction with "no, but" and the very occasional hard "no".

Yes, we are creating a shared fiction but we are also playing within a shared rule space. A dependence on "yes, and" can flex, fatigue and eventually break agreed boundaries of both the fiction and rulespace.

Darran (writes games) @dbnolan.bsky.social · Sep 2

Wrong? No, quite the contrary: evil chuckles are like vegetables, you should be aiming for 5 portions of evil mirth every day.

Maybe just don't enact every last one, unless they are all particularly good.

Darran (writes games) @dbnolan.bsky.social · Sep 2

Hell yeah. Horrors beyond comprehension and a brightly coloured palette is 100% a vibe.