Fred Hicks
@deadlyfredly.bsky.social
President of Evil Hat (I publish Fate, Blades in the Dark, Monster of the Week, Thirsty Sword Lesbians, &c). Liberal in politics, reposting, & use of the block button. Be advised, I limit parasociality when I can. Permanently in AMA mode (so ask).
Pinned
Fred Hicks
@deadlyfredly.bsky.social
· Oct 25
And perhaps most importantly, there is no "right" level of appetite for risk. It's something you'll have to come to on your own and, should circumstances change, possibly revise.
The thing you *shouldn't* do is find someone successful and emulate their posture.
The thing you *shouldn't* do is find someone successful and emulate their posture.
The fact that I am here and able to share numbers and give looks under the hood is because we’ve survived.
Survivor bias is in effect. If you’re not also learning from companies that failed you’re ignoring a ton of relevant data.
Survivor bias is in effect. If you’re not also learning from companies that failed you’re ignoring a ton of relevant data.
Reposted by Fred Hicks
This engine is more candy than you should eat. This engine is a greased pig. This engine is a drum kit for your seventh birthday. This engine is Friday night forever.
Make it sing.
itch.io/jam/havoc-en...
Make it sing.
itch.io/jam/havoc-en...
Havoc Engine Jam
A game jam from 2026-03-02 to 2026-04-14 hosted by gshowitt, Rowan, Rook and Decard & Ex Stasis Games. Let's keep this brisk. The Havoc Engine powers Eat the Reich, our game of monstrous and sexy unde...
itch.io
February 13, 2026 at 3:26 PM
This engine is more candy than you should eat. This engine is a greased pig. This engine is a drum kit for your seventh birthday. This engine is Friday night forever.
Make it sing.
itch.io/jam/havoc-en...
Make it sing.
itch.io/jam/havoc-en...
Reposted by Fred Hicks
Roughly 2 USAIDs
Breaking news: ICE expects to spend $38.3 billion on its plan to acquire warehouses across the U.S. and retrofit them into immigrant detention centers that can hold tens of thousands of people, according to agency documents.
ICE plans to spend $38.3 billion turning warehouses into detention centers
ICE plans to spend $38.3 billion converting warehouses into detention centers, according to planning documents, more than the annual budgets of 22 states.
www.washingtonpost.com
February 14, 2026 at 3:20 AM
Roughly 2 USAIDs
Reposted by Fred Hicks
i often think about this review
February 14, 2026 at 3:13 AM
i often think about this review
Reposted by Fred Hicks
Including mine on developing software to build structural models of medieval manuscripts! Much DEI. Another reason for me to hate ChatGPT.
DOGE allegedly used ChatGPT to identify 1,400 NEH grants it said were DEI. Grants were terminated April 2025, according to a court filing. E.g.
Film: 1873 Colfax massacre
Film: first female pilots flying for U.S. military in WWII
Film: “Untold Story of Jewish Women Slave Labor in the Holocaust"
Film: 1873 Colfax massacre
Film: first female pilots flying for U.S. military in WWII
Film: “Untold Story of Jewish Women Slave Labor in the Holocaust"
ChatGPT cuts in action
www.politico.com
February 14, 2026 at 1:15 AM
Including mine on developing software to build structural models of medieval manuscripts! Much DEI. Another reason for me to hate ChatGPT.
Reposted by Fred Hicks
Well, gosh, if the administration wants to require everyone to show proof of citizenship in order to vote, why would they want the most accessible passport resource for citizens to stop processing…? 🤔
February 14, 2026 at 12:15 PM
Well, gosh, if the administration wants to require everyone to show proof of citizenship in order to vote, why would they want the most accessible passport resource for citizens to stop processing…? 🤔
Reposted by Fred Hicks
I think a lot about how relationship maps can drive design and play. Here's a map for a six-character game that includes lines of affinity and also primary motivations proximal to characters. Everyone but the king has at least one one-sided relationship. Everyone knows exactly what to do.
February 14, 2026 at 5:11 AM
I think a lot about how relationship maps can drive design and play. Here's a map for a six-character game that includes lines of affinity and also primary motivations proximal to characters. Everyone but the king has at least one one-sided relationship. Everyone knows exactly what to do.
Reposted by Fred Hicks
It was, according to those willing to partake, genuinely excellent cake, and now the most important mystery facing the party is how this fantastic cake made it to the Caves of Chaos.
We have begun the CAKES OF CHAOS sidequest.
We have begun the CAKES OF CHAOS sidequest.
February 14, 2026 at 2:36 AM
It was, according to those willing to partake, genuinely excellent cake, and now the most important mystery facing the party is how this fantastic cake made it to the Caves of Chaos.
We have begun the CAKES OF CHAOS sidequest.
We have begun the CAKES OF CHAOS sidequest.
Reposted by Fred Hicks
Friday night D&D. We are murdering a goblin birthday party. We had the advantage of stealth, but ended up losing it by virtue of getting in a loud argument about whether or not to eat floor cake.
Goblin floor cake.
Goblin floor cake.
February 14, 2026 at 2:28 AM
Friday night D&D. We are murdering a goblin birthday party. We had the advantage of stealth, but ended up losing it by virtue of getting in a loud argument about whether or not to eat floor cake.
Goblin floor cake.
Goblin floor cake.
Reposted by Fred Hicks
This kind of thing is exactly what we want to do more of on our podcast Talk of the Table.
If you had your pick, who would you want to hear from? What aspects of their businesses would be most interesting and useful to explore?
If you had your pick, who would you want to hear from? What aspects of their businesses would be most interesting and useful to explore?
February 13, 2026 at 8:52 PM
This kind of thing is exactly what we want to do more of on our podcast Talk of the Table.
If you had your pick, who would you want to hear from? What aspects of their businesses would be most interesting and useful to explore?
If you had your pick, who would you want to hear from? What aspects of their businesses would be most interesting and useful to explore?
Reposted by Fred Hicks
In terms of what cures are being lost:
- Epstein-Barr virus is perhaps the major trigger for multiple sclerosis
- herpes simplex virus causes cold sores, genital herpes, infections in babies, deadly meningitis
- shingles virus causes an intensely painful disease
- Epstein-Barr virus is perhaps the major trigger for multiple sclerosis
- herpes simplex virus causes cold sores, genital herpes, infections in babies, deadly meningitis
- shingles virus causes an intensely painful disease
February 13, 2026 at 5:44 AM
In terms of what cures are being lost:
- Epstein-Barr virus is perhaps the major trigger for multiple sclerosis
- herpes simplex virus causes cold sores, genital herpes, infections in babies, deadly meningitis
- shingles virus causes an intensely painful disease
- Epstein-Barr virus is perhaps the major trigger for multiple sclerosis
- herpes simplex virus causes cold sores, genital herpes, infections in babies, deadly meningitis
- shingles virus causes an intensely painful disease
Reposted by Fred Hicks
I don't know who keeps doing this but you have to stop I'm begging you
February 13, 2026 at 2:21 AM
I don't know who keeps doing this but you have to stop I'm begging you
This is a good perspective on the orders of magnitude in the TTRPG publishing industry, and by and large positions us correctly at the bottom-most named tier (while acknowledging that there's a broad swath of indie designers further down). cannibalhalflinggaming.com/2026/02/11/f...
Five Tiers of RPG Publishing
Hasbro’s annual earnings came out this week, so I took a look. It is truly staggering how much Wizards of the Coast has changed the company since they were acquired; when looking at unadjusted earn…
cannibalhalflinggaming.com
February 12, 2026 at 3:21 PM
This is a good perspective on the orders of magnitude in the TTRPG publishing industry, and by and large positions us correctly at the bottom-most named tier (while acknowledging that there's a broad swath of indie designers further down). cannibalhalflinggaming.com/2026/02/11/f...
Reposted by Fred Hicks
"Why do you oppose reforming ICE and instead think we should tear up DHS root and branch and salt the earth?"
Here's why.
You can't reform this. You need to eradicate the entrenched culture that demands it. The only way to do that is to fire _everybody_, then prosecute as many of them as you can.
Here's why.
You can't reform this. You need to eradicate the entrenched culture that demands it. The only way to do that is to fire _everybody_, then prosecute as many of them as you can.
I don’t really know what I expect in posting this, but maybe some people see it and can learn from it.
I’ll call it “lessons from an unwilling immigration attorney.”
1/
I’ll call it “lessons from an unwilling immigration attorney.”
1/
February 12, 2026 at 1:56 PM
"Why do you oppose reforming ICE and instead think we should tear up DHS root and branch and salt the earth?"
Here's why.
You can't reform this. You need to eradicate the entrenched culture that demands it. The only way to do that is to fire _everybody_, then prosecute as many of them as you can.
Here's why.
You can't reform this. You need to eradicate the entrenched culture that demands it. The only way to do that is to fire _everybody_, then prosecute as many of them as you can.
Reposted by Fred Hicks
And what awaits these clients in Texas? Unspeakably cruel and inhumane treatment.
1. Rotten food. I had a client explain she had to make a half-pint of milk and an apple last every day because the other meals consisted of spoiled or rotten food. One client wasn’t fed for >36 hours.
21/
1. Rotten food. I had a client explain she had to make a half-pint of milk and an apple last every day because the other meals consisted of spoiled or rotten food. One client wasn’t fed for >36 hours.
21/
February 11, 2026 at 9:56 PM
And what awaits these clients in Texas? Unspeakably cruel and inhumane treatment.
1. Rotten food. I had a client explain she had to make a half-pint of milk and an apple last every day because the other meals consisted of spoiled or rotten food. One client wasn’t fed for >36 hours.
21/
1. Rotten food. I had a client explain she had to make a half-pint of milk and an apple last every day because the other meals consisted of spoiled or rotten food. One client wasn’t fed for >36 hours.
21/
Reposted by Fred Hicks
Legal status doesn’t matter: if you exceed ICE’s melanin threshold, you get snatched. It is ethnic cleansing. There is no other word for it.
The news has shown you video of these often violent detentions. What you don’t see is what happens to these individuals after.
I’ve had a front row seat.
7/
The news has shown you video of these often violent detentions. What you don’t see is what happens to these individuals after.
I’ve had a front row seat.
7/
February 11, 2026 at 9:56 PM
Legal status doesn’t matter: if you exceed ICE’s melanin threshold, you get snatched. It is ethnic cleansing. There is no other word for it.
The news has shown you video of these often violent detentions. What you don’t see is what happens to these individuals after.
I’ve had a front row seat.
7/
The news has shown you video of these often violent detentions. What you don’t see is what happens to these individuals after.
I’ve had a front row seat.
7/
Reposted by Fred Hicks
Reposted by Fred Hicks
what makes something "vulnerable to AI" is not the capacity of machines but the credulity of management.
Of course, it is also true that historians jobs may in practice be vulnerable to AI, because a lot of people who control the money for historian jobs probably haven’t thought much about where history comes from, either.
February 11, 2026 at 8:39 PM
what makes something "vulnerable to AI" is not the capacity of machines but the credulity of management.
Reposted by Fred Hicks
I _really_ appreciate the transparency here in the shipping section - while I'm sad they're not shipping outside the US, doing it upfront this way is WAY better than other crowdfunds I've backed over the last two years which exposed me to HUGE costs after the package crossed the border
It's 968 AC.
An artificial sun shines down upon Doskvol. Autopods cruise down rows of peaceful, prosperous houses. Beneath it all, strange actors and twisted conspiracies work their shadowy agendas.
Blades '68. The future is now. Don't miss it:
www.backerkit.com/c/projects/e...
An artificial sun shines down upon Doskvol. Autopods cruise down rows of peaceful, prosperous houses. Beneath it all, strange actors and twisted conspiracies work their shadowy agendas.
Blades '68. The future is now. Don't miss it:
www.backerkit.com/c/projects/e...
Blades '68 Crowdfunding Trailer
YouTube video by Evil Hat Productions
www.youtube.com
February 11, 2026 at 10:00 PM
I _really_ appreciate the transparency here in the shipping section - while I'm sad they're not shipping outside the US, doing it upfront this way is WAY better than other crowdfunds I've backed over the last two years which exposed me to HUGE costs after the package crossed the border
Reposted by Fred Hicks
on a one-man crusade to explain to international customers that it's no longer 2017
February 11, 2026 at 9:58 PM
on a one-man crusade to explain to international customers that it's no longer 2017
Reposted by Fred Hicks
Make sure to tell your creative friends if you like what they're doing, because they think it's trash
February 11, 2026 at 9:45 PM
Make sure to tell your creative friends if you like what they're doing, because they think it's trash
Reposted by Fred Hicks
Nothing to see here - OR ELSE
February 11, 2026 at 7:26 PM
Nothing to see here - OR ELSE
Reposted by Fred Hicks
You can’t offload emotional labor. Believe me, I’ve tried
February 11, 2026 at 8:50 PM
You can’t offload emotional labor. Believe me, I’ve tried
Reposted by Fred Hicks
Y'all, ICE thugs are still terrorizing people in Minneapolis and St. Paul.
They are counting on America looking away, and it's currently working. Please tell everyone you know, please reach out to people with huge followings, and ask them to help refocus our attention on the ongoing abuses.
They are counting on America looking away, and it's currently working. Please tell everyone you know, please reach out to people with huge followings, and ask them to help refocus our attention on the ongoing abuses.
This is the aftermath of an ICE kidnapping a few blocks from my home in St. Paul—an hour ago. A quiet street full of broken glass and at least three wrecked cars. The target of the kidnapping was taken away by ambulance. He was on a stretcher and covered by a sheet, though a cop said he was alive.
February 11, 2026 at 8:53 PM
Y'all, ICE thugs are still terrorizing people in Minneapolis and St. Paul.
They are counting on America looking away, and it's currently working. Please tell everyone you know, please reach out to people with huge followings, and ask them to help refocus our attention on the ongoing abuses.
They are counting on America looking away, and it's currently working. Please tell everyone you know, please reach out to people with huge followings, and ask them to help refocus our attention on the ongoing abuses.
Reposted by Fred Hicks
Ya don't say
Today’s CBO report says US consumers pay 95% of tariffs. 🤡
@brendanvduke.bsky.social
www.cbo.gov/system/files...
@brendanvduke.bsky.social
www.cbo.gov/system/files...
February 11, 2026 at 9:07 PM
Ya don't say
Reposted by Fred Hicks
Over on threads someone just use ai;dr and we all need to adopt that right quick
February 11, 2026 at 7:56 PM
Over on threads someone just use ai;dr and we all need to adopt that right quick