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.
Maybe we can start saying “a web search can” instead of “A.I. can” so as to highlight a) it’s all predicted stolen content b) it’s not really that remarkable or ground breaking in the end outputs
Roughly 42% of shoppers are already using A.I. tools for their holiday shopping, a recent survey found. More than half of Generation Z and millennial respondents said they trusted A.I. to recommend unique gifts. nyti.ms/4pocGQc
A.I. Can Do More of Your Shopping This Holiday Season
New tools and features from retailers and tech companies use artificial intelligence to help people find gifts and make decisions about their shopping lists.
nyti.ms
November 25, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Maybe we can start saying “a web search can” instead of “A.I. can” so as to highlight a) it’s all predicted stolen content b) it’s not really that remarkable or ground breaking in the end outputs
Reposted by Fred Hicks
Oh cool. There was far too much community and human connection in the holiday season.
Roughly 42% of shoppers are already using A.I. tools for their holiday shopping, a recent survey found. More than half of Generation Z and millennial respondents said they trusted A.I. to recommend unique gifts. nyti.ms/4pocGQc
A.I. Can Do More of Your Shopping This Holiday Season
New tools and features from retailers and tech companies use artificial intelligence to help people find gifts and make decisions about their shopping lists.
nyti.ms
November 25, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Oh cool. There was far too much community and human connection in the holiday season.
Reposted by Fred Hicks
If you're looking for more rpg-related YouTube channels that aren't actual plays, check out Weird Place. They remind me of PBS's Idea Channel from almost 10 years ago. Very relaxing, informative watches.
www.youtube.com/@weird_place...
www.youtube.com/@weird_place...
Weird Place
Two humans celebrating the art of analog gaming
www.youtube.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:02 PM
If you're looking for more rpg-related YouTube channels that aren't actual plays, check out Weird Place. They remind me of PBS's Idea Channel from almost 10 years ago. Very relaxing, informative watches.
www.youtube.com/@weird_place...
www.youtube.com/@weird_place...
Reposted by Fred Hicks
Floors me year after year that my editor at Del Rey, Tricia Narwani, isn't nominated for all the editor awards. A truly exceptional editor who understands a) how to deliver strong, constructive feedback nestled in effusive praise and b) the best editing identifies a problem without providing the fix
By the way, it's National Editor Appreciation Day.
Nobody ever reads a great article and thinks, "Dang, that was some tight editing." But editing is a big part of how it got to be great.
So writers, if you've ever worked with a good editor, shout 'em out.
Nobody ever reads a great article and thinks, "Dang, that was some tight editing." But editing is a big part of how it got to be great.
So writers, if you've ever worked with a good editor, shout 'em out.
November 25, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Floors me year after year that my editor at Del Rey, Tricia Narwani, isn't nominated for all the editor awards. A truly exceptional editor who understands a) how to deliver strong, constructive feedback nestled in effusive praise and b) the best editing identifies a problem without providing the fix
Reposted by Fred Hicks
“We’ve tried to not have to do it, but we've got direct orders,” the masked ICE agents told them www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/i...
November 25, 2025 at 12:26 PM
“We’ve tried to not have to do it, but we've got direct orders,” the masked ICE agents told them www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/i...
Reposted by Fred Hicks
I mean, the guy’s afraid of Scouts. Don’t know what to tell you
November 25, 2025 at 1:26 PM
I mean, the guy’s afraid of Scouts. Don’t know what to tell you
Reposted by Fred Hicks
are you there god, it’s me…what? you’re not there bc you don’t exist? then who is this?
November 25, 2025 at 1:56 PM
are you there god, it’s me…what? you’re not there bc you don’t exist? then who is this?
Reposted by Fred Hicks
BREAKING: This is huge news, the EU's equivalent of the 🇺🇸Supreme Court's 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges ruling.
🇪🇺Court of Justice just ruled all 🇪🇺countries must recognise same-sex marriages granted in other member states.
This effectively legalises gay marriage across 🇪🇺
🇪🇺Court of Justice just ruled all 🇪🇺countries must recognise same-sex marriages granted in other member states.
This effectively legalises gay marriage across 🇪🇺
www.reuters.com
November 25, 2025 at 10:10 AM
BREAKING: This is huge news, the EU's equivalent of the 🇺🇸Supreme Court's 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges ruling.
🇪🇺Court of Justice just ruled all 🇪🇺countries must recognise same-sex marriages granted in other member states.
This effectively legalises gay marriage across 🇪🇺
🇪🇺Court of Justice just ruled all 🇪🇺countries must recognise same-sex marriages granted in other member states.
This effectively legalises gay marriage across 🇪🇺
Reposted by Fred Hicks
Gender-affirming care saves lives
1. A landmark study was just published in The Journal of Pediatrics.
It found a 68% reduction in suicidality for trans youth getting HRT.
It also found only 7 of more than 400 stopped taking HRT... and of those that did, 4 still identified as gender-diverse.
Transgender care saves lives.
It found a 68% reduction in suicidality for trans youth getting HRT.
It also found only 7 of more than 400 stopped taking HRT... and of those that did, 4 still identified as gender-diverse.
Transgender care saves lives.
Study In The Journal Of Pediatrics Finds Trans Youth Care Lowers Suicidality, Few Detransition
The groundbreaking study found that suicidality dropped for transgender youth receiving hormone therapy by nearly 70%, with only 7 patients of 432 discontinuing treatment.
www.erininthemorning.com
November 25, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Gender-affirming care saves lives
Reposted by Fred Hicks
The designer of Mouse Trap, Rock'em Sock'em Robots, Lite Brite, and many other toys has passed away.
What a legacy of joy!
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/a...
What a legacy of joy!
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/a...
Burt Meyer, 99, Dies; Made Lite-Brite and Rock ’Em Sock ’Em Robots
www.nytimes.com
November 24, 2025 at 7:49 PM
The designer of Mouse Trap, Rock'em Sock'em Robots, Lite Brite, and many other toys has passed away.
What a legacy of joy!
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/a...
What a legacy of joy!
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/a...
Reposted by Fred Hicks
I always wanted to design a custom card deck, so this was a lot of fun. (Also, the quality of the POD cards is surprisingly good!)
Blades in the Dark: Cutters Deck is available now from @johnharper.bsky.social
Get it here: tinyurl.com/3fub6ynv
Indulge your vice or put your soul on the line and cut the deck against the Dimmer Sisters. #ttrpg
Get it here: tinyurl.com/3fub6ynv
Indulge your vice or put your soul on the line and cut the deck against the Dimmer Sisters. #ttrpg
November 24, 2025 at 8:36 PM
I always wanted to design a custom card deck, so this was a lot of fun. (Also, the quality of the POD cards is surprisingly good!)
Reposted by Fred Hicks
Tyson is one of just a few companies that controls the entire meat market.
Just last month, it paid $85M to settle charges it illegally conspired with other meatpackers to raise pork prices.
Corporate monopolies are great for executives and a raw deal for everyone else.
Just last month, it paid $85M to settle charges it illegally conspired with other meatpackers to raise pork prices.
Corporate monopolies are great for executives and a raw deal for everyone else.
Tyson CEO Donnie King made $22.7 million last year.
The week before Thanksgiving, he told 3,200 workers in Lexington, Nebraska that they're losing their jobs.
The week before Thanksgiving, he told 3,200 workers in Lexington, Nebraska that they're losing their jobs.
November 24, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Tyson is one of just a few companies that controls the entire meat market.
Just last month, it paid $85M to settle charges it illegally conspired with other meatpackers to raise pork prices.
Corporate monopolies are great for executives and a raw deal for everyone else.
Just last month, it paid $85M to settle charges it illegally conspired with other meatpackers to raise pork prices.
Corporate monopolies are great for executives and a raw deal for everyone else.
Reposted by Fred Hicks
they are not playing 3D chess. they are fucking idiots.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Judge dismisses cases against James Comey and Letitia James after finding that prosecutor was illegally appointed.
November 24, 2025 at 5:45 PM
they are not playing 3D chess. they are fucking idiots.
Reposted by Fred Hicks
A mystical world inspired by medieval France and using the Fate rules 🕐🕧🕛👇
In Loin du Feu, each adventure is illustrated by a different woman artist. That's 32 ready-to-play character sheets by 4 illustrators.
Want more numbers? We reached 93% of our campaign goal, and you have about 200 hours left to back it!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/144...
@evilhat.bsky.social
Want more numbers? We reached 93% of our campaign goal, and you have about 200 hours left to back it!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/144...
@evilhat.bsky.social
November 24, 2025 at 6:06 PM
A mystical world inspired by medieval France and using the Fate rules 🕐🕧🕛👇
Reposted by Fred Hicks
The people who will most profit from this quality and connection-sapping technology being assumed to be inevitable, want you to give up on pushing against it today, by believing that fight is already over.
Don’t give in.
Don’t be fooled.
Don’t accept the thing already making our medium worse.
Don’t give in.
Don’t be fooled.
Don’t accept the thing already making our medium worse.
November 12, 2025 at 3:31 AM
The people who will most profit from this quality and connection-sapping technology being assumed to be inevitable, want you to give up on pushing against it today, by believing that fight is already over.
Don’t give in.
Don’t be fooled.
Don’t accept the thing already making our medium worse.
Don’t give in.
Don’t be fooled.
Don’t accept the thing already making our medium worse.
Reposted by Fred Hicks
Hello everyone. There is a new episode of Brainwaves out today which is one of our last episodes. Brainwaves is coming to an end.
giantbrain.co.uk/2025/11/24/b...
giantbrain.co.uk/2025/11/24/b...
Brainwaves 171 - Final Countdown - The Giant Brain
Iain and Oliver are in the studio to bring you the latest tabletop news from around the globe. Also this episode we have a special announcement.
giantbrain.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Hello everyone. There is a new episode of Brainwaves out today which is one of our last episodes. Brainwaves is coming to an end.
giantbrain.co.uk/2025/11/24/b...
giantbrain.co.uk/2025/11/24/b...
Reposted by Fred Hicks
There's a Mythbusters joke in here somewhere
There is a post circulating on Bluesky encouraging the moving of a frozen turkey straight into a pot of hot oil. We are combating this misinformation the best way we know how - through the power of dance music.
November 24, 2025 at 4:39 PM
There's a Mythbusters joke in here somewhere
Reposted by Fred Hicks
NARRATOR: That is very much not the oath they took
BLITZER: I want to be precise. Should members of the US military obey clearly illegal orders?
McCLAIN: You're asking an enlisted person for their opinion on what they think is legal. That's a pretty slippery slope. Follow your commander in chief. That's the oath that you took
(Not a no!)
McCLAIN: You're asking an enlisted person for their opinion on what they think is legal. That's a pretty slippery slope. Follow your commander in chief. That's the oath that you took
(Not a no!)
November 24, 2025 at 3:39 PM
NARRATOR: That is very much not the oath they took
Reposted by Fred Hicks
Capricorn: You will discover the one fatal flaw in your giant mecha suit today when you realize you forgot to put in a toilet.
November 24, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Capricorn: You will discover the one fatal flaw in your giant mecha suit today when you realize you forgot to put in a toilet.
Reposted by Fred Hicks
We don’t use generative AI at Strange Scaffold and I can confirm that a *lot* of other studios are not—whether indie or AAA.
Get outta here with this normalization bullshit.
Get outta here with this normalization bullshit.
“It’s important to assume every game company is now using AI.” Nexon CEO comments on role of human creativity as AI tools become the norm
automaton-media.com/en/news/its-...
automaton-media.com/en/news/its-...
“It’s important to assume every game company is now using AI.” Nexon CEO comments on role of human creativity as AI tools become the norm - AUTOMATON WEST
In an interview following the launch of ARC Raiders, the CEO of Embark Studios' parent company Nexon shares his views on AI.
automaton-media.com
November 12, 2025 at 3:25 AM
We don’t use generative AI at Strange Scaffold and I can confirm that a *lot* of other studios are not—whether indie or AAA.
Get outta here with this normalization bullshit.
Get outta here with this normalization bullshit.
Reposted by Fred Hicks
Can I get a hell yeah for the new Thunder Road Vendetta RPG? Now Arjun can truly live his best life in a tabletop game.
November 22, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Can I get a hell yeah for the new Thunder Road Vendetta RPG? Now Arjun can truly live his best life in a tabletop game.
Reposted by Fred Hicks
A lot of Designed in the DMV artists distribute our games through @ipr.bsky.social. We love how they rep us at conventions like @PAXUnplugged that only some of us can attend.
Valiant Horizons by @binarystar.games
Fear and Panic by @lymerpg.bsky.social
1/▶️
Valiant Horizons by @binarystar.games
Fear and Panic by @lymerpg.bsky.social
1/▶️
November 22, 2025 at 9:44 PM
A lot of Designed in the DMV artists distribute our games through @ipr.bsky.social. We love how they rep us at conventions like @PAXUnplugged that only some of us can attend.
Valiant Horizons by @binarystar.games
Fear and Panic by @lymerpg.bsky.social
1/▶️
Valiant Horizons by @binarystar.games
Fear and Panic by @lymerpg.bsky.social
1/▶️
Reposted by Fred Hicks
If I tried to use AI to make a collection that looked as striking and varied-yet-coherent as that booth, it would be an absolute dud, because the skills to make it are also the skills to tell what works. AI cannot solve that for you. It won’t work and you won’t know why.
November 23, 2025 at 3:19 PM
If I tried to use AI to make a collection that looked as striking and varied-yet-coherent as that booth, it would be an absolute dud, because the skills to make it are also the skills to tell what works. AI cannot solve that for you. It won’t work and you won’t know why.
Reposted by Fred Hicks
Improv for Gamers gives us exercises and resources to be better improvisers, storytellers, and roleplayers. It's available online through Deernicorn Distro! #ttrpg #ttrpgs #improv #larp #bigbadcon
November 24, 2025 at 1:47 AM
Improv for Gamers gives us exercises and resources to be better improvisers, storytellers, and roleplayers. It's available online through Deernicorn Distro! #ttrpg #ttrpgs #improv #larp #bigbadcon