dgbaumgart
@dgbaumgart.bsky.social
artist, game designer, art director, writer, independent game developer, he/him
working in games since 2007
formerly Gaslamp Games, currently mostly Starsector
https://www.dgbaumgart.com/
https://dgbaumgart.itch.io/
working in games since 2007
formerly Gaslamp Games, currently mostly Starsector
https://www.dgbaumgart.com/
https://dgbaumgart.itch.io/
Pinned
dgbaumgart
@dgbaumgart.bsky.social
· Dec 13
I put together a version of my free hex/square painterly tile sample pack for Itch.io. This is like a little mini-tour through all my terrain tilesets, and best of all, they're gratis!
Get it here -> dgbaumgart.itch.io/hex-and-tile...
(Guess I should tag stuff,) #gamedev and #indiedev I think.
Get it here -> dgbaumgart.itch.io/hex-and-tile...
(Guess I should tag stuff,) #gamedev and #indiedev I think.
😊
(I've decided that I'm allowed to indulge in a bit of praise. Got enough stress in my life what with my basement slab falling into a not-quite sinkhole due, in fact, to climate change.)
And look, from a perspective of craft, it is intensely rewarding that this aspect of the work is appreciated!
(I've decided that I'm allowed to indulge in a bit of praise. Got enough stress in my life what with my basement slab falling into a not-quite sinkhole due, in fact, to climate change.)
And look, from a perspective of craft, it is intensely rewarding that this aspect of the work is appreciated!
STARSECTOR APPRECIATION POST
STOP FOR A SECOND AND APPRECIATE STARSECTOR
STOP FOR A SECOND AND APPRECIATE STARSECTOR
January 21, 2026 at 2:44 PM
😊
(I've decided that I'm allowed to indulge in a bit of praise. Got enough stress in my life what with my basement slab falling into a not-quite sinkhole due, in fact, to climate change.)
And look, from a perspective of craft, it is intensely rewarding that this aspect of the work is appreciated!
(I've decided that I'm allowed to indulge in a bit of praise. Got enough stress in my life what with my basement slab falling into a not-quite sinkhole due, in fact, to climate change.)
And look, from a perspective of craft, it is intensely rewarding that this aspect of the work is appreciated!
Just about done reading the first Pillars of the Earth book.
If I may summarize the story: "The only thing I love more than breasts is the architecture of 12th century English cathedrals."
If I may summarize the story: "The only thing I love more than breasts is the architecture of 12th century English cathedrals."
January 18, 2026 at 3:32 AM
Just about done reading the first Pillars of the Earth book.
If I may summarize the story: "The only thing I love more than breasts is the architecture of 12th century English cathedrals."
If I may summarize the story: "The only thing I love more than breasts is the architecture of 12th century English cathedrals."
Reposted by dgbaumgart
THIS is the real shit. This is what I've been saying. We have to kill IPs. We have to stop caring about franchises entirely. Love the individual work and then walk way. Love the author, love the director, love the actors even, but we can't love the property.
January 16, 2026 at 6:19 AM
THIS is the real shit. This is what I've been saying. We have to kill IPs. We have to stop caring about franchises entirely. Love the individual work and then walk way. Love the author, love the director, love the actors even, but we can't love the property.
Happy Goblin Friday!
What I'm doing is... boring testing. Make a list of things that should work, try to do them, log everything that is observed to go wrong - and fix only that which is directly relevant.
And, well: did it!
(With a distressing number of adjacent bugs/desired improvements.)
What I'm doing is... boring testing. Make a list of things that should work, try to do them, log everything that is observed to go wrong - and fix only that which is directly relevant.
And, well: did it!
(With a distressing number of adjacent bugs/desired improvements.)
January 16, 2026 at 7:51 PM
Happy Goblin Friday!
What I'm doing is... boring testing. Make a list of things that should work, try to do them, log everything that is observed to go wrong - and fix only that which is directly relevant.
And, well: did it!
(With a distressing number of adjacent bugs/desired improvements.)
What I'm doing is... boring testing. Make a list of things that should work, try to do them, log everything that is observed to go wrong - and fix only that which is directly relevant.
And, well: did it!
(With a distressing number of adjacent bugs/desired improvements.)
Re. last repost: yeah.
My thought re this was about the idea of ambiguity, specifically in media/art (specifically Starsector 'cause I'm writing it right now).
LLM's output is tuned to deny ambiguity -- it confidently supplies answers. It teaches users that there ARE easy answers to all questions.
My thought re this was about the idea of ambiguity, specifically in media/art (specifically Starsector 'cause I'm writing it right now).
LLM's output is tuned to deny ambiguity -- it confidently supplies answers. It teaches users that there ARE easy answers to all questions.
January 13, 2026 at 9:30 PM
Re. last repost: yeah.
My thought re this was about the idea of ambiguity, specifically in media/art (specifically Starsector 'cause I'm writing it right now).
LLM's output is tuned to deny ambiguity -- it confidently supplies answers. It teaches users that there ARE easy answers to all questions.
My thought re this was about the idea of ambiguity, specifically in media/art (specifically Starsector 'cause I'm writing it right now).
LLM's output is tuned to deny ambiguity -- it confidently supplies answers. It teaches users that there ARE easy answers to all questions.
Reposted by dgbaumgart
i really think genai causes actual brain damage. probably faster than most ways you can on purpose give yourself brain damage. and if you hear this statement as literally as i mean it i think it sounds sorta conspiracy nut, but undeniably less conspiracy nut than the apparent sum of its parts
January 5, 2026 at 6:33 AM
i really think genai causes actual brain damage. probably faster than most ways you can on purpose give yourself brain damage. and if you hear this statement as literally as i mean it i think it sounds sorta conspiracy nut, but undeniably less conspiracy nut than the apparent sum of its parts
Alex: It's also in line with your tradition for every next mission chain etc to be about 10x more complex than the previous one 🙂
(Feeling called out by @amosolov.bsky.social)
(But, but- it's going to be *so good*!)
#starsector
(Feeling called out by @amosolov.bsky.social)
(But, but- it's going to be *so good*!)
#starsector
January 12, 2026 at 9:15 PM
Alex: It's also in line with your tradition for every next mission chain etc to be about 10x more complex than the previous one 🙂
(Feeling called out by @amosolov.bsky.social)
(But, but- it's going to be *so good*!)
#starsector
(Feeling called out by @amosolov.bsky.social)
(But, but- it's going to be *so good*!)
#starsector
Cat update: Look at these lazy things!!
January 12, 2026 at 1:36 AM
Cat update: Look at these lazy things!!
For Canadians, our Minister of AI and digital stuff is this guy: openparliament.ca/politicians/...
Send him an email requesting that he show leadership in opposing Elon Musk's CSAM/revenge porn/white supremacy social media network + AI image generator/chatbot.
Be to the point and nice about it.
Send him an email requesting that he show leadership in opposing Elon Musk's CSAM/revenge porn/white supremacy social media network + AI image generator/chatbot.
Be to the point and nice about it.
Contact Evan Solomon | openparliament.ca
openparliament.ca
January 10, 2026 at 2:31 PM
For Canadians, our Minister of AI and digital stuff is this guy: openparliament.ca/politicians/...
Send him an email requesting that he show leadership in opposing Elon Musk's CSAM/revenge porn/white supremacy social media network + AI image generator/chatbot.
Be to the point and nice about it.
Send him an email requesting that he show leadership in opposing Elon Musk's CSAM/revenge porn/white supremacy social media network + AI image generator/chatbot.
Be to the point and nice about it.
Goblin Friday!
- Check out my super-sloppy TODO list for cleaning up this scenario scripting. The repeated items are a sign of Quality(tm).
- Rolling to spot-the-goblin
- Once spotted, Jorten the Fighter gets a little Metal Gear alert icon on his token to show that he's going to chase you around
- Check out my super-sloppy TODO list for cleaning up this scenario scripting. The repeated items are a sign of Quality(tm).
- Rolling to spot-the-goblin
- Once spotted, Jorten the Fighter gets a little Metal Gear alert icon on his token to show that he's going to chase you around
January 9, 2026 at 7:06 PM
Goblin Friday!
- Check out my super-sloppy TODO list for cleaning up this scenario scripting. The repeated items are a sign of Quality(tm).
- Rolling to spot-the-goblin
- Once spotted, Jorten the Fighter gets a little Metal Gear alert icon on his token to show that he's going to chase you around
- Check out my super-sloppy TODO list for cleaning up this scenario scripting. The repeated items are a sign of Quality(tm).
- Rolling to spot-the-goblin
- Once spotted, Jorten the Fighter gets a little Metal Gear alert icon on his token to show that he's going to chase you around
Data from my 2025 asset sales (tiles, icons, etc.) on various storefronts, percent of that income.
Made extra chart to show unpaid balance; different pay schedules and thresholds made the actual-paid chart misleading.
The surprise to me is that Itch.io is equivalent to Unity Asset Store.
#gamedev
Made extra chart to show unpaid balance; different pay schedules and thresholds made the actual-paid chart misleading.
The surprise to me is that Itch.io is equivalent to Unity Asset Store.
#gamedev
January 8, 2026 at 2:29 PM
Got an actual #Starsector thing to talk about: revision to the dialog for giving weapons to Moyra Standfast, insurrection grandma.
I've redone this so instead of being an open-ended resource dump you make 3 one-time deliveries to fulfill the needs of the Volturnian Self Defense Covenant... (cont)
I've redone this so instead of being an open-ended resource dump you make 3 one-time deliveries to fulfill the needs of the Volturnian Self Defense Covenant... (cont)
![Screenshot of revised dialog from Starsector in which the player can offer to supply a religious resistance movement on the planet Volturn.
The amounts are vastly increased in cost from the previous iteration, but you only hand them over once. This makes it a less tedious one-and-done decision (well, "three and done", technically); and once done, this means that [REDACTED].](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:gbtm6kqwoskky3nje5fmnyoo/bafkreid5g2yrjfjnq42qjd5smhrkpdw5hkpsr2lecp2wqdskbr2pe6q7ky@jpeg)
January 6, 2026 at 6:39 PM
Got an actual #Starsector thing to talk about: revision to the dialog for giving weapons to Moyra Standfast, insurrection grandma.
I've redone this so instead of being an open-ended resource dump you make 3 one-time deliveries to fulfill the needs of the Volturnian Self Defense Covenant... (cont)
I've redone this so instead of being an open-ended resource dump you make 3 one-time deliveries to fulfill the needs of the Volturnian Self Defense Covenant... (cont)
Reposted by dgbaumgart
had to wait until the servers weren't so overloaded, but I'm proud to announce that Quake Brutalist Jam 3 is out now!
there's a standalone version that works like a game for those who don't own quake too!
www.slipseer.com/index.php?re...
this was a tremendous group effort, I couldn't be happier!
there's a standalone version that works like a game for those who don't own quake too!
www.slipseer.com/index.php?re...
this was a tremendous group effort, I couldn't be happier!
Jam - Quake Brutalist Jam III
Quake Brutalist Jam III is a megalithic community project more than a year in the making. It features an entirely new arsenal, a set of new monsters, new powerups, and a complete visual overhaul of Qu...
www.slipseer.com
January 4, 2026 at 1:39 AM
had to wait until the servers weren't so overloaded, but I'm proud to announce that Quake Brutalist Jam 3 is out now!
there's a standalone version that works like a game for those who don't own quake too!
www.slipseer.com/index.php?re...
this was a tremendous group effort, I couldn't be happier!
there's a standalone version that works like a game for those who don't own quake too!
www.slipseer.com/index.php?re...
this was a tremendous group effort, I couldn't be happier!
Happy Goblin Friday - and a new Goblin Year!
Today: among other things, shifting around locations to fit adjustments to how bridges work (they need two sides) in order to fit in the ending of the tutorial scenario on Troll Bridge, West.
(I should not have drawn the map so detailed so early, argh!)
Today: among other things, shifting around locations to fit adjustments to how bridges work (they need two sides) in order to fit in the ending of the tutorial scenario on Troll Bridge, West.
(I should not have drawn the map so detailed so early, argh!)
January 2, 2026 at 4:54 PM
Happy Goblin Friday - and a new Goblin Year!
Today: among other things, shifting around locations to fit adjustments to how bridges work (they need two sides) in order to fit in the ending of the tutorial scenario on Troll Bridge, West.
(I should not have drawn the map so detailed so early, argh!)
Today: among other things, shifting around locations to fit adjustments to how bridges work (they need two sides) in order to fit in the ending of the tutorial scenario on Troll Bridge, West.
(I should not have drawn the map so detailed so early, argh!)
Reposted by dgbaumgart
Essentially, I think that LLM-generated dialogue only makes sense if you believe that the product of writing is words.
But the product of writing isn't words, any more than the product of justice is prisoners, or the product of love is weddings. The product of writing is meaning.
But the product of writing isn't words, any more than the product of justice is prisoners, or the product of love is weddings. The product of writing is meaning.
I had five fascinating conversations for this RPS piece, gathering perspectives on genAI chatbots in games, as seen in Where Winds Meet. Thanks to @meghna.bsky.social, @pyrofoux.bsky.social, @maxkreminski.bsky.social, and @chrisgardiner.bsky.social www.rockpapershotgun.com/horrible-bor...
"Horrible", "boring", and "cheap": Experts pan new chatbot NPCs, but some leave room for optimism
We speak to a collection of developers and AI experts about the potential impact of LLM-powered NPCs in videogames.
www.rockpapershotgun.com
December 23, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Essentially, I think that LLM-generated dialogue only makes sense if you believe that the product of writing is words.
But the product of writing isn't words, any more than the product of justice is prisoners, or the product of love is weddings. The product of writing is meaning.
But the product of writing isn't words, any more than the product of justice is prisoners, or the product of love is weddings. The product of writing is meaning.
Reposted by dgbaumgart
Another day, another mobile game using @dgbaumgart.bsky.social 's tilesets. I swear to god these might be some of the most prolific assets in games
December 21, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Another day, another mobile game using @dgbaumgart.bsky.social 's tilesets. I swear to god these might be some of the most prolific assets in games
Happy Goblin Friday!
Whew: NPCs having interlude conversation without player involvement during a phase after the player's turn ends.
Playing with a viewpoint allowed to fly around (vs. the fairly strict player-character dialogs of Starsector).
("Meanwhile..." is straight from Monkey Island :D )
Whew: NPCs having interlude conversation without player involvement during a phase after the player's turn ends.
Playing with a viewpoint allowed to fly around (vs. the fairly strict player-character dialogs of Starsector).
("Meanwhile..." is straight from Monkey Island :D )
December 19, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Happy Goblin Friday!
Whew: NPCs having interlude conversation without player involvement during a phase after the player's turn ends.
Playing with a viewpoint allowed to fly around (vs. the fairly strict player-character dialogs of Starsector).
("Meanwhile..." is straight from Monkey Island :D )
Whew: NPCs having interlude conversation without player involvement during a phase after the player's turn ends.
Playing with a viewpoint allowed to fly around (vs. the fairly strict player-character dialogs of Starsector).
("Meanwhile..." is straight from Monkey Island :D )
Reposted by dgbaumgart
I spoke to a dozen professional concept artists working in games about whether generative AI image tools have made their jobs easier, even if it's just used in "very early ideation stages."
Zero said "yes." Most said it made their job harder.
I learnt a lot about concept artists. You should too!
Zero said "yes." Most said it made their job harder.
I learnt a lot about concept artists. You should too!
We spoke to a dozen professional concept artists who are currently or have previously worked in game development about whether generative AI image tools have made their jobs any easier.
Zero said it did. Most said it made things harder.
thisweekinvideogames.com/feature/conc...
Zero said it did. Most said it made things harder.
thisweekinvideogames.com/feature/conc...
Concept Artists Say Generative AI References Only Make Their Jobs Harder
“The ‘early ideation stages’, when worlds are being fleshed out by writers and artists, are literally crucial to the development of a game’s vision,” said one artist.
thisweekinvideogames.com
December 18, 2025 at 9:07 PM
I spoke to a dozen professional concept artists working in games about whether generative AI image tools have made their jobs easier, even if it's just used in "very early ideation stages."
Zero said "yes." Most said it made their job harder.
I learnt a lot about concept artists. You should too!
Zero said "yes." Most said it made their job harder.
I learnt a lot about concept artists. You should too!
This one's for everyone who has folks back in the Persean Sector during this cycle's holiday season
December 18, 2025 at 12:50 PM
This one's for everyone who has folks back in the Persean Sector during this cycle's holiday season
Reposted by dgbaumgart
Jeff spitting facts!
Gonna parrot this-- when I was teaching, I would tell my students to not look solely at what other concept artists/popular illustrators were doing to inform their own designs. Go to your local museums and galleries, look at different mediums and fields, broaden that reach.
Gonna parrot this-- when I was teaching, I would tell my students to not look solely at what other concept artists/popular illustrators were doing to inform their own designs. Go to your local museums and galleries, look at different mediums and fields, broaden that reach.
always advised ppl to not look at (A)rtsta(I)on too much when looking for inspiration, looking at other mediums and other perspectives historic or cultural or individual origin will produce better designs. Anyway what do I know
December 17, 2025 at 2:05 AM
Jeff spitting facts!
Gonna parrot this-- when I was teaching, I would tell my students to not look solely at what other concept artists/popular illustrators were doing to inform their own designs. Go to your local museums and galleries, look at different mediums and fields, broaden that reach.
Gonna parrot this-- when I was teaching, I would tell my students to not look solely at what other concept artists/popular illustrators were doing to inform their own designs. Go to your local museums and galleries, look at different mediums and fields, broaden that reach.
Reposted by dgbaumgart
(just gonna note, btw, that @dgbaumgart.bsky.social paid for my art tests on dredmor and I've, in turn, made sure anyone I ever asked for an animation test during a hiring process was paid for it. it's possible for us to do better, people just have to care to make it a priority)
December 16, 2025 at 7:34 PM
(just gonna note, btw, that @dgbaumgart.bsky.social paid for my art tests on dredmor and I've, in turn, made sure anyone I ever asked for an animation test during a hiring process was paid for it. it's possible for us to do better, people just have to care to make it a priority)
Okay so: seeing talk of game companies using "AI art" - I think it's actually really damaging to the team-based/collaborative design process.
It provides a polished-looking average of visual solutions from by the averaged infringement of all of artstation.com - management with no training loves it.
It provides a polished-looking average of visual solutions from by the averaged infringement of all of artstation.com - management with no training loves it.
December 16, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Okay so: seeing talk of game companies using "AI art" - I think it's actually really damaging to the team-based/collaborative design process.
It provides a polished-looking average of visual solutions from by the averaged infringement of all of artstation.com - management with no training loves it.
It provides a polished-looking average of visual solutions from by the averaged infringement of all of artstation.com - management with no training loves it.
Happy Goblin Friday!
My approach: play the game until I hit something that breaks or annoys me, or hit a spot that still needs to be written.
We're up through stealing the turnip (though need more fail cases), and now the NPCs aren't triggering their events (which will probably explode, also).
My approach: play the game until I hit something that breaks or annoys me, or hit a spot that still needs to be written.
We're up through stealing the turnip (though need more fail cases), and now the NPCs aren't triggering their events (which will probably explode, also).
December 12, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Happy Goblin Friday!
My approach: play the game until I hit something that breaks or annoys me, or hit a spot that still needs to be written.
We're up through stealing the turnip (though need more fail cases), and now the NPCs aren't triggering their events (which will probably explode, also).
My approach: play the game until I hit something that breaks or annoys me, or hit a spot that still needs to be written.
We're up through stealing the turnip (though need more fail cases), and now the NPCs aren't triggering their events (which will probably explode, also).
Starsector: I really hate getting like halfway through implementing a mission using its acronym everywhere to tag dialog keys, then coming up with a better name for it. And then I want to use that original name for the immediate follow-up!
Ugh, what a mess.
Well, whatever. It's all one arc anyway.
Ugh, what a mess.
Well, whatever. It's all one arc anyway.
December 9, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Starsector: I really hate getting like halfway through implementing a mission using its acronym everywhere to tag dialog keys, then coming up with a better name for it. And then I want to use that original name for the immediate follow-up!
Ugh, what a mess.
Well, whatever. It's all one arc anyway.
Ugh, what a mess.
Well, whatever. It's all one arc anyway.
Reposted by dgbaumgart
New Starsector blog post: Support Fleets!
Calling in friendly fleets to help resupply or for combat support, and: a side bonus of pawning off all that useless metal to a scavenger.
fractalsoftworks.com/2025/12/08/s...
Calling in friendly fleets to help resupply or for combat support, and: a side bonus of pawning off all that useless metal to a scavenger.
fractalsoftworks.com/2025/12/08/s...
December 8, 2025 at 9:20 PM
New Starsector blog post: Support Fleets!
Calling in friendly fleets to help resupply or for combat support, and: a side bonus of pawning off all that useless metal to a scavenger.
fractalsoftworks.com/2025/12/08/s...
Calling in friendly fleets to help resupply or for combat support, and: a side bonus of pawning off all that useless metal to a scavenger.
fractalsoftworks.com/2025/12/08/s...