James Wallis
@jameswallis.bsky.social
Game designer, publisher, teacher, critic, writer, evangelist, FRSA. For my books, games, podcast, game design workshops, lectures, trade bodies &c., check my linktree https://linktr.ee/james.wallis
Pinned
James Wallis
@jameswallis.bsky.social
· Oct 18
Hello! I'm best known for running Hogshead Publishing in the 1990s, but these days I'm setting up Big Table, a trade body for the UK tabletop industry. Follow us: @bigtable.bsky.social
Every S3 episode of Ludonarrative Dissidents gets a set of show-notes on our website, filling in blanks or clarifying things from the recording. Sometimes the game creators jot a few lines back.
John Tynes just sent us a full (and complimentary) response to the Delta Green: Countdown show-notes.
John Tynes just sent us a full (and complimentary) response to the Delta Green: Countdown show-notes.
February 5, 2026 at 1:28 AM
Every S3 episode of Ludonarrative Dissidents gets a set of show-notes on our website, filling in blanks or clarifying things from the recording. Sometimes the game creators jot a few lines back.
John Tynes just sent us a full (and complimentary) response to the Delta Green: Countdown show-notes.
John Tynes just sent us a full (and complimentary) response to the Delta Green: Countdown show-notes.
An update from Ludonarrative Dissidents, the RPG-analysis podcast I do with Greg Stolze and Ross Payton. Our episode on DELTA GREEN COUNTDOWN, the classic huge sourcebook of modern espionage horror, is now live for all to hear, and it's a banger.
Meanwhile our backers have early access to [cont.]
Meanwhile our backers have early access to [cont.]
February 4, 2026 at 7:42 PM
An update from Ludonarrative Dissidents, the RPG-analysis podcast I do with Greg Stolze and Ross Payton. Our episode on DELTA GREEN COUNTDOWN, the classic huge sourcebook of modern espionage horror, is now live for all to hear, and it's a banger.
Meanwhile our backers have early access to [cont.]
Meanwhile our backers have early access to [cont.]
This thread of quote-replies requires a way of arranging the responses in order, maybe by relevance
Needs Hierarchy of Maslows
Needs Hierarchy of Maslows
A treatise on the best accompaniments to haggis: Maslow’s Hierarchy of Neeps.
A list of the finest honey-based drinks, called Maslow's Hierarchy of Meads
February 4, 2026 at 11:07 AM
This thread of quote-replies requires a way of arranging the responses in order, maybe by relevance
Needs Hierarchy of Maslows
Needs Hierarchy of Maslows
Reposted by James Wallis
In honour of Melania, here's a reminder that the thing Kane is applauding in this popular gif isn't good. It's very bad! It's his wife singing poorly in an opera he paid for.
a man in a tuxedo and bow tie is standing in front of a crowd .
Alt: Orson Welles as Kane in evening dress, applauding too hard to hide his humiliation.
media.tenor.com
February 3, 2026 at 4:17 PM
In honour of Melania, here's a reminder that the thing Kane is applauding in this popular gif isn't good. It's very bad! It's his wife singing poorly in an opera he paid for.
Reposted by James Wallis
🤔 It’s definitely not suspicious at all to have people point out your common Twitter sign off is in the Epstein files and ten completely delete your yacht’s logs right?
February 3, 2026 at 2:28 PM
🤔 It’s definitely not suspicious at all to have people point out your common Twitter sign off is in the Epstein files and ten completely delete your yacht’s logs right?
Reposted by James Wallis
This took me fucking ages
![1
[Scene is a GREGGS interior. A lone MAN, the only customer in the shop, is standing at counter]
MAN:
Please can I have a sausage roll.
2
GREGGS SHOP ASSISTANT:
Certainly sir
[She pulls a leaver on the panini machine and WOOSH the man disappears through a trapdoor].
Whoosh
3
[The MAN appears through a chute in an underground bunker. A voice from off-scene greets him]:
Welcome, friend
4
[We see the voice is of a military-looking resistance COMMANDER with a moustache]
COMMANDER:
You said "please can I have" instead of “can I get”…
So now you're one of us.
5
MAN:
W-where am I ...?
[We see him looking at a hi tech UNDERGROUND MILITARY BUNKER - it has resistance vibes, and has lots of screens with maps etc]
6
COMMANDER:
You've joined the resistance…
...against people saying things all American.
7
COMMANDER:
We are an underground network of sleeper agents poised to have a right go at young people the moment they say "mom" or "bangs”.
8
LIEUTENANT [Staring at screen]:
Agent 244 has just given a Zoomer in Halifax the “could/couldn't care less" speech, sir
COMMANDER:
Very good
9
[Show the map of the UK with digital pop ups on it saying ‘GOTTEN’, ‘ZEE’, ‘MATH’ etc
COMMANDER:
You may have heard our name... We are...
10
COMMANDER:
...the Fight Against New Yankee Pronunciations and Americanisms Corrupting the King's English!
11
[Show the military command center panel. It says on the wall in big metal letters]:
F.A.N.Y.P.A.C.K.E.
12
MAN
You've called yourselves the 'Fanny Pack'
COMMANDER:
We didn't spot the acronym
[/end]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4m3we4apbjayclzcnhwe3pfp/bafkreianaxlutkih4rysx6l37rru2cic64wiirt4fd2jss5xlxsulixlou@jpeg)
February 2, 2026 at 10:25 PM
This took me fucking ages
Reposted by James Wallis
This watermark graffiti by street artist Mathieu Tremblin is, like, the best thing ever.
January 29, 2026 at 8:47 PM
This watermark graffiti by street artist Mathieu Tremblin is, like, the best thing ever.
Do I know anyone with pro-level experience in matrix game design?
(If you're not sure then no, it's not you.)
(If you're not sure then no, it's not you.)
February 2, 2026 at 5:50 PM
Do I know anyone with pro-level experience in matrix game design?
(If you're not sure then no, it's not you.)
(If you're not sure then no, it's not you.)
Reposted by James Wallis
75% Off Unknown Armies 2nd Edition, Today Only! #UnknownArmies #TabletopGames
75% Off Unknown Armies 2nd Edition, Today Only!
Unknown Armies has been described as "broken people try to fix the world." That makes it a lot like the real world, but with magick and occult secrets galore.
Today until 11:59 PM (Central USA time), you can buy the classic Second Edition core rulebook in digital form for only 4.99, a 75% off discount, and we'll donate that money to a local charitable cause that's trying to fix MN.Click here to get your Unknown Armies 2nd Edition PDF …
dlvr.it
February 2, 2026 at 6:38 AM
75% Off Unknown Armies 2nd Edition, Today Only! #UnknownArmies #TabletopGames
Reposted by James Wallis
Peter Thiel celebrated Brexit with Jeffrey Epstein.
It was never about 'freeing' the UK.
It was about making it the USA's slave.
It was never about 'freeing' the UK.
It was about making it the USA's slave.
February 1, 2026 at 11:50 PM
Peter Thiel celebrated Brexit with Jeffrey Epstein.
It was never about 'freeing' the UK.
It was about making it the USA's slave.
It was never about 'freeing' the UK.
It was about making it the USA's slave.
Last night, on the principle that if Donald Trump can get a Nobel Peace Prize as a gift, I watched @muskratjohn.bsky.social auction one of his Origins Awards for charity at Warpcon in Ireland. It raised almost $1000 for very sick children. He's a hero.
February 2, 2026 at 12:37 AM
Last night, on the principle that if Donald Trump can get a Nobel Peace Prize as a gift, I watched @muskratjohn.bsky.social auction one of his Origins Awards for charity at Warpcon in Ireland. It raised almost $1000 for very sick children. He's a hero.
Reposted by James Wallis
Update: Now at 89 copies of Gloom today, which means $1244.22 to Minnesota charities.
One store that ordered a dozen said they intend to donate the proceeds from retail sales as well, which is awesome!
One store that ordered a dozen said they intend to donate the proceeds from retail sales as well, which is awesome!
February 1, 2026 at 8:10 PM
Update: Now at 89 copies of Gloom today, which means $1244.22 to Minnesota charities.
One store that ordered a dozen said they intend to donate the proceeds from retail sales as well, which is awesome!
One store that ordered a dozen said they intend to donate the proceeds from retail sales as well, which is awesome!
Reposted by James Wallis
What do you MEAN the president audibly SHIT himself live on camera and they immediately cancelled the press conference and rushed everyone out of the room like it's a fire drill, and it happened two days ago, and I'm just hearing about it NOW?
February 1, 2026 at 4:00 PM
What do you MEAN the president audibly SHIT himself live on camera and they immediately cancelled the press conference and rushed everyone out of the room like it's a fire drill, and it happened two days ago, and I'm just hearing about it NOW?
Reposted by James Wallis
Trump paid $750 in federal income taxes in 2016 and 2017 and now wants $10 billion because a leaker pointed that out www.wsj.com/us-news/law/...
Trump Lawsuit Against IRS Puts Him on Both Sides of the Same Case
President Trump’s lawsuit against the government that he runs presents a mind-bending minefield of conflicts that could end with his appointees approving a federal payout to him.
www.wsj.com
February 1, 2026 at 7:31 PM
Trump paid $750 in federal income taxes in 2016 and 2017 and now wants $10 billion because a leaker pointed that out www.wsj.com/us-news/law/...
Reposted by James Wallis
From Minnesota 💜💪, passing on tips from Portland 🐸💪
February 1, 2026 at 12:01 AM
From Minnesota 💜💪, passing on tips from Portland 🐸💪
Reposted by James Wallis
FLASH UNSALE! This weekend all our magazines cost the same they did during the week, ie they’re still all absurdly great value…
Discover the world’s best print magazine today and prepare yourself for greatness!
shop.wyrd.science
Discover the world’s best print magazine today and prepare yourself for greatness!
shop.wyrd.science
January 31, 2026 at 11:14 AM
FLASH UNSALE! This weekend all our magazines cost the same they did during the week, ie they’re still all absurdly great value…
Discover the world’s best print magazine today and prepare yourself for greatness!
shop.wyrd.science
Discover the world’s best print magazine today and prepare yourself for greatness!
shop.wyrd.science
Preparing to travel to Warpcon in Cork later today, and will be there all weekend. It's one of my favourite conventions and I'm taking a stack of games in playtest, so say hi if you're there and we'll take something for a spin. warpcon.ie
Warpcon 36
Warpcon 36 is the 36th annual gaming convention in UCC
warpcon.ie
January 30, 2026 at 12:05 PM
Preparing to travel to Warpcon in Cork later today, and will be there all weekend. It's one of my favourite conventions and I'm taking a stack of games in playtest, so say hi if you're there and we'll take something for a spin. warpcon.ie
Kiss Kiss Banger Banger
Sausage
January 30, 2026 at 11:01 AM
Kiss Kiss Banger Banger
Reposted by James Wallis
"Our standing rule is: If one of us brings up using GenAI in any of our work, then it's safe to assume we've been assimilated by The Thing and should be burned alive by Kurt Russell," said a game design consultant in the US.
Over 50% of game developers now think generative AI is bad for the industry, a dramatic increase from just 2 years ago: 'I'd rather quit the industry than use generative AI'
The latest GDC survey also found that managers are more likely to use generative AI than their employees.
www.pcgamer.com
January 29, 2026 at 11:45 PM
"Our standing rule is: If one of us brings up using GenAI in any of our work, then it's safe to assume we've been assimilated by The Thing and should be burned alive by Kurt Russell," said a game design consultant in the US.
Just noticed that the IMDB page for Melania doesn't have a review rating on it. I wonder why not. Other movies that haven't technically been released yet do. www.imdb.com/title/tt3529...
Melania (2026) | Documentary
1h 44m | PG
www.imdb.com
January 29, 2026 at 8:02 PM
Just noticed that the IMDB page for Melania doesn't have a review rating on it. I wonder why not. Other movies that haven't technically been released yet do. www.imdb.com/title/tt3529...
Reposted by James Wallis
While independent bookstores are giving out free whistles, hosting protest sign making events, and donating proceeds to mutual aid, Amazon is *checks notes* providing technology that assists ICE in their terrorizing of communities.
Independent bookstores deserve your support. Amazon does not.
Independent bookstores deserve your support. Amazon does not.
January 27, 2026 at 5:07 PM
While independent bookstores are giving out free whistles, hosting protest sign making events, and donating proceeds to mutual aid, Amazon is *checks notes* providing technology that assists ICE in their terrorizing of communities.
Independent bookstores deserve your support. Amazon does not.
Independent bookstores deserve your support. Amazon does not.
What a lovely week to be getting my US$ royalties.
January 27, 2026 at 5:28 PM
What a lovely week to be getting my US$ royalties.
Heading to Imperial College to give a guest lecture on the theory of game narrative and interactive storytelling. Excited. Part 2, practice, is tomorrow.
January 27, 2026 at 1:08 PM
Heading to Imperial College to give a guest lecture on the theory of game narrative and interactive storytelling. Excited. Part 2, practice, is tomorrow.
Hello! Are you in the UK/Canada/Aus/NZ? Did you discover RPGs through any of the paperback-book games released in the mid-1980s (Fighting Fantasy RPG, Advanced FF, Maelstrom, Dragon Warriors, Tunnels & Trolls)? Can I ask you a couple of questions for an article? Please get in touch.
January 25, 2026 at 6:26 PM
Hello! Are you in the UK/Canada/Aus/NZ? Did you discover RPGs through any of the paperback-book games released in the mid-1980s (Fighting Fantasy RPG, Advanced FF, Maelstrom, Dragon Warriors, Tunnels & Trolls)? Can I ask you a couple of questions for an article? Please get in touch.