Malcolm Craig
@malcolmcraig.bsky.social
Senior Lecturer in US History @ljmuofficial.bsky.social, historian of games, the Cold War, nuclear stuff, researching #ColdWar era post-apocalypse roleplaying games. #TTRPG designer. You may remember me from such games as #astaterpg, #ColdCity, and #HotWar
Pinned
Malcolm Craig
@malcolmcraig.bsky.social
· Nov 14
When You Say, “Thermonuclear War,” I Think You Mean “the Call to Adventure”! The Twilight: 2000 Tabletop Role-Playing Game and the Postapocalyptic World’s Imaginary Spaces | Journal of American Studie...
When You Say, “Thermonuclear War,” I Think You Mean “the Call to Adventure”! The Twilight: 2000 Tabletop Role-Playing Game and the Postapocalyptic World’s Imaginary Spaces
www.cambridge.org
Hurrah! My article on the Twilight 2000 RPG in the Journal of American Studies is now open access (OA), so anyone who wants to can have a read. OA is important to me, as I want my work on RPG history to go beyond the academy and reach the gaming public.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
I spend way more time than is healthy reading about and analysing post-apocalyptic scenarios. And all I have to say to Bear Grylls is: "You're still fucked, survival barge or not."
Bear Grylls: ‘I’ve bought an apocalypse-proof boat, with an array of weaponry’
Bear Grylls: ‘I’ve bought an apocalypse-proof boat, with an array of weaponry’
The adventurer on his family’s escape vessel, his crush on the Princess of Wales, and a disgusting toenail habit
www.theguardian.com
January 24, 2026 at 12:16 PM
I spend way more time than is healthy reading about and analysing post-apocalyptic scenarios. And all I have to say to Bear Grylls is: "You're still fucked, survival barge or not."
Slightly diminish a game:
3:15 Carnage Amongst the Star
3:15 Carnage Amongst the Star
Slightly diminish a game:
Forks in the Dark
Forks in the Dark
January 24, 2026 at 8:39 AM
Reposted by Malcolm Craig
It was an absolute delight to chat with the great @wellerstein.bsky.social about my research into the Cold War, nuclear fear, and TTRPGs. I've always admired Alex's work, so you should definitely dig deeper into his amazing Doomsday Machines site.
I had a really fun time interviewing Malcolm Craig about post-apocalyptic tabletop RPGs from the Cold War and what they reflect about shifts in Cold War nuclear culture, and the differences between how the games were designed and how they were actually played. doomsdaymachines.net/p/playing-at...
Playing at the End of the World
An interview with historian and game designer Malcolm Craig about post-apocalyptic tabletop role playing games in the Cold War
doomsdaymachines.net
January 22, 2026 at 4:16 PM
It was an absolute delight to chat with the great @wellerstein.bsky.social about my research into the Cold War, nuclear fear, and TTRPGs. I've always admired Alex's work, so you should definitely dig deeper into his amazing Doomsday Machines site.
It was an absolute delight to chat with the great @wellerstein.bsky.social about my research into the Cold War, nuclear fear, and TTRPGs. I've always admired Alex's work, so you should definitely dig deeper into his amazing Doomsday Machines site.
I had a really fun time interviewing Malcolm Craig about post-apocalyptic tabletop RPGs from the Cold War and what they reflect about shifts in Cold War nuclear culture, and the differences between how the games were designed and how they were actually played. doomsdaymachines.net/p/playing-at...
Playing at the End of the World
An interview with historian and game designer Malcolm Craig about post-apocalyptic tabletop role playing games in the Cold War
doomsdaymachines.net
January 22, 2026 at 4:16 PM
It was an absolute delight to chat with the great @wellerstein.bsky.social about my research into the Cold War, nuclear fear, and TTRPGs. I've always admired Alex's work, so you should definitely dig deeper into his amazing Doomsday Machines site.
Reposted by Malcolm Craig
I came to Minneapolis to report on what's going on, and one of the main questions I showed up with is "just what is the scale of the resistance?" After all, we're all used to the news calling Portland a "war zone" or whatever when it's just some protests in one part of town.
January 22, 2026 at 3:58 AM
I came to Minneapolis to report on what's going on, and one of the main questions I showed up with is "just what is the scale of the resistance?" After all, we're all used to the news calling Portland a "war zone" or whatever when it's just some protests in one part of town.
Reposted by Malcolm Craig
Out now to patrons - gaming inspiration from The Spy Who Came In From The Cold (hat tip to @malcolmcraig.bsky.social for the recommend)
www.patreon.com/posts/proper...
www.patreon.com/posts/proper...
Proper Espionage - Three Gaming Things from The Spy Who Came In From the Cold | Burn After Running
Get more from Burn After Running on Patreon
www.patreon.com
January 21, 2026 at 6:44 PM
Out now to patrons - gaming inspiration from The Spy Who Came In From The Cold (hat tip to @malcolmcraig.bsky.social for the recommend)
www.patreon.com/posts/proper...
www.patreon.com/posts/proper...
Well this is absolutely rubbish news. FROG was a great event and Natalie was tireless in her work advancing the cause of game studies. I do hope that something positive comes out of this for both the centre and Natalie.
The University for Further Education Krems in Austria is ending the oldest game studies course in Europe and closing its Center for Applied Game Studies. This marks the loss of two of the oldest institutions in European Game Studies.
www.gamesmarket.global/europes-olde...
www.gamesmarket.global/europes-olde...
Europe’s Oldest Game Studies Course Is Getting Closed
The University for Further Education Krems in Austria is ending the oldest game studies course in Europe and closing its Center for Applied Game Studies. This marks the loss of two of the oldest insti...
www.gamesmarket.global
January 16, 2026 at 10:00 AM
Well this is absolutely rubbish news. FROG was a great event and Natalie was tireless in her work advancing the cause of game studies. I do hope that something positive comes out of this for both the centre and Natalie.
Exciting times! This may be the first convention run-out for the 2nd edition of Hot War. KapCon is a great event as well, one which I have very fond memories of.
Ready to run @malcolmcraig.bsky.social ’s fantastic new edition of his #TTRPG HOT WAR at KapCon 2026 on Saturday. It’s gonna be great!!
@handiworkgames.bsky.social makes great games!
(Con pack pictured, with original book & a printed new rules. Not shown: big pile of 10-sided dice.)
@handiworkgames.bsky.social makes great games!
(Con pack pictured, with original book & a printed new rules. Not shown: big pile of 10-sided dice.)
January 15, 2026 at 10:35 AM
Exciting times! This may be the first convention run-out for the 2nd edition of Hot War. KapCon is a great event as well, one which I have very fond memories of.
Slightly diminish an RPG, Cold War edition
The Price of Freedom Fries
Delta Force: America Takes the Pip
Aftermath (Comes English Lit)
The Morrow Project Management Team
Metamorphosis Alfalfa
Late Afternoon 2000
The Price of Freedom Fries
Delta Force: America Takes the Pip
Aftermath (Comes English Lit)
The Morrow Project Management Team
Metamorphosis Alfalfa
Late Afternoon 2000
I dunno about this one but it happens way more than it should on my keyboard:
BEOWULF Age of Herpes
BEOWULF Age of Herpes
Slightly diminish an RPG
GURP
GURP
January 13, 2026 at 6:47 AM
Slightly diminish an RPG, Cold War edition
The Price of Freedom Fries
Delta Force: America Takes the Pip
Aftermath (Comes English Lit)
The Morrow Project Management Team
Metamorphosis Alfalfa
Late Afternoon 2000
The Price of Freedom Fries
Delta Force: America Takes the Pip
Aftermath (Comes English Lit)
The Morrow Project Management Team
Metamorphosis Alfalfa
Late Afternoon 2000
A massive shot in the dark, but does anyone out there have the following file photographed/copied from a visit to the National archives at Kew? Try to avoid the expense of a trip down!
DEFE 69/585: Targets for Allied nuclear offensive: probable nuclear targets in UK
1957 Jan 01 - 1969 Dec 31
DEFE 69/585: Targets for Allied nuclear offensive: probable nuclear targets in UK
1957 Jan 01 - 1969 Dec 31
January 12, 2026 at 4:22 PM
A massive shot in the dark, but does anyone out there have the following file photographed/copied from a visit to the National archives at Kew? Try to avoid the expense of a trip down!
DEFE 69/585: Targets for Allied nuclear offensive: probable nuclear targets in UK
1957 Jan 01 - 1969 Dec 31
DEFE 69/585: Targets for Allied nuclear offensive: probable nuclear targets in UK
1957 Jan 01 - 1969 Dec 31
Reposted by Malcolm Craig
Did a little animation again. Magic innit, stop motion?
(Character model from The Burn by @malcolmcraig.bsky.social
handiwork.games/home/the-sil...)
(Character model from The Burn by @malcolmcraig.bsky.social
handiwork.games/home/the-sil...)
January 12, 2026 at 1:39 PM
Did a little animation again. Magic innit, stop motion?
(Character model from The Burn by @malcolmcraig.bsky.social
handiwork.games/home/the-sil...)
(Character model from The Burn by @malcolmcraig.bsky.social
handiwork.games/home/the-sil...)
John Stallard - what a colossal bellend. You should buy stuff from @badsquiddogames.bsky.social instead.
January 9, 2026 at 8:47 AM
John Stallard - what a colossal bellend. You should buy stuff from @badsquiddogames.bsky.social instead.
Errrrr....I hate to break the news, but....
It's amusing that my undergrad students who only had to do a three week bloc on the historiography of American imperialism know more about the subject than this clown.
It's amusing that my undergrad students who only had to do a three week bloc on the historiography of American imperialism know more about the subject than this clown.
KERNEN: Europeans are talking about it almost being like Vladimir Putin and Ukraine.
JEFF LANDRY: I disagree. When has the United States engaged in imperialism? Never. Europe has engaged in imperialism. The reason the Danish have Greenland is because of imperialism.
JEFF LANDRY: I disagree. When has the United States engaged in imperialism? Never. Europe has engaged in imperialism. The reason the Danish have Greenland is because of imperialism.
January 6, 2026 at 2:49 PM
Errrrr....I hate to break the news, but....
It's amusing that my undergrad students who only had to do a three week bloc on the historiography of American imperialism know more about the subject than this clown.
It's amusing that my undergrad students who only had to do a three week bloc on the historiography of American imperialism know more about the subject than this clown.
Brace yourselves, new game mechanics incoming!
January 6, 2026 at 9:29 AM
Brace yourselves, new game mechanics incoming!
Just imagine me doing my shocked face as more money is shovelled at RG unis to the detriment of everyone else.
;Eliminating funding for 3* research in the next Research Excellence Framework (REF) would benefit Russell Group institutions by about £50 million a year, suggests modelling into how potential changes to funding formulas may play out.' 1/3
‘Beware trade-offs’ of removing REF funding for 3* outputs
Review of formula used to allocate £2 billion QR funding could downgrade or withdraw money for ‘internationally excellent’ research, some fear
www.timeshighereducation.com
January 5, 2026 at 12:04 PM
Just imagine me doing my shocked face as more money is shovelled at RG unis to the detriment of everyone else.
Reposted by Malcolm Craig
If a decision was reached to cease funding all research except the stuff awarded 4*, it would, within this cycle, end the point of doing the REF exercise and it would become more efficient to simply bin UKRI, direct all QR funding to 'R-intensives' instead, and then say "this is fine" over and over.
;Eliminating funding for 3* research in the next Research Excellence Framework (REF) would benefit Russell Group institutions by about £50 million a year, suggests modelling into how potential changes to funding formulas may play out.' 1/3
‘Beware trade-offs’ of removing REF funding for 3* outputs
Review of formula used to allocate £2 billion QR funding could downgrade or withdraw money for ‘internationally excellent’ research, some fear
www.timeshighereducation.com
January 5, 2026 at 11:13 AM
If a decision was reached to cease funding all research except the stuff awarded 4*, it would, within this cycle, end the point of doing the REF exercise and it would become more efficient to simply bin UKRI, direct all QR funding to 'R-intensives' instead, and then say "this is fine" over and over.
Not actually a thread about postal charges, but in reality a thread about RPGs, pricing, sales, and the artisan class. Good stuff from someone who has thought about this an awful lot.
Saw an interesting post freaking out about the upcoming Royal Mail changes. They’re an inconvenience, and imho not worth getting super upset about. Save your energy. But! It made me think and uh oh here’s a thread 🧵
January 4, 2026 at 10:33 AM
Not actually a thread about postal charges, but in reality a thread about RPGs, pricing, sales, and the artisan class. Good stuff from someone who has thought about this an awful lot.
Apparently I'm now an engineer working for a 1930s arms manufacturer, dragged into the mysterious world of espionage.
Well, now I'm an English professor...
December 31, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Apparently I'm now an engineer working for a 1930s arms manufacturer, dragged into the mysterious world of espionage.
@rdonoghue.bsky.social's thread is worth your time. It also struck me how much of what he says applies to studying RPGs as historical objects. You can't simply look at the text & say "job done!", you must also analyse the process and cultures of play. Hence, the value of oral history in this field.
Ok, so here's a contentious thing.
Sometimes, you *can* judge an RPG just by reading it (and playing it is no guarantee of actual insight).
However, the RPGs that are easiest to judge just by reading? They're the *really bad ones*.
Sometimes, you *can* judge an RPG just by reading it (and playing it is no guarantee of actual insight).
However, the RPGs that are easiest to judge just by reading? They're the *really bad ones*.
December 31, 2025 at 9:51 AM
@rdonoghue.bsky.social's thread is worth your time. It also struck me how much of what he says applies to studying RPGs as historical objects. You can't simply look at the text & say "job done!", you must also analyse the process and cultures of play. Hence, the value of oral history in this field.
Reposted by Malcolm Craig
OK, this will likely take a bit of a ramble, but here is the story of why I *didn't* become a published game designer... 🧵
And I’m not doing that for you. Your thoughts on *your* mission are your own.
And hey maybe your actual goal IS being in a starter pack or you’re focused exclusively winning a medal.
I think it’s worth thinking about why, and how long that external stuff can sustain you as a creator.
Love u bye
And hey maybe your actual goal IS being in a starter pack or you’re focused exclusively winning a medal.
I think it’s worth thinking about why, and how long that external stuff can sustain you as a creator.
Love u bye
December 30, 2025 at 9:16 AM
OK, this will likely take a bit of a ramble, but here is the story of why I *didn't* become a published game designer... 🧵
Bus Ticket to Pimlico
The Man in the White Shorts
Kind Hearts and Cornettos
#makeafilmcheaper - Ealing comedy edition
The Man in the White Shorts
Kind Hearts and Cornettos
#makeafilmcheaper - Ealing comedy edition
Some of the Presidents Men
Three Days of the Sparrow
Invasion of the Body Snatcher
Three Days of the Sparrow
Invasion of the Body Snatcher
The World is Quite Enough
#MakeAFilmCheaper
#MakeAFilmCheaper
December 30, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Bus Ticket to Pimlico
The Man in the White Shorts
Kind Hearts and Cornettos
#makeafilmcheaper - Ealing comedy edition
The Man in the White Shorts
Kind Hearts and Cornettos
#makeafilmcheaper - Ealing comedy edition
Some of the Presidents Men
Three Days of the Sparrow
Invasion of the Body Snatcher
Three Days of the Sparrow
Invasion of the Body Snatcher
The World is Quite Enough
#MakeAFilmCheaper
#MakeAFilmCheaper
The Partial Monty
#MakeAFilmCheaper
#MakeAFilmCheaper
December 29, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Some of the Presidents Men
Three Days of the Sparrow
Invasion of the Body Snatcher
Three Days of the Sparrow
Invasion of the Body Snatcher
If you're interested in longue durée RPG history, this from @guyintheblackhat.bsky.social is worth your time.
Indeed. The purchaseable *product* we call the TTRPG begins in the 1970s with Western Gunfight, Chainmail, and D&D.
Yet role-playing "parlor games," simulations, and similar are centuries old and draw from a well that resembles all the positive stuff about D&D.
Parlor games were feminized...
Yet role-playing "parlor games," simulations, and similar are centuries old and draw from a well that resembles all the positive stuff about D&D.
Parlor games were feminized...
December 23, 2025 at 1:30 PM
If you're interested in longue durée RPG history, this from @guyintheblackhat.bsky.social is worth your time.
Reposted by Malcolm Craig
If you enroll in a history course you don’t get to decide that, I don’t know, the Battle of Hastings took place last Tuesday or something.
Students are taught how to think within a context of agreed fact, knowledge of which can and should be tested.
Students are taught how to think within a context of agreed fact, knowledge of which can and should be tested.
1. This is terrible.
2. This is such a BS claim from a university: “We are committed to teaching students how to think, not what to think.” No! We do, in fact, commit to teaching you what to think. You sign up for a psych course, you have to learn psychology. You can ignore it later if you choose.
2. This is such a BS claim from a university: “We are committed to teaching students how to think, not what to think.” No! We do, in fact, commit to teaching you what to think. You sign up for a psych course, you have to learn psychology. You can ignore it later if you choose.
A graduate teaching assistant who gave a University of Oklahoma student a failing grade on a psychology essay will no longer be teaching at the university
December 23, 2025 at 1:07 PM
If you enroll in a history course you don’t get to decide that, I don’t know, the Battle of Hastings took place last Tuesday or something.
Students are taught how to think within a context of agreed fact, knowledge of which can and should be tested.
Students are taught how to think within a context of agreed fact, knowledge of which can and should be tested.
Reposted by Malcolm Craig
PhD Funding!
University of Leeds
The School of History invites applicants from Black, Asian and other minoritised ethnic groups who wish to study for a PhD commencing in the academic year 2026/27 to apply for the School of History Access to Research Scholarship.
phd.leeds.ac.uk/funding/387-...
University of Leeds
The School of History invites applicants from Black, Asian and other minoritised ethnic groups who wish to study for a PhD commencing in the academic year 2026/27 to apply for the School of History Access to Research Scholarship.
phd.leeds.ac.uk/funding/387-...
School of History Access to Research Scholarship 2026/27
Project opportunity - School of History Access to Research Scholarship 2026/27 at the University of Leeds
phd.leeds.ac.uk
December 22, 2025 at 7:56 PM
PhD Funding!
University of Leeds
The School of History invites applicants from Black, Asian and other minoritised ethnic groups who wish to study for a PhD commencing in the academic year 2026/27 to apply for the School of History Access to Research Scholarship.
phd.leeds.ac.uk/funding/387-...
University of Leeds
The School of History invites applicants from Black, Asian and other minoritised ethnic groups who wish to study for a PhD commencing in the academic year 2026/27 to apply for the School of History Access to Research Scholarship.
phd.leeds.ac.uk/funding/387-...