Thomas M, Full-time Rascal
@newmadras.bsky.social
He/him. Journalist at Rascal News. Interested in the art, history, and science of games. Makes the Indie RPG Newsletter and the Yes Indied Podcast. [email protected]
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Indie RPG Newsletter: ttrpg.in
Yes Indie'd Podcast: creators.spotify.com/pod/show/yes...
Rascal News: www.rascal.news/author/thoma...
Itch store: newmadras.itch.io
Email in bio!
Indie RPG Newsletter: ttrpg.in
Yes Indie'd Podcast: creators.spotify.com/pod/show/yes...
Rascal News: www.rascal.news/author/thoma...
Itch store: newmadras.itch.io
Email in bio!
Reposted by Thomas M, Full-time Rascal
seedlinggames.com/blogging/ove...
Wrote a bit about if O/U is a wargame. Also:
- IC, OOC and a secret third thing
- the role of violence in games with a small amount of violence
- a comparison to games that are mostly about politics but not necessarily role playing
#Over/Under
Wrote a bit about if O/U is a wargame. Also:
- IC, OOC and a secret third thing
- the role of violence in games with a small amount of violence
- a comparison to games that are mostly about politics but not necessarily role playing
#Over/Under
Blog
seedlinggames.com
November 22, 2025 at 8:46 PM
seedlinggames.com/blogging/ove...
Wrote a bit about if O/U is a wargame. Also:
- IC, OOC and a secret third thing
- the role of violence in games with a small amount of violence
- a comparison to games that are mostly about politics but not necessarily role playing
#Over/Under
Wrote a bit about if O/U is a wargame. Also:
- IC, OOC and a secret third thing
- the role of violence in games with a small amount of violence
- a comparison to games that are mostly about politics but not necessarily role playing
#Over/Under
Reposted by Thomas M, Full-time Rascal
Liz does a great analysis of different types of objectivity and subjectivity in games, which is very useful for articulating which types of game you like and why.
From the brilliant mind of Magnolia Keep comes a high-definition blogpost about the definition(s) of objectivity! After a small discourse roundabout, I came to some conclusions about how I understand tabletop games and established a new taxonomy for them!
magnoliakeep.blogspot.com/2025/11/on-o...
magnoliakeep.blogspot.com/2025/11/on-o...
On Objectivity in Game Design
Earlier tonight (11/22/25) there was a discussion in valor stealer Farmer Gadda 's discord about this post from the Dododecahedron ,...
magnoliakeep.blogspot.com
November 23, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Liz does a great analysis of different types of objectivity and subjectivity in games, which is very useful for articulating which types of game you like and why.
This one is full of gems honestly
November 23, 2025 at 11:10 AM
This one is full of gems honestly
Reposted by Thomas M, Full-time Rascal
The Hindustan Times did a piece on Ttrpgs in India!
All our friends in the space are mentioned! (and Bludgeon, too!)
archive.ph/M4Wd9
#rpg #ttrpg
All our friends in the space are mentioned! (and Bludgeon, too!)
archive.ph/M4Wd9
#rpg #ttrpg
archive.ph
November 21, 2025 at 11:09 AM
The Hindustan Times did a piece on Ttrpgs in India!
All our friends in the space are mentioned! (and Bludgeon, too!)
archive.ph/M4Wd9
#rpg #ttrpg
All our friends in the space are mentioned! (and Bludgeon, too!)
archive.ph/M4Wd9
#rpg #ttrpg
Reposted by Thomas M, Full-time Rascal
Although it was written 15 years ago, I think China Mieville's "Embassytown" can be read as depicting AI psychosis.
Aliens with two voices that always speak in harmony and always speak the truth can only understand pairs of human ambassadors who do the same.
💙📚🪐 1/
Aliens with two voices that always speak in harmony and always speak the truth can only understand pairs of human ambassadors who do the same.
💙📚🪐 1/
November 21, 2025 at 1:19 AM
Although it was written 15 years ago, I think China Mieville's "Embassytown" can be read as depicting AI psychosis.
Aliens with two voices that always speak in harmony and always speak the truth can only understand pairs of human ambassadors who do the same.
💙📚🪐 1/
Aliens with two voices that always speak in harmony and always speak the truth can only understand pairs of human ambassadors who do the same.
💙📚🪐 1/
Reposted by Thomas M, Full-time Rascal
These have very strong "oh that annoying boss room" in a Soulslike energy
"Wretched Escapees From Gisang's Forsaken Comedies"
This illustration thematically previews my next theatre adventure, which I've just sent to print. Yasss.
This illustration thematically previews my next theatre adventure, which I've just sent to print. Yasss.
November 20, 2025 at 6:11 PM
These have very strong "oh that annoying boss room" in a Soulslike energy
Reposted by Thomas M, Full-time Rascal
the desire for Endless Franchise is sublimated hunger for God. if the franchise ends the hunger pricks, the dread tide ebbs. the standalone short story exists, in the franchise acolyte's imagination, like the grim reaper a the end of a dark dirt road
November 20, 2025 at 2:19 PM
the desire for Endless Franchise is sublimated hunger for God. if the franchise ends the hunger pricks, the dread tide ebbs. the standalone short story exists, in the franchise acolyte's imagination, like the grim reaper a the end of a dark dirt road
Reposted by Thomas M, Full-time Rascal
Fallen London
November 20, 2025 at 7:22 AM
Fallen London
Reposted by Thomas M, Full-time Rascal
Anyway, thanks again all for the support. We've got a day left on backerkit. I hope you'll take a look at Designers & Dragons: Origins if you haven't already.
Designers & Dragons: Origins
From the birth of roleplaying to the discovery of the Forgotten Realms, from the rise of Basic D&D to the fall of Mystara, historian Shannon Appelcline brings you the story of OD&D, Basic D&D, and AD&...
www.backerkit.com
November 20, 2025 at 2:35 AM
Anyway, thanks again all for the support. We've got a day left on backerkit. I hope you'll take a look at Designers & Dragons: Origins if you haven't already.
Reposted by Thomas M, Full-time Rascal
Realis is coming sooner than you think! Sign up to be notified at launch when the print edition of @austinwalker.bsky.social's TTRPG goes live in 2026, and start bracing yourself for all the additional art, player options, and GM resources being added to the game: www.kickstarter.com/projects/cru...
Coming soon: Realis
A new tabletop roleplaying game by Austin Walker
www.kickstarter.com
November 19, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Realis is coming sooner than you think! Sign up to be notified at launch when the print edition of @austinwalker.bsky.social's TTRPG goes live in 2026, and start bracing yourself for all the additional art, player options, and GM resources being added to the game: www.kickstarter.com/projects/cru...
"sloughed" is such a gross fucked up little word
November 19, 2025 at 12:03 PM
"sloughed" is such a gross fucked up little word
Reposted by Thomas M, Full-time Rascal
I laughed at loud. These people are so pathetic; our enemies are numbskulls. They will kill us all and still not know hs physics.
COWEN: The stupidest question possible: Why don’t we just make more GPUs?
ALTMAN: Because we need to make more electrons.
conversationswithtyler.com/episodes/sam...
COWEN: The stupidest question possible: Why don’t we just make more GPUs?
ALTMAN: Because we need to make more electrons.
conversationswithtyler.com/episodes/sam...
November 19, 2025 at 7:27 AM
I laughed at loud. These people are so pathetic; our enemies are numbskulls. They will kill us all and still not know hs physics.
COWEN: The stupidest question possible: Why don’t we just make more GPUs?
ALTMAN: Because we need to make more electrons.
conversationswithtyler.com/episodes/sam...
COWEN: The stupidest question possible: Why don’t we just make more GPUs?
ALTMAN: Because we need to make more electrons.
conversationswithtyler.com/episodes/sam...
Reposted by Thomas M, Full-time Rascal
Jessica Hammer's chapter on Online Freeform from the RPG Handbook (here I've included the 2018 version, which was circulated open-access online 7 years ago) serves as a useful overview of this particular RPG form, distinct from others by its use of platforms.
www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/sgp7c...
www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/sgp7c...
November 19, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Jessica Hammer's chapter on Online Freeform from the RPG Handbook (here I've included the 2018 version, which was circulated open-access online 7 years ago) serves as a useful overview of this particular RPG form, distinct from others by its use of platforms.
www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/sgp7c...
www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/sgp7c...
Reposted by Thomas M, Full-time Rascal
Re-upping for the morning crowd: I'm organising a Jubensha Convention in London for 8-9th May 2026!
Come and play jubensha, meet top game designers, and learn how it's designed. It's *probably* the first jubensha English-language convention in the world...
Tickets will be around £15!
Come and play jubensha, meet top game designers, and learn how it's designed. It's *probably* the first jubensha English-language convention in the world...
Tickets will be around £15!
Pre-announcing my Jubensha Convention
Come to my Jubensha convention in London on 8-9th May 2026!
mssv.net
November 19, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Re-upping for the morning crowd: I'm organising a Jubensha Convention in London for 8-9th May 2026!
Come and play jubensha, meet top game designers, and learn how it's designed. It's *probably* the first jubensha English-language convention in the world...
Tickets will be around £15!
Come and play jubensha, meet top game designers, and learn how it's designed. It's *probably* the first jubensha English-language convention in the world...
Tickets will be around £15!
Reposted by Thomas M, Full-time Rascal
All 35 talks from THINKY CON, about making puzzle games, are on YouTube: thinkygames.com/news/all-35-...
#puzzlegames #gamedev
#puzzlegames #gamedev
All 35 talks from ThinkyCon 2025 are now available to watch on YouTube · Thinky Games
In case you missed any of our 2nd annual online convention centered around the making of the games we love so much, every presentation from ThinkyCon 2025 has now been uploaded to our YouTube channel ...
thinkygames.com
November 19, 2025 at 4:17 AM
All 35 talks from THINKY CON, about making puzzle games, are on YouTube: thinkygames.com/news/all-35-...
#puzzlegames #gamedev
#puzzlegames #gamedev
Reposted by Thomas M, Full-time Rascal
#over/under was not one of a kind. I have been playing similar games for the last EIGHT YEARS. Today, I give this medium a name - "Live Text Roleplay" - and help you build a community of your own.
www.valerialoves.com/how-to-repli...
www.valerialoves.com/how-to-repli...
How to Replicate Over/Under
A Guide to Live Text Roleplay
www.valerialoves.com
November 19, 2025 at 1:00 AM
#over/under was not one of a kind. I have been playing similar games for the last EIGHT YEARS. Today, I give this medium a name - "Live Text Roleplay" - and help you build a community of your own.
www.valerialoves.com/how-to-repli...
www.valerialoves.com/how-to-repli...
Reposted by Thomas M, Full-time Rascal
One of the fundamental "magic of the internet" moments I've always cherished is finding a tiny creator who demonstrates surprising talent. A cool song with barely any views, a great new artist with a dozen followers, etc.
The thrill is gone, replaced by doubt for "unverified" art thanks to genAI.
The thrill is gone, replaced by doubt for "unverified" art thanks to genAI.
Why am I so against generative AI in games?
Because I simply do not want my initial reaction to art to be one of suspicion and scrutiny, AI slop is fundamentally damaging my relationship to art and artistry, and I am deeply resentful that it is forcing me to be guarded when I should be wowed.
Because I simply do not want my initial reaction to art to be one of suspicion and scrutiny, AI slop is fundamentally damaging my relationship to art and artistry, and I am deeply resentful that it is forcing me to be guarded when I should be wowed.
November 19, 2025 at 2:17 AM
One of the fundamental "magic of the internet" moments I've always cherished is finding a tiny creator who demonstrates surprising talent. A cool song with barely any views, a great new artist with a dozen followers, etc.
The thrill is gone, replaced by doubt for "unverified" art thanks to genAI.
The thrill is gone, replaced by doubt for "unverified" art thanks to genAI.
Reposted by Thomas M, Full-time Rascal
The US wasn't the only country to pin an entire moral panic on tabletop RPGs. We spoke with players in Brazil and Spain about their own bookbound boogeymen.
The Other Satanic Panics
How RPGs become scapegoats for murders across the world.
www.rascal.news
November 18, 2025 at 3:12 PM
The US wasn't the only country to pin an entire moral panic on tabletop RPGs. We spoke with players in Brazil and Spain about their own bookbound boogeymen.
Reposted by Thomas M, Full-time Rascal
This was a really fun chat with Thomas, and it took us two tries, with a month in between because a power cut caused Thomas to lose the first half of the interview! I'm kinda glad we got to chat again though, a lot happened in the month in between that helped me better articulate some things.
Starting the day listening to @newmadras.bsky.social in conversation with @ehronlime.bsky.social about TTRPG & communities in Yes Indie’d — only fitting given that today is our final fall conversation at Auburn about play & communities with @itsquinns.bsky.social this afternoon.
Games Need Communities (w/ Aaron Lim)
Podcast Episode · Yes Indie'd Pod · 11/17/2025 · 1h 3m
podcasts.apple.com
November 18, 2025 at 1:45 PM
This was a really fun chat with Thomas, and it took us two tries, with a month in between because a power cut caused Thomas to lose the first half of the interview! I'm kinda glad we got to chat again though, a lot happened in the month in between that helped me better articulate some things.
Reposted by Thomas M, Full-time Rascal
My latest video is a brief overview of some duet games I think slot well into comparisons of Wicked! This is unabashedly an algorithm play, but I still shout out "Tangled Blessings," "Break Up on ReEntry," "A Knife to Your Throat," "Soft Shell," and "It's Been a Long Time Coming."
"Wicked" Tabletop Games with which to Loathe Each Other
YouTube video by A.A. Voigt
youtu.be
November 17, 2025 at 4:56 PM
My latest video is a brief overview of some duet games I think slot well into comparisons of Wicked! This is unabashedly an algorithm play, but I still shout out "Tangled Blessings," "Break Up on ReEntry," "A Knife to Your Throat," "Soft Shell," and "It's Been a Long Time Coming."
Reposted by Thomas M, Full-time Rascal
Starting the day listening to @newmadras.bsky.social in conversation with @ehronlime.bsky.social about TTRPG & communities in Yes Indie’d — only fitting given that today is our final fall conversation at Auburn about play & communities with @itsquinns.bsky.social this afternoon.
Games Need Communities (w/ Aaron Lim)
Podcast Episode · Yes Indie'd Pod · 11/17/2025 · 1h 3m
podcasts.apple.com
November 18, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Starting the day listening to @newmadras.bsky.social in conversation with @ehronlime.bsky.social about TTRPG & communities in Yes Indie’d — only fitting given that today is our final fall conversation at Auburn about play & communities with @itsquinns.bsky.social this afternoon.
Reposted by Thomas M, Full-time Rascal
The Awards
We need a National Book Awards-style game award: every year a committee of five freaks is handed the keys to all the prestige, they pick stuff no one's heard of, readers (players) get mad, the committee members get defensive, no one is truly happy, and then next year we do it all again
November 18, 2025 at 6:37 AM
The Awards
Reposted by Thomas M, Full-time Rascal
🎉PLAYER REGISTRATION IS OPEN!🎉
We are FOUR DAYS OUT, and the schedule for Con Zero Fall 2025 is officially live, full of games to sign up for, panels and parties to attend! 🤩
Sign up now and join the server at conventionzero.carrd.co
We are FOUR DAYS OUT, and the schedule for Con Zero Fall 2025 is officially live, full of games to sign up for, panels and parties to attend! 🤩
Sign up now and join the server at conventionzero.carrd.co
November 18, 2025 at 12:33 AM
🎉PLAYER REGISTRATION IS OPEN!🎉
We are FOUR DAYS OUT, and the schedule for Con Zero Fall 2025 is officially live, full of games to sign up for, panels and parties to attend! 🤩
Sign up now and join the server at conventionzero.carrd.co
We are FOUR DAYS OUT, and the schedule for Con Zero Fall 2025 is officially live, full of games to sign up for, panels and parties to attend! 🤩
Sign up now and join the server at conventionzero.carrd.co
Reposted by Thomas M, Full-time Rascal
When playing a season of Last Kiss, advancement happens as part of the beginning of every session. There's no XP.
Every player has five options to choose from, and each option affects the narrative. This is part of our system of sharing story and world building.
www.backerkit.com/c/projects/l...
Every player has five options to choose from, and each option affects the narrative. This is part of our system of sharing story and world building.
www.backerkit.com/c/projects/l...
Last Kiss
Ever feel like the world is out to get you? It is.
A TTRPG of unheroic teens facing down the end of the inevitable world. You're the main character, with all the misery that entails. How will you mak...
www.backerkit.com
November 17, 2025 at 1:43 PM
When playing a season of Last Kiss, advancement happens as part of the beginning of every session. There's no XP.
Every player has five options to choose from, and each option affects the narrative. This is part of our system of sharing story and world building.
www.backerkit.com/c/projects/l...
Every player has five options to choose from, and each option affects the narrative. This is part of our system of sharing story and world building.
www.backerkit.com/c/projects/l...
excerpts from the latest discourse newsletter from rascal
November 17, 2025 at 1:50 PM
excerpts from the latest discourse newsletter from rascal