Rich Stokes
@tacticalbacon.bsky.social
GenX nerd.
Thinks he's funny, but isn't.
If you care about what I think, you probably shouldn't. I'm an idiot.
Look, I'm just here to talk about RPGs. And sometimes Industrial music and videogames or movies.
Also sometimes comics. More of a DC guy, sorry.
Thinks he's funny, but isn't.
If you care about what I think, you probably shouldn't. I'm an idiot.
Look, I'm just here to talk about RPGs. And sometimes Industrial music and videogames or movies.
Also sometimes comics. More of a DC guy, sorry.
I think I might be going a bit far with this whole TTRPG campaign management using Obsidian?
In my defense, V:tM is pretty much focused on NPC relationships and having them mapped out here is pretty handy.
In my defense, V:tM is pretty much focused on NPC relationships and having them mapped out here is pretty handy.
January 29, 2026 at 2:44 PM
I think I might be going a bit far with this whole TTRPG campaign management using Obsidian?
In my defense, V:tM is pretty much focused on NPC relationships and having them mapped out here is pretty handy.
In my defense, V:tM is pretty much focused on NPC relationships and having them mapped out here is pretty handy.
I went to see a live immersive experience of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy yesterday.
Overall, it was bad. I mean, there was a lot to like about it but ultimately someone has decided it they would take HHGttG and make a musical rom-com out of it.
hitchhikerslive.com
Overall, it was bad. I mean, there was a lot to like about it but ultimately someone has decided it they would take HHGttG and make a musical rom-com out of it.
hitchhikerslive.com
Home | Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy
Get ready for cosmic adventure and unexpected surprises as Riverside Studios plays host to Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy experience.
hitchhikerslive.com
January 25, 2026 at 12:17 PM
I went to see a live immersive experience of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy yesterday.
Overall, it was bad. I mean, there was a lot to like about it but ultimately someone has decided it they would take HHGttG and make a musical rom-com out of it.
hitchhikerslive.com
Overall, it was bad. I mean, there was a lot to like about it but ultimately someone has decided it they would take HHGttG and make a musical rom-com out of it.
hitchhikerslive.com
Getting the hang of thei Obsidian malarkey for TTRPG tracking.
Probably doing it really badly, but so far this is really helpful.
Special thanks to @rivetgeek.aggregatecognizance.com for the head's up!
Probably doing it really badly, but so far this is really helpful.
Special thanks to @rivetgeek.aggregatecognizance.com for the head's up!
January 17, 2026 at 5:31 PM
Getting the hang of thei Obsidian malarkey for TTRPG tracking.
Probably doing it really badly, but so far this is really helpful.
Special thanks to @rivetgeek.aggregatecognizance.com for the head's up!
Probably doing it really badly, but so far this is really helpful.
Special thanks to @rivetgeek.aggregatecognizance.com for the head's up!
I'm a big unashamed Star Trek nerd.
Like, "met most of the cast of most of the shows" kinda nerd.
Like, "actually (mostly) liked Disovery" kinda nerd.
But when I saw the promotional posters for Academy, NGL, I felt pretty strongly that his wasn't going to be for me.
Like, "met most of the cast of most of the shows" kinda nerd.
Like, "actually (mostly) liked Disovery" kinda nerd.
But when I saw the promotional posters for Academy, NGL, I felt pretty strongly that his wasn't going to be for me.
January 16, 2026 at 10:59 PM
I'm a big unashamed Star Trek nerd.
Like, "met most of the cast of most of the shows" kinda nerd.
Like, "actually (mostly) liked Disovery" kinda nerd.
But when I saw the promotional posters for Academy, NGL, I felt pretty strongly that his wasn't going to be for me.
Like, "met most of the cast of most of the shows" kinda nerd.
Like, "actually (mostly) liked Disovery" kinda nerd.
But when I saw the promotional posters for Academy, NGL, I felt pretty strongly that his wasn't going to be for me.
What the fuck did I just read?
Was it brilliant? Yes.
Was it disturbingly horrible? Also yes.
Was it brilliant? Yes.
Was it disturbingly horrible? Also yes.
January 15, 2026 at 9:30 PM
What the fuck did I just read?
Was it brilliant? Yes.
Was it disturbingly horrible? Also yes.
Was it brilliant? Yes.
Was it disturbingly horrible? Also yes.
Ran my first proper session of Vampire: the Masquerade in over 2 decades last night.
Had basically one and a half session zeros in the last few weeks due to schedules over the holidays, so players were relatively comfortable with things going in last night.
Using V5 for the first time.
Had basically one and a half session zeros in the last few weeks due to schedules over the holidays, so players were relatively comfortable with things going in last night.
Using V5 for the first time.
January 14, 2026 at 12:16 PM
Ran my first proper session of Vampire: the Masquerade in over 2 decades last night.
Had basically one and a half session zeros in the last few weeks due to schedules over the holidays, so players were relatively comfortable with things going in last night.
Using V5 for the first time.
Had basically one and a half session zeros in the last few weeks due to schedules over the holidays, so players were relatively comfortable with things going in last night.
Using V5 for the first time.
Slightly diminish an RPG
GURP
GURP
Slightly diminish an RPG
Torg Sometimes
Draw Iron
12th Age (obviously)
Beta World
Torg Sometimes
Draw Iron
12th Age (obviously)
Beta World
Slightly diminish an RPG
Dungeon & Dragon
Dungeon & Dragon
January 12, 2026 at 1:08 PM
Slightly diminish an RPG
GURP
GURP
Noodling with Obsidian.md to get it set up as a tool for running my VtM game.
It's a great tool, really does make it easy to organise notes on places, NPCs, Fronts and the like.
It's a great tool, really does make it easy to organise notes on places, NPCs, Fronts and the like.
Obsidian - Sharpen your thinking
The free and flexible app for your private thoughts.
Obsidian.md
January 12, 2026 at 11:45 AM
Noodling with Obsidian.md to get it set up as a tool for running my VtM game.
It's a great tool, really does make it easy to organise notes on places, NPCs, Fronts and the like.
It's a great tool, really does make it easy to organise notes on places, NPCs, Fronts and the like.
Working through the notes from this week's session zero for VtM and, oh boy did the players give me some stuff to work with.
Now I've got that wonderful "oooh, oooh!" feeling as I flesh out NPCs, plot hooks and fronts for the players to interact with.
Now I've got that wonderful "oooh, oooh!" feeling as I flesh out NPCs, plot hooks and fronts for the players to interact with.
January 9, 2026 at 10:51 AM
Working through the notes from this week's session zero for VtM and, oh boy did the players give me some stuff to work with.
Now I've got that wonderful "oooh, oooh!" feeling as I flesh out NPCs, plot hooks and fronts for the players to interact with.
Now I've got that wonderful "oooh, oooh!" feeling as I flesh out NPCs, plot hooks and fronts for the players to interact with.
Feel like I'm being judged harshly here.
January 2, 2026 at 11:11 PM
Feel like I'm being judged harshly here.
That time of year again.
Imperial stout sampling new years nonsense.
Imperial stout sampling new years nonsense.
December 31, 2025 at 11:27 PM
That time of year again.
Imperial stout sampling new years nonsense.
Imperial stout sampling new years nonsense.
Having now apparently decided it's a good idea to run VtM for my regular group, I'm reading a bunch of both new and old books to get myself back in the swing of the setting.
Some of the early V5 books are... not good.
Some of the early V5 books are... not good.
December 29, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Having now apparently decided it's a good idea to run VtM for my regular group, I'm reading a bunch of both new and old books to get myself back in the swing of the setting.
Some of the early V5 books are... not good.
Some of the early V5 books are... not good.
Recent discussion on various forms of TTRPG play have me baffled, because I've always felt this was pretty simple.
Trad play is typified by playing which values Story as a goal, but uses mainly non Story facing mechanics which simulate the game world rather than directly addressing story elements.
Trad play is typified by playing which values Story as a goal, but uses mainly non Story facing mechanics which simulate the game world rather than directly addressing story elements.
December 19, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Recent discussion on various forms of TTRPG play have me baffled, because I've always felt this was pretty simple.
Trad play is typified by playing which values Story as a goal, but uses mainly non Story facing mechanics which simulate the game world rather than directly addressing story elements.
Trad play is typified by playing which values Story as a goal, but uses mainly non Story facing mechanics which simulate the game world rather than directly addressing story elements.
Life of Grinch
The City of Lost Grinches
My Dinner with Grinch
December 18, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Life of Grinch
What tools do people use to organise notes and stuff for TTRPG games?
I'm generally pretty ok with remembering important stuff, but I'm looking for something which can do relationship maps, actual maps, track NPC notes and the like.
For context, I run in person, but use a laptop.
I'm generally pretty ok with remembering important stuff, but I'm looking for something which can do relationship maps, actual maps, track NPC notes and the like.
For context, I run in person, but use a laptop.
December 18, 2025 at 4:04 PM
What tools do people use to organise notes and stuff for TTRPG games?
I'm generally pretty ok with remembering important stuff, but I'm looking for something which can do relationship maps, actual maps, track NPC notes and the like.
For context, I run in person, but use a laptop.
I'm generally pretty ok with remembering important stuff, but I'm looking for something which can do relationship maps, actual maps, track NPC notes and the like.
For context, I run in person, but use a laptop.
Turbo-snot has given me the time to finally actually read the VtM 5e books properly.
It's interesting to see it walk a tightrope between trying to modernise and keeping fundamentals unchanged.
Not 100% sold on the way humanity works now, the maths seems wonky but it's a nice idea.
It's interesting to see it walk a tightrope between trying to modernise and keeping fundamentals unchanged.
Not 100% sold on the way humanity works now, the maths seems wonky but it's a nice idea.
December 15, 2025 at 10:52 PM
Turbo-snot has given me the time to finally actually read the VtM 5e books properly.
It's interesting to see it walk a tightrope between trying to modernise and keeping fundamentals unchanged.
Not 100% sold on the way humanity works now, the maths seems wonky but it's a nice idea.
It's interesting to see it walk a tightrope between trying to modernise and keeping fundamentals unchanged.
Not 100% sold on the way humanity works now, the maths seems wonky but it's a nice idea.
Discussed running Urban Shadows for my regular RPG group and one of them is already calling it Apocalypse World of Darkness.
December 6, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Discussed running Urban Shadows for my regular RPG group and one of them is already calling it Apocalypse World of Darkness.
It's that time of year again.
December 2, 2025 at 4:28 PM
It's that time of year again.
And now very firmly having a rest day and trying to chill post Dragonmeet, but utterly knackered and fighting some snotty crud.
Looking forward to digging into Questworlds, which @icooper.bsky.social very kindly signed for me and put up with my waffling about being a small book enjoyer.
Looking forward to digging into Questworlds, which @icooper.bsky.social very kindly signed for me and put up with my waffling about being a small book enjoyer.
December 1, 2025 at 11:21 AM
And now very firmly having a rest day and trying to chill post Dragonmeet, but utterly knackered and fighting some snotty crud.
Looking forward to digging into Questworlds, which @icooper.bsky.social very kindly signed for me and put up with my waffling about being a small book enjoyer.
Looking forward to digging into Questworlds, which @icooper.bsky.social very kindly signed for me and put up with my waffling about being a small book enjoyer.
We have such sights to show you, Charlie Brown.
November 24, 2025 at 9:50 PM
We have such sights to show you, Charlie Brown.
Kvetching online about Steam console specs from vocal PC Master Race types has really highlighted the fact that some people like playing videogames while some people like spending a lot of money so they can cock wave about meaningless benchmark numbers, and that these are two separate hobbies.
November 17, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Kvetching online about Steam console specs from vocal PC Master Race types has really highlighted the fact that some people like playing videogames while some people like spending a lot of money so they can cock wave about meaningless benchmark numbers, and that these are two separate hobbies.
Apparently I've arranged to see a Nirvana covers band tonight, but one with an Elvis impersonator as a front man.
That definitely sounds like something I'd want to see.
Bonus is it turns out the support is called Nic Cage Against The Machine.
www.elvana.co.uk
That definitely sounds like something I'd want to see.
Bonus is it turns out the support is called Nic Cage Against The Machine.
www.elvana.co.uk
Shop | elvisfrontednirvana
www.elvana.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Apparently I've arranged to see a Nirvana covers band tonight, but one with an Elvis impersonator as a front man.
That definitely sounds like something I'd want to see.
Bonus is it turns out the support is called Nic Cage Against The Machine.
www.elvana.co.uk
That definitely sounds like something I'd want to see.
Bonus is it turns out the support is called Nic Cage Against The Machine.
www.elvana.co.uk
Dammit, all this thinking and talking about V:tM has ended up with me buying a ton of Vampire: the Eternal Struggle cards.
Black Chantry have done a phenomenal job keeping this game going and have managed to modernise it and bring it in line with V5 without losing what made it so good 30 years ago.
Black Chantry have done a phenomenal job keeping this game going and have managed to modernise it and bring it in line with V5 without losing what made it so good 30 years ago.
November 14, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Dammit, all this thinking and talking about V:tM has ended up with me buying a ton of Vampire: the Eternal Struggle cards.
Black Chantry have done a phenomenal job keeping this game going and have managed to modernise it and bring it in line with V5 without losing what made it so good 30 years ago.
Black Chantry have done a phenomenal job keeping this game going and have managed to modernise it and bring it in line with V5 without losing what made it so good 30 years ago.
More musings on the V:tM TTRPG:
The underlying system was, imo, not great and even at the time I had issues with it. I found it mainly OK, but required significant effort on my part when running it to keep things Working.
The underlying system was, imo, not great and even at the time I had issues with it. I found it mainly OK, but required significant effort on my part when running it to keep things Working.
November 13, 2025 at 11:13 AM
More musings on the V:tM TTRPG:
The underlying system was, imo, not great and even at the time I had issues with it. I found it mainly OK, but required significant effort on my part when running it to keep things Working.
The underlying system was, imo, not great and even at the time I had issues with it. I found it mainly OK, but required significant effort on my part when running it to keep things Working.
Recent conversation with an old TTRPG buddy around our shared love of V:tM and the WoD in general and the shortcomings I feel the entire thing had.
Important to understand that I still love a lot of what WoD is/was despite feeling there are some serious problems with it.
Important to understand that I still love a lot of what WoD is/was despite feeling there are some serious problems with it.
November 12, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Recent conversation with an old TTRPG buddy around our shared love of V:tM and the WoD in general and the shortcomings I feel the entire thing had.
Important to understand that I still love a lot of what WoD is/was despite feeling there are some serious problems with it.
Important to understand that I still love a lot of what WoD is/was despite feeling there are some serious problems with it.