Wyrd Science Magazine
@wyrdscience.bsky.social
The magazine for explorers of strange worlds & new horizons Issue 7 out now! Get in touch [email protected]
https://linktr.ee/wyrdscience
#RPG #TTRPG #Wargames #Boardgames #Fantasy #SciFi #Comics #CoolShit
https://linktr.ee/wyrdscience
#RPG #TTRPG #Wargames #Boardgames #Fantasy #SciFi #Comics #CoolShit
Reposted by Wyrd Science Magazine
One of my favourite projects is the Budget Bestiary, a zine I did of monsters based on toys & found objects, w/ instructions & tips. I was trying to channel frustration at the Tragedy of the Owlbear in a positive way. PWYW digital or you can buy it in print.
james-holloway.itch.io/the-budget-b...
james-holloway.itch.io/the-budget-b...
November 25, 2025 at 2:09 PM
One of my favourite projects is the Budget Bestiary, a zine I did of monsters based on toys & found objects, w/ instructions & tips. I was trying to channel frustration at the Tragedy of the Owlbear in a positive way. PWYW digital or you can buy it in print.
james-holloway.itch.io/the-budget-b...
james-holloway.itch.io/the-budget-b...
late 1970s, early 1980s DnD module artwork ass looking tv show
RAINBOW (1972) was originally conceived as Britain's answer to Sesame Street, and Geoffrey, George, Zippy and Bungle would eventually become household names. But the first series featured a maniacal, wide-eyed, terrifying prototype of cuddly old Bungle Bear...
November 25, 2025 at 1:30 PM
late 1970s, early 1980s DnD module artwork ass looking tv show
6 hours left to back welsh folklore themed Run From the Dark, an RPG where you play 'Walkers', those brave or foolish enough to travel the wilderness between the few communities that still exist & keep the flames, or at least embers, of civilisation glowing
read about it + these lil round lads here
read about it + these lil round lads here
Squatter's Rites
Welsh folklore, little rotund space lads, what more could you want?
wyrd.science
November 25, 2025 at 10:26 AM
6 hours left to back welsh folklore themed Run From the Dark, an RPG where you play 'Walkers', those brave or foolish enough to travel the wilderness between the few communities that still exist & keep the flames, or at least embers, of civilisation glowing
read about it + these lil round lads here
read about it + these lil round lads here
Reposted by Wyrd Science Magazine
I don't know how to introduce this one. After three titles about opium peddling, I figured the rest of SDHistCon would be breezy by comparison. I was wrong. The next day, I experienced one of the toughest board games I've ever played. Perhaps *the* toughest. spacebiff.com/2025/11/24/u...
Unnameable
After the first day of SDHistCon, where I played three games about opium peddling, I figured the second would be easier on my stomach. I could not have been more wrong. It has no name. Its designer…
spacebiff.com
November 24, 2025 at 8:01 PM
I don't know how to introduce this one. After three titles about opium peddling, I figured the rest of SDHistCon would be breezy by comparison. I was wrong. The next day, I experienced one of the toughest board games I've ever played. Perhaps *the* toughest. spacebiff.com/2025/11/24/u...
Reposted by Wyrd Science Magazine
You. Should. Buy. This. Magazine!
Opening up a few more slots this evening for new readers
Wyrd Science Vol.1 / Issue 7 [Print]
IF YOU WANT A SUBSCRIPTION, AND TO SAVE 10% ON THE COVER PRICE, PLEASE GO HERE Wyrd Science returns for another exploration of the strange worlds and new horizons of tabletop games... In this issue......
shop.wyrd.science
November 23, 2025 at 10:21 PM
You. Should. Buy. This. Magazine!
and indirectly killed!
November 24, 2025 at 5:34 PM
and indirectly killed!
Reposted by Wyrd Science Magazine
I really don't like anything about D&D's alignment system, but I appreciate its power as a shorthand, and I'd love to do something that could work similarly, and this is a swing at that.
walkingmind.evilhat.com/2025/11/23/o...
walkingmind.evilhat.com/2025/11/23/o...
Oops, All Heroes
Caveat before all of this begins – the material I’m about to use is sourced from a psychology paper on values which were used as the source for the diagram in a Common Cause article. I …
walkingmind.evilhat.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:12 AM
I really don't like anything about D&D's alignment system, but I appreciate its power as a shorthand, and I'd love to do something that could work similarly, and this is a swing at that.
walkingmind.evilhat.com/2025/11/23/o...
walkingmind.evilhat.com/2025/11/23/o...
oh god authors are very bad at this. which is super weird because most (rightly) complain that if they're not one of about 3 people their publisher has little interest in marketing their books, ok so you know there's a problem, maybe do something about it/?!
November 24, 2025 at 10:57 AM
oh god authors are very bad at this. which is super weird because most (rightly) complain that if they're not one of about 3 people their publisher has little interest in marketing their books, ok so you know there's a problem, maybe do something about it/?!
this x 1000. the number of artists who've missed being given money by us because they make it hard to contact them is oddly high
then again same for an astonishing number of game designers, gamer publishers etc. every issue we've done I've had to scrap a couple of 6+ page features because of this
then again same for an astonishing number of game designers, gamer publishers etc. every issue we've done I've had to scrap a couple of 6+ page features because of this
Hey artists! Have you checked how easy it would be for a client to contact you? Do you have an email in your bio? On your website? On your portfolio page?
Don't assume people will spend time digging for info. There are artists out there who are just as good as you AND have their info listed.
Don't assume people will spend time digging for info. There are artists out there who are just as good as you AND have their info listed.
a woman is holding a glass of water in her hand and says `` there ! now get it together ! ''
Alt: a woman is holding a glass of water in her hand and says `` there ! now get it together ! '' while splashing water that turns into little hearts
media.tenor.com
November 24, 2025 at 10:48 AM
this x 1000. the number of artists who've missed being given money by us because they make it hard to contact them is oddly high
then again same for an astonishing number of game designers, gamer publishers etc. every issue we've done I've had to scrap a couple of 6+ page features because of this
then again same for an astonishing number of game designers, gamer publishers etc. every issue we've done I've had to scrap a couple of 6+ page features because of this
Opening up a few more slots this evening for new readers
Wyrd Science Vol.1 / Issue 7 [Print]
IF YOU WANT A SUBSCRIPTION, AND TO SAVE 10% ON THE COVER PRICE, PLEASE GO HERE Wyrd Science returns for another exploration of the strange worlds and new horizons of tabletop games... In this issue......
shop.wyrd.science
November 23, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Opening up a few more slots this evening for new readers
Reposted by Wyrd Science Magazine
In a time of slop, AI or not, it’s time to lean into niche communities and odd work by passionate weirdos with well-honed clarity of intention and craft
This is so relevant to my day-to-day thinking at @hubcitypress.bsky.social. instead of being demoralized and saying, let AI do all the publishing work and pump out more slop to boost sales, our new focus is carefully curated + clearly human created. Hence the focus on short stories, novellas, etc.
November 23, 2025 at 8:07 PM
In a time of slop, AI or not, it’s time to lean into niche communities and odd work by passionate weirdos with well-honed clarity of intention and craft
Reposted by Wyrd Science Magazine
These comments (and more) from our readers have seriously made my weekend! Thank you everyone for all the love 🖤
November 23, 2025 at 7:28 PM
These comments (and more) from our readers have seriously made my weekend! Thank you everyone for all the love 🖤
Reposted by Wyrd Science Magazine
The next episode of What Am I Rolling is now out! 🎲 🎙️ 🎧
Episode #158: Alone Against The Static (Call of Cthulhu)
Catch up on previous episodes of What Am I Rolling? wherever you listen to podcasts! 🎧 pod.link/1351842802
#RPG #ttrpg #wair #cthulhu #callofcthulhu
Episode #158: Alone Against The Static (Call of Cthulhu)
Catch up on previous episodes of What Am I Rolling? wherever you listen to podcasts! 🎧 pod.link/1351842802
#RPG #ttrpg #wair #cthulhu #callofcthulhu
November 23, 2025 at 7:27 PM
The next episode of What Am I Rolling is now out! 🎲 🎙️ 🎧
Episode #158: Alone Against The Static (Call of Cthulhu)
Catch up on previous episodes of What Am I Rolling? wherever you listen to podcasts! 🎧 pod.link/1351842802
#RPG #ttrpg #wair #cthulhu #callofcthulhu
Episode #158: Alone Against The Static (Call of Cthulhu)
Catch up on previous episodes of What Am I Rolling? wherever you listen to podcasts! 🎧 pod.link/1351842802
#RPG #ttrpg #wair #cthulhu #callofcthulhu
Oi! You there, have you read this week’s gazetteer?
Squatter's Rites
Welsh folklore, little rotund space lads, what more could you want?
wyrd.science
November 22, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Oi! You there, have you read this week’s gazetteer?
Heard so many good things about that game, would love to play it
November 22, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Heard so many good things about that game, would love to play it
November 22, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Probably wouldn’t put them in charge of my country’s health dept though 😑
November 22, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Probably wouldn’t put them in charge of my country’s health dept though 😑
Nice! Great way to spend a Saturday
November 22, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Nice! Great way to spend a Saturday
This is the way
On this gray Saturday afternoon, with the kids and misses otherwise occupied, I'm having an enjoyable re-read through @wyrdscience.bsky.social mack catalogue before I get to the latest issue that arrived the other day.
November 22, 2025 at 3:02 PM
This is the way
Reposted by Wyrd Science Magazine
“Yr open mouth awaiting my harvest”
November 22, 2025 at 7:58 AM
“Yr open mouth awaiting my harvest”
Have heard this before, does make some (depressing) sense
What's happened to book covers is simple:
The title has to be READABLE on a thumbnail image on a phone to make a sale. It has to look good in black and white.
Which means san serif fonts in bright colors in large type with wide spacing/kerning over a dark background.
The title has to be READABLE on a thumbnail image on a phone to make a sale. It has to look good in black and white.
Which means san serif fonts in bright colors in large type with wide spacing/kerning over a dark background.
The thing I find very odd is how little most authors seem to care about their book’s covers, & not just ones that have been created with AI
If you want to make a case for the decline & fall of civilisation then comparing older book covers -especially sci-fi/fantasy- to modern ones is a good start
If you want to make a case for the decline & fall of civilisation then comparing older book covers -especially sci-fi/fantasy- to modern ones is a good start
November 22, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Have heard this before, does make some (depressing) sense
They’re certainly not doing promo in many cases
November 22, 2025 at 1:12 PM
They’re certainly not doing promo in many cases
100%, having a book published is like a lifelong goal for me, the idea of going to all the effort of writing, editing a novel, somehow getting it noticed by a publisher & then being one of the few to be published & allowing it to be wrapped in shit that I had no input into just seems wildly bizarre
November 22, 2025 at 1:03 PM
100%, having a book published is like a lifelong goal for me, the idea of going to all the effort of writing, editing a novel, somehow getting it noticed by a publisher & then being one of the few to be published & allowing it to be wrapped in shit that I had no input into just seems wildly bizarre
Like so many book covers -again especially SF/F- today are just so cheap looking, boring and unimaginative
So often you hear authors say oh we had nothing to do with that or we have no say in that, but why?
A band wouldn’t release an album with a cover they had zero input over
So often you hear authors say oh we had nothing to do with that or we have no say in that, but why?
A band wouldn’t release an album with a cover they had zero input over
November 22, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Like so many book covers -again especially SF/F- today are just so cheap looking, boring and unimaginative
So often you hear authors say oh we had nothing to do with that or we have no say in that, but why?
A band wouldn’t release an album with a cover they had zero input over
So often you hear authors say oh we had nothing to do with that or we have no say in that, but why?
A band wouldn’t release an album with a cover they had zero input over
The thing I find very odd is how little most authors seem to care about their book’s covers, & not just ones that have been created with AI
If you want to make a case for the decline & fall of civilisation then comparing older book covers -especially sci-fi/fantasy- to modern ones is a good start
If you want to make a case for the decline & fall of civilisation then comparing older book covers -especially sci-fi/fantasy- to modern ones is a good start
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
"Wilson said it was also upsetting for the production and design team, who had worked hard on the books."
I would have thought "working hard" might involve bothering to get an actual cover artist to do actual art for the covers but that's just me
"Wilson said it was also upsetting for the production and design team, who had worked hard on the books."
I would have thought "working hard" might involve bothering to get an actual cover artist to do actual art for the covers but that's just me
Authors dumped from New Zealand’s top book prize after AI used in cover designs
Ockham Book Awards dropped two titles from contention after new guidelines introduced on artificial intelligence use
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 12:57 PM
The thing I find very odd is how little most authors seem to care about their book’s covers, & not just ones that have been created with AI
If you want to make a case for the decline & fall of civilisation then comparing older book covers -especially sci-fi/fantasy- to modern ones is a good start
If you want to make a case for the decline & fall of civilisation then comparing older book covers -especially sci-fi/fantasy- to modern ones is a good start