Chris (they/them)
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literarywizard.bsky.social
Chris (they/them)
@literarywizard.bsky.social
Storytelling Enthusiast. They/them.

'I have no idea what they do here, but they're great in conversation.'
- A Coworker

https://broken-words.com
Reposted by Chris (they/them)
If you pay attention to any large industry long enough and follow it to its logical conclusion you eventually end up sounding like a communist even if you started off testing CPU case fans. youtu.be/cUrJVdF2me0?...
December 22, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Reposted by Chris (they/them)
Indie Game Awards Disqualifies Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Due To Gen AI Usage

insider-gaming.com/indie-game-a...
Indie Game Awards Disqualifies Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Due To Gen AI Usage
Sandfall Interactive and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has been stripped of its wins at The Indie Game Awards due to use of generative AI.
insider-gaming.com
December 20, 2025 at 7:04 PM
It's kind of fitting that I forgot to post this until much later today considering I wound up being able to take the day off today because of how busy the rest of the week was, but I'm going to be taking a two week break from blog posts to rest and reflect.

broken-words.com/2025/12/19/t...
Taking A Much-Need Two-Week Break After This – Broken Words
broken-words.com
December 19, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Reposted by Chris (they/them)
Without this game there's no Monster of the Week, Thirsty Sword Lesbians, or Blades in the Dark.
Join the Bakers in the next evolution of this groundbreaking RPG.
The time to pledge is now.
Here it is. The final 24 hours. You've helped coax banked embers into a steady flame. Tell me, what is one thing you'll bring with you into What-Comes-Next? Seeds? Thread? A good kitchen knife? What will you make of what's left? Together, let's light up the world.
www.kickstarter.com/projects/lum...
Apocalypse World: Burned Over
The 3rd edition of the groundbreaking original.
www.kickstarter.com
December 19, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Reposted by Chris (they/them)
It still stands as an affront to me that we couldn’t even get the Bakers one (ONE!) million dollars after everything they’ve given the hobby, but if you haven’t backed Apocalypse World yet, you have to do it now!
Here it is. The final 24 hours. You've helped coax banked embers into a steady flame. Tell me, what is one thing you'll bring with you into What-Comes-Next? Seeds? Thread? A good kitchen knife? What will you make of what's left? Together, let's light up the world.
www.kickstarter.com/projects/lum...
Apocalypse World: Burned Over
The 3rd edition of the groundbreaking original.
www.kickstarter.com
December 19, 2025 at 5:05 AM
Reposted by Chris (they/them)
Fish Poem
December 17, 2025 at 11:02 PM
One might think that, as a person writing and editing daily blog posts and writing even more in their free time, writing a letter to a relative would be an easy thing. Except all my relatives are estranged and the subject matter is weighty. It's exhausting.

broken-words.com/2025/12/18/e...
Even I Struggle To Write Sometimes – Broken Words
broken-words.com
December 18, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Reposted by Chris (they/them)
Why We're Boycotting Xbox:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ybj1...
The Xbox Boycott (Still) Matters
YouTube video by People Make Games
www.youtube.com
December 18, 2025 at 2:02 PM
As I spend my days trying to maintain my sanity through a mix of distraction and fulfillment, I find myself gravitating away from things I once thought would pull me in every single time because, for all of their entertainment, they're things I do alone nowadays.

broken-words.com/2025/12/17/i...
It’s Tough To Beat The Appeal Of Social Connection – Broken Words
broken-words.com
December 17, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Happy to say that both the anxiety and the cough that prompted this post have diminished, but they are unfortunately still hanging around and likely will be for a while yet. Such problems are rarely solved overnight or instantly, despite what I'd prefer...

broken-words.com/2025/12/16/a...
Anxiety That’s Lingering Just As Long As This Cough – Broken Words
broken-words.com
December 16, 2025 at 5:36 PM
I hate that I'm still sick two weeks later. Almost all of my symptoms are different, of course, as I seem to be dealing with the knock-on effects of having a really bad cold rather than the cold itself, but that's precious little comfort in these stuffy days.

broken-words.com/2025/12/15/o...
On The Otherside Of Sickness – Broken Words
broken-words.com
December 15, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Preparation has gone well, so far. I'm steadily ticking things off my checklist despite being sick and very tired all the time. There's plenty more to do yet, but I'm still in a good position to get it done. This is kind of exciting! I hope it stays fun.

broken-words.com/2025/12/12/a...
Anticipation And Preparation For Final Fantasy 14’s Next Patch – Broken Words
broken-words.com
December 12, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Reposted by Chris (they/them)
No, come on, you can’t be all “fuck disney” on the TL all day and immediately change your tune when a star wars game gets announced. Let’s be serious
December 12, 2025 at 3:37 AM
MEALE 😭
Update:
Dragon Sanctuary page 428 is up!
#dragonsanct
Shares + Comments Appreciated!

Links:
New Page: dragonsanctuarycomic.com/ds-comic/pag...
Main Site: dragonsanctuarycomic.com
Patreon: patreon.com/shannonmanor
December 11, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Reposted by Chris (they/them)
Update:
Dragon Sanctuary page 428 is up!
#dragonsanct
Shares + Comments Appreciated!

Links:
New Page: dragonsanctuarycomic.com/ds-comic/pag...
Main Site: dragonsanctuarycomic.com
Patreon: patreon.com/shannonmanor
December 11, 2025 at 6:09 PM
I like to drive, partly because it's fun to go places and partly because it gives my mind time to wander freely that I don't normally allow myself. Typically, I come up with stuff to think about some other times, but occasionally I come out with a conclusion.

broken-words.com/2025/12/11/i...
I’ve Had A Lot Of Time To Think Lately – Broken Words
broken-words.com
December 11, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Reposted by Chris (they/them)
What do I mean by this ... For example: HRT and our other gender-affirming care saves our lives. There's FUCKTONS of support behind this, no matter how you look at it. I say this as a longtime psychiatric journalist, who's extremely cynical about a lot. The data here truly is remarkably clear.
There aren't "two sides" re: trans healthcare.

Our healthcare isn't controversial in any medical sense and anybody who thinks *this* hasn't read the science, full stop.

There's: Should trans people get to live vs. should we not. The bigotry is the *point* of them hounding our healthcare ...
I note how the moral panic type journalism that's so predominant right now — conclusions in search of evidence ('the transes have gone to far') — is often rooted in fear of some future wherein stuff gets worse ...

This fixation on some false future is a way these folks avoid engaging the present.
December 10, 2025 at 4:08 PM
As I'm still recovering from being sick, it feels strange to remember just how great I felt going into the start of last week. I'd driven 1000 miles, rested up, and felt ready for whatever the last three weeks of work before the holidays had in store... I was wrong.

broken-words.com/2025/12/10/a...
A Week Of Not Rest But Recovery – Broken Words
broken-words.com
December 10, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Love that my workplace is now offerring special insurance in addition to the normal medical insurance that specifically covers the costs incurred for emergency and life-altering health issues that AREN'T covered by the normal medical insurance. An insurance to cover my insurance. This is fucked up.
December 9, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Oh no
Update:
Dragon Sanctuary page 427 is up!
#dragonsanct
Shares + Comments Appreciated!

Links:
New Page: dragonsanctuarycomic.com/ds-comic/pag...
Main Site: dragonsanctuarycomic.com
Patreon: patreon.com/shannonmanor
December 9, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Reposted by Chris (they/them)
11 Days Remain. $8,250 till we hit the last stretch goal, at which point every backer gets the PDF of our creator's guide to PBTA, An Apocalypse of Infinite Games, the moment it's ready.
Wanna be among the first to see? Here's your chance!
#ttrpg #pbta #AW3rd www.kickstarter.com/projects/lum...
Apocalypse World: Burned Over
The 3rd edition of the groundbreaking original.
www.kickstarter.com
December 8, 2025 at 8:50 PM
I've been ill for the last 5 days (six, counting today) and while capitalism has forced me back into the office, blog updates are entirely within my control. As such, I'll be taking today and tomorrow off so I don't push myself any more than I absolutely must.

broken-words.com/2025/12/08/t...
Taking A Couple Sick Days – Broken Words
broken-words.com
December 8, 2025 at 3:59 PM
This feels funny to have written about 2 weeks ago as I, still sick, begin mentally preparing myself for a busy evening in another FF14 wrestling event that will hopefully not be overstimulating this time. Being sick makes that much riskier than it was 2 weeks ago.

broken-words.com/2025/12/05/f...
Finding A New Flavor Of Overstimulation – Broken Words
broken-words.com
December 5, 2025 at 4:43 PM
I am appreciating it more now as I'm currently home sick with some kind of head cold or sinus thing, but my last couple weeks have been full of Pokemon Z-A and it really is quite a fun game. Definitely recommend the Switch 2 version of it, though.

broken-words.com/2025/12/04/p...
Pokémon Legends: Z-A Really Has It All – Broken Words
broken-words.com
December 4, 2025 at 6:15 PM